Dynamic Stiffness Control for Touch Panel Arm Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing arm control systems for touch panel displays are inefficient as they require direct contact with the bezel to move the display, making it difficult to manipulate the display when contact is made with other portions, leading to potential collisions and reduced maneuverability.
Innovation Solution
An arm control apparatus that includes a touch position and force information acquisition unit, a torque calculation unit, and a stiffness parameter generation unit to adjust the stiffness of the arm, allowing the touch panel display to be moved by a light force and maintaining its position and orientation when touched, thereby improving maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the link portion is made turnable only when contact with the bezel portion is detected, then the display portion can be moved to a desired position, but when a person collides with a portion other than the bezel portion, the link portion is not turnable and thus this situation is dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the link portion's turnability dynamic rather than static. The link portion can dynamically switch between turnable and unturnable states based on real-time detection of contact force and position, allowing it to adapt to different operational scenarios including both intentional manipulation and accidental collisions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms using detectors that continuously monitor contact force and position. When contact is detected, the system receives feedback about the contact characteristics and adjusts the link portion's turnability accordingly, enabling safe operation by distinguishing between intentional bezel contact and accidental collisions with other portions
2Ease of operation
If the touch panel display is moved by light force, then maneuverability is improved, but the display may move to unintended directions when touched
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the stiffness parameter of the arm based on detected touch conditions. When a touch is detected, the stiffness parameter is increased to prevent unintended movement, while during intentional manipulation operations, the stiffness is reduced to allow smooth movement, thus adapting the system's mechanical properties to the current operational context
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the arm's stiffness dynamic rather than fixed. The arm can transition between flexible and stiff states based on real-time detection of touch events and manipulation operations, enabling it to be easy to move during intended operations while remaining stable during unintended contacts
Data Source
AI summary
In a touch panel display with an arm, a torque calculating unit calculates a torque to be loaded on a touch panel display based on a position acquired by a touch position information acquiring unit and a force acquired by a touch force information acquiring unit, and a stiffness parameter information generating unit generates information about a stiffness parameter for controlling an arm so that the position and the orientation of the touch panel display do not change based on the calculated torque. An arm control unit controls the arm based on the generated information about the stiffness parameter.