Back to results
US 2001/0019324 A1Published application
Interface device with tactile feedback button
AssigneeImmersion Corporation
InventorLouis B. Rosenberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeImmersion Corporation
InventorLouis B. Rosenberg
Estimating the term…
A low-cost force feedback interface device for providing low cost force feedback for enhancing interactions and manipulations in a graphical environment provided by a computer. One embodiment provides a mouse movable in a planar workspace and providing output sensor signals representative of that movement. Mouse button movement is detected to send command signals to the host computer, and an actuator coupled to the button applies an output force in the degree of freedom of the button. In a different embodiment, a force feedback pointing device includes a cylindrical member that may be rotated about an axis and translated along that axis to provide sensor signals to control a position of a graphical object such as a cursor. A command sensor detects motion of the cylindrical member perpendicular to the translation, such as when the cylindrical member is pressed down by the user. An actuator applies an output force in the perpendicular degree of freedom of the cylindrical member. The output force is correlated with interaction of the controlled cursor with other graphical objects in the graphical environment. The force sensation can be a jolt, vibration, constant force, texture force, or other type of force.
A force feedback mouse coupled to a host computer implementing a host application program, said mouse physically contacted by a user and movable in a planar workspace, the mouse comprising:
A force feedback mouse as recited in claim 7 wherein said linear actuator is a voice coil actuator.
A force feedback mouse as recited in claim I wherein said sensor includes a contact switch for detecting a depressed position of said button.
A force feedback mouse as recited in claim I wherein said sensor detects a range of at least three positions of said button in said degree of freedom of said button.
A force feedback pointing device coupled to a host computer implementing a host application program, said pointing device physically contacted by a user and movable to provide input to said host computer, the pointing device comprising:
A method for providing force feedback in a mouse input device coupled to a host computer, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.