Smart material for electrostatic haptic feedback

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a smart material for providing haptic feedback, as well as haptic actuators, and suitably haptic actuation resulting from electroactive materials. Such haptic actuators are useful in structural materials, including as elements of wearables or accessories.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smart material for providing haptic feedback to a user, comprising:
 a structural material;   a conductor;   a first insulator positioned between the conductor and the structural material;   a second insulator positioned between the conductor and the user; and   a power source connected to the conductor,   wherein the haptic feedback includes an electrostatic interaction.   
     
     
         2 . The smart material of  claim 1 , wherein the structural material is a textile. 
     
     
         3 . The smart material of  claim 1 , wherein the structural material is part of a wearable. 
     
     
         4 . The smart material of  claim 1 , further comprising a second conductor positioned between the second insulator and the user. 
     
     
         5 . The smart material of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor comprises Au, Al, Ag, Cr or poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate. 
     
     
         6 . The smart material of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor has a thickness of about 1 μm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The smart material of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second insulators have a thickness of about 5-20 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The smart material of  claim 1 , wherein the user acts as a ground. 
     
     
         9 . The smart material of  claim 1 , wherein the haptic feedback is provided to both the user's body and to the user's touch. 
     
     
         10 . A method for providing haptic feedback to a user via a smart material, the method comprising:
 i. providing a smart material including,
 a structural material; 
 a conductor; 
 a first insulator positioned between the conductor and the structural material; 
 a second insulator positioned between the conductor and the user; and 
 a power source connected to the conductor; 
   ii. transmitting an activating signal to the power source; and   iii. generating an electrostatic interaction to provide haptic feedback to the user.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the structural material is a textile. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the structural material is part of a wearable. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the smart material further comprises a second conductor positioned between the second insulator and the user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the conductor comprises Au, Al, Ag, Cr or poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the conductor has a thickness of about 1 μm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second insulators have a thickness of about 5-20 μm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user's body acts as a ground. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the haptic feedback is provided to both the user's body and the user's touch.