Pneumatic Haptic Vision Device for Skin Abrasion Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing haptic feedback systems for visually impaired individuals are complex, non-economical, and can cause abrasions due to extensive force, often requiring user input which is time-consuming and laborious, and lack effective methods for providing environmental information without visual feedback.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic haptic vision device that uses pressurized air to provide haptic feedback on the skin based on detected objects in the surroundings, captured using digital cameras, radar, or sonar, allowing for a natural sense-based vision and reducing the need for user input by drawing routes, obstacles, and other environmental information directly on the user's skin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If haptic feedback systems use extensive force to provide feedback, then feedback intensity is improved, but skin abrasions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical contact-based haptic feedback systems with a pneumatic system that uses pressurized air to deliver feedback. This substitution eliminates direct mechanical contact between the feedback mechanism and the user's skin, thereby providing effective haptic feedback without causing skin abrasions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs pneumatic principles by using pressurized air delivered through nozzles to create haptic feedback effects on the user's skin. The air pressure can be precisely controlled to provide varying intensities of feedback without the need for mechanical contact, resolving the contradiction between feedback intensity and skin safety.
2Adaptability or versatility
If haptic feedback systems require user input for control, then flexibility is improved, but operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that automatically detect environmental conditions and object characteristics, enabling the haptic feedback device to adjust its operation autonomously without requiring continuous user input. This self-service capability maintains system flexibility while significantly reducing the time users need to spend providing inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automatic feedback loops where sensors continuously monitor the environment and system state, and the control system automatically adjusts haptic feedback parameters based on this information. This automated feedback mechanism preserves adaptability while eliminating the need for manual user adjustments.
3Reliability
If haptic feedback systems use complex modules to provide feedback, then feedback capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential haptic feedback function from complex mechanical modules and implements it using a simpler pneumatic system with nozzles and pressurized air supply. This extraction maintains reliable haptic feedback capability while significantly reducing device complexity and eliminating the need for complex mechanical components.
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 device eliminates skin abrasions, reduces processing power consumption, and provides efficient haptic feedback with minimal user input, allowing for effective navigation and environmental awareness without visual feedback, even in dark environments.
Implementation Method 1
provide haptic feedback with pressurized air on skin of the user based upon detected objects in the surroundings of the user
Implementation Method 2
Information about the objects in the surroundings is captured with a digital camera, radar and/or sonar device attached to the portable electronic haptic vision device
Implementation Method 3
Information about the objects in the surroundings is captured with a digital camera, radar and/or sonar device attached to the portable electronic haptic vision device
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a portable electronic haptic vision device configured to be attached to or worn by a user. The portable electronic haptic vision device is arranged to provide haptic feedback with pressurized air on skin of the user based upon detected objects in the surroundings of the user. The information about the detected objects in the surroundings is captured with a digital camera, radar and/or sonar device, and/or a 3-D capture device such as a 3-D scanner or 3-D camera attached to the portable electronic haptic vision device. The portable electronic haptic vision device is realised as a helmet with at least two cameras placed in the position of the eyes of the user, or as a t-shirt or other wearable.