US5844392A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Haptic browsing
Assignee: Immersion Medical Inc
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Filing: 1997-05-21
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Granted: 1998-12-01
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Expires: 2017-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A method of browsing geometrical databases through touch or haptic feedback is disclosed which presents a tactile virtual reality to a user, facilitating the simultaneous browsing, or viewing, touching, attaching to, or manipulation of object descriptions contained within files both visually and haptically. The files may be local to a computer system or located across a network on one or more computer systems. In a preferred embodiment, the invention preferably renders haptic features using a layered architecture to support multiple axes per device, multiple devices per servo layer, multiple servo layers per communications layer, and multiple applications accessing common or different force-feedback devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Peurach
- 👤 Douglas Haanpaa
- 👤 Todd Yocum
- 👤 Charles J. Jacobus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/016; B; B25; B25J; B25J9/00; B25J9/16; B25J9/1679; B25J9/1689; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G05G9/04737; G06F3/011; A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/06; A63B71/0619; A63B2071/0658; A63B2071/0661; A63B2071/0666; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/35; G05B2219/35416; G05B2219/37; G05B2219/37396; G05G2009/04766; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/01; G06F2203/012; G06F2203/015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of haptic browsing, comprising the steps of: providing a computer interfaced to a display device and a force-feedback controller; accessing a file at the computer containing geometric object descriptions including attributes relating to touch; and viewing an object on the display device while simultaneously haptically interacting with the object using the force-feedback controller.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of haptic browsing, comprising the steps of: providing a computer interfaced to a display device and a force-feedback controller; accessing a file at the computer containing geometric object descriptions including attributes relating to touch; and viewing an object on the display device while simultaneously haptically interacting with the object using the force-feedback controller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the file is stored at the location of the computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the file is stored remotely, and wherein the step of accessing occurs over a network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the geometric object descriptions are in a standard graphics format.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of providing a layered architecture containing at least one servo layer interfaced to the force-feedback controller and at least one communications layer interfaced to one or more application layers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5, further including one or more applications programmer interface layers (APIS) in communication with one or more force-feedback controllers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the force-feedback controllers are interfaced to one or more servo layers through multiple device control interface (DCI) levels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the layered architecture includes multiple servo and communications layers in support of one or more force-feedback controllers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the servo layers includes a plurality of control modules capable of exchanging parameters through a pipe construct.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the parameters support device independence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the servo layers includes a plurality of control modules configured to produce superimposed force outputs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the interface to the force-feedback controller occurs through a serial port.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the interface to he force-feedback controller occurs through a network sock.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the interface to the force-feedback controller occurs through a shared memory.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 5, further including a force-feedback information transfer protocol for messaging from one of more applications to one or more force feedback controllers through one or more intervening communications layers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of executing one or more of the layers in parallel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of providing a configuration file for a particular force-feedback controller providing coordinate and measurement transformations from the application layer through to the servo layer associated with that controller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the layered architecture is written in a machine-independent program description language.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of providing a computer and-operating system independent library associated with force-feedback control.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of providing a communications systems dependent library in support of communications systems independence.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |