Pneumatic haptic device having actuation cells for producing a haptic output over a bed mattress

An in-bed haptic device, comprising:

• a top layer defining a top external surface;
• a bottom layer defining a bottom external surface, the top layer and bottom layer defining a flexible enclosure;
• a channel layer defining a top surface and a bottom surface coupled to the bottom layer, the channel layer defining a set of passages extending from an edge of the flexible enclosure;
• an actuation layer coupled to the top surface of the channel layer and defining an array of actuation cells within the flexible enclosure, each actuation cell of the array of actuation cells positioned at an end of a respective passage of the set of passages;
• and
• a control system coupled a pressurized fluid source;
• wherein:
• the bottom layer, the channel layer and the actuation layer form a sealed fluid chamber configured to introduce pressurized fluid from the control system and to individual actuation cells of the array of actuation cells;
• and
• the array of actuation cells is configured to locally deform the top layer of the flexible enclosure to provide a haptic output.

A system for providing haptic outputs, comprising:

• an in-bed haptic device comprising:
• a top layer defining a top external surface;
• a bottom layer defining a bottom external surface;
• an array of actuation cells positioned between the top layer and the bottom layer, each actuation cell of the array of actuation cells configured to inflate;
• and
• a channel layer positioned between the bottom layer and the array of actuation cells the channel layer defining a set of passages, each passage of the set of passages extending from an edge of the channel layer and to a respective actuation cell of the array of actuation cells;
• a control system comprising:
• a reservoir configured to contain a fluid;
• a pump configured to pressurize the fluid contained in the reservoir;
• a valve array configured to fluidly couple the reservoir to the the set of passages;
• and
• a processing unit configured to control the valve array to inflate individual actuation cells of the array of actuation cells in a predetermined sequence using the pressurized fluid to provide a haptic output.