Wearable Electronic Haptic Feedback System for VR and Gaming Systems

Abstract

A wearable electronic Human Machine Interface (HHMI) receives electrical activity from muscles and nerves of a user. An electrical signal is determined having characteristics based on the received electrical activity. The electrical signal is generated and applied to an object to cause an action dependent on the received electrical activity. The object can be a biological component of the user, such as a muscle, another user, or a remotely located machine such as a drone. Exemplary uses include mitigating tremor, accelerated learning, cognitive therapy, remote robotic, drone and probe control and sensing, virtual and augmented reality, stroke, brain and spinal cord rehabilitation, gaming, education, pain relief, entertainment, remote surgery, remote participation in and/or observation of an event such as a sporting event, biofeedback and remotality. Remotality is the perception of a reality occurring remote from the user. The reality may be remote in time, location and/or physical form. The reality may be consistent with the natural world, comprised of an alternative, fictional world or a mixture of natural and fictional constituents.

1 . A haptic human machine interface (HHMI) usable in conjunction with a gaming system including a console that generates a wireless control signal for controlling a haptic vibration generator provided in a hand controller of the gaming system, the gaming system providing audio and video sensory cues to the user, the HHMI comprising:
 a. an electronic device having individually addressable electrodes for applying electrical signals through the skin of a user to at least one of muscles and nerves of the user;   b. a receiver for receiving the wireless control signal; and   c. an electrical signal generator for generating the electrical signals applied by the individually addressable electrodes, wherein the applied electrical signals are generated in response to the wireless control signal and are synchronized with at least one of the audio and video sensory cues, and wherein the applied electrical signals are perceived by the user from the individually addressable electrodes as an involuntary muscle contraction.   
     
     
         2 . The HHMI according to  claim 1 ; wherein at least some of the individually addressable electrodes both detect electrical activity from at least one of muscles and nerves of the user and apply the electrical signals; and further comprising: a signal detector for detecting the electrical activity received by the individually addressable electrodes. 
     
     
         3 . The HHMI according to  claim 2 ; further comprising a remote control signal transmitter for transmitting a remote control signal to a remote object dependent on the detected electrical activity. 
     
     
         4 . The HHMI of  claim 1 ; wherein the electronic device is configured as a glove having smaller, higher density, higher resolution, electrodes disposed at nerve-rich fingertips of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The HHMI of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured as a sleeve and applies the electrical signals to muscles of a forearm of the user. 
     
     
         6 . The of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured as a hand controller having haptic pads for applying electro-tactile sensations to the fingers of a user. 
     
     
         7 . The HHMI of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured as an orb having haptic and pressure active finger grooves, the orb having high resolution haptic and pressure active finger grooves for detecting data including user-applied pressure, bio-generated electrical signals, bio-active electrical signals, and changes in position and accelerations of the orb. 
     
     
         8 . The HHMI of  claim 7 , wherein the orb comprises a housing that holds transducers, accelerometers, microprocessors, vibrators, gyros, and transmitters, enabling the use of the orb as a wireless three-dimensional mouse or wireless joystick-like controller for gaming, entertainment, military, business, remote control and other uses. 
     
     
         9 . The HHMI of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical signals are applied as a varied electrical signal that simulates the effects of gravity. 
     
     
         10 . The HHMI of  claim 1 , wherein the involuntary muscle contractions have different speeds and durations dependent on the characteristics of the applied electrical signal to simulate the force of a moving object. 
     
     
         11 . The HHMI of  claim 1 , wherein the location for signal detection and signal application is unique to an individual user, enabling accurate detection of the nuances of the relevant electrical signals generated by the human body.