Inducing tactile stimulation of musical tonal frequencies

Abstract

Transducers and resonators are embedded in body support structures in contact with a user to for the purpose of conveying musical sound energy to a user's body at selected frequencies and in selected patterns. Body support structures comprise beds, pillows, chairs, and other structures typically used to support people. The sound may be audio tones and/or music. The transducers and resonators may be incorporated into a foam component or in a coil spring component of the body support structure. Latex-type foams and beds made with springs are candidate body support structures for receiving transducer's and resonators. Electro-active polymers are also used as transducers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of inducing tactile stimulation of musical tonal frequencies in a transducer interface comprising:
 providing an electro-active polymer matrix array, said electro-active polymer array having a plurality of matrix array elements having predetermined shapes that are connected;   providing electrical connections to said plurality of matrix array elements;   disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface so that tactile stimulation of musical tonal frequencies can be induced in said transducer interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a source of musical tonal frequencies; 
 amplifying said musical tonal frequencies to create control signals that are encoded with said musical tonal frequencies; 
 applying said control signals to said electrical connections. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 bandpass filtering said source of musical tonal frequencies to create a plurality of filtered bandpass frequency signals that each have a predetermined frequency range; 
 applying said plurality of filtered bandpass frequency signals to said plurality of matrix array elements at different spatial locations on said electro-active polymer matrix according to said frequency range of said plurality of filtered bandpass frequency signals. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:
 disposing said electro-active matrix array in an exercise pad. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:
 disposing said electro-active matrix array in a chair pad. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:
 disposing said electro-active matrix array in a mattress pad. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:
 disposing said electro-active matrix array in a padded table. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:
 disposing said electro-active matrix array in an elastic bandage wrap. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:
 disposing said electro-active matrix array in an adhesive bandage. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:
 disposing said electro-active matrix array in a cast. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of providing an electro-active polymer matrix array comprises:
 providing an electro-active polymer matrix array that has diaphragm actuators. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of providing an electro-active polymer matrix array comprises:
 providing an electro-active polymer matrix array that has compliant electrode actuators. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 embedding sensors in said transducer interface; 
 detecting physiological data of a user from said sensors analyzing said physiological data; 
 selecting said musical tonal frequencies based upon results of analysis of said physiological data.