THERMALLY ACTIVATED HAPTIC OUTPUT DEVICE

• US 20170336869A1
• Filed: 05/17/2016
• Published: 11/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: KHOSHKAVA, Vahid, ALGHOONEH, Mansoor
• Granted Patent: US 10,444,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 Force feedback applied to a joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A haptic output device is configured to generate a deformation-based haptic effect and a vibration-based haptic effect. The haptic output device includes a shape memory material configured to change a shape thereof when heated and generate the deformation-based haptic effect, and a cooling device configured to cool the shape memory material and generate the vibration-based haptic effect.

Claims

1. A haptic output device configured to generate a deformation-based haptic effect and a vibration-based haptic effect, the haptic output device comprising:

a shape memory material configured to change a shape thereof when heated and generate the deformation-based haptic effect; and

a cooling device configured to cool the shape memory material and generate the vibration-based haptic effect.

2. The haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory material comprises a shape memory alloy.

3. The haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory material comprises a shape memory polymer.

4. The haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device comprises:

a frame,

a first piezoelectric actuator supported by the frame, and

a second piezoelectric actuator supported by the frame, and spaced from and in parallel relation to the first piezoelectric actuator,

wherein the frame, the first piezoelectric actuator, and the second piezoelectric actuator define a volume, and the frame comprises at least one opening configured to allow gas to flow out of the volume toward the shape memory material to cool the shape memory material.

5. A system comprising:

a sensor configured to sense an input of a user of the system;

a haptic output device configured to generate a deformation-based haptic effect and a vibration-based haptic effect based on the input sensed by the sensor, the haptic output device comprising

a shape memory material configured to change a shape thereof when heated and generate the deformation-based haptic effect, and

a cooling device configured to cool the shape memory material and generate the vibration-based haptic effect.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the shape memory material comprises a shape memory alloy.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the shape memory material comprises a shape memory polymer.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the cooling device comprises:

a frame,

a first piezoelectric actuator supported by the frame, and

a second piezoelectric actuator supported by the frame, and spaced from and in parallel relation to the first piezoelectric actuator,

wherein the frame, the first piezoelectric actuator, and the second piezoelectric actuator define a volume, and the frame comprises at least one opening configured to allow gas to flow out of the volume toward the shape memory material to cool the shape memory material.

9. The system according to claim 5, further comprising a controller configured to receive a first signal from the sensor, determine an overall haptic effect to be generated based on the first signal, and output a second signal to the haptic output device to generate the deformation-based haptic effect and the vibration-based haptic effect.

10. A method for providing an overall haptic effect, the method comprising:

heating a shape memory material to generate a deformation-based haptic effect; and

cooling the shape memory material and generating a vibration-based haptic effect with a cooling device.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

sensing an input by a user of a system with a sensor, the system comprising the sensor and a haptic output device;

determining the overall haptic effect to be generated based on a first signal output by the sensor; and

outputting a second signal to the haptic output device to generate the deformation-based haptic effect and the vibration-based haptic effect.