Vibrating haptic device for the blind

• US 10,371,544 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wearworks, Co.
• Original Assignee: Wearworks, Co.
• Inventors: Yoo, Kevin, Kirkland, Keith, Wang, Yangyang
• Primary Examiner(s): Murillo Garcia, Fabricio R
• Application Number:
  US15/807,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20180321056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/08 Devices or methods enabling eye-patients to replace direct visual perception by another kind of perception
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/063 with tactile perception
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3652 Guidance using non-audiovisual output, e.g. tactile, haptic or electric stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

A device and system for aiding in navigation. The system includes a vibrating haptic device, including a printed circuit board configured to determine a geographic position of a user, a battery, one or more isolation pads, and a plurality of actuators, and a mobile electronic device coupled to the vibrating haptic device, wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to analyze data gathered by the vibrating haptic device and determine a geographic position and angle of a user.

Claims

1. A wearable device for aiding in navigation, comprising:

a vibrating haptic device configured to connect to a unique algorithm for non-visual and non-audial navigation, wherein the unique algorithm makes the vibrating haptic device change haptic patterns based on an activity of a user wearing the wearable device such that the user is directed to follow directions for arriving to a point of interest, the vibrating haptic device further including;

a printed circuit board,

wherein the printed circuit board includes a geolocation tracking system and is configured to determine coordinates of the user;

a battery;

one or more isolation pads;

a plurality of actuators comprising a combination of a 3-in-1 linear resonating mass system so that each actuator of the plurality of actuators is configured to create seven distinct frequencies to provide a tactile frequency range of a speaker while minimizing power consumption; and

an enclosure configured to house the printed circuit board, the battery, the one or more isolation pads, and the plurality of actuators,

wherein the enclosure is further configured to be secured to a wrist of the user.

2. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board.

3. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a strap for coupling the device to the user.

4. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

5. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the isolation pads are configured to mechanically separate the actuators.

6. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the geolocation tracking system is a radionavigation system.

7. The wearable device as recited in claim 6, wherein the radionavigation system includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) transceiver.

8. A system for aiding in navigation, comprising:

a vibrating haptic device configured to connect to a unique algorithm for non-visual and non-audial navigation, wherein the unique algorithm makes the vibrating haptic device change haptic patterns based on an activity of a user wearing the wearable device such that the user is directed to follow directions for arriving to a point of interest, the vibrating haptic device further, including;

a printed circuit board,

wherein the printed circuit board includes a geolocation tracking system and is configured to gather data pertaining to coordinates of the user;

a battery;

one or more isolation pads; and

a plurality of actuators comprising a combination of a 3-in-1 linear resonating mass system so that each actuator of the plurality of actuators is configured to create seven distinct frequencies to provide a tactile frequency range of a speaker while minimizing power consumption; and

a mobile electronic device coupled to the vibrating haptic device,

wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to analyze data gathered by the vibrating haptic device and determine the geographic position of the user and an angle of the user.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, further comprising an enclosure configured to house the printed circuit board, the battery, the one or more isolation pads, and the plurality of actuators.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the printed circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board.

11. The system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a strap for coupling the vibrating haptic device to the user.

12. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

13. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the isolation pads are configured to mechanically separate the actuators.

14. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of actuators are selected from the group consisting of:

piezoelectric actuators;

eccentric rotating mass actuators;

linear resonant actuators; and

bone conduction speakers.

15. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the geolocation tracking system is a radionavigation system.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the radionavigation system includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) transceiver.