Multi-finger Electrostatic Passive Haptic Feedback on a Visual Display

This paper proposes a concept of multi-finger electrostatic haptic/tactile feedback system on a visual display. The system consists of a non-segmented transparent electrode fixed on an LCD monitor and multiple contact pads on which a user places his/her multiple fingers. By applying different voltages onto different pads, with the transparent electrode on the LCD being electrically grounded, the system renders different frictional stimuli to different fingers. The proposed system is expected to render passive kinesthetic force feedback, in addition to vibratory tactile feedback. To achieve this goal, the paper experimentally investigates force characteristics of the system in several different voltage conditions. The results reveal the force decaying characteristics on the system, and its dependence to the contact pad structures. The experiments also investigate the different force characteristics in DC and AC voltage conditions and confirm the advantage of AC voltage for constant force rendering. The paper finally reports on the developed prototype system with a simple demonstration program, which shows the potential of the proposed multi-finger electrostatic haptic feedback system.