Ultrahaptics IP Ltd

Ultrahaptics Ilp Ltd

Thomas Andrew Carter

Benjamin John Oliver Long

Sriram Subramanian

Robert Charles Blenkinsopp

Sue Ann Seah

Adam Daniel Harwood

Brian Alan Kappus

Michele Iodice

William Thierry Alain Frier

Rafel Jibry

Orestis Georgiou

David Beattie

Rory Clark

Benjaimin John Oliver Long

Philip Jones

William Wren

Brian Kappus

Adam Harwood

Benjamin Long

Jonathan Martinez MUÑOZ

The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.

Method and apparatus for producing an acoustic field

Method and apparatus for modulating haptic feedback

Described herein are techniques for tracking objects (including human body parts such as a hand), namely: 1) two-state transducer interpolation in acoustic phased-arrays; 2) modulation techniques in acoustic phased-arrays; 3) fast acoustic full matrix capture during haptic effects; 4) time-of-flight depth sensor fusion system; 5) phase modulated spherical wave-fronts in acoustic phased-arrays; 6) long wavelength phase modulation of acoustic field for location and tracking; and 7) camera calibration through ultrasonic range sensing.

Tracking in haptic systems

A system providing various improved calibration techniques for haptic feedback is described. An acoustic field is defined by one or more control points in a space within which the acoustic field may exist. Each control point is assigned an amplitude value equating to a desired amplitude of the acoustic field at the control point. Because complete control of space is not possible, controlling the acoustic field at given points yields erroneous local maxima in the acoustic field levels at other related positions. In relation to mid-air haptic feedback, these can interfere in interactions with the space by creating secondary effects and ghost phenomena that can be felt outside the interaction area. The level and nature of the secondary maxima in the acoustic field is determined by how the space is controlled. By arranging the transducer elements in different ways, unwanted effects on the acoustic field can be limited and controlled.

Calibration techniques in haptic systems

A system providing various improved processing techniques for haptic feedback is described. An acoustic field is defined by one or more control points in a space within which the acoustic field may exist. Each control point is assigned an amplitude value equating to a desired amplitude of the acoustic field at the control point. Transducers are then controlled to create an acoustic field exhibiting the desired amplitude at each of the control points. When human skin interacts with the acoustic field, vibrations of the skin are interpreted by mechanoreceptors being excited and sending signals to the brain via the nervous system. Improved processing techniques allow for more efficient real-world operation.

Algorithm improvements in a haptic system

An acoustic field may be produced from a transducer array having known relative positions and orientations In this acoustic field, one or more control points may be defined. An amplitude may be assigned to the control point. Mid-air haptic effect for a virtual object on a human body part may be generated by moving the control point in a single closed curve comprising a plurality of curve segments. The single closed curve traverses at least one location where the human body part intersects with the virtual object. Additionally, a user may interact with virtual three-dimensional content using the user's hands while a tracking system monitoring the user's hands, a physics engine updates the properties of the virtual three-dimensional content and a haptic feedback system provides haptic information to the user.

Three-dimensional perceptions in haptic systems

Described is a method for instilling the haptic dimension of texture to virtual and holographic objects using mid-air ultrasonic technology. A set of features is extracted from imported images using their associated displacement maps. Textural qualities such as the micro and macro roughness are then computed and fed to a haptic mapping function together with information about the dynamic motion of the user's hands during holographic touch. Mid-air haptic textures are then synthesized and projected onto the user's bare hands. Further, mid-air haptic technology enables tactile exploration of virtual objects in digital environments. When a user's prior and current expectations and rendered tactile texture differ, user immersion can break. A study aims at mitigating this by integrating user expectations into the rendering algorithm of mid-air haptic textures and establishes a relationship between visual and mid-air haptic roughness.

Mid-air haptic textures

A system providing various improved perceptions techniques for haptic feedback above interactive surfaces that require no contact with either tools, attachments or the surface itself is described. A range of receptors in a perceiving member which is part of the human body is identified to create substantially uniformly perceivable feedback. A vibration frequency that is in the range of the receptors in the perceiving member is chosen and dynamically altered to create substantially uniformly perceivable feedback throughout the receiving member.

Perceptions in a haptic system

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Bristol, United Kingdom

Thomas Andrew Carter