Haptic effect enabled system using fluid
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A haptic enabled apparatus comprising:
- a fluid;
a substrate being at least partially flexible and defining a contact portion that protrudes from a surface of the substrate and a channel in a main portion of the substrate,the fluid moving within at least a portion of the channel extending through or near the contact portion,the contact portion of the substrate generating a haptic effect in response to the fluid moving within the portion of the channel; and
a stiffness of the contact portion being less than or greater than a stiffness of the main portion;
a pump arranged to selectively move fluid through the channel; and
a controller electrically connected to the pump, the controller configured to deliver a signal to the pump, the signal embodying haptic information.
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Abstract
A haptic effect enabled system generates a haptic effect using an electric potential responsive fluid. A haptic enabled apparatus includes a fluid and a substrate. The fluid is responsive to an electric field. The substrate is at least partially flexible and defines a channel. The fluid is positioned within at least a portion of the channel. A portion of the substrate proximal to the fluid is stiffer than a portion of the substrate spaced from the fluid, thereby creating a haptic effect.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A haptic enabled apparatus comprising:
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a fluid; a substrate being at least partially flexible and defining a contact portion that protrudes from a surface of the substrate and a channel in a main portion of the substrate, the fluid moving within at least a portion of the channel extending through or near the contact portion, the contact portion of the substrate generating a haptic effect in response to the fluid moving within the portion of the channel; and a stiffness of the contact portion being less than or greater than a stiffness of the main portion; a pump arranged to selectively move fluid through the channel; and a controller electrically connected to the pump, the controller configured to deliver a signal to the pump, the signal embodying haptic information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of generating haptics, the method comprising:
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providing a signal to a pump configured to selectively move fluid through a channel defined in a flexible substrate, the signal including haptic information; and moving the fluid, using the pump, within at least a portion of the channel extending through or near a contact portion defined in the flexible substrate, the contact portion protruding from a surface of the flexible substrate, the contact portion of the substrate generating a haptic effect in response to the fluid moving within the portion of the channel, and a stiffness of the contact portion being less than or greater than a stiffness of the main portion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A haptic-enabled apparatus wearable by a person, the apparatus comprising:
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a wearable article; a substrate being at least partially flexible and defining a contact portion that protrudes from a surface of the substrate and a channel in a main portion of the substrate, the fluid moving within at least a portion of the channel extending through or near the contact portion, the contact portion of the substrate generating a haptic effect in response to the fluid moving within the portion of the channel, and a stiffness of the contact portion being less than or greater than a stiffness of the main portion; a pump arranged to selectively move fluid through the channel; and a controller electrically connected to the pump, the controller configured to deliver a signal to the pump, the signal embodying haptic information. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification