Pressure-Sensing Touch Input With Click and Release Haptics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Touch sensors lack a realistic feedback mechanism, leading to potential erroneous inputs due to the absence of a 'click' sensation when operated, especially in noisy environments or when visual feedback is obstructed, and existing tactile feedback methods provide a mere 'throbbing' sensation that does not replicate the experience of pushing a push-button switch.

Innovation Solution

An input apparatus with a touch sensor, load detection unit, and tactile sensation providing unit that vibrates the touch face to simulate a 'click' sensation when a standard pressure load is detected, and a corresponding 'release' sensation upon pressure release, using a control unit to manage the vibration signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tactile feedback is provided by vibrating the touch sensor, then feedback is provided to the operator, but only a mere 'throbbing' sensation is generated without a realistic 'click' sensation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput accuracyVSAvoidrealistic sensation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration by driving the touch sensor at specific frequencies (100-200 Hz) to generate a click sensation. The vibration unit vibrates the touch sensor in the pressed state, creating realistic tactile feedback that mimics the sensation of pushing a physical button, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing reliable feedback and maintaining ease of operation with realistic sensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Productivity

If the threshold for receiving input is set low, then input responsiveness is improved, but erroneous operations occur when a finger lightly touches the sensor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput responsivenessVSAvoidinput accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses feedback by providing tactile sensation only when the pressed state is confirmed (when pressing force exceeds threshold and pressed state is detected). The vibration unit is driven based on detection results, creating feedback that confirms valid input while filtering out erroneous light touches. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high responsiveness for valid inputs while preventing erroneous operations through conditional feedback activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If visual feedback is used to confirm input, then input confirmation is provided, but the feedback may be obstructed by a finger or not visible in noisy environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput confirmationVSAvoidvisual obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces visual feedback with mechanical tactile feedback. Instead of relying on visual confirmation that may be obstructed or invisible in certain conditions, the system uses the vibration unit to provide tactile click sensation through the touch sensor. This substitution ensures input confirmation is always perceivable regardless of visual conditions, resolving the contradiction between providing input confirmation and avoiding visual obstruction issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The apparatus provides a realistic 'click' and 'release' sensation to the operator, enhancing the input experience and reducing erroneous inputs by mimicking the action of pushing a push-button switch, even in noisy conditions or when visual feedback is obstructed.

Implementation Method 1

a load detection unit that detects a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Implementation Method 2

a tactile sensation providing unit that vibrates the touch face

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS9641173B2Input apparatus and control method for input apparatus

Publication Date: 2017.05.02 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

An input apparatus has a touch sensor 11 for an input, a load detection unit 12 to detect a pressure load on a touch face 11a of the sensor 11, a tactile sensation providing unit 13 to vibrate the touch face 11a, and a control unit 15 to control drive of the tactile sensation providing unit 13, when the detected pressure load satisfies a standard to provide a tactile sensation, to provide a click sensation to an object (means) pressing the touch face 11a. The control unit 15 drives the tactile sensation providing unit 13, when the detected pressure load satisfies the standard after the click sensation is provided in pressing, to provide a release sensation corresponding to the click sensation to the object. Thereby, a realistic click sensation similar to that in operating a push-button switch is provided when an operator operates the touch sensor.