IP Library Granted Patent US 10,268,275
Granted Patent B2
US 10,268,275 · App. 15/665,629 · Granted Apr 23, 2019

Three-dimensional perceptions in haptic systems

Inventors: Thomas Andrew Carter (Bristol, GB); Adam Daniel Harwood (Bristol, GB); Benjamin John Oliver Long (Bristol, GB); Philip Jones (Royal Wootton Bassett, GB)
Assignee: Ultrahaptics IP Ltd
G06F3/016G06F3/011G06F3/017G06F3/0416G06F3/0488G06F3/04815G06F3/16G06F2203/04108G06F2203/04809
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,268,275
App. No.
15/665,629
Granted
Apr 23, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An acoustic field may be produced from a transducer array having known relative positions and orientations In this acoustic field, one or more control points may be defined. An amplitude may be assigned to the control point. Mid-air haptic effect for a virtual object on a human body part may be generated by moving the control point in a single closed curve comprising a plurality of curve segments. The single closed curve traverses at least one location where the human body part intersects with the virtual object. Additionally, a user may interact with virtual three-dimensional content using the user's hands while a tracking system monitoring the user's hands, a physics engine updates the properties of the virtual three-dimensional content and a haptic feedback system provides haptic information to the user.

Claims (31)

1. A method comprising:

producing an acoustic field from a transducer array having known relative positions and orientations;

defining a control point wherein the control point has a known spatial relationship relative to the transducer array;

assigning an amplitude to the control point;

generating a mid-air haptic effect for a virtual object on a human body part by moving the control point in a single closed curve, wherein the single closed curve comprises a plurality of curve segments;

wherein the single closed curve traverses at least one location where the human body part intersects with the virtual object; and

after moving a control point in the single closed curve, designing a second closed curve in response to a change in the virtual object.

2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the movement of the control point in the single closed curve is faster when the control point does not traverse the at least one location where the human body part intersects with the virtual object then when the control point traverses the at least one location where the human body part intersects with the virtual object.

3. The method as in claim 1 , wherein when control point reaches the at least one location where the human body part intersects with the virtual object, the control point avoids traversing the human body part that intersects with the virtual object.

4. A method comprising:

a user interacting with virtual three-dimensional content using the user's hands;

a tracking system monitoring the user's hands;

a physics engine updating the properties of the virtual three-dimensional content;

a mid-air haptic feedback system providing haptic information to the user;

applying a first haptic impulse to at least one of the user's hands when the at least one of the user's hands contacts the virtual three-dimensional content;

forming the at least one of the user's hands into a skeletal model having a plurality of bones;

wherein the first haptic impulse is applied to the plurality of bones of the at least one of the user's hands that contacts the virtual three-dimensional content; and

wherein the first haptic impulse applied to at least one of the user's hands ceases when the at least one of the user's hands maintains contact with the virtual three-dimensional content.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the skeleton of the at least one of the user's hands has a first side and a second side, wherein the contact of the at least one of the user's hands occurs on the first side and the haptic impulse occurs on the second side.

6. The method as in claim 4 , wherein the first haptic impulse applied to at least one of the user's hands follows the at least one of the user's hand using decaying amplitude when the at least one of the user's hands terminates contact with the virtual three-dimensional content.

7. A method comprising:

producing an acoustic field from a transducer array having known relative positions and orientations;

defining a control point wherein the control point has a known spatial relationship relative to the transducer array; and

generating a sound having a sound waveform by moving the control point in a trajectory that encodes the sound waveform;

wherein the trajectory comprises a closed curve path.

8. The method as in claim 7 , wherein the closed curve path is parametrized into in-phase and quadrature components.

9. A method comprising:

producing an acoustic field from a transducer array having known relative positions and orientations;

defining a control point wherein the control point has a known spatial relationship relative to the transducer array; and

generating a sound having a sound waveform by moving the control point in a trajectory that encodes the sound waveform;

wherein the trajectory comprises an open curve path.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2026
From: SIM IP HXR LLC
To: UNITY MASTER LLC SERIES XIX
Reel/Frame 075365/0907 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2026
From: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LIMITED
To: SIM IP HXR LLC
Reel/Frame 075127/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2026
From: ULTRAHAPTICS LIMITED; ULTRAHAPTICS IP LIMITED; ULTRAHAPTICS IP TWO LIMITED; ULTRALEAP LIMITED
To: SIM IP HXR LLC
Reel/Frame 074403/0943 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2023
From: CORNES TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS LIMITED
To: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTD
Reel/Frame 063392/0054 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2020
From: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTD
To: CORNES TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 051488/0142 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Oct 18, 2017
From: ULTRAHAPTICS LIMITED
To: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTD
Reel/Frame 043898/0657 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2017
From: CARTER, THOMAS ANDREW; HARWOOD, ADAM DANIEL; LONG, BENJAMIN JOHN OLIVER; JONES, PHILIP
To: ULTRAHAPTICS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 043156/0647 →
Continuity (5)
Provisional Application 62370522 · Aug 3, 2016
Provisional Application 62370786 · Aug 4, 2016
Provisional Application 62370865 · Aug 4, 2016
Provisional Application 62397419 · Sep 21, 2016
Related Publication 20180039333A1 · Feb 8, 2018
Cited By (15)
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