Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Ullrich

Christopher J. Ullrich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11287889
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-level closed loop control of haptic effects are disclosed. One illustrative system for multi-level closed loop control of haptic effects includes a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect, a sensor configured to sense the output of the haptic output device and generate a sensor signal, and a processor in communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to: receive a reference signal, receive the sensor signal, determine an error based at least in part on the reference signal and the sensor signal, generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the reference signal and the error, and transmit the haptic signal to a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect based on the haptic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Jamal Saboune, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10963061
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for providing limited duration haptic effects are disclosed. Systems for providing limited duration haptic effects include sensors, control circuits, and vibration actuators configured closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. The sensors are configured to measure motion characteristics induced by the vibration actuators. The control circuits are configured to receive motion characteristic information from the sensors and provide closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. Closed loop feedback control permits precise control of vibration actuator output during limited duration haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10928910
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods of providing haptic feedback based on media content and one or more external parameters used to customize the haptic feedback. The system may modify or otherwise alter haptic feedback that is determined using the media content alone. In other words, the system may use both the media content and the external parameters to determine haptic feedback that should be output to the user or others. The external parameters may include, for example, sensor information, customization information, and/or other external parameters that may be used to customize the haptic feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Christopher J. Ullrich, Jean Francois Dionne, Loc Phan, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Stephen D. Rank
  • Publication number: 20200349982
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authoring and encoding haptic effects are provided for space-dependent content, such as 360-degree videos, three-dimensional videos, or virtual or augmented reality contents. The systems and methods can generate one or more haptic layers for encoding or modifying haptic effects for the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: Christopher J. ULLRICH
  • Publication number: 20200257370
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-rate control of haptic effects with sensor fusion are disclosed. One illustrative system includes, a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect, a first sensor configured to sense the output of the haptic output device and generate a first sensor signal, a processor in communication with the first sensor. The processor is configured to: sample the first sensor signal from the first sensor at a first rate, receive a reference signal, determine an error between the first sensor signal and the reference signal, generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the reference signal and the error, transmit the haptic signal to a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect based on the haptic signal, and sample the first sensor signal at a second rate, wherein the second rate is lower than the first rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10741189
    Abstract: Embodiments that generate multiple haptic effects receive a first haptic effect signal having a first priority and corresponding to a first haptic effect, and receive a second haptic effect signal having a second priority and corresponding to a second haptic effect. When the first priority is less than the second priority, embodiments generate an interaction parameter using the second haptic effect signal. When the second priority is less than the first priority, embodiments generate the interaction parameter using the first haptic effect signal. Embodiments then apply a drive signal to a haptic output device according to the interaction parameter, where the drive signal causes the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect to be generated by the haptic output device concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Lacroix, Satvir Singh Bhatia, David Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich, Amaya Becvar Weddle, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10720189
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authoring and encoding haptic effects are provided for space-dependent content, such as 360-degree videos, three-dimensional videos, or virtual or augmented reality contents. The systems and methods can generate one or more haptic layers for encoding or modifying haptic effects for the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20200218358
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for providing limited duration haptic effects are disclosed. Systems for providing limited duration haptic effects include sensors, control circuits, and vibration actuators configured closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. The sensors are configured to measure motion characteristics induced by the vibration actuators. The control circuits are configured to receive motion characteristic information from the sensors and provide closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. Closed loop feedback control permits precise control of vibration actuator output during limited duration haptic effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Juan Manuel CRUZ HERNANDEZ, Danny A. GRANT, Christopher J. ULLRICH
  • Publication number: 20200201438
    Abstract: The present invention provides a haptic fiducial sticker for an augmented reality (AR) environment. The haptic fiducial sticker includes a touch sensor, a wireless communication interface, and a haptic output device. The touch sensor is configured to detect a touch or user contact. The wireless communication interface is configured to transmit a unique identifier (UID) and receive haptic content associated with the UID, the haptic content including a haptic effect. The haptic output device is configured to render the haptic effect when the touch sensor detects the touch or user contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Alexia Mandeville, Sanya Attari, Douglas G. Billington, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10665067
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating haptics overlay in augmented reality are disclosed. One illustrative system described herein includes a haptic output device. The system also includes a display configured to output a visual effect. The system also includes a sensor for tracking a position of a proxy object. The system also includes a processor configured to: determine a modified visual effect based in part on data received from the sensor, determine a haptic effect based in part on data received from the sensor, transmit a display signal associated with the modified visual effect to the display, transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device; and output the haptic effect using the haptic output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Araki, Christopher J. Ullrich, Liwen Wu, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Sanya Attari, Colin Swindells
  • Publication number: 20200159330
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-level closed loop control of haptic effects are disclosed. One illustrative system for multi-level closed loop control of haptic effects includes a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect, a sensor configured to sense the output of the haptic output device and generate a sensor signal, and a processor in communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to: receive a reference signal, receive the sensor signal, determine an error based at least in part on the reference signal and the sensor signal, generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the reference signal and the error, and transmit the haptic signal to a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect based on the haptic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Jamal Saboune, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10649532
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-rate control of haptic effects with sensor fusion are disclosed. One illustrative system includes, a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect, a first sensor configured to sense the output of the haptic output device and generate a first sensor signal, a processor in communication with the first sensor. The processor is configured to: sample the first sensor signal from the first sensor at a first rate, receive a reference signal, determine an error between the first sensor signal and the reference signal, generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the reference signal and the error, transmit the haptic signal to a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect based on the haptic signal, and sample the first sensor signal at a second rate, wherein the second rate is lower than the first rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10650859
    Abstract: A system includes a recorder configured to record audio and/or video of a subject of interest and output a recording of the subject of interest and a non-contact sensor associated with the recorder. The non-contact sensor is constructed and arranged to measure movement and/or vibration of the subject of interest from substantially the same perspective and at the same time as the recorder. The system includes a controller configured to transform the measured movement and/or vibration of the subject of interest measured by the non-contact sensor into a tactile data stream for sending to a haptic display device for playback with the recording of the subject of interest by the recorder and providing haptic effects corresponding to the measured movement and/or vibration to a user of the haptic display device in synchronization with the recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, Robert Lacroix
  • Publication number: 20200142487
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods of providing haptic feedback based on media content and one or more external parameters used to customize the haptic feedback. The system may modify or otherwise alter haptic feedback that is determined using the media content alone. In other words, the system may use both the media content and the external parameters to determine haptic feedback that should be output to the user or others. The external parameters may include, for example, sensor information, customization information, and/or other external parameters that may be used to customize the haptic feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ali MODARRES, Christopher J. ULLRICH, Jean Francois DIONNE, Loc PHAN, Satvir Singh BHATIA, Stephen D. RANK
  • Publication number: 20200128236
    Abstract: A method for encoding haptic information inside a multi-media file having content includes changing a portion of the content in the multi-media file, and adding the haptic information to the changed portion of the content, the haptic information corresponding to a haptic signal for generating a haptic effect upon playback of the multi-media file. A method for decoding haptic information from inside a multi-media file having content includes locating the haptic information inside the multi-media file, and generating a haptic signal based on the located haptic information during playback of the content of the multi-media file. A method includes receiving a multi-media signal comprising an audio signal and a haptic signal with a receiver of a haptic device, and outputting a haptic effect with a haptic output device of the haptic device based on the haptic signal in the multi-media signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Arnab SEN, Christopher J. ULLRICH, Juan Manuel CRUZ HERNANDEZ, Ali MODARRES
  • Patent number: 10599221
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for providing limited duration haptic effects are disclosed. Systems for providing limited duration haptic effects include sensors, control circuits, and vibration actuators configured closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. The sensors are configured to measure motion characteristics induced by the vibration actuators. The control circuits are configured to receive motion characteristic information from the sensors and provide closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. Closed loop feedback control permits precise control of vibration actuator output during limited duration haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10591995
    Abstract: A gaming concept in which each user in a single-player or a multi-player game is enabled to create artwork or graffiti work virtually or on actual surfaces using haptic-enhanced controllers. The controllers can emulate the experience of using a marker, a paint brush, a paint spray-can or the like. The components of various controllers may be modularized for easily interchanging components to extend the art or graffiti creation experience. The real life experience of using ink or paint on a surface is simulated by haptic feedback. When a paint spray-can controller is used, the experience of paint consumption is recreated by various peripheral enhancements including audio and haptic sensations communicated to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Danny A. Grant, Erin B. Ramsay, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, David Birnbaum, Robert W. Heubel, Hendrik Bartel, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10579146
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-level closed loop control of haptic effects are disclosed. One illustrative system for multi-level closed loop control of haptic effects includes a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect, a sensor configured to sense the output of the haptic output device and generate a sensor signal, and a processor in communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to: receive a reference signal, receive the sensor signal, determine an error based at least in part on the reference signal and the sensor signal, generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the reference signal and the error, and transmit the haptic signal to a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect based on the haptic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Jamal Saboune, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20200057506
    Abstract: Systems and methods for user generated content authoring are disclosed. One illustrative method disclosure herein includes: receiving a video signal; displaying a user interface associated with haptic authoring; detecting a gesture associated with a haptic effect; determining a haptic effect based in part on the gesture; associating the haptic effect with a location in the video signal; and storing the video signal and the associated haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich, Robert Lacroix, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Michael Powell, Stephen D. Rank, Iva Segalman, Amaya Weddle, Paige Raynes
  • Patent number: 10564730
    Abstract: A device for delivering non-collocated haptic feedback includes at least one haptic playback device and a drive circuit for controlling the haptic playback device. A processor coupled to the drive circuit receives manipulation haptic information based on data received from a user interface. The processor generates a haptic signal is based on the manipulation haptic information. The haptic signal is provided to the drive circuit to produce the non-collocated haptic feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Danny Grant, Christopher J. Ullrich