Vibration-Based Force Display Device for Portable Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation devices face challenges in presenting a force sense effectively, as they require large size and high power to generate torque, and cannot sequentially present torque or reduce size, limiting their usability and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A force sense presentation device comprising a movable body, actuator unit, posture detection unit, signal generation unit, and control unit that generates vibrations with different frequencies and amplitudes to present tactile senses like frictional force, allowing navigation in a three-dimensional space while being portable and energy-efficient.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If torque is generated using gyro motors to present force sense, then force sense presentation is achieved, but device size increases and power consumption rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce sense presentationVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical gyro motor system with a vibration-based actuator system. Instead of generating torque through angular momentum changes in gyro motors, the invention uses vibration actuators to create tactile sensations through oscillatory motion. This substitution of mechanical principles enables force sense presentation with significantly reduced size and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention directly applies mechanical vibration to present force sense to the user. The actuator generates vibrations that are transmitted to the user's body, creating tactile sensations that convey directional information. This vibration-based approach eliminates the need for complex torque-generating mechanisms while achieving the same navigational guidance function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Force

If torque is generated using gyro motors to present force sense, then force sense presentation is achieved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce sense presentationVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the energy-intensive gyro motor system with a vibration-based actuator system. Instead of continuously consuming power to maintain angular momentum and generate torque, the invention uses intermittent vibration cycles that consume significantly less energy while achieving the same information transmission goal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses periodic vibration cycles instead of continuous torque generation. The actuator operates in discrete vibration bursts that are sufficient to convey directional information to the user, thereby reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous gyro motor operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of information

If torque is generated to present force sense, then directional information is conveyed, but sequential presentation of torque is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirectional information conveyanceVSAvoidsequential presentation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses sequential vibration cycles with different characteristics (frequency, amplitude, duration) to convey different directional information over time. Each vibration cycle can represent a different aspect of navigational guidance, enabling sequential presentation of multiple pieces of directional information that would be difficult to convey simultaneously through torque alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 effective and portable navigation by presenting force senses in specific directions using vibrations tailored to user posture, reducing size and power consumption, and allowing for intuitive direction recognition.

Implementation Method 1

The signal generation unit generates a driving signal for generating vibration on the actuator unit, the vibration having within an oscillation period a plurality of different frequencies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

the force sense presentation device presents to a user tactile senses of a force sense such as a frictional force by using the driving signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3187968B1Force display device, force display system, and force display method
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3187968B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP3187968B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4
  • EP3187968B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

[Solving Means] A force sense presentation device includes a movable body, an actuator unit, a posture detection unit, a posture detection unit, a signal generation unit, and a control unit. The actuator unit is connected to the movable body. The posture detection unit is configured to detect posture of the force sense presentation device. The signal generation unit is configured to generate a driving signal for generating vibration on the actuator unit, the vibration having within a period at least one of a plurality of different amplitudes and a plurality of different frequencies. The control unit is configured to control the generation of the driving signal by the signal generation unit depending on the detected posture.