IP Library Granted Patent US 12,158,522
Granted Patent B2
US 12,158,522 · App. 17/835,411 · Granted Dec 3, 2024

Tracking in haptic systems

Inventors: Michele Iodice (Bristol, GB); Benjamin John Oliver Long (Bristol, GB); Brian Kappus (Mountain View, CA); Thomas Andrew Carter (Bristol, GB); Rafel Jibry (Bristol, GB); Orestis Georgiou (Bristol, GB)
Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTD
G01S15/32G01S15/08G01S15/66G06F3/016G06V40/107G10K11/346G06F3/011G06F3/017G06T7/20G06T7/70G06T2207/10028G06T2207/30196
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,158,522
App. No.
17/835,411
Granted
Dec 3, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein are techniques for tracking objects (including human body parts such as a hand), namely: 1) two-state transducer interpolation in acoustic phased-arrays; 2) modulation techniques in acoustic phased-arrays; 3) fast acoustic full matrix capture during haptic effects; 4) time-of-flight depth sensor fusion system; 5) phase modulated spherical wave-fronts in acoustic phased-arrays; 6) long wavelength phase modulation of acoustic field for location and tracking; and 7) camera calibration through ultrasonic range sensing.

Claims (12)

1. A method comprising:

using an acoustic transducer to track an object by repeated switching between a control point activation state and a plane wave activation state;

wherein the acoustic transducer contributes to formation of a control point during the control point activation state;

wherein the acoustic transducer projects in-phase pulsed signals during the plane wave activation state; and

wherein the control point activation state substantially complies with U f (t)=Asin( 2 πf c t+0+ϕ). wherein A is amplitude of the in-phased pulsed signals, f c is a center frequency, θ is a phase delay added to the in-phased pulsed signal to activate a control point, and ϕ is a phase shift modulation applied to the in-phased pulsed signal to achieve tracking.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

modulating the in-phased pulsed signals by interpolating arbitrary waveforms between the control point activation state and the plane wave activation state so as to substantially maximize amplitude at the control point.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the modulating is dynamically tailored to match a sensing objective and environment.

4. The method as in claim 3 , wherein the modulating assists detection distance of an object from the acoustic transducer and the control point.

5. The method as in claim 4 , wherein the modulating is phase modulation, and further comprising demodulation of the in-phased pulsed signal via determining frequency and phase of the interpolating arbitrary waveforms.

6. The method as in claim 4 , wherein the modulating is frequency modulation, and further comprising estimating time-of-flight via cross-correlation algorithms.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plane wave activation state substantially complies with Up(t)=Asin( 2 πf c +ϕ), wherein A is an amplitude of the in-phased pulsed, f c is a center frequency, and ϕ is a phase shift modulation applied to the in-phased pulsed signal to achieve tracking.

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: ULTRALEAP LIMITED
To: SIM IP HXR LLC
Reel/Frame 075128/0134 →
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 074404/0012 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2022
From: IODICE, MICHELE; LONG, BENJAMIN JOHN OLIVER; KAPPUS, BRIAN; CARTER, THOMAS ANDREW; JIBRY, RAFEL; GEORGIOU, ORESTIS
To: ULTRAHAPTICS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060205/0430 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2022
From: IODICE, MICHELE; LONG, BENJAMIN JOHN OLIVER; KAPPUS, BRIAN; CARTER, THOMAS ANDREW; JIBRY, RAFEL; GEORGIOU, ORESTIS
To: ULTRALEAP LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060174/0618 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 12, 2022
From: ULTRALEAP LIMITED
To: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTD
Reel/Frame 060174/0641 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 12, 2022
From: ULTRAHAPTICS LIMITED
To: ULTRALEAP LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060174/0636 →
Cited By (11)
US 12,345,838 US 12,347,304 US 12,373,033 US 12,393,277 US 12,510,661 US 12,517,585 US 12,568,341 US 12,659,636 US 12,688,761 US 12,688,846 US 12,694,071