Passive Resonator Amplifies Haptic Feedback on Vehicle Touch Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large multifunction touch surfaces in motor vehicles often experience attenuated haptic feedback due to distance from vibratory actuators, leading to complex architectures and synchronization challenges, with existing solutions either increasing size and cost or failing to provide uniform feedback.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a passive resonator with a natural resonant frequency, positioned in conjunction with electrically controlled vibratory actuators, to amplify vibration amplitude and ensure homogeneous feedback across the surface, simplifying the system and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple vibratory actuators are used to transmit haptic feedback across the entire touch surface, then the haptic feedback can be felt across the entire surface, but the device complexity increases and control synchronization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes mechanical vibration resonance by introducing a passive resonator that naturally vibrates at its resonant frequency when excited by the actuator. This resonance amplifies the vibration amplitude across the entire touch surface, allowing a single actuator to achieve uniform haptic feedback perception without requiring multiple synchronized actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive resonator acts as an intermediary element between the vibratory actuator and the touch surface. It receives vibrational energy from the actuator and redistributes it across the entire surface through its resonant oscillation, effectively mediating the transmission of haptic feedback to all user contact points simultaneously.
2Reliability
If the dimension of the vibratory actuator is substantially increased to amplify vibration amplitude, then the haptic feedback can be felt in areas far from the actuator, but the system size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing actuator size, the patent employs mechanical vibration resonance through a passive resonator. The resonator amplifies the vibration amplitude naturally through its resonant properties, achieving strong haptic feedback perception across large distances without requiring a larger or more powerful actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameter of the system by tuning the passive resonator to its natural resonant frequency. This parameter change enables the system to achieve maximum vibration amplitude with minimal actuator input, avoiding the need for increased actuator size while maintaining effective haptic feedback across the entire surface.
3Reliability
If multiple vibratory actuators are used to cover large touch surfaces, then uniform haptic feedback is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes the natural resonant properties of a passive mechanical structure. By designing the resonator to vibrate at its natural frequency, the system achieves uniform haptic feedback without requiring multiple expensive active actuators, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining feedback uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive resonator serves itself by utilizing its own natural resonant frequency to amplify vibrations. It requires no external power source or complex control electronics, yet automatically provides uniform haptic feedback across the entire surface when excited by a single actuator, reducing system cost and complexity.
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 provides a compact, cost-effective haptic feedback system capable of generating strong, uniform vibrations across large touch surfaces, overcoming synchronization issues and enhancing user feedback experience.
Implementation Method 1
at least one passive resonator, disposed at a distance from the electrically controlled vibratory actuator and configured to enter into vibration due to the vibration of the touch surface generated by the electrically controlled vibratory actuator. The passive resonator is an actuator having a natural resonant frequency without a power supply. This increases the amplitude of the vibration generated by the electrically operated vibratory actuator
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a haptic feedback device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a tactile surface (2) for detecting the contact of a user and at least one electrically controlled vibration actuator (3) for vibrating the tactile surface (2), said device being characterised in that it comprises at least one passive resonator (4; 41; 42; 43) arranged at a distance from the electrically controlled vibration actuator (3) and designed such that it begins to vibrate as a result of the vibration of the tactile surface (2) generated by the electrically controlled vibration actuator (3). The invention also relates to a haptic feedback method for a haptic feedback device (1) of a motor vehicle.