Patents Assigned to Immersion
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING HAPTIC STIMULUS BASED ON POSITION
    Publication number: 20110244963
    Abstract: Haptic stimulus associated with other sensory content is generated for conveyance to one or more users with the other sensory content. This may enhance the experience provided to the one or more users by the content. The sensory content may include video content, video game content, audio content, and/or other content. The haptic stimulus may be varied based on position information. Such position information may include information related to the position of the one or more users, the position of a controller (e.g., a game controller), the position of an actuator delivering the haptic stimulus, and/or other position information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Danny A. GRANT, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Method and apparatus for wearable remote interface device
    Patent number: 8031172
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of using a wearable remote interface device capable of detecting inputs from movements are disclosed. The wearable remote interface device, which could be attached to a finger or a hand or any parts of a body, includes a sensor, a filter, an input identifier, and a transmitter. The sensor, in one embodiment, is capable of sensing the movement of the finger or any part of body in which the wearable remote interface device is attached with. Upon detecting the various movements associated with the finger, the filter subsequently removes any extraneous gestures from the detected movements. The input identifier, which could be a part of the filter, identifies one or more user inputs from the filtered movements. The transmitter transmits the input(s) to a processing device via a wireless communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara Kruse, Ryan Steger
  • Haptic feedback for touchpads and other touch controls
    Patent number: 8031181
    Abstract: A haptic feedback planar touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that inputs a position signal to a processor of the computer based on a location of user contact on the touch surface. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position signal, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user contacting the touch surface. The touch input device can be a touchpad separate from the computer's display screen, or can be a touch screen. Output haptic sensations on the touch input device can include pulses, vibrations, and spatial textures. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Louis B. Rosenberg, James R. Riegel
  • Portable metrology device
    Patent number: 8028431
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a portable metrology device are described. One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus including a first link, a first probe coupled with the first link by a first coupling operable to move in a first degree of freedom, a second probe coupled with the first link by a second coupling operable to move in a second degree of freedom, a first sensor operable to output a first sensor signal associated with a motion of the first coupling, and a second sensor operable to output a second sensor signal associated with a motion of the second coupling. The embodiment also includes a processor in communication with the first and second sensors and operable to: receive the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal, and determine a distance between the first probe and the second probe based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Gomez, Ryan Steger
  • Grommet Suspension Component and System
    Publication number: 20110227849
    Abstract: A compliant grommet-based suspension system is disclosed for use in mounting an electronic touch screen or touch surface. The grommets may be designed to provide more or less movement in any direction, i.e., along the x-axis, the y-axis, and/or the z-axis, depending on the suspension application in which they are implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil Olien, Daniel Parker, Allan Visitacion, Remy Pieron, Trevor Jones, Frank Ye
  • Force feedback system including multi-tasking graphical host environment
    Patent number: 8020095
    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: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Adam C. Braun, Jonathan L. Beamer, Dean C. Chang
  • Systems and methods for providing a haptic device
    Patent number: 8018434
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing haptic feedback in a user interface are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a manipulandum, a rotor in communication with the manipulandum, an actuator in communication with the rotor, and a biasing element disposed between the manipulandum and the rotor. The actuator may be configured to vary a force on the rotor. The biasing element may be configured to store at least a portion of energy input to the apparatus when the actuator increases the force on the rotor, and to provide at least a portion of the stored energy to the manipulandum when the actuator decreases the force on the rotor, or when the manipulandum is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel H. Gomez, Henry DaCosta
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING HAPTIC EVENTS FROM A DIGITAL AUDIO FILE
    Publication number: 20110215913
    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: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, Stephen D. Rank, Munibe M. Bakircioglu
  • Magnetic actuator for providing haptic feedback
    Patent number: 8013847
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing haptic feedback are described. One described apparatus comprises a braking surface, an electromagnet core disposed in the braking surface, a disk operable to contact the braking surface such that a gap is defined between the disk and the braking surface, and a damping material disposed within the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: George V. Anastas
  • Composite assets for use in multiple simulation environments
    Patent number: 8010327
    Abstract: One of a plurality of description elements for a scenario is attached to a composite asset. The composite asset comprises one or more data sets. Each data set is associated with a simulation. And, a simulation asset is generated for a scenario based at least in part on the composite asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Total Immersion Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Copenhagen, David Nielsen, Steven Pollini
  • Medical simulation interface apparatus and method
    Patent number: 8007282
    Abstract: A system and method of providing a surgical training apparatus which comprises a plurality of mechanical interfaces each of which is configured to receive a user tool operable by a user. Each mechanical interface of the plurality is configured to allow movement of its respective user tool in a rotational degree of freedom and a linear degree of freedom. The apparatus includes one or more sensors which are coupled to the mechanical interfaces and configured to simultaneously sense positional information of each user tool during movement. A computer coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to run a software application simulating each user tool as a respective simulated surgical tool operating on a simulated body part in a displayed graphical environment, wherein the computer updates movement of each simulated user tool in the graphical environment based on said positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Pedro Gregorio, Neil T. Olien, David W. Bailey, Steven P. Vassallo
  • Interface for controlling a graphical image
    Patent number: 8004492
    Abstract: An interface device for interfacing a user with a computer, the computer running an application program and generating a graphical image and a graphical object, comprises a user manipulatable object in communication with the computer, a sensor to detect a manipulation of the object, the sensor providing a signal to the computer to control the graphical image, and an actuator adapted to provide a haptic sensation to the palm of the user in relation to an interaction between the graphical image and the graphical object, the actuator comprising a member that is deformable to provide the haptic sensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: James F. Kramer, Felix Maier, Lawrence Kuo
  • Method and apparatus for generating mood-based haptic feedback
    Patent number: 8004391
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of generating mood-based haptic feedback are disclosed. A haptic system includes a sensing device, a digital processing unit, and a haptic generator. The sensing device, in one embodiment, is configured to detect user's modalities in accordance with mood information collected by one or more sensors and capable of issuing a sensing signal in response to the user's modalities. The digital processing unit is capable of identifying a user's condition in accordance with the sensing signal and providing a haptic signal in response to the user's condition. The user's condition, in one aspect, indicates user's mood and/or user's psychological conditions. The haptic generator generates haptic feedback in accordance with the haptic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez
  • Systems and methods for providing a haptic device
    Patent number: 8002089
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a haptic device are described. In one described system, a first brake surface of a first element contacts a second brake surface of a second element. At least one actuator is configured to exert a force on at least one of the first and second elements. A flexure is coupled to at least one of the first element, the second element, a housing, a manipulandum, and a shaft coupled to the manipulandum. The flexure provides a degree of rotational flexibility to the manipulandum when the at least one actuator exerts the force. The described system may include a processor in communication with the at least one actuator for providing the haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Jasso, David W. Bailey
  • Simulation of coupled objects
    Patent number: 8005659
    Abstract: A simulator for simulating a first object and a second object that is coupled to the first object is disclosed. The simulator models the first and second objects as a plurality of segments, with each segment having a plurality of nodes connected by one or more edges. The simulator then indexes each of the nodes and couples at least one node of the first object to a node of the second object. The indexing and coupling is based on the current simulated position of the first and second objects. The simulator then generates and solves a linear system of equations Ay=b from the indexing, and updates a position of each of the nodes. The simulator flow then dynamically re-indexes the nodes, and continues in a loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Nelson, Milan Ikits
  • System and Method for Automatically Producing Haptic Events From a Digital Audio Signal
    Publication number: 20110202155
    Abstract: The system and method described is directed to receiving digital audio files and automatically converting the received files into haptic events. In an embodiment, the received files are of sampled digital or digitized analog audio files. The system and method separates the audio signal into a plurality of sub-band signals and segments the sub-band signals into a plurality of events. The system and method then assigns haptic effects to the events to produce haptic event signals which are to be output by an actuator. The system and method utilizes clipping and minimum time separation parameters along with physical parameters of the actuator and frequency characteristics in the audio signal to analyze and provide discrete haptic events which correspond with the audio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, Danny A. Grant, Stephen D. Rank, Munibe M. Bakircioglu
  • System and method for automatically producing haptic events from a digital audio file
    Patent number: 8000825
    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: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, Stephen D. Rank, Munibe M. Bakircioglu
  • Systems And Methods For Haptic Feedback Using Laterally Driven Piezoelectric Actuators
    Publication number: 20110193824
    Abstract: Systems and methods for haptic feedback using laterally driven piezoelectric actuators are disclosed. For example, one described apparatus for haptic feedback using laterally driven piezoelectric actuators includes: a base; a touch-sensitive interface comprising an interface surface, the touch-sensitive interface affixed to the base and configured to move in a direction lateral to the interface surface; and a piezoelectric actuator mounted to the base and to the touch-sensitive interface and configured to receive a haptic signal and output a force in a direction lateral to the interface surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Li Jiang, Manuel Cruz, Remy Pieron, Frank Ye, Pedro Gregorio, Danny Grant, Neil Olien
  • GENERATION OF CONSISTENT HAPTIC EFFECTS
    Publication number: 20110181403
    Abstract: A system generates a consistent haptic effect in a handset that includes an actuator. The system determines performance data for the actuator, and generates haptic effect controller parameters from the performance data by comparing the performance data with reference performance data derived from a reference actuator. The system then stores the haptic effect controller parameters on the handset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Danny A. GRANT
  • Textures and other spatial sensations for a relative haptic interface device
    Patent number: 7986303
    Abstract: Methods and systems for textures and other spatial sensations for a relative haptic interface device are described. One embodiment includes a method comprising the steps of receiving a signal from a sensor, the sensor signal associated with a change in a position of a haptic feedback device, transmitting sensor data to a host processor, the sensor data associated with the sensor signal, receiving force information from the host processor, the force information comprising a texture sensation having at least one parameter describing at least one force to be output based at least in part on an interaction of a graphical object with a texture field, the force information further comprising at least one characteristic of the texture sensation, parsing the force information, storing the at least one characteristic, and determining when to output the at least one force based at least in part on the interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Adam C. Braun, Louis B. Rosenberg, Kenneth M. Martin