A New Modular Pin-Array Tactile Device

作者：Kim Sang Youn; An Hyo Geun; Yang Tae Heon^*

来源：International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, 2015, 16(8): 1745-1751.

DOI：10.1007/s12541-015-0229-4

• Modular tactile device
• Pin-array device
• Haptic
• Consumer electronics

Although the haptic sensation by a vibrotactile actuator can improve the usability and immersion of a handheld device, it is a challenge to generate a detailed texture and/or a small-scale shape with the vibrotactile actuator. These haptic effects can be achieved by a pin-array type tactile device, which selectively stimulates mechanoreceptors. However; it is not easy to construct a tactile device that is sufficiently small to be embedded into a handheld device. Furthermore, it is difficult to perform maintenance and change the configuration of the tactile device. Therefore, this paper proposes a tiny modular pin-array tactile device which can minimize the time of design, can increase the number of configuration, and can take ease maintenance. To construct this modular tactile device, we first design a tiny solenoid tactile actuator based on solenoids. Then, we cover the assembled actuator with a housing after simply assembling them in the target shape. Thus, this device has the advantages of simple design, straightforward configuration, and easy maintenance. From the experiments, the result clearly showed that the proposed tactile device generates sufficient output force to stimulate human skin over a wide frequency bandwidth and conveys a variety of vibrotactile sensations to users.

• 出版日期2015-7