Vibrotactile Audio Mapping for Richer Musical Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibrotactile devices in the music field lack variability in signal parameters, limiting their ability to effectively convey complex musical information and enhance user experience.
Innovation Solution
A vibrotactile device comprising an audio signal input unit, a manual parameter input unit, a microcontroller, and vibration motors, which generates driving parameters based on audio and manual inputs to provide customizable vibrotactile feedback, including low-pass filtering and modulated signals to match motor ratings, and adjusts vibration duty cycles and intensities dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vibrotactile devices use limited signal parameters, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability and versatility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system accepts multiple types of input signals (audio signals from microphones or audio files, manual parameter inputs) and processes them through a unified signal processing pipeline to generate vibrotactile feedback. This multi-functional input handling enables the device to adapt to different usage scenarios without requiring separate processing paths for each input type.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal processing parameters are made dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed. The system allows real-time modification of filtering characteristics, amplitude envelope settings, and frequency mapping parameters based on input signal characteristics and user preferences, enabling adaptive vibrotactile feedback that responds to varying musical contexts.
2Measurement precision
If vibrotactile devices process audio signals with high fidelity, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential features from audio signals that are relevant for vibrotactile feedback generation. Rather than processing the entire audio spectrum with high fidelity, it selectively extracts pitch, rhythm, and amplitude information while filtering out unnecessary frequency components, thereby maintaining measurement precision for relevant parameters while reducing overall processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms audio signal parameters into vibrotactile-specific parameters through configurable mapping relationships. Frequency ranges are adjusted to match vibration motor operational characteristics, amplitude dynamics are remapped to control vibration intensity, and temporal patterns are transformed into duty cycle variations, optimizing the translation process from audio to tactile domain.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vibrotactile devices use multiple input units, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple input sources (microphones, audio file inputs, manual parameter controls) are merged into a unified signal processing architecture. The system combines audio signals and manual parameters into a common processing pipeline where they can interact and influence each other, allowing flexible composition of vibrotactile feedback from multiple inputs without requiring separate processing systems for each source.
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
Enhances user experience by providing more nuanced and engaging tactile feedback, allowing for a richer musical experience and improved accuracy in music perception and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The audio processor performs low-pass filtering by attenuating frequencies above a threshold frequency while passing signals below the threshold frequency of the at least one signal to generate a filtered signal
Implementation Method 2
at least one vibration motor... drives the at least one vibration motor based on the at least one driving parameter
Data Source
AI summary
A vibrotactile device and method including an audio signal input unit, manual parameter input unit, microcontroller, vibration motor controller, and at least one vibration motor are provided. The microcontroller is coupled to the audio signal input unit and manual parameter input unit. The vibration motor controller is coupled to the microcontroller and the at least one vibration motor. At least one signal is generated by at least the audio signal input unit or the manual parameter input unit. A modulated signal is generated based, in part, on a filtered signal from the audio signal input unit and a vibration duty cycle is generated, based on a tempo value and a note value of the manual parameter input unit, to generate at least one driving parameter, respectively. The vibration motor controller drives the at least one vibration motor based on the at least one driving parameter.