Electroactive polymer actuator haptic grip assembly

A method of augmenting a stand alone electronic media device to produce an improved haptic effect, the method comprising:

• providing a housing including at least one media device connector adapted to couple to an output port of the electronic media device, the housing further includes at least one electroactive polymer actuator having an active portion;
• coupling the output port of the electronic media device to device connector;
• producing a triggering signal in response to an output signal of the electronic media device;
• and
• generating the improved haptic effect by transmitting the triggering signal to the electroactive polymer actuator to cause movement of the active portion.

A method of producing a housing assembly to augment a haptic effect of a stand alone electronic media device when coupled thereto, the method comprising:

• positioning at least one electroactive polymer actuator having an active portion within a housing structure including at least one media device connector that allows for detachable joining of the electronic media device to the housing structure;
• coupling an inertial mass to the active portion, such that movement of the active portion creates the haptic effect by inertial movement of the inertial mass, where the haptic effect is felt in the housing assembly or electronic media device when coupled thereto;
• and
• providing within the housing electronic drive circuitry to electrically couple the media device connector to the electroactive polymer actuator and to generate a trigger signal upon receipt of an output signal from the electronic media device, where the electronic drive circuitry is configured to transmit the trigger signal to the electroactive polymer actuator to cause movement of the active portion.

A housing assembly for removably coupling with an electronic media device that is configured to deliver an output signal to an output port, where the housing assembly produces a haptic effect in response to the output signal of the electronic media device, the housing assembly comprising:

• a housing case adapted to nest at least a portion of the electronic media device, the housing including at least one media device connector adapted to detachably couple to the output port of the electronic media device;
• at least one actuator having an active portion configured to produce movement in response to a triggering signal;
• a body mass located within the housing case and coupled to the actuator, where the haptic effect of the actuator comprises an inertial movement of the body mass;
• at least one drive electronics assembly configured to electronically couple the actuator to the media device connector, such that the drive electronics assembly is capable of generating the triggering signal in response to the output signal of the electronic media device.

A method of augmenting a stand alone electronic media device to produce an improved haptic effect, the method comprising:

• providing a housing including at least one media device connector adapted to couple to an output port of the electronic media device, the housing further includes at least one electroactive polymer actuator having an active portion;
• coupling the output port of the electronic media device to device connector;
• producing a triggering signal in response to an output signal of the electronic media device;
• and
• generating the improved haptic effect by transmitting the triggering signal to the actuator to cause movement of the active portion.

A housing assembly for removably coupling with an electronic media device that is configured to deliver an output signal to an output port, where the housing assembly produces a haptic effect in response to the output signal of the electronic media device, the housing assembly comprising:

• a housing case adapted to nest at least a portion of the electronic media device, the housing including at least one media device connector adapted to detachably couple to the output port of the electronic media device;
• at least one actuator having an active portion configured to produce movement in response to a triggering signal, where movement of the active portion creates the haptic effect discernable on or at the housing assembly;
• a power supply located within the housing case, where the power supply is electrically coupled to the actuator;
• and
• at least one drive electronics assembly configured to electronically couple the actuator to the media device connector, such that the drive electronics assembly is capable of generating the triggering signal in response to the output signal of the electronic media device.