HAPTIC DEVICE INCORPORATING STRETCH CHARACTERISTICS

• US 20150253848A1
• Filed: 12/29/2013
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Heubel, Robert W., Jose, Francis
• Granted Patent: US 9,501,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets

Abstract

Systems using haptic effect output devices with stretch characteristics are provided. In some embodiments, the stretch haptic effect output devices provide stretch effects responsive to software control. In other embodiments, the stretch haptic effect output devices provide stretch effects responsive to user input as well. Moreover, in some embodiments, the stretch haptic effect output devices provide stretch effects in conjunction and coordination with non-stretch haptic effect output devices as well.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A method of producing a haptic effect, comprising:

receiving a stretch input signal at a processor through a stretchable sensor coupled to the processor;

determining at the processor whether a stretchable haptic effect output response should occur;

sending a signal from the processor to a stretchable haptic effect output device coupled to the processor as an activation signal responsive to the determining whether the stretchable haptic effect output response should occur;

and

activating the stretchable haptic effect output device coupled to the processor responsive to the signal from the processor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the stretchable haptic effect output device is selected from one of the group comprising a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, an electrostatic friction device, an ultrasonic surface friction device, or a combination of a haptic substrate and a deformable surface.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the stretchable sensor is selected from one of the group comprising a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, or a deformable surface.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sending a signal from the processor to an external component through a communications interface coupled to the processor;

receiving a signal at the processor from the external component through the communications interface coupled to the processor;

and

wherein determining at the processor whether a haptic effect output response should occur is based on the signal received at the processor from the external component.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sending a signal from the processor to a secondary haptic effect output device coupled to the processor as an activation signal responsive to the determining whether the haptic effect output response should occur;

and

activating the secondary haptic effect output device coupled to the processor responsive to the signal from the processor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the secondary haptic effect output device is selected from one of the group comprising an eccentric rotating mass, linear resonant actuator, a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, an electrostatic friction device, an ultrasonic surface friction device, an ultrasonic haptic transducer, a combination of a haptic substrate and a deformable surface, or an air jet.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the processor, stretchable sensor and the stretchable haptic effect output device are all embedded in a wearable object.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the processor, stretchable sensor and the stretchable haptic effect output device are all included in a controller.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein:

activating the stretchable haptic output device includes producing a haptic effect resulting in a rigid outline on an exterior surface of the stretchable haptic output device.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein:

activating the stretchable haptic output device includes producing a haptic effect resulting in a compressable surface on an exterior surface of the stretchable haptic output device.

16. The method of claim 6, wherein:

activating the stretchable haptic output device includes producing a haptic effect resulting in a predetermined pattern on an exterior surface of the stretchable haptic output device.

17-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A haptic effect enabled apparatus comprising:

a stretchable haptic effect output device;

a sensor coupled to the stretchable haptic effect output device;

a processor coupled to the stretchable haptic effect output device, the processor further coupled to the sensor;

and

a communications interface coupled to the processor.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:

the stretchable haptic effect output device is selected from one of the group comprising a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, an electrostatic friction device, an ultrasonic surface friction device, or a combination of a haptic substrate and a deformable surface.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:

the stretchable sensor is selected from one of the group comprising a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, or a deformable surface.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a secondary haptic effect output device coupled to the processor.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein:

the secondary haptic effect output device is selected from one of the group comprising an eccentric rotating mass, linear resonant actuator, a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, an electrostatic friction device, an ultrasonic surface friction device, an ultrasonic haptic transducer, a combination of a haptic substrate and a deformable surface, or an air jet.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:

the processor, stretchable sensor and the stretchable haptic effect output device are all embedded in a wearable object.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein:

the processor, stretchable sensor and the stretchable haptic effect output device are all included in a controller.

33. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

an external component coupled through the communications interface coupled to the processor.

34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:

the processor, stretchable sensor and the stretchable haptic effect output device are all embedded in a wearable object.

35. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:

the processor, stretchable sensor and the stretchable haptic effect output device are all included in a controller.

36. A haptic effect enabled apparatus comprising:

a first haptic effect output device, the first haptic output device providing output through use of a stretchable material;

a sensor coupled to the first haptic effect output device;

a processor coupled to the first haptic effect output device, the processor further coupled to the sensor;

a communications interface coupled to the processor;

and

a second haptic effect output device coupled to the processor.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

the first haptic effect output device is selected from one of the group comprising a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, an electrostatic friction device, an ultrasonic surface friction device, or a combination of a haptic substrate and a deformable surface.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

the second haptic effect output device is selected from one of the group comprising an eccentric rotating mass, linear resonant actuator, a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, an electrostatic friction device, an ultrasonic surface friction device, an ultrasonic haptic transducer, a combination of a haptic substrate and a deformable surface, or an air jet.

39. (canceled)