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AssigneeAmerican Research Corporation of Virginia
InventorsK. Peter Lo, Nicholas V. Nechitailo, Howard J. Moses, Lawrence H. Decker, Howard P. Groger, Russell J. Churchill
Estimating the term…
The vibration and electrical characterization of a piezoelectric tactor actuator is described. The actuator is a rectangular laminated flat plate with two opposite sides simply supported and two others free. Under an axial compression from the supports, the plate deforms into a stressed shallow shell. Electrical high frequency harmonic signals within relatively low-frequency bursts are applied to the piezoelectric layers. Depending on the axial compression and pre-deflection, frequency and magnitude of electrical input, the tunable actuator exhibits frequency/mode-controlled high-force over large area vibrations with intense displacement jumps. A single-degree-of-freedom model and simplified 1-D models are provided. The tactor provides efficient conversion of electrical energy into mechanical.
A tactor apparatus for delivering sensible information to skin of a user comprising a pre buckled plate, piezoelectric material on the plate, an electrical power source, an oscillator connected to the power source and the piezoelectric material being connected to the oscillator for vibrating the plate to a buckling mode of maximum displacement.
A tactor apparatus comprising a base, a pre buckled plate axially compressed in the major direction connected to the base, piezoelectric material on the plate, a power source, a control connected to the power source, an oscillator connected to the power source and connected to the piezoelectric material and vibrating the plate to resonance and maximum vibratory displacement.
A method of providing tactile perceivable information comprising mounting tactile bases and pre buckling and placing tactile communicator plates which are axially compressed in the major direction against a user, selectively driving the plates by supplying vibratory energy to the plates in short bursts and vibrating the plates in resonance and maximum displacement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.