Touch Screen Haptic Feedback for Work Machine Safety

The patent applies haptic feedback through an actuator that generates vibrational or forceful responses when the operator touches the display. This feedback mechanism provides tactile confirmation of input, enabling reliable operation even in harsh environments where visual feedback may be compromised by bright light, dust, or vibration. The force feedback creates a tangible interaction that confirms button presses or gestures without requiring visual verification.

The patent changes the physical parameters of the display by integrating an actuator that modifies the mechanical properties of the touch surface. The actuator dynamically adjusts stiffness, damping, or vibrational characteristics based on operational context, providing force feedback that guides operator input without requiring complex mechanical structures. This parameter-based approach achieves sophisticated haptic effects through controlled physical property modifications rather than mechanical complexity.

The patent implements periodic or event-triggered haptic feedback rather than continuous operation. The actuator activates only when specific conditions are met, such as when the boom approaches predefined boundary zones or when critical operational thresholds are neared. This periodic activation pattern provides necessary safety warnings while minimizing energy consumption by keeping the haptic system dormant during normal, safe operations and activating only when intervention is needed.