Fluidic haptic device operable by user movement
A fluidic haptic device includes a chamber, a compressible or incompressible fluid disposed within the chamber, and an actuatable element in hydraulic or pneumatic contact with the fluid. The actuatable element is adapted to be displaced by movement of a user of the device, which can apply pressure to the fluid. The haptic device may interact directly with one or more body parts of a user, including the user's skin, and may be operable without an external pressure source.
1. A device, comprising:
a chamber comprising a fluidic circuit;
a fluid disposed within the chamber;
an actuatable element hydraulically or pneumatically coupled to the fluidic circuit,
wherein:
the actuatable element is configured to induce flow of the fluid within the fluidic circuit in response to a force generated by a movement of a user of the device, the actuatable element providing a resistance to the force; and
a pressure within the fluid arises from the force generated by the movement of the user of the device;
a valve configured to control a flow of the fluid within the fluidic circuit; and
a control module configured to modify the resistance to the force by controlling the valve,
wherein the device includes a haptic device.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a 2-way valve adapted to restrict fluid flow within the chamber.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a closed circuit.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a primary fluidic capacitor and a secondary fluidic capacitor in fluid communication with the primary fluidic capacitor.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the primary fluidic capacitor comprises a flexible material and the secondary fluidic capacitor comprises a rigid material.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the primary fluidic capacitor comprises a polymer-coated fabric.
7. The device of claim 4 , wherein a volume of the secondary fluidic capacitor is greater than a volume of the primary fluidic capacitor.
8. The device of claim 4 , wherein the valve is in fluid communication with both the primary fluidic capacitor and the secondary fluidic capacitor.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises air.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the actuatable element comprises a roller, a diaphragm, a membrane, or a piston.
11. A virtual reality or augmented reality system comprising the device of claim 1 .
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the valve is a 2-way valve adapted to restrict fluid flow within the chamber; and
the actuatable element, when displaced by the movement of the user of the device, applies the force to the fluid.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the chamber comprises a primary fluidic capacitor and a secondary fluidic capacitor in fluid communication with the primary fluidic capacitor.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the 2-way valve is disposed between the primary fluidic capacitor and the secondary fluidic capacitor.
15. A virtual reality or augmented reality system comprising the device of claim 12 .
16. A method comprising:
coupling motion of an actuatable element of a haptic device to a motion of a user, the haptic device comprising a chamber and a fluid disposed within the chamber, the actuatable element comprising a roller or a piston being in hydraulic or pneumatic contact with the fluid; and
applying a pressure to the fluid by displacing the actuatable element using a movement of the user,
wherein:
the actuatable element is configured to induce flow of the fluid within a fluidic circuit in response to a force generated by the movement of the user, the actuatable element providing a resistance to the force;
the pressure applied to the fluid arises from the force generated by the movement of the user; and
the haptic device comprises a valve configured to control a flow of the fluid within the fluidic circuit and a control module configured to modify the resistance to the force by controlling the valve.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising actuating the valve to restrict fluid flow within the chamber.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:
the chamber comprises a primary fluidic capacitor and a secondary fluidic capacitor in fluid communication with the primary fluidic capacitor; and
actuating the valve restricts flow of the fluid between the primary fluidic capacitor and the secondary fluidic capacitor.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein a volume of the secondary fluidic capacitor is greater than a volume of the primary fluidic capacitor.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the fluid comprises air.