Piezo Tactile Housing for Private Vibration Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices often rely on audible and vibrational alerts, which can be intrusive and fail to maintain user privacy, as traditional vibrators generate aggressive and noticeable vibrations due to unbalanced motors, affecting both the user and those around them.
Innovation Solution
The use of piezo actuated vibrators with a diaphragm and piezoelectric element, integrated into the device's housing, which can generate both tactile and audible feedback, and optionally include noise cancellation features to minimize sound perception, allowing for customizable alert modes and biometric monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional unbalanced motor vibrator is used, then vibration alert function is provided, but the vibration is aggressive and noticeable, compromising user privacy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional electromagnetic motor-based vibration mechanism with a piezoelectric actuator system. The piezoelectric element converts electrical signals directly into mechanical vibrations of the diaphragm, eliminating the need for unbalanced rotating masses. This substitution produces gentler, more controlled vibrations that are less noticeable and audible, thereby reducing noise disturbance while maintaining effective tactile feedback for user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the vibration generation parameters by using a piezoelectric actuator that can produce vibrations at different frequencies and amplitudes compared to traditional motors. The system can generate subtle vibrations suitable for private notifications while still providing detectable tactile feedback. The vibration characteristics are optimized through the piezoelectric material properties and diaphragm design to achieve the desired balance between discretion and effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If vibration intensity is increased for better tactile feedback, then alert effectiveness improves, but noise disturbance and audibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The piezoelectric actuator system replaces the motor-based vibration mechanism, enabling precise control over vibration intensity and characteristics. This substitution allows the system to generate effective tactile feedback through direct piezoelectric coupling with the diaphragm, producing localized vibrations that are felt by the user but do not generate significant audible noise, thus resolving the trade-off between feedback quality and noise generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by directing the vibrations through the diaphragm to specific contact points on the user's skin. The piezoelectric actuator generates vibrations that are localized to the diaphragm surface area, creating focused tactile feedback at the point of contact. This localization ensures that the vibration energy is efficiently transmitted to the user's skin while minimizing the propagation of audible noise through the device housing and surrounding environment.
3Loss of information
If audible alerts are used for clear notification, then alert effectiveness improves, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces audible alert mechanisms with a piezoelectric-based tactile vibration system. The piezoelectric actuator converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations of the diaphragm, providing notification through tactile feedback rather than audible sound. This substitution maintains clear notification delivery through distinct vibration patterns while eliminating the privacy intrusion associated with audible alerts that can be heard by others in the surrounding environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional alert delivery approach by switching from auditory notification to tactile notification. Instead of using sound waves to convey information outwardly, the system uses mechanical vibrations transmitted through the diaphragm to the user's skin. This inversion of the notification modality ensures that alert information is delivered clearly to the user through touch while remaining private and imperceptible to others nearby.
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 provides discreet and customizable alert mechanisms that reduce noise disturbance while enhancing user interaction through precise tactile feedback, allowing for private notification and biometric monitoring without increasing device size or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element (also referred to herein as piezoelectric actuator or a piezoelectric transducer) coupled to the housing and the diaphragm and configured to cause the diaphragm to vibrate
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of portable electronic devices including a piezo actuated vibrator for providing tactile feedback to the user are described. Portable electronic devices according to the present disclosure may include tactile feedback devices, which may be driven by a piezoelectric actuator/vibrator that is operatively coupled to or embedded into the housing of a portable electronic device. In some examples, the housing of the electronic device itself can be made of piezoelectric ceramic material. The piezoelectric element may be coupled to the housing of the product to cause the housing to deflect and/or vibrate. In some examples, the housing of the portable electronic device, which may be a portable media player device, may be configured for placement directly or indirectly in contact with the user's skin such that vibrations of the housing may be felt directly (without audible feedback) by the user.