Wearable Haptic Crown Actuator for Input Confirmation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic smart watches lack tactile feedback during input operations, making it difficult for users to confirm if their inputs have been received or acknowledged by the device.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a crown mechanism that allows for rotational and translational inputs, coupled with a haptic actuator to provide tactile feedback through the crown, simulating detents or button presses, ensuring that haptic output is primarily perceived through the crown, enhancing user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a crown input mechanism is provided without haptic feedback, then the device structure remains simple, but the user cannot confirm whether input has been received or acknowledged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements haptic feedback through an actuator that provides tactile sensation to the crown, allowing users to confirm input reception and acknowledgment through touch feedback during rotation and translation operations
2Ease of operation
If haptic feedback is provided through the housing, then the structure can be simple, but the user cannot clearly perceive the input confirmation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies haptic feedback locally at the crown interface rather than through the entire housing, concentrating the tactile feedback mechanism at the specific user interaction point to enhance perception clarity
Solution Approach 2:
The crown serves as an intermediary element between the user and the haptic actuator, transmitting and amplifying the haptic feedback to the user's finger, making the feedback more perceptible than direct housing vibration
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 clear and satisfying haptic feedback to users, improving the interaction experience by ensuring they can feel the input confirmation directly through the crown, even if some force is transmitted through the housing.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator coupled to the crown and configured to provide haptic output through the crown
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment described herein takes the form of a watch, comprising: a housing; a crown comprising: a crown body outside the housing; and a shaft extending from the crown body into the housing; and an actuator coupled to the crown and configured to provide haptic output through the crown.