Haptic information providing system for providing various tactile signals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a haptic information providing system for providing various tactile signals that provide more precise and realistic feedback as if a user is directly touching a physical object in various environments. To this end, the haptic information providing system for providing various tactile signals of the present invention comprises: a directional sensor for detecting a touch position and direction of a user; a multi-channel haptic actuator for providing fine pressure information to the touch position of the user; a multi-channel Peltier element for providing temperature information to the touch position of the user; a multi-channel vibration motor for providing directional information to the touch position of the user; and a controller that detects the touch position on the basis of a directional sensor detection signal and analyzes virtual space input data to control the operations of the multi-channel haptic actuator, the multi-channel Peltier element, and the multi-channel vibration motor.

Description

Tactile information providing system that provides various tactile signals

[0001] The present invention relates to a tactile information providing system, and more specifically, to a tactile information providing system that provides various tactile signals that provide more precise and realistic sensory feedback, such as when a user directly touches a physical object in various environments.

[0002] Display devices have traditionally relied solely on sight and hearing to transmit images and sound, but recently, there has been an increase in display devices, including touchscreens, that apply haptic technology capable of transmitting tactile sensations corresponding to images when touched with a pointer such as a finger or a stylus pen.

[0003] Haptic sensation is a primary sense that, along with sight, conveys a sense of realism to the user in order to realize a virtual reality world, and attempts are being made to apply it to various fields such as education, training, and entertainment.

[0004] For example, tactile information is being applied in various fields, such as technology that enhances educational effectiveness using tactile information, technology that utilizes tactile information in medical training or medical equipment, technology that presents tactile information in games or entertainment devices, technology that conveys tactile information along with messages, and technology that conveys information using tactile information to people with visual or hearing impairments.

[0005] The sense of touch felt by human skin is one of the five senses, detecting vibrations, pressure, temperature, etc. through external contact. However, conventional tactile display devices simply transmit a sense of vibration and cannot transmit various environmental tactile information such as pressure, temperature changes, and directionality, which has the disadvantage of reducing the user's immersion.

[0006] The objective of the present invention is to provide a tactile information providing system that provides various tactile signals capable of delivering minute pressure, temperature change, and directional tactile signals to a user, thereby providing more accurate and realistic delicate tactile feedback.

[0007] A tactile information providing system that provides various tactile signals according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a directional sensor for detecting the touch location and direction of a user, a multi-channel tactile actuator for providing fine pressure information at the touch location of a user, a multi-channel Peltier element for providing temperature information at the touch location of a user, a multi-channel vibration motor for providing directional information at the touch location of a user, and a controller that detects the touch location based on the directional sensor detection signal and controls the driving of the multi-channel tactile actuator, the multi-channel Peltier element, and the multi-channel vibration motor by analyzing virtual space input data.

[0008] At this time, the controller can represent the touch position and the direction in which stimulation is to occur as a vector, and control the intensity of the multi-channel vibration motor or multi-channel tactile actuator in correspondence with the vector, or proportionally control the intensity of the multi-channel vibration motor or multi-channel tactile actuator according to the touch position and the intensity of the stimulation to be provided.

[0009] Alternatively, the controller can control the driving position of a multi-channel vibration motor or a multi-channel tactile actuator so that pressure information and directional information are distributed in multiple directions.

[0010] In addition, the controller can receive real-time feedback on the direction or intensity of the tactile sensation received by the user, and analyze the feedback data to control the operation of a multi-channel vibration motor or a multi-channel tactile actuator.

[0011] According to the present invention, by providing users with more delicate and realistic tactile information, user immersion in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) services can be enhanced, thereby promoting the revitalization of related industries.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a tactile information providing system that provides various tactile signals according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The embodiments described in the present invention and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical concept of the present invention; therefore, the scope of the rights of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by the embodiments and drawings described in the text. That is, since the embodiments are subject to various modifications and may take various forms, the scope of the rights of the present invention should be understood to include equivalents capable of realizing the technical concept. Furthermore, the objectives or effects presented in the present invention do not imply that a specific embodiment must include all of them or only such effects; therefore, the scope of the rights of the present invention should not be understood as being limited by them.

[0014] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with the context of the relevant technology and should not be interpreted as having an ideal or overly formal meaning not explicitly defined in this invention.

[0015]

[0016] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a tactile information providing system that provides various tactile signals according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention includes a directional sensor (100), a multi-channel tactile actuator (200), a multi-channel Peltier element (300), a multi-channel vibration motor (400), and a controller (500).

[0018] A direction sensor (100) is installed to detect the user's touch location and direction.

[0019] The multi-channel tactile actuator (200) is intended to provide fine pressure information at the user's touch location, and its operation is controlled by a multi-channel tactile actuator control circuit (210).

[0020] That is, the multichannel tactile actuator (200) is intended to provide the user with an experience similar to touching a real object by controlling minute pressure applied to the user's hand or skin.

[0021] At this time, the multi-channel tactile actuator (200) may be equipped with a piezoelectric actuator that provides pressure by inducing physical deformation of the element when voltage is applied.

[0022] The present invention provides appropriate pressure for each object by controlling the operation of the multi-channel tactile actuator (200) based on pressure data for each object analyzed in advance by the controller (500) in order to provide fine pressure through the multi-channel tactile actuator (200).

[0023] For example, when a user grabs a virtual object in a virtual reality game, a multi-channel tactile actuator (200) provides the sensation of actually holding the object by transmitting pressure to the hand that matches the size or shape of the object.

[0024] The multi-channel Peltier element (300) is intended to provide temperature information at the user's touch location and is controlled by a multi-channel Peltier element control circuit (310).

[0025] That is, the multi-channel Peltier element (300) controls the temperature felt by the user's skin or hand in real time to reproduce the temperature of various objects within virtual reality or augmented reality.

[0026] For example, a multichannel Peltier element (300) provides a hot sensation when a user touches a hot pot in a virtual cooking simulation or a cold sensation when the user holds an ice cube in their hand.

[0027] At this time, the multi-channel Peltier element control circuit (310) can control the temperature more efficiently by controlling the current of the multi-channel Peltier element (300) through PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control.

[0028] The multi-channel vibration motor (400) is configured to provide directional information to the user's touch location and is controlled by a multi-channel vibration motor control circuit (410).

[0029] Multichannel vibration motors (400) are arranged in multiple numbers to reproduce vibrations coming from various directions and can be mounted on various body parts such as hands, arms, and legs so that they are activated in a specific direction and the user can feel where the vibration is coming from.

[0030] For example, the multi-channel vibration motor (400) can maximize immersion by providing vibrations in the right direction when an object approaches from the right in the virtual space, and providing vibrations corresponding to the direction of impact when an impact occurs.

[0031] The multi-channel vibration motor control circuit (410) controls the directionality of tactile stimulation by increasing the PWM signal of the vibration motor when strong vibration occurs in a specific direction and reducing vibration in another direction.

[0032] The controller (500) detects the touch position based on the detection signal of the directional sensor (100) and analyzes virtual space input data to control the driving of the multi-channel tactile actuator, multi-channel Peltier element, and multi-channel vibration motor.

[0033] At this time, the controller (500) controls the multi-channel vibration motor or multi-channel tactile actuator using vector-based control, proportional control, and stimulus distribution control methods.

[0034] Vector-based control is a method of expressing the touch position and the direction in which stimulation should occur as a vector, and controlling the intensity of a multi-channel vibration motor or a multi-channel tactile actuator in correspondence with the vector.

[0035] The proportional control method provides natural tactile stimulation by proportionally controlling the intensity of a multi-channel vibration motor or a multi-channel tactile actuator according to the touch position and the intensity of the stimulation to be provided.

[0036] Stimulus dispersion control provides a more natural experience by ensuring that tactile stimuli are not generated in only one direction but are smoothly dispersed in multiple directions.

[0037] The controller (500) can receive real-time feedback on the direction or intensity of the tactile sensation received by the user, and analyze the feedback data to control the operation of the multi-channel vibration motor or multi-channel tactile actuator (200).

[0038] More specifically, the present invention collects feedback data such as pressure, direction, and temperature changes in real time, evaluates whether the direction and intensity of the current stimulus are appropriate for the user based on the collected data, and determines the stimulus to be modified as necessary.

[0039] In addition, a control signal is generated to adjust the stimulation intensity in a specific direction based on the data analysis results, thereby controlling the operation of each device.

[0040] At this time, a pressure sensor (600) is placed to detect the intensity of the stimulus received by the user and provide it as feedback data, and the pressure applied by the multi-channel tactile actuator (200) is detected.

[0041] In this way, the present invention can receive real-time feedback on the pressure felt by the user based on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor (600), and can control the operation of the multi-channel tactile actuator (200) by analyzing whether the pressure felt by the user reaches a set target value or whether a stronger stimulus is needed when a stimulus is applied.

[0042] In addition, the present invention measures the direction and angle of movement of a user using a gyroscope sensor (700) to check whether it matches the direction of the stimulus, and when the user detects a stimulus coming from a specific direction and the gyroscope sensor (700) responds accordingly, the system can check in real time whether the stimulus has been transmitted in the intended direction.

[0043] In addition, the present invention uses an accelerometer (800) to detect the user's movement to avoid the stimulus, detects the reflexive avoidance movement when the stimulus is too strong, and accurately adjusts the direction of the stimulus.

[0044] In addition, the present invention detects changes in a user's skin temperature using a temperature sensor and monitors the skin's response to specific temperature stimuli.

[0045] In other words, data on how the skin responds to temperature changes after a specific temperature is applied is collected and used as feedback; for example, if the user's response to a specific temperature is sensitive, the temperature stimulation is reduced, and if the response is weak, the stimulation temperature is increased.

[0046] In this way, the present invention can maximize the user's sense of immersion by providing directional tactile stimulation through temperature, pressure, and vibration to the user, thereby providing an experience such as the user actually touching a virtual object or being actually located in virtual reality.

[0047] Although the present invention has been described in relation to the preferred embodiments above, various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the essence and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the appended claims will include such modifications and variations that fall within the essence of the invention.

Claims

1. A directional sensor for detecting the user's touch location and direction; A multi-channel tactile actuator for providing fine pressure information at the touch location of the user; A multi-channel Peltier element for providing temperature information at the touch location of the user; A multi-channel vibration motor for providing directional information at the touch location of the user; A tactile information providing system for providing various tactile signals, characterized by including a controller that detects a touch position based on the above-mentioned directional sensor detection signal and analyzes virtual space input data to control the driving of the above-mentioned multi-channel tactile actuator, the above-mentioned multi-channel Peltier element, and the above-mentioned multi-channel vibration motor.

2. In Paragraph 1, A tactile information providing system for providing various tactile signals, characterized in that the controller represents the touch location and the direction in which stimulation should occur as a vector, and controls the intensity of the multi-channel vibration motor or multi-channel tactile actuator in correspondence with the vector.

3. In Paragraph 1, A tactile information providing system that provides various tactile signals, characterized in that the controller proportionally controls the intensity of the multi-channel vibration motor or multi-channel tactile actuator according to the touch position and the intensity of the stimulus to be provided.

4. In Paragraph 1, A tactile information providing system for providing various tactile signals, characterized by controlling the driving position of the multi-channel vibration motor or multi-channel tactile actuator so that the pressure information and the directional information are distributed in multiple directions.

5. In Paragraph 1, A tactile information providing system that provides various tactile signals, characterized by the above controller receiving real-time feedback on the direction or intensity of the tactile sensation received by the user, and analyzing the feedback data to control the driving of the multi-channel vibration motor or multi-channel tactile actuator.

6. In Paragraph 1, When different virtual objects exist at the touch location, the above controller Calculate the temperature difference to be provided for each of the above virtual objects, and A tactile information providing system that provides various tactile signals, characterized by controlling the driving of the multi-channel Peltier element so that the temperature change changes linearly based on the above temperature difference.

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