Method and apparatus for sensory stimulation
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a conductor configured to have a variable electrical charge that generates an attractive force between the conductor and a body member;
an insulator configured to electrically insulate the body member from the conductor; and
a controller configured to vary the attractive force generated between the conductor and the body member by controlling the variable electrical charge of the conductor in accordance with an electrical signal at a first frequency, the electrical signal having an envelope defined by at least a second frequency that is less than the first frequency of the electrical signal and that modulates the first frequency of the electrical signal.
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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
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a conductor configured to have a variable electrical charge that generates an attractive force between the conductor and a body member; an insulator configured to electrically insulate the body member from the conductor; and a controller configured to vary the attractive force generated between the conductor and the body member by controlling the variable electrical charge of the conductor in accordance with an electrical signal at a first frequency, the electrical signal having an envelope defined by at least a second frequency that is less than the first frequency of the electrical signal and that modulates the first frequency of the electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a conductor configured to have a variable electrical charge that generates an attractive force between a conductor and a body member; an insulator configured to electrically insulate the body member from the conductor; a touch-sensitive screen configured to detect that the body member touches the apparatus at a location that corresponds to a portion of the touch-sensitive screen; and a controller configured to vary the attractive force generated between the body member and the conductor at the location on the apparatus by controlling the variable electrical charge of the conductor in accordance with an electrical signal at a first frequency, the electrical signal having an envelope defined by at least a second frequency that is less than the first frequency of the electrical signal and that modulates the first frequency of the electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controlling an attractive force between a conductor and a body member that is electrically insulated from the conductor, the method comprising:
varying the attractive force between the body member and the conductor by controlling a variable electrical charge of the conductor in accordance with an electrical signal whose envelope is defined by at least a first frequency that is less than a second frequency of the electrical signal and that modulates the second frequency of the electrical signal, the variable electrical charge of the conductor generating the attractive force between a conductor and the body member. - View Dependent Claims (20)
Specification