Tactile Feedback Controller for Electronic Device Press Pattern Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices with tactile sensation providing functions often cause discomfort due to inaccurate detection of press and release patterns, leading to inappropriate tactile feedback.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with a tactile sensation providing unit, such as a piezoelectric element, and a controller that determines press patterns based on data from the panel, using adjustable threshold voltages and vectors to accurately provide tactile feedback without discomfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tactile sensation is provided immediately upon press detection, then user feedback is provided, but inaccurate press pattern detection causes discomfort to the operator

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile sensation accuracyVSAvoidoperator discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller provides tactile sensation in advance based on preliminary press detection, but then refines the press pattern determination after the tactile sensation is provided. This preliminary action ensures timely feedback while allowing for subsequent correction based on more accurate press pattern analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the press detection data to refine the press pattern determination. After providing tactile sensation, the controller continues to monitor and adjust the press pattern recognition based on the actual data, ensuring accurate feedback without causing discomfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If press pattern determination is performed continuously, then accurate tactile feedback is achieved, but processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepress pattern detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs press pattern determination preliminarily right after tactile sensation provision, using the data available at that moment. This preliminary determination is then refined in a subsequent step, achieving accurate results without requiring continuous processing throughout the entire interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The press pattern determination is performed periodically at specific intervals rather than continuously. The controller determines press patterns at defined time points after tactile sensation provision, reducing processing time while maintaining detection accuracy through strategic sampling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If fixed threshold values are used for press detection, then the system is simple to implement, but it cannot adapt to different pressing forces and patterns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidpress pattern adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The controller dynamically adjusts the pattern determination threshold based on the maximum value of the press detection data. Instead of using fixed thresholds, the system adapts the threshold level according to the actual pressing force detected, enabling versatile press pattern recognition while maintaining relatively simple implementation through automated threshold adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 improves the tactile sensation providing function by accurately determining press and release patterns, ensuring comfortable and reliable tactile feedback for the operator.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric element that generates a voltage in response to press against the panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

a piezoelectric element that generates a voltage in response to press against the panel, and a controller that controls the piezoelectric element to provide a tactile sensation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9588585B2Electronic device and control method of electronic device

Publication Date: 2017.03.07 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

An electronic device includes a tactile sensation providing unit configured to provide a tactile sensation to a contact object being in contact with a panel and a controller configured to control the tactile sensation providing unit on the basis of data based on press to the panel, in which the controller determines, after the tactile sensation providing unit provides a tactile sensation, a press pattern on the basis of the data based on press to the panel.