Vibro-tactile alert and massaging system having directionally oriented stimuli

• US 20020145512A1
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alton B. Otis Jr, Charles G. Sleichter III, Gayle B. Gerth, Stanley Cutler, Taylor Chau
• Original Assignee: Alton B. Otis Jr, Charles G. Sleichter III, Gayle B. Gerth, Stanley Cutler, Taylor Chau
• Inventors: Sleichter, Charles G. III, Otis, Alton B. Jr., Gerth, Gayle B., Chau, Taylor, Cutler, Stanley
• Application Number:
  US10/092,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145512A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2023/0272 multiple masses each rotated by an individual motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/56 Heating or ventilating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/981 Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A vibro-tactile cutaneous alert stimulation and massaging system for equipment such as a vehicle includes a pad, a heater element, and motorized vibrators in respective regions of the pad; a plurality of vibratory transducers for location relative to plural zones of the seat; a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface; an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor in response to operator input; and a driver circuit responsive to the output interface for producing the power signal separately for each of the transducers. The controller responds to the input elements to activate the transducers in: a massaging mode and an alert mode producing a predetermined sequence of vibro-tactile cutaneous alert stimulation cycles. Additional transducers can be spaced along a restraining seat belt for imparting directionally oriented stimuli warning of an impending collision.

Claims

1. A tactile alert system for an occupant support structure, comprising:

(a) a plurality of vibratory transducers for location in plural zones of the support structure, wherein the support structure includes a pad for contacting a portion of the occupant, at least some of the vibratory transducers being imbedded in the pad;

(b) a seat belt for restraining the occupant, wherein at least some of the vibratory transducers are supportable outside of the pad in longitudinally spaced relation proximate the seat belt;

(c) a driver circuit for powering each of the transducers in response to a corresponding drive signal; and

(d) a controller responsive to external conditions for selectively activating the drive signals in a predetermined sequence of alert stimulation cycles of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating muscle groups of an occupant of the structure, successive alert stimulation cycles differing in at least one of intensity, frequency, and transducers activated, thereby to alert the occupant of the particular condition and to improve the occupant'"'"'s alertness.