Systems, devices and methods for wirelessly delivering haptic effects
AssigneeImmersion Corporation
InventorsAlexia Mandeville, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Vahid Khoshkava
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods for wirelessly delivering haptic effects are provided. The devices may include haptic actuators secured to various substrates, including the body and clothing of a user. The haptic actuators may be secured via adhesive and/or may be applied as a curable liquid. The haptic actuators may include an actuator element and a power element. The power element may include an antenna for receiving wireless power and control signals that may be transferred to the haptic actuator to cause a haptic effect.
Claims20
A haptic enabled device for providing a haptic effect, comprising:
- an actuator element including an electrode layer, a smart material layer, and a grounding electrode layer, wherein the grounding electrode layer is configured for contact with a substrate;
- and
- a power element configured to receive a haptic control signal, the power element comprising a first contact and a second contact,
- wherein
- the electrode layer is configured for location between the smart material layer and the power element,
- the first contact is configured for electrical communication with the electrode layer,
- the second contact is configured for electrical communication with the grounding electrode layer,
- the power element is configured to induce a voltage differential between the electrode layer and the grounding electrode layer in response to the haptic control signal, and
- the smart material layer is configured for actuation in response to the voltage differential for providing the haptic effect to the substrate,
- wherein at least one of the electrode layer, the smart material layer, and the grounding electrode layer is applied as a liquid.
A method for providing a haptic effect, comprising:
- securing an actuator element to a substrate, the actuator element having an electrode layer, a smart material layer, and a grounding electrode layer;
- securing a power element to the actuator element to form a haptic device, wherein the power element includes a first contact and a second contact and is configured to receive a haptic control signal;
- receiving, at the power element, the haptic control signal;
- transferring the haptic control signal to the electrode layer and the grounding electrode layer via the first contact and the second contact to cause a voltage differential between the electrode layer and the grounding electrode layer;
- and
- actuating the smart material layer by the voltage differential to provide the haptic effect.
A haptic enabled device for providing a haptic effect, comprising:
- an actuator element including an electrode layer, a smart material layer, and a grounding electrode layer, wherein the grounding electrode layer is configured for contact with a substrate;
- and
- a power element configured to receive a haptic control signal, the power element comprising a first contact and a second contact, wherein
- the electrode layer is configured for location between the smart material layer and the power element,
- the first contact is configured for electrical communication with the electrode layer,
- the second contact is configured for electrical communication with the grounding electrode layer,
- the power element is configured to induce a voltage differential between the electrode layer and the grounding electrode layer in response to the haptic control signal, and
- the smart material layer is configured for actuation in response to the voltage differential for providing the haptic effect to the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.