Flexible haptic actuator
AssigneeImmersion Corporation
InventorsVahid Khoshkava, Mansoor Alghooneh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible haptic actuator and corresponding method. The flexible haptic actuator comprises a core formed with a flexible material. The core defines a volume and is bendable. An electrical conductor is coiled around the core and is bendable. A casing surrounds the electrical conductor and at least a part of the core. The casing includes a plurality of flexible sections and a plurality of stiff sections. The casing is bendable. A haptic mass is suspended in the volume, the haptic mass being at least partially formed with a magnetic material. The haptic mass is movable in the volume in response to the electrical conductor generating a magnetic field.
Claims38
A flexible haptic actuator comprising:
- a core, the core being formed with a flexible material, the core defining a volume, the core being bendable;
- an electromagnetic coil coiled around the core, the electromagnetic coil being bendable;
- a casing surrounding the electromagnetic coil and at least a part of the core, the casing including a plurality of flexible sections and a plurality of stiff sections, the casing being bendable;
- and
- a haptic mass suspended in the volume, the haptic mass at least partially formed with a ferromagnetic material, the haptic mass movable in the volume in response to the electromagnetic coil generating a magnetic field.
A method of generating a haptic effect using a haptic actuator having an electromagnetic coil wrapped around a volume, and a haptic mass suspended in the volume, the method comprising:
- deforming, the haptic actuator;
- conducting an alternating electric current through the electromagnetic coil;
- in response to conducting the alternating electric current, generating a magnetic field extending through the volume;
- in response to the generating the magnetic field, moving the haptic mass within the volume while the haptic actuator is deformed, the moving haptic mass having an oscillating path of travel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.