Stimulator array
AssigneeStanford University
InventorJohn G. Linvill
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Abstract
A tactile stimulator is disclosed which comprises a stack of planar sheets of a piezoelectric polymer material, which in the preferred embodiment is PVF.sub.2. Each sheet has two opposed broad flat faces and at least one tactile surface at one longitudinal end. Separate electrodes cover portions of each flat face of the sheets in predetermined patterns. The electrodes from sheet to sheet are mirror images of the corresponding electrode patterns of the next adjacent sheet. Each of the sheets is polarized in the direction of its tactile end such that upon application of a voltage across the electrodes of that sheet, the sheet will longitudinally extend its tactile surface.
Claims7
Tactile stimulator apparatus comprising:
- a stack of planar sheets of a piezoelectric polymer material, each sheet having two, opposed, broad, flat faces and at least one tactile surface at one longitudinal end,
- separate electrodes covering portions of each flat face of the sheets in predetermined patterns which are mirror images of the corresponding electrode patterns of the next adjacent sheet face,
- and wherein each of said sheets is polarized in the direction of its tactile end such that upon application of a stimulating voltage of a predetermined magnitude and polarity from an external source across the electrodes of that sheet, the portion of the sheet between the electrodes will longitudinally extend its tactile surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.