Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1995-12-13
2001-04-17
Saras, Steven J. (Department: 2775)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S182000, C463S037000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219032
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to interface devices for allowing humans to interface with computer systems, and more particularly to computer systems and computer interface devices that provide force feedback to the user.
Computer systems are used extensively in many different industries to implement many applications, such as word processing, data management, simulations, games, and other tasks. These types of applications are very popular with the mass market of home consumers. A computer system typically displays a visual environment to a user on a display screen or other visual output device. Users can interact with the displayed environment to perform functions on the computer, play a game, experience a simulation or “virtual reality” environment, use a computer aided design (CAD) system, or otherwise influence events or images depicted on the screen. Such user interaction can be implemented through the use of a human-computer interface device, such as a joystick, mouse, trackball, stylus and tablet, “joypad” button controller, foot pedal, yoke hand grip, or the like, that is connected to the computer system controlling the displayed environment. The computer updates the environment in response to the user's manipulation of an object such as a joystick handle or mouse, and provides feedback to the user utilizing the display screen and, typically, audio speakers.
One visual environment that is particularly common is a graphical user interface (GUI). Information within GUI's are presented to users through purely visual and auditory means such as a video monitor and sound card to present images and sound effects which describe various graphical metaphors of the operating system. Common GUI's include the Windows® operating system from Microsoft Corporation and the System
7
operating system from Apple Computer, Inc. These interfaces allows a user to graphically select and manipulate functions of the operating system of the computer by using a mouse, trackball, joystick, or other input device. Other graphical computer environments are similar to GUI's. For example, graphical “pages” on the World Wide Web of the Internet communication network utilize features similar to that of GUI's to select and operate particular functions. Some CAD systems similarly provide graphical presentations. In addition, there has been some contemplation of three dimensional (3-D) GUI's that present simulated 3-D environments on a 2-D screen.
GUI's typically require users to carefully move and position a user-controlled graphical object, such as a cursor or pointer, across the screen and onto other displayed graphical objects or predefined regions on a computer screen. Such manual tasks can be described as “targeting” activities where a user physically manipulates a mouse, joystick, or other interface device in order to command the cursor to a desired location or displayed object, known as a “target” herein. Such targets can include, for example, icons for executing application programs and manipulating files; windows for displaying icons and other information; pull-down menus for selecting particular functions of the operating system or an application program; buttons for selecting presented options; and scroll bars or “sliders” for scrolling information in windows.
Upon moving the cursor to the desired target, the user must maintain the cursor at the acquired target while pressing a button, squeezing a trigger, depressing a pedal, or making some other gesture to command the execution of the given selection or operation. Examples of targeting tasks include positioning a cursor on a graphical icon, selecting and pressing a graphical representation of a button, choosing among numerous items within a graphical representation of a pull-down menu, setting a continuous analog value from a provided range of values by positioning an indicator within a graphical representation of a scroll bar, selecting a region of text by highlighting a region using the cursor, as well as a number of other common windows-based and text-based metaphors.
The movement of a cursor onto various displayed graphical objects of a GUI may require significant dexterity. Users may move the cursor too far over an object and have to backtrack their cursor. Or, particular graphical objects might be mistakenly selected when the user does not wish to select the object due to pressing a button or moving the cursor by accident. In addition, a user may become confused as to which window a cursor is positioned in if the user is viewing other data on the screen at the same time as moving the cursor.
In particular, persons with neuromotor disabilities who suffer from spastic manual control have much greater difficulty interacting with GUI's because they lack the fine motor coordination required to manually position the computer cursor accurately and efficiently. While manual targeting activities are adequately executed by persons with normal neuromotor functionality, persons with spastic hand motions find such tasks to be physically challenging if not impossible.
What is needed is a computer system and interface device that will allow all users to more accurately and efficiently perform cursor movement activities and manipulate operating system and other functions within a GUI.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to controlling and providing force feedback to a user operating a human/computer interface device in conjunction with a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed by a host computer system. Force sensations are provided to the interface device to assist and/or inform the user of graphical objects encountered by a user-controlled cursor in the GUI.
More specifically, a method of the present invention for providing force feedback within a graphical user interface (GUI) environment of a computer system includes a step of receiving an indication of movement of a physical object that is manipulated by a user. This physical object, such as a joystick handle or a mouse, is included in an interface device that outputs the indication of movement to the computer system. A user-controlled graphical object, such as a cursor, is moved within a graphical user interface (GUI) based on the indication of the movement of the physical object. Preferably, a position control paradigm is implemented such that the location of the cursor in the GUI approximately corresponds to a location of the physical object with reference to an origin; alternatively, a rate control paradigm may be used. The cursor and the GUI are displayed on a display screen connected to the computer system, and the GUI allows the user to interface with operating system functions implemented by the computer system through graphical objects displayed on the screen. A signal is output from the computer system to the interface device to command the interface device to apply a desired force sensation to the physical object using one or more electrically controlled actuators. This desired force sensation is associated with at least one of the graphical objects and operating system functions of the graphical user interface.
Preferably, the force sensation applied to the physical object is at least partially determined by a location of the cursor in the GUI with respect to targets associated with the graphical objects in the GUI. These targets may include or be associated with such graphical objects as icons, windows, pull-down menus and menu items, scroll bars (“sliders”), and buttons. The force sensation output to the physical object is associated with targets that affect the cursor. This force preferably assists the user to select the desired operating system function that is associated with the force. For example, a target can provide an attractive force on the physical object and cursor so that the cursor is more easily moved onto the target. In addition, the force on the physical object may inform the user of the graphical object that the cursor has moved into or near. An operating system fun
Brave Scott B.
Rosenberg Louis B.
Bell Paul A.
Immersion Corporation
Riegel James R.
Saras Steven J.
LandOfFree
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