Patents by Inventor Nicholas Colonnese

Nicholas Colonnese 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: 12265659
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include creating a computer-generated model for a haptic feedback system including a plurality of actuators arranged in a first layer of the haptic feedback system, and a plurality of channels routed in a second layer of the haptic feedback system, the second layer being below the first layer, printing a three-dimensional wax mold structure of the computer-generated model, and forming the haptic feedback system in a single step using the three-dimensional wax mold structure. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Priyanshu Agarwal, Joseph Andrew Aase, Erik Samuel Roby, Nicholas Colonnese
  • Publication number: 20240377892
    Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling activation of different input elements using an actuator are disclosed herein. An example method includes in response to determining that a representation of a user's finger is located within a predefined distance of an input element: obtaining information regarding an amount of force needed to actuate the input element, and causing adjustment of a physical characteristic of an actuator while the actuator is associated with the input element. The method further includes, in response to an input having at least the amount of force applied by the user's finger to a component of the actuator while the actuator is associated with the input element, causing an input command to be performed and providing a haptic response via the actuator component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Priyanshu Agarwal, Nicholas Colonnese, Li Yao, Harsha Prahlad, Tianshu Liu, Felippe Jose Pavinatto, Daniele Piazza
  • Patent number: 12073024
    Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling activation of different input elements using an actuator are disclosed herein. An example method includes in response to detecting that a representation of a finger is located by a first input element: obtaining information regarding a first amount of force to actuate the first input element, and causing adjustment of a physical characteristic of an actuator so that a first amount of force directed to a component of the actuator activates the first input element. In response to detecting that the representation of the finger is located by a second input element, the method also includes: obtaining information regarding a second amount of force distinct from the first amount of force, and causing adjustment of the physical characteristic of the actuator so that the second amount of force directed to the component of the actuator activates the second input element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Priyanshu Agarwal, Nicholas Colonnese, Li Yao, Harsha Prahlad, Tianshu Liu, Felippe Jose Pavinatto, Daniele Piazza
  • Patent number: 12019807
    Abstract: The disclosed system may include a fluidic system including a connector including a first side and a second side, each of the first side and the second side including a plurality of pins, a fluidic breakout configured to interface pneumatic tubing with a fluidic control system, pneumatic tubing including a plurality of fluidic channels, a first end configured to interface with the first side of the connector, and a second end configured to interface with the fluidic breakout, and a haptic feedback system including a plurality of actuators, each actuator coupled to a respective actuation tube configured to interface with a respective pin on the second side of the connector. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Priyanshu Agarwal, Joseph Andrew Aase, Nicholas Colonnese
  • Patent number: 11982862
    Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a first set of one or more lenses and a first display configured to provide visual data through the first set of one or more lenses. The head-mounted display device further includes a first stepper motor mechanically coupled to the first display, and the first stepper motor is configured to move the first display along a first axis by rotating a rotatable component of the first stepper motor. The head-mounted display device further includes a first electronic controller configured to (i) determine a first position of the first display, (ii) receive information identifying a second position of the first display, and (iii) generate one or more electrical signals that cause the first stepper motor to move the first display from the first position to the second position along the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joyce S Fang, Nicholas Colonnese, Bruce A. Cleary, III, Ryan Michael Ebert, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 11934578
    Abstract: The disclosed haptic feedback system may include an actuator, a supply valve coupled to the actuator, an exhaust valve, and a fluidic mass controller communicatively coupled to the supply valve and the exhaust valve. The fluidic mass controller may (1) place the exhaust valve in a state that prevents a fluid from escaping the actuator, (2) activate the supply valve to fill the actuator with an amount of the fluid, (3) determine that the actuator has filled with the amount of the fluid, and then in response to that determination, (4) deactivate the supply valve to trap the amount of the fluid in the actuator. Various other apparatuses, methods, and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Priyanshu Agarwal, Nicholas Colonnese, Heng Xu, Benjamin Stephens-Fripp, Daniele Piazza
  • Publication number: 20240077946
    Abstract: A wearable device includes wearable structure, an array of individually controlled electrohydraulic-controlled haptic tactors coupled to a portion of the wearable structure, a power source for providing a voltage, and circuitry configured to provide instructions for generating the haptic response. Each electrohydraulic-controlled haptic tactor is in fluid communication with an actuator pouch filled with a dielectric substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Priyanshu Agarwal, FNU Purnendu, Nicholas Colonnese
  • Patent number: 11733734
    Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes a set of one or more lenses defining an optical axis, a display configured to project light through the set of the one or more lenses, a voice coil actuator coupled with the display and configured to move the display along the optical axis, and a first guide that is separate from the first voice coil actuator and coupled with the first display to guide the movement of the first display. The HMD additionally includes a set of one or more position sensors configured to determine a position of the display long the optical axis and an electronic controller configured to receive information identifying a reference position of the display along the optical axis and generate one or more electrical signals for initiating a movement of the first display toward the first reference point along the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joyce S Fang, Nicholas Colonnese, Bruce A Cleary, III, Ryan Michael Ebert, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 11714254
    Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes one or more lenses and a display configured to provide visual data through the one or more lenses. The head-mounted display device also includes a direct-current (DC) motor mechanically coupled to the display, and the DC motor is configured to move the display along an axis by rotating a rotatable component of the DC motor. The head-mounted display device further includes: position sensor(s) configured to determine a position of the display, and electronic controller(s) in communication with the position sensor(s). The electronic controller(s) are configured to: (i) receive, from the position sensor(s), the determined position of the display as a first position of the display, (ii) receive information identifying a second position of the display, and (iii) generate electrical signal(s) that cause the DC motor to move the display from the first position to the second position along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joyce S. Fang, Nicholas Colonnese, Bruce A. Cleary, III, Ryan Michael Ebert, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 11644892
    Abstract: A method generates synchronized auditory and haptic feedback for artificial-reality environments. The method includes performing a simulation of a user interaction with a virtual object in an artificial-reality environment. The user interaction (i) traverses a surface of the virtual object (e.g., running a finger over a textured surface), and (ii) includes a set of contact events (e.g., a sparse set of events). The method also includes estimating a trajectory of the user interaction with the virtual object based on the set of contact events. The method also includes determining a surface profile associated with the surface of the virtual object, generating an excitation force profile according to (i) the estimated trajectory and (ii) the surface profile, and rendering, based on the excitation force profile, audio and synchronized haptic feedback for the user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sonny Chan, Nicholas Colonnese
  • Publication number: 20230133303
    Abstract: The disclosed system may include a fluidic system including a connector including a first side and a second side, each of the first side and the second side including a plurality of pins, a fluidic breakout configured to interface pneumatic tubing with a fluidic control system, pneumatic tubing including a plurality of fluidic channels, a first end configured to interface with the first side of the connector, and a second end configured to interface with the fluidic breakout, and a haptic feedback system including a plurality of actuators, each actuator coupled to a respective actuation tube configured to interface with a respective pin on the second side of the connector. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Priyanshu Agarwal, Joseph Andrew Aase, Nicholas Colonnese
  • Publication number: 20230075461
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include creating a computer-generated model for a haptic feedback system including a plurality of actuators arranged in a first layer of the haptic feedback system, and a plurality of channels routed in a second layer of the haptic feedback system, the second layer being below the first layer, printing a three-dimensional wax mold structure of the computer-generated model, and forming the haptic feedback system in a single step using the three-dimensional wax mold structure. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Priyanshu Agarwal, Joseph Andrew Aase, Erik Samuel Roby, Nicholas Colonnese
  • Patent number: 11550397
    Abstract: The disclosed method may include detecting motion of a user, estimating, for the detected motion of the user, effort expended by the user in performing the motion, determining, based on the detected motion and the estimation of expended effort, a haptic profile for conveying to the user a physical sensation of expending the effort, and simulating a sensation of expending the effort by executing the haptic profile in at least one haptic device that is worn by the user. Various other methods, systems, and/or computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Evan Pezent, Nicholas Colonnese, Justin Clark, Jessica Hartcher-O'Brien, Priyanshu Agarwal
  • Patent number: 11537204
    Abstract: An apparatus for fixing a wearable structure and/or a user-feedback element to a user is provided. The apparatus includes a wearable structure configured to be worn by a user, and a grounding assembly, coupled to the wearable structure. The grounding assembly includes: (i) an inflatable bladder, coupled to a first portion of the wearable structure, and (ii) a cord, coupled to a second portion of the wearable structure and the inflatable bladder. The inflatable bladder is configured to receive a fluid from a source. The cord is configured to tighten around a portion of the user's body according to and in proportion with the fluid pressure inside the inflatable bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zachary Daniel West, Aaron Alan Ambuske, Nicholas Roy Corson, Brian Cox, Amirhossein Hajiagha Memar, David Rother Dobbs, Priyanshu Agarwal, Nicholas Colonnese, John Dietrich Martin, Ana Mirona Motoc, Brian Fletcher, Jay Barrett Willet
  • Publication number: 20220365590
    Abstract: A method generates synchronized auditory and haptic feedback for artificial-reality environments. The method includes performing a simulation of a user interaction with a virtual object in an artificial-reality environment. The user interaction (i) traverses a surface of the virtual object (e.g., running a finger over a textured surface), and (ii) includes a set of contact events (e.g., a sparse set of events). The method also includes estimating a trajectory of the user interaction with the virtual object based on the set of contact events. The method also includes determining a surface profile associated with the surface of the virtual object, generating an excitation force profile according to (i) the estimated trajectory and (ii) the surface profile, and rendering, based on the excitation force profile, audio and synchronized haptic feedback for the user interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Sonny Chan, Nicholas Colonnese
  • Patent number: 11481033
    Abstract: A wearable device for providing haptic stimulations is provided. The wearable device includes: (i) a wearable structure to be worn on a portion of a user's body and (ii) an inflatable bladder, coupled to the wearable structure, that includes two or more pockets positioned at a target location on the wearable structure. Furthermore, the two or more pockets are configured to, when inflated, impart directional force(s) onto the user at the target location that impede movement of the portion of the user's body. Additionally, the directional force(s) are caused by the two or more pockets interfering with each other, when inflated. In some embodiments, (a) the portion of the user's body is a hand of the user, (b) the target location is a finger joint on the user's hand, and (c) the directional force(s) imparted onto the user at the target location impede flexion of the user's finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Priyanshu Alan Agarwal, Nicholas Roy Corson, Nicholas Colonnese, Zachary Daniel West, Aaron Alan Ambuske, John Dietrich Martin, Ana Mirona Motoc, Brian Fletcher, Jay Barrett Willet
  • Patent number: 11454779
    Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a first set of one or more lenses and a first display configured to provide visual data through the first set of one or more lenses. The head-mounted display device further includes a first stepper motor mechanically coupled to the first display, and the first stepper motor is configured to move the first display along a first axis by rotating a rotatable component of the first stepper motor. The head-mounted display device further includes a first electronic controller configured to (i) determine a first position of the first display, (ii) receive information identifying a second position of the first display, and (iii) generate one or more electrical signals that cause the first stepper motor to move the first display from the first position to the second position along the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joyce Fang, Nicholas Colonnese, Bruce A. Cleary, Ryan Michael Ebert, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 11416065
    Abstract: A method generates synchronized auditory and haptic feedback for artificial-reality environments. The method includes performing a simulation of a user interaction with a virtual object in an artificial-reality environment. The user interaction (i) traverses a surface of the virtual object (e.g., running a finger over a textured surface), and (ii) includes a set of contact events (e.g., a sparse set of events). The method also includes estimating a trajectory of the user interaction with the virtual object based on the set of contact events. The method also includes determining a surface profile associated with the surface of the virtual object, generating an excitation force profile according to (i) the estimated trajectory and (ii) the surface profile, and rendering, based on the excitation force profile, audio and synchronized haptic feedback for the user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sonny Chan, Nicholas Colonnese
  • Patent number: 11370653
    Abstract: An electrostatic zipping actuator includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlying the primary electrode, a dielectric layer located between and abutting at least a portion of the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and a dielectric fluid disposed at least at a junction between the dielectric layer and one of the electrodes, where an average total thickness of the dielectric layer is less than approximately 10 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tianshu Liu, Yigit Menguc, Robert Manson, Shawn Reese, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Erik Samuel Roby, Katherine Healy, Nicholas Colonnese
  • Patent number: 11366522
    Abstract: The disclosed wearable apparatus may include (1) a device dimensioned to fit about a body part of a user, (2) a tensioning mechanism that harnesses to the device in a manner that is relative to the fit of the device about the body part of the user, and (3) an actuator couples to the tensioning mechanism that, when actuated, causes substantially tangential movement of the tensioning mechanism relative to a surface of the body part to produce substantially orthogonal movement of the device relative to the surface of the body part. Various other methods, systems, and/or computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Evan Matthew Pezent, Priyanshu Agarwal, Hrvoje Benko, Nicholas Colonnese, Ali Israr, Shea Jonathan Robinson