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).

  • Systems And Methods For Tactile Guidance
    Publication number: 20160321880
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tactile guidance are disclosed. One illustrative method disclosure herein includes: receiving a sensor signal from a sensor configured to determine one or more objects associated with an area; determining area information based in part on the sensor signal; determining a haptic effect based in part on the area information; and transmitting a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to a haptic output device configured to output the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Abdelwahab Hamam, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Liwen Wu, Jamal Saboune, Vincent Levesque, Robert Lacroix, Danny Grant
  • SIMULATION OF TANGIBLE USER INTERFACE INTERACTIONS AND GESTURES USING ARRAY OF HAPTIC CELLS
    Publication number: 20160306426
    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: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: ALI MODARRES, JUAN MANUEL CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, DANNY A. GRANT, VINCENT LEVESQUE
  • PASSIVE STIFFNESS AND ACTIVE DEFORMATION HAPTIC OUTPUT DEVICES FOR FLEXIBLE DISPLAYS
    Publication number: 20160306427
    Abstract: A system includes a flexible display configured to display an image and a sensor connected to the flexible display. The sensor is configured to sense an amount of flexure of the flexible display. A haptic output device is connected to the flexible display and is configured to change a resistance to movement of a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display upon receipt of a haptic control signal. The system includes a processor in signal communication with the flexible display, the sensor and the haptic output device. The processor is configured to receive an output signal from the sensor based on the amount of flexure and generate the haptic control signal based on the output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Management of multiple wearable haptic devices
    Patent number: 9466187
    Abstract: A system for managing a plurality of wearable devices on a user receives information to be conveyed using haptic effects and determines an intent of the information. The system then determines, for each of the plurality of wearable haptic devices, a location of the wearable haptic device on the user and a haptic capability. The system then maps the information as a haptic effect to one or more of the wearable haptic devices based at least on the determined locations on the user and the haptic capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Danny Grant, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Haptic warping system
    Patent number: 9454881
    Abstract: A system is provided that transforms haptic signals. The system receives a first haptic signal including a first haptic effect that can be generated by a first haptic output device. The system transforms the first haptic signal into a second haptic signal including a second haptic effect that can be generated by a second haptic output device. The system then sends the second haptic signal to the second haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Jamal Saboune
  • Automatic fitting of haptic effects
    Patent number: 9449043
    Abstract: A system is provided that automatically generates one or more haptic effects from source data, such as audio source data. The system fits the one or more haptic effects to the source data by analyzing the source data and identifying one or more haptic effects that are the most similar to the source data. The system matches the identified one or more haptic effects with the source data. The system subsequently outputs the identified one or more haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, Danny Grant, Victor Aaron Viegas, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Electro-vibrotactile display
    Patent number: 9448713
    Abstract: A system for generating a haptic effect with an electrostatic device, alone or in combination with actuators or other devices configured to generate a haptic effect. The system may generate the haptic effect to simulate a coefficient of friction or texture on the surface of a user interface, such as a display screen or touchpad. The simulated coefficient of friction may be adjusted to convey other properties on the user interface surface. The system may also include sensors that measure the simulated coefficient of friction and the impedance at the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant
  • Sound to haptic effect conversion system using amplitude value
    Patent number: 9448626
    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 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Herve Thu Timone, Jason Hoi Fun Lau
  • SOUND TO HAPTIC EFFECT CONVERSION SYSTEM USING MAPPING
    Publication number: 20160260298
    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: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Christopher J. ULLRICH
  • MULTIPLEXING AND DEMULTIPLEXING HAPTIC SIGNALS
    Publication number: 20160231816
    Abstract: A system receives a multiplexed signal with two or more different types of haptic signals encoded therein. Each type of haptic signal represents a haptic effect for different types of haptic output devices. The system determines a target haptic output device located on a haptic playback device. The system demultiplexes the multiplexed signal into at least the type of haptic signal corresponding to the target output device. The system provides the demultiplexed haptic signal to the target haptic output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen D. RANK, Satvir Singh BHATIA, Arnab SEN, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ
  • Simulation of tangible user interface interactions and gestures using array of haptic cells
    Patent number: 9405369
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny A. Grant, Vincent Levesque
  • Passive stiffness and active deformation haptic output devices for flexible displays
    Patent number: 9405368
    Abstract: A system includes a flexible display configured to display an image and a sensor connected to the flexible display. The sensor is configured to sense an amount of flexure of the flexible display. A haptic output device is connected to the flexible display and is configured to change a resistance to movement of a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display upon receipt of a haptic control signal. The system includes a processor in signal communication with the flexible display, the sensor and the haptic output device. The processor is configured to receive an output signal from the sensor based on the amount of flexure and generate the haptic control signal based on the output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • System And Method For Simulated Physical Interactions With Haptic Effects
    Publication number: 20160216765
    Abstract: A system of the present disclosure may include a sensor configured to detect user interaction with a touch surface and transmit a sensor signal associated with the user interaction; a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: determine a position of the user interaction based on the sensor signal, determine a feature associated with the position of the user interaction, control a device associated with the feature, modify a display signal based in part on the user interaction, select a haptic effect to generate based at least in part on user interaction and the position, the haptic effect selected to simulate the feature, and transmit a haptic signal to generate the haptic effect, and a haptic output device in communication with the processor and coupled to the touch surface, the haptic output device configured to receive a haptic signal and output a haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Amaya Weddle, David Birnbaum
  • HAPTIC DESIGN AUTHORING TOOL
    Publication number: 20160209925
    Abstract: A system for authoring one or more haptic effects using a haptic effect authoring tool receives a haptification model that is based on a predetermined haptic effect style. The system receives an input that includes at least one of audio and video and a plurality of events. The system then, using the haptification model, recommends a haptic effect to be associated with a corresponding event from the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Jamal SABOUNE, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ
  • HAPTIC OUTPUT DEVICE AND METHOD OF GENERATING A HAPTIC EFFECT IN A HAPTIC OUTPUT DEVICE
    Publication number: 20160202763
    Abstract: A haptic output device includes a touch surface, a sensor configured to sense an input at the touch surface, and a controller configured to read the sensor, identify a location of the input, switch from a read mode to a write mode, and write a voltage based on the location of the input to generate an electrostatic output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Danny A. GRANT
  • Systems and Methods for Haptically-Enabled Holders
    Publication number: 20160187988
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a processor configured to: receive a signal; determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the signal; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The system further includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor and coupled to a holder, wherein the holder is configured to mechanically couple with an electronic device. The haptic output device is configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Abdelwahab Hamam
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED HAPTIC FEEDBACK
    Publication number: 20160189494
    Abstract: A system includes a haptic output device constructed and arranged to generate a haptic effect to a user of the system, and a chemical delivery device constructed and arranged to deliver a chemical to the user of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Vincent LEVESQUE, Abdelwahab HAMAM, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Vahid KHOSHKAVA
  • DEFORMABLE HAPTIC WEARABLES WITH VARIABLE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    Publication number: 20160187977
    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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Jamal SABOUNE, Abdelwahab HAMAM, Vincent LEVESQUE
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING HAPTIC EFFECTS BASED ON EYE TRACKING
    Publication number: 20160187976
    Abstract: A system includes an eye-tracking device configured to track a user's eye gaze while looking at media content comprising an image, and a processor configured to execute one or more computer program modules, including a content determination module that, when executed by the processor, analyzes the media content to identify the image, an eye gaze determination module that, when executed by the processor, determines a gaze location of the user's eye gaze while looking at the image, and an event determination module that, when executed by the processor, determines an event to trigger based on the identification of the image and the gaze location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Vincent LEVESQUE, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Abraham DAUHAJRE, Paige RAYNES, Satvir Singh BHATIA
  • Sound to haptic effect conversion system using mapping
    Patent number: 9368005
    Abstract: A haptic conversion system is provided that intercepts audio data, such as a digital audio signal, analyzes the audio data in frequency, and divides the analyzed audio data into one or more audio frequency regions, where each audio frequency region includes one or more audio sub-signals. The haptic conversion system further maps the one or more audio frequency regions to one or more haptic frequency regions, where each haptic frequency region includes one or more haptic signals. The haptic conversion system further maps the one or more haptic effects to one or more actuators. The haptic conversion system further sends the one or more haptic signals to one or more actuators, in order to generate one or more haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Christopher J Ullrich