초록 ▼

Apparatus for recording tactile sensations comprises a sensing or “receptor”glove used to effect a tactile exploration of an object whose “feel”is to be recorded. The glove typically includes a mosaic of pressure and temperature sensors in an “artificial skin”, which is applied to the object during

Apparatus for recording tactile sensations comprises a sensing or “receptor”glove used to effect a tactile exploration of an object whose “feel”is to be recorded. The glove typically includes a mosaic of pressure and temperature sensors in an “artificial skin”, which is applied to the object during the tactile exploration, and is connected to further sensors for sensing the motivity parameters of the movable parts, e.g. fingers and wrist, during the exploration. The pressure and temperature sensors are preferably formed by localized diffusions of electrically conductive material into a sheet of a flexible insulating material. The electrical signals produced by the sensors are recorded, and are then used, with or without further processing, to operate apparatus for reproducing tactile sensations. This latter apparatus can comprise a motor glove for reproducing the motivity parameters, and/or a flexible membrane containing a mosaic of piston members and electrical heating elements for reproducing pressure and temperature sensations respectively.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of providing to a human subject tactile sensation simulating the tactile exploration of an object, comprising the steps of: recording on a suitable support a first sequence of signals corresponding to spatial and temporal parameters, representative of a sequence of tactile exploration of a

A method of providing to a human subject tactile sensation simulating the tactile exploration of an object, comprising the steps of: recording on a suitable support a first sequence of signals corresponding to spatial and temporal parameters, representative of a sequence of tactile exploration of a plurality of points of said object; recording on a suitable support a second sequence of signals provided by sensing means operative to sensing, at least one parameter representative of tactile sensation given by each of said plurality of points of said object, said sensing means being operatively moved in contact with said object, so as to reproduce spatially and temporally, the above mentioned sequence of tactile exploration; applying simultaneously to a part of the body of said human subject, transducer means respectively operative to impart movement to said part of the body in response to said recorded first sequence of signals to exert tactile stimuli to said part of the body in response to said recorded second sequence of signals.