US5684722A
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US
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Apparatus and method for generating a control signal for a tactile sensation generator
Assignee: VIRTUAL REALITY FEEDBACK Corp
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Filing: 1994-09-21
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Granted: 1997-11-04
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Expires: 2014-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A control system that is responsive to an audio signal generated by an audio source such as a computer, video game console, stereo system and the like. The control system converts the audio signal into a control signal for a tactile sensation generator such as a vibrating cushion, vibrating seat pad, and the like. The control system contains an audio signal processor and a control signal generator. The audio signal processor produces a processed signal indicative of the amplitude, frequency, and rate of change of the audio signal. From the processed signal, a control signal generator produces a control signal for a tactile sensation generator. The control signal causes the tactile sensation generator to produce a tactile sensation corresponding to the present scene being displayed, for example, on a monitor of a computer executing a computer game.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig Thorner
- 👤 Thomas K. Glass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:15
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/25; A63F13/28; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/011; A63F13/285; A63F13/40; A63F13/42; A63F13/424; A63F13/90; A63F13/98; G06F3/016; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/10; A63F2300/1037; A63F2300/30; A63F2300/302; A63F2300/60; A63F2300/6063; A63F2300/6072; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/8082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
Apparatus for generating a control signal for a tactile sensation generator comprising: an audio signal processor for processing audio signals and generating a processed signal; and a control signal generator, connected to said audio signal processor, for generating, in response to said processed signal, said control signal for controlling the tactile sensation generator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus for generating a control signal for a tactile sensation generator comprising: an audio signal processor for processing audio signals and generating a processed signal; and a control signal generator, connected to said audio signal processor, for generating, in response to said processed signal, said control signal for controlling the tactile sensation generator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said audio signal processor generates said processed signal in response to the frequency, amplitude and rate of change of said audio signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said audio signal processor further comprises an equalizer for selectively amplifying or attenuating selected frequency bands of said audio signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said equalizer further comprises a high pass filter, a low pass filter and a bandpass filter connected in parallel and having an output port of the high pass filter, the low pass filter and the bandpass filter connected to three respective inputs of a summing amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal processor further comprises a rectifier for rectifying said audio signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said signal processor further comprises a peak hold circuit for temporarily holding the peak amplitude of the rectified audio signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said peak hold circuit further comprises DC bias circuitry for applying a DC bias to the peak amplitude of the rectified audio signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said control signal generator further comprises a pulse width modulator for producing a control signal having a pulse width indicative of the amplitude of the sum of the DC bias and the peak amplitude of the rectified audio signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the pulse width of said control signal determines the on time for a tactile sensation generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tactile sensation generator vibrates in response to said control signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said tactile sensation generator is a dc motor having an offset weight connected to a shaft such that, when energized by the control signal, the motor vibrates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said audio signal is produced by a video game executing upon a microprocessor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an oscillator for generating timing signals for the control signal generator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said oscillator has a variable frequency.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for generating a control signal for a tactile sensation generator comprising: a front end circuit for forming a composite audio signal from a stereophonic audio signal; a variable gain preamplifier, connected to said front end circuit, for amplifying said composite audio signal; an equalizer, connected to said preamplifier, for selectively filtering said amplified composite audio signal; a rectifier, connected to said equalizer, for rectifying the equalized signal; a peak hold circuit, connected to said rectifier, for temporarily holding the rectified signal and for adding a DC bias to the rectified signal to generate a processed signal; and a control signal generator, connected to said peak hold circuit, for generating, in response to said processed signal, a control signal for said tactile sensation generator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for generating a control signal for a tactile sensation generator comprising: a front end circuit for forming a composite audio signal from a stereophonic audio signal; a variable gain preamplifier, connected to said front end circuit, for amplifying said composite audio signal; an equalizer, connected to said preamplifier, for selectively filtering said amplified composite audio signal; a rectifier, connected to said equalizer, for rectifying the equalized signal; a peak hold circuit, connected to said rectifier, for temporarily holding the rectified signal and for adding a DC bias to the rectified signal to generate a processed signal; and a control signal generator, connected to said peak hold circuit, for generating, in response to said processed signal, a control signal for said tactile sensation generator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said control signal generator further comprises a pulse width modulator for generating a control signal having at least one pulse whose pulse width is indicative of the amplitude of the processed signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said control signal generator further comprises an oscillator for producing a variable clock rate for said pulse width modulator to adjust a duty cycle of said control signal.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of generating a control signal for a tactile sensation generator comprising the steps of: processing an audio signal to generate a processed signal; and generating, in response to said processed signal, said control signal for said tactile sensation generator.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of generating a control signal for a tactile sensation generator comprising the steps of: processing an audio signal to generate a processed signal; and generating, in response to said processed signal, said control signal for said tactile sensation generator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said audio signal processing step further comprises the step of generating said processed signal in response to the frequency, amplitude and rate of change of said audio signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said audio signal processing step further comprises the step of equalizing said audio signal by selectively amplifying or attenuating selected frequency bands of said audio signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said audio signal processing step further comprises the step of rectifying said audio signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said audio signal processing step further comprises the step of temporarily holding a peak amplitude of the rectified audio signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said holding step further comprises applying a DC bias to the peak amplitude of the rectified audio signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said control signal generating step further comprises the step of producing a control signal having a pulse width indicative of the amplitude of the sum of the DC bias and the peak amplitude of the rectified audio signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said tactile sensation generator vibrates in response to said control signal.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of generating a control signal for a tactile sensation generator comprising the steps of: forming a composite audio signal from a stereophonic audio signal; amplifying said composite audio signal; selectively filtering said amplified composite audio signal; rectifying the equalized signal; temporarily holding the rectified signal and for adding a DC bias to the rectified signal to generate a processed signal; and generating, in response to said processed signal, a control signal for said tactile sensation generator.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of generating a control signal for a tactile sensation generator comprising the steps of: forming a composite audio signal from a stereophonic audio signal; amplifying said composite audio signal; selectively filtering said amplified composite audio signal; rectifying the equalized signal; temporarily holding the rectified signal and for adding a DC bias to the rectified signal to generate a processed signal; and generating, in response to said processed signal, a control signal for said tactile sensation generator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said control signal generating step further comprises the step of generating a control signal having at least one pulse whose pulse width is indicative of the amplitude of the processed signal.
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