Michael J Levin

US Patent:

6380925, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Feb 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/498536

Inventors:

Kenneth M. Martin - Palo Alto CA
Michael D. Levin - Sunnyvale CA
Adam C. Braun - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G06F 3033

US Classification:

345161

Abstract:

A mechanism for providing selective engagement of spring members to a user manipulatable object in a force feedback interface device. A moveable member included in a force feedback mechanism is moveable in a degree of freedom to transmit forces to the user manipulatable object, such as a joystick handle. A spring member can be selectively coupled and decoupled between a grounded member and the moveable member. The spring member provides a spring force on the moveable member that biases the joystick handle to a desired position, such as the center of the degree of freedom. A dynamic calibration procedure reduces inaccuracies when sensing the position of the user manipulandum by only reading new range limits when the actuator is not outputting a force in the direction of that limit. A capstan drive mechanism is preferably coupled between the actuator and linkage mechanism, where a capstan drum includes a curved end over which the cable is routed, the curved end including flanges to substantially prevent the cable from slipping of the sides of the end. The capstan drum includes a tensioning spring member coupled to one or both ends of the cable for tensioning the cable.

US Patent:

6686911, Feb 3, 2004

Filed:

Oct 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/680408

Inventors:

Michael D. Levin - Sunnyvale CA
Kenneth M. Martin - Palo Alto CA
Bruce M. Schena - Menlo Park CA
Adam C. Braun - Sunnyvale CA
Louis B. Rosenberg - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345184, 345156, 345161, 345970, 345974

Abstract:

The present invention provides a control knob on a device that allows a user to control functions of the device. In one embodiment, the knob is rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom and moveable in at least one transverse direction approximately perpendicular to the axis. An actuator is coupled to the knob to output a force in the rotary degree of freedom about the axis, thus providing force feedback. In a different embodiment, the knob is provided with force feedback in a rotary degree of freedom about an axis and is also moveable in a linear degree of freedom approximately parallel to the axis, allowing the knob to be pushed and/or pulled by the user. The device controlled by the knob can be a variety of types of devices, such as an audio device, video device, etc. The device can also include a display providing an image updated in response to manipulation of the knob. Detent forces can be provided for the knob by overlapping and adjusting ranges of closely-spaced detents in the rotary degree of freedom of the knob.

US Patent:

6904823, Jun 14, 2005

Filed:

Apr 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/116237

Inventors:

Michael D. Levin - Sunnyvale CA, US
Steven P. Vassallo - Redwood City CA, US

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

F16H015/00

US Classification:

74471XY, 7447312, 200 6188

Abstract:

A haptic shift device for use in shift-by-wire systems in vehicles. The haptic shift device includes a shift lever manipulatable by a user. At least one sensor detects a position of the shift lever, and a transmission gear of the vehicle is caused to be changed based on the position of the shift lever. At least one electrically-controlled actuator outputs a force on the shift lever. In some embodiments, the shift lever is moveable within a pattern and is blocked from areas outside the boundaries of the pattern. The actuator(s) can be active or passive, and/or a variable mechanical gate can be used to implement the pattern. Provided shifting modes can include automatic, manual, and/or sequential modes. Other shifting modes can also be provided.

US Patent:

7104152, Sep 12, 2006

Filed:

Dec 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/024576

Inventors:

Michael D. Levin - Sunnyvale CA, US
Steven P. Vassallo - Redwood City CA, US

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

F16H 15/00

US Classification:

74471XY, 4747312, 200 6188

Abstract:

A haptic shift device for use in shift-by-wire systems in vehicles. The haptic shift device includes a shift lever manipulatable by a user. At least one sensor detects a position of the shift lever, and a transmission gear of the vehicle is caused to be changed based on the position of the shift lever. At least one electrically-controlled actuator outputs a force on the shift lever. In some embodiments, the shift lever is moveable within a pattern and is blocked from areas outside the boundaries of the pattern. The actuator(s) can be active or passive, and/or a variable mechanical gate can be used to implement the pattern. Provided shifting modes can include automatic, manual, and/or sequential modes. Other shifting modes can also be provided.

US Patent:

7233313, Jun 19, 2007

Filed:

Nov 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/712199

Inventors:

Michael D. Levin - Sunnyvale CA, US
Kenneth M. Martin - Palo Alto CA, US
Bruce M. Schena - Menlo Park CA, US
Adam C. Braun - Sunnyvale CA, US
Louis B. Rosenberg - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G09G 5/00
G09G 5/08

US Classification:

345156, 345161, 345163, 345167, 345184, 74471 XY

Abstract:

The present invention provides a control knob on a device that allows a user to control functions of the device. In one embodiment, the knob is rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom and moveable in at least one transverse direction approximately perpendicular to the axis. An actuator is coupled to the knob to output a force in the rotary degree of freedom about the axis, thus providing force feedback. In a different embodiment, the knob is provided with force feedback in a rotary degree of freedom about an axis and is also moveable in a linear degree of freedom approximately parallel to the axis, allowing the knob to be pushed and/or pulled by the user. The device controlled by the knob can be a variety of types of devices, such as an audio device, video device, etc. The device can also include a display providing an image updated in response to manipulation of the knob. Detent forces can be provided for the knob by overlapping and adjusting ranges of closely-spaced detents in the rotary degree of freedom of the knob.

US Patent:

7245202, Jul 17, 2007

Filed:

Sep 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/938492

Inventors:

Michael D. Levin - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04B 3/36

US Classification:

3404071, 307114, 345184

Abstract:

Systems and methods for haptic devices are described. One described method comprises receiving a first input signal from a first control node and generating an output signal configured to administer a haptic effect on a second control node that is based at least in part on the first input signal.

US Patent:

7489309, Feb 10, 2009

Filed:

Nov 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/603294

Inventors:

Michael D. Levin - Sunnyvale CA, US
Kenneth M. Martin - Palo Alto CA, US
Bruce M. Schena - Menlo Park CA, US
Adam C. Braun - Sunnyvale CA, US
Louis B. Rosenberg - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Immersion Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G09G 5/00
G06F 3/033

US Classification:

345184, 345156, 345161, 345163, 345167

Abstract:

The present invention provides a control knob on a device that allows a user to control functions of the device. In one embodiment, the knob is rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom and moveable in at least one transverse direction approximately perpendicular to the axis. An actuator is coupled to the knob to output a force in the rotary degree of freedom about the axis, thus providing force feedback. In a different embodiment, the knob is provided with force feedback in a rotary degree of freedom about an axis and is also moveable in a linear degree of freedom approximately parallel to the axis, allowing the knob to be pushed and/or pulled by the user. The device controlled by the knob can be a variety of types of devices, such as an audio device, video device, etc. The device can also include a display providing an image updated in response to manipulation of the knob. Detent forces can be provided for the knob by overlapping and adjusting ranges of closely-spaced detents in the rotary degree of freedom of the knob.

US Patent:

7511738, Mar 31, 2009

Filed:

Mar 31, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/094218

Inventors:

Henry C. Kancler - Los Altos Hills CA, US
Tsi-Pin Choong - Los Altos Hills CA, US
Barry A. Wealand - San Jose CA, US
Leon K. Wood - Sunnyvale CA, US
Katarina Van Heusen - Menlo Park CA, US
John T. Reagan - Santa Clara CA, US
Theodore J. Mills - Cupertino CA, US
Michael A. Levin - Half Moon Bay CA, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

H04N 5/232
H04N 5/228
H04N 5/76
H04N 5/335
G06K 9/36

US Classification:

3482221, 34820899, 3482319, 348302, 382276

Abstract:

A system and method for three-axis stabilization of focal plane data. The system and method include performing a two-dimensional vertical shear transformation and a two-dimensional horizontal shear transformation. The system and method further incorporate a SIMD computer architecture and an array of addressable processing elements that process the field-of-view for a target image received by a focal plane array of detector elements. Each processing element includes a calculation device that calculates the row and column address of virtual pixels for a virtual field-of-view. The system and method further include a plurality of memory modules configured to store data in a plurality of addressable storage locations by column and row, and each memory module is identified with a different processing element. A dedicated memory routing network for the processing elements and memory modules permits the exchange of information between processing elements and memory modules associated with each processing element.