Patents by Inventor Patrick Helmer

Patrick Helmer 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: 11853009
    Abstract: A watch interaction simulation apparatus for carrying out interaction with a watch interaction member for a watch includes a sensor device adapted to be coupled with the watch interaction member. The sensor device is operable to sense an interaction with the watch interaction member. The apparatus includes an actuator device being coupled to the watch interaction member, an actuator control device for controlling the actuator device, and a sensor information computing device being operatively coupled to the sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Force Dimension Technologies Sarl
    Inventors: Francois Conti, Sébastien Grange, Patrick Helmer, Patrice Rouiller, Tiavina Niaritsiry, Luc Maillat
  • Publication number: 20230107950
    Abstract: A vibration management device for managing the vibrations of a motor vehicle, the device including an electronic controller> The electronic controller is able to be fixed to a vibrating wall receiving vibrations from a component or set of components of the vehicle, by a fixing device including a vibration sensor, generating a vibration signal. The electronic controller includes a signal processor for processing the signal originating from the sensor, and the electronic controller is connected to a device for managing the vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Aurélien Fraysse, Patrick Helmer, Marina Labalette
  • Patent number: 11163365
    Abstract: Method of providing vibro-tactile feedback to a user of a user interface device comprising at least one actuator adapted to provide vibro-tactile feedback to the user and communicatively coupled to an application device, a vibro-tactile feedback providing device and vibro-tactile feedback providing system as well as a computer program product for carry out said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Force Dimension Sarl
    Inventors: Patrick Helmer, Francois Conti, Sébastien Grange, Patrice Rouiller
  • Publication number: 20210208540
    Abstract: Disclosed is watch interaction simulation system, a watch interaction simulation apparatus, watch interaction simulation methods and a computer software product including executable software code for carrying our watch interaction simulation methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Francois Conti, Sébastien Grange, Patrick Helmer, Patrice Rouiller, Tiavina Niaritsiry, Luc Maillat
  • Publication number: 20200409460
    Abstract: Method of providing vibro-tactile feedback to a user of a user interface device comprising at least one actuator adapted to provide vibro-tactile feedback to the user and communicatively coupled to an application device, a vibro-tactile feedback providing device and vibro-tactile feedback providing system as well as a computer program product for carry out said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Force Dimension Sarl
    Inventors: Patrick HELMER, Francois CONTI, Sébastien GRANGE, Patrice ROUILLER
  • Patent number: 10001804
    Abstract: A force-feedback device comprising a first member; a first kinematics bond being coupled with said first member; said first kinematics bond being constructed to provide at least one degree of freedom for movements of said first member; said first kinematics bond comprising a braking device being constructed to constrain movements of the said first member in at least one of said at least one degree of freedom; and a energy storing/release device being constructed to store energy in response to a movement of said first member in at least one of said at least one degree of freedom constrained by said braking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: FORCE DIMENSION S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Francois Conti, Sebastien Grange, Patrick Helmer, Patrice Rouiller
  • Patent number: 9895798
    Abstract: A device for the relative movement between an input member and an output member, the device comprising an input member (100); an output member (108); an intermediate member (104) coupling the input member (100) and the output member (108); a first kinematics bond (102) coupling the intermediate member (104) and the input member (100); the first kinematics bond (102) providing at least two rotational degrees of freedom; and a second kinematics bond (106) coupling the intermediate member (104) and the output member (108), the second kinematics bond (106) being adapted to transmit rotational motions between the intermediate member (104) and the output member (108) and to offset rotation axes of at least two rotational degrees of freedom of the output member (108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Force Dimension
    Inventor: Patrick Helmer
  • Patent number: 8984982
    Abstract: A parallel kinematic structure comprises at least two kinematic chains being functionally arranged in parallel. Each of the two kinematic chains has, at a moveable end thereof, at least one degree of freedom, and comprising a passive anti-planar joint arrangement having a translational degree of freedom and two rotational degrees of freedom. Each anti-planar joint arrangement has an input section and an output section. At least one of the kinematic chains comprises a planar joint arrangement having at least one of at least one translational degree of freedom and a rotational degree of freedom, the planar joint arrangement having an output section. Further, the planar joint arrangement is adapted for active movements in at least one of its degrees of freedom. The input section of the anti-planar joint arrangement and the output section of the respective planar joint arrangement are coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignees: Force Dimension S.A.R.L., Baur S.S.
    Inventors: Patrick Helmer, Charles Baur, Jr., Marc Weibel
  • Patent number: 8806974
    Abstract: A device for transmitting movements comprising a parallel kinematics transmission structure adapted to provide at least one degree of freedom including three translational degrees of freedom, the parallel kinematics transmission structure further comprising a base member (2), a moveable member (4), and at least one parallel kinematics chain (6) coupling the base member (2) and the moveable member (4), each parallel kinematics chain (6) having a first arm (8) moveable in a movement plane wherein the movement planes are at a distance to a symmetry axis (40), and each parallel kinematics chain (6) comprising a second arm (10) coupled to the moveable member (4), wherein a first end (18) of the second arm (10) is adapted to be coupled to the first arm (8) and a second end (16) of the second arm (10) is adapted to be coupled to the moveable member (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Novint Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Helmer, Francois Conti, Patrice Rouiller, Sebastien Grange
  • Publication number: 20140192020
    Abstract: An active gripper for a haptic device including a parallel kinematics structure providing at least three degrees of freedom including three translational degrees of freedom, wherein the gripper comprises a first contact surface being adapted for contact by a first portion of a hand of a user, a second contact surface being adapted for contact by a second portion of the user's hand, which hand's second portion being moveable in relation to the hand's first portion, and a moveable member arranged between the first contact surface and the second contact surface and being adapted to actively move the first contact surface and the second contact surface in relation to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Force Dimension S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Patrick Helmer, Francois Conti, Sebastien Grange, Patrice Rouiller
  • Patent number: 8667860
    Abstract: An active gripper for a haptic device including a parallel kinematics structure providing at least three degrees of freedom including three translational degrees of freedom, wherein the gripper comprises a first contact surface being adapted for contact by a first portion of a hand of a user, a second contact surface being adapted for contact by a second portion of the user's hand, which hand's second portion being moveable in relation to the hand's first portion, and a moveable member arranged between the first contact surface and the second contact surface and being adapted to actively move the first contact surface and the second contact surface in relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Force Dimension S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Patrick Helmer, Francois Conti, Sébastien Grange, Patrice Rouiller
  • Patent number: 8188843
    Abstract: A haptic device comprising a base member (4), an end-effector (6), a parallel kinematics structure arranged between the base plate and the end-effector and providing at least three degrees of freedom including at least three translational degrees of freedom in relation to the end-effector, and at least one passive gravity compensation means being adapted to exert forces and/or torques on the parallel kinematics structure for at least partial compensation of gravity related forces and/or torques acting in at least one of the three translational degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Force Dimension S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Patrick Helmer, François Conti, Sebastian Grange, Patrice Rouiller
  • Publication number: 20120090423
    Abstract: An active gripper for a haptic device including a parallel kinematics structure providing at least three degrees of freedom including three translational degrees of freedom, wherein the gripper comprises a first contact surface being adapted for contact by a first portion of a hand of a user, a second contact surface being adapted for contact by a second portion of the user's hand, which hand's second portion being moveable in relation to the hand's first portion, and a moveable member arranged between the first contact surface and the second contact surface and being adapted to actively move the first contact surface and the second contact surface in relation to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: FORCE DIMENSIONS S.A.R.I.
    Inventors: Patrick Helmer, Francois Conti, Sébastien Grange, Patrice Rouiller
  • Publication number: 20100300230
    Abstract: A device for the relative movement between an input member and an output member, the device comprising an input member (100); an output member (108); an intermediate member (104) coupling the input member (100) and the output member (108); a first kinematics bond (102) coupling the intermediate member (104) and the input member (100); the first kinematics bond (102) providing at least two rotational degrees of freedom; and a second kinematics bond (106) coupling the intermediate member (104) and the output member (108), the second kinematics bond (106) being adapted to transmit rotational motions between the intermediate member (104) and the output member (108) and to offset rotation axes of at least two rotational degrees of freedom of the output member (108).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: FORCE DIMENSION
    Inventor: Patrick Helmer
  • Publication number: 20100206121
    Abstract: A transmission member for a device for transmitting movements comprising an actuator for providing movements to be transmitted and a base member, the transmission member comprising a first arm adapted to be coupled to the base member and comprising a base portion and a curved portion, and at least one engagement means for engagement with the actuator of the device for transmitting movements from the actuator to the transmission member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Patrick Helmer, Francois Conti, Sebastien Grange, Patrice Rouiller
  • Publication number: 20100192720
    Abstract: A parallel kinematic structure comprises at least two kinematic chains being functionally arranged in parallel. Each of the two kinematic chains has, at a moveable end thereof, at least one degree of freedom, and comprising a passive anti-planar joint arrangement having a translational degree of freedom and two rotational degrees of freedom. Each anti-planar joint arrangement has an input section and an output section. At least one of the kinematic chains comprises a planar joint arrangement having at least one of at least one translational degree of freedom and a rotational degree of freedom, the planar joint arrangement having an output section. Further, the planar joint arrangement is adapted for active movements in at least one of its degrees of freedom. The input section of the anti-planar joint arrangement and the output section of the respective planar joint arrangement are coupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicants: Force Dimension S.a.r.l, Baur SA
    Inventors: Patrick Helmer, Charles Baur, Marc Weibel
  • Publication number: 20100032255
    Abstract: A force-feedback device comprising a first member; a first kinematics bond being coupled with said first member; said first kinematics bond being constructed to provide at least one degree of freedom for movements of said first member; said first kinematics bond comprising a braking device being constructed to constrain movements of the said first member in at least one of said at least one degree of freedom; and a energy storing/release device being constructed to store energy in response to a movement of said first member in at least one of said at least one degree of freedom constrained by said braking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Force Dimension S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Francois Conti, Sebastian Grange, Patrick Helmer, Patrice Rouiller
  • Publication number: 20100019890
    Abstract: A haptic device comprising a base member (4), an end-effector (6), a parallel kinematics structure arranged between the base plate and the end-effector and providing at least three degrees of freedom including at least three translational degrees of freedom in relation to the end-effector, and at least one passive gravity compensation means being adapted to exert forces and/or torques on the parallel kinematics structure for at least partial compensation of gravity related forces and/or torques acting in at least one of the three translational degrees of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Force Dimension S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Patrick Helmer, Francois Conti, Sebastien Grange, Patrice Rouiller
  • Publication number: 20080223165
    Abstract: A device for transmitting movements comprising a parallel kinematics transmission structure adapted to provide at least one degree of freedom including three translational degrees of freedom, the parallel kinematics transmission structure further comprising a base member (2), a moveable member (4), and at least one parallel kinematics chain (6) coupling the base member (2) and the moveable member (4), each parallel kinematics chain (6) having a first arm (8) moveable in a movement plane wherein the movement planes are at a distance to a symmetry axis (40), and each parallel kinematics chain (6) comprising a second arm (10) coupled to the moveable member (4), wherein a first end (18) of the second arm (10) is adapted to be coupled to the first arm (8) and a second end (16) of the second arm (10) is adapted to be coupled to the moveable member (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Patrick Helmer, Francois Conti, Patrice Rouiller, Sebastien Grange
  • Publication number: 20050192594
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, examples of a low profile instrument immobilizer and means for positioning the same. In one example, the low profile instrument immobilizer grasps, secures, and immobilizes an electrode or other instrument that extends through a burr hole in a skull to a target location in a patient's brain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: James Skakoon, Matthew Solar, Thomas Miller, Patrick Helmer, Mark Freas