Software-Defined Hard Keys with Translating Pins on Flexible Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touchscreen displays lack comprehensive tactile cues, limiting user accuracy and confidence compared to traditional interfaces, as current haptic technologies do not provide the same level of feedback as physical buttons.
Innovation Solution
A flexible touchscreen display system with a translatable pin actuation layer forming physical buttons, simulating traditional buttons by translating pins to provide tactile feedback and integrate with linear actuators for dynamic response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If touchscreen display is used, then flexibility and form factor are improved, but tactile feedback and user accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic haptic layer with movable pins that can translate between retracted and protruding states. This dynamic structure allows the touchscreen to provide physical tactile feedback on demand, resolving the contradiction between touchscreen flexibility and user accuracy by adding adaptive mechanical feedback without compromising the flexible display nature.
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic layer with translateable pins serves as an intermediary between the touchscreen display and the user's finger. This intermediate mechanical layer provides physical tactile cues (protrusion, push resistance, button movement) that bridge the gap between the flat touchscreen surface and the user's sense of touch, improving input accuracy while maintaining display flexibility.
2Reliability
If physical buttons are used, then tactile feedback and user confidence are improved, but device complexity and integration flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the display function and haptic feedback function into a single integrated touchscreen assembly. The haptic layer with translateable pins is integrated directly with the display, eliminating the need for separate physical buttons while maintaining tactile feedback. This merging reduces device complexity and improves integration flexibility while preserving user confidence through physical feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The touchscreen display serves multiple functions: visual information display, touch input detection, and haptic feedback provision. The haptic layer with translateable pins provides universal tactile feedback that can be applied across different button configurations and layouts, making the system adaptable to various interface designs without increasing complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional haptic elements are used, then basic vibration feedback is provided, but comprehensive tactile cues before button push are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary haptic action by allowing the haptic layer to provide tactile cues (protrusion, push resistance) before the user actually pushes the button. The translateable pins can be positioned to create the sensation of a physical button surface that the user can feel and interact with before activation, providing comprehensive tactile information in advance of the actual input action.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous haptic feedback through the translateable pins that respond to user interaction. As the user approaches and touches the button area, the pins provide progressive tactile feedback (initial contact resistance, button movement simulation) that gives real-time information about the interaction state, preventing loss of tactile information that occurs with conventional vibration-only haptics.
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
Enhances user interaction by providing tactile feedback similar to physical buttons, improving accuracy and confidence through haptic simulation.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of linear actuator elements configured to translate a subset of the plurality of pins
Implementation Method 2
haptic technologies that engages a user's sense of touch when a UI element on a touchscreen display has been tapped, slid, or otherwise pressed by a user
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for a haptic display is disclosed. The haptic display includes a display head (108) and an actuator layer (122). The actuator layer includes a pin board (124) configured with a plurality of openings, and a plurality of pins (128) configured to translate within the plurality of openings. One or more of the plurality of pins includes a display interaction end (300) configured to physically interact with the display head and an actuation end (304). The actuation layer further includes a plurality of linear actuator elements (132) physically coupled to the actuation end of the plurality of pins configured to bias a set of the pins against the display head. A bias of the set of pins against the display head generates a protrusion on the flexible surface that may be reduced by a biasing force of a user, wherein the user detects a reduction of the protrusion.