Vehicle Panel Haptic Generator With Integrated Touch and Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional haptic generators for vehicle panels have a large number of parts, leading to increased manufacturing costs and production time, and disrupt the visual harmony of the vehicle's interior due to separate components.
Innovation Solution
A haptic generator with a reduced number of parts, including a first coupling member, casing, haptic actuator, second coupling member, support member, touch sensor, PCB panel, LED, and display, integrated into the vehicle panel to provide haptic feedback, with the display covering the touch sensor from the front and using an illuminance sensor to activate the LED, reducing the need for separate components and enhancing aesthetic harmony.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional haptic generator with multiple separate components (front cover, back cover, actuator, actuator casing, touch sensor, PCB, LED) is used, then the haptic feedback function is achieved, but the number of parts increases leading to increased manufacturing cost and production time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components into an integrated panel structure. The front cover, back cover, actuator, touch sensor, PCB, and LED are combined into a single integrated panel assembly, reducing the number of discrete parts while maintaining all haptic feedback functions. This integration directly addresses the contradiction by simplifying the device structure without sacrificing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated panel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the structural housing, the haptic actuator mounting platform, the touch sensor substrate, the PCB support, and the LED indicator carrier. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing part count and manufacturing complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the front cover is installed in a separate space in the panel, then the haptic generator components are housed, but the front cover made of different material and shape is separated from other portions of the panel making the interior discordant
Solution Approach 1:
The front cover and back cover are merged with the panel structure to form an integrated assembly. The panel itself becomes the housing structure, eliminating the visual discontinuity caused by separate covers. This integration ensures that the material and shape are consistent across the entire interior surface, achieving visual harmony while incorporating all necessary haptic generator components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional assembly of separate stacked components (front cover, actuator, back cover) to a two-dimensional integrated panel structure where components are embedded or mounted on the panel surface. This dimensional change allows for a flush, continuous appearance that maintains aesthetic harmony while providing all necessary functional elements.
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
The solution reduces manufacturing time and costs, provides quick and effective haptic feedback, and maintains a harmonious interior design by integrating components and eliminating the need for separate damping mechanisms, while ensuring efficient vibration transfer and effective damping through the panel itself.
Implementation Method 1
a haptic actuator stored in the casing and configured to produce a vibration used for a haptic feedback
Implementation Method 2
a light emitting diode (LED) mounted to the PCB panel
Data Source
AI summary
A haptic generator for panels of vehicles and an interior panel for vehicles using the same are proposed. The haptic generator includes a first coupling member with a first end integrally coupled to at a rear surface of a panel, a casing coupled to a second end of the first coupling member, a haptic actuator stored in the casing and configured to generate haptic vibration, a second coupling member with a first end integrally coupled to the rear surface of the panel, a support member coupled to a second end of the second coupling member, a touch sensor coupled to the rear surface of the panel with a predetermined distance from the support member, a PCB panel supported by the support member, and a display provided on a portion of a surface of the panel and configured to supply information about a switch.