Tactile feedback man-machine interface device

Abstract

A man-machine interface which provides tactile feedback to various sensing body parts is disclosed. The device employs one or more vibrotactile units, where each unit comprises a mass and a mass-moving actuator. As the mass is accelerated by the mass-moving actuator, the entire vibrotactile unit vibrates. Thus, the vibrotactile unit transmits a vibratory stimulus to the sensing body part to which it is affixed. The vibrotactile unit may be used in conjunction with a spatial placement sensing device which measures the spatial placement of a measured body part. A computing device uses the spatial placement of the measured body part to determine the desired vibratory stimulus to be provided by the vibrotactile unit. In this manner, the computing device may control the level of vibratory feedback perceived by the corresponding sensing body part in response to the motion of the measured body part. The sensing body part and the measured body part may be separate or the same body part.

1 . An apparatus for providing a tactile sensation to a sensing body part in relation to a virtual state signal, said apparatus comprising at least one vibrotactile unit, wherein each unit comprises: 
 a mass-moving actuator comprising a shaft and an eccentric mass mounted on said shaft, said mass-moving actuator rotating said shaft;    fastening means for holding said mass-moving actuator in relation to said sensing body part for transmitting vibrations to said sensing body part; and    wherein said apparatus further comprises a signal processor for interpreting said virtual state signal to produce an activating signal and transmitting said activating signal to said mass-moving actuator for activating said mass-moving actuator.