Vibrating transducer with provision for easily differentiated multiple tactile stimulations

• US 20060270954A1
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solutions For Thought LLC
• Original Assignee: Solutions For Thought LLC
• Inventors: Tumey, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,285,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/70
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses

Abstract

A vibrating transducer includes a rigid housing; an electric motor enclosed within the rigid housing and having attached thereto an eccentric weight; and wherein the electric motor is supported within the rigid housing by a flexible motor mount. The rigid housing is preferably a cylindrically shaped tube. The flexible motor mount may be formed of a foam cushion wrapped substantially about the electric motor. A driver circuit, which may include may include a current amplifier or timing sub-circuits, may be provided for facilitating operation of the electric motor.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An apparatus for producing multiple differentiable tactile stimulations, the apparatus comprising:

an electric motor having a shaft;

a rigid housing enclosing the electric motor;

an eccentric weight attached to the electric motor shaft;

a motor mount supporting the electric motor within the rigid housing, the motor mount being adapted to enable the motor, when energized, to wobble within the rigid housing so that the eccentric weight orbits about an elliptical path; and

a driver circuit for facilitating operation of the electric motor, the driver circuit adapted to energize the motor to produce multiple, readily differentiable tactile stimulations.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the rigid housing comprises a generally cylindrically shaped tube.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a power supply for supplying power to the electric motor;

a second housing enclosing the power supply, wherein the second housing is distinct from and not in fixed relation to the rigid housing enclosing the electric motor; and

an electrical cable connecting the power supply to the electric motor.

30. A vibrating transducer for producing multiple readily differentiable tactile stimulations, the vibrating transducer comprising:

an electric motor having a shaft;

a rigid housing enclosing the electric motor;

an eccentric weight attached to the electric motor shaft; and

a foam cushion encircling the electric motor within the rigid housing, the cushion being adapted to enable the motor, when energized, to wobble within the rigid housing so that the eccentric weight orbits about an elliptical path.

31. The vibrating transducer of claim 30, wherein the rigid housing comprises a generally cylindrically shaped tube.

32. The vibrating transducer of claim 30, wherein the foam cushion is wrapped by a securing sheet.

33. The vibrating transducer of claim 30, further comprising a driver circuit for facilitating operation of the electric motor.

34. The vibrating transducer of claim 33, wherein the driver circuit comprises a plurality of timing sub-circuits.

35. The vibrating transducer of claim 34, wherein each said timing sub-circuit is adapted to operate said electric motor for a distinct period of time.

36. The vibrating transducer of claim 35, wherein:

each timing sub-circuit is activated by a trigger signal;

each trigger signal is derived from a single input signal; and

wherein the trigger signals are differentiated by filtering of the input signal.

37. The vibrating transducer of claim 36, further comprising a digital signal generator for producing the input signal.

38. The vibrating transducer of claim 37, wherein the signal generator is adapted to produce pulse trains of differing time durations.