Patents by Inventor William S. RIHN

William S. RIHN 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: 20190340899
    Abstract: A method of generating haptic effects on a haptic-enabled device having a control unit and a haptic output device is provided. The method comprises receiving a haptic track that describes a time-varying magnitude envelope for driving the haptic output device to generate a haptic effect. The method further comprises generating a periodic drive signal with a time-varying frequency that is based on magnitude values of the time-varying magnitude envelope described in the haptic track. The method further comprises outputting the periodic drive signal to the haptic output device, to cause the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect based on the periodic drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: William S. RIHN, Jason D. FLEMING
  • Publication number: 20190324549
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for providing immersive reality interface modes are disclosed. The devices include haptic actuators, a computing unit, a gesture detection system, and an immersive reality display device. The gesture detection system detects gestures made by a user during interaction with an immersive realty environment, which is displayed by the immersive reality display device. The computing unit generates and operates an interface mode by which the user can interact, through gestures, with the immersive reality environment and coordinates the provision of haptic, visual, and audio outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Satoshi ARAKI, William S. RIHN, Sanya ATTARI, David M. BIRNBAUM
  • Publication number: 20190324541
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-user shared virtual and augmented reality-based haptics are disclosed. One illustrative method for multi-user shared virtual and augmented reality-based haptics includes determining a position of an object; determining a viewpoint of at least one observer with respect to the object; determining a haptic effect to be output based at least in part on the position and the viewpoint; and outputting the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Rihn, David M. Birnbaum, Shadi Asfour, Satoshi Araki, Sanya Attari
  • Publication number: 20190324538
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium are presented for providing haptic effects for an immersive reality environment. The method comprises receiving an indication that a haptic effect is to be generated for an immersive reality environment being executed by an immersive reality module. The method further comprises determining a type of immersive reality environment being generated by the immersive reality module, or a type of device on which the immersive reality module is being executed. The method further comprises controlling a haptic output device of a haptic-enabled wearable device to generate the haptic effect based on the type of immersive reality environment being generated by the immersive reality module, or the type of device on which the immersive reality module is being executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: William S. RIHN, David M. BIRNBAUM
  • Publication number: 20190324540
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a computing device that comprises a memory and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor generates an interactive user interface and obtains an input parameter and a haptic parameter via the interactive user interface. The processor maps the input parameter to the haptic parameter using a mapping algorithm and designs a dynamic haptic effect based at least in part on mapping the input parameter to the haptic parameter. The processor can then generate a plurality of dynamic haptic effects for a plurality of user devices based at least in part on the designed dynamic haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Liwen Wu, William S. Rihn
  • Patent number: 10429933
    Abstract: A system generates haptic effects using at least one actuator and at least one speaker. The system receives a high definition (“HD”) haptic effect signal and a corresponding audio signal if audio is to be played. The system generates a standard definition (“SD”) haptic effect signal based at least on the HD haptic effect signal, and generates an audio based haptic effect signal based at least on the HD haptic effect signal. The system mixes the audio signal and the audio based haptic effect signal, and then substantially simultaneously plays the SD haptic effect signal on the actuator and plays the mixed signal on the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ullrich, William S. Rihn
  • Patent number: 10413817
    Abstract: A haptic-enabled device, comprising a haptic actuator, an energy storage device configured to provide energy to the haptic actuator, and a control unit communicatively coupled to the haptic actuator is presented. The control unit may be configured to determine an energy availability level for the haptic-enabled device. The determination is based on an energy level of the energy storage device or an energy usage rate thereof. The control unit may further be configured to determine an energy conservation setting for the haptic-enabled device based on at least one of (i) the energy availability level, and (ii) an input received by the haptic-enabled device for controlling the energy conservation setting. The control unit may be configured to determine, based on the energy conservation setting, whether to generate the haptic effect in a braking mode or in a non-braking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: William S. Rihn, Erin Ramsay
  • Publication number: 20190278370
    Abstract: A haptic enabled device that is configured to render one or more haptic effects is provided. The haptic enabled device includes an actuator and a plurality of user input elements. Each of the plurality of user input elements is configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator. In addition, the actuator is configured to be positioned to render the one or more haptic effects at each of the plurality of user input elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: William S. RIHN, Mohammadreza MOTAMEDI, Danny A. GRANT, Neil T. OLIEN, Vincent LEVESQUE, Jamal SABOUNE
  • Publication number: 20190272036
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a computing device in communication with a display device and a sensor. The display device is configured to display a plurality of content and the sensor is configured to detect a field of view of a user of the computing device relative to the display device. The sensor can transmit a signal associated with the field of view to a processor in communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to determine a direction of the field of view of the user based on the signal. The processor is also configured to determine that a content displayed by the display device and associated with a haptic effect is within the field of view of the user. The processor is also configured to determine a haptic effect associated with the content and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative system also includes a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Applicant: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Danny A. Grant, William S. Rihn
  • Patent number: 10401962
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward electronic devices configured to produce haptic effects, and to haptic enabled film overlays for pressure sensitive surfaces. The systems and methods for haptic enabled film overlays include a processor and a plurality of sensors, a pressure sensitive touch surface coupled to the plurality of sensors and configured to detect a user interaction, and an overlay including a tactile user interface and a plurality of haptic output devices, the overlay being configured to provide a haptic effect in response to the user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventor: William S. Rihn
  • Publication number: 20190258850
    Abstract: A system determines a mood of an associated user. Based on the determined mood, an action to be performed by the system is determined. The system then initiates the determined action by transmitting an object that corresponds to the determined mood to another system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: William S. RIHN, Amaya Becvar WEDDLE, David M. BIRNBAUM
  • Patent number: 10360774
    Abstract: A method of generating haptic effects on a haptic-enabled device having a control unit and a haptic output device is provided. The method comprises receiving a haptic track that describes a time-varying magnitude envelope for driving the haptic output device to generate a haptic effect. The method further comprises generating a periodic drive signal with a time-varying frequency that is based on magnitude values of the time-varying magnitude envelope described in the haptic track. The method further comprises outputting the periodic drive signal to the haptic output device, to cause the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect based on the periodic drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: William S. Rihn, Jason D. Fleming
  • Publication number: 20190213851
    Abstract: A method of generating haptic effects on a haptic-enabled device having a control unit and a haptic output device is provided. The method comprises receiving a haptic track that describes a time-varying magnitude envelope for driving the haptic output device to generate a haptic effect. The method further comprises generating a periodic drive signal with a time-varying frequency that is based on magnitude values of the time-varying magnitude envelope described in the haptic track. The method further comprises outputting the periodic drive signal to the haptic output device, to cause the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect based on the periodic drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: William S. Rihn, Jason D. Fleming
  • Publication number: 20190204917
    Abstract: Designing haptics from a video includes tracking an audio/visual (A/V) element in realtime during playback of the video, and assigning a haptic effect in realtime for the A/V element to different positions of the A/V element on a timeline based on the tracking of the A/V element to generate assigned-haptic effect positions. A haptic playback track is generated based on the assigned-haptic effect positions of the A/V element on the timeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventor: William S. RIHN
  • Patent number: 10324531
    Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a computing device in communication with a display device and a sensor. The display device is configured to display a plurality of content and the sensor is configured to detect a field of view of a user of the computing device relative to the display device. The sensor can transmit a signal associated with the field of view to a processor in communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to determine a direction of the field of view of the user based on the signal. The processor is also configured to determine that a content displayed by the display device and associated with a haptic effect is within the field of view of the user. The processor is also configured to determine a haptic effect associated with the content and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative system also includes a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Danny A. Grant, William S. Rihn
  • Publication number: 20190146589
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a device including a housing, a sensor, a controller and an actuator. The sensor is configured to detect a deformation force created by a deformation of the housing. The controller is configured to determine a change in a haptic effect delivered at the housing caused by the deformation force, determine a compensation for the haptic effect to correct the change in the haptic effect delivered at the housing caused by the deformation force, apply the compensation to the haptic effect to create a compensated haptic effect, and generate a haptic signal based on the compensated haptic effect. The actuator is configured to receive the haptic signal and deliver the compensated haptic effect at the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Ali Modarres, William S. Rihn
  • Publication number: 20190105562
    Abstract: Rendering haptics using multiple peripheral devices includes sensing a respective position of two haptically-enabled devices, and applying a haptic effect on at least one of the two haptically-enabled devices based on the sensing of the respective position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Danny GRANT, William S. RIHN, Leonard SOSKIN
  • Publication number: 20190103004
    Abstract: Haptic pitch control for producing haptic feedback by receiving capability information of a haptic output device, and determining a desired or target perceptual frequency or pitch. A haptic effect is then generated based on the capability information so that the haptic effect is rendered by the haptic output device at the desired or target perceptual frequency or pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen D. RANK, William S. RIHN, Srivatsav VENKATESAN
  • Patent number: 10248850
    Abstract: A system determines a mood of an associated user. Based on the determined mood, an action to be performed by the system is determined. The system then initiates the determined action by transmitting an object that corresponds to the determined mood to another system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: William S. Rihn, Amaya Becvar Weddle, David M. Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 10241577
    Abstract: A haptic enabled device that is configured to render one or more haptic effects is provided. The haptic enabled device includes an actuator and a plurality of user input elements. Each of the plurality of user input elements is configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator. In addition, the actuator is configured to be positioned to render the one or more haptic effects at each of the plurality of user input elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: William S. Rihn, Mohammadreza Motamedi, Danny A. Grant, Neil T. Olien, Vincent Levesque, Jamal Saboune