Apparatus, method, and computer-readable recording medium for generating tactile sensation through non-invasive brain stimulation using ultrasonic waves

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for creating a tactile sensation through non-invasive brain stimulation by using ultrasonic waves. The apparatus includes: an ultrasonic transducer module for inputting the ultrasonic waves to stimulate a specific part of the brain of a specified user non-invasively through at least one ultrasonic transducer unit; a compensating module for acquiring information on a range of tactile perception areas in the brain of the specified user and compensating properties of ultrasonic waves to be inputted to the specified user through the ultrasonic transducer unit by referring to the acquired information thereon; and an ultrasonic waves generating module for generating ultrasonic waves to be inputted to the specified user through the ultrasonic transducer unit by referring to a compensating value decided by the compensating module.

1 . A method for creating a tactile sensation through non-invasive brain stimulation by using ultrasonic waves, comprising the steps of:
 (a) affixing a tactile sensation apparatus to the head of a specified user;   (b) acquiring information via a brain activity monitoring sensor of the tactile sensation apparatus on a range of tactile perception areas in the brain of the specified user as information required to stimulate a specific part of the brain of the specified user non-invasively;   (c) determining a compensating value for the ultrasonic waves to be inputted to the specified user via a processor associated with the tactile sensation apparatus in communication with the brain activity monitoring sensor, said compensating value, said compensating value being determined by referring to the acquired information on the range of the tactile perception areas in the brain of the specified user; and   (d) determining, via the processor, properties of ultrasonic waves to stimulate the specific tactile sensation upon being inputted to the specified user by referring to the compensating value determined by the at least one processor; and   (e) generating ultrasonic waves with an ultrasonic transducer module, said ultrasonic waves having attributes have been compensated and allowing them to be inputted to the specified user through the ultrasonic transducer unit to stimulate a specific tactile sensation within the brain of the specified user non-invasively.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, at the step of (b), the information on the range of the tactile perception areas in the brain of the specified user is acquired by referring to a first tactile perception location in the tactile perception areas in the brain that perceives stimulation to a first body part of the specified user, when inputted, and a second tactile perception location in the tactile perception areas that perceives stimulation to a second body part, when inputted
 wherein, at the step of (c), the properties of the ultrasonic waves to be inputted to the specified user through the ultrasonic transducer unit are determined by referring to the acquired information on the range of the tactile perception areas in the brain of the specified user.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of (c) includes the step of: (c-1) determining the properties of the ultrasonic waves to adjust a location on the brain of the specified user on which the ultrasonic waves are focused by referring to the range of the tactile perception areas. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further including, at the step of (c-1), additionally adjusting a physical location of the ultrasonic transducer module on the brain of the specified user to adjust the location on his or her brain on which the ultrasonic waves are focused. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of (c-1) includes steps of:
 (c-1-a) deciding an accurate size of the brain at a present status by acquiring information on a range of specific tactile perception areas among all the tactile perception areas in the brain of the specific user used to feel a certain sense or monitoring the size of the brain changed depending on an emotion and a mental state of the specified user; and   (c-1-b) adjusting a location of a focus of the ultrasonic transducer module on the brain of the specified user by referring to the information on the range of the specific tactile perception areas or the information on the accurate size of the brain at the present status acquired through the step of (c-1-a).   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein, at the step of (c-1-a), information on a first tactile perception location in the tactile perception areas in the brain that perceives stimulation to a first body part of the specified user, when inputted, and a second tactile perception location in the tactile perception areas that perceives stimulation to a second body part, when inputted, is acquired by the brain activity monitoring sensor and then the information on the range of the tactile perception areas in the brain of the specified user is acquired by referring to the information on the first and the second tactile perception locations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , the step of (c) further includes the step of: (c-2) determining the properties of the ultrasonic waves to be inputted to the specified user through the ultrasonic transducer unit by referring to at least some of thickness of the skull of the brain of the specific user and that of skin or internal fat layer thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein, at the step of (c-2), the properties of the ultrasonic waves to be inputted to the specified user through the ultrasonic transducer unit are determined to allow the ultrasonic waves to be focused on the desired specific area in the brain by referring to the transmission properties of the ultrasonic waves including reflection and/or refraction characteristics of the skull of the brain of the specified user.