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Using magnets for surrounding-sensors

newbie
newbie
October 2012
edited February 2015
in Prosthetics, wearables, and haptics

I just had this idea I thought would be nice to share:

Imagine a approximation sensor of some sort (I have not looked one up yet) attached to your finger (or wherever you think it is useful) connected with a small electro-magnet loosely attached to your finger with the implant. 

In off-mode, the electromagnet would not generate any field but when the approximation sensor detects an object nearby (distance must be defined) it forces the electromagnet to generate a field which you then would be able to feel with your finger.

The energy-source for both the sensor and the electro-magnet could be realized in form of a mobile-phone battery or something.

Future application would of course be internal (implanted) energy source.


what'ya think?


Edit: I just realized that smartphones have these tiny sensors on the top so these may be of some help. They are like 4x4x4 mm or something.

Tagged: magnets, sensors

Comments

Displaying all 4 comments
  1. Ian
    Ian
    First Anniversary Second Anniversary Third Anniversary Fourth Anniversary Fifth Anniversary Final Anniversary First Post 10 Posts 100 Posts You Look Familiar
    October 2012
    @newbie:  That sounds a lot like our Bottlenose device, actually, which also allows to use different types of sensors.  Kevin Warwick's students have also done something similar.
  2. rdb
    rdb
    October 2012
    It seems a bit silly to me.  If you're going to have a device attached to your finger that is supposed to translate sensor readings into vibrations, then why not vibrate the skin directly using a vibration motor or something like that?  That completely eliminates the need for the magnetic implant, which comes with obvious disadvantages compared to an external stimulator.
  3. Saumanahaii
    Saumanahaii
    October 2012
    Wouldn't a coil be far flatter?  You could stick it in a glove.
  4. newbie
    newbie
    November 2012
    Okay, despite the size and form I had in mind it's exactly like Grindhouse's bottlenose.. It seems I wasn't the frist one with that idea.. :)
Displaying all 4 comments