Haptic Stimulator Using Piezoelectric Polymer for Prosthetic Touch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Upper limb amputees and users of remote teleoperation devices lack the sense of touch, which is essential for grasping objects, navigating in the dark, and detecting hazards, and current entertainment systems fail to stimulate this sense effectively, while blind individuals could benefit from enhanced sensory feedback.
Innovation Solution
A haptic stimulator using a multilayer sheet with piezoelectric or electroactive materials, driven by an AC signal to vibrate and simulate touch sensations, integrated into prosthetics and entertainment systems, allowing for programmable local sensing and actuation to mimic human touch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If prosthetic devices are designed with strong grip strength, then the ability to grasp objects is improved, but the sense of touch is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces haptic stimulators as intermediary devices that transfer tactile information from the prosthetic gripper to the user's residual limb skin. These stimulators act as mediators between the mechanical gripping function and the biological sensory system, enabling the user to perceive touch sensations while maintaining strong grip capability through the prosthetic device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the natural mechanical sense of touch in the prosthetic limb with an artificial haptic feedback system. Instead of relying on biological skin sensors that are absent in amputees, the system uses electronic haptic stimulators that generate tactile sensations on the residual limb, substituting the missing mechanical sensory function with an engineered alternative
2Productivity
If entertainment systems focus on visual and auditory stimulation, then user engagement is improved, but the sense of touch remains unused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates haptic stimulators into entertainment systems to add tactile feedback functionality to existing visual and auditory entertainment platforms. This enables the same system to provide multiple types of sensory stimulation (visual, auditory, and tactile), making the entertainment system more versatile and capable of engaging multiple human senses simultaneously
3Ease of operation
If remote teleoperation devices provide control functionality, then operational capability is improved, but tactile feedback is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements haptic feedback mechanisms in remote teleoperation devices that provide tactile information about the remote environment to the operator. The haptic stimulators deliver tactile sensations corresponding to forces, textures, and contacts encountered at the remote site, creating a feedback loop that enhances the operator's awareness and control capability
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 haptic stimulator effectively provides tactile feedback, enhancing the sense of touch for amputees and remote operators, and improving user experience in entertainment and social interactions, while also aiding blind individuals through artificial vision systems.
Implementation Method 1
A haptic stimulator includes a multilayer sheet with a layer of smart material, for example, either a piezoelectric or electroactive material, adapted to mechanically deform upon application of a voltage to the smart material
Implementation Method 2
the polymer contains polyvinylidene fluoride
Data Source
AI summary
A haptic stimulator includes a multilayer sheet with a piezoelectric or electroactive polymer layer adapted to mechanically deform upon application of voltage, the multilayer sheet secured to a substrate, and a source of electrical stimulation coupled to drive electrodes on the polymer layer with an AC signal to vibrate the polymer layer. In particular embodiments, the polymer contains polyvinylidene fluoride, and electrodes are patterned to control local electric fields. Another haptic stimulator has first and second electrodes with an air gap and an insulating sheet between first and second electrodes, with an AC voltage driver connecting to the electrodes. In a method of providing haptic stimulation to skin an alternating current supply drives first and second electrodes, the electrodes disposed upon either a piezoelectric or electroactive polymer sheet, vibrating the polymer layer by driving the electrodes; and coupling vibrations of the polymer layer to the sensate skin.