Seesaw Touchpad Hinge Mechanism for Buttonless Tactile Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved user experience and functionality in input devices, particularly in click pad technology, which often lacks simplicity and economic efficiency while providing tactile feedback and effective data input for electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A touchpad with a hinge mechanism and tension bars that allows displacement from a flat position to an active position, eliminating physical buttons and enabling multi-gesture input through button zones and movement indicators, which generate signals upon depression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical buttons are used in click pad technology, then tactile feedback is provided, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes physical buttons from the input device structure and replaces them with a hinge mechanism that enables tactile feedback through the deformation of the touchpad surface itself. This extraction of the button component simplifies the device while maintaining the essential tactile feedback function.
Solution Approach 2:
The touchpad surface serves multiple functions: it acts as both the touch-sensitive input surface and the tactile feedback mechanism. By making the touchpad itself deformable through the hinge mechanism, the same component provides both input detection and tactile response, eliminating the need for separate physical buttons.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hinge mechanism is added to enable displacement, then multi-gesture input capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hinge mechanism that enables the touchpad to dynamically change its configuration between a flat state and a displaced state. This dynamic capability allows the same hardware to support multiple input gestures (click, tap, slide) by varying the physical state of the touchpad, thereby improving versatility without requiring multiple separate components.
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 solution provides a user-friendly, economical, and simple-looking input device that supports complex functions, enhancing user interaction with electronic devices by allowing multi-gesture inputs and eliminating the need for physical buttons.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the touchpad is pivotably connected to the hinge to allow displacement of the touchpad from a flat position to an activate position
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of tension bars sandwiched between the base plate and the planar plate, wherein the tension bars biases the planar plate to a flat position
Data Source
AI summary
An input device and computing system is provided for a user to input data. An input device may comprise a touch sensitive pad and a hinge. The touchpad may have a touch sensitive surface. The touchpad may have a first end and a second end. The hinge may be disposed parallel to the first end and the second end. The touchpad may be pivotably connected to the hinge to allow displacement of the touchpad from a flat position to an activate position at the first end when a force is applied to the first end of the touch surface.