IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,084,884
Granted Patent B1
US 7,084,884 · App. 09/912,434 · Granted Aug 1, 2006

Graphical object interactions

Assignee: Immersion Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,084,884
App. No.
09/912,434
Granted
Aug 1, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of controlling the display of an articulated graphical image in a graphical environment comprises sensing manipulation of a user object, controlling the displayed position or shape of the articulated graphical image in relation to the sensed manipulation, and when the articulated graphical image interacts with a graphical object, changing the relationship between the displayed position or shape of the articulated graphical image and the sensed manipulation. In one version, the display of the graphical image is calculated by an algorithm utilizing numerical methods.

Claims (27)

1. A method, comprising:

sensing a manipulation of an articulatable object configured to be coupled to a host computer system that includes a graphical environment;

updating data values associated with at least one of a displayed orientation and a displayed shape of a graphical image in the graphical environment in relation to the sensed manipulation;

changing a relationship between the sensed manipulation and the at least one of the displayed orientation and the displayed shape of the graphical image based on a simulated interaction of the graphical image with a graphical object; and

calculating one of the displayed orientation and the displayed shape of the graphical image,

wherein calculating includes using a quadratically converging and linearly scalable constraint solver employing a ridge regression technique.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating includes using constraints to calculate the at least one of the displayed orientation and the displayed shape of the graphical image.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating includes using numerical methods to calculate the at least one of the displayed orientation and the displayed shape of the graphical image.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is configured to provide haptic feedback.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the haptic feedback is associated with the simulated interaction of the graphical image and the graphical object.

6. A method, comprising:

sensing a manipulation of an articulatable object configured to be coupled to a host computer system including a graphical environment;

updating data values associated with at least one of a displayed orientation and a displayed shape of a graphical image in the graphical environment in relation to the sensed manipulation; and

changing a relationship between the sensed manipulation and the at least one of the displayed orientation and displayed shape of the graphical image by calculating at least one of the displayed orientation and displayed shape of the graphical image,

wherein the calculating includes using a quadratically converging and linearly scalable constraint solver employing a ridge regression technique.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the object is configured to provide haptic feedback.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the haptic feedback is associated with a simulated interaction of the graphical image and the graphical object.

9. A method, comprising:

sensing a manipulation of an object configured to be coupled to a host computer system including a graphical environment;

updating data values associated with at least one of a position and a shape of an articulated graphical image in the graphical environment based on the sensed manipulation, the articulated graphical image having a first image portion and a second image portion, the first image portion being movable with respect to the second image portion;

changing a relationship between the sensed manipulation and the at least one of the position and shape of the articulated graphical image; and

calculating the at least one of the position and shape of the articulated graphical image,

wherein calculating includes using a quadratically converging and linearly scalable constraint solver employing a ridge regression technique.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein calculating includes using constraints to calculate the at least one of the position and the shape of the graphical image.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein calculating includes using numerical methods to calculate the at least one of the position and the shape of the graphical image.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the object is configured to provide haptic feedback.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the haptic feedback is associated with a simulated interaction of the graphical image and the graphical object.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2002
From: VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: IMMERSION CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 013211/0318 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2002
From: NELSON, DONALD; ULRICH, CHRISTOPHER J.
To: VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 012484/0762 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 0943236200 · Nov 3, 1999
Provisional Application 6027331100 · Mar 1, 2001
Provisional Application 6022030200 · Jul 24, 2000
Provisional Application 6010690400 · Nov 3, 1998