Piezoelectric Haptic Vibrator Frequency Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing haptic apparatuses lack precise control over vibration, leading to uneven vibration magnitudes across the screen and inefficient transmission of vibrations to desired areas, resulting in suboptimal user experience.
Innovation Solution
A locally vibrating haptic apparatus and method that adjusts the frequency of vibrators to operate below the primary resonant frequency of the panel, allowing for precise control of vibrating positions and isolation of vibrations to specific areas, using piezoelectric beam vibrators strategically placed on the edges or corners of the panel to achieve desired vibration patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a vibrator is provided to generate vibration in a touch screen, then haptic feedback is enabled, but precise control over vibration location and magnitude is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vibration generation function into multiple independent vibrators (first vibrator and second vibrator) positioned at different locations. Each vibrator can be independently controlled to generate vibration at specific regions of the touch screen, enabling precise location control while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different vibration characteristics to different regions of the touch screen by positioning vibrators at specific locations (edges and corners). This allows each region to receive customized vibration feedback, achieving both precise location control and user-friendly haptic interaction.
2Ease of manufacture
If a vibrator is arranged in the main body to transmit vibration, then vibration generation is simple, but vibration magnitude is uneven across the screen with larger vibration in the main body than in the screen
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single vibrator in the main body, the patent segments the vibration source into multiple vibrators positioned directly at the screen edges and corners. This segmentation allows for more uniform vibration distribution across the screen surface while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the touch screen itself as an intermediary vibration transmission medium. By positioning vibrators at the screen edges and corners, vibration is transmitted through the screen structure rather than through the main body, resulting in more uniform vibration magnitude across the display surface.
3Ease of operation
If vibration is transmitted to the main body, then haptic feedback is achieved, but vibration transmission to undesired portions cannot be suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vibration transmission path from the main body and relocates it to the screen structure itself. By positioning vibrators at the screen edges and corners, vibration is generated directly at the desired locations without unnecessary transmission through the main body, thereby eliminating unwanted vibration in portions other than the vibrating points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates localized vibration zones at specific screen regions (edges and corners) by positioning vibrators there. This localized approach ensures that vibration is generated only where needed, preventing unwanted vibration transmission to other portions of the apparatus while maintaining effective haptic feedback.
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 precise and localized vibration control, allowing for targeted vibration feedback on touch screens, enhancing user interaction by ensuring vibrations are felt at specific positions and minimizing unwanted vibration transmission, thereby improving user convenience and feedback accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric beam vibrator taking a shape of a long rectangular plate, supported at an end by the support portion
Implementation Method 2
a vibration frequency outputted from the vibrator is adjusted in a domain less than a primary resonant frequency of the panel
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a locally vibrating haptic apparatus capable of vibrating a desired position of the haptic apparatus or adjusting a vibrating position by improving arrangement of vibrators and a frequency control method, the haptic apparatus including a panel and a vibrator transmitting vibration to the panel, wherein a vibration frequency outputted from the vibrator is adjusted in a domain less than a primary resonant frequency of the panel, thus controlling a vibrating position from a portion having the vibrator to a central portion of the panel, the haptic apparatus being advantageous in that the vibrating position of the panel may be precisely controlled by adjusting the frequency of the vibrator disposed on the edge of the haptic panel.