Haptic Feedback Device for Immersive Virtual Object Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interactions with virtual environments in mixed reality and virtual reality lack immersion due to reliance on visual cues and limited interaction abilities with specialized controllers, which restrict natural gestures and interactions.
Innovation Solution
The use of haptic feedback devices, such as haptic gloves, that provide tactile and sensory outputs to simulate the sense of touch, allowing users to interact with virtual objects through physical movement inputs and unique haptic signatures associated with each object, enabling identification and manipulation without visual engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If specialized controllers are used to interact with virtual environments, then interaction control is improved, but natural gestures and interactions are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces specialized mechanical controllers with haptic feedback devices worn on the user's body (such as gloves or suits). These devices use haptic feedback mechanisms (vibrations, pressure, temperature) instead of mechanical buttons and joysticks, allowing natural body movements to control virtual environments while providing tactile feedback for interaction confirmation.
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic feedback device acts as an intermediary between the user's natural movements and the virtual environment. It translates physical gestures into digital commands while providing tactile feedback, serving as a mediator that enables natural interaction without requiring specialized controller manipulation.
2Ease of operation
If visual cues are used for interaction in virtual environments, then information access is simplified, but immersion is reduced due to perception gap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensory modalities (visual, tactile, thermal) into a unified interaction system. By combining haptic feedback with visual display, the system creates a more complete sensory experience that bridges the perception gap between virtual and real worlds, enhancing both immersion and information access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a tactile dimension to virtual environment interaction beyond the visual dimension. By incorporating haptic feedback (touch, pressure, vibration) and thermal feedback (temperature sensations), the system creates multi-dimensional sensory engagement that improves immersion while maintaining information accessibility.
3Reliability
If haptic feedback devices provide tactile output to simulate touch, then immersion is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic feedback device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing tactile feedback, thermal feedback, and motion tracking. By integrating these diverse functions into a single wearable device (such as a glove or suit), the system enhances immersion without proportionally increasing complexity, as the device serves multiple purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses haptic feedback devices that can dynamically change multiple parameters (vibration frequency, pressure magnitude, temperature) to simulate different tactile sensations. By controlling these parameters programmatically, the system achieves rich immersive experiences without requiring physically complex mechanisms for each sensation type.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and devices for providing a haptic responses to a haptic feedback device may include receiving, by an application providing a virtual environment executing on a computer device, physical movement input based at least on movement of the haptic feedback device that corresponds to a virtual movement interaction with a virtual object in the virtual environment. The methods and devices may include accessing a haptic signature associated with the virtual object. The methods and devices may include determining a haptic response based at least upon the haptic signature to identify the virtual object through the haptic response. The methods and devices may include transmitting the haptic response to the haptic feedback device.