Patent ID: 11886641
Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 10:
11. A haptic device comprising:
a surface haptic display comprising a front surface;
a plurality of conductive islands disposed at a depth in close proximity to the front surface, and wherein each of the plurality of conductive islands are conductively isolated;
a first conductive trace operatively connected to the surface haptic display, wherein the first conductive trace includes a plurality of first rows;
a second conductive trace operatively connected to the surface haptic display, wherein the second conductive trace includes a plurality of second rows;
wherein the plurality of first rows of the first conductive trace and the plurality of second rows of the second conductive trace are interdigitated;
a control device configured to apply positive voltage signals to one of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace and to apply negative voltage signals to another of the first conductive trace and second conductive trace; and
wherein an attractive electrostatic force is generated on a fingertip contiguous with the front surface that increases a perceived friction force on the fingertip against movement of the fingertip parallel to the front surface when at least one of the conductive islands that is disposed in an area under the fingertip is charged via a capacitive coupling to the first conductive trace and at least another of the conductive islands that is disposed in the area under the fingertip is charged via capacitive coupling to the second conductive trace.