Virtual detents through vibrotactile feedback

Abstract

Systems and methods for virtual detents through vibrotactile feedback are described. One described method includes receiving an input signal comprising information associated with the manipulation of an input device and generating a signal configured to cause an actuator to provide a vibrotactile effect to the input device, the vibrotactile effect comprising a virtual detent.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving an input signal comprising information associated with a manipulation of an input device, and   generating a vibrotactile signal configured to cause an actuator to produce a vibrotactile effect to the input device, the vibrotactile effect comprising a virtual detent.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a system signal associated with a system to be manipulated, the system signal based at least in part on the input signal, and wherein generating a system signal and generating the vibrotactile signal occur substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrotactile signal is based at least in part on the input signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrotactile signal is further based in part on the status of the input device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining whether to generate a signal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein determining whether to generate a signal is based at least in part on a status of the system to be manipulated. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining one of a plurality of virtual detents to generate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the manipulation of an input device comprises information associated with the rotation of a rotary knob or the sliding of a fader. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, the program code comprising:
 program code for receiving an input signal comprising information associated with the manipulation of an input device; and   program code for generating a detent signal configured to cause an actuator to produce a vibrotactile effect to the input device, the vibrotactile effect comprising a virtual detent.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising program code for generating a system signal associated with a system to be manipulated, the system signal based at least in part on the input signal. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising program code for determining whether to generate a detent signal. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising program code for determining a virtual detent to generate. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 an input device;   a processor in communication with the input device, the processor configured to receive an input signal, the processor further configured to generate a detent signal; and   at least one actuator coupled to the input device, the at least one actuator configured to receive the detent signal and produce a vibrotactile effect to the input device, the vibrotactile effect comprising a virtual detent.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to control a system based at least in part on a manipulation of the input device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether to generate a detent signal. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one actuator is coupled to a housing of the input device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the input device comprises a sensor.