Piezoelectric Actuator Grid for Localized Haptic Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional touchscreens lack effective methods for users to navigate and select virtual buttons or other input elements without visual feedback, particularly for visually impaired individuals or those unable to view the screen, such as when driving or in low-light conditions.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a grid of piezoelectric actuators that provide localized tactile, or haptic, feedback, allowing users to feel vibrations and distinguish virtual buttons and other elements through dynamic, frequency-based vibrations, enabling non-visual navigation and selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a touchscreen is used to provide visual display and input functionality, then the device can utilize the same physical space for different functions, but the user cannot locate virtual buttons or input elements without visual feedback

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-functionality of touchscreenVSAvoidability to locate input elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The touchscreen surface is segmented into multiple independently controllable zones corresponding to different virtual buttons and input elements. Each zone can be individually activated to provide localized tactile feedback, allowing users to identify specific input areas through touch without visual assistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the touchscreen surface are given different tactile properties through selective activation of piezoelectric actuators. When a user touches near a virtual button, only that local area provides tactile feedback, creating distinct sensory zones that help users locate and identify input elements through touch alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If visual display is used for user interaction, then information can be presented to the user, but the user must divert attention from other tasks to view the screen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation presentation to userVSAvoidattention diverted from other tasks

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Tactile feedback serves as an intermediary channel for communication between the device and user, supplementing or replacing visual feedback. Through localized vibrations and haptic responses, the system conveys information about button locations and states without requiring the user to look at the screen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces reliance on visual mechanical systems (display screen viewing) with a tactile mechanical system (piezoelectric actuator feedback). This substitution allows users to interact with the interface through touch and feel rather than sight, enabling continued engagement in other tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If conventional touchscreens are used, then the interface can be simple and intuitive, but users lack tactile cues to distinguish virtual buttons from other areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintuitiveness of interfaceVSAvoidtactile feedback about input elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Piezoelectric actuators embedded in the touchscreen generate localized mechanical vibrations at specific locations corresponding to virtual buttons and input elements. These vibrations provide tactile cues that help users identify and distinguish interactive areas from non-interactive areas through touch alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements tactile feedback loops where user touch actions trigger localized haptic responses. When a user touches or hovers near a virtual button, the system responds with localized vibrations that confirm the presence and location of input elements, creating intuitive tactile guidance for navigation and selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 users to interact with touchscreens without visual feedback, improving accessibility for visually impaired individuals and reducing the need to divert attention from tasks like driving, by providing clear tactile cues for virtual button locations and actions.

Implementation Method 1

The grid of piezoelectric actuators may be transparent or opaque. An individual piezoelectric actuator can be activated by applying control signals to its top and bottom electrodes.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9857872B2Multi-touch display screen with localized tactile feedback

Publication Date: 2018.01.02 APPLE INC

AI summary

Systems, methods, computer-readable media, and other means are described for utilizing touch-based input components that provide localized haptic feedback to a user. The touch-based input components can be used and/or integrated into any type of electronic device, including laptop computers, cellular telephones, and portable media devices. The touch-based input components can use, for example, a grid of piezoelectric actuators to provide vibrational feedback to a user, while the user scrolls around a click wheel, slides across a trackpad, or touches a multi-touch display screen.