Patents by Inventor Thomas Andrew Carter
Thomas Andrew Carter 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).
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Patent number: 12158522Abstract: Described herein are techniques for tracking objects (including human body parts such as a hand), namely: 1) two-state transducer interpolation in acoustic phased-arrays; 2) modulation techniques in acoustic phased-arrays; 3) fast acoustic full matrix capture during haptic effects; 4) time-of-flight depth sensor fusion system; 5) phase modulated spherical wave-fronts in acoustic phased-arrays; 6) long wavelength phase modulation of acoustic field for location and tracking; and 7) camera calibration through ultrasonic range sensing.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2022Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTDInventors: Michele Iodice, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Brian Kappus, Thomas Andrew Carter, Rafel Jibry, Orestis Georgiou
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Patent number: 12100288Abstract: A system providing various improved calibration techniques for haptic feedback is described. An acoustic field is defined by one or more control points in a space within which the acoustic field may exist. Each control point is assigned an amplitude value equating to a desired amplitude of the acoustic field at the control point. Because complete control of space is not possible, controlling the acoustic field at given points yields erroneous local maxima in the acoustic field levels at other related positions. In relation to mid-air haptic feedback, these can interfere in interactions with the space by creating secondary effects and ghost phenomena that can be felt outside the interaction area. The level and nature of the secondary maxima in the acoustic field is determined by how the space is controlled. By arranging the transducer elements in different ways, unwanted effects on the acoustic field can be limited and controlled.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2023Date of Patent: September 24, 2024Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTDInventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Benjamin John Oliver Long
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Publication number: 20240096183Abstract: A system providing various improved processing techniques for haptic feedback is described. An acoustic field is defined by one or more control points in a space within which the acoustic field may exist. Each control point is assigned an amplitude value equating to a desired amplitude of the acoustic field at the control point. Transducers are then controlled to create an acoustic field exhibiting the desired amplitude at each of the control points. When human skin interacts with the acoustic field, vibrations of the skin are interpreted by mechanoreceptors being excited and sending signals to the brain via the nervous system. Improved processing techniques allow for more efficient real-world operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Sriram Subramanian
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Publication number: 20240021072Abstract: A system providing various improved calibration techniques for haptic feedback is described. An acoustic field is defined by one or more control points in a space within which the acoustic field may exist. Each control point is assigned an amplitude value equating to a desired amplitude of the acoustic field at the control point. Because complete control of space is not possible, controlling the acoustic field at given points yields erroneous local maxima in the acoustic field levels at other related positions. In relation to mid-air haptic feedback, these can interfere in interactions with the space by creating secondary effects and ghost phenomena that can be felt outside the interaction area. The level and nature of the secondary maxima in the acoustic field is determined by how the space is controlled. By arranging the transducer elements in different ways, unwanted effects on the acoustic field can be limited and controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Inventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Benjamin John Oliver Long
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Patent number: 11830351Abstract: A system providing various improved processing techniques for haptic feedback is described. An acoustic field is defined by one or more control points in a space within which the acoustic field may exist. Each control point is assigned an amplitude value equating to a desired amplitude of the acoustic field at the control point. Transducers are then controlled to create an acoustic field exhibiting the desired amplitude at each of the control points. When human skin interacts with the acoustic field, vibrations of the skin are interpreted by mechanoreceptors being excited and sending signals to the brain via the nervous system. Improved processing techniques allow for more efficient real-world operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTDInventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Sriram Subramanian
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Publication number: 20230360504Abstract: Producing multiple independent fields from many phased acoustic transducers represents a difficult computational problem. By first dividing up each field to its own group of transducers and then treating each group as an element with adjustable phase, one can minimize the field-to-field interference through a power iteration solution. These solutions can be further refined by including tracking information from users in the space and how they shadow or reflect the acoustic fields.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Brian Kappus, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Thomas Andrew Carter
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Patent number: 11768540Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Ultrahaptics IP LtdInventors: Benjamin John Oliver Long, Thomas Andrew Carter, Sriram Subramanian
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Publication number: 20230259213Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: Benjamin John Oliver Long, Thomas Andrew Carter, Sriram Subramanian
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Patent number: 11727790Abstract: A system providing various improved calibration techniques for haptic feedback is described. An acoustic field is defined by one or more control points in a space within which the acoustic field may exist. Each control point is assigned an amplitude value equating to a desired amplitude of the acoustic field at the control point. Because complete control of space is not possible, controlling the acoustic field at given points yields erroneous local maxima in the acoustic field levels at other related positions. In relation to mid-air haptic feedback, these can interfere in interactions with the space by creating secondary effects and ghost phenomena that can be felt outside the interaction area. The level and nature of the secondary maxima in the acoustic field is determined by how the space is controlled. By arranging the transducer elements in different ways, unwanted effects on the acoustic field can be limited and controlled.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTDInventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Robert Charles Blenkinsopp
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Patent number: 11714492Abstract: An acoustic field may be produced from a transducer array having known relative positions and orientations In this acoustic field, one or more control points may be defined. An amplitude may be assigned to the control point. Mid-air haptic effect for a virtual object on a human body part may be generated by moving the control point in a single closed curve comprising a plurality of curve segments. The single closed curve traverses at least one location where the human body part intersects with the virtual object. Additionally, a user may interact with virtual three-dimensional content using the user's hands while a tracking system monitoring the user's hands, a physics engine updates the properties of the virtual three-dimensional content and a haptic feedback system provides haptic information to the user.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2022Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTDInventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Adam Daniel Harwood
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Publication number: 20230228857Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Sriram Subramanian
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Patent number: 11656686Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2022Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTDInventors: Benjamin John Oliver Long, Thomas Andrew Carter, Sriram Subramanian
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Patent number: 11624815Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2022Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTDInventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Sriram Subramanian
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Publication number: 20230095030Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Benjamin John Oliver Long, Thomas Andrew Carter, Sriram Subramanian
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Publication number: 20230088166Abstract: A plurality of control points (10) are defined which each have a known spatial relationship relative to an array of transducers. An amplitude is assigned to each control point (12). A matrix (16) is produced containing elements which represent, for each of the control points, the effect that producing a modeled acoustic field having the assigned amplitude with a particular phase at the control point has on the consequential amplitude and phase of the modeled acoustic field at the other control points (14). Eigenvectors of the matrix (18) are determined, each eigenvector representing a set of phases and relative amplitudes of the modeled acoustic field at the control points.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Sriram Subramanian
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Patent number: 11550395Abstract: Described is a method for instilling the haptic dimension of texture to virtual and holographic objects using mid-air ultrasonic technology. A set of features is extracted from imported images using their associated displacement maps. Textural qualities such as the micro and macro roughness are then computed and fed to a haptic mapping function together with information about the dynamic motion of the user's hands during holographic touch. Mid-air haptic textures are then synthesized and projected onto the user's bare hands. Further, mid-air haptic technology enables tactile exploration of virtual objects in digital environments. When a user's prior and current expectations and rendered tactile texture differ, user immersion can break. A study aims at mitigating this by integrating user expectations into the rendering algorithm of mid-air haptic textures and establishes a relationship between visual and mid-air haptic roughness.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTDInventors: David Beattie, Rory Clark, Adam Harwood, Orestis Georgiou, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Thomas Andrew Carter
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Patent number: 11550432Abstract: A system providing various improved perceptions techniques for haptic feedback above interactive surfaces that require no contact with either tools, attachments or the surface itself is described. A range of receptors in a perceiving member which is part of the human body is identified to create substantially uniformly perceivable feedback. A vibration frequency that is in the range of the receptors in the perceiving member is chosen and dynamically altered to create substantially uniformly perceivable feedback throughout the receiving member.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTDInventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Sue Ann Seah
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Patent number: 11543507Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2019Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTDInventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Sriram Subramanian
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Publication number: 20220300070Abstract: Described herein are techniques for tracking objects (including human body parts such as a hand), namely: 1) two-state transducer interpolation in acoustic phased-arrays; 2) modulation techniques in acoustic phased-arrays; 3) fast acoustic full matrix capture during haptic effects; 4) time-of-flight depth sensor fusion system; 5) phase modulated spherical wave-fronts in acoustic phased-arrays; 6) long wavelength phase modulation of acoustic field for location and tracking; and 7) camera calibration through ultrasonic range sensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Michele Iodice, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Brian Kappus, Thomas Andrew Carter, Rafel Jibry, Orestis Georgiou
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Publication number: 20220236806Abstract: An acoustic field may be produced from a transducer array having known relative positions and orientations In this acoustic field, one or more control points may be defined. An amplitude may be assigned to the control point. Mid-air haptic effect for a virtual object on a human body part may be generated by moving the control point in a single closed curve comprising a plurality of curve segments. The single closed curve traverses at least one location where the human body part intersects with the virtual object. Additionally, a user may interact with virtual three-dimensional content using the user's hands while a tracking system monitoring the user's hands, a physics engine updates the properties of the virtual three-dimensional content and a haptic feedback system provides haptic information to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2022Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventors: Thomas Andrew Carter, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Adam Daniel Harwood