Touch-Based Reflective Display With Haptic Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reflective display technologies, such as E-INK or MARISOL, have not been effectively integrated with touch-based input devices like touchscreen displays, lacking haptic feedback and dynamic adjustment capabilities, and provide limited content variation when used in information handling devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a touchable control area with a reflective display layer, a touch-based sensing layer, and a haptic feedback layer within information handling devices, which allows for capacitive touch input, dynamic configuration, and low-power operation, enabling customizable and interactive control surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If reflective display technology is used in information handling devices, then power consumption is reduced, but touch-based input capability and haptic feedback are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines reflective display technology with touchscreen sensing layers and haptic feedback mechanisms into a single integrated control area. The reflective display layer is merged with capacitive touch sensing layers and haptic feedback layers, allowing the same surface to provide both low-power reflective display functionality and touch-based input with haptic feedback, thereby resolving the contradiction between power consumption and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The touchable control area serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a reflective display for visual output, a capacitive touchscreen for touch input detection, and a haptic feedback mechanism for tactile response. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require separate elements, maintaining low power consumption while adding touch and haptic capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If conventional touchscreen displays are used, then touch-based input and haptic feedback are provided, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the low-power reflective display technology with touchscreen sensing and haptic feedback systems, creating an integrated control area that maintains the energy efficiency of reflective displays while incorporating the interactive capabilities of touchscreens. The reflective display layer is combined with capacitive touch sensing layers, allowing touch input detection without requiring the continuous backlight illumination of conventional displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional layers to specific areas of the control surface, with reflective display properties in certain zones and enhanced touch sensitivity or haptic feedback in others. This local differentiation allows the system to optimize power consumption in display areas while maintaining high responsiveness in input areas, resolving the contradiction between power usage and operational capability.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical keys are used, then tactile feedback and key position familiarity are provided, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical key structures with an electronic system comprising capacitive touch sensing layers and haptic feedback mechanisms. Instead of physical keys with moving parts, the system uses electrical fields to detect touch input and electronic actuators to provide haptic feedback, significantly reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining tactile feedback functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces haptic feedback layers as an intermediary between the user's touch and the device's response, providing tactile sensation without requiring mechanical key movement. This intermediary layer translates electrical signals into physical vibrations or resistance, mimicking mechanical feedback while avoiding the complexity of moving mechanical parts.
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 a low-power, dynamically configurable touch-based control area that offers haptic and audible feedback, enhancing user interaction and reducing power consumption, suitable for replacing conventional touchscreens or keyboards in information handling devices.
Implementation Method 1
a touch-based sensing layer... which allows for capacitive touch input
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, methods and products are described that provide information handling devices with touch-based reflective display. One aspect provides a method including: providing a touchable control having one or more areas, said one or more areas providing both reflective display and accepting touch-based input; displaying data on a display device of an information handling device which does not overlap the reflective display of said one or more areas; ascertaining touch-based input to said one or more areas of said touchable control area; and executing one or more functions responsive to said touch-based input. Other embodiments are described.