Mobile Device Control via Vibration Detection on Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch screen technologies face challenges in accurately detecting a point of impact, such as a finger or stylus, especially when the user's fingers are not clean or when precise contact is difficult, and they lack functionality for non-contact control of nomadic devices.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a nomadic device with a tactile interface plate connected to piezoelectric sensors and actuation transducers that generate a stationary bending wave, allowing for the detection of vibrations and estimation of impact position without direct contact, using motion sensors to determine the chronological order of vibration detection and generate a control signal for wireless transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If capacitive touch detection is used to detect a touch point on an interface plate, then the position can be easily determined, but it is not suitable when the user's fingers are not clean or when the user is unable to touch the interface plate accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the capacitive detection system (which requires direct contact) with a vibration-based detection system using piezoelectric sensors. The motion sensors detect vibrations generated when an object impacts the support, enabling contactless or indirect control while maintaining detection accuracy and expanding usability conditions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If piezoelectric transducers are arranged near the edges of a contact surface to vibrate the plate, then resonant vibration can be achieved, but the system requires direct contact between the interface plate and the object for detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support structure as an intermediary between the interface plate and the impacting object. The support acts as a vibration transmission medium, allowing vibrations from objects impacting anywhere on the support to be transmitted to the piezoelectric sensors, thereby eliminating the requirement for direct contact with the interface plate while preserving resonant vibration characteristics.
3Adaptability or versatility
If motion sensors are used to detect vibration and determine impact position without contact, then control without direct contact is enabled, but the system complexity increases with multiple sensors and processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the support into elementary regions, with each region associated with a specific chronological order of vibration detection across the piezoelectric sensors. This segmentation allows the complex vibration detection problem to be broken down into discrete, manageable zones, simplifying the mapping from sensor signals to control actions while maintaining contactless operation capability.
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
Enables control of nomadic devices like smartphones or tablets without requiring contact with the interface plate, providing accurate positioning and force estimation, enhancing usability in situations where direct contact is undesirable, like dirty fingers or imprecise touching.
Implementation Method 1
at least one transducer, called an actuation transducer, capable of exerting pressure on the interface plate so as to form a standing bending wave propagating along the interface plate at a resonant frequency
Implementation Method 2
resonant vibration of the latter
Implementation Method 3
at least one motion sensor, and preferably each motion sensor, is a piezoelectric sensor connected to the interface plate and capable of detecting a vibration of the latter
Implementation Method 4
When an element 3 is applied against the support 1 at an impact point 4 located outside the interface plate 20, the pressure exerted during application causes the formation of a vibration wave 5
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a mobile device (2), the mobile device being provided on a mounting (1), the mobile device comprising an interface plate (20) capable of being touched by an object (3) so as to control said device, the mobile device (2) comprising at least two movement sensors (21, 22, 23, 24), capable of detecting a movement of the device, the method comprising the following steps: a) applying an object to the mounting, at an impact point (4), the impact point being located outside the interface plate (20), the application of the object causing the propagation of a vibration (5) propagating along the mounting, towards the device (2); b) detecting, by each movement sensor (21, 22, 23, 24), the vibration (5), at a detection instant (t21, t22, t23, t24); c) comparing detection instants respectively detected by each movement sensor; d) estimating a position of the impact point (4), on the mounting (1), as a function of the comparison made during step c); and e) generating a control signal (Sc) of the mobile device as a function of the position estimated during step d).