Haptic warping system

• US 9,454,881 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2015
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Saboune, Jamal
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US14/970,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20160104356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 286 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/407.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A system is provided that transforms haptic signals. The system receives a first haptic signal including a first haptic effect that can be generated by a first haptic output device. The system transforms the first haptic signal into a second haptic signal including a second haptic effect that can be generated by a second haptic output device. The system then sends the second haptic signal to the second haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to transform haptic signals by:

receiving a first haptic signal comprising a first haptic effect that can be generated by a first haptic output device;

transforming the first haptic signal into a second haptic signal comprising a second haptic effect that can be generated by a second haptic output device; and

sending the second haptic signal to the second haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the transforming of the first haptic signal into the second haptic signal comprises:

shifting one or more frequencies or pitches of data contained within the first haptic signal.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the transforming of the first haptic signal into the second haptic signal comprises:

shifting a resonant frequency of the first haptic signal to a resonant frequency of the second haptic signal.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the transforming of the first haptic signal into the second haptic signal comprises:

identifying a resonance of the first haptic signal and the second haptic signal;

identifying a perception range of the first haptic signal and the second haptic signal at a frequency bandwidth defined by a frequency that represents a lower perception limit and a frequency that represents an upper perception limit, wherein a perception limit is a frequency limit where a human can perceive a vibrotactile haptic effect produced by a haptic signal; and

transforming frequencies within the frequency bandwidth of the first haptic signal into frequencies within the frequency bandwidth of the second haptic signal.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first haptic signal and the second haptic signal are event-based haptic signals where events are marked within an audio or video signal and haptic effects are output based on data in a corresponding encoded audio signal or video signal.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the transforming of the first haptic signal into the second haptic signal comprises:

mapping frequencies of the first haptic signal into frequencies of the second haptic signal based on a mapping where each resonant frequency that triggers a haptic effect is mapped to another resonant frequency.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first haptic signal and the second haptic signal are parameterized haptic signals in which one or more parameterized haptic effects are played at specific points in time, wherein the one or more parameterized haptic effects are encoded within a separate haptic signal.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the transforming of the first haptic signal into the second haptic signal comprises:

mapping each resonant frequency of the first haptic signal to a resonant frequency of the second haptic signal while maintaining magnitude, duration, and envelope information of the first haptic signal in the second haptic signal.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first haptic signal and the second haptic signal are pulse coded modulation (PCM) haptic signals where a PCM audio signal is converted into a PCM haptic signal.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein each magnitude of the first haptic signal is first mapped to a magnitude of the second haptic signal, and subsequently, each frequency of the first haptic signal is mapped to a frequency of second haptic signal.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first haptic signal solely includes frequencies less than or equal to a threshold frequency.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the transforming of the first haptic signal into the second haptic signal comprises:

adding one or more transients to the first haptic signal, wherein the one or more transients are haptic signals of short duration caused by changes in state.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first haptic signal and the one or more transients are played at one or more haptic output devices.

14. A computer-implemented method for transforming haptic signals, comprising:

receiving a first haptic signal comprising a first haptic effect that can be generated by a first haptic output device;

transforming the first haptic signal into a second haptic signal comprising a second haptic effect that can be generated by a second haptic output device; and

sending the second haptic signal to the second haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the transforming of the first haptic signal into the second haptic signal comprises:

shifting one or more frequencies or pitches of data contained within the first haptic signal.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the transforming of the first haptic signal into the second haptic signal comprises:

shifting a resonant frequency of the first haptic signal to a resonant frequency of the second haptic signal.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the first haptic signal solely includes frequencies less than or equal to a threshold frequency.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the transforming of the first haptic signal into the second haptic signal comprises:

adding one or more transients to the first haptic signal, wherein the one or more transients are haptic signals of short duration caused by changes in state.

19. A system for transforming haptic signals, comprising:

a memory configured to store a haptic warping module; and

a processor configured to execute the haptic warping module stored on the memory to;

receive a first haptic signal comprising a first haptic effect that can be generated by a first haptic output device;

transform the first haptic signal into a second haptic signal comprising a second haptic effect that can be generated by a second haptic output device; and

send the second haptic signal to the second haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein transforming the first haptic signal into the second haptic signal comprises:

shifting one or more frequencies or pitches of data contained within the first haptic signal.