US6088017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tactile feedback man-machine interface device
Assignee: Immersion Corp
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Filing: 1998-04-24
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Granted: 2000-07-11
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Expires: 2018-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A man-machine interface which provides tactile feedback to various sensing body parts is disclosed. The device employs one or more vibrotactile units, where each unit comprises a mass and a mass-moving actuator. As the mass is accelerated by the mass-moving actuator, the entire vibrotactile unit vibrates. Thus, the vibrotactile unit transmits a vibratory stimulus to the sensing body part to which it is affixed. The vibrotactile unit may be used in conjunction with a spatial placement sensing device which measures the spatial placement of a measured body part. A computing device uses the spatial placement of the measured body part to determine the desired vibratory stimulus to be provided by the vibrotactile unit. In this manner, the computing device may control the level of vibratory feedback perceived by the corresponding sensing body part in response to the motion of the measured body part. The sensing body part and the measured body part may be separate or the same body part.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark R. Tremblay
- 👤 Mark H. Yim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/016; G06F3/011; G06F3/014; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/32; G10H1/34; G10L; G10L15/00; G10L15/22; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/155; G10H2220/321; G10L2015/225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for providing a tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state signal, said apparatus comprising at least one vibrotactile unit, wherein each unit comprises: means for generating said variable state signal; a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft; fastening means for holding said mass-moving actuator in relation to said sensing body part for transmitting vibrations to said sensing body part; and a signal processor for receiving and interpreting said state signal to produce an activating signal and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for activating said mass-moving actuator to produce a variable tactile sensation in relation to said variable state signal as a result of varying the frequency and amplitude of said vibration.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for providing a tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state signal, said apparatus comprising at least one vibrotactile unit, wherein each unit comprises: means for generating said variable state signal; a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft; fastening means for holding said mass-moving actuator in relation to said sensing body part for transmitting vibrations to said sensing body part; and a signal processor for receiving and interpreting said state signal to produce an activating signal and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for activating said mass-moving actuator to produce a variable tactile sensation in relation to said variable state signal as a result of varying the frequency and amplitude of said vibration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises a casing containing said vibrotactile unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said activating signal provides varying levels of activating said mass-moving actuator for varying the rotation of said shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mass-moving actuator is an electric motor and said apparatus comprises electrical connection means connecting said electric motor to said signal processor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises means for fastening to a portion of a hand.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said portion of a hand is the dorsal side of a finger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said portion of a hand is the metacarpus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said eccentric mass is pie-shaped.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of vibrotactile units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said signal processor produces multiple activating signals for individually activating each vibrotactile unit of said plurality of vibrotactile units to produce a complex tactile sensation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for providing a tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state of a measured body part, said apparatus comprising at least one vibrotactile unit, wherein each unit comprises: a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft; and fastening means for holding said mass-moving actuator in relation to said sensing body part for transmitting vibrations to said sensing body part; wherein said apparatus further comprises: a state sensor for measuring the variable state of said measured body part and generating a state signal in relation to said variable state; and a signal processor for receiving said state signal to produce an activating signal and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for activating said mass-moving actuator to produce a variable tactile sensation in relation to said variable state.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for providing a tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state of a measured body part, said apparatus comprising at least one vibrotactile unit, wherein each unit comprises: a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft; and fastening means for holding said mass-moving actuator in relation to said sensing body part for transmitting vibrations to said sensing body part; wherein said apparatus further comprises: a state sensor for measuring the variable state of said measured body part and generating a state signal in relation to said variable state; and a signal processor for receiving said state signal to produce an activating signal and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for activating said mass-moving actuator to produce a variable tactile sensation in relation to said variable state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said fastening means comprises a casing containing said vibrotactile unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said activating signal provides varying levels of activating said mass-moving actuator for varying the rotation of said shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said mass-moving actuator is a variable speed electric motor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said fastening means comprises means for fastening to a portion of a hand.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said portion of a hand is the dorsal side of a finger.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said portion of a hand is the metacarpus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said eccentric mass is pie-shaped.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, comprising a plurality of vibrotactile units, wherein said signal processor produces multiple activating signals for individually activating each vibrotactile unit of said plurality of vibrotactile units to produce a complex tactile sensation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus has a plurality of state sensors, each state sensor for measuring the state of a different said measured body part.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for providing a complex tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state signal, said apparatus comprising at least one vibrotactile unit, wherein each unit comprises: a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft; and fastening means for holding said mass-moving actuator in relation to said sensing body part for transmitting vibrations to said sensing body part; wherein said apparatus further comprises a signal processor for interpreting said state signal to produce an activating signal and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for activating said mass-moving actuator to produce a variable complex tactile sensation in relation to said variable state signal.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for providing a complex tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state signal, said apparatus comprising at least one vibrotactile unit, wherein each unit comprises: a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft; and fastening means for holding said mass-moving actuator in relation to said sensing body part for transmitting vibrations to said sensing body part; wherein said apparatus further comprises a signal processor for interpreting said state signal to produce an activating signal and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for activating said mass-moving actuator to produce a variable complex tactile sensation in relation to said variable state signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, comprising a plurality of vibrotactile units, wherein said signal processor produces multiple activating signals for individually activating each vibrotactile unit of said plurality of vibrotactile units to produce said complex tactile sensation.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for providing a tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state signal, employing an apparatus comprising a vibrotactile unit, wherein said vibrotactile unit comprises: a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft; said method comprising: mounting said vibrotactile unit on a sensing body part; producing said variable state signal in relation to a variable condition; interpreting said state signal to produce an activating signal; and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for varying the rotation of said shaft to provide a tactile sensation to said sensing body part, said tactile sensation relating to said state signal as a result of varying the frequency and amplitude of vibration of said mass-moving actuator.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for providing a tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state signal, employing an apparatus comprising a vibrotactile unit, wherein said vibrotactile unit comprises: a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft; said method comprising: mounting said vibrotactile unit on a sensing body part; producing said variable state signal in relation to a variable condition; interpreting said state signal to produce an activating signal; and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for varying the rotation of said shaft to provide a tactile sensation to said sensing body part, said tactile sensation relating to said state signal as a result of varying the frequency and amplitude of vibration of said mass-moving actuator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein said mounting comprises mounting each of a plurality of vibrotactile units on different said sensing body parts; and said transmitting comprises transmitting individual activating signals to each of said vibrotactile units to produce a complex tactile sensation.
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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) | 2003-07-11 | 2004-01-10 | 2004-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-11 | 2008-01-10 | 2008-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-11 | 2012-01-10 | 2012-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |