Tactile stimulation apparatus having a composite section comprising a semiconducting material

• US 8,766,933 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Senseg Ltd.
• Inventors: Makinen, Ville, Linjama, Jukka, Gulzar, Zohaib
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US12/900,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20110109588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 178/18.06, 715/702
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96031 Combination of touch switch and LC display
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96062 with tactile or haptic feedback

Abstract

Embodiments of tactile stimulation apparatuses and components of such apparatuses are generally described herein. For example, in one embodiment, a tactile stimulation apparatus is provided. This tactile stimulation apparatus has a composite section comprising an insulation region and a semiconducting region that is proximate to the insulation region. This insulation region is touchable by a body member. Additionally included is a voltage source proximate to the semiconducting region. Here, the voltage source is configured to charge the semiconducting region to an electric potential, which produces an electrosensory sensation on the body member.

Claims

1. A tactile display device comprising:

a touch screen panel comprising an insulation region and a semiconducting region proximate to the insulation region, the insulation region configured to be touched by a body member, the semiconducting region configured to be charged to an electric potential that produces an electrosensory sensation on the body member; and

a voltage source proximate to the semiconducting region, the voltage source configured to charge the semiconducting region to the electric potential producing the electrosensory sensation on the body member, the semiconducting region being chargeable by the voltage source to the electric potential that produces the electrosensory sensation on the body member in less than 500 milliseconds.

2. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the insulation region comprises glass.

3. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the semiconducting region comprises a semiconductive transparent polymer.

4. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the insulation region and the semiconducting region comprise a single piece of insulation material, and wherein a portion of the insulation material is added with a dopant to change the portion of the insulation material to a semiconducting material, the portion being the semiconducting region.

5. The tactile display device of claim 4, wherein the dopant is a plurality of carbon nanotubes.

6. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the insulation region has a surface and an opposite surface, wherein the surface is configured to be touched by the body member, and wherein a layer of a semiconducting material is spread over the opposite surface, the layer being the semiconducting region.

7. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the insulation region prevents a flow of direct current from the semiconducting region to the body member and a capacitive coupling over the insulation region is formed between the semiconducting region and the body member as a result of the electric potential, wherein the capacitive coupling caused by the electric potential produces the electrosensory sensation on the body member.

8. The tactile display device of claim 1, further comprising a connector connecting the semiconducting region to the voltage source, the connector comprising a semiconducting material.

9. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the insulation region comprises a first piece of insulation material and the semiconducting region comprises a second piece of semiconducting material, and wherein the first piece is physically distinct from and is adhered to the second piece.

10. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the insulation region and the semiconducting region comprise a single piece of semiconducting material, and wherein a portion of the semiconducting material is added with a dopant to change the portion of the semiconducting material to an insulation material, the portion being the insulation region.

11. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the semiconducting region is an electrode.

12. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the semiconducting region limits flow of current to the body member to suppress an electrical shock to the body member.

13. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the voltage source is not physically connected to the semiconducting region, and wherein the voltage source generates an electric field that charges the semiconducting region to the electric potential.

14. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the voltage source is configured to charge the semiconducting region to an electric potential in less than 200 milliseconds.

15. The tactile display device of claim 1, further comprising a different composite section configured to be touched by a different body member, wherein the different composite section is connected to the voltage source and is a grounding connection that decreases a potential difference between a reference potential of the tactile stimulation apparatus and the different body member.

16. The tactile display device of claim 15, wherein the different composite section comprises a conductive region, a different semiconducting region, and a different insulation region disposed between the conductive region and the different semiconducting region, wherein the different semiconducting region has a surface that is configured to be touched by the different body member, and wherein the conductive region is connected to the voltage source.

17. The tactile display device of claim 15, wherein the different composite section comprises a first semiconducting region, a second semiconducting region, and a different insulation region disposed between the first and second semiconducting regions, wherein the first semiconducting region has a surface that is configured to be touched by the different body member, and wherein the second semiconducting region is connected to the voltage source.

18. The tactile display device of claim 15, wherein the different composite section comprises a different semiconducting region and a different insulation region proximate to the different semiconducting region, wherein the different insulation region has a surface that is configured to be touched by the different body member, and wherein the different semiconducting region is connected to the voltage source.

19. The tactile display device of claim 1, wherein the touch screen panel further comprises a touch detection region configured to detect a touch by the body member, and the semiconducting region is configured to function as an insulator of the touch detection region.

20. The tactile display device of claim 19, wherein the touch detection region is configured to operate at levels of voltage and electrical current at which the semiconducting region functions as the insulator of the touch detection region;

and the semiconducting region is configured to operate at levels of voltage and electrical current at which the semiconducting region functions as a conductor that is chargeable to the electric potential.