Tactile feedback man-machine interface device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing a tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state signal, said apparatus comprising at least one vibrotactile unit, wherein each unit comprises:
- means for generating said variable state signal;
a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft;
fastening means for holding said mass-moving actuator in relation to said sensing body part for transmitting vibrations to said sensing body part; and
a signal processor for receiving and interpreting said state signal to produce an activating signal and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for activating said mass-moving actuator to produce a variable tactile sensation in relation to said variable state signal as a result of varying the frequency and amplitude of said vibration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A man-machine interface which provides tactile feedback to various sensing body parts is disclosed. The device employs one or more vibrotactile units, where each unit comprises a mass and a mass-moving actuator. As the mass is accelerated by the mass-moving actuator, the entire vibrotactile unit vibrates. Thus, the vibrotactile unit transmits a vibratory stimulus to the sensing body part to which it is affixed. The vibrotactile unit may be used in conjunction with a spatial placement sensing device which measures the spatial placement of a measured body part. A computing device uses the spatial placement of the measured body part to determine the desired vibratory stimulus to be provided by the vibrotactile unit. In this manner, the computing device may control the level of vibratory feedback perceived by the corresponding sensing body part in response to the motion of the measured body part. The sensing body part and the measured body part may be separate or the same body part.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing a tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state signal, said apparatus comprising at least one vibrotactile unit, wherein each unit comprises:
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means for generating said variable state signal; a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft; fastening means for holding said mass-moving actuator in relation to said sensing body part for transmitting vibrations to said sensing body part; and a signal processor for receiving and interpreting said state signal to produce an activating signal and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for activating said mass-moving actuator to produce a variable tactile sensation in relation to said variable state signal as a result of varying the frequency and amplitude of said vibration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for providing a tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state of a measured body part, said apparatus comprising at least one vibrotactile unit, wherein each unit comprises:
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a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft; and fastening means for holding said mass-moving actuator in relation to said sensing body part for transmitting vibrations to said sensing body part; wherein said apparatus further comprises; a state sensor for measuring the variable state of said measured body part and generating a state signal in relation to said variable state; and a signal processor for receiving said state signal to produce an activating signal and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for activating said mass-moving actuator to produce a variable tactile sensation in relation to said variable state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for providing a complex tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state signal, said apparatus comprising at least one vibrotactile unit, wherein each unit comprises:
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a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft; and fastening means for holding said mass-moving actuator in relation to said sensing body part for transmitting vibrations to said sensing body part; wherein said apparatus further comprises a signal processor for interpreting said state signal to produce an activating signal and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for activating said mass-moving actuator to produce a variable complex tactile sensation in relation to said variable state signal. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method for providing a tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a variable state signal, employing an apparatus comprising a vibrotactile unit, wherein said vibrotactile unit comprises:
a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft;
said method comprising;mounting said vibrotactile unit on a sensing body part; producing said variable state signal in relation to a variable condition; interpreting said state signal to produce an activating signal; and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for varying the rotation of said shaft to provide a tactile sensation to said sensing body part, said tactile sensation relating to said state signal as a result of varying the frequency and amplitude of vibration of said mass-moving actuator. - View Dependent Claims (24)
Specification