SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHAPE DEFORMATION AND FORCE DISPLAY OF DEVICES

• US 20140320400A1
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: JIANG, Li, BIRNBAUM, David M., PIERON, Remy, ULLRICH, Christopher J., CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Juan Manuel, GRANT, Danny, MODARRES, Ali, LACROIX, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,268,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Various systems, devices, and methods for shape deformation of a haptic deformation display device are provided. For example, the haptic deformation display device may receive an input signal when the shape of the haptic deformation display device is in a first shape configuration. In response to the input signal, the haptic deformation display device may activate an actuator of the haptic deformation display device. The actuator may move a deformation component of the haptic deformation display device. The deformation component may at least partially defining a shape of the haptic deformation display device, thereby causing the shape of the haptic deformation display device to deform into a second shape configuration different from the first shape configuration. The second shape configuration may be substantially maintained.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A method for deforming a flexible housing of a haptic deformation display device, comprising:

receiving an input signal when the flexible housing of the haptic deformation display device is in a first shape configuration;

actuating an actuator in response to the input signal;

moving, by the actuator, a deformation component of the haptic deformation display device, the deformation component forming at least a portion of the flexible housing of the haptic deformation display device, thereby causing the flexible housing of the haptic deformation display device to deform into a second shape configuration different from the first shape configuration; and

substantially maintaining the second shape configuration.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the flexible housing comprises rubber.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the input signal is received in response to a virtual object interaction within an application that is executed within the haptic deformation display device.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the application is a gaming application.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the input signal is based upon a sensory input that is sensed by at least one sensor of the haptic deformation display device.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the sensory input comprises a gesture from a user.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the input signal corresponds to an event within an application that is executed within the haptic deformation display device.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the event comprises a user-driven event that is in response to a user action within the application.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the event comprises a user-independent event that is independent of a user action within the application.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein the moving the deformation component comprises moving the deformation component in a first direction and wherein the haptic deformation display device comprises a plurality of deformation components, the method further comprising:

moving at least one other deformation component in a second direction, the first direction different from the second direction.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the haptic deformation display device comprises a plurality of deformation components, wherein the plurality of deformation components are used to achieve a shape profile.

44. A haptic deformation display device, comprising:

an actuator;

a deformation component forming at least a portion of a flexible housing of the haptic deformation display device and

at least one processor configured to;

receive an input signal when the flexible housing of the haptic deformation display device is in a first shape configuration; and

cause the actuator to actuate in response to the input signal,

wherein the actuator is configured to move the deformation component to cause the flexible housing of the haptic deformation display device to deform into a second shape configuration different from the first shape configuration, wherein the actuator substantially maintains the second shape configuration.

45. The haptic deformation display device of claim 44, wherein the input signal is received in response to a virtual object interaction within an application that is executed within the haptic deformation display device.

46. The haptic deformation display device of claim 44, wherein the haptic deformation display device comprises at least one sensor, the processor further configured to:

receive a sensory input from the at least one sensor, wherein the received input signal is based on the sensory input.

47. The haptic deformation display device of claim 44, wherein the input signal corresponds to an event within an application that is executed within the haptic deformation display device.

48. The haptic deformation display device of claim 44, wherein the actuator is configured to move the deformation component in a first direction and wherein the haptic deformation display device comprises a plurality of deformation components, the actuator further configured to:

move at least one other deformation component in a second direction, the first motion different from the first motion.

49. The haptic deformation display device of claim 44, wherein the haptic deformation display device comprises a plurality of deformation components, wherein the plurality of deformation components are used to achieve a shape profile.

50. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to deform a flexible housing of a haptic deformation display device, the deforming comprising:

receiving an input signal when the flexible housing of the haptic deformation display device is in a first shape configuration;

actuating an actuator in response to the input signal;

moving, by the actuator, a deformation component of the haptic deformation display device, the deformation component forming at least a portion of the flexible housing of the haptic deformation display device, thereby causing the flexible housing of the haptic deformation display device to deform into a second shape configuration different from the first shape configuration; and

substantially maintaining the second shape configuration.

51. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein the input signal is received in response to a virtual object interaction within an application that is executed within the haptic deformation display device.

52. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein the input signal is based upon a sensory input that is sensed by at least one sensor of the haptic deformation display device.