Tactile communication device and method

• US 5,719,561 A
• Filed: 10/25/1995
• Issued: 02/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbert Rene Gonzales
• Original Assignee: Gilbert R Gonzales
• Inventors: Gonzales, Gilbert Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/548,003
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.19, 340/825.46, 340/407.1
• US Class Current: 340/7.51
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is for use in tactile communications adaptable by anyone able to recognize messages written in a language known to them. The present invention uses a series of sequentially firing vibromechanical stimulators vibrating against the skin or other suitably tactile sensitive area of the wearer. The vibromechanical stimulators are arranged in a substantially two dimensional array over the skin and are then triggered individually and in sequence, following a set of patterns representative of the symbols in the language recognizable to the wearer to tactually convey the message. The wearer cognitively perceives the tactual stimulation as a line or lines drawn on the skin or suitably tactile sensitive area that resemble the symbols used to communicate between the message sender and the wearer.

Claims

1. A tactile communications device, worn by a human, for receiving and converting a communications data stream into a message cognitively perceptible to the human, the device comprising:

(a) a housing including a face surface have a substantially two dimensional surface abuttably positionable over a surface of the wearer suitable to sense to tactual stimulation, the face surface including a plurality of apertures, the apertures disposed in a pattern over the face surface of the housing;

(b) an electrical power source mountable within the housing;

(c) a tactile stimulator array mountable within the housing having a plurality of vibromechanical stimulators positionable over the plurality of apertures and having each vibromechanical stimulator associated with one of the apertures, the vibromechanical stimulators having a tactile effector suitable for protruding through the associated aperture and impinging the surface of the wearer when the vibromechanical stimulator is electrically energized, each vibromechanical stimulator being electrically connected to the electrical power source; and

(d) control means, electrically connected to the electrical power source and the tactile stimulator array, for independently and sequentially controlling each vibromechanical stimulator stimulate, using one vibromechanical stimulator at a time, to tactually stimulate the surface of the wearer in a symbol pattern equivalent to the received communications data stream;

so that the received communications data stream is converted to a tactile symbol pattern on the surface of the wearer that is a cognitively recognizable message equivalent to the received communications data stream.

2. The tactile communications device of claim 1 in which the control means comprises a receiving means for electronically receiving a communications data stream.

3. The tactile communications device of claim 2 in which the receiving means comprises a radio receiver.

4. The tactile communications device of claim 2 in which the receiving means comprises an ultrasonic receiver.

5. The tactile communications device of claim 2 in which the receiving means comprises an infrared receiver.

6. The tactile communications device of claim 2 in which the receiving means comprises an interface suitable for inputting a communications data stream from a computer.

7. The tactile communications device of claim 1 further comprising a timekeeping module suitable for inputting a date and time communications data stream to the control means.

8. The tactile communications device of claim 2 in which the control means comprises a pattern storage means for storing symbol pattern data.

9. The tactile communications device of claim 2 in which the receiving means comprises a data input module for inputting programming and symbol pattern data.

10. A tactile communications device, worn by a human, for receiving and converting a communications data stream into a message cognitively perceptible to the human, the device comprising:

(a) a housing including a face surface have a substantially two dimensional surface abuttably positionable over a surface of the wearer suitable to sense to tactual stimulation, the face surface including a plurality of apertures, the apertures disposed in a pattern over the face surface of the housing;

(b) an electrical power source mountable within the housing;

(c) a tactile stimulator array mountable within the housing having a plurality of vibromechanical stimulators positionable over the plurality of apertures and having each vibromechanical stimulator associated with one of the apertures, the vibromechanical stimulators having a tactile effector suitable for protruding through the associated aperture and impinging the surface of the wearer when the vibromechanical stimulator is electrically energized, each vibromechanical stimulator being electrically connected to the electrical power source; and

(d) control means, electrically connected to the electrical power source and the tactile stimulator array, for independently and sequentially controlling each vibromechanical stimulator, the control means including;

(d1) receiving means for electronically receiving a sequence of symbols in a digital communications data stream;

(d2) analog pattern storage means for storing a set of analog symbols as a pattern sequence of turning on and off at least one vibromechanical stimulator of the plurality of vibromechanical stimulators corresponding to each analog symbol stored; and

(d3) conversions means for converting the received sequence of symbols in the digital communications data stream into an analog symbol data stream according to the corresponding analog symbol pattern;

wherein for each symbol within the analog data stream, beginning with the first symbol, the corresponding analog symbol pattern is used to turn on and off a sequence of vibromechanical stimulators, one vibromechanical stimulator at a time, following the pattern sequence for each symbol converted from the digital communications data stream so that the received digital communications data stream is converted to a tactile pattern on the surface of the wearer that is a cognitively recognizable message equivalent to the received digital communications data stream.

11. The device of claim 10 in which the housing is attachable to an appendage of the human.

12. The device of claim 10 in which the housing is attachable to a surface suitable for gripping by the human.

13. The device of claim 10 in which the housing is abuttably positionable over a suitably tactile sensitive mucus membrane of the human.

14. The device of claim 10 in which the plurality of vibromechanical stimulators comprises a plurality of electromechanical solenoids.

15. The device of claim 10 in which the plurality of vibromechanical stimulators comprises a plurality of rods of piezoelectric material.

16. The device of claim 10 in which the plurality of vibromechanical stimulators comprises a plurality of rods of bimorphic ceramic material.

17. The device of claim 10 in which the plurality of vibromechanical stimulators comprises at least 18 vibromechanical stimulators.

18. A tactile communications method for receiving and converting a communications data stream into a message tactually perceptible to a human, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a housing to the human, the housing including an electrical power source;

(b) mounting a tactile stimulator array within the attachment housing having a plurality of electromechanical vibromechanical stimulators in a substantially two dimensional array;

(c) positioning the tactile stimulator array abuttably over a surface area of the skin of the human;

(d) connecting the plurality of vibromechanical stimulators electrically to the electrical power source; and

(e) providing a control means, electrically connected to the electrical power source and the tactile stimulator array, for independently and sequentially controlling each vibromechanical stimulator, the control means including the steps of;

(e1) storing an analog pattern for each alphanumeric symbol for pattern sequencing of turning on and off at least one vibromechanical stimulator of the plurality of vibromechanical stimulators corresponding to each alphanumeric symbol stored;

(e2) receiving electronically a digital alphanumeric data stream;

(e3) converting the received digital alphanumeric data stream into an analog alphanumeric data stream according to the corresponding analog pattern; and

(e4) turning on and off a sequence of vibromechanical stimulators, one vibromechanical stimulator at a time, according to the corresponding stored analog pattern for each alphanumeric datum within the analog data stream, beginning with the first alphanumeric datum;

such that the sequence of vibrating stimulators stimulating the skin tactually is perceived cognitively by the human as the communications message.

19. A method of communication having an electromechanical stimulator array abuttably positionable over the skin of a wearer, the array having a plurality of vibromechanical stimulators disposed substantially in a two dimensional configuration, for tactually conveying a communications data stream of symbols to the wearer, the tactually conveyed symbols being cognitively recognizable to the wearer, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a set of vibromechanical stimulator sequence patterns in a memory module, each sequence pattern representing an equivalent symbol recognizable to the wearer;

receiving a communications data stream;

comparing the received communications data stream symbols to the set of vibromechanical stimulator sequence patterns for each symbol conveyed in the communications data stream; and

sequentially triggering, one vibromechanical stimulator at a time, the appropriate vibromechanical stimulator sequence pattern for each symbol contained in the received communications data stream;

so that the wearer cognitively perceives a sequence of symbols representative of the received communications data stream and tactually conveyed to the wearer by vibromechanically stimulating the wearer'"'"'s skin.

20. A tactile stimulating device suitable for use adjacent a suitably sensate surface of a human, the device comprising:

a tactile stimulator array including a plurality of vibromechanical stimulators positionable proximate the suitably sensate surface, the vibromechanical stimulators having a tactile effector suitable for impinging the suitably sensate surface; and

means for independently and sequentially controlling each vibromechanical stimulator one at a time so as to only trigger one vibromechanical stimulator at a time, sequentially following a pattern sequence of triggering one and then a next vibromechanical stimulator in the pattern, tactually stimulating the suitably sensate surface of the human.

21. The device of claim 20 further comprising means for suitably attaching the array to an appendage of the human.

22. The device of claim 20 further comprising means for suitably attaching the array to a surface suitable for grasping by the human.

23. The device of claim 20 in which the suitably sensate surface includes a suitably tactile sensitive mucus membrane of the human.

24. The device of claim 20 in which the plurality of vibromechanical stimulators comprises a plurality of electromechanical solenoids.

25. The device of claim 20 in which the plurality of vibromechanical stimulators comprises a plurality of rods of piezoelectric material.

26. The device of claim 20 in which the plurality of vibromechanical stimulators comprises a plurality of rods of bimorphic ceramic material.

27. The device of claim 20 in which the plurality of vibromechanical stimulators comprises at least 18 vibromechanical stimulators.