Directional tactile feedback for haptic feedback interface devices

Abstract

Directional haptic feedback provided in a haptic feedback interface device. An interface device includes at least two actuator assemblies, which each include a moving inertial mass. A single control signal provided to the actuator assemblies at different magnitudes provides directional inertial sensations felt by the user. A greater magnitude waveform can be applied to one actuator to provide a sensation having a direction approximately corresponding to a position of that actuator in the housing. In another embodiment, the actuator assemblies each include a rotary inertial mass and the control signals have different duty cycles to provide directional sensations. For power-consumption efficiency, the control signals can be interlaced or pulsed at a different frequency and duty cycle to reduce average power requirements.

1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a processor;    a first actuator configured to receive a first control signal from the processor and output a first haptic sensation; and    a second actuator configured to receive a second control signal from the processor and output a second haptic sensation,    the first control signal having a period substantially identical to a period of the second control signal, the first control signal having a magnitude different from a magnitude of the second control signal, the processor configured to output the first control signal and the second control signal respectively to the first actuator and the second actuator at substantially the same time.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are synchronized in phase.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are coupled to a housing.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the housing is included in a handheld device.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a processor;    a first actuator configured to receive a first control signal from the processor and to output a first haptic sensation; and    a second actuator configured to receive a second control signal from the processor and output a second haptic sensation,    the first control signal having a duty cycle different from a duty cycle of the second control signal.    
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are interlaced such that only one control signal is on at a given time.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are coupled to a housing.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the housing is included in a handheld device.  
   
   
       9 . A method, comprising: 
 generating a first control signal and a second control signal, the first control signal having a period substantially identical to a period of the second control signal, the first control signal having a magnitude different from a magnitude of the second control signal; and    outputting the first control signal and the second control signal respectively to a first actuator and a second actuator at substantially the same time,    the first actuator configured to output a first haptic sensation responsive to the first control signal, the second actuator configured to output a second haptic sensation responsive to the second control signal.    
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are synchronized in phase.  
   
   
       11 . A method, comprising: 
 generating a first control signal and a second control signal, the first control signal having a duty cycle different from a duty cycle of the second control signal;    outputting the first control signal to a first actuator, the first actuator configured to output a first haptic sensation responsive to the first control signal; and    outputting the second control signal to a second actuator, the second actuator configured to output a second haptic sensation responsive to the second control signal.    
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising interlacing the first control signal and the second control signal that only one control signal is on at a given time.  
   
   
       13 . A computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, comprising: 
 program code for generating a first control signal and a second control signal, the first control signal having a period substantially identical to a period of the second control signal, the first control signal having a magnitude different from a magnitude of the second control signal; and    program code for outputting the first control signal and the second control signal respectively to a first actuator and a second actuator at substantially the same time,    the first actuator configured to output a first haptic sensation responsive to the first control signal, the second actuator configured to output a second haptic sensation responsive to the second control signal.    
   
   
       14 . A computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, comprising: 
 program code for generating a first control signal and a second control signal, the first control signal having a duty cycle different from a duty cycle of the second control signal;    program code for outputting the first control signal to a first actuator, the first actuator configured to output a first haptic sensation responsive to the first control signal; and    program code for outputting the second control signal to a second actuator, the second actuator configured to output a second haptic sensation responsive to the second control signal.