초록 ▼

A low-cost method and system for processing force feedback effects generated at a host for playback at a physical interaction device by moving much of the force feedback effect processing from the device back to the host, and performing this in a manner that does not adversely affect latency effects

A low-cost method and system for processing force feedback effects generated at a host for playback at a physical interaction device by moving much of the force feedback effect processing from the device back to the host, and performing this in a manner that does not adversely affect latency effects or the load on the host processor. This is achieved by a novel combination of software and hardware techniques. In particular, the device hardware uses a low-cost microcontroller with limited processing capabilities, minimal memory and a low speed USB interface. The small memory also alleviates the need for buffer assignments and memory management. On the other hand, the device driver software residing on the host computer relies on the host's powerful processor to perform the majority of the effect management and computation, as well as translating all the complex high-level effect commands to a unique, small and simplified set of low-level commands which are periodically updated and transferred to the device for playback.

대표청구항 ▼

A low-cost method and system for processing force feedback effects generated at a host for playback at a physical interaction device by moving much of the force feedback effect processing from the device back to the host, and performing this in a manner that does not adversely affect latency effects

A low-cost method and system for processing force feedback effects generated at a host for playback at a physical interaction device by moving much of the force feedback effect processing from the device back to the host, and performing this in a manner that does not adversely affect latency effects or the load on the host processor. This is achieved by a novel combination of software and hardware techniques. In particular, the device hardware uses a low-cost microcontroller with limited processing capabilities, minimal memory and a low speed USB interface. The small memory also alleviates the need for buffer assignments and memory management. On the other hand, the device driver software residing on the host computer relies on the host's powerful processor to perform the majority of the effect management and computation, as well as translating all the complex high-level effect commands to a unique, small and simplified set of low-level commands which are periodically updated and transferred to the device for playback. ount, wherein said detecting step comprises: a variable period setting step of setting a read period, a duration of the read period being variable and based on an external setting; and a detecting step of detecting the light amount every period set at the setting step; wherein said detecting step comprises the additional step of executing photoelectric conversion of the light amount of the outside light to a voltage value and outputting the light amount as the voltage value. 4. A display control method for adjusting an intensity of an image display in accordance with time change of outside light, said display control method comprising the steps of: detecting the light amount of the outside light; and adjusting the intensity in response to the detected light amount, wherein said detecting step comprises: a variable period setting step of setting a read period, a duration of the read period being variable and based on an external setting; and a detecting step of detecting the light amount every period set at the setting step; wherein said variable period setting step is to read data from among data stored in a storage unit and set the read data as the read period. 5. A display control method for adjusting an intensity of an image display in accordance with time change of outside light said display control method comprising the steps of: detecting the light amount of the outside light; and adjusting the intensity in response to the detected light amount, wherein said detecting step comprises a processing step of changing the intensity only if light amount change of the outside light is held a constant value or more for a constant time, a duration of said constant time being variable and based on an external setting, the detecting step thereby absorbing intermittent changes in the outside light; wherein said detecting step comprises the additional step of executing photoelectric conversion of the light amount of the outside light to a voltage value and outputting the light amount as the voltage value. 6. A display control method for adjusting an intensity of an image display in accordance with time change of outside light said display control method comprising the steps of: detecting the light amount of the outside light; and adjusting the intensity in response to the detected light amount, wherein said detecting step comprises a processing step of changing the intensity only if light amount change of the outside light is held a constant value or more for a constant time, a duration of said constant time being variable and based on an external setting, the detecting step thereby absorbing intermittent changes in the outside light; wherein said variable period setting step is to read data from among data stored in a storage unit and set the read data as the read period. 7. A display control method for adjusting an intensity of an image display in accordance with time change of outside light said display control method comprising the steps of: detecting the light amount of the outside light; and adjusting the intensity in response to the detected light amount, wherein said detecting step comprises a processing step of changing the intensity only if light amount change of the outside light is held a constant value or more for a constant time, a duration of said constant time being variable and based on an external setting, the detecting step thereby absorbing intermittent changes in the outside light; wherein the display is an in-car display. 8. A display controller comprising: variable period setting means for allowing an operator to set a read period, a duration of the read period being variable and based on an external setting; detection means for detecting a light amount of outside light every setup read period; and intensity adjustment means for adjusting intensity of a display in response to the detected light amount of outside light; wherein said intensity adjustment means adjusts t he intensity only if light amount change of the outside light is held a constant value or more for a constant time, thereby absorbing intermittent change in the outside light. 9. A display controller comprising: variable period setting means for allowing an operator to set a read period, a duration of the read period being variable and based on an external setting; detection means for detecting a light amount of outside light every setup read period; and intensity adjustment means for adjusting intensity of a display in response to the detected light amount of outside light; wherein said variable period setting means comprises a photoelectric conversion of the light amount of the outside light to a voltage value and outputting the light amount as the voltage value. 10. A display controller comprising: variable period setting means for allowing an operator to set a read period, a duration of the read period being variable and based on an external setting; detection means for detecting a light amount of outside light every setup read period; and intensity adjustment means for adjusting intensity of a display in response to the detected light amount of outside light; wherein said variable period setting means comprises a storage unit and set the read data as the read period. 11. A display controller comprising: variable period setting means for allowing an operator to set a read period, a duration of the read period being variable and based on an external setting; detection means for detecting a light amount of outside light every setup read period; and intensity adjustment means for adjusting intensity of a display in response to the detected light amount of outside light; wherein said display is an in-car display. vides selection of a level of said bias of power with respect to said subset of outputs of said plurality of outputs. 25. The system of claim 13, further comprising: a controller coupled to said controllable phase shifter and operable to provide control signals thereto to thereby at least in part control said power shifting between subsets of said plurality of outputs. 26. The system of claim 25, wherein said controller provides said control signals at least in part as a function of communication metrics selected from the group consisting of: a position of a corresponding communication