Method and apparatus for sensory stimulation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for producing an electrosensory sensation to at least one body member to be stimulated, the apparatus comprising:
- one or more conducting electrodes, each conducting electrode being provided with an insulator wherein, when the at least one body member to be stimulated is proximate to the conducting electrode, the insulator prevents flow of direct current from the conducting electrode to the body member to be stimulated and a capacitive coupling over the insulator is formed between the conducting electrode and the at least one body member to be stimulated;
a high-voltage source for applying an electrical input to the one or more conducting electrodes, wherein the electrical input comprises a tow-frequency component in a frequency range between 10 Hz and 1000 Hz;
wherein the capacitive coupling and electrical input are dimensioned to produce an electrosensory sensation;
whereby the electrosensory sensation is produced independently of any mechanical vibration of the one or more conducting electrodes or insulators; and
wherein the apparatus further comprises circuitry for conveying information via the electrosensory sensation by modulating the electrical input according to said information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for producing an electrosensory sensation to a body member (120). The apparatus comprises one or more conducting electrodes (106), each of which is provided with an insulator (108). When the body member (120) is proximate to the conducting electrode, the insulator prevents flow of direct current from the conducting electrode to the body member. A capacitive coupling over the insulator (108) is formed between the conducting electrode (106) and the body member (120). The conducting electrodes are driven by an electrical input which comprises a low-frequency component (114) in a frequency range between 10 Hz and 500 Hz. The capacitive coupling and electrical input are dimensioned to produce an electrosensory sensation. The apparatus is capable of producing the electrosensory sensation independently of any mechanical vibration of the one or more conducting electrodes (106) or insulators (108).
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for producing an electrosensory sensation to at least one body member to be stimulated, the apparatus comprising:
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one or more conducting electrodes, each conducting electrode being provided with an insulator wherein, when the at least one body member to be stimulated is proximate to the conducting electrode, the insulator prevents flow of direct current from the conducting electrode to the body member to be stimulated and a capacitive coupling over the insulator is formed between the conducting electrode and the at least one body member to be stimulated; a high-voltage source for applying an electrical input to the one or more conducting electrodes, wherein the electrical input comprises a tow-frequency component in a frequency range between 10 Hz and 1000 Hz;
wherein the capacitive coupling and electrical input are dimensioned to produce an electrosensory sensation;whereby the electrosensory sensation is produced independently of any mechanical vibration of the one or more conducting electrodes or insulators; and wherein the apparatus further comprises circuitry for conveying information via the electrosensory sensation by modulating the electrical input according to said information.
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2. A method fir causing an electrosensory sensation to at east one body member to be stimulated, the method comprising:
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providing one or more conducting electrodes, each conducting electrode being provided with an insulator wherein, when the at least one body member to be stimulated is proximate to the conducting electrode, the insulator prevents flow of direct current from the conducting electrode to the body member to be stimulated and a capacitive coupling over the insulator is formed between the conducting electrode and the body member to be stimulated; providing a high-voltage source for applying an electrical input to the one or more conducting electrodes, wherein the electrical input comprises a low-frequency component in a frequency range between 10 Hz and 1000 Hz; wherein the capacitive coupling and electrical input are dimensioned to produce an electrosensory sensation; whereby the electrosensory sensation is produced independently of any mechanical vibration of the one or more conducting electrodes or insulators; and conveying information via the electrosensory sensation by modulating the electrical input according to said information.
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3. An apparatus comprising:
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a conductor; an insulator configured to insulate a body member from the conductor; and a controller configured to vary an electrical charge of the conductor in accordance with a first signal modulated by a second signal, the electrical charge of the conductor generating an attractive force between the body member and the conductor by capacitively coupling the body member to the conductor, the first signal controlling the attractive force between the conductor and the body member by controlling the electrical charge, the second signal varying the attractive force in intensity by modulating the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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a conductor; an insulator configured to insulate a body member from the e conductor; a touch-sensitive screen configured to detect that the body member contacts the apparatus at a location that corresponds to a portion of the touch-sensitive screen; and a controller configured to vary an electrical charge of the conductor in accordance with a first signal modulated by a second signal, the electrical charge of the conductor generating an attractive force between the body member in the conductor by capacitively coupling the body member to the conductor at the location on the apparatus, the first signal controlling the attractive force between the conductor and the body member by controlling the electrical charge, the second signal varying the attractive force in intensity by modulating the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of controlling an attractive force between a conductor and a body member electrically insulated from the conductor, the method comprising:
varying an electrical charge of the conductor in accordance with a first signal modulated by a second signal, the electrical charge of the conductor generating the attractive force between the body member and the conductor by capacitively coupling the body member to the conductor, the first signal controlling the attractive force between the conductor and the body member by controlling the electrical charge, the second signal varying the attractive force in intensity by modulating the first signal.
Specification