Sensable Technologies, Inc.

3d Systems, Inc.

William Alexander Goodwin

Thomas Harold Massie

Brandon D Itkowitz

Joshua E Handley

R Michael Lohse

Andrew Ziegler

Elaine Chen

Deepak Ramesh Kapoor

Loren C Shih

Marc Douglass Midura

Clive Bolton

Abbe J Cohen

Guy Rodomista

Philip Brown Winston

Rodomista Guy

Ziegler Andrew

Bolton Clive

The invention provides systems and methods for using a 'haptic camera' within a virtual environment and for using graphical data from the haptic camera to produce touch feedback. The haptic camera obtains graphical data pertaining to virtual objects within the vicinity and along the trajectory of a user-controlled haptic interface device. The graphical data from the camera is interpreted haptically, thereby allowing touch feedback corresponding to the virtual environment to be provided to the user.

Apparatus and methods for haptic rendering using a haptic camera view

A multi-function force reflecting haptic interface including various sub-assemblies is disclosed. The sub-assemblies include multiple function user interfaces, a user interface docking station for setting the interface to a home position, temperature monitoring and control systems, and various kinematic cable drive systems.

Force reflecting haptic interface

The invention provides methods for leveraging data in the graphics pipeline of a 3D graphics application for use in a haptic rendering of a virtual environment. The invention provides methods for repurposing graphical information for haptic rendering. Thus, at least part of the work that would have been performed by a haptic rendering process to provide touch feedback to a user is obviated by work performed by the graphical rendering process.

Apparatus and methods for haptic rendering using data in a graphics pipeline

A six degree of freedom force reflecting haptic interface includes three powered axes and three free axes, all of which are tracked so that the position of a user connection element in the work volume can be determined. The interface includes cable drives with polymer composite or metallic cables, automatic cable tensioning devices, and grounded actuator capstans. A nested hub and transfer drive provide a compact, weight balanced interface. User comfort and safety features are also provided.

Systems and methods provide a user the ability to select three-dimensional virtual objects in a three-dimensional modeling environment using two-dimensional representations of the objects. In broad overview, the invention involves a multidimensional degree of freedom haptic interface that controls a three-dimensional cursor. A user employs the cursor to select an arbitrary point on a three-dimensional virtual object of interest. Through the application of a mathematical transformation, the system displays the cursor at the location of the selected point on the object. The user can manipulate the object by operating the haptic interface. The systems and methods provide the user with the possibility of editing the selected virtual object. In one embodiment, editing includes sculpting the object. When the user releases the object after manipulation is completed, the cursor is relocated to the position the cursor would have had had the manipulations been applied to the cursor directly.

3-D selection and manipulation with a multiple dimension haptic interface

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

William Alexander Goodwin