Abstract: This method for locating at least one touch on a touch-sensitive surface of an object comprises the following steps: monitoring (100) of at least one touch by propagating (102), in the touch-sensitive surface of the object, elastic mechanical waves from at least one transmitting point of the object, and by detecting (104) said elastic mechanical waves in at least one reception point of the object, in order to obtain at least one sensed signal, and locating (200) at least one touch on the touch-sensitive surface of the object by comparing certain spectral characteristics of the sensed signal to a set of reference characteristics. The monitoring step (100) comprises measuring (104, 106) the sensed signal during a time interval (t3) starting during a transient phase of the propagation of the transmitted waves, for supplying, to said at least one reception point, information on radiation interfered with by said at least one touch.

Abstract: An haptic interface including a knob manipulated by a user, a rotation shaft with a longitudinal axis to which the knob is fixed in rotation, an interaction element with a magneto-rheological fluid in rotation with the shaft, the fluid, a system for generating a magnetic field in the fluid, and a control unit capable of generating orders to the system for generating the magnetic field to modify the magnetic field. The system includes a coil type mechanism generating a variable magnetic field, and a permanent magnet type mechanism generating a permanent magnetic field.

Abstract: A display device including a deformable surface, including: plural actuators including mobile elements that can be moved to deform the deformable surface, the mobile elements being distributed in a space occupied by the deformable surface; a set of position sensors for sensing the position of at least one touch, and distributed in the space occupied by the deformable surface; and an elastic flexible membrane placed against the mobile elements, extending through the space occupied by the deformable surface and configured to accompany deformation of the deformable surface. The set of sensors is secured to the elastic flexible membrane and distributed in a regular manner in the space occupied by the deformable surface in an array of electricity conductors configured to accompany deformations of the elastic flexible membrane.

Abstract: A tactile display device including: a touch screen including ferromagnetic particles; a plurality of actuators including magnet elements distributed against the touch screen; a mechanism for activating each actuator to generate a local magnetic field in the touch screen; and an elastic membrane formed in an elastomer flexible solid material, the elastomer material including the ferromagnetic particles.

Abstract: A device for measuring the position of at least one moving object in a three-dimensional grid. The device comprises: at least one optical head comprising an independent laser sources array outputting collimated laser beams, arranged about a central photodetector with a single sensitive cell; at least one movable base with two rotational degrees of freedom whereto said array is secured; and control electronics.

Abstract: Damping device to impose a reaction to the displacement of a manual operating device (28), said device comprising at least one chamber containing the magneto-rheological fluid, one or two means of generating a variable magnetic field (6.1, 6.2) in the magneto-rheological fluid so as to modify its apparent viscosity, one element (4) free to move in translation capable of shearing the magneto-rheological fluid and designed to be mechanically connected to the manual operating device (28), said mobile element (4) comprising a blade with a longitudinal axis (Y) comprising holes and/or recesses and/or projections.

Abstract: A haptic interface including an element that interacts with a user; a rotation shaft with a longitudinal axis to which the user interaction element is fixed in rotation; a fluid interaction element, the fluid interaction element being fixed in rotation to the shaft, the fluid being of magneto-rheological type, a system generating magnetic field in the fluid; and a control unit capable of generating orders to magnetic field generation system so as to modify the magnetic field. The interaction element includes a cylindrical wall of revolution with a longitudinal axis, including through openings and/or patterns in relief.

Abstract: Method of transmitting tactile information to a tactile display with a touch plate containing pads, the touch plate being controlled by a server, in which, (a) tactile information is defined as being a sequence of a predefined number of images together forming a pattern, each image having a rank in the pattern, each pattern being defined by: a design of successive images a duration for each image, a duration between consecutive images, a duration between consecutive patterns; (b) said word is transmitted to a tactile display server, preceded by a beacon indicating that data following the beacon must be directed to the touch plate control server; (c) a series of instructions is activated when the server receives the word, this series having a start address that depends on said word, said series of instructions being used to display the successive images together forming the pattern corresponding to the word to be displayed, said series of instructions being repeated to display the same pattern a predefin

Abstract: This method for locating at least one touch on a touch-sensitive surface of an object comprises the following steps: monitoring (100) of at least one touch by propagating (102), in the touch-sensitive surface of the object, elastic mechanical waves from at least one transmitting point of the object, and by detecting (104) said elastic mechanical waves in at least one reception point of the object, in order to obtain at least one sensed signal, and locating (200) at least one touch on the touch-sensitive surface of the object by comparing certain spectral characteristics of the sensed signal to a set of reference characteristics. The monitoring step (100) comprises measuring (104, 106) the sensed signal during a time interval (t3 ) starting during a transient phase of the propagation of the transmitted waves, for supplying, to said at least one reception point, information on radiation interfered with by said at least one touch.

Abstract: A device for measuring the position of at least one moving object in a three-dimensional grid. The device comprises: at least one optical head comprising an independent laser sources array outputting collimated laser beams, arranged about a central photodetector with a single sensitive cell; at least one movable base with two rotational degrees of freedom whereto said array is secured; and control electronics.

Abstract: An haptic interface including a knob manipulated by a user, a rotation shaft with a longitudinal axis to which the knob is fixed in rotation, an interaction element with a magneto-rheological fluid in rotation with the shaft, the fluid, a system for generating a magnetic field in the fluid, and a control unit capable of generating orders to the system for generating the magnetic field to modify the magnetic field. The system includes a coil type mechanism generating a variable magnetic field, and a permanent magnet type mechanism generating a permanent magnetic field.

Abstract: A haptic interface including an element that interacts with a user; a rotation shaft with a longitudinal axis to which the user interaction element is fixed in rotation; a fluid interaction element, the fluid interaction element being fixed in rotation to the shaft, the fluid being of magneto-rheological type, a system generating magnetic field in the fluid; and a control unit capable of generating orders to magnetic field generation system so as to modify the magnetic field. The interaction element includes a cylindrical wall of revolution with a longitudinal axis, including through openings and/or patterns in relief.

Abstract: Damping device to impose a reaction to the displacement of a manual operating device (28), said device comprising at least one chamber containing the magneto-rheological fluid, one or two means of generating a variable magnetic field (6.1, 6.2) in the magneto-rheological fluid so as to modify its apparent viscosity, one element (4) free to move in translation capable of shearing the magneto-rheological fluid and designed to be mechanically connected to the manual operating device (28), said mobile element (4) comprising a blade with a longitudinal axis (Y) comprising holes and/or recesses and/or projections.

Abstract: A tactile or haptic sensation simulation device designed to oppose the movement of a manual control component with a reaction reflecting the movement of the control, where the said device has a chamber containing a magneto-rheological fluid, a mobile element interacting mechanically with the fluid and intended to be linked mechanically to the control component, where the said element is mobile between two predetermined positions, at least one sensor with a cinematic and/or dynamic range that is representative of the movement of the control component, a control component and means for the generation of a suitable magnetic field around the chamber so as to apply a magnetic field that is dependent on the dynamic characteristics to be simulated for the movement of the manual control component, and the real-time measurements, the whole being such that the apparent viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid varies over the travel of the manual control component.

Abstract: The multistable actuator (10) includes: a mobile part (12) intended to be moved between at least two stable positions, movement means (14, 16) for moving the mobile part, guide means (122, 186, 24, 246, 247, 248, 249) for guiding the movement of the mobile part (12), and support means (20, 22, 28, 30, 246, 247, 248, 249) for holding the mobile part (12) in each of the stable positions that it occupies, wherein the movement means (14, 16) are two opposing movement means made of a shape memory alloy. Application in a tactile interface.

Abstract: Method of transmitting tactile information to a tactile display with a touch plate containing pads, the touch plate being controlled by a server, in which, (a) tactile information is defined as being a sequence of a predefined number of images together forming a pattern, each image having a rank in the pattern, each pattern being defined by: a design of successive images a duration for each image, a duration between consecutive images, a duration between consecutive patterns; (b) said word is transmitted to a tactile display server, preceded by a beacon indicating that data following the beacon must be directed to the touch plate control server; (c) a series of instructions is activated when the server receives the word, this series having a start address that depends on said word, said series of instructions being used to display the successive images together forming the pattern corresponding to the word to be displayed, said series of instructions being repeated to display the same pattern a predefined

Abstract: This tactile interface includes a layer (5) of pins (4) that the user can touch with the fleshy part of one of his fingers. The pins (4) are free to rotate and their spacing can be adjusted using an appropriate system. They can be provided with edges to assist in simulating other textures.

Abstract: The system of the present invention includes an actuator having at least two electrodes, an elastomeric dielectric film disposed between the two electrodes, and a frame attached to the elastomeric dielectric film. The frame provides a linear actuation force characteristic over a displacement range. The displacement range is preferably the stroke of the actuator. The displacement range can be about 5 mm and greater. Further, the frame can include a plurality of configurations, for example, at least a rigid members coupled to a flexible member wherein the frame provides an elastic restoring force. In preferred embodiments, the rigid member can be, but is not limited to, curved beams, parallel beams, rods and plates. In a preferred embodiment the actuator can further include a passive element disposed between two flexible members such as, for example, links to tune a stiffness characteristic of the actuator. The passive element can be a bi-stable element.

Abstract: A tactile display device includes: a touch plate with a touch surface, a network of taxels formed in solid parts of the touch plate or in solid parts of a sub-plate that forms part of the touch plate with each taxel made up of a strip that can be in at least two states, with the change from one state to another indirectly or directly modifying the tactile sensation, and a mechanism for modifying the state of the taxel strips in a selective manner, including for addressing and for modifying the taxels' tactile sensation. Each taxel strip has a spiral shape, bordered on either side by a gap in the form of a spiral.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices and systems used in magnetic imaging environments that include an actuator device having an elastomeric dielectric film with at least two electrodes, and a frame attached to the actuator device. The frame can have a plurality of configurations including, such as, for example, at least two members that can be, but not limited to, curved beams, rods, plates, or parallel beams. These rigid members can be coupled to flexible members such as, for example, links wherein the frame provides an elastic restoring force. The frame preferably provides a linear actuation force characteristic over a displacement range. The linear actuation force characteristic is defined as ±20% and preferably 10% over a displacement range. The actuator further includes a passive element disposed between the flexible members to tune a stiffness characteristic of the actuator. The passive element can be a bi-stable element.