Simulating touch in a virtual environment
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- an array of micro-touch simulators configured in an article of apparel, respective micro-touch simulators comprising one of a charged microsphere and a magnetic cylinder, that is movable to contact the skin of a user that is wearing the article;
a virtual module to receive an indicator of a virtual touch in a virtual environment, the indicator indicating an area of a physical touch and a texture of the physical touch to be simulated in the area;
a command module to generate a command that simulates the texture in the area by applying respective electric fields to the array of micro-touch simulators;
an execution module to execute the command causing the plurality of micro-touch simulators to touch the user in the area and according to the texture.
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Abstract
In various example embodiments, a system and method for simulating touch in a virtual environment is disclosed. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving an indicator of a touch in a virtual environment, the indicator including a physical touch location and a texture of the touch, generating one or more commands that simulate the texture of the touch at the physical touch location by stimulating one or more micro-touch simulators in an array of micro-touch simulators according to the texture of the touch at the physical touch location, and executing the one or more commands at the physical touch interface to simulate the touch at the physical touch location for the user.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an array of micro-touch simulators configured in an article of apparel, respective micro-touch simulators comprising one of a charged microsphere and a magnetic cylinder, that is movable to contact the skin of a user that is wearing the article; a virtual module to receive an indicator of a virtual touch in a virtual environment, the indicator indicating an area of a physical touch and a texture of the physical touch to be simulated in the area; a command module to generate a command that simulates the texture in the area by applying respective electric fields to the array of micro-touch simulators; an execution module to execute the command causing the plurality of micro-touch simulators to touch the user in the area and according to the texture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving an indicator of a touch in a virtual environment, the indicator including a physical touch area and a texture of the physical touch area; generating one or more commands that simulate the texture of the touch in the physical touch area by applying a field to one or more micro-touch simulators in an array of micro-touch simulators, respective micro-touch simulators comprising one of a charged microsphere and a magnetic cylinder, the field moving the micro-touch simulators according to the texture of the touch in the area of the physical touch location, the micro-touch simulators operating as part of a physical touch interface for a user of the virtual environment; executing the one or more commands at the physical touch interface to simulate the touch in the touch area. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A machine-readable memory storing executable instructions, which, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
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receiving an indicator of a touch in a virtual environment, the indicator including a physical touch area and a texture of the touch area; generating one or more commands that simulate the texture of the touch at the physical touch area by stimulating one or more micro-touch simulators in an array of micro-touch simulators at the physical touch area, the micro-touch simulators operating as part of a physical touch interface for a user of the virtual environment, each micro-touch simulator comprising one of a charged microsphere being movable using an electric field and a magnetic cylinder being movable using a magnetic field; executing the one or more commands at the physical touch interface to simulate the touch at the physical touch area. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification