Method of operating a haptic system having a plurality of haptic actuators, haptic system and entertainment system incorporating same

Abstract

There is described a method of operating a haptic system having a plurality of haptic actuators. The method generally has: receiving values pertaining to an amplitude and orientation of an acceleration; and while at least some of the haptic actuators are tactilely coupled to at least one of a back, buttocks and thighs of a user, driving, at an amplitude and a frequency based on said values, two haptic actuators of the plurality of haptic actuators, the two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration, wherein the frequency changes from one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

Description

METHOD OF OPERATING A HAPTIC SYSTEM HAVING A PLURALITY OF HAPTIC ACTUATORS, HAPTIC SYSTEM AND ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM INCORPORATING SAMEFIELD

[0001] The improvements relate to the operation of haptic actuators and more specifically to entertainment systems incorporating such haptic actuators.BACKGROUND

[0002] Haptic actuators have been incorporated into entertainment systems or sitting apparatuses thereof to provide haptic feedback to users. Such haptic feedback may be more intense or more discrete at different moments in time of a media such as a movie, a video game, a podcast or any audio or video track. The intensity of haptic feedback can depend on the story conveyed by the media, and / or an intention of the media creators with regards to a particular moment in time in the media, for instance. Although existing entertainment systems are satisfactory to a certain degree, there remains room for improvement.SUMMARY

[0003] It was found that there was a need in the industry for entertainment systems which can provide a directional feeling of acceleration to provide an enhanced experience to users of these entertainment systems. There is thus proposed a method of operating a haptic system having a number of haptic actuators distributed within the entertainment system, or within a sitting apparatus thereof. More specifically, when a directional feeling of acceleration ought to be produced at the entertainment system, values pertaining to an amplitude and orientation of the acceleration are received. Then, at least two haptic actuators of the haptic system spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration are driven according to an amplitude and a frequency based on the received values. The frequency at which the two haptic actuators are driven changes in the orientation of the acceleration, thereby providing a directional feeling of acceleration to a user interacting with the haptic system.

[0004] In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of operating a haptic system having a plurality of haptic actuators, the method comprising: receiving values pertaining to an amplitude and orientation of an acceleration; andwhile at least some of the haptic actuators are tactilely coupled to at least one of a back, buttocks and thighs of a user, driving, at an amplitude and a frequency based on said values, two haptic actuators of the plurality of haptic actuators, the two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration, wherein the frequency changes from one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

[0005] Further in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure, said orientation of the acceleration can for example include a direction of the acceleration, the frequency increasing from the one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the direction of the acceleration.

[0006] Still further in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure, the two haptic actuators can for example include a first group of more than two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration.

[0007] Still further in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure, the frequency can for example incrementally change between the more than two haptic actuators of the first group in the orientation of the acceleration.

[0008] Still further in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure, the amplitude can for example remain unchanged from the one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

[0009] Still further in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure, the values can for example be values of a first set and the acceleration is a first acceleration, the method can for example further comprise receiving a second set of values pertaining to an amplitude and orientation of a second acceleration different from the amplitude and orientation of the first acceleration.

[0010] Still further in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure, the method can for example further comprise driving, at an amplitude and a frequency based on the values of the second set, two haptic actuators of the plurality of actuators, the two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the other acceleration, wherein thefrequency can for example change from one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the second acceleration.

[0011] Still further in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure, said receiving can for example include retrieving the values pertaining to the amplitude and orientation of the acceleration from a metadata track associated to a media.

[0012] In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a haptic system comprising: a plurality of haptic actuators spaced part from one another and distributed along a surface; and a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of haptic actuators, the controller having a processor, and a non-transitory memory having stored thereon instructions that when executed by the processor perform the steps of: receiving values pertaining to an amplitude and an orientation of an acceleration; and while at least some of the haptic actuators are tactilely coupled to at least one of a back, buttocks and thighs of a user, driving, at an amplitude and a frequency based on said values, two haptic actuators of the plurality of haptic actuators, the two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration, wherein the frequency changes from one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

[0013] Further in accordance with the second aspect of the present disclosure, the orientation of the acceleration can for example include a direction of the acceleration, the frequency can for example increase from the one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the direction of the acceleration.

[0014] Still further in accordance with the second aspect of the present disclosure, the two haptic actuators can for example include a first group of more than two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration.

[0015] Still further in accordance with the second aspect of the present disclosure, the frequency can for example incrementally change between the more than two haptic actuators of the first group in the orientation of the acceleration.

[0016] Still further in accordance with the second aspect of the present disclosure, the amplitude can for example remain unchanged from the one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

[0017] Still further in accordance with the second aspect of the present disclosure, the surface can for example be part of a garment to be worn by the user.

[0018] Still further in accordance with the second aspect of the present disclosure, the surface can for example be part of a sitting apparatus on which the user sits, the sitting apparatus can for example have a seat portion, and a back portion extending upwardly from an edge of the seat portion, the plurality of haptic actuators can for example be distributed within the seat portion and the back portion.

[0019] Still further in accordance with the second aspect of the present disclosure, said orientation can for example extend along a sagittal plane of the sitting apparatus, the one of the two haptic actuators can for example be located in the seat portion and the other one of the two haptic actuators located in the back portion.

[0020] Still further in accordance with the second aspect of the present disclosure, said orientation can for example extend along a transverse plane of the sitting apparatus, the one of the two haptic actuators located in one of the seat portion and the back portion and the other one of the two haptic actuators located in the one of the seat portion and the back portion.

[0021] In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a entertainment system comprising: a monitor screen displaying a media; a sitting apparatus facing the monitor screen, the sitting apparatus having a seat, and a back portion extending upwardly from an edge of the seat portion; a plurality of haptic actuators distributed within the sitting apparatus and spaced part from one another; a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of haptic actuators, the controller having a processor, and a non-transitory memory having stored thereon instructions that when executed by the processor perform the steps of: receiving values pertaining to an amplitude and an orientation of an acceleration; and while at least some of the haptic actuators are tactilely coupled to at least one of a back, buttocks and thighs of a user, driving, at an amplitude and a frequency based on said values,two haptic actuators of the plurality of haptic actuators, the two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration, wherein the frequency changes from one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

[0022] Further in accordance with the third aspect of the present disclosure, the orientation of the acceleration can for example include a direction of the acceleration, the frequency increasing from the one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the direction of the acceleration.

[0023] Still further in accordance with the third aspect of the present disclosure, said receiving can for example include retrieving the values pertaining to the amplitude and orientation of the acceleration from a metadata track associated to the media.

[0024] All technical implementation details and advantages described with respect to a particular aspect of the present invention are self-evidently mutatis mutandis applicable for all other aspects of the present invention.

[0025] Many further features and combinations thereof concerning the present improvements will appear to those skilled in the art following a reading of the instant disclosure.DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] In the figures,

[0027] Fig. 1 is an oblique view of an example of an entertainment system having a sitting apparatus, a haptic system having haptic actuators distributed within the sitting apparatus, and a controller, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0028] Fig. 2A is a graph showing an amplitude and direction of a null acceleration to be produced at the entertainment system of Fig. 1 , in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0029] Fig. 2B is a top plan view of the sitting apparatus of Fig 1 , showing an amplitude at which the haptic actuators are driven to produce the null acceleration of Fig. 2A, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0030] Fig. 2C is a top plan view of the sitting apparatus of Fig 1 , showing frequencies at which the haptic actuators are driven to produce the null acceleration of Fig. 2A, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0031] Fig. 3A is a graph showing an amplitude and direction of a first acceleration to be produced at the entertainment system of Fig. 1 , the first acceleration having a maximal amplitude and a forward direction, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0032] Fig. 3B is a top plan view of the sitting apparatus of Fig 1 , showing an amplitude at which the haptic actuators are driven to produce the first acceleration of Fig. 3A, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0033] Fig. 3C is a top plan view of the sitting apparatus of Fig 1 , showing frequencies at which the haptic actuators are driven to produce the first acceleration of Fig. 3A, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0034] Fig. 4A is a graph showing an amplitude and direction of a second acceleration to be produced at the entertainment system of Fig. 1 , the second acceleration having a maximal amplitude and a lateral direction, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0035] Fig. 4B is a top plan view of the sitting apparatus of Fig 1 , showing an amplitude at which the haptic actuators are driven to produce the second acceleration of Fig. 4A, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0036] Fig. 4C is a top plan view of the sitting apparatus of Fig 1 , showing frequencies at which the haptic actuators are driven to produce the second acceleration of Fig. 4A, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0037] Fig. 5A is a graph showing an amplitude and direction of a third acceleration to be produced at the entertainment system of Fig. 1 , the third acceleration having a partial amplitude and an obliquely rearward direction, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0038] Fig. 5B is a top plan view of the sitting apparatus of Fig 1 , showing an amplitude at which the haptic actuators are driven to produce the third acceleration of Fig. 5A, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0039] Fig. 5C is a top plan view of the sitting apparatus of Fig 1 , showing frequencies at which the haptic actuators are driven to produce the third acceleration of Fig. 5A, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0040] Fig. 6 is a flow chart of an example of a method of operating a haptic system having haptic actuators spaced apart from one another, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0041] Fig. 7 is a schematic view of an example of a computing device of the controller of Fig. 1 , in accordance with one or more embodiments; and

[0042] Fig. 8 is a schematic view of an example of a haptic system having haptic actuators distributed within the garment, and a controller, in accordance with one or more embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Fig. 1 shows an example of an entertainment system 10, in accordance with an embodiment. As depicted, the entertainment system 10 has a monitor screen 12 displaying a media, a sitting apparatus 14 facing the monitor screen 12, and a haptic system 100. The monitor screen 12 can be provided in the form of a movie theatre projection screen, a home movie theatre projection screen, a conventional television, a laptop or desktop computer screen, to name a few examples. The media can be a movie, a video game, a podcast, or any suitable video and / or audio track.

[0044] In some embodiments, the sitting apparatus 14 has a transverse plane 16 which is generally horizontally oriented and which is perpendicular to a plane of the monitor screen 12. Similarly, the sitting apparatus 14 has a sagittal plane 18 which is generally vertically oriented, which is perpendicular to the transverse plane 14 and which separates the sitting apparatus 14 into two lateral halves. In this disclosure, the forward direction is intended to extend within the transverse plane 16 and towards the monitor screen 12. The rearward direction is intended to extend within the transverse plane 16 and away from the monitor screen 12. The lateral orientation extends within the transverse plane 16 and is perpendicular to the sagittal plane 18. The lateral orientation includes a first direction directed towards a left-hand side of the sitting apparatus 14 and a second direction directed towards a right-hand side of the sittingapparatus 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the sitting apparatus 14 has a seat portion 20, and a back portion 22 extending upwardly from a back edge of the seat portion 20. Armrest portions 24 each extending on a respective lateral side of the sagittal plane 18 can also be provided, along with an optional leg rest portion 26 extending downwardly from a front edge of the seat portion 20. The armrests portions 24 and the leg rest portion 26 can be omitted in some other embodiments.

[0045] As depicted, the haptic system 100 generally has two or more haptic actuators 102 spaced apart from one another, and a controller 104 communicatively coupled to the haptic actuators 102 for operating the haptic actuators 102 independently from one another. As discussed in more detail below, it is intended that, during use of the haptic system 100, while at least some of the haptic actuators 102 are tactilely coupled to at least one of a back, buttocks, thighs and / or other body parts of a user. Although the communicative coupling between the haptic actuators 102 and the controller 104 is shown to be provided in the form of a wired circuit assembly 106 in this embodiment, the communicative coupling can also be partially or wholly wireless in some other embodiments. In embodiments where the haptic system 100 is part of an entertainment system such as the one illustrated in Fig. 1 , the haptic actuators 102 can be distributed within the sitting apparatus 14 in a manner which would render haptic feedback produced by the haptic actuators 102, either taken individually or collectively, to a user sitting in the sitting apparatus 14. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, fourth haptic actuators 102 are provided in the seat portion 20, and four haptic actuators 102 are provided in the back portion 22. Haptic actuators 102 can be provided in either one or both of the armrest portions 24, in the leg rest portion 26, or a combination thereof in some other embodiments. It is intended that the haptic system 100 described herein is not necessarily part of the entertainment system 10. For instance, the haptic system 100 can be part of a standalone sitting apparatus, or any surface which may be in contact with a haptic appreciating entity.

[0046] The haptic system 100 is configured to receive values pertaining to an amplitude and an orientation of an acceleration, and, while at least some of the haptic actuators are tactilely coupled to at least one of a back, buttocks and thighs of the user, to drive, at an amplitude and a frequency based on the values, two (or more) haptic actuators 102 of hapticsystem 100 which are spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration. It was found that by changing the frequency at which the two haptic actuators 100 spaced apart from one another along the orientation of the acceleration are driven, a feeling of directional acceleration extending along the orientation of the acceleration can be conveyed to the user sitting in the sitting apparatus 14. In some preferred embodiments, the orientation of the acceleration is provided in the form of a direction. In these cases, the frequency at which the two haptic actuators 102 are driven can increase from a first one of the two haptic actuators 102 to a second one of the two haptic actuators 102 along the direction of the acceleration. In some embodiments, higher

[0047] Figs. 2A through 5C show different examples of such accelerations. For instance, Fig. 2A shows a null acceleration in a polar graph representing the transverse plane of the sitting apparatus 14. The upper portion of the polar graph corresponds to the front of the sitting apparatus 14, and therefore points towards the monitor screen 12, if any. Figs. 2B and 2C show a top plan view of the sitting apparatus 14 of Fig. 1 , and map the values of the amplitude and of the frequencies of the null acceleration, respectively. As the null acceleration corresponds to a null amplitude and to a null frequency, then the haptic actuators of the haptic system are driven at the null amplitude and the null frequency (i.e. , not driven at all), thereby failing to generate any haptic feedback.

[0048] In Fig. 3A, a first acceleration example is provided. As shown, the first acceleration is forwardly directed with a maximal amplitude value. Figs. 3B and 3C show a top plan view of the sitting apparatus 14, and map the values of the amplitude and of the frequencies of the first acceleration, respectively. Fig. 3B shows that all the haptic actuators 102 are driven at the same, maximal amplitude value. Fig. 3C shows that the haptic actuators 102 spaced apart along the forward direction are driven at different frequencies. More specifically, the upper ones of the haptic actuators of the back portion 22 are driven at a first frequency, the lower ones of the haptic actuators of the back portion 22 are driven at a second frequency greater than the first frequency, the rearward ones of the haptic actuators of the seat portion 20 are driven at a third frequency greater than the second frequency, and the forward ones of the haptic actuators of the seat portion 20 are driven at a fourth frequency greater than the third frequency.

[0049] Fig. 4A shows a second acceleration example. As depicted, the second acceleration is laterally directed towards a right-hand side of the sitting apparatus 14 with a maximal amplitude value. Figs. 4B and 4C show a top plan view of the sitting apparatus 14, and map the values of the amplitude and of the frequencies of the second acceleration, respectively. More specifically, Fig. 4B shows that all the haptic actuators 102 are driven at the same maximal amplitude value whereas Fig. 4C shows that the haptic actuators 102 spaced apart along the lateral orientation are driven at different frequencies. As shown, the haptic actuators 102 located at the leftmost portion of the sitting apparatus 14 are driven at a first frequency, the haptic actuators 102 located at the left-center portion of the sitting apparatus 14 are driven at a second frequency greater than the first frequency, the haptic actuators 102 located at the right center portion of the sitting apparatus 14 are driven at a third frequency greater than the second frequency, and the haptic actuators 102 located at the rightmost portion of the sitting apparatus 14 are driven at a fourth frequency greater than the third frequency.

[0050] Fig. 5A shows a third acceleration example. As depicted, the third acceleration is obliquely and rearwardly directed towards a left-hand side of the sitting apparatus 14, with an intermediate amplitude value. Figs. 5B and 5C show a top plan view of the sitting apparatus 14, and map the values of the amplitude and of the frequencies of the third acceleration, respectively. More specifically, Fig. 5B shows that all the haptic actuators 102 are driven at the same, intermediate amplitude value whereas Fig. 5C shows that the haptic actuators 102 spaced apart along the oblique and rearward direction are driven at different frequencies increasing from the forward right portion of the sitting apparatus 14 to the rearward left portion of the sitting apparatus 14. As shown, the frequency changes are incremental along the direction of the acceleration.

[0051] In some embodiments, different acceleration feelings can be imparted to the user via the haptic system 100 by operating it in the above detailed manner. In certain embodiments, different accelerations can be consecutive to one another. In any way, the amplitude and orientation (e.g., direction) of the acceleration to be imparted by the haptic system can be based on a metadata track of the media being played by the entertainment system. For instance, if at a first moment in time of the media, a plane takes off, then a rearward acceleration can be mimicked by the haptic system by driving haptic actuatorsspaced apart from one another along the forward direction in a manner which increases the frequency from front to back. In these embodiments, the amplitude of the driving can vary over time according to the acceleration evolution of a plane taking off. If at a second moment in time of the media, a plane turns, then an oblique rearward acceleration such as the one shown in Fig. 5A can be mimicked by the haptic system. If at a third moment in time of the media, a plane lands, then a forward acceleration can be mimicked by the haptic system by driving haptic actuators spaced apart from one another along the rearward direction in a manner which increases from back to front of the sitting apparatus. In these embodiments, the amplitude of the driving can vary over time according to the acceleration evolution of a landing plane. It will be understood that different amplitude and frequency combinations can be used when deemed appropriate, depending on the type of acceleration feeling to produce.

[0052] Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of an example method 600 of operating a haptic system having haptic actuators. In certain embodiments, the method can be performed using the haptic system shown and described with reference to the haptic system 100 of Fig. 1.

[0053] At step 602, values pertaining to an amplitude and orientation of an acceleration are received. In some embodiments, the values are received at the controller from a media system or the like. In some embodiments, the values and / or the acceleration are retrieved from a metadata track associated to a media such as a movie, a video game, a podcast, or any suitable audio and / or video track. In some other embodiments, a given acceleration is selected from a database comprising different accelerations each having corresponding values for the amplitude and the orientation. In these embodiments, once the given acceleration is selected, the corresponding values can be transmitted to the controller.

[0054] At step 604, while at least some of the haptic actuators are tactilely coupled to at least one of a back, buttocks and thighs of a user, two of the haptic actuators spaced apart in the orientation of the acceleration are driven at an amplitude and a frequency that are based on the values received at step 602. More specifically, the frequency changes from one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

[0055] In some embodiments, such as depicted at step 602A, the orientation of the acceleration includes a direction of the acceleration. In these embodiments, as per step 604A, the frequency increases from the one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the direction of the acceleration.

[0056] In certain embodiments, the haptic actuators that are driven at frequencies changing in the orientation of the acceleration are not limited to only two haptic actuators. For example, a group of more than two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration can be driven using frequencies changing in the orientation of the acceleration. In some embodiments, the frequency incrementally changes between the haptic actuators of the group.

[0057] Although the amplitude of the driving of the haptic actuators can change in the orientation of the acceleration, it is intended that in most preferred embodiments, the amplitude remains unchanged. In these embodiments, the value of the amplitude can be selected from a null amplitude value, a maximal amplitude value, or intermediate amplitude values ranging between the null amplitude value and the maximal amplitude value.

[0058] It is intended that the method 600 can be used to produce a series of different accelerations in some embodiments. For instance, the values discussed above can be values of a first set and the acceleration can be a first acceleration. In these embodiments, a second set of values pertaining to an amplitude and orientation of a second acceleration can be received. In some embodiments, the amplitude and orientation of the second acceleration are both different from the amplitude and orientation of the first acceleration. However, in some other embodiments, the amplitude remains unchanged and only the orientation changes, or vice versa. In these embodiments, the method 600 can include a further step of driving, at an amplitude and a frequency based on the values of the second set, two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the other acceleration. In such embodiments, it is intended that the frequency changes from one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the second acceleration. The haptic actuators can be driven to produce the first and second accelerations one immediately after the other in some embodiments. In some other embodiments, the first and second accelerations are temporally spaced apart from one another.

[0059] Referring now to Fig. 7, the controller can be provided as a combination of hardware and software components. Broadly described, the controller can be communicatively coupled to the haptic actuators, to a media system producing the media, an accessible computer- readably memory, or a combination thereof. The communicative coupling between the controller and the haptic actuators can be wired or wireless or a combination of both, depending on the embodiment. It is intended that the controller has one or more processor(s), and one or more non-transitory computer-readable memory(ies) having stored thereon instructions that when executed by the processor(s) performs some predetermined steps. More specifically, the hardware components can be implemented in the form of a computing device 700, an example of which is described with reference to Fig. 7. The computing device 700 can have a processor 702, a memory 704, and I / O interface 706. Instructions 708 for controlling the operation of the haptic actuators can be stored on the memory 704 and accessible by the processor 702.

[0060] The processor 702 can be, for example, a general-purpose microprocessor or microcontroller, a digital signal processing (DSP) processor, an integrated circuit, a field- programmable gate array (FPGA), a reconfigurable processor, a programmable read-only memory (PROM), a programmable logic controller (PLC), or any combination thereof.

[0061] The memory 704 can include a suitable combination of any type of computer- readable memory that is located either internally or externally such as, for example, randomaccess memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), compact disc read-only memory (CDROM), electro-optical memory, magneto-optical memory, erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), and electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), Ferroelectric RAM (FRAM) or the like.

[0062] Each I / O interface 706 enables the computing device 700 to interconnect with one or more input devices, such as keyboard(s), sensor(s), or with one or more output devices such as display(s), accessible memory(ies), haptic actuator(s).

[0063] Each I / O interface 706 enables the controller to communicate with other components, to exchange data with other components, to access and connect to network resources, to server applications, and perform other computing applications by connecting toa network (or multiple networks) capable of carrying data including the Internet, Ethernet, plain old telephone service (POTS) line, public switch telephone network (PSTN), integrated services digital network (ISDN), digital subscriber line (DSL), coaxial cable, fibre optics, satellite, mobile, wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi, WiMAX), SS7 signalling network, fixed line, local area network, wide area network, and others, including any combination of these.

[0064] The computing device 700 and any software application that can be run by the computing device 700 are meant to be examples only. Other suitable embodiments of the controller can also be provided, as it will be apparent to the skilled reader.

[0065] In some embodiments, a haptic system 800 can alternately be provided as part of a garment 814 as opposed to a seat, an example of which is shown in Fig. 8. In these embodiments, the garment 814 can be configured for the haptic actuators 802 to be in tactile coupling with the same body parts of the user, e.g., back, buttocks, and thighs. Example of garments can include, but are not limited to, a full or partial body suit, a shirt, pants, gloves, hat, or a combination thereof. In some circumstances, the user wearing the garment 814 incorporating the haptic system 800 may actually be driving a car. The haptic system 800 can include an accelerometer 805, and can give the user tactile feedback based on the orientation and / or amplitude of the acceleration measured by the accelerometer 805. While the user is driving the car, the user typically braces with thighs and legs upon feeling acceleration. This can allow to train the user’s brain to tie the haptic feedback to real acceleration feeling of driving a car. Then, when the garment 814 is worn on a simulator rather than on the actual car, the feedback of the haptic system 800 can be based on an acceleration orientation and / or amplitude associated to the simulator rather than to a measurement. In these situations, the user’s brain may then associate the feedback better with the previous experience of driving the car, or vice versa. For instance, when the user has been training with the garment 814 on the simulator, the feedback it provides when the user is actually driving the car may help the user drive in the way drive was learned from the simulation. As shown, the controller 804 controlling the actuators 802 can be part of the garment 814 in this embodiment, and is wiredly connected to the actuators 802 and the accelerometer 805. However, the controller can be wirelessly (or a combination of wireless and wired communication) communicating with theactuators 802 and the accelerometer 805 in some other embodiments. The controller 804 can also be remotely positioned away from the garment 814 depending on the embodiment.

[0066] As can be understood, the examples described above and illustrated are intended to be exemplary only. It is intended that the values of the amplitude can range between a null amplitude value, a maximal amplitude value, and a plurality of intermediate amplitude values extending between the null amplitude value and the maximal amplitude value. For instance, the two or more actuators can be driven in the manner described herein without any tactile coupling with the body part(s) of a user between periods of use. The scope is indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of operating a haptic system having a plurality of haptic actuators, the method comprising: receiving values pertaining to an amplitude and orientation of an acceleration; and while at least some of the haptic actuators are tactilely coupled to at least one of a back, buttocks and thighs of a user, driving, at an amplitude and a frequency based on said values, two haptic actuators of the plurality of haptic actuators, the two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration, wherein the frequency changes from one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said orientation of the acceleration includes a direction of the acceleration, the frequency increasing from the one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the direction of the acceleration.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the two haptic actuators include a first group of more than two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the frequency incrementally changes between the more than two haptic actuators of the first group in the orientation of the acceleration.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the amplitude remains unchanged from the one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the values are values of a first set and the acceleration is a first acceleration, the method further comprising receiving a second set of values pertaining to an amplitude and orientation of a second acceleration different from the amplitude and orientation of the first acceleration.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising driving, at an amplitude and a frequency based on the values of the second set, two haptic actuators of the plurality of actuators, the two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the other acceleration,wherein the frequency changes from one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the second acceleration.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said receiving includes retrieving the values pertaining to the amplitude and orientation of the acceleration from a metadata track associated to a media.

9. A haptic system comprising: a plurality of haptic actuators spaced part from one another and distributed along a surface; and a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of haptic actuators, the controller having a processor, and a non-transitory memory having stored thereon instructions that when executed by the processor perform the steps of: receiving values pertaining to an amplitude and an orientation of an acceleration; and while at least some of the haptic actuators are tactilely coupled to at least one of a back, buttocks and thighs of a user, driving, at an amplitude and a frequency based on said values, two haptic actuators of the plurality of haptic actuators, the two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration, wherein the frequency changes from one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

10. The haptic system of claim 9 wherein the orientation of the acceleration includes a direction of the acceleration, the frequency increasing from the one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the direction of the acceleration.11 . The haptic system of claim 9 or 10 wherein the two haptic actuators include a first group of more than two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration.

12. The haptic system of claim 11 wherein the frequency incrementally changes between the more than two haptic actuators of the first group in the orientation of the acceleration.

13. The haptic system of any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the amplitude remains unchanged from the one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

14. The haptic system of any one of claims 9 to 13 wherein the surface is part of a garment to be worn by the user.

15. The haptic system of any one of claims 9 to 14 wherein the surface is part of a sitting apparatus on which the user sits, the sitting apparatus having a seat portion, and a back portion extending upwardly from an edge of the seat portion, the plurality of haptic actuators distributed within the seat portion and the back portion.

16. The haptic system of claim 15 wherein said orientation extends along a sagittal plane of the sitting apparatus, the one of the two haptic actuators located in the seat portion and the other one of the two haptic actuators located in the back portion.

17. The haptic system of claim 15 wherein said orientation extends along a transverse plane of the sitting apparatus, the one of the two haptic actuators located in one of the seat portion and the back portion and the other one of the two haptic actuators located in the one of the seat portion and the back portion.

18. An entertainment system comprising: a monitor screen displaying a media; a sitting apparatus facing the monitor screen, the sitting apparatus having a seat, and a back portion extending upwardly from an edge of the seat portion; a plurality of haptic actuators distributed within the sitting apparatus and spaced part from one another; a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of haptic actuators, the controller having a processor, and a non-transitory memory having stored thereon instructions that when executed by the processor perform the steps of:receiving values pertaining to an amplitude and an orientation of an acceleration; and while at least some of the haptic actuators are tactilely coupled to at least one of a back, buttocks and thighs of a user, driving, at an amplitude and a frequency based on said values, two haptic actuators of the plurality of haptic actuators, the two haptic actuators spaced apart from one another in the orientation of the acceleration, wherein the frequency changes from one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the orientation of the acceleration.

19. The entertainment system of claim 18 wherein the orientation of the acceleration includes a direction of the acceleration, the frequency increasing from the one of the two haptic actuators to the other one of the two haptic actuators in the direction of the acceleration.

20. The entertainment system of claim 18 or 19 wherein said receiving includes retrieving the values pertaining to the amplitude and orientation of the acceleration from a metadata track associated to the media.

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