Patent ID: 7818153
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: G06F,G06T

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: determining a set of object haptic boundaries in a virtual haptic space, the set of object haptic boundaries different from a set of object graphical boundaries in a virtual graphical space, the object haptic boundaries and the object graphical boundaries associated with a virtual object; determining a set of device haptic boundaries in the virtual haptic space, the set of device haptic boundaries different from a set of device graphical boundaries in the virtual graphical space, the device haptic boundaries and the device graphical boundaries associated with a physical device; receiving control inputs from the physical device; using the control inputs to cause changes to the set of device haptic boundaries within the virtual haptic space and the set of device graphical boundaries within the virtual graphical space; comparing the set of object haptic boundaries with the set of device haptic boundaries within the virtual haptic space to identify an overlap between the set of object haptic boundaries and the set of device haptic boundaries; and constraining changes to the set of device graphical boundaries within the virtual graphical space when an overlap is identified; and identifying a depth of penetration by determining an amount of overlap of the set of object haptic boundaries with the set of device haptic boundaries.