Patents by Inventor Stephen D. Rank

Stephen D. Rank 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).

  • Publication number: 20190103004
    Abstract: Haptic pitch control for producing haptic feedback by receiving capability information of a haptic output device, and determining a desired or target perceptual frequency or pitch. A haptic effect is then generated based on the capability information so that the haptic effect is rendered by the haptic output device at the desired or target perceptual frequency or pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen D. RANK, William S. RIHN, Srivatsav VENKATESAN
  • Publication number: 20190098368
    Abstract: A method includes receiving digital content data including audio data and/or video data, generating haptic data using at least some of the received digital content data, encoding the haptic data for efficient transmission over a communication network, multiplexing the encoded haptic data with the received digital content data, embedding information for decoding the encoded haptic data in metadata of the multiplexed data stream, and sending the multiplexed data stream over the communication network. The method may include analyzing the haptic data to determine at least one characteristic of the haptic data, and the encoding the haptic data may include encoding, based on the determined characteristic, the haptic data to meet a pre-defined criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Loc Phan, Satvir Bhatia, Stephen D. Rank, Christopher J. Ullrich, Jean Francois Dionne, Hugues Antoine Oliver
  • Publication number: 20190066459
    Abstract: A method of generating a haptic effect on a linear resonance actuator (“LRA”) having a resonant frequency includes receiving a haptic effect signal for the haptic effect, where the haptic effect comprises a desired frequency that is off-resonant from the LRA. The method further includes generating a first sine wave at the desired frequency and generating a second sine wave at or near the resonant frequency. The method further includes combining the first sine wave and the second sine wave to generate a drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen D. Rank, Erin B. Ramsay, Henry Da Costa, Arnab Sen, Elena Renee Redelsheimer
  • Patent number: 10209776
    Abstract: Embodiments generate haptic effects on a device that is grasped by a user on a first side having a corresponding first haptic output device and on a second side having a corresponding second haptic output device. Embodiments receive a first haptic effect channel and receive a second haptic effect channel. Embodiments determine that the first side is more tightly grasped by the user than the second side. Embodiments then, based on the determining, assign the first haptic effect channel to the first haptic output device and assign the second haptic effect channel to the second haptic output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Birnbaum, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Stephen D. Rank
  • Publication number: 20180373337
    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 9, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Ali MODARRES, Christopher J. ULLRICH, Jean Francois DIONNE, Loc PHAN, Satvir Singh BHATIA, Stephen D. RANK
  • Patent number: 10152126
    Abstract: A system receives a multiplexed signal with two or more different types of haptic signals encoded therein. Each type of haptic signal represents a haptic effect for different types of haptic output devices. The system determines a target haptic output device located on a haptic playback device. The system demultiplexes the multiplexed signal into at least the type of haptic signal corresponding to the target output device. The system provides the demultiplexed haptic signal to the target haptic output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen D. Rank, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Arnab Sen, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20180284897
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and associated software are described herein for enabling a regular user of an end user device, such as a cellular telephone, to customize parameters associated with haptic effects applied to the user by the end user device. In one implementation, among several, a method described herein includes enabling a user of an end user device to access software adapted to design or modify haptic effects of the end user device. The method further includes enabling the user to open a haptic track file and enter or modify parameters associated with the haptic effects of the opened haptic track file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Erin B. RAMSAY, Robert W. HEUBEL, Jason D. FLEMING, Stephen D. RANK
  • Patent number: 10088903
    Abstract: Haptic information in a series of frames of a media file is identified and time stamps corresponding thereto are determined in accordance with information embedded in a tag either preceding or appending the media file. The haptic effect information is automatically synchronized to the media file based on the information in one or more frames of the tag, whereby an actuator outputs the defined haptic effects in the tag in a manner synchronized with corresponding audio and/or video content of the media file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, Stephen D. Rank, Munibe M. Bakircioglu
  • Patent number: 10085069
    Abstract: A method includes receiving digital content data including audio data and/or video data, generating haptic data using at least some of the received digital content data, encoding the haptic data for efficient transmission over a communication network, multiplexing the encoded haptic data with the received digital content data, embedding information for decoding the encoded haptic data in metadata of the multiplexed data stream, and sending the multiplexed data stream over the communication network. The method may include analyzing the haptic data to determine at least one characteristic of the haptic data, and the encoding the haptic data may include encoding, based on the determined characteristic, the haptic data to meet a pre-defined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Loc Phan, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Stephen D. Rank, Christopher J. Ullrich, Jean Francois Dionne, Hugues Antoine Oliver
  • Publication number: 20180268667
    Abstract: A system is provided that controls an offline haptic conversion. The system receives an input from a source. The system further converts the input into haptic signals. The system further encodes the haptic signals. The system further stores the haptic signals within the source, where the haptic signals are combined with the input within the source. Alternately, rather than encoding the haptic signals and storing the haptic signals within the source, the system handles the haptic signals separately, independent of the source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Robert LACROIX, Satvir Singh BHATIA, Jean-Francois BLANCHARD-DIONNE, Stephen D. RANK, Christopher J. ULLRICH, Loc Tien PHAN
  • Patent number: 10078368
    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: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Christopher J. Ullrich, Jean Francois Dionne, Loc Phan, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Stephen D. Rank
  • Publication number: 20180253948
    Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable medium for generating haptic effects are provided. Haptic permissions settings are received for a user. The haptic permissions settings are associated with permitted haptic parameter ranges for the user. Haptic parameters are then received. For each haptic parameter that falls outside the permitted haptic parameter ranges, the haptic parameter is modified to create a modified haptic parameter that falls within the permitted haptic parameter ranges. A haptic signal is generated based on the haptic parameters that fall within the permitted haptic parameter ranges and the modified haptic parameters. The haptic signal is then output to a haptic output device to generate the haptic effects for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Stephen D. Rank, Leonard Soskin, Danny A. Grant, Robert W. Heubel
  • Patent number: 10026276
    Abstract: A method of generating a haptic effect on a linear resonance actuator (“LRA”) having a resonant frequency includes receiving a haptic effect signal for the haptic effect, where the haptic effect comprises a desired frequency that is off-resonant from the LRA. The method further includes generating a first sine wave at the desired frequency and generating a second sine wave at or near the resonant frequency. The method further includes combining the first sine wave and the second sine wave to generate a drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen D. Rank, Erin B. Ramsay, Henry Da Costa, Arnab Sen, Elena Renee Redelsheimer
  • Publication number: 20180191927
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing haptic effects with at least one media component in a media transport stream includes identifying a series of video frames containing imaging information and/or a series of audio frames containing sound information in the media transport stream; identifying a series of haptic frames containing force feedback information in the media transport stream; and synchronizing the force feedback information in response to the imaging information and/or sound information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Robert A. LACROIX, Andrianaivo Rabemiarisoa, Henrique D. Da Costa, Herve Thu Timone, Stephen D. Rank, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 9997032
    Abstract: A system is provided that controls an offline haptic conversion. The system receives an input from a source. The system further converts the input into haptic signals. The system further encodes the haptic signals. The system further stores the haptic signals within the source, where the haptic signals are combined with the input within the source. Alternately, rather than encoding the haptic signals and storing the haptic signals within the source, the system handles the haptic signals separately, independent of the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Lacroix, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Jean-Francois Blanchard-Dionne, Stephen D. Rank, Christopher J. Ullrich, Loc Tien Phan
  • Patent number: 9990038
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and associated software are described herein for enabling a regular user of an end user device, such as a cellular telephone, to customize parameters associated with haptic effects applied to the user by the end user device. In one implementation, among several, a method described herein includes enabling a user of an end user device to access software adapted to design or modify haptic effects of the end user device. The method further includes enabling the user to open a haptic track file and enter or modify parameters associated with the haptic effects of the opened haptic track file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erin B. Ramsay, Robert W. Heubel, Jason D. Fleming, Stephen D. Rank
  • Patent number: 9990815
    Abstract: A system for generating haptic effects receives haptic permissions settings and associates the haptic permissions settings with a range of permitted haptic parameters. The system receives haptic parameters and modifies/filters the haptic parameters based on the range of permitted haptic parameters. The system then generates a haptic signal based on the modified haptic parameters and outputs the haptic signal to a haptic output device to generate the haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Stephen D. Rank, Leonard Soskin, Danny A. Grant, Robert W. Heubel
  • Publication number: 20180074589
    Abstract: A system is provided that controls a haptic effect experienced at a peripheral device. The system receives a haptic effect definition including haptic data. The system further receives spatialization data including: a distance of the haptic effect; a direction of the haptic effect; or a flow of the haptic effect. The system further includes modifying the haptic effect definition based on the received spatialization data. The system further includes sending a haptic instruction and the modified haptic effect definition to the peripheral device. The system further includes causing one or more haptic output devices to produce one or more haptic effects based on the modified haptic effect definition at the peripheral device in response to the haptic instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Henry DA COSTA, Robert LACROIX, Danny GRANT, Stephen D. RANK, David BIRNBAUM, William RIHN
  • Patent number: 9912842
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing haptic effects with at least one media component in a media transport stream includes identifying a series of video frames containing imaging information and/or a series of audio frames containing sound information in the media transport stream; identifying a series of haptic frames containing force feedback information in the media transport stream; and synchronizing the force feedback information in response to the imaging information and/or sound information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. Lacroix, Andrianaivo Rabemiarisoa, Henrique D. Da Costa, Herve Thu Timone, Stephen D. Rank, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 9891710
    Abstract: A system is provided that controls a haptic effect experienced at a peripheral device. The system receives a haptic effect definition including haptic data. The system further receives spatialization data including: a distance of the haptic effect; a direction of the haptic effect; or a flow of the haptic effect. The system further includes modifying the haptic effect definition based on the received spatialization data. The system further includes sending a haptic instruction and the modified haptic effect definition to the peripheral device. The system further includes causing one or more haptic output devices to produce one or more haptic effects based on the modified haptic effect definition at the peripheral device in response to the haptic instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Da Costa, Robert Lacroix, Danny Grant, Stephen D. Rank, David Birnbaum, William Rihn