Tactile Sensation Providing Device for Slide Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch panel interfaces lack an intuitive way to provide tactile feedback during slide operations, limiting user engagement and navigation experience.
Innovation Solution
A tactile sensation providing device that includes a touch sensor, a tactile sensation unit, and a control unit to vary tactile feedback based on the position of the user's finger during a slide operation, using elevation information from map data to enhance user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch panel detects slide operations, then position information can be obtained, but the user interface lacks intuitive tactile feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the tactile sensation providing unit generates vibrations based on elevation information from map data. As the user slides their finger across the touch panel, the system continuously provides tactile feedback corresponding to the elevation at each position, creating an intuitive connection between visual map data and tactile sensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary tactile sensation providing unit that translates elevation information into vibrations. This intermediary converts abstract elevation data into tangible tactile feedback, allowing users to perceive terrain information through touch while interacting with the visual map display.
2Ease of operation
If tactile sensation is provided during slide operation, then user experience is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the tactile sensation providing unit into the existing touch panel structure, allowing it to serve multiple functions: detecting touch input, displaying visual information, and providing tactile feedback. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and minimizes overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the tactile sensation providing unit with the touch sensor and display unit into an integrated system. The control unit coordinates all three components, merging their functions to create a unified interaction interface that enhances user experience without requiring separate complex subsystems.
3Loss of information
If tactile sensation varies according to position, then terrain information is conveyed, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by providing tactile feedback only during active slide operations rather than continuously. The control unit activates the tactile sensation providing unit based on detected touch and movement, consuming energy only when information transmission is needed, thus reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective terrain information conveyance.
Data Source
AI summary
The tactile sensation providing device according to the present invention includes a touch sensor (120) that detects contact, a tactile sensation providing unit (130) that provides a tactile sensation to a contacting object in contact with the touch sensor (120), and a control unit (110) that controls the tactile sensation providing unit (130), when the touch sensor (120) detects a slide operation by the contacting object, to provide the tactile sensation continuously while varying the tactile sensation provided to the contacting object during the slide operation in accordance with a position of the contacting object during the slide operation, whereby can provide the user's finger, when detecting a slide operation by a user, with a tactile sensation that varies during the slide operation in accordance with the position of the user's finger during the slide operation.