Immersion Corporation

Jason D Fleming

Erin B Ramsay

Danny A Grant

Pedro Gregorio

Robert W Heubel

Natasha M Flaherty

Christopher J Ullrich

Stephen D Rank

William S Rihn

A Timothy Vetter

Lauri Olli Matias Impivaara

Michael D Graham

David M Birnbaum

Robert Lacroix

Robert A Lacroix

Chris Ullrich

Craig Vachon

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.

Method and device for enabling pitch control for a haptic effect

Method, device, and computer readable medium for generating haptically enabled messages. One disclosed method comprises the steps of receiving a user generated input, mapping the user generated input to a predetermined haptic feedback, assigning a haptic feedback command to the predetermined haptic feedback, inserting the haptic feedback command into a text message, and sending the text message.

Haptically enabled messaging

A device has a user interface that generates a haptic effect in response to user inputs or gestures. In one embodiment, the device receives an indication that the user is scrolling through a list of elements and an indication that an element is selected. The device determines the scroll rate and generates a haptic effect that has a magnitude that is based on the scroll rate.

Haptically enabled user interface

Systems, methods, and associated software are described herein for enabling a regular user of an end user device, such as a cellular telephone, to customize parameters associated with haptic effects applied to the user by the end user device. In one implementation, among several, a method described herein includes enabling a user of an end user device to access software adapted to design or modify haptic effects of the end user device. The method further includes enabling the user to open a haptic track file and enter or modify parameters associated with the haptic effects of the opened haptic track file.

Customizing haptic effects on an end user device

When units of serialized input are analyzed by an engine or algorithm that provides a plurality of entry suggestions for competing or replacing a unit of the serialized input, one or more haptic effects can be identified and provided in conjunction with display, selection, or use of one or more of the entry suggestions to aid in the use of the engine or algorithm. The haptic effects can represent a confidence level with respect to one or more of the entry suggestions or may otherwise indicate the relative success of the engine/algorithm. For example, the serialized input may comprise characters input to a mobile or other device. The engine or algorithm may suggest words or phrases with varying degrees of confidence, with the confidence with respect to some or all of the suggestions communicated by use of haptic effects. Additional embodiments include dynamic text input interfaces, haptically-enhanced serial presentation of content, and interfaces that provide haptic effects at a first device based on remote text entry, display, reading, or other activity at a different device.

Systems and methods for haptically-enhanced text interfaces

A system that generates a dynamic haptic effect for a dynamic event receives a first endpoint and a second endpoint for dynamic events. The first endpoint includes a first endpoint value and a corresponding first haptic effect, and the second endpoint includes a second endpoint value and a corresponding second haptic effect. The system receives a dynamic value for the dynamic event. The dynamic value is between the first endpoint value and the second endpoint value. The system then determines the dynamic haptic effect from the dynamic value by interpolating the dynamic haptic effect from the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect.

Generating haptic effects for dynamic events

A mobile terminal device receives a haptically enabled message that includes text and at least one haptic feedback command. The device determines the timing of the haptic feedback command within the message. When the device receives an indication that the message is being displayed by a user, the device synchronizes a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic feedback command. The synchronizing is based on the timing and the indication.

Systems and methods for actuating a tactile stimulation in response to detecting a specific event associated with exposure to a particular environmental or physiological condition are described herein. A tactile stimulation device, according to one of several implementations, comprises a sensing layer, an actuating layer, and an adhesive layer. The sensing layer, which is sensitive to exposure to a particular condition, is configured to sense when a specific event associated with exposure to the particular condition occurs. The actuating layer is configured to provide a tactile stimulation to a human subject when the specific event occurs. The adhesive layer is configured to affix the sensing layer and actuating layer with respect to a surface portion of the skin of the human subject such that the human subject can sense the tactile stimulation provided by the actuating layer. The sensing layer, actuating layer, and adhesive layer can be bonded together to form a relatively flat structure.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Jason D Fleming