DYNAMIC INPUT DEVICE SURFACE TEXTURE COORDINATED WITH INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM OPERATIONS
A dynamic texture device coupled to an information handling system input/output device adjusts texture at the input/output device surface based upon texture information generated at the information handling system, such as a walking surface in a virtual world defined by a gaming application. Texture at an elastic cover is adjusted by applying variable magnetic fields to a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) disposed under the elastic cover in a reservoir. For example, an electromagnet changes pole orientation and magnetic strength at MRF contained in a reservoir under a keyboard palm rest to simulate walking in a virtual world on different types of surfaces.
1 . An information handling system faults, the system comprising:
a housing;
a processor disposed in the housing and operable to execute instructions that process information;
a memory disposed in the housing and interfaced with the process to store the instructions and information;
a persistent storage device interfaced with the processor and having non-transient memory storing an application that defines a virtual environment for presentation to an end user;
an embedded controller disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the embedded controller operable to manage operating conditions within the housing and interactions of the processor with input devices;
an input/output device interface with processor and operable to communicate information between the processor and an end user; and
a dynamic texture device integrated with the input/output device aligned to contact the end user when interaction with input/output device, the dynamic texture device interfaced with the processor to dynamically adjust a surface texture of the input/output device in response to one or more predetermined conditions, the dynamic texture device having a reservoir covered by an elastic material, the reservoir containing a magnetorheological fluid (MRF), and having one or more magnets proximate the MRF, the magnets operable to adjust a magnetic field applied to the MRF to dynamically adjust the surface texture under the elastic material;
wherein the application dynamically commands changes to the dynamic texture device based upon the virtual environment.
2 . The information handling system of claim 1 wherein:
the input/output device comprises a keyboard having a palm rest; and
the dynamic texture device integrates in the palm rest.
3 . The information handling system of claim 1 wherein:
the input/output device comprises a joystick; and
the dynamic texture device integrates in an outer surface of the joystick.
4 . The information handling system of claim 1 wherein:
the input/output device comprise a mouse; and
the dynamic texture device integrates in an upper surface of the mouse.
5 . The information handling system of claim 1 wherein:
the input/output device comprises eye goggles; and
the dynamic texture device integrates in an inner liner of the eye goggles.
6 . The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the one or more magnets comprises plural electromagnets operable to selectively apply a north magnetic field towards the MRF, a south magnetic field towards the MRF and no magnetic field.
7 . The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the one or more magnets comprise electropermanent magnets.
8 . The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:
a gaming application operable to present a virtual world; and
the predetermined condition comprises an avatar walking on a rough surface in the virtual world.
9 . The information handling system of claim 8 further comprising:
a driver executing on the processor and associated with the input/output device and operable to command surface textures to the embedded controller; and
the embedded controller communicates the command to the one or more magnets.
10 . A method for outputting surface texture information, the method comprising:
coupling a dynamic texture device to an input/output device;
generating texture output information with an application executing on an information handling system, the application presenting a virtual environment to an end user, the texture output information created as part of the virtual environment and dynamically changing with the virtual environment;
in response to the generating texture output information, commanding one or more magnets to adjust a magnetic field applied to a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) within the dynamic texture device; and
presenting the texture output with the MRF acting against an elastic surface of the dynamic texture output.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein:
the texture output information comprises terrain of a gaming application virtual world; and
the presenting comprises simulating walking on the terrain.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the coupling a dynamic texture device further comprises coupling the dynamic texture device at a keyboard palm rest.
13 . The method of claim 11 wherein the coupling a dynamic texture device further comprises coupling the dynamic texture device at a joystick housing.
14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the coupling a dynamic texture device further comprises coupling the dynamic texture device at a mouse housing.
15 . The method of claim 10 wherein:
the texture output information comprises wind of a gaming application virtual world; and
the presenting comprises simulating the wind with the texture output device at a goggles face liner.
16 . The method of claim 10 wherein the commanding one or more magnets further comprises:
selectively applying a first magnetic field having the same pole with both first and second magnets;
selectively applying a second magnetic field having opposite poles with the first and second magnets; and
selectively applying substantially no magnetic field from both the first and second magnets.
17 . The method of claim 10 wherein the one or more magnets comprise an electromagnet interfaced with a power source operable to apply a variable current level to generate a variable strength magnetic field.
18 . A keyboard comprising:
plural keys operable to accept key inputs by an end user;
a palm rest positioned to support an end user palm during key inputs;
a reservoir coupled to the keyboard under the palm rest;
magnetorheological fluid (MRF) disposed in the reservoir;
an elastic cover coupled over the reservoir and MRF;
one or more magnets disposed in the keyboard proximate the reservoir and operable to apply a magnetic field of variable strength and pole orientation to the MRF;
a processing resource; and
a non-transient memory interfaced with the processing resource and storing instructions that when executed on the processing resource dynamically change the magnetic field to imitate a virtual environment presented by an information handling system.
19 . The keyboard of claim 18 further comprising:
at least one of the one or more magnets is an electromagnet; and
a power source interfaced with the at least one of the one or more magnets and operable to selectively apply current to adjust the magnet pole orientation and magnetic field strength.
20 . The keyboard of claim 19 wherein the at least one magnet comprises first and second electropermanent magnets having opposite poles directed towards the MRF.