Abstract: A fluidic device comprises a channel, a gate, and one or more additional elements. The channel is configured to transport a fluid from a source to a drain. The gate includes a chamber with an adjustable volume that affects fluid flow within the channel by displacing a wall of the channel toward an opposite wall of the channel based in part on fluid pressure within the chamber exceeding a threshold pressure. A high pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size and a first flow rate of the fluid. A low pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size and a second flow rate that is greater than the first flow rate. The additional elements are configured to reduce the threshold pressure past which the chamber decreases the cross-sectional area of the channel.

Abstract: A deformation sensing apparatus comprises an elastic substrate, a first strain-gauge element formed on a first surface of the elastic substrate, and configured to output a first signal in response to a strain applied in a first direction, and a second strain-gauge element formed on a second surface of the elastic substrate opposite to the first surface, and configured to output a second signal in response to a strain applied in the same first direction.

Abstract: A wearable heat transfer device provides a user with haptic feedback providing sensations of hot or cold. The wearable heat transfer device comprises a heat source/sink and a programmable interface having heat transfer characteristics that are modified based on a signal received by the programmable interface. For example, a thickness of the programmable interface changes based on the received signal, altering heat transfer by the programmable interface. In another example, an electric field is applied to the programmable interface, changing one or more properties of the programmable interface affecting heat transfer.

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 haptic glove comprises a glove body including a glove digit corresponding to a phalange of a user hand with the glove digit having a bend location that is located along the glove digit. A haptic apparatus is coupled to the glove body at the bend location with the haptic apparatus comprising a plurality of sheets that are flexible and inextensible and a pressure actuator coupled to one or more of the plurality of sheets. The plurality of sheets are stacked and configured to translate relative to each other along the centerline with bending of the glove digit. The pressure actuator is configured to adjust an applied pressure to the plurality of sheets to adjust friction between the sheets. The adjustment of friction is proportional to a bending resistance of the glove digit.

Abstract: A fluidic switch (or fluidic device) is provided. The fluidic switch includes: (i) a housing defining a cavity with a first opening and a second opening, the second opening being larger than the first opening, the cavity containing an elastic substance, (ii) a channel to transport a fluid from a source, across the first opening, to a drain, where the first opening opens into the channel, and (iii) an actuator to apply a force through the second opening to the elastic substance in the cavity when actuated, the force to displace a portion of the elastic substance into the channel to impede transport of the fluid through the channel.

Abstract: Dielectric ceramic particulates are introduced into thin a sheet of pre-cured elastomer to form a sheet. Successive layers of the sheets may then be laminated together to form a finished article. An electric field may be applied to the article during a curing process while the article is at a temperature near a Curie temperature of the dielectric ceramic particulates to increase a dielectric constant of the article. As each sheet may be different from each other in the finished article, the resulting finished article may have anisotropic dielectric and mechanical properties. Similarly, tiled dielectric ceramic structures may be introduced into the elastomers layers to generate materials with varying dielectric constants.

Abstract: A deformation sensing apparatus comprises an elastic substrate, a conductive element, and an additional conductive element. The conductive element includes conductive joints that are separated from each other by resolving elements along a length of the conductive element. Different combinations of conductive joints and resolving elements correspond to different segments of the deformation sensing apparatus. Based on a change in capacitance between a conductive joint and the additional conductive element when a strain is applied to the deformation sensing apparatus, the deformation sensing apparatus generates a signal that allows determination of how the strain deforms the deformation sensing apparatus.

Abstract: A deformation sensing apparatus comprises a propagation channel, a transmitter coupled to a first end of the propagation channel, a receiver coupled to a second end of the propagation channel, and a controller. The propagation channel is deformable and the controller instructs the transmitter to transmit a signal, instructs the receiver to capture one or more measurements of the transmitted signal, and determines a bend in the propagation channel based on the one or more measurements. In one embodiment, the transmitter is a light source, the propagation channel is an optical fiber, and the receiver is a photodiode. The propagation channel is made of a material that has a variation in a refractive index responsive to applied mechanical stress. The deformation sensing apparatus may also include a polarizer positioned between the transmitter and the propagation channel and a wave plate positioned between the propagation channel and the receiver.

Abstract: A deformation sensing apparatus comprises a transmitter coupled to a propagation channel, and a receiver coupled to the same first end of the propagation channel. The propagation channel of the deformation is a transmission line, where a signal is transmitted by the transmitter and reflected signals are measured by the receiver responsive to the transmitted signals. A bend in the propagation channel results in a change in impedance of the transmission line at a location of the bend, resulting in a reflection of the signal from the location of the bend. The time delay of the reflected signals corresponds to the distance along the length of the channel where a bending of the propagation channel occurs. The amplitude of the reflected signal corresponds to a bend angle.

Abstract: A haptic glove comprises a glove body including a glove digit corresponding to a phalange of a user hand. The glove digit has a first ribbon layer of a first average width and a second ribbon layer of a second average width greater than the first average width. The first and second ribbon layers are configured to be positioned on a first surface of the digit and formed lengthwise along a bend centerline of the glove digit that bisects a surface of the glove digit. A central axis of the second ribbon layer is aligned with a central axis of the first ribbon layer. The first ribbon layer comprises a first extendible material having a first range of elastic extensibility and the second ribbon layer comprises a second extendible material having a second range of elastic extensibility greater than the first range of elastic extensibility of the first ribbon layer.

Abstract: Embodiments herein disclose a haptic device that includes an elastic planar member. The haptic device also includes an inelastic planar member attached to the elastic planar member. Additional elastic and inelastic planar members may be attached to the inelastic planar member, with each elastic planar member attached to an inelastic planar member in an alternating fashion. An inflatable bladder is attached to a first surface of the inelastic planar member. Additional inflatable bladders may be attached to the additional inelastic planar members. The inflation of the inflatable bladder(s) causes a curvature in the inelastic planar member. This curvature increases the rigidity of the inelastic planar member.

Abstract: A method of creating localized haptic stimulations on a user includes a wearable device including a plurality of transducers that can each generate one or more waves that propagate away from the wearable device through a medium. The method includes activating two or more transducers of the plurality of transducers, selecting values for characteristics of waves to be generated by the two or more transducers based at least in part on a known impedance of the medium. The method further includes generating, by the two or more transducers, waves that constructively interfere at a target location to create a haptic stimulation on a user of the wearable device, the waves having the selected values.

Abstract: An example method of identifying a touch gesture on a user is provided. The method includes receiving, by one or more transducers of a first wearable device attached to a first appendage of the user, a set of signals transmitted by a second wearable device attached to the user, wherein (i) receiving the set of signals creates a signal pathway between the first and second wearable devices, and (ii) signals in the set of signals propagate through at least the user's first appendage. The method also includes determining baseline characteristics for the signal pathway created between the first wearable device and the second wearable device, sensing a change in the baseline characteristics while receiving the set of signals, and in accordance with a determination that the sensed change in the baseline characteristics for the signal pathway satisfies a contact criterion, report a candidate touch event on the user's first appendage.

Abstract: A method of determining contact on a user of a virtual reality and/or augmented reality device includes a first device including a plurality of transducers and a control circuit coupled to the plurality of transducers. The method includes activating one or more of the first plurality of transducers and generating waves that couple into at least a portion of a first appendage of a user wearing the first wearable device. The method further includes at a second wearable device having a second plurality of transducers, receiving at least a portion of the waves generated by the first plurality of transducers when the first appendage of the user is within a threshold distance from the second wearable device.

Abstract: A method of creating haptic stimulations and anatomical information includes a wearable device including a plurality of transducers that can each generate one or more waves. The method includes activating one or more first transducers of the plurality of transducers based on an instruction received from a remote device. Waves generated by the activated one or more first transducers provide a haptic stimulation. The method further includes activating one or more second transducers of the plurality of transducers. Waves generated by the activated one or more second transducers provide anatomical information of a user of the wearable device when the waves are received by one or more transducers of the plurality of transducers.

Abstract: A sensor records information about skin stretch perceived by a user based on an interaction with a real object. The sensor includes a mechanical housing configured to be worn on a finger of a user, and a mechanism coupled to the mechanical housing. The mechanism includes a first bearing that rotates in a first direction in response to an interaction with a surface. The mechanism also includes a second bearing coupled to the first bearing, such that rotation of the first bearing causes the second bearing to rotate in a direction opposite to the first direction. The second bearing is in contact with a portion of the finger, and includes a feedback surface that simulates a force associated with the interaction with the surface. The sensor includes a controller configured to monitor rotation of the second bearing and record skin stretch information responsive to the interaction with the surface.

Abstract: A kinesthetic sensor measure angular displacement of body parts of users by measuring a density of substances contained in a conduit of the kinesthetic sensor. For example, the kinesthetic sensor measures the density of substance including in a conduit by transmitting a signal into the conduit and measuring the signal after the signal passes through the conduit and one or more substances included in the conduit. Based on the density of the one or more substances included in the conduit from the measured signal, an angular displacement of a user's body part proximate to the kinesthetic sensor is determined. Kinesthetic sensors may use different architectures such as an open-loop, a closed-loop architecture, or an architecture using blood vessels as conduits. Additionally, kinesthetic sensors can be flexible to conform to physical contours of different body parts.

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: A wearable actuation device allows a user to interact with virtual objects in an AR or VR environment by providing force or haptic feedback. The wearable actuation device includes one or more actuator assemblies anchored to each of the user's fingers and a controller configured to communicate with a head mounted display. Embodiments of the actuator assembly include an electrorheological actuator, an optically driven actuator, and a piezo actuator sandwich assembly each of which is configured to undergo a reversible change in stiffness in response to an applied voltage or current. In one or more embodiments, the actuator assembly is configured to stiffen, elongate, compress in response to the application of a current or voltage waveform. In still other embodiments, the actuator assembly determines a measures of the current stress or strain being applied by the user on the virtual object.