Tactile Device Positioning Mechanism for Consistent Skin Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tactile devices face challenges in providing a uniform tactile experience due to variations in wearing position and individual differences in body shape, leading to inconsistent stimulation of nerve and muscle receptors.
Innovation Solution
The incorporation of a positioning portion, such as a glove or electrode configuration, that ensures the tactile stimulus generation portion is fixed at a consistent position on the body, thereby standardizing the wearing location and enhancing the uniformity of tactile experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a bracelet type wearing mechanism is used to wear the tactile device on the arm, then the device can be worn on any position of the arm, but the contact state between the tactile device and the skin varies depending on wearing position, causing variation in tactile experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing a positioning portion with specific structural features (such as positioning protrusions or shape-matched designs) at particular locations on the wearing mechanism. This localized structural design guides the device to be worn at a specific correct position, ensuring consistent contact state with the skin while maintaining the overall versatility of the bracelet type mechanism.
2Reliability
If detailed wearing instructions or assistance are provided to ensure correct wearing position, then uniform tactile experience can be achieved, but the ease of use is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning portion is designed to automatically guide the user to the correct wearing position through its structural features (such as positioning protrusions that fit into corresponding grooves or shape-matched designs). This self-guiding mechanism eliminates the need for detailed instructions or assistance, allowing users to independently achieve uniform tactile experience while maintaining ease of use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electrical signals are used for tactile stimulation, then diverse tactile sensations can be produced, but deviation in wearing position causes different nerves or muscles to be stimulated, making experience completely different
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning portion incorporates localized structural features (positioning protrusions, shape-matched designs) that ensure the tactile device is worn at a specific correct position. This localized guidance ensures that electrical stimulation always targets the same nerve or muscle receptors, maintaining stimulation consistency while preserving the ability to produce diverse tactile sensations through electrical signal variation.
Data Source
AI summary
A tactile device includes a wearing portion to be worn on a subject, a tactile stimulus generation portion that provides a tactile stimulus to a body surface of the subject, and a positioning portion that makes a place where the wearing portion is worn constant. The tactile stimulus generation portion is fixed to the wearing portion. The wearing portion is worn on an arm of the subject. A tactile stimulus is provided to a body surface of the arm of the tactile stimulus generation portion. The positioning portion is, for example, a glove integrally formed with the wearing portion.