U.S. patent application number 11/937081 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-14 for thermal haptic effects.
This patent application is currently assigned to Immersion Corporation. Invention is credited to Neil T. Olien, Erin B. Ramsay.
Application Number | 20090120105 11/937081 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40155745 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090120105 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ramsay; Erin B. ; et
al. |
May 14, 2009 |
Thermal Haptic Effects
Abstract
A thermal haptic feedback device includes a plurality of cells
coupled to a processor. The processor controls each of the cells so
that each cell can independently generate heating or cooling
effects. Unique haptic effects, such as a simulated wind effect,
can be generated by causing some cells to be hot or cold, or
changing some of the cells from hot to cold.
Inventors: |
Ramsay; Erin B.; (Quebec,
CA) ; Olien; Neil T.; (Quebec, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE, PLLC
ATTN: PATENT DOCKETING 32ND FLOOR, P.O. BOX 7037
ATLANTA
GA
30357-0037
US
|
Assignee: |
Immersion Corporation
San Jose
CA
|
Family ID: |
40155745 |
Appl. No.: |
11/937081 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/016 20130101;
G06F 3/011 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.3 |
International
Class: |
F25B 21/02 20060101
F25B021/02 |
Claims
1. A thermal haptic feedback device comprising: a processor; and a
plurality of cells coupled to the processor, wherein each of the
cells is adapted to independently generate hot and cold.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the cells comprises a
Peltier junction.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the cells comprises a
container that stores compressed gas.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the cells is coupled to a
liquid system.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the liquid system is a closed
loop system.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to create a
wind haptic effect by rapidly changing each of the cells from hot
to cold.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to create
an object haptic effect by selecting a group of the plurality of
cells; wherein the group is approximately a shape of the
object.
8. A method of generating a haptic effect comprising: placing a
garment on a skin of a user, wherein the garment comprises a
plurality of cells; and controlling the plurality of cells by
independently causing at least some of the cells to generate
heating or cooling effects.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises
applying current to a Peltier junction.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises
releasing compressed gas from a container.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises
transferring fluid to the cells.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transferring comprises a
closed water loop system.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises
rapidly changing each of the cells from hot to cold to create a
wind haptic effect.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises
selecting a group of the plurality of cells; wherein the group is
approximately a shape of an object.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the object is a hand.
16. A haptic generation system comprising: means for placing a
plurality of cells against a skin of a user; and means for
controlling the plurality of cells by independently causing at
least some of the cells to generate heating or cooling effects.
17. A method of generating a haptic effect to simulate an object
comprising: determining a group of cells from a plurality of cells
that is shaped similar to the object; and changing a thermal
property for the group of cells.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the changing the thermal
property comprises heating the group of cells.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of cells form a
garment that is applied to a skin of a user.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the heating the group of cells
comprises applying electricity to a Peltier junction.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a
haptic feedback system. More particularly, one embodiment of the
present invention is directed to a thermal haptic feedback
system.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0002] Electronic device manufacturers strive to produce a rich
interface for users. Conventional devices use visual and auditory
cues to provide feedback to a user. In some interface devices,
kinesthetic feedback (such as active and resistive force feedback)
and/or tactile feedback (such as vibration, texture, and heat) is
also provided to the user, more generally known collectively as
"haptic feedback" or "haptic effects".
[0003] Some known haptic feedback systems use heating or cooling
haptic effects (collectively, "thermal haptics effects") in
addition to force feedback effects. However, the known uses of
thermal haptic effects is fairly basic and is only able to impart
minimal information to the user, especially when compared to other
known haptic effects such as vibration based haptic effects.
[0004] Based on the foregoing, there is a need for an improved
system and method for generating thermal haptic effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] One embodiment is a thermal haptic feedback device that
includes a plurality of cells coupled to a processor. The processor
controls each of the cells so that each cell can independently
generate heating or cooling effects. Unique haptic effects, such as
a simulated wind effect, can be generated by causing some cells to
be hot or cold, or changing some of the cells from hot to cold.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a thermal haptic system in
accordance with one embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the functionality of the system
in accordance with one embodiment when a thermal haptic effect that
simulates a specific object, such as a hand, is created on a
garment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] One embodiment is a thermal haptic system that can provide
both heat and cold to a user in localized areas to provide complex
haptic effects.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a thermal haptic system 10 in
accordance with one embodiment. System 10 includes a garment or
wearable object 20 that is designed to be worn by a user or
otherwise located near a user so that it is touching the user's
skin. Coupled to garment 20 is a processor 24, and memory 22.
Processor 24 may be any general purpose processor or controller, or
any device that can execute instructions. Memory 22 is any type of
storage media that can store instructions and other data. Garment
20, for example, may be a glove, sleeve, pant leg, neck covering,
shoe, hat, etc. Garment 20 may be embedded within a larger garment
or clothing. Garment 20 may be flexible so it can be wrapped around
a portion of a user's body. Processor 24 is coupled to garment 20
through one or more wires 23.
[0010] Garment 20 includes multiple cells, for example cells 12-16.
Each cell can provide heating or cooling in a generally isolated
area that is approximately the size of the cell. Each cell can be
independently controlled, allowing for the generation of complex
thermal haptic patterns for generating haptic effects, as disclosed
below. In one embodiment, the size of each cell is related to the
haptic resolution of the contacting body surface. In one
embodiment, in addition to thermal haptic effects, each cell can
include force feedback type haptic effects generated by, for
example, actuators. In one embodiment, processor 24 is connected by
at least one wire to each of the cells of garment 20 so that each
cell can be separately controlled and can independently generate
hot or cold.
[0011] In one embodiment, each cell 12-16 is formed from two
dissimilar metals or semiconductors (n-type and p-type) and the
Peltier effect occurs at the junction between the n and p
materials. As a current flows from the p to n materials, the
junction is cooled. When the current is reversed the junction
heats. If two junctions are implemented, one junction heats while
one junction cools. In one embodiment, a p-n junction is used to
both cool and heat, keeping the complexity down. In another
embodiment, the p-n junction is only used for cooling, and the
heating is generated using another type of available heating
element for efficiency purposes.
[0012] In another embodiment, each cell 12-16 of garment 20
includes a container for compressed carbon dioxide or other gas.
Processor 24, by controlling whether gas is released or compressed
into the container, creates a heating or cooling effect. The
compressing of the gas generates heat and the uncompressing of the
gas produces cooling. Each cell 12-16 may be individually connected
to a compressor and the compression/release of gas may be
controlled to produce thermal haptic effects of the garment. In one
embodiment, the container is made of metal or some other thermally
conductive material that can be the portion of the cell that is
applied to the skin portion of the user's body. For example, carbon
dioxide ("CO.sub.2") metal containers become cold when the
compressed gas is released and the CO.sub.2 container may touch the
skin of a user.
[0013] In one embodiment, the compressed air or atmosphere is used
to generate a cooling sensation by blowing the substance through a
semi-permeable layer of garment 20 onto the skin of the user. The
effect may be increased if the garment 20 is damp. Air warmed by a
heater element may be used to create heating effects. Garment 20
can include individually controlled gas spigot lines to allow for
greater granularity of control in the heating and cooling.
[0014] In another embodiment, garment 20 includes a closed "water
loop system" that includes a thermally conductive latex liner where
hot and cold water is pumped to cells 12-16 within garment 20 to
flush to the liner and to create a sensation of hot and cold. In
another embodiment, garment 20 includes a main line for cooling and
heating liquids and valves that control which type of liquid is
being pumped through a particular cell of garment 20. In another
embodiment, an "open water" system is implemented by using garment
20 as a wicking material that draws waters away from the skin. Jets
of hot and cold water are directed at the skin and then "wicked
away" to allow for the recirculation of fluid.
[0015] System 10, when controlled by processor 24, can be used to
generate many novel types of haptic effects because the large
number of cells can create a variety of thermal patterns. For
example, in one embodiment garment 20 is in the form of a sleeve
worn by a user. A haptic effect can be created that would allow the
user to feel as if someone is touching them on their arm by
creating the shape of a hand thermally imprinted by heating a
pattern of cells 12-16 that form the shape of a hand. The change in
temperature may be combined with an applied force or other haptic
effect, again in the shape of a hand in the form of pressure rather
than heat, to create a completely immersive experience of somebody
touching or grabbing the user's arm.
[0016] System 10 may be used to enhance virtual reality by
simulating a texture of a surface and a thermal behavior of an
object. For example, to simulate a piece of metal, garment 20 will
apply cold effects, while wood may be neutral. In a medical
simulator, surgeons can determine if organs are infected by way of
temperature. In virtual reality mechanical design simulations,
individual parts and components could feel cool or warm to the
touch depending on results.
[0017] Rapid cycling from cold to hot can be used to simulate
environmental conditions. For example, wind can be simulated by
rapidly cycling cells 12-16 between hot and cold, and different
types of wind can be simulated by altering the cycling pattern,
such as steady, gusting, breezy, etc. Waves can also be simulated
through rapid cycling.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the functionality of system 10
in accordance with one embodiment when a thermal haptic effect that
simulates a specific object, such as a hand, is created on garment
20. In one embodiment, the functionality of the flow diagram of
FIG. 2 is implemented by software stored in memory and executed by
a processor. In other embodiments, the functionality can be
performed by hardware, or any combination of hardware and
software.
[0019] At 102, processor 24 receives information regarding the
object to be simulated (e.g., a hand) and determines a group of
cells having the appropriate pattern out of all the cells of
garment 20 that forms the shape of the object.
[0020] At 104, processor 24 changes the thermal properties of the
determined cells by generating signals to the determined group of
cells to either cool or heat the cells, depending on the desired
thermal effect. As a result, the user will "feel" the object
against their skin.
[0021] Several embodiments of the present invention are
specifically illustrated and/or described herein. However, it will
be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present
invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview
of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and
intended scope of the invention.
[0022] For example, embodiments may include combining one method of
heating with another method of cooling. For example, heated water
can be used to create the heating sensation and provide a damp
surface for the injection of compressed gas for cooling.
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