Immersion Corporation

Immersion Corportion

Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez

Vahid Khoshkava

Danny A Grant

Mansoor Alghooneh

Christopher J Ullrich

Jamal Saboune

Neil Thomas Olien

Kaniyalal Shah

Robert Lacroix

Liwen Wu

Abdelwahab Hamam

Vincent Levesque

Robert A Lacroix

Andrew Gosline

Mohammadreza Motamedi

David M Birnbaum

Ali Modarres

Pedro Gregorio

Christophe Ramstein

Satvir Singh Bhatia

Henry Da Costa

Chris Ullrich

Henrique D Da Costa

Patrice Favreau

Loc Tien Phan

Lionel Bravard

Majid Sheikholeslami

Carlos Felipe Cavalcante De Almeida

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

Apparatus and methods for localizing one or more effects in a haptic interface with a user interface having a primary zone and at least one secondary zone are provided. When a desired haptic effect is generated within the primary zone, unwanted resultant haptic effects in the at least one secondary zone may be suppressed. A primary actuator is located in the primary zone, and at least one secondary actuator is located in the at least one secondary zone. At least one controller selectively and controllably generates the haptic effect produced by the primary actuator in the primary zone, and selectively and controllably actuates the at least one secondary actuator within the at least one secondary zone to generate a suppression effect therein. The at least one secondary actuator can be used to localize and/or amplify the haptic effect through constructive and/or destructive interference. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Apparatus and methods for localizing one or more effects in a haptic interface

Devices and methods for providing localized haptic effects are provided. The devices include a haptically enabled display device having one or more haptic actuators. The one or more haptic actuators are located in a non-viewing area of a display screen of a haptically enabled display device and cause localized haptic effects in a viewing area of the display screen. The haptically enabled display device includes a processor configured to determine haptic control signals for activating the haptic actuators. The haptic control signal activates the one or more haptic actuators to provide a localized haptic effect at a target location in the viewing area, remote from the non-viewing area location of the one or more haptic actuators.

Devices and methods for providing localized haptic effects to a display screen

Systems, devices, and methods for providing limited duration haptic effects are disclosed. Systems for providing limited duration haptic effects include sensors, control circuits, and vibration actuators configured closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. The sensors are configured to measure motion characteristics induced by the vibration actuators. The control circuits are configured to receive motion characteristic information from the sensors and provide closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. Closed loop feedback control permits precise control of vibration actuator output during limited duration haptic effects.

Systems, devices, and methods for providing limited duration haptic effects

An apparatus and method for damping haptic vibrations. A haptic output device is positioned within a device housing. The haptic output device has a haptic actuator and a haptic mass, the haptic mass being movable relative to the housing. A damper is positioned within the device housing. A controller is programmed to generate and deliver a haptic signal to the haptic actuator at a first time, and to generate and deliver a damping signal to the damper at a second time, the second time occurring after the first time. The method comprises moving a haptic mass, the haptic mass position in a housing; vibrating the housing in response to moving the haptic mass; damping movement of the haptic mass after a period of time; and substantially eliminating vibration of the housing in response to damping movement of the haptic mass.

Damping for a haptic actuator

A kinesthetically enabled glove for providing kinesthetic feedback to a user are provided. The kinesthetically enabled glove incorporates various actuators configured to provide resistance to movement and/or to provide movement. Kinesthetic actuators employed include electroadhesive actuators, electromagnetic actuators, air-jamming actuators, and inertial mass actuators. The kinesthetic actuators are arranged in various portions of the kinesthetically enabled glove to provide force feedback at different locations. The kinesthetic glove may be employed during interaction with a computer system, providing a user with a more immersive experience.

Kinesthetically enabled glove

A system is provided that converts an input, such as audio data, into one or more haptic effects. The system applies a granular synthesis algorithm to the input in order to generate a haptic signal. The system subsequently outputs the one or more haptic effects based on the generated haptic signal. The system can also shift a frequency of the input, and also filter the input, before the system applies the granular synthesis algorithm to the input.

Haptic effect conversion system using granular synthesis

A haptic actuator assembly includes a haptic actuator configured to output displacement along a perpendicular axis and a pre-load device. The pre-load device is disposed adjacent to the haptic actuator and configured to generate a compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis to oppose expansion of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis. The haptic actuator is disposed within an enclosed cavity formed by a casing. A pressure within the enclosed cavity is varied in order to create the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis. The pre-load device may alternatively be a connector component formed from a shrinkable material that is configured to longitudinally shrink to exert a force in order to create the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis.

Haptic actuator assembly with a pre-load device

This disclosure relates to fiber actuators for providing haptic feedback, and haptic actuation resulting from mechanical and/or electrostatic (non-mechanical) interactions with the fiber actuators. Such fiber actuators are useful in structural materials, including as elements of wearables or accessories.

Fiber actuator for haptic feedback

A haptic output device includes a substrate, an array of electrodes disposed on the substrate, and a layer of dielectric material disposed on the array of electrodes. The layer of dielectric material has an exposed outer surface comprising a micro-patterned texture configured to increase adhesion between the exposed outer surface and a contact surface in contact with the exposed outer surface. The haptic output device includes a controller configured to direct a voltage potential across the array of electrodes to generate an electrostatic adhesive force between the exposed outer surface and the contact surface as a haptic effect.

Electrostatic adhesive based haptic output device

A haptic actuator comprising a base and a haptic transducer at least partially suspended by the base. The haptic transducer comprises a substrate and a smart material operably connected to the substrate. The smart material has resonance in response to an electrical signal having a determined frequency, and the resonance causes the haptic transducer to vibrate and deliver a haptic effect.

Inertial haptic actuators having a cantilevered beam and a smart material

A bi-functional apparatus for sensing touch and delivering a haptic signal. The bi-functional apparatus comprises first and second electrodes. The first electrode provides a haptic interface for delivering an electrostatic force and has a top surface and a bottom surface. A dielectric insulator covers the top surface of the first electrode. A sensor is positioned between the bottom surface of the first electrode and the second electrode. The sensor selectively provides electrical conductivity between the first and second electrodes in response to at least a threshold amount of pressure exerted against the dielectric insulator. A method of sensing touch and delivering a haptic signal with a single device. The method comprises receiving an input at a touch surface of a dielectric insulator layered over a first electrode; in response to receiving the input at the touch surface, increasing the electrical conductivity of a sensor positioned between the first electrode and a second electrode; in response to increasing electrical conductivity of the sensor, conducting an electrical current between the first and second electrodes; and in response to conducting an electrical current between the first and second electrodes, applying a haptic drive signal to the first electrode, the haptic drive signal creating an electrostatic force in the dielectric insulator.

Unitary sensor and haptic actuator

A method for dynamically converting an input signal into a haptic signal that causes a haptic output device to output one or more haptic effects is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of effect objects that are orderable in any order at runtime, receiving an input signal including a data signal and metadata defining an order that the effect objects are applied to the data signal at runtime, applying the effect objects to the data signal based on the order, and sending the haptic signal to the haptic output device. The effect objects applied to the data signal include an effect object that determines a threshold magnitude value by mapping the data signal to one of a plurality of bins, and an effect object that applies a dynamic range compression algorithm to the data signal based on the threshold magnitude value.

Growing community of inventors

Montreal, Canada

Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez