Tactile contact and impact displays and associated methods
First Claim
1. A tactile contact and impact display system, comprising:
- a receiver, operable to receive therein a user'"'"'s digit while leaving a target area of skin of the user'"'"'s digit at least partially exposed;
a contact pad, operable to engage the target area of the user'"'"'s skin;
an actuation system, actuatably coupled to the contact pad and being operable to move the contact pad relative to the target area of skin;
a sensor, operably coupled to the contact pad, the sensor being operable to sense a separation distance between the contact pad and the target area of the user'"'"'s digit; and
a restraining system, operable to substantially restrain the contact pad from moving in at least one degree of freedom relative to the receiver while allowing the contact pad to move in at least one degree of freedom relative to the receiver.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tactile contact and impact display system comprises a receiver, operable to receive therein a user'"'"'s digit while leaving a target area of skin of the user'"'"'s digit at least partially exposed. A contact pad is operable to engage the target area of the user'"'"'s skin. An actuation system is actuatably coupled to the contact pad and is operable to move the contact pad relative to the target area of skin. A distance sensor is coupled to the contact pad, the distance sensor being operable to sense a separation distance between the contact pad and the target area of the user'"'"'s digit. A restraining system is operable to substantially restrain the contact pad from moving in at least one degree of freedom relative to the receiver while allowing the contact pad to move in at least one degree of freedom relative to the receiver.
101 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tactile contact and impact display system, comprising:
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a receiver, operable to receive therein a user'"'"'s digit while leaving a target area of skin of the user'"'"'s digit at least partially exposed; a contact pad, operable to engage the target area of the user'"'"'s skin; an actuation system, actuatably coupled to the contact pad and being operable to move the contact pad relative to the target area of skin; a sensor, operably coupled to the contact pad, the sensor being operable to sense a separation distance between the contact pad and the target area of the user'"'"'s digit; and a restraining system, operable to substantially restrain the contact pad from moving in at least one degree of freedom relative to the receiver while allowing the contact pad to move in at least one degree of freedom relative to the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A tactile contact and impact display system, comprising:
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a receiver, operable to receive therein a user'"'"'s digit while leaving a target area of skin of the user'"'"'s digit at least partially exposed; a contact pad, operable to engage the target area of the user'"'"'s skin; an actuation system, actuatably coupled to the contact pad and being operable to move the contact pad relative to the target area of skin; a sensor, carried by the contact pad, the sensor being operable to sense a separation distance between the contact pad and the target area of the user'"'"'s digit along a movement axis; and a restraining system, operable to allow the sensor to move along the movement axis while restraining the sensor from movement in at least one other degree of freedom relative to the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of indicating tactile contact and/or impact to a user, comprising:
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restraining a digit of the user in a receiver while leaving a target area of skin of the user'"'"'s digit at least partially exposed; sensing a separation distance between the target area of skin and a contact pad of a tactile impact display; actuating the contact pad with an actuation system to drive the contact pad to a predetermined velocity prior to contacting the target area of skin of the user. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification