Touch Screen Electrovibration for Tactile Time Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a method that allows sighted or visually impaired individuals to tactilely read the time or approximate time on a smooth surface or touch screen without requiring complex tactile codes.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a touch screen, a processor, and means for generating electrovibrations, which receives electrical signals specifying the current time and generates electrovibrations to provide a tactile presentation of the time on the touch screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional tactile display methods (protuberances, studs, Braille) are used on watches, then time can be read by touch, but the device complexity increases and requires learning complex codes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical tactile elements (protuberances, studs, Braille dots) with an electrovibration system that uses electrical fields to create tactile sensations on a smooth touch screen surface. This substitution eliminates the need for complex physical tactile codes while maintaining tactile readability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of the touch screen surface by applying electrovibrations that vary in frequency and intensity based on time information. By modulating electrical parameters (vibration frequency, amplitude) rather than using fixed physical structures, the system conveys time data through tactile feedback without requiring complex code systems.
2Ease of operation
If haptic textures are used to simulate physical objects on touch screens, then tactile sensation is improved, but the device requires additional haptic generation components
Solution Approach 1:
The touch screen serves multiple functions: it acts as both the display interface and the haptic generation surface. The existing touch screen infrastructure is utilized to generate electrovibrations, eliminating the need for separate dedicated haptic actuators while maintaining tactile feedback capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch screen surface itself generates the haptic feedback through electrovibration when a user's finger contacts it. The system uses the user's finger as part of the electrical circuit, where the finger's capacitance and contact enable the electrovibration effect without requiring additional components.
3Ease of operation
If electrovibrations are generated through finger contact with the touch screen, then tactile feedback is provided, but the system requires user activation through contact
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically activates electrovibration when the user's finger makes contact with the touch screen. The finger itself triggers the effect by completing the electrical circuit, eliminating the need for separate activation mechanisms or buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate tactile feedback through electrovibration in response to finger contact. The vibration pattern conveys time information directly correlated with the user's interaction, creating an intuitive feedback loop where contact initiates and receives information through tactile sensation.
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 tactilely read the current time or approximate time on a touch screen, providing haptic feedback that simulates the sensation of touching a physical object, thus allowing for time reading without visual assistance.
Implementation Method 1
means for generating electrovibrations, generates electrovibrations that vary in response to the current time to provide the tactile presentation of the current time on the touch screen
Implementation Method 2
The insulator is operable to receive contact from a user's finger. In response to the contact of the user's finger, the insulator generates electrical impulses to provide a tactile presentation as haptic feedback to the user
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device and method that generates a tactile presentation, which indicates time on a mobile device. The mobile device includes a touch screen, a processor, and the functionality to be activated to electrovibrate in at least one portion of the touch screen. The processor receives electrical signals specifying and displaying a current time on the touch screen. The touch screen generates electrovibrations that vary in response to the time to provide the tactile presentation of the time on the touch screen. The haptic feedback is configured to emulate shapes such as a numeric character or other discernable shape in a location on a portion of the touch screen, so that a user by contacting the touch screen can sense the numeric character or shape generated by the haptic feedback and determine the time elapsed within an hour without having to view the touch screen.