Touch Panel Haptic Feedback for GUI Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch panel technologies lack effective tactile/haptic feedback mechanisms to guide users to the correct position of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) on touch screens, especially when objects are outside the display area, hindering smooth input operations and navigation.
Innovation Solution
A tactile/haptic feedback touch panel apparatus that uses a combination of actuators, touch position detection, and vibration control to present directional feedback by differentiating vibrations at touch positions closest to and furthest from the target GUI, allowing users to intuitively navigate and re-display objects within the screen area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a predetermined vibration pattern is used to guide the finger to the button position, then the user can be notified of the button position, but the finger movement becomes hampered because the vibration direction is opposite to the natural sliding direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating vibration presentation based on the specific touch position and its relationship to the target GUI. Instead of using a uniform vibration pattern, the system determines whether to present vibration at the touch position or at a different position, creating localized tactile feedback that adapts to the user's current interaction state and the spatial relationship between the touch point and the target object.
2Loss of information
If vibration is presented at all touch positions, then comprehensive feedback is provided, but the directional information becomes ambiguous and cannot clearly indicate the target GUI location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by using the absence of vibration (non-vibration) at certain touch positions to convey directional information, rather than relying solely on the presence or characteristics of vibration. By differentiating between positions where vibration is presented and positions where it is not, the system creates a contrast that clearly indicates the direction to the target GUI, making the spatial relationship unambiguous.
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
Enables users to accurately determine the direction of GUIs outside the display area, facilitating smooth and intuitive input operations and navigation, even when objects are enlarged, shrunk, or scrolled beyond the display boundaries.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of actuators which are arranged at different positions on the panel and vibrate the panel
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus including: a panel; actuators; a movement input determining unit which calculates movement directions and distances of touch positions, based on time-series information of the touch positions; a display unit; a direction determining unit which determines a direction of an object included in the content item with respect to the display unit; a vibration position determining unit which determines a first touch position closer/closest to the object and one or more second touch positions detected simultaneously; a vibration determining unit which determines a tactile feedback signal presenting a vibration for the first touch position, based on the object direction; a multi-point simultaneous vibration control unit which performs control for presenting the vibration at the first touch position and not presenting the vibration at the second touch positions; and a content control unit which enables display of the content item by scrolling it based on the movement directions and distances.