Bendable electronic device apparatus and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10510225-B2
Application number	US-201815996248-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2018
Priority date	Dec 30, 2016
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

A flexible haptic actuator and corresponding method. The flexible haptic actuator comprises a core formed with a flexible material. The core defines a volume and is bendable. An electrical conductor is coiled around the core and is bendable. A casing surrounds the electrical conductor and at least a part of the core. The casing includes a plurality of flexible sections and a plurality of stiff sections. The casing is bendable. A haptic mass is suspended in the volume, the haptic mass being at least partially formed with a magnetic material. The haptic mass is movable in the volume in response to the electrical conductor generating a magnetic field.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bendable electronic device comprising:
a flexible display coupled to a flexible haptic actuator, wherein the flexible haptic actuator includes:
a core, the core being formed with a flexible material, the core defining a volume;
an electromagnetic coil coiled around the core;
a casing surrounding the electromagnetic coil and at least a part of the core, the casing including a plurality of flexible trough sections and a plurality of stiff ridge sections; and
a haptic mass in the volume, the haptic mass at least partially formed with a ferromagnetic material, the haptic mass movable in the volume in response to the electromagnetic coil generating a magnetic field.

2. The bendable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible display is foldable.

3. The bendable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is elastic.

4. The bendable electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of flexible trough sections comprises an elastic material.

5. The bendable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the casing includes flexible sections and stiff sections alternating along the casing.

6. The bendable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the core comprises particles of a ferrous material.

7. The bendable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic coil comprises a wire.

8. The bendable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein in response to the generating the magnetic field, the haptic mass is moved within the volume while the flexible haptic actuator is deformed, the haptic mass moving along an oscillating path of travel.

9. A method of generating a haptic effect on a bendable display, the method comprising:
deforming a flexible haptic actuator, the bendable display being coupled to the flexible haptic actuator; and
in response to generating a magnetic field, moving a haptic mass while the flexible haptic actuator is deformed,
wherein the flexible haptic actuator comprises:
a core, the core being formed with a flexible material, the core defining a volume;
an electromagnetic coil coiled around the core;
a casing surrounding the electromagnetic coil and at least a part of the core, the casing including a plurality of flexible trough sections and a plurality of stiff ridge sections; and
the haptic mass in the volume, the haptic mass at least partially formed with a ferromagnetic material.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the bendable display is foldable.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the flexible material is elastic.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of flexible trough sections comprises an elastic material.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the casing includes flexible sections and stiff sections alternating along the casing.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the core comprises particles of a ferrous material.

15. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic coil comprises a wire.

16. The method according to claim 9 , wherein in response to the generating the magnetic field, the haptic mass is moved within the volume while the flexible haptic actuator is deformed, the haptic mass moving along an oscillating path of travel.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program configured to be executed by a processor, the program for generating a haptic effect on a bendable display, the program comprising instructions for:
deforming a flexible haptic actuator, the bendable display being coupled to the flexible haptic actuator; and
in response to generating a magnetic field, moving a haptic mass while the flexible haptic actuator is deformed,
wherein the flexible haptic actuator comprises:
a core, the core being formed with a flexible material, the core defining a volume;
an electromagnetic coil coiled around the core;
a casing surrounding the electromagnetic coil and at least a part of the core, the casing including a plurality of flexible trough sections and a plurality of stiff ridge sections; and
the haptic mass in the volume, the haptic mass at least partially formed with a ferromagnetic material.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the bendable display is foldable.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the flexible material is elastic.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the casing includes flexible sections and stiff sections alternating along the casing.

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Khoshkava Vahid
• Alghooneh Mansoor

Classifications

• H02K33/10

  wherein the alternate energisation and de-energisation of the single coil system is effected or controlled by movement of the armatures · CPC title

• B06B1/20

  making use of a vibrating fluid {(whistles or sirens per se G10K)} · CPC title

• B06B1/045

  using vibrating magnet, armature or coil system · CPC title

• H02K33/16

  with polarised armatures moving in alternate directions by reversal or energisation of a single coil system · CPC title

• G06F1/163

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title