Systems and methods for rendering immersive environments

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems for rendering an immersive environment, the systems comprising at least one electronic device configured to be coupled to a body part of a user, the at least one electronic device comprising a sensor, an actuator, or both; a processor capable of being communicatively coupled to the at least one electronic device; and a rendering device capable of being communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to execute machine-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to obtain data from or provide data to the at least one electronic device. The rendering device is configured to receive rendering information from the processor, and render the immersive environment based at least in part on the rendering information from the processor.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for rendering an immersive environment, the system comprising:
 at least one electronic device configured to be coupled to a body part of a user, the at least one electronic device comprising at least one of a sensor or an actuator;   a processor capable of being communicatively coupled to the at least one electronic device; and   a rendering device capable of being communicatively coupled to the processor,   
       wherein:
 the processor is configured to execute machine-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 obtain data from or provide data to the at least one electronic device, and the rendering device is configured to: 
 receive rendering information from the processor, and 
 render the immersive environment based at least in part on the rendering information from the processor. 
 
 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the immersive environment is an augmented-reality, virtual-reality, enhanced-reality, or immersive-reality environment. 
     
     
         3 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the immersive environment comprises a virtual peripheral. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the virtual peripheral comprises a keyboard, a menu, or a mouse. 
     
     
         10 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the body part is a hand, a foot, an arm, a leg, a head, or a neck. 
     
     
         16 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic device comprises the sensor, and wherein the sensor is a tactile sensor. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the data represents a characteristic of an object in contact with the sensor,   the at least one electronic device is further configured to provide the data to the processor, and   the rendering information is based at least in part on the data.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the characteristic comprises a texture, a resistance, a temperature, a hardness, a pressure, a density, a coefficient of friction, or a viscosity. 
     
     
         34 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic device comprises the sensor, and wherein the sensor is a force sensor or a haptic sensor. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the data represents a characteristic of an object in contact with the sensor,   the at least one electronic device is further configured to provide the data to the processor, and   the rendering information is based at least in part on the data.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the characteristic comprises a texture, a resistance, a temperature, a hardness, a pressure, a density, a coefficient of friction, or a viscosity. 
     
     
         39 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one electronic device comprises a first sensor,   the at least one electronic device is further configured to provide the data to the processor,   the data represents a characteristic of a first object in contact with the first sensor, and   when executed by the processor, the machine-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
 obtain, from memory, information representing an aspect of a second object previously in contact with the first sensor or a second sensor, and 
 compare, based on (a) the data provided by the at least one electronic device and (b) the information representing the aspect of the second object previously in contact with the first sensor or the second sensor, the first object in contact with the first sensor to the second object previously in contact with the first sensor or the second sensor. 
   
     
     
         56 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic device comprises the actuator. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an electric actuator, a thermal actuator, a magnetic actuator, or a mechanical actuator. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator, a piezoceramic actuator, a dielectric elastomer actuator, a polyvinylidene fluoride actuator, an electrostatic actuator, a microelectromechanical (MEMS) actuator, or a magnetorheological actuator. 
     
     
         63 - 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein:
 the at least one electronic device is further configured to receive the data from the processor,   the machine-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide the data to the at least one electronic device, and   the actuator is configured to restrict movement of the body part based at least in part on the data received from the processor.   
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 65 , further comprising an exoskeleton comprising the actuator. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein:
 the at least one electronic device is further configured to receive the data from the processor,   the machine-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide the data to the at least one electronic device, and   the actuator is configured to cause movement of the body part based at least in part on the data received from the processor.   
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 67 , further comprising an exoskeleton comprising the actuator. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein:
 the at least one electronic device is further configured to receive the data from the processor,   the machine-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide the data to the at least one electronic device, and   the actuator is configured to emulate a sensation in the body part based at least in part on the data received from the processor.   
     
     
         70 - 272 . (canceled)