Gaming device having a haptic-enabled trigger

Abstract

A haptic peripheral comprising a housing, a user input element, a position sensor coupled to the user input element, and an actuator located within the housing and coupled to the user input element. The position sensor is configured to detect a position of the user input element and is configured to send the position to a processor. The actuator is configured to receive a haptic effect drive signal from the processor and is configured to output a force in response to the haptic effect drive signal from the processor. The force is transmitted to the user input element as a kinesthetic haptic effect. The haptic peripheral may include a mechanical amplification system coupled to the actuator and configured to increase the force output by the actuator. In such an embodiment, the increased force is transmitted from the mechanical amplification system to the user input element as a kinesthetic haptic effect. The user input element may be a button, joystick, or trigger and is manipulated by a user to interact with a host computer.

1 - 201  (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A haptic peripheral comprising:
 a processor;   a housing;   a trigger which is rotatable about an axis;   a position sensor coupled to the trigger, wherein the position sensor is configured to detect a position of the trigger and is configured to send the position to the processor;   an actuator located within the housing and coupled to the trigger, wherein the actuator is configured to receive a haptic effect drive signal from the processor and is configured to output a force in response to the haptic effect drive signal from the processor;   a rotatable shaft, wherein the actuator is coupled to the trigger via the rotatable shaft such that rotation of the rotatable shaft via the actuator causes movement of the trigger; and   a mechanical amplification system coupled to the actuator and configured to increase the force output by the actuator, wherein the increased force is transmitted from the mechanical amplification system to the trigger as a kinesthetic haptic effect.   
     
     
         22 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is located within the housing of the haptic peripheral. 
     
     
         23 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is remotely located from the housing of the haptic peripheral. 
     
     
         24 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 21 , wherein the actuator applies the force output in response to the haptic effect drive signal to the trigger via rotation of the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         25 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 21 , wherein the mechanical amplification system is a gear system coupled to the actuator. 
     
     
         26 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 21 , wherein the actuator is a bidirectional motor. 
     
     
         27 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 21 , wherein the kinesthetic haptic effect is selected from the group consisting of a detent, a vibration, or a texture. 
     
     
         28 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 21 , wherein the position sensor is rotatable about an axis and is coupled to the trigger via a lever arm. 
     
     
         29 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 21 , wherein the haptic effect drive signal is generated by the processor in response to the position of the trigger. 
     
     
         30 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a rumble actuator coupled to the housing, wherein the rumble actuator is configured to receive a second haptic effect control signal from the processor and output a second haptic effect to the housing in response to a second haptic effect control signal received from the processor.   
     
     
         31 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 21 , wherein the actuator generates and applies a first force output in response to a first haptic effect drive signal to the trigger when the trigger is in a first position and the actuator generates and applies a second force output in response to a second haptic effect drive signal to the trigger when the trigger is in a second position, the first position being different than the second position and the first haptic effect drive signal being different than the second haptic effect drive signal. 
     
     
         32 . A haptic peripheral comprising:
 a housing;   a trigger which is rotatable about an axis;   a lever arm having a hinged first end and a moveable second end, wherein the trigger is attached to the moveable second end of the lever arm;   a position sensor attached to the hinged first end of the lever arm, wherein the position sensor is configured to detect a change in the rotational position of the trigger as a movement event and is configured to send the movement event to a processor;   a motor located within the housing, wherein the motor is configured to receive a haptic effect drive signal from the processor and is configured to output a force in response to the haptic effect drive signal from the processor; and   a rotatable shaft attached to the motor and extending therefrom to the hinged first end of the lever arm, wherein the rotatable shaft is attached to the hinged first end of the lever arm such that rotation of the rotatable shaft via the motor causes movement of the lever arm and the trigger,   wherein the force output by the motor is transmitted to the trigger via the rotatable shaft as a kinesthetic haptic effect.   
     
     
         33 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 32 , further comprising a gear system disposed between the motor and the rotatable shaft, the gear system being configured to increase the force output by the motor, wherein the increased force is transmitted from the gear system to the trigger as the kinesthetic haptic effect. 
     
     
         34 . The haptic peripheral of  claim 32 , wherein the motor generates and applies a first force output in response to a first haptic effect drive signal to the trigger when the trigger is in a first position and the motor generates and applies a second force output in response to a second haptic effect drive signal to the trigger when the trigger is in a second position, the first position being different than the second position and the first haptic effect drive signal being different than the second haptic effect drive signal. 
     
     
         35 . A gaming system comprising:
 a host computer;   a processor;   a controller having a housing, a trigger which is rotatable about an axis, a position sensor coupled to the trigger, an actuator coupled to the trigger via a rotatable shaft such that rotation of the rotatable shaft via the actuator causes movement of the trigger, and a mechanical amplification system coupled to the actuator, wherein the position sensor is configured to detect a position of the trigger and send the position to the processor, the actuator is configured to receive a haptic effect drive signal from the processor and is configured to output a force in response to the haptic effect drive signal from the processor, and the mechanical amplification system is configured to increase the force output by the actuator, the increased force being transmitted from the mechanical amplification system to the trigger as a kinesthetic haptic effect.   
     
     
         36 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , wherein the host computer is a tablet computer and the controller includes a handle and a docking station adapted to receive the tablet computer therein, wherein the trigger is disposed on the handle. 
     
     
         37 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , wherein the processor is disposed in the controller. 
     
     
         38 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , wherein the processor is disposed in the host computer. 
     
     
         39 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , wherein the controller also includes a rumble actuator coupled to the housing, wherein the rumble actuator is configured to receive a second haptic effect control signal from the processor and output a second haptic effect to the housing in response to a second haptic effect control signal received from the processor. 
     
     
         40 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , wherein the actuator generates and applies a first force output in response to a first haptic effect drive signal to the trigger when the trigger is in a first position and the actuator generates and applies a second force output in response to a second haptic effect drive signal to the trigger when the trigger is in a second position, the first position being different than the second position and the first haptic effect drive signal being different than the second haptic effect drive signal.