PASSIVE STIFFNESS AND ACTIVE DEFORMATION HAPTIC OUTPUT DEVICES FOR FLEXIBLE DISPLAYS

• US 20160306427A1
• Filed: 06/29/2016
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Modarres, Ali, Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel
• Granted Patent: US 9,971,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• 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 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A system includes a flexible display configured to display an image and a sensor connected to the flexible display. The sensor is configured to sense an amount of flexure of the flexible display. A haptic output device is connected to the flexible display and is configured to change a resistance to movement of a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display upon receipt of a haptic control signal. The system includes a processor in signal communication with the flexible display, the sensor and the haptic output device. The processor is configured to receive an output signal from the sensor based on the amount of flexure and generate the haptic control signal based on the output signal from the sensor.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a flexible display configured to display an image;

a sensor connected to the flexible display, the sensor configured to sense an amount of flexure of the flexible display;

a haptic output device connected to the flexible display, the haptic output device being configured to change a resistance to movement of a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display upon receipt of a haptic control signal; and

a processor in signal communication with the flexible display, the sensor and the haptic output device, the processor configured to receive an output signal from the sensor based on the amount of flexure and generate the haptic control signal based on the output signal from the sensor.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is constructed and arranged to change a stiffness of a hinge formed between the first portion and the second portion of the flexible display when at least one of the two portions is moved towards the other of the two portions.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the haptic output device is configured to lock the hinge when the first portion and the second portion are separated by a predetermined amount of space so that the two portions cannot move relative to each other.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is constructed and arranged to assist with movement of the first portion relative to the second portion when the sensor senses the flexible display has been flexed.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is constructed and arranged to oppose movement of the first portion relative to the second portion when the sensor senses the flexible display has been flexed.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprises a smart gel and an activation element constructed and arranged to change a stiffness of the smart gel upon receipt of the haptic control signal.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprises a rheological fluid and an activation element constructed and arranged to change a viscosity or damping property of the rheological fluid upon receipt of the haptic control signal.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprises a shape memory alloy and an activation element configured to change a temperature of the shape memory alloy to return the shape memory alloy to its original shape upon receipt of the haptic control signal.

9. A method comprising:

sensing an amount of flexure of a flexible display configured to display an image a sensor;

generating a haptic control signal based on the sensed amount of flexure with a processor; and

changing a resistance to movement of a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display with a haptic output device upon receipt of a haptic control signal.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein changing a resistance to movement comprises changing a stiffness of a hinge formed between the first portion and the second portion of the flexible display when at least one of the two portions is moved towards the other of the two portions.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the haptic output device is configured to lock the hinge when the first portion and the second portion are separated by a predetermined amount of space so that the two portions cannot move relative to each other.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein changing a resistance to movement comprises reducing the resistance and assisting with movement of the first portion relative to the second portion when the sensor senses the flexible display has been flexed.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein changing a resistance to movement comprises increasing the resistance to oppose movement of the first portion relative to the second portion when the sense r senses the flexible display has been flexed.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the haptic output device comprises a smart gel and an activation element, and wherein changing a resistance to movement comprises causing the smart gee to stiffen upon receipt of the haptic control signal by the activation element.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the haptic output device comprises a rheological fluid and an activation element, and wherein changing a resistance to movement comprises causing a viscosity or damping property of the rheological fluid to change upon receipt of the haptic control signal by the activation element.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the haptic output device comprises a shape memory alloy and an activation element, and wherein changing a resistance to movement comprises causing the shape memory alloy to return to its original shape upon receipt of the haptic control signal by the activation element.