Adaptive Input Surface with Electrostatic Friction Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional computing input devices lack flexibility and adaptability to accommodate new features and user preferences, and touch-sensitive devices often provide insufficient tactile feedback, making them less desirable.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive input device with a touch-sensitive surface that uses a controllable array of electrostatic electrodes to provide variable friction feedback, allowing for customizable input regions and layouts, and includes macro haptic feedback elements to simulate key presses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional dedicated keys or buttons are used, then each key is tied to a particular function, but the device lacks flexibility to accommodate new features and user preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a uniform grid of touch-sensitive contact points that can serve multiple functions through software configuration. Each contact point can be assigned different functions via keyboard layouts, allowing the same physical structure to adapt to various input needs without requiring dedicated hardware for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard layout and contact point functions are dynamically reconfigurable through software. Users can customize the arrangement and assignment of functions to contact points, allowing the device to adapt to different applications and user preferences without physical reconfiguration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If touch-input devices with flat surface are used, then flexibility for input scenarios is improved, but tactile feedback is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies localized friction feedback to specific contact points and regions of the input surface. By selectively increasing friction at particular locations, the system provides tactile differentiation between adjacent contact points and visual display elements, enhancing ease of operation without compromising the flexible touch-input capability.
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
The device offers a flexible and user-friendly input experience by providing tactile feedback and customizable layouts, enhancing user interaction with various applications and improving the usability of input devices.
Implementation Method 1
An array of electrodes between the cover sheet and the display provides variable frictional feedback to tactilely indicate the locations of the user input regions on the input surface
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic input device is disclosed. The input device includes an adaptive input surface allowing for controllably definable input regions and frictional feedback indicating a location of the input regions. The input device generates an electrostatic charge at the adaptive input surface to provide frictional feedback. The input device may be connectable to or integrated with another electronic computing device.