Touch Panel Vibration Area Patterns for Originator Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile terminals require users to visually check the screen to identify the originator of incoming calls or messages, which is inconvenient and not accessible for visually impaired users, as they rely on vibration patterns that are difficult to distinguish by touch alone.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal with a touch panel and vibration generation means that assigns distinct vibration area patterns to different internal states, allowing users to identify the originator of calls or messages through tactile feedback without visual screening, by activating specific vibration patterns based on the current internal state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If vibration patterns are used to notify users of incoming calls or messages, then users can be alerted of arrivals, but users cannot distinguish the originator without visually checking the screen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about originatorVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system is segmented into multiple distinct vibration patterns, each corresponding to a different originator or type of incoming communication. This allows users to distinguish between different sources (e.g., work calls vs. personal messages) through tactile feedback alone, eliminating the need to visually check the screen to identify the originator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different vibration characteristics (frequency, amplitude, duration) are assigned to different originators or communication types. This creates locally differentiated quality in the vibration feedback, enabling users to identify specific originators through touch without requiring visual display engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If users visually check the screen to identify the originator, then accurate information is obtained, but accessibility is reduced for visually impaired users

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidinformation about originator

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The visual display system is replaced with a tactile vibration system for conveying originator information. Instead of relying on the visual screen, the patent uses differentiated vibration patterns that can be perceived through touch, making the system accessible to visually impaired users while preserving the ability to identify communication originators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If multiple vibration patterns are used to represent different originators, then information richness is improved, but the complexity of the vibration generation system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about originatorVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration generation system uses dynamic parameters (frequency, amplitude, duration) that can be adjusted to create multiple distinct vibration patterns from a single vibration mechanism. This allows the system to convey rich originator information without requiring multiple separate physical vibration sources, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining information richness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 recognize incoming calls or messages and their originators through touch alone, without needing to visually check the screen, enhancing accessibility and usability, particularly for visually impaired individuals, and providing a pleasurable user experience.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration generation means for generating vibration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS8351991B2Mobile terminal and computer program including a touch-sensitive internal state indicator

Publication Date: 2013.01.08 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A mobile terminal, including a touch panel detecting a touch position; a vibration generation device configured to generate vibration; an assignment device configured to assign different vibration area patterns that define vibration areas generating the vibration on the touch panel, to a plurality of internal states, respectively; and a control device configured to activate, according to a current internal state, the vibration area pattern assigned to the internal state and to control the vibration generation device so as to generate the vibration while the vibration area is being touched.