Abstract: Embodiments relate to a system and a method for providing haptic feedback to a user by controlling an area of a surface of a haptic assembly in touch (directly or indirectly) with a user. The haptic assembly can be actuated such that a surface area of the haptic assembly in contact with a user can be adjusted. An area of the haptic assembly in contact with a user can be changed by modifying a shape of the haptic assembly. Hence, by changing the shape of the haptic assembly, a user touching a virtual object in a virtual space with a particular rigidity can be emulated.

Abstract: An input interface configured to be worn on a portion of a user's body includes tendons coupled to various sections of the garment. A tendon includes one or more activation mechanisms that, when activated, prevent or restrict a particular range of motion. The tendon may include a tendon web that controls multiple portions of the user's body with an activation mechanism. The tendon may connect to the garment through a textile mesh that distributes force over a wider area of the user's skin. An activation mechanism may apply force to the textile mesh to modify the stiffness of the textile mesh or to modify the pressure applied by the textile mesh. The tendon may be a wire or have a form with variable width. The activation mechanism may be a solenoid using a permanent magnet, which may have multiple alternating magnetic poles.

Abstract: An input interface for a virtual reality (VR) system includes one or more actuators stressing or straining a portion of a user's skin, simulating interactions with presented virtual objects. For example, an actuator comprises a tendon contacting portions of a user's body and coupled to a motor that moves the tendon to move portions of the user's body contacting the tendon. Alternatively, an actuator includes a pad having a surface contacting a surface of the user's body. A driving mechanism moves the pad in one or more directions parallel to the surface of the user's body with varying levels of normal force. In another example, one or more pins contact portions of the user's body and a surface of a bladder. The pins move as the bladder is inflated or deflated, which moves the contacted portions of the user's body. Alternatively, another type of actuator may move the pins.

Abstract: A virtual reality system including a garment worn by a user, such as a glove, includes a jamming that jams movement of a portion of the user's body by increasing a rigidity of certain portions of the garment or by preventing a certain portion of the garment from expanding past a certain length. This allows the garment to simulate the physical sensation that occurs when the user touches an object. For example, to simulate the sensation of holding a coffee mug, the jamming mechanism prevents the user's fingers from curling after the user's fingers have reached a position equivalent to making physical contact with the coffee mug.

Abstract: A control for a virtual reality (VR) system environment includes a portion and an additional portion each configured to contact different portions of a user's body. As one of the portions of the user's body moves towards the other pottion of the user's body, the corresponding portion of the material contacting the moving portion of the user's body also moves towards the other portion of the material contacting the other portion of the user's body. Different positions of the portion and the additional portion relative to each other may correspond to different instructions that cause the VR system environment to perform different actions. In some embodiments, the control includes one or more feedback mechanisms providing the user with tactile feedback that simulates interactions with one or more virtual objects presented by the VR system environment.

Abstract: An input interface for a virtual reality (VR) system environment includes one or more actuators that, when activated, prevent movement of the input interface by a user. For example, the input interface has magnetic actuation mechanism preventing movement of certain portions of the input interface when actuated, allowing simulation of interactions with virtual objects in a virtual environment presented by the VR system environment. In one embodiment, the input interface includes one or more magnets on a tendon or other portion of the input interface that moves with a portion of the user's body and one or more additional magnets fixed relative to the input interface. Magnets on the portion of the input interface that moves with the portion of the user's body and the fixed additional magnets act as a soft detent mechanism holding the portion of the user's body in in one or more specified positions.

Abstract: An input interface configured to be worn on a portion of a user's body includes tendons coupled to various rigid cuffs in the input interface. The tendons include one or more activation mechanisms that, when activated, retract the tendons, which repositions a rigid cuff into a position relative to the user's body that restricts or prevents some form of movement of the user's body. Various activation mechanisms may be included in the tendons in various embodiments.