Systems and methods for generating haptic effects associated with audio signals

• US 9,947,188 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2017
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Saboune, Jamal, Levesque, Vincent, Modarres, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Terrell, Emily C
• Application Number:
  US15/439,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20170162010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 3404071-4072, 340 76
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating haptic effects associated with audio signals are disclosed. One disclosed system for outputting haptic effects includes a processor configured to: receive an audio signal; determine a haptic effect based in part on the audio signal by: identifying one or more components in the audio signal; and determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more components; and output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

Claims

1. A system for outputting haptic effects comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive an audio signal;

identify one or more audio components in the audio signal;

identify background noises in the audio signal;

determine a haptic effect associated with the one or more audio components;

store the haptic effect in a haptic track on a data store;

output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect; and

output the audio signal to an audio output device configured to output an audible effect.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine not to output a haptic effect associated with the background noises.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying one or more audio components of the audio signal comprises:

receiving a signal associated with one or more audio components;

dividing the audio signal into a plurality of segments;

analyzing one of the plurality of segments to determine if one or more of the components is present; and

classifying the segment based on a presence of one or more of the components.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein analyzing one of the plurality of segments comprises implementing an acoustic event detection technique.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the acoustic event detection technique comprises automatic speech recognition.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein classifying one of the plurality of segments comprises comparing the segment to a database of data associated with the one or more components.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein determining a haptic effect comprises assigning a haptic effect based on the classification of the segment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying one or more audio components of the audio signal comprises isolating speech in the audio signal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying one or more audio components of the audio signal comprises isolating sounds associated with action effects in the audio signal.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

11. A method for outputting haptic effects comprising:

receiving an audio signal;

identifying one or more audio components in the audio signal;

identifying background noises in the audio signal;

determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more audio components;

storing the haptic effect in a haptic track on a data store;

outputting a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect; and

outputting the audio signal to an audio output device configured to output an audible effect.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining not to output a haptic effect associated with the background noises.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying one or more audio components of the audio signal comprises:

receiving a signal associated with one or more audio components;

dividing the audio signal into a plurality of segments;

analyzing one of the plurality of segments to determine if one or more of the components is present; and

classifying the segment based on a presence of one or more of the components.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein analyzing one of the plurality of segments comprises implementing an acoustic event detection technique.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the acoustic event detection technique comprises automatic speech recognition.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein classifying one of the plurality of segments comprises comparing the segment to a database of data associated with the one or more components.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a haptic effect comprises assigning a haptic effect based on the classification of the segment.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying one or more audio components of the audio signal comprises isolating speech in the audio signal.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying one or more audio components of the audio signal comprises isolating sounds associated with action effects in the audio signal.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor, is configured to cause the processor to:

receive an audio signal;

identify one or more audio components in the audio signal;

identify background noises in the audio signal;

determine a haptic effect associated with the one or more audio components;

store the haptic effect in a haptic track on a data store;

output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect; and

output the audio signal to an audio output device configured to output an audible effect.