Tactile pattern music generator and player
OwnerDouglas D. Churovichinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device that produces patterned tactile sensations or events discernible to human touch from micro-actuators housed in a fabric, or other pliable material, where such actuated sensations or events are discernible by a user donning the fabric. The device is configured to convert electronically stored music or audio data into a sequence of patterned tactile sensations or events in a matrix across the fabric, providing a tactile representation of the music or audio data to the user. The discernible tactile sensations or events may alternately comprise retractable physical features, electric stimuli, and/or combinations of these.
Claims25
A tactile pattern generator comprising:
- a. a data converter configured to receive electronic data and convert the electronic data into a plurality of electric impulses, said electronic data comprising music;
- and
- b. a plurality of tactile actuators operatively associated with the data converter and comprising a matrix, each of said actuators configured to produce a tactile event in response to one or more of said plurality of electric impulses being applied to the actuator by the data converter, each such tactile event discernible by human touch;
- wherein the data converter selectively applies at least a portion of the plurality of electric impulses to at least a portion of the plurality of actuators according to a pattern defined by the data converter.
A tactile pattern player comprising:
- a. an electric power source configured to produce one or more electric impulses;
- b. a memory unit configured to store electronic data;
- c. a computer processor operatively associated with the electric power source to control the production of the electric impulses, the computer processor operatively associated with the memory unit to retrieve electronic data stored in the memory unit, the electronic data comprising music;
- and
- d. a plurality of tactile actuators operatively associated with the electric power source and the computer processor, the plurality of actuators comprising a matrix, each of said actuators configured to produce a tactile event in response to one or more of said electric impulses being applied to the actuator, each such tactile event discernible by human touch;
- wherein the computer processor is programmed with a set of computer executable instructions that convert at least a portion of the electronic data stored in the memory unit, said portion comprising music, into a series of commands to the power source to selectively apply a corresponding plurality of electric impulses to the plurality of actuators to produce a pattern of tactile events defined by the computer executable instructions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.