Motor-Biased Manual Control Interface for Smooth Tactile Feel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manually operated devices often provide an unpleasant tactile feel due to excessive force requirements and rough mechanical couplings, especially when electric motors are engaged, leading to undesirable sensations like 'rough,' 'toothy,' or 'coggy' feedback.
Innovation Solution
A tactile feel control device that includes an electric motor mechanically coupled to a manual control interface, a bias module to generate a bias providing a desired tactile feel, and a control module to output a drive signal to the electric motor, ensuring the bias is insufficient to cause movement, thus smoothing the tactile experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional speaker is used, then the device structure is simple, but the tactile feel (kickback) is insufficient and bass reproduction is weak
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane is introduced as an intermediary element between the voice coil assembly and the speaker frame. The membrane transmits and amplifies the mechanical vibrations generated by the voice coil, enhancing the tactile kickback effect while maintaining the simplicity of the basic speaker structure. This mediator allows the system to achieve stronger tactile feedback without requiring complex additional mechanisms.
2Strength
If the voice coil assembly is fixed rigidly to the speaker frame, then the structure is stable, but the tactile feedback is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the voice coil assembly and speaker frame is changed from a static rigid fixation to a dynamic flexible connection using the membrane. This flexible connection allows the voice coil assembly to move and vibrate freely in response to electrical signals, enhancing tactile feedback, while still maintaining structural integrity through the membrane's elastic properties. The system transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamically adaptable structure.
3Productivity
If the diaphragm is made large to improve bass reproduction, then the bass response is enhanced, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane acts as a mechanical amplifier that allows a smaller diaphragm to produce bass effects comparable to a larger diaphragm. By introducing this intermediary element that efficiently transmits and amplifies vibrations, the system achieves enhanced bass reproduction capability without the penalty of increased device volume that would result from simply enlarging the diaphragm.
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
Enhances the user experience by providing a mechanically smooth drive feel, making the device feel more refined and of higher quality, while being transparent to the user whether the device is analog or digital/electromechanical.
Implementation Method 1
a voice coil assembly (130) including a voice coil (131) disposed to be movable in the radial direction of the shaft (103)
Implementation Method 2
a flexible membrane (141) extending from the tip of the shaft (103) toward the diaphragm (121) in a state of being elastically deformable
Data Source
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AI summary
A tactile feel control device is disclosed. The tactile feel control device can include an electric motor configured to be mechanically coupled to a manual control interface that is movable by a user. The tactile feel control device can also include a bias module operable to generate a bias to be applied by the electric motor. The bias can be configured to provide a desired tactile feel to the user at the manual control interface. In addition, the tactile feel control device can include a control module operable to output a drive signal to the electric motor configured to apply the bias. The bias can be insufficient, alone, to cause movement of the manual control interface.