Impedance-matched vibration massager
First Claim
1. A self-excited, impedance-matched vibration massager comprising:
- (a) a contact piece to be held against an object of massaging, the contact piece having a cavity formed therein;
(b) a pressure sensor for sensing pressure variations in the cavity in the contact piece when the contact piece is held against the object, in order to ascertain the mechanical impedance of the object;
(c) a vibrator drivingly coupled to the contact piece thereby to massage the object; and
(d) an electric circuit connected between the pressure sensor and the vibrator for positively feeding back the mechanical impedance of the object to the vibrator;
(e) whereby the vibrator vibrates the contact piece to massage the object at a resonance frequency thereof.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hand-held massager capable of self-excited, impedance-matched vibration for optimal massaging of each particular body part of each particular individual. The massager includes a hollow, open-ended contact piece to which is coupled a vibrator and which is to be held against a desired body part. A pressure sensor is mounted to the contact piece for sensing pressure variations in the cavity in the contact piece while the open end thereof is held against the body part, in order to ascertain the mechanical impedance of that body part. A closed-loop, electropneumatic vibration control system makes it possible for the mechanical impedance to be fed back to the vibrator, causing the latter to make self-induced vibration. Thus the desired body part is optimally massaged at its resonance frequency.
54 Citations
6 Claims
-
1. A self-excited, impedance-matched vibration massager comprising:
-
(a) a contact piece to be held against an object of massaging, the contact piece having a cavity formed therein;
(b) a pressure sensor for sensing pressure variations in the cavity in the contact piece when the contact piece is held against the object, in order to ascertain the mechanical impedance of the object;
(c) a vibrator drivingly coupled to the contact piece thereby to massage the object; and
(d) an electric circuit connected between the pressure sensor and the vibrator for positively feeding back the mechanical impedance of the object to the vibrator;
(e) whereby the vibrator vibrates the contact piece to massage the object at a resonance frequency thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
Specification