Patents Assigned to Immersion
  • Sound to haptic effect conversion system using mapping
    Patent number: 9368005
    Abstract: A haptic conversion system is provided that intercepts audio data, such as a digital audio signal, analyzes the audio data in frequency, and divides the analyzed audio data into one or more audio frequency regions, where each audio frequency region includes one or more audio sub-signals. The haptic conversion system further maps the one or more audio frequency regions to one or more haptic frequency regions, where each haptic frequency region includes one or more haptic signals. The haptic conversion system further maps the one or more haptic effects to one or more actuators. The haptic conversion system further sends the one or more haptic signals to one or more actuators, in order to generate one or more haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Christopher J Ullrich
  • INTERACTIVITY MODEL FOR SHARED FEEDBACK ON MOBILE DEVICES
    Publication number: 20160162032
    Abstract: A system that produces a dynamic haptic effect and generates a drive signal that includes a gesture signal and a real or virtual device sensor signal. The haptic effect is modified dynamically based on both the gesture signal and the real or virtual device sensor signal such as from an accelerometer or gyroscope, or by a signal created from processing data such as still images, video or sound. The haptic effect may optionally be modified dynamically by using the gesture signal and the real or virtual device sensor signal and a physical model, or may optionally be applied concurrently to multiple devices which are connected via a communication link. The haptic effect may optionally be encoded into a data file on a first device. The data file is then communicated to a second device and the haptic effect is read from the data file and applied to the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: David Birnbaum, Chris Ullrich, Jason Short, Ryan Devenish
  • Handheld devices using tactile feedback to deliver silent status information
    Patent number: 9360937
    Abstract: Handheld weapons using tactile feedback to deliver silent status information are described. One embodiment comprises a handheld weapon comprising: a housing comprising a user contactable region, a tactile element coupled to the user contactable region, and an actuator coupled to the tactile element and capable of outputting a haptic sensation localized to the tactile element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: Louis B. Rosenberg
  • Systems and methods for minimally invasive surgical tools with haptic feedback
    Patent number: 9358072
    Abstract: Systems and methods for minimally invasive surgical tools with haptic feedback are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment of a system includes an insertion sheath configured to be partially inserted within a patient's body, the insertion sheath configured to receive a surgical tool; a roller disposed at least partially within the insertion sheath, the roller configured to contact a surgical tool inserted within the insertion sheath; and an actuator coupled to the roller, the actuator configured to receive an actuator signal and to output a haptic effect based on the actuator signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation
    Patent number: 9358689
    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 2-bit signal including a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; and transmit a power signal based on the two bit signal, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate at the actuation state at a fixed power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Erin B. Ramsay, Henrique D. da Costa, Neil Olien, Robert A. Lacroix
  • Low-frequency effects haptic conversion system
    Patent number: 9354704
    Abstract: A system is provided that produces haptic effects. The system receives an audio signal that includes a low-frequency effects audio signal. The system further extracts the low-frequency effects audio signal from the audio signal. The system further converts the low-frequency effects audio signal into a haptic signal by shifting frequencies of the low-frequency effects audio signal to frequencies within a target frequency range of a haptic output device. The system further sends the haptic signal to the haptic output device, where the haptic signal causes the haptic output device to output one or more haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Lacroix, Satvir Singh Bhatia, David Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich, Amaya Becvar Weddle, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Developing a notification framework for electronic device events
    Patent number: 9357052
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for developing a notification framework for presenting notification information to a user of an electronic device. One embodiment of a method, among others, includes receiving input from physical sensors located in proximity to an electronic device and receiving input from one or more other electronic devices in proximity to the electronic device. The method further comprises assessing a context of the electronic device from the received input. A notification framework is then determined from the assessed context. The method also includes notifying a user of the electronic device of a detected event associated with the electronic device. Notifying the user includes notifying the user within the notification framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Haptic effects broadcasting during a group event
    Patent number: 9349264
    Abstract: A system that produces a haptic effect receives a first type of haptic effect to be broadcast during a group event, where the group event includes a plurality of audio events and a plurality of haptic events. The system transmits the first type of haptic effect to a first set of the users. The system produces the first type of haptic effect on a haptic output device corresponding to each of the first set of users. The first type of haptic effect is synchronized with at least one of the plurality of audio events and at least one of the plurality of haptic events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: Robert W. Heubel
  • Haptic feedback control system
    Patent number: 9348416
    Abstract: A feedback control system is provided. The feedback control system receives a user input. The feedback control system determines a context. The feedback control system displays a control in response to the user input and based on the context. The feedback control system adjusts a feedback parameter according to the control, where the control is configured to adjust feedback output to a user based on the adjusted feedback parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Amaya Becvar Weddle, David Birnbaum, Satvir Singh Bhatia
  • Medical device and procedure simulation
    Patent number: 9336691
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that includes an interface member including a material and a manipulandum movable in a degree of freedom. The manipulandum is able to penetrate the material. A sensor is configured to output a position signal based on the position of the manipulandum. An actuator is configured to output haptic feedback by applying a compressive force to the material based on the position signal. In other embodiments, a method is disclosed that includes receiving a position signal associated with a position of a manipulandum, where at least a portion of the manipulandum penetrates the interface material. Haptic feedback is output by varying a density of the interface material based on the position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Cunningham, Robert Cohen
  • Systems and methods for haptically-enabled conformed and multifaceted displays
    Patent number: 9335823
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Danny Grant
  • Method and system for providing haptic effects based on haptic context information
    Patent number: 9335822
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a method for providing haptic effects based on haptic context data including receiving haptic context information associated with a user interface, receiving an input signal associated with a user interaction with the user interface; and determining a haptic effect based in part on the haptic context information and input signal; and outputting a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Olien, Michael Greenish
  • System and method for simulated physical interactions with haptic effects
    Patent number: 9330544
    Abstract: A system of the present disclosure may include a sensor configured to detect user interaction with a touch surface and transmit a sensor signal associated with the user interaction; a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: determine a position of the user interaction based on the sensor signal, determine a feature associated with the position of the user interaction, control a device associated with the feature, modify a display signal based in part on the user interaction, select a haptic effect to generate based at least in part on user interaction and the position, the haptic effect selected to simulate the feature, and transmit a haptic signal to generate the haptic effect, and a haptic output device in communication with the processor and coupled to the touch surface, the haptic output device configured to receive a haptic signal and output a haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Amaya Weddle, David M. Birnbaum
  • Haptic effect authoring tool based on a haptification model
    Patent number: 9330547
    Abstract: A haptic authoring tool is provided that recommends one or more haptic effects provides a haptification model generated by learning a human haptic designer style. The haptic authoring tool receives an input comprising at least one of audio and video and a plurality of events. The haptic authoring tool then recommends a type of haptic effect to be associated with a corresponding event from the input based on the learned haptification model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Jamal Saboune, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • System and method for automatically producing haptic events from a digital audio file
    Patent number: 9330546
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system and method for automatically converting a plurality of events in a plurality of channels in a structured representation sequence into haptic events. The method comprises calculating an event score for each event of the sequence in one or more channels. The method also comprises calculating a cumulative score based on the event scores in the one or more channels. The method includes selectively designating haptic events to the events based on the event scores in one or more selected channels, wherein the haptic events are output by a haptic actuator. This may be done by the system by calculating properties of the sound or by taking already existing values associated with those properties to efficiently produce haptic events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, Stephen D. Rank, Munibe M. Bakircioglu
  • Haptic output device and method of generating a haptic effect in a haptic output device
    Patent number: 9323326
    Abstract: A haptic output device includes a touch surface, a sensor configured to sense an input at the touch surface, and a controller configured to read the sensor, identify a location of the input, switch from a read mode to a write mode, and write a voltage based on the location of the input to generate an electrostatic output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant
  • Force feedback system including multi-tasking graphical host environment
    Patent number: 9323332
    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: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Adam C. Braun, Jonathan L. Beamer, Dean C. Chang
  • Multiplexing and demultiplexing haptic signals
    Patent number: 9317120
    Abstract: A system receives a multiplexed signal with two or more different types of haptic signals encoded therein. Each type of haptic signal represents a haptic effect for different types of haptic output devices. The system determines a target haptic output device located on a haptic playback device. The system demultiplexes the multiplexed signal into at least the type of haptic signal corresponding to the target output device. The system provides the demultiplexed haptic signal to the target haptic output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Rank, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Arnab Sen, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Systems and methods for haptically-enhanced text interfaces
    Patent number: 9317116
    Abstract: When units of serialized input are analyzed by an engine or algorithm that provides a plurality of entry suggestions for competing or replacing a unit of the serialized input, one or more haptic effects can be identified and provided in conjunction with display, selection, or use of one or more of the entry suggestions to aid in the use of the engine or algorithm. The haptic effects can represent a confidence level with respect to one or more of the entry suggestions or may otherwise indicate the relative success of the engine/algorithm. For example, the serialized input may comprise characters input to a mobile or other device. The engine or algorithm may suggest words or phrases with varying degrees of confidence, with the confidence with respect to some or all of the suggestions communicated by use of haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Chris Ullrich, David Birnbaum, Craig Vachon, Jason Fleming
  • Systems and methods for haptic confirmation of commands
    Patent number: 9318006
    Abstract: Systems and methods for haptic confirmation of commands are disclosed. For example a system for generating haptic effects to confirm receipt of a voice command includes a microphone; a housing configured to be contacted by a user, and an actuator in communication with the housing, the actuator configured to output a haptic effect to the housing. The system also includes a processor in communication with the microphone and the actuator, the processor configured to receive speech information from the microphone; recognize the speech information and determine a command associated with the speech information. If the speech information is recognized and the command is determined, the processor is configured to generate a first actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to output a first haptic effect, and transmit the first actuator signal to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Heubel, Erin Ramsay