Vibrotactile actuators on textiles and related systems and methods
The disclosed haptic vibrotactile actuator may include a textile comprising a first major surface and a second, opposite major surface, an electrode coupled to the first major surface of the textile across at least a majority of a surface area of a first surface of the electrode, and a flexible electroactive material electrically coupled to a second, opposite surface of the electrode. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.
1. A system, comprising:
a head-mounted display; and
a vibrotactile actuator positioned on a textile, the vibrotactile actuator comprising:
a flexible support material positioned on a surface of the textile;
a first electrode coupled to the flexible support material on an opposite side of the flexible support material from the textile;
a first electroactive material coupled to the first electrode on an opposite side of the first electrode from the flexible support material;
a second electrode coupled to the first electroactive material on an opposite side of the first electroactive material from the first electrode; and
a second electroactive material coupled to the second electrode on an opposite side of the second electrode from the first electroactive material, wherein:
the head-mounted display is configured to send a control signal to induce application of a voltage to the first and second electroactive materials based on the control signal; and
the first and second electroactive materials are configured to vibrate upon application of the voltage.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible support material comprises at least one of:
a polymer material;
a plastic material;
an elastomer material; or
a rubber material.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible support material comprises a non-porous material.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third electrode electrically coupled to the second electroactive material on a side of the second electroactive material opposite the second electrode.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible support material is a first flexible support material and the surface of the textile is a first surface of the textile, further comprising:
a second flexible support material positioned on a second, opposite surface of the textile;
a third electrode coupled to the second flexible support material on an opposite side of the second flexible support material from the textile;
a third electroactive material coupled to the third electrode on an opposite side of the third electrode from the second flexible support material; and
a fourth electrode coupled to the third electroactive material on an opposite side of the second electroactive material from the third electrode.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electroactive material has a spiral shape.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the textile comprises a textile of a wearable article.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a haptic controller, wherein:
the head-mounted display is configured to send the control signal to the haptic controller; and
the haptic controller is configured to apply the voltage to the first and second electroactive materials based on the control signal.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is configured to induce vibration of the first and second electroactive materials in connection with artificial-reality content presented to a user on the head-mounted display.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the textile comprises at least one of:
a woven fabric;
a non-woven fabric;
leather;
a cloth;
a flexible polymer material; or
a composite material.
11. A wearable article, comprising:
a textile shaped and sized to be worn on a body part of a user;
a flexible support material coupled to a surface of the textile;
an electrode coupled to the flexible support material;
a first electroactive material electrically coupled to the electrode, wherein the first electroactive material is configured to vibrate upon application of a voltage thereto with the electrode;
a second electroactive material positioned on a side of the first electroactive material opposite the electrode, wherein the first electroactive material and the second electroactive material are configured as a bimorph vibrotactile actuator; and
a communications interface configured to receive a control signal from another device to cause the voltage to be applied to the first and second electroactive materials.
12. The wearable article of claim 11 , wherein the electrode is a first electrode, further comprising:
a second electrode coupled to the second electroactive material on a side of the second electroactive material opposite the first electrode.
13. The wearable article of claim 11 , wherein each of the first electroactive material and second electroactive material comprises at least one of:
an electroactive polymer material;
a dielectric elastomer material;
a relaxor ferroelectric material;
a piezoelectric ceramic material;
a piezoelectric polycrystalline material; or
a piezoelectric single-crystal material.
14. The wearable article of claim 11 , wherein the other device from which the control signal is received is a head-mounted display.
15. The wearable article of claim 11 , wherein the flexible support material comprises an elastomer.
16. The wearable article of claim 11 , further comprising an insulating material positioned between the first electroactive material and the second electroactive material.
17. The wearable article of claim 11 , wherein the wearable article comprises at least one of:
a glove;
a headband;
a sleeve;
a bracelet;
a wristband;
a watch band;
a sock;
a shoe;
a neck band;
a shirt;
eyewear;
a vest;
a belt; or
a hat.
18. A system, comprising:
a head-mounted display; and
a vibrotactile actuator positioned on a textile, the vibrotactile actuator comprising:
a first flexible support material positioned on a first surface of the textile;
a first electrode coupled to the flexible support material on an opposite side of the flexible support material from the textile;
a first electroactive material coupled to the first electrode on an opposite side of the first electrode from the flexible support material;
a second electrode coupled to the electroactive material on an opposite side of the electroactive material from the first electrode;
a second flexible support material positioned on a second, opposite surface of the textile;
a third electrode coupled to the second flexible support material on an opposite side of the second flexible support material from the textile;
a second electroactive material coupled to the third electrode on an opposite side of the third electrode from the second flexible support material; and
a fourth electrode coupled to the second electroactive material on an opposite side of the second electroactive material from the third electrode, wherein:
the head-mounted display is configured to send a control signal to induce application of a voltage to the first and second electroactive materials based on the control signal; and
the first and second electroactive materials are configured to vibrate upon application of the voltage.