Spatially Offset Haptic Feedback Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing haptic feedback systems in artificial-reality environments often require multiple haptic actuators to provide effective feedback, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, as they typically apply feedback at the exact point of virtual contact on the user's body, limiting flexibility and increasing complexity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of spatially offset haptic feedback, where haptic actuators apply feedback at locations different from the point of virtual contact, using a mapping system to distribute feedback across the body, allowing for a reduced number of actuators while maintaining effective user interaction, such as with virtual keyboards or other virtual objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple haptic actuators are used to provide feedback at the exact point of virtual contact, then haptic feedback effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mapping system that acts as an intermediary between the virtual contact point and the haptic actuator. This mapping system translates virtual contact locations to appropriate haptic feedback locations, allowing a single actuator to provide feedback for multiple virtual contact points. The mapping relationship enables indirect haptic feedback delivery, resolving the contradiction by reducing actuator quantity while maintaining feedback effectiveness through strategic location selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single haptic actuator perform multiple functions by configuring it to provide feedback for multiple different virtual contact points through the mapping system. Instead of requiring one dedicated actuator per virtual contact point, the same actuator serves multiple purposes by delivering feedback for various virtual object interactions, thereby reducing the total number of actuators needed while maintaining comprehensive haptic coverage.
2Measurement precision
If haptic feedback is applied at the exact point of virtual contact, then feedback precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome actuator configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The mapping system serves as an intermediary that simplifies the configuration process. Instead of requiring precise alignment between actuators and virtual contact points, the mapping system handles the translation automatically. This intermediary layer decouples the complexity of precise positioning from the user's configuration task, making the system easier to operate while maintaining feedback precision through the established mapping relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by not placing actuators directly at virtual contact points. Instead, it selects haptic feedback locations based on what is most convenient for actuator placement and configuration, then uses the mapping system to translate virtual contact points to these predetermined haptic locations. This inversion prioritizes configuration simplicity over direct alignment, making the system easier to operate while preserving feedback effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple haptic actuators are distributed across the body, then haptic feedback coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single haptic actuator universal by configuring it to serve multiple virtual contact points across different body locations through the mapping system. This multi-functional configuration allows one actuator to provide feedback for various virtual objects and interactions, effectively covering a wide range of haptic needs without requiring multiple distributed actuators, thereby maintaining versatility while reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mapping system enables local quality optimization by selecting specific haptic feedback locations that are most effective for each virtual contact scenario. Instead of uniformly distributing actuators across the body, the system identifies and utilizes optimal local locations for haptic feedback delivery, allowing a single actuator to effectively cover multiple virtual interaction points through strategic location selection rather than widespread actuator distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed system may include (1) a processor that generates an artificial environment that includes a virtual object, (2) a display that presents the artificial environment, (3) an input subsystem that detects tracks positioning of a body, and (4) a plurality of haptic actuators that are arranged to apply haptic feedback to a first plurality of locations on the body, where the processor (a) determines, based on the positioning of the body, a virtual contact of one of a second plurality of locations on the body with the virtual object, where the second plurality of locations is different from the first plurality of locations, and (b) activates, in response to the virtual contact, at least one of the plurality of haptic actuators based on a mapping of the second plurality of locations to the plurality of haptic actuators. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.