Facebook Technologies, LLC

Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC

Oculus, Vr, LLC

Charles Stewart

Tristan Thomas Trutna

Nicholas Roy Corson

Daniele Piazza

Zachary D West

Aaron Ambuske

Brian Fletcher

Brian Cox

John Dietrich Martin

Sean Jason Keller

David R Perek

Raymond King

Slava Karulin

Erik Samuel Roby

Adam Ahne

An apparatus and method for splitting a high filament count carbon fiber tow into a set of tows with reduced filament counts. The apparatus is comprised of an electrolyte bath assembly and a splitting assembly comprised of at least one blade. The preferred embodiment of the blades being Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The splitting assembly being positioned within the electrolyte bath or adjacent to the exit of the electrolyte bath.

Apparatus and method for spliting a tow of carbon fiber filaments

The disclosed haptic vibrotactile actuator may include a textile comprising a first major surface and a second, opposite major surface, an electrode coupled to the first major surface of the textile across at least a majority of a surface area of a first surface of the electrode, and a flexible electroactive material electrically coupled to a second, opposite surface of the electrode. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Vibrotactile actuators on textiles and related systems and methods

The disclosed flexible vibrotactile devices may include a dielectric support material, at least one flexible electroactive element coupled to the dielectric support material, a first conductive electrode material, and a second conductive electrode material. The dielectric support material may include at least one hole therethrough for securing the flexible vibrotactile device to a textile by threading at least one fiber through the at least one hole. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Vibrotactile devices, systems, and related methods

The disclosed haptic vibrotactile actuators on inflatable bladders may include an inflatable bladder and a flexible haptic vibrotactile actuator positioned on or in the inflatable bladder such that inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder alters a vibrotactile sensation induced by the flexible haptic vibrotactile actuator in response to activation of the flexible haptic vibrotactile actuator. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Systems including vibrotactile actuators and inflatable bladders, and related methods

A haptic glove comprises a glove body including a glove digit corresponding to a phalange of a user hand with the glove digit having a bend location that is located along the glove digit. A haptic apparatus is coupled to the glove body at the bend location with the haptic apparatus comprising a plurality of sheets that are flexible and inextensible and a pressure actuator coupled to one or more of the plurality of sheets. The plurality of sheets are stacked and configured to translate relative to each other along the centerline with bending of the glove digit. The pressure actuator is configured to adjust an applied pressure to the plurality of sheets to adjust friction between the sheets. The adjustment of friction is proportional to a bending resistance of the glove digit.

Haptic device for variable bending resistance

An apparatus for creating haptic stimulations is provided. The apparatus includes one or more pods coupled to a garment, each pod including: (i) an internal structure, and (ii) an airtight bladder surrounding the internal structure, where the bladder is pneumatically coupled to a pneumatic device that is configured to control a pressurized state of the bladder. Each pod is configured to: (i) have a first degree of flexibility when the bladder of the pod is in a first pressurized state; and (ii) have a second degree of flexibility, less than the first degree of flexibility, when the bladder of the pod is in a second pressurized state different from the first pressurized state. Each pod provides a haptic stimulation to a wearer of the garment when the corresponding bladder is in the second pressurized state.

Pneumatically controlled haptic mechanisms for haptic feedback

Haptic vibrotactile actuators on inflatable bladders and related systems and methods

Haptic vibrotactile actuators on textiles and related systems and methods

An apparatus for creating haptic stimulations is provided. The apparatus includes pod(s) coupled to a garment, each pod including: (i) an internal structure including an arrangement of a plurality of protrusions and (ii) an airtight bladder surrounding the internal structure, wherein the bladder is pneumatically coupled to a pneumatic device that is configured to control a pressurized state of the bladder. The internal structure in each pod is configured to: (i) when the respective bladder of the respective pod is in a first pressurized state, have a first degree of flexibility; and (ii) when the respective bladder is in a second pressurized state different from the first pressurized state: curve, at least partially, in a predetermined direction, and have a second degree of flexibility less than the first degree of flexibility, thereby providing a haptic stimulation to a wearer when the respective bladder is in the second pressurized state.

Pneumatically controlled haptic mechanisms with curling internal structures for haptic feedback

An apparatus for creating haptic stimulations is provided. The apparatus includes pod(s) coupled to a garment, each pod including: (i) an outer internal structure that defines an opening, (ii) an inner internal structure disposed in the opening defined by the outer internal structure, and (iii) an airtight bladder, pneumatically coupled with a pneumatic device, surrounding the inner and outer internal structures. Further, when a bladder of a respective pod is at a first pressure, respective top surfaces of the internal structures contact a first portion of a user's body, said contact with the first portion of the body having a first area, and when the bladder is at a second pressure, the top surface of the inner internal structure and/or the top surface of the outer internal structure contact a second portion of the user's body, said contact with the second portion of the body having a second area.

Pneumatically controlled haptic mechanisms with nested internal structures for haptic feedback

A sheet jammer device comprises a first jamming sheet having a first surface within a compression region. A first inflatable bladder includes a first contact area within the compression region and a second jamming sheet has a surface within the compression. A second inflatable bladder that includes a second contact area that is within the compression region. An amount of inflation of the first inflatable bladder and the second inflatable bladder controls the first friction force and the second friction force to restrict movement of the first jamming sheet relative to the second jamming sheet.

Growing community of inventors

Bothell, WA, United States of America

Charles Stewart