Force Feedback Interaction Patents (Class 715/701)
  • Patent number: 11842028
    Abstract: A computer system has a display area, wherein the display area at least partially encompasses a status region. The computer system detects a user input corresponding to the status region. In response to detecting the user input corresponding to the status region, the computer system, in accordance with a determination that the status region is associated with an active session of a respective application, performs an operation associated with the respective application and in accordance with a determination that the status region is not associated with an active session of a respective application, provides feedback associated with the user input without displaying information about a respective application in the status region and without performing an operation associated with a respective application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Chanaka G. Karunamuni
  • Patent number: 11747969
    Abstract: A computer system, in response to a request to display a second user interface in an application user interface region, and in accordance with a determination that the second user interface is associated with respective software that is different from a first application, ceases to display a first user interface and displays the second user interface in the application user interface region. In accordance with a determination that the status region is associated with an active session of a second application that is different from the first application, the computer system displays, in a first portion of the status region, a first indication of a current state of the first application, including updating the displayed first indication as the state of the first application changes and displays, in a second portion of the status region, a second indication of a current state of the second application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Chanaka G. Karunamuni
  • Patent number: 11738262
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system (1) that performs generation and reproduction of control data of a haptic presentation device assuming that a control is performed in synchronization with a reproduction content, and there is provided an information processor (10), which makes it possible to achieve reduction in a burden of processing and improvement in convenience, including a control unit (104) that generates a script in which time information on the reproduction content and a control command of the haptic presentation device are associated with each other, in which the control command includes position information indicating a perceptual position that causes a haptic stimulus to be perceived in the haptic presentation device, and haptic stimulus type information specifying a type of the haptic stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Ito, Takeshi Ogita, Yohei Fukuma, Ikuo Yamano, Ryo Yokoyama, Takamoto Tsuda
  • Patent number: 11697201
    Abstract: An exoskeleton system includes a first exoskeleton unit configured to support a first body part, a second exoskeleton unit configured to support a second body part, and a control device. The first exoskeleton unit and the second exoskeleton unit are mechanically decoupled from each other. The control device is configured to control, based on a control model, at least one of the first exoskeleton unit and the second exoskeleton unit. The control model is based on a multibody system that models the first exoskeleton unit, the second exoskeleton unit, and at least one of the first body part and the second body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Universitaet Stuttgart
    Inventors: Joerg Siegert, Urs Schneider
  • Patent number: 11698723
    Abstract: A method disclosed herein includes displaying information associated with a first application in a display area of an electronic device, detecting a change in direction of a continuous gesture across at least a portion of the display area between a first direction and a second direction different than the first direction, the continuous gesture associated with a request to display information of a second application, the first application being different than the second application, in response to detecting the change in direction of the continuous gesture, reducing display of the first application to a first portion of the display area and presenting a preview of information associated with the second application in a second portion of the display area in which the first application was presented prior to detection of the continuous gesture, based on a first characteristic of the continuous gesture, discontinuing providing the first information and display the second application in the display area, and base
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Douglas Bocking, Donald James Lindsay, Daniel Tobias Rydenhag
  • Patent number: 11556900
    Abstract: Electronic systems and methods for developing a person's cognitive skills such as feedback giving skills are contemplated. The systems and methods provide a procedure through which participants follow to formulate and issue feedback to other individuals. Feedback is given through a feedback app. The systems and methods involve participation of feedback recipients and also judges. The procedure involves each feedback recipient giving a presentation in a period of time and each judge providing feedback to each presentation. The procedure is performed by executing an event which can be created from an event app provided by the system. The event app also executes the created event, and completion of the event allows the system to provide feedback results to the participants, feedback recipients, judges, and other individuals based on information received during the event. The flow of the event is also controllable from the event app.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Next Jump, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong-Chul Charles Kim, Meghan Messenger, Greg Kunkel, Thomas Fuller
  • Patent number: 11422632
    Abstract: A robotic haptic stimulator comprises a robotic mount which is configured to move a haptic stimulation device. The robotic mount can preferably move the haptic stimulation device in three-dimensional space. Movement in the x, y and/or z directions may be independently controlled and may be referenced to a designated point or position that may be associated with the human body. Lidar may be used to obtain information regarding the location/distance of one or more parts of a user for use in controlling the position of the haptic stimulation device. Movement of the haptic stimulation device may emulate movement of other objects and/or be synchronized to video or sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: Andrew Flessas
  • Patent number: 11347311
    Abstract: A system includes a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The first electronic device includes a sensor configured to sense or property experienced by the first electronic device, and a transmitter configured to transmit a signal based on output from the sensor. The second electronic device is in signal communication with the first electronic device. The second electronic device includes a receiver configured to receive the transmitted signal, a detector configured to determine an object that a user of the second device is focusing on, a processor configured to generate a haptic signal representative of the transmitted signal if it is determined that the object the user is focusing on corresponds with a location of the first electronic device, and a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and generate a haptic effect to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Ali Modarres, Danny A. Grant, Jean Francois Dionne, David M. Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 11287888
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed in which in a conventional non-grounding man-machine interface having no reaction base on the human body and for giving the existence of a virtual object and the impact force of a collision to a person, a haptic sensation of a torque, a force and the like can be continuously presented in the same direction, which cannot be presented by only the physical characteristic of a haptic sensation presentation device. In a haptic presentation device, the rotation velocity of at least one rotator in the haptic presentation device is controlled by a control device, and a vibration, a force or a torque as the physical characteristic is controlled, so that the user is made to conceive various haptic information of the vibration, force, torque or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Murata Manufacturing Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Norio Nakamura, Yukio Fukui, Masataka Sakai
  • Patent number: 11122171
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes an acquisition section, a specification section, and a display controller. The acquisition section acquires page information indicative of a page of a reference destination of a book. The specification section specifies a location, which corresponds to the acquired page information, on a fore edge of the book. The display controller performs control such that an image indicative of the specified location on the fore edge is superimposedly displayed on the fore edge which is seen through a display provided in the display apparatus that is mounted on a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Hirotake Sasaki, Kentaro Takano, Daisuke Yasuoka, Keigo Hattori, Mitsuo Hayashi, Hiroki Terabe
  • Patent number: 11119564
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a touch operation is provided. The apparatus includes a display to display an image, a coordinate input to input a coordinate on a display screen of the display, and a processor to execute a process. The process including determining first input detected as a first specifying operation specifying an area on a display screen. The process also includes determining, when a second input is detected and the first input is continuously detected, the first and the second inputs as a second specifying operation. Also, the process includes determining, when one of the first and the second inputs is discontinued after determining the second specifying operation, a continuing and remaining input as the first specifying operation which treats the continuing and remaining input as the first input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX
    Inventors: Yuuichi Tanzawa, Daisuke Miyata, Yoshimasa Asao, Tetsuro Uchida, Kazuya Tomii
  • Patent number: 10969868
    Abstract: A tactile sensation providing apparatus includes an actuator that vibrates a vibration target and a holding member that holds the vibration target. The holding member is disposed apart from the actuator. The actuator rotates the vibration target with the holding member as a fulcrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Takeda
  • Patent number: 10954118
    Abstract: A device with a membrane comprising a support, a membrane made of a polymer material suspended on said support and at least one actuating module arranged opposite a face of the membrane and separate from said membrane, said actuating module comprising at least one actuator comprising at least one piezoelectric material and a beam connected to the support and separate from the membrane, the piezoelectric material being connected to the beam, such that, when a difference in electric potential is applied to the piezoelectric material, a bimetal effect appears between the piezoelectric material and the beam deforming the beam in the direction of the membrane, causing the deformation of the membrane, said device also comprising at least one electrostatic actuator configured for compressing at least one part of the membrane on the at least one part of the actuating module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Fabrice Casset, Pauline Poncet
  • Patent number: 10944856
    Abstract: The invention relates to a communication method for use by a plurality of users to provide an indication of a status of a user, comprising the steps of: a) a user providing information about a first status indicator b) said user providing information about a second status indicator; c) generating a vibration pattern representing a variability measure based on said first and second status indicators wherein said vibration pattern comprises a series of beats, each beat comprising at least two pulses of non-zero intensity, wherein the pulses within each beat are spaced at a first frequency, and said beats are spaced at a second frequency, d) transmitting the vibration pattern providing information on said variability measure to a third party, wherein said vibration pattern changes by varying said first and/or said second frequency, as said variability measure changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Revolutioneyes Me Limited
    Inventor: George Taktak
  • Patent number: 10908929
    Abstract: Various implementations related to human versus bot detection using gesture fingerprinting are described. In one such implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving an input associated with an application presented on a display device, capturing sensor data associated with the input, detecting a variance in the sensor data, comparing the variance with variance criteria, determining whether the input is provided by a human user or mimicked by a programmed device based on the comparison of the variance with the variance criteria, and storing the determination as analytics data in association with the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Famous Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark H. Lu, Steven E. Newcomb
  • Patent number: 10846999
    Abstract: A method of generating haptic effects on a haptic-enabled device having a control unit and a haptic output device is provided. The method comprises receiving a haptic track that describes a time-varying magnitude envelope for driving the haptic output device to generate a haptic effect. The method further comprises generating a periodic drive signal with a time-varying frequency that is based on magnitude values of the time-varying magnitude envelope described in the haptic track. The method further comprises outputting the periodic drive signal to the haptic output device, to cause the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect based on the periodic drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Rihn, Jason D. Fleming
  • Patent number: 10734997
    Abstract: A touch and force sensitive rocker switch or button array for a portable electronic device can include multiple dome switches or force sensors, as well as a capacitive sensing surface that can detect finger location and swipes. A cosmetic surface can cover the entire elongated switch/button and portions of device housing proximate the button, and can be configured to transfer each of multiple types of input there through to the button and also provide a seal to the device housing interior. The cosmetic surface can be a flexible polymer to allow local deformation, and/or the entire surface can tilt or bend to permit inputs to transfer there through. The elongated button/switch can be raised from a surface of the device, and can be located along a side of the device, with a front face of the device being a touchscreen, such as for a smart phone or watch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Adam T. Clavelle, Sameer Pandya, Sherry Tang
  • Patent number: 10616549
    Abstract: A digital photographing device may include a plurality of cameras on a common side of the device, an application processor for switching image capture between the camera, and a display. The application processor may switch images output on the display when the cameras are switched. During the image transition, one or more virtual viewpoint images are output between a pre-transition image and a post-transition image. The virtual viewpoint images interpolate a disparity between the pre-transition image and the post-transition image caused by the different cameras being located at different positions, and result in a smooth visual transition. When a camera switching input includes a zoom factor signal, the virtual viewpoint images may be compensated images according to the input zoom factor and a disparity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO, LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Jin Park, Seok Jae Kang, Jee Hong Lee, Joon Hyuk Im, Chae Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 10613627
    Abstract: A system includes a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The first electronic device includes a sensor configured to sense or property experienced by the first electronic device, and a transmitter configured to transmit a signal based on output from the sensor. The second electronic device is in signal communication with the first electronic device. The second electronic device includes a receiver configured to receive the transmitted signal, a detector configured to determine an object that a user of the second device is focusing on, a processor configured to generate a haptic signal representative of the transmitted signal if it is determined that the object the user is focusing on corresponds with a location of the first electronic device, and a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and generate a haptic effect to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Ali Modarres, Danny A. Grant, Jean Francois Dionne, David M. Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 10592008
    Abstract: Systems and methods for changing the shape of a mouse or other input device are described. In one embodiment, a mouse includes an articulating member that defines a curvature of an exterior surface of the mouse. The mouse may include one or more actuators for manipulating the articulating member to change the contour of the exterior surface of the mouse. The curvature may be changed to optimize the ergonomics of the mouse and/or deliver tactile feedback to users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Hongcheng Sun, Alex J. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 10532000
    Abstract: Described is a system for online characterization of biomechanical and cognitive factors relevant to physical rehabilitation and training efforts. A biosensing subsystem senses biomechanical states of a user based on the output of sensors and generates a set of biomechanical data. The set of biomechanical data is transmitted in real-time to an analytics subsystem. The set of biomechanical data is analyzed by the analytics subsystem, and control guidance is sent through a real-time control interface to adjust the user's motions. In one aspect control guidance is sent to a robotic exoskeleton worn by the user to adjust the user's motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Vincent De Sapio, Stephanie E. Goldfarb, Matthias Ziegler
  • Patent number: 10445994
    Abstract: Systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes: an actuator; and a control-circuit in communication with the actuator, the control circuit configured to: receive a haptic signal including a first bit indicating a power state; and transmit a power signal based on the haptic signal, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate at an actuation state at a fixed power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Erin B. Ramsay, Henrique D. da Costa, Neil Olien, Robert A. Lacroix
  • Patent number: 10379664
    Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Sensel Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, John Aaron Zarraga, Alexander Meagher Grau, Charles Robert Watson
  • Patent number: 10249156
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for providing a haptic effect in an electronic device. The electronic device includes at least one sensor, at least one processor, and a memory electrically coupled to the at least one processor, storing instructions executable by the at least one processor. The instructions implement the method, including detecting at least one haptic event related to content output by the electronic device, detecting movement information indicating movement of a haptic providing module electrically coupled to the electronic device, via the at least one sensor, wherein the haptic providing module includes one or more haptic actuators, and selecting at least one haptic actuator of the one or more haptic actuators based on at least one attribute of the at least one haptic event and the detected movement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dongjae Shin, Kyungtae Kim, Sun-Kee Lee, Yo-Han Lee, Eun Jung Hyun
  • Patent number: 10234944
    Abstract: A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts. One embodiment of a force feedback device provides both relative position reporting and absolute position reporting to allow great flexibility. A different device embodiment provides relative position reporting device allowing maximum compatibility with existing software. Information such as ballistic parameters and screen size sent from the host to the force feedback device allow accurate mouse positions and graphical object positions to be determined in the force feedback environment. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam C. Braun, Jonathan L. Beamer, Dean C. Chang
  • Patent number: 10216333
    Abstract: Present disclosure provides techniques to compensate for the above-identified signal processing delays between an in-cell digitizer of the touch screen display system and a stylus (or pen). In one example, the delays may be compensated by estimating the stylus-digitizer phase error on the digitizer side and adjusting for the delay accordingly. Specifically, in this example, the digitizer may utilize a quadratic receiver to perform an in-phase and quadratic detection in time domain in order to estimate the phase error. Based on the in-phase and quadratic detection, the digitizer may adapt the subsequent stylus sampling windows to compensate for the detected phase error. In another example, the stylus may transmit a first signal and a second signal that is 90 degrees delayed during a predetermined time slot, and to adapt the stylus sampling windows on the digitizer side in order to compensate for the phase delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Amir Zyskind, On Haran, Jonathan Westhues, Arie Yehuda Gur
  • Patent number: 10198163
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an input detection unit that detects a contact operation or a proximity operation made by a user; a display unit that includes a first display region displaying a first image showing a position where a first operation is received; and a control unit that changes display mode of the first display region based on a second operation when the input detection unit detects the second operation and that has a second image displayed in a second display region where a third operation is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Yabuki
  • Patent number: 10198874
    Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, computer program products, and electronic apparatuses for aligning components in virtual reality environments are provided. An example method includes detecting a first input from a handheld controller of a virtual reality system, responsive to detecting the first input, instructing a user to orient a handheld controller in a designated direction, detecting a second input from the handheld controller; and responsive to detecting the second input, storing alignment data representative of an alignment of the handheld controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: David Dearman, Chun Yat Frank Li, Erica Morse
  • Patent number: 10185805
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus and method are provided. The medical image processing apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire an icon based on information in a medical image file of an object, the icon having a shape of the object and comprising one or more sub-icons, and a display configured to display the icon. Each of the one or more sub-icons corresponds to an anatomical region of the object is configured to accept input to perform one or more image processing functions associated with the corresponding anatomical region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Praveen Gulaka, Hyun-hee Jo, Se-Jin Yoo, Jae-moon Jo
  • Patent number: 10139858
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a transformable body configured to be elastically stretchable between at least a first configuration and a second configuration, a user input device, a user input device configured to receive user input signal, a communication interface configured to provide a wireless link for the apparatus and a flexible interconnection between at least two components within the transformable body. The apparatus may perform determining of user information based on the user input signal, transmitting at least part of the user information over the wireless link to a remote processing unit, receiving feedback information from the remote processing unit and presenting the feedback information to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Piers Andrew, Teppo Tapani Jokinen, Lotta Maaria Partanen, Antti Salo, Jarkko Tapio Saunamäki, Qifeng Yan, Matti Kosonen
  • Patent number: 9927923
    Abstract: In a projection-type video display device that displays an image by projecting the image onto a projection object starting from a desk surface, a display screen on which a position and a gesture operation of a user are reflected is displayed in a predetermined area. An illumination and a camera are disposed in the projection-type video display device installed on the desk surface, a gesture using user's fingers is detected, and, for example, a menu screen and an operation guide are displayed according to the gesture. The shadows of the fingers are photographed by the camera, and a gesture is detected. According to the gesture, the display screen is moved, rotated, divided, or enlarged/reduced, or a menu screen is displayed. The display direction is determined in consideration of the direction of sides of the desk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Hasegawa, Mitsuo Nakajima, Takashi Matsubara, Sakiko Narikawa
  • Patent number: 9880623
    Abstract: A haptic device includes a display configured to display an image, a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect to a user when the user interacts with the display, and a processor configured to receive information related to the image displayed on the display. The processor is also configured to create a friction based haptic effect map associated with the image displayed on the display, and generate a signal to the haptic output device to output the haptic effect when the user interacts with the display when the image is displayed on the display, the haptic effect being configured to simulate a feel of the image in three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Lacroix, Vincent Levesque
  • Patent number: 9864460
    Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sensel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, John Aaron Zarraga, Alexander Meagher Grau
  • Patent number: 9855653
    Abstract: A master-slave system (1) according to the present invention includes at least one master displacement sensor (Pm1 to Pm3) for measuring a master displacement for a master robot, at least one slave displacement sensor (Ps1 to Ps3) for measuring a slave displacement for a slave robot, a master target displacement calculating device (2) for mapping the slave displacement and thereby obtaining a master target displacement which is a target value for the master displacement corresponding to the slave displacement, and a master actuator (Am1 to Am3) for generating a master driving force to position-control the master robot on the basis of the master target displacement and the master displacement. The mapping is predefined such that a set of master target displacements excludes a singular configuration for the master robot. The master-slave system (1) renders it possible to solve a singular configuration problem for both the master robot and the slave robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Muscle Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Kanaoka, Ryo Kikuuwe
  • Patent number: 9851797
    Abstract: A multiple part electronic device is disclosed, the device comprising a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a connecting element that mechanically couples the first housing portion to the second housing portion, and a haptic element configured to induce a haptic effect arranged in at least one of the first housing portion or the second housing portion. The haptic element is in direct contact with the connecting element. The connecting element is a haptics guiding element configured to transmit the haptic effect between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Sakari Soini, Kimmo Laakkonen
  • Patent number: 9753539
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a user interface. The method comprises acquiring information on a position where at least one of a first device and a second device contacts a body of a user, and upon the occurrence of a triggering event that causes haptic feedback in at least one of the first device and the second device, controlling properties of haptic feedback provided in at least one of the first device and the second device, with reference to the acquired information on the body contact position, information on a display state associated with the triggering event, and information on contents or functions associated with the triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Futureplay Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Jae Hwang
  • Patent number: 9690481
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods, software, devices and APIs for defining touch events for application level software. Furthermore, some embodiments are directed to simplifying the recognition of single and multiple touch events for applications running in multi-touch enabled devices. To simplify the recognition of single and multiple touch events, each view within a particular window can be configured as either a multi-touch view or a single touch view. Furthermore, each view can be configured as either an exclusive or a non-exclusive view. Depending on the configuration of a view, touch events in that and other views can be either ignored or recognized. Ignored touches need not be sent to the application. Selectively ignoring touches can allow for simpler software elements that do not take advantage of advanced multi touch features to be executed at the same device and time as more complex software elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jason Clay Beaver, Andrew Platzer
  • Patent number: 9679401
    Abstract: Color cell-based data placement systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media that visualize large amounts of multidimensional data on an output by rearranging data objects to variably grant more output space to areas with high data density and less output space to areas with low data density, and to variably rearrange overlapping data objects based on a number of data objects already placed at a preferred cell position for the data object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Ming C. Hao, Umeshwar Dayal, Daniel Keim, Halldor Janetzko, Walter Hill
  • Patent number: 9652097
    Abstract: A touch input device performing a feedback according to a touch level may be provided that includes; a touch screen which displays a passcode input window; a controller which generates a first control signal as to whether or not a touch on the passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode, and determines a touch level among a plurality of touch levels by using at least one of a pressure magnitude, area and time period of the touch; and a memory which stores the predetermined passcode. The touch level is set to the predetermined passcode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: HIDEEP INC.
    Inventors: Yunjoung Kim, Seyeob Kim, Hyongsub Yun, Sangsic Yoon, Bonkee Kim, Hojun Moon, Taehoon Kim, Sunyoung Kwon
  • Patent number: 9600115
    Abstract: A haptic device includes a substrate that is subjected to lateral motion such as lateral oscillation with one or more degrees of freedom together with modulation of a friction reducing oscillation in a manner that can create a shear force on the user's finger or on an object on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin
  • Patent number: 9513883
    Abstract: A method is provided that receives an image that includes graphical metadata for specifying alignment information. The method renders the image by using the alignment information. Rendering the image by using the alignment information includes positioning text on the image, aligning the image with another image, and identifying visual boundaries of the rendered image. The graphical metadata includes a geometric shape that specifies a region on the image where the text is to be rendered. The alignment metadata also specifies a maximum size for text rendered on the image. In some embodiments, the image is a multi-layer image that includes a first layer for the image and a second layer for the graphical metadata. In some embodiments, the layer that includes the graphical metadata is designated to include graphical metadata. The graphical metadata is not rendered on a graphical user interface where the image is rendered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Patrick O. Heynen, Marian E. Goldeen, Jordan P. McCommons, William J. Feth
  • Patent number: 9400601
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a page flipping mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The user can engage the page flipping mode by performing an activation gesture, which causes the device to display a magazine page flipping mode or a fast page flipping mode. The page flipping modes may show paginated content such as an opened book or magazine in a single stack or side-by-side layout. The fast page flipping modes may show a single page lying relatively flat or somewhat curled with the edges of subsequent pages visible at the right edge of the page. A page flipping gesture may prompt an animation showing one or more pages folding up to display subsequent pages to the user. In some cases, the number of pages being flipped and/or the speed at which the pages are flipped, is dependent upon the speed and/or length and/or duration of the page flipping gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Nook Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Jaireh Tecarro, Chen-Je Huang, David Jara, Saj Shetty, Matthew Pallakoff
  • Patent number: 9389712
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods, software, devices and APIs for defining touch events for application level software. Furthermore, some embodiments are directed to simplifying the recognition of single and multiple touch events for applications running in multi-touch enabled devices. To simplify the recognition of single and multiple touch events, each view within a particular window can be configured as either a multi-touch view or a single touch view. Furthermore, each view can be configured as either an exclusive or a non-exclusive view. Depending on the configuration of a view, touch events in that and other views can be either ignored or recognized. Ignored touches need not be sent to the application. Selectively ignoring touches can allow for simpler software elements that do not take advantage of advanced multi touch features to be executed at the same device and time as more complex software elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jason Clay Beaver, Andrew Platzer
  • Patent number: 9317170
    Abstract: An interactive assembly including at least one interactive surface element, at least a first region of the at least one interactive surface element having first user sensible functionality and at least a second region of the at least one interactive surface element having second functionality, different from the first user sensible functionality, input sensor functionality, including at least one input sensor located in propinquity to at least one of the at least one interactive surface element, operative to sense impingement of an electromagnetic radiation spot on at least one of the at least one first region and the at least one second region of the at least one interactive surface element and utilization functionality for employing outputs of the input sensor functionality in respect of impingement on either or both of the at least one first region and the at least one second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: POWER2B, INC.
    Inventors: Sarah Michelle Lipman, Eran Kali, Boris Gutin, Moti Margalit, Robert Michael Lipman, Ken Zwiebel
  • Patent number: 9298341
    Abstract: A method of displaying a view in a portable terminal includes: displaying a plurality of applications as a split view corresponding to a split display region of a display unit; reducing and displaying an application of the split view and switchable candidate applications in a switch mode; displaying an application selected from the candidate applications and changing an application displayed on the split view in a previous state to the candidate application; and enlarging and displaying the split view when the switch mode is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youngri Kim, Wonkyu Park, Sungjin Yoon, Bonghee Han, Yoojin Hong, Yujin Lee, Jihong Jeung
  • Patent number: 9184745
    Abstract: A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation. The assembly and method detects a signal associated with each proximity switch, determines a rate of change of the signal associated with the first switch and a rate of change of the signal associated with a neighboring second switch and determines whether to activate the first switch based on at least one of the first rate of signal change and second rate of signal change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Thomas Lee Goodson
  • Patent number: 9170332
    Abstract: A moving object risk calculation unit calculates the total value at all points of intersection of a mesh M for the risk due to moving objects at each point of intersection on the basis of the risk due to objects at each point of intersection in the plurality of meshes set in the vicinity of a host vehicle. In this manner, it is possible to acquire the risk due to moving objects, such as another vehicle that is traveling or is stationary or a pedestrian who is walking or is stationary. In addition, a moving object risk calculation unit calculates the total value of the risk due to moving objects at all points of intersection of the mesh by subtracting the total value of the risk due to immovable objects, which is fixed at each point of intersection, at all points of intersection of the mesh from the total value of the risk due to objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9171483
    Abstract: A system and method for providing learning information for visually impaired people based on a haptic electronic board is disclosed. The system for visually impaired people includes a learning information server in conjunction with a lecture and authoring program; a first information output device (PC) for receiving learning information for people with low vision from the learning information server through a wired/wireless network (LAN or WLAN) and having a viewer program for people with low vision, which is install therein, for providing functions of enlarging and reducing a screen; and a second information output device (haptic electronic board) for accessing to the learning information server through a local wireless network (ZigBee or Bluetooth) by using unique device IDs, converting learning information for blind people received from the learning information server to the haptic electronic board into haptic information, and transferring the haptic information to blind people.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: GACHON UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION
    Inventor: Jin-Soo Cho
  • Patent number: 9164605
    Abstract: An apparatus may include processing logic coupled with a force sensor input and a touch sensor input. The processing logic is configured to determine a relative force magnitude based on a force signal received at the force sensor input and a baseline measurement of the force sensor. The processing logic updates the baseline measurement in response to detecting that the touch signal indicates the absence of the one or more touches from the sensing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Oleksandr Pirogov, Volodymyr Hutnyk, Oleksandr Karpin
  • Patent number: RE45884
    Abstract: A chat interface allowing a user to exchange haptic chat messages with other users in a chat session over a computer network. A chat interface can be displayed by a local computer and receives input data from a user of the local computer, such as text characters or speech input. The input data provides an outgoing chat message that can include sent force information. The outgoing chat message is sent to a remote computer that is connected to the local host computer via a computer network. The remote computer can display a chat interface and output a haptic sensation to a user of the remote computer based at least in part on the force information in the outgoing chat message. An incoming message from the remote computer can also be received at the chat interface, which may also include received force information. The incoming chat message is displayed on a display device to the user of the local computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Evan F. Wies, Dean C. Chang, Michael P. Ruf