Low cost force feedback interface with efficient power sourcing

Claim 2

A circuit for storing power in a force feedback interface device that interfaces a user with a host computer system, said circuit comprising: a capacitor for storing power provided by a signal input to said circuit; a sensing device coupled to said capacitor for sensing when said capacitor is fully charged; and a control device for providing a control signal to an actuator so that said actuator can apply force to a user object of said interface device, wherein said stored power is supplied to said actuator to apply said force.

Claim 3

A circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensing device includes an analog to digital converter and a microprocessor operative to monitor said input signal to determine when said capacitor is fully charged, wherein said stored power is supplied to said actuator when said capacitor is fully charged.

Claim 4

A circuit as recited in claim 1 further comprising a driver circuit for receiving said control signal and for amplifying said control signal using said supplied stored power to drive said actuator.

Claim 5

A circuit as recited in claim 3 further comprising a current limiter coupled to said input signal for limiting a current of said input signal to a predetermined value and providing said limited current to said capacitor.

Claim 6

A circuit as recited in claim 3 wherein said input signal is received from a game port interface bus coupled to a game port of said host computer system.

Claim 7

A circuit as recited in claim 3 wherein said input signal is received from an interface bus coupled to a control port of said host computer system, wherein said host computer system is a video game console.

Claim 8

A circuit as recited in claim 3 wherein said input signal is received from a power supply included in said interface device.

Claim 9

A force feedback interface device that interfaces a user with a host computer system and is operative to store power locally to said interface device, said interface device comprising: a user object graspable by a user and manipulable by said user in at least one degree of freedom; a sensor that detects motion of said user object in said degree of freedom and produces a locative sensor signal, wherein a representation of said locative sensor signal is conveyed to said host computer across said communication bus, thereby allowing a software application running on said host computer to update a process in response to manipulation of said user object; an actuator physically coupled to said user object and applying forces upon said user object in said degree of freedom, said forces resisting motion of said user object in said degree of freedom; and a chargeable energy storage device for storing power provided by a signal input to said interface device over said communication bus, said stored power being provided to said actuator to, at least in part, drive said actuator to apply said forces.

Claim 10

A force feedback interface device that interfaces a user with a host computer system and is operative to store power locally to said interface device, said interface device comprising: a user object graspable by a user and manipulable by said user in at least one degree of freedom; a sensor that detects motion of said user object in said degree of freedom and produces a locative sensor signal, wherein a representation of said locative sensor signal is conveyed to said host computer across said communication bus, thereby allowing a software application running on said host computer to update a process in response to manipulation of said user object; an actuator physically coupled to said user object and applying forces upon said user object in said degree of freedom, said forces resisting motion of said user object in said degree of freedom; and a chargeable energy storage device for storing power provided by a signal input to said interface device over said communication bus, said stored power being provided to said actuator to, at least in part, drive said actuator to apply said forces.

Claim 11

An interface device as recited in claim 8 wherein said chargeable energy storage device includes a capacitor.

Claim 12

An interface device as recited in claim 8 wherein said chargeable energy storage device is coupled to a sensing device that senses when said energy storage device is charged.

Claim 13

An interface device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a local microprocessor, separate from said host computer, and operative to monitor said input signal to determine when said capacitor is charged, wherein said actuator applies said forces in response to signals produced by said local microprocessor, wherein a local process executed by said local microprocessor locally generates a force sensation by modulating a magnitude of said forces produced by said actuator over a period of time in response to commands received from said host computer across said communication bus.

Claim 14

An interface device as recited in claim 9 wherein said chargeable energy storage device includes a control device for providing a control signal to an actuator so that said actuator can apply force to a user object of said interface device, wherein said stored power is supplied to said actuator with said control signal to apply said force.

Claim 15

An interface device as recited in claim 12 further comprising a driver circuit for receiving said control signal and for amplifying said control signal using said supplied stored power to drive said actuator.

Claim 16

An interface device as recited in claim 8 wherein said input signal is received from a game port interface bus coupled to a game port of said host computer system.

Claim 17

A force feedback interface device for use with a host computer running a software application, said interface device providing force sensations controlled by a local microprocessor, wherein said host computer and said local microprocessor are connected by a communication bus, and wherein said interface receives electrical power from two different sources, said interface device comprising: a user object graspable by a user and manipulable by said user in at least one degree of freedom; a sensor that detects motion of said user object in said degree of freedom and produces a locative sensor signal, wherein a representation of said locative sensor signal is conveyed to said host computer across said communication bus, thereby allowing a software application running on said host computer to update a process in response to manipulation of said user object; an actuator physically coupled to said user object and applying forces upon said user object in said degree of freedom, said forces resisting motion of said user object in said degree of freedom, and wherein power to drive said actuator is drawn, at least in part, from a first power source; and a local microprocessor separate from said host computer and electrically coupled to said actuator, said local microprocessor executing a local process, said local microprocessor coupled to said actuator such that said actuator applies said forces in response to signals produced by said local microprocessor, wherein said local process locally generates a force sensation by modulating a magnitude of said forces produced by said actuator over a period of time in response to commands received from said host computer across said communication bus, said microprocessor receiving power, at least in part, from a second power source such that said interface device can report data to said host computer when said first power source is not connected.

Claim 18

A force feedback interface device for use with a host computer running a software application, said interface device providing force sensations controlled by a local microprocessor, wherein said host computer and said local microprocessor are connected by a communication bus, and wherein said interface receives electrical power from two different sources, said interface device comprising: a user object graspable by a user and manipulable by said user in at least one degree of freedom; a sensor that detects motion of said user object in said degree of freedom and produces a locative sensor signal, wherein a representation of said locative sensor signal is conveyed to said host computer across said communication bus, thereby allowing a software application running on said host computer to update a process in response to manipulation of said user object; an actuator physically coupled to said user object and applying forces upon said user object in said degree of freedom, said forces resisting motion of said user object in said degree of freedom, and wherein power to drive said actuator is drawn, at least in part, from a first power source; and a local microprocessor separate from said host computer and electrically coupled to said actuator, said local microprocessor executing a local process, said local microprocessor coupled to said actuator such that said actuator applies said forces in response to signals produced by said local microprocessor, wherein said local process locally generates a force sensation by modulating a magnitude of said forces produced by said actuator over a period of time in response to commands received from said host computer across said communication bus, said microprocessor receiving power, at least in part, from a second power source such that said interface device can report data to said host computer when said first power source is not connected.

Claim 19

An interface device as recited in claim 15 wherein said first power source is an external power supply.

Claim 20

An interface device as recited in claim 15 wherein said second power source is said host computer, and wherein power is drawn from said host computer across said communication bus.

Claim 21

An interface device as recited in claim 16 wherein said communication bus is a game port.

Claim 22

An interface device as recited in claim 18 wherein said communication bus is a Universal Serial Bus.

Claim 23

An interface device as recited in claim 15 wherein one of said power sources includes a power storage device provided on said interface device for storing at least a portion of said power provided to drive said actuator.

Claim 24

An interface device as recited in claim 20 wherein said power storage device includes a capacitor for storing at least a portion of said power provided to drive said actuator.

Claim 25

An interface device as recited in claim 15 wherein power is drawn from said communication bus over time and stored in a power storage circuit, said power storage circuit operative to be discharged rapidly across said actuator, thereby allowing said actuator to produce a transient force sensation of greater magnitude than if powered directly from said communication bus.

Claim 26

An interface device as recited in claim 17 wherein said communication bus is a game port.

Claim 27

An interface device as recited in claim 17 wherein said communication bus is a Universal Serial Bus.

Claim 28

A force feedback interface device for use with a host computer running a software application, said interface device providing force sensations generated by a local microprocessor, said host computer and said local microprocessor connected by a Universal Serial Bus interface, said interface device comprising: a user object graspable by a user and manipulable in at least one degree of freedom with respect to an origin; a sensor for detecting motion of said user object in said degree of freedom and for producing a locative sensor signal, wherein a representation of said locative sensor signal is conveyed to said host computer across said Universal Serial Bus, thereby allowing said software application to update a process in response to manipulation of said user object; an actuator physically coupled to said user object through a transmission, said actuator applying forces upon said user object along said degree of freedom to produce said force sensation, wherein power to drive said actuator is drawn in part from said Universal Serial Bus; and a local microprocessor separate from said host computer and electrically coupled to said actuator, said local microprocessor executing a local process, said local microprocessor coupled to said actuator such that said actuator applies said forces in response to signals produced by said local microprocessor, wherein said local process locally generates a force sensation by modulating a magnitude of said forces produced by said actuator over a period of time in response to commands received from said host computer across said Universal Serial Bus.

Claim 29

A force feedback interface device for use with a host computer running a software application, said interface device providing force sensations generated by a local microprocessor, said host computer and said local microprocessor connected by a Universal Serial Bus interface, said interface device comprising: a user object graspable by a user and manipulable in at least one degree of freedom with respect to an origin; a sensor for detecting motion of said user object in said degree of freedom and for producing a locative sensor signal, wherein a representation of said locative sensor signal is conveyed to said host computer across said Universal Serial Bus, thereby allowing said software application to update a process in response to manipulation of said user object; an actuator physically coupled to said user object through a transmission, said actuator applying forces upon said user object along said degree of freedom to produce said force sensation, wherein power to drive said actuator is drawn in part from said Universal Serial Bus; and a local microprocessor separate from said host computer and electrically coupled to said actuator, said local microprocessor executing a local process, said local microprocessor coupled to said actuator such that said actuator applies said forces in response to signals produced by said local microprocessor, wherein said local process locally generates a force sensation by modulating a magnitude of said forces produced by said actuator over a period of time in response to commands received from said host computer across said Universal Serial Bus.

Claim 30

An interface device as recited in claim 25 wherein power is drawn from said Universal Serial Bus over time and stored in a power storage circuit, said power storage circuit able to be discharged rapidly across said actuator, thereby allowing said actuator to produce a transient force sensation of greater magnitude than if drawing power directly from the Universal Serial Bus.

Claim 31

An interface device as recited in claim 25 wherein said user object is a mouse.

Claim 32

An interface device as recited in claim 25 wherein said user object is a joystick.

Claim 35

A method as recited in claim 29 wherein said power storage device includes a capacitor which is sufficiently charged when said capacitor is fully charged.

Claim 36

A method as recited in claim 29 further comprising a driver circuit for receiving said control signal and for amplifying said control signal using said supplied stored power to drive said actuator.