Vibration Actuator Master-Slave Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Touch panels with multiple tactile devices experience variations in resonant frequency due to manufacturing and environmental factors, leading to disturbed vibrations and reduced tactile sensation, as different devices vibrate at their optimum frequencies, causing phase differences and amplitude variations.
Innovation Solution
A vibration actuator system where a master tactile device is identified closest to the touch position, driven using closed-loop control at its resonant frequency, and slave devices are driven using open-loop control based on the master's resonant frequency, with damping signals applied to synchronize and enhance vibration coherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple tactile devices are used to provide sufficient vibrations on a large touch panel, then the tactile sensation coverage is improved, but the vibrations become disturbed due to frequency variations and phase differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple tactile devices into a coordinated system where one device is designated as master and others as slaves. The slave devices synchronize their vibration to the master device's frequency, merging their individual vibrations into a coherent whole that covers the entire touch panel area while maintaining consistent tactile sensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by detecting the resonant frequency of the master tactile device and using this information to control the driving frequency of all tactile devices. This feedback mechanism ensures that despite manufacturing variations and environmental factors, all devices vibrate at the same frequency, maintaining vibration consistency across the large touch panel area.
2Force
If each tactile device operates at its own resonant frequency to maximize individual performance, then the vibration amplitude of each device is improved, but the overall vibration becomes disturbed due to phase differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an equipotential vibration state by forcing all tactile devices to operate at the same driving frequency (the resonant frequency of the master device). This eliminates phase differences between devices, ensuring that vibrations from all devices constructively interfere rather than cancel each other, thereby maintaining both amplitude and phase coherence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameter (driving frequency) of the slave tactile devices from their individual resonant frequencies to match the master device's resonant frequency. This parameter adjustment sacrifices some individual optimization but achieves superior overall performance through synchronized vibration and enhanced tactile sensation consistency.
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 approach ensures synchronized vibrations across the touch panel, improving tactile sensation by minimizing phase and amplitude differences, resulting in a more consistent and enhanced user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a tactile device closest to the touch position is determined to be a master device, and a tactile device other than the master device is determined to be a slave device, and the master device and the slave device are driven using a driving signal having a driving frequency being a resonant frequency of the master device
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration actuator and a method for driving the vibration actuator can improve the user's tactile sensation. A plurality of tactile devices are attachable at different positions on a surface of a touch panel to vibrate the touch panel. A driver drives, in response to a touch detection signal representing a touch position from the touch panel, the plurality of tactile devices each using a driving signal having a predetermined driving frequency. Of the plurality of tactile devices, a tactile device closest to the touch position is operable as a master device, and a tactile device other than the master device is operable as a slave device. The master device and the slave device are driven using the driving signal having the driving frequency being a resonant frequency of the master device.