Tactile presentation of information

• US 9,390,676 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nieves, Johnny
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Tony N
• Application Number:
  US13/238,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/105 Skin implants, e.g. artificial skin
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/004 Details of particular tactile cells, e.g. electro-mechanical or mechanical layout
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/02 Composition of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0452 Details of colour pixel setup, e.g. pixel composed of a red, a blue and two green components
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0469 Details of the physics of pixel operation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/027 Details of drivers for data electrodes, the drivers handling digital grey scale data, e.g. use of D/A converters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0272 Details of drivers for data electrodes, the drivers communicating data to the pixels by means of a current
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/02 Networking aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2003 Display of colours specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/38 using electrochromic devices

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a device and system for providing information to a user in a tactile form. In one embodiment, the invention provides a device for providing information to a user, the device comprising: a plurality of individually-addressable cells, each cell including an electrically-active material capable of changing shape and/or position in response to an electrical current; a electrical network connected to, and capable of delivering the electrical current to, each of the plurality of individually-addressable cells; a membrane atop the plurality of individually-addressable cells, onto which the change in shape and/or position of the electrically-active material in each cell may be transferred; and a receiver for receiving information capable of tactile presentation to a user using the plurality of individually-addressable cells.

Claims

1. A device for providing information to a user, the device comprising:

a plurality of individually-addressable cells, each cell including an electrically-active material capable of changing shape and/or position in response to an electrical current;

a electrical network connected to, and capable of delivering the electrical current to, each of the plurality of individually-addressable cells;

a membrane atop the plurality of individually-addressable cells and in contact with the electrically-active material, onto which the change in shape and/or position of the electrically-active material in each cell may be transferred; and

a receiver for receiving information capable of tactile presentation to a user using the plurality of individually-addressable cells,

wherein each of the plurality of individually-addressable cells is independently capable of a range of changes in shape and/or position, such that the membrane may adopt a cross-sectional shape having a plurality of heights, the plurality of heights including a first height equal to an unraised surface of the membrane, a second height a first distance above the unraised surface of the membrane, and a third height a second distance above the unraised surface of the membrane, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and

wherein each of the individually-addressable cells is encased in a fluid support material within the substrate.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of individually-addressable cells is arranged in an array.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of individually-addressable cells is capable of presenting the information in a Braille system.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of individually-addressable cells is capable of presenting the information as a navigational symbol.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein each cell further includes an oil.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrically-active material includes an alloy of samarium and cobalt.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane includes a silicone material.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) component for determining a position of the device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is capable of receiving information in at least one format selected from a group consisting of:

a text message, an electronic mail message, a voicemail message, and a navigational instruction.

10. A system for providing information to a user, the system comprising:

a device including;

a plurality of individually-addressable cells, each cell including an electrically-active material capable of changing shape and/or position in response to an electrical current;

a electrical network connected to, and capable of delivering the electrical current to, each of the plurality of individually-addressable cells;

a membrane atop the plurality of individually-addressable cells and in contact with the electrically-active material, onto which the change in shape and/or position of the electrically-active material in each cell may be transferred; and

a receiver for receiving information capable of tactile presentation to a user using the plurality of individually-addressable cells; and

a transmitter for transmitting to the device the information capable of tactile presentation,

wherein each of the plurality of individually-addressable cells is independently capable of a range of changes in shape and/or position, such that the membrane may adopt a cross-sectional shape having a plurality of heights, the plurality of heights including a first height equal to an unraised surface of the membrane, a second height a first distance above the unraised surface of the membrane, and a third height a second distance above the unraised surface of the membrane, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and

wherein each of the individually-addressable cells is encased in a fluid support material within the substrate.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter is selected from a group consisting of:

a cellular telephone system transmitter, an electronic mail delivery system, a radio transmitter, and an Internet service provider (ISP) transmitter.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter includes a GPS transmitter.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of individually-addressable cells is capable of presenting the information in a Braille system.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of individually-addressable cells is capable of presenting the information as a navigational symbol.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the electrically-active material includes an alloy of samarium and cobalt.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the membrane includes a silicone material.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the receiver is capable of receiving information in at least one format selected from a group consisting of:

a text message, an electronic mail message, a voicemail message, and a navigational instruction.

18. A device for providing information to a user, the device comprising:

a plurality of individually-addressable cells, each cell including an electrically-active oil capable of changing shape in response to an electrical current; and

a membrane directly atop the plurality of individually-addressable cells and in contact with the electrically-active oil, onto a first surface adjacent the plurality of individually-addressable cells the change in shape of the electrically-active oil in each cell may be transferred and onto a second surface opposite the first surface the change in shape of the electrically-active oil is displayed,

wherein each of the individually-addressable cells is encased in a fluid support material within the substrate.