Patent ID: 8398569
Filing Date: 2013-03-19
Classification: A61H

Abstract:
1. A vibrotactile transducer to provide a vibrational stimulus to the body of a user in response to an electrical input, said vibrotactile transducer comprising; a housing having a contacting face, said contacting face having an opening; a mechanical contactor rigidly connected to at least one eccentric mass motor, said eccentric mass motor having an axis of rotation; and suspension means including at least one spring for suspending said mechanical contactor and said at least one eccentric mass motor in said housing and constraining the motion of said mechanical contactor in said housing to a linear motion substantially perpendicular to said eccentric mass motor axis of rotation; wherein when said mechanical contactor is positioned against the body of a user, said mechanical contactor is retracted with respect to said housing to preload said mechanical contactor against the action of said at least one spring, and when an electrical control input is applied to said at least one eccentric mass motor, the inertial forces from said at least one eccentric mass motor causes said mechanical contactor to vibrate between a retracted position and an extended position through said opening.