Ultrasonic Touch Panel Structure for Localized Haptic Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tactile communication devices face challenges in efficiently generating vibrations across an entire panel touched by a user's fingertip, leading to suboptimal tactile feedback.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device incorporates a top panel with a periodic structure and bonded vibrating elements that vibrate at an ultrasound frequency, generating standing waves to provide tactile sensations by varying kinetic friction forces, allowing for efficient vibration generation and reduced power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If vibration is generated on the entire panel touched by a user's fingertip, then tactile feedback coverage is improved, but vibration generation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration generation areaVSAvoidvibration generation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The panel is divided into multiple independent vibration generation regions, each capable of being vibrated separately. This segmentation allows the system to activate only the specific region where tactile feedback is needed, rather than vibrating the entire panel, thus improving vibration generation efficiency while maintaining adequate tactile feedback coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the panel are equipped with varying vibration characteristics and sensitivities. Each local region can be independently controlled to provide appropriate tactile feedback based on the specific interaction requirements, enabling efficient vibration generation only where necessary while maintaining overall tactile feedback effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If multiple vibrating elements are driven simultaneously across the panel, then tactile feedback coverage is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile feedback coverage areaVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of activating all vibrating elements across the entire panel, the system activates only the necessary portion of the panel where tactile feedback is required. This partial action approach reduces power consumption significantly while still providing adequate tactile feedback coverage for the specific user interaction occurring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the periodic structure is added to the top panel, then vibration generation efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration generation efficiencyVSAvoidpanel manufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The periodic structure modifies the physical parameters of the panel (such as thickness, density, or material composition) in a regular pattern to enhance vibration generation efficiency. While this does increase manufacturing complexity, the periodic nature of the structure allows for standardized manufacturing processes and consistent quality control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This configuration enables effective tactile feedback with reduced electric power consumption by selectively driving vibrating elements based on touch position, enhancing user interaction with improved tactile sensations.

Implementation Method 1

bonded vibrating elements that vibrate at an ultrasound frequency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasound: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

generating standing waves to provide tactile sensations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStanding waves: Resonance

Implementation Method 3

a top panel with a periodic structure and bonded vibrating elements that vibrate at an ultrasound frequency, generating standing waves

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3287880B1Electronic device

Publication Date: 2019.05.22 FUJITSU LTD

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AI summary

Provided is an electronic device that can efficiently generate a vibration. An electronic device includes a top panel having a manipulation surface; a coordinate detector configured to detect coordinates of a manipulation input performed on the manipulation surface; a first vibrating element configured to generate a vibration at the manipulation surface; and a drive controlling part configured to drive the first vibrating element by using a driving signal for generating a natural vibration in an ultrasound frequency band of the manipulation surface, the drive controlling part being configured to drive the vibrating element such that an intensity of the natural vibration changes in accordance with a position of the manipulation input performed on the manipulation surface and in accordance with a degree of time change of the position, wherein the top panel has a periodic structure whose thickness changes in a periodic manner in accordance with a period of a standing wave in a direction in which antinodes and nodes of the standing wave generated by the natural vibration are arrayed.