Elastic-Resin Slit Sealing for Water-Resistant Haptic Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing haptic feedback devices face challenges in effectively providing tactile sensations while minimizing water and dust ingress through vibration slits, and often require additional components for operation detection, leading to increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A haptic feedback device with a vibration member featuring slits filled by an elastic resin, utilizing a piezoelectric element for vibration actuation, and a controller to determine operations without additional detection members, reducing power consumption and enhancing vibration efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If vibration slits are provided in the vibration member, then vibration efficiency is improved, but water and dust ingress increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration efficiencyVSAvoidwater and dust ingress
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An elastic resin is introduced as an intermediary substance that fills the vibration slits. This resin allows vibration transmission while physically blocking water and dust from entering through the slits, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining vibration efficiency and preventing harmful factor ingress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic resin acts as a flexible sealing material that can deform with vibration while maintaining its sealing function. This flexible membrane approach allows the slits to remain functional for vibration transmission while providing continuous protection against water and dust penetration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Measurement precision

If additional operation detection members are added, then operation detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation detection accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration member is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the vibration-generating component and the operation detection sensor. When the user presses the vibrator, the deformation of the vibration member directly indicates the operation, eliminating the need for separate detection members and reducing power consumption while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The vibration member performs self-detection of operations through its own mechanical deformation. The structure inherently provides detection capability through its response to user input, without requiring additional active sensing components that would consume power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 provides effective haptic feedback with reduced water and dust ingress, eliminating the need for separate operation detection components and minimizing power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

a first vibration actuator that vibrates the vibrator... utilizing a piezoelectric element for vibration actuation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The elastic resin at least includes a portion closing the at least one slit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4629031A1Tactile sensation presentation device
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 KYOCERA CORP
  • EP4629031A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4629031A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4629031A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A haptic feedback device includes a vibrator on which a user operation is performed and a first vibration actuator that vibrates the vibrator. The vibrator includes a vibration member and an elastic resin. The vibration member is to be vibrated by the first vibration actuator. The vibration member includes at least one slit. The elastic resin at least includes a portion closing the slit.