ShiverPad: A device capable of controlling shear force on a bare finger

We discuss the theory, design, and performance of a flat-panel tactile display capable of controlling shear force on a finger. In previous research a TPaD variable friction device was presented. It modulates friction by using vertical ultrasonic vibrations to form a squeeze film of air between the finger and the horizontal glass surface. In this research, a TPaD is oscillated in the horizontal plane at 20-100Hz while alternating between low and high friction at the same frequency. As the plate moves in one direction, the squeeze film is turned on and friction is reduced. As the plate moves in the opposite direction, the squeeze film is turned off and the friction increases. The net time-averaged force is non-zero and can be used as a source of shear force to a finger in contact with the surface. We demonstrate the implementation of line sources and sinks using this new technology.

[1]  Susan J. Lederman,et al.  Computational haptics: the sandpaper system for synthesizing texture for a force-feedback display , 1995 .

[2]  Masaya Takasaki,et al.  Transparent surface acoustic wave tactile display , 2005, 2005 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems.

[3]  Hiroo Iwata,et al.  Haptic interfaces , 2002 .

[4]  Vincent Hayward,et al.  STReSS: A Practical Tactile Display System with One Millimeter Spatial Resolution and 700 Hz Refresh Rate , 2003 .

[5]  M. Biet,et al.  Implementation of tactile feedback by modifying the perceived friction , 2008 .

[6]  Toshio Watanabe,et al.  A method for controlling tactile sensation of surface roughness using ultrasonic vibration , 1995, Proceedings of 1995 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation.

[7]  Gabriel Robles-De-La-Torre,et al.  Comparing the Role of Lateral Force During Active and Passive Touch: Lateral Force and its Correlates are Inherently Ambiguous Cues for Shape Perception under Passive Touch Conditions , 2002 .

[8]  J. Edward Colgate,et al.  T-PaD: Tactile Pattern Display through Variable Friction Reduction , 2007, Second Joint EuroHaptics Conference and Symposium on Haptic Interfaces for Virtual Environment and Teleoperator Systems (WHC'07).

[9]  T. Higuchi,et al.  Electrostatic tactile display for presenting surface roughness sensation , 2003, IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, 2003.

[10]  Vincent Hayward,et al.  Force can overcome object geometry in the perception of shape through active touch , 2001, Nature.

[11]  Vincent Hayward,et al.  Experimental Evidence of Lateral Skin Strain During Tactile Exploration , 2003 .