788 results about "Tactile sensation" patented technology

A human-computer interface system and methods for providing intelligent, adaptive, multimodal interaction with users while accomplishing tasks on their behalf in some particular domain or combination of domains. Specifically, this system accepts user input via natural language text, mouse actions, human speech, whistles, gestures, pedal movements, facial or postural changes, and conveys results via natural language text, automatically-generated speech, and displays of graphs, tables, animation, video, and mechanical and chemical effectors that convey heat, tactile sensation, taste and smell.

Abstract of Disclosure Products and processes for providing tactile sensations to input devices or electronic devices are provided. Input devices include mechanical input devices (such as, for example, mechanical switches) and non-mechanical input devices (such as, for example, touchpads). Tactile feedback is provided by using an actuator or other means in communication with the input device or electronic device. A controller may be employed to receive signals from the input devices and control the actuator. Tactile feedback to an input device or electronic device may be provided in response to one or more events or situations. Such an event or situation may be any one designated. Examples of such events and situations include the level of pressure placed on an input device; the availability or lack of availability of a function associated with an input device; and the function, menu, or mode of operation associated with an input device s activation. A variety of feedback types and combinations may be selected.

An image capturing device may be combined with a touch screen to generate a tactile map of an environment. The image capturing device captures an image of the environment which is then processed and used to correlate a point of user contact on a touch screen to a particular tactile sensation. The touch screen may then generate an electric signal (i.e., tactile feedback) corresponding to the tactile sensation which is felt by a user contacting the touch screen. By using the electrical signal as tactile feedback (e.g., electrovibration), the user may determine relative spatial locations of the objects in the environment, the objects' physical characteristics, the distance from the objects to the image capturing device, and the like.

Provided is an input apparatus having a touch sensor to detect a contact operation to a slide bar displayed and to provide a tactile sensation of shift of the slide bar.

An input apparatus 1 has a touch sensor 11 configured to detect a contact, a load detection unit 12 configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor 11, a display unit 14 configured to display the slide bar, a tactile sensation providing unit 13 configured to vibrate the touch face, and a control unit 15 configured to control the tactile sensation providing unit 13 such that a tactile sensation is provided to an object pressing the touch face based on a position of a knob of the slide bar shifted in response to the contact detected by the touch sensor 11 while the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12 satisfies a predetermined standard.

A haptic feedback control device, such as a handheld remote control or handheld game controller, for controlling a graphical object within a graphical display and for outputting forces to a user. A housing includes a button, wherein the user engages the button with a finger. The button is depressible along a degree of freedom by the user. An actuator applies forces to the user through the button along the degree of freedom. A sensor detects displacement of the button along the degree of freedom when the button is depressed by the user. A process, local to the device, controls the actuator to generate the forces upon the button in the degree of freedom to provide a tactile sensation to the user contacting the button.

Multi-function transducers (130, 700) that are suitable for use in handheld devices such as cellular telephones (100, 900) and are capable of emitting audio, and generating accelerations of sufficient magnitude, and at frequencies that can be sensed by tactile sensation and which exhibit resonant modes that are characterized by center frequencies within a frequency range that can be sensed by tactile sensation, and specifically located between two musical notes on a musical scale are provided. Devices (100, 900) including such transducer are provided, and methods of operating such transducers are provided.

An apparatus that includes a conductive surface and an insulation surface disposed on the conductive surface. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to cause a signal to be coupled to the conductive surface such that a tactile sensation is perceived in a digit that slides on the insulation surface.

An apparatus that includes a conductive surface and an insulation surface disposed on the conductive surface. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to cause a signal to be coupled to the conductive surface such that a tactile sensation is perceived in a digit that slides on the insulation surface.

A non-contact storage device includes a housing, an antenna coupled to the housing, electronic circuitry coupled to the antenna, control electronics adapted to generate a control signal when at least one predetermined event has occurred between the electronic circuitry and the card reader, and a tactile sensation generator coupled to the housing and connected to the electronic circuitry. The housing is adapted to be contacted by a user. The electronic circuitry includes a data memory and a transceiver for transferring data between the memory and a card reader via the antenna. The tactile sensation generator is configured to generate a tactile sensation corresponding to the control signal. Accordingly, the tactile sensation is adapted to be felt by a user via the housing to thereby inform the user of the occurrence of the at least one predetermined event.

An electronic device (10) according to the present invention is provided with a display unit (102) that displays an object with which a predetermined function is associated, a touch sensor (103), a tactile sensation providing unit (104) that provides a tactile sensation to a touch face of the touch sensor, and a control unit (106) that controls the tactile sensation providing unit (104) to provide a first tactile sensation when contact on a display surface of the object is detected and furthermore to execute the predetermined function associated with the object when data based on pressure of the contact satisfies a predetermined threshold, the electronic device thereby preventing an erroneous operation due to unintentional contact and allows for operation without confirmation of the screen display.

A training aid for teaching needle biopsy of the human breast. The inventive methods use breast models having lifelike properties providing accurate tactile sensation during palpation of the breast that enable a trainee to learn to locate modeled internal lesions and similar tissues in the breast. These same properties allow learning of tactile sensations indicating relative position and motion of biopsy needles during biopsy needling procedures. To facilitate tactile learning, the breast model includes an opaque skin that blocks the trainee view of a breast cavity containing modeled lesions, ensuring that needling procedures are performed based solely on "feel". The present invention also includes alternative training methods using a second breast model that is sufficiently transparent to allow viewing of modeled lesions from any relative position. The present invention includes training systems incorporating breast models and viewing stands and methods of training using these aids.

A method of giving the user information on the operation of a portable device, and a portable device. In the method, an event that concerns the operation of the device and interests the user is detected by the control means of the device. If at least one silent alarm pattern producing a tactile sensation in the user is attached to the event, the user is given abstract information on the operation of the device by using at least one silent alarm pattern implemented with the alarm device and sensed by the user. Various alarm patterns differ from one another such that at least one alarm pattern characteristic sensed by the user varies. The characteristic can be the alarm pattern frequency, amplitude, changing rate of the amplitude, changing rate of the frequency or duration of the alarm pattern. One way to perform a silent alarm is vibration. The user interface is particularly intended for users with impaired hearing and/or vision.

A therapeutic prosthetic device for women or men configured to transmit tactile sensations through a stimulation material to the surface of a sex organ such as the vagina or penis. The therapeutic prosthetic device can include sensors and stimulators on the outer surface and inner surface and a controller. Sensors for detecting state, sensation or movement can be disposed within, on, or separate from the device and can transmit signals electrically or wirelessly to a microprocessor, which is programmed to generate stimulation sensations in response to signals from the sensors, stimulation materials, or controllers that are transmitted to the stimulation material. In one embodiment the therapeutic prosthetic device is a therapeutic condom.

A feedback control system and a method for controlling a tactile feedback are disclosed, wherein the feedback control system provides users with full precise control of infinite tactile feedback settings. The tactile feedback control system includes a user interface adapted to generate and transmit an information signal including data and information representing a user-provided input, wherein the user interface also generates a tactile sensation to the user, a controller adapted to receive the information signal, analyze the information signal, and generate and transmit a control signal for controlling a tactile feedback in response to the information signal, and a haptic system adapted to receive the control signal and generate the tactile feedback.

A haptic feedback interface device and actuator assembly providing inertial tactile sensations. An interface device includes a housing that is physically contacted by a user, a sensor device detecting said manipulation of the interface device by the user, and an actuator assembly of the present invention. The assembly includes an actuator operative to output a force and a mechanism coupling the actuator to the device housing. The mechanism allows the actuator to be moved and act as an inertial mass when in motion to provide an inertial force that is transmitted to the user. The mechanism includes at least two separated portions, each of the portions coupled to a different portion of the actuator. The mechanism is preferably a flexure having at least two flex joints.

An intragastric catheter provides a method of inducing satiety due to its presence in the stomach cavity. Efficacy is improved by the tactile sensation provided by a plurality of fingers that extend from the device. Normal peristaltic action upon the device moves the fingers relative to the stomach. The structure of the intragastric catheter reduces the level of precision required in placement of the device, and blockage of conduits to and from the stomach by the device is unlikely.

An exercise system includes at least two exercise modules and is arranged to allow multiple users performing exercises on, with or against the modules in different locations while performing at least one preset task defined in a context of a story, a scenery or a video (or computer) game each in turn preferably defined in a virtual environment. The exercise system generally generates the task of the story, scenery or game in images of the virtual environment and simulates the exercising users as simulated user in such images, while allowing the users to manipulate the simulated users for attaining a goal of the task based on features related with the exercises performed by the user or allowing the task to manipulate operations of the modules based on the features. The execs system includes at least two output modules each including a visual unit to provide the images for the task to each user and an olfactory or tactile unit to provide smell or tactile sensation to the user, respectively.

A tactile sensation providing apparatus capable of providing a constant tactile sensation to a user regardless of a position of a touch input is provided. According to the present invention, the tactile sensation providing apparatus has a touch sensor 11 configured to detect the touch input, a load detection unit 12 configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor 11, a tactile sensation providing unit 13 configured to vibrate the touch face, and a control unit 16 configured to control drive of the tactile sensation providing unit 13 based on a pushed position, when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12 satisfies a standard to provide a tactile sensation, such that the tactile sensation is provided to an object pressing the touch face by vibration with certain amplitude independent of the pushed position.

Provided is a tactile and visual display device enabling visual information and tactile information to be simultaneously sensed. The tactile and visual display device includes: a display unit comprising a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of pixels; a tactile sensation generator mounted over the display unit, transmitting light emitted from the pixels, comprising a transistor electrically connecting a plurality of corresponding pixels formed to correspond to the pixels with adjacent corresponding pixels, and generating an electrostatic force and a magnetostatic force; and a sensor in contact with the corresponding pixels to sense the generated electrostatic force or magnetostatic force. Accordingly, the texture of an image displayed on a display is provided as tactile information using an electrostatic force and a magnetostatic force, so that tactile information as well as visual information of the conventional display may be simultaneously provided.