Illusory tactile sensation generation system and method

A system for generating a moving illusory tactile sensation on the skin of a user, comprising:

• a computer-generated virtual environment with which the user interacts, the computer-generated virtual environment containing a plurality of virtual objects;
• a number of skin stimulation devices temporarily placed at various locations on the body of a user, the skin stimulation devices arranged in spaced apart pairs and each device configured to produce a stimulating force on the skin of the user;
• a translator software component configured to:
• map the skin stimulation devices relative to the body of the user,
• receive from the computer-generated virtual environment signals that contain data relative to collisions to which an object of interest is subjected in the virtual environment, and to convert the data into a proper format for controlling the skin stimulation devices,
• identify which ones of the skin stimulation devices are in closest proximity to the corresponding location of a given collision experienced by the object of interest within the virtual environment, and
• determine the intensity of a skin stimulation force that should be applied by each identified skin stimulation device in order to simulate the tactile sensation that would be imparted to the object of interest in the virtual environment as a result of the collision;
• and
• a hardware controller configured to receive converted data from the translator software component and to transmit unique control instructions to each skin stimulation device so as to cause appropriate ones of the skin stimulation devices to exert a stimulation force having variable intensity and timing on the skin of the user;
• whereby, moving illusory sensations will be generated on the skin of the user along paths between pairs of skin stimulation devices, the moving illusory sensations coinciding with the timing, location, intensity and direction and rate of movement, of tactile sensations that would be imparted to the object of interest in the virtual environment as a result of collisions to which the object of interest is subjected.

A system for generating a moving illusory tactile sensation on the skin of a user, comprising:

• a computer-generated virtual environment with which the user interacts, the computer-generated virtual environment containing a plurality of virtual objects;
• a number of water jet skin stimulation devices temporarily placed at various locations on the body of a user, the skin stimulation devices arranged in spaced apart pairs and each device configured to produce a stimulating force on the skin of the user;
• a source of pressurized water in fluid communication with each water jet emitter;
• a dedicated solenoid valve interposed between each of the water jet emitters and the source of pressurized water, and additional solenoid valves associated with each water jet emitter to direct water to a drain so as to effectuate a pressure reduction when needed, each of the solenoid valves connected to a dedicated one of the hardware controller relays;
• a translator software component configured to:
• receive from the computer-generated virtual environment, signals that contain data relative to collisions to which an object of interest is subjected in the virtual environment,
• convert the data into a proper format for controlling the skin stimulation devices, and
• transmit skin stimulation device triggering signals and collision data via a Bluetooth signal;
• and
• a hardware controller including a Bluetooth board and an associated plurality of relays, the hardware controller configured to:
• receive triggering signals and converted data from the translator software component, and
• use the data received from the translator software component to adjust the open/close position of the solenoid valves;
• whereby, water will be emitted from the appropriate water jet emitters with variable pressure and proper timing, so as to generate a moving illusory tactile sensation on the skin of the user along paths between pairs of skin stimulation devices, the moving illusory sensations coinciding with the timing, location, intensity and direction and rate of movement, of tactile sensations that would be imparted to the object of interest in the virtual environment as a result of collisions to which the object of interest is subjected.