Wearable haptic feedback devices and methods of fabricating wearable haptic feedback devices

• US 9,741,215 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2015
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Brav, Ehren J., Bright, G. Scott, Buesseler, Joshua, Chan, Alistair K., Duncan, William David, Kaser, Aren Anders, Lowe, Jr., Edward Stephen, McBeath, Sean Gregory, McClellan, Carole, Murphy, Sean Patrick, Singer, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US14/965,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20160171846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 463 7, 463 20, 463 22, 463 25, 463 29, 463 30, 463 39
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

Embodiments include wearable haptic feedback devices and methods of fabricating wearable haptic feedback devices. In an illustrative embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, a wearable haptic feedback device includes: a wearable headgear cap; a web disposed within the cap; a plurality of haptic elements disposed about the web and configured to provide haptic feedback to a user; and an interface circuit configured to operatively couple the plurality of haptic elements to an electronic system.

Claims

1. A wearable haptic feedback device comprising:

a wearable headgear cap;

a web disposed within the cap;

a plurality of haptic elements disposed about the web and configured to provide haptic feedback to a user; and

an interface circuit configured to operatively couple the plurality of haptic elements to an electronic system, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to adjust an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the wearable headgear cap includes a size adjustment device.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a placement-assist member disposed on an external surface of the wearable headgear cap.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the web includes a vibration-reducing covering.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of haptic elements includes a tip disposed toward the user.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of haptic elements includes a vibration-reducing covering disposed toward the user.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to increase an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to decrease an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one light disposed on an external surface of the wearable headgear cap and operatively coupled to the interface circuit.

10. A wearable haptic feedback device comprising:

a wearable headgear cap shaped to conform to a user'"'"'s head, the wearable headgear cap including a size adjustment device;

a web disposed within the cap;

a plurality of haptic elements disposed about the web and configured to provide haptic feedback to a user; and

an interface circuit configured to operatively couple the plurality of haptic elements to an electronic system, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to adjust an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a placement-assist member disposed on an external surface of the wearable headgear cap.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the web includes a vibration-reducing covering.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of haptic elements includes a tip disposed toward the user.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of haptic elements includes a vibration-reducing covering disposed toward the user.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to increase an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to decrease an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

17. The device of claim 10, further comprising at least one light disposed on an external surface of the wearable headgear cap and operatively coupled to the interface circuit.

18. A wearable haptic feedback device comprising:

a wearable headgear cap shaped to conform to a user'"'"'s head;

a placement-assist member disposed on an external surface of the wearable headgear cap;

a web disposed within the cap;

a plurality of haptic elements disposed about the web and configured to provide haptic feedback to a user; and

an interface circuit configured to operatively couple the plurality of haptic elements to an electronic system, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to adjust an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the wearable headgear cap includes a size adjustment device.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the web includes a vibration-reducing covering.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of haptic elements includes a tip disposed toward the user.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of haptic elements includes a vibration-reducing covering disposed toward the user.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to increase an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

24. The device of claim 18, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to decrease an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

25. The device of claim 18, further comprising at least one light disposed on an external surface of the wearable headgear cap and operatively coupled to the interface circuit.

26. A wearable haptic feedback device comprising:

a wearable headgear cap shaped to conform to a user'"'"'s head;

a web disposed within the cap, the web including a vibration-reducing covering;

a plurality of haptic elements disposed about the web and configured to provide haptic feedback to a user; and

an interface circuit configured to operatively couple the plurality of haptic elements to an electronic system, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to adjust an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the wearable headgear cap includes a size adjustment device.

28. The device of claim 26, further comprising a placement-assist member disposed on an external surface of the wearable headgear cap.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein at least one of the plurality of haptic elements includes a tip disposed toward the user.

30. The device of claim 26, wherein at least one of the plurality of haptic elements includes a vibration-reducing covering disposed toward the user.

31. The device of claim 26, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to increase an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

32. The device of claim 26, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to decrease an amount of vibration of first ones of the plurality of haptic elements based upon location of the haptic element in relation to a head of the user.

33. The device of claim 26, further comprising at least one light disposed on an external surface of the wearable headgear cap and operatively coupled to the interface circuit.