Bone-Conduction Haptic Feedback for Directional Tactile Cues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing haptic systems primarily focus on hand-held or whole-body experiences, lacking alternative sensory inputs that can enrich experiences or assist individuals with sensory or attentional needs.
Innovation Solution
A wearable haptic feedback device using bone conduction head-related transfer functions (bHRTF) to provide spatially localized haptic cues, simulating directional touch sensations by processing haptic signals through the user's skull and skin, enhancing immersion and situational awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing haptic systems use hand-held or whole-body approaches, then basic haptic feedback is achieved, but alternative sensory inputs that can enrich experiences or assist individuals with sensory needs are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a novel dimension for haptic feedback by utilizing the skull as a transmission medium. Instead of traditional hand-held or whole-body approaches, the system delivers haptic signals through bone conduction to the skull, creating a new sensory channel that enriches the user experience and assists individuals with sensory or attentional needs.
2Measurement precision
If haptic signals are transmitted through bone conduction, then directional haptic feedback and spatial localization are achieved, but the system requires processing through the user's skull and skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs bone conduction as an intermediary mechanism to transmit haptic signals through the skull. This intermediary approach enables spatial localization and directional feedback by utilizing the skull's structure to convey precise haptic information, achieving measurement precision in spatial localization while managing signal processing requirements through the biological medium.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enriches user experiences by providing directional haptic feedback, aiding sensory integration and immersion, particularly beneficial for hearing-impaired users and those needing additional sensory channels.
Implementation Method 1
A wearable haptic feedback device using bone conduction head-related transfer functions (bHRTF) to provide spatially localized haptic cues, simulating directional touch sensations by processing haptic signals through the user's skull and skin
Data Source
AI summary
A haptic feedback method includes: providing a wearable haptic feedback device comprising one or more bone-conduction haptic feedback units, and driving the one or more bone conduction haptic feedback units with at least a first signal processed using a bone conduction head related transfer function, ‘bHRTF’.