Tactile Stimulus Conversion for Arbitrary Texture and Feel Presentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tactile sensation presentation devices are limited in their ability to selectively output arbitrary tactile feelings, particularly failing to present sensations like sticky and springy feelings, and are specialized for specific types of sensations, making them inadequate for general-purpose use.
Innovation Solution
A tactile information conversion device that utilizes a control unit to select and generate tactile information using physical quantities such as electricity, force, temperature, and vibration, allowing for the presentation of arbitrary tactile feelings by applying stimuli that mimic the sensations of different textures and sensations, including sticky and springy feelings, through a combination of electrical, mechanical, and thermal stimuli.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional tactile sensation presentation devices use specialized ad-hoc technology for specific tactile feelings, then they can effectively present that specific sensation, but they cannot present arbitrary tactile feelings or combinations of sensations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal tactile presentation system that can present any tactile feeling by combining multiple elementary tactile sensations (vibration, pressure, temperature) in various patterns. Instead of designing separate specialized devices for each tactile feeling, the system uses a unified approach where a single device can generate diverse tactile sensations through different combinations and patterns of elementary sensations, achieving multi-functionality in tactile presentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments tactile sensations into elementary components (vibration, pressure, temperature) that can be independently controlled and combined. By breaking down complex tactile feelings into these fundamental elements, the system can reconstruct any desired tactile sensation through appropriate combination and patterning of the segmented elementary sensations, enabling arbitrary tactile feeling presentation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tactile sensations are presented using only pressure, vibration, and temperature as elementary sensations, then the system structure is relatively simple, but certain tactile feelings like sticky and springy sensations cannot be presented in principle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by introducing temporal patterns and timing variations to the presentation of elementary tactile sensations. By varying the timing, duration, and sequence of vibration, pressure, and temperature stimuli, the system can create dynamic tactile experiences that mimic sticky and springy sensations. The temporal arrangement and patterning of elementary sensations enable the presentation of complex tactile feelings that static or simple combinations cannot achieve.
3Adaptability or versatility
If nail-mounted vibration devices are used to reproduce edge perception of irregularities, then irregularity sensation can be effectively presented, but various other tactile feelings cannot be presented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the specialized nail-mounted vibration device into a universal tactile presentation system by combining it with other stimulus delivery mechanisms (pressure, temperature). The system maintains the effective irregularity presentation capability of the vibration component while adding other elementary sensations, enabling the same device to present a wide variety of tactile feelings beyond just irregularity sensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple tactile stimulus delivery methods (vibration, pressure, temperature) into a unified presentation system. By combining these different stimulus types that can be applied through the nail-mounted device, the system achieves the ability to present various tactile feelings while maintaining the compact and effective delivery mechanism, resolving the limitation of specialized single-sensation presentation.
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 the presentation of a wide range of tactile feelings, including those that cannot be reproduced by conventional devices, allowing for general-purpose tactile sensation simulation and enhancing the capability to mimic various textures and sensations.
Implementation Method 1
the outputting of electricity out of the physical quantities is the presentation of an electrical stimulus to a tactile receptor
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose is to provide a tactile information conversion device, a tactile information conversion method, and a tactile information conversion program, which are usable for general purposes by presenting or sensing an arbitrary tactile feeling. In order to provide tactile information to an output unit capable of outputting physical quantities including electricity, force, temperature, vibration, and/or time and space, at least two or more of the physical quantities are selected according to a tactile feeling to be presented, tactile information for presenting the predetermined tactile feeling is generated based on the physical quantities that have been selected, and the tactile information that has been generated is output to the output unit.