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: 20180018020
    Abstract: A haptically-enabled controller device comprising a controller body, a user input element, a haptic actuator, and a transmission component is presented. The user input element has a range of motion that extends from a first position to an end stop position. The haptic actuator is configured to output a force or torque. The transmission component comprises an arm connected to the haptic actuator and to the user input element. The arm is configured to transfer the force or torque from the haptic actuator to the user input element with a first multiplication factor when the user input element is at the first position, and to transfer the force or torque from the haptic actuator to the user input element with a second multiplication factor when the user input element is at the end stop position. The second multiplication factor is higher than the first multiplication factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Danny A. Grant, William S. Rihn, Simon Forest, Stephen D. Rank, Neil T. Olien
  • Publication number: 20170351334
    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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: David BIRNBAUM, Satvir Singh BHATIA, Stephen D. RANK
  • Patent number: 9778744
    Abstract: A system that generates haptic effects on a haptically-enabled device determines an orientation of the haptically-enabled device and obtains one or more haptic effect channels. The system then assigns each of the haptic effect channels to a haptic output device on the haptically-enabled device based on the orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Birnbaum, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Stephen D. Rank
  • Publication number: 20170243453
    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: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: David M. BIRNBAUM, Stephen D. RANK, Leonard SOSKIN, Danny A. GRANT, Robert W. HEUBEL
  • Publication number: 20170203207
    Abstract: A system that controls a haptic effect experienced at a trigger is provided. The system receives a haptic effect definition including haptic data. The system further receives trigger data including at least one of: a position of a trigger of a peripheral device; or a range of the trigger of the peripheral device. The system further determines whether a trigger condition is reached based on the received trigger data. The system further sends a haptic instruction and the haptic effect definition to the peripheral device when the trigger condition is reached. The system further causes a haptic output device (or multiple haptic output devices) to produce haptic effects that are based on the haptic effect definition at the peripheral device in response to the haptic instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Robert LACROIX, Danny GRANT, Henry DA COSTA, Stephen D. RANK, David BIRNBAUM, William RIHN
  • Publication number: 20170150013
    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: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Robert A. LACROIX, Andrianaivo RABEMIARISOA, Henrique D. DA COSTA, Herve Thu TIMONE, Stephen D. RANK, Christopher J. ULLRICH
  • Patent number: 9619029
    Abstract: A system that controls a haptic effect experienced at a trigger is provided. The system receives a haptic effect definition including haptic data. The system further receives trigger data including at least one of: a position of a trigger of a peripheral device; or a range of the trigger of the peripheral device. The system further determines whether a trigger condition is reached based on the received trigger data. The system further sends a haptic instruction and the haptic effect definition to the peripheral device when the trigger condition is reached. The system further causes a haptic output device (or multiple haptic output devices) to produce haptic effects that are based on the haptic effect definition at the peripheral device in response to the haptic instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Lacroix, Danny Grant, Henry Da Costa, Stephen D. Rank, David Birnbaum, William Rihn
  • Patent number: 9615002
    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: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. Lacroix, Andrianaivo Rabemiarisoa, Henrique D. Da Costa, Herve Thu Timone, Stephen D. Rank, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20170084139
    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: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen D. RANK, Erin B. RAMSAY, Henry DA COSTA, Arnab SEN, Elena Renee REDELSHEIMER
  • Publication number: 20170045945
    Abstract: A system that generates haptic effects using an actuator receives a haptic effect definition that defines a haptic effect. The system pre-processes the haptic effect definition by determining if the actuator is capable of playing the haptic effect. The system then post-processes the haptic effect definition by adjusting a force value based on an estimate or measurement of a state of the actuator during a playing of the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Kanav GANDHI, Stephen D. RANK, Henry DA COSTA, Eric GERVAIS, Daniel PARKER
  • Patent number: 9524624
    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: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Rank, Erin B. Ramsay, Henry Da Costa, Arnab Sen, Elena Renee Redelsheimer
  • Patent number: 9507423
    Abstract: A system that generates haptic effects using an actuator sends a haptic effect definition to the actuator to cause a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic effect definition to be played. While the haptic effect is playing, the system processes the haptic effect definition. The processing includes adjusting a force value of the haptic effect definition based on an estimate or measurement of a current state of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Kanav Gandhi, Stephen D. Rank, Henry Da Costa, Eric Gervais, Daniel Parker
  • Publication number: 20160345073
    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: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Loc PHAN, Satvir Singh BHATIA, Stephen D. RANK, Christopher J. ULLRICH, Jean Francois DIONNE, Hugues Antoine OLIVER
  • Patent number: 9437087
    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: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Loc Phan, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Stephen D. Rank, Christopher J. Ullrich, Jean Francois Dionne, Hugues Antoine Oliver
  • Publication number: 20160231816
    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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen D. RANK, Satvir Singh BHATIA, Arnab SEN, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ
  • Publication number: 20160179203
    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: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Ali MODARRES, Christopher J. ULLRICH, Jean Francois DIONNE, Loc PHAN, Satvir Singh BHATIA, Stephen D. RANK
  • Patent number: 9330546
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system and method for automatically converting a plurality of events in a plurality of channels in a structured representation sequence into haptic events. The method comprises calculating an event score for each event of the sequence in one or more channels. The method also comprises calculating a cumulative score based on the event scores in the one or more channels. The method includes selectively designating haptic events to the events based on the event scores in one or more selected channels, wherein the haptic events are output by a haptic actuator. This may be done by the system by calculating properties of the sound or by taking already existing values associated with those properties to efficiently produce haptic events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, Stephen D. Rank, Munibe M. Bakircioglu
  • Patent number: 9317120
    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: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Rank, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Arnab Sen, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20160085308
    Abstract: A system that generates haptic effects on a haptically-enabled device determines an orientation of the haptically-enabled device and obtains one or more haptic effect channels. The system then assigns each of the haptic effect channels to a haptic output device on the haptically-enabled device based on the orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: David BIRNBAUM, Satvir Singh BHATIA, Stephen D. RANK
  • Publication number: 20160070352
    Abstract: A system that generates haptic effects using an actuator sends a haptic effect definition to the actuator to cause a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic effect definition to be played. While the haptic effect is playing, the system processes the haptic effect definition. The processing includes adjusting a force value of the haptic effect definition based on an estimate or measurement of a current state of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Kanav GANDHI, Stephen D. RANK, Henry DA COSTA, Eric GERVAIS, Daniel PARKER