Refreshable scanning tactile graphic display for localized sensory stimulation
AssigneeUnited States of America
InventorsJohn W. Roberts, Nicholas Guttenberg
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Abstract
Pressure-based refreshable scanning tactile graphic display apparatus and methods are disclosed for localized sensory stimulation. The apparatus include a display array having stimulus points embedded in a matrix, an energy source applied at the stimulus points through a modulator, a control unit, and a position sensing and feedback unit or units (such as a mouse-type device or data glove, for example). The energy source is preferably stored and pressurized fluid with application to selected stimulus points (pins, for example) preferably directed at a microvalve array under the control of a computer-based control unit.
Claims7
A method for localized sensory stimulation to tactilely simulate a virtual display comprising the steps of:
- providing for delivery of stimulus at a high density set of points at a selected body location of a user;
- modulating said stimulus delivery at different said points for selective actuation including applying variable differential pressure stimulus at said points;
- and
- controlling said modulation responsive to selected input to control which portion of the virtual display should be tactilely simulated at said points to simulate a sensation of lateral motion across the selected body location thereby to communicate to the user a detailed impression of either movement of a patterned surface across the selected body location or movement of the selected body location across the patterned surface without relative movement between said set of points and the selected body location of the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.