Abstract: A method comprises inputting an audio signal into a machine learning circuit to compress the audio signal into a sequence of actuator signals. The machine learning circuit being trained by: receiving a training set of acoustic signals and pre-processing the training set of acoustic signals into pre-processed audio data. The pre-processed audio data including at least a spectrogram. The training further includes training the machine learning circuit using the pre-processed audio data. The neural network has a cost function based on a reconstruction error and a plurality of constraints. The machine learning circuit generates a sequence of haptic cues corresponding to the audio input. The sequence of haptic cues is transmitted to a plurality of cutaneous actuators to generate a sequence of haptic outputs.

Abstract: A haptic communication device includes a speech signal generator configured to receive speech sounds or a textual message and generate speech signals corresponding to the speech sounds or the textual message. An envelope encoder is operably coupled to the speech signal generator to extract a temporal envelope from the speech signals. The temporal envelope represents changes in amplitude of the speech signals. Carrier signals having a periodic waveform are generated. Actuator signals are generated by encoding the changes in the amplitude of the speech signals from the temporal envelope into the carrier signals. One or more cutaneous actuators are operably coupled to the envelope encoder to generate haptic vibrations representing the speech sounds or the textual message using the actuator signals.

Abstract: A haptic device comprises a signal generator that is configured to receive an input word that is a unit of a language. The signal generator converts the input word into one or more phonemes of the input word. The signal generator further converts the one or more phonemes into a sequence of actuator signals. The sequence of actuator signals is formed from a concatenation of sub-sequences of actuator signals. Each phoneme corresponding to a unique sub-sequence of actuator signals. The haptic device further comprises a two dimensional array of cutaneous actuators configured to receive the sequence of actuator signals from the signal generator, each of the actuator signals mapped to a cutaneous actuator of the two dimensional array of cutaneous actuators.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to enhancing haptic communication by using two or more cutaneous actuators to create constructive or destructive interference patterns on the receiving user's skin. The actuator signals for the two or more cutaneous actuators are shaped and generated so that the two or more cutaneous actuators cause vibrations on the receiving user's patch of skin to increase or decrease. In this way, various enhancement to haptic communication can be achieved.

Abstract: A haptic communication system includes a broadband signal generator to extract parameters from sensor signals describing a message for transmission to a user. Broadband carrier signals are generated by aggregating a plurality of frequency components. Actuator signals are generated by encoding the parameters from the sensor signals into the broadband carrier signals. One or more cutaneous actuators are communicatively coupled to the broadband signal generator to receive the actuator signals. Haptic vibrations are generated corresponding to the actuator signals on a body of the user to communicate the message to the user.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to performing haptic communication using frequency decomposition of speech where dominant frequencies of a speech is detected at a speech source and then sent to a signal generator to actuate actuators mapped to the dominant frequencies. The digitized version of the speech is segmented into a plurality of frames and then a predetermined number of dominant frequencies are detected from each frame. The dominant frequencies of frequencies are sent over to the signal generator so that the actuators corresponding to the dominant frequencies are activated for a time period corresponding to the frame.

Abstract: A haptic communication device includes one or more cutaneous actuators to generate haptic vibrations corresponding to actuator signals received by the one or more cutaneous actuators. A dampening member, proximate to a body of a user wearing the haptic communication device, focuses the haptic vibrations at one or more distinct locations on the body. The dampening member has one or more first openings, wherein the one or more cutaneous actuators transmit the haptic vibrations to the one or more distinct locations through the one or more first openings. A spacing member contacts the dampening member and is separated from the body by the dampening member. The spacing member has one or more second openings dimensioned to receive and secure the one or more cutaneous actuators.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to performing haptic communication using frequency decomposition of speech where dominant frequencies of a speech is detected at a speech source and then sent to a signal generator to actuate actuators mapped to the dominant frequencies. The digitized version of the speech is segmented into a plurality of frames and then a predetermined number of dominant frequencies are detected from each frame. The dominant frequencies of frequencies are sent over to the signal generator so that the actuators corresponding to the dominant frequencies are activated for a time period corresponding to the frame.

Abstract: A haptic communication device includes one or more cutaneous actuators to generate haptic vibrations corresponding to actuator signals received by the one or more cutaneous actuators. A dampening member, proximate to a body of a user wearing the haptic communication device, focuses the haptic vibrations at one or more distinct locations on the body. The dampening member has one or more first openings, wherein the one or more cutaneous actuators transmit the haptic vibrations to the one or more distinct locations through the one or more first openings. A spacing member contacts the dampening member and is separated from the body by the dampening member. The spacing member has one or more second openings dimensioned to receive and secure the one or more cutaneous actuators.

Abstract: A haptic communication device includes a speech signal generator configured to receive speech sounds or a textual message and generate speech signals corresponding to the speech sounds or the textual message. An envelope encoder is operably coupled to the speech signal generator to extract a temporal envelope from the speech signals. The temporal envelope represents changes in amplitude of the speech signals. Carrier signals having a periodic waveform are generated. Actuator signals are generated by encoding the changes in the amplitude of the speech signals from the temporal envelope into the carrier signals. One or more cutaneous actuators are operably coupled to the envelope encoder to generate haptic vibrations representing the speech sounds or the textual message using the actuator signals.

Abstract: A haptic device comprises a signal generator that is configured to receive an input word that is a unit of a language. The signal generator converts the input word into one or more phonemes of the input word. The signal generator further converts the one or more phonemes into a sequence of actuator signals. The sequence of actuator signals is formed from a concatenation of sub-sequences of actuator signals. Each phoneme corresponding to a unique sub-sequence of actuator signals. The haptic device further comprises a two dimensional array of cutaneous actuators configured to receive the sequence of actuator signals from the signal generator, each of the actuator signals mapped to a cutaneous actuator of the two dimensional array of cutaneous actuators.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to enhancing haptic communication by using two or more cutaneous actuators to create constructive or destructive interference patterns on the receiving user's skin. The actuator signals for the two or more cutaneous actuators are shaped and generated so that the two or more cutaneous actuators cause vibrations on the receiving user's patch of skin to increase or decrease. In this way, various enhancement to haptic communication can be achieved.

Abstract: A haptic communication system includes a broadband signal generator to extract parameters from sensor signals describing a message for transmission to a user. Broadband carrier signals are generated by aggregating a plurality of frequency components. Actuator signals are generated by encoding the parameters from the sensor signals into the broadband carrier signals. One or more cutaneous actuators are communicatively coupled to the broadband signal generator to receive the actuator signals. Haptic vibrations are generated corresponding to the actuator signals on a body of the user to communicate the message to the user.

Abstract: Generally discussed herein are systems, devices, and methods for providing a therapy (e.g., stimulation) and/or data signal using an implantable device. Systems, devices and methods for interacting with (e.g., communicating with, receiving power from) an external device are also provided.

Abstract: A method and device, such as an implantable cardiac device, for motion and noise immunity in hemodynamic measurement is presented. The method includes obtaining a template waveform representing hemodynamic performance of a heart during a first hemodynamic state and obtaining an autocharacterization measure from an autocharacterization (e.g., autocorrelation) of the template waveform. The method further includes obtaining a test waveform during a second hemodynamic state, performing a cross-characterization (e.g., cross-correlation) of the template waveform and test waveform to identify a cross-characterization measure, and comparing the autocharacterization measure with the cross-characterization measure as a measurement of hemodynamic status of the second hemodynamic state. The device includes hardware and/or software for performing the described method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for displaying ventricular timing events and for determining optimal ventricular pace timing based on ventricular synchrony and loading conditions in order to improve the hemodynamic performance of patients.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for obtaining measures of blood oxygen saturation using an implantable device implanted within a patient and a non-implanted device external to the patient, while limiting the amount of processing that need be performed by the implantable device. Other embodiments limit the amount of processing that is performed within the implantable device by monitoring changes and blood oxygen saturation without determining actual measures of blood oxygen saturation.

Abstract: A signal indicative of cardiac contractions of a patient's heart is produced, as the patient's heart is paced using different sets of pacing interval parameters. Measures of pulse amplitude are obtained from the signal. Pacing interval optimization is performed based on the measures of pulse amplitude.

Abstract: The autonomic tone of a patient is measured based on a photo-plethysmography signal that is representative of arterial pulse pressure of the patient. Such measures of autonomic tone can be used to monitor the hemodynamic status of a patient, and even to perform pacing interval optimization. Further embodiments relate to pacing interval optimization performed based on a signal indicative of cardiac contractions of a patient's heart, as the patient's heart is paced using different sets of pacing interval parameters. Such a signal can be a photo-plethysmography signal or an alternative type of signal. Measures of pulse amplitude are obtained from the signal, and pacing interval optimization is performed based on the measures of pulse amplitude.

Abstract: Cardiac performance associated with a current set of N pacing parameters is improved by adjusting the cardiac pacing parameters until optimal or substantially optimal cardiac performance is achieved. The cardiac performance associated with the current set of N pacing parameters is determined. An incrementing step, a determining step, and a increment updating step, are repeated for i=1 to N, where i represents which of the N pacing parameter is being adjusted. The incrementing step includes incrementing an ith pacing parameter in the current set of N pacing parameters based on a corresponding ith increment value, to thereby produce an ith set of test pacing parameters. The determining step includes determining a cardiac performance associated with the ith set of test pacing parameters. The increment updating step includes updating the ith increment value based on the cardiac performance associated with the ith set of test pacing parameters.