Deformable objects for haptic feedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10845879-B2
Application number	US-201815969581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2018
Priority date	May 2, 2018
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

Components, devices, systems, and methods for providing passive haptic feedback for a user interacting with a virtual reality simulation. A physical object with a surface may represents an object in the virtual reality simulation. A mechanism may be configured to change a shape or size of the surface of the physical object in response to a change in the virtual reality simulation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for providing haptic feedback, comprising:
a physical object with a surface for a user to interact with during execution of a virtual reality simulation, the physical object representing an object in the virtual reality simulation, the surface to be touched by the user during user interaction, the physical object including:
an outer portion;
a first inner portion extendable from the outer portion;
a second inner portion extendable from the first inner portion, the first inner portion extendable in a first direction, the second inner portion extendable in a second direction, the second direction different than the first direction; and
a mechanism to change at least one of a shape or a size of the surface of the physical object by extending or retracting at least one of the first inner portion or the second inner portion in response to a change in the virtual reality simulation; and

a mobility system to move the physical object from a first location to a second location via steerable wheels in response to the change in the virtual reality simulation.

2. The device of claim 1 , further including a tracking system in communication with the virtual reality simulation, the tracking system to detect the change made in the virtual reality simulation.

3. The device of claim 1 , further including a location system to detect the first location and the second location.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mobility system further includes collision avoidance technology to avoid collision by steering the physical object around other objects.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the surface is a first surface, the device further including a second surface coupled to the physical object, the second surface to telescope out of or retract into a housing of the physical object.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the surface is a first surface, the device further including a second surface coupled to the first surface of the physical object via a hinge and foldable via the mechanism in response to the change in the virtual reality simulation.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the physical object is to interact with the user during the virtual reality simulation to provide passive haptic feedback.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is a first mechanism, the device further including:
a plurality of objects to form the surface of the physical object; and
a plurality of second mechanisms to move the plurality of objects relative to one another such that the surface of the physical object is a deformable surface.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the deformable surface provides texture to the physical object.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of the physical objects are deformable to give shape to a button that represents a virtual button in the virtual reality simulation and when the button is physically pressed by the user a change is made in the virtual reality simulation.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of the physical objects are deformable to give shape to a plurality of physical shapes that represents a virtual user interface in the virtual reality simulation that trigger feedback in the virtual reality simulation when one of the plurality of shapes is pressed by the user.

12. A system for providing haptic feedback, comprising: a processor to execute a virtual reality simulation;
a wearable component to provide visual stimuli to a user for the virtual reality simulation;
a physical object with a surface for the user to interact with during the use of the virtual reality simulation wherein the physical object represents an object in the virtual reality simulation, the surface to be touched by the user during user interaction, the physical object including: an outer portion;
a first inner portion extendable from the outer portion; a second inner portion extendable from the first inner portion, the first inner portion extendable in a first direction, the second inner portion extendable in a second direction, the second direction different than the first direction; and
a mechanism to change at least one of a shape or a size of the surface of the physical object by extending or retracting at least one of the first inner portion or the second inner portion in response to a change in the virtual reality simulation; and a mobility system to move the physical object between a first location and a second location via steerable wheels in response to the change in the virtual reality simulation.

13. The system of claim 12 , further including a tracking system in communication with the virtual reality simulation, the tracking system to detect the change made in the virtual reality simulation.

14. The system of claim 12 , further including a location system to detect the first location and the second location.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the mobility system further includes collision avoidance technology to avoid collision to by steering the physical object around other objects.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the surface is a first surface, the physical object further including a second surface to telescope out of or retract into the outer portion of the physical object.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the surface is a first surface, the physical object further including a second surface coupled to the surface of the physical object via a hinge and foldable via the mechanism in response to the change in the virtual reality simulation.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the mechanism is a first mechanism, the system further including:
a plurality of objects to form the surface of the physical object; and
a plurality of second mechanisms to move the plurality of objects relative to one another such that the surface of the physical object is a deformable surface.

19. A device for providing haptic feedback, comprising:
a plurality of physical objects configured to provide a deformable surface for a user to interact with during execution of a virtual reality simulation wherein the surface represents an object in the virtual reality simulation; and
a plurality of mechanisms configured to move the plurality of physical objects relative to one another to change the deformable surface in response to a change in the virtual reality simulation.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of physical objects are cylindrical in shape and can protrude from a housing surface at different lengths from one another via the plurality of mechanisms.

21. The device of claim 19 , wherein the deformable surface provides texture to for passive haptic feedback for the user.

22. The device of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of the physical objects are deformable to give shape to a button that represents a virtual button in the virtual reality simulation and when the button is physically pressed by the user a change is made in the virtual reality simulation.

23. The device of claim 19 wherein the plurality of the physical objects are deformable to give shape to a plurality of physical shapes that represents a virtual user interface in the virtual reality simulation that trigger feedback in the virtual reality simulation when one of the plurality of shapes is pressed by the user.

24. The device of claim 19 wherein the plurality of mechanisms are further configured to provide dampening and cushioning to the plurality of physical objects when the plurality of physical object

Assignees

• Intel Ip Corp

Inventors

• Pohl Daniel
• Schick Roman

Classifications

• G06F3/016 Primary

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F3/011

  Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00) · CPC title

• G06F3/0304

  Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means (constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042) · CPC title