Deformable Transmissive Layer for Remote Tactile Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication and remote presence systems lack the ability to convey a sense of local 'touch' for remote participants, which is essential for enhancing interpersonal communication and inspection tasks.
Innovation Solution
A system featuring a deformable transmissive layer coupled to a mounting structure and an interface membrane, which interacts with an illumination source and a detector to characterize the geometric profile of a surface, enabling remote users to perceive touch through high-precision touch sensor implementations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If video communication systems are used to enable remote presence, then visual communication capability is improved, but tactile perception capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments tactile information into multiple independent sensor types (capacitive touch sensors, force sensors, pressure sensors, vibration sensors) that can be independently deployed and activated based on specific application needs, allowing gradual integration without overwhelming system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable transmissive layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a tactile sensor surface, an optical waveguide for illumination, and a mechanical interface for contact detection, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall system complexity
2Measurement precision
If deformable transmissive layers with multiple sensor types are integrated, then tactile characterization precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor types (capacitive, force, pressure, vibration) are merged into a single integrated deformable transmissive layer structure, allowing high-precision tactile characterization through one unified component rather than multiple separate sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable transmissive layer uses a flexible thin film structure that inherently provides the sensing function while maintaining simplicity in fabrication and integration, avoiding complex rigid sensor assemblies
3Area of stationary object
If the deformable transmissive layer is expanded to cover larger areas, then detection coverage is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable transmissive layer incorporates locally varied properties with different regions optimized for specific functions (e.g., higher stiffness in support areas, higher flexibility in sensing areas), maintaining overall structural stability while enabling large coverage area
Solution Approach 2:
The layer uses composite material construction combining materials with different mechanical properties to achieve both large area coverage and structural stability, with the composite structure providing enhanced rigidity while maintaining deformability for sensing
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
The system effectively enhances the characterization of touch in various scenarios, allowing remote users to perceive tactile information about objects out of their conventional reach, thereby improving remote inspection and communication.
Implementation Method 1
a first illumination source operatively coupled to the deformable transmissive layer using a lighting control layer, the lighting control layer configured to emit first illumination light into the deformable transmissive layer
Implementation Method 2
the deformable transmissive layer is configured to be controllably urged against the against at least one aspect of an interfaced object having a surface to be characterized
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment is directed to a system for geometric surface characterization, comprising: a deformable transmissive layer coupled to a mounting structure and to an interface membrane, wherein the interface membrane is interfaced against at least one aspect of an interfaced object; a first illumination source operatively coupled to the deformable transmissive layer using a lighting control layer, the lighting control layer configured to emit first illumination light into the deformable transmissive layer at one or more known first illumination orientations relative to the deformable transmissive layer, such that at least a portion of the first illumination light interacts with the deformable transmissive layer; a detector configured to detect light from within at least a portion of the deformable transmissive layer; and a computing system configured to utilize determined surface orientations to characterize a geometric profile of the surface of the object as interfaced against the interface membrane.