Patents Assigned to Immersion
  • Systems and Methods for Surface Elements that Provide Electrostatic Haptic Effects
    Publication number: 20160004308
    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: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Ali Modarres, Christopher Ullrich
  • Handheld computer interface with haptic feedback
    Patent number: 9227137
    Abstract: Various systems, devices, and methods are provided for generating an impact and/or surface haptic effect for a handheld computer interface such as a video game controller. For example, the handheld computer interface may include a handle coupled to an impact actuator. The impact actuator includes a movable mass and an end stop. The impact actuator may receive a haptic effect signal and in response cause the mass to contact the end stop to generate a haptic effect. A smart material that outputs a surface haptic effect may be coupled to a surface of the handle such that the surface haptic effect is output substantially from the smart material rather than the handle. The handle may be coupled to an end piece having a shape that simulates an object such as a tennis racket, golf club, or other object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Danny A. Grant, Erin Ramsay, David M. Birnbaum, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Robert W. Heubel, Hendrik Bartel
  • Systems and methods for mapping message contents to virtual physical properties for vibrotactile messaging
    Patent number: 9229532
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mapping message contents to virtual physical properties for vibrotactile messaging are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor configured to detect an interaction with a messaging device, determining a virtual physical property of a virtual message object based at least in part on the sensor signal, determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the virtual physical parameter; and generating a haptic signal configured to cause an actuator to output the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich, Danny Grant
  • Haptically-enabled system with braking
    Patent number: 9218075
    Abstract: A haptically-enabled system includes an actuator that has a first terminal and a second terminal. The second terminal is coupled to a voltage source, and a first switch is coupled to the first terminal and to ground. A second switch is coupled to the actuator. The second switch is parallel to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas George Billington, Kaniyalal Shah, Van Hilton Tran
  • Systems and Methods for Foley-Style Haptic Content Creation
    Publication number: 20150362993
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes an audio input device configured to detect an audio input and transmit an audio signal associated with the audio input. The illustrative system also includes a haptic trigger device which includes a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a sensor signal associated with an event. Further, the illustrative system includes a processor in communication with the audio input device and the haptic trigger device, the processor configured to: receive the audio signal; receive the sensor signal substantially simultaneously to receiving the audio signal; record the audio signal to an audio track; and insert a haptic effect marker into a haptic track based in part on the sensor signal, wherein the haptic track and the audio track are associated with a video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: Doug Billington
  • Dual stiffness suspension system
    Patent number: 9213409
    Abstract: Devices disclosed herein include a housing component, a touch screen, a haptic actuator for moving the touch screen relative to the housing component, and at least one dual stiffness suspension system that couples the touch screen and housing component together such that the touch screen is movable relative to the housing component. The dual stiffness suspension system has a first element of a first stiffness and a second element of a second stiffness which is stiffer than the first stiffness. The dual stiffness suspension system is configured to limit movement between the touch screen and the housing component in a first direction due to the first element of the dual stiffness suspension system while also being configured to allow movement of the touch screen relative to the housing component in a second opposing direction due to the second element of the dual stiffness suspension system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Elena Redelsheimer, Daniel Parker, Trevor Jones, Kohei Imoto
  • Systems and methods for providing a haptic manipulandum
    Patent number: 9207763
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a haptic manipulandum are described. In one described system, a lever arm is pivotably coupled to a housing, and configured to apply a processor-controlled force to a substantially-spherical manipulandum to provide a haptic effect. The described system may include a processor in communication with an actuator for providing the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: George Anastas, David W. Bailey, Gregory Tashjian, Raymond Yu
  • Orientation adjustable multi-channel haptic device
    Patent number: 9207764
    Abstract: A system that generates haptic effects on a haptically-enabled device determines an orientation of the haptically-enabled device and obtains one or more haptic effect channels. The system then assigns each of the haptic effect channels to a haptic output device on the haptically-enabled device based on the orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: David Birnbaum, Satvir Singh Bhatia, Stephen D. Rank
  • HAPTIC NOTIFICATION MANAGER
    Publication number: 20150347075
    Abstract: A notification manager is provided that manages notifications for a user. The notification manager detects a notification event and determines a context of the notification event. The notification manager determines a target device for the notification event based on the determined context and one or more available displays. The notification manager then generates a notification on one or more of the one or more available displays to direct the user's attention to the target device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent LEVESQUE, Danny GRANT, Jean-Francois BLANCHARD-DIONNE, Amaya Becvar WEDDLE, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ
  • Automatic haptic effect adjustment system
    Patent number: 9202352
    Abstract: A system is provided that automatically adjusts a haptic effect. The system generates a haptic effect based on one or more haptic parameters. The system measures an affective state of a user that experiences the haptic effect. The system adjusts at least one haptic parameter of the one or more haptic parameters based on the measured affective state. The system generates a new haptic effect based on the one or more haptic parameters, where the at least one haptic effect parameter causes the new haptic effect to be different from the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: Vincent Levesque
  • Systems and methods for haptics in vibrating environments and devices
    Patent number: 9202351
    Abstract: Systems and methods for haptics in vibrating environments and devices are disclosed. For example, one described system includes: a haptic output device; a processor coupled to the haptic output device, the processor configured to: determine that a haptic effect should be generated; receive a signal associated with a parasitic vibration; determine a haptic effect based in part on the parasitic vibration; and output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Amaya Weddle
  • Eccentric rotating mass actuator optimization for haptic effects
    Patent number: 9202354
    Abstract: A system that generates a haptic effect using an Eccentric Rotating Mass (“ERM”) actuator determines a vibration level of the device during operation of the device. The system 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. The system varies the voltage amplitude level based at least on vibration level and applies the varied haptic effect signal to the ERM actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Lacroix, Michael A. Greenish, Erin B. Ramsay
  • HAPTIC DESIGN AUTHORING TOOL
    Publication number: 20150339898
    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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Jamal SABOUNE, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ
  • Method and apparatus for simulating surface features on a user interface with haptic effects
    Patent number: 9196134
    Abstract: A haptic effect enabled device for simulating a tactile sensation on a surface. In some cases, the haptic effect enabled device may be a user interface device, and the tactile sensation may be simulated on a surface of the user interface device. The interface device may include a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect, such as a periodic haptic effect, at the surface. The interface device may include a drive module configured to generate a periodic drive signal based on a touch input at the surface of the interface device and based on the tactile sensation to be simulated at the surface. The interface device may include a drive circuit operatively coupled to the drive module and the haptic output device and configured to apply the periodic drive signal to the haptic output device. In some cases, the surface may be separate from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Haptically enabled messaging
    Patent number: 9197735
    Abstract: Method, device, and computer readable medium for generating haptically enabled messages. One disclosed method comprises the steps of receiving a user generated input, mapping the user generated input to a predetermined haptic feedback, assigning a haptic feedback command to the predetermined haptic feedback, inserting the haptic feedback command into a text message, and sending the text message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Danny A Grant, Erin B Ramsay, Pedro Gregorio, Jason D Fleming, Natasha M Flaherty
  • Uniform haptic actuator response with a variable supply voltage
    Patent number: 9196135
    Abstract: A haptic drive circuit includes a voltage input for receiving input power, a gate that compares a desired current level to an actual current level through the actuator, a switch coupled to the gate that interrupts or provides power from the voltage input to the actuator, and a current probe that detects the actual current level through the actuator with an output signal corresponding to the actual current level coupled to the gate. The gate compares the actual current level to the desired current level and causes the switch to interrupt input power when the actual current level is greater than the desired current level or to provide input power when the actual current level is less than or equal to the desired current level. The actual current through the circuit is a haptic signal causing a haptic actuator to generate a haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Kaniyalal Shah, Van Hilton Tran, Douglas George Billington
  • NON-COLLOCATED HAPTIC CUES IN IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTS
    Publication number: 20150331488
    Abstract: A device for delivering non-collocated haptic feedback includes at least one haptic playback device and a drive circuit for controlling the haptic playback device. A processor coupled to the drive circuit receives manipulation haptic information based on data received from a user interface. The processor generates a haptic signal is based on the manipulation haptic information. The haptic signal is provided to the drive circuit to produce the non-collocated haptic feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Danny GRANT, Christopher J. ULLRICH
  • Systems and methods for syncing haptic feedback calls
    Patent number: 9189098
    Abstract: Systems and methods for syncing haptic feedback calls are disclosed. For example, one described method includes: receiving an input signal associated with a user interface event; determining a haptic feedback signal based at least in part on the input signal; and determining whether or not to output the haptic feedback signal to haptic output device based at least in part on a haptic feedback rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Dionne, Henry da Costa, Danny Grant
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING HAPTIC FEEDBACK FOR REMOTE INTERACTIONS
    Publication number: 20150323993
    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: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent LEVESQUE, Ali MODARRES, Danny A. GRANT, Jean Francois DIONNE, David M. BIRNBAUM
  • Systems and Methods for Viewport-Based Augmented Reality Haptic Effects
    Publication number: 20150316985
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a display configured to receive a display signal and output an image, and an image capture device configured to capture an area image and transmit an image signal. The illustrative system also includes a processor in communication with the image capture device and the display, the processor configured to: receive the image signal; determine a virtual object based in part on the image signal; determine the display signal based in part on the image signal, wherein the display signal includes data associated with the virtual object; determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the virtual object; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative system further includes a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Danny Grant