Patents Assigned to Immersion Corporation
  • Enhanced dynamic haptic effects
    Patent number: 10359851
    Abstract: A system is provided that generates a dynamic haptic effect that includes one or more key frames, where each key frame includes a first interpolant value and a first haptic effect. The system further receives an interpolant value, where the interpolant value is between at least two interpolant values of at least two key frames. The system further determines the dynamic haptic effect from the interpolant value. The system further distributes the dynamic haptic effect among a plurality of actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry Da Costa, Eric Gervais
  • Device and method for generating vibration haptic effects based on a timeline effect definition
    Patent number: 10359852
    Abstract: A signal associated with multiple haptic effects is received, each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects being associated with a time slot from multiple time slots. Each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects is associated with an effect slot from multiple effect slots at least partially based on the time slot associated with that haptic effect. An output signal is sent for each effect slot from the multiple effect slots, when the associated haptic effect is scheduled for its time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Henrique D. Da Costa, Danny A. Grant, Robert A. Lacroix
  • Method and device for enabling pitch control for a haptic effect
    Patent number: 10360774
    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: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: William S. Rihn, Jason D. Fleming
  • HAPTIC SENSATIONS AS A FUNCTION OF EYE GAZE
    Publication number: 20190217196
    Abstract: Systems, electronic devices, and methods provide haptic sensations as a function of eye gaze. A system may include a detector configured to determine a direction of an eye gaze of a user of the system, a processor configured to generate signal representative of a haptic effect based on the direction of the eye gaze, and a haptic output device configured to receive the signal from the processor and output the haptic effect to the user. A method for providing a haptic effect to a user of a system may include determining a direction of an eye gaze of the user of the system, generating a haptic effect based on the direction of the eye gaze, and outputting the haptic effect to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Danny A. Grant, Vincent Levesque
  • Haptic spatialization system
    Patent number: 10353471
    Abstract: A system is provided that controls a haptic effect experienced at a peripheral device. The system receives a haptic effect definition including haptic data. The system further receives spatialization data including: a distance of the haptic effect; a direction of the haptic effect; or a flow of the haptic effect. The system further includes modifying the haptic effect definition based on the received spatialization data. The system further includes sending a haptic instruction and the modified haptic effect definition to the peripheral device. The system further includes causing one or more haptic output devices to produce one or more haptic effects based on the modified haptic effect definition at the peripheral device in response to the haptic instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry Da Costa, Robert Lacroix, Danny Grant, Stephen D. Rank, David Birnbaum, William Rihn
  • Programmable haptic devices and methods for modifying haptic effects to compensate for audio-haptic interference
    Patent number: 10347093
    Abstract: A system includes a processor, an audio display, and a haptic peripheral including a haptic output device. The audio display includes a speaker and a headphone connector. The haptic output device is configured to receive a control signal from the processor and output a haptic effect to the haptic peripheral in response to the control signal from the processor. The processor is configured to vary the control signal for the haptic output device depending on an audio output accessory connectivity status of the audio display such that the haptic output device generates and applies a first haptic effect if the audio display is connected to an audio output accessory in order to output audio through the headphone connector and the haptic output device generates and applies a second haptic effect if the audio display is not connected to an audio output accessory in order to output audio through the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Rihn, David Birnbaum
  • Systems and methods for object manipulation with haptic feedback
    Patent number: 10345909
    Abstract: One illustrative computing device disclosed herein includes a sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a physical object and transmit a sensor signal associated with the user interaction. The illustrative computing device also includes a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal; determine a characteristic of the physical object based on the sensor signal; determine a haptic effect associated with the characteristic; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative computing device further includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor, the haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Wei Zhu, Eric Gervais, Fengtian An, Eric Lajeunesse, Johnny Maalouf
  • Haptic actuators having magnetic elements and at least one electromagnet
    Patent number: 10343061
    Abstract: A wearable haptic-enabled user interface device comprising a plurality of magnetic elements and at least one electromagnet that are configured to generate a haptic effect at the user interface device by being disposed to generate at least one of an attractive force and a repelling force on each other when the at least one electromagnet is activated. The wearable haptic-enabled user interface device further comprises a processor configured to activate the at least one electromagnet in response to a determination to output the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas Billington, William Rihn
  • Haptic actuator assembly with a spring pre-load device
    Patent number: 10345910
    Abstract: A haptic actuator assembly includes a haptic actuator configured to output displacement along a perpendicular axis and a pre-load device. The pre-load device is disposed adjacent to the haptic actuator and configured to generate a compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis to oppose expansion of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis. The pre-load device includes a casing and at least a first spring component. The casing includes a cover and a base spaced apart from and extending parallel to the cover. The haptic actuator is disposed between the cover and the base, and the first spring component is configured to exert a force in order to create the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vahid Khoshkava, Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez, Kaniyalal Shah
  • Systems and Methods for Haptically-Enabled Conformed and Multifaceted Displays
    Publication number: 20190204924
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a touch-sensitive surface, which includes: a first surface on a first plane; and a second surface adjacent to the first surface, wherein the second surface is on a second plane different from the first plane. The illustrative system also includes a haptic output device configured to receive a haptic signal and output a haptic effect. Further, the illustrative system includes a processor coupled to the haptic output device and the touch-sensitive surface, the processor configured to: determine an event; determine the haptic effect based at least in part on the event; determine the haptic signal based at least in part on the haptic effect; and transmit the haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Danny Grant
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LONG-RANGE INTERACTIONS FOR VIRTUAL REALITY
    Publication number: 20190204918
    Abstract: Systems and methods long-range interactions for virtual reality are disclosed. One disclosed system includes: a handheld interface device; a sensor configured to detect movement of the handheld interface device and transmit a sensor signal associated with the movement; a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to: determine a haptic signal based in part on the sensor signal; and control, based on the haptic signal, an electromagnetic source remote from the handheld interface device to output a magnetic field to apply a force to magnetic material in the handheld interface device to output a haptic effect to a user of the handheld interface device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: Vahid Khoshkava
  • Haptically enabled user interface
    Patent number: 10338798
    Abstract: A device has a user interface that generates a haptic effect in response to user inputs or gestures. In one embodiment, the device receives an indication that the user is scrolling through a list of elements and an indication that an element is selected. The device determines the scroll rate and generates a haptic effect that has a magnitude that is based on the scroll rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Heubel, Jason D. Fleming, Erin B. Ramsay, A. Timothy Vetter, Robert A. Lacroix, Pedro Gregorio, Danny A. Grant, Lauri Olli Matias Impivaara
  • Systems and methods for visual processing of spectrograms to generate haptic effects
    Patent number: 10338683
    Abstract: Systems and methods for visual processing of spectrograms to generate haptic effects are disclosed. In one embodiment, a signal comprising at least an audio signal is received. One or more spectrograms may be generated based at least in part on the received signal. One or more haptic effects may be determined based at least in part on the spectrogram. For example, a generated spectrogram may be a two-dimensional image and this image can be analyzed to determine one or more haptic effects. Once a haptic effect has been determined, one or more haptic output signals can be generated. A generated haptic output signal may be output to one or more haptic output devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Jamal Saboune
  • Haptic enabled strap for wearable electronic device
    Patent number: 10339770
    Abstract: A system includes a wearable electronic device and a strap operatively connected to the wearable electronic device. The strap is configured to allow a user to wear the wearable electronic device on a body part. The system also includes an actuator connected to the strap, and a processor in signal communication with the wearable electronic device and the actuator. The processor is configured to receive a first signal from the wearable electronic device and send a second signal, based on the first signal, to the actuator to cause the strap to move relative to the wearable electronic device and provide a haptic effect to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mansoor Alghooneh, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Jamal Saboune, Vahid Khoshkava
  • Systems and methods for multi-output electrostatic haptic effects
    Patent number: 10338681
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a processor configured to determine a haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect includes a static ESF effect or a confirmation ESF effect; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative system also includes an ESF controller in communication with the processor, the ESF controller configured to receive the haptic signal, determine an ESF signal based at least in part on the haptic signal, and transmit the ESF signal. The illustrative system further includes an ESF device in communication with the ESF controller, the ESF device including an ESF cell and configured to receive the ESF signal and output the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Christopher Ullrich, Danny Grant, Neil Olien, Vincent Levesque
  • Sound to haptic effect conversion system using mapping
    Patent number: 10339772
    Abstract: A system generates a haptic signal. The system receives an audio signal, pre-processes the audio signal by modifying the audio signal to create a modified audio signal, and maps the modified audio signal to a haptic signal. The system then sends the haptic signal to an actuator to generate one or more haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Method and apparatus for providing multi-point haptic feedback texture systems
    Patent number: 10338682
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating haptic surface texture with a deformable surface layer are disclosed. The haptic device includes a flexible surface layer, a haptic substrate, and a deforming mechanism. The flexible surface layer is made of elastic materials and is capable of reconfiguring its surface characteristics. The haptic substrate, in one embodiment, provides a first pattern in response to a first activating signal. Alternatively, the haptic substrate is capable of providing a second pattern in accordance with a second activating signal. The deforming mechanism is configured to change the flexible surface from a first surface characteristic to a second surface characteristic in accordance with the first pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Heubel, Ryan Steger, Robert A. Lacroix, Muge Bakircioglu
  • Haptic implants
    Patent number: 10327974
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to haptic devices for implantation in a human subject. Such haptic devices can include various actuators, including both active and passive haptic actuators, for providing feedback to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, David M. Birnbaum, Benoit Paul Belley, Jamal Saboune, Abdelwahab Hamam, Ravikumar Patel, Christopher Ullrich, Mohammadreza Motamedi, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Elastomer suspension with actuation functionality and sensing functionality
    Patent number: 10331216
    Abstract: A haptic-enabled user interface device comprising a user input component, an elastomer suspension, a signal generating circuit, a signal sensing circuit, one or more switches, and a control unit is presented. The elastomer suspension is formed by at least one stack that includes an elastomeric layer, wherein the at least one stack forms at least one capacitor. The control unit is configured, in an actuation mode, to cause the one or more switches to electrically connect the signal generating circuit to the at least one capacitor and to electrically disconnect the signal sensing circuit from at least one capacitor, and to cause the signal generating circuit to apply a drive signal to the at least one capacitor. The control unit is further configured, in a sensing mode, to cause the one or more switches to electrically connect the signal sensing circuit to the at least one capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vahid Khoshkava, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Neil T. Olien
  • Smart material for haptic feedback
    Patent number: 10332365
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to haptic actuators, and suitably haptic actuators based on repulsion and attraction between a coil and a magnet. Such haptic actuators are useful in structural materials, such as elements of wearables or accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vahid Khoshkava, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez