Thermal Haptic Effects

• US 20090120105A1
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Ramsay, Erin B., Olien, Neil T.
• Application Number:
  US11/937,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20090120105A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

A thermal haptic feedback device includes a plurality of cells coupled to a processor. The processor controls each of the cells so that each cell can independently generate heating or cooling effects. Unique haptic effects, such as a simulated wind effect, can be generated by causing some cells to be hot or cold, or changing some of the cells from hot to cold.

Claims

1. A thermal haptic feedback device comprising:

a processor; and

a plurality of cells coupled to the processor, wherein each of the cells is adapted to independently generate hot and cold.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the cells comprises a Peltier junction.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the cells comprises a container that stores compressed gas.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the cells is coupled to a liquid system.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the liquid system is a closed loop system.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to create a wind haptic effect by rapidly changing each of the cells from hot to cold.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to create an object haptic effect by selecting a group of the plurality of cells;

wherein the group is approximately a shape of the object.

8. A method of generating a haptic effect comprising:

placing a garment on a skin of a user, wherein the garment comprises a plurality of cells; and

controlling the plurality of cells by independently causing at least some of the cells to generate heating or cooling effects.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises applying current to a Peltier junction.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises releasing compressed gas from a container.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises transferring fluid to the cells.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transferring comprises a closed water loop system.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises rapidly changing each of the cells from hot to cold to create a wind haptic effect.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises selecting a group of the plurality of cells;

wherein the group is approximately a shape of an object.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the object is a hand.

16. A haptic generation system comprising:

means for placing a plurality of cells against a skin of a user; and

means for controlling the plurality of cells by independently causing at least some of the cells to generate heating or cooling effects.

17. A method of generating a haptic effect to simulate an object comprising:

determining a group of cells from a plurality of cells that is shaped similar to the object; and

changing a thermal property for the group of cells.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the changing the thermal property comprises heating the group of cells.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of cells form a garment that is applied to a skin of a user.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the heating the group of cells comprises applying electricity to a Peltier junction.