Vibroacoustic Tactile Panel Layout for Portable Full-Body Signal Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibroacoustic therapy devices are large, heavy, and cumbersome, limiting their portability and utility, and they typically transmit low-frequency signals directionally to isolated body parts rather than uniformly across the whole body.
Innovation Solution
A vibroacoustic tactile device comprising vibroacoustic generating and transmission layers with integrated transducers and exciters, supported by closed foam material, capable of transmitting low-frequency signals uniformly across the body through a tactile surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If coned audio speakers are used to transmit low frequency signals, then the signals can be transmitted directionally to isolated body parts, but the device structure becomes large, heavy, and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple independent tactile actuators distributed across the surface, each capable of generating vibrations independently. This segmentation replaces the single large coned speaker with multiple small actuators, reducing overall device weight while maintaining signal transmission capability to specific body regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional coned audio speaker mechanism with piezoelectric or electromagnetic tactile actuators that directly generate mechanical vibrations. This substitution eliminates the need for large acoustic chambers and cones, significantly reducing device weight and size while enabling precise localized vibration delivery.
2Measurement precision
If coned audio speakers are used to transmit low frequency signals, then the signals can be transmitted directionally, but the device becomes cumbersome and not portable
Solution Approach 1:
The device surface is segmented into multiple independent actuator zones that can be controlled individually. This allows the entire device to remain compact and portable while still achieving directional signal transmission by activating only the necessary segments for the targeted body region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point acoustic source to a distributed two-dimensional array of tactile actuators across the device surface. This dimensional change enables both portability (compact form factor) and directional precision (selective actuator activation) simultaneously.
3Power
If coned audio speakers are used, then low frequency signals can be transmitted, but the frequency range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple types of tactile actuators with different operating frequency ranges, allowing the system to change parameters dynamically. By selecting and activating appropriate actuators based on the desired frequency range, the device achieves both strong low-frequency performance and extended high-frequency capability, greatly enhancing versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A vibroacoustic tactile device and method of transmitting a vibroacoustic signal onto a human body includes at least one vibroacoustic tactile panel. The one or more vibroacoustic tactile panel has a vibroacoustic generating layer, a tactile surface, and a vibroacoustic transmission layer. The vibroacoustic transmission layer is disposed between the vibroacoustic generating layer and the tactile surface. The vibroacoustic tactile device further includes a signal delivery module that is operated to deliver an acoustic signal to the vibroacoustic generating layer. The vibroacoustic generating layer is operated to generate a vibroacoustic signal incident on the vibroacoustic transmission layer and the vibroacoustic transmission layer is operated to transmit the vibroacoustic signal to the tactile surface onto a human body.