Immersion Corporation

William S Rihn

Danny A Grant

David M Birnbaum

Vincent Levesque

Stephen D Rank

Henry Da Costa

Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez

Jamal Saboune

Vahid Khoshkava

Robert A Lacroix

Mansoor Alghooneh

Douglas George Billington

Ali Modarres

Kaniyalal Shah

Abdelwahab Hamam

Christopher J Ullrich

Robert W Heubel

Satoshi Araki

Neil Thomas Olien

Daniel Gregory Parker

Jason D Fleming

Shadi Asfour

Sanya Attari

Anthony Chad Sampanes

Erin B Ramsay

Amaya Becvar Weddle

Liwen Wu

Aaron Kapelus

Srivatsav Venkatesan

Jean Francois Dionne

Elena Renee Redelsheimer

Mohammadreza Motamedi

Razmik Mousakhanian

Simon Forest

Yiting Wang

Leonard Soskin

Douglas Billington

Systems and methods for multi-user shared virtual and augmented reality-based haptics are disclosed. One illustrative method for multi-user shared virtual and augmented reality-based haptics includes determining a position of an object; determining a viewpoint of at least one observer with respect to the object; determining a haptic effect to be output based at least in part on the position and the viewpoint; and outputting the haptic effect.

Systems and methods for multi-user shared virtual and augmented reality-based haptics

A method of generating haptic effects on a haptic-enabled device having a control unit and a haptic output device is provided. The method comprises receiving a haptic track that describes a time-varying magnitude envelope for driving the haptic output device to generate a haptic effect. The method further comprises generating a periodic drive signal with a time-varying frequency that is based on magnitude values of the time-varying magnitude envelope described in the haptic track. The method further comprises outputting the periodic drive signal to the haptic output device, to cause the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect based on the periodic drive signal.

Method and device for enabling pitch control for a haptic effect

One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a computing device that comprises a memory and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor generates an interactive user interface and obtains an input parameter and a haptic parameter via the interactive user interface. The processor maps the input parameter to the haptic parameter using a mapping algorithm and designs a dynamic haptic effect based at least in part on mapping the input parameter to the haptic parameter. The processor can then generate a plurality of dynamic haptic effects for a plurality of user devices based at least in part on the designed dynamic haptic effect.

Cross-platform dynamic haptic effect design tool for augmented or virtual reality environments

A system is provided that modifies a haptic effect experienced at a user input element. The system sends a haptic instruction and a haptic effect definition to a peripheral device. The system further receives user input data including a position of the user input element, or a force applied to the user input element. The system further modifies the haptic effect definition based on the received user input data. The system further sends a new haptic instruction and the modified haptic effect definition to the peripheral device. The system further causes a haptic output device to modify a haptic effect based on the modified haptic effect definition at the user input element of the peripheral device in response to the new haptic instruction.

Haptic trigger modification 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

One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a computing device in communication with a display device and a sensor. The display device is configured to display a plurality of content and the sensor is configured to detect a field of view of a user of the computing device relative to the display device. The sensor can transmit a signal associated with the field of view to a processor in communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to determine a direction of the field of view of the user based on the signal. The processor is also configured to determine that a content displayed by the display device and associated with a haptic effect is within the field of view of the user. The processor is also configured to determine a haptic effect associated with the content and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative system also includes a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

Haptic feedback using a field of view

Systems and methods or a low profile haptic actuator are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for a low profile haptic actuator includes: a moveable surface comprising a first coil, the moveable surface configured to move in a degree of freedom; a fixed surface beneath the moveable surface, the fixed surface comprising a second coil coupled underneath the first coil; a suspension coupled to the fixed surface and the moveable surface and configured to suspend the moveable surface; and a controller coupled to the first coil and the second coil.

Systems and methods for a low profile haptic actuator

Rendering haptic effects on at least one of a first haptic actuator or a second haptic actuator based on a state of a trigger. In response, the haptic effects are optimized to reflect game play.

Rendering a haptic effect with intra-device mixing

One illustrative system of the present disclosure includes a sensor configured to detect a gesture that includes a movement through multiple positions in real space. The multiple positions can include a first position that is distant from a touch sensitive surface and a second position that is closer to the touch sensitive surface than the first position. The system also includes a processor in communication with the sensor. The processor can output a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes multiple available user interface levels. During the gesture, the processor can activate a sequence of user interface levels, where each user interface level in the sequence is selected from among the multiple available user interface levels and is activated at a respective position among the multiple positions in the gesture. The processor can also cause a haptic output device to provide haptic feedback associated with each user interface level.

Systems and methods for manipulating a graphical user interface through gestures in real space and providing associated haptic effects

A video game system records video gameplay by a player interacting with an endpoint, such as a game controller. The recording includes recording a haptic track of haptic effects generated on the endpoint during the gameplay and recording a video track of video generated during the gameplay. The recording further includes encoding the haptic track with the video track.

Video gameplay haptics

One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a deformation sensor configured to detect a deformation of a deformable surface and transmit a first sensor signal associated with the deformation. The system also includes a sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a user input device and transmit a second sensor signal associated with the user interaction. The system further includes a processor configured to: receive the first sensor signal; receive the second sensor signal; execute a function based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal. The processor is also configured to: determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the first sensor signal or the second sensor signal; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

Systems and methods for deformation-based haptic effects

Systems and methods that dynamically render etching inputs are provided, and include a touch surface having a sensor and configured to detect user input, and a non-transitory memory, wherein the non-transitory memory includes instructions for capturing an etching input that is applied to an image or video file, determining a haptic effect that corresponds to the etching input, the haptic effect depending on a type of etching input, and transmitting a modified image or modified video file that includes the etching input and the haptic effect.

Dynamic rendering of etching input

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

One illustrative computing device disclosed herein includes a first sensor configured to detect a position associated with a deformable surface and transmit a sensor signal associated with the position; and a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal; determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the sensor signal; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative computing device also includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor, the haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

William S Rihn