Vibration Section for Touch Panel with Person Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices with vibration sections for touch panels do not effectively prevent non-operator individuals from sensing vibrations, leading to potential disturbance in shared environments like aircraft or public spaces.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a vibration section that adjusts its vibration amplitude based on the presence of persons other than the operator, using sensors to detect nearby individuals and control the vibration intensity to minimize disturbance to others.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the vibration section vibrates the touch panel with sufficient intensity for the operator to sense, then the operator can comfortably interact with the device, but persons near to the electronic device can sense the vibration and be disturbed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator's ability to sense vibrationVSAvoiddisturbance to persons near the device

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration intensity is dynamically adjusted based on the detected presence of persons near the electronic device. When persons are detected, the control section reduces the vibration intensity to a level that prevents them from sensing it, while maintaining sufficient intensity for the operator. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between providing adequate tactile feedback to the operator and preventing disturbance to nearby persons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The detection section provides feedback about the presence of persons near the device to the control section, which then adjusts the vibration intensity accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adapt the vibration characteristics based on the surrounding environment, ensuring the operator receives adequate feedback while minimizing disturbance to others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If the vibration intensity is increased to ensure operator feedback, then touch panel interaction becomes more responsive, but the vibration becomes detectable by surrounding individuals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speed of touch panelVSAvoidvibration noise to surrounding persons

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts vibration intensity based on real-time detection of nearby persons. When no persons are detected, higher vibration intensity can be used for faster and more responsive tactile feedback. When persons are detected, the intensity is reduced to minimize vibration noise, thus resolving the contradiction between response speed and vibration noise generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control section changes the vibration parameter (intensity) based on the detection results. By adjusting the vibration intensity parameter according to the presence of nearby persons, the system maintains optimal response speed when appropriate while minimizing harmful vibration noise to surrounding individuals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9182821B2Electronic device, information providing system, and method for controlling electronic device

Publication Date: 2015.11.10 PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYST CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device 10 includes a touch panel 11, a vibration section 13 configured to vibrate a touch panel 11, and a control sections 20 and 33 configured to control the vibration section 13 based on an existence state of persons other than an operator of the electronic device 10 and being near to the electronic device 10.