Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC

Facebook Technologies, LLC

Meta Platforms, Inc.

Priyanshu Agarwal

Nicholas Colonnese

Daniele Piazza

Tianshu Liu

Ali Israr

Li Yao

Amirhossein Hajiagha Memar

Hrvoje Benko

Nicholas Roy Corson

Zachary D West

Aaron Ambuske

Brian Fletcher

Yigit Menguc

Jay Willet

John Dietrich Martin

Ana Mirona Motoc

Felippe Jose Pavinatto

Harsha Prahlad

Evan Matthew Pezent

Shea Jonathan Robinson

Joseph Andrew Aase

Wenyang Pan

Eric Young

Erik Samuel Roby

Thomas John Farrell Wallin

Justin Avram Clark

Brian Cox

Serol Turkyilmaz

Leah M Resneck

Dongsuk Shin

David Rother Dobbs

Pinghung Wei

Daniel Myers

Simon John Baines

Christopher Bradford Doughty

Amy Lynne Stoltzfus

Stuart Wayne Dealey

Simge Uzun

Zhenzhen Shen

Pratheev Sabaratnam Sreetharam

Maurizio Chiaramonte

Gaige DeHaven

Theodore Orth

Jessica Hartcher-O'Brien

Matthew Evan Pezent

Heng Xu

Benjamin Stephens-Fripp

Amirhossein Amini

A method of adjusting a neuromuscular-signal sensor is provided. The method includes monitoring, based on data from a wearable device that includes a neuromuscular-signal sensor, an impedance at the sensor that impacts the neuromuscular-signal sensor's ability to sense neuromuscular signals. The neuromuscular-signal sensor is coupled to the wearable device such that it contacts a portion of a user's skin. In response to detecting a change in the impedance at the neuromuscular-signal sensor that causes the impedance to be outside of a predefined range of impedance values, the method includes causing an adjustment to an operational characteristic (e.g., causing the neuromuscular-signal sensor to move or adjusting an electrical characteristic) associated with the neuromuscular-signal sensor such that the impedance at the neuromuscular-signal sensor is within the predefined range of impedance values after the adjustment to the operational characteristic.

Adjusting an operational characteristic of one or more neuromuscular-signal sensors to maintain desired impedances, and systems, wearable devices, and methods of use thereof

Methods for making a B-stage thiol-cured urethane acrylate elastomeric film are provided. At least a urethane acrylate oligomer, a multifunctional thiol, and a base catalyst are combined to form a thiol terminated B-stage elastomer. The thiol terminated B-stage elastomer is exposed to an ultraviolet photoinitiator in the presence of an allyl ether terminated urethane to form the B-stage thiol-cured urethane acrylate elastomeric film. In some embodiments the B-stage thiol-cured urethane acrylate elastomeric film is used for a soft actuator application such as a fluidic elastomer actuator application or an electrostatic zipping actuator application.

Fabrication of micro/nano-fluidic channels through ultraviolet patterning

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

An example method of manufacturing a knitted fabric that includes a non-knitted structure occurs in accordance with a programmed knit sequence for a multi-dimensional knitting machine. The method includes, providing a non-knitted structure to the multi-dimensional knitting machine at a point in time when a fabric structure has a first knit portion, wherein the first knit portion is formed based on a first type of knit pattern. The method also includes, after the providing of the non-knitted structure, following the programmed knit sequence to automatically adjust the multi-dimensional knitting machine to use a second type of knit pattern, distinct from a first type of knit pattern, to accommodate the non-knitted structure within a second knit portion that is adjacent to the first knit portion within the fabric structure.

Knitted textile structures formed by altering knit patterns to accommodate external mediums, and manufacturing processes associated therewith

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

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

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 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

The disclosed lockable beams for haptics applications may include a rib structure including a plurality of ribs, a linking structure connecting the ribs to each other, a tendon extending along the rib structure, a tensioner coupled to the tendon for applying tension to the tendon, and a locking mechanism configured to, when engaged, impede relative movement between the tendon and the rib structure in a manner that impedes bending of the lockable beam. Various other methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed.

Lockable beams for haptics applications and related systems and methods

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

The disclosed wearable apparatus may include (1) a device dimensioned to fit about a body part of a user, (2) a tensioning mechanism that harnesses to the device in a manner that is relative to the fit of the device about the body part of the user, and (3) an actuator couples to the tensioning mechanism that, when actuated, causes substantially tangential movement of the tensioning mechanism relative to a surface of the body part to produce substantially orthogonal movement of the device relative to the surface of the body part. Various other methods, systems, and/or computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Systems and methods for providing substantially orthogonal movement of a device about a user's body part

A haptic device includes a network of motorized shear actuators. The shear actuators each include a drive mechanism and a lead screw having a threaded outer surface rotatably coupled to the drive mechanism and extending along a primary axis. A carriage is movably coupled to the lead screw by a nut having a threaded inner surface and is disposed within a chassis. One or more flexure springs are attached to the chassis and are configured to exert a reactive force to resist a force applied to the carriage in a direction orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the primary axis. The flexure springs may cooperate with a stop mechanism to improve the mechanical robustness of the shear actuators under applied loads.

Collaborative shear display

A method for executing commands includes a wearable device with an inflatable bladder and a sensor integrated with the inflatable bladder. The method includes transitioning the inflatable bladder from an unpressurized state to a pressurized state. The inflatable bladder is associated with an executable command when in the pressurized state. The method further includes detecting, by the sensor, the magnitude of depression of the inflatable bladder and determining whether the magnitude of depression satisfies a predetermined threshold. When the magnitude of depression satisfies the predetermined threshold, the method executes the executable command.

Using a fluidic mechanism on a wearable device for both haptic feedback and user input

Growing community of inventors

Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Priyanshu Agarwal