A self-powered brain multi-perception receptor for sensory-substitution application

The artificial sensory-substitution system can work like real human sensory tissue and participate in the perception of sensory-handicap patient. The power-supply unit is key factor for its wearable, low-cost and long-term application. Here, a new self-powered multi-perception electronic-skin has been presented as brain sensory receptor for sensory substitution of tactility, audition, olfaction, gustation and vision. The device directly outputs the triboelectric sensory signal into brain using human motion energy without external electricity power or battery, and actively involves in multi-perceptions. The sensing unit arrays act as both the power source and brain sensory receptor for tracking force trace, hearing words, smelling odor, tasting beverage and recognizing image. The mechanism can be attributed to the coupling of triboelectrification and surface effect. The device connecting to mouse brain at primary somatosensory barrel cortex can mimic the mouse perception and drive the mouse activities. This new approach can be applied to fabricating new self-powered sensory-substitution systems and multi-perception brain sensory receptor.