Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC

Facebook Technologies, LLC

Dongsuk Shin

Daniele Piazza

Erik Samuel Roby

David Rother Dobbs

Benjamin Gorissen

Priyanshu Agarwal

Tianshu Liu

Kevin Shimasaki

Li Yao

Felippe Jose Pavinatto

Harsha Prahlad

Zhenzhen Shen

Wenyang Pan

Sai Sharan Injeti

Haptic actuators may include a first active material coupled to a first side of an inactive substrate and a second active material coupled to a second side of the inactive substrate. The inactive substrate may be formed to initially exhibit a nonplanar shape when the first active material and the second active material are not actuated. Various other methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed.

Haptic actuators and related wearable devices

A haptic device with coupled resonance at tunable frequencies includes an actuator, a first structure coupled to the actuator, a second structure coupled to the first structure and separate from the actuator, and at least one local mass coupled to the first or second structure; the first and second structure having resonance such that application by the actuator of a resonance frequency to the first structure causes the first and second structures to resonate in phase and displace the local mass. A method of forming a haptic device includes coupling an actuator to a first structure, coupling the first structure to a second structure, locating a mass on at least one of the first or second structures, and configuring the actuator to, upon activation, excite the first structure at a resonance frequency of the haptic device such that the first and second structures resonate in phase and displace the mass.

Haptic device with coupled resonance at tunable frequencies

Disclosed apparatus may include a membrane, a first electrode supported by the membrane, a second electrode, and optionally a controller configured to control an electrical potential applied between the first electrode and the second electrode. Example apparatus may include one or more flexible membranes that may, at least in part, define an enclosure that is at least partially filled with a dielectric fluid. A flexible membrane may include a functionalized polymer or inorganic dielectric material, such as a fluoropolymer composite including at least one electrically conductive additive and/or at least one toughener. Examples also include associated materials (e.g., polymers), methods of fabrication, methods of apparatus operation, and systems.

Membranes with reduced resistivity

The disclosed wearable devices may include a body shaped and sized to be worn against a user's skin, a flexible vibrotactile actuator positioned on or in the body, and a tunable stiffness material adjacent to the flexible haptic actuator. The flexible vibrotactile actuator may be in a location to transmit a haptic sensation to the user's skin when the body is worn by the user. The tunable stiffness material may have an adjustable stiffness such that adjustment of the stiffness of the tunable stiffness material alters a haptic sensation induced by the flexible haptic actuator against the user's skin. Various other related methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed.

Tunable flexible haptic actuators and related devices, systems, and methods

The disclosed touch-simulation apparatus includes (1) a set of opposing surfaces and (2) an electric actuator assembly coupled between the set of opposing surfaces, wherein (A) the electric actuator assembly includes an actuator layer and (B) a set of mechanical amplifiers coupled between opposing sides of the actuator layer and the set of opposing surfaces. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Apparatus, system, and method for actuator-based touch simulation

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Dongsuk Shin