With Input Means (e.g., Keyboard) Patents (Class 340/407.2)
  • Patent number: 10901510
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a haptic feedback system. The haptic feedback system includes a first haptic actuator coupled to a controller via a first set of two or more electrodes, and a second haptic actuator coupled to the first haptic actuator, and further coupled to the controller via a second set of two or more electrodes. The controller is configured to provide a first drive signal to the first haptic actuator via the first set of two or more electrodes, and to provide a second drive signal, different from the first drive signal, to the second haptic actuator via the second set of two or more electrodes. Combining two haptic actuators allows for a broader range of feedback and a heightened user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Siyuan Ma, James David Holbery
  • Patent number: 10871827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a haptic-feedback tactile interface module, including: a tactile surface capable of detecting at least one characteristic of a pressure exerted by a user; at least one haptic-feedback actuator configured to transmit haptic feedback to the tactile surface; and a processing and control unit connected to the tactile surface and to said at least one actuator. The processing and control unit is configured so as to activate the haptic-feedback actuator in a first time window (T1) so as to induce at least one mechanical wave propagating over the tactile surface, capable of being perceived as haptic feedback, and in a second time window (T2) so as to generate at least one mechanical pulse (202-1, 202-2, 202-3) which is phase-shifted relative to the mechanical wave in order to dampen said mechanical wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: DAV
    Inventors: Nour-Eddine El-Ouardi, Anthony Aubry
  • Patent number: 10845840
    Abstract: An operation feel imparting type input device includes a fixed part, a rotating body rotatably supported by the fixed part, a rotatable operation knob fixed to the rotating body, a rotation angle detection unit configured to detect a rotation angle of the rotating body, a brake application unit configured to apply a braking force to the rotating body, a torque application unit configured to apply a torque to the rotating body, a control unit configured to control the brake application unit and the torque application unit, and an operation torque detection unit configured to detect the magnitude of an operation torque applied to the rotating body. When the rotating body is rotated from an endstop, brake release is performed according to the magnitude of the operation torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Goto, Kazunari Takahashi, Ryuichiro Yasuhara
  • Patent number: 10847585
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an organic light emitting display device which directly vibrates an organic light emitting display panel to generate sound, and includes: an organic light emitting display panel including a light emitting layer including an organic light emitting material layer and an encapsulation layer disposed at one side of the light emitting layer; and a sound generating actuator in direct contact with the organic light emitting display panel to vibrate the organic light emitting display panel to generate sound. Especially, the organic light emitting display panel is a bottom emission type device, and thus can prevent generation of a weighted color mixing phenomenon in a wide viewing angle at the time of panel vibration and reduce the thickness or weight of the panel to thereby enhance the sound generation characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: YeongRak Choi, ChangHo Oh, KwanHo Park, Sungtae Lee
  • Patent number: 10824245
    Abstract: The disclosed system may include (1) a conductive coil, where at least a portion of the coil is oriented along a first direction and orthogonal to a second direction, (2) a magnetic field generation structure that generates a magnetic field through the coil along a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, (3) a detection subsystem that determines a location of the coil relative to the field, (4) a force-to-current converter that (a) receives a force command to alter a relative location of the coil and the field, and (b) issues, in response to the force command, a current command based on the location of the coil relative to the field, and (5) a coil driver that generates, in response to the current command, current in the coil to generate a force between the coil and the field along the second direction. Various other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Chiyun Xia, Eric Booen, William Hamlin Farr, Alexandre Chong
  • Patent number: 10809818
    Abstract: A digital pen with dynamically formed microfluidic buttons formed in variable positions on the digital pen comprises a pen body having a first end, a second end, and an external pen body surface. The pen tip attached or formed to the first end of the pen body. One or more sensors associated with the external pen body surface detect contact points where a user is holding the digital pen. The microfluidic buttons are formed via action of a microfluidic layer on the pen body in a vicinity of the contact points detected by the one or more sensors. A power source powers the digital pen. A communication module connects the digital pen to a software module. A software user interface associated with a processor maps computerized functions to the one or more microfluidic buttons and action of the pen tip to one or more functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Martin G. Keen, James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10802590
    Abstract: An input device according to one aspect of an embodiment includes an operation panel, a vibrator, a support panel, and an adhesive portion. The operation panel has an operation surface. The vibrator is mounted on a peripheral region of the operation panel and vibrates the operation panel in a plurality of modes having different vibration frequencies. The support panel is disposed to face a back surface of the operation panel that is opposite to the operation surface of the operation panel and supports the operation panel. The adhesive portion adheres the operation panel and the support panel to each other. In addition, the adhesive portion includes a first adhesive portion and a second adhesive portion. The first adhesive portion adheres the peripheral region of the operation panel on which the vibrator is mounted and the support panel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventor: Hironori Shiroto
  • Patent number: 10795443
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for driving a haptic transducer with a driving signal. The method comprises estimating, based on a current through the haptic transducer and a terminal voltage across the haptic transducer, a back electromotive force, EMF, voltage representative of a velocity of a mass in the haptic transducer; comparing a phase of a voltage signal derived from the terminal voltage with a phase of the estimated back EMF voltage; and based on the comparison, adjusting a frequency or a phase of an output signal, wherein the driving signal is derived from the output signal, such that a frequency of the driving signal converges to a resonant frequency of the haptic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Rong Hu, Jie Su
  • Patent number: 10776618
    Abstract: The mobile terminal comprises: a body formed to be worn on a head part of a user; a display unit disposed at the front side of the body and formed to display a virtual space including a virtual object; a plurality of cameras formed to detect a user's hand existing within the virtual space; a plurality of feedback signal units arranged to be spaced apart from each other to output feedback signals in different directions; and a control unit for, when the user's hand approaches or contacts a virtual object included in the virtual space, detecting a particular part of the user's hand approaching or contacting the virtual object on the basis of a plurality of pieces of sensing information received from the plurality of cameras, and controlling the plurality of feedback signal units to cause feedback signals having different directions to reach the particular part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Eunjoo Rhee, Soungmin Im
  • Patent number: 10775889
    Abstract: A force input/haptic output interface for an electronic device can include a force input sensor and a haptic actuator. In one example, the force input sensor and the haptic actuator are accommodated on a frame positioned below an input surface. In many examples, the frame includes relieved portions that redirect and/or concentrate compression or tension in the haptic actuator into the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Alex J. Lehmann, Robert Y. Cao, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Qiliang Xu, Paul X. Wang, Robert J. Lockwood
  • Patent number: 10775890
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed which includes a conductive layer for providing haptic feedback at an input surface of the electronic device. The conductive layer includes conductive particles within an organic compound, such as an epoxy. When the conductive layer is activated it may provide frictional or other tactile feedback at the input surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaonan Wen, James E. Pedder
  • 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: 10741620
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an organic light emitting display device which directly vibrates an organic light emitting display panel to generate sound, and includes: an organic light emitting display panel including a light emitting layer including an organic light emitting material layer and an encapsulation layer disposed at one side of the light emitting layer; and a sound generating actuator in direct contact with the organic light emitting display panel to vibrate the organic light emitting display panel to generate sound. Especially, the organic light emitting display panel is a bottom emission type device, and thus can prevent generation of a weighted color mixing phenomenon in a wide viewing angle at the time of panel vibration and reduce the thickness or weight of the panel to thereby enhance the sound generation characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: YeongRak Choi, ChangHo Oh, KwanHo Park, Sungtae Lee
  • Patent number: 10712931
    Abstract: A user may provide finger press input to a surface such as a touch sensitive input surface. The input surface may be formed from a two-dimensional touch sensor overlapping a display of an electronic device. The electronic device and an associated device such as a finger-mounted device may form a system for gathering the finger press input from the user. A sensor may be used in monitoring when the finger-mounted device and a user's finger in the device approach the input surface of the electronic device. In response to detection of the finger near the input surface, actuators in the finger-mounted device may squeeze the finger inwardly to cause a finger pad on the finger to protrude outwardly towards the input surface, thereby softening impact between the finger and the input surface. The electronic device may also have an array of components to repel the finger-mounted device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul X. Wang
  • Patent number: 10713908
    Abstract: To provide a content providing system preferably providing a plurality of users with content. A content providing system according to the present technology includes a transmission apparatus, a control apparatus, and a plurality of reception apparatuses. The transmission apparatus transmits a trigger signal by broadcasting the trigger signal. The control apparatus controls the transmission apparatus. Each of the plurality of reception apparatuses includes a signal-reception part that receives the trigger signal, a storage part that stores content, a content presenting part that presents the content to a user, and a control part that controls the content presenting part on the basis of the trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Yokoyama, Ikuo Yamano, Osamu Ito, Yosuke Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 10712854
    Abstract: An input device includes: a touch panel; a tactile presentation device that is mounted on the touch panel, and presents a tactile feel; and a control device that detects a position of a finger in accordance with information from the touch panel, controls the tactile presentation device to present the tactile feel in accordance with the position of the finger, and confirms an input value, the input value being the number of times the tactile feel is presented before input confirmation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Ayumu Akabane, Tsuyoshi Kanda, Fumio Takei
  • Patent number: 10705610
    Abstract: A touch interface device that produces tactile and audio output comprising a touch surface, an first electrode coupled to the touch surface that receives a first haptic/audio output potential, a second electrode coupled to a low impedance return path to the device, the first and second electrodes being configured such that when both the first and second electrodes are touched by an appendage of a user, a current flows between the first and second electrodes and the appendage, where the current creates an electric field that imparts a controlled electrostatic force at interfaces of the first electrode and the appendage, and wherein the electrostatic force provides tactile feedback to the appendage of the user and causes vibration in the surrounding air that is audible to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James E. Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, Craig Shultz
  • Patent number: 10693518
    Abstract: A device and method of verifying protective case usage, is described. The device includes one or more processors to drive an electromechanical transducer with an input signal. The electromechanical transducer generates an input force based on the input signal, and a sensor of the device generates a test output signal in response to the input force. The one or more processors determine, based on the test output signal, a level of verification that a protective case is mounted on the device. The determination can include determining whether the test output signal matches a predetermined impulse response signal indicative of an unprotected device or a protected device. A digital identification tag of the protective case can be read by a radio-frequency transceiver of the device to provide an additional level of verification that the protective case is mounted on the device. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: CaseFax Inc.
    Inventor: Randy Mark Cunningham
  • Patent number: 10692400
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a haptic system of rotating cylindrical shafts topped with caps to create a virtual sensation of Braille text by integrating a microprocessor with microdrive motors. The micro drive's shafts are crowned with plastic cylindrical caps, the top face of which are precisely flush or level with the device's display surface thereby emulating the standard diameter and feel of a Braille dot or Braille space in two dimensions. It is the rotation of the drive's shaft that spins the caps and simulates the sensation of a Braille dot that is felt with the fingertips. This sensation of a two dimensional rotating dot is the result of the top face of the capped shafts positioned flush with the device's display surface. Motors that alternate between rotating shafts and shafts at rest produce Braille cell dots and spaces, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Educational Media Consulting, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Wayne Drake, Douglas Blair
  • Patent number: 10684689
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a computing device that comprises a memory and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor generates an interactive user interface and obtains an input parameter and a haptic parameter via the interactive user interface. The processor maps the input parameter to the haptic parameter using a mapping algorithm and designs a dynamic haptic effect based at least in part on mapping the input parameter to the haptic parameter. The processor can then generate a plurality of dynamic haptic effects for a plurality of user devices based at least in part on the designed dynamic haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Liwen Wu, William S. Rihn
  • Patent number: 10628026
    Abstract: A medical image display device having a touch panel that displays a medical image, includes: a hardware processor that accepts an operation on the touch panel and detects a drag operation on a mark corresponding to a function selected from a plurality of functions; calculates a movement position of the mark according to a rule corresponding to at least one of the selected function, an object, and a user based on coordinates of a touch position in the drag operation; and causes the touch panel to display the medical image and the mark and to move the mark on the medical image based on the calculated movement position, wherein the hardware processor calculates the movement position of the mark such that a movement trajectory of the touch position and a movement trajectory of the mark are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Yusuke Tanabe
  • Patent number: 10613635
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of electronic devices, and a method for generating a motor brake signal is disclosed. In the present disclosure, the method for generating a motor brake signal includes the following steps: S1: controlling a motor by using different brake signals respectively to obtain vibration margins of the motor corresponding to the brake signals; and S2: selecting, from the brake signals, a brake signal with superior performance as the motor brake signal based on the vibration margins of the motor, wherein the smaller the vibration margin of the motor is, the more superior performance the corresponding brake signal has. The present disclosure further provides an apparatus for generating a motor brake signal. The method and the apparatus for generating a motor brake signal that are provided in the present disclosure enable the motor to have a good brake effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hanlin Deng, Xiang Lu, Zheng Xiang
  • Patent number: 10603687
    Abstract: A vibration data generation device that generates vibration data for a vibration reproduction device, which has a plurality of vibrators, in order to control each vibrators, includes an acquisition part that acquires information indicating a virtual vibration source which is input to an input part and a generation part that generates vibration data which includes a vibration pattern of each of the plurality of vibrators of the vibration reproduction device for reproducing a position of the acquired virtual vibration source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikiya Tanaka, Takeshi Yagi
  • Patent number: 10585478
    Abstract: Described are apparatus and methods for integrating gestural controllers in Head Mounted Displays, preferably for Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality applications. In a specific embodiment, multiple controllers are located on both sides of the HMD for ease of locating and wearing the controllers without having to remove the Head Mounted Display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Nod, Inc.
    Inventors: Anusankar Elangovan, Harsh Menon
  • Patent number: 10572106
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) linkage function using a keypad that changes a screen to a mapped URL when a predetermined key is selected are provided. The method includes displaying the keypad that executes the URL linkage function, sensing a predetermined type of touch generated on a predetermined key existing in the keypad, displaying, in a pop-up menu, a URL item registered in advance on the key, in response to the predetermined type of touch, and changing a screen to a selected URL when a predetermined URL is selected in the pop-up menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sehwan Park, Jaeyong Lee, Sungwook Park, Jihoon Lee
  • Patent number: 10495486
    Abstract: A touch-scroll apparatus can provide touch-scroll input/functionality, such as for a mobile communication device (as an example application). The touch-scroll apparatus includes a multi-coil sensor assembly including multiple sense inductor coils (for example, three). A sensor slot is formed in a portion of the device case (such as a device side-wall), defining a touch-scrolling surface/area at the exterior of the device. The sidewall slot is dimensioned to receive and position the touch-scrolling multi-coil sensor assembly relative to the touch-scrolling surface/area. Inductive sensor electronics is coupled to the multiple touch-scroll sense inductor coils to detect scrolling movement and direction based on signal output from the sensor inductor coil signals (such as changes in coil inductance), including for each a peak signal corresponding to maximum deflection of the touch-scrolling surface/area opposite the sense inductor coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Dongtai Liu
  • Patent number: 10490167
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for enhancing the quality of a displayed image using a tactile or other texture display. In particular, the disclosed techniques leverage active-texture display technology to enhance the quality of graphics by providing, for example, outlining and/or shading when presenting a given image, so as to create the effect of increased contrast and image quality and/or to reduce observable glare. These effects can be present even at high viewing angles and in environments of high light reflection. To these ends, one or more graphics processes, such as edge-detection and/or shading, may be applied to an image to be displayed. In turn, an actuator element (e.g., microelectromechanical systems, or MEMS, devices) of the tactile display may be manipulated (e.g., in Z-height) to provide fine-grain adjustment of image attributes such as: pixel brightness/intensity; pixel color; edge highlighting; object outlining; effective shading; image contrast; and/or viewing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph A. Cianfrone
  • Patent number: 10462264
    Abstract: An apparatus for downloading an application from an application store comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive user input on a touch sensitive graphical user interface providing a view of applications stored on an apparatus, the user input initiating downloading of an application to the apparatus, recognize at least one application in an application store corresponding to the received user input, and download an application of the at least one application from the application store to a memory of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Apaar Tuli
  • Patent number: 10447843
    Abstract: Described are a method for setting a position of a function setting key at a mobile terminal, including: opening a setting page of a target application program, receiving a key setting request for an icon in the setting page, acquiring display information and trigger event information of the function setting key corresponding to the function setting key identifier; and generating, in a notification center of the mobile terminal, an icon corresponding to the function setting key. After receiving an instruction for opening the notification center, the method further includes displaying the icon corresponding the function setting key in the notification center according to the display information of the function setting key and configuring the target application program according to the trigger event information of the function setting key in response to a detected operation on the icon corresponding to the function setting key displayed in the notification center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Cancai Yuan, Lei Long
  • Patent number: 10429959
    Abstract: A minicomputer has a processor and a display unit and a communication unit and a haptic operating device. The haptic operating device has a rotatable rotating unit with a rotational resistance which can be changed by way of a control device. Selectable menu items are displayed on a display unit and a menu item is selected by rotating the rotating unit. A rotational resistance of the rotating unit is dynamically changed during a rotation of the rotating unit and the rotating unit is latched at a plurality of haptically perceptible latching points during the rotation of the rotating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Inventus Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Battlogg
  • Patent number: 10416775
    Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes receiving a first signal from a sensor, the first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface; receiving a second signal associated with an interaction with the graphical user interface; determining a haptic feedback effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface and the interaction with the graphical user interface; and generating a haptic signal configured to output the haptic feedback effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10395487
    Abstract: A haptic presentation apparatus includes an actuator mechanism, a transmission mechanism, a detection unit, and a recognition unit. The transmission mechanism is configured to transmit haptic information to a user using a driving force caused by the actuator mechanism. The detection unit is configured to detect a load amount applied to the actuator mechanism. The recognition unit is configured to recognize a contact state of the user with respect to the transmission mechanism on the basis of the load amount detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10395555
    Abstract: A system for determining output text based on spoken language and sign language includes a camera configured to detect image data corresponding to a word in sign language. The system also includes a microphone configured to detect audio data corresponding to the word in spoken language. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the image data from the camera and convert the image data into an image based text word. The processor is also configured to receive the audio data from the microphone and convert the audio data into an audio based text word. The processor is also configured to determine an optimal word by selecting one of the image based text word or the audio based text word based on a comparison of the image based text word and the audio based text word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. A. Djugash, Rajiv Dayal
  • Patent number: 10388124
    Abstract: A system having a haptic control unit, a haptic delivery cluster, and an electric field generator, magnetic field generator, or pneumatic actuator is presented. The haptic delivery cluster comprises a plurality of haptic delivery nodes, wherein each haptic delivery node of the plurality of haptic delivery nodes is separate from other haptic delivery nodes of the plurality of haptic delivery nodes, is at least one of a wireless communication device, a sensor, or a computing device, and has a dimension that is less than or equal to 5 mm. The electric field generator, magnetic field generator, or pneumatic actuator is in communication with the haptic control unit and is configured, when activated, to generate an electric field or a magnetic field in a physical environment in which the haptic delivery cluster is located, or to output a pulse of air in the physical environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Juan Cruz-Hernandez, Vahid Khoshkava
  • Patent number: 10379655
    Abstract: A touch interface device comprising a touch surface, a first electrode coupled with the touch surface, a second electrode coupled with the touch surface, where when an appendage of an operator touches the touch surface above both the first electrode and the second electrode a first actuation electrical potential from the first electrode and a second actuation electric potential from the second electrode establish electric fields that pass from one of the first and second electrodes directly through the outermost layer of the appendage and return to the other of the first and second electrodes via the outermost layer of the appendage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin
  • Patent number: 10373452
    Abstract: A system provides haptic functionality. The system determines a location of a body area of a user relative to a location of a haptic device that includes an ultrasound emitter. The system then determines a haptic effect, and projects the haptic effect to the body area of the user by the ultrasound emitter of the haptic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Johnny Maalouf, Robert W. Heubel
  • Patent number: 10374649
    Abstract: A device and method of verifying protective case usage, is described. The device includes one or more processors to drive an electromechanical transducer with an input signal. The electromechanical transducer generates an input force based on the input signal, and a sensor of the device generates a test output signal in response to the input force. The one or more processors determine, based on the test output signal, a level of verification that a protective case is mounted on the device. The determination can include determining whether the test output signal matches a predetermined impulse response signal indicative of an unprotected device or a protected device. A digital identification tag of the protective case can be read by a radio-frequency transceiver of the device to provide an additional level of verification that the protective case is mounted on the device. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Inventor: Randy Mark Cunningham
  • Patent number: 10353579
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to interpreting user inputs, including user touch gestures inputs, to generate explicit instructions for an application program running on a computing platform. A user may make an input on a touch-enabled display of the computing platform. The input may trace a path on the application presented on the touch-enabled display. The path includes one or more features, and/or may intersect with virtual objects of the application. The features of the path may be used to generate explicit instructions for the application or the virtual objects of the application. The instructions may facilitate control of the functionality of the virtual objects. The application can be a game and/or other application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip Singer
  • Patent number: 10353472
    Abstract: The touch sensitive element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes an electroactive layer, an electrode, and a plurality of beads. The electroactive layer includes an electroactive polymer. The electrode is disposed on at least one surface of the electroactive layer. The plurality of beads is dispersed in the electroactive layer and has a diameter larger than the thickness of the electroactive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: TaeHeon Kim, SuSeok Choi, YongSu Ham, YongWoo Lee, KyungYeol Ryu, YuSeon Kho
  • Patent number: 10289199
    Abstract: Localized haptic feedback at discrete locations or regions of a surface is disclosed. Controllable haptic transmission nodes can be selectively controlled to transmit a haptic feedback signal to a surface. The nodes can be controlled between a first state that transmits the haptic feedback signal to the surface and a second state that dampens or prevents the haptic feedback signal to the surface. The nodes can be located around the perimeter of the surface, where each node can be associated with a particular location or region of the surface and can provide haptic feedback to that particular location or region when the node is selected. A touch surface of a touch sensitive device is an exemplary surface for using localized haptic feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Quin C. Hoellwarth
  • Patent number: 10288230
    Abstract: The invention discloses a built-in switch cap, including a cylinder body, one end of which is open for setting a tube, the other end is closed and is provided with pins and connected with a drive power. There is a micro-switch installed in the cap to control the ON/OFF of the drive power; a flexible button is provided to press the above micro switch, the press button is bulging from on the closed side of the cylinder body. The invention discloses a LED tube, which at least has one cap. The invention uses the micro switch installed in the lamp cap, pressing the button on the cap when touching the switch, the power source supplies power, increasing the safety of products. The cap also can directly replace the existing cap, with a strong commonality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: CH LIGHTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guosong Zhao, Jianhua Su
  • Patent number: 10255825
    Abstract: A haptic calibration device comprises a signal generator configured to receive the subjective force value and the force location from a subjective magnitude input device. The signal generator also receives from at least one of a plurality of haptic sensors a sensor voltage value, with the at least one of the plurality of haptic sensors corresponding to the force location. The signal generator stores the subjective force value and the corresponding sensor voltage value in a data store. The signal generator generates a calibration curve indicating a correspondence between subjective force values and sensor voltage values for the location where the subjective force was experienced using the data from the data store, wherein the calibration curve is used to calibrate a haptic feedback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Israr, Frances Wing Yee Lau, Freddy Abnousi, Keith Klumb
  • Patent number: 10241578
    Abstract: An operation apparatus includes: an operation plate having an operation surface performed by a pressing operation with an operation body; a vibrator including a movable yoke and a fixed yoke for generating a magnetic circuit for guiding a magnetic flux, and an exciting coil for generating the magnetic flux, and the vibrator vibrating the operation plate through a magnetic force generated by an electrical conduction on the exciting coil; a detector detecting a pressing amount by the pressing operation; a press determinator determining based on the pressing amount detected by the detector whether the pressing operation is performed; and a vibration controller for an electrical conduction on the exciting coil when the press determinator determines that the pressing operation is performed. The detector detects the pressing amount by detecting a change in an electrostatic capacitance generated between the movable yoke and the fixed yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Syunsuke Shibata, Motoki Tachiiri, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 10241579
    Abstract: A force-based haptic switch panel, comprising a touch plate having first and second surfaces, the first surface comprising a touch surface and the second surface opposing the first surface. The haptic switch panel may also comprise a circuit board having a plurality of force sensors electrically coupled thereto. The force sensors are disposed between the circuit board and the second surface of the touch plate, wherein each force sensor is configured to measure a respective portion of a force applied to the touch surface of the touch plate. The haptic switch panel may also comprise an acoustic actuator disposed proximate a second surface of the touch plate and configured to generate a haptic output and an audible output responsive to the force applied to the touch surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventors: Jason Lisseman, David Andrews
  • Patent number: 10235849
    Abstract: A system having a haptic control unit, a haptic delivery cluster, and an electric field generator, magnetic field generator, or pneumatic actuator is presented. The haptic delivery cluster comprises a plurality of haptic delivery nodes, wherein each haptic delivery node of the plurality of haptic delivery nodes is separate from other haptic delivery nodes of the plurality of haptic delivery nodes, is at least one of a wireless communication device, a sensor, or a computing device, and has a dimension that is less than or equal to 5 mm. The electric field generator, magnetic field generator, or pneumatic actuator is in communication with the haptic control unit and is configured, when activated, to generate an electric field or a magnetic field in a physical environment in which the haptic delivery cluster is located, or to output a pulse of air in the physical environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Vahid Khoshkava
  • Patent number: 10236760
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an actuator or circuit includes elements moveably coupled via bearings positioned between curved grooves. The bearings and the curves may exert a restorative force to return the elements to an original position after movement and may be spherical, cubic, cylindrical, and/or include gears that interact with groove gears. In some embodiments, an electrical coil may be coplanar with a surface of an element and a hard magnet may be positioned in the center and be polarized to stabilize or destabilize the element with respect to another element. In various embodiments, a magnetic circuit includes an element with an electrical coil wrapped in multiple directions around the element. In some embodiments, an actuator includes attraction elements and exertion of force causes an element to approach, contact, and/or magnetically attach to one of the attraction elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, John B. Morrell, Patrick Kessler, Samuel Weiss
  • Patent number: 10222642
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a display device and a driving method and manufacturing method thereof. The display device comprises: a display module and a liquid crystal cell which are arranged opposite to each other. The display module comprises first electrodes, and the liquid crystal cell comprises second electrodes and a third electrode arranged opposite to the second electrodes. The first electrodes and the second electrodes extend in different directions. During stereoscopic display, a coupling electric field is formed between the first electrodes and the second electrodes within a touch period, and a grating electric field is formed between the second electrodes and the third electrode within a stereoscopic display period. The coupling electric field is used for generating a touch signal when a touch occurs, and the grating electric field allows the display module to form a display picture for stereoscopic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shengji Yang
  • Patent number: 10203756
    Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes receiving a first signal from a sensor, the first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface; receiving a second signal associated with an interaction with the graphical user interface; determining a haptic feedback effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface and the interaction with the graphical user interface; and generating a haptic signal configured to output the haptic feedback effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10198067
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a tactile sensation comprises: a tactile sensation generating unit including a magnetorheological fluid, of which the shape changes according to a magnetic field and which comes in contact with a user's body, and a first magnet which is arranged to be surrounded with the magnetorheological fluid, which increases the amount of change of the magnetorheological fluid by the magnetic field thereof, and of which the position changes according to a change in a magnetic field generated by an external source; a magnetic field forming unit for selectively forming a magnetic field around the tactile sensation generating unit; and a control unit which outputs a signal for forming a magnetic field to the magnetic field forming unit when a user's body in contact with the tactile sensation generating unit reaches the surface of a virtual object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: KOREA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jee Hwan Ryu, Harsimran Singh
  • Patent number: 10171638
    Abstract: ForcePhone is a novel system for enabling phones to recognize the force applied to their touchscreen and/or body. ForcePhone uses built-in sensors to measure the applied force via a physical property called structure-borne sound propagation. The phone plays an inaudible sound through the phone's speaker. When the phone is free to vibrate, the sound from the speaker easily travels through its body to the phone's microphone. When a force is applied to the phone, vibration is restricted and the sound traveling through the pathway is degraded. ForcePhone estimate the amount of applied force by monitoring the change in sound degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Kang G. Shin, Yu-Chih Tung