Immersion Corporation

Novasentis, Inc.

Kemet Electronics Corporation

Li Jiang

Christophe Ramstein

Brian C Zellers

Danny A Grant

Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez

David M Birnbaum

Ali Modarres

Neil Thomas Olien

Daniel Gregory Parker

M Fabrice Domingues Dos Santos

Stephen Scott Davis

Shihai Zhang

Remy Pieron

Christopher J Ullrich

Trevor Jones

Allan Visitacion

Kohei Imoto

Jesica Ferro

Vincent Levesque

Stephen D Rank

Pedro Gregorio

Richard W Ducharme

Robert Lacroix

Robert A Lacroix

Eric Gervais

Aaron Kapelus

Frank Ye

Raj Pathak

Matthew Douglas Rogge

Manuel Cruz

Pamela Pimentel

Mina Chang

Lawrence Wang

Electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuators are used to create haptic effects on a user interface deface, such as a keyboard. The keys of the keyboard may be embossed in a top layer to provide better key definition and to house the EMP actuator. Specifically, an EMP actuator is housed inside an embossed graphic layer that covers a key of the keyboard. Such a keyboard has a significant user interface value. For example, the embossed key provides the tactile effect of the presence of a key with edges, while allowing for the localized control of haptic vibrations. For such applications, an EMP transducer provides high strains, vibrations or both under control of an electric field. Furthermore, the EMP transducer can generate strong vibrations. When the frequency of the vibrations falls within the acoustic range, the EMP transducer can generate audible sound, thereby functioning as an audio speaker.

Thin profile user interface device and method providing localized haptic response

An electronic device having a user interface device that has a flexible surface, a haptic output device operatively coupled to the flexible surface and configured to cause a deformation of the flexible surface, and a controller in signal communication with the haptic output device. The controller is configured to trigger the haptic output device to cause the deformation of the flexible surface based on a simulated physical behavior of a virtual element represented on the user interface.

Mobile device configured to receive squeeze input

Various systems, devices, and methods for shape deformation of a haptic deformation display device are provided. For example, the haptic deformation display device may receive an input signal when the shape of the haptic deformation display device is in a first shape configuration. In response to the input signal, the haptic deformation display device may activate an actuator of the haptic deformation display device. The actuator may move a deformation component of the haptic deformation display device. The deformation component may at least partially defining a shape of the haptic deformation display device, thereby causing the shape of the haptic deformation display device to deform into a second shape configuration different from the first shape configuration. The second shape configuration may be substantially maintained.

System and method for shape deformation and force display of devices

Systems and methods for haptic feedback using laterally driven piezoelectric actuators are disclosed. For example, one described apparatus for haptic feedback using laterally driven piezoelectric actuators includes: a base; a touch-sensitive interface comprising an interface surface, the touch-sensitive interface affixed to the base and configured to move in a direction lateral to the interface surface; and a piezoelectric actuator mounted to the base and to the touch-sensitive interface and configured to receive a haptic signal and output a force in a direction lateral to the interface surface.

Systems and methods for haptic feedback using laterally driven piezoelectric actuators

Systems and methods for enhanced television interaction are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes receiving notification information, the notification information indicating an event associated with video content displayed by a television device; determining a haptic effect associated with the notification information; generating and transmitting a haptic signal to a haptic output device, the haptic signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the haptic effect.

Systems and methods for enhanced television interaction

Method and apparatus for representing user interface metaphors as physical changes on a shape-changing device

A haptic output device having an actuator and a processor is presented. The actuator is configured to generate a haptic effect. The processor is configured: (i) to communicate a driving signal to the actuator, wherein the driving signal comprises at least one cycle of a periodic signal, and wherein the driving signal has a first frequency that is different than a resonant frequency of the actuator; (ii) to determine, based on the first frequency of the driving signal, a starting time of a braking signal, wherein a frequency of the braking signal is the resonant frequency of the actuator; (iii) to determine, based on the first frequency of the driving signal, an amplitude of the braking signal; and (iv) to communicate the braking signal to the actuator at the determined starting time and at the determined amplitude.

Haptic device with linear resonant actuator

An electromechanical polymer (EMP) sensor includes (a) a first set of EMP layers provided between a first electrode and a second electrode forming a capacitor, the first set of EMP layers having one or more EMP layers capable of being activated by application of a voltage across the first and second electrodes; and (b) a sensing circuit coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode for detecting a change in capacitance or a change in voltage across the first and second electrodes. The EMP sensor may further include means for disconnecting the second electrode from a ground reference after the pre-determined voltage is applied, such that the sensing circuit senses a change in capacitance. The sensing circuit may be capable of detecting a noise portion of a voltage across the first and second electrode.

Electromechanical polymer-based sensor

A haptic output device including an actuator configured to generate a haptic effect, and a processor configured to communicate a driving signal to the actuator and to communicate a braking signal to the actuator before or at the same time the driving signal is terminated to generate the haptic effect. The braking signal has a frequency substantially the same as a resonant frequency of the actuator and at a reverse phase of the driving signal.

A housing for an electronic device allows a haptic feedback response that is localized to a specific area on a back panel of the housing of the electronic device. For example, a user holding the mobile electronic device may directly receive haptic feedback in his/her fingers that are supporting the back side of the mobile electronic device. Those specific areas on the back panel may be locations where the panel material is thinned, or locations where the panel material has been removed and replaced by a suitably selected membrane material having favorable mechanical properties. The membrane material may be introduced as an embossment of a membrane layer. In addition, a force-sensing resistor type material may be used as a replacement material, so as to sense the pressure of a user's finger pressing on the embossed structure at the specific locations to which EMP actuators are bonded.

Method and localized haptic response system provided on an interior-facing surface of a housing of an electronic device

A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology and audio speakers.

Localized multimodal electromechanical polymer transducers

A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology, keyboard, braille display, and audio speakers.

EMP actuators for deformable surface and keyboard application

An electronic device includes a touch screen configured to receive an input from a user, and a haptic device that includes a piezoelectric actuator including an elongated piezo bender having a mass at one end thereof and supported by a flexible holder at the other end thereof, and an electrical driving signal generator configured to generate a signal to create a vibration in the elongated piezo bender in response to the input from the user.

Electronic device with piezoelectric actuator

A linear resonant actuator includes: (a) an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator; (b) a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the EMP actuator being mounted on the first surface of the substrate; (c) clamping structure provided on two sides of the substrate so as to allow the substrate to vibrate freely between the two sides of the substrate, in response to an electrical stimulation of the EMP actuator; and (d) an inertial mass element having a contact surface for attaching to the substrate at the second surface of the substrate. The inertial mass element may include contact structures provided to attach to the substrate along thin parallel lines. In one embodiment, the inertial mass element may have a 'T' shape, or any suitable shape for stability.

Growing community of inventors

Union City, CA, United States of America

Li Jiang