Tactile Output Actuator for Sustained Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional notifications on electronic devices are often distracting and may lead to missed urgent notifications due to their transient nature, as they require immediate attention and can be overlooked among other notifications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of tactile outputs on electronic devices, where actuators within the device's enclosure move tactile features to provide sustained, localized, and dynamic notifications, allowing users to perceive information through touch without visual or auditory disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional notifications (audio or vibration alarms) are used, then users can be alerted of incoming messages, but users experience distraction and may miss urgent notifications due to the transient nature of these alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming static tactile features into dynamic moving tactile features. The tactile features are moved in different patterns (linear, circular, oscillating motions) to convey different notification types and states, making the notification system more expressive and reliable while remaining subtle and non-distracting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adapts the concept of color changes to the tactile domain by varying the motion patterns, speeds, and sequences of tactile features. Different motion patterns serve as 'tactile colors' to differentiate between various notification types (messages, calls, alerts), providing rich information without auditory or visual distraction.
2Loss of information
If conventional temporary notifications are used, then users receive alerts, but notifications may be forgotten or missed among other notifications due to their transient nature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing sustained tactile notifications that remain active until acknowledged, rather than briefly displaying and then disappearing. The moving tactile features continue to provide tactile feedback, ensuring the notification is noticed and remembered, preventing information loss among multiple notifications.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If users turn off notification capability to reduce distraction, then distraction is reduced, but urgent or critical notifications may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing localized tactile notifications at specific input structures rather than global auditory or visual alerts. The tactile feedback is confined to the region where the user is already interacting with the device, providing urgent notification delivery without causing widespread distraction.
4Loss of information
If tactile features are moved in different patterns, then more information can be conveyed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a single actuator system to perform multiple functions through different motion patterns. The same tactile features can convey different types of information (message arrival, call incoming, urgent alerts, confirmation states) by varying the motion patterns, reducing the need for multiple separate notification mechanisms.
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
Tactile outputs provide a more discreet and tunable notification method that reduces distractions, allowing users to acknowledge notifications at their convenience and ensures urgent messages are not missed.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator is disposed at least partially within the enclosure and is operably connected to the input/output member. The actuator is configured to activate a tactile feature on the input/output member in response to the input and move the tactile feature in a pattern of motion, thereby producing the tactile output.
Implementation Method 2
The wearable audio device further includes an actuator coupled to the enclosure and configured to dynamically change a shape of the input/output region to produce a localized tactile output at the input/output region.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may provide tactile outputs at a tactile output region of the electronic device. The tactile output region of the electronic device may be a surface of an input structure or a surface of an enclosure of the device. Tactile outputs may provide a sustained, physically-based notification of a particular item of interest. The tactile output may alter a physical characteristic of the tactile output region, such as the shape, texture, or density of a portion of the electronic device, in one or more tactile output regions. Furthermore, the tactile notification may provide a notification that is less intrusive and more tunable to user preferences than conventional notifications. The tactile output may be static in that the tactile notification is not transitory and remains throughout the duration of the tactile output. The tactile notification may be dynamic in that it includes motion.