SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING HAPTIC NOTIFICATIONS

• US 20150185849A1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: LEVESQUE, Vincent, BIRNBAUM, David M., WEDDLE, Amaya Becvar, LACROIX, Robert, CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Juan Manuel, GRANT, Danny A., OLIEN, Neil, RAMSAY, Erin B., MODARRES, Ali
• Granted Patent: US 9,529,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A system includes a sensor configured to sense relative movement between a surface and a user'"'"'s skin; a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect at the surface; and a processor configured to receive an input signal from the sensor indicating the sensed movement between the surface and the skin of the user, determine whether a notification is to be sent to the user, and output an output signal, based on the notification, to the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect if it is determined that the notification is to be sent to the user.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a sensor configured to sense relative movement between a surface and a user'"'"'s skin;

a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect at the surface; and

a processor configured to receive an input signal from the sensor indicating the sensed movement between the surface and the skin of the user, determine whether a notification is to be sent to the user, and output an output signal, based on the notification, to the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect if it is determined that the notification is to be sent to the user.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprises an electrostatic friction output device and the haptic effect is a change in friction of the surface.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic effect comprises ultrasonic vibrations.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is configured to deform the surface to provide the haptic effect.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the surface is on a housing of a computer.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the notification comprises a low battery warning.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the notification provides an indication of a number of unread messages in the user'"'"'s inbox.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the surface and the haptic output device are part of a wearable device.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the wearable device is selected from the group consisting of a watch, a bracelet, a necklace, and eye glasses.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the notification is based on at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of:

time, priority, and quantity.

11. A method comprising:

sensing movement between a surface and a user'"'"'s skin;

determining whether a notification is to be sent to the user; and

generating a haptic effect at the surface if it is determined that the notification is to be sent to the user.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein generating the haptic effect comprises changing friction of the surface.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the haptic effect comprises ultrasonic vibrations.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein generating the haptic effect comprises deforming the surface.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the notification is based on at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of:

time, priority, and quantity.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the surface is part of a wearable device.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the wearable device is selected from the group consisting of a watch, a bracelet, a necklace, and eye glasses.