Display Apparatus Audio Tactile Signal Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable devices with touch-sensitive displays and electro-acoustic transducers face issues with contaminants causing distortion and reduced lifespan due to the large size of moving coil speakers, which require specific signal processing and are prone to attracting iron particles.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that determine a timing difference between audio and tactile signals, delay one or both signals based on this difference, and control their output depending on operational modes, allowing for efficient routing and processing of audio and tactile signals to prevent contamination and optimize device performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If moving coil dynamic speaker configuration is used to produce audio, then audio output functionality is achieved, but the device volume is reduced and the speaker is prone to attracting contaminants causing distortion and reduced lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional moving coil dynamic speaker (mechanical system) with an electro-acoustic transducer that uses a different mechanism to produce sound. This substitution eliminates the mechanical components that attract iron particles and contaminants, thereby improving speaker reliability and reducing contaminant attraction while maintaining audio output functionality.
2Reliability
If moving coil dynamic speaker configuration is used, then audio output is achieved, but specific signal processing considerations are required to maintain acceptable acoustic frequency response
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the moving coil speaker with an electro-acoustic transducer, the patent fundamentally changes the signal processing requirements. The new transducer type has different electrical and mechanical characteristics that require adapted signal processing approaches, potentially simplifying certain aspects while introducing others, but overall improving reliability of acoustic frequency response.
3Quantity of substance
If moving coil transducers are used in portable devices, then audio functionality is provided, but the large size of the transducer reduces the available volume within the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the large moving coil transducer with a more compact electro-acoustic transducer design. This replacement maintains the essential audio output capability while significantly reducing the physical volume required, thereby increasing the available space within the portable device without sacrificing audio functionality.
4Reliability
If moving coil transducers attract contaminants, then iron particles are drawn into the speaker, but this causes distortion and significantly reduces device lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the moving coil transducer system that generates magnetic fields attracting iron particles with an electro-acoustic transducer that uses a different operating principle. This substitution eliminates the harmful magnetic field effect, preventing contaminant attraction and the resulting distortion, thereby significantly extending device lifetime while maintaining audio output.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising: a timing difference processor configured to determine a timing difference between an audio signal and an associated tactile signal, and further configured to delay at least one of the audio signal and associated tactile signal dependent on the timing difference; and at least one feedback processor configured to output the audio signal and associated tactile signal, at least one of the audio signal and associated tactile signal having been delayed dependent on the timing difference.