Patent ID: 6219032
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: A63F,G05G,G06F,H01H,H04L

Abstract:
A method for providing force feedback to the user of a graphical user interface displayed by a computer system and for aiding a user in manipulating a user-controlled cursor and in targeting graphical elements in said graphical user interface, said graphical elements interfacing said user to functions of said computer system, the method comprising:receiving data representing a displayed location of said user-controlled cursor within said graphical user interface displayed on a display screen of said computer system, a determination of said displayed location based upon signals received from a user interface device that represent the motion of a manipulatable physical object in at least one degree of freedom, said interface device coupled to said computer system and including an actuator for applying electronically modulated forces to be felt by said user, wherein said forces are modulated as a function of the location of said physical object in said at least one degree of freedom;selecting a force sensation to be output to said user based at least in part on said data representing said displayed location, wherein a plurality of targets displayed within said graphical user interface are associated with target force sensations that are output to said user, wherein said targets allow said user to interface with operating system functions implemented by said computer system, and wherein a particular target is associated with at least three different ones of said target force sensations, said force sensations being different such that said actuator changes its force output based on said force sensation to be output, a first one of said different force sensations selected to be output to said user when said cursor is moved from a position outside a boundary of said particular target to a position inside said boundary, a second one of said different force sensations selected to be output to said user when said cursor is moved from a position inside said boundary to a position outside said boundary, and a third one of said different force sensations selected to be output to said user when said cursor is moved within said particular target inside said boundary; andproviding a signal to cause said selected force sensation to be output as forces to said user by said actuator.