Patents by Inventor Danny Grant

Danny Grant 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: 11983322
    Abstract: In aspects, zoned haptic effects are provided by assigning a plurality of zones corresponding to each of a plurality of zone actuators for providing haptic effects. A desired haptic response is provided for zones selected for actuation, and the response by the zone actuators is detected. Adjacent and non-adjacent zones are assigned for the detected zones as being driven by any of the plurality of zone actuators. Vibration on the adjacent and non-adjacent zone is suppressed in accordance with control parameters associated with the respective adjacent and non-adjacent zones. If a duration of the provided haptic effect has not passed, the suppression of vibration in the adjacent and non-adjacent zones is maintained and if the duration has passed, the suppression of vibration is terminated. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: IMMERSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Majid Sheikholeslami, Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Vahid Khoshkava, Jamal Saboune, Christopher Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20230122318
    Abstract: In aspects, zoned haptic effects are provided by assigning a plurality of zones corresponding to each of a plurality of zone actuators for providing haptic effects. A desired haptic response is provided for zones selected for actuation, and the response by the zone actuators is detected. Adjacent and non-adjacent zones are assigned for the detected zones as being driven by any of the plurality of zone actuators. Vibration on the adjacent and non-adjacent zone is suppressed in accordance with control parameters associated with the respective adjacent and non-adjacent zones. If a duration of the provided haptic effect has not passed, the suppression of vibration in the adjacent and non-adjacent zones is maintained and if the duration has passed, the suppression of vibration is terminated. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Majid SHEIKHOLESLAMI, Juan Manuel CRUZ HERNANDEZ, Danny A. GRANT, Vahid KHOSHKAVA, Jamal SABOUNE, Christopher ULLRICH
  • Patent number: 11573639
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for localizing one or more effects in a haptic interface with a user interface having a primary zone and at least one secondary zone are provided. When a desired haptic effect is generated within the primary zone, unwanted resultant haptic effects in the at least one secondary zone may be suppressed. A primary actuator is located in the primary zone, and at least one secondary actuator is located in the at least one secondary zone. At least one controller selectively and controllably generates the haptic effect produced by the primary actuator in the primary zone, and selectively and controllably actuates the at least one secondary actuator within the at least one secondary zone to generate a suppression effect therein. The at least one secondary actuator can be used to localize and/or amplify the haptic effect through constructive and/or destructive interference. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Majid Sheikholeslami, Danny A. Grant, Lionel Bravard, Christopher Ullrich, Vahid Khoshkava, Jamal Saboune, Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11347311
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Ali Modarres, Danny A. Grant, Jean Francois Dionne, David M. Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 11287889
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-level closed loop control of haptic effects are disclosed. One illustrative system for multi-level closed loop control of haptic effects includes a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect, a sensor configured to sense the output of the haptic output device and generate a sensor signal, and a processor in communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to: receive a reference signal, receive the sensor signal, determine an error based at least in part on the reference signal and the sensor signal, generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the reference signal and the error, and transmit the haptic signal to a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect based on the haptic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Jamal Saboune, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 11175739
    Abstract: A user interface device having a haptic actuator, a sensor, a storage device, and a control circuit is presented. The sensor is configured to measure movement output by the haptic actuator. The control circuit is configured to apply a first drive signal to the haptic actuator to generate a first haptic effect, and to receive a sensor measurement that describes movement of the haptic actuator in response to the first drive signal, and to generate or update, based on the measurement, an actuator model that describes how the haptic actuator moves in response to drive signals. The control circuit is further configured to generate a second drive signal based on a desired movement for a second haptic effect and based on the actuator model, and to control the haptic actuator to generate the second haptic effect by applying the second drive signal to the haptic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. Lacroix, Kaniyalal Shah, Christopher Ullrich, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant
  • Patent number: 10963061
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for providing limited duration haptic effects are disclosed. Systems for providing limited duration haptic effects include sensors, control circuits, and vibration actuators configured closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. The sensors are configured to measure motion characteristics induced by the vibration actuators. The control circuits are configured to receive motion characteristic information from the sensors and provide closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. Closed loop feedback control permits precise control of vibration actuator output during limited duration haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10936068
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and instructions for driving an actuator using an open-loop drive circuit that generate, at a processor, a reference input signal according to a predetermined or predicted command signal, supply the reference input signal to an amplifier to generate a command signal, and supply the command signal to the haptic output device to render a haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Christopher Ullrich, Kaniyalal Shah
  • Patent number: 10775895
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-pressure interaction on touch-sensitive surfaces are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment of a method comprises receiving a first sensor signal from a touch-sensitive input device in response to a first contact of a first object on the touch-sensitive input device, the first sensor signal comprising a first location and a first pressure of the first contact, receiving a second sensor signal from the touch-sensitive input device in response to a second contact of a second object on the touch-sensitive input device substantially simultaneously with the first contact, the second sensor signal comprising a second location of the second contact and a second pressure of the second contact, generating a signal based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal, the signal configured to cause a haptic effect, and outputting the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Danny Grant, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Ali Modarres
  • Patent number: 10747321
    Abstract: Systems and methods for differential optical position sensing for a haptic actuator are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: an actuator configured to receive a drive signal and move an object to output a haptic effect; a first sensor configured to monitor a position of the object and output a first position signal; a second sensor configured to monitor the position of the object and output a second position signal different from the first position signal; a circuit configured to receive the first position signal and the second position signal and output a difference signal; and a processor configured to receive the difference signal and output a control signal to the actuator based on the difference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Doug Billington, Van H. Tran, Kaniyalal Shah, Danny A. Grant, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10747322
    Abstract: A touch-enabled device can simulate one or more features in a touch area. Features may include, but are not limited to, changes in texture and/or simulation of boundaries, obstacles, or other discontinuities in the touch surface that can be perceived through use of an object in contact with the surface. Systems include a sensor configured to detect a touch in a touch area when an object contacts a touch surface, an actuator, and one or more processors. The processor can determine a position of the touch using the sensor and select a haptic effect to generate based at least in part on the position, the haptic effect selected to simulate the presence of a feature at or near the determined position. Some features are simulated by varying the coefficient of friction of the touch surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant
  • Patent number: 10748389
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for damping haptic vibrations. A haptic output device is positioned within a device housing. The haptic output device has a haptic actuator and a haptic mass, the haptic mass being movable relative to the housing. A damper is positioned within the device housing. A controller is programmed to generate and deliver a haptic signal to the haptic actuator at a first time, and to generate and deliver a damping signal to the damper at a second time, the second time occurring after the first time. The method comprises moving a haptic mass, the haptic mass position in a housing; vibrating the housing in response to moving the haptic mass; damping movement of the haptic mass after a period of time; and substantially eliminating vibration of the housing in response to damping movement of the haptic mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vahid Khoshkava, Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Kaniyalal Shah, Christopher Ullrich
  • Patent number: 10748391
    Abstract: A system is provided to process a source signal and generate one or more haptic effects for various haptic devices based on the source signal. The system operates to convert the source signal to meet different architectures of respective haptic devices and enables haptic effect designers to create haptic data without being concerned about low level details of different haptic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Danny A. Grant, Stephen D. Rank
  • Publication number: 20200257370
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-rate control of haptic effects with sensor fusion are disclosed. One illustrative system includes, a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect, a first sensor configured to sense the output of the haptic output device and generate a first sensor signal, a processor in communication with the first sensor. The processor is configured to: sample the first sensor signal from the first sensor at a first rate, receive a reference signal, determine an error between the first sensor signal and the reference signal, generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the reference signal and the error, transmit the haptic signal to a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect based on the haptic signal, and sample the first sensor signal at a second rate, wherein the second rate is lower than the first rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Christopher J. Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20200218358
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for providing limited duration haptic effects are disclosed. Systems for providing limited duration haptic effects include sensors, control circuits, and vibration actuators configured closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. The sensors are configured to measure motion characteristics induced by the vibration actuators. The control circuits are configured to receive motion characteristic information from the sensors and provide closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. Closed loop feedback control permits precise control of vibration actuator output during limited duration haptic effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Juan Manuel CRUZ HERNANDEZ, Danny A. GRANT, Christopher J. ULLRICH
  • Publication number: 20200218356
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a computing device that comprises a memory and a processor in communication with the memory. The system also includes an xPC target machine that is capable of achieving sampling rates of at least 100 khz and in communication with the computing device and a user device that includes a sensor and a haptic output device. The processor generates a simulate reality environment and determines a haptic effect based on the simulated reality environment or a sensor signal from the sensor. The processor transmits data about a parameter of the haptic effect or the sensor signal to the xPC target machine, which determines the parameter of the haptic effect and generates, in substantially real time, a haptic signal. The xPC target machine transmits the haptic signal to the haptic output device, which is configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Liwen Wu, Danny A. Grant, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20200211337
    Abstract: A system is provided to process a source signal and generate one or more haptic effects for various haptic devices based on the source signal. The system operates to convert the source signal to meet different architectures of respective haptic devices and enables haptic effect designers to create haptic data without being concerned about low level details of different haptic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Danny A. GRANT, Stephen D. RANK
  • Publication number: 20200201440
    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: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Ali Modarres, Danny A. Grant, Jean Francois Dionne, David M. Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 10665067
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating haptics overlay in augmented reality are disclosed. One illustrative system described herein includes a haptic output device. The system also includes a display configured to output a visual effect. The system also includes a sensor for tracking a position of a proxy object. The system also includes a processor configured to: determine a modified visual effect based in part on data received from the sensor, determine a haptic effect based in part on data received from the sensor, transmit a display signal associated with the modified visual effect to the display, transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device; and output the haptic effect using the haptic output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Araki, Christopher J. Ullrich, Liwen Wu, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Sanya Attari, Colin Swindells
  • Patent number: 10664143
    Abstract: Interactive content may be presented to a user that is manipulating a peripheral. One or more state parameters that are related to the position of the peripheral may be determined. The peripheral may be identified from a plurality of possible peripherals. The interactive content may be adjusted based at least in part on the one or more position parameters and/or the identification of the peripheral. Haptic feedback to be provided to the user may be determined based at least in part on the one or more position parameters and/or the identification of the peripheral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Danny A. Grant, Robert W. Heubel