HAPTIC COMMUNICATION

• US 20120062371A1
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Radivojevic, Zoran, Andrew, Piers, Saunamaki, Jarkko, Jokinen, Tapani
• Granted Patent: US 8,766,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20

Abstract

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises: a material attachable to skin, the material capable of detecting a magnetic field and transferring a perceivable stimulus to the skin, wherein the perceivable stimulus relates to the magnetic field.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a material attachable to skin, the material capable of detecting a magnetic field and transferring a perceivable stimulus to the skin, wherein the perceivable stimulus relates to the magnetic field.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material comprises at least one of a visible image, invisible image, invisible tattoo, visible tattoo, visible marking, invisible marking, visible marker, visible sign, invisible sign, visible label, invisible label, visible symbol, invisible symbol, visible badge and invisible badge.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the perceivable stimulus comprises vibration.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field originates from an electronic device and relates to digital content stored in the electronic device.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the perceivable stimulus is related to the magnetic field.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the perceivable stimulus relates to a time variation of at least one of a magnetic field pulse, height, width and period.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field originates from a remote source.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the perceivable stimulus relates to digital content of the remote source.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the digital content is at least one of a user operation, telecommunications message and communications indication.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, where the material comprises ferromagnetic powder.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the skin is human skin.

12. An electronic device configured to generate a magnetic field, the magnetic field having at least one characteristic related to digital content stored on the electronic device.

13. An electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one characteristic of the magnetic field is controllable by the electronic device.

14. An electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one characteristic is related to digital content of the electronic device, the digital content comprising at least one of an indication of an alert of a message, indication of an incoming call, indication of a body part in proximity of the electronic device, indication of information displayed on the electronic device, indication of a launch of an application and indication of at least a portion of a displayed image.

15. An electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the magnetic field comprises characteristics related to the digital content of the electronic device, and wherein the perceivable stimulus is related to the digital content of the electronic device.

16. An electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the magnetic field is configured to be directed to a material attached to skin.

17. An electronic device according to claim 12, comprising at least one electromagnetic coil capable of generating the magnetic field.

18. A method comprising:

detecting a magnetic field using a material attached to skin; and

causing a perceivable stimulus to the skin by magnetically manipulating the material.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the skin is human skin.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the material is attached to skin using at least one of stamping a ferromagnetic pattern, spraying the ferromagnetic pattern, attaching adhesive tape comprising the ferromagnetic pattern, apply a decal comprising the ferromagnetic pattern, tattooing the ferromagnetic pattern and drawing the ferromagnetic pattern.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein the perceivable stimulus relates to digital content of an electronic device.