Haptic Actuator Control Panel Design for Touch-Interface Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliance control panels, particularly cooking appliances, lack effective haptic and acoustic feedback, which are desired by users accustomed to mechanical rotary selectors or buttons, despite the use of full-touch graphic displays.
Innovation Solution
A control panel design featuring a haptic actuator coupled to the control front, which outputs vibrations and can optionally generate acoustic signals, is integrated with a panel support and an intermediate element to enhance feedback, allowing for a compact and efficient haptic and acoustic feedback system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a full-touch graphic display is used to replace mechanical rotary dials, then the modernity and visual information display are improved, but haptic and acoustic operating feedback is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration through a haptic actuator that generates vibrations transmitted to the control panel, providing tactile feedback to the user when operating touch-sensitive controls. This allows the modern full-touch display to maintain visual information display while restoring the familiar haptic feedback experience of mechanical controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary haptic actuator between the control panel and the user's finger. This intermediary component converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations that are transmitted through the control panel, mediating the interaction between the digital touch interface and the user's tactile senses.
2Ease of operation
If a haptic actuator is integrated into the control panel, then haptic feedback is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic actuator is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides haptic feedback for touch-sensitive controls, generates acoustic feedback through vibration, and can be integrated into the existing control panel structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and minimizes the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the haptic actuator with the control panel structure, integrating it into the existing design rather than adding it as a separate component. The actuator is positioned behind the control panel and transmits vibrations through the panel itself, combining the feedback function with the existing structural elements.
3Ease of operation
If the haptic actuator is routed through the panel support, then haptic signal amplification is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by routing the haptic actuator through a specific recess in the panel support structure. This recess is designed to position the actuator at an optimal location for vibration transmission, concentrating the haptic effect at the desired area of the control panel while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized recess dimensions.
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 solution provides amplified haptic feedback and reduced actuator performance, enabling a more intuitive and satisfying user experience by simulating mechanical switch operations through vibrations and sounds, while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a haptic actuator (19) coupled to the control panel (15) to output a haptic signal to a user as feedback
Implementation Method 2
an acoustic transducer and a control device with a memory configured to output a signal or data pattern to the acoustic transducer to generate acoustic outputs
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an operator control panel (12) for a domestic appliance (1), in particular for a domestic cooking appliance, with a front operator control means (15), a panel support (16), which supports the front operator control means (15), and a haptic actuator (19) which is coupled to the front operator control means (15) in order to emit a haptic signal as operational feedback to a user when the operator control panel (12) is operated with the aid of the front operator control means (15), wherein the panel support (16) has a cut-out (17) through which the haptic actuator (19) is guided to the front operator control means (15).