Haptic Feedback Mechanism for Interactive Garment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional haptic feedback components in wearable devices often fail to provide effective vibration due to a single vibration point, requiring increased power consumption when multiple points are used, which can strain battery life.
Innovation Solution
A haptic feedback mechanism in interactive garments that utilizes a single vibration source coupled with a mechanical transmission structure to distribute vibration to multiple points, reducing power consumption and ensuring the vibration is felt by the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple vibration motors are used to increase the number of vibration points, then the vibration is more likely to be felt by the user, but the battery power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vibration transmission function by using a single vibration source coupled with a mechanical transmission structure that distributes vibration to multiple vibration points across the garment. This allows one motor to create multiple effective vibration points through the transmission structure, resolving the contradiction between needing multiple vibration points and consuming excessive battery power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mechanical transmission structure as an intermediary between the single vibration source and the user's body. This transmission structure transmits and distributes the vibration from one motor to multiple locations on the garment, enabling effective multi-point vibration feedback without requiring multiple motors, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If the vibration power is increased to ensure the user can feel the vibration at a single point, then the vibration is more likely to be detected, but the battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of concentrating all vibration power at a single point, the patent segments the vibration output across multiple vibration points using a mechanical transmission structure. This distributes the vibration energy from a single motor to multiple locations on the garment, ensuring reliable detection at various points without requiring high power from the motor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point vibration approach to a multi-point vibration distribution system. By using a mechanical transmission structure, the vibration is distributed across multiple dimensions and locations on the garment, allowing the user to feel vibration at various points without increasing the power output of the single vibration motor.
3Reliability
If multiple vibration motors are integrated into the garment, then multiple vibration points are provided, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple vibration motors into a single vibration source combined with a mechanical transmission structure. This consolidation reduces the number of components from multiple motors to one motor plus a transmission mechanism, simplifying the device while maintaining multiple vibration points for effective feedback coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical transmission structure serves multiple functions: it transmits vibration from the single motor, distributes it to multiple vibration points, and integrates with the garment structure. This multi-functional component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate motors, reducing device complexity while maintaining vibration feedback coverage.
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
This solution enhances user feedback by ensuring vibrations are felt across multiple points without the need for multiple vibration motors, significantly reducing power consumption and improving durability and functionality in wearable devices.
Implementation Method 1
A haptic feedback mechanism is integrated within the interactive garment and includes a vibration source (e.g., a vibration motor) and a mechanical transmission structure coupled to the vibration source. A controller is configured to control the haptic feedback mechanism to provide haptic feedback by causing the vibration source to distribute vibration to multiple vibration points within the transmission structure.
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes techniques using, and objects embodying, a haptic feedback mechanism for an interactive garment. A wearable interactive garment (e.g., a jacket, shirt, or pants) may include various sensors that can sense user interactions in the form of single or multi-touch-input (e.g., gestures). A haptic feedback mechanism is integrated within the interactive garment and includes a vibration source (e.g., a vibration motor) and a transmission structure coupled to the vibration source. A controller is configured to control the haptic feedback mechanism to provide haptic feedback by causing the vibration source to distribute vibration to multiple vibration points within the transmission structure.