Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC

Facebook Technologies, LLC

Meta Platforms, Inc.

Nicholas Colonnese

Priyanshu Agarwal

Douglas Robert Lanman

Ryan Michael Ebert

Bruce A Cleary

Joyce S Fang

Amirhossein Hajiagha Memar

Hrvoje Benko

Tristan Thomas Trutna

Nicholas Roy Corson

Ali Israr

Zachary D West

Aaron Ambuske

Brian Fletcher

Daniele Piazza

Erik Samuel Roby

Justin Avram Clark

Jay Willet

Tianshu Liu

John Dietrich Martin

Ana Mirona Motoc

Sonny Chan

Shea Jonathan Robinson

Joseph Andrew Aase

Eric Young

Evan Matthew Pezent

Sean Jason Keller

Andrew Stanley

Yigit Menguc

Brian Cox

Robert Manson

Li Yao

David Rother Dobbs

Katherine Healy

Eric Jordan Gonzalez

Felippe Jose Pavinatto

Harsha Prahlad

Nathan Scot Usevitch

Matthew Evan Pezent

Jessica Hartcher-O'Brien

Heng Xu

Benjamin Stephens-Fripp

Shawn Reese

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for combining pressure measurement with a dynamic system model to estimate the air mass within an actuator, and then estimate the applied contact force which may be based on a quasi-static deformation model.

Estimation or control of contact force in actuators using pressure

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include creating a computer-generated model for a haptic feedback system including a plurality of actuators arranged in a first layer of the haptic feedback system, and a plurality of channels routed in a second layer of the haptic feedback system, the second layer being below the first layer, printing a three-dimensional wax mold structure of the computer-generated model, and forming the haptic feedback system in a single step using the three-dimensional wax mold structure. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Systems and methods for creating soft deformable high-density haptic bubble displays

Systems and methods of controlling activation of different input elements using an actuator are disclosed herein. An example method includes in response to detecting that a representation of a finger is located by a first input element: obtaining information regarding a first amount of force to actuate the first input element, and causing adjustment of a physical characteristic of an actuator so that a first amount of force directed to a component of the actuator activates the first input element. In response to detecting that the representation of the finger is located by a second input element, the method also includes: obtaining information regarding a second amount of force distinct from the first amount of force, and causing adjustment of the physical characteristic of the actuator so that the second amount of force directed to the component of the actuator activates the second input element.

Systems and methods of controlling activation of physical or virtual keyboard keys using an adjustable electrostatically-controlled actuator, and methods of manufacturing electrostatically-controlled actuators for use therewith

The disclosed system may include a fluidic system including a connector including a first side and a second side, each of the first side and the second side including a plurality of pins, a fluidic breakout configured to interface pneumatic tubing with a fluidic control system, pneumatic tubing including a plurality of fluidic channels, a first end configured to interface with the first side of the connector, and a second end configured to interface with the fluidic breakout, and a haptic feedback system including a plurality of actuators, each actuator coupled to a respective actuation tube configured to interface with a respective pin on the second side of the connector. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Soft stretchable high-density fluidic routing using multi-channel tubing, connectors, and breakout

A head-mounted display device includes a first set of one or more lenses and a first display configured to provide visual data through the first set of one or more lenses. The head-mounted display device further includes a first stepper motor mechanically coupled to the first display, and the first stepper motor is configured to move the first display along a first axis by rotating a rotatable component of the first stepper motor. The head-mounted display device further includes a first electronic controller configured to (i) determine a first position of the first display, (ii) receive information identifying a second position of the first display, and (iii) generate one or more electrical signals that cause the first stepper motor to move the first display from the first position to the second position along the first axis.

Head-mounted display device with stepper motors for moving displays

The disclosed haptic feedback system may include an actuator, a supply valve coupled to the actuator, an exhaust valve, and a fluidic mass controller communicatively coupled to the supply valve and the exhaust valve. The fluidic mass controller may (1) place the exhaust valve in a state that prevents a fluid from escaping the actuator, (2) activate the supply valve to fill the actuator with an amount of the fluid, (3) determine that the actuator has filled with the amount of the fluid, and then in response to that determination, (4) deactivate the supply valve to trap the amount of the fluid in the actuator. Various other apparatuses, methods, and systems are also disclosed.

Apparatus, system, and method for controlling soft fluidic actuators via sensor feedback and machine learning models

A head mounted display (HMD) includes a set of one or more lenses defining an optical axis, a display configured to project light through the set of the one or more lenses, a voice coil actuator coupled with the display and configured to move the display along the optical axis, and a first guide that is separate from the first voice coil actuator and coupled with the first display to guide the movement of the first display. The HMD additionally includes a set of one or more position sensors configured to determine a position of the display long the optical axis and an electronic controller configured to receive information identifying a reference position of the display along the optical axis and generate one or more electrical signals for initiating a movement of the first display toward the first reference point along the optical axis.

Head-mounted display device with voice coil motors for moving displays

A head-mounted display device includes one or more lenses and a display configured to provide visual data through the one or more lenses. The head-mounted display device also includes a direct-current (DC) motor mechanically coupled to the display, and the DC motor is configured to move the display along an axis by rotating a rotatable component of the DC motor. The head-mounted display device further includes: position sensor(s) configured to determine a position of the display, and electronic controller(s) in communication with the position sensor(s). The electronic controller(s) are configured to: (i) receive, from the position sensor(s), the determined position of the display as a first position of the display, (ii) receive information identifying a second position of the display, and (iii) generate electrical signal(s) that cause the DC motor to move the display from the first position to the second position along the axis.

Head-mounted display device with direct-current (DC) motors for moving displays

A method generates synchronized auditory and haptic feedback for artificial-reality environments. The method includes performing a simulation of a user interaction with a virtual object in an artificial-reality environment. The user interaction (i) traverses a surface of the virtual object (e.g., running a finger over a textured surface), and (ii) includes a set of contact events (e.g., a sparse set of events). The method also includes estimating a trajectory of the user interaction with the virtual object based on the set of contact events. The method also includes determining a surface profile associated with the surface of the virtual object, generating an excitation force profile according to (i) the estimated trajectory and (ii) the surface profile, and rendering, based on the excitation force profile, audio and synchronized haptic feedback for the user interaction.

Synthesizing haptic and sonic feedback for textured materials in interactive virtual environments

The disclosed method may include detecting motion of a user, estimating, for the detected motion of the user, effort expended by the user in performing the motion, determining, based on the detected motion and the estimation of expended effort, a haptic profile for conveying to the user a physical sensation of expending the effort, and simulating a sensation of expending the effort by executing the haptic profile in at least one haptic device that is worn by the user. Various other methods, systems, and/or computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Systems and methods for simulating a sensation of expending effort in a virtual environment

An apparatus for fixing a wearable structure and/or a user-feedback element to a user is provided. The apparatus includes a wearable structure configured to be worn by a user, and a grounding assembly, coupled to the wearable structure. The grounding assembly includes: (i) an inflatable bladder, coupled to a first portion of the wearable structure, and (ii) a cord, coupled to a second portion of the wearable structure and the inflatable bladder. The inflatable bladder is configured to receive a fluid from a source. The cord is configured to tighten around a portion of the user's body according to and in proportion with the fluid pressure inside the inflatable bladder.

Passive and active grounding techniques for haptic devices

A wearable device for providing haptic stimulations is provided. The wearable device includes: (i) a wearable structure to be worn on a portion of a user's body and (ii) an inflatable bladder, coupled to the wearable structure, that includes two or more pockets positioned at a target location on the wearable structure. Furthermore, the two or more pockets are configured to, when inflated, impart directional force(s) onto the user at the target location that impede movement of the portion of the user's body. Additionally, the directional force(s) are caused by the two or more pockets interfering with each other, when inflated. In some embodiments, (a) the portion of the user's body is a hand of the user, (b) the target location is a finger joint on the user's hand, and (c) the directional force(s) imparted onto the user at the target location impede flexion of the user's finger.

Wearable devices with interfering bladders for creating haptic feedback

An electrostatic zipping actuator includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlying the primary electrode, a dielectric layer located between and abutting at least a portion of the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and a dielectric fluid disposed at least at a junction between the dielectric layer and one of the electrodes, where an average total thickness of the dielectric layer is less than approximately 10 micrometers.

Electrostatic zipper

Growing community of inventors

Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Nicholas Colonnese