Patents by Inventor Neil Olien

Neil Olien 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: 20160216830
    Abstract: A method includes displaying information via a first display, displaying information via a second display, controlling the information displayed via the first display and the second display with a controller, and receiving a first input from a user through a user interface. The first input includes a command to change a setting of the first display or the second display and/or the information being displayed via the first display or the second display. The method also includes generating a first haptic effect to confirm receipt of the first input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventor: Neil Olien
  • Patent number: 9358689
    Abstract: Systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes: an actuator; and a control-circuit in communication with the actuator, the control circuit configured to: receive a 2-bit signal including a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; and transmit a power signal based on the two bit signal, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate at the actuation state at a fixed power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Erin B. Ramsay, Henrique D. da Costa, Neil Olien, Robert A. Lacroix
  • Patent number: 9335822
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a method for providing haptic effects based on haptic context data including receiving haptic context information associated with a user interface, receiving an input signal associated with a user interaction with the user interface; and determining a haptic effect based in part on the haptic context information and input signal; and outputting a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Olien, Michael Greenish
  • Publication number: 20160107570
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a sensor configured to sense information associated with the vehicle's surroundings, environment and/or condition and output a sensor signal based on the sensed information, a processor configured to receive the sensor signal, determine haptic feedback for the system to display based on the sensor signal, and output a haptic control signal, and a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic control signal from the processor and generate the haptic feedback to a driver of the vehicle based on the haptic control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Ali MODARRES, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Danny A. GRANT, Neil OLIEN
  • Patent number: 9244532
    Abstract: A method includes displaying information via a first display, displaying information via a second display, controlling the information displayed via the first display and the second display with a controller, and receiving a first input from a user through a user interface. The first input includes a command to change a setting of the first display or the second display and/or the information being displayed via the first display or the second display. The method also includes generating a first haptic effect to confirm receipt of the first input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventor: Neil Olien
  • Publication number: 20160004309
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a processor configured to determine a haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect includes a static ESF effect or a confirmation ESF effect; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative system also includes an ESF controller in communication with the processor, the ESF controller configured to receive the haptic signal, determine an ESF signal based at least in part on the haptic signal, and transmit the ESF signal. The illustrative system further includes an ESF device in communication with the ESF controller, the ESF device including an ESF cell and configured to receive the ESF signal and output the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Christopher Ullrich, Danny Grant, Neil Olien, Vincent Levesque
  • Publication number: 20150332566
    Abstract: A system includes a wearable device, a second device remote from and in communication with the wearable device, a processor configured to generate a control signal representative of an event occurring in an environment related to the wearable device and/or the second device, and a haptic output device configured to provide haptic feedback based on the generated control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Allan VISITACION, Trevor JONES, Daniel Gregory PARKER, Kohei IMOTO, Keith REED, Jesica E. FERRO, Aaron KAPELUS, Neil OLIEN, Danny A. GRANT, Robert LACROIX
  • Patent number: 9152264
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch screen configured to receive an input from a user, and a haptic device that includes a piezoelectric actuator including an elongated piezo bender having a mass at one end thereof and supported by a flexible holder at the other end thereof, and an electrical driving signal generator configured to generate a signal to create a vibration in the elongated piezo bender in response to the input from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Gregory Parker, Kohei Imoto, Allan Visitacion, Trevor Jones, Neil Olien, Jesica Ferro, Li Jiang
  • Patent number: 9092954
    Abstract: A wearable device may be configured to generate feedback based on an event that occurs in an environment related to the wearable device. The wearable device may include, for example, a processor configured to generate a control signal representative of an event occurring in an environment related to the wearable device and at least a first haptic output device disposed at a first position at the wearable device. The first haptic output device may be configured to provide haptic feedback based on the generated control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Allan Visitacion, Trevor Jones, Daniel Gregory Parker, Kohei Imoto, Keith Reed, Jesica E. Ferro, Aaron Kapelus, Neil Olien, Danny A. Grant, Robert Lacroix
  • Publication number: 20150185843
    Abstract: A method includes displaying information via a first display, displaying information via a second display, controlling the information displayed via the first display and the second display with a controller, and receiving a first input from a user through a user interface. The first input includes a command to change a setting of the first display or the second display and/or the information being displayed via the first display or the second display. The method also includes generating a first haptic effect to confirm receipt of the first input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventor: Neil Olien
  • Publication number: 20150185849
    Abstract: A system includes a sensor configured to sense relative movement between a surface and a user's skin; a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect at the surface; and a processor configured to receive an input signal from the sensor indicating the sensed movement between the surface and the skin of the user, determine whether a notification is to be sent to the user, and output an output signal, based on the notification, to the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect if it is determined that the notification is to be sent to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Vincent LEVESQUE, David M. BIRNBAUM, Amaya Becvar WEDDLE, Robert LACROIX, Juan Manuel CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Danny A. GRANT, Neil OLIEN, Erin B. RAMSAY, Ali MODARRES
  • Publication number: 20150185848
    Abstract: A system includes a touch control panel configured to receive an input from a user, a controller in signal communication with the touch control panel and configured to control at least one operational setting of a powered apparatus, and a haptic output device in signal communication with the controller and configured to simulate an input button of the touch control panel by outputting a friction effect to the user as the user provides the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Vincent LEVESQUE, Neil OLIEN, Christopher J. ULLRICH, David M. BIRNBAUM, Amaya Becvar WEDDLE
  • Publication number: 20150070289
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch screen configured to receive an input from a user, and a haptic device that includes a piezoelectric actuator including an elongated piezo bender having a mass at one end thereof and supported by a flexible holder at the other end thereof, and an electrical driving signal generator configured to generate a signal to create a vibration in the elongated piezo bender in response to the input from the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel Gregory PARKER, Kohei IMOTO, Allan VISITACION, Trevor JONES, Neil OLIEN, Jesica FERRO, Li JIANG
  • Publication number: 20150009168
    Abstract: Systems and methods for perceptual normalization of haptic effects are disclosed. One system may include a first sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a touch surface and transmit a first sensor signal associated with the user interaction; a second sensor configured to detect a feature associated with the touch surface and transmit a second sensor signal associated with the feature; a processor in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, the processor configured to: determine a first haptic effect based on the user interaction; determine a modified haptic effect based in part first haptic effect and on the feature; output a haptic signal associated with the modified 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 the haptic signal and output the modified haptic effect to the touch surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Ali Modarres, Neil Olien, Danny Grant, Erin Ramsay, David Birnbaum, Amaya Weddle
  • Patent number: 8890666
    Abstract: A haptic device includes a flexible holder; an elongated piezo bender supported at one end thereof by the holder; a mass supported by the elongated piezo bender and positioned at an end of the elongated piezo bender opposite the end supported by the holder; and an electrical driving signal generator configured to generate a signal to create a vibration in the elongated piezo bender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Gregory Parker, Kohei Imoto, Allan Visitacion, Trevor Jones, Neil Olien, Jesica Ferro, Li Jiang
  • Publication number: 20140266647
    Abstract: A wearable device may be configured to generate feedback based on an event that occurs in an environment related to the wearable device. The wearable device may include, for example, a processor configured to generate a control signal representative of an event occurring in an environment related to the wearable device and at least a first haptic output device disposed at a first position at the wearable device. The first haptic output device may be configured to provide haptic feedback based on the generated control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Allan Visitacion, Trevor Jones, Daniel Gregory Parker, Kohei Imoto, Keith Reed, Jesica E. Ferro, Aaron Kapelus, Neil Olien, Danny A. Grant, Robert Lacroix
  • Publication number: 20140160050
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a method for providing haptic effects based on haptic context data including receiving haptic context information associated with a user interface, receiving an input signal associated with a user interaction with the user interface; and determining a haptic effect based in part on the haptic context information and input signal; and outputting a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Olien, Michael Greenish
  • Patent number: 8659210
    Abstract: A haptic device includes an elongated piezo bender supported by a first holder and a second holder. The first holder and the second holder being spaced apart from each other and located at or near opposite ends of the elongated piezo bender. A mass is supported by the elongated piezo bender and positioned in between the first holder and the second holder. The mass has a non-uniform thickness in a direction along a major axis of the elongated piezo bender. An electrical driving signal generator is configured to generate a signal to create a vibration in the elongated piezo bender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Li Jiang, Daniel Gregory Parker, Neil Olien
  • Publication number: 20140028573
    Abstract: A compliant suspension element is disclosed for use in mounting an electronic touch screen or touch surface. At least one compliant suspension element couples a touch screen and a housing component together such that the touch screen component is movable relative to the housing component. A segment of piezo material is coupled to opposing surfaces of the at least one suspension element for producing a force that moves the touch screen component relative to the housing component and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the touch screen component. In reaction to the force produced by the segments of piezo material, the at least one suspension element is configured to allow movement of the touch screen component relative to the housing component in a first direction and to limit movement between the touch screen component and the housing component in at least a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil Olien, Daniel Parker, Allan Visitacion, Trevor Jones, Frank Ye
  • Patent number: 8629954
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Olien, Daniel Parker, Allan Visitacion, Remy Pieron, Trevor Jones, Frank Ye