Virtual environment tactile system

A system for providing a sensation of touch to a user, wherein electrical signals are transmitted to a glove worn by the user, the glove comprising:

• a) a plurality of matrices of actuators being disposed in the glove, wherein each actuator in each of said matrices of actuators is individually addressable, and wherein each actuator includes;
• i) a nonferrous spool having an axial cavity, wherein the cavity has one open end,
• ii) a magnet slidably disposed within the cavity,
• iii) a contactor adjacent the magnet, and
• iv) a coil wrapped around the nonferrous spool such that the magnet is at least partially within the circumference of the coil,
• b) a sleeve disposed around the nonferrous spool, wherein the sleeve encloses the nonferrous spool and the coil disposed thereon and isolates a magnetic field produced by the coil when the coil is energized by an electrical signal such that the magnetic field remains substantially within the nonferrous spool and sleeve;
• and
• c) a plurality of wires being disposed in the glove, one pair of wires for each actuator, each of the wire pairs transmitting an electrical signal to at least one of the actuators, thereby energizing the coil in said one actuator and causing the contactor to contact the user's skin.

An apparatus for providing a sense of touch to a user, comprising:

• a) a plurality of tactile actuator assemblies, one for a different area of the user's skin, each tactile actuator assembly including;
• i) a matrix of tactile actuators, each tactile actuator including;
• 1) a nonferrous spool having an axial cavity, wherein the cavity has one open end,
• 2) a magnet slidably disposed within the cavity,
• 3) a contactor adjacent the magnet,
• 4) a coil wrapped around the nonferrous spool such that the magnet is at least partially within the circumference of the coil, and
• 5) a sleeve disposed around the nonferrous spool, wherein the sleeve encloses the nonferrous spool and the coil disposed thereon and isolates a magnetic field produced by the coil when the coil is energized by an electrical signal such that the magnetic field remains substantially within the nonferrous spool and sleeve,
• ii) a flexible enclosure conforming substantially to the area of the user's skin and housing the matrix of tactile actuators and including a plurality of wire pairs, at least one pair for each of the tactile actuators, each of said one wire pairs being coupled to the coil in one of the tactile actuators in the matrix of tactile actuators such that each actuator is individually addressable;
• and
• b) a controller coupled to each tactile actuator and transmitting electrical control signals to each tactile actuator, which electrical control signals control the frequency and amplitude of movement of all of the contactors in all of the tactile actuators independently of each other.

A method of providing a sensation of touch to a user, comprising the steps of:

• a) specifying a waveform for each of a plurality of electrical control signals;
• b) controlling the movement of a plurality of magnets disposed near the skin of the user by energizing a plurality of coils with the plurality of electrical control signals;
• and
• c) contacting the skin of the user with a plurality of contactors being driven by a plurality of magnets.