HAPTIC ACTUATOR INCORPORATING ELECTROPERMANENT MAGNET
First Claim
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1. A haptic actuator comprising:
- an electropermanent magnet having a deactivated state and an activated state for a net magnetic field thereof, wherein the electropermanent magnet comprises,a first magnet having magnetic poles that are selectively switchable between a first polarity and a second polarity opposite the first polarity,a second magnet adjacent to the first magnet and having its magnetic poles fixed at the first polarity, anda device adjacent to the first magnet and configured to switch a polarity of the magnetic poles of the first magnet between the first polarity and the second polarity; and
a layer of ferromagnetic material or magneto-active polymer located opposite an end of the electropermanent magnet, and configured to generate a haptic effect by being actuated toward the end of the electropermanent magnet in response to the net magnetic field of the electropermanent magnet being in the activated state.
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Abstract
A haptic actuator is presented. The haptic actuator has an electropermanent magnet having a deactivated state and an activated state for a net magnetic field thereof. A layer of ferromagnetic material or magneto-active polymer is located opposite an end of the electropermanent magnet, and is configured to generate a haptic effect by being actuated toward the end of the electropermanent magnet in response to the net magnetic field of the electropermanent magnet being in the activated state.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A haptic actuator comprising:
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an electropermanent magnet having a deactivated state and an activated state for a net magnetic field thereof, wherein the electropermanent magnet comprises, a first magnet having magnetic poles that are selectively switchable between a first polarity and a second polarity opposite the first polarity, a second magnet adjacent to the first magnet and having its magnetic poles fixed at the first polarity, and a device adjacent to the first magnet and configured to switch a polarity of the magnetic poles of the first magnet between the first polarity and the second polarity; and a layer of ferromagnetic material or magneto-active polymer located opposite an end of the electropermanent magnet, and configured to generate a haptic effect by being actuated toward the end of the electropermanent magnet in response to the net magnetic field of the electropermanent magnet being in the activated state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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12. (canceled)
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17. A haptic enabled device, comprising:
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a housing having a support surface; and at least one haptic actuator mounted on the support surface, the haptic actuator comprising, an electropermanent magnet having a deactivated state and an activated state for a net magnetic field thereof, and a layer of ferromagnetic material or magneto-active polymer attached to or in contact with an interior surface of the haptic enabled device, wherein the layer of ferromagnetic material or magneto-active polymer faces the support surface on which the haptic actuator is mounted and is located opposite a corresponding end of the electropermanent magnet, and is configured to generate a haptic effect at an exterior surface of the haptic enabled device by being deformed toward the end of the electropermanent magnet in response to the net magnetic field of the electropermanent magnet in the activated state. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A haptic enabled device, comprising:
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a housing having a support surface; a display device attached to the housing and having a front surface that forms part of an exterior surface of the haptic enabled device, and a back surface that forms part of an interior surface of the haptic enabled device; and an array of haptic actuators mounted on the support surface, each of the array of haptic actuators comprising, a corresponding electropermanent magnet of a plurality of electropermanent magnets, wherein the corresponding electropermanent magnet has a deactivated state and an activated state for a net magnetic field thereof, and a corresponding portion of a plurality of co-planar portions of a layer of ferromagnetic material or magneto-active polymer, the layer facing the support surface on which the array of haptic actuators are mounted, wherein the corresponding portion of the layer of ferromagnetic material or magneto-active polymer is attached to or in contact with the back surface of the display device, is located opposite an end of the corresponding electropermanent magnet, and is configured to generate a haptic effect at the front surface of the display device by being deformed toward the end of the corresponding electropermanent magnet in response to the net magnetic field of the corresponding electropermanent magnet in the activated state. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification