Touch Panel Tactile Feedback Synchronization via Master Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large touch panels with piezoelectric elements face limitations in achieving sufficient vibration amplitude due to structural restrictions in drive circuits, leading to potential drive timing shifts and inadequate tactile sensation when multiple elements are used.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a touch panel, multiple tactile sensation providing units, and controllers where a second controller detects contact positions and selects corresponding first controllers to synchronize drive signals, ensuring coordinated vibration across all units for enhanced tactile feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a plurality of piezoelectric elements are provided to vibrate a large touch panel, then the touch panel can be vibrated with sufficient amplitude, but drive timing shifts occur between controllers leading to insufficient vibration amplitude
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions of multiple tactile sensation controllers into a single master controller that centrally manages all piezoelectric elements. This consolidation eliminates timing synchronization issues by having one controller generate and distribute unified drive signals to all elements, ensuring they vibrate in unison without drive timing shifts.
Solution Approach 2:
The master controller acts as an intermediary between the touch panel detection system and the multiple piezoelectric elements. It receives touch position information, determines which elements should be activated, and coordinates their drive timing through centralized control, thereby preventing timing shifts while maintaining sufficient vibration amplitude.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple tactile sensation controllers are used to drive multiple piezoelectric elements, then the touch panel can be vibrated across its surface, but communication timing shifts cause drive timing shifts between elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independent controllers into a single master controller that centrally manages all piezoelectric elements across the touch panel surface. This eliminates communication timing shifts between separate controllers by using one unified control source, ensuring all elements are driven simultaneously without timing delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The master controller performs multiple functions: it detects touch positions, determines which piezoelectric elements should be activated based on touch location, generates drive signals for multiple elements, and coordinates their simultaneous operation. This multi-functional approach ensures comprehensive coverage while maintaining precise timing synchronization.
3Device complexity
If one piezoelectric element is used, then the controller structure is simple, but the touch panel size that can obtain enough vibration amplitude is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large touch panel into multiple regions, each associated with one or more piezoelectric elements. The master controller selectively activates elements in the region where touch is detected, providing localized vibration feedback. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple controller structure while achieving sufficient vibration amplitude across large touch panel areas.
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 allows for sufficient vibration amplitude and desired tactile sensation on large touch panels by synchronizing the drive of multiple piezoelectric elements, preventing timing shifts and improving tactile feedback accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a tactile sensation providing unit (e.g. piezoelectric element) have been suggested... when an input operation by which a contact object such as the operator's finger or a stylus pen touches a touch panel is performed, a tactile sensation providing unit is driven to vibrate the touch panel
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a touch panel, a plurality of tactile sensation providing units configured to provide a tactile sensation to a contact object in contact with the touch panel, and a plurality of first controllers configured to control drive of the plurality of tactile sensation providing units. A first controller of the plurality of first controllers outputs, to a further first controller, a synchronization signal that drives a tactile sensation providing unit associated with the further first controller.