US 8,398,570 B2 · Wide band vibrational stimulus device

Abstract

An eccentric mass (EM) motor in a vibrotactile transducer provides a wide band vibrational stimulus to a mechanical load in response to an electrical input. The eccentric mass and motor may form part of the transducer actuator moving mass, which is in contact with a load, i.e, the skin of a user. The moving mass and the actuator housing may be in simultaneous contact with the load. The moving mass may be guided by a spring between the actuator housing and the moving mass. The load, moving mass, spring compliance, and housing mass make up a moving mass resonant system. The spring compliance and system component masses may be configured to maximize the actuator displacement and/or tailor the transducer response to a desired level. This configuration may be implemented as a low-mass wearable wide-band vibrotactile transducer.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A transducer to provide a vibrational stimulus to a load in response to an electrical input, the transducer comprising;

a housing having a contacting face and an opening in the contacting face;
a contactor;
at least one spring coupling the contactor to the housing and guiding motion of the contactor in the housing;
and at least one eccentric mass motor coupled to the contactor, wherein when the contactor is pressed against the load, the contactor is displaced with respect to the housing to pre-load the contactor against the action of the at least one spring, and in response to receiving an electrical control input, the at least one eccentric mass motor produces inertial forces that vibrate the contactor between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position through the opening, and a compliance corresponding to the at least one spring results in a flat displacement response by the contactor while the contactor operates at or above a resonance associated with the housing, the contactor, the at least one spring, and a load mechanical impedance.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wide band vibrational stimulus device

Life of this patent

Wide band vibrational stimulus device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20