Tactile Information Conversion Using Multi-Stimulus Texture Synthesis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tactile sensation presentation devices are limited in their ability to selectively output arbitrary tactile feelings, such as sticky and springy sensations, and cannot present various tactile sensations using combinations of motions or physical properties like pressure, temperature, and vibration effectively.

Innovation Solution

A tactile information conversion device that utilizes a control unit to select and generate tactile information based on physical quantities like electricity, force, temperature, and vibration, allowing for the presentation of arbitrary tactile feelings by outputting electrical, force, or vibration stimuli that mimic the sensations of different surfaces, including soft and sticky textures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional tactile sensation presentation devices use combinations of motions like reciprocating motion, swinging motion, tilting motion, and rotation to present tactile feelings, then proprioception to the fingertip can be presented, but various cutaneous sensations and tactile feelings cannot be presented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile feeling presentation capabilityVSAvoidmotion mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical motion mechanisms with electrical stimulation to present tactile sensations. Instead of using reciprocating motion, swinging motion, tilting motion, and rotation mechanisms, the invention applies electrical stimuli directly to the fingertip to evoke various tactile sensations including cutaneous sensations, thereby simplifying the device structure while expanding tactile presentation capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter from mechanical motion to electrical stimulation. By controlling electrical stimulus parameters (intensity, duration, frequency, pattern), the system can present diverse tactile sensations without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a tactile map is created using pressure, vibration, and temperature as elementary tactile sensations, then arbitrary tactile sensation can be synthesized, but tactile feelings such as sticky feeling and sticky and springy feeling cannot be presented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile sensation synthesis capabilityVSAvoidtactile feeling accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces electrical stimulation as an intermediary to bridge the gap between physical sensations and perceptual experiences. Electrical stimuli act as a mediator that can directly activate sensory receptors in the skin, enabling the presentation of tactile sensations like sticky and springy feelings that cannot be achieved through pressure, vibration, and temperature alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite tactile stimulation approach by combining electrical stimulation with traditional mechanical stimuli (pressure, vibration, temperature). This composite approach enables more accurate and versatile tactile sensation presentation, including complex sensations like sticky and springy feelings that require multiple stimulation modalities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Measurement precision

If vibration stimulus is applied from above the nail to reproduce edge perception of irregularities, then virtual sense of unevenness can be presented, but various tactile feelings cannot be presented as it is specialized for irregularity sensation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveedge perception accuracyVSAvoidtactile feeling variety

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the tactile presentation system universal by enabling a single electrical stimulation mechanism to perform multiple functions. Instead of requiring specialized vibration mechanisms for different tactile sensations, the electrical stimulation system can present various tactile feelings (sticky, springy, rough, smooth, etc.) by adjusting stimulus parameters, thereby achieving multi-functionality and versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11281296B2Tactile information conversion device, tactile information conversion method, and tactile information conversion program

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 THE JAPAN SCI & TECH AGENCY

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.