Haptics Transmission Latency Compensation via Damping and Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Haptic devices experience significant latency issues when transmitting force and position data over network connections, leading to inconsistent and unrealistic sensory feedback, particularly in competitive gaming scenarios, which can cause system instability and potentially harm users.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that apply a damping factor to force and direction signals, analyze positional data to identify increasing frequency components, and use a filter function to remove these components, ensuring stable haptic feedback by modifying output signals and maintaining records of device positions to adjust for network latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If haptic devices transmit force and position data frequently over network connections to maintain realistic sensory feedback, then the realism of haptic feedback is improved, but network latency and system instability increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverealism of haptic feedbackVSAvoidnetwork latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future positions of the haptic output device based on current motion trends and applying damping factors in advance. This allows the system to compensate for network latency proactively rather than reactively, maintaining realistic feedback despite transmission delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A damping factor acts as an intermediary between the raw force/direction signals and the haptic output device. This intermediary smooths out high-frequency oscillations and instability caused by network latency, filtering the signals to eliminate problematic frequency components while preserving the essential haptic feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If haptic devices apply strong corrective forces to compensate for latency, then response accuracy is improved, but system stability deteriorates due to oscillations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse accuracyVSAvoidsystem stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes parameters by adjusting damping factors based on analyzed frequency components. When oscillations are detected, the damping factor is increased to suppress instability; when the system is stable, the damping is reduced to maintain response accuracy. This adaptive parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between accuracy and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors haptic output device positions and analyzes frequency components of motion as feedback. This feedback loop allows the system to detect oscillations and adjust damping factors in real-time, maintaining stability while preserving response accuracy through closed-loop control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If haptic output devices move quickly to reach target positions, then responsiveness is improved, but oscillations and instability increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement speedVSAvoidmovement stability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamic damping factors that adjust based on movement characteristics. When the haptic output device approaches a target position quickly, increased damping is applied to prevent overshoot and oscillations. When movement is gradual, damping is reduced to maintain responsiveness. This dynamic adjustment allows fast movement while preventing instability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly reduces latency-induced instability, enhancing the realism and safety of haptic feedback by smoothing out oscillations and maintaining consistent user experience across networked haptic devices.

Implementation Method 1

applying a damping factor to said force and direction signals to slow the rate of movement from a previously defined position towards the current defined position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

creating a filter function to remove said growing frequency components and applying said filter function to said force and direction signals to eliminate said frequency components from movement effected by the haptic output device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency filtering: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentUS7746320B2Haptics transmission systems

Publication Date: 2010.06.29 BRITISH TELECOM PLC

AI summary

A method of compensating for network latency in haptics transmission in which the position of a haptic effector is controlled by signals received from a network. The method comprises storing a series of locations of the haptic effector, determining from the series using Fourier Transformation or other means frequencies having a growing amplitude and creating a filter function to eliminate the growing frequencies from output signals directing the force and direction of the haptic effector.