JP2011090575A - Apparatus, method and program for displaying information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information display apparatus, an information display method and a program, wherein a page position is obtained by a feeling more close to an actual book. <P>SOLUTION: The information display apparatus 100 for imaging electronic data in each screen and displaying the screen includes: an electronic data storage means 35 for storing the electronic data; a display means 21 for displaying the imaged electronic data; an operation receiving means 12 for receiving switching operation of the display image displayed on the display means 21; an identification information storage means 42 for storing the identification information of the display image; a vibration generation means 23 for generating vibration on the operation receiving means; and a vibration control means 45 for controlling a position where the amplitude of vibration in the operation receiving means is maximized according to ratio information specified from display part identification information corresponding to the size information of the electronic data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display device and an information display method for displaying electronic data, and more particularly to an information display device, an information display method, and a program capable of notifying a user of page information by touch.

  Portable terminals that digitize content such as novels, comics, magazines, and newspapers and display them on a display device such as a liquid crystal display are becoming widespread. Portable terminals are expected to become more popular in the future as wireless communication speed increases, storage media capacity increases, and content diversifies.

  In order to improve the usability of portable terminals, various devices have been devised, such as making display devices thinner and lighter, and displaying images that have been processed so that the paper flutters when pages are turned. . It is also considered to provide convenience that cannot be realized with an actual book by taking advantage of the fact that content is digitized. For example, an arbitrary word input by the user can be used as a keyword, and a page on which the word is described can be searched and displayed. Further, by inputting an arbitrary page number in the portable terminal, the page can be displayed on the display device instantly. In addition, when page-by-page is performed page by page, for example, the user presses a page-feed button provided on the terminal. When the button is pressed once, the page advances by one page, and when the button is pressed long, several pages are advanced at once. In order to reduce the time until a desired page is displayed, a method has been devised.

  Further, a technique for notifying the user of the page number of the page that the user is currently viewing has been considered (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to Patent Document 1, the user can roughly grasp the page number as in the case of an actual book by vibrating the operation unit at a frequency corresponding to the page number of the content.

  In addition, a technique is conceived that includes an actuator for notifying tactile information to a user's finger in contact with an operated body that receives an input operation from the user (see, for example, Patent Document 2). With the technique described in Patent Document 2, the user can recognize that the page has been turned through the sense of touch of the operated object.

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the page number is notified to the user by vibrating the operation unit at a frequency corresponding to the displayed page number, the user accurately recognizes the page number from the tactile information. There is a problem that it is difficult to do. That is, even if the user can recognize the presence or absence of vibration, it is difficult to accurately determine whether the vibration is large or small. For example, it is difficult for the user to determine whether the 150th page or the 250th page of a book having a total number of 300 pages is open based on the magnitude of vibration. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 also notifies the user of information equivalent to the number of pages by tactile information, but includes a problem similar to that of Cited Document 1.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an information display device, an information display method, and a program capable of grasping a page position with a feeling closer to an actual book.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention is an information display device that displays electronic data on a screen-by-screen basis, and includes electronic data storage means for storing electronic data and display means for displaying the imaged electronic data. An operation receiving unit that receives a switching operation of a display image displayed on the display unit, an identification information storage unit that stores identification information of the display image, and a vibration generation unit that generates vibration in the operation receiving unit And vibration control means for controlling a position at which the amplitude of vibration in the operation accepting means becomes maximum according to the ratio information specified from the identification information with respect to the size information of the electronic data.

  It is possible to provide an information display device, an information display method, and a program capable of grasping the page position with a sense closer to an actual book.

It is an example of the figure which shows typically the irritation | stimulation which a user feels by tactile sense. It is an example of the figure explaining the outline of an information display device. It is an example of the whole block diagram of the information provision system using an information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the external view of an information display apparatus. It is an example of the figure explaining the positional relationship between a hand and a book at the time of reading a book, and a human action. FIG. 3 is an example of a diagram illustrating a relative positional relationship between a thumb and a book in a scolding operation. It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance containing the display of an information display apparatus. It is an example of the hardware block diagram of an information display apparatus. It is an example of the hardware block diagram of information processing apparatus. It is an example of a functional block diagram of an information display device. It is an example of the figure which shows the information registered into drive pattern DB typically. It is an example of the figure explaining the excitation point which a vibrator drive circuit drives. It is a figure which shows an example of the standing wave obtained by a drive pattern. It is an example of the figure which shows typically the relationship between the ratio information and the local vibration in an operation button. It is an example of the figure explaining the amplitude modulation of the vibration obtained by excitation of a high frequency band. It is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement procedure of an information display apparatus (Example 1). It is an example of the hardware block diagram of an information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the content screen displayed on the display. (Example 2) which is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement procedure of an information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the content screen displayed on the display. It is an example of the figure which illustrates the determination of the position of the peak of a waveform typically. It is an example of the figure which shows an example of drive pattern DB typically. (Example 3) which is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement procedure of an information display apparatus. It is an example of a functional block diagram of an information display device. It is an example of the figure which illustrates the movement of a contact position typically. It is a figure which shows an example of the waveform by a page turning drive pattern. It is a figure which shows an example of the waveform by a page turning drive pattern. (Example 4) which is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement procedure of an information display apparatus. It is an example of the figure explaining the relationship between the side of 1 page, and a finger. It is a figure which shows an example of the waveform by a page turning drive pattern. It is a figure which shows an example of the waveform by a page turning drive pattern. It is an example of the figure which shows the information registered into drive pattern DB typically. (Example 5) which is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement procedure of an information display apparatus.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the principle characteristic part of the information display apparatus 100 of this embodiment is demonstrated.
FIG. 1 is an example of a diagram schematically illustrating a stimulus that a user feels by touch. The user's finger contacts the operation panel P and inputs operation information. Each part of the operation panel P has peaks at intervals sufficiently shorter than the size of the finger and vibrates with different amplitudes. The user can sense the magnitude of the amplitude as a vibration stimulus by tactile sense, and can grasp the relative positional relationship between the position of the finger and each part of the operation panel P by tactile sense. For example, when associating the numeric keypad with the amplitude, each part of the operation panel P is vibrated so that the amplitude at the boundary between the keys is maximized so that the amplitude at the center of one key of the numeric keypad is minimized. . Thereby, the user can grasp | ascertain whether the position of a finger | toe is suitable with respect to a key by tactile sense. As shown on the left side of the figure, when the finger is likely to press the key boundary, the user can press the desired key by shifting the position of the finger depending on the vibration stimulus.

  The information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is an application of the technology for controlling the amplitude of each part of the operation panel P in this way.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a diagram illustrating an outline of the information display apparatus 100. As a home position, the user places a thumb on the operation panel P, for example. The information display device 100 can change the peak position of vibration within an interval sufficiently shorter than the size of the finger. The left operation panel P in FIG. 2 has a vibration peak to the right, the central operation panel P has a vibration peak near the center, and the right operation panel P has a vibration peak to the left. When the user touches the panel P, the user can recognize that there is a vibration distribution in the finger pad around the peak of the vibration. Therefore, the user has a large vibration stimulus at any position on the operation panel P due to this tactile sensation. You can easily grasp it without moving your finger.

  In the present embodiment, a position where the largest vibration stimulus is obtained for the user's sense of touch is referred to as a vibration peak position. In many cases, the vibration peak position and the amplitude peak position coincide with each other, but the vibration peak position is determined by the tactile sense of the user. Therefore, the vibration peak position and the amplitude peak position do not have to coincide with each other.

  When the information display device 100 is displaying content on the display like an electronic book, the information display device 100 is displayed on the operation panel P according to the page number of the currently displayed page with respect to the total number of pages, for example. Controls the peak position of vibration. In this way, the user can easily grasp which page of the content is currently being read.

  In the present embodiment, the book 150 includes everything that provides two-dimensional visible information, such as sentences, photographs, pictures, and a mixture of these. Examples of the name of the book 150 include new books, paperbacks, texts, information magazines, manga comics, weekly magazines, monthly magazines, quarterly magazines, magazines, magazines, newspapers, and official gazettes. The content does not need to be published as the book 150, and includes content distributed as content data without being printed as the book 150.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an overall configuration diagram of an information providing system 500 using the information display device 100. The information providing system 500 includes an information display device 100, a media server 200, and a store 300 connected via a network 400. The information display device 100 preferably has a communication device that can access the network 400 wirelessly and can communicate with the media server 200. The media server 200 is a server operated by a publisher or a writer, and content data of a plurality of types of books 150 is registered in the media server 200.

  The information display device 100 makes a contract with a publisher or the like to pay the price with a credit card or the like, receives the content data of the book 150 directly from the media server 200, and stores it in the memory (book data storage unit described later). . The information display device 100 generates a content screen including content text and images from the content data and displays the content screen on the display. When the content data is larger than the storage capacity of the information display device 100, the information display device 100 can also download the content data by a predetermined portion.

  In addition, the information display device 100 does not directly communicate with the media server 200 wirelessly, but the user can purchase content data from the store 300. The user designates the book 150 and pays the sales price to the store 300. The store 300 includes an interface that is connected to the information display device 100 in a wired or wireless manner, and transfers the content data downloaded from the media server 200 to the information display device 100. Further, the store 300 can sell the memory card storing the content data to the user. In this case, the information display device 100 reads content data stored in the memory card, generates a content screen, and displays the content screen on the display.

  The information display device 100 is a so-called electronic book that is a dedicated terminal for displaying the content data of the book 150. However, the information display device 100 is called by any name as long as it has an operation means for applying a vibration stimulus. It may be. The information display device 100 according to the present embodiment can be mounted on, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a music player, a notebook computer, and the like.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external view of the information display apparatus 100. The information display device 100 can notify the user of the vibration stimulus of this embodiment regardless of the appearance. Therefore, the illustrated appearance is an example. The information display device 100 in FIGS. 4A to 4C is a two-screen display electronic book imitating the external shape of the book 150. The door member on which one screen is arranged and the door member on which the other screen is arranged are connected by a central hinge portion. Since the two door members rotate around the hinge portion, the user can open the information display device 100 left and right. The information display device 100 according to the present embodiment has at least one operation button 11.

  The information display device 100 in the state of FIG. 4B is in a state where the two door members are relatively opened to the left and right by about 90 degrees. As shown in FIG. 4C, the two door members can be further opened apart by 270 degrees, and the two screens can be in a back-to-back state. The user can browse the content at a desired spread angle in the states from FIG. 4B to FIG. In the present embodiment, a case where the user holds the information display device 100 so as to be horizontally long in the state of FIG. 4C will be described as an example (FIG. 4D). As will be described later, this gripping method is close to a state in which the user grips the book 150 with both hands.

  In addition, the information display device 100 does not need to be a two-screen display, and may be a one-screen display without a movable part that changes the appearance as shown in FIG. In the information display device 100 as shown in FIG. 4E, the user can enjoy the content without opening the door member.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4F and 4G, the user can hold the information display device 100 vertically in either case of two-screen display or single-screen display. The information display apparatus 100 determines whether the user has held in landscape orientation or portrait orientation by using a built-in G sensor or accepting a user operation, and switches the display direction of content.

  Moreover, since the information display apparatus 100 of a present Example gives a vibration stimulus when a user touches the operation button 11, it has the operation button 11 in the position suitable for each state at the time of landscape orientation and portrait orientation (FIG. 4 ( e) (g) dotted line operation button 11). Note that when the user grips the information display device, the operation button 11 may be operated with one hand, so the operation buttons 11 do not have to be arranged symmetrically.

[User's gripping position when reading the book 150]
In order to describe the information display device 100, first, a grip position of the user when reading the book 150 (on paper medium) will be described.
FIG. 5 is an example of a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the hand and the book 150 and the human movement when reading the book 150. In general, the reader supports the book 150 with his / her left and right palms, and forefinger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger, and holds the page end (small edge) 151 with the thumb. When turning the page, the reader changes the force applied by the thumb or moves the thumb relative to the page edge 151.

  FIG. 6 shows the relative positional relationship between the thumb and the book 150 in this scolding operation. As is apparent from FIG. 6, the finger pad of the thumb of the reader is locally in contact with the page end 151. The reader can recognize current page information (remaining pages and the like) based on the area of the contact portion and the strength of the force generated by the deflection of the paper. Together with the recognized page information and the visual information such as the page number printed on the book 150 and the thickness of the page edge 151, the reader can recognize the page information more accurately. For example, the desired page can be searched quickly. It is also possible to roll the paper to the desired page.

  As described above, the page information is useful to the user, but the conventional electronic book only displays the page number as a character on the display or displays the thickness of the page end portion 151, so that the user can visually The page information must be recognized only by simple information. Therefore, compared with the case of “recognizing page information by visual information + tactile information” which is performed when reading the book 150, there is a drawback that it is difficult to perform an intuitive operation with less information to be obtained. The information display apparatus 100 of the present embodiment can eliminate such drawbacks.

[About Information Display Device 100]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance including the display 12 of the information display apparatus 100. The information display device 100 includes a display 12 for displaying content and left and right operation buttons 11. The display 12 indicates a transparent member on the surface, and the content screen 13 generated by the liquid crystal display device 21 is viewed through the display 12. There is no limitation on the display method of the liquid crystal display device 21 (organic EL, color / monochrome). The periphery of the display 12 is a housing made of plastic or aluminum, for example.

  The illustrated operation button 11 is capable of giving a vibration stimulus to the user. In addition, the operation button 11 has an operation button 11 that does not give a vibration stimulus and / or another operation button 11 that gives a vibration stimulus. May be. For example, the information display device 100 may have an operation button for turning on / off the power, a numeric keypad, an alphabet key, or the like, and the display 12 may be a touch panel.

  The operation button 11 can be moved in the vertical direction with respect to the display 12 so that the information display device 100 can detect at least the pressure of the user's finger. That is, the operation button 11 moves with a displacement amount that cannot be recognized by the user or a displacement amount of several millimeters. When the user presses the operation button 11, the user can input an operation such as switching pages.

  Based on FIG. 8, a hardware configuration diagram of the information display apparatus 100 will be described. The entire information display device 100 is controlled by the information processing device 34. First, a vibration generator 23 and a contact sensor 22 are provided on the inner surface of the operation button 11. A contact sensor processing circuit 31 is connected to the contact sensor 22. A vibrator drive circuit 33 is connected to the vibration generator 23. An image display circuit 32 is connected to the liquid crystal display device 21. The information processing device 34 is connected to the contact sensor processing circuit 31, the image display circuit 32, the vibrator driving circuit 33, the book data storage unit 35, and the communication device 36.

  The contact sensor processing circuit 31 detects the presence / absence of contact of the user's finger, the pressed value, the contact position (the center of gravity of the contacted finger), and the contact area when the contact is made. To the information processing device 34.

  The vibrator drive circuit 33 will be described in detail later. The information processing device 34 reads a drive pattern from the drive pattern DB based on page information, for example, and outputs the drive pattern DB to the vibrator drive circuit 33. The vibrator drive circuit 33 drives the vibration generator 23 based on the drive pattern. By doing so, the local vibration described in FIGS. 1 and 2 is generated on the operation button 11.

  The image display circuit 32 displays the content image as shown in FIG. 7 based on the content data and the image pattern acquired from the information display device 100. The content data is stored in the book data storage unit 35. The book data storage unit 35 may be integrated with an auxiliary storage device 343 described below, for example.

  The format of the content data is not standardized for each publisher or manufacturer of the information display device 100. However, as a general-purpose format, there are known text, in which tags are written in text data, HTML or XML based on SGML, etc. ing. In addition to text data, there are a PDF format, an expanded book format, a T-Time format, and the like. The information processing device 34 interprets the content data according to the format and sends it to the image display circuit 32. Since the content data is encrypted to prevent outflow, the information display apparatus 100 performs processing such as decryption on the content data. The content data has property information including a book name, author name, publisher name, total number of pages, ISBN code (or magazine code), and the like. The user can view the property information as appropriate.

  Further, the information processing apparatus 34 sends an image pattern to the image display circuit 32 so that the content can be displayed imitating the appearance of the book 150. As shown in FIG. 6, depending on the page number (hereinafter referred to as “current page”) of the page displayed on the display 12, the size of the page end portion 151 of the book 150 differs between right and left. Even in 100, it is preferable that the image and size of the area corresponding to the page edge 151 are variable according to the current page. For this reason, the information processing apparatus 34 selects an image pattern from the image data DB based on the current page and sends it to the image display circuit 32.

  The communication device 36 performs transmission / reception processing for data communication with the media server 200 wirelessly. For example, the communication device 36 has a wireless LAN communication device, a WiMAX communication device, or a mobile phone communication device as an entity. A communication device 36 such as Bluetooth, UWB (Ultra Wide Band), ZigBee, or wireless USB may be provided.

  A hardware configuration diagram of the information processing apparatus 34 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The information processing device 34 includes a CPU 341, a main storage device 342, an auxiliary storage device 343, a storage medium mounting unit 345, and a nonvolatile memory 344 that are connected to each other via a bus.

  A program 347 for realizing the function provided by the information processing device 34 is commercially available together with the information display device 100 in a state of being stored in advance in the auxiliary storage device 343 as so-called embedded software. Further, the program 347 is distributed in a state of being stored in a storage medium 346 such as a memory card for version upgrade or the like. When the storage medium 346 storing the program 347 is loaded into the storage medium loading unit 345, the storage medium loading unit 345 reads the program 347 from the storage medium 346 and installs it in the auxiliary storage device 343. The program 347 may be downloaded from the server (not shown) via the network 400 by the communication device 36 and installed in the auxiliary storage device 343.

  The auxiliary storage device 343 stores the installed program 347 and also stores necessary files and data. For example, the information display device 100 displays text and stores font data. The auxiliary storage device 343 is, for example, a nonvolatile memory 344 such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive).

  The main storage device 342 reads and stores the program 347 from the auxiliary storage device 343, for example, when the user turns on the main power supply of the information display device 100 or when the user inputs an activation instruction for the program 347. The main storage device 342 is, for example, a DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module), an SO-DIMM, or the like. The CPU 341 reads instructions and data described in the program 347 stored in the main storage device 342 and executes the program 347.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the information display apparatus 100. The information display device 100 includes an operation content determination unit 41, a page determination unit 42, an image data generation unit 44, a drive pattern determination unit 45, an image pattern DB 43, and a drive pattern DB 46. The operation content determination unit 41, the page determination unit 42, the image data generation unit 44, and the drive pattern determination unit 45 are realized by the CPU 341 executing the program 347.

  The operation content determination unit 41 determines the operation content of the user based on the pressing value detected by the contact sensor processing circuit 31 (also using the contact position and the contact area if necessary). User operation contents include page turning for each page, continuous page turning, page movement, and the like. The operation content determination unit 41 compares the pressing value with a preset threshold value, and determines that the page turning operation is at least one page when the pressing value is larger than the threshold value. Since there are one operation button 11 on each of the left and right, when the pressing value of the right operation button 11 exceeds the threshold, the operation content determination unit 41 determines that the operation number 11 is increased by one page. When the pressure value exceeds the threshold, it is determined that the operation is to reduce the page number by one page.

  In addition, the operation content determination unit 41 measures the time during which the state in which the pressing value exceeds the threshold value continues, and determines the number of pages for continuous page turning according to the measured time. That is, the operation content determination unit 41 determines that the user is scrambling more pages continuously as the measured time is longer (for example, 10 pages in 1 second, 20 pages in 2 seconds, 3 seconds in 40 pages, 80 pages in 4 seconds, etc.). The operation content determination unit 41 determines whether to increase or decrease the page number depending on which of the left and right operation buttons 11 is continuously pressed.

  The operation content determination unit 41 receives a numerical value input from, for example, a hard key or a soft key (ten key) displayed on the touch panel, and determines the page number of the movement destination.

  As described above, the operation content includes the increase / decrease of the page and the number of pages, or the page number of the movement destination.

  In addition, when it is detected that the left and right operation buttons 11 are pressed at the same time, the operation content determination unit 41 can determine various operation details such as accepting switching of content data. The operation content determination unit 41 notifies the page determination unit 42 of the operation content.

  The page determination unit 42 determines the page number (next current page) designated by the user based on the operation content and the current page held. The current page is the page number of the page displayed on the information display device 100. In the case where the operation content is one page turning, the page determining unit 42 determines a value obtained by adding one page to the current page as the next current page. When the operation content is page turning back by one page, the page determination unit 42 determines a value obtained by subtracting one page from the current page as the next current page. When the operation content is continuous page turning to increase the page, the page determination unit 42 determines a value obtained by adding the number of continuous page turns to the current page as the next current page. If the operation content is continuous page turning that returns a page, the page determining unit 42 determines a value obtained by subtracting the number of continuous page turns from the current page as the next current page. When the operation content is page movement, the page determination unit 42 determines the page number after movement as the current page.

  Note that the page determination unit 42 holds the new current page in the nonvolatile memory 344 or the like. The page determination unit 42 notifies the image data generation unit 44 and the drive pattern determination unit 45 of the current page.

  The image data generation unit 44 reads content data corresponding to the current page from the book data storage unit 35, and also reads an image pattern corresponding to the ratio information described below from the image pattern DB 43, and the screen of the content screen 13 of the current page Generate information. The image and size of the area corresponding to the page edge 151 are adjusted and displayed according to the image pattern corresponding to the ratio information. Specifically, the image data generation unit 44 uses a command of the image display circuit 32 to issue a drawing command for character codes included in the content data. The image data generation unit 44 uses the command of the image display circuit 32 to issue an image pattern drawing command. The image display circuit 32 writes characters and image patterns in a VRAM (Video RAM) (not shown), and displays them on the display 12 according to a predetermined overlapping order. For example, even if the character is superimposed on the image pattern, the character is displayed above the image pattern. In addition, a pointing device such as a mouse may be displayed on the uppermost side (line of sight).

[Vibration stimulation by drive pattern]
The drive pattern determination unit 45 determines drive patterns for vibrating the left and right operation buttons 11 based on the current page and the total number of pages of content data. Since the information display device 100 informs the user of the ratio of the current page to the total number of pages by vibration stimulation, the drive pattern determination unit 45 calculates ratio information of the current page with respect to the total number of pages. That is, “ratio information [%] = 100 × current page / total number of pages”. Note that the total number of pages can be detected from the property information of the content data or the last page of the content data. And the drive pattern determination part 45 reads a drive pattern from drive pattern DB46 based on ratio information.

  The ratio information is not limited to the total number of pages of the electronic data, and may be the total number of pages of chapters or sections added for each story or content delimiter. When the total number of pages of the book is large, the user can grasp which section of the chapter or section is being read. Further, ratio information of the current page with respect to the total number of pages of content data stored in the book data storage unit 35 (when only a part of the content data is downloaded) may be calculated. The user can easily grasp the timing when the download is necessary again.

  FIG. 11 is an example of a diagram schematically showing information registered in the drive pattern DB 46. In the drive pattern DB 46, the drive patterns of the left and right operation buttons 11 are registered in association with the ratio information. Ln (n: 1 to 20) and Rn (n: 1 to 20) are drive pattern identification information. In FIG. 11, the ratio information is divided every 5%. However, the ratio information may be smaller or larger.

  Note that not only when the user holds the information display apparatus 100 with both hands, but also when the user holds the information display apparatus 100 with one hand, the drive pattern may be registered in the drive pattern DB 46. The operation content determination unit 41 determines whether the user has held one hand and which hand is held by the pressing value detected by the contact sensor 22. When the user holds the information display device 100 with one hand, for example, a drive pattern that causes stronger vibration stimulation than when the user holds both hands is registered. Moreover, it is not necessary to vibrate the operation button 11 which the user does not have. By strengthening the vibration stimulus, even if the user strongly touches the operation button 11 for holding with one hand, the page information can be surely notified.

  The drive pattern will be described. The drive pattern is a vibration parameter of the excitation points 23 a and 23 b that are driven by the vibrator drive circuit 33.

  FIG. 12A is an example for explaining the excitation points 23 a and 23 b driven by the transducer drive circuit 33. By providing two excitation points 23a and 23b on each operation button 11, local vibration as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 12A, excitation points 23 a and 23 b are provided on both the left and right sides of the operation button 11. The excitation points 23a and 23b are, for example, vibrators. Each vibrator is connected to a vibrator drive circuit 33. In such a configuration, when the two excitation points 23 a and 23 b are excited at the same frequency, a vibration distribution is formed on the operation button 11. FIG. 12B shows an example of the vibration distribution on the operation button 11.

  When two waves having the same frequency, amplitude, and speed and whose traveling directions are opposite to each other overlap, a standing wave (sometimes referred to as a standing wave) is formed. Since the antinodes and nodes of the standing wave do not move, the waveform does not travel and appears to vibrate in place. Also, by changing the phase difference between the two waves, the positions of the antinodes and nodes of the standing wave can be changed. Therefore, the shape of the vibration distribution as shown in FIG. 12B can be controlled by controlling the vibration of the two excitation points 23a and 23b.

  The positions of the excitation points 23 a and 23 b are designed in accordance with the manner in which the user holds the information display device 100, that is, how to place the finger on the operation button 11. Accordingly, the excitation points 23a and 23b may be arranged on the front side and the back side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 12A, and a total of four on both the left and right ends and the front and back ends of one operation button 11. Excitation points 23a and 23b may be arranged at the locations. Further, the excitation points 23a and 23b may be arranged at both ends across the diagonal line of the operation button 11.

  The vibration parameters included in the drive pattern include amplitude, frequency, and phase. One drive pattern defines the vibration parameters of the two excitation points 23a and 23b. In the case of a standing wave, the amplitude and the frequency are common to the left and right excitation points 23a and 23b, but an appropriate standing wave can be formed by not necessarily making it the same depending on the mounting of the operation button 11 or the like.

  For example, when the ratio information is 0 to 5%, the drive pattern L1 defines the amplitude, the frequency, and the phase of the two excitation points 23a and 23b of the left operation button 11, and the drive pattern R1. Defines the amplitude, frequency, and phase of the two excitation points 23a, 23b of the right operation button 11, respectively. By designating the phases at the two excitation points 23a and 23b, respectively, it is possible to give a phase difference to the vibrations at the two excitation points 23a and 23b, thereby realizing various standing wave waveforms. Become.

  Note that even if the same vibration parameter is given to the operation button 11, how the operation button 11 vibrates depends on the material, thickness, shape, and mounting method of the operation button 11 (elasticity or fixing of the adhesive). Depending on the method). Therefore, the vibration parameter is designed according to the material, thickness, shape, and the like of the operation button 11.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a standing wave obtained by a drive pattern. From FIG. 13, it can be seen that by vibrating the two excitation points 23a and 23b with various vibration parameters, the position of the vibration peak, that is, the position where the vibration stimulation is strongest can be changed. Note that changing the position of the vibration peak (antinode) is synonymous with changing the position of the node of the standing wave.

  Further, according to FIG. 13, not only the peak position of vibration but also the amplitude of the peak position can be changed. Therefore, the information display apparatus 100 can control the strength of the vibration stimulus and the position where the vibration stimulus is strongest in the operation button 11 by selecting the drive pattern.

  The information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment controls the peak position of vibration according to the ratio information of the current page with respect to the total number of pages. In the drive pattern DB 46, drive patterns are registered so that there is an approximately proportional relationship between the ratio information and the peak position. Rather than having a proportional relationship, the peak position may be made closer to the end of the operation button 11 as the ratio information is closer to 0% or closer to 100%.

  FIGS. 14A and 14B are examples of diagrams schematically showing the relationship between the ratio information and the local vibration in the operation button 11. FIGS. 14A and 14B show only the left half of the display 12. The current page in FIG. 14A is 42 pages, and the current page in FIG. 14B is 22 pages. For example, if the total number of pages is about 50 pages, the ratio information in the state of FIG. 14A is 42/50 = 84%, the ratio information in the state of FIG. 14B is 28/50 = 56%, It is. In order to distinguish this state and convey it to the user by touch, the operation buttons 11 vibrate in vibration areas having different widths. In FIG. 14, the local vibration region is indicated by hatching.

  The waveforms below the operation buttons 11 in FIGS. 14A and 14B show waveforms (stationary waves) obtained by the drive pattern determined by the drive pattern determination unit 45 according to the ratio information. As shown in FIG. 14A, when the local vibration region is shifted to the left side of the operation button 11, the vibration peak position also appears near the left side of the operation button 11. As shown in FIG. 14B, when the local vibration region is close to the right side of the operation button 11, the vibration peak position also appears near the right side.

  When the user places his / her finger on the operation button 11, the user can grasp how far the local vibration region is in the entire operation button 11 by touch. That is, the user can grasp the page number with a feeling close to the tactile sensation that the page end 151 of the actual book 150 gives to the user's finger.

  In the present embodiment, the frequency of vibration applied to the excitation points 23a and 23b can be set as appropriate. However, if the frequency is too high (eg, 1 kHz or more), it becomes difficult for a human to feel the vibration with a tactile sensation. The vibration frequency that a human can feel is, for example, several hundred Hz or less, and more preferably 100 Hz or less, so that a human can more easily feel vibration stimulation. In addition, there is data on the order of several tens of Hz that humans are most likely to feel vibration stimulation.

However, since the vibration distribution corresponding to the ratio information is formed on the operation button 11, it may be necessary to vibrate at a high band frequency that cannot be sensed by touch, depending on the material of the operation button 11. At that frequency, the user cannot feel the vibration by touch. For this reason, when the frequency is a high-band frequency, the vibration obtained by the excitation of the high-band frequency is amplitude-modulated.
FIG. 15 is an example of a diagram for explaining amplitude modulation of vibration obtained by high-band frequency excitation. For example, a waveform as shown in FIG. 15B is obtained by amplitude-modulating the vibration of a high frequency band of several kHz in FIG. 15A with a frequency of several hundred Hz or less that can be detected by a human tactile sense. By making the waveform to be amplitude modulated a waveform obtained by the drive pattern, the envelope (dotted line) of the waveform in FIG. 15B becomes the same as the waveform by the drive pattern. Therefore, even when vibration is applied at a high band frequency that cannot be sensed by touch because of the material of the operation button 11, the operation button 11 can be vibrated with a drive pattern corresponding to the ratio information.

  Note that since the ease of feeling of the vibration stimulus varies among individuals, the user may adjust the vibration frequency. For example, the user displays an initial setting screen of the information display device 100 on the display 12, and the information display device 100 vibrates the operation button 11 while changing the frequency. The user feels vibration stimuli of various frequencies with his finger placed on the operation button 11 and notifies the information display device 100 when he / she feels a comfortable vibration stimulus. The information display apparatus 100 sets the vibration frequency at that time as a vibration parameter (the settable vibration frequency is limited to a range where a standing wave can be formed).

  Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration using the standing wave has been described, but other deformations and vibrations are generated locally by, for example, a configuration in which a large number of vibrators are provided below the operation buttons 11 and individually driven and controlled. You can also.

  FIG. 16 is an example of a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. When the procedure of FIG. 16 starts, it is assumed that the display 12 of the information display device 100 has already displayed a predetermined page of content.

  The operation determination unit always monitors the presence or absence of an operation by the user (S10). When the user operates the operation button 11, the operation content determination unit 41 detects it by interruption or the like (Yes in S10).

  When the operation content determination unit 41 detects an operation, the operation content determination unit 41 acquires a pressed value, a contact position, and a contact area from the contact sensor processing circuit 31. The operation content determination unit 41 compares the pressed value with the threshold value, and determines the operation content from the time when the pressed value exceeds the threshold value (S20). Further, the operation content determination unit 41 may accept the page number of the movement destination itself.

  Since the operation content determination unit 41 notifies the page determination unit 42 of the operation content, the page determination unit 42 determines the current page based on the operation content (for example, the number of pages that have increased or decreased) (S30). The page determination unit 42 increases or decreases the current page held by the number of pages of the operation content, and determines a new current page.

  Next, the image data generation unit 44 generates screen information of the content screen 13 of the current page according to the ratio information (S40). Further, the drive pattern determination unit 45 determines the drive pattern of the current page according to the ratio information (S50). That is, the drive pattern determination unit 45 calculates the ratio information of the current page with respect to the total number of pages, and reads the drive pattern from the drive pattern DB 46.

  The image data generation unit 44 outputs screen information to the image display circuit 32 to display the content screen 13, and the drive pattern determination unit 45 requests the vibrator drive circuit 33 to vibrate the operation button 11 with the determined drive pattern. (S60). In addition, the drive pattern determination part 45 does not need to vibrate the operation button 11 when a user's finger has shifted | deviated largely with respect to the operation button 11 from a contact position or a contact area. In this way, power consumption can be reduced. Thereafter, the information display apparatus 100 repeats the processes of steps S10 to S60.

  As described above, the information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment locally vibrates the operation button 11 in accordance with the current page with respect to the total number of pages, so that the page end 151 of the book 150 is displayed by the user. Similar to the state of stimulating the finger, it is possible to easily grasp which page of the content is being read.

  In the first embodiment, the operation button 11 independent from the display 12 is provided and only the operation button 11 is vibrated. However, in the present embodiment, the information display device 100 that causes local vibration in the display 12 will be described. By doing so, visual page information (such as the size of an image in the region corresponding to the page edge 151) and tactile page information can be expressed at the same position.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of a hardware configuration diagram of the information display apparatus 100. In FIG. 17, the same parts as those in FIG. In the information display device 100 of this embodiment, the contact sensor 22 is arranged from the center of the display 12 to the front of the left and right vibration generators 23. Further, the vibration generator 23 is disposed in contact with the inner sides of the left and right ends of the display 12.

  Therefore, in the information display apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the left and right vibration generators 23 serve as two excitation points 23a and 23b, and generate local vibrations on the display 12. Further, the contact sensor 22 can detect an operation input by the user from the display 12.

  FIG. 18 shows an example of the content screen 13 displayed on the display 12. The content screen 13 is the same as the case where the operation buttons 11 and the display 12 are arranged in different places as in the first embodiment. When the left and right excitation points 23 a and 23 b vibrate, a standing wave is generated on the display 12. As with the actual book 150, if the user places a finger on an area corresponding to the page edge 151 of the content screen 13 (hereinafter referred to as “page edge display 51”), the page edge display 51 By generating a vibration stimulus according to the ratio information, the user can be notified of a tactile sensation similar to that of the book 150. That is, the information display device 100 of the present embodiment vibrates the left and right excitation points 23a and 23b so that the vibration peak comes to a position determined according to the ratio information in the page edge display unit 51.

  The page edge display unit 51 is substantially fixed even if the ratio information changes from 0 to 100%. That is, the page edge display unit 51 is fixed to the maximum area in which the page edge 151 as an image can be displayed. Due to control restrictions and the like, the page edge display unit 51 may be slightly shifted according to the ratio information.

  In FIG. 18, the vibration stimulus is shown only for the right page edge display unit 51, but the left page edge display unit 51 is also applied so that the vibration peak comes to the position determined according to the ratio information. The oscillating points 23a and 23b are vibrated.

  Thus, it is preferable to vibrate the left and right excitation points 23a and 23b so that the left and right page edge display portions 51 simultaneously have peaks at the peak positions determined according to the ratio information. However, at the two excitation points 23a and 23b, the number of excitation points 23a and 23b is difficult if it is difficult to control the vibration peak to reach the desired position on the left and right page edge display portions 51. Increase the position and place it at an appropriate position.

  As in the first embodiment, the drive pattern is stored in the drive pattern DB 46, and the drive pattern determination unit 45 uniquely determines the drive pattern according to the ratio information. In the present embodiment, the display 12 is vibrated so that the peak of vibration comes to the position corresponding to the ratio information on the page edge display unit 51. Since the size (position) of the page edge display unit 51 is fixed regardless of the ratio information, the peak position in the page edge display unit 51 is also unique if the ratio information is known, as in the case where the operation buttons 11 are provided. Determined. Therefore, the drive pattern may be registered in advance according to the ratio information as in the first embodiment.

  A condition for vibrating the display 12 can be determined. For example, the contact sensor 22 may determine whether or not the user touches the display 12 with a pressing value equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and may vibrate only when the user touches the display 12. Further, the display 12 may be vibrated when the contact sensor 22 detects that the user has touched the display 12 slightly. Further, for example, the display 12 may be vibrated from a non-contact state by optically detecting that the user's finger is close to the display 12. Even when the information display device 100 has the operation button 11 as in the first embodiment, a condition for vibrating the operation button 11 can be determined.

  The reception of operations such as page turning is the same as in the first embodiment. For example, the page turning operation is input by the user pressing the page edge display unit 51 with a pressing value equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Therefore, the user can perform the same operation as in the first embodiment without the operation button 11.

  FIG. 19 is an example of a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the information display apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. The procedure in FIG. 19 is different from the first embodiment in that it is determined whether or not the user's finger is in contact with the display 12 and the display 12 is vibrated only when the user's finger is in contact with the display 12. . The processing up to step S40 is the same as in the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the image data generation unit 44 generates screen information of the content screen 13 of the current page (S40). Then, the image data generation unit 44 outputs the screen information to the image display circuit 32 and displays the content screen 13 (S42). That is, the content screen 13 is displayed without vibrating the display 12.

  Next, the drive pattern determination unit 45 determines whether or not the user's finger is in contact with the display 12 based on the pressing value (S44). When the user's finger is not in contact with the display 12 (No in S44), the processing from Step S10 is repeated.

  When the user's finger is in contact with the display 12 (Yes in S44), the drive pattern determination unit 45 determines the drive pattern of the current page according to the ratio information (S50). The drive pattern determination unit 45 requests the vibrator drive circuit 33 to vibrate the display 12 with the determined drive pattern (S62). Thereafter, the information display apparatus 100 repeats the processes after step S10.

  As described above, the information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment locally vibrates the page edge display unit 51 of the display 12, so that the display location of the page information that the user visually grasps and the page information that is grasped by the tactile sense. The notification position can be expressed in the same place. Therefore, the information display apparatus 100 can reproduce a state close to a state where the user reads the actual book 150.

  In the second embodiment, the expression location of the page information grasped by the visual sense and the tactile sense is the same, but in this embodiment, the information display device 100 that notifies the touched page information to the position touched by the user will be described. By doing so, page information can be notified according to the position of the user's finger on the display 12. The hardware configuration diagram of the information display apparatus 100 is the same as that of the second embodiment (FIG. 17).

  Since the contact sensor processing circuit 31 outputs the contact position of the user's finger detected by the contact sensor 22 to the information processing apparatus 34, the position of the user's finger is known to the information processing apparatus 34. Therefore, for example, the operation content determination unit 41 can monitor the position of the user's finger. Since the contact position of the user's finger is the position of the center of gravity, a rectangular area having a predetermined size centered on the position of the center of gravity is the contact area of the finger (hereinafter referred to as “finger contact area 52”).

The drive pattern determination unit 45 determines a drive pattern according to the contact position of the finger. In addition, this drive pattern must reflect the ratio information in the finger contact area 52 as in the first and second embodiments. For this reason, the information display apparatus 100 of a present Example determines a drive pattern in the following procedures.
(1) A finger contact position is detected.
(2) The finger contact area 52 is determined.
(3) A vibration region is determined from the ratio information.
(4) A peak position in the finger contact area 52 is determined according to the ratio information.
(5) Read the drive pattern based on the peak position.

  FIG. 20 shows an example of the content screen 13 displayed on the display 12. In FIG. 20, the position of the user's finger is placed not in the page edge display unit 51 but in a region displaying characters. The information display device 100 vibrates the display 12 so that the vibration peak comes to a position corresponding to the ratio information in the finger contact area 52 determined from the finger contact position.

  FIG. 21 is an example of a diagram for schematically explaining the determination of the peak position of vibration. The drive pattern determination unit 45 determines the finger contact area 52 based on the contact position. The finger contact area 52 is a rectangular area having a width of about 1 cm on the left, right, top, and bottom with the contact position as the center. Therefore, the finger contact area 52 is about 2 cm × 2 cm.

  The drive pattern determination unit 45 determines a local vibration region in the finger contact region 52 based on the ratio information. Since the handling of the ratio information is reversed between the left page and the right page in the content screen 13, the drive pattern determination unit 45 uses the ratio information as it is in the area of the finger contact area 52 when the user's finger is on the right page. The vibration region is determined from the right end of the finger contact region 52. When the user's finger is on the left page, the vibration area is determined from the left end of the finger contact area 52 by multiplying the area of the finger contact area 52 by “1-ratio information”.

  Then, the drive pattern determination unit 45 determines the approximate center of the vibration region as the vibration peak position. In the figure, the peak position is indicated by (X, Y). X is the horizontal coordinate of the display 12, Y is the vertical coordinate of the display 12, and the unit is a pixel.

  The drive pattern determination unit 45 determines a drive pattern based on the determined peak position. FIG. 22 is an example of a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the drive pattern DB 46 of the present embodiment. In the drive pattern DB 46, drive patterns are registered in association with the coordinates of the peak position. Therefore, the drive pattern determination unit 45 can determine the drive pattern according to the contact position of the user's finger and the ratio information.

  For example, in the case of the information display device 100 that accepts a page turning operation by the user from an operation of tracing the display 12, the user may turn the page from a state in which the finger is not placed on the page edge display unit 51. In such a case, the information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can notify the page information by touch according to the ratio information regardless of the position of the user's finger.

  FIG. 23 is an example of a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The procedure of FIG. 23 is the same as that of FIG. 19 until it is determined whether or not the user's finger is in contact with the display 12.

  The drive pattern determination unit 45 determines whether or not the user's finger is in contact with the display 12 based on the pressing value (S44). When the user's finger is not in contact with the display 12 (No in S44), the processing from Step S10 is repeated.

When the user's finger is in contact with the display 12 (Yes in S44), the drive pattern determination unit 45 determines a drive pattern based on the position and ratio information of the user's finger (S46). That is, the drive pattern determination unit 45 executes the processes (1) to (5).
When the drive pattern can be determined, the drive pattern determination unit 45 requests the vibrator drive circuit 33 to vibrate the display 12 with the determined drive pattern (S62). Thereafter, the information display apparatus 100 repeats the processes after step S10.

  As described above, the information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment detects the position of the user's finger and vibrates the display 12 locally, so that the user can grasp the page information by touching wherever the user touches the display 12. Can be made.

  In the first to third embodiments, the information display device 100 that tactilely conveys page information to the user has been described. In the present embodiment, an information display device 100 that notifies the user of a tactile sensation when the page of the book 150 is curled will be described. Although the hardware configuration diagram of the present embodiment will be described as being the same as that of the second or third embodiment, even when the operation button 11 is provided, a tactile sensation when the page is turned can be notified to the user.

  FIG. 24 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the information display apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. 24, the same parts as those in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The information processing apparatus 34 in FIG. 24 includes a page turning drive pattern determination unit 47.

First, the operation content determination unit 41 determines whether the user has performed a page turning operation based on the pressed value, the contact position, and the contact area detected by the contact sensor processing circuit 31. There are the following methods for determining the page turning operation.
-The operator's pressing value has exceeded the threshold value-The contact position has moved (the user traced the display 12)
FIG. 25 is an example of a diagram for schematically explaining the movement of the contact position. For example, the operation content determination unit 41 detects that the X coordinate (thin dotted line) of the contact position of the user's finger overlaps or passes the boundary 53 between the outer edge of the page and the page edge. In this case, the operation content determination unit 41 determines that the user operation is a page turning operation that increases the page number. When the operation content determination unit 41 detects the movement of the contact position with respect to the boundary 53 between the left outer edge of the page and the page edge, it is determined that the user operation is a page turning operation for reducing the page number. Further, according to the moving direction of the contact position of the user's finger, it may be determined whether the page turning operation for increasing the page number or the page turning operation for decreasing the page number.

  The operation content determination unit 41 notifies the page turning operation pattern determination unit 47 of the page turning operation content and also notifies the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 of the operation. The processing content of the drive pattern determination unit 45 is the same as that of the second embodiment, but the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 causes the drive pattern determination unit 45 to vibrate the display 12 with a drive pattern according to the new page ratio information. Before, the display 12 is vibrated so as to notify the user of the tactile sensation when the page is turned.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform according to a page turning drive pattern. The dotted line waveform in FIG. 26 is a waveform that gives vibration according to the ratio information described in the second embodiment, and the solid line waveform indicates a waveform by a page turning drive pattern. Since the waveform of the solid line has a larger amplitude than the waveform of the dotted line, the user feels that the vibration stimulus felt at the same position of the finger suddenly becomes larger by touch. The user recognizes this feeling as a feeling when the page is turned.

  Note that the vibration stimulation when the page is turned is not limited to the pattern shown in FIG. 26, but may be any vibration pattern that generates an instantaneous impact. Further, as shown in FIG. 27A, the waveform may be gradually switched to a page turning drive pattern. In FIG. 27A, instead of instantaneously switching from the drive pattern corresponding to the ratio information to the vibration of the page turning drive pattern, the peak position so that the vibration of the page turning drive pattern is changed from the drive pattern corresponding to the ratio information. The amplitude gradually increases while keeping the same. In addition, after switching to the page turning drive pattern, the amplitude is gradually reduced with the peak position being the same so as to obtain a drive pattern waveform corresponding to the ratio information of the current page. When the amplitude is changed at an appropriate speed that is easy for the user to feel, a momentary change such as that shown in FIG. Can be notified.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 27B, the vibration peak position by the drive pattern may be moved in the page turning direction with the same peak value. If the user turns the page so that the page number increases, the waveform moves from right to left, and if the page turns so that the page number decreases, the waveform moves from left to right. The user can recognize by touch that the page has been turned by moving the peak position, and can also recognize by touch the direction in which the page is turned from the moving direction.

  In order to give the user the vibration stimulus of FIG. 26 or FIG. 27, the page turning drive pattern determining unit 47 determines the page turning drive pattern when the notification of the page turning operation content is acquired from the operation content determining unit 41.

  As shown in FIG. 26, when the amplitude is instantaneously increased, the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 may increase the amplitude of the vibration of the drive pattern according to the ratio information. Therefore, the page turning drive pattern determining unit 47 multiplies the amplitude of the vibration parameter of the drive pattern used by the drive pattern determining unit 45 until the user turns the page, and the amplitude is the vibration pattern of the page turning drive pattern. Amplitude. The constant may be designed according to how the user feels, for example, about 1.3 to 2.0.

  As shown in FIG. 27A, when the amplitude is gradually increased, the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 gradually increases the amplitude of the vibration stimulus of the drive pattern according to the ratio information. Therefore, the page turning drive pattern determining unit 47 calculates the amplitude of the transition period by multiplying the amplitude of the vibration parameter of the drive pattern used by the drive pattern determining unit 45 until the user turns the page by a variable for each cycle time. To do. The page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 sets the variable range to 1.3 to 2.0, for example, and divides the range into, for example, 10 stages to gradually change the variable.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 27B, when the peak position of the waveform is moved, the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 changes the phase difference of the vibration parameters of the drive pattern according to the ratio information. By changing the movement difference, the positions of the antinodes and nodes of the standing wave change. Focusing on the change of the vibration parameter, changing the peak position is the same as selecting the drive pattern corresponding to the ratio information by gradually increasing or decreasing the ratio information. Therefore, the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 can also move the peak position of the waveform by gradually switching from the drive pattern L1 to the drive pattern L20 and from the drive pattern R1 to the drive pattern R20 (or vice versa).

  FIG. 28 is an example of a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. In the procedure of FIG. 28, the processing up to step S40 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The image data generation unit 44 generates screen information of the content screen 13 of the current page (S40).

  Next, the drive pattern determination unit 45 determines whether or not the user's finger is in contact with the display 12 based on the pressing value (S44). When the user's finger is not in contact with the display 12 (No in S44), the processing from Step S10 is repeated.

  When the user's finger is in contact with the display 12 (Yes in S44), the page turning drive pattern determining unit 47 determines the page turning drive pattern (S48). Further, the drive pattern determination unit 45 determines a drive pattern according to the current page ratio information (S50).

  Then, the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 requests the vibrator drive circuit 33 to vibrate the display 12 with the vibration parameter of the page turning drive pattern (S52). By doing so, the user can feel the same feeling as when the page of the book 150 is turned.

  Then, the image data generation unit 44 outputs the screen information to the image display circuit 32 and displays the content screen 13 (S42).

  When the content screen 13 is switched to the page after being turned, the drive pattern determination unit 45 requests the vibrator drive circuit 33 to vibrate the display 12 with the vibration parameter of the drive pattern determined according to the current page ratio information ( S62). Thereafter, the information display apparatus 100 repeats the processes after step S10.

  The information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can notify the user by touching that the content page has been turned, for example, by increasing the amplitude of the vibration stimulus. Since the displayed content screen 13 is also switched, the user can perform an intuitive operation as in the case of handling an actual book 150.

  In the fourth embodiment, the user is notified by tactile sense that the content page has been beaten. However, in this embodiment, the vibration stimulus similar to the tactile sensation when the book 150 is hit is informed that the content page has been beaten. The information display device 100 that notifies the user will be described. Although the hardware configuration diagram of the present embodiment will be described as being the same as that of the second or third embodiment, even when the operation button 11 is provided, a tactile sensation when the page is turned can be notified to the user.

  FIG. 29 is an example of a diagram illustrating the relationship between the side surface 54 of one page and the finger. When the user rolls over a page of an actual book 150, the side surface 54 of the page stimulates to rub the finger abdomen locally. The reader recognizes that the page is curled from the local tactile information and the visual information that the paper turns.

  Therefore, the information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment reproduces the tactile sensation when the side surface 54 of the page rubs the abdomen of the finger locally by vibrating the display 12. The functional block diagram is the same as that of the fourth embodiment.

  FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform according to a page turning drive pattern. The waveform complemented by the dotted line in FIG. 30 is a waveform that gives local vibration according to the ratio information described in the second embodiment, and the waveform formed entirely by the solid line shows the waveform by the page turning drive pattern. That is, a vibration stimulus having a peak in a narrower range than the vibration stimulus based on the ratio information (hereinafter referred to as the “tip stimulus 61”) is notified by the vibration of the page turning drive pattern of this embodiment. Since the user feels a new tip stimulus 61 separately from the vibration stimulus according to the ratio information, the user can recognize that the page has been turned by touch.

  The wavelength of the tip stimulus 61 is sufficiently shorter than the wavelength of the vibration stimulus wave corresponding to the ratio information. For example, by setting the wavelength of the tip stimulus 61 to be about ½ or less of the wavelength of the vibration stimulus wave, a human tactile sensation can be felt as the tip stimulus 61. Further, if the wavelength of the tip stimulus 61 is set to about ¼ or less of the wavelength of the vibration stimulus wave, it becomes easier to stimulate a human tactile sense. The lower limit of the wavelength of the tip stimulus 61 is such that a human tactile sensation is felt.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 31, the waveform by the page turning drive pattern of FIG. 30 may be moved in the page turning direction. When the page is turned to increase the page number, the waveform corresponding to the tip stimulus 61 moves from right to left, and when the page is turned to decrease the page number, the waveform corresponding to the tip stimulus 61 is moved from left to right. Move to. The user can recognize by touch that the page has been turned by moving the tip stimulus 61, and can also recognize by touch the direction in which the page is turned from the moving direction.

  In order to give the vibration stimulus of FIG. 30 to the user, when the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 obtains notification of the page turning operation content from the operation content determining unit 41, the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 separates from the drive pattern according to the ratio information. Determine the drive pattern. Since it is difficult to generate a solid line waveform having the waveform of the tip stimulus 61 of FIG. 30 from one drive pattern, in this embodiment, vibrations by a plurality of drive patterns are superimposed. One is vibration due to the drive pattern corresponding to the ratio information, and the other is vibration due to the page turning drive pattern having the waveform of the tip stimulus 61.

  FIG. 32 is an example of a diagram schematically showing information registered in the drive pattern DB. In the drive pattern DB 46 of FIG. 32, not only the drive pattern of FIG. 11 but also the page turning drive patterns of the left and right page edge display portions 51 are registered in association with the ratio information. That is, a page turning drive pattern for notifying the optimum tip stimulus 61 for the ratio information is registered. The page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 determines a page turning drive pattern based on the ratio information and the page turning direction (indicated by increase / decrease in the figure). Note that a common page turning drive pattern may be registered in different ratio information, or a page turning drive pattern may be registered in common in the page turning direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 31, when the peak position of the waveform corresponding to the tip stimulus 61 is moved, the page turning drive pattern determining unit 47 changes the page turning drive pattern with time. For example, the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 gradually switches from the page turning drive pattern L1 (increased) to the page turning drive pattern L20 (increased) and from the page turning drive pattern R1 (increased) to the page turning drive pattern R20 (increased). . Depending on the page turning direction, the page turning drive pattern is gradually switched.

  Further, a specific vibration mode (having a waveform corresponding to the tip stimulus 61) may be excited by a vibration parameter that the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 has in advance regardless of the ratio information or the page turning direction.

  FIG. 33 is an example of a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The procedure in FIG. 33 is the same as the procedure in FIG. 28, but the method for determining the page turning drive pattern in step S48 is slightly different.

  That is, the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 determines the page turning drive pattern to be read from the drive pattern DB based on the ratio information and the page turning direction (S48). The ratio information may be calculated by the page turning drive pattern determination unit 47 or the drive pattern determination unit 45. Further, the page turning direction is notified from the operation content determination unit 41.

  The information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can notify the user that the page of the content has been beaten with the same tactile sensation as when the page of the book 150 is hit by superimposing the tip stimulus 61 on the drive pattern. it can.

  As described above, the information display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment enables the user to grasp the page position with a feeling close to that in the case of gripping an actual book. Further, when the user inputs an operation for switching pages, the user can be notified by touch.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Operation button 12 Display 13 Content screen 21 Liquid crystal display device 22 Contact sensor 23 Vibration generator 23a, 23b Excitation point 31 Contact sensor processing circuit 32 Image display circuit 33 Vibrator drive circuit 34 Information processing device 35 Book data storage part 36 Communication Device 41 Operation content determination unit 42 Page determination unit 43 Image pattern DB
44 Image Data Generation Unit 45 Drive Pattern Determination Unit 46 Drive Pattern DB
47 page turning drive pattern determination unit 51 page edge display unit 52 finger contact area 53 boundary 100 information display device 150 book 200 media server 300 store 341 CPU
342 Main storage device 343 Auxiliary storage device 344 Non-volatile memory 345 Storage medium mounting unit 346 Program 500 Information providing system

JP-A-8-249344 JP 2007-041895 A

Claims (14)

An information display device that images and displays electronic data for each screen,
Electronic data storage means for storing electronic data;
Display means for displaying the imaged electronic data;
Operation accepting means for accepting a switching operation of a display image displayed on the display means;
Identification information storage means for storing identification information of the display image;
Vibration generating means for generating vibration in the operation receiving means;
Vibration control means for controlling a position where the amplitude of vibration in the operation receiving means is maximized according to the ratio information specified from the identification information with respect to the size information of the electronic data;
An information display device comprising: The vibration control means controls the position where the amplitude of vibration in the area corresponding to the predetermined partial image formed together with the electronic data is maximized on the display means.
The information display device according to claim 1. The partial image includes an image imitating a forehead in a state where the book is opened.
The information display device according to claim 2. When the operation accepting unit accepts the display image switching operation,
The vibration control means makes the amplitude of vibration generated in the operation receiving means larger than the amplitude of vibration according to the ratio information;
The information display device according to claim 1, wherein When the operation accepting unit accepts the display image switching operation,
The vibration control means causes the operation receiving means to generate another vibration in addition to the vibration generated in the operation receiving means.
The information display device according to claim 1, wherein The wavelength of another vibration wave generated by the vibration control means is sufficiently shorter than the wavelength of the vibration wave already generated by the operation receiving means,
The information display device according to claim 5, wherein: When the operation accepting unit accepts the display image switching operation,
The vibration control means moves the position of the antinode or node of vibration generated in the operation accepting means with the passage of time.
The information display device according to claim 1, wherein When the operation accepting unit accepts the display image switching operation,
The vibration control means generates another vibration in addition to the vibration generated in the operation receiving means, and moves the position of the antinode or node of the other vibration with the passage of time.
The information display device according to claim 5 or 6, When the operation accepting unit accepts the display image switching operation,
The vibration control unit switches the vibration generated in the operation receiving unit or the movement direction of the position of the antinode or node of the other vibration according to the switching direction of the display image.
9. The information display device according to claim 7 or 8, The operation receiving means detects the position of the user's finger that has touched the display means,
The vibration control means controls a position of the display means where the amplitude of vibration becomes maximum in a predetermined region including the position of the finger.
The information display device according to claim 1. The electronic data is a digitized book text, photo or picture.
The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display device is an information display device. The size information is either the total number of pages of electronic data, the total number of pages of a chapter included in the electronic data, or the total number of pages of a section included in the electronic data, and the ratio information is the total number of pages. Indicates the page position of the electronic data being imaged,
The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display device is an information display device. An information display method for an information display device for imaging and displaying electronic data for each screen,
A step of reading out the electronic data from the electronic data storing means and converting it into an image for each screen;
A display means displaying the imaged electronic data;
A step of receiving an operation for switching a display image displayed on the display unit;
An identification information determining means determining identification information of the display image;
The vibration control means controls the position where the amplitude of vibration in the operation receiving means becomes maximum according to the ratio information specified from the identification information with respect to the size information of the electronic data;
An information display method characterized by comprising: In the CPU of the information display device that displays the electronic data imaged for each screen,
Reading electronic data from the electronic data storage means and imaging each screen;
Displaying the imaged electronic data on a display means;
Receiving a switching operation of a display image displayed on the display means;
Determining identification information of the display image;
Controlling the position where the amplitude of vibration in the operation receiving means is maximized according to the ratio information specified from the identification information with respect to the size information of the electronic data;
A program that executes

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