105 results about "Tactile stimuli" patented technology

The present invention relates to a method for conveying an emotion to a person being exposed to multimedia information, such as a media clip, by way of tactile stimulation using a plurality of actuators arranged in a close vicinity of the person's body, the method comprising the step of providing tactile stimulation information for controlling the plurality of actuators, wherein the plurality of actuators are adapted to stimulate multiple body sites in a body region, the tactile stimulation information comprises a sequence of tactile stimulation patterns, wherein each tactile stimulation pattern controls the plurality of actuators in time and space to enable the tactile stimulation of the body region, and the tactile stimulation information is synchronized with the media clip. An advantage with the present invention is thus that emotions can be induced, or strengthened, at the right time (e.g. synchronized with a specific situation in the media clip).

The present invention relates to a system (10) and to a method for providing body sway feedback to a body of a subject. The system (10) comprises (a) at least one body sway sensor means (12) adapted to be attached the body and adapted for providing body sway signals indicative of a sway of the body, (b) a system processor means (14) adapted for deriving body sway information from the body sway signals and adapted for generating a body sway feedback signal from the body sway information, and (c) a subject body sway feedback means (40) having at least one transducer unit (42, 44) and adapted for providing a body sway feedback to the body via said at least one transducer unit (42, 44) based on said body sway feedback signal, (d) wherein said at least one transducer unit (42, 44) is or comprises at least one transducer, (e) wherein said at least one transducer is adapted to be contacted to a head of the body, adapted for vibrating, and adapted for transferring a respective vibration to the head, and (f) wherein said at least one transducer is adapted to evoke based on the vibration a multimodal body sway feedback as stimuli to the subject having a plurality of kinds of stimuli of the group comprising auditory stimuli, tactile stimuli, and vestibular stimuli.

A device 10 comprised of a plurality of evenly spaced tactile actuators 11 arranged in the form of a generally C-shaped structure and worn snug around the neck 20 by a subject 30 to apply tactile stimuli to the subject's neck skin. An electronic controller operated by a computer program controls the actuators 11 of the device 10 based on signals received from an external source. The device impresses sequences of tactile stimuli around the subject's neck to provide intelligible information, cues and warnings or certain game-related sensations.

The invention discloses a wearing device with temperature sensation and vibration sensation. The wearing device comprises an information acquiring module used for receiving scene information and orientation information of wearing personnel, an information decoding module used for decoding the scene information and the orientation information and generating vibration commands and heating and cooling commands, a multi-touch driving module composed of a temperature sensation driving unit and a vibration sensation driving unit, and a multi-touch prompting module composed of a temperature sensation wrist guard, a vibration sensation leg guard and a vibration sensation wristband, the temperature sensation driving unit generates temperature sensation driving signals according to the heating and cooling commands, the vibration sensation driving unit generates vibration sensation driving signals according to the vibration commands, the temperature sensation wrist guard receives the temperature sensation driving signals to generate temperature stimulation on the wrist guard, and the vibration sensation leg guard and the vibration sensation wristband receive the vibration sensation driving signals to generate vibration stimulation on the leg guard and the wristband. Touch stimulation is formed by combining temperature sensation with vibration sensation while scene information is sensed, and the wearing device can be applied to the fields of navigation, games and the like.

A wearable apparatus capable of altering a physiological parameter such as the heart rate of a user to provide a relaxing or stimulating effect on the user is provided. The apparatus comprises a device capable of engaging the patient's skin to provide a rhythmic tactile stimulus to the user that can alter the user's heart rate and an arrangement for securing the device to the user such that the device can apply the stimulus to the user. The apparatus may be part of a system enabling the device to be controlled remotely. The apparatus may also be configured to provide additional tactile stimuli.

A wearable tactile stimulation device can include a facial mask, an air-suit, and a pair of gloves. A wearable tactile stimulation device can include integrated conduits and nozzles configured to deliver tactile stimulation to portions of a users face, hands, and / or body. The tactile stimulation can be delivered via puffs of air transmitted through the conduits and nozzles. A controller can be configured to control tactile stimulation by controlling the generation and delivery of puffs of air. The puffs can be delivered individually, or in combination.

A device comprised of a plurality of evenly spaced tactile actuators arranged in the form of a generally C-shaped structure and worn snug around the neck by a subject to apply tactile stimuli to the subject's neck skin. An electronic controller operated by a computer program controls the actuators of the device based on signals received from an external source. The device impresses sequences of tactile stimuli around the subject's neck to provide intelligible information, cues and warnings or certain game-related sensations.

Modular electronic and / or combined electronic / mechanical apparatus for the detection, analysis, transmittal and delivery of tactile stimuli (touch). Sexual application is suggested.

System of translation between written or performed music and visual, tactile and motion sensation experiences. Specific metaphors for most aspects of music among these non-audio media are described. Examples include rules for color assignment to pitches in a scale; positioning visual representations of notes; visualizing notes between pitches; arranging tactile stimuli to represent pitches; and rendering stages of cadence with motion sensing experiences such as movement within space, or changes in one's tilt, pitch, etc. The system includes documentation of theoretical / interpretive elements such as key signature, current chord, association of notes with melody, as they occur in a piece, along with metaphors for their translation in these non-audible media. The metaphors are strictly prescribed, yet accommodating large variations and freedoms in visual, tactile and motion renderings by producers / artists, allowing for visual, tactile or motor metaphors for non-musical instrument sounds such as finger sliding across windings of a guitar string.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an improved handle (12) for a lacrosse stick (10) is provided. The improved handle (12) includes a tubular member (14) having a top end (16) for attachment to the lacrosse head (18) and a bottom end (20) that is opposite the top end (16). The tubular member (14) further includes an outer surface (22) having one or more predetermined portions (24) with a coating (26) coupled thereto. The coating (26) is utilized for strengthening the tubular member (14), preventing damage thereto, decreasing vibration therein, and providing the player with tactile stimuli as to the orientation of a lacrosse stick (10) within his hands.

Visual and auditory stimuli are provided to a patient to treat various neurological disorders or conditions and / or to provide improved mental or physical performance. The visual and auditory stimuli are provided by a wearable headset or sleep mask that may be comfortably worn by a user, such as in bed to induce sleep. The wearable headset or sleep mask is operated by a personal computing device of the user, such as smartphone, having downloaded and active thereon a control application or app for the therapy. The wearable headset or sleep mask also concurrently provides tactile stimuli, and the tactile stimulus is provided from bone conduction transducers that concurrently provides the auditory stimuli.

A haptic feedback device (10) for a prosthetic body part (2) or a sensorially deficient body part (2′) comprises a sensor interface (12) configured to be arranged on the prosthetic or sensorially deficient body part (2,2′), equipped with a contact sensor (21) to generate a contact signal (23) according to a contact condition with an object (6); a tactile stimulation unit equipped with a transducer (13,13′) to generate a tactile stimulation (33); a support (15) wearable on a sensorially sound body part (5), on which the tactile stimulation unit is arranged, so as to receive the stimulation (33); a control unit (14) for receiving the contact signal (23) from the contact sensor (21) and comprising a program means (41) configured to cause a control signal (29) to be produced for actuating the transducer, responsive to the contact signal (23), and for cyclically comparing the contact signal (23) with a contact threshold value (Ti,j); for producing the control signal (29) and actuating the transducer (13,13′) when the contact signal (23,23′) crosses the threshold value (Ti,j); for leaving the transducer (13,13′) still in an intermediate time between this crossing of the threshold (Ti,j) and a subsequent crossing in an opposite direction, so that the transducer (13) is actuated if an event occurs of beginning or of end of a contact between the prosthetic or sensorially deficient body part (2,2′) and the object (6).

The systems and methods described herein relate to, among other things, a transducer capable of producing acoustic and tactile stimulation. The transducer includes a rigid mass element disposed on the diaphragm of a speaker. The mass element may optionally be removable and may have a mass selected such that the resonant frequency of the transducer falls within the range of frequencies present in an input electrical audio signal. The systems and methods advantageously benefits from both the fidelity and audio performance of a full-range speaker while simultaneously producing high-fidelity, adjustable and palpable haptic vibrations.

Disclosed are a device and a method for providing tactile sensation by using electrostatic force between an electrode and a user. The device for providing tactile sensation includes a plurality of electrodes arranged on a substrate, and a dielectric substance layer formed on the substrate and the electrodes, wherein the electrodes electrify the dielectric substance layer with an electric charge according to a driving voltage, so as to generate electrostatic force that provides tactile stimuli to a user who comes into contact with the dielectric substance layer.

This invention generally provides two tactile stimulation modules, or “tappers”. One tapper is held by a person in each of his hands. Alternatively, a tapper is secured to each wrist or to other parts of the body on opposite sides. Each tapper is powered by a rechargeable battery, and contains both a tactile stimulation transducer, such as an electric motor having either a balanced or unbalanced mass on its output shaft, and a transceiver that communicates with a host or master. Each tapper includes at least one control button and a status indicator. Each tapper contains a micro-controller that performs tasks such as communication, motor activation, user monitoring and control, battery monitoring, low-power sleep, and algorithm execution. At least one tapper can contain at least one optional sensor, which measures a physiological function. Measurements can be used to modify performance of the tactile stimulation transducers.

A device designed to be worn on the human body includes attachment means which place the device such that it rests directly against a body part, and at least one functional module which is connected to the attachment means, wherein the functional module comprises a wireless receiver and at least one tactile stimulation module. The stimulation module is designed to forward tactile stimuli to the body part to which it is attached. The wireless receiver is designed to receive instructions and to activate the stimulation module.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to vibrometers, vibrometric systems, and methods of using the same. In particular, some embodiments of the vibrometers are capable of producing vibrotactile stimulation at any frequency between 1 and 500 Hz. Moreover, some embodiments of the vibrometer and / or vibrometric system are capable of applying vibrotactile stimulation to a test subject's skin to determine the existence of peripheral neuropathy. Additionally, some embodiments of the method can provide test subjects with comparative vibrotactile threshold test results that can aid in discovering and / or managing of peripheral neuropathy.

The present disclosure provides an assembly of a sexual stimulation device that can be assembled with an interchangeable actuator module and a control module. The sexual stimulation device can be placed with user's body to provide tactile stimulation. The sexual stimulation device may store different motion data, and the user may control the sexual stimulation device according the motion data. The sexual stimulation device can also allow the user to change the interchangeable actuator module according to user's choice. Furthermore, the sexual stimulation device may access a network to download motion data for different motion data choice.

An interactive entertainment apparatus and system and a method of interacting with water to provide audio, visual, olfactory, gustatory and / or tactile effects are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus and system comprise one or more imagery multilevel channel communications input and / or multilevel channel communications output device(s), one or more sound multilevel channel communications input and / or multilevel channel communications output device(s); one or more camera and / or motion multilevel channel communications input and / or multilevel channel communications input device(s); one or more nozzle assemblies for spraying and / or emitting liquid and / or vapour and / or gas that can produce lively and entertaining liquid and / or vapour and / or gas screen and / or middle drop(s) / screen(s)and / or other arena-like and / or skyscreen-like arrangement(s) located at or near the centre(s) or focal zone(s) of the theatrical arrangement(s) for the entertainment apparatus and system, on to which liquid and / or vapour and / or gas screen and / or contour arrangement(s) can be projected and / or augmented by harmonized and / or sychronized light and / or laser source for entertaining lighting and / or laser shows; one or more sound generating and / or broadcasting device(s); one or more light and / or laser source(s); one or more tactile stimulus multilevel channel communications input and / or multilevel channel communications output device(s) and / or one or more heating and / or cooling device(s) adapted to provide a tactile sensation of three-dimensional movement(s), motion(s) and / or tilting and / or temperature alteration(s) or variation(s); one or more olfactory stimulus multilevel channel communications input and / or multilevel channel communications output device(s); one or more gustatory stimulus multilevel channel communications input and / or multilevel channel communications output device(s), according to the occurrence of one or more events (random, reconfigurable and / or pre-set) and / or the multilevel channel communications input from one or more user-interface device(s), when activated automatically or on the demand(s), option(s) and / or desire(s) of the user(s); one or more device(s) modulator and / or controller which modulates and / or controls one or more of the above devices and / or one or more parameters of the features of the invention; and one or more interactive microprocessing, computing and / or data-transmission system(s) and / or device(s) to capture, animate, digitize, vary, modify and co-ordinate light emissions, sound or musical note and / or tune broadcasting, tactile stimulus multilevel channel communications input and / or multilevel channel communications output, olfactory stimulus multilevel channel communications input and / or multilevel channel communications output, gustatory stimulus multilevel channel communications input and / or multilevel channel communications output, and / or dancing water trajectories with random, reconfigurable and / or pre-set motions and / or sound multilevel channel communications inputs and / or multilevel channel communications output, produced and / or caused by and / or through interaction of human, animal and / or objects, into control multilevel channel communications inputs, data and / or signals delivered automatically or on the demand(s), option(s) and / or desire(s) of the user(s) to one or more device controllers for controlling the trajectory(ies) of liquid and / or vapour and / or gas emitted from the nozzle assembly(ies), the sound generating and / or broadcasting, the mood, soft or hard lighting changes and / or laser renditions to produce life-like, integrated, artistic and featured entertaining performances automatically or on the demand(s), option(s) and / or desire(s) of the user(s).

A method for providing a therapeutic benefit to a person wearing an article having first and second tactile stimulators bilaterally positioned in the article to be in therapeutic contact with the person when the article is worn by the person. A controller (mobile device) activates the first tactile stimulator to provide a first stimulation for a first time period and activating the second tactile stimulator to apply a second stimulation for a second time period beginning at least commensurate with a cessation of the first time period. This process is repeated for a therapeutically effective number of repetitions so that the first and second stimulations are applied bilaterally to the body of the person without a perceivable pause in stimulation between the first stimulation and second stimulation to provide the therapeutic benefit to the person.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an improved handle (12) for a lacrosse stick (10) is provided. The improved handle (12) includes a tubular member (14) having a top end (16) for attachment to the lacrosse head (18) and a bottom end (20) that is opposite the top end (16). The tubular member (14) further includes an outer surface (22) having one or more predetermined portions (24) with a coating (26) coupled thereto. The coating (26) is utilized for strengthening the tubular member (14), preventing damage thereto, decreasing vibration therein, and providing the player with tactile stimuli as to the orientation of a lacrosse stick (10) within his hands.

Visual and auditory stimuli are provided to a patient to treat various neurological disorders or conditions and / or to provide improved mental or physical performance. The visual and auditory stimuli are provided by a wearable headset or sleep mask that may be comfortably worn by a user, such as in bed to induce sleep. The wearable headset or sleep mask is operated by a personal computing device of the user, such as smartphone, having downloaded and active thereon a control application or app for the therapy. The wearable headset or sleep mask also concurrently provides tactile stimuli, and the tactile stimulus is provided from bone conduction transducers that concurrently provides the auditory stimuli.

The invention relates to a tactile stimulating device with measurable tactile stimulating force and adjustable force frequency. The tactile stimulating device comprises an alternating current motor mechanism which is used for sending a pulse and driving an eccentric wheel to rotate, an elastic steel ruler mechanism for generating elastic deformation, an eccentric wheel mechanism for generating force data, and a probe mechanism which is used for generating a displacement in the vertical direction to change to stimulate the epidermis of a living organism, wherein the alternating current motor mechanism is fixedly connected with the eccentric wheel mechanism; the eccentric wheel of the eccentric wheel mechanism is closely attached to an elastic steel ruler of the elastic steel ruler mechanism; and the probe mechanism is fixedly arranged on the lower end surface of the elastic steel ruler mechanism. The tactile stimulating device is simple in structural design, high in integration degree and safe to work; an electromagnetic material covers the outer surface of an alternating current motor to form an electromagnetic shielding device, so that interference is basically eliminated, and the signal stability is high; by the adoption of a noninvasive mechanical stimulation mode, no wound can be caused in the use process; and as the frequency can be adjusted and the stimulating strength can be adjusted, the force action is stable, and the tactile stimulation within a relatively wide frequency range can be flexibly modulated.

A brain-machine interface for extracting user action intentions within a continuous asynchronous interactive environment is presented. A subliminal stimulus module generates contextually appropriate decision-related stimuli that are unobtrusive to a user. An altered perceptual experience module modifies a user's sensation of the interactive environment based on decision-related stimuli generated from the subliminal stimulus module. A brain monitoring module assesses the user's brain activity in response to the decision-related stimuli and to determine whether an action within the asynchronous interactive environment is intended by the user. Finally, an action is taken based on explicit user input, the user's brain activity in response to the decision-related stimuli, or a combination thereof. The decision-related stimuli can be visual stimuli, audio stimuli, tactile stimuli, or olfactory stimuli, any be a repeated signal having a start and a stop, where the start and stop are selected to minimize cognitive load on a user.

A novel apparatus and method is described for sleep monitoring and control by providing tactile stimulation to a user as the user attempts to fall asleep which can be employed for intensive sleep retraining for the treatment of insomnia. A motion response to the tactile stimulation from the user is sensed indicating the user is still awake. The tactile stimulation is periodically repeated and the motion response is evaluated until sleep onset is determined. Following a relatively short set time asleep (e.g. approximately 3 minutes) the user is awakened and the process is reinitiated within a half hour. The technique can be implemented in a small device configuration comparable to a large ring which can be held to a single finger of the user by a band. The single finger both receives the tactile stimulation and provides a motion response and can provide feedback directly to the user.

A tactile stimulation providing system includes: a tactile stimulation pattern generating apparatus for generating a tactile stimulation pattern through a user interface including a plurality of virtual actuators to which positions of a plurality of actuators are mapped; and a tactile stimulation providing apparatus including the plurality of actuators, the tactile stimulation providing apparatus driving the plurality of actuators according to the generated tactile stimulation pattern.

The invention relates to a method for alleviating on or more of the symptoms associated with menopause in a woman in the peri-menopause or menopause stage, said method comprising the step of administering a sensory regimen in an amount effective to downregulate the activity of the HPA axis of said woman; wherein said HPA axis comprises: a) levels of adrenocortical hormone present as a function of time in said woman; b) a total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone; c) an integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone; and d) an onset of sleep threshold; wherein said sensory regimen is selected from the group consisting of auditory stimuli, visual stimuli, tactile stimuli, gustatory stimuli, olfactory stimuli, and combinations thereof.

The invention relates to the field of medical machinery, and especially relates to a tactile stimulation device and a using method. The device comprises a bottom plate and a support rotationally connected to the bottom plate. A stimulation mechanism for stimulating hands is arranged on the support; the stimulation mechanism comprises a mounting base and a stimulation assembly; the stimulation assembly is positioned below the mounting base; the stimulation assembly is used for abutting against the hand of a patient. A control assembly for controlling the stimulation assembly to move up and downis arranged on the mounting base; a clamping assembly used for bearing the hand is arranged on the bottom plate. The clamping assembly comprises two clamping plates. The two clamping plates are arranged on the bottom plate; sliding blocks are arranged on the two clamping plates; two sliding grooves corresponding to the sliding blocks in a one-to-one mode are formed in the bottom plate, the sliding blocks are in sliding fit with the sliding grooves, a moving part used for driving the two sliding blocks to move is arranged on the bottom plate. The invention also provides an examination method for positioning the hand of a patient, different positions of the hand of the patient can be examined, and therefore the examination position is accurate.