Touch Surface Haptic Vibration for Virtual Object Boundaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing haptic technologies fail to effectively simulate the tactile sensations of interacting with virtual objects, particularly the boundaries and transitions within these objects, leading to a lack of natural and efficient device-human interaction.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus and method that utilizes a touch control device to detect touch positions, a haptic device to produce vibration patterns, and a processor to determine the relative position of the touch with respect to virtual object boundaries, generating vibration patterns with specific characteristics to simulate boundaries and transitions, including varying friction coefficients and frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vibration patterns are produced to simulate virtual object boundaries, then tactile feedback realism is improved, but the ability to accurately simulate boundary characteristics deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic device is divided into multiple independently controllable vibration units arranged in an array. Each unit can generate vibrations with different characteristics (frequency, amplitude, phase), allowing the boundary zone to be segmented into distinct regions (inner boundary line, outer boundary line, nodes, anti-nodes) that can be controlled separately to accurately simulate boundary characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions within the boundary zone are assigned different vibration characteristics. Nodes have higher friction coefficients while anti-nodes have lower friction coefficients. The distance between anti-nodes is specifically controlled to match the displayed boundary zone width. This local differentiation enables accurate simulation of boundary tactile sensations while maintaining overall tactile feedback realism.
2Measurement precision
If the distance between anti-nodes is increased to match displayed boundary zone, then boundary visualization accuracy is improved, but tactile feedback precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the distance between anti-nodes based on the sliding speed of the touch. When sliding speed exceeds a threshold (10 mm/s), the distance between anti-nodes is set to twice the displayed boundary zone distance. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain accurate boundary visualization while compensating for the reduced tactile feedback precision at higher speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration pattern parameters (frequency, amplitude, phase, anti-node distance) are continuously adjusted based on touch conditions. The anti-node distance is specifically modified to either match or be twice the displayed boundary zone distance depending on sliding speed, enabling the system to balance visualization accuracy with tactile feedback precision under different operating conditions.
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
Enhances the natural interaction experience by accurately simulating virtual object boundaries and transitions, providing a more realistic tactile feedback.
Implementation Method 1
a respective unit of the plurality of units comprises a first electrode layer, an electroactive layer on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer on a side of the electroactive layer away from the first electrode layer
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes a touch control device configured to detect a position of a touch on a surface of the electronic apparatus; a haptic device configured to produce a vibration pattern on the surface; a driving circuit configured to drive the haptic device; a processor configured to determine in real time a relative position between the touch and a boundary zone of a virtual object, and upon determination that the position of the touch enters the boundary zone, transmit a first driving signal to the driving circuit; and a display panel configured to display an object image representing the virtual object, the object image having a displayed boundary zone. Upon receiving the first driving signal, the driving circuit is configured to drive the haptic device to produce a first vibration pattern having characteristics that simulate a boundary of the virtual object.