“Haptics”- The ability to see, hear, or become aware of something that result from any form of interaction involving touch or the sense of touch. With the aim to recreate the sense of touch via a haptic device, haptic technology has opened up a myriad of possibilities from vibrating cell phones that alert you to an incoming message or call, to smart watches, wristbands, virtual reality training simulators, implantable devices that produce feedback and even in robotic surgeries.
Haptic devices incorporate microcontrollers, drivers, actuators or motors, as well as software for multimodal experiences that improve the usability by engaging touch, sound and sight. Haptics is widely becoming a tool used in a variety of applications they can be found in virtual reality applications to give a greater sense of realism or create a 3D environment. The haptic technology has been found in smartphones and computer and video games for many years but the innovations utilizing haptic technology is now integrating haptic technology into healthcare, transportation, robotics etc.
Some of the recent patents based on haptic technology:
1.US 9829995
Title: Eye tracking to move the cursor within view of a pilot
Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Cedar Rapids, IA, US)
Publication Date: 28 Nov 2017
Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to a method for managing a location of a cursor on a display. The method may include the step of receiving an input from a user. The method may also include the step of detecting a gaze of the user within the display. The method may also include the step of displaying the cursor on the display within the gaze of the user.
2.EP3254917
Title: METHOD AND DEVICE TO CONTROL VEHICLE BEHAVIOUR
Assignee: Barelli, Giuseppe (Via Baldanzese 127/b, 50041 Calenzano (FI), IT)
Publication Date: 13 Dec 2017
Abstract:
This abstract is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed System Description section. The abstract is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter. Disclosed in this paper is a vehicle performance control device conceived to autonomously determine a safe, economic and eco-sustainable driving behaviour to reduce the mechanical stress, the wear and the maintenance cost of vehicles. The invention provides a vehicle performance control device arranged between the vehicle’s Pedal Interface (PI) including the cruise control, the speed limitation and the speed control systems, or a combination of these, and the vehicle’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The control device autonomously and dynamically acts on the functional status of the cruise control, the speed limitation or the speed control system to modulate the vehicle’s performance. The performance is tuned depending on the current vehicle’s position, speed, acceleration, inclination and pose respect to the ground. For example, the vehicle’s max speed can be limited in specific geographic areas or during specific time intervals when the driver is supposed to drive improperly, excessively were off the vehicle, or parts of it, or stress the mechanics. The performance limitation can be turned off manually by the drivers for safety reasons, remotely by fleet’s managers or fleet’s management systems , or automatically by the system whenever the context requires the entire engine power to get the vehicle working properly. For example the engine performance will be not limited if the vehicle gets in an uphill over a certain inclination threshold to avoid stops due to torque outages. The control device embeds a communication unit able to connect to the internet, exchange data with personal computers, diagnostic tools or personal devices such as smartphones and tablets. The control device provides all the useful information for the estimation of the vehicle’s status, the driver’s behaviours and the induced mechanical stress and wear off. The communication unit is intended to exchange data for the monitoring of the vehicle’s status, its performance and for the tuning of the control unit’s strategy. The communication can be automatically scheduled by the system itself, attempted by the remote fleet’s managers or the fleet’s management systems, or performed by humans operators or the connected remote devices on requests. A human machine interface provides visual, acoustic or haptic feedbacks, or a combination of these, to the driver on the status of the control device, the estimated level of wear or mechanical stress induced on the vehicle or part of the vehicle, the drive safety, efficiency and the eco-sustainability.
3. US 9811818
Title: Wearable personal digital device for facilitating mobile device payments and personal use
Assignee: WORLD AWARD ACADEMY (Austin, TX, US),
WORLD AWARD FOUNDATION (Austin, TX, US)
AMOBILEPAY, INC. (Austin, TX, US)
Publication Date: 7 Nov 2017
Abstract:
Provided is a wearable personal digital device for point of healthcare saliva testing. The wearable personal digital device may comprise a processor, a display, biometric sensors, activity tracking sensors, a memory unit, a communication circuit, a housing, an input unit, a projector, a timepiece unit, a haptic touch control actuator, a band, a mounting clip, a saliva sample insert apparatus, a pinhole, a light emitting diode board, a battery, and a set of sensors. The processor may be operable to receive data from an external device, provide a notification to a user based on the data, receive a user input, and perform a command selected based on the user input. The housing may be adapted to enclose the components of the wearable personal digital device. The band may be adapted to attach to the housing and secure the wearable personal digital device on a user body.
4.US 9746847
Title: Operating arrangement
Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Hannover, DE)
Publication Date: 29 Aug 2017
Abstract:
An operator control device includes an operator control element configured to provide haptic feedback to an operator. The operator control element is activatable by an input member of the operator and has: a first planar component; and a second planar component oriented in parallel with the first planar component, the first and second planar components being movable relative to one another. The first and second planar components are guidable between a position of rest and an activation position while maintaining their parallel orientation with respect to one another. In the activation position the distance between the first and second planar components is smaller than in the position of rest. The first and second planar components are spring loaded in the position of rest.
5.US 20170349119
Title: NOVEL PORTABLE DEVICE HAVING A CHANGEABLE ILLUMINATED DISPLAY AND COMMUNICATIONS PLATFORM
Assignee: Eiland, Donald Curtis (Milpitas, CA, US)
Publication Date: 7 Dec 2017
Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to illuminated display devices and methods of displaying indicia, advertisements, etc. on a changeable illuminated display. The display device comprises a frame structure, a plurality of openings formed in the frame structure, the plurality of openings comprising first and second open spaces disposed at top and bottom positions, respectively, of the frame structure, and the plurality of openings further comprising a third open space disposed between the first and second open spaces. The display device further comprises a compact image display device operable to display an image, the compact image display device held and positioned relative to the frame structure such that first, second, and third different portions of the image, when displayed by the compact image display device, are visible through the plurality of openings first, second, and third open spaces, respectively. Additionally, control circuitry is coupled to the compact image display device.
6.US 9563266
Title: Haptic augmented and virtual reality system for simulation of surgical procedures
Assignee: IMMERSIVE TOUCH, INC. (Westmont, IL, US)
Publication Date: 7 Feb 2017
Abstract:
The present technology relates to systems, methods and devices for haptically-enabled virtual reality simulation of cerebral aneurysm clipping, wherein a user uses two physical stations during the simulation. The first station is a haptic and augmented reality station, and the second station is a haptic and virtual reality station.
7.US 9679546
Title: Sound vest
Assignee: Not Impossible LLC (Venice, CA, US)
Publication Date: 13 June 2017
Abstract:
Vibratory motors are used to generate a haptic language for music or other sound that is integrated into wearable technology. The disclosed system enables the creation of a family of devices that allow people with hearing impairments to experience sounds such as music or other auditory input to the system. For example, a “sound vest” transforms musical input to haptic signals so that users can experience their favorite music in a unique way, and can also recognize auditory cues in the user’s everyday environment and convey this information to the user using haptic signals.
