Tactile Sensation Provider for Virtual Image Interaction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for virtual images, such as stereoscopic and augmented reality, lack the ability to provide tactile sensations, limiting user interaction to visual only and failing to achieve realism.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that includes a display unit, image acquisition unit, determiner unit, and tactile-sensation provider unit to detect user interaction and provide tactile feedback, using cameras for image acquisition, recognition, and compressed air for tactile sensation, with optional adjustments for timely and precise feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual interaction only is provided through display screen, then device complexity is reduced, but user interaction verisimilitude deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the interaction function into separate modules: display unit for visual output, image acquisition unit for capturing user body, determiner unit for analyzing interaction intent, and tactile-sensation provider unit for delivering haptic feedback. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, managing overall system complexity while enhancing interaction realism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing chain between the display and the user's tactile sensation. The image acquisition unit captures user body images, the determiner unit analyzes interaction intent based on captured images, and the tactile-sensation provider unit delivers appropriate haptic feedback. This intermediary system bridges the gap between visual display and tactile interaction, improving verisimilitude without requiring direct physical contact.
2Ease of operation
If tactile sensation is added to virtual image, then user interaction verisimilitude is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tactile-sensation provider unit serves multiple functions: it provides haptic feedback for interaction verification, enhances immersion, and can deliver different sensations based on interaction type. By making this component multi-functional, the system achieves enhanced interaction verisimilitude while minimizing the need for additional separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where the image acquisition unit continuously captures user body position, the determiner unit analyzes interaction intent based on this feedback, and the tactile-sensation provider unit responds with appropriate haptic feedback. This closed-loop feedback mechanism improves interaction realism while managing complexity through intelligent control.
3Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used for image acquisition, then interaction detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cameras into a single image acquisition unit that works together to capture comprehensive user body information. By merging the functionality of multiple cameras into one integrated unit with unified processing, the system achieves high interaction detection precision while reducing the complexity management burden compared to treating each camera separately.
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
Enables users to interact with virtual images in a more realistic and immersive manner by providing tactile sensations, enhancing the verisimilitude of the experience.
Implementation Method 1
The tactile-sensation provider unit may provide a tactile sensation by ejecting compressed air.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for providing a tactile sensation for a virtual image are disclosed. The disclosed apparatus includes: a display unit for displaying an image including a virtual image; an image acquisition unit for acquiring an image of a user body; a determiner unit for determining whether or not a user attempts an interaction with the virtual image by using an image acquired by the image acquisition unit; a content analyzer unit for acquiring a time at which a virtual image is shown and position information of the shown virtual image from a displayed content; a tactile-sensation provider unit for providing a tactile sensation to a preset body part of the user based on a determination result of the determiner unit; and a tactile-sensation provision controller for adjusting an ejector nozzle of the tactile-sensation provider unit based on a virtual image showing time and position acquired by the content analyzer unit. The disclosed apparatus can enable the user to interact with a virtual image with verisimilitude.