Touch Panel Tactile Feedback via Dynamic Resonance Frequency Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch panels in electronic devices, such as mobile terminals and ATMs, lack effective tactile feedback, making it difficult for users to confirm if their touch is detected correctly, especially when the device is used in various supported states or experiences changes in environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a touch panel, vibrator, and vibration detector that uses a second drive signal in a higher frequency band to detect resonance changes and determine a first drive signal frequency for optimal tactile feedback, ensuring consistent vibration regardless of the device's supported state or environmental changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touch panel is used to detect user touch, then flexibility in arrangement of GUI objects is improved, but tactile feedback is reduced making it difficult for users to recognize correct touch detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration by driving the touch panel to vibrate at a resonance frequency when a user touches the panel. This vibration provides tactile feedback that allows users to recognize whether their touch was detected correctly, while maintaining the flexibility and versatility of the touch panel interface.
2Device complexity
If the touch panel is driven at a fixed frequency, then the structure is simple, but vibration magnitude varies due to resonance frequency changes during manufacturing and in different supported states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the drive frequency adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically determines the drive frequency based on detection results from vibration detectors, allowing the system to adapt to resonance frequency variations caused by manufacturing tolerances and different supported states, thereby ensuring consistent vibration magnitude.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback by using vibration detectors to detect the actual vibration characteristics of the touch panel and feeding this information back to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the drive frequency based on this feedback to maintain optimal vibration magnitude across different conditions.
3Reliability
If resonance frequency search is performed after manufacturing, then vibration consistency is improved, but additional time is required for frequency calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing resonance frequency search and determination during the manufacturing process before the product is delivered to the user. The control unit stores the determined drive frequency in memory, so no additional time is needed for frequency calibration after the product is in use, thereby avoiding time loss while ensuring vibration consistency.
4Device complexity
If the same drive frequency is used for all supported states, then the control is simple, but appropriate tactile feedback cannot be provided in various use situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling the drive frequency to change according to the detected supported state. The control unit adjusts the drive frequency based on feedback from vibration detectors, allowing appropriate tactile feedback to be provided in various supported states such as handheld, landscape, and portrait modes, while maintaining relatively simple control through automated frequency adjustment.
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 device provides appropriate tactile feedback to users by adjusting the vibration frequency based on the supported state, ensuring a consistent and recognizable touch experience across different usage scenarios without requiring additional time to search for resonance frequencies post-touch.
Implementation Method 1
a vibrator configured to vibrate the panel
Implementation Method 2
a vibration detector configured to detect vibration of the panel that vibrates due to a drive with the second drive signal
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device capable of presenting appropriate tactile feeling in various use situations is provided. The electronic device according to one exemplary embodiment includes: a touch panel on which a user touches; touch detector that detects the touch of the user on the touch panel; vibrator that vibrates the touch panel; driver that drives the vibrator with a first drive signal within a first frequency band and a second drive signal within a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band; vibration detector that detects a vibration of the touch panel that vibrates due to a drive with the second drive signal and outputs a detection signal; and drive frequency determinator that determines a frequency of the first drive signal based on the detection signal.