Piezoelectric Vibration Plate Support for Stronger Tactile Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuators for providing tactile sensations, such as those used in touch sensors, face challenges in generating sufficient vibration to effectively transmit tactile feedback to users, particularly in designs where the support structure limits the displacement of the vibration plate, resulting in reduced tactile sensation intensity.
Innovation Solution
An actuator design incorporating a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and a support structure where the angle between the vibration plate and the support is acute, allowing for greater longitudinal displacement of the vibration plate's end, enhancing the transmission of vibration to an object, thereby increasing the tactile sensation provided to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the support structure is made orthogonal or obtuse to the vibration plate, then the structural stability is improved, but the displacement of the vibration plate end is reduced, resulting in weaker tactile sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the support structure by setting the angle between the support and vibration plate to be acute (specifically 30-60 degrees), rather than orthogonal or obtuse. This parameter change enables the support structure to provide both stability and enhanced longitudinal displacement of the vibration plate end, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and displacement magnitude.
2Strength
If the support structure restricts longitudinal displacement to maintain stability, then the structural integrity is improved, but the tactile sensation intensity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the angular parameter of the support structure to an acute angle, the patent enables the system to simultaneously maintain structural integrity and generate larger longitudinal displacements. The acute angle configuration allows the support to guide the vibration plate's motion more effectively, converting piezoelectric displacement into enhanced tactile force without compromising structural strength.
3Reliability
If the vibration plate displacement is increased to enhance tactile sensation, then the tactile feedback effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves enhanced tactile feedback by simply changing the angular parameter of the existing support structure to an acute angle, rather than adding complex mechanisms. This parameter modification allows the same support structure to simultaneously provide structural support and amplify displacement, improving tactile effectiveness without increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design significantly increases the displacement of the actuator's vibration, leading to a more intense tactile sensation experienced by the user, compared to traditional configurations where the support is orthogonal or obtuse to the vibration plate, thereby improving the effectiveness of tactile feedback delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and is configured to vibrate in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator and tactile sensation providing apparatus include an actuator including a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and a support. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The support supports the vibration plate and is configured so that an end of the vibration plate is displaced more in a longitudinal direction than in a normal direction of the vibration plate in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The angle between the vibration plate and the support is acute. The tactile sensation providing apparatus can further include an object of vibration configured to provide a tactile sensation to a user by vibration of the vibration plate being transmitted to the object of vibration.