Virtual environment tactile system
Abstract
A method for providing a realistic sense of touch in virtual reality by means of programmable actuator assemblies is disclosed. Each tactile actuator assembly consists of a number of individual actuators whose movement is controlled by a computer and associated drive electronics. When an actuator is energized, the rare earth magnet and the associated contactor, incorporated within the actuator, are set in motion by the opposing electromagnetic field of a surrounding coil. The magnet pushes the contactor forward to contact the skin resulting in the sensation of touch. When the electromagnetic field is turned off, the rare earth magnet and the contactor return to their neutral positions due to the magnetic equilibrium caused by the interaction with the ferrous outer sleeve. The small size and flexible nature of the actuator assemblies permit incorporation into a glove, boot or body suit. The actuator has additional applications, such as, for example, as an accelerometer, an actuator for precisely controlled actuations or to simulate the sensation of braille letters.
- Inventors:
-
- 90 Arroyo Seco Way, Tracy, San Joaquin County, CA 95376
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 870735
- Patent Number(s):
- 5583478
- Assignee:
- Renzi, Ronald (90 Arroyo Seco Way, Tracy, San Joaquin County, CA 95376)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- virtual; environment; tactile; method; providing; realistic; sense; touch; reality; means; programmable; actuator; assemblies; disclosed; assembly; consists; individual; actuators; movement; controlled; computer; associated; drive; electronics; energized; rare; earth; magnet; contactor; incorporated; set; motion; opposing; electromagnetic; field; surrounding; coil; pushes; forward; contact; resulting; sensation; return; neutral; positions; due; magnetic; equilibrium; caused; interaction; ferrous; outer; sleeve; size; flexible; nature; permit; incorporation; glove; boot; suit; additional; applications; example; accelerometer; precisely; actuations; simulate; braille; letters; assembly consists; outer sleeve; electromagnetic field; magnetic field; rare earth; virtual reality; precisely controlled; precisely control; actuator assembly; associated drive; /340/73/341/414/
Citation Formats
Renzi, Ronald. Virtual environment tactile system. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web.
Renzi, Ronald. Virtual environment tactile system. United States.
Renzi, Ronald. Mon .
"Virtual environment tactile system". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870735.
@article{osti_870735,
title = {Virtual environment tactile system},
author = {Renzi, Ronald},
abstractNote = {A method for providing a realistic sense of touch in virtual reality by means of programmable actuator assemblies is disclosed. Each tactile actuator assembly consists of a number of individual actuators whose movement is controlled by a computer and associated drive electronics. When an actuator is energized, the rare earth magnet and the associated contactor, incorporated within the actuator, are set in motion by the opposing electromagnetic field of a surrounding coil. The magnet pushes the contactor forward to contact the skin resulting in the sensation of touch. When the electromagnetic field is turned off, the rare earth magnet and the contactor return to their neutral positions due to the magnetic equilibrium caused by the interaction with the ferrous outer sleeve. The small size and flexible nature of the actuator assemblies permit incorporation into a glove, boot or body suit. The actuator has additional applications, such as, for example, as an accelerometer, an actuator for precisely controlled actuations or to simulate the sensation of braille letters.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}