Immersion Corporation

Other

Immersion Corportion

Henry Da Costa

Stephen D Rank

Danny A Grant

David M Birnbaum

William S Rihn

Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez

Christopher J Ullrich

Robert A Lacroix

Eric Gervais

Feng Tian An

Vincent Levesque

Robert W Heubel

Erin B Ramsay

Daniel Gregory Parker

Herve Thu Timone

Kanav Gandhi

Elena Renee Redelsheimer

Arnab Sen

Ali Modarres

Amaya Becvar Weddle

Kaniyalal Shah

Liwen Wu

Jamal Saboune

Satvir Singh Bhatia

Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez

Chris Ullrich

Srivatsav Venkatesan

Hua Yu

Changyu Yang

Andry Rabemiarisoa

Jean-Francois Dionne

Carlos Felipe Cavalcante De Almeida

Yoshiaki Date

Andrew C Prock

Steve Rank

In aspects, methods and apparatus are provided for the generation of haptic command signals to cause haptic effect outputs at one or more haptic output devices. The haptic command signals may be generated based on haptic media, supplementary media, and/or haptic device capability. Generating the haptic command signals may include creation or modification of haptic effects, distribution of haptic effects, and/or warping of haptic signals. The methods and apparatus may operate according to combinations of developer provided rules and system enabled inferences. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Methods and systems for distributing and/or generating a haptic effect associated with video content and/or audio content

A method of generating a haptic effect on a linear resonance actuator ('LRA') having a resonant frequency includes receiving a haptic effect signal for the haptic effect, where the haptic effect comprises a desired frequency that is off-resonant from the LRA. The method further includes generating a first sine wave at the desired frequency and generating a second sine wave at or near the resonant frequency. The method further includes combining the first sine wave and the second sine wave to generate a drive signal.

Haptic system with increased LRA bandwidth

An apparatus, such as a haptic-enabled device, and a method for providing boost protection logic are presented. The method comprises receiving, by a control circuit of the apparatus, a nonzero drive signal to be used by the haptic actuator to generate a haptic effect. The control circuit causes a first portion of the nonzero drive signal to be applied to the haptic actuator in a boost mode. The control circuit detects a boost duration exceeding a first defined time threshold, such as a boost timeout threshold, or detects an accumulated boost time exceeding the first defined time threshold. In response, the control circuit causes a second portion of the nonzero drive signal to be applied to the haptic actuator in an amplitude-limited mode.

Apparatus and method for providing boost protection logic

A haptic conversion system is provided that analyzes an audio signal, generates a plurality of haptic signals based on the analysis of the audio signal, and plays the generated plurality of haptic signals through a plurality of actuators to produce one or more haptic effects. The haptic conversion system maps the generated plurality of haptic signals to the plurality of actuators based on one or more audio characteristics of the audio signal. Each generated haptic signal includes one or more haptic parameters, and is played at its mapped actuator to generate the one or more haptic effects.

Sound to haptic effect conversion system using multiple actuators

A method and system for energy savings with silent haptics is presented. A haptically-enabled device includes a processor that executes a haptic track containing haptic instructions. The haptic track is analyzed to determine the presence of a zero-force interval, also known as a silent haptic. The duration of the zero-force interval is determined, and if the duration exceeds a pre-determined threshold, then the system or method enters an energy savings mode. An overhead time associated with the terminating of the energy savings mode is determined. And, the energy savings mode is terminated at the conclusion of the zero-force interval less the overhead time.

Energy savings mode for silent haptics

A system that controls a haptic effect experienced at a trigger is provided. The system receives a haptic effect definition including haptic data. The system further receives trigger data including at least one of: a position of a trigger of a peripheral device; or a range of the trigger of the peripheral device. The system further determines whether a trigger condition is reached based on the received trigger data. The system further sends a haptic instruction and the haptic effect definition to the peripheral device when the trigger condition is reached. The system further causes a haptic output device (or multiple haptic output devices) to produce haptic effects that are based on the haptic effect definition at the peripheral device in response to the haptic instruction.

Haptic trigger control system

A system is provided that generates a dynamic haptic effect that includes one or more key frames, where each key frame includes a first interpolant value and a first haptic effect. The system further receives an interpolant value, where the interpolant value is between at least two interpolant values of at least two key frames. The system further determines the dynamic haptic effect from the interpolant value. The system further distributes the dynamic haptic effect among a plurality of actuators.

Enhanced dynamic haptic effects

A system is provided that controls a haptic effect experienced at a peripheral device. The system receives a haptic effect definition including haptic data. The system further receives spatialization data including: a distance of the haptic effect; a direction of the haptic effect; or a flow of the haptic effect. The system further includes modifying the haptic effect definition based on the received spatialization data. The system further includes sending a haptic instruction and the modified haptic effect definition to the peripheral device. The system further includes causing one or more haptic output devices to produce one or more haptic effects based on the modified haptic effect definition at the peripheral device in response to the haptic instruction.

Haptic spatialization system

A system that generates haptic effects using an actuator receives a haptic effect definition that defines a haptic effect. The system pre-processes the haptic effect definition by determining if the actuator is capable of playing the haptic effect. The system then post-processes the haptic effect definition by adjusting a force value based on an estimate or measurement of a state of the actuator during a playing of the haptic effect.

Generating haptic effects while minimizing cascading

The embodiments are directed toward an architecture and communication protocol for controlling haptic output devices. According to the embodiments, a composite drive signal is generated that includes a first drive signal to be rendered by a first haptic output device, a second drive signal to be rendered by a second haptic output device, and a packet identifier. A controller includes the first haptic output device that is associated with a first user input element and the second haptic output device associated with a second user input element. The composite drive signal is transmitted to controller, and the execution order of the first and second drive signals is determined based on the packet identifier.

Architecture and communication protocol for haptic output devices

A system is provided that encodes one or more dynamic haptic effects. The system defines a dynamic haptic effect as including a plurality of key frames, where each key frame includes an interpolant value and a corresponding haptic effect. An interpolant value is a value that specifies where an interpolation occurs. The system generates a haptic effect file, and stores the dynamic haptic effect within the haptic effect file.

Encoding dynamic haptic effects

Systems and methods, by which a sender can deliver haptic messages to selected recipients within a larger group of recipients that are otherwise receiving a common message, are disclosed. The haptic messages can be individualized according to a recipient's profile, preference, and/or relationship with the sender. The haptic message can be created by the sender or selected from a pre-existing library of messages, and can be delivered automatically or assigned by the sender. The haptic messages can be dynamically changed in response to haptic feedback and supplemental data collected from the recipients that is used to update preferences and profiles of message recipients.

Delivery of haptics to select recipients of a message

A system, method, and device for providing haptic feedback is presented. The system comprises a first device, a second device, and a third device. The first device has a first haptic output device, a first processor, and a first wireless communication unit. The second device has a second haptic output device, a second processor, and a second wireless communication unit. The third device has a third processor and a third wireless communication unit configured to transfer digital content between the third device and at least the first device. At least one processor of the first processor, second processor, and third processor is configured, when digital content is transferred or is being transferred between the third device and the first device, to cause the first haptic output device to output a first haptic feedback and to cause the second haptic output device to output a second haptic feedback.

System, device, and method for providing haptic feedback responsive to transfer of digital content

Embodiments hereof relate a system that includes a processor and a haptic peripheral with a haptic output device. The processor is configured to receive an audio file, or a haptic file generated from the audio file, that includes a first channel having a first set of control parameters to generate a first haptic effect and a second channel having a second set of control parameters to generate a second haptic effect and to output a control signal that includes the first and second sets of control parameters for the haptic effect. The haptic output device is configured to receive the control signal from the processor and to output the haptic effect to the haptic peripheral. In an embodiment, the haptic output device is coupled to a bi-directional trigger and the control parameters move the trigger in opposing directions. In another embodiment, the control parameters generate different timelines of haptic effects to a user input element.

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Montreal, Canada

Henry Da Costa