Electrostatic Keyboard Actuation for Adjustable Key Force Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interactions with artificial-reality environments rely heavily on visual cues and fail to fully utilize the sense of touch, and physical keyboards lack user-specific modifications, limiting immersive interactions and adaptability.
Innovation Solution
An electrostatically-controlled actuator is coupled with wearable devices to simulate various input-recognition and input-response characteristics of physical or virtual objects, allowing dynamic adjustments based on user interactions, such as changing the force required to activate keys or providing haptic responses, and can be integrated into keyboards to enhance user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mechanical switches are used in keyboards, then the keyboard provides consistent physical feedback, but the keyboard cannot be dynamically adjusted to simulate different input characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing fixed mechanical switches with electrostatic actuators that can dynamically adjust their characteristics. The actuators change their electrical properties (voltage, capacitance) in real-time to simulate different keyboard key behaviors, enabling a single actuator to replace multiple fixed mechanical switches with different characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the electrostatic actuator (voltage levels, capacitance values) to simulate different input characteristics. By adjusting these electrical parameters, the system can mimic the behavior of various mechanical switches without physically changing components, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If visual cues are relied upon for interactions, then artificial-reality environments can be created, but the sense of touch is not fully utilized reducing immersion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical feedback systems with electrostatic actuators that provide tactile feedback through electrical fields. This substitution enables touch-based interactions in artificial-reality environments by generating forces that simulate physical contact, allowing users to feel virtual objects and surfaces without mechanical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostatic actuator serves as an intermediary between the user's finger and the virtual environment. It translates electrical signals into tactile forces that simulate interaction with virtual objects, bridging the gap between visual artificial-reality displays and physical touch sensation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If factory-set keyboard characteristics are used, then keyboards are simple to manufacture, but they cannot be adapted to suit individual user preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single electrostatic actuator that can perform multiple functions - simulating different keyboard key characteristics for various users and applications. This multi-functional actuator replaces the need for multiple specialized mechanical switches, simplifying manufacturing while enabling user-specific customization through software control.
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
This solution reduces visual reliance in artificial-reality interactions, allows for user-specific modifications to keyboard settings, and enhances immersion by providing a more realistic typing experience through adjustable haptic feedback.
Implementation Method 1
an electrostatically-controlled actuator can be coupled with a wearable device and can be configured to simulate interactions with physical objects
Implementation Method 2
the same electrostatically-controlled actuator can be configured to simulate characteristics of a key on a computer keyboard
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of controlling activation of different input elements using an actuator are disclosed herein. An example method includes in response to detecting that a representation of a finger is located by a first input element: obtaining information regarding a first amount of force to actuate the first input element, and causing adjustment of a physical characteristic of an actuator so that a first amount of force directed to a component of the actuator activates the first input element. In response to detecting that the representation of the finger is located by a second input element, the method also includes: obtaining information regarding a second amount of force distinct from the first amount of force, and causing adjustment of the physical characteristic of the actuator so that the second amount of force directed to the component of the actuator activates the second input element.