# US 10,503,262 B2 · Passive stiffness and active deformation haptic output devices for flexible displays > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,262 B2 - Document ID: US10503262B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/945,862 - Filed: 2018-04-05 - Published: 2018-08-09 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-26 - Assignees: Immersion Corporation - Applicants: Immersion Corporation - Inventors: Ali Modarres; Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503262B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt} - G06F 1/1641: {the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/1643: {the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads (details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615)} - G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable} - G06F 3/0412: {Digitisers structurally integrated in a display} - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G06F 3/045: using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact - G06F 3/0487: using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F 2203/04102: Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper - G06F 2203/04104: Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A system includes a flexible display configured to display an image and a sensor connected to the flexible display. The sensor is configured to sense an amount of flexure of the flexible display. A haptic output device is connected to the flexible display and is configured to change a resistance to movement of a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display upon receipt of a haptic control signal. The system includes a processor in signal communication with the flexible display, the sensor and the haptic output device. The processor is configured to receive an output signal from the sensor based on the amount of flexure and generate the haptic control signal based on the output signal from the sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a flexible display; a first haptic output device coupled to the flexible display, the first haptic output device comprising a hinge that is configured to flex a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display in response to one or more haptic control signals; a processor communicatively coupled to the first haptic output device and the flexible display; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to: receive one or more sensor signals from one or more sensors; determine a first haptic effect based on the one or more sensor signals; generate the one or more haptic control signals based on the first haptic effect; transmit the one or more haptic control signals to the first haptic output device to cause the first haptic output device to generate the first haptic effect at least in part by flexing the first portion of the flexible display relative to the second portion of the flexible display; determine a second haptic effect based on the one or more sensor signals, the second haptic effect being different from the first haptic effect; and transmit one or more signals to cause a second haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the hinge is a temporary hinge that is selectively formable in the flexible display in response to the one or more haptic control signals. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first haptic output device comprises a smart gel and an activation element constructed and arranged to change a stiffness of the smart gel in response to a haptic control signal from the processor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first haptic output device comprises a rheological fluid and an activation element constructed and arranged to change a viscosity or damping property of the rheological fluid in response to a haptic control signal from the processor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the flexible display is a first half of the flexible display and the second portion of the flexible display is a second half of the flexible display. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a sensor among the one or more sensors is configured to sense an amount of flexure of the flexible display and transmit an output signal indicating the amount of flexure to the processor, and wherein the memory further comprises program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to: receive the output signal from the sensor; and generate and transmit the one or more haptic control signals based on the output signal from the sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system according to claim 6, wherein the second haptic effect is generated at least in part by modulating a coefficient of friction associated with the hinge by applying ultrasonic vibrations to the hinge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system according to claim 6, wherein the second haptic effect is configured to simulate a sensation of snapping a device open or closed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit a haptic control signal configured to lock the hinge and thereby prevent the first portion from being moved relative to the second portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible display is a rollable display and the first haptic output device is configured to provide the first haptic effect along a rolling degree of freedom. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: receiving, by a processor, one or more sensor signals from one or more sensors; determining, by the processor, a first haptic effect based on the one or more sensor signals; generating, by the processor, one or more haptic control signals based on the first haptic effect; transmitting, by the processor, the one or more haptic control signals to a first haptic output device coupled to a flexible display, the first haptic output device comprising a hinge configured to flex a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display in response to the one or more haptic control signals; determining, by the processor, a second haptic effect based on the one or more sensor signals; and transmitting, by the processor, one or more signals to cause a second haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the hinge is a temporary hinge that is selectively formable in the flexible display in response to the one or more haptic control signals. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first haptic output device comprises: a smart gel and an activation element constructed and arranged to change a stiffness of the smart gel in response to a haptic control signal from the processor; or a rheological fluid and an activation element constructed and arranged to change a viscosity or damping property of the rheological fluid in response to the haptic control signal from the processor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a sensor among the one or more sensors is configured to sense an amount of flexure of the flexible display and transmit an output signal indicating the amount of flexure to the processor, and further comprising: receiving the output signal from the sensor; and generating and transmitting the one or more haptic control signals based on the output signal from the sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second haptic effect is generated at least in part by modulating a coefficient of friction associated with the hinge by applying ultrasonic vibrations to the hinge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second haptic effect is configured to simulate a sensation of snapping a foldable device open or closed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: transmitting a haptic control signal configured to lock the hinge and thereby prevent the first portion from being moved relative to the second portion. ### Claim 18 A system comprising: a flexible display; a haptic output device coupled to the flexible display; a processor communicatively coupled to the haptic output device and the flexible display; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to: receive one or more sensor signals from one or more sensors; determine a haptic effect based on the one or more sensor signals; and generate and transmit one or more haptic control signals based on the haptic effect, the one or more haptic control signals being configured to cause the haptic output device to gradually increase or gradually decrease a resistance to a movement of a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the haptic output device comprises a temporary hinge that is selectively formable in the flexible display in response to the one or more haptic control signals. ### Claim 20 A method comprising: receiving, by a processor, one or more sensor signals from one or more sensors; determining, by the processor, a haptic effect based on the one or more sensor signals; generating, by the processor, one or more haptic control signals based on the haptic effect; and transmitting, by the processor, the one or more haptic control signals to a haptic output device coupled to a flexible display, the one or more haptic control signals being configured to cause the haptic output device to gradually increase or gradually decrease a resistance to a movement of a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the haptic output device comprises a temporary hinge that is selectively formable in the flexible display in response to the one or more haptic control signals.