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Dual-sided Peltier Elements for Rapid Thermal Feedback in Wearables

Seongjun Kang, Gwangbin Kim, Seokhyun Hwang, Jeongju Park, Ahmed Elsharkawy, SeungJun Kim

TL;DR

The paper tackles the slow thermal response of conventional Peltier-based haptics in XR by introducing motor-driven, dual-sided Peltier elements that swap preheated or cooled sides to deliver rapid warm and cool sensations. The design uses a multi-layer skin-friendly interface with aluminum and silicone, along with independent Peltier-motor units and temperature sensing. Time-temperature testing shows a warm target of 40°C achievable at 2.0 V with a dual-sided lifetime around 206 s, establishing a practical operating point. Demonstrations cover dynamic thermal feedback in VR, high-resolution thermal displays, and telepresence, highlighting the approach's potential to enhance immersion and cross-modal cues in XR. The work also discusses future wearability improvements and expansion to other body parts with softer actuation.

Abstract

This paper introduces a motor-driven Peltier device designed to deliver immediate thermal sensations within extended reality (XR) environments. The system incorporates eight motor-driven Peltier elements, facilitating swift transitions between warm and cool sensations by rotating preheated or cooled elements to opposite sides. A multi-layer structure, comprising aluminum and silicone layers, ensures user comfort and safety while maintaining optimal temperatures for thermal stimuli. Time-temperature characteristic analysis demonstrates the system's ability to provide warm and cool sensations efficiently, with a dual-sided lifetime of up to 206 seconds at a 2V input. Our system design is adaptable to various body parts and can be synchronized with corresponding visual stimuli to enhance the immersive sensation of virtual object interaction and information delivery.

Dual-sided Peltier Elements for Rapid Thermal Feedback in Wearables

TL;DR

The paper tackles the slow thermal response of conventional Peltier-based haptics in XR by introducing motor-driven, dual-sided Peltier elements that swap preheated or cooled sides to deliver rapid warm and cool sensations. The design uses a multi-layer skin-friendly interface with aluminum and silicone, along with independent Peltier-motor units and temperature sensing. Time-temperature testing shows a warm target of 40°C achievable at 2.0 V with a dual-sided lifetime around 206 s, establishing a practical operating point. Demonstrations cover dynamic thermal feedback in VR, high-resolution thermal displays, and telepresence, highlighting the approach's potential to enhance immersion and cross-modal cues in XR. The work also discusses future wearability improvements and expansion to other body parts with softer actuation.

Abstract

This paper introduces a motor-driven Peltier device designed to deliver immediate thermal sensations within extended reality (XR) environments. The system incorporates eight motor-driven Peltier elements, facilitating swift transitions between warm and cool sensations by rotating preheated or cooled elements to opposite sides. A multi-layer structure, comprising aluminum and silicone layers, ensures user comfort and safety while maintaining optimal temperatures for thermal stimuli. Time-temperature characteristic analysis demonstrates the system's ability to provide warm and cool sensations efficiently, with a dual-sided lifetime of up to 206 seconds at a 2V input. Our system design is adaptable to various body parts and can be synchronized with corresponding visual stimuli to enhance the immersive sensation of virtual object interaction and information delivery.
Paper Structure (9 sections, 4 figures)

This paper contains 9 sections, 4 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. System Design and Implementation
  3. Time-temperature Characteristics Analysis
  4. DEMO APPLICATIONS
  5. Dynamic Thermal Feedback in VR Gaming
  6. High-Resolution Thermal Information Display
  7. Enhancing Telepresence with Sharing Body Temperature
  8. FUTURE WORKS AND CONCLUSIONS
  9. ACKNOWLEDGE

Figures (4)

  • Figure 1: Hardware configuration of the our device. (Left) Front view showing servo motors, temperature sensors, and Peltier elements. (Right) Rear view showing the battery, motor driver, and microcontroller.
  • Figure 2: Detailed design of the dual-sided Peltier element. (a) Detailed design utilizing elastic bands and rotation pivots. (b) Multi-layer composition.
  • Figure 3: Thermal Parameter test for measuring the time-dependent temperature and lifetime of the dual-sided Peltier (input range 1.5-3.0V)
  • Figure 4: Demo applications where our system can be utilized: (a) a VR game with thermal feedback, (b) diverse thermal signals for thermal information display, (c) a telepresence system enabling to perceive touch and warmth.