Providing fingertip tactile feedback from virtual objects
First Claim
1. A wearable haptic thimble for use with a virtual reality system, comprising:
- a housing having a slot;
an attachment mechanism for engaging a finger of a user and the slot in the housing,wherein the attachment mechanism is sized to rest on the finger of the user and is sized to substantially surround a portion of the finger of the user,wherein the attachment mechanism includes a tab sized to engage the slot in the housing;
at least one contact pad within the housing, the at least one contact pad configured to move relative to the finger of the user to provide a tactile representation of virtual reality in the virtual reality system;
wherein the attachment mechanism includes a sleeve coupled with the tab, wherein the sleeve includes;
at least one opening permitting access to the tip of the finger; and
at least one retaining member for maintaining a position of the portion of the finger within the sleeve relative to the tab, wherein the opening allows the contact pad to contact the tip of the finger to provide the tactile representation;
a sensor coupled with the housing, the sensor for sensing at least one of a position or an orientation of the wearable haptic thimble; and
at least one computing device coupled with the sensor and the at least one contact pad,wherein the at least one computing device instructs the at least one contact pad to move relative to the finger of the user and relative to the housing in response to the at least one of the position or the orientation of the wearable haptic thimble indicating the finger of the user is contacting a virtual object in virtual reality.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various systems, methods and computer program products are disclosed which provide fingertip tactile feedback from virtual objects. In various embodiments, a wearable haptic thimble is disclosed. The wearable haptic thimble is configured for use with a virtual reality (or augmented reality) system, and may include: an attachment mechanism for engaging a finger of a user; and at least one contact pad coupled with the attachment mechanism, the at least one contact pad configured to deliver tactile sensations to the finger of the user to provide a tactile representation of virtual reality (or augmented reality) in the virtual reality (or augmented reality) system.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wearable haptic thimble for use with a virtual reality system, comprising:
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a housing having a slot; an attachment mechanism for engaging a finger of a user and the slot in the housing, wherein the attachment mechanism is sized to rest on the finger of the user and is sized to substantially surround a portion of the finger of the user, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a tab sized to engage the slot in the housing; at least one contact pad within the housing, the at least one contact pad configured to move relative to the finger of the user to provide a tactile representation of virtual reality in the virtual reality system; wherein the attachment mechanism includes a sleeve coupled with the tab, wherein the sleeve includes;
at least one opening permitting access to the tip of the finger; and
at least one retaining member for maintaining a position of the portion of the finger within the sleeve relative to the tab, wherein the opening allows the contact pad to contact the tip of the finger to provide the tactile representation;a sensor coupled with the housing, the sensor for sensing at least one of a position or an orientation of the wearable haptic thimble; and at least one computing device coupled with the sensor and the at least one contact pad, wherein the at least one computing device instructs the at least one contact pad to move relative to the finger of the user and relative to the housing in response to the at least one of the position or the orientation of the wearable haptic thimble indicating the finger of the user is contacting a virtual object in virtual reality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 17, 18)
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8. A wearable haptic thimble for use with an augmented reality system, comprising:
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a housing having a slot; an attachment mechanism for engaging a finger of a user and the slot in the housing, wherein the attachment mechanism is sized to rest on the finger of the user and is sized to substantially surround a portion of the finger of the user, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a tab sized to engage the slot in the housing; at least one contact pad within the housing, the at least one contact pad configured to move relative to the finger of the user to provide a tactile representation of augmented reality in the augmented reality system; wherein the attachment mechanism includes a sleeve coupled with the tab, wherein the sleeve includes;
at least one opening permitting access to the tip of the finger; and
at least one retaining member for maintaining a position of the portion of the finger within the sleeve relative to the tab, wherein the opening allows the contact pad to contact the tip of the finger to provide the tactile representation;a sensor coupled with the housing, the sensor for sensing at least one of a position or an orientation of the wearable haptic thimble; and at least one computing device coupled with the sensor and the at least one contact pad, wherein the at least one computing device instructs the at least one contact pad to move relative to the finger of the user and relative to the housing in response to the at least one of the position or the orientation of the wearable haptic thimble indicating the finger of the user is contacting a virtual object in augmented reality. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20)
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Specification