Tactile Touch Panel Using Electroactive Polymer Membrane

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tactile touch fields with extendable pins are complex to manufacture and require significant installation space, making it difficult to design curved surfaces due to their mechanical components.

Innovation Solution

A tactile touch field with cells that switch between two mechanical resistances by adjusting the position of a body and body seat within a fluid-filled capsule, allowing for variable resistance without physical movement, and utilizing electrical or magnetic dipoles for state switching, enabling a flexible and compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If extendable pins with mechanical moving mechanisms are used, then tactile feedback can be provided, but the device complexity and installation space increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile feedbackVSAvoidmechanical parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical pin extension system with an electroactive polymer membrane that changes its mechanical properties (stiffness and resistance) when voltage is applied. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical moving parts while maintaining the tactile feedback function through electrical actuation of the polymer material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mechanical resistance parameter of the tactile cells by applying voltage to the electroactive polymer membrane. When voltage is applied, the polymer's mechanical resistance changes, creating the tactile feedback effect without physical movement of pins. This parameter-based control simplifies the system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If extendable pins with mechanical mechanisms are used, then tactile feedback can be provided, but the installation space required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile feedbackVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical pin extension system with an electroactive polymer membrane that changes its mechanical properties (stiffness and resistance) when voltage is applied. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical moving parts while maintaining the tactile feedback function through electrical actuation of the polymer material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mechanical resistance parameter of the tactile cells by applying voltage to the electroactive polymer membrane. When voltage is applied, the polymer's mechanical resistance changes, creating the tactile feedback effect without physical movement of pins. This parameter-based control simplifies the system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a rigid housing with mechanical pin mechanisms is used, then tactile feedback can be provided, but the adaptability to curved surfaces decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile feedbackVSAvoidcurved surface design

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible electroactive polymer membrane as the tactile cell structure, replacing rigid housings and mechanical pin assemblies. This flexible membrane can conform to curved surfaces while providing tactile feedback through electrical actuation, enabling adaptation to various surface geometries including curved applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 simplifies manufacturing and reduces installation space, allowing for a flexible and compact tactile touch field that can be easily integrated into curved surfaces while maintaining tactile perception through adjustable resistance.

Implementation Method 1

Each tactile cell comprises an electroactive polymer membrane (20) which is rigid in a first state when no voltage is applied across the membrane and flexible in a second state when a voltage is applied across the membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroactive polymer effect: Electroactive Polymer

Data Source

PatentEP4485145A1Tactile touch panel

Publication Date: 2025.01.01 BENECKE-KALIKO GMBH

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AI summary

The invention relates to a tactile touch field (1) with a plurality of tactile cells (10) arranged in a grid, wherein each cell defines a depth direction (T) directed from its contact side (11) to its rear side (12). It is proposed to configure each cell (10) to be switchable between a first state and a second state, wherein the mechanical resistance that the cell (10) can exert against a force (K) acting in the depth direction (T) differs between the two states.