Fluidic devices and related haptic systems and methods

Abstract

A fluidic device controls fluid flow in channel from a source to a drain. In some embodiments, the fluidic devices comprise a gate, a channel, and an obstruction. The gate comprises at least one chamber whose volume increases with fluid pressure. A high-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size and a low-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size. The obstruction controls a rate of fluid flow within the channel based on the fluid pressure in the gate. The obstruction induces at most a first flow rate of fluid in the channel in accordance with the low-pressure state of the gate, and at least a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with the high-pressure state of the gate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluidic device, comprising:
 a gate actuator including at least one chamber that is configured to change in shape upon application of a pressure;   a channel including a source and a drain; and   a T-block element including a barrier portion and an actuator portion operatively coupled to the gate actuator such that the T-block element moves between a closed position with the barrier portion at least partially blocking the channel and an open position, wherein the channel is configured to transport fluid from the source to the drain when the T-block element is in the open position and wherein transportation of the fluid from the source to the drain is inhibited when the T-block element is in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The fluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein the gate actuator is positioned between the actuator portion and the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The fluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator portion extends radially outward from the barrier portion. 
     
     
         4 . The fluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein the gate actuator is located outside of the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The fluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chamber of the gate actuator is inflatable upon application of a fluid pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The fluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chamber of the gate actuator is defined by a flexible and extensible material. 
     
     
         7 . The fluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier portion of the T-block element extends into the channel through an aperture in a channel wall forming the channel. 
     
     
         8 . The fluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein a cross section of the channel is circular, elliptical, square, or rectangular. 
     
     
         9 . The fluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein a cross section of the gate actuator is circular, elliptical, square, or rectangular. 
     
     
         10 . The fluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein the gate actuator comprises a first inflatable volume located on a first side of the barrier portion of the T-block element and a second inflatable volume located on an opposing second side of the barrier portion of the T-block element. 
     
     
         11 . The fluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein the T-block element is configured to be in the open position when the gate actuator is in a high-pressure state and to be in the closed position when the gate actuator is in a low-pressure state. 
     
     
         12 . The fluidic device of  claim 1 , wherein the drain of the channel is in fluid communication with a haptic actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The fluidic device of  claim 12 , wherein the haptic actuator is positioned on a glove. 
     
     
         14 . A haptic system, comprising:
 a wearable device configured to be worn by an intended user; and   a fluidic device configured to provide haptic feedback to the intended user through the wearable device, the fluidic device comprising:   a gate actuator including at least one chamber that is configured to change in shape upon application of a pressure;   a channel including a source and a drain; and   a T-block element including a barrier portion positioned at least partially within the channel and an actuator portion positioned outside of the channel, wherein the gate actuator is positioned to interact with the actuator portion of the T-block element such that the T-block element moves between a closed position with the barrier portion at least partially blocking the channel and an open position with the barrier portion positioned to allow flow through the channel from the source to the drain.   
     
     
         15 . The haptic system of  claim 14 , wherein the wearable device comprises a glove shaped and sized to be worn on the user's hand. 
     
     
         16 . The haptic system of  claim 14 , further comprising a controller configured to control operation of the fluidic device, wherein the controller is configured to receive instructions for haptic feedback from a head-mounted display system. 
     
     
         17 . The haptic system of  claim 14 , wherein the wearable device comprises at least one component configured to determine a physical position of the wearable device. 
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a fluidic device, the method comprising:
 positioning a barrier portion of a T-block element in a channel to selectively block fluid flow through the channel;   positioning an actuator portion of the T-block element outside of the channel;   operatively coupling a gate actuator to the actuator portion of the T-block element, wherein the gate actuator includes at least one chamber that is configured to change in shape in response to a pressure signal, such that activation of the gate actuator results in movement of the barrier portion of the T-block element between a closed position blocking the fluid flow through the channel and an open position allowing the fluid flow through the channel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein operatively coupling the gate actuator to the actuator portion of the T-block element comprises positioning at least a portion of the gate actuator between the actuator portion of the T-block element and the channel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein operatively coupling the gate actuator to the actuator portion of the T-block element comprises coupling an inflatable chamber to the actuator portion of the T-block element.