Systems and Methods for Impedance Coupling for Haptic Devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016103489-A1
Application number	US-201414513851-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2014
Priority date	Oct 14, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a haptic output device associated with a surface. The illustrative system also includes a sensor configured to detect a contact between a user and the surface, the sensor configured to transmit a sensor signal including data associated with the contact. The illustrative system further includes a processor in communication with the sensor and the haptic output device, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal; determine an impedance based at least in part on the sensor signal; and determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the impedance. The processor is further configured to transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A system comprising:
a haptic output device associated with a surface; a sensor configured to detect a contact between a user and the surface, the sensor configured to transmit a sensor signal comprising data associated with the contact; a processor in communication with the sensor and the haptic output device, the processor configured to:
receive the sensor signal;
determine an impedance based at least in part on the sensor signal;
determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the impedance; and
transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device and the sensor are associated with an article configured to be worn by the user, and 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.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device and the sensor are associated with a graspable device, and wherein the graspable device comprises one of: a laptop computer, a gear shifter, a steering wheel, a mouse, a keyboard, a joystick, a stylus, a tablet, an e-reader, a remote control, a gamepad, or a mobile device.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a compliant material associated with the haptic output device.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the compliant material is positioned between the haptic output device and the user.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the compliant material surrounds the haptic output device.

7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the compliant material comprises a smart gel, shape-memory alloy, or rheological fluid, and wherein the processor is further configured to cause a characteristic of the smart gel, shape-memory alloy, or rheological fluid to change based at least in part on the impedance.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an actuation system configured to move the haptic output device from a first position to a second position, and wherein the processor is further configured to operate the actuation system.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the data associated with the contact comprises one or more of: an amount of pressure the user is exerting on the surface, a surface area of the contact, or an electrical conductivity between the user and the surface.

10 . A method comprising:
receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor signal comprising data associated with a contact between a user and a surface associated with a haptic output device; determining an impedance based at least in part on the sensor signal; determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the impedance; and transmitting a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the haptic output device and the sensor are associated with an article configured to be worn by the user, and 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.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the haptic output device and the sensor are associated with a graspable device, and wherein the graspable device comprises one of: a laptop computer, a gear shifter, a steering wheel, a mouse, a keyboard, a joystick, a stylus, a tablet, an e-reader, a remote control, a gamepad, or a mobile device.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the data associated with the contact comprises one or more of: an amount of pressure that the user is exerting on the surface, a surface area of the contact, or an electrical conductivity between the user and the surface.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising causing a characteristic of a smart gel, shape-memory alloy, or rheological fluid associated with the surface to change based at least in part on the impedance.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising moving the haptic output device from a first position to a second position.

16 . A non-transient computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor is configured to cause the processor to:
receive a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor signal comprising data associated with a contact between a user and a surface associated with a haptic output device; determine an impedance based at least in part on the sensor signal; determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the impedance; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device.

17 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the haptic output device and the sensor are associated with an article configured to be worn by the user, and 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.

18 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the haptic output device and the sensor are associated with a graspable device, and wherein the graspable device comprises one of: a laptop computer, a gear shifter, a steering wheel, a mouse, a keyboard, a joystick, a stylus, a tablet, an e-reader, a remote control, a gamepad, or a mobile device.

19 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the data associated with the contact comprises one or more of: an amount of pressure that the user is exerting on the surface, a surface area of the contact, or an electrical conductivity between the user and the surface.

20 . The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause a characteristic of a smart gel, shape-memory alloy, or rheological fluid associated with the surface to change based at least in part on the impedance.

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Cruz-Hernandez Juan Manuel
• Grant Danny

Classifications

• G06F1/163

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

• G06F3/016 Primary

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

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title