Wearable Haptic Interface for Synchronized Multi-Sensory Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current human-machine interfaces lack the ability to provide immersive and synchronized haptic, audio, and visual feedback, limiting their effectiveness in applications such as remote control of drones, rehabilitation, and learning environments.
Innovation Solution
A wearable Haptic Human Machine Interface (HHMI) that uses individually addressable electrodes to apply electrical signals for haptic feedback, synchronized with audio and video cues, to simulate real-time sensory experiences, allowing for involuntary muscle contractions and perceptions of touch, thereby enhancing user immersion and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional human-machine interfaces are used, then device complexity is reduced, but immersion and sensory feedback quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensory feedback modalities (haptic, audio, visual) into a single integrated wearable interface system. The haptic feedback device merges electrical stimulation capabilities with audio output and visual display, creating a unified multi-sensory experience that enhances immersion while managing system complexity through integration
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable interface is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: delivering haptic feedback through electrical stimulation, providing audio cues through integrated speakers, displaying visual information through screens, and receiving user inputs. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace multiple separate interfaces, improving immersion without proportionally increasing complexity
2Reliability
If synchronized multi-sensory feedback is provided, then user immersion is improved, but synchronization precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor and adjust the timing of haptic, audio, and visual outputs to ensure precise synchronization. By continuously monitoring the delivery of each sensory modality and making real-time adjustments, the system maintains high synchronization precision across all feedback channels, enhancing user immersion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic cycles of sensory feedback delivery, where haptic, audio, and visual cues are delivered in synchronized periodic intervals. This structured periodic action simplifies the synchronization challenge by establishing regular timing patterns that are easier to coordinate and maintain precision for, compared to irregular or event-driven feedback sequences
3Reliability
If electrical signals are applied to muscles and nerves, then haptic feedback quality is improved, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts electrical stimulation parameters (voltage, current, pulse duration, frequency) based on real-time monitoring of user response and physiological conditions. By continuously optimizing these parameters within safe ranges, the system maintains high haptic feedback quality while preventing excessive stimulation that could cause harm
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable interface incorporates self-monitoring capabilities that detect user physiological responses and automatically adjust electrical stimulation levels. The system serves itself by monitoring its own output effects and making corrective adjustments, ensuring safety without requiring constant external supervision while maintaining optimal haptic feedback quality
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
The HHMI provides a highly immersive experience, enabling precise control of remote devices and aiding in rehabilitation by simulating real-time sensory feedback, thereby improving learning and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an electronic device having individually addressable electrodes for applying electrical signals to at least one of muscles and nerves of a user
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable Haptic Human Machine Interface (HHMI) receives electrical activity from muscles and nerves of a user. An electrical signal is determined having characteristics based on the received electrical activity. The electrical signal is generated and applied to an object to cause an action dependent on the received electrical activity. The object can be a biological component of the user, such as a muscle, another user, or a remotely located machine such as a drone. Exemplary uses include mitigating tremor, accelerated learning, cognitive therapy, remote robotic, drone and probe control and sensing, virtual and augmented reality, stroke, brain and spinal cord rehabilitation, gaming, education, pain relief, entertainment, remote surgery, remote participation in and/or observation of an event such as a sporting event, biofeedback and remotality. Remotality is the perception of a reality occurring remote from the user. The reality may be remote in time, location and/or physical form. The reality may be consistent with the natural world, comprised of an alternative, fictional world or a mixture of natural and fictional constituents.