 Tactical vectoring equipment |
| The present invention comprises a Tactical Vectoring Equipment (TVE) that includes a plurality of ... |
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| Digital read-out electronic metronome |
| This invention therefore provides a portable electronic metronome which not only indicates beat ... |
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| Method and apparatus for real-time correlation of a performance to a musical score |
| It is an object of this invention to automate the score tracking process described above, making ... |
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| Apparatus for and method of reproducing music together with information representing beat of music |
| It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for and a method of ... |
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| Residual echo estimation for echo cancellation |
| What is claimed is: 1. An acoustic echo cancellation system comprising: an adaptive filter to ... |
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| Portable, foldable electronic device comprising at least two use positions |
| OF THE INVENTION With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a communication device 1, in the following ... |
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| Frequency hopping |
| The present invention addresses the above (and other) deficiencies in the prior art by achieving ... |
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| Estimating subscriber terminal speed, selecting cell, and radio system |
| What is claimed is: 1. A method for estimating a movement of a subscriber terminal in a radio ... |
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| Implementation of call forwarding in a telecommunications network |
| OF THE INVENTION Let us examine, by way of an example, a situation where subscriber A wishes to ... |
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Vibro-tactile alert and massaging system having directionally oriented stimuli
| Details |
Inventors: Sleichter, III, Charles G.; Cutler, Stanley; Gerth, Gayle B.; Otis, Jr., Alton B.; Chau, Taylor;
Assignee: InSeat Solutions, LLC (Santa Fe Springs, CA)
Primary Examiner: La; Anh V
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fulwider Patton Lee & Utecht, LLP
A vibro-tactile cutaneous alert stimulation and massaging system for equipment such as a vehicle includes a pad; a heater element, and motorized vibrators in respective regions of the pad; a plurality of vibratory transducers for location relative to plural zones of the seat, each transducer being responsive to a transducer power signal; a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface; an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value, a plurality of mode signals, and a plurality of region signals relating transducers to be enabled; and a driver circuit responsive to the output interface for producing the power signal separately for each of the transducers. The controller responds to the input elements to activate the transducers in: a massaging mode selectively producing activation of the drive signals at adjustable intensity corresponding to the intensity control value; and an alert mode producing a predetermined sequence of vibro-tactile cutaneous alert stimulation cycles, each alert stimulation cycle having idle portion between 1 and 30 seconds, and an active portion of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating the muscle groups of the driver for improving the driver's alertness, the intensity of vibration in the alert mode being greater than the maximum intensity in the massaging mode. Additional transducers can be spaced along a restraining seat belt for imparting directionally oriented stimuli warning of an impending collision. Also disclosed are methods for alerting a vehicle driver and for tactile-signaling a directionally oriented external condition to a vehicle driver or occupant. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A tactile alert system for an occupant support structure, comprising: (a) a plurality of vibratory transducers for location in plural zones of the support structure, wherein the support structure includes a pad for contacting a portion of an occupant, at least some of the vibratory transducers being imbedded in the pad; (b) a seat belt for restraining the occupant, wherein at least some of the vibratory transducers are supportable outside of the pad in longitudinally spaced relation proximate the seat belt; (c) a driver circuit for powering each of the transducers in response to a corresponding drive signal; and (d) a controller responsive to external conditions for selectively activating the drive signals in a predetermined sequence of alert stimulation cycles of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating muscle groups of the occupant of the structure, successive alert stimulation cycles differing in at least one of intensity, frequency, and transducers activated, thereby to alert the occupant of the particular condition and to improve the occupant's alertness.
2.
The tactile alert system of claim 1, wherein the alert stimulation cycles each have an active portion and at least some of the alert stimulation cycles have an idle portion.
3.
The tactile alert system of claim 2, wherein the active portion durations are between 1 second and 15 seconds, and the idle portion durations are between 5 seconds and 45 seconds.
4.
The tactile alert system of claim 2, wherein the stimulation cycles selectively include a pulse stimulation cycle wherein the controller activates the drive signals in spaced interval portions of the active portions.
5.
The tactile alert system of claim 4, wherein the interval portions have an interval duration being between 0.
1 second and 1.
0 seconds, activated ones of the transducers producing a vibration frequency of at least 50 Hz in each of the alert stimulation cycles.
6.
The tactile alert system of claim 5, wherein the vibration frequency in at least some of the alert stimulation cycles is greater than 80 Hz
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Ring Tones 
