Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130002587 | HAPTIC APPARATUS AND TECHNIQUES FOR QUANTIFYING CAPABILITY THEREOF - A computer-implemented method of quantifying the capability of a haptic system. The haptic system comprises an actuator. The computer comprises a processor, a memory, and an input/output interface for receiving and transmitting information to and from the processor. The computer provides an environment for simulating the mechanics of the haptic system, determining the performance of the haptic system, and determining a user sensation produced by the haptic system in response to an input to the haptic system. In accordance with the computer-implemented method, an input command is received by a mechanical system module that simulates a haptic system where the input command represents an input pressure applied to the haptic system. A displacement is produced by the mechanical system module in response to the input command. The displacement is received by an intensity perception module. The displacement is mapped to a sensation experienced by a user by the intensity perception module and the sensation experienced by the user in response to the input command is produced. | 01-03-2013 |
20130044049 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER TRANSDUCERS FOR TACTILE FEEDBACK DEVICES - Electroactive transducers as well as methods of producing a haptic effect in a user interface device simultaneously with a sound generated by a separately generated audio signal and electroactive polymer transducers for sensory feedback applications in user interface devices are disclosed. | 02-21-2013 |
20130207793 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER TRANSDUCERS FOR TACTILE FEEDBACK DEVICES - Electroactive transducers as well as methods of producing a haptic effect in a user interface device simultaneously with a sound generated by a separately generated audio signal and electroactive polymer transducers for sensory feedback applications in user interface devices are disclosed. | 08-15-2013 |
20140085065 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER ACTUATOR FEEDBACK APPARATUS SYSTEM AND METHOD - An electronic damping feedback control system for an electroactive polymer module, an electroactive polymer device, and a computer-implemented method for creating realistic effects are provided. The electronic damping controller is coupled in a feedback loop between a user interface device and an electroactive polymer actuator, where the actuator is coupled to the user interface device. The electronic damping controller is configured to receive an actuation signal from the user interface device in response to a user input. In response to the actuation signal, the electronic damping controller generates an electronic damping signal to couple to the actuator. The electroactive polymer device includes a user interface device, an electroactive polymer actuator coupled to the user interface device, and the electronic damping controller. The present invention may provide improved user interface devices. | 03-27-2014 |
20140145550 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER ENERGY CONVERTER - An energy conversion apparatus configured to convert energy from a mechanical energy source into electrical energy is provided. The energy conversion apparatus includes a transducer comprising a dielectric elastomer module made of stretchable electroactive polymer material. The dielectric elastomer module comprising at least one dielectric elastomer film layer is disposed between at least first and second electrodes. A transmission coupling mechanism is configured to couple the mechanical energy source and is operatively attached to the transducer to cyclically strain and relax the transducer in response to the mechanical energy acting on the transmission coupling mechanism. A conditioning circuit is coupled to the at least first and second electrodes and configured to apply an electric charge to the dielectric elastomer film when the dielectric elastomer film is in a strained state, to disconnect from the dielectric elastomer film when the dielectric elastomer film transitions from the strained state to a relaxed state, and to remove electrical charge from the dielectric elastomer film when the dielectric elastomer film reaches a relaxed state. | 05-29-2014 |
20140197936 | FLEXURE, APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD - An actuator module is disclosed. The actuator module includes an actuator having at least one elastomeric dielectric film disposed between first and second electrodes. A suspension system having at least one flexure is coupled to the actuator. The flexure enables the suspension system to move in a predetermined direction when the first and second electrodes are energized. A mobile device that includes the actuator module and a flexure where the actuator module assembly is used to provide haptic feedback also are disclosed. | 07-17-2014 |
20140232240 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER ENERGY CONVERTER - A balanced multi-phase energy conversion apparatus configured to convert energy from a mechanical energy source into electrical energy is disclosed. The energy conversion apparatus may comprise a plurality of transducers. Each of the plurality of transducers comprises a dielectric elastomer module comprising at least one dielectric elastomer film layer disposed between at least first and second electrodes. A transmission coupling mechanism is coupled to the mechanical energy source and operatively attached to the plurality of transducers. The transmission coupling cyclically strains and relaxes the plurality of transducers in response to the mechanical energy acting on the transmission coupling mechanism. The transmission coupling mechanism comprises a work cycle. The plurality of transducers are at evenly distributed points in the work cycle such that a total passive strain energy is constant. | 08-21-2014 |
20140232646 | DIELECTRIC ELASTOMER MEMBRANE FEEDBACK APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD - A feedback enabled system, module, and method are disclosed. The feedback enabled system comprises a first feedback module. The first feedback module comprises a membrane (thin film); a frame; a motion coupling, wherein when a voltage is applied to the membrane (thin film), the motion coupling exerts a force on the frame to provide feedback; and a user interface, wherein the first feedback module is configured to provide feedback through the user interface. The method comprises applying a first voltage with a first waveform to a first feedback module, the first feedback module comprising a dielectric elastomer membrane (thin film), a frame, and a motion coupling, wherein, when the first voltage is applied to the dielectric elastomer membrane (thin film), the motion coupling exerts a force on the frame. | 08-21-2014 |
20140368440 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER ACTUATOR HAPTIC GRIP ASSEMBLY - The present invention provides a housing to allow for removable coupling of electroactive polymer transducer with an electronic media device, where the housing produces an improved haptic effect in the electronic media device. | 12-18-2014 |