Flexible Membrane Touch Panel for Waterproof Tactile Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic equipment with tactile transmission techniques for touch panels faces challenges in ensuring both dustproof and waterproof performance while effectively transmitting tactile senses to users.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a detecting unit, a vibrating body, a first housing with a base and frame body, an operation unit, and a flexible portion that surrounds the detecting unit, allowing for flexural vibration and adequate tactile sense transmission while maintaining dustproof and waterproof performance through a sealed structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealed structure is implemented to ensure dustproof and waterproof performance, then reliability is improved, but the flexibility needed for tactile transmission is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane structure that acts as both a seal and a tactile transmission medium. This thin film allows vibrational movements to pass through while maintaining the sealed environment, thus resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and tactile flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides dustproof and waterproof sealing while also enabling tactile sensation transmission. This multi-functionality approach allows a single component to address both requirements without compromising either.
2Ease of operation
If the operation unit is positioned to cover the detecting unit, then ease of operation is improved, but the transmission of tactile senses is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The operation unit is constructed with a flexible membrane that can deform in response to vibrations from the detecting unit. This flexibility allows the operation unit to both cover the detecting unit for ease of operation and transmit tactile sensations effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation unit is designed to be dynamically responsive, allowing it to move and deform with the vibrations generated by the detecting unit. This dynamic behavior enables both operational coverage and tactile transmission without restriction.
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 configuration enables the electronic equipment to effectively transmit tactile senses, such as a sense of pressing, tracing, or texture, while ensuring dustproof and waterproof performance, enhancing user experience and device reliability.
Implementation Method 1
causing flexural vibration of the touch panel in the vertical direction
Implementation Method 2
according to expansion and contraction motions of the vibrating body
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention is provided with: a touch panel for detecting the positions of inputs; a vibrating body provided to the touch panel ; a first chassis having a base, positioned facing the touch panel across a space, and a frame body, positioned on the base so as to surround the touch panel in plan view; an operating unit, positioned on the front-surface-side of the touch panel so as to cover the touch panel in plan view; and a flexible part that is provided along the whole circumference of the frame body and supports the operating unit.