Simulating Touch In A Virtual Environment

Abstract

In various example embodiments, a system and method for simulating touch in a virtual environment is disclosed. In one example embodiment, a system includes one or more circuits configured to receive an indicator of a sensed touch in a virtual environment and to determine, based on the indicator, an area of the sensed touch. The one or more circuits are further configured to generate a simulated touch by applying a field to one or more touch simulators, the field actuating the one or more touch simulators by linearly displacing an element of the one or more touch simulators.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving an indicator of a sensed touch in a virtual environment displayed to a user via virtual environment goggles;   determining properties of a virtual object in the virtual environment displayed to the user via the virtual environment goggles that caused the sensed touch; and   controlling an one or more touch simulators in a glove worn by the user to generate a simulated touch based at least in part on the properties of the virtual object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling further comprises applying a temperature as part of the simulated touch. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature is determined based on the properties of the virtual object. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the applying the temperature further comprises sending a current to the one or more touch simulators to heat an area of the sensed touch. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the applying the temperature further comprises powering the one or more touch simulators to cool an area of the sensed touch. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more touch simulators are disposed in an array on the glove. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more touch simulators comprise a charged micro-sphere. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the properties of the virtual object include at least one of a size, a color, dimensions, or a shape. 
     
     
         9 . A device comprising:
 a glove;   one or more touch simulators embedded in the glove; and   one or more circuits configured to:
 receive an indicator of a sensed touch in a virtual environment displayed to a user via virtual environment goggles; 
 determine properties of a virtual object in the virtual environment displayed to the user via the virtual environment goggles that caused the sensed touch; and 
 control the one or more touch simulators in a glove worn by the user to generate a simulated touch based at least in part on properties of the virtual object. 
   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to apply a temperature as part of the simulated touch. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the temperature is determined based on the properties of the virtual object. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more circuits are configured to apply the temperature by sending a current to the one or more touch simulators to heat an area of the sensed touch. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more circuits are configured to apply the temperature by powering the one or more touch simulators to cool an area of the sensed touch. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more touch simulators are disposed in an array on the glove. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more touch simulators comprise a charged micro-sphere. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the properties of the virtual object include at least one of a size, a color, dimensions, or a shape. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 virtual environment goggles;   an article of clothing with one or more touch simulators embedded in the article of clothing; and   one or more circuits configured to:
 receive an indicator of a sensed touch in a virtual environment displayed to a user via the virtual environment goggles; 
 determine properties of a virtual object in the virtual environment displayed to the user via the virtual environment goggles that caused the sensed touch; and 
 control the one or more touch simulators in the article of clothing worn by the user to generate a simulated touch based at least in part on properties of the virtual object. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the article of clothing comprises a glove. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to apply a temperature as part of the simulated touch. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more circuits are configured to apply the temperature by:
 sending a current to the one or more touch simulators to heat an area of the sensed touch; and   powering the one or more touch simulators to cool an area of the sensed touch.