| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080223627 | Synchronization of haptic effect data in a media transport stream - Haptic information in a series of frames of a media transport stream is identified and time stamps corresponding thereto are determined in accordance with a master time code signal embedded in the media transport stream. Each media transport stream frame containing haptic information is subsequently assigned a time stamp so that it will be used to activate an actuator at a proper time responsive to the time stamp to generate a haptic effect in accordance with the haptic information. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20090002328 | Method and apparatus for multi-touch tactile touch panel actuator mechanisms - A method and apparatus of actuator mechanisms for a multi-touch tactile touch panel are disclosed. The tactile touch panel includes an electrical insulated layer and a tactile layer. The top surface of the electrical insulated layer is capable of receiving an input from a user. The tactile layer includes a grid or an array of haptic cells. The top surface of the haptic layer is situated adjacent to the bottom surface of the electrical insulated layer, while the bottom surface of the haptic layer is situated adjacent to a display. Each haptic cell further includes at least one piezoelectric material, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (“MEMS”) element, thermal fluid pocket, MEMS pump, resonant device, variable porosity membrane, laminar flow modulation, or the like. Each haptic cell is configured to provide a haptic effect independent of other haptic cells in the tactile layer. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090088659 | Biological Sensing With Haptic Feedback - Systems and methods as described the present disclosure are capable of generating haptic feedback in response to sensing a biological signal from a vertebrate. A method according to one embodiment, among others, includes detecting a neural signal from a vertebrate. The method also includes generating a haptic effect on the vertebrate corresponding to the neural signal. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090096632 | Synchronization of haptic effect data in a media stream - Haptic information in a series of frames of a media file is identified and time stamps corresponding thereto are determined in accordance with information embedded in a tag either preceding or appending the media file. The haptic effect information is automatically synchronized to the media file based on the information in one or more frames of the tag, whereby an actuator outputs the defined haptic effects in the tag in a manner synchronized with corresponding audio and/or video content of the media file. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090177452 | Virtual Tool Manipulation System - In the field of virtual reality, virtual tool manipulation systems and related methods and software are described in the present disclosure. One implementation of a virtual tool manipulation system, among others, comprises a motion tracking system configured to generate motion information related to the position of a part of a user's body. The virtual tool manipulation system also comprises a haptic feedback system configured to provide a haptic sensation to the user based on the motion information, the position of a virtual tool, and characteristics of the virtual tool. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20100137845 | Tool Having Multiple Feedback Devices - Disclosed herein are systems and methods for managing how signals, which are sensed on a tool, are presented to an operator of the tool. According to one example of a method for managing signals, the method comprises allowing an operator to manipulate a tool having a plurality of output mechanisms mounted thereon. The method also includes sensing a property of an object located near or adjacent to a distal portion of the tool and processing the sensed property to obtain one or more output signals. Furthermore, the method includes applying the one or more output signals to one or more of the output mechanisms. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100152586 | Spatial Array of Sensors Mounted on A Tool - Systems and methods described herein include an array of sensors positioned on a tool. In one embodiment, among others, a tool includes a handle configured to be manipulated by a user. The tool also includes an end portion arranged in mechanical communication with the handle. In addition, the tool includes an array of sensors mounted on the end portion, in which the array of sensors is configured to sense a property of an object. The tool also comprises a processing device configured to process the properties of the object sensed by the array of sensors and to obtain spatial information of the object. The processing device is further configured to communicate the spatial information to the handle. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100179423 | Palpation Algorithms For Computer-Augmented Hand Tools - A method and system for performing minimally invasive tissue examination with a computer-assisted hand tool. The computer-assisted hand tool is moved into contact with the tissue under examination. An indication is received from a first sensor in the computer-assisted hand tool of each feature detected in a time interval during movement of the hand tool in contact with the tissue under examination. Each feature detected in the preset time interval is processed to determine a haptic feedback to provide to the user. A haptic feedback is generated and provided to the user via an actuator that is responsive to at least one feature detected in the time interval. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100179587 | Providing Haptic Feedback To The Handle Of A Tool - Tools, such as surgical tools, are normally designed to interact with an object, such as a patient. As disclosed herein, one particular tool is implemented such that it comprises a handle having a feedback portion configured to contact one or more digits of a user's hand. The tool also includes a sensor positioned near or in contact with an object. The sensor is configured to measure a property of the object. Also, the tool includes a haptic output mechanism supported by the feedback portion of the handle. The haptic output mechanism is configured to communicate the measured property of the object to the user. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20110046659 | Minimally Invasive Surgical Tools With Haptic Feedback - A minimally invasive surgical tool includes a sensor that generates a signal in response to an interaction with the tool. The tool further includes a haptic feedback system that generates a haptic effect in response to the signal. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110128132 | System and method for automatically producing haptic events from a digital audio signal - In an embodiment, a system and method for automatically converting a plurality of events in a plurality of channels in a structured representation sequence into haptic events. The method comprises calculating an event score for each event of the sequence in one or more channels. The method also comprises calculating a cumulative score based on the event scores in the one or more channels. The method includes selectively designating haptic events to the events based on the event scores in one or more selected channels, wherein the haptic events are output by a haptic actuator. | 06-02-2011 |
