Tactile Feedback Device with Elastic Suspension for Large Touch Panels

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tactile feedback devices for large-sized touch panels suffer from attenuated vibration strength due to multiple actuators, leading to unclear touch completion feedback, increased manufacturing and maintenance costs, energy consumption, and weight, which contradicts the requirements of lightweight and miniaturization.

Innovation Solution

A tactile feedback device with an actuator fixed to the touch panel and an elastic suspension supporting module, where the vibration direction of the actuator is aligned with the displacement direction of the elastic suspension members, ensuring uniform vibration transmission and reduced actuator count.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple actuators are used to generate vibration effects on large-sized touch display panel, then vibration feedback effects are improved, but manufacturing costs, energy consumption, and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration feedback effectVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into multiple elastic suspension supporting members that are symmetrically distributed, allowing a single actuator to effectively vibrate the entire touch panel by utilizing the panel's natural vibration modes and the supportive elasticity of multiple suspension points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the natural vibration characteristics of the touch panel and the elastic properties of the suspension members to amplify and distribute vibration from a single actuator source across the entire panel, achieving uniform vibration feedback effect without needing multiple actuators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Reliability

If multiple actuators are used to generate vibration effects on large-sized touch display panel, then vibration feedback effects are improved, but manufacturing costs, energy consumption, and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration feedback effectVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into multiple elastic suspension supporting members that are symmetrically distributed, allowing a single actuator to effectively vibrate the entire touch panel by utilizing the panel's natural vibration modes and the supportive elasticity of multiple suspension points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the functions of multiple actuators into a single actuator by utilizing the elastic suspension supporting members as vibration transmission pathways, merging the vibration generation function with the support structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If conventional actuator disposed on housing is used, then structure is simple, but vibration strength is greatly attenuated and tactile feedback is not obvious

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestructureVSAvoidvibration strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic suspension supporting members serve as intermediaries that directly connect the actuator to the touch panel, eliminating the housing as an intermediate transmission path and thereby preventing vibration attenuation while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the natural vibration characteristics of the touch panel and the elastic properties of the suspension members to amplify and distribute vibration from a single actuator source across the entire panel, achieving uniform vibration feedback effect without needing multiple actuators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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 enables clear tactile feedback vibration perception, reduces actuator count, and meets the requirements of lightweight and miniaturization while maintaining effective tactile feedback.

Implementation Method 1

the plurality of elastic suspension supporting members are respectively provided with a buffering and resetting displacement degree of freedom with a displacement direction parallel to the vibration direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250258546A1Tactile feedback device

Publication Date: 2025.08.14 POWERTIP TECH

AI summary

A touch sensor comprises two baseplates arranged at intervals, a first electrode disposed between the baseplates, and a pressure sensing module. Two-dimensional touch control of the sensor is achieved by the first electrode. An insulating material is provided between the module and the first electrode. The module comprises a second electrode based on the insulating material and disposed on a side of the insulating material away from the first electrode, and a third electrode disposed above the other one of the baseplates. The second electrode is not in contact with the third electrode, an air gap is provided between the second and third electrodes, the second and third electrodes are respectively connected to a signal output source. When one of the baseplates close to the second electrode is touched, the air gap changes a spacing to change a self-capacitance signal of the signal output sources.