US-12619315-B2 - Modular unit cell devices configured to be integrated in various wearable devices, and methods of use thereof

US12619315B2US 12619315 B2US12619315 B2US 12619315B2US-12619315-B2

Abstract

A wearable device comprises a unit cell that includes, a structural element that has proximal and distal sides, and a first distal haptic-feedback generator of a first kind and a second distal haptic-feedback generator of the first kind that are both connected to the distal side of the structural element. The unit cell includes a proximal haptic-feedback generator that is connected to the proximal side of the structural element. The wearable device includes a processor configured to: cause a first type of haptic feedback by activating the first distal haptic-feedback generator to cant the structural element relative to skin of the user, cause a second type of haptic feedback by activating the first and second distal haptic-feedback generators to displace the structural element, and cause a third type of haptic feedback by activating the proximal haptic-feedback generator.

Inventors

Nicholas Roy Corson
David Rother Dobbs

Assignees

META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20250122

Claims (20)

1 . A wearable device for providing haptic feedback to a user wearing the wearable device, comprising: a unit cell that includes: a structural element that has a proximal side and a distal side; a first distal haptic-feedback generator of a first kind and a second distal haptic-feedback generator of the first kind that are both connected to the distal side of the structural element; and a proximal haptic-feedback generator that is connected to the proximal side of the structural element; and a processor configured to: cause a first type of haptic feedback by activating the first distal haptic-feedback generator to cant the structural element relative to skin of the user; and cause a second type of haptic feedback by activating the first and second distal haptic-feedback generators to displace the structural element; and cause a third type of haptic feedback by activating the proximal haptic-feedback generator.
2 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to: cause two of the first type of haptic feedback, the second type of haptic feedback, and the third type of haptic feedback to be provided during a same time.
3 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein: the unit cell further includes a third distal haptic-feedback generator of the first kind that is connected to the distal side of the structural element; causing the first type of haptic feedback further includes foregoing activating the third distal haptic-feedback generator; causing the second type of haptic feedback further includes activating the third distal haptic-feedback generator; and the processor is further configured to cause a fourth type of haptic feedback, distinct from the first, second, and third types of haptic feedback, by activating the first and third distal haptic-feedback generators to cant the structural element.
4 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein: the unit cell is of a first construction, the wearable device further includes another unit cell of the first construction; and the processor is further configured to cause a fifth type of haptic feedback via the unit cell and the other unit cell.
5 . The wearable device of claim 4 , wherein: the unit cell is in direct communication with the processor and the other unit cell; the other unit cell is not in direct communication with the processor; and the unit cell is configured to transmit instructions received from the processor to the other unit cell.
6 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the unit cell further includes a thermal-feedback generator that is connected to the proximal side of the structural element.
7 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device further comprises kinesthetic impedance actuators that restrict freedom of movement of a body part of the user.
8 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein: the structural element of the unit cell includes a protrusion that extends from the proximal side of the structural element in a direction away from the distal side of the structural element; and the proximal haptic-feedback generator is attached to the protrusion such that it is located at a farthest point from the distal side of the structural element.
9 . The wearable device of claim 8 , wherein: the unit cell further includes a third distal haptic-feedback generator of the first kind that is connected to the distal side of the structural element; the structural element is triangular and planar, wherein the structural element includes three vertices; and each of the first distal haptic-feedback generator, the second distal haptic-feedback generator, and the third distal haptic-feedback generator is connected to a respective vertex of the three vertices of the structural element.
10 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein: the wearable device further includes an electroactive polymer (EAP) sensor that is configured to sense stress applied to the EAP sensor and to communicate data regarding the stress applied to the EAP sensor to the processor; and the processor is further configured to cause a modification of the first type of haptic feedback, the second type of haptic feedback, or the third type of haptic feedback based on the stress data.
11 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second distal haptic-feedback generators and the proximal haptic-feedback generator includes a respective dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) that is configured to contract when an electric signal is applied to the DEA.
12 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device is in communication with an artificial reality headset, and the first, second, and third types of haptic feedback correspond to an artificial reality displayed at the artificial reality headset.
13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by an electronic device that includes a unit cell that includes: (i) a structural element that has a proximal side and a distal side, (ii) a first distal haptic-feedback generator of a first kind and a second distal haptic-feedback generator of the first kind that are both connected to the distal side of the structural element, and a proximal haptic-feedback generator that is connected to the proximal side of the structural element, cause the electronic device to: cause a first type of haptic feedback by activating the first distal haptic-feedback generator to cant the structural element relative to skin of a user; and cause a second type of haptic feedback by activating the first and second distal haptic-feedback generators to displace the structural element; and cause a third type of haptic feedback by activating the proximal haptic-feedback generator.
14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions that, when executed by an electronic device, further cause the electronic device to: cause two of the first type of haptic feedback, the second type of haptic feedback, and the third type of haptic feedback to be provided during a same time.
15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the unit cell further includes a third distal haptic-feedback generator of the first kind that is connected to the distal side of the structural element; causing the first type of haptic feedback further includes foregoing activating the third distal haptic-feedback generator; causing the second type of haptic feedback further includes activating the third distal haptic-feedback generator; and the instructions that, when executed by an electronic device, further cause the electronic device to, cause a fourth type of haptic feedback, distinct from the first, second, and third types of haptic feedback, by activating the first and third distal haptic-feedback generators to cant the structural element.
16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein: the unit cell is of a first construction, the wearable device further includes another unit cell of the first construction; and the instructions that, when executed by an electronic device, further cause the electronic device to cause a fifth type of haptic feedback via the unit cell and the other unit cell.
17 . A method of providing haptic feedback to a user wearing a wearable device, the method including: at a unit cell that includes: (i) a structural element that has a proximal side and a distal side, (ii) a first distal haptic-feedback generator of a first kind and a second distal haptic-feedback generator of the first kind that are both connected to the distal side of the structural element, and a proximal haptic-feedback generator that is connected to the proximal side of the structural element: causing, via processor, a first type of haptic feedback by activating the first distal haptic-feedback generator to cant the structural element relative to skin of the user; and causing, via processor, a second type of haptic feedback by activating the first and second distal haptic-feedback generators to displace the structural element; and causing, via processor, a third type of haptic feedback by activating the proximal haptic-feedback generator.
18 . The method of claim 17 , comprising: causing two of the first type of haptic feedback, the second type of haptic feedback, and the third type of haptic feedback to be provided during a same time.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the unit cell further includes a third distal haptic-feedback generator of the first kind that is connected to the distal side of the structural element; causing the first type of haptic feedback further includes foregoing activating the third distal haptic-feedback generator; causing the second type of haptic feedback further includes activating the third distal haptic-feedback generator; and the method further comprising, causing a fourth type of haptic feedback, distinct from the first, second, and third types of haptic feedback, by activating the first and third distal haptic-feedback generators to cant the structural element.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein: the unit cell is of a first construction, the wearable device further includes another unit cell of the first construction; and the method further comprising, causing the wearable device to cause a fifth type of haptic feedback via the unit cell and the other unit cell.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/494,716, filed on Oct. 25, 2023, entitled “Modular Unit Cell Devices Configured To Be Integrated In Various Wearable Devices, And Methods Of Use Thereof,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/420,477, entitled “Modular Unit Cell Devices Configured To Be Integrated In Various Wearable Devices, And Methods Of Use Thereof,” filed Oct. 28, 2022, each of which is herein fully incorporated by reference in its respective entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to devices used for providing feedback (e.g., haptic feedback) to users to emulate objects (e.g., an object's surface, an object's temperature, etc.) viewed with artificial realities (e.g., augmented realities or virtual realities) that are easily adopted into various wearable devices (e.g., gloves or other body-worn components that supply haptic feedback). BACKGROUND Typically, devices used for providing feedback to users on wearable devices used in augmented realities are use-specific (e.g., gloves having a specific design) and the components used for this specific use case (e.g., haptic-feedback generators) are not easily adapted to other kinds of wearable devices. Thus, designing multiple wearable devices becomes cost prohibitive and can require repeated ground-up redesigns, even for different iterations of the same device (e.g., different glove designs). As it stands, the current technologies used to make wearable devices are cost-prohibitive for most consumers. Accordingly, there is a need for wearable devices capable of being manufactured at lower costs and having components that can be used across different wearable devices. SUMMARY The wearable devices and the components described herein solve the issues with current wearable devices described above. The present disclosure discusses modular unit cells that can be used across multiple wearable device platforms (e.g., having a consistent shape between unit cells) without requiring extensive redesigns. Having a common standard design allows for unit cells to interact with other unit cells of different generations and allows the unit cells to be placed within different wearable devices. For example, a unit cell may include a haptic-feedback generator, and that unit cell can be used to interconnect with other nearby unit cells (e.g., using a common design). Modularity of components allows for mass production while also reducing the need for redesigns of products for each new iteration or type of wearable device (e.g., a glove, a sock, a chest plate, a headset, etc.). As will be discussed in detail below, the wearable and other electronic devices, including the methods of use thereof, described herein address one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks. A first wearable device includes multiple unit cells, where each unit cell includes a haptic-feedback generator. Various embodiments of the first wearable device are described in the clauses below, beginning with clause (A1). (A1) In some embodiments, an example wearable device includes a first unit cell (e.g., FIG. 5A shows the unit cell 501A at a first position) that includes a haptic-feedback generator. The haptic-feedback generator is of a first type and is located at a first position on the wearable device. The wearable device also includes a second unit cell that includes another haptic-feedback generator (e.g., FIG. 5A shows the unit cell 501B at a second position). The other haptic-feedback generator is of the first type and is located at a second position on the wearable device that is adjacent to the first position (e.g., FIG. 5A shows the unit cells 501A and 501B, including respective haptic-feedback generators 502A and 502B, adjacent to each other). Additionally, the wearable device includes a connection (e.g., adjustable connection 504A in FIGS. 5D and 5E) between the first unit cell and the second unit cell. The connection is adjustable to move the first unit cell away from the first position or the second unit cell away from the second position (e.g., FIG. 5E shows the unit cell 501A moving away from its initial position). Further, the wearable device includes a processor configured to cause a size adjustment to either the haptic-feedback generator or the other haptic-feedback generator (e.g., FIGS. 5A-5C shows that the haptic-feedback generators 502A-502E can be activated). The size-adjustment provides a first type of haptic feedback to a user wearing the wearable device. The processor is also configured to cause a positional adjustment via the connection. The positional adjustment moves the haptic-feedback generator away from the first position to provide a second type of haptic feedback to the user (e.g., FIG. 5E shows the unit cell 501A moving away from its initial position). The second type of haptic feedback is a distinct type of haptic feedback as compared to the first type of