Systems and methods to generate haptic feedback for skin-mediated interactions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016019762-A1
Application number	US-201414331592-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2014
Priority date	Jul 15, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system includes a sensor configured to sense an input at a skin surface, a processor configured to receive an output signal from the sensor and generate a haptic control signal based on the output signal, and a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect based on the haptic control signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
a sensor configured to sense an input at a skin surface; a processor configured to receive an output signal from the sensor and generate a haptic control signal based on the output signal; and a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect based on the haptic control signal.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense the input at the skin surface of a user of the system, and wherein the haptic output device is configured to generate the haptic effect to the user of the system.

3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device is configured to be carried by a wearable device.

4 . The system according to claim 3 , wherein the wearable device comprises a ring.

5 . The system according to claim 3 , wherein the wearable device comprises a wristband or a bracelet.

6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device comprises an actuator and the haptic effect comprises a vibration.

7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device comprises at least one electrode connected to a power source.

8 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the haptic effect comprises an electrotactile stimulation.

9 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the haptic effect comprises muscle stimulation.

10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device comprises a mechanical apparatus configured to stretch or pull the skin.

11 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device comprises a pair of electromagnets configured to cause attraction or repulsion of two interacting skin surfaces.

12 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device is configured to generate ultrasound or air vortices.

13 . A method comprising:
sensing an input at a skin surface; generating a haptic control signal based on the sensed input; and generating a haptic effect with a haptic output device based on the haptic control signal.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the haptic effect comprises a vibration.

15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the haptic effect comprises an electrotactile stimulation.

16 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the haptic effect comprises muscle stimulation.

17 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the haptic effect comprises stretching or pulling the skin.

18 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the haptic effect comprises causing attraction or repulsion of two interacting skin surfaces.

19 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the haptic effect comprises ultrasound or air vortices.

20 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising reducing a sensitivity of the skin surface to the haptic effect.

21 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the sensitivity of the skin surface is reduced by applying a topical anesthetic to the skin surface before sensing the input.

22 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the sensitivity of the skin surface is reduced by lowering the temperature of the skin surface.

23 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the sensitivity of the skin surface is reduced by applying vibrations to the skin surface before sensing the input.

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Levesque Vincent
• Cruz-Hernandez Juan Manuel

Classifications

• G06F3/011

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

• G08B6/00 Primary

  Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• G06F3/016

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