Systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation

{
  "publication_number": "US9358689B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation",
  "abstract": "Systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes: an actuator; and a control-circuit in communication with the actuator, the control circuit configured to: receive a 2-bit signal including a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; and transmit a power signal based on the two bit signal, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate at the actuation state at a fixed power.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system comprising: an actuator; and a control-circuit in communication with the actuator, the control circuit configured to: receive a 2-bit signal comprising a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; and transmit a power signal based on the two bit signal, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate in the actuation state at a fixed power.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation of the actuator is configured to generate a haptic effect.",
    "3. The system of claim 2, wherein the haptic effect is a click.",
    "4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed power is substantially the maximum power of the actuator.",
    "5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises an H-bridge.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises a relay.",
    "7. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuation state comprises a direction in which the actuator will apply torque.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuation state comprises one of: braking, pulsing, or bending.",
    "9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to: determine if the power state is on; and determine the actuation state.",
    "10. The system of claim 2, further comprising a digital control circuit configured to transmit the 2-bit message.",
    "11. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital control circuit is further configured to determine a length of time to power the actuator.",
    "12. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital control circuit comprises a processor.",
    "13. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital control circuit comprises a Field Programmable Gate Array.",
    "14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a manipulandum configured to transmit signals to the digital control circuit.",
    "15. The system of claim 14, wherein the haptic effect is output onto the manipulandum.",
    "16. The system of claim 14, wherein the manipulandum comprises a touch-sensitive interface.",
    "17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to contain the control circuit and the actuator.",
    "18. The system of claim 17, wherein the housing comprises a mobile device housing.",
    "19. The system of claim 17, wherein the housing comprises a greeting card.",
    "20. The system of claim 17, wherein the housing comprises a remote control housing.",
    "21. A method comprising: receiving a 2-bit message comprising a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; transmitting a power signal to an actuator based on the 2-bit message, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate in the indicated actuation state at a fixed power, the actuator configured to generate a haptic effect.",
    "22. The method of claim 21, wherein the haptic effect is a click.",
    "23. The method of claim 21, further comprising: determining if the power state is on; and determining the actuation state.",
    "24. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving an input signal from a manipulandum.",
    "25. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining a length of time to output the haptic effect.",
    "26. A system comprising: a processor configured to transmit a 2-bit message comprising a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; a control-circuit in communication with the processor, the control circuit configured to: receive the 2-bit message; determine if the power state is on; determine the actuation state; and output a power signal to a motor in communication with the control circuit, the power signal configured to cause the motor to operate at the actuation state at substantially the maximum speed of the motor; a manipulandum configured to detect user interaction and transmit an interface signal to the processor; and a housing configured to enclose the processor, control circuit, manipulandum, and motor."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention generally relates to haptic feedback systems and more specifically to systems that implement a minimal approach for haptic feedback.\n\nThe use of haptic feedback in many different types of devices is becoming more common. Many devices implement a complex and therefore expensive form of haptic feedback. Less expensive devices could benefit from haptic feedback; thus, there is a need for systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation.\n\nEmbodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation. For example, in one embodiment a system for minimal haptic implementation comprises: an actuator; and a control-circuit in communication with the actuator, the control circuit configured to: receive a 2-bit signal comprising a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; and transmit a power signal based on the two bit signal, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate at the actuation state at a fixed power.\n\nThis illustrative embodiment is mentioned not to limit or define the invention, but to provide an example to aid understanding thereof. Illustrative embodiments are discussed in the Detailed Description along with a further description of the invention. Advantages offered by various embodiments of this invention may be further understood by examining this Specification.\n\nThe features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following Detailed Description is read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:",
  "cpc": [
    "B25J 9/1689",
    "G05B 2219/40619",
    "G08B 6/00"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25J 9/16",
    "G05B 23/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Immersion Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Erin B. Ramsay",
    "Henrique D. da Costa",
    "Neil Olien",
    "Robert A. Lacroix"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2009-11-10",
  "publication_date": "2016-06-07",
  "grant_date": "2016-06-07",
  "priority_date": "2009-11-10",
  "application_number": "US-61583109-A",
  "family_id": "43973736",
  "cited_by_count": 7,
  "citations": [
    "US7307619B2",
    "US20090096632A1",
    "US8117364B2",
    "US20090238544A1",
    "US20100177050A1"
  ]
}