Patent ID: 7495654

Claim:
A haptic apparatus comprising: a plate element positionable to extend over an elongated anatomical segment of a user; a plurality of elongate members, each coupled to the plate element at a different location and configured to be mounted onto a different portion of the anatomical segment at a different location along the length of the elongated anatomical segment so as to remain substantially perpendicular to the portion of the anatomical segment while the portion of the anatomical segment undergoes a motion; and a plurality of motion restrictors, each coupled to one of the elongate members and responsive to a control signal to impede the motion of the portion of the anatomical segment to which the elongate member is mounted separately from the motion of other portions of the anatomical segment by generating an opposing force along the elongate member in a direction normal to the portion of the anatomical segment, thereby providing tactile feedback to the user, each motion restrictor configured to operate independent of the other.