Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Generic control system – apparatus or process – Having operator control interface
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-23
2001-02-27
Gordon, Paul P. (Department: 2786)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Generic control system, apparatus or process
Having operator control interface
C700S084000, C700S085000, C700S017000, C318S561000, C318S601000, C709S203000, C709S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195592
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to user interface devices and in particular to devices providing tactile responsiveness and having programmable force-position profiles defining tactile responsiveness in manipulating a cursor on a screen display.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In numerous contexts humans perform tasks by interacting with machines via actuators having knobs, dials or linear actuators. Such human interaction in many instances becomes conditioned upon the responsiveness of the actuator. The human operator interacts in accordance with tactile feedback perceived through contact with the actuator knobs, dials or handles.
For example, in video or film editing using systems as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,937,685 and 4,964,004 which are incorporated herein by reference, an editor edits video image information at a console having a plurality of “control wheels” (i.e. large dials or knobs). The film or video editor controls operation of a composition system from an operator's console, as illustrated in
FIG. 1
, using two sets of controls, one for each hand, to control the editing process. Each control set includes a plurality of finger switches or pushbuttons
110
clustered proximate to a large rotatable control wheel
112
, facilitating tactile operation with minimal hand movement. As the editor is focussing on at least one video monitor, viewing frames of visual source material during the editing function, it is generally the case that the operator will acquire a feel for the various controls and become acclimated to their functionality through tactile feedback therefrom, rather than having to look at the control wheel(s) for visual feedback. Accordingly, more efficient human interaction with, and sensitivity to the composition system is achieved.
The control wheels
112
exhibit tactile responsiveness, such as detents or clicks, as they are rotated. Typically, a full rotation of the wheel
112
is correlated to a unit of time, such as one second, of viewing -the visual source material being edited. A corresponding number of “frames” of visual source material will be viewed during such a time period, depending on the medium or type of source material being edited. It is most desirable that the number of frames of source material be correlated to the tactile responsiveness, i.e. number of clicks, of the wheel
112
during rotation. For instance, film editing involves standardized source material of which twenty-four (24) frames are provided per second. Thus, it is most desirable that in a full rotation of the wheel
112
(presenting one second of source material), the wheel respond with twenty-four (24) clicks, each click corresponding to one frame of the visual source material.
While film editing involves source material having twenty-four (24) frames per second, other video medium standards require different frame rates. The frame rate, or number of frames per second according to the National Television System Committee (NTSC) is thirty (30) frames per second, a standard promulgated for television video in the United States. Standards such as PAL and SECAM provide for a standard frame rate of twenty-five (25) frames per second in England and France respectively. New standards for high definition television specify a frame rate of thirty (30) or sixty (60) frames per second.
Differing frame rate standards relating to visual source material and the nature of mechanical detents in actuators, presents the problem that multiple actuators are required to facilitate correlation between actuator tactile responsiveness and the various visual source material standards. As illustrated in
FIG. 1
a,
actuators known in the art for providing tactile responsiveness typically incorporate a mechanical-detent mechanism. A fixed number of clicks is provided by a spring loaded friction mechanism
111
coacting with a sprocket
113
having a fixed number of cogs or detents corresponding to the desired number of clicks per revolution. Therefore, an actuator having twenty-four fixed detents is required and dedicated for a film editing context, a thirty detent actuator is required for a NTSC video editing system, a twenty five detent actuator is required in the PAL or CCAM video editing context, etc. The plurality of actuators required limits the flexibility of visual source material composition systems and significantly increases the complexity, cost and hardware requirements of a flexible system.
In addition to the lack of flexibility of use of fixed mechanical detent actuators, such actuators disadvantageously become worn and suffer tactile responsiveness degradation over time. Other mechanically/spring loaded linear or rotary actuators suffer similar deficiencies.
Likewise, other types of actuators or user interface devices are known for permitting users to interact with electronic devices, such as personal computers. Such user interface devices, like a trackball or mouse as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,549 (“the '549 patent”), may include tactile responsiveness in the form of resistance to movement of the device as the device is actuated and the cursor moves across predetermined areas of the display screen.
In the '549 patent a mouse is disclosed which has an electromagnetic means, in the form of an electromagnet in conjunction with a magnetic surface or an electromagnetic brake, which provides resistance to the movement of a “spherical ball pickup”. Feedback or tactile responsiveness is achieved in one embodiment by controlling the degree of sliding friction between a magnetic portion of the mouse and a magnetic pad surface on which the mouse must be actuated. Disadvantageously, the magnetic pad surface is a requirement in such an embodiment, and the friction forces between the pad and the mouse may be affected in ways that may not be predictable and might be detrimental to the tactile responsiveness.
In another embodiment in the '549 patent, an electromagnetic brake is included and resistance is provided by the brake directly to the spherical ball or tracking element. The braking mechanism is totally self-contained within the mouse eliminating the need for a magnetic pad surface. However, while the electromagnetic brake provides a stopping mechanism, it cannot provide a continuous torque to the tracking element, i.e. no torque is applied when the tracking element is stopped. Such a mechanism cannot be used to change tactile responsiveness, e.g. to decrease resistance, as a function of characteristics of a particular screen display. The resistance provided is only opposed to motion and cannot aid motion by actively driving the ball to facilitate ease of motion in certain display areas or to keep the cursor off of the boundary of a restricted display area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an actuator having electronically controllable tactile responsiveness which is flexibly programmable to facilitate provision in a single actuator of torque-position characteristics, such as a selectable number of detents per actuation through its full operative path. In an illustrative case of a rotary actuator the present invention facilitates provision in a single actuator, of torque versus angular position characteristics, such as a selectable number of detents per revolution.
According to the invention, an actuator is in communication with a servo motor having a position encoder which outputs position information to a controller that has access to torque-position relation information. The output of the controller is a digital torque signal, in accordance with the torque-position relation information, which is converted to an analog current signal applied to the servo motor to generate torque in the servo motor. The torque, presenting a tactile response to a human interacting with the actuator, is sensed as a detent or a plurality of detents.
In further accord with the invention, the controller is a microprocessor which receives position information, from the encoder, through a counter as a position count. Torque-position relation
Haberman Seth M.
Schuler Chester L.
Gordon Paul P.
Immersion Corporation
Patel R
Riegel James R.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for providing tactile sensations using... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for providing tactile sensations using..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for providing tactile sensations using... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2608837