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US 2022/0187918 A1Published application
Virtual reality glove
OwnerJonathan P. Niemaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and apparatus for interacting with a virtual reality environment by means of a virtual reality glove comprising artificial muscles. A plurality of artificial muscles comprising individual artificial muscles operable to either expand or contract is embedded in or attached to a virtual reality glove. Individual artificial muscles are actuated in response to stimulus in the virtual reality environment such that a user wearing the virtual reality glove experiences resistance to virtual objects simulating a resistance the user would feel from a tangible object.
Claims20
A virtual reality (VR) glove comprising:
- a power supply;
- at least one processor;
- at least one memory;
- and
- a plurality of artificial muscles, wherein each artificial muscle of the plurality of artificial muscles includes at least one sensor and at least one flexible sheet;
- wherein the at least one flexible sheet is a concave shape;
- wherein the at least one sensor includes a gyroscope, a magnetic field sensor, an acoustic sensor, a light emitting sensor, and/or a light reflecting sensor;
- wherein the plurality of artificial muscles are configured to increase stiffness or decrease stiffness;
- wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive at least one signal from at least one remote device;
- wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit a stimulus across the plurality of artificial muscles based on the at least one signal;
- wherein the plurality of artificial muscles are configured to expand or contract based on the stimulus;
- wherein a stiffness of the plurality of artificial muscles increases when contracted and the stiffness of the plurality of artificial muscles decreases when expanded;
- and
- wherein the VR glove is configured to push and/or pull on a back of a hand of a user, a finger of the user, a fingertip of the user, and/or a palm of the user.
11 more elements
A virtual reality (VR) system comprising:
- a virtual reality (VR) glove;
- and
- at least one remote device;
- wherein the VR glove comprises:
- a power supply comprising a rechargeable battery;
- at least one processor;
- at least one memory;
- at least one sensor;
- a plurality of twisted artificial muscles, wherein each twisted artificial muscle of the plurality of twisted artificial muscles include a fiber, wherein the fiber is twisted to create a coil;
- wherein the plurality of twisted artificial muscles further include a material including a degree of internal alignment;
- wherein the at least one remote device is configured to generate a virtual reality environment;
- wherein the VR glove and the at least one remote device are in network communication;
- wherein the VR glove is configured to transmit sensor data to the at least one remote device;
- wherein the VR glove corresponds to a hand of a virtual avatar in the virtual reality environment;
- wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive at least one activation signal from the at least one remote device;
- wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit a stimulus to at least one twisted artificial muscle of the plurality of twisted artificial muscles based on the at least one activation signal;
- wherein the at least one activation signal corresponds to activity performed in the virtual reality environment;
- and
- wherein the hand of the virtual avatar is configured to match the movement of the at least one twisted artificial muscle of the plurality of twisted artificial muscles.
16 more elements
A virtual reality (VR) system comprising:
- at least one remote device;
- a virtual reality environment;
- and
- a virtual reality (VR) glove;
- wherein the VR glove comprises:
- a power supply;
- at least one processor;
- and
- at least one memory;
- a plurality of artificial muscles, wherein each artificial muscle of the plurality of artificial muscles includes at least one sensor and at least one flexible sheet;
- a first scaffolding positioned on a palm side of the VR glove;
- a second scaffolding positioned on a back side of the VR glove;
- wherein the first scaffolding and the second scaffolding are configured to not move when the plurality of artificial muscles expand or contract;
- wherein the at least one flexible sheet is a concave shape;
- wherein the at least one sensor includes a gyroscope, a magnetic field sensor, an acoustic sensor, a light emitting sensor, and/or a light reflecting sensor;
- wherein the at least one sensor is configured to capture motion data;
- wherein the at least one sensor is configured to transmit the motion data to the at least one remote device;
- wherein the at least one remote device is configured to modify the virtual reality environment based on the motion data;
- wherein the at least one remote device is configured to transmit a first activation signal to the at least one processor based on the modification of the virtual reality environment;
- wherein the at least one processor is configured to apply a first stimulus to the plurality of artificial muscles based on the first activation signal;
- wherein the plurality of artificial muscles are configured to contract or expand based on the first stimulus;
- wherein the at least one remote device is configured to transmit a second activation signal based on the modification of the virtual reality environment;
- wherein the at least one processor is configured to apply a second stimulus to the plurality of artificial muscles based on the second activation signal;
- and
- wherein the plurality of artificial muscles are configured to return to a resting position based on the second stimulus.
22 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.