Systems and methods for generating haptic effects associated with audio signals

• US 9,619,980 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• 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:
  US14/078,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20150070148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 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;

determine a haptic effect based in part on the audio signal by;

identifying one or more components in the audio signal by isolating a source of an audio effect in the audio signal and isolating one or more background noises in the audio signal; and

determining a haptic effect associated with the source of the audio effect; and

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

output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

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

receiving a signal associated with one or more 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 the presence of one or more of the components.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein analyzing one of the plurality of audio segments comprises implementing an acoustic event detection technique.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the acoustic event detection technique comprises automatic speech recognition.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein classifying one of the plurality of audio segments comprises comparing the audio segment to a database of data associated with the one or more components.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein determining a haptic effect comprises assigning a haptic effect based on the classification of the segment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more components comprises assigning a haptic effect to the source.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein isolating the source of an audio effect in the audio signal comprises isolating speech in the audio signal.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more components comprises:

determining one or more emotions associated with the speech; and

determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more emotions.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein determining one or more emotions associated with the speech comprises one or more of:

a frequency based analysis, a time based analysis, a voice quality analysis, or comparing features of the speech to a database of data associated with emotions in speech.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an audio output device configured to receive the audio signal and output an audible effect; and

a haptic output device in communication with the processor, the haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect comprises one or more of:

a variation in coefficient of friction, a simulated texture, or a vibration.

13. A method for outputting haptic effects comprising:

receiving an audio signal;

determining a haptic effect based in part on the audio signal by;

identifying one or more components in the audio signal by isolating a source of an audio effect in the audio signal and isolating one or more background noises in the audio signal; and

determining a haptic effect associated with the source of the audio effect;

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

outputting a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

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

receiving a signal associated with one or more 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 the presence of one or more of the components.

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

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

17. The method of claim 14, wherein classifying one of the plurality of audio segments comprises comparing the audio segment to a database of data associated with the one or more components.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a haptic effect comprises assigning a haptic effect based on the classification of the segment.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more components comprises assigning a haptic effect to the source.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein isolating the source of an audio effect in the audio signal comprises isolating speech in the audio signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more components comprises:

determining one or more emotions associated with the speech; and

determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more emotions.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein determining one or more emotions associated with the speech comprises one or more of:

a frequency based analysis, a time based analysis, a voice quality analysis, or comparing features of the speech to a database of data associated with emotions in speech.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

outputting an audible effect; and

outputting the haptic effect.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the haptic effect comprises one or more of:

a variation in coefficient of friction, a simulated texture, or a vibration.

25. 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;

determine a haptic effect based in part on the audio signal by;

identifying one or more components in the audio signal by isolating a source of an audio effect in the audio signal and isolating one or more background noises in the audio signal; and

determining a haptic effect associated with the source of the audio effect; and

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

output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein identifying one or more components in the audio signal comprises:

receiving a signal associated with one or more 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 the presence of one or more of the components.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein analyzing one of the plurality of audio segments comprises implementing an acoustic event detection technique.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the acoustic event detection technique comprises automatic speech recognition.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein classifying one of the plurality of audio segments comprises comparing the audio segment to a database of data associated with the one or more components.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein determining a haptic effect comprises assigning a haptic effect based on the classification of the segment.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more components comprises assigning a haptic effect to the source.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein isolating the source of an audio effect in the audio signal comprises isolating speech in the audio signal.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more components comprises:

determining one or more emotions associated with the speech; and

determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more emotions.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein determining one or more emotions associated with the speech comprises one or more of:

a frequency based analysis, a time based analysis, a voice quality analysis, or comparing features of the speech to a database of data associated with emotions in speech.