Wearable Tactile Actuator Layout for High-Resolution Body Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tactile stimulation providing apparatuses face challenges in providing high-resolution tactile stimulation due to difficulties in distinguishing individual motor vibrations and inadequate user contact, as well as limitations in generating complex tactile patterns.
Innovation Solution
A tactile stimulation providing system with a structure that adheres closely to the user's body, utilizing a tactile stimulation pattern generating apparatus that maps positions of virtual actuators and drives actuators based on a user interface, allowing for precise control of actuator positions, driving values, and multidirectional tactile stimulation patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the size and strength of the vibrating motor are increased, then the motor can be fixed to foam and provide sufficient vibration, but the motors cannot be densely arranged and user resolution is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical vibrating motors with voice coil motors that utilize electromagnetic fields to generate tactile vibrations. This substitution allows for smaller motor size while maintaining vibration effectiveness, enabling dense arrangement of actuators on the acryl plate without requiring large mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an acryl plate as an intermediate mounting surface between the voice coil motors and the foam structure. This additional dimensional layer allows motors to be densely arranged on the plate while the foam provides structural support and vibration transmission, decoupling the constraints of motor size from arrangement density.
2Manufacturing precision
If the voice coil motor is fixed to an acryl plate instead of directly to foam, then the motor size can be reduced and motors can be densely arranged, but vibrations transfer through the acryl plate causing difficulty in distinguishing individual motor vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating direct contact points between the voice coil motors and the foam structure at specific locations, while maintaining the acryl plate for motor mounting. This localized foam contact allows each motor's vibrations to be transmitted directly to the user without being smeared across the entire acryl plate surface, preserving tactile resolution while enabling dense motor arrangement.
3Manufacturing precision
If the tactile stimulation providing apparatus is to provide high-resolution tactile stimulation, then the apparatus must adhere closely to the user's body, but no solution is proposed for achieving effective close contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the acryl plate as a flexible intermediate structure that can conform to the user's body contours while maintaining the rigid mounting surface needed for precise motor positioning. The foam layers provide flexible cushioning that adapts to body shape, ensuring close contact between the actuator array and user skin for high-resolution tactile feedback.
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 high-resolution tactile stimulation by effectively adhering to the user's body and enabling easy generation of complex tactile patterns through a user interface, enhancing user experience and interaction.
Implementation Method 1
voice coil motors that are devices for transferring vibrations to a user like the vibrating motors
Implementation Method 2
the foams around the vibrating motor absorb a vibration
Data Source
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AI summary
A tactile stimulation providing system includes: a tactile stimulation pattern generating apparatus for generating a tactile stimulation pattern through a user interface including a plurality of virtual actuators to which positions of a plurality of actuators are mapped; and a tactile stimulation providing apparatus including the plurality of actuators, the tactile stimulation providing apparatus driving the plurality of actuators according to the generated tactile stimulation pattern.