Field-Actuated Micro-Touch Simulators for Virtual Texture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual environment systems fail to accurately simulate touch sensations, particularly in terms of texture and dynamic interactions, limiting the user's physical experience.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing an array of micro-touch simulators, such as electrically charged micro-spheres or magnetic cylinders, embedded in clothing or devices, applies controlled electric or magnetic fields to simulate various touch sensations, including texture and dynamic movements, with a resolution of 10 microns or greater.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If control arms are attached to fingers in a glove to simulate touch, then the user can sense resistance and touch sensation, but the resolution is limited and cannot simulate fine texture details

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensation resolutionVSAvoidglove structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The glove is segmented into multiple independent control arms, each corresponding to specific finger regions. This segmentation allows different zones of the finger to be controlled independently, enabling fine-grained texture simulation while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the finger are equipped with control arms having different properties (stiffness, range of motion) tailored to the specific tactile requirements of each finger zone. This local customization enables high-resolution texture simulation where needed while simplifying structures in less critical areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If inflatable air bags or pockets are used to cause touch sensation, then the user experiences touch feedback, but the resolution is limited in granularity and cannot simulate texture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetexture simulation resolutionVSAvoidtouch sensation versatility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control arms are designed to be dynamically adjustable in stiffness and range of motion through variable resistance mechanisms. This allows the system to adapt between simulating soft textures (requiring compliant arms) and hard textures (requiring stiff arms), achieving high resolution texture simulation while maintaining versatility across different tactile scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical parameters of the control arms (stiffness, length, mass distribution) can be changed to match different texture characteristics. By adjusting these parameters, the system can simulate a wide range of textures from fine fabrics to rough surfaces, overcoming the granularity limitation of fixed inflatable structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If micro-touch simulators are used to simulate touch with high resolution, then texture and dynamic movements are accurately simulated, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch simulator precisionVSAvoiddevice manufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical micro-touch simulator arrays with a pneumatic system using inflatable control arms. This substitution achieves high manufacturing precision through uniform air pressure distribution while significantly simplifying manufacturing, as inflatable structures can be produced using standard pneumatic molding techniques rather than precision mechanical assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 user's physical experience in virtual environments by accurately simulating textures and dynamic touches, providing a more immersive interaction with virtual objects.

Implementation Method 1

A system utilizes an array of micro-touch simulators, such as electrically charged micro-spheres or magnetic cylinders, embedded in clothing or devices, applies controlled electric or magnetic fields to simulate various touch sensations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS12436616B2Replacing physicality

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 EBAY INC

AI summary

Simulating interaction with an object represented in a virtual environment is disclosed. A system includes one or more circuits configured to receive an indicator of a sensed touch in a virtual environment and to determine, based on the indicator, an area of the sensed touch. The one or more circuits are further configured to generate a simulated touch by applying a field to one or more touch simulators, the field actuating the one or more touch simulators by linearly displacing an element of the one or more touch simulators. In implementations, the touch simulators are actuated based on data describing textures and weights of the object represented in the virtual environment.