Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Ullrich

Christopher J. Ullrich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • 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
  • Publication number: 20190187819
    Abstract: One illustrative peripheral disclosed herein includes one or more sensors usable to detect a physical position of the peripheral in real space. The illustrative peripheral can use the sensor(s) to determine whether the peripheral is positioned on a surface or off the surface in real space. Responsive to determining that the peripheral is positioned on the surface, the peripheral can activate a first haptic output mode configured to provide a first set of haptic effects based on two-dimensional movement of the peripheral along the surface. Responsive to determining that the peripheral is positioned off the surface, the peripheral can activate a second haptic output mode configured to provide a second set of haptic effects based on three-dimensional movement of the peripheral in real space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, William Rihn
  • Patent number: 10318006
    Abstract: A haptically enabled system is provided. The system receives a haptic effect primitive including a plurality of input parameters that define a haptic effect. The system also receives an input from a sensor that varies over a time duration. The system generates a dynamic haptic effect signal based on the haptic effect primitive and the input, which includes generating a plurality of output parameters including an amplitude of the dynamic haptic effect signal, and varying the amplitude of the dynamic haptic effect signal continuously over the time duration using frequency modulation. The system then applies the dynamic haptic effect signal to an actuator to generate the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Liwen Wu, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20190138099
    Abstract: A haptic representation system is provided that generates a haptic effect in response to sensor input. The sensor input is mapped to a haptic signal. The haptic signal is sent to an actuator configured to receive the haptic signal. The actuator utilizes the haptic signal to generate the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich, Danny M. Grant, Ali Modarres, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20190121440
    Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes receiving a first signal from a sensor, the first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface; receiving a second signal associated with an interaction with the graphical user interface; determining a haptic feedback effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface and the interaction with the graphical user interface; and generating a haptic signal configured to output the haptic feedback effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10268270
    Abstract: Various systems, devices, and methods for shape deformation of a haptic deformation display device are provided. For example, the haptic deformation display device may receive an input signal when the shape of the haptic deformation display device is in a first shape configuration. In response to the input signal, the haptic deformation display device may activate an actuator of the haptic deformation display device. The actuator may move a deformation component of the haptic deformation display device. The deformation component may at least partially defining a shape of the haptic deformation display device, thereby causing the shape of the haptic deformation display device to deform into a second shape configuration different from the first shape configuration. The second shape configuration may be substantially maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Li Jiang, David M. Birnbaum, Remy Pieron, Christopher J. Ullrich, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Robert Lacroix, Danny Grant, Ali Modarres
  • Publication number: 20190107892
    Abstract: A gaming concept in which each user in a single-player or a multi-player game is enabled to create artwork or graffiti work virtually or on actual surfaces using haptic-enhanced controllers. The controllers can emulate the experience of using a marker, a paint brush, a paint spray-can or the like. The components of various controllers may be modularized for easily interchanging components to extend the art or graffiti creation experience. The real life experience of using ink or paint on a surface is simulated by haptic feedback. When a paint spray-can controller is used, the experience of paint consumption is recreated by various peripheral enhancements including audio and haptic sensations communicated to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Danny A. GRANT, Erin B. RAMSAY, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, David BIRNBAUM, Robert W. HEUBEL, Hendrik BARTEL, Christopher J. ULLRICH
  • Patent number: 10248212
    Abstract: A system is provided that encodes one or more dynamic haptic effects. The system defines a dynamic haptic effect as including a plurality of key frames, where each key frame includes an interpolant value and a corresponding haptic effect. An interpolant value is a value that specifies where an interpolation occurs. The system generates a haptic effect file, and stores the dynamic haptic effect within the haptic effect file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry Da Costa, Feng Tian An, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20190098368
    Abstract: A method includes receiving digital content data including audio data and/or video data, generating haptic data using at least some of the received digital content data, encoding the haptic data for efficient transmission over a communication network, multiplexing the encoded haptic data with the received digital content data, embedding information for decoding the encoded haptic data in metadata of the multiplexed data stream, and sending the multiplexed data stream over the communication network. The method may include analyzing the haptic data to determine at least one characteristic of the haptic data, and the encoding the haptic data may include encoding, based on the determined characteristic, the haptic data to meet a pre-defined criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Loc Phan, Satvir Bhatia, Stephen D. Rank, Christopher J. Ullrich, Jean Francois Dionne, Hugues Antoine Oliver
  • Patent number: 10234948
    Abstract: A haptic representation system is provided that generates a haptic effect in response to sensor input. The sensor input is mapped to a haptic signal. The haptic signal is sent to an actuator configured to receive the haptic signal. The actuator utilizes the haptic signal to generate the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: David Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich, Danny Grant, Ali Modarres, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20190079587
    Abstract: A haptically enabled system is provided. The system receives a haptic effect primitive including a plurality of input parameters that define a haptic effect. The system also receives an input from a sensor that varies over a time duration. The system generates a dynamic haptic effect signal based on the haptic effect primitive and the input, which includes generating a plurality of output parameters including an amplitude of the dynamic haptic effect signal, and varying the amplitude of the dynamic haptic effect signal continuously over the time duration using frequency modulation. The system then applies the dynamic haptic effect signal to an actuator to generate the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Liwen Wu, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20190074037
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authoring and encoding haptic effects are provided for space-dependent content, such as 360-degree videos, three-dimensional videos, or virtual or augmented reality contents. The systems and methods can generate one or more haptic layers for encoding or modifying haptic effects for the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventor: Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20190066460
    Abstract: A method of rendering a haptic effect on a haptic output device is provided based on an ambient environmental stimulus signal received from a sensor. A notification event based on the stimulus signal is determined. A haptic effect is rendered on a haptic output devices based on the notification event. A system and computer-readable medium are also provided for rendering a haptic effect on a haptic output device based on an ambient environmental stimulus signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher J. ULLRICH, Jamal SABOUNE
  • Patent number: 10203756
    Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes receiving a first signal from a sensor, the first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface; receiving a second signal associated with an interaction with the graphical user interface; determining a haptic feedback effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface and the interaction with the graphical user interface; and generating a haptic signal configured to output the haptic feedback effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10198078
    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 displaying a first visual representation of a virtual message object having an associated virtual physical parameter at a first device, generating a haptic effect based on the virtual physical parameter at the first device, and sending a message to a second device, the message being configured to display a second visual representation of the virtual message object at the second device and generate the haptic effect based on the virtual physical parameter at the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich, Danny Grant
  • Publication number: 20190018490
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a touch surface and transmit a sensor signal including data associated with a pressure of the user interaction. The illustrative system also includes a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal; determine, based on the sensor signal, a pressure level; determine a user interface level based at least in part on the pressure level; perform a function associated with the user interface level and the user interaction; determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the user interface level and the user interaction; generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the haptic effect; and transmit the haptic signal. The illustrative system further includes a haptic output device in configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, Amaya Weddle, Hua Yu, David Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 10175760
    Abstract: A haptically enabled system receives a haptic effect primitive comprising a plurality of input parameters and receives an input from a sensor. The system generates a haptic effect signal from the haptic effect primitive, the haptic effect signal comprising a plurality of output parameters where at least one of the output parameters is varied based on the sensor input. The system then applies the haptic effect signal to an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Liwen Wu, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20190005782
    Abstract: A haptic conversion system is provided that intercepts frames of audio data, such as a digital audio signal, converts the frames into a haptic signal, and plays the created haptic signal through an actuator to produce haptic effects. The haptic signal is based on a maximum value of each audio data frame, which defines a magnitude of the haptic signal. The haptic signal is applied to the actuator configured to receive the haptic signal, where the actuator utilizes the haptic signal to generate the one or more haptic effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Satvir Singh BHATIA, Kanav GANDHI, Christopher J. ULLRICH, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Herve Thu TIMONE, Jason Hoi Fun LAU
  • Publication number: 20180369691
    Abstract: A device, such as a handheld controller, having a plurality of segments for outputting a rotational haptic effect is disclosed. The handheld controller comprises a first segment, a second segment, a user input component, an actuator, and a control unit. The second segment is rotatably attached to the first segment. The user input component is disposed on the first segment or the second segment. The actuator is located within the first segment or the second segment, and is configured to generate relative rotation between the first segment and the second segment about a rotational axis, wherein at least a portion of the first segment and at least a portion of the second segment are aligned along the rotational axis. The control unit is configured to determine whether to generate a haptic effect, and, in response to such a determination, to activate the actuator to generate the relative rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: William S. RIHN, Danny A. GRANT, Christopher J. ULLRICH
  • Publication number: 20180373337
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods of providing haptic feedback based on media content and one or more external parameters used to customize the haptic feedback. The system may modify or otherwise alter haptic feedback that is determined using the media content alone. In other words, the system may use both the media content and the external parameters to determine haptic feedback that should be output to the user or others. The external parameters may include, for example, sensor information, customization information, and/or other external parameters that may be used to customize the haptic feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Ali MODARRES, Christopher J. ULLRICH, Jean Francois DIONNE, Loc PHAN, Satvir Singh BHATIA, Stephen D. RANK