Systems and Methods for Multi-Output Electrostatic Haptic Effects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016004309-A1
Application number	US-201414322701-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 a haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect includes a static ESF effect or a confirmation ESF effect; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the 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 an ESF device in communication with the ESF controller, the ESF device including an ESF cell and configured to receive the ESF signal and output the haptic effect.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A system comprising:
a processor configured to:
determine a haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect comprises a static ESF effect or a confirmation ESF effect; and
transmit a haptic signal associated with the 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; and
an ESF device in communication with the ESF controller, the ESF device comprising an ESF cell and configured to receive the ESF signal and output the haptic effect.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ESF device comprises a plurality of ESF cells.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of ESF cells comprise nine ESF cells configured in a three-by-three matrix.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of ESF cells comprise interlocking ESF cells.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ESF signal comprises a plurality of sinusoids with varying frequencies.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second ESF device, and wherein determining the haptic effect comprises determining a different ESF signal for each ESF device.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ESF device is coupled to a manipulable device, and wherein the manipulable device is configured to be held, grasped, a standalone device, or a component of a device.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the haptic effect comprises a change in a perceived coefficient of friction, a flow sensation, a simulated texture, or a simulated vibration.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to:
determine a contact between a user's finger and a surface associated with the ESF device; and transmit a sensor signal associated with the determination to the processor; and wherein the processor is further configured to determine the haptic effect based at least in part on the sensor signal.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor is further configured to: determine the area of the contact between a user's finger and the surface associated with the ESF device.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ESF cell comprises an insulator with one or more edges that taper in thickness.

12 . A method comprising:
determining a haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect comprises a static ESF effect or a confirmation ESF effect; transmitting a haptic signal associated with the 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 haptic effect, the ESF device comprising an ESF cell; and outputting the haptic effect.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the ESF device comprises a plurality of ESF cells.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of ESF cells comprise nine ESF cells configured in a three-by-three matrix.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of ESF cells comprise interlocking ESF cells.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the ESF device is associated with a manipulable device, and wherein the manipulable device is configured to be held, grasped, a standalone device, or a component of a device.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the ESF signal comprises a plurality of sinusoids with varying frequencies.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining, by a sensor, a contact between a user's finger and a surface associated with the ESF device; transmitting a sensor signal associated with the determination to a processor; and determining the haptic effect based at least in part on the sensor signal.

19 . A non-transient computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor is configured to cause the processor to:
determine a haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect comprises a static ESF effect or a confirmation ESF effect; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the 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 comprising an ESF cell and configured to output the haptic effect.

20 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the ESF device is associated with a manipulable device, and wherein the manipulable device is configured to be held, grasped, a standalone device, or a component of a device.

21 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the ESF signal comprises a plurality of sinusoids with varying frequencies.

22 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the ESF device comprises a plurality of ESF cells.

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Modarres Ali
• Cruz-Hernandez Juan Manuel
• Ullrich Christopher
• Grant Danny
• Olien Neil
• Levesque Vincent

Classifications

• G06F2203/015

  Force feedback applied to a joystick · CPC title

• G06F2203/014

  Force feedback applied to GUI · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

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

• G06F2203/04106

  Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection · CPC title

• G06F3/04886

  by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus · CPC title