Piezo Actuator Display Pivoting for Tactile Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays face challenges in providing effective tactile feedback and vibration due to their compact size, which limits user interaction and functionality.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a pair of piezo actuators between the base and the touch-sensitive display, controlled by a controller to alternately actuate and apply forces, causing the display to pivot and vibrate, thereby enhancing tactile feedback and user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the device size is decreased to improve portability, then the device becomes more portable, but the space for tactile feedback mechanisms is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidtactile feedback
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the tactile feedback function into multiple segments by using multiple piezo actuators (first and second piezo actuators) positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the system to provide distributed tactile feedback across the device surface, maintaining effective tactile coverage even as the overall device size decreases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from traditional linear or planar vibration mechanisms to three-dimensional pivoting motion of the touch-sensitive display. By enabling the display to pivot relative to the base through coordinated piezo actuator action, the system creates tactile feedback in the angular/rotational dimension, providing richer tactile experience within limited spatial constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If traditional vibration mechanisms are used, then vibration feedback is provided, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration feedbackVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The piezo actuators serve multiple functions: they provide tactile feedback for touch input confirmation, generate vibration alerts, enable display pivoting motion, and can work in coordinated pairs to create different vibration patterns. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate vibration motors or additional feedback mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining rich tactile capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The piezo actuators are integrated directly into the display assembly structure, using the display itself as part of the feedback mechanism. The display panel and its mounting structure serve dual purposes: displaying information and providing the mechanical interface for piezo actuator-driven tactile feedback, eliminating the need for separate feedback hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution enables improved tactile feedback and vibration in portable electronic devices, enhancing user experience and functionality without increasing device size, by using piezo actuators to pivot and vibrate the touch-sensitive display.

Implementation Method 1

piezo actuators disposed between the base and the touch-sensitive display, the piezo actuators including a first piezo actuator and a second piezo actuator spaced from the first piezo actuator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2418561B1Electronic device including touch-sensitive display
Publication Date: 2012.10.03 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2418561B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2418561B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2418561B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

An electronic device includes a base, a touch-sensitive display moveable relative to the base, piezo actuators disposed between the base and the touch-sensitive display, the piezo actuators including a first piezo actuator and a second piezo actuator spaced from the first piezo actuator, and a controller configured to control the piezo actuators to alternately actuate the first piezo actuator and the second piezo actuator and apply forces to the touch-sensitive display, thereby causing the touch-sensitive display to pivot relative to the base.