Virtual Button Gesture Detection With Piezoelectric Haptic Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gesture detection systems for smartphones lack localized haptic feedback, relying on complex and power-consuming active sensing solutions with multiple components, which compromises user experience.
Innovation Solution
A gesture detection system utilizing a minimum of two piezo-electric actuators integrated into a mobile device's frame, generating varying electrical signals in response to dynamic forces, allowing for passive sensing and localized haptic feedback, with a processor determining gesture magnitude and position to provide appropriate responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensing only solutions are used to replace mechanical buttons, then gesture detection capability is improved, but localized haptic feedback is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The piezo-electric actuator is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a haptic feedback mechanism and a sensing element for gesture detection. When voltage is applied, it provides localized haptic feedback; when force is applied to it, it generates electrical signals for gesture detection. This dual functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for separate sensing components while maintaining both gesture detection capability and localized haptic feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The piezo-electric actuator serves itself by generating electrical signals in response to applied force, eliminating the need for external sensing mechanisms. The same component that provides haptic feedback also performs sensing, making the system self-sufficient and resolving the contradiction between gesture detection capability and localized haptic feedback.
2Measurement precision
If active sensing with remote transmitters and receivers is used, then touch detection capability is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex remote transmitter and receiver components from the system. By using the piezo-electric actuator's inherent piezoelectric effect to generate sensing signals directly at the point of contact, the system removes unnecessary intermediate components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining touch detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the complex mechanical system of remote transmitters and receivers with a simpler electro-mechanical system based on the piezoelectric effect. The piezo-electric actuator directly converts mechanical force into electrical signals, eliminating the need for complex signal transmission and reception mechanisms, thus reducing device complexity while preserving touch detection capability.
3Measurement precision
If active sensing with remote transmitters and receivers is used, then touch detection capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piezo-electric actuator generates sensing signals passively through the piezoelectric effect when force is applied, without requiring external power transmission. This passive sensing mechanism eliminates the continuous power consumption associated with active sensing systems, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining touch detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic vibration or excitation of the piezo-electric actuator to enable touch detection only when needed, rather than continuous active sensing. This periodic operation reduces average power consumption while maintaining the ability to detect touches with high precision.
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 efficient and user-friendly gesture detection with localized haptic feedback, reducing component complexity and power consumption while enhancing user interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a first piezo-electric actuator in contact with the virtual button structure configured to generate a first varying electrical signal in response to a dynamic force application to the virtual button structure
Data Source
AI summary
A gesture detection system comprising a virtual button structure for mounting in an outer frame of a mobile device for detecting finger gestures by a user. First and second piezo-electric actuators are in contact with the virtual button structure, and configured to generate first and second varying electrical signals, respectively in response to a dynamic force application to the virtual button structure. A processor is configured to execute instructions stored in memory to i) determine a magnitude and a position of the dynamic force application on the virtual button structure over time, based on the first varying electrical signal and the second varying electrical signal, ii) determine a gesture corresponding to the magnitude and the position of the dynamic force application over time; and iii) provide a response signal based on the gesture.