Fundamental Perceptual Characterization of an Integrated Tactile Display with Electrovibration and Electrical Stimuli

Tactile displays have been widely studied for many decades. Although multiple tactile stimuli are more effective to improve the quality of the presented tactile sensation, most tactile displays provide a single tactile stimulus. An integrated tactile display with electrovibration and electrical stimuli is proposed herein. It is expected that vibrational friction, pressure and vibration can be presented at the same time through the tactile display. Also, these stimuli only require electrodes for stimulation. Therefore, the tactile display can be easily miniaturized and densely arrayed on a substrate. In this study, a tactile display is designed and fabricated using the micro-fabrication process. Furthermore, the display is evaluated. First, the relationship between a single stimulus and the perception is investigated. The electrovibration and electrical stimuli have a frequency dependence on perception. Second, whether the multiple stimuli with the electrovibration and electrical stimuli are perceivable by the subjects is also evaluated. The results indicate that the multiple tactile stimuli are perceivable by the subjects. Also, the possibility that the electrovibration and electrical stimuli affect each other is confirmed.