Piezoelectric Sound Element for Integrated Touch Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display devices require separate speakers for sound and touch sensors for touch sensing, adding complexity and bulk to the design.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a sound element with a vibration material layer and electrodes at the side or rear surface of the display device, which generates sound through an electric field and senses touch by changing the frequency of vibrations, eliminating the need for a separate speaker and touch panel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate speakers and touch sensors are installed in the display device, then sound and touch sensing functions are provided, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound and touch sensing functionsVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the speaker and touch sensor functions into a single integrated structure. The back chassis serves dual purposes: it acts as the speaker housing and simultaneously functions as the touch sensor panel, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The back chassis is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as the speaker enclosure, the touch sensor substrate, and the structural support frame. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of components needed in the display device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate speakers and touch panels are installed, then sound and touch sensing are achieved, but the display device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound and touch sensing functionsVSAvoiddisplay device size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The speaker and touch panel are merged into a single integrated back chassis assembly, eliminating the space required for separate components and their individual mounting structures, thereby reducing the overall device volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch sensor panel is integrated within the back chassis structure, with the speaker components nested within the same housing space, creating a compact nested arrangement that minimizes device size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 sound generation and touch sensing without additional hardware, simplifying the design and reducing size while maintaining effective haptic and sound quality.

Implementation Method 1

the sound element includes a vibration material layer which provides a sound based on an electric field applied therein, and a pair of electrodes which generates the electric field in the vibration material layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

senses touch by changing the frequency of vibrations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration frequency change detection: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUSRE49756E1Display device unit

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device unit includes: a display device; and a sound element disposed at a side surface or a rear surface of the display device, where the sound element includes a vibration material layer which provides a sound based on an electric field applied therein, and a pair of electrodes which generates the electric field in the vibration material layer.