# US 2019/0318591 A1 · Bistable haptic feedback generator

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- Number: US 2019/0318591 A1
- Document ID: US20190318591A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/454,382
- Filed: 2019-06-27
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-25
- Assignees: Immersion Corporation
- Applicants: Immersion Corporation
- Inventors: Vahid KHOSHKAVA; Juan Manuel CRUZ HERNANDEZ
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190318591A1

## CPC

- G08B 6/00: Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems
- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface}
- G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
- H10N 30/857: Macromolecular compositions
- G06F 2203/014: Force feedback applied to GUI
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

This disclosure relates to haptic feedback generators, including bistable materials for providing haptic feedback to a user. Such haptic feedback generators are useful in structural materials, such as elements of wearables or accessories.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system, comprising:
a carrier having a hollow cavity;
a multistable material hinge attached to the carrier, the multistable material hinge positioned over the hollow cavity and configured in a first stable configuration that is a flat position relative to the carrier; and
a substrate associated with the multistable material hinge that, when contacted, causes the multistable material hinge to move from the first stable configuration to a second stable configuration that is extended into the hollow cavity or raised away from the hollow cavity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the multistable material hinge is configured to move from the second stable configuration to the first stable configuration when the substrate is not contacted.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second stable configuration is extended into the hollow cavity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second stable configuration is raised away from the hollow cavity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second stable configurations are oriented about 90° to one another.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the multistable material hinge is a tristable material hinge having a third stable configuration.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the second stable configuration is extended into the hollow cavity, and the third stable configuration is raised away from the hollow cavity.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the second stable configuration is raised away from the hollow cavity, and the third stable configuration is extended into the hollow cavity.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the tristable material hinge is configured to move from the second stable configuration to the third stable configuration when the substrate is not contacted.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a pillar having a first end attached to the multistable material hinge and a second end attached to the substrate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the multistable material hinge is fixedly attached or attached through a mechanical rotatable means to the pillar.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of hollow cavities, each hollow cavity having a multistable material hinge positioned over the hollow cavity.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the substrate is associated with each of the plurality of multistable material hinges.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of multistable material hinges comprises a pillar having a first end attached thereto and a second end attached to the substrate.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is part of a wearable, a personal accessory, or a luggage.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the system is part of a textile.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the system is part of a phone case.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the multistable material hinge comprises carbon fibers embedded in a polymer matrix.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the multistable material hinge is a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) or a shape memory polymer (SMP).

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a touchpad.