Patent ID: 9123258
Filing Date: 2015-09-01
Classification: G06F,G09B,H03K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a touch surface configured to be touched by a body member; a detection circuitry configured to detect a presence or absence of the body member on the touch surface at a position on the touch surface; at least one electrode; a voltage source configured to provide an electrical charge to the at least one electrode; an insulation layer configured to form at least part of a capacitive coupling between the at least one electrode and the body member, the capacitive coupling producing a Coulomb force directly on the body member in which mechanoreceptors are caused by the Coulomb force to experience a sensation in the body member from stimulation of the mechanoreceptors within the body member by oscillations in the Coulomb force, the insulation layer to inhibit a flow of direct current between the at least one electrode and the body member; and a controller configured to vary the sensation in the body member on which the Coulomb force is directly produced, wherein the sensation in the body member is varied by varying the electrical charge applied to the at least one electrode based on detection of the presence or the absence of the body member at the position on the touch surface.