Dynamic Surface Shape Control for Slide Operation Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch panels with flat surfaces lack tactile distinguishability between adjacent buttons, making smooth slide operations difficult due to the lack of tactile guidance during tracing operations.
Innovation Solution
An operation apparatus with a detector for slide operations and a shape variator that can deform the surface into convex shapes for tactile guidance, controlled by a controller to form a variable shape portion into a first or second shape based on detected slide operations, allowing for smooth slide operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the surface is deformed to provide tactile guidance for button selection, then tactile distinguishability is improved, but slide operation smoothness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The surface dynamically changes its shape based on the detected operation type. When a slide operation is detected, the surface maintains a flat state to enable smooth tracing. When button selection is detected, the surface deforms to provide tactile guidance. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the surface properties context-dependent.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameter of surface shape is changed based on the operation context. The controller adjusts the surface shape parameter from flat to deformed state according to the detected operation type, allowing the system to optimize for either slide smoothness or tactile distinguishability depending on the user's intent.
2Ease of operation
If the surface maintains a flat shape for smooth slide operations, then slide operation smoothness is improved, but tactile distinguishability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The surface transitions from a static flat design to a dynamic design that can change shape on demand. The shape control unit receives operation information from the detector and adjusts the surface shape accordingly, enabling the surface to be flat during sliding operations and deformed during button selection, thus resolving the contradiction between slide smoothness and tactile distinguishability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of the operation type before executing the surface deformation. The detector identifies whether the user intends to slide or select a button, and the controller pre-adjusts the surface shape accordingly, ensuring optimal conditions for the anticipated operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If a deformable surface is used to provide tactile feedback, then tactile guidance is improved, but operation accuracy deteriorates due to interference during sliding
Solution Approach 1:
The surface shape parameter is changed based on operation context to optimize both tactile guidance and operation accuracy. During sliding operations, the surface remains flat to ensure accurate trace detection. During button selection, the surface deforms to provide tactile feedback. This parameter adaptation eliminates the interference that would otherwise reduce operation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface deformation is applied locally to specific button regions rather than the entire surface. This localized quality change provides tactile guidance only where needed for button selection, while leaving other areas flat for accurate sliding operations, thus resolving the contradiction between tactile guidance and operation precision.
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 smooth slide operations by providing tactile guidance, allowing users to perform tracing operations comfortably without interference from adjacent button shapes, enhancing user interface usability.
Implementation Method 1
a shape variator disposed in a partial region of the surface and including a variable shape portion whose surface shape is deformable
Data Source
AI summary
An operation apparatus includes: a detector capable of detecting a slide operation on a surface of the operation apparatus; a shape variator including a variable shape portion which is disposed in a partial region of the surface and whose surface shape is deformable; and a controller which controls the shape variator in such a way that the shape variable portion is formed into a first shape being the same as a surface shape of a region other than the partial region or a second shape different from the first shape. The controller controls the shape variator in such a way that the shape of the variable shape portion is formed into the first shape when the detector detects the slide operation.