Bistable haptic feedback generator

Abstract

This disclosure relates to haptic feedback generators, including bistable materials for providing haptic feedback to a user. Such haptic feedback generators are useful in structural materials, such as elements of wearables or accessories.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a carrier having a hollow cavity;   a multistable material hinge attached to the carrier, the multistable material hinge positioned over the hollow cavity and configured in a first stable configuration that is a flat position relative to the carrier; and   a substrate associated with the multistable material hinge that, when contacted, causes the multistable material hinge to move from the first stable configuration to a second stable configuration that is extended into the hollow cavity or raised away from the hollow cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multistable material hinge is configured to move from the second stable configuration to the first stable configuration when the substrate is not contacted. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second stable configuration is extended into the hollow cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second stable configuration is raised away from the hollow cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second stable configurations are oriented about 90° to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multistable material hinge is a tristable material hinge having a third stable configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second stable configuration is extended into the hollow cavity, and the third stable configuration is raised away from the hollow cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second stable configuration is raised away from the hollow cavity, and the third stable configuration is extended into the hollow cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the tristable material hinge is configured to move from the second stable configuration to the third stable configuration when the substrate is not contacted. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pillar having a first end attached to the multistable material hinge and a second end attached to the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the multistable material hinge is fixedly attached or attached through a mechanical rotatable means to the pillar. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of hollow cavities, each hollow cavity having a multistable material hinge positioned over the hollow cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is associated with each of the plurality of multistable material hinges. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of multistable material hinges comprises a pillar having a first end attached thereto and a second end attached to the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is part of a wearable, a personal accessory, or a luggage. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the system is part of a textile. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the system is part of a phone case. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multistable material hinge comprises carbon fibers embedded in a polymer matrix. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multistable material hinge is a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) or a shape memory polymer (SMP). 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a touchpad.