Christopher J Hasser

US Patent:

6342880, Jan 29, 2002

Filed:

Oct 6, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/414294

Inventors:

Louis B. Rosenberg - Pleasanton CA
Christopher J. Hasser - Newark CA
Bruce M. Schena - Menlo Park CA
Mike D. Levin - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G09G 508

US Classification:

345161, 345163, 345167, 345168, 345156, 463 30, 463 37, 463 38

Abstract:

A force feedback interface including a haptic accelerator that relieves the computational burden associated with force feedback generation from a force feedback processor. The force feedback processor is preferably a device microprocessor included in the interface device and separate from a controlling host computer for determining forces to be output. The haptic accelerator quickly determines velocity and/or acceleration information describing motion of a user manipulatable object from raw position data received from sensors of the interface device and representing the position of the user object. The velocity and/or acceleration data is used by the force feedback processor in the determination of forces to be output on the user object. The haptic accelerator can in some embodiments also quickly and reliably determine condition forces which depend on the motion of the user object, thus relieving additional computation burden from the force feedback processor and permitting the force feedback processor to focus on determining other types of forces and overseeing the operation of the force feedback interface device.

US Patent:

6564168, May 13, 2003

Filed:

Sep 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/661580

Inventors:

Christopher J. Hasser - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G01D 534

US Classification:

702163, 25023114, 73650

Abstract:

Embodiments of high-resolution optical encoders having phased-array photodetectors and integrated on semiconductor chips. Emitters, detectors, and encoders disks are described which can be easily produced with semiconductor processes, such as a detector array provided with lens to collimate light and enhance detection. Integrated sensor chips include an array of photodetectors that receive energy from a beam emitted from an emitter and modulated by an encoder disk, analog-to-digital converters, state machines, counters, a communication module, a sensor processing unit, and a force computation unit. One embodiment includes low resolution and high resolution modes and an emitter controlled by sensor circuitry. A detector for an optical encoder can be provided on a single chip that includes a first array of photodetectors used for absolute sensing of a moving object, and a second array of photodetectors used for incremental sensing of the moving object.

US Patent:

6697044, Feb 24, 2004

Filed:

Dec 19, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/741310

Inventors:

Erik J. Shahoian - San Leandro CA
Christopher J. Hasser - San Jose CA
Louis B. Rosenberg - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345156

Abstract:

A haptic feedback control device, such as a handheld remote control or handheld game controller, for controlling a graphical object within a graphical display and for outputting forces to a user. A housing includes a button, wherein the user engages the button with a finger. The button is depressible along a degree of freedom by the user. An actuator applies forces to the user through the button along the degree of freedom. A sensor detects displacement of the button along the degree of freedom when the button is depressed by the user. A processor, local to the device, controls the actuator to generate the forces upon the button in the degree of freedom to provide a tactile sensation to the user contacting the button.

US Patent:

6704683, Mar 9, 2004

Filed:

Apr 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/300147

Inventors:

Christopher J. Hasser - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G01P 300

US Classification:

702147, 702145, 324165

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for providing a direct velocity of a moving object using nonlinear period measurement. A pulse signal from an encoder indicates the detection of a passage of a point on a moving sensor element, such as a mark on an encoder disk. A counter is then made to count down from a higher value to a lower value, where counts by the counter are made at a variable, nonlinear rate. The rate is faster when the count begins and gets slower as the count continues, reducing the possibility that the counter will overflow before the next encoder signal is received. The counter value is output and the counter is reset when another encoder signal is received, where the output value is directly related to the velocity of the object. In a different method and apparatus, first and second values, such as PWM or DAC commands, are provided to an actuator to output as forces. The values are differenced a rate of change of the force values is determined.

US Patent:

6833846, Dec 21, 2004

Filed:

Oct 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/279260

Inventors:

Christopher J. Hasser - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345701, 345157, 345702, 463 38

Abstract:

Systems and methods for reducing limit cycle oscillations of a haptic device. A net force applied to the device is a combination of a primary force computed in a main haptic loop and a secondary force computed in a damping loop that cancels or minimizes the oscillations. Various algorithms for computing the secondary force are provided. In one algorithm, the secondary force is determined from the momentum error associated with crossing of a wall position by the manipulandum and is applied immediately after the crossing is detected. In another algorithm, a periodically varying secondary force with a phase shift relative to the phase of the oscillating manipulandum is computed.

US Patent:

6928386, Aug 9, 2005

Filed:

Mar 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/391060

Inventors:

Christopher J. Hasser - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H01L031/00

US Classification:

702163, 2502141, 250200, 359197

Abstract:

Embodiments of high-resolution optical encoders having phased-array photodetectors and integrated on semiconductor chips. Emitters, detectors, and encoders disks are described which can be easily produced with semiconductor processes, such as a detector array provided with lens to collimate light and enhance detection. Integrated sensor chips include an array of photodetectors that receive energy from a beam emitted from an emitter and modulated by an encoder disk, analog-to-digital converters, state machines, counters, a communication module, a sensor processing unit, and a force computation unit. One embodiment includes low resolution and high resolution modes and an emitter controlled by sensor circuitry. A detector for an optical encoder can be provided on a single chip that includes a first array of photodetectors used for absolute sensing of a moving object, and a second array of photodetectors used for incremental sensing of the moving object.

US Patent:

6937033, Aug 30, 2005

Filed:

Jun 27, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/894985

Inventors:

Allen R. Boronkay - San Jose CA, US
Bruce M. Schena - Menlo Park CA, US
Christopher J. Hasser - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G01R027/08

US Classification:

324714

Abstract:

A position sensor includes a resistive element positionable on a first surface. A pair of leads are on the resistive element, the pair of leads adapted to supply a first voltage, such as by being grounded. An intermediate lead is positioned on the resistive element between the pair of leads, the intermediate lead being adapted to provide a second voltage. A contact element is positionable on a second surface, the contact element adapted to contact at least a portion of the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being related to the position or movement of the second surface relative to the first surface. In another version, a position sensor includes a resistive element comprising first and second resistive strips. A plurality of leads are positioned on each resistive strip to provide a voltage to each resistive strip.

US Patent:

7209028, Apr 24, 2007

Filed:

Mar 14, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/080795

Inventors:

Allen R. Boronkay - San Jose CA, US
Bruce M. Schena - Menlo Park CA, US
Christopher J. Hasser - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H01C 7/18

US Classification:

338205, 338 47, 324714

Abstract:

A position sensor comprises a resistive element positionable on a first surface. A pair of leads are on the resistive element, the pair of leads adapted to supply a first voltage, such as by being grounded. An intermediate lead is positioned on the resistive element between the pair of leads, the intermediate lead being adapted to provide a second voltage. A contact element is positionable on a second surface, the contact element adapted to contact at least a portion of the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being related to the position or movement of the second surface relative to the first surface. In another version, a position sensor comprises a resistive element comprising first and second resistive strips. A plurality of leads are positioned on each resistive strip to provide a voltage to each resistive strip.