Visual and tactile AR medium based on augmented reality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11786811-B2
Application number	US-202117528418-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2021
Priority date	Apr 22, 2021
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

Proposed is a visual and tactile AR medium based on augmented reality for providing a user with visual and tactile information matched with the augmented reality when the user experiences the augmented reality through the AR medium capable of being connected to a part of a body of the user, the AR medium including: a tactile augmentation member configured to enable the part of the body of the user to feel the augmented reality in a tactile manner; a visual augmentation member configured to overlay a graphic on the AR medium, and being capable of performing visual change; and a control member configured to perform transmission and reception with the AR medium, wherein the control member is configured to control output of the tactile augmentation member or the visual augmentation member, corresponding to input from the user or the AR medium or both.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A visual and tactile AR medium for providing a user with visual and tactile information matched with augmented reality when the user experiences the augmented reality through the AR medium capable of being connected to a part of a body of the user, the AR medium comprising:
a tactile augmentation member configured to enable the part of the body of the user to feel the augmented reality in a tactile manner;
a visual augmentation member configured to overlay a graphic on the AR medium, and being capable of performing visual change; and
a control member configured to perform transmission and reception with the AR medium,
wherein the control member is configured to control output of the tactile augmentation member or the visual augmentation member, corresponding to input from the user or the AR medium or both,
wherein the visual and tactile AR medium is configured to change an actual length of the visual and tactile AR medium, and has a length extension member that is capable of extending the actual length of the visual and tactile AR medium,
wherein the length extension member comprises:
a fixed module coupled to one end of the visual and tactile AR medium; and
an extension module provided to be partially or entirely overlapped by the fixed module therein, the extension module moving protruding to another end of the visual and tactile AR medium, and
wherein the extension module has a receiving space for a mass object to move therein and the mass object moves along the receiving space to change a center of gravity,
wherein the mass object is configured to be moved along the receiving space of the extension module in a direction in which the actual length of the visual and tactile AR medium is extended after the actual length of the visual and tactile AR medium is extended by the extension module, and
wherein the center-of-gravity movement member further comprises a plurality of catching parts configured for restraint to limit a distance of movement of the mass object when the mass object moves in a direction along an inside of the extension module.

2. The AR medium of claim 1 , wherein the tactile augmentation member comprises a vibration generation module that is configured to generate vibration in the visual and tactile AR medium, the vibration generation module comprising a vibrator or a vibration motor or both.

3. The AR medium of claim 2 , wherein the tactile augmentation member is configured to drive the vibrator to vibrate the tactile augmentation member so as to enable the user to have a tactile sensation of vibration.

4. The AR medium of claim 2 , wherein when the vibration generation module comprises the vibration motor, a plurality of the vibration motors are used and the plurality of the vibration motors are driven sequentially to generate a flow of vibration.

5. The AR medium of claim 2 , wherein when the vibration generation module comprises a plurality of the vibration motors, a flow of vibration is generated by controlling a driving sequence and a strength of the plurality of the vibration motors.

6. The AR medium of claim 2 , wherein when the vibration generation module comprises a plurality of the vibration motors, a flow of vibration is generated by controlling a driving sequence and a driving frequency of the plurality of the vibration motors.

7. The AR medium of claim 2 , wherein when the vibration generation module comprises the vibrator, the vibrator is driven when the user works a virtual object through the AR medium, to provide an impulse generated due to the virtual object.

8. The AR medium of claim 2 , wherein when the vibration generation module comprises the vibrator, a warning or a notification is capable of being given to the user.

9. The AR medium of claim 1 , wherein the length extension member further comprises a drive module that is connected to one end of the extension module and is capable of moving the extension module in a direction.

10. The AR medium of claim 1 , wherein the tactile augmentation member comprises a center-of-gravity movement member that is capable of changing a center of gravity of the visual and tactile AR medium,
wherein the center-of-gravity movement member comprises:
a moving rail formed inside a housing, being parallel to a central axis of the housing that defines an appearance of the visual and tactile AR medium.

11. The AR medium of claim 10 , wherein the center-of-gravity movement member further comprises a mass object drive module that is capable of moving the mass object in a direction.

12. The AR medium of claim 11 , wherein the mass object drive module uses a single or a plurality of linear motors, or a plurality of electromagnets.

13. The AR medium of claim 1 , wherein the tactile augmentation member comprises a haptic drive member that enables the visual and tactile AR medium to produce a tactile sensation.

14. The AR medium of claim 13 , wherein the haptic drive member is realized in a form of a haptic wheel to provide the user with haptic feedback on movement of the wheel.

15. The AR medium of claim 1 , wherein the tactile augmentation member comprises an air resistance module that is configured to change a size of the visual and tactile AR medium to change air resistance, and
wherein the air resistance module is provided at the extension module, and is capable of unfolding to an outside to change a length and width thereof.

16. The AR medium of claim 1 , wherein the control member comprises:
a micro-controller unit (MCU) including a processor and a memory, and configured to control operation of the visual and tactile AR medium;
a communication part configured to perform communication with an external AR device;
a power supply configured to supply power to the AR medium; and
a sensor capable of obtaining sensing information from the user.

Assignees

• Korea Univ Of Technology And Education Industry—Univ Cooperation Foundation
• Univ Korea Ind Univ Coop Found

Inventors

• Kim Sang Youn
• Heo Yong Hae

Classifications

• A63F13/285 Primary

  Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback · CPC title

• A63F13/24

  Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles · CPC title

• A63F13/65

  automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition · CPC title

• A63F2300/1037

  being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback · CPC title

• A63F2300/8082

  Virtual reality · CPC title