INTEGRATED HAPTIC FEEDBACK SIMULATING DEVICE USING KINESTHESIA PROVIDING MODULE INCLUDING MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL FLUID AND THIN-FILM-TYPE TACTILE SENSATION PROVIDING MODULE

• US 20160054800A1
• Filed: 08/04/2015
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yeonhab Precision Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yeonhab Precision Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Bonggu, SIM, Soungbo, KIM, Sang-Youn, KIM, Seoknam
• Granted Patent: US 9,354,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• 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 3/017 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 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

An integrated haptic feedback simulating device using a kinesthesia providing module including a magnetorheological fluid and a thin-film-type tactile sensation providing module. The integrated haptic feedback simulating device includes a motion controlling section providing kinesthetic feedback and tactile feedback to a hand of a user, a system controlling section detecting motions of the hand and providing an integrated haptic feedback control signal to the motion controlling section, and a display section visually rendering a graphic object according to the detected motions of the hand. The integrated haptic feedback simulating device can provide synesthetic haptic feedback to the user in cooperation with a graphic interface displayed on the display section, thereby increasing the virtuality of the graphic object simulated on the display section.

Claims

1. An integrated haptic feedback simulating device comprising:

a motion controlling section providing kinesthetic feedback and tactile feedback to a hand of a user;

a system controlling section detecting motions of the hand, and providing an integrated haptic feedback control signal to the motion controlling section; and

a display section visually rendering a graphic object following the detected motions of the hand of the user,

wherein the motion controlling section comprises;

a kinesthesia actuator comprising a magnetorheological fluid, for providing the kinesthetic feedback to the hand of the user;

a tactile sensation actuator comprising a soft thin-film-type tactile sensation providing array, for providing the tactile feedback to the hand of the user; and

a local controlling section controlling the kinesthesia actuator and the tactile sensation actuator,

wherein the kinesthesia actuator and the tactile sensation actuator are disposed on at least two fingers of the hand of the user.

2. The integrated haptic feedback simulating device according to claim 1, wherein the tactile sensation actuator comprises:

a case covering side surfaces and a bottom surface of the soft thin-film-type tactile sensation providing array;

a friction section disposed on an outer side surface of the case; and

a receptacle containing the soft thin-film-type tactile sensation providing array, the case, and the friction section.

3. The integrated haptic feedback simulating device according to claim 1, wherein the soft thin-film-type tactile sensation providing array comprises:

a first substrate on which a first electrode is disposed;

a second substrate facing the first substrate, with a second electrode being disposed on the second substrate; and

a plurality of supports disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate,

wherein the plurality of supports defines a plurality of cavities between the first substrate and the second substrate.

4. The integrated haptic feedback simulating device according to claim 1, wherein the kinesthesia actuator comprises:

a plurality of unit breakers arranged in a single direction, each of the plurality of unit breakers comprising the magnetorheological fluid and a rotary shaft;

connecting blocks each disposed between adjacent unit breakers of the plurality of unit breakers; and

link plates connecting the rotary shafts adjacent unit breakers of the plurality of unit breakers.

5. The integrated haptic feedback simulating device according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of unit breakers comprises:

a first annular through bearing comprising the magnetorheological fluid;

a case member covering an outer side surface of the thrust bearing; and

an annular coil arranged in a second annular shape along an outer side surface of the case member,

wherein the rotary shaft is coupled on top of the thrust bearing, and rotates using rotating force supplied from the thrust bearing.

6. The integrated haptic feedback simulating device according to claim 5, wherein the thrust bearing comprises:

an upper bearing cover having a circular first guide groove;

a lower bearing cover having a second guide groove overlapping the first guide groove; and

a plurality of bearing balls disposed between the upper bearing cover and the lower bearing cover, and adjoining at least a portion of the first and second guide grooves,

wherein the magnetorheological fluid is disposed along with the plurality of bearing balls in a space between the upper bearing cover and the lower bearing cover.