Transparent Key Structure for Tactile Touchscreen Buttons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch-control panels lack tactile feedback, making it difficult for users to determine if an icon has been touched, especially in situations where full attention cannot be devoted, such as while driving.
Innovation Solution
A button device with a manipulation structure featuring transparent keys and elastic brackets, where the touch surface of each key moves along a displacement direction upon pressing, generating an elastic force and providing tactile feedback through an abutting portion that contacts an icon on the touch-control screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional touch-control panel is used, then the device can be operated with a simple interface, but the user cannot obtain tactile feedback when touched
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a mechanical manipulation structure with a touch-control panel, merging the advantages of both tactile feedback and touch control. The transparent key covers are integrated with the touch-control screen, allowing users to receive tactile feedback while maintaining touch sensitivity. This resolves the contradiction by combining two different control mechanisms into a unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent key covers act as an intermediary between the user and the touch-control screen. They provide tactile feedback through physical contact while allowing the touch signal to pass through to the screen below. This mediator enables both tactile sensation and touch control functionality simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If a transparent key cover is added to provide tactile feedback, then the user can know when the key is pressed, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thin transparent key covers that are flexible enough to provide tactile feedback when pressed but thin enough to maintain transparency and allow touch signals to pass through. These thin film structures provide the necessary mechanical feedback while minimizing structural complexity and maintaining visual clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The manipulation structure incorporates elastic components that dynamically respond to user input. The key covers and underlying mechanical structures are designed to deform elastically when pressed, providing tactile feedback, and then return to their original position. This dynamic behavior enables tactile feedback without requiring complex mechanical switches or buttons.
3Measurement precision
If the abutting portion width is reduced to improve tactile feedback precision, then the user can distinctly know when contact occurs, but the structural stability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different width characteristics to different parts of the key structure. The abutting portion has a reduced width for precise contact detection with the touch-control screen, while the upper pressing portion maintains a larger width for comfortable user interaction. This local differentiation of dimensions optimizes both contact precision and user comfort without compromising overall structural stability.
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 control the button device with limited focus and distinctly know when the transparent key contacts an icon, enhancing usability by providing tactile feedback.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic segment of the corresponding bracket is deformed to generate an elastic force
Data Source
AI summary
A button device and a manipulation structure thereof are provided. The manipulation structure includes a plurality of brackets and a plurality of transparent keys respectively fixed to the brackets. Each bracket has an elastic segment, a fixing segment, and a placing segment, the latter two of which are connected to two opposite ends of the elastic segment. Each transparent key includes a press portion and an abutting portion. The press portion is fixed to the fixing segment of the corresponding bracket, and has a touch surface arranged away from the corresponding bracket. The abutting portion extends from the press portion along a displacement direction away from the touch surface, and a width of the abutting portion is less than that of the press portion. The touch surface of each of the transparent keys can be moved along the displacement direction to deform the corresponding bracket by being pressed.