Systems and Methods for Surface Elements that Provide Electrostatic Haptic Effects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016004308-A1
Application number	US-201414322697-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 2, 2014
Priority date	Jul 2, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a processor configured to determine an electrostatic force (ESF)-based haptic effect and transmit a haptic signal associated with the ESF-based haptic effect. The illustrative system also includes an ESF controller in communication with the processor, the ESF controller configured to receive the haptic signal, determine an ESF signal based at least in part on the haptic signal, and transmit the ESF signal. The illustrative system further includes a surface configured to contact a user, and an ESF device coupled to the surface and in communication with the ESF controller, the ESF device configured to receive the ESF signal and output the ESF-based haptic effect on the surface.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A system comprising:
a processor configured to:
determine an electrostatic force (ESF)-based haptic effect; and
transmit a haptic signal associated with the ESF-based haptic effect;
an ESF controller in communication with the processor, the ESF controller configured to:
receive the haptic signal,
determine an ESF signal based at least in part on the haptic signal, and
transmit the ESF signal;
a surface configured to contact a user; and an ESF device coupled to the surface and in communication with the ESF controller, the ESF device configured to receive the ESF signal and output the ESF-based haptic effect on the surface.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the surface is associated with an article configured to be worn by the user.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the article comprises one of: a sleeve, a watch, an article of clothing, a hat, a jacket, gloves, a ring, jewelry, a collar, or glasses.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the surface is associated with a manipulable device.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the manipulable device is configured to be held, grasped, a standalone device, or a component of a device.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ESF device further comprises an electrode and an insulator, and wherein the electrode comprises deposited carbon nanotubes and the insulator comprises a flexible material.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the ESF-based haptic effect based at least in part on one or more of: a user input, activity in a game, a system status, or a system notification.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to:
detect whether the surface is contacting the user; and transmit a sensor signal associated with the detection to the processor.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the ESF-based haptic effect based at least in part on the sensor signal.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ESF-based haptic effect comprises: a change in a perceived coefficient of friction, a stroking sensation, a simulated texture, or a simulated vibration.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the surface is flexible.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a non-ESF-based haptic effect, transmit a second haptic signal associated with the non-ESF-based haptic effect to a haptic output device, the haptic output device configured to receive the second haptic signal and output the non-ESF-based haptic effect to the surface.

13 . A method comprising:
determining an ESF-based haptic effect; transmitting a haptic signal associated with the ESF-based haptic effect to an ESF controller; determining an ESF signal based at least in part on the haptic signal; transmitting the ESF signal to an ESF device configured to output the ESF-based haptic effect; and outputting the ESF-based haptic effect on a surface configured to contact a user.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the surface is associated with an article configured to be worn by the user or a manipulable device.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the article comprises one of: a sleeve, a watch, an article of clothing, a hat, a jacket, gloves, a ring, jewelry, a collar, or glasses; and wherein the manipulable device is configured to be held, grasped, a standalone device, or a component of a device.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the ESF-based haptic effect comprises: a change in a perceived coefficient of friction, a stroking sensation, a simulated texture, or a simulated vibration.

17 . A non-transient computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor is configured to cause the processor to:
determine an ESF-based haptic effect; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the ESF-based haptic effect to an ESF controller, the ESF controller configured to transmit an ESF signal associated with the haptic signal to an ESF device, the ESF device configured to output the ESF-based haptic effect on a surface configured to contact a user.

18 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the ESF device is associated with an article that is configured to be worn by a user or a manipulable device.

19 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the article comprises one of: a sleeve, a watch, an article of clothing, a hat, a jacket, gloves, a ring, jewelry, a collar, or glasses; and wherein the manipulable device is configured to be held, grasped, a standalone device, or a component of a device.

20 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the ESF-based haptic effect comprises: a change in a perceived coefficient of friction, a stroking sensation, a simulated texture, or a simulated vibration.

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Cruz-Hernandez Juan Manuel
• Modarres Ali
• Ullrich Christopher

Classifications

• A63F13/28

  responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light · CPC title

• G06F2203/013

  Force feedback applied to a game · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

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

• G06F1/163

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

• G06F2203/014

  Force feedback applied to GUI · CPC title