Patent · US Expired

Tactile alert and massaging system

US6087942A · kind A · utility

89Cited by
26References
41Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 18, 1998
Grant dateJul 11, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 18, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60N2002/981
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A tactile alert stimulation and massaging system for equipment such as a vehicle includes a pad; a heater element, and motorized vibrators in respective regions of the pad; a plurality of vibratory transducers for location relative to plural zones of the seat, each transducer being responsive to a transducer power signal; a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface; an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value, a plurality of mode signals, and a plurality of region signals relating transducers to be enabled; a driver circuit responsive to the output interface for producing, separately for each of the transducers, the power signal; and the microprocessor controller being operative in response to the input elements for activating the transducers for operation thereof in a plurality of modes including a massaging mode selectively producing activation of the drive signals at adjustable intensity corresponding to the intensity control value for soothingly massaging muscle groups of the driver; and an alert …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.