Interactive Surface With Displaceable Members

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing user interfaces, such as touch screens, provide limited feedback to users and lack the ability to dynamically change their surface characteristics in response to stimuli, restricting their interactive capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A user interface featuring an array of displaceable surface members coupled to an oscillatory signal generator via a cable array, allowing the surface members to adjust their position based on oscillatory signals, and incorporating modules that can be replaced or rearranged to alter the surface's size and properties, with interpreting units to decode movement data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional touch screens are used to provide visual output and basic touch input, then the device structure remains simple, but the feedback capability to users is limited and the surface cannot dynamically change characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback capabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interactive surface is divided into an array of discrete displaceable surface members (posts) that can be individually actuated. Each surface member is connected to the cable array through a support member and intermediate mounting members, allowing independent control and displacement detection. This segmentation enables precise localized feedback while maintaining overall system manageability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The surface members are designed to be dynamically displaceable from their resting positions along their longitudinal axes. The cable array generates oscillatory signals that cause the surface members to vibrate or displace, providing dynamic haptic feedback. The system can wholesale change surface characteristics by coordinating the displacement of multiple surface members in response to user input or generated patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If an array of displaceable surface members coupled to a cable array is implemented to provide haptic feedback, then the feedback responsiveness and surface adaptability are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface adaptabilityVSAvoidcable array structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cable array serves multiple functions: it acts as the structural support for the oscillatory signal generator, provides the mechanical connection to displace surface members, and functions as the sensing element that detects surface member displacement through oscillatory signal modification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture despite the complex array structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cable array is configured to generate oscillatory signals that are modified by the position of surface members. When surface members displace from their resting positions, they alter the oscillatory signals, which are then converted to electrical signals by a signal converter. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect user input and surface member positions automatically, reducing the need for additional sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If surface members are made displaceable to enable dynamic surface changes, then the interactive capability is enhanced, but the structural stability of the surface is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteractive capabilityVSAvoidsurface stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support members and intermediate mounting members are designed with pivot points and mounting mechanisms that allow controlled displacement while maintaining structural integrity. The cable array is pre-configured to provide restoring forces that return surface members to their resting positions, cushioning against excessive displacement and maintaining surface stability during interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the positional parameters of surface members dynamically in response to oscillatory signals and user input. By controlling the displacement amplitude and frequency of individual surface members, the system can create various haptic patterns and surface configurations while maintaining overall structural stability through coordinated parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10401977B2User interface

Publication Date: 2019.09.03 WILD

AI summary

A user interface for an interactive device, the user interface comprising: an interactive surface formed by an array of displaceable surface members, the surface members having a resting position; an oscillatory signal generator configured to generate a oscillatory signal, the oscillatory signal generator being coupled to the surface members by a cable array which is configured to carry the oscillatory signal to the surface members, the surface members having a resting position with respect to the cable array; wherein the cable array is arranged such that movement of the surface members from the resting position adjusts the oscillatory signal producing a modified oscillatory signal and/or such that a modified oscillatory signal causes the surface members to move from the resting position; the user interface further comprising a signal converter which converts the modified oscillatory signal to and/or from an electrical signal of the interactive device.