Immersion Corporation

Jeffrey R Mallett

Dean C Chang

Louis B Rosenberg

Sian W Tan

Evan F Wies

Adam C Braun

Kenneth M Martin

Jonathan L Beamer

Force feedback is provided to a user of a client computer receiving information such as a web page over a network such as the World Wide Web from a server machine. The client machine has a force feedback interface device through which the user experiences physical force feedback. The web page may include force feedback information to provide authored force effects. Force feedback is correlated to web page objects by a force feedback program running on the client and based on input information from the interface device, the web page objects, and the force feedback information. Generic force effects can also be provided, which are applied uniformly at the client machine to all web page objects of a particular type as defined by user preferences at the client machine. A web page authoring interface is also described that includes the ability to add force sensations to a web page. The user may assign force effects to web page objects and immediately feel how the web page will feel to an end user. A web page is output by the interface, including force information to provide the force effects at a client. The authoring tool can include or access a force design interface for creating or modifying force effects.

Defining force sensations associated with graphical images

A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and haptic feedback interface device. A haptic feedback device communicates with a host computer that displays the interface tool. The user selects and characterizes force sensations using the interface tool, and a graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed. The characterized force sensation is output to a user manipulatable object of the force feedback device so that the user can feel the designed force sensation The user can include multiple force sensations in a compound force sensation, where the compound sensation is graphically displayed to indicate the relative start times and duration of each of the force sensations. The user can also associate a sound with the force sensation, such that the sound is output in conjunction with the output of the force sensation.

Force sensations for haptic feedback computer interfaces

Design of force sensations for haptic feedback computer interfaces

An interface device and method for providing enhanced cursor control with force feedback. A force feedback interface device includes a manipulandum, such as a mouse, that is moveable in a local workspace. The device is coupled to a host computer that displays a cursor in a graphical environment, such as a GUI, on a display screen. An interior region and a border region in the local workspace is defined. One mapping of device movement to cursor movement is used for the interior region, and a different mapping is used for the border region. Mapping methods include ballistics, absolute, linear, rate control, and variable absolute. Rate control embodiments can be single axis or dual axis. In one embodiment, when the mouse moves from the interior region to the border region, the mapping providing the greater cursor velocity is used to better conserve device workspace in the direction of travel and to decrease any sense of mapping mode change to the user. Other features include an autocentering function for reducing offset between local and host frames.

Enhanced cursor control using interface devices

A method and apparatus for commanding force effects using suites or categories to allow an application program higher level control over force sensations output by a force feedback interface device. An application program associates a force suite with one or more individual force effects and the suite association is provided to a library available to the application program on the host computer, such as an Application Programming Interface (API). A set of rules is also provided to the library, the rules determining how to apply the force effects in the suite based on a status of the application program. The application program commands at least one force effect in the suite and reports the status of the application program to the library, where the library applies the rules based on the reported status to cause a force sensation based on the commanded force effect to be output by a force feedback interface device coupled to the host computer.

Command of force sensations in a forceback system using force effect suites

Force feedback provided in web pages

A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and force feedback interface device. A force feedback device is connected to a host computer that displays the interface tool. The user selects a type of force sensation and designs and defines physical characteristics of the selected force sensation using the interface tool. A graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed. The user can include a plurality of force sensations in a compound force sensation, where the compound sensation is graphically displayed to indicate the relative start times and duration of each of the force sensations. The user can also easily adjust the start times and durations of the force sensations using the graphical representation. The force sensations are output to a user manipulandum of a force feedback device to be felt by the user, where the graphical representation is updated in conjunction with the output of the force sensation. The user can iteratively modify force sensation characteristics and feel the results. Sounds can also be graphically represented and synchronized with the designed compound forces.

Designing compound force sensations for computer applications

Enhanced cursor control using limited-workspace force feedback devices

A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and force feedback interface device. A force feedback device is connected to a host computer that displays the interface tool. The user selects a type of force sensation and designs and defines physical characteristics of the selected force sensation using the interface tool. A graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed, which provides a visual demonstration of a feel of the characterized force sensation. The force sensation is output to a user manipulatable object of a force feedback device to be felt by the user, where the graphical representation is updated in conjunction with the output of the force sensation. The user can also associate a sound with the force sensation, such that the sound is output in conjunction with the output of the force sensation. The user can iteratively modify force sensation characteristics and feel the results, as well as synchronize force sensations with sounds.

Designing force sensations for computer applications including sounds

Implementing force feedback over the World Wide Web and other computer

Force feedback is provided to a user of a client computer receiving information such as a web page over a network such as the World Wide Web from a server machine. The client machine has a force feedback interface device through which the user experiences physical force feedback. Force feedback is correlated to web page objects by a force feedback program running on the client and based on input information from the interface device, web page objects, and the force feedback information. Generic force effects can be provided, which are applied uniformly at the client machine to all web page objects of a particular type as defined by user preferences at the client machine.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder Creek, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey R Mallett