Method and apparatus for tactile transduction of acoustic signals from television receivers
US5388992A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 19, 1991 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 19, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R9/00
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Inexpensive wideband transducers convert low frequency components (i.e., approximately 50 Hz through 800 Hz) of an audio signal to mechanical vibrations at the same frequencies so that the vibrations may be perceived at the user's skin, typically at a hand or finger. The transducer may be a small permanent magnet moving coil loudspeaker with most of the diaphragm cone removed to minimize soundwave generation, or it may be a small d.c. or stepping motor arranged to have its drive shaft rotated in alternate directions through small angles corresponding to signal amplitude. Vibrations may be applied to the user's hand through a hand-held case vibrating with the motor, or to a finger via a contactor extending outside the case from the motor or loudspeaker. The transducer has particular utility in conjunction with closed captioned in television programs to enhance appreciation of speech therein while also training the user in utilizing the transducer. One or more fixed frequency transducers may additionally be employed vibrations at a single frequency representing all of the higher frequency components in the audio signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.