Handheld Computer Interface With Haptic Feedback
AssigneeImmersion Corporation
InventorsDavid M. Birnbaum, Danny A. Grant
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A handheld computer interface includes an enclosure, a mass coupled to the enclosure, and an actuator coupled to the mass to change a position of the mass relative to the enclosure. When the actuator receives a signal indicating a change in the center of mass of the interface, it changes the position of the mass.
Claims22
A handheld computer interface comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a mass coupled to the enclosure;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the mass to change a position of the mass relative to the enclosure;
- wherein the actuator is adapted to receive a signal indicating a change to a center of mass of the interface and changes the position of the mass in response to the signal.
A method of operating a handheld computer interface that is grasped by a user at a first point, the method comprising:
- receiving a signal from a computer system that a center of mass of the handheld computer interface should be changed;
- and
- in response to the signal, moving a mass relative to the first point, wherein the mass is coupled to the computer interface.
A computer readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to operate a handheld computer interface that comprises an enclosure, actuator and a mass coupled to the actuator, the instructions comprising:
- receiving a request from an application to change the perceived weight of the handheld computer interface, wherein the interface is grasped by a user's hand;
- calculating a position of the mass relative to the hand to achieve the perceived weight;
- and
- generating signals to cause the actuator to move the mass to the calculated position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.