Patent ID: 7864164
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A simulator comprising: a touchpad configured to receive an input command upon a user's finger coming into contact with the touchpad; a processor associated with a graphical representation of at least a portion of a virtual subject; a sensor coupled to the touchpad and the processor, the sensor capable of sensing a position of the user's finger along a planar surface of the touchpad and a force applied by the user's finger onto the touchpad, wherein the sensor is configured to provide signals to the processor to move a graphical object capable of interacting with the graphical representation of the virtual subject based on the input command; an actuator coupled to the touchpad and configured to output a barrier haptic feedback force to be felt by the user when the graphical object is positioned at a designated barrier location on the graphical representation and the force applied by the user's finger is at a predetermined amount.