Configuration of a Novel Sub-Millimeter Resolution Piezoelectric Actuator Based Wearable Tactile Display System for Blind Individuals

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prakash C. R. J. Naidu ◽  
Ramesh Yechangunja ◽  
Mandayam A. Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Piezoelectric Actuators ◽  
Body Part ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Significant Feature ◽  
Block Type ◽  
Display Device ◽  
Display System ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Blind Individuals ◽  
General Communication

This paper presents the work conducted towards the realization of a novel tactile display system, first using block type piezoelectric actuators and later using cantilever type piezoelectric actuators. The system is particularly useful for blind users to communicate with computers through touch, but also has many potential applications in several other fields such as virtual reality, gaming, and other general communication interfaces for sighted users. Although piezoelectric actuators have been used in the past in electronic Braille and other systems, there is no reported configuration that can achieve sub-millimeter center-to-center resolution in an array of programmable actuation pins that act as interfaces in contact with a human body part such as a finger. This paper reports development of a wearable tactile display device: (a) built of block type actuators and its characterization showing that the perception was not adequate for certain purposes; (b) further, a novel arrangement with considerable improvement in perception wherein- (i) two or more vibrating stimulation pins can be located close to each other at the plane of contact with a finger, and (ii) actuated by means of piezoelectric bending elements arranged in a cantilever configuration partially overlapping each other in multiple planes. A significant feature of the unique configuration reported in this paper is that vibratory stimulation can be achieved at finer spatial resolutions than hitherto achieved.

Challenges in Development of Sub-Millimeter Resolution Thermo-Fluidic Actuator Based Wearable Tactile Display System for Blind Individuals

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prakash C. R. J. Naidu ◽  
Ramesh Yechangunja ◽  
Andrea Prosperetti ◽  
Mandayam A. Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Bubble Formation ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Switching Frequency ◽  
Display System ◽  
Prototype Development ◽  
Fluidic Actuators ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Human Finger ◽  
Blind Individuals

This paper presents the work conducted towards the realization of a novel tactile display system composed of miniature thermo-fluidic actuators. An application of the system particularly relevant to blind individuals is communication with computers through touch. The development of programmable spatio-temporal pattern of touch actuation based on bubble formation and vapor pressure has remarkable scope, not only because of the flexibility and wearability but also the high levels of motion amplitude and force of actuation not achieved so far by other means. The design specifications of the tactile display involved packaging of the miniature actuators in such a manner that the display can be conveniently attached at the tip of the human finger with desirable spatial resolution, and achieving the optimum force that can be felt through the human finger. However, there were challenges that were faced by the authors while miniaturizing the actuators for suitability in sub-millimeter spatial resolution desirable for the tactile display. The paper reports on the design, prototype development and experimental results and brings out the limitations along with possible solutions being pursued by the authors. The progressive efforts through fabrication and testing of different prototype thermo-fluidic actuators ranging from 3mm diameter bore to sub-millimeter sizes and the corresponding difficulties faced in the form of cooling requirements, hysteresis effects, and fabrication challenges are elucidated. The paper reports on packaging of actuators as an array of tiny tubes spaced as close as possible, and establishment of parameters, namely, amplitude of actuation and switching frequency, along with force generation adequate for tactile perception.

A Touch/Force Display System for Haptic Interface

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuneo Yoshikawa ◽  
Akihiro Nagura
Keyword(s):  
Control Algorithm ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Haptic Interface ◽  
Virtual Object ◽  
Display Device ◽  
Display System ◽  
Virtual Reality Technology ◽  
Display Devices ◽  
Sensory Channel ◽  
The Difference

The importance of force and tactile display in virtual reality technology has been recognized recently, and much research has been undertaken, including development of various force and/or tactile display devices. However, many of these devices are always in contact with the fingers or hands of the operators, and it is impossible for an operator to feel the difference between a contact and a noncontact state with a virtual object directly from tactile sensory channel in his/her finger or hand. This paper presents a new haptic display device that we have developed that provides both touch and force feeling to the operator's fingers. The device tracks the operator's finger without contact when the finger is not in contact with any virtual object. When some virtual object is in contact with the finger, the device touches and displays force to the finger. A control algorithm for the system is given to display the dynamics of the virtual objects. Preliminary experimental results are also presented to show the feasibility of the device and the validity of the control algorithm.

scholarly journals Tactile Display Device Using Distributed Lateral Skin Stretch

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Hayward ◽  
Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Piezoelectric Actuators ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Stress Fields ◽  
Display Device ◽  
Lateral Stress ◽  
Vibrotactile Stimulation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Tactile Displays ◽  
Skin Stretch ◽  
Finger Pad

Abstract In the past, tactile displays were of one of two kinds: they were either shape displays, or relied on distributed vibrotactile stimulation. A tactile display device is described in this paper which is distinguished by the fact that it relies exclusively on lateral skin stretch stimulation. It is constructed from an array of 64 closely packed piezoelectric actuators connected to a membrane. The deformations of this membrane cause an array of 112 skin contactors to create programmable lateral stress fields in the skin of the finger pad. Some preliminary observations are reported with respect to the sensations that this kind of display can produce.

Design of Braille Display System Based on Piezoelectric Actuator Array

2012 ◽  
Vol 201-202 ◽  
pp. 625-629
Author(s):  
Xiao Liang ◽  
Guo Ping Li ◽  
Zhi Ming Xu
Keyword(s):  
Piezoelectric Actuator ◽  
Word Segmentation ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Chinese Characters ◽  
Display Device ◽  
Display System ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Braille Display

According to the situation that conditional Braille book is difficulty in publication and its amount is small. This paper puts forward a tactile display system which can transform content of common e-book to Braille information, and the blind comprehend the text by touching the Braille formed by the tactile display device. This Braille tactile display system extracts Chinese characters by OCR technology. The text recognized is segmented into word blocks according to the rule of Braille word segmentation before transforming to double-phoneme mandarin Braille. It uses dsPIC30F2010 to receive Braille signal and then controls the piezoelectric actuator array to output corresponding displacement.

Computational and Experimental Binding Mechanism of DNA-drug Interactions

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (32) ◽  
pp. 3739-3757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandrabose Selvaraj ◽  
Sanjeev K. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecules ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Dna Interaction ◽  
Significant Feature ◽  
Drug Molecules ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Novel Drug ◽  
Groove Binders ◽  
Molecular Docking And Dynamics

Nucleic acid is the key unit and a predominant genetic material for interpreting the fundamental basis of genetic information in an organism and now it is used for the evolution of a novel group of therapeutics. To identify the potential impact on the biological science, it receives high recognition in therapeutic applications. Due to its selective recognition of molecular targets and pathways, DNA significantly imparts tremendous specificity of action. Examining the properties of DNA holds numerous advantages in assembly, interconnects, computational elements, along with potential applications of DNA self-assembly and scaffolding include nanoelectronics, biosensors, and programmable/autonomous molecular machines. The interaction of low molecular weight, small molecules with DNA is a significant feature in pharmacology. Based on the mode of binding mechanisms, small molecules are categorized as intercalators and groove binders having a significant role in target-based drug development. The understanding mechanism of drug-DNA interaction plays an important role in the development of novel drug molecules with more effective and lesser side effects. This article attempts to outline those interactions of drug-DNA with both experimental and computational advances, including ultraviolet (UV) -visible spectroscopy, fluorescent spectroscopy, circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), molecular docking and dynamics, and quantum mechanical applications.

scholarly journals Multiclass emotion prediction using heart rate and virtual reality stimuli

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Frederick Bulagang ◽  
James Mountstephens ◽  
Jason Teo
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Subject Classification ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Display Device ◽  
K Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Health Rehabilitation ◽  
Emotion Model

Abstract Background Emotion prediction is a method that recognizes the human emotion derived from the subject’s psychological data. The problem in question is the limited use of heart rate (HR) as the prediction feature through the use of common classifiers such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Random Forest (RF) in emotion prediction. This paper aims to investigate whether HR signals can be utilized to classify four-class emotions using the emotion model from Russell’s in a virtual reality (VR) environment using machine learning. Method An experiment was conducted using the Empatica E4 wristband to acquire the participant’s HR, a VR headset as the display device for participants to view the 360° emotional videos, and the Empatica E4 real-time application was used during the experiment to extract and process the participant's recorded heart rate. Findings For intra-subject classification, all three classifiers SVM, KNN, and RF achieved 100% as the highest accuracy while inter-subject classification achieved 46.7% for SVM, 42.9% for KNN and 43.3% for RF. Conclusion The results demonstrate the potential of SVM, KNN and RF classifiers to classify HR as a feature to be used in emotion prediction in four distinct emotion classes in a virtual reality environment. The potential applications include interactive gaming, affective entertainment, and VR health rehabilitation.

Kurzweil Reading Machine: Evaluation of Model One

1978 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 415-418
Author(s):  
Lawrence A. Scadden
Keyword(s):  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Final Report ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Reading Material ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Early Fall ◽  
Blind Individuals ◽  
Evaluation Project

In summary, the evaluation of the KRM has demonstrated that this approach and this specific machine can permit immediate access to printed material by most blind individuals. The greatest limitation at this stage of development is related to the confidence level that many users have placed in the ability of the machine to read various kinds of reading material. This factor has limited the use of the machine as an aid to employment of blind people. It is believed that many of the problems identified in the evaluation process can be overcome with further research and development of the KRM. The evaluation of the KRM by blind and sighted individuals throughout the country has led to the unanimous conclusion that further investigations with improved models of the KRM are warranted. The software in the existing models should be improved to eliminate some of the problems identified above. Hardware changes should be made to eliminate other identified problems. The concern regarding the lack of use of the KRM by employed blind individuals residing close to existing machines probably cannot be alleviated until reading machines of this kind can be located within the actual employment situation. Blind individuals are not willing, nor should they be, to travel to where machines are located in order to read work related materials. Other alternatives, including sighted readers, can be utilized within a work setting. This conclusion suggests the necessity of reaching the point at which speech-output reading machines can be affordable by individuals. Postscript: Since the completion of this evaluation project and the submission of the final report to the supporting governmental agency and to the manufacturer, KCP announced plans for Model Three of the KRM, a desk-top unit. The design includes most of the recommendations suggested in this report such as a hand-scanning option, a small tactile display to assist in format recognition, automatic contrast control with manual override capability, and a spell-next-letter feature. In addition, KCP announced several innovative features. The new model will permit the improved speech synthesizer to speak at rates up to 250 words per minute. Model Three will also have the capability of attaching to a braille embosser to provide direct print to braille conversion. The unit can also be attached to a computer to provide immediate full vocabulary output for computers. A new program is being developed to be used with all KRM's to permit the reading machines to be used as high-powered, programmable, scientific calculators. The new models and programs are scheduled for distribution in early fall 1978. Comprehensive evaluation of these advances is planned.

Metallic Microactuators Based on Sacrificial Layer SU8 Release

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eniko T. Enikov ◽  
Kalin V. Lazarov
Keyword(s):  
Printed Circuit Boards ◽  
Rf Mems ◽  
Sacrificial Layer ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Constant Current ◽  
Circuit Boards ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Promising Solution ◽  
Thermal Cooling

Thermal micro-actuators are a promising solution to the need for large-displacement, low-power MEMS actuators. Potential applications of these devices are micro-relays, tunable impedance RF networks, and miniature medical instrumentation. In this paper the development of thermal microactuators based on SU8 is described. A polymeric sacrificial layer allows the removal of the SU8 mold to occur without the use of harsh etching conditions. In addition to silicon non-traditional for MEMS substrates such as RF-printed circuit boards have also been successfully utilized to fabricate the devices. The PCB-based devices exhibited similar characteristics, thus opening the possibility of integrating RF MEMS directly on PCBs. The actuators were benchmarked with respect to power consumption, stroke, and response time. The fabricated nickel actuators are shown to be robust with displacements in the range of 76 micrometers using 80 mW of power. Actual cooling transients were captured using a two-step constant-current excitation method. It is further demonstrated through analytical models that the thermal cooling times limit the bandwidth of these devices below 1KHz. Several commercially relevant applications of the developed actuators are also discussed. One such application is a vibro-tactile display for disabled individuals.

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