Selector providing tactile feedback
AssigneeFlorida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Inc.
InventorJeff Phillips
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A selector configured to provide tactile feedback to the user. The selector can be incorporated into the fingertip of a glove, or many other suitable locations. Different size selectors can be provided for different application. Arrays of multiple selectors can also be provided. An embodiment of the inventive device includes a central plunger lying behind a conductive covering. A tactile surface is provided on the rear of the plunger. A compressive element is positioned to urge the plunger toward the conductive covering. When a user presses the selector against a touchscreen, the plunger is pushed away from the touchscreen and the tactile surface on the plunger presses against the user. The pressing of the tactile surface provides feedback to the user.
Claims20
A glove providing tactile feedback to a user's fingertip when a user exerts force upon an external surface, comprising:
- (a) a first fingertip region of said glove, having an interior volume within said glove housing said user's fingertip;
- (b) a tactile selector mounted in said first fingertip region, including,
- (i) a conductive flexible layer having a tip extending outward from said glove,
- (ii) a housing, including a base,
- (iii) a plunger slidably disposed with respect to said base, said plunger having a proximal end contacting said conductive flexible layer and a distal end proximate said base,
- (iv) a spring element configured to urge said plunger toward said tip,
- (v) said plunger having a tactile surface on said distal end of said plunger;
- (c) said tactile touchscreen selector configured to urge said tactile surface against said user's fingertip as said tip of said tactile touchscreen selector is pressed against said external surface-thereby providing said tactile feedback.
A glove providing tactile feedback to a user's hand when a user exerts force upon an external surface, comprising:
- (a) a first region of said glove configured to cover a portion of said user's hand;
- (b) a tactile selector mounted in said first region, including,
- (i) a housing, including a base,
- (ii) a plunger slidably disposed with respect to said base, said plunger having a proximal end extending out from said glove and a distal end proximate said base,
- (iii) a spring element configured to urge said plunger out from said glove,
- (iv) said plunger having a tactile surface on said distal end of said plunger, and
- (c) said tactile selector configured to move said tactile surface against said portion of said user's hand as said proximal end of said plunger is moved in a distal direction by contact between said tactile selector and said external surface-thereby providing said tactile feedback.
A glove providing tactile feedback to a portion of a user's hand when a user exerts force upon an external surface, comprising:
- (a) a first region of said glove, having an interior volume within said glove configured to house said portion of said user's hand;
- (b) a tactile selector mounted in said first region of said glove, including,
- (i) a base lying within said interior volume of said glove,
- (ii) a plunger having a proximal end extending out from said glove and a distal end proximate said base;
- (iii) a spring element configured to urge said plunger out from said glove,
- (iv) said plunger having a tactile surface on said distal end of said plunger;
- and
- (c) said tactile selector configured to move said tactile surface against said portion of said user's hand as said proximal end of said plunger is moved in a distal direction by contact with said external surface-thereby providing said tactile feedback.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.