Patents by Inventor Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez

Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez 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).

  • Publication number: 20180275759
    Abstract: Haptic feedback is provided by rendering haptic effects on a haptically-enabled device that includes a front screen, a back cover coupled to the front screen, and a haptic output device attached to or formed within the front screen or the back cover. The haptic output device is configured to render a high-definition (HD) vibratory haptic effect, a low-frequency vibratory haptic effect, and a deformation haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Mansoor Alghooneh, Robert Lacroix, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Neil Olien, Vahid Khoshkava
  • Publication number: 20180275810
    Abstract: A touch input system comprising a touch input device and an actuation and sensing system is presented. The actuation and sensing system has a transfer structure adjacent to a first surface of the touch input device, the transfer structure having a first portion and a beam extending from an edge of the first portion. The actuation and sensing system further has a transducer patch disposed on the beam. The transfer structure is configured to transfer forces between the touch input device and the transducer patch, such that movement of the touch input device by an external force causes deformation of the beam and of the transducer patch, and such that actuation output by the transducer patch causes movement of the touch input device. The transducer patch has a layer of transducer material that is configured to act as a sensor, and is configured to act as an actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vahid KHOSHKAVA, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Neil T. OLIEN
  • Publication number: 20180275757
    Abstract: One illustrative example of the present disclosure includes a visual display for displaying one or more images. The visual display may include a haptically-enabled cell forming a pixel of the visual display. The haptically-enabled cell may include an anode, a cathode, and/or a light-emitting element having a light-emitting material. The light-emitting element may be positioned between the anode and the cathode. The light-emitting material may be configured to emit visible light in response to an electrical signal communicated by the anode or the cathode. The haptically-enabled cell may include a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect in response to a haptic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Vahid Khoshkava, Neil Olien
  • Publication number: 20180275761
    Abstract: A system of the present disclosure may include a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect to a touch surface; a touch sensitive input device configured to detect a first user interaction and transmit a first sensor signal, the touch sensitive input device further configured to detect a second user interaction and transmit a second sensor signal, wherein at least part of the first user interaction occurs at the same time as the second user interaction; a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal; determine a haptic effect based in part on the first user interaction and the second user interaction; transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10082874
    Abstract: A system is provided that converts an input, such as audio data, into one or more haptic effects. The system applies a granular synthesis algorithm to the input in order to generate a haptic signal. The system subsequently outputs the one or more haptic effects based on the generated haptic signal. The system can also shift a frequency of the input, and also filter the input, before the system applies the granular synthesis algorithm to the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Ali Modarres, Liwen Wu, David Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 10082872
    Abstract: A haptically-enabled device has an interface for receiving an instruction to provide haptic information. The device includes a tangible element with a physical property including length, stiffness, or texture. A haptic output device is attached to the tangible element and a haptic response module provides haptic information to the haptic output device. The haptic output device causes the tangible element to be altered from a first state to a second state of the physical property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Jamal Saboune, Abdelwahab Hamam, Vincent Levesque
  • Patent number: 10080957
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a deformation sensor configured to detect a deformation of a deformable surface and transmit a first sensor signal associated with the deformation. The system also includes a sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a user input device and transmit a second sensor signal associated with the user interaction. The system further includes a processor configured to: receive the first sensor signal; receive the second sensor signal; execute a function based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal. The processor is also configured to: determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the first sensor signal or the second sensor signal; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Danny Grant, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Ali Modarres, William Rihn
  • Publication number: 20180267613
    Abstract: Systems and methods for interfaces featuring surface-based haptic effects are described. One described system includes a sensor configured to detect a touch in a touch area when an object contacts a touch surface. The touch surface may correspond to the display area or may correspond to a non-display surface of a computing device or peripheral interfaced to a computing device. The system can further include an actuator in communication with the processor and coupled to the touch surface, the actuator configured to output a haptic effect and a processor configured to select a haptic effect to generate. The haptic effect can be selected based on a position of the touch and recognizing an input gesture provided by the touch and/or content displayed in a graphical user interface at a location mapped to a position in the touch area at or near the touch. The haptic effect may provide a texture, simulate an obstacle, and/or adjust the coefficient of friction of the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Ali Modarres, Andrew Gosline
  • Patent number: 10078384
    Abstract: A haptic effect enabled device for producing a haptic effect. In some cases, the haptic effect may represent a component of a spatial pattern represented on a surface of the haptic effect enabled device. In some cases, the haptic effect enabled device may comprise a haptic output device, a drive module, and a drive circuit. The drive module may receive information indicative of a location of a touch input at the surface and determine whether the touch input's location corresponds with a location of one of multiple components of the spatial pattern. The drive module may generate a drive signal that the drive circuit then applies to the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20180260028
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to fiber actuators for providing haptic feedback, and haptic actuation resulting from mechanical and/or electrostatic (non-mechanical) interactions with the fiber actuators. Such fiber actuators are useful in structural materials, including as elements of wearables or accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Vahid KHOSHKAVA, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ
  • Publication number: 20180258561
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a bifunctional fiber that can be used for both haptic feedback and sensing user interaction. Such bifunctional fibers are useful in structural materials, including as elements of wearables or accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Vahid KHOSHKAVA, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ
  • Patent number: 10074246
    Abstract: A haptic conversion system is provided that analyzes an audio signal, generates a plurality of haptic signals based on the analysis of the audio signal, and plays the generated plurality of haptic signals through a plurality of actuators to produce one or more haptic effects. The haptic conversion system maps the generated plurality of haptic signals to the plurality of actuators based on one or more audio characteristics of the audio signal. Each generated haptic signal includes one or more haptic parameters, and is played at its mapped actuator to generate the one or more haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry Da Costa, Herve Thu Timone, Robert Heubel, Stephen Rank, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny Grant
  • Patent number: 10073527
    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: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant
  • Patent number: 10073666
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Danny Grant, Jean-Francois Blanchard-Dionne, Amaya Becvar Weddle, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10073526
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing composite haptic effects are disclosed. One disclosed method includes detecting a touch occurring in a touch area when an object contacts a touch surface and selecting a composite haptic effect to generate in response to the touch, the composite haptic effect including at least one surface-based haptic effect and at least one other effect. Based on the selected composite haptic effect, a first haptic signal can be sent to cause an actuator to vary a coefficient of friction of the touch surface and a second actuator can be caused to provide a second haptic output in addition to the variation in the coefficient of friction. The second haptic signal can be sent to a second actuator or the same actuator(s) used to vary the coefficient of friction can generate the second haptic output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant
  • Publication number: 20180250590
    Abstract: A method of producing a haptic effect includes receiving a sensory content signal from a user interface device, receiving a sensor signal of a body position of a first body part of a user with respect to a second body part of the user, generating the haptic effect using the sensory content signal and the sensor signal, and applying a drive signal to a haptic actuator to produce the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Danny A. GRANT, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ
  • Publication number: 20180255294
    Abstract: A method for encoding haptic information inside a multi-media file having content includes changing a portion of the content in the multi-media file, and adding the haptic information to the changed portion of the content, the haptic information corresponding to a haptic signal for generating a haptic effect upon playback of the multi-media file. A method for decoding haptic information from inside a multi-media file having content includes locating the haptic information inside the multi-media file, and generating a haptic signal based on the located haptic information during playback of the content of the multi-media file. A method includes receiving a multi-media signal comprising an audio signal and a haptic signal with a receiver of a haptic device, and outputting a haptic effect with a haptic output device of the haptic device based on the haptic signal in the multi-media signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Arnab SEN, Christopher J. ULLRICH, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Ali MODARRES
  • Publication number: 20180246574
    Abstract: A user interface device includes a flexible layer comprising a touch surface configured to receive a touch by a user, a plurality of haptic cells covered by the flexible layer, each haptic cell comprising a haptic output device, a sensor configured to sense an amount and/or rate of deformation of the flexible layer when a user touches the touch surface, and a processor configured to receive an output signal from the sensor, generate a haptic control signal based on the output signal from the sensor, and output the haptic control signal to at least one haptic output device of the plurality of haptic cells to cause the haptic output device to deform an associated haptic cell in response to the sensed deformation of the flexible layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ali MODARRES, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Danny A. GRANT, Vincent LEVESQUE
  • Patent number: 10055950
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satvir Singh Bhatia, Kanav Gandhi, Christopher J. Ullrich, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Herve Thu Timone, Jason Hoi Fun Lau
  • Patent number: 10048758
    Abstract: A flexible device includes a bendable-foldable display that has bendable flaps connected by a hinge. The display has sensors for detecting a folding characteristic between the at least two flaps and for detecting a bending characteristic in at least one flap. The display has a haptic system with haptic output devices, where the haptic system receives input from the sensors indicating deformation of the bendable-foldable display device. A flexible device also includes bendable, foldable, or rollable displays that have sensors and actuators to augment user interaction with the device. Based on one or more measurements provided by the input, the haptic system interprets the input to determine deformation characteristics of the bendable-foldable display device. The haptic system generates haptic feedback based on the deformation characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Vincent Levesque, Danny Grant, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez