Abstract: A virtual reality (VR) headset includes an electronic display element that outputs image light via a plurality of sub-pixels that are separated from each other by a dark space. To mask the dark space between adjacent sub-pixels in the electronic display element, an optics block (e.g., a lens) in the VR headset oscillates or the electronic display element oscillates. For example, a piezoelectric material is coupled to the electronic display element or to the optics block. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric material, vibration of the piezoelectric material causes oscillation of the electronic display element or the optics block. The oscillation generates blur spots in the image light that mask the dark space between adjacent sub-pixels, with each blur spot corresponding to a blurred image of a sub-pixel in the image light.

Abstract: A wearable device comprises one or more deformable signaling pathways wherein each deformable signaling pathway is configured to enable an electrical connection between two devices electrically connected to each other via the deformable signaling pathway. Deformable signaling pathways enable the conduction of electrical signals between various circuit elements similar to one or more circuit elements such as electronic traces or wires. A deformable signaling pathway includes one or more conductive elements surrounded by a conductive gel. Both the conductive gel and the one or more conductive elements are encased in an elastomeric shell. The elastomeric shell is attached to terminals (e.g., one on either end). The one or more connectors are attached to one another such that the one or more connectors span the length of the elastomeric shell and form a low resistance contact between the terminals of the deformable signaling pathway.

Abstract: A wearable device (such as a glove or other control adapted to be worn on a portion of a body) includes multiple magnetic field generators at various locations on the wearable device and a magnetic flux sensor at a predetermined position relative to the wearable device. A position determines spatial positions of locations of the wearable device based on magnetic fields generated by various magnetic field generators and detected by the magnetic flux sensor. In some embodiments, the magnetic field generators have known positions relative to each other. Additionally, each magnetic field generator may generate a magnetic field in response to an input signal having a particular attribute, allowing the magnetic flux sensor to identify magnetic fields generated by different magnetic field generators.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating haptic stimulations is provided. The apparatus includes one or more pods coupled to a garment, each pod including: (i) an internal structure, and (ii) an airtight bladder surrounding the internal structure, where the bladder is pneumatically coupled to a pneumatic device that is configured to control a pressurized state of the bladder. Each pod is configured to: (i) have a first degree of flexibility when the bladder of the pod is in a first pressurized state; and (ii) have a second degree of flexibility, less than the first degree of flexibility, when the bladder of the pod is in a second pressurized state different from the first pressurized state. Each pod provides a haptic stimulation to a wearer of the garment when the corresponding bladder is in the second pressurized state.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating haptic stimulations is provided. The apparatus includes pod(s) coupled to a garment, each pod including: (i) an internal structure including an arrangement of a plurality of protrusions and (ii) an airtight bladder surrounding the internal structure, wherein the bladder is pneumatically coupled to a pneumatic device that is configured to control a pressurized state of the bladder. The internal structure in each pod is configured to: (i) when the respective bladder of the respective pod is in a first pressurized state, have a first degree of flexibility; and (ii) when the respective bladder is in a second pressurized state different from the first pressurized state: curve, at least partially, in a predetermined direction, and have a second degree of flexibility less than the first degree of flexibility, thereby providing a haptic stimulation to a wearer when the respective bladder is in the second pressurized state.

Abstract: A system tracks movement of the VR input device relative to a portion of a user's skin, track movement of the VR input device relative to a physical surface external to the VR input device, or both. The system includes an illumination source integrated with a tracking glove coupled to a virtual reality console, and the illumination source is configured to illuminate a portion of skin on a finger of a user. The system includes an optical sensor integrated with the glove, and the optical sensor is configured to capture a plurality of images of the illuminated portion of skin. The system includes a controller configured to identify differences between one or more of the plurality of images, and to determine estimated position data based in part on the identified differences.

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 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: 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 measure of the current stress or strain being applied by the user on the virtual object.

Abstract: A fluidic device controls fluid flow in channel from a source to a drain. In some embodiments, the fluidic device comprises a channel and a gate. The channel is configured to transport a fluid from the source to the drain. The gate controls a rate of fluid flow in the channel in accordance with the fluid pressure within the gate. Specifically, the gate is configured to induce a first flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with a low pressure state of the gate, and a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with a high pressure state of the gate. In certain embodiments, the first flow rate is greater than the second flow rate. In alternative embodiments, the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate.

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 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: An apparatus for creating haptic stimulations is provided. The apparatus includes pod(s) coupled to a garment, each pod including: (i) an outer internal structure that defines an opening, (ii) an inner internal structure disposed in the opening defined by the outer internal structure, and (iii) an airtight bladder, pneumatically coupled with a pneumatic device, surrounding the inner and outer internal structures. Further, when a bladder of a respective pod is at a first pressure, respective top surfaces of the internal structures contact a first portion of a user's body, said contact with the first portion of the body having a first area, and when the bladder is at a second pressure, the top surface of the inner internal structure and/or the top surface of the outer internal structure contact a second portion of the user's body, said contact with the second portion of the body having a second area.