Tactile Sensation Device Current Flowability Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical stimulation type tactile sensation presenting devices face challenges in accurately presenting tactile sensations while ensuring safety, due to individual differences in internal resistance and environmental factors, which can lead to either excessive current flow or inadequate sensation.
Innovation Solution
The device includes a tactile sensation presenting section with a plurality of electrodes and a control section that measures the flowability of electric current through the skin and adjusts the execution mode of electrical stimulation based on the measurement, including adjusting the anode-cathode distance, electrode areas, and voltage patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical stimulation is applied to present tactile sensations, then tactile sensation presentation is achieved, but safety cannot be ensured due to individual differences in internal resistance and environmental factors causing excessive current flow
Solution Approach 1:
The control section measures the flowability of electric current through the user's skin before applying electrical stimulation. This preliminary measurement allows the system to determine appropriate stimulation parameters in advance, preventing excessive current flow and ensuring safety before the actual tactile sensation presentation begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The control section continuously monitors the flowability of electric current and adjusts the electrical stimulation parameters based on this feedback. This closed-loop control ensures that the current remains within safe limits while adapting to individual differences in skin resistance and environmental conditions during the stimulation process.
2Reliability
If electrical stimulation is applied to present tactile sensations, then tactile sensation presentation is achieved, but accurate sensation cannot be ensured due to individual differences in internal resistance and environmental factors causing inadequate current flow
Solution Approach 1:
The control section measures the flowability of electric current through the user's skin before applying electrical stimulation. This preliminary measurement allows the system to determine appropriate stimulation parameters in advance, ensuring that sufficient current will flow to produce accurate tactile sensations while accounting for individual differences in skin resistance and environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control section adjusts electrical stimulation parameters such as voltage, current intensity, and pulse duration based on the measured flowability of electric current. This dynamic parameter adjustment ensures that the stimulation is strong enough to produce accurate tactile sensations in users with higher skin resistance or in environments where current flow may be reduced.
3Device complexity
If fixed electrical stimulation parameters are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptation to individual and environmental variations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The tactile sensation presenting device performs self-adjustment by automatically measuring the flowability of electric current through the user's skin and selecting appropriate stimulation parameters without requiring external calibration or manual adjustment. This self-service capability enables the device to adapt to individual and environmental variations while maintaining operational simplicity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The control section dynamically changes electrical stimulation parameters such as voltage, current intensity, and pulse duration based on measured skin flowability conditions. This automatic parameter adjustment allows the device to adapt to different users and environmental conditions without increasing operational complexity, as the changes are made automatically based on real-time measurements.
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
This solution enables the device to accurately present tactile sensations while ensuring safety, by optimizing the electrical stimulation parameters based on individual and environmental variations.
Implementation Method 1
electrical stimulation type tactile sensation presenting devices that are configured to present tactile sensations by electrical stimulation
Implementation Method 2
current paths from anodes to cathodes are formed under the skin, whereby sensory receptors under the skin are stimulated
Data Source
AI summary
A tactile sensation presenting device includes: a tactile sensation presenting section having a plurality of electrodes to present a tactile sensation by electrical stimulation at a specific portion of a user; and a control section capable of controlling the tactile sensation presenting section to provide electrical stimulation using at least one of the plurality of electrodes as an anode and at least another one of the plurality of electrodes as a cathode. The control section measures a flowability of an electric current through the specific portion of the user and adjusts an execution mode of the electrical stimulation based on a result of the measurement.