IP Library Granted Patent US 10,470,971
Granted Patent B2
US 10,470,971 · App. 15/960,503 · Granted Nov 12, 2019

Garment with remote controlled vibration array

Inventors: Sambhu Choudhury (Cincinnati, OH); Monika Lalani Rathnayake (Cincinnati, OH)
A61H23/02A61H19/30G06F1/163G06F3/011G06F3/016G06F3/0416G06F3/04847G06F3/04883H04M1/72533A61H2201/165A61H2201/1645A61H2201/501A61H2201/5002A61H2201/5012A61H2201/5028A61H2201/5046A61H2201/5071A61H2205/06A61H2205/082A61H2205/087A61H2230/08G06F2203/0383G06F2203/04102G06F2221/2111G08C2201/42H04M1/72572
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,470,971
App. No.
15/960,503
Granted
Nov 12, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A communication system and method are provided for remotely reproducing a touch pattern or gesture as a vibrotactile output. At a touch screen, a first user device receives a touch pattern by a first user, characterizes the touch pattern as a touch pattern data based upon time and intensity of touch at a plurality of array points of the touch screen, and communicates the touch pattern data to a network. A tactile array patch of micro-vibratory devices is attachable to a garment and worn by a second user. The touch pattern data is wirelessly received from the first user device via the network. Vibration of selected micro-vibratory devices of the tactile array is modulated in timing and intensity in response to the touch pattern data to reproduce the touch pattern.

Claims (44)

1. A communication system for remote vibrotactile interaction, the communication system comprising a first and second user device, wherein:

the first user device comprises:

a communication interface to communicate to a network; and

a first vibrotactile controller in communication with the communication interface and the user interface device and that executes: (i) an alert generating application; and (ii) a tactile alert utility that causes the first user device to:

determine whether the alert generating application has generated an alert;

associate the alert with modulated timing and intensity of vibration of selected micro-vibratory devices of a tactile array; and

transmit a tactile output alert to the second user device; and

the second user device, comprises:

a surface that is one of: (i) worn in contact to a user; and (ii) supports the user;

a tactile array of micro-vibratory devices attachable as a first vibration textile to a portion of the surface in contact at least intermittently with the user;

a communication receiver to wirelessly receive the tactile output alert from the first user device via the network, and

a second vibrotactile controller responsive to the received tactile output alert to modulate timing and intensity of vibration of selected micro-vibratory devices of the tactile array, wherein:

the communication interface comprises a vehicle warning interface that receives directional vehicle proximity warnings from a vehicle; and

second user device comprises a second vibration textile that is attachable to another surface that is against another side of the user; the tactile output alert contains directional information in selecting one of the first and second vibration textiles.

2. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the tactile array of micro-vibratory devices are attached flexible substrate to form the first vibration textile that is attachable to the surface by a selected one of: (i) stitching; (ii) Velcro; (iii) adhesive; and (iv) pocketed insertion.

3. The communication system of claim 2 , wherein one or more vibration textiles are attached to a selected one of: (i) a garment; and (ii) a chair.

4. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the alert generating application that generates the alert comprises a pedestrian proximity alert of an approaching vehicle.

5. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein:

first user device comprises a microphone that detects audio alerts in an ambient environment; and

the alert generating application that generates the alert comprises an audio-to-tactile alarm converter that categorizes any audio alerts detected by the microphone.

6. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein:

first user device comprises: (i) a motion sensor that detects whether the user is in a vehicle; and (ii) a biosensor that detects a physiological value of the user that correlates to a level of alertness; and

the alert generating application that generates the alert is in communication with the motion sensor and the biosensor and comprises a drowsy driver alarm generator.

7. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein:

first user device comprises a geographic location finder that detects where the first user device is located; and

the alert generating application that generates the alert is in communication with the geographic location finder and comprises a geofence application that generates the alert in response to a violation of a geofence limitation.

8. The communication system of claim 7 , wherein:

the communication interface is in communication with a third user device of another user that is associated with the geofence limitation; and

the alert generating application generates the alert in response to the violation of the geofence limitation by the third user device.

9. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein:

first user device comprises a biosensor that detects a physiological value of the user that correlates to a monitored health condition; and

the alert generating application that generates the alert is in communication with the biosensor and comprises a health alert generator.

10. A method of remote vibrotactile interaction between user devices, the method comprising:

determining whether an alert generating application of a first user device has generated an alert based on receiving a directional vehicle proximity warning from a vehicle; and

associating the alert with modulated timing and intensity of vibration of selected micro-vibratory devices of a tactile array by generating the tactile output alert that contains directional information in selecting one of first and second vibration textiles positioned against opposing sides of the user; and

transmitting the tactile output alert to a second user device that modulates timing and intensity of vibration of selected micro-vibratory devices of the tactile array.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tactile array of micro-vibratory devices are attached to a flexible substrate to form the first vibration textile that is attachable to the surface of a selected one of: (i) a garment; and (ii) a chair by a selected one of: (i) stitching; (ii) Velcro; (iii) adhesive; and (iv) pocketed insertion.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the alert comprises a pedestrian proximity alert of an approaching vehicle.

13. The communication system of claim 10 , further comprising generating the alert that characterizes any audio alerts detected by a microphone of the first user device.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising generating the alert in response to a violation of a geofence limitation.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising generating the alert in response to the violation of the geofence limitation by a third user device used by another user.

16. The communication system of claim 10 , further comprising:

detecting a physiological value of the user that correlates to a monitored health condition; and

generating the alert based on the monitored health condition.

Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 14216909 · Mar 17, 2014
Provisional Application 61798854 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61814701 · Apr 22, 2013
Related Publication 20180243163A1 · Aug 30, 2018
Cited By (3)
US 12,357,532 US 12,562,266 US 12,700,497