LOW FREQUENCY VIBRATION EFFECTS The present invention claims benefit of USSN 61/596,260 and USSN 61/596,240, both filed on 8-FEB-12.

BACKGROUND

Animals sense vibrations, mostly via the ear. The human ear is able to sense vibrations over a wide range of frequencies as audible sound.

In the audible range, acoustic vibrations are experienced as sounds. Quality speakers are required for quality reproduction of music. To provide audible sensations in the low bass, very large speakers are required. Personal earphones are not effective in providing deep notes in the bass section of the audible spectrum i.e. in the range of < 250 Hz. The bass signals are only weakly picked up via the earphones, and this is one reason why people tend to listen to music via earphones at high volume, which is generally damaging to the ears. In a concert hall, some of the bass is sensed via the feet picking up vibrations of the floor, and the body sensing vibrations of the seat.

Similarly, to enable individuals to experience bass, for example, when listening to a DVD, an MP3, MP4 or smart-phone via earphones, mechanical vibrators may be attached to the body. Preferred locations are on acoustic meridians, such as near the sternum and the base of the spine, or on the legs or feet. This can provide sensations that are felt rather than heard, and which can provide or contribute to an immersive effect, particularly when provided with and synchronized with audible and visible sensations via earphones and screens. Thus, music, electronic games and movies may be enhanced by providing low frequency signals to the body.

Electromechanical vibrators that are capable of providing low frequency vibrations may comprise eccentric motors or pistons that consist of solenoid and magnets that are attracted and repelled by alternating currents in the solenoid.

In previously submitted patent applications, WO 2012/028973 "Personal Media Playing System" and WO 2012/029009 titled "A Wearable Vibration Device" a vibration device and its use for enhancing the experience of media was discussed.

The device was used for receiving low frequency electronic signals and for generating low frequency vibrations, particularly for enhancing the enjoyment of music, games and films to a wearer.

The present application discusses how related devices and appropriate signals may further enhance the user experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first aspect of the invention is directed to a method of providing a personal experience to a person comprising the steps of:

providing a tactile transducer;

coupling the tactile transducer to an anchor, and

providing an ultra low frequency electrical signal to the vibrating transducer, and inducing a vibration in the anchor for sensing by the person.

Optionally the tactile transducer is worn, and is either attached to a garment or strapped to the body via the anchor.

Alternatively, the tactile transducer is attached to an interface selected from the group consisting of a seat, a platform, a joystick, a steering wheel, a handlebar and a wand.

In one embodiment, the tactile transducer comprises a closed loop of steel, a solenoid coupled to the closed loop and a magnetic array coupled to the closed loop opposite the solenoid and around the axis of the solenoid, such that changing electrical current in the solenoid causes the magnetic array to oscillate from side to side, tangential to the solenoid.

Where the ultra low frequency signal is a non symmetrical signal, the movement of the tactile transducer causes a tugging effect that provides a directional sensation.

In one embodiment, the closed loop of steel comprises S1010 steel and the magnets are niobium magnets.

In a preferred embodiment, the anchor for attachment to the person is coupled to the tactile transducer near to its center of mass.

Where the signal has a frequency of less than about 20 Hz, the transducer may provide a sensation of mood.

The sensation of mood may be selected from the group comprising anxiety, stress, spookiness and unease.

Typically, a person is exposed to audio or visual stimuli that are synchronized with the tactile frequency to reinforce the sensation of mood.

In some embodiments, the person is exposed to audio or visual stimuli that are spooky to provide a haunted sensation.

In one embodiment, the infrasonic signal is coupled with audible sound and / or images to provide a sensation of a natural phenomenon. A second aspect is directed to providing a tactile transducer that comprises a closed loop of steel, a solenoid coupled to the closed loop and a magnetic array coupled to the closed loop, opposite the solenoid around the axis of the solenoid, such that an electrical signal in the solenoid causes the magnetic array to move sideways in a direction tangential to the solenoid.

In some embodiments, the tactile transducer further comprising a static element coupled to the closed loop near to near to a center of mass of the transducer such that the tactile transducer vibrates around the static element.

The tactile transducer may be configured such that a non- symmetrical low frequency electrical signal to the solenoid provides a directional tug.

A third aspect of the invention is directed to a mechanical interface for a gaming system comprising at least one tactile transducer for providing a player with a sensation, the tactile transducer comprising a closed loop of steel, a solenoid coupled to the closed loop, a magnetic array coupled to the closed loop opposite the solenoid and symmetrically arranged around the axis of the solenoid such that an electrical signal in the solenoid causes the magnetic array to move sideways in a direction tangential to the solenoid, where the stiffness of the loop prevents the magnets and solenoid from contacting.

Preferably a non symmetrical electrical signal provided to the mechanical interface provides a directional tug.

The directional tug may be selected from the group comprising an

acceleration, a deceleration, a left turn, a right turn, an upwards pull, a downwards pull, a forwards pull and a backwards pull.

Preferably, a very low frequency vibration provided to the mechanical interface provides a sensation is a mood.

Optionally, the mechanical interface may be selected from the list comprising a platform, a joystick, a steering wheel and a wand.

The mechanical interface may enable playing an interactive game and may provide an immersive experience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention; the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a flowchart of a method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a tactile transducer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a tactile transducer coupled via an anchor attached near the center of gravity, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a specific waveform designed for the transducer of Fig. 3 for providing a directional tug.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

It is an object of preferred embodiments, to provide low frequency tactile sensations to a person.

In some embodiments, the tactile sensations are provided together with audible and visual sensations to provide an immersive experience.

Very low vibrations of below about 20 Hz, known as infrasound cannot be heard by the ears, or consciously detected but may be sensed subconsciously. There is a great deal of evidence that they are sensed by the body, and may be responsible for feelings of uneasiness or anxiety.

Earthquakes generate infrasound. Such low frequency vibrations have been found to provide feelings of anxiety and stress. Haunted houses and paranormal phenomena have been attributed to such low frequency vibrations.

Substantially sinusoidal infrasonic vibrations have been found to affect the mood of the person. Where such signals are provided together with appropriate audible and visual stimuli, specific feelings such as tension, uneasiness and anxiety are felt. Appropriate low frequency signals may enhance the feeling of suspense when watching a movie scene depicting horror, suspense, or haunting, and provides an additional level of sensory perception to the audible and visual stimuli.

Earthquakes generate infrasound. Such low frequency vibrations have been found to provide feelings of anxiety and stress. Haunted houses and paranormal phenomena have been attributed to such low frequency vibrations.

Furthermore, it has surprisingly been found that a mechanical transducer comprising a solenoid coil coupled by a steel band to a magnetic array such that the magnets are arranged around the axis of the coil and separated slightly from the coil, is able to convert very low frequency electrical signals into a sideways movement of the magnetic array with respect to the the axis of the coil.

Where the transducer is attached to a person via a strap around a body part, such as a belt or necklace, or is attached via a clip to a person's garments, movement of the transducer is felt by the wearer.

It will be noted that such low frequency vibrations may be detected and felt through a single transducer. However, preferred embodiments may consist of a plurality of transducers that provide the same or slightly different signals to both wrists or to both feet or to a transducer on the back, with a second transducer on the chest, to reinforce the effect.

With reference to Fig. 1, a method of providing a personal experience to a person comprising the steps of: (a) providing a tactile transducer; (b) coupling the tactile transducer to an anchor; (c) providing an ultra low frequency electrical signal to the vibrating transducer, and (d) inducing a vibration in the anchor for sensing by the person.

With reference to Fig. 2, in one embodiment, the tactile transducer 10 comprises a closed loop of steel 12, a solenoid 14 coupled to the closed loop 12 at a proximal end stiffened with a proximal stiffening plate 16, and a magnetic array 18 coupled to the closed loop 12 attached a distal end that is stiffened with a distal plate 20 opposite the solenoid 14 symmetrically arranged around the axis X-X of the solenoid 14, such that changing electrical current in the solenoid 14 causes the magnetic array 18 to move from side to side L-R along a path that is substantially tangential to the axis X-X of the solenoid 14, the closed loop 12 of steel keeping the magnets 14 separated from the solenoid, but enabling them to vibrate from side to side. In one embodiment, the magnetic array 16 comprises a pair of button magnets 18a, 18b arranged so in opposite orientation so that one magnet 18a is arranged South Seeking Pole facing towards the solenoid 14, and the other magnet 18b is arranged with the North Seeking Pole facing towards the solenoid 14. In this configuration, when an alternating current is passed through the wire around the solenoid 14, the end of the solenoid 14 facing the magnetic array 18 is alternately magnetized North seeking and South seeking (in accordance with the right hand grip rule). Where the upper face 15 is magnetized North seeking, the South seeking face of the magnet 18a is attracted and the north seeking face of the magnet 18b is repelled and the distal end of the transducer 10 is shifted to the right, the flexibility of the loop 12 enabling the side to side movement, but preventing the magnets from moving closer to or away from the solenoid 14. Conversely, when the upper face 15 is magnetized South seeking, the North seeking face of the magnet 18b is attracted and the South seeking face of the magnet 18a is repelled and the distal end of the transducer 10 is shifted to the left.

If the stem or anchor 22 of the transducer is attached to a garment or strapped to the body, the left and right shifts may be felt by the body through the anchor 22.

In one embodiment, the closed loop 12 comprises S1010 steel and the magnets 18 are niobium magnets. The stiffness and elasticity of the closed loop 12 serve to return the magnetic array 18 to its rest position, symmetrically arranged around the axis X-X of the solenoid 14.

Low frequency symmetrical waveforms such as sinusoidal waveforms are felt as low frequency vibrations. Where the signal has a frequency of less than about 20 Hz, the transducer may provide a sensation of mood.

Where the ultra low frequency signal is a non symmetrical signal, the movement of the tactile transducer 10 causes a tugging effect that provides a directional sensation. Thus non sinusoidal signals, such as that shown in Fig. 4 for example, or even a saw-tooth signal, can provide a directional movement to the transducer 10 that is felt as a tug.

With reference to Fig. 3, in a preferred embodiment, the anchor 24 is coupled to the tactile transducer 100 near to its center of mass, for example, by a nonconducting clamp 26 attached to the solenoid 14.

By attaching the anchor 24 to a central position, the directional tug created by non- symmetrical waveforms is enhanced. In some embodiments, the tactile transducer 100 is worn on the body and provides a tactile sensation directly to the body. This is particularly effective for low frequency mood inducing sensations.

Alternatively, the tactile transducer is attached to an interface such as a seat, or to a control interface for a game console such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360 or Sony's PlayStation 3. The control interface may be a joystick for general purpose game playing, a steering wheel or a handlebar for controlling a car or bike, a wand for playing magical fantasy games, or a platform for sensing body movements for simulating hula-hooping, skiing and similar applications.

For example, a transducer 10 (100) of the invention may be coupled to a steering wheel used for steering a vehicle in a computer game. The transducer may provide the player with a resistance to turning that can be synchronized with the virtual topography of the terrain being navigated across to provide the player with a feeling of centrifugal force, for example.

Similarly, a transducer may be attached to the handlebars of a motorbike or a water-bike of an arcade game to provide turning resistance. One or more transducers may be coupled to the footrests and / or seat of a motorbike or waterbike in an electronic arcade video game, to provide both low frequency vibrations that provide a feeling of sitting astride a powerful motor, and superimposed vibrations that are indicative of the terrain.

By providing a plurality of tactile transducers arranged at different orientations, accelerations, decelerations, left and right turns, upwards pulls, downwards pulls, forwards and backwards pulls may be created.

Furthermore, very low vibrations of below about 20 Hz, known as infrasound cannot be heard by the ears, or consciously detected but may be sensed subconsciously. There is a great deal of evidence that they are sensed by the body, and may be responsible for feelings of uneasiness or anxiety, stress, spookiness or general unease.

The transducer, whether attached to the body or to a wand, console or seat, may provide low frequency vibrations that create or enhance a mood. If the person is also exposed to audio or visual stimuli through sounds and images that are synchronized with the tactile frequency, the sensation of mood is enhanced.

For example, in a movie or game, a player may be exposed to audio or visual stimuli and to infrasonic vibrations to provide a haunted sensation. For fantasy applications, this can provide a very good immersive experience, enhancing magical experiences, for example.

There are also natural phenomena that include infrasonic vibrations. These include glaciers calving icebergs, for example. It will be noted that a tiger's roar includes subsonic vibrations of about 18 Hz, which contribute to the menacing sensation that the roar induces. It will be appreciated that an infrasonic signal may be coupled with audible sound and / or images to provide an enhanced sensation of such natural phenomena and an improved immersive experience.

It will be appreciated that for movies and game applications, the tactile sensor of the invention may be combined with images projected onto a screen, onto special spectacles or onto the retina of the person, and with sounds generated via earphones or speakers. The tactile sensor may be provided as part of a console, smartphone, and the like, together with accelerometers and other tactile sensors.

The applications of low frequency and directed vibrations are not only for entertainment. It will be appreciated that low frequency vibrations to specific body parts may also provide therapeutic effects. The application of non-symmetrical signals may provide a directional stimulus that can provide a feeling or well being, and may stimulate blood circulation, relieve muscle cramps and have other beneficial effects.

With reference to Fig. 4, an exemplary waveform for giving a directional effect to the transducer of Fig. 3 is shown. The structure of the signal is a combination of an attack signal which is a 200Hz sine wave with a sustain, decay & release signal that has a frequency of 50Hz. The amplitude of the wave is +4dB, and the release of the signal ends at a single strength of -22dB. It will be appreciated that this wave has been developed for a specific transducer as shown in Fig. 3, and variations in the various parameters such as the number of coils of the solenoid, the size and strength of the magnets, the coefficient of elasticity and the dimensions of the band of steel 12, can all affect the shape of the optimum signal.

To understand how the signal of Fig. 4 interacts with the sensor 10 (100) of the invention, a series of simpler waves are now explained.

With reference to Fig. 5, a saw-toothed wave form is shown. Saw toothed wave causes a sharp tug towards the left. The decay to the right takes 6 times as long and is therefore not really felt. With reference to Fig. 6, a series of saw-toothed waveforms of Fig. 5, with gradually increasing amplitudes, provides a continuous pulling to the left, instead of a sharp tug.

Fig. 7 shows a series of saw toothed waveforms as with Fig. 6, that provides a smooth pull to the left, followed by a second series of saw-toothed waveforms having a sharp rise to the right, followed by a relatively long decay. The sensor receiving the waveform of Fig. 7 experiences a smooth pulling to the left, followed by a smooth pulling to the right.

Several embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Thus persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and sub combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

In the claims, the word "comprise", and variations thereof such as "comprises", "comprising" and the like indicate that the components listed are included, but not generally to the exclusion of other components.