New Storm 2 Piezo/Screen Talk - Patents, Observations, Clarifications, etc.

[ArmaK]

Very nice write up Kevin. You should sticky it so it doesn't disappear for someone looking for it in the future. I just hope that the October release date is true so that I can get my hands on one even sooner.

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[the one and only M]

Is the screen glass or plastic? I'm thinking plastic.

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[TripL]

New guy here in the market for my first BlackBerry.

I wanted to say thank you very much for a very clear explanation of what you observed and your thoughts on what may be coming out soon.

Larry

[corymcnutt]

Originally Posted by Kevin Michaluk

Don't I seem pretty confident about there being four "buttons" under Storm 2's display??

I knew Kevin couldn't resist tearing one a part - there are some people (like me) that just cannot resist finding out how things work! Just one question...did you get it back together in working order?

[corymcnutt]

Originally Posted by TripL

New guy here in the market for my first BlackBerry.

I wanted to say thank you very much for a very clear explanation of what you observed and your thoughts on what may be coming out soon.

Larry

Welcome to the world of BlackBerry and CrackBerry...I got my first BB almost two years ago and I would never go back to anything else. If I were you I would get a Curve, Tour, or Storm 2! My Pearl is a little too small, but all Verizon offered were the Pearl & the World Edition (too large, no camera). The last Storm was going to be my next choice, but I have to wait for this new S2. Welcome to the BB family.

[imiller]

Well done

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[BzB]

if i'm reading this right it sounds like piezo tech might not be implemented as some speculate, meaning in or under the entire screen itself. if the glass stays rigid just like s1 but still allows clicks to be registered in multiple spots, the four buttons under the screen idea seems like the most plausible one.

this doesn't eliminate the possibility of a piezo being used in some way. sounds like if it is used, it might be found in the four buttons under the screen. that would explain why the buttons don't click when off, but do click when on.

although this may not be the full fledged piezo wizardry people were hoping for, it would still be really cool. i'm sure the new click method, along with tighter hw tolerances result in a heavy dose of refinement.

[Cellstudent]

Originally Posted by Card Storm

If there are buttons around the corners of the display wouldnt that mean that the screen would sitll have to consist of flexible materials?

Also it still doesnt make since. If the device doesnt move when powered off, how would that have anything to do with four buttons being placed at corners?

In my opinion Piezoelectricity is the only thing that can explain that.

There is still a mechanism causing this screen to completely stiffen, and four buttons around the corners just doesnt settle for me.

Great observations!

It has 4 Piezoelectric buttons backing up the screen...

But yeah, I'm with you on this one Card Storm. If the screen response is simply powered by having 2, 3, 4, or 19 mechanical buttons behind the screen, then we would not see the null response when powered off.

@ Kevin and sal:

I've not seen either of you comment on how the screen pressure varies across multiple portions of the screen. Are there any points on the display that require noticeably more effort to actuate then other areas? Is it easy to hit the solid keys at the bottom but less responsive towards the top of the display, etc?

Knowing some more about the consistency of the touchscreen response would be quite insightful for the Electrical Engineering students like myself. I want to know what's in this bad boy just for the science of it (but I may end up buying one, too!)

[Cellstudent]

Originally Posted by BzB

this doesn't eliminate the possibility of a piezo being used in some way. sounds like if it is used, it might be found in the four buttons under the screen. that would explain why the buttons don't click when off, but do click when on.

I need to type faster

[Digital]

Originally Posted by Cellstudent

I need to type faster

Get a Storm 2, I hear they type really fast now.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[gtstang462002]

Originally Posted by Cellstudent

It has 4 Piezoelectric buttons backing up the screen...

But yeah, I'm with you on this one Card Storm. If the screen response is simply powered by having 2, 3, 4, or 19 mechanical buttons behind the screen, then we would not see the null response when powered off.

@ Kevin and sal:

I've not seen either of you comment on how the screen pressure varies across multiple portions of the screen. Are there any points on the display that require noticeably more effort to actuate then other areas? Is it easy to hit the solid keys at the bottom but less responsive towards the top of the display, etc?

Knowing some more about the consistency of the touchscreen response would be quite insightful for the Electrical Engineering students like myself. I want to know what's in this bad boy just for the science of it (but I may end up buying one, too!)

The piezo technology has vast uses. While there may be 4 buttons under the screen there could be many uses for them. They could still be using the piezo panel touch screen as the piezo is a crystal element. With a low charge that would be coming from say a cell phone battery it wouldn't move enough to appear to be depressing in one spot. The sponge analogy is great for visualizing what is happening but it is happening within extremely small tolerances that are below what the eye is seeing. You would have to get micrometers out to see how much it is actually moving.

So if salomondrin or kevin want to loan me one of their extra's I will gladly provide the community with the measurements of how much the screen is actually moving.

This image which came from the patent that Kevin was talking about might give you a better idea of what the 4 buttons are for as well.

[TBacker]

Another test - in landscape, can you type T and Y / G and H / V and B at the same time?

Or find someone that can XRay the thing from the side (the LCD would block a direct pic). Know anyone at TSA?

[Craig_C]

Good insight.

Originally Posted by Cellstudent

It has 4 Piezoelectric buttons backing up the screen...

But yeah, I'm with you on this one Card Storm. If the screen response is simply powered by having 2, 3, 4, or 19 mechanical buttons behind the screen, then we would not see the null response when powered off.

@ Kevin and sal:

I've not seen either of you comment on how the screen pressure varies across multiple portions of the screen. Are there any points on the display that require noticeably more effort to actuate then other areas? Is it easy to hit the solid keys at the bottom but less responsive towards the top of the display, etc?

Knowing some more about the consistency of the touchscreen response would be quite insightful for the Electrical Engineering students like myself. I want to know what's in this bad boy just for the science of it (but I may end up buying one, too!)

The screen is really consistent. Everywhere you press, you have to apply the same pressure.

Today was my first day using the Storm 1 as my "every day" phone, and I can't get over how bad typing on it is. Although I have to admit, that is a million times better than the first storm I owned.

I used the storm 2 for a couple of hours for texting and the difference is just astonishing.

[Card Storm]

Originally Posted by salomondrin

The screen is really consistent. Everywhere you press, you have to apply the same pressure.

Today was my first day using the Storm 1 as my "every day" phone, and I can't get over how bad typing on it is. Although I have to admit, that is a million times better than the first storm I owned.

I used the storm 2 for a couple of hours for texting and the difference is just astonishing.

Wow.....I can tell you feel passionate about this device. And I cant pin the "n00b over exxagerating" card on you because your obviously not a n00b and have been around many phones. So for this to give you that reaction, there must be something deep about the technology in the phone that none of us fully understand, but pretty much have a good idea.