Haptic information provision device

• US 10,204,494 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CK Materials Lab Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: CK Materials Lab Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Do, Seoung Hun, Kim, Hyeong Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselassie
• Application Number:
  US15/543,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20170372565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0015 providing information, e.g. bracelets with calendars identification bracelets G09F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/166 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/25 using haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/24 Direction of travel
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/12 Lane keeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3652 Guidance using non-audiovisual output, e.g. tactile, haptic or electric stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/447 characterised by magnetoviscosity, e.g. magnetorheological, magnetothixotropic, magnetodilatant liquids electrorheological fluids C10M171/001
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

The present invention relates to a haptic information provision device. The haptic information provision device (100) according to the present invention comprises: a receiver (120) for receiving external notification information; a controller (130) for converting the notification information to a haptic signal; and an operation unit (110) for transferring haptic information to a user according to the haptic signal, wherein the operation unit (110) includes a plurality of operation units (110a-110j), the respective operation units (110a-110j) operating in response to different notification information and thus transferring different haptic information to the user.

Claims

1. A tactile information supply device comprising:

a receiver for receiving external notification information;

a controller for converting the notification information to a tactile signal; and

an operator for providing a user with tactile information according to the tactile signal,

wherein the operator includes a plurality of operation units and each of the operation units operates in response to different notification information to provide different tactile information to the user,

wherein the plurality of operation units provides at least one tactile information of brushing, constriction, beating, pressing, tapping and tilting,

wherein the operation unit comprises;

a tactile sensation provider having a shape or position that changes in response to a magnetic field; and

a magnetic field generator for generating the magnetic field to change the shape or position of the tactile sensation provider, and

wherein the tactile sensation provider includes a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) or a magnetorheological elastomer (MRE).

2. The tactile information supply device of claim 1, further comprising:

a terminal coupling portion to which an external terminal can be coupled,

wherein, when the terminal is coupled to the terminal coupling portion, the receiver receives notification information from a notification information transmitter of the terminal.

3. The tactile information supply device of claim 2,

wherein the notification information includes app information according to an application included in the terminal, and

wherein at least one of an operation intensity and an operation pulse of each operation unit is controlled in accordance with the app information.

4. The tactile information supply device of claim 1,

wherein the operation unit comprises:

a tactile sensation provider having a shape or position that changes in response to a magnetic field; and

a magnetic field generator for generating the magnetic field to change the shape or position of the tactile sensation provider.

5. The tactile information supply device of claim 4,

wherein the tactile sensation provider maintains a first shape when not influenced by the magnetic field,

wherein the tactile sensation provider maintains a second shape when influenced by the magnetic field, and

wherein the tactile sensation provider produces a reciprocating motion between the second shape and the first shape, thereby providing tactile information.

6. The tactile information supply device of claim 5,

wherein at least one of a degree, a direction, and a frequency of the transformation from the first shape to the second shape is controlled by controlling at least one of an intensity, a direction, and a frequency of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator.

7. The tactile information supply device of claim 4,

wherein the tactile sensation provider maintains a first position when not influenced by the magnetic field,

wherein the tactile sensation provider maintains a second position when influenced by the magnetic field, and

wherein the tactile sensation provider produces a reciprocating motion between the second position and the first position, thereby providing tactile information.

8. The tactile information supply device of claim 7,

wherein at least one of a degree, a direction, and a frequency of the transformation from the first position to the second position is controlled by controlling at least one of an intensity, a direction, and a frequency of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator.

9. The tactile information supply device of claim 4,

wherein the tactile sensation provider includes at least one of iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni).

10. The tactile information supply device of claim 4,

wherein the tactile sensation provider includes a base portion, and a protrusion portion and a recess portion formed alternately on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the base portion.

11. The tactile information supply device of claim 10,

wherein a part of a shape of the base portion is changed when influenced by the magnetic field, and the changed part of the shape of the base portion is restored to the original shape when not influenced by the magnetic field.

12. The tactile information supply device of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of operation units includes at least one of an eccentric motor, a linear resonant actuator, a piezoelectric actuator, an electroactive polymer actuator, and an electrostatic actuator.

13. The tactile information supply device of claim 1,

wherein the notification information includes route guidance information according to a location of the tactile information supply device, and

wherein at least one of an operation intensity and an operation pulse of each of the operation units is controlled according to the route guidance information.

14. The tactile information supply device of claim 13,

wherein each of the operation units operates corresponding to each direction information included in the notification information.

15. The tactile information supply device of claim 1,

wherein the notification information is received from a vehicle navigation system, and at least one of an operation intensity and an operation pulse of each of the operation units is controlled according to the notification information.

16. The tactile information supply device of claim 1,

wherein the notification information includes sender information, the sender transmitting information to the tactile information supply device, and

wherein at least one of an operation intensity and an operation pulse of each operation unit is controlled in accordance with the sender information.

17. A tactile information supply device comprising:

a core coupling portion to which a smart core for providing information can be attached or detached;

an operator connected to the core coupling portion and providing tactile information to a user;

a coupling portion provided on one side of the operator and configured to be fastened to a part of the body of the user,

wherein the operator provides at least one tactile information of brushing, constriction, beating, pressing, tapping and tilting, and

wherein the operator comprises;

a band portion in close contact with the body of the user; and

a plurality of operation units provided on the band portion, and wherein the operation unit comprises;

a tactile sensation provider having a shape or position that changes in response to a magnetic field; and

a magnetic field generator for generating the magnetic field to change the shape or position of the tactile sensation provider, and

wherein the tactile sensation provider includes a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) or a magnetorheological elastomer (MRE).

18. The tactile information supply device of claim 17,

wherein the core coupling portion converts notification information from the smart core to a tactile signal and provides the tactile signal to the operator.

19. The tactile information supply device of claim 17,

wherein the operator comprises:

a band portion in close contact with the body of the user; and

a plurality of operation units provided on the band portion.