System and method for haptic stimulation

Abstract

A system for haptic stimulation includes: an actuation subsystem having a set of actuators, a support subsystem, a rigid housing, a sensor subsystem, a control module, and an electrical subsystem. A method for manufacturing a system for haptic stimulation includes performing a set of injection molding processes to form the support subsystem and/or the rigid housing; integrating the actuation subsystem within the support subsystem; and coupling the rigid housing to the support subsystem.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for applying tactile stimulation to a wrist region of a user in a coupled configuration, the system comprising:
 a wrist assembly configured to encircle the wrist region in the coupled configuration, the wrist assembly comprising:
 a first housing comprising a polymeric material having a first hardness, wherein the first housing defines an aperture arranged at a superior broad surface of the first housing; 
 a second housing comprising a polymeric material having a second hardness, wherein the second housing defines a notched region configured to prevent rotation of the first housing relative to the wrist region, and wherein the second housing is formed through a set of multiple injection molding processes; 
 an actuation subsystem arranged within the second housing, the actuation subsystem comprising:
 a set of multiple actuators configured to be arranged around a partial circumference of the wrist region in the coupled configuration; and 
 a set of actuator coverings coupled to each of the set of multiple actuators; 
 
 an electronics subsystem arranged within the first housing, the electronics subsystem comprising:
 a microphone assembly, wherein the microphone assembly comprises:
 an omnidirectional microphone arranged inferior to the aperture; 
 an acoustic mesh arranged superior to the omnidirectional microphone; 
 a conductive material arranged superior to the omnidirectional microphone; 
 
 wherein the rigid housing defines a set of walls surrounding the microphone; and 
 a processing subsystem configured to process a set of audio signals sampled at the omnidirectional microphone to produce a stimulation pattern produced at the set of haptic actuators.