Immersion Corporation
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING RESISTIVE FEEDBACK

Abstract:

A flexible user interface device comprising a flexible body, a flex sensor, and a control unit is presented. The flex sensor is configured to sense the flexible body receiving an external flexing force. The control unit is configured to detect the flexible body receiving the external flexing force, to determine whether to generate resistive feedback that resists the external flexing force, and to cause the flexible body to increase in stiffness so as to resist the external flexing force. The stiffness is increased via an air sac, a layer of actuatable material such as a macrofiber composite material, electrostatic adhesion, electromagnetic attraction, micro-wedges, or in some other manner.