Haptic Feedback Actuation for Portable Device Keyboards and Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays and physical keyboards face challenges in providing effective haptic feedback, especially when the keyboard is in a non-exposed position, which can lead to user confusion and increased input errors due to the lack of tactile confirmation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method that uses actuators to provide haptic feedback on both the touch-sensitive display and physical keyboard, with adjustable intensity, to confirm user inputs, ensuring tactile feedback regardless of the keyboard's position relative to the display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If haptic feedback is provided only on the physical keyboard, then tactile confirmation is clear when keyboard is exposed, but haptic feedback is lost when keyboard is in non-exposed position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling haptic feedback capability on both the physical keyboard and the touch-sensitive display. The touch-sensitive display is equipped with haptic feedback actuators that can provide tactile confirmation regardless of the keyboard's position. This multi-functionality ensures that input confirmation is available universally across different input interfaces and keyboard configurations, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the touch-sensitive display as an intermediary that can provide haptic feedback when the physical keyboard is not exposed. Instead of relying solely on the physical keyboard for tactile confirmation, the system uses the display's haptic capabilities as a mediator to maintain input confirmation reliability. This intermediary approach allows the system to adapt to different keyboard positions while maintaining consistent user feedback.
2Measurement precision
If haptic feedback intensity is increased to improve tactile confirmation, then input accuracy improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the haptic feedback intensity adjustable and adaptive. The system can dynamically adjust the intensity of haptic feedback based on operational context, input type, and user preferences. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize between input accuracy and energy consumption, providing stronger feedback when needed for accuracy while reducing intensity during normal operation to conserve energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing the haptic feedback characteristics (intensity, duration, frequency) to be modified based on different operational scenarios. The system can change haptic parameters adaptively - using higher intensity for critical inputs requiring confirmation and lower intensity for routine interactions, thereby balancing measurement precision with energy efficiency.
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 enhances user experience by providing consistent haptic feedback, reducing input errors and improving usability by confirming selections on both the physical keyboard and touch-sensitive display, even when the keyboard is not exposed.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator disposed in the display housing or the keyboard housing and configured to provide haptic feedback in response to detecting a touch on the physical keyboard or the touch-sensitive display
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing haptic feedback at a portable electronic device including a touch-sensitive display and a physical keyboard comprising depressible keys and touch sensors for detecting touches thereon, is provided. In response to detecting a first touch on the physical keyboard, which physical keyboard is moveable relative to the touch-sensitive display, between a first position in which the physical keyboard is exposed for use and a second position in which the physical keyboard is not exposed, wherein the first touch is associated with haptic feedback, first haptic feedback is provided to the physical keyboard. In response to detecting a second touch on the touch-sensitive display when the physical keyboard is in the second position in which the physical keyboard is not exposed, wherein the second touch is associated with haptic feedback, second haptic feedback is provided to the touch-sensitive display.