Patents Assigned to Immersion
  • Programmable haptic peripheral
    Patent number: 10124252
    Abstract: A system includes a host computer, a processor, and a haptic peripheral. The haptic peripheral includes a manipulandum movable in at least one degree of freedom, an inertial haptic output device, and a haptic output device. The inertial haptic output device is coupled to the manipulandum, and is configured to receive a control signal from the processor and output a transient haptic effect to the manipulandum in response to the control signal from the processor. The haptic output device is configured to receive a control signal from the processor and modify the stiffness of the manipulandum in response to the control signal from the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventor: Danny A. Grant
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POSITION-BASED HAPTIC EFFECTS
    Publication number: 20180321787
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a sensor configured to detect a gesture and transmit an associated sensor signal. The gesture includes a first position at a distance from a surface and a second position contacting the surface. The system also includes a processor in communication with the sensor and configured to: receive the sensor signal from the sensor, and determine one or more haptic effects based at least in part on the sensor signal. The one or more haptic effects are configured to provide substantially continuous haptic feedback throughout the gesture. The processor is also configured to generate one or more haptic signals based at least in part on the one or more haptic effects, and transmit the one or more haptic signals. The system includes a haptic output device for receiving the one or more haptic signals and outputting the one or more haptic effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vahid Khoshkava, Vincent Levesque, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Mansoor Alghooneh, William Rihn
  • Parallel plate actuator
    Patent number: 10120449
    Abstract: The present application relates generally to haptic actuators. For example, the application is directed to high performance parallel plate actuators, and more particularly an actuator that can be used to provide haptic feedback in a variety applications such as buttons, panels, track pads, touch panels, wearables, gaming devices and/or touch-sensitive surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vahid Khoshkava, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Systems and Methods for Force-Based Object Manipulation and Haptic Sensations
    Publication number: 20180314333
    Abstract: Systems and methods for force-based object manipulation and haptic sensations are disclosed. One disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a first signal indicating a location of a user interaction and receiving a second signal indicating a first force. The method also includes, if the location of the user interaction corresponds to an object displayed on a display screen: outputting a first haptic signal to a haptic output device to cause a first haptic effect; and outputting a second haptic signal to the haptic output device to cause a second haptic effect if the first force meets or exceeds a first force threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny Grant, Jamal Saboune, Liwen Wu, Kurt Eerik Stahlberg, Abdelwahab Hamam
  • Systems, devices and methods for wirelessly delivering haptic effects
    Patent number: 10115274
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for wirelessly delivering haptic effects are provided. The devices may include haptic actuators secured to various substrates, including the body and clothing of a user. The haptic actuators may be secured via adhesive and/or may be applied as a curable liquid. The haptic actuators may include an actuator element and a power element. The power element may include an antenna for receiving wireless power and control signals that may be transferred to the haptic actuator to cause a haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexia Mandeville, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Vahid Khoshkava
  • Haptic effect enabled system using fluid
    Patent number: 10109162
    Abstract: A haptic effect enabled system generates a haptic effect using an electric potential responsive fluid. A haptic enabled apparatus includes a fluid and a substrate. The fluid is responsive to an electric field. The substrate is at least partially flexible and defines a channel. The fluid is positioned within at least a portion of the channel. A portion of the substrate proximal to the fluid is stiffer than a portion of the substrate spaced from the fluid, thereby creating a haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mansoor Alghooneh, Vahid Khoshkava, Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez, Mohammadreza Motamedi
  • Systems and methods for surface elements that provide electrostatic haptic effects
    Patent number: 10108267
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a processor configured to determine an electrostatic force (ESF)-based haptic effect and transmit a haptic signal associated with the ESF-based 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 a surface configured to contact a user, and an ESF device coupled to the surface and in communication with the ESF controller, the ESF device configured to receive the ESF signal and output the ESF-based haptic effect on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Ali Modarres, Christopher Ullrich
  • Haptic driver with attenuation
    Patent number: 10109161
    Abstract: In each of the various embodiments, a haptic driver is configured to attenuate a drive signal of an actuator. In particular, the haptic drivers described herein are configured to identify the resonance frequency of the actuator and to attenuate the haptic drive signal within a range of frequencies, the range being based on the identified resonance frequency. As a result, the strength of haptic effects produced by the actuator may be more uniform along a wider frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kaniyalal Shah
  • Haptic effects conflict avoidance
    Patent number: 10102726
    Abstract: A method and system for avoiding haptic effects conflict is presented. A haptic enabled device configured to generate haptic effects associated with a first signature is used by a user. The system detects an additional source of haptic effects and determines a second signature associated with the haptic effects produced by the source. The system determines a preferred set of haptic configurations and modifies either the first or second signature based on the preferred set of haptic configurations to achieve a minimal conflict between the first and second signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventor: Vincent Levesque
  • Automatic haptic generation based on color features and motion analysis
    Patent number: 10101813
    Abstract: Examples of devices, systems, and methods to automatically generate haptics based on visual color features and motion analysis are disclosed. In one example, a video having a plurality of frames is received and masked frames for the video are generated by applying a color mask to the plurality of frames. An event between two of the masked frames is detected and an optical flow estimate is generated for these masked frames. At least one haptic effect corresponding to the event is generated based on the optical flow. The generated haptic effect(s) may be output to a haptic file or a haptic output device, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Liwen Wu, Jamal Saboune, Paige Raynes
  • Wearable article having an actuator that performs non-haptic and haptic operations
    Patent number: 10102722
    Abstract: A wearable haptics-enabled apparatus comprises a wearable article comprising an actuator and an input device. A controller is electrically connected to the actuator and the input device. The controller is configured to selectively transmit operation and haptic drive signals to the actuator, and to generate the haptic drive signal upon receiving an input signal from the input device. The haptic drive signal embodies a message. A method of delivering haptic feedback through a wearable article comprises: selectively generating a non-haptic drive signal and applying the non-haptic drive signal to an actuator; and selectively generating a haptic drive signal and applying the haptic drive signal to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Vahid Khoshkava
  • Eccentric rotating mass actuator optimization for haptic effects
    Patent number: 10101815
    Abstract: A system that generates a haptic effect using an Eccentric Rotating Mass (“ERM”) actuator determines a back electromotive force (“EMF”) of the ERM actuator during operation of the device and receives a haptic effect signal including one or more parameters, where one of the parameters is a voltage amplitude level as a function of time. Based on the determined back EMF, the system determines if the ERM actuator is spinning and varies the voltage amplitude level based on the back EMF to generate a varied haptic effect signal, where the varying includes, when the ERM actuator is determined to be spinning, reducing the voltage amplitude level compared to when the ERM actuator is determined to not be spinning. The system then applies the varied haptic effect signal to the ERM actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. Lacroix, Michael A. Greenish, Erin B. Ramsay
  • Dynamic haptic generation based on detected video events
    Patent number: 10102723
    Abstract: A method or system that receives input media including at least video data in which a video event within the video data is detected. Related data that is associated with the detected video event is collected and one or more feature parameters are configured based on the collected related data. The type of video event is determining and a set of feature parameters is selected based on the type of video event. A haptic effect is then automatically generated based on the selected set of feature parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventor: Liwen Wu
  • Method of and apparatus for converting control tracks for providing haptic feedback
    Patent number: 10102725
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for converting a control track designed for use with a number and/or type of haptic output devices to be used with other numbers and/or types of haptic output devices. For example, a computing device may convert the control track into another control track that can be applied to other types and/or numbers of haptic output devices. The converted control track may be compatible for use with a smartphone or other system that includes a different number and/or type of haptic feedback devices than the system for which the haptic track was originally designed. In this manner, the user of the smartphone or other system may experience haptic feedback using a device that is different from another haptic feedback system for which the control track was originally designed for use. The conversion may occur locally at the smartphone or other system and/or remotely at another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Jamal Saboune, David M. Birnbaum
  • Systems and Methods for a Haptically-Enabled Projected User Interface
    Publication number: 20180292905
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a sensor configured to detect a user input associated with a projected user interface and transmit a sensor signal associated with the user interaction, and a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal, determine a remote haptic effect based at least in part on the user input, generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the remote haptic effect, and transmit the haptic signal. The illustrative system further includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor, the haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the remote haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Ali Modarres, Amaya B. Weddle, David M. Birnbaum
  • Systems and methods for providing haptic feedback via a case
    Patent number: 10095311
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a case configured to mechanically couple with a mobile device and position the mobile device such that the mobile device serves as a display for the case. The system also includes a processor coupled to the case and configured to generate a haptic signal based at least in part on a characteristic of the case. The system also includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor and configured to receive the haptic signal and output a haptic effect in response to the haptic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Danny Grant, Razmik Mousakhanian, Andry Rabemiarisoa, Gor Isajanyan, Alex Zhu
  • Synchronization of haptic effect data in a media stream
    Patent number: 10088903
    Abstract: Haptic information in a series of frames of a media file is identified and time stamps corresponding thereto are determined in accordance with information embedded in a tag either preceding or appending the media file. The haptic effect information is automatically synchronized to the media file based on the information in one or more frames of the tag, whereby an actuator outputs the defined haptic effects in the tag in a manner synchronized with corresponding audio and/or video content of the media file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, Stephen D. Rank, Munibe M. Bakircioglu
  • Systems And Methods For Determining Haptic Effects For Multi-Touch Input
    Publication number: 20180275761
    Abstract: A system of the present disclosure may include a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect to a touch surface; a touch sensitive input device configured to detect a first user interaction and transmit a first sensor signal, the touch sensitive input device further configured to detect a second user interaction and transmit a second sensor signal, wherein at least part of the first user interaction occurs at the same time as the second user interaction; a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal; determine a haptic effect based in part on the first user interaction and the second user interaction; transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • FLEXIBLE HAPTIC ACTUATOR
    Publication number: 20180276959
    Abstract: A flexible haptic actuator and corresponding method. The flexible haptic actuator comprises a core formed with a flexible material. The core defines a volume and is bendable. An electrical conductor is coiled around the core and is bendable. A casing surrounds the electrical conductor and at least a part of the core. The casing includes a plurality of flexible sections and a plurality of stiff sections. The casing is bendable. A haptic mass is suspended in the volume, the haptic mass being at least partially formed with a magnetic material. The haptic mass is movable in the volume in response to the electrical conductor generating a magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vahid Khoshkava, Mansoor Alghooneh
  • SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING SENSOR AND ACTUATION FUNCTIONALITY FOR TOUCH INPUT DEVICE
    Publication number: 20180275810
    Abstract: A touch input system comprising a touch input device and an actuation and sensing system is presented. The actuation and sensing system has a transfer structure adjacent to a first surface of the touch input device, the transfer structure having a first portion and a beam extending from an edge of the first portion. The actuation and sensing system further has a transducer patch disposed on the beam. The transfer structure is configured to transfer forces between the touch input device and the transducer patch, such that movement of the touch input device by an external force causes deformation of the beam and of the transducer patch, and such that actuation output by the transducer patch causes movement of the touch input device. The transducer patch has a layer of transducer material that is configured to act as a sensor, and is configured to act as an actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vahid KHOSHKAVA, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Neil T. OLIEN