Epidermal virtual reality devices
AssigneesNorthwestern University, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsJohn A. Rogers, Shuai Xu, In Hwa Jung, Ha Uk Chung, Xinge Yu, Yu Yang, Jungyup Lee, Rujie Sun
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided are actuation devices, virtual reality devices formed from the actuation devices, and related virtual reality methods. The devices may comprise a plurality of spatially distributed actuators, each actuator configured for interacting with a biological skin surface; a wireless controller configured to receive operative command signals to control each of the actuators; and a wireless power system to power the actuators. Also provided are unique layouts of multiple interconnected devices to achieve large area coverage.
Claims36
An actuation device, comprising:
- a plurality of spatially distributed actuators, each actuator configured for interacting with a biological skin surface;
- a wireless controller configured to receive operative command signals to control each of the actuators;
- and
- a wireless power system to power the actuators, wherein the wireless power system provides a power harvesting that is greater than or equal to 5 mW,
- wherein the wireless controller is a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip having a plurality of outputs, with each output electronically connected to an individual actuator, wherein the actuation device further comprises a switch electronically positioned between the NFC chip output and the actuators to provide the individual actuator electrical energization at a switching frequency.
An actuation device, comprising:
- a plurality of spatially distributed actuators, each actuator configured for interacting with a biological skin surface;
- a wireless controller configured to receive operative command signals to control each of the actuators;
- and
- a wireless power system to power the actuators, wherein the wireless power system provides a power harvesting that is greater than or equal to 5 mW,
- wherein the actuator comprises a thermal actuator, wherein the thermal actuator comprises a wire that heats under an applied electric current, and is formed from a gold wire having a width of between 10 μm and 200 μm with a thermal heating area that is between 1 mm2 and 50 mm2.
An actuation device, comprising:
- a plurality of spatially distributed actuators, each actuator configured for interacting with a biological skin surface;
- a wireless controller configured to receive operative command signals to control each of the actuators;
- a wireless power system to power the actuators, wherein the wireless power system provides a power harvesting that is greater than or equal to 5 mW;
- and
- a low power electric circuit, wherein the low power electric circuit comprises a single wireless controller that controls the plurality of spatially distributed actuators by electrically energizing a single individual actuator at a time with the other actuators in an off-state and cycling through all actuators;
- and
- wherein the wireless controller is a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip having a plurality of outputs, with each output electronically connected to an individual actuator, the device further comprising a switch electronically positioned between the NFC chip output and the actuator to provide the individual actuator electrical energization at a switching frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.