Touch Sensor Load-Triggered Vibration for Push-Button Click Feel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Touch sensors lack a realistic click sensation when operated, leading to potential erroneous inputs and a feeling of strangeness, especially when button switches are graphically depicted, due to the absence of a physical displacement feedback mechanism.

Innovation Solution

An input apparatus with a touch sensor, load detection unit, and tactile sensation providing unit that vibrates the touch face at a frequency of 140 Hz or higher for a period between 1/4 to 5/4 of the drive signal when a standard pressure load is detected, mimicking the sensation of a push-button switch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If visual or auditory feedback is used to confirm input operations, then input confirmation is improved, but the feedback may not be confirmed in noisy environments or silent mode (auditory), and the view of the input object may be blocked by a finger (visual)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput confirmationVSAvoidenvironmental interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces visual and auditory feedback mechanisms with a tactile feedback mechanism. Specifically, it uses a vibration motor to generate tactile sensations that confirm input operations through touch rather than sight or sound, thereby eliminating the problems of visual blocking and auditory interference in noisy or silent environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a vibration motor as an intermediary device between the touch sensor and the user's finger. This intermediary generates tactile vibrations that serve as feedback, mediating the communication between the input device and the user without requiring visual or auditory channels that are susceptible to environmental interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the touch sensor threshold is set low to respond to light touches, then ease of operation is improved, but erroneous operations may occur before the operator intends to push

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch responsivenessVSAvoidinput accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements tactile feedback by vibrating the touch sensor surface when a touch is detected. This feedback mechanism allows the operator to confirm that a touch has been registered before it triggers an input action. The vibration serves as a confirmation signal, enabling the operator to distinguish between accidental light touches and intentional inputs, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If push-button switches are graphically depicted on the touch sensor to provide familiar interface, then ease of operation is improved, but the operator cannot obtain physical displacement feedback

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface familiarityVSAvoidlack of tactile feedback

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration to the touch sensor surface to simulate the tactile sensation of pushing a physical button. When a touch is detected, the vibration motor generates oscillations that mimic the mechanical feedback of a push-button switch, thereby providing familiar tactile feedback while maintaining the graphical interface benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a tactile copy of the push-button experience by generating vibrations that replicate the sensation of physical button pressing. Instead of using actual mechanical buttons, the system copies the tactile characteristics of push-buttons through controlled vibrations, preserving the familiar feel without the physical displacement limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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

Provides a realistic click sensation to the operator, reducing erroneous inputs and the feeling of strangeness by simulating the pressure and tactile sensations associated with pushing a push-button switch.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric element that generates an output signal in response to a load

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

a vibration motor that vibrates the touch face; the drive signal has a frequency of 140 Hz or higher

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS8179378B2Input apparatus and control method of input apparatus

Publication Date: 2012.05.15 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

An input apparatus has a touch sensor for receiving an input, a load detection unit for detecting a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor, a tactile sensation providing unit for vibrating the touch face, and a control unit, when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a standard for providing a tactile sensation, for controlling drive of the tactile sensation providing unit to vibrate the touch face at a frequency such that a click sensation is provided to an object (means) pressing the touch face. Thereby, a realistic click sensation similar to that obtained when a push-button switch is operated is provided when an operator operates the touch sensor.