GB2425822A - Mobile platform with a tactile actuator system receiving signals relating to a screen cursor position - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile platform 3 (e.g. a computer mouse) has a tactile feedback element 7, the element receiving signals which relate to visual or video characteristics (e.g. intensity, colour, brightness, contrast) at the position of a cursor 1 on a display screen 2. Tactile elements may be interchanged. The apparent stroke, spring constant, damping coefficient or elastic modulus of the element may be altered. An array of elements may be used. The platform may sense spatial position in two (2D) or three dimensions (3D). Drive signals may contain real and imaginary components. The actuator may be selected from a range of numerous types.

Description

L 2425822 The invena cororise a mtbile pa rm with an integrat'd ac

e:wangeabie) tactic array ol the same. Positional changes of a cursor on a display correspond to movements of the mobile platform. Mechanical parameters provided to the tactile element or elements depend on information corresponding to the position, and changed by movement of, the cursor on the display surface.

The system is conceived to allow the user to experience changes in mechanical parameters made apparent to the users fingers (or other biophysical organs). The parameters are provided by the actuator or actuators situated under the finger tips. These parameters may be changed, according to positional changes of the cursor, by physically movement of the platform made by the users hand (or other biophysical organ). Information so provided to the tactile element or elements is dependent on the spatial position of the platform in two or three dimensional space.

Mechanical parameters made available by the tactile element or elements consist of: height profile (actuator stroke), spring constant, damping coefficient and/or apparent elastic modulus. These parameters may provided singly or plurally in analog, rather than in simple binary (Braille), form. The necessary drive signals provided by an external source may be delivered as individual parameters or as real and imaginary components emanating from information in mathematical complex form.

The position of the cursor I on the computer display 2 is determined by movement of a mobile platform 3 over a surface 4. A signal containing a numerical value or values pertaining to video properties Drighlfless, contrast, colour etc.) of-the part of the image 5 directly under the cursor 1 are passed, via the host computer 6, to the tactile element or elements 7 mounted on the mobile platform 3.

A plurality of tactile elements may be concatenated in order to form a tactile array in one, two or three (deees of freedom) dimensions. The tactile actuator may also be combined with movement, force, pressure, velocity and/or acceleration sensors. The resulting data may the be fed back to the host computer as required.. 2.

Claims (15)

1. Claims 1. A mobile platform incorporating a controllable tactile actuator

   element or elements in the form of an electromagnetic (solenoid, motor, magnetostrictive) actuator.
2. 2. A mobile platform incorporating a controllable tactile actuator element or elements in the form of a magnetic (permanent magnet and flux gate) actuator.
3. 3. A mobile platform incorporating a controllable tactile actuator element or elements in the form of an electrostatic (electroactive polymer, piezoelectric, electrostrictive) actuator.
4. 4. A mobile platform incorporating a controllable tactile actuator element or elements in the form of a fluidic (pneumatic and hydraulic) actuator.
5. 5. A mobile platform incorporating a controllable tactile actuator element or elements in the form of an electrostimulative (small shock impulse) actuator.
6. 6. A mobile platform incorporating a controllable tactile actuator element or elements in the form of a thermomechanical (expansionlcontraction, shape memory alloy or shape memory polymer) actuator.
7. 7. A mobile platform incorporating a tactile device or devices which includes a non-controllable tactile spring return element in the form of an mechanical spring (metallic or polymeric).
8. 8. A mobile platform incorporating a tactile device or devices which includes a thermally controllable tactile spring return element in the form of an mechanical spring (shape memory alloy or shape memory polymer).
9. 9. A mobile platform incorporating a tactile device or devices which includes a controllable tactile damper element in the form of a conventional pneumatic or hydraulic element.
10. 10. A mobile platform incorporating a tactile device or devices which includes a controllable tactile damper element in the form of an element using magnetorheological fluids.
11. 11. A mobile platform incorporating a tactile device or devices which includes a controllable tactile damper element in the form of an element using electrorheological fluids.
12. 12. A mobile platform incorporating a tactile device or devices which includes any combination of actuator, spring and damper components as claimed in claims 1 to 11.
13. 13. A mobile platform incorporating a plurality of tactile elements claimed in claim 12 to form a tactile array.
14. 14. A mobile platform as described in claims 1 to 13 which also incorporates additional tactile sensing.
15. 15. A mobile platform as claimed in claims 1 to 14 whereby the tactile elements may be interchanged.