Airbag type force feedback device and force feedback method

Abstract

The present invention provides a force feedback device. [Solution] The haptic feedback device includes a support base, an airbag, a button, and an air pump. The support base has an air guide hole passing through it, the airbag has a gas injection hole, and the airbag is attached to one side of the support base. The button is fixed to the side of the airbag away from the support base, the air pump is fixed to the side of the support base away from the airbag, and the output end of the air pump is fixedly connected to the airbag through the air guide hole and forms a sealed connection with the airbag through the gas injection hole. Compared with the prior art, the present invention can generate different acting forces in different directions by controlling the internal gas of the airbag and the guide structure, and can control the volume of the airbag to control the haptic feedback more precisely and the force caused by the change in the volume of the airbag is more continuous. Compared with devices such as gears, it is smoother and the experience is better.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a force feedback device, and particularly to an airbag type force feedback device and a force feedback method.

Background Art

[0002] With the development of Internet technology and electronic information technology, more and more game developments, various game pads, VR devices, and AR devices have emerged, and the sensory requirements of users when using peripheral devices are also increasing.

[0003] Currently, the triggers of various game pads or peripheral devices cannot be adjusted according to different game scenes, and some only provide a certain vibration feedback, making it difficult to provide a good gaming experience for users and unable to provide an immersive gaming experience for users. As an important characteristic of tactile feedback, force feedback has been increasingly widely emphasized with the development of different electronic devices, especially the evolution of personal electronic products.

[0004] However, many force feedbacks in the prior art only realize a certain force feedback effect by springs, vibration motors, and gear motors, which are relatively simple. In addition, the force generated by the direct drive of the motor or the drive of the motor + gear unit is not smooth. For example, the jerk caused by the cogging torque of the motor and the gaps in structures such as gears makes it difficult to obtain fine force feedback. At the same time, the mechanism is generally complex, with many parts, large size, and unable to well adapt to various spaces.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new force feedback structure to solve the above problems.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a force feedback device capable of realizing fine force feedback. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a force feedback device, the force feedback device comprising: a support base; an airbag; a button; and an air pump; The support base is provided with an air guide hole passing therethrough, The airbag is provided with a gas injection hole, and the airbag is attached to one side of the support base, The button is fixed to a side of the airbag away from the support base, The air pump is fixed to the side of the support away from the airbag, and the output end of the air pump is fixedly connected to the airbag through the gas injection hole, and forms a sealed connection with the airbag through the air guide hole.

[0008] Preferably, the force feedback device further comprises a guide unit located between and connecting the support base and the button, wherein the button and the guide unit form a rotational connection or a sliding connection.

[0009] Preferably, the guide unit comprises a plurality of guide pipes fixed to the side of the support base closer to the button, and a plurality of guide posts fixed to the side of the button closer to the support base, each of the guide posts being inserted into one of the guide pipes to form a sliding pair, and the guide pipes are arranged to surround the airbag, and together with the support base and the button, form a guide space that controls the inflation direction of the airbag.

[0010] Preferably, the airbag comprises a core airbag and at least one auxiliary airbag, the volume of the core airbag being larger than that of the auxiliary airbag, and a valve structure is provided between the core airbag and the auxiliary airbag and the air pump to control communication or closure between the airbag and the air pump.

[0011] Preferably, the airbag comprises a core airbag and at least one auxiliary airbag, the volume of the core airbag is larger than that of the auxiliary airbag, the surfaces of the core airbag and the auxiliary airbag are both provided with the gas injection hole, and the core airbag and the auxiliary airbag form a sealed communication with the output end of the air pump through different air guide holes.

[0012] Preferably, there are a plurality of airbags, each of which has the gas injection hole on its surface, and each of the airbags forms a sealed communication with the output end of the air pump through a different air guide hole.

[0013] Preferably, the airbag comprises an elastic portion made of elastic material and a rigid portion extending from the elastic portion towards the button, the rigid portion being fixedly connected to the button.

[0014] Preferably, the airbag comprises an elastic portion made of an elastic material, and a first rigid portion and a second rigid portion extending respectively from both sides of the elastic portion, the first rigid portion functioning as the button, and the second rigid portion functioning as the support base and connected to the air pump.

[0015] Preferably, the airbag is of one-piece construction.

[0016] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a haptic feedback method, the haptic feedback method being implemented by the haptic feedback device according to any one of the above embodiments, the haptic feedback method comprising: Driving the air pump to generate an air flow and transporting the air flow to the air bag through the air guide hole; The airbag is filled with air and inflated, and the force of the inflation is fed back to a button connected thereto; The button is pressed by an external force to obtain a feedback action force for deforming the airbag; and adjusting the magnitude of the airflow generated by the air pump based on the feedback acting force. Effect of the Invention

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the force feedback device of the present invention includes a support base, an airbag, a button and an air pump, the support base is provided with an air guide hole passing therethrough, the airbag is provided with a gas injection hole, the airbag is attached to one side of the support base, the button is fixed to the side of the airbag remote from the support base, the air pump is fixed to the side of the support base remote from the airbag, the output end of the air pump is fixedly connected to the airbag through the air guide hole and forms a sealed connection with the airbag through the gas injection hole, the internal gas of the airbag can be controlled and the guide structure can generate different acting forces in different directions, and the volume of the airbag can be controlled to control the force feedback more precisely, and the force caused by the change in the volume of the airbag is more continuous. Compared with devices such as gears, the force feedback realized by the force feedback device of the present invention is smoother and has a better experience. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] In order to more clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings necessary for describing the embodiments will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without inventive work, where [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a three-dimensional structure of a force feedback device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall exploded structure of the force feedback device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a top view of the force feedback device 100 shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of another force feedback device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of another force feedback device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a force feedback method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described in combination with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of them. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor shall fall within the protection scope of the present application. Embodiment 1

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in an embodiment of the present invention, a force feedback device 100 including a support base 1, an airbag 2, a button 3, and an air pump 4 is provided. An air guide hole 11 penetrating the support base is provided on the support base. A gas injection hole 21 is provided on the surface of the airbag 2, and the airbag 2 is provided so as to be attached to one side of the support base 1. The button 3 is fixed to the side away from the support base 1 of the airbag 2. The air pump 4 is fixed to the side away from the airbag 2 of the support base 1. The output end 41 of the air pump 4 penetrates through the air guide hole 11 and is fixedly connected to the airbag 2, and forms a sealed connection with the airbag 2 through the gas injection hole 21.

[0021] Preferably, the force feedback device 100 further includes a guide unit located between the support base 1 and the button 3 and connecting the support base 1 and the button 3. The button 3 and the guide unit form a rotational connection or a sliding connection.

[0022] The guide unit includes a plurality of guide pipes 12 fixed to the side of the support base 1 close to the button 3, and a plurality of guide posts 31 fixed to the side of the button 3 close to the support base 1. Each guide post 31 is inserted into one of the guide pipes 12 to form a sliding pair. The guide pipes 12 are provided so as to surround the airbag 2, and together with the support base 1 and the button 3, form a guide space for controlling the inflation direction of the airbag 2.

[0023] Specifically, a guide structure extending along the central axis direction of the guide post 31 is formed between the guide pipe 12 and the guide post 31. When the airbag 2 is filled with air and expands, if not restricted by an external force, the inflation direction presents a divergent type. However, in the embodiments of the present invention, when the guide pipe 12 and the guide post 31 are provided, the inflation direction of the airbag 2 is restricted. The guide pipe 12 and the guide post 31 restrict the airbag 2 from expanding in directions other than the button 3, so that the button 3 receives the acting force from the airbag 2. Since the filling and inflation of the airbag 2 are continuous, the position change of the button 3 relative to the support base 1 is also continuous, enhancing the force feedback experience.

[0024] Furthermore, depending on the situation, the direction of the guide pipe 12 and the guide post 31 may be set according to actual needs, and since the guide pipe 12 and the guide post 31 themselves do not have a fixing effect on the body of the airbag 2, the button 3 may realize a rotational movement through a rotating connection when the airbag 2 is inflated. Example 2

[0025] Preferably, the airbag 2 comprises a core airbag and at least one auxiliary airbag, the volume of the core airbag is larger than that of the auxiliary airbag, the surfaces of the core airbag and the auxiliary airbag are both provided with the gas injection hole, and the core airbag and the auxiliary airbag form a sealed communication with the output end 41 of the air pump 4 through different air guide holes 11. Example 3

[0026] Preferably, there are a plurality of airbags 2, each of which is provided with the gas injection hole on the surface thereof, and each of the airbags 2 forms a sealed communication with the output end 41 of the air pump 4 through a different air guide hole 11. Preferably, a valve structure is provided between each of the airbags 2 and the air pump 4, for controlling the communication or closing between the airbag 2 and the air pump 4.

[0027] For an example, refer to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of an airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the realization forms of different airbags in the first, second and third embodiments are shown in Figs. 4a, 4b and 4c, respectively, among which, the description of the single airbag in Fig. 4a receiving the force can be referred to the description of the first embodiment.

[0028] In the second embodiment, the airbag 2 includes a core airbag and at least one auxiliary airbag, and the volume of the core airbag is larger than that of the auxiliary airbag. In practice, the auxiliary airbag can be provided as a protrusion of the core airbag. In the process of the core airbag being filled with air and inflating, the degree of protrusion of the auxiliary airbag varies depending on the installation position. For example, if the auxiliary airbag is provided in a position close to the button 3, when both the core airbag and the auxiliary airbag are inflated, the button 3 receives acting forces from two directions, that is, the core airbag and the auxiliary airbag. This design allows the magnitude and direction of the force feedback of the airbag 2 with respect to the button 3 to be more finely divided.

[0029] In the third embodiment, the airbag 2 has a plurality of airbag structures of the same size, each having a gas injection port, and the air pump 4 injects air into the airbag through different air guide holes 11, thereby realizing control of the acting force from the airbag 2 to the button 3 in more different directions. Example 4

[0030] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of another force feedback device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The difference from embodiment 1 is that the airbag 2 comprises an elastic portion 22 and a rigid portion extending from the elastic portion 22 towards the button 3, and the rigid portion 23 is fixedly connected to the button 3.

[0031] Specifically, the airbag 2 needs to use a plastic material having elasticity in order to inflate it. In the embodiment of the present invention, in order to optimize the overall structure of the force feedback device, a composite material including an elastic material and a rigid material is used as the material of the airbag 2, and the rigid part 23 at the part where the airbag 2 is connected to the button 3 is made of a rigid material, so that the button 3 can be directly attached to the airbag 2 through the hardening material, and the volume of the button 3 can be reduced. Alternatively, the rigid part 23 can be made into the shape of the button 3 through an integrally molded design, that is, the rigid part 23 and the button 3 are integrally molded, and the rigid material itself can be a member that directly feeds back or receives an external force. Example 5

[0032] Referring to Figure 7, Figure 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of another force feedback device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and what differs from embodiment 4 is that the airbag 2 comprises an elastic portion 22 made of an elastic material, and a first rigid portion 23 and a second rigid portion 24 extending respectively from both sides of the elastic portion 22, the first rigid portion 23 functions as the button 3, and the second rigid portion 24 functions as a support base and is connected to the air pump 4.

[0033] In the embodiment of the present invention, the first rigid part 231 is made into the shape of the button 3 by the integral molding design, that is, the first rigid part 23 and the button 3 are integrally molded, and the rigid material itself can be a member that directly feeds back or receives the external acting force. The design of the support 1 takes into consideration the button-type structure of the prior art, and the solid structure helps to realize the air guide hole 11. When the airbag 2 is integrally molded with the rigid material and the elastic material, the second rigid part 24 directly functions as the structure of the support between the airbag 2 and the air pump 4, and the communication is made through the air guide hole penetrating the second rigid part 24, and the volume of the support 1 can be further reduced.

[0034] Based on this, the entire airbag 2 can be formed as an integrally molded structure, and during the integral molding, a part of the material of the airbag 2 can be reserved as an elastic material to ensure the inflatability of the airbag 2.

[0035] In addition, in Examples 4 and 5, by adopting a rigid material and using a one-piece molding process, the structure of the button 3 or support base 1 in Example 1 is omitted, and the structures of the guide pipe 12 and guide post 31 are also omitted. In order to be able to control the direction in which the force of the button in the force feedback device is received, in the actual implementation process, the space in which the force feedback device is installed must play a role in restricting the inflation direction of the airbag 2, for example, by installing a spacer around the airbag 2. Example 6

[0036] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a haptic feedback method. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a haptic feedback method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The haptic feedback method is implemented by the haptic feedback device described in any one of the above embodiments. The haptic feedback method includes: S1: driving the air pump to generate an air flow and transporting the air flow to the air bag through the air guide hole; S2, in which the airbag is filled with air and inflates, and the force of the inflation is fed back to a button connected thereto; S3, the button is pressed by an external force to obtain a feedback action force that deforms the airbag; and (S4) adjusting the magnitude of the airflow generated by the air pump based on the feedback acting force.

[0037] Compared with the prior art, the force feedback device of the present invention includes a support base, an airbag, a button and an air pump, the support base is provided with an air guide hole passing therethrough, the airbag is provided with a gas injection hole, the airbag is attached to one side of the support base, the button is fixed to the side of the airbag remote from the support base, the air pump is fixed to the side of the support base remote from the airbag, the output end of the air pump is fixedly connected to the airbag through the air guide hole and passes through the gas injection hole to form a sealed connection with the airbag, the internal gas of the airbag can be controlled and the guide structure can generate different acting forces in different directions, and the volume of the airbag can be controlled to control the force feedback more precisely, and the force caused by the change in the volume of the airbag is more continuous. Compared with devices such as gears, the force feedback realized by the force feedback device of the present invention is smoother and has a better experience.

[0038] The above only describes the embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art may make modifications thereto without departing from the inventive concept of the present invention, all of which shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A force feedback device, comprising: The device includes a support base, an air bag, a button, and an air pump. The support base is provided with an air guide hole penetrating the support base, The airbag is provided with a gas injection hole, and the airbag is attached to one side of the support base, The button is fixed to a side of the airbag away from the support base, the air pump is fixed to the support at a side away from the airbag, and an output end of the air pump is fixedly connected to the airbag through the air guide hole, and is connected to the airbag through the gas injection hole in a sealed manner; The force feedback device further includes a guide unit located between the support base and the button and connecting the support base and the button, the button and the guide unit forming a rotational connection or a sliding connection; the guide unit includes a plurality of guide pipes fixed to the side of the support base closer to the button, and a plurality of guide posts fixed to the side of the button closer to the support base, each of the guide posts being inserted into one of the guide pipes to form a sliding pair; The guide pipe is provided so as to surround the airbag, and together with the support base and the button, forms a guide space for controlling the inflation direction of the airbag. A force feedback device comprising:

2. The airbag includes a core airbag having the gas injection hole and at least one auxiliary airbag, the volume of the core airbag is larger than that of the auxiliary airbag, and a valve structure is provided between the core airbag and the auxiliary airbag and the air pump to control communication or closing between the airbag and the air pump.

2. The force feedback device according to claim 1.

3. The airbag comprises a core airbag and at least one auxiliary airbag, the volume of the core airbag is larger than that of the auxiliary airbag, the surfaces of the core airbag and the auxiliary airbag are both provided with the gas injection hole, and the core airbag and the auxiliary airbag form a sealed communication with the output end of the air pump through different air guide holes.

2. The force feedback device according to claim 1.

4. The airbag has a plurality of airbags, each of which has a gas injection hole on its surface, and each of the airbags is connected to the output end of the air pump through a different air guide hole.

2. The force feedback device according to claim 1.

5. The airbag includes an elastic portion made of an elastic material and a rigid portion extending from the elastic portion toward the button, the rigid portion being fixedly connected to the button.

2. The force feedback device according to claim 1.

6. The airbag includes an elastic portion made of an elastic material, and a first rigid portion and a second rigid portion extending from both sides of the elastic portion, the first rigid portion functions as the button, and the second rigid portion functions as the support base and is connected to the air pump.

2. The force feedback device according to claim 1.

7. The airbag is of one-piece construction.

7. The force feedback device according to claim 5 or 6.

8. A force feedback method implemented by the force feedback device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: Driving the air pump to generate an air flow and transporting the air flow to the air bag through the air guide hole; The airbag is filled with air and inflated, and the force of the inflation is fed back to a button connected thereto; The button is pressed by an external force to obtain a feedback action force for deforming the airbag; and adjusting a magnitude of the airflow generated by the air pump based on the feedback acting force. A force feedback method comprising:

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