Immersion Corporation

Immerson Corporation

Vahid Khoshkava

Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez

Vincent Levesque

Mansoor Alghooneh

Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez

Jamal Saboune

Neil Thomas Olien

Abdelwahab Hamam

Kaniyalal Shah

Danny A Grant

William S Rihn

Liwen Wu

Christopher J Ullrich

Robert A Lacroix

Mohammadreza Motamedi

Majid Sheikholeslami

David M Birnbaum

Daniel Gregory Parker

Douglas George Billington

Simon Forest

Benoit Belley

Alexia Mandeville

Robert W Heubel

Satoshi Araki

Johnny Maalouf

Sanya Attari

Lionel Bravard

Colin Swindells

Peyman Karimi Eskandary

In aspects, zoned haptic effects are provided by assigning a plurality of zones corresponding to each of a plurality of zone actuators for providing haptic effects. A desired haptic response is provided for zones selected for actuation, and the response by the zone actuators is detected. Adjacent and non-adjacent zones are assigned for the detected zones as being driven by any of the plurality of zone actuators. Vibration on the adjacent and non-adjacent zone is suppressed in accordance with control parameters associated with the respective adjacent and non-adjacent zones. If a duration of the provided haptic effect has not passed, the suppression of vibration in the adjacent and non-adjacent zones is maintained and if the duration has passed, the suppression of vibration is terminated. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Systems and methods for controlling a multi-actuator system to generate a localized haptic effect

Systems, methods, and devices for control of actuators are provided. In aspects, the systems, methods, and devices provided herein enable the generation of sharp cutoff haptic effects of both limited and extended duration. The systems, methods, and devices use open loop braking signals to generate the sharp cutoff haptic effects. The braking signals are determined based on predictions of system response made according to driving signals used to cause the haptic effects in the actuators. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Systems, devices, and methods for providing actuator braking

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

One illustrative device disclosed herein includes a proximity sensor capable of detecting a non-contact interaction with a touch-sensitive device and outputting a first sensor signal. The device also includes a touch sensor for detecting a touch on the touch-sensitive device and outputting a second sensor signal. The disclosed device also includes a processor configured to receive the first and second sensor signals, generate a haptic output signal based at least in part on the first and second sensor signals, transmit the haptic output signal to a haptic output device. The haptic output device in the disclosed device then outputs the haptic effect.

Systems and methods for proximity-based haptic feedback

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

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

Systems and methods long-range interactions for virtual reality are disclosed. One disclosed system includes: a handheld interface device; a sensor configured to detect movement of the handheld interface device and transmit a sensor signal associated with the movement; a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to: determine a haptic signal based in part on the sensor signal; and control, based on the haptic signal, an electromagnetic source remote from the handheld interface device to output a magnetic field to apply a force to magnetic material in the handheld interface device to output a haptic effect to a user of the handheld interface device.

Systems and methods for long-range interactions for virtual reality

Embodiments hereof are directed to a haptic device having a pressure-sensitive suspension system. The haptic device includes a housing, a touch surface component mounted to the housing to be movable relative thereto, and a haptic actuator for providing haptic feedback to the touch surface component. At least one suspension component is disposed between the touch surface component and the housing. The suspension component is formed from an elastomer and includes pressure-sensing particles integrated into the elastomer. The pressure-sensing particles are configured to sense pressure applied to the touch surface component.

Pressure-sensitive suspension system for a haptic device

A touch input system comprising a touch input device and an actuation and sensing system is presented. The actuation and sensing system has a transfer structure adjacent to a first surface of the touch input device, the transfer structure having a first portion and a beam extending from an edge of the first portion. The actuation and sensing system further has a transducer patch disposed on the beam. The transfer structure is configured to transfer forces between the touch input device and the transducer patch, such that movement of the touch input device by an external force causes deformation of the beam and of the transducer patch, and such that actuation output by the transducer patch causes movement of the touch input device. The transducer patch has a layer of transducer material that is configured to act as a sensor, and is configured to act as an actuator.

System for providing sensor and actuation functionality for touch input device

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

A haptic actuator device includes a surface with a mechanical property responsive to localized temperature changes. The surface can include a layer or sheet comprising a shape-memory material. The haptic actuator device can further include an actuator configured to selectively deform a plurality of regions in the sheet; and a temperature controller adapted to control the temperatures of the plurality of regions. A method of localized actuation includes selectively controlling the temperatures of the plurality of regions to be above a shape-memory transition temperature of the shape-memory material; selectively deforming at least one of the regions; while maintaining the deformation of the at least one region, lowering the temperature of the at least one region to below the shape-memory transition temperature; subsequently withdrawing the applied stress; and thereafter heating the at least one region to above the shape-memory transition temperature, causing the region to return to its pre-deformation shape.

Local haptic actuation system

A wearable device for providing haptic effects includes a wearable housing configured to be worn on to a portion of a hand of a wearer and an actuator secured to the wearable housing. The wearable housing includes a first digit segment configured to conform to a finger of the hand and a second digit segment configured to conform to another finger or a thumb of the hand. The actuator is configured to receive a command signal indicative of a virtual interaction related to touching or grasping a virtual object. In response to the command signal, the actuator provides a force onto the portion of the hand or provides a force to render a resistance to movement of the first and second digit segments toward each other. The actuator uses the wearable housing to mechanically stabilize the force towards the portion of the hand. The wearable device may further include a sensor configured to sense a dynamic response to a user interaction with a real-world object which corresponds to the virtual object, the sensed dynamic response being used to assess a physical characteristic of the real-world object.

Systems and methods for providing haptic effects related to touching and grasping a virtual object

An electret-based haptic actuator is presented. The actuator having an electret layer, an electrically conductive layer, an electrically insulative layer, a plurality of spacers, and a signal generating circuit. The electret layer having a built-in voltage along a thickness dimension of the electret layer. The electrically insulative layer being disposed between the electret layer and the electrically conductive layer. The plurality of spacers being disposed between the electret layer and the electrically conductive layer. The signal generating circuit being electrically connected to the electrically conductive layer and not electrically connected to the electret layer. The signal generating circuit being configured to apply an oscillating drive signal to the electrically conductive layer to generate a vibrotactile haptic effect.

Electret-based electrostatic haptic actuator

A haptic-enabled user interface device comprising a user input component, an elastomer suspension, a signal generating circuit, a signal sensing circuit, one or more switches, and a control unit is presented. The elastomer suspension is formed by at least one stack that includes an elastomeric layer, wherein the at least one stack forms at least one capacitor. The control unit is configured, in an actuation mode, to cause the one or more switches to electrically connect the signal generating circuit to the at least one capacitor and to electrically disconnect the signal sensing circuit from at least one capacitor, and to cause the signal generating circuit to apply a drive signal to the at least one capacitor. The control unit is further configured, in a sensing mode, to cause the one or more switches to electrically connect the signal sensing circuit to the at least one capacitor.

Elastomer suspension with actuation functionality or sensing functionality

Haptic feedback is provided by rendering haptic effects on a haptically-enabled device that includes a front screen, a back cover coupled to the front screen, and a haptic output device attached to or formed within the front screen or the back cover. The haptic output device is configured to render a high-definition (HD) vibratory haptic effect, a low-frequency vibratory haptic effect, and a deformation haptic effect.

Growing community of inventors

Montreal, Canada

Vahid Khoshkava