Signal processing for haptic seating systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibration device systems in entertainment seating, such as gaming chairs, often have hardware and software limitations that restrict their ability to produce vibrations across a full target frequency range, leading to suboptimal tactile feedback experiences.
Innovation Solution
A haptic seating system that includes a seat, a haptic device, and a haptic signal controller, which uses low-pass filtering, band-pass filtering, frequency expansion, and compression algorithms to modify and expand haptic signals to fit within a target frequency range, ensuring effective haptic responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If vibration device systems use hardware and software limitations to simplify system design, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to produce vibrations across a full target frequency range is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses signal processing to modify frequency parameters of haptic signals. A frequency expander shifts frequencies from a first frequency range to a second frequency range, allowing the vibration device to produce vibrations across a broader target frequency range than its hardware naturally supports. This resolves the contradiction by changing the frequency parameters through processing rather than hardware modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical hardware limitations with software-based signal processing solutions. Instead of designing vibration devices with hardware capable of producing all desired frequencies, the system uses digital signal processing (frequency expansion, filtering, compression) to achieve the desired frequency range. This substitutes mechanical complexity with computational processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vibration device systems operate outside their optimal frequency range, then frequency versatility is improved, but haptic response effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary signal processing before sending signals to the vibration device. Frequency expansion, filtering, and compression are applied in advance to ensure the final haptic signal falls within the device's optimal operating frequency range. This preliminary action guarantees effective haptic response while maintaining broad frequency versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the haptic signal controller receives information about the vibration device's operating characteristics and adjusts the processed signals accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that even when operating across a broad frequency range, the signals are optimized to maintain effectiveness within the device's actual capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If haptic signals are processed through frequency expansion and compression, then frequency range adaptability is improved, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic signal controller is designed as a multi-functional device that performs multiple operations: frequency expansion, filtering, compression, and summation. By consolidating these functions into a single controller, the system achieves broad frequency adaptability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity. The controller serves multiple purposes that would otherwise require separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple signal processing operations into an integrated processing pipeline. Frequency expansion, filtering, and compression are merged into a unified processing sequence within the haptic signal controller. This merging reduces the number of separate components and interfaces needed, managing complexity while maintaining frequency adaptability.
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 enhances the user experience by providing detailed and expansive tactile feedback, bridging auditory and tactile senses, and improving the realism of entertainment experiences.
Implementation Method 1
a haptic device disposed within the seat and configured to generate haptic signals of at least a minimum force within a target frequency range
Data Source
AI summary
A haptic seating system comprising can include a seat, a haptic device, and a haptic signal controller. The system can receive an acoustic signal and generate a haptic source signal. The system can convert the haptic source signal into first and second constituent haptic signals and modify, using a frequency expander, the first and second constituent haptic signals into first and second expanded constituent haptic signals with modified intensities within a target frequency range. The system can compress each of the first and second expanded constituent haptic signals to generate compressed constituent haptic signals having compressed intensities. The system can summate, within the target frequency range, the intensities of the modified haptic source signal, the compressed intensities of the first compressed constituent haptic signal, and the compressed intensities of the second compressed constituent haptic signals. The system can generate a haptic response within the seat based on the summated intensities.