Haptic controller
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsMichael Jack Sinclair, Mar Gonzalez Franco, Christian Holz, Eyal Ofek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present concepts relate to haptic controllers. In one example the haptic controller can include first and second capstans rotationally secured to a base and an energy storage mechanism connected between the first and second capstans. The example haptic controller can also include a user engagement assembly secured to the first capstan and a controller configured to control rotational forces imparted on the user engagement assembly by controlling rotational friction experienced by the first and second capstans.
Claims20
A computer implemented method, comprising:
- receiving elasticity information about a virtual object engaged by a user;
- and,
- sending a signal to control a first capstan when the elasticity information indicates the virtual object is inelastic and sending the signal to control a second capstan when the elasticity information indicates the virtual object is elastic to provide resistance to the user engaging the virtual object.
A computer implemented method, comprising:
- receiving size and elasticity information relating to a virtual object indicating whether the virtual object is elastic or inelastic;
- receiving finger information from an energy-storing resistive (ESR) haptic controller;
- and,
- sending a signal to control the ESR haptic controller, wherein when the elasticity information indicates the virtual object is inelastic, sending the signal to a first capstan of the ESR haptic controller, and wherein when the elasticity information indicates the virtual object is elastic sending the signal to a second capstan of the ESR haptic controller to provide resistance to user engagement of the virtual object.
A computer implemented method, comprising:
- allowing a user's finger to rotate a capstan arm in a first direction, the capstan arm connected to a first capstan;
- and,
- causing a second capstan that is coaxial with the first capstan to resist rotation in the first direction while the first capstan rotates in the first direction relative to the second capstan and stores energy in an energy storage mechanism secured between the first capstan and the second capstan that creates a force in an opposite second direction on the capstan arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.