Haptic Feedback Control Module for VR Refractory Period Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtual reality systems, users' perception of haptic feedback can be overwhelmed by stimuli of greater than a threshold amplitude or frequency, leading to decreased sensitivity to subsequent lower amplitude feedback within a refractory period, making it difficult to effectively deliver nuanced haptic experiences.
Innovation Solution
A system that modifies haptic data by identifying a refractory period after high-amplitude haptic feedback and filters out associated data during this period, preventing application of additional haptic feedback to maintain user sensitivity, using a haptic control module within the VR console to adjust and communicate the modified data set to the input interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If haptic feedback with greater than threshold amplitude or frequency is provided to a user, then the haptic feedback intensity is improved, but the user's ability to detect subsequent haptic feedback within a threshold time interval deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines a refractory period in advance based on the amplitude and frequency of upcoming haptic feedback. By pre-identifying when the user's sensitivity will be reduced, the system can adjust or remove haptic data before it reaches the haptic device, preventing the user from missing feedback during periods of reduced sensitivity. This preliminary analysis and adjustment resolve the contradiction by ensuring that high-amplitude feedback does not inadvertently cause the user to miss subsequent important feedback.
2Duration of action of moving object
If haptic feedback data is provided continuously to a user, then the immersion experience is improved, but the user's sensitivity to lower amplitude haptic feedback deteriorates due to overstimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces periodic pauses in haptic feedback delivery by removing haptic data during determined refractory periods. Instead of continuous haptic feedback, the system delivers feedback in controlled intervals, allowing the user's sensory system to recover between stimuli. This periodic approach maintains immersion through sustained engagement while preventing overstimulation that would reduce sensitivity to lower amplitude feedback.
Data Source
AI summary
A system modifies data generating haptic feedback to account for changes in user perception of haptic feedback. The system identifies haptic data and determines an estimated amplitude of haptic feedback corresponding to a portion of the haptic data. Responsive to the estimated amplitude of the haptic feedback corresponding to the portion of the haptic data exceeding a threshold value, a refractory period is determined that will occur after haptic feedback corresponding to the portion of the haptic data is applied to the user. The portion of the haptic data is provided to an input interface, and a set of haptic data associated with times within a duration of the refractory period from the identified haptic data is removed to form an adjusted data set that is provided to the input interface to provide haptic feedback to the user in accordance with adjusted haptic data set.