Vibrating apparatus, system and method for generating tactile stimulation

{
  "publication_number": "US10082875B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Vibrating apparatus, system and method for generating tactile stimulation",
  "abstract": "An apparatus for generating tactile stimulation includes vibration actuators disposed on opposing sides of a finger, and a sensor configured to detect a position and a pointing direction of the finger, wherein the vibration actuators apply vibration to the finger with intensity and duration determined by the position and the pointing direction of the finger detected by the sensor, and wherein illusory stimulation is generated within the finger by the vibration generated by the vibration actuators.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus for generating tactile stimulation comprising: at least one housing configured to be worn around a user's finger, the at least one housing including a pair of vibration actuators disposed on opposing sides of a surface of the housing; and a sensor fixing band including a sensor configured to detect a position and a pointing direction of the finger, wherein the sensor fixing band is configured to be worn around a hand of the user, wherein the vibration actuators apply vibration to the finger with intensity and duration determined by the position and the pointing direction of the finger detected by the sensor, and wherein illusory stimulation is generated within the finger by the vibration generated by the vibration actuators, the illusory stimulation being configured to allow the user to feel individual vibration generated by the pair of vibration actuators around the finger as one un-split vibration.",
    "2. The apparatus for generating tactile stimulation according to claim 1, wherein the pair of vibration actuators are configured to be placed on each of two sides of the finger, and wherein the pair of vibration actuators placed on each side of the finger are arranged along the pointing direction of the finger.",
    "3. A system for generating tactile stimulation comprising: the apparatus for generating tactile stimulation according to claim 1; and a control device configured to generate a virtual model in virtual space, determine intensity and duration of vibration based on geometry of the virtual model corresponding to a pointing direction and a position of a finger detected by the sensor, and operate the vibration actuators to generate vibration with the determined intensity and duration.",
    "4. The system for generating tactile stimulation according to claim 3, further comprising: a display device configured to detect the position of the finger and visually display the virtual model.",
    "5. The apparatus for generating tactile stimulation according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a connecting unit connecting the vibration actuators to one another, and wherein the housing is open at a side opposite to the connecting unit.",
    "6. The apparatus for generating tactile stimulation according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a tapered shape narrowing towards a fingertip of the finger.",
    "7. A method for generating tactile stimulation comprising: providing the apparatus for generating tactile stimulation according to claim 1; installing the apparatus for generating tactile stimulation onto a hand of a user; generating a virtual model in virtual space; matching position information of the virtual space with position information of a finger of the user; processing the position information of the finger into sensing information corresponding to the virtual space based on a matching relationship; generating a localized geometry observer which is a grid structure on a plane facing a direction in which the finger comes into contact with the virtual model based on the sensing information; calculating a gradient of a surface of the virtual model coincident with the finger based on the sensing information to the localized geometry observer; generating stimulation information including intensity and duration of vibration in consideration of the gradient of the virtual model surface; transmitting the stimulation information to the apparatus for generating tactile stimulation, and generating tactile stimulation at the apparatus for generating tactile stimulation based on the stimulation information.",
    "8. The method for generating tactile stimulation according to claim 7, wherein the localized geometry observer reduces in a size of cells that constitute the grid when a change in the gradient of the virtual model surface is large, and increases in the size of the cells when the change is small.",
    "9. The method for generating tactile stimulation according to claim 7, wherein the calculating of the gradient comprises: determining a fit plane composed of contact points at which lines projected from each cell of the localized geometry observer to the virtual model meet the surface of the virtual model; and calculating a gradient of the fit plane to the localized geometry observer.",
    "10. The method for generating tactile stimulation according to claim 7, wherein the duration is determined by a length of an extension line within the localized geometry observer, extending from a center of the localized geometry observer toward a flow direction of stimulation in consideration of a direction component of the gradient of the virtual model surface, and by a motion velocity of the finger, and wherein the intensity is determined by a weight determined based on a position of stimulation on the extension line from one point, and by a height of the virtual model surface."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to an apparatus, system and method for generating tactile simulation, and more particularly, to an apparatus, system and method for generating tactile simulation that is worn on a user's body to stimulate the body through vibration.\n\nHaptic feedback technology is being intensively studied. Particularly, to provide realistic haptic feedback corresponding to visual information, many studies have been made on tactile interfaces that can be used on touch screens.\n\nIn some studies, to provide more realistic tactile stimulation, various attempts have been made to reflect geometry information such as the height of touch screens. Such attempts were impossible to render interaction forces between a touch screen and a user's body, but technology using so-called “two-and-a-half-dimensional (2.5D) geometry” for effective representation of 3D geometry on a plane surface was developed.\n\nReferring to FIG. 1, conventional methods for generating tactile stimulation in 2.5D geometry include a method of applying forces in the lateral direction when interaction between a virtual model and a finger occurs, by use of an electrostatic display and the squeeze film effect as disclosed by US Patent Publication No. 20110285666.\n\nThe conventional method for generating tactile stimulation uses a touch screen with a structure in which an insulation film 206 and a conductive film 202 are stacked, to provide tactile feedback when a user touches the touch screen with a finger 208 and slides the finger.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 3/016",
    "G06F 2203/04101",
    "G06F 3/011",
    "G06F 3/014",
    "G06F 3/041",
    "G06F 3/0416"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 3/01"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Korea Institute of Science and Technology KIST"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jaeha Kim",
    "Jaeyoung Park",
    "Yonghwan Oh"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-08-25",
  "publication_date": "2018-09-25",
  "grant_date": "2018-09-25",
  "priority_date": "2017-06-05",
  "application_number": "US-201715687152-A",
  "family_id": "63557071",
  "cited_by_count": 14,
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}