Slim Tactile Feedback Device with Lateral Vibration Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tactile feedback devices for touch pads, flat keyboards, and tablet computers face design and manufacturing challenges due to the large size of vibration motors, which protrude and increase the thickness of the device, affecting the configuration of electronic components and hindering the development of thinner products.
Innovation Solution
A slim type tactile feedback device is designed with a vibration source comprising a magnet set and a coil set, positioned between a protruding support and an overlapping plate, outside the substrate's effective area, allowing for a reduced stack size and no protruding structure, enabling uniform vibration feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional vibration motor is used in the tactile feedback device, then the vibration feedback function is achieved, but the device thickness increases and the overall size enlarges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical vibration motor with an electromagnetic vibration source consisting of a magnet set and a coil set. This substitution eliminates the need for a large mechanical motor while achieving the same vibration feedback function through electromagnetic interaction between the magnet and coil, thereby reducing device thickness without compromising vibration functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repositions the vibration source from a vertical stacking arrangement (below the substrate) to a lateral arrangement (at the side of the substrate). The magnet set is positioned at the side of the substrate with the coil set extending from the substrate toward the magnet, changing the spatial dimension of the vibration source layout. This dimensional change allows the vibration components to be distributed along the side of the device rather than increasing the thickness, thus reducing overall device size while maintaining vibration feedback capability
2Reliability
If a large vibration motor is installed on the substrate, then the vibration feedback is generated, but the electronic component configuration is affected and design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vibration source components (magnet set and coil set) from the traditional location beneath the substrate and relocates them to the side of the substrate. This extraction and relocation separates the vibration generation function from the main substrate area, allowing electronic components to be configured independently without needing to accommodate a large vibration motor, thereby reducing design complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the vibration source into separate magnet set and coil set components positioned at different locations relative to the substrate. The magnet set is positioned at the side of the substrate while the coil set extends from the substrate, creating a modular arrangement. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's position and reduces interference with electronic component layout, simplifying overall device design
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 achieves a thinner product design without affecting the original electronic component configuration, providing uniform tactile feedback and meeting the demand for thinner devices by reducing the longitudinal size of the vibration source location.
Implementation Method 1
The vibration source includes a magnet set and a coil set, the magnet set and the coil set are fixed between the protruding support and the overlapping plate... the operation of the vibration source drives the substrate to generate back-and-forth vibration
Implementation Method 2
when the vibration motor 14 vibrates, the soft cushion 13 helps the substrate 11 and the vibration motor 14 to generate a resonance frequency and a good vibration feedback is obtained
Data Source
AI summary
A slim type tactile feedback device is disclosed, including: a substrate, at least an overlapping plate, a support frame, a plurality of cushions and a vibration source; the overlapping plate being fixed to the substrate in a cantilever manner; the support frame including a frame, a void area, and at least a protruding support, the protruding support being a partial segment of the frame; the cushions being fixed between the substrate and the frame; the vibration source including a magnet set and a coil set, the magnet set and the coil set being fixed between the protruding support and the overlapping plate and located at outer side the substrate; the coil set and the magnet set being positioned correspondingly to each other and separated by a gap, the gap increasing when the substrate being pressed by finger, and the substrate moving back-and-forth through linkage motion of the vibration source.