Haptic device incorporating stretch characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9501147-B2
Application number	US-201314142921-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2013
Priority date	Dec 29, 2013
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

Systems using haptic effect output devices with stretch characteristics are provided. In some embodiments, the stretch haptic effect output devices provide stretch effects responsive to software control. In other embodiments, the stretch haptic effect output devices provide stretch effects responsive to user input as well. Moreover, in some embodiments, the stretch haptic effect output devices provide stretch effects in conjunction and coordination with non-stretch haptic effect output devices as well.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of producing a haptic effect, comprising:
receiving a stretch input signal at a processor through a stretch sensor coupled to the processor and to a touch interactive surface, wherein the stretch sensor's input area on the touch interactive surface is less than a total area of the touch interactive surface, and wherein the stretch sensor is configured to sense stretching of the touch interactive surface;
measuring at the processor at least one stretch parameter based on the stretch input signal, wherein the at least one stretch parameter is a distance, a speed, or a direction of the stretch;
determining at the processor whether a haptic effect output response should occur in response to the at least one stretch parameter;
sending a control signal from the processor to a haptic effect output device, which is coupled to the processor and is at least coextensive with the stretch sensor, in response to the determining of whether the haptic effect output response should occur; and
activating the haptic effect output device coupled to the processor responsive to the control signal from the processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the haptic effect output device is configured to generate a haptic effect that manipulates a texture of the at least coextensive stretch sensor, and
the haptic effect output device is a stretch haptic effect output device coupled to the stretchable surface, the stretch haptic effect output device being configured to change a surface parameter of the stretchable surface and being selected from one of the group comprising a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, an electrostatic friction device, an ultrasonic surface friction device, or a combination of a haptic substrate and a deformable surface.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
activating the stretch haptic effect output device includes producing a haptic effect resulting in a rigid outline on an exterior surface of the stretch haptic effect output device.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
activating the stretch haptic effect output device includes producing a haptic effect resulting in a compressible surface on an exterior surface of the stretch haptic effect output device.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
activating the stretch haptic effect output device includes producing a haptic effect resulting in a predetermined pattern on an exterior surface of the stretch haptic effect output device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the stretch sensor is selected from one of the group comprising a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, or a shape memory alloy.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a signal from the processor to an external component through a communications interface coupled to the processor;
receiving a signal at the processor from the external component through the communications interface coupled to the processor; and
wherein determining at the processor whether the haptic effect output response should occur is based on the signal received at the processor from the external component.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a secondary control signal from the processor to a secondary haptic effect output device coupled to the processor in response to the determining whether the haptic effect output response should occur; and
activating the secondary haptic effect output device coupled to the processor responsive to the signal from the processor, wherein the secondary haptic effect output device has different stretch characteristics than the haptic effect output device.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the secondary haptic effect output device is selected from one of the group comprising an eccentric rotating mass, linear resonant actuator, a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, an electrostatic friction device, an ultrasonic surface friction device, an ultrasonic haptic transducer, a combination of a haptic substrate and a deformable surface, or an air jet.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the processor, the stretch sensor and the haptic effect output device are all embedded in a wearable object.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the processor, the stretch sensor and the haptic effect output device are all included in a controller.

12. A haptic effect enabled apparatus comprising:
a stretch haptic effect output device on a stretchable portion of a touch interactive surface and configured to change a surface parameter of the touch interactive surface;
a stretch sensor coupled to the stretch haptic effect output device and to the touch interactive surface, wherein the stretch sensor's input area on the touch interactive surface is less than a total area of the touch interactive surface, wherein the stretch sensor is configured to sense stretching of the interactive surface, wherein the stretch haptic effect output device is at least coextensive with the stretch sensor;
a processor coupled to the stretch haptic effect output device, the processor further coupled to the stretch sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a haptic effect output response should occur in response to a stretch input signal received from the stretch sensor and is further configured to send a control signal to the stretch haptic effect output device relating to the haptic effect output response; and
a communications interface coupled to the processor.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:
the stretch haptic effect output device is configured to generate a haptic effect that manipulates a texture of the at least coextensive stretch sensor, and
the stretch haptic effect output device is selected from one of the group comprising a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, an electrostatic friction device, an ultrasonic surface friction device, or a combination of a haptic substrate and a deformable surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:
the stretch sensor is selected from one of the group comprising a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, or a shape memory alloy.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
a secondary haptic effect output device coupled to the processor and having different stretch characteristics than the stretch haptic effect output device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
the secondary haptic effect output device is selected from one of the group comprising an eccentric rotating mass, linear resonant actuator, a piezoelectric material, an electro-active polymer, a shape memory alloy, an electrostatic friction device, an ultrasonic surface friction device, an ultrasonic haptic transducer, a combination of a haptic substrate and a deformable surface, or an air jet.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:
the processor, the stretch sensor and the stretch haptic effect output device are all embedded in a wearable object.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the processor, the stretch sensor and the stretch haptic effect output device are all included in a controller.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
an external component coupled to the processor through the communications interface.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to send a signal to the stretch haptic effect output device to programmatically change the surface parameter of the stretchable surface.

2

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Heubel Robert W
• Jose Francis

Classifications

• H04B1/385 Primary

  Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets · CPC title

• A63F2300/8082

  Virtual reality · CPC title

• G06F3/045

  using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact · CPC title

• A63F13/24

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

• G06F2203/04101

  2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup · CPC title