Noncontact Tactile Display Based on Radiation Pressure of Airborne Ultrasound

IEEE Trans Haptics. 2010 Jul-Sep;3(3):155-165. doi: 10.1109/TOH.2010.4. Epub 2010 Feb 5.

Abstract

This paper describes a tactile display which provides unrestricted tactile feedback in air without any mechanical contact. It controls ultrasound and produces a stress field in a 3D space. The principle is based on a nonlinear phenomenon of ultrasound: Acoustic radiation pressure. The fabricated prototype consists of 324 airborne ultrasound transducers, and the phase and intensity of each transducer are controlled individually to generate a focal point. The DC output force at the focal point is 16 mN and the diameter of the focal point is 20 mm. The prototype produces vibrations up to 1 kHz. An interaction system including the prototype is also introduced, which enables users to see and touch virtual objects.