Abstract:
A device for enhancing interpersonal communication over distance through use of touch. A vibrotactile (touch-and-vibration) interface is used to improve existing remote communication by allowing tactile cues to augment the audio-visual information in real-time. The pressure exerted by each finger of the transmitter produces patterns of vibration against the corresponding finger of the receiver. A hand-held device using the interface allows a user to transmit and receive patterns of vibration to and from a remote user and signify tactile gestures, or expressive uses of touch.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a non-provisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/463,272 filed Apr. 16, 2003, and claims the benefit of the filing date thereof. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to methods and apparatus for communicating using the sense of touch. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Conventional communication systems allow people to connect to each other in real-time while being physically separated. The ability to instantaneously exchange sound, text and images over great distances has become almost commonplace. However, commercial communication devices do not ordinarily convey a sense of touch. With rare exceptions, communicating using touch only occurs when people are face-to-face. 
   Touch conveys meaning and information in interpersonal communication. Touch acts as an extension of the physical body. Hand shakes between business partners signify agreement and commitment, the supportive squeeze of your hand by a friend, or even a quick tap of interruption from a stranger conveys a wealth of contextual information that is rarely present in real-time remote interpersonal communication. The goal of “reaching out to touch someone” suggests that touch is a powerful and meaningful part of interpersonal communication. 
   It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to use touch to communicate between people at remote locations, and to use touch signal transmission to enhance conventional forms of communication, such as voice telephony. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In its preferred embodiments, the present invention takes the form of methods and apparatus that allow people to communicate with one another at a distance through use of touch. A vibrotactile (touch-and-vibration) interface is used to provide remote communication, or improve existing remote communication, between individuals. The system transmits tactile signals which can have independent meaning or which can augment the audio-visual information provided by a conventional communications system. 
   The invention employs sensors for detecting the amount of pressure exerted by the fingers of the human sender&#39;s hand and produces patterns of vibration against the corresponding fingers of a remotely located human receiver&#39;s hand. This device permits the exchange of multiple, analog time-varying vibrations between two users. The vibration patterns may signify tactile gestures or expressive uses of touch. 
   The invention may be implemented by the combination of an actuator that is responsive to manipulation by a human sender at a sending location for generating an output signal indicative of the nature of the manipulation, a transmission channel for conveying the output signal from the sending location to a remote location, and a vibration source at the remote location for receiving the signal and producing corresponding vibrations perceptible to a human receiver which are indicative of the nature of the original manipulation by said human sender. 
   The transmitted output signal preferably indicates activity by said human sender at a first set of different positions. The vibration source at the receiving end produces vibrations which are perceptible by the human receiver at a second set of different positions which correspond to said first set of different positions. To achieve this, a pressure sensor may be positioned at or near the fingertip of one or more of the senders fingers, and output vibrators may be positioned on the corresponding one or more fingers of the receiver&#39;s hand, so that an action by a particular one of the sender&#39;s fingers causes a vibration to be sensed on the corresponding one of the receiver&#39;s fingers. 
   A vibration source may also be used to apply a feedback stimulation in response to an action by the sender that is felt by the sender. In this way, the sender can feel a vibration like that the receiver will feel, and thus better understand and control the nature of the touch signals communicated to the receiver. 
   The invention may be implemented by placing pressure sensors and output vibration sources on or near the surface of a device which may be grasped by the user. The device may be shaped to anatomically conform to the precision grip position of the human hand employed during manipulation of the device. Ergonomic ridges and indentations on the surface of the device help position the fingers of the hand properly with respect to the sensors and vibration sources. The device may take the form of a shaped housing of a telephone hand piece which is also used to house a conventional telephone or cellular phone voice communication apparatus, with the voice signals and the signals which produce vibrotactile outputs being transmitted concurrently between the parties to the telephone conversation. 
   These and other features of the invention may be better understood by considering the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the detailed description which follows, frequent reference will be made to the attached drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the placement and function of pressure sensors and vibration sources on the hands of a human sender and a human receiver of vibrotactile signals; 
       FIG. 2  shows the front elevational view of a shaped cellular phone housing fitted with pressure sensors and vibration sources which engage the fingers of the user&#39;s hand; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the shaped cellular phone housing seen in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the principle components of a touch signaling device used to implement the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a more detailed schematic diagram of a pressure sensor and feedback vibrator circuit used in the device of  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a more detailed schematic diagram of a receiving vibrator circuit used in the device of  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The preferred embodiment of the invention, called “ComTouch,” is a tactile communications system in which one or more actuators manipulated by a human sender generate an output signal sent via a transmission channel to a remote location where it is used to control a stimulator that produces vibrations perceptible to a human receiver that indicate the nature of the original action performed by the human sender. 
   In the preferred embodiment, the system translates pressure applied by the sender&#39;s fingers into vibrations felt by the receiver&#39;s hand. The pressure applied by each of the sender&#39;s fingers is translated into an electrical signal value that is transmitted to a remote location where it is used to control a vibratory stimulus applied to the corresponding finger of the receiver&#39;s hand. The personal nature of the resulting touch communication allows the parties to impart physical, nonverbal information to their communications, and may be used to advantage to supplement or enhance conventional telephony voice conversations. 
   The tactile communications method contemplated by the invention is generally illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Both parties are provided with identical tactile communications devices which work in the same way, permitting both parties to both send and receive touch signals.  FIG. 1  illustrates how an individual touch signal is generated in response to pressure applied by the fingers of a human “sender” and sent to the hand of a human “receiver.” Touch signals are produced by sensors that detect pressure applied by each of the sender&#39;s fingers. The output signals from the pressure sensing sensors are sent as electrical signals (analog or digitial) over a transmission pathway to a remote receiver where they are converted into vibrations which are sensed by the human receiver. 
   Both the pressure sensors and the vibratory stimulators engage with the fingers on the front of the hand where the skin is sensitive to touch signals and where a controlled amount of pressure can be applied. A pressure responsive input sensor is placed near the tip of each finger as illustrated in  FIG. 1  by a sensor located at  101  on the sender&#39;s index finger. A first vibrating “feedback” stimulator  131  is positioned on the same finger near the pressure sensor. A second vibrating “receiving” stimulator is positioned near the base of each finger as indicated at  121 . 
   When pressure is applied to the input sensor at  101  by the sender&#39;s index finger, a signal is transmitted to the receiving stimulator  141  on the index finger of the receiver&#39;s hand, causing it to vibrate. At the same time, the sender feels a similar “feedback” vibration produced by the stimulator located at  131 , confirming to the sender what the human receiver is experiencing. The input pressure sensor at  101  is positioned at the fingertip because the flexor muscles of the hand have the dynamic physical range needed to easily and accurately control a downward pressure at the fingertips. In order to approximate a coincidence of input and output, the feedback stimulator (as compared to the receiving stimulator) is positioned at  131  close to the source of actuation at the fingertip. The feedback and receiving stimulators are positioned on the middle and base of the front surface of the finger, as this area provides the needed contact surface at a touch sensitive location. 
   The tactile communication capability provided by the device may be used to enhance the communications provided by a conventional communications system, such as wired or cellular telephone link. The device may be incorporated into a wired telephone handset, or a cellular telephone, with the transducers being positioned to engage with individual fingers of the user&#39;s hand. Alternatively, the device may be implemented by an accessory cover that fits over an existing handset, or the sensors may be placed in a glove worn on the user&#39;s hand. The resulting configuration of sensors, illustrated by the handset shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , enables users to augment audio (spoken) communication by transmitting and receiving “touch signals.” 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  are front and rear views, respectively, of a handset whose exterior is shaped to conform to the user&#39;s right hand when the handset is held in the normal fashion. Five pressure sensors are positioned on the surface of the handset at locations shown in  FIG. 2  at  201 – 205 , with each sensor being placed to engage with the fingertip of one of the user&#39;s fingers (as illustrated at  101  in  FIG. 1 ). The pressure sensors are thus positioned where they may be easily manipulated by the ends of the user&#39;s four fingers and thumb as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
   Five vibratory stimulators seen at  301 – 305  are positioned on the rear surface of the handset where they engage with the base of the user&#39;s five fingers (in the location illustrated at  121  in  FIG. 1 ). Five additional vibrating stimulators (not shown) which provide feedback to the user and are positioned near the pressure sensors  201 – 205  respectively to engage with the ends of the user&#39;s fingers and thumb as illustrated at  131  in  FIG. 1 . 
   Like the telephone and face-to-face communication, the device provides touch communication that is both bi-directional and asynchronous. Each device both sends and receives touch signaling information, and touch signals flow in both directions over the communications link. The touch signaling is asynchronous in that touch signals can be both sent from and received by each device simultaneously, and no protocol is used (or needed) to govern when a user may transmit or receive information. Touch signals between the parties may accordingly coincide, overlap or be used to interrupt one another. 
   Unlike the telephone, which uses audio signaling for both the input from the user and the output to the user, the tactile communications system contemplated by the invention uses an asymmetric input and output. The invention maps the magnitude of input pressure applied by the sender to an output vibrational stimulus perceived by the receiver. In addition, in order to better communicate nonverbal expressive content, the device transmits continuous, time-varying signal values rather than discrete (ON/OFF) data. Variations in the pressure applied by the human sender&#39;s finger or fingers is manifested as corresponding variations in the intensity and frequency of the vibratory stimuli perceived by the receiver. 
   Thus, the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by the use of bidirectional, asynchronous transmission of continuous time-varying touch information transferred via an asymmetric interface. As used here, the term “asymmetric” means that the input and output are manifested in different forms; specifically, the input is manifested by an applied force while the output is manifested as a vibration. 
   Metaphor of Hand Gestures 
   The concept of this handheld device was inspired by the communication metaphor of shaking hands, a nonverbal interaction where the information is characterized by the physical nature of the contact between participants. The hand provides a compact site on the body for tactile input and output, and closing the sensory loop at a localized member of the body means that no extra sensory augmentation is required to both send and receive signals. The fingers exhibit a good sense of touch for receiving vibratory signals of varying intensity, and can apply pressure to an input sensor with precisely controlled intensity. The choice of the hand as the interface also allows separate transducers to be placed on several fingers (which may include the thumb), and each finger is used as a site of both actuation and reception. The front surfaces of the fingers possess a high density of touch receptors, while the independent motor control of each finger permits individual pressure sensors to be separately actuated. 
   The preferred embodiment of the invention uses all five fingers (i.e., four fingers and the thumb) to maximize the sensory capacity of the hand to send and receive information. Engaging as much of the hand as possible would allow more physical expression. Because it is desired to provide a representation of physical gestures, such as the nuances of squeezing and motion, a close physical mapping between the fingers and the device inputs and outputs will more adequately convey physical information. 
   Mechanical representations of touch typically employ motors, gears and control systems to represent the analog qualities of touch. The number of components increases the weight of the device and makes them more suitable for stationary than mobile devices. Also, these mechanical components often wear out with use. Other possible means of applying forces, such as shape memory alloys and magnetofluids, were also rejected due to expected practical problems with precision control of actuation, necessary operating conditions (temperature and sealing of components) and their relatively high cost. In the preferred embodiment, vibration is used to represent the analog pressure of touch. Vibrating objects are easier to hold than objects that have pushing or moving components. Currently, vibration is implemented in many commercial communication devices to alert the user when an incoming call arrives. These devices often use pager motors that pulse on and off at a fixed frequency. 
   Touch (pressure) to vibration mapping is used. A person using the device sends an outgoing signal by squeezing or pressing. The resulting variations in the applied pressure of touch are converted to corresponding variations in the intensity of vibration perceived by the receiver. In addition, the preferred embodiment incorporates a vibratory feedback channel to provide the sender with a direct indication of the nature of the signal that will be felt by the receiver. As a result, the device allows the user to control the intensity of the output signal and to gauge the intensity of that signal as it will be received. 
   A haptic communications device implementing the invention thus preferably has the following features: 
   1. Users send data by applying pressure at their fingertips and receive data in the form of vibrations. The intensity of the received vibration is related to the intensity of the pressure applied by the sender. 
   2. Both the input and output areas are localized on the hand and positioned such that hand does not have to do too much work. 
   3. The device is constructed of inexpensive, robust components that that can withstand fatigue, wear and tear. 
   4. The device should be small enough for discreet use and mobility, small enough to fit in the hand, and be easy to carry. 
   Generating, Transmitting and Receiving Touch Signals 
     FIGS. 4–6  show the manner in which the principles of the invention may be applied to provide touch signal transmission and reception which enhances the communication between parties to a cellular phone conversation. As seen in  FIG. 4 , the touch signals are transmitted as digital signal values in a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) channel  410  that the two touch devices use to establish a connection and exchange streams of data in the same order in which they were sent. A digital cellular telephone, such as Motorola&#39;s iDEN i730 multi-communication device, is used to provide a conventional, bidirectional audio voice communications channel  412  as well as the additional TCP data communications channel  410  The iDEN i730 includes a built in processor with software support for the Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition, also known as the J2ME™ platform which enables developers to easily create a variety of applications, as described in the  i 730  Multi - Communication Device J 2 ME™ Developer&#39;s Guide , Motorola Corp. (2003). 
   As previously discussed, each of the five fingers of the user&#39;s hand is used as a touch communications site. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a fingertip pressure sensor  420 , a feedback vibrator  422 , and a receiving vibrator  424  are positioned at each finger. Each feedback vibrator  422  is directly connected to and generates a vibration whose intensity is controlled by the pressure sensor  420  on that finger. The analog signals from the pressure sensor  420  are applied via a multiplexer  430  to a shared analog-to-digital converter  440  which delivers a repeating sequence of five digital values, each of which indicates the amount of pressure applied by the fingertip of one of the five fingers. These five values are transmitted via the TCP data socket channel  410  to a like device at the remote receiving location. 
   At the receiving location, the digital values representing pressure intensities are converted into analog signal intensities by the shared digital-to-analog converter  460  which are distributed by a demultiplexor  470  to the corresponding receiving vibrators (for example, the receiving vibrator  424  seen in  FIG. 4 ) which applies a vibratory stimulation to one of the fingers of the receiver&#39;s hand, as described in more detail in connection with  FIG. 6 . 
   The input pressure sensors (seen at  101  in  FIG. 1 , at  201 – 205  in  FIG. 2 , and at  420  in  FIG. 4 ) can be implemented using a Force Sensing Resistor™ (FSR) seen at  510  in  FIG. 5 . The FSR  510  is a polymer thick film (PTF) device which exhibits a decrease in resistance with any increase in force applied to the active surface whose force sensitivity is optimized for use in human touch control of electronic devices. An FSR can be as small as 0.2″×0.2″ (0.5×0.5 cm) and have a thickness of 0.008″ to 0.050″. These devices are available from Interlink Electronics, Carpinteria, Calif. 93013. FSRs are sensitive enough to discern a range of pressures from approximately 0.45 psi (light squeeze) to 150 psi (hard squeeze). 
   The output transducers (seen at  121 ,  131  and  141  in  FIG. 1 , at  301 – 305  in  FIG. 3 , and at  422  and  424  in  FIG. 4 ) preferably apply vibrations to the skin at a maximum frequency is 250 Hz to take advantage of the fact that the Pacinian corpuscles, the touch receptors that are sensitive to vibration, are most sensitive to vibrations of about 250 Hz. In addition, to provide adequate expression, the output transducer should have a high dynamic range. Dime-sized commercial acoustic speakers are suitable in range, and exhibit a response that quick and precise enough to represent subtle changes in the continuously varying input pressure signal. The model V1220 micro speaker from AudioLogic Engineering, used commercially in devices for the hearing impaired, may be employed to provide the desired vibratory stimulation. In the arrangements shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a touch-to-vibration mapping is implemented using a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit. 
   As seen in  FIG. 5 , a VCO is implemented using an Intersil ICM7555 CMOS RC timer integrated circuit  511  connected to operate as an astable oscillator as described in the ICM7555,7556 Data Sheet FN2867.6, Intersil (November, 2002). The FSR  510  is serially connected with a second resistor  532  between pins  6  and  8  of the IC  511 , and pin  7  is connected to the junction of resistor  532  and FSR  510 . A 50% duty cycle square wave signal on output pin  3  is amplified by an amplifier  540  and applied to energize an AudioLogic V1220 microspeaker  550 . Pins  4  and  8  are connected to a source of an operating potential V dd . When the FSR  510  is pressed, the operating frequency of the IC  411  changes. The VCO is configured so that the maximum pressure applied to the FSR produces a maximum frequency of 250 Hz. 
   Note that the vibrotactile speakers are designed to have a very narrow frequency response, and the amplitude of the output vibration signal drops off sharply as the input frequency moved away from 250 Hz, providing an effective way to create an amplitude envelope in response to changes in pressure on the FSR. 
   The receiving vibrator is also implemented with an AudioLogic V1220 micro speaker as seen at  610  in  FIG. 6 . The vibrator  610  is driven by an amplifier  620  connected to the output pin  3  of an ICM7555 IC  630 . The frequency of oscillation of the IC  630  is controlled by a voltage applied to pin  5 . A holding capacitor  640  retains the voltage level which is applied periodically from the D-to-A converter (seen at  450  in  FIG. 4 ) so that the frequency of the IC  630  increases toward 250 Hz to indicate increasing pressure applied by the corresponding fingertip of the human user of the remotely located touch transmitting device. 
   Ergonomic Considerations 
   An ergonomic form factor is desired for the handheld device. The device should feel comfortable and not obstruct the natural functions of the hand. In particular, the device should allow communication only when intended. For example, a user might send a squeeze signal when they are simply trying to hold the device. A strap (not shown) may be used for supporting the device in the user&#39;s hand, or an on/off switch may be used so that tactile communication will occur only when intended by the user. Another solution would be to decrease the sensitivity of the input circuit so that gentler pressures required to grip the device are omitted in the tactile communication channel. By reducing the number of channels, some of the fingers, particularly those with less motor control such as the ring and pinky fingers, can be devoted to holding the device rather than to touch communication. 
   It was observed that people used their index fingers to position a mobile phone, allowing them to more easily hold the earpiece against the ear, and point the other end toward their mouth. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the shape of the hand piece preferably conforms to the anatomical shape of the hand with the index finger over the top of the hand piece, and forms indented recesses which received and guide the fingers into proper position with respect to the fingertip pressure sensor, the feedback vibrator and the receiving vibrator. 
   The Nature of Vibration 
   Masking and isolation of the vibration signals is a problem due to the compact size and localization of outputs onto a small device and contact area with the skin. The device was designed to allow 10 independent vibration signals to contact different areas of the hand. It would be hard to feel the vibration of one actuator when there are nine others nearby whose vibrations can couple either through the device or through the bones in the hand. The desired vibrations are between the fingers and the buttons while undesired transmission of vibrations occur through the user&#39;s hand (via the bones) and the structural body of the device. It is accordingly desirable to select material having desired vibratory transmission properties to surrounding the actuators. Rigid materials transmit vibration while elastic materials dampen vibration. It is important that the material inside the structure be strong enough to position the vibrations correctly, yet soft enough to dampen the vibration, isolating the vibration locally under each finger. By encasing the vibrators in foam or other elastic material, the transmission of vibrations through the body of the hand piece may be reduced. A structural device body may thus be made of rigid plastic or the like, with the vibrators being secured to the body by elastic mounting means. 
   The constraint of having three points of contact on the device would cause problems with users of different sized hands. Users with small hands would have trouble applying the maximum pressure and being able to position their hand over the reception area at the same time. The mechanics of the finger necessitate that when the sensor is pressed with the fingertip, the rest of the finger must lift off the vibrating areas slightly. This lessens the ability of the user to sense the vibrations. By providing a curved and formfitting surface, the fingers may be guided to maintain contact with the speakers even though the fingertip is pressing on the squeeze sensor. The handheld device illustrated in  FIGS. 1–3  accordingly integrates the form design with the vibrotactile interaction. Notice that this reduces the number of contact points for the finger. The device affords the precision grip that is small enough to grab single-handedly and allows each finger to press independently. 
   Due to the constraint of the handheld surface, the location of the input force sensor and output vibrators must be located at three different points of where each finger rests on the device when gripped. To achieve this, the input force sensor and output of the feedback signal are both positioned at the fingertip, while the receiving vibrator is placed toward the base of the finger. In this way, both vibrators remain in contact with the finger&#39;s natural curvature as it is flexed, and the two vibrators are space apart so that the user can distinguish between feedback vibrations indicating action by the user, and received vibrations indicating action by the remote user. 
   CONCLUSION 
   It is to be understood that the methods and apparatus which have been described above are merely illustrative applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.