Systems and Methods For A Friction Rotary Device For Haptic Feedback

• US 20110115754A1
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel
• Application Number:
  US12/947,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20110115754A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/184
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction

Abstract

Systems and methods for a friction rotary device for haptic feedback are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes: a haptic device including: a passive actuator including: a rotatable plate; a fixed plate configured to apply friction to the rotatable plate; a piezoelectric material mounted to one of the fixed plate or the rotatable plate, the piezoelectric material configured to receive a first haptic signal and vibrate; and a rotatable object configured to be connected to the rotatable plate.

Claims

1. A haptic device comprising:

a passive actuator comprising;

a rotatable plate;

a fixed plate configured to apply friction to the rotatable plate;

a piezoelectric material mounted to one of the fixed plate or the rotatable plate, the piezoelectric material configured to receive a first haptic signal and vibrate; and

a rotatable object configured to be connected to the rotatable plate.

2. The passive actuator of claim 1, wherein the first haptic signal is an ultrasonic signal.

3. The passive actuator of claim 1, wherein the vibration is configured to reduce the friction applied to the rotatable plate.

4. The passive actuator of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric material is a piezoceramic plate.

5. The passive actuator of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric material is mounted between the fixed plate and the rotatable plate.

6. The passive actuator of claim 1, wherein the rotatable object is mounted to the rotatable plate.

7. The passive actuator of claim 1, wherein the rotatable object comprises a knob.

8. The passive actuator of claim 1, wherein the rotatable plate is mounted to define a gap between the rotatable plate and the fixed plate.

9. The haptic device of claim 1, further comprising a coupling between the rotatable plate and the rotatable object.

10. The passive actuator of claim 9, wherein the coupling comprises a flexible coupling.

11. The haptic device of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller.

12. The haptic device of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller is configured to adjust a characteristic of the first haptic signal.

13. The haptic device of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller is configured to transmit a second haptic signal to an active actuator configured to output a second haptic effect.

14. The haptic device of claim 13, wherein the active actuator comprises one of:

a piezoelectric actuator, an electric motor, an electro-magnetic actuator, a voice coil, a shape memory alloy, an electro-active polymer, a solenoid, an eccentric rotating mass motor (ERM), or a linear resonant actuator (LRA).

15. The haptic device of claim 11, further comprising a sensor configured to detect motion of the rotatable object and transmit a sensor signal to the microcontroller.

16. The haptic device of claim 15, wherein the microcontroller is configured to adjust a characteristic of the first haptic signal based at least in part on the sensor signal.

17. The haptic device of claim 15, wherein the sensor is an optical encoder.

18. The haptic device of claim 11, further comprising a voltage source configured to be controlled by the microcontroller to modify a characteristic of the first haptic signal.

19. A method comprising:

transmitting a first haptic signal to a piezoelectric material configured to receive the first haptic signal and vibrate, the piezoelectric material mounted to one of a rotatable plate or a fixed plate, the fixed plate configured to apply friction to the rotatable plate.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving a sensor signal indicating movement of a rotatable object connected to the rotatable plate, the rotatable object mounted such that the rotatable object and the rotatable plate rotate together.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising adjusting a characteristic of the first haptic signal based at least in part on the sensor signal.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting a second haptic signal correspondence to a second haptic effect to an active actuator configured to output the second haptic effect.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the second haptic signal is determined based at least in part on a second sensor signal indicating movement of the rotatable object.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein transmitting the first haptic signal comprises determining a rotary haptic effect.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the rotary haptic effect comprises one of:

a detent, a hill, a barrier, a hard stop, or a continuous force.

26. A haptic feedback system comprising:

a passive actuator comprising;

a rotatable plate;

a fixed plate configured to apply friction to the rotatable plate;

a piezoelectric material mounted to the fixed plate and configured to receive an ultrasonic haptic signal and vibrate, the vibration configured to modify the friction between the fixed plate and the rotatable plate; and

a rotatable knob connected to the rotatable plate, such that the rotatable knob and rotatable plate rotate together;

a microcontroller configured to receive a sensor signal from a sensor configured to detect motion of the rotatable knob, the microcontroller further configured to adjust a characteristic of the ultrasonic haptic signal based at least in part on the sensor signal; and

a display configured to display a user interface comprising setting which can be adjusted by manipulating the rotatable knob.