Bi-Functional Electrostatic Haptic Actuator and Touch Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing haptic actuators require high voltage signals to generate electrostatic forces, leading to bulky and expensive components, and often lack flexibility to adapt to various substrates, limiting their applications.
Innovation Solution
A bi-functional apparatus that combines electrodes and a sensor to deliver haptic signals and sense touch, using a dielectric insulator and a quantum tunneling composite to provide electrical conductivity in response to pressure, allowing for flexible and thin designs that can adapt to irregular surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high voltage signals are used to generate electrostatic forces in haptic actuators, then haptic effects can be delivered, but the device becomes bulky and expensive due to required high voltage amplifiers and electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the haptic actuator and pressure sensor into a single unitary device. The first electrode serves dual purposes: as a haptic actuator element that generates electrostatic forces and as part of a sensor structure that detects pressure through changes in electrical conductivity. This merging eliminates the need for separate high voltage amplifiers and standalone sensors, directly resolving the contradiction between delivering haptic effects and maintaining device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The first electrode is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a haptic actuator and a sensor component. When voltage is applied, it generates electrostatic forces for haptic feedback. When pressure is applied, it forms part of a conductive path that allows the device to sense touch. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining both haptic delivery and sensing capabilities.
2Power
If traditional electrostatic haptic actuators are used, then haptic effects can be generated, but the devices are rigid and cannot adapt to flexible or irregular substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin film structures for the electrodes and dielectric layers, enabling the entire device to be flexible and conformable. The first electrode, second electrode, and dielectric insulator are constructed as thin layers that can bend and adapt to irregular surfaces. This flexible construction allows the haptic actuator to maintain its electrostatic force generation capability while becoming adaptable to various substrate geometries, resolving the contradiction between haptic effect generation and substrate adaptability.
3Measurement precision
If a separate sensor is added to haptic actuator devices, then touch sensing capability is improved, but expense, complexity, and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensor functionality into the existing haptic actuator structure. The first electrode and dielectric insulator form part of both the haptic generation system and the pressure sensing system. When pressure is applied to the first electrode, it changes the electrical conductivity between the first and second electrodes, enabling touch detection without requiring a separate sensor component. This integration directly addresses the contradiction by improving touch sensing while reducing device complexity and cost.
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
Enables the generation of haptic effects with reduced component size and cost, while providing flexibility and adaptability to various substrates, enhancing user interaction with devices.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor comprises a quantum tunneling composite. The combined first and second electrodes, dielectric insulator, and sensor are flexible and have a combined thickness in the range of about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm.
Implementation Method 2
Recent innovations have enabled the development of haptic actuators that generate an electrostatic force (ESF), which creates a capacitive coupling between a charged electrode and the electrically conductive tissues of a human.
Implementation Method 3
A dielectric insulator covers the top surface of the first electrode
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4A~4B
Figure 5A~5C
AI summary
A bi-functional apparatus for sensing touch and delivering a haptic signal. The bi-functional apparatus comprises first and second electrodes. The first electrode provides a haptic interface for delivering an electrostatic force and has a top surface and a bottom surface. A dielectric insulator covers the top surface of the first electrode. A sensor is positioned between the bottom surface of the first electrode and the second electrode. The sensor selectively provides electrical conductivity between the first and second electrodes in response to at least a threshold amount of pressure exerted against the dielectric insulator. A method of sensing touch and delivering a haptic signal with a single device. The method comprises receiving an input at a touch surface of a dielectric insulator layered over a first electrode; in response to receiving the input at the touch surface, increasing the electrical conductivity of a sensor positioned between the first electrode and a second electrode; in response to increasing electrical conductivity of the sensor, conducting an electrical current between the first and second electrodes; and in response to conducting an electrical current between the first and second electrodes, applying a haptic drive signal to the first electrode, the haptic drive signal creating an electrostatic force in the dielectric insulator.