Immersion Corporation

Other

Stephen D Rank

Christopher J Ullrich

Satvir Singh Bhatia

Danny A Grant

Henry Da Costa

David M Birnbaum

William S Rihn

Daniel Gregory Parker

Loc X Phan

Robert A Lacroix

Kaniyalal Shah

Srivatsav Venkatesan

Jean Francois Dionne

Munibe M Bakircioglu

Robert W Heubel

Herve Thu Timone

Douglas George Billington

Erin B Ramsay

Robert Lacroix

Aaron Kapelus

Arnab Sen

Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez

Ali Modarres

Henrique D Da Costa

Eric Gervais

Andrianaivo Rabemiarisoa

Kanav Gandhi

Elena Renee Redelsheimer

Hugues Antoine Oliver

Jamal Saboune

Jason D Fleming

Shadi Asfour

Amer Alhalabi

Jean-Francois Blanchard-Dionne

Loc Tien Phan

Leonard Soskin

Changyu Yang

Vincent Levesque

Neil Thomas Olien

Amaya Becvar Weddle

Li Jiang

Paige Raynes

Simon Forest

Hugues-Antoine Oliver

Michael Powell

Iva Segalman

Pamela Pimentel

Mina Chang

The disclosure relates to systems and methods of providing haptic feedback based on media content and one or more external parameters used to customize the haptic feedback. The system may modify or otherwise alter haptic feedback that is determined using the media content alone. In other words, the system may use both the media content and the external parameters to determine haptic feedback that should be output to the user or others. The external parameters may include, for example, sensor information, customization information, and/or other external parameters that may be used to customize the haptic feedback.

Method and apparatus to provide haptic feedback based on media content and one or more external parameters

A system is provided to process a source signal and generate one or more haptic effects for various haptic devices based on the source signal. The system operates to convert the source signal to meet different architectures of respective haptic devices and enables haptic effect designers to create haptic data without being concerned about low level details of different haptic devices.

Haptic signal conversion system

The embodiments are directed toward techniques for isolating a user input signal at a haptic output device. A signal originating from a user input element associated with the haptic output device is received. The received signal is separated into a first component including the user input signal, and a second component including a haptic feedback signal. While the first component is processed, the second component can be discarded or otherwise ignored.

Feedback reduction for a user input element associated with a haptic output device

Systems and methods for rendering a haptic effect at a user input element associated with a haptic output device are provided. A primary range and a secondary range of positions are defined for the user input element associated with the haptic output device. In addition, a boundary range of positions is defined for the user input element associated with the haptic output device, the boundary range partially overlapping each of the primary and secondary ranges. A position of the user input element is monitored, and the haptic effect rendered in response to an entry of the user input element to positions within the boundary range.

Position control of a user input element associated with a haptic output device

A method is provided for adjusting the playback rate of haptic effects to a desired playback rate. A desired playback rate is determined. A portion of a haptic signal based on the desired playback rate is generated. The portion of the haptic signal is sent to a haptic output device, causing the haptic output device to output haptic effects at a playback rate corresponding to the desired playback rate.

Haptic playback adjustment system

The embodiments are directed toward techniques for modifying a haptic effect that is rendered based on a media stream. Upon receiving the media stream, a haptic drive signal is generated based on the media stream. The haptic drive signal is then applied to render the haptic effect at a haptic output device. Within a media editing application, the media stream may be modified. In response to the modification, a modified haptic drive signal may be generated based on the modification to the media stream. As a result, a modified haptic effect is rendered at the haptic output device.

Media driven haptics

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

A method includes receiving digital content data including audio data and/or video data, generating haptic data using at least some of the received digital content data, encoding the haptic data for efficient transmission over a communication network, multiplexing the encoded haptic data with the received digital content data, embedding information for decoding the encoded haptic data in metadata of the multiplexed data stream, and sending the multiplexed data stream over the communication network. The method may include analyzing the haptic data to determine at least one characteristic of the haptic data, and the encoding the haptic data may include encoding, based on the determined characteristic, the haptic data to meet a pre-defined criteria.

Method and system for haptic data encoding and streaming using a multiplexed data stream

A system is provided that controls an offline haptic conversion. The system receives an input from a source. The system further converts the input into haptic signals. The system further encodes the haptic signals. The system further stores the haptic signals within the source, where the haptic signals are combined with the input within the source. Alternately, rather than encoding the haptic signals and storing the haptic signals within the source, the system handles the haptic signals separately, independent of the source.

Offline haptic conversion system

A haptically-enabled controller device comprising a controller body, a user input element, a haptic actuator, and a transmission component is presented. The user input element has a range of motion that extends from a first position to an end stop position. The haptic actuator is configured to output a force or torque. The transmission component comprises an arm connected to the haptic actuator and to the user input element. The arm is configured to transfer the force or torque from the haptic actuator to the user input element with a first multiplication factor when the user input element is at the first position, and to transfer the force or torque from the haptic actuator to the user input element with a second multiplication factor when the user input element is at the end stop position. The second multiplication factor is higher than the first multiplication factor.

Methods and apparatuses for endstop diminishment solutions in haptically-enabled controller devices

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

Systems and methods for controlling power and/or current consumption for multiple haptic output devices are provided. Various features of the haptic output device may be described within a data structure. In response to a haptic instruction, a power budget for the haptic output device may be determined in accordance with its operational characteristics. A drive signal may then be applied to the haptic output device to produce the haptic effect in accordance with the calculated power budget. The calculated power budget may be configured to limit the current or power drawn by the haptic output device.

Controlling power distribution to haptic output devices

A method for synchronizing haptic effects with at least one media component in a media transport stream includes identifying a series of video frames containing imaging information and/or a series of audio frames containing sound information in the media transport stream; identifying a series of haptic frames containing force feedback information in the media transport stream; and synchronizing the force feedback information in response to the imaging information and/or sound information.

Synchronization of haptic effect data in a media transport stream

Systems and methods for user generated content authoring are disclosed. One illustrative method disclosure herein includes: receiving a video signal; displaying a user interface associated with haptic authoring; detecting a gesture associated with a haptic effect; determining a haptic effect based in part on the gesture; associating the haptic effect with a location in the video signal; and storing the video signal and the associated haptic effect.

Systems and methods for user generated content authoring

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Stephen D Rank