DESIGNING CUSTOMIZED DEFORMABLE INPUT DEVICES

Number: 20170308061
Published: 2017-10-26
Filed: 2016-04-22
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: BACHER; Moritz Niklaus, HEPP; Benjamin, PECE; Fabrizio, KRY; Paul Gregory, BICKEL; Bernd, THOMASZEWSKI; Bernhard Steffen, HILLIGES; Otmar
CPC: B29C64/118; B33Y50/00; B29C64/386; B33Y70/00; B33Y50/02; B33Y10/00; B33Y80/00; B29C64/393
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Custom 3D-printed deformable input devices with embedded piezoelectric material that detect how the user is squeezing or bending the controller to trigger different actions.

Abstract

Embodiments herein describe deformable controllers that rely on piezoelectric material embedded in the controllers to detect when the input device is being manipulated into a particular deformation or gesture. The computing system may perform different actions depending on which deformation is detected. The embodiments herein describe design techniques for optimizing the placement of the piezoelectric material in the controller to improve the accuracy of a mapping function that maps sensor responses of the material to different controller deformations. In one embodiment, the user specifies the different deformations of the controller she wishes to be recognized by the computing system (e.g., raising a leg, twisting a torso, squeezing a hand, etc.). The design optimizer uses the locations of the desired deformations to move the location of the piezoelectric material such that the sensor response of the material can be uniquely mapped to these locations.

Background

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited aspects are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of embodiments of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the appended drawings.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an input system that includes a deformable 3D controller, according to embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 is a computing system for designing a deformable 3D controller, according to embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for designing the deformable 3D controller, according to embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates different stages of designing the deformable 3D controller, according to embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for adjusting the location of piezoelectric material in the deformable 3D controller, according to embodiments described herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments herein describe deformable 3D input devices (referred to herein as controllers) that rely on piezoelectric material embedded in the controllers to detect when the controller is being manipulated into a particular deformation or gesture. For example, the piezoelectric material may be

Claims

1. A method of, comprising: receiving a design of a deformable controller; identifying a desired deformation of the controller where at least a portion of the controller changes from a first pose to a second pose; determining an initial path of piezoelectric material in the design of the controller; and adjusting, using one or morecomputing processors, the path of the piezoelectric material in the design based on comparing a goal location of the portion of the controller when performing the desired deformation to a calculated location of the portion of the controller derived using a simulated sensor response of the piezoelectric material. 8. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium for designing a deformable controller, the computer-readable storage medium comprising: computer-readable program code, when executed by a processor, operable to: receive adesign of a deformable controller; identify a desired deformation of the controller whereat least a portion of the controller changes from a first pose to a second pose; determine an initial path of piezoelectric material in the design of the controller; and adjust, using one or more computing processors, the path of the piezoelectric material in the design based on comparing a goal location of the portion of the controller when performing the desired deformation to a calculated location of the portion of the controller derived using a simulated sensor response of the piezoelectric material. 15. A computing system, comprising: one or more computing processors; a memory storing a program, wherein the program, when executed using the one or more processors, performs an operation comprising: receiving a design of a deformable controller; identifying a desired deformation of the controllerwhere at least a portion of the controller changes from a first pose to a second pose; determining an initial path of piezoelectric material in the design of the controller; and adjusting the path of the piezoelectric material in the design based on comparing a goal location of the portion of the controller when performing the desired deformation to a calculated location of the portion of the controller derived using a simulated sensor response of the piezoelectric material.