CONTROLLING A USER'S TACTILE PERCEPTION IN A DYNAMIC PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- generating an electrical signal in a first electrical path, the electrical signal causing a user to perceive a tactile sensation as a contact surface of the first electrical path is urged by the user along a surface of the object;
measuring a current of the electrical signal; and
adjusting at least one characteristic of the electrical signal based on the measured current to generate a predetermined tactile sensation at the appendage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To maintain consistency in different environments with different impedances, a high voltage current driver may be used as a signal generator to output a tactile signal with a constant current. The constant current ensures that the voltage between the user'"'"'s finger and the object'"'"'s surface or electrode remains the same even if impedances in the electrical path change. Specifically, the current driver includes a current sensing circuit that determines the average current being generated. Using a feedback loop, the measured current is compared to a reference current to determine if the correct tactile sensation is perceived by the user. As the impedance changes, the current driver detects the resulting change in the signal'"'"'s current and adjusts the voltage amplitude of the generated tactile signal in order to match the measured current to the reference current.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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generating an electrical signal in a first electrical path, the electrical signal causing a user to perceive a tactile sensation as a contact surface of the first electrical path is urged by the user along a surface of the object; measuring a current of the electrical signal; and adjusting at least one characteristic of the electrical signal based on the measured current to generate a predetermined tactile sensation at the appendage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A signal generator, comprising:
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a tactile signal module configured to generate an electrical signal in a electrical path, the electrical signal causing a user to perceive a tactile sensation as a contact surface of the electrical path is urged by the user along a surface of the object; a current sensing circuit configured to measure a current of the electrical signal; and a feedback loop configured to transmit the measured current to the tactile signal module, wherein the tactile signal module is configured to adjust at least one characteristic of the electrical signal based on the measured current to generate a predetermined tactile sensation at the user. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system, comprising:
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a first object; and a first signal generator configured to generate a first electrical signal in a first electrical path, the first electrical signal causing a first user to perceive a tactile sensation as a first contact surface of the first electrical path is urged by the first user along a surface of the first object, wherein the first signal generator is configured to measure a current of the first electrical signal, wherein the first signal generator is configured to transmit the measured current to the tactile signal module, and wherein the tactile signal module is configured to adjust at least one characteristic of the first electrical signal based on the measured current to generate a predetermined tactile sensation at the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A signal generator, comprising:
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a tactile signal component configured to generate an electrical signal indicative of a tactile characteristic of an object, wherein an electrical path including the tactile signal component and the object exhibits impedance variations; and a compensation component configured to adjust the electrical signal to compensate for the impedance variations to produce a compensated electrical signal, wherein the compensated electrical signal is coupled to a user such that the compensated electrical signal causes the user to perceive a substantially consistent tactile sensation during the exhibited impedance variations.
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Specification