Method and apparatus for providing multi-point haptic feedback texture systems
First Claim
1. A haptic device, comprising:
- a flexible surface layer capable of reconfiguring its surface characteristics;
a haptic substrate coupled to the flexible surface layer and configured to receive a first activating signal and to form a first physical surface pattern in response to the first activating signal, wherein the haptic substrate includes multiple tactile regions, wherein each tactile region is configured to be independently activated to form a surface shape of the haptic substrate; and
a deforming mechanism coupled to the flexible surface layer and configured to deform the flexible surface layer to a first surface characteristic in accordance with the first physical surface pattern after formation of the first physical surface pattern.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating haptic surface texture with a deformable surface layer are disclosed. The haptic device includes a flexible surface layer, a haptic substrate, and a deforming mechanism. The flexible surface layer is made of elastic materials and is capable of reconfiguring its surface characteristics. The haptic substrate, in one embodiment, provides a first pattern in response to a first activating signal. Alternatively, the haptic substrate is capable of providing a second pattern in accordance with a second activating signal. The deforming mechanism is configured to change the flexible surface from a first surface characteristic to a second surface characteristic in accordance with the first pattern.
28 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A haptic device, comprising:
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a flexible surface layer capable of reconfiguring its surface characteristics; a haptic substrate coupled to the flexible surface layer and configured to receive a first activating signal and to form a first physical surface pattern in response to the first activating signal, wherein the haptic substrate includes multiple tactile regions, wherein each tactile region is configured to be independently activated to form a surface shape of the haptic substrate; and a deforming mechanism coupled to the flexible surface layer and configured to deform the flexible surface layer to a first surface characteristic in accordance with the first physical surface pattern after formation of the first physical surface pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of providing a haptic texture surface, comprising:
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generating a first physical surface pattern with a haptic substrate via haptic feedback in response to a first substrate activating signal received by the haptic substrate, wherein the haptic substrate includes multiple tactile regions, wherein each tactile region is configured to be independently activated to form a physical surface shape of the haptic substrate; activating a deforming generator to generate a deforming force to change a shape of a flexible surface layer located above the haptic substrate, subsequent to said generating the first physical surface pattern; and reconfiguring a surface texture of the flexible surface layer to change the surface texture from a first surface characterization to a second surface characterization in accordance with the first physical surface pattern generated by the haptic substrate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification