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Non-linearity of Skin Properties in Electrotactile Applications: Identification and Mitigation
Mehdi Rahimi1, Fang Jiang2, Yantao Shen1
1Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, 89557 USA.
IEEE Access : Practical Innovations, Open Solutions
|March 22, 2021
Summary
Electrotactile displays offer a new sensory channel, but receptor fatigue affects performance. This study introduces an automated system using pulse-width modulation and Kalman filtering to maintain consistent stimulation for users.
Area of Science:
- Haptics and Sensory Substitution
- Biomedical Engineering
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Electrotactile displays provide a novel sensory substitution channel with diverse applications.
- Existing systems face challenges, notably receptor fatigue, which degrades performance over time.
- The Finger-Eye research aimed to enable blind individuals to read non-Braille text using electrotactile feedback.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and mitigate the effects of receptor fatigue in electrotactile systems.
- To develop an automated system that ensures consistent sensory feedback despite variations in skin properties and user conditions.
- To maintain user stimulation levels by dynamically adjusting electrical signal power.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring electrical current and calculating skin impedance to quantify receptor fatigue.
- Implementing a voltage control system utilizing pulse-width modulation (PWM) for signal power adjustment.
- Employing Kalman filtering to predict skin impedance changes and proactively regulate signal output.
Main Results:
- Receptor sensitivity decreases with prolonged electrical stimulation, necessitating signal power adjustments.
- Skin impedance changes at varying rates across different regions, indicating inconsistent receptor fatigue.
- The developed system effectively manages signal power, adapting to individual users and changing skin conditions.
Conclusions:
- Receptor fatigue is a significant challenge in electrotactile systems, requiring dynamic signal management.
- The combination of PWM and Kalman filtering provides an effective solution for consistent electrotactile feedback.
- The automated system enhances usability and reliability for applications like text reading for the visually impaired.
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