Insulated Surface Electrodes for Dynamic Haptic Texture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electromechanical actuators for generating touch stimuli, such as vibration generators, have limitations in providing a realistic and varied tactile experience.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a first surface electrode and an arrangement of insulated surface electrodes, with a controller applying a varying potential difference between them, allowing for a spatially varying touch stimulus that mimics texture when a user's digit is traced across the surface, enhancing the haptic experience by modulating the electric field and frictional force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electromechanical actuators such as vibration generators are used to create touch stimulus, then a tactile experience is provided, but the experience lacks realism and variety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional electromechanical actuators with an electrical field-based system. Insulated surface electrodes apply electrical stimuli to the user's skin, substituting mechanical vibration generation with electrical field modulation. This allows for more varied and realistic tactile sensations by directly stimulating sensory nerves rather than relying on mechanical motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes multiple parameters including electrical field strength, frequency, spatial distribution, and temporal patterns to create diverse tactile experiences. By controlling the potential difference applied to different electrode arrangements, the system can generate a wide range of perceptible sensations that mimic real-world textures and forces.
2Reliability
If a spatially varying touch stimulus is created by applying potential difference between surface electrodes, then realistic texture perception is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the touch surface into multiple discrete electrode regions that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows complex spatial patterns to be created by activating specific electrode combinations, enabling realistic texture perception through localized electrical field variations without requiring a single complex actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode array serves multiple functions: it can create different spatial patterns, modulate field strength, vary frequency content, and simulate different tactile textures. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by using a single versatile component rather than multiple specialized actuators.
3Productivity
If the potential difference is varied in dependence upon the displayed image, then images are converted into textures in real-time, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller pre-processes image data to extract relevant visual features and pre-calculates corresponding electrical field patterns. This preliminary processing allows real-time conversion by matching pre-computed texture patterns to displayed images, reducing the computational burden during actual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates electrical field patterns that copy or replicate the spatial and temporal characteristics of visual features in the displayed image. By mapping visual information to corresponding electrical stimulus patterns, the controller translates image content into tactile textures that mirror the visual content's structure and dynamics.
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 solution provides a realistic and dynamic tactile experience by creating a spatially varying touch stimulus that is perceptible only during motion, effectively converting images into textures in real-time, without direct nerve or muscle activation, using controlled electrically modulated moving touch stimuli.
Implementation Method 1
The two points of contact close a local electric circuit via the user's body. Each second insulated surface electrode produces an electric field which produces a force that does not directly create a touch stimulus at the overlying digit of a user when the digit is stationary
Implementation Method 2
the varying touch stimulus perceived by the user as the digit is traced over the arrangement of insulated electrodes creates a perceived 'texture'
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus including a first surface electrode and an arrangement of second insulated surface electrodes; a display configured to display an image; and a controller configured to apply a potential difference between the first surface electrode and the arrangement of second insulated surface electrodes and configured to control at least a variation in the applied potential difference in dependence upon the displayed image.