Haptic Stimulation System with Audio-Driven Actuator Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems fail to efficiently convey audio information through haptic stimulation, particularly in environments where hearing loss or noise interference is a factor, and they often struggle to provide intelligible and immersive experiences for both hearing-impaired and hearing individuals.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for haptic stimulation that includes receiving audio input, determining parameters, assigning vibration intensities to actuators, and stimulating users based on these parameters, with the ability to operate in various modes tailored to specific environments and user preferences, using a combination of actuators and sensors to provide environment-specific and intelligent haptic feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional audio processing methods are used to generate haptic stimuli, then the system is simple to implement, but the haptic stimulation is not intelligible or easy to interpret by users in different environments
Solution Approach 1:
The audio signal is divided into multiple frequency bands using filter banks, allowing different processing to be applied to each band. This segmentation enables selective enhancement of important auditory information while maintaining system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts haptic stimulation parameters including vibration intensity, frequency, and pattern based on the processed audio features. This allows the haptic output to intelligibly represent different audio characteristics while adapting to environmental conditions.
2Loss of information
If haptic stimulation is applied to convey all audio information, then comprehensive information is provided, but the stimulation becomes difficult to interpret and overwhelming for the user
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and prioritizes specific important auditory information from the full audio spectrum, such as speech components or critical environmental sounds, and conveys only these through haptic stimulation. This selective extraction maintains information completeness for important elements while avoiding overwhelming the user with all audio details.
Solution Approach 2:
Different haptic stimulation characteristics are applied to different frequency bands or audio components. For example, low-frequency vibrations may represent bass elements while high-frequency taps represent speech or alerts, making the overall stimulation more interpretable through localized differentiation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the haptic system uses multiple actuators to provide spatially distributed stimulation, then the immersive experience is enhanced, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic actuators are activated in periodic or intermittent patterns rather than continuously, synchronized with the temporal structure of the audio signal. This allows multiple actuators to provide immersive spatial feedback while reducing overall energy consumption through duty cycling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system activates only the necessary subset of actuators at any given time based on the audio content being processed, rather than running all actuators continuously. This partial action approach maintains immersive capability when needed while conserving energy during periods of lower audio activity.
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 conveys important and enjoyable audio information to users, enhances immersive experiences, and reduces tinnitus by providing tailored haptic feedback that prioritizes critical sounds and adapts to different environments, improving usability for both hearing-impaired and hearing individuals.
Implementation Method 1
a first actuator of the set of actuators configured to apply a first haptic stimulus to a body region of the user
Implementation Method 2
haptic stimulation can provide important information which the user might otherwise miss or have difficulty interpreting
Data Source
AI summary
A method for haptic stimulation includes any or all of: receiving an audio input; determining a set of parameters based on the audio input; determining a set of stimulation locations based on a collective set of energy parameters; assigning a vibration intensity to a set of one or more haptic actuators; and stimulating a user at the set of haptic locations based on the vibration intensities. A system for haptic stimulation includes an actuation subsystem having a set of actuators.