Patents by Inventor Richard Karsten

Richard Karsten 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: 20250061787
    Abstract: Described herein is a broadband haptic system for a controller of a controller system to provide enhanced haptic functionality. A control, such as a trackpad, of the controller may include a cover, a circuit board disposed behind the cover and coupled to the cover, a haptic actuator mounted to the circuit board, and a spring disposed behind the cover, the spring being coupled to the cover and mounted to a housing of the controller. The haptic actuator is configured to vibrate and the spring is configured to deflect bidirectionally in response to a vibration of the haptic actuator. Furthermore, the haptic actuator has a first resonant frequency, and the control has a second resonant frequency different than the first resonant frequency to provide a broadband haptic system for the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Lucas Allen Whipple, Richard Karstens
  • Patent number: 12064684
    Abstract: A handheld controller may include controls that are actuatable by a user. The handheld controller may further include one or more sensors that are configured to detect an object in proximity to certain controls, and/or that sense a grip or position of a hand on a handle portion of the controller. Based on data from a sensor(s), certain controls may be enabled and/or disabled. The sensors may therefore be used to determine which controls are being used or are intended to be used, and/or which controls are likely accessible or inaccessible to the user based on sensor data, and to cause one or more controls of the handheld controller to be enabled and/or disabled accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Judson VanWyk, Walter Petersen, John Ikeda, Benoit Collette, Richard Karstens
  • Publication number: 20230143009
    Abstract: A handheld controller may include controls that are actuatable by a user. The handheld controller may further include one or more sensors that are configured to detect an object in proximity to certain controls, and/or that sense a grip or position of a hand on a handle portion of the controller. Based on data from a sensor(s), certain controls may be enabled and/or disabled. The sensors may therefore be used to determine which controls are being used or are intended to be used, and/or which controls are likely accessible or inaccessible to the user based on sensor data, and to cause one or more controls of the handheld controller to be enabled and/or disabled accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Judson VanWyk, Walter Petersen, John Ikeda, Benoit Collette, Richard Karstens
  • Patent number: 11504610
    Abstract: A handheld controller may include controls that are actuatable by a user. The handheld controller may further include one or more sensors that are configured to detect an object in proximity to certain controls, and/or that sense a grip or position of a hand on a handle portion of the controller. Based on data from a sensor(s), certain controls may be enabled and/or disabled. The sensors may therefore be used to determine which controls are being used or are intended to be used, and/or which controls are likely accessible or inaccessible to the user based on sensor data, and to cause one or more controls of the handheld controller to be enabled and/or disabled accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Judson VanWyk, Walter Petersen, John Ikeda, Benoit Collette, Richard Karstens
  • Publication number: 20210252386
    Abstract: A handheld controller may include controls that are actuatable by a user. The handheld controller may further include one or more sensors that are configured to detect an object in proximity to certain controls, and/or that sense a grip or position of a hand on a handle portion of the controller. Based on data from a sensor(s), certain controls may be enabled and/or disabled. The sensors may therefore be used to determine which controls are being used or are intended to be used, and/or which controls are likely accessible or inaccessible to the user based on sensor data, and to cause one or more controls of the handheld controller to be enabled and/or disabled accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Eric Judson VanWyk, Walter Petersen, John Ikeda, Benoit Collette, Richard Karstens
  • Patent number: D436781
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: SmartPeg LLC
    Inventors: Richard Karsten, Kiat-Cheong Toh, Sangwon Yoon