Using vortices to provide tactile sensations corresponding to a visual presentation

摘要

To convey tactile sensations over an open space, a system may use a vortex generator to direct one or more vortices at an object in 3-D space. Once a vortex strikes an object—e.g., a user's hand—it applies a force. The vortex generator can control the frequency and intensity of the vortices in order to provide different tactile sensations that correspond to virtual objects or events in a visual presentation. The system may identify and track objects in the real-world environment, and based on information provided by a device displaying the visual presentation, transmit instructions to the vortex generator to discharge vortices that convey a tactile sensation corresponding to the virtual object or event in the visual presentation. By doing so, the vortices augment the real-world environment to immerse the user in the visual presentation.

主权项

1. A method for augmenting reality based on a visual presentation, the method comprising:
identifying the location of a physical object based on data captured from a sensing device; orienting a vortex generator based on the identified location of the physical object; determining a tactile sensation corresponding to at least one of a virtual object in the visual presentation and an event in the visual presentation; selecting a predefined pattern of sequential vortices for conveying the tactile sensation upon striking the physical object, the predefined pattern defining one or more frequencies for discharging the sequential vortices and one or more intensities of the sequential vortices; and after orienting the vortex generator, discharging the sequential vortices from the vortex generator using the predefined pattern.