Simulating obstruction in a virtual environment
First Claim
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1. A hand-wearable haptic interface device comprising:
- a joint-movement restrictor adapted to be positioned adjacent a finger joint when the device is worn on a hand of a user,wherein the movement restrictor is adapted to provide different magnitudes of flexion resistance force for resisting flexion of the finger joint based on a flexion resistance control signal, andwherein the joint-movement restrictor comprises a meta-material having a malleability which is adapted to vary based on an electric signal supplied to the meta-material, the supplied electric signal being based on the flexion resistance control signal;
a processing unit adapted to receive a flexion control signal from a control system and to generate the flexion resistance control signal based on the received control signal; and
a joint flexion sensor adapted to determine an angle of flexion of the finger joint and to generate a flexion feedback signal based on the determined angle of flexion of the finger joint, wherein the processing unit is adapted to generate the flexion resistance control signal further based on the flexion feedback signal,wherein the flexion resistance control signal simulates an object'"'"'s resistance or obstruction to movement or manipulation.
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Abstract
A hand-wearable haptic interface device for simulating interaction with a virtual object in a Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) environment is provided. The hand-wearable haptic interface device can provide improved simulation of an obstruction caused by a virtual object in a virtual or augmented reality environment. The device comprises a joint-movement restrictor adapted to be positioned adjacent a finger joint when the device is worn on a hand of a user. The movement restrictor is adapted to provide different magnitudes of flexion resistance force for resisting flexion of the finger joint based on a flexion resistance control signal.
42 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A hand-wearable haptic interface device comprising:
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a joint-movement restrictor adapted to be positioned adjacent a finger joint when the device is worn on a hand of a user, wherein the movement restrictor is adapted to provide different magnitudes of flexion resistance force for resisting flexion of the finger joint based on a flexion resistance control signal, and wherein the joint-movement restrictor comprises a meta-material having a malleability which is adapted to vary based on an electric signal supplied to the meta-material, the supplied electric signal being based on the flexion resistance control signal; a processing unit adapted to receive a flexion control signal from a control system and to generate the flexion resistance control signal based on the received control signal; and a joint flexion sensor adapted to determine an angle of flexion of the finger joint and to generate a flexion feedback signal based on the determined angle of flexion of the finger joint, wherein the processing unit is adapted to generate the flexion resistance control signal further based on the flexion feedback signal, wherein the flexion resistance control signal simulates an object'"'"'s resistance or obstruction to movement or manipulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A hand-wearable haptic interface device comprising:
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a joint-movement restrictor adapted to be positioned adjacent a finger joint when the device is worn on a hand of a user, wherein the movement restrictor is adapted to provide different magnitudes of flexion resistance force for resisting flexion of the finger joint based on a flexion resistance control signal, and wherein the joint-movement restrictor comprises an arrangement of electro-magnets having a repelling force between the electro-magnets which can vary based on an electric signal supplied to the electro-magnets, the supplied electric signal being based on the flexion resistance control signal; a processing unit adapted to receive a flexion control signal from a control system and to generate the flexion resistance control signal based on the received control signal; and a joint flexion sensor adapted to determine an angle of flexion of the finger joint and to generate a flexion feedback signal based on the determined angle of flexion of the finger joint, wherein the processing unit is adapted to generate the flexion resistance control signal further based on the flexion feedback signal, wherein the flexion resistance control signal simulates an object'"'"'s resistance or obstruction to movement or manipulation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for simulating interaction with a virtual object in a virtual or augmented reality environment, the method comprising:
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calculating a resistance that a hand of a user would encounter when interacting with a real-world object corresponding to the virtual object; sensing an angle of flexion of a finger joint on the hand of the user and generating a flexion feedback signal indicating the sensed angle of flexion of the finger joint; calculating a flexion resistance force based on the calculated real-world resistance and the sensed angle of flexion in response to the flexion feedback signal and generating a flexion resistance control signal indicating the calculated flexion resistance force; and applying, through a hand-wearable haptic interface device, the flexion resistance force to the finger joint to restrict flexion of the finger joint. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification