# US 11,029,760 B2 · Simulating touch in a virtual environment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,760 B2 - Document ID: US11029760B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/744,528 - Filed: 2020-01-16 - Published: 2020-07-09 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-27 - Assignees: eBay Inc. - Applicants: eBay Inc. - Inventors: Clayton Gustin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029760B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)} - G06T 19/006: {Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract In various example embodiments, a system and method for simulating touch in a virtual environment is disclosed. In one example embodiment, a system includes one or more circuits configured to receive an indicator of a sensed touch in a virtual environment and to determine, based on the indicator, an area of the sensed touch. The one or more circuits are further configured to generate a simulated touch by applying a field to one or more touch simulators, the field actuating the one or more touch simulators by linearly displacing an element of the one or more touch simulators. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: virtual environment goggles to display a virtual environment to a user; a touch simulation system including one or more circuits, the touch simulation system configured to: receive an indicator of a sensed touch in the virtual environment displayed to the user via the virtual environment goggles; determine, based on the indicator, an area of the sensed touch; determine properties of a virtual object in the virtual environment displayed to the user via the virtual environment goggles that caused the sensed touch; and generate, based at least in part on the properties of the virtual object, a simulated touch by applying a temperature to the area of the sensed touch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein one or more touch simulators that operate as part of a touch interface for the user of the virtual environment apply the temperature to the area of the sensed touch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein generating the simulated touch includes sending current to the one or more touch simulators to heat the area of the sensed touch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein generating the simulated touch includes powering the one or more touch simulators to cool the area of the sensed touch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more touch simulators are configured in an article of clothing being worn by the user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein: the one or more touch simulators are disposed in an array; and each of the one or more touch simulators comprises a charged micro-sphere. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual object corresponds to a physical item that is available for purchase. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the properties of the virtual object include at least one of a size, a color, dimensions, or a shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the properties of the virtual object are established based on a temperature of the virtual environment. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: receiving an indicator of a sensed touch in a virtual environment displayed to a user via virtual environment goggles; determining, by one or more circuits and based on the indicator, an area of the sensed touch; determining properties of a virtual object in the virtual environment displayed to the user via the virtual environment goggles that caused the sensed touch; and generating, based at least in part on the properties of the virtual object, a simulated touch by applying a temperature to the area of the sensed touch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein one or more touch simulators that operate as part of a touch interface for the user of the virtual environment apply the temperature to the area of the sensed touch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein generating the simulated touch includes sending current to the one or more touch simulators to heat the area of the sensed touch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein generating the simulated touch includes powering the one or more touch simulators to cool the area of the sensed touch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more touch simulators are configured in an article of clothing being worn by the user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: the one or more touch simulators are disposed in an array; and each of the one or more touch simulators comprises a charged micro-sphere. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the virtual object corresponds to a physical item that is available for purchase. ### Claim 17 A device comprising: an article of clothing; and an array of touch simulators embedded in the article of clothing; and one or more circuits configured to: receive an indicator of a sensed touch in a virtual environment displayed to a user; determine, based on the indicator, an area of the sensed touch; receive properties of a virtual object in the virtual environment displayed to the user that caused the sensed touch; and send, based at least in part on the properties of the virtual object, current to one or more touch simulators in the array to apply a temperature to the area of the sensed touch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein applying the temperature to the area of the sensed touch heats the area of the sensed touch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein applying the temperature to the area of the sensed touch cools the area of the sensed touch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein each of the touch simulators in the array comprises a charged micro-sphere.