Virtual Figure Presentation Using a Distributed Pressure Display.

Abstract

A tactile display device is effective in the virtual reality and remote control systems. In the present paper, a matrix-type tactile display device is mounted on a computer mouse so that a human subject can feel virtual textures and defects by manipulating the mouse and keeping his finger on the tactile display. In order to establish a design method for the tactile display device, the arthors developed a matrix-type experimental tactile display device having a 4×6 array of stimulus pins using bimorph piezoelectric actuators. In the tactile display device, 1.2, 1.9, 2.5 mm were utilized as the distances between adjacent stimulus pins. Using this tactile display device mounted on a mouse, we performed a series of psychophysical experiments with five male subjects in their twenties. It is found that distance between adjacent stimulus pins should be equal to the human two point threshold (1∼2 mm) and that the present display device can display virtual figures which are more than double area of the mouse cursor.