Haptic Feedback Control for Mobile Input Tool Hovering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch input methods on mobile terminals with touch screens primarily provide haptic feedback only upon actual contact, limiting the user's ability to experience and interact with applications in a more immersive and natural way, especially for non-contact hovering inputs.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that detect hovering of an input tool over a touch screen, analyze the properties of the object being hovered over, and transmit control signals to the input tool to provide haptic feedback, including different vibration patterns based on object types, enabling users to feel a more realistic manipulation experience through preview images and metadata display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If haptic feedback is provided only upon actual contact with the touch screen, then the device complexity is reduced, but the user experience and immersion are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting hovering state before actual contact occurs, and pre-provides haptic feedback patterns based on object properties. This allows the input tool to prepare and deliver appropriate haptic feedback in advance, enhancing user experience during the hovering interaction phase without waiting for actual contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile terminal acts as an intermediary between the input tool and the haptic feedback mechanism. It receives hovering detection data, determines object properties, selects appropriate haptic feedback patterns, and transmits control signals to the input tool's vibration device. This intermediary role enables sophisticated haptic feedback without requiring complex direct integration between the input tool and feedback system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If haptic feedback patterns are customized for different object properties, then the user experience is enhanced, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes parameters by varying haptic feedback characteristics (vibration frequency, amplitude, duration, pattern) based on detected object properties such as type, size, and importance. Different object categories trigger different predefined haptic patterns, allowing the same input tool to provide customized feedback experiences for various objects without requiring physical modifications to the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile terminal performs preliminary analysis of object properties before haptic feedback is delivered. It determines object characteristics in advance, selects appropriate feedback patterns from a predefined set, and prepares control signals beforehand. This preliminary processing reduces real-time computational burden while maintaining high adaptability to different objects.
3Ease of operation
If hovering detection is implemented, then non-contact interaction is enabled, but the detection precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by focusing hovering detection and haptic feedback on specific object regions and properties. Instead of requiring precision across the entire touch screen, the detection is localized to areas where objects are displayed, and haptic feedback is tailored to specific object characteristics. This localized approach reduces overall detection precision requirements while maintaining effective non-contact interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile terminal serves as an intermediary that processes and interprets hovering detection data, reducing the precision burden on the input tool itself. It receives raw hovering data, determines whether hovering state is achieved, identifies object properties, and translates these into appropriate haptic feedback commands. This intermediary processing layer absorbs some precision requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus and method are provided for controlling haptic feedback of an input tool for a mobile terminal. The method includes detecting, by the mobile terminal, a hovering of the input tool over an object displayed on a touch screen display of the mobile terminal; identifying a property of the object; and transmitting, to the input tool, a control signal for haptic feedback corresponding to the property of the object.