IP Library Granted Patent US 10,930,123
Granted Patent B2
US 10,930,123 · App. 16/159,695 · Granted Feb 23, 2021

Perceptions in a haptic system

Inventors: Thomas Andrew Carter (Bristol, GB); Benjamin John Oliver Long (Bristol, GB); Sriram Subramanian (Hove, GB); Robert Charles Blenkinsopp (Bristol, GB); Sue Ann Seah (Bristol, GB)
Assignee: Ultrahaptics IP Ltd
G08B6/00G06F3/016G06F3/043G06F3/16G06F3/167H04R1/403H04R2217/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,930,123
App. No.
16/159,695
Granted
Feb 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system providing various improved perceptions techniques for haptic feedback above interactive surfaces that require no contact with either tools, attachments or the surface itself is described. A range of receptors in a perceiving member which is part of the human body is identified to create substantially uniformly perceivable feedback. A vibration frequency that is in the range of the receptors in the perceiving member is chosen and dynamically altered to create substantially uniformly perceivable feedback throughout the receiving member.

Claims (26)

1. A method comprising:

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

ii) defining a plurality of control points wherein each of the plurality of control points has a known spatial relationship relative to the transducer array;

iii) assigning an amplitude to each of the plurality of control points; and

iv) creating a pulsing sensation by manipulating the location of the plurality of control points so that the pulsation sensation grows both stronger/weaker and bigger/smaller over time.

2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the step of producing an acoustic field from a transducer array creates a mid-air haptic feedback system.

3. The method as in claim 2 , wherein the step of creating an pulsing sensation comprises forcing the plurality of control points close together.

4. The method as in claim 2 , wherein the step of creating an pulsing sensation comprises rotating the plurality of control points and bringing the plurality of control points closer and further apart.

5. The method as in claim 2 , wherein the step of creating an pulsing sensation comprises creating a haptic point that is linearly interpolated between two positions.

6. The method as in claim 5 , wherein resolution of object tracking in the direction of a haptic point that is linearly interpolated between two positions is reduced.

7. The method as in claim 1 , further comprises dynamically altering the amplitude of the plurality of the control points.

8. A method comprising:

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

ii) defining a plurality of control points wherein each of the plurality of control points has a known spatial relationship relative to the transducer array;

iii) assigning an amplitude to each of the plurality of control points;

iv) modulating the acoustic field associated with at least one of the plurality of control points to produce a desired audible sound; and

v) creating a plurality of points of focus within the acoustic field, wherein a haptic effect is at a first point of focus and a desired audible sound is at the second point of focus;

vi) creating a pulsing sensation by manipulating location of the plurality of control points so that the pulsation sensation grows both stronger/weaker and bigger/smaller over time.

9. The method as in claim 8 , wherein the acoustic field is produced by a mid-air haptic feedback system.

10. The method as in claim 9 , wherein the first point of focus is in a different location than the second point of focus.

11. The method as in claim 9 , wherein the desired audible sound is perceived to be originating from the at least one of the plurality of control points.

12. The method as in claim 9 , further comprising modulating the acoustic field associated with at least one of the plurality of control points to produce localized haptic feedback in the same general location as the desired audible sound.

13. The method as in claim 12 , wherein the localized haptic feedback is separated from the desired audible sound wave so that the desired audible sound produces perceivable haptic feedback below a preset threshold.

14. The method as in claim 12 , wherein the desired audible sound is perceived by a user to be louder than the audible sound produced by the localized haptic feedback.

15. The method as in claim 12 , wherein the desired audible sound is perceived by a user primarily from the first point of focus.

16. The method as in claim 12 , wherein the desired audible sound is perceived by a user primarily from the second point of focus.

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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2018
From: CARTER, THOMAS ANDREW; LONG, BENJAMIN JOHN OLIVER; SUBRAMANIAN, SRIRAM; BLENKINSOPP, ROBERT CHARLES; SEAH, SUE ANN
To: ULTRAHAPTICS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047156/0263 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2018
From: ULTRAHAPTICS LIMITED
To: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTD
Reel/Frame 047156/0274 →
Cited By (14)
US 12,191,875 US 12,204,691 US 12,271,528 US 12,345,838 US 12,347,304 US 12,370,577 US 12,373,033 US 12,393,277 US 12,517,585 US 12,568,341 US 12,659,636 US 12,688,761 US 12,688,846 US 12,694,071