JPH11162277A - Touch type input device, portable electronic equipment, remote control device and key input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely transmit an operating feeling to an operator in a key operation without troubling those around. SOLUTION: In an input equipment having a plurality of touch switches 4-1, 4-2...4-9 formed on a display panel, a vibration generator 3 is provided within a case body 1. When any one of the touch switches 4-1, 4-2...4-9 is operated, the vibration generator 3 is vibrated for a short time in replay to it, and this vibration is transmitted to this touch switch through the case body 1 and a display panel 2 and also transmitted to the operating finger to give the operating feeling thereto.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a touch input device, a key input device, and a portable device and a remote control device having the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electronic devices such as a personal computer, a portable terminal, a mobile phone, a car navigation system, and a remote control include a plurality of sheet or rubber switches, a transparent conductor, and a capacitive touch input device. And input various information. The switches of this type of input device are different from pushbutton switches and leaf spring switches, etc. In addition, a sound or light is emitted or displayed in response to an operation.

[0003]

Among the above-mentioned conventional confirmation methods, the display is difficult to see depending on the case, the sound or light makes it difficult for the sound to be transmitted to a person with bad ears, and the light makes it difficult for a person with bad eyes. Hard to reach. In addition, there is a problem that operation sounds and light are transmitted to the surroundings, which may cause trouble.

Incorrect operation of a plurality of switches may result in malfunction or dangerous operation. In order to avoid this, a switch for which permission is not given may be displayed to warn that operation is not possible. Overlooked,
Often operated by mistake. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an input device that reliably transmits an operational feeling without disturbing the surroundings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an input device for surely informing an operator when a switch whose operation is not permitted is operated.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch input device comprising: a plurality of touch switches which are turned on by being touched;
A vibration generator that generates vibration in response to operation of any of these touch switches.

In this touch-type input device, when any one of the touch switches is touched and turned on, the vibration generator generates vibration in response to the touch and transmits the vibration to the finger. The operator feels the vibration to the finger and can obtain the operation feeling. The key input device according to claim 6 includes a plurality of key switches;
When one of these key switches is operated,
Characteristically, means for determining whether or not the operation of the key switch is permitted, and a vibration generator which vibrates when the determination means determines that the operation is not permitted. Have.

In this key input device, when any key switch is operated and turned on, it is determined whether or not the operation of the key switch is permitted, and it is determined that the operation is not permitted. Then, the vibration generator vibrates and informs the operator of the erroneous operation.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The input device of this embodiment includes a display panel 2 arranged on the surface of a case body 1 and a vibration generator 3 arranged in the case body 1. On the surface of the display panel 2, touch switches 4 _-1 , 4 formed of a transparent conductor, a transparent sheet covering the transparent conductor, and the like are provided.
_-2 , _{......... 4-9} . When one of the touch switches 4 _-1 , 4 _-2 ,..., 4 _-9 is operated, that is, touched with a finger or an operation stick, a corresponding switch-on signal is transmitted to an electronic circuit accommodated in the case body 1. And executes a process corresponding to the key.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the input device of the embodiment. The input device according to this embodiment has a plurality of touch switches 4 ₋₁ , 4 _{−2 ,.}
, A CPU 11 that individually receives an operation signal of a touch switch of the key input unit 4 and executes a desired process, and a vibration generator that transmits the vibration to the key input unit 4 when the vibration is generated. 3, a driving circuit 12 that receives a command from the CPU 11 and drives the vibration generator 3,
And a display panel 2 for displaying data from the display panel 11.

In the input device of this embodiment, when any one of the touch switches 4 _-1 , 4 _-2 ,..., 4 _-9 of the key input section 11 is operated, the ON signal is taken into the CPU 11, The CPU 11 responds to this by issuing a command to the drive circuit 12.
Give to. The drive circuit 12 receives the command and drives the vibration generator 3 for a short time, and the vibration generator 3 generates vibration in the short time. The generated vibration is transmitted directly and indirectly to the operated touch switch via the case body 1, the display panel 2, and the like, and the operated finger receives the vibration to obtain a tactile sensation. The relationship between the vibration generator 3, the display panel 2, the touch switches 4 _-1 , 4 _-2 ,...
This is shown in FIG. FIG. 3A shows a case of operation with a finger, and FIG. 3B shows a case of operation with a touch stick. The input device according to the embodiment described above can be applied to an input unit of a desktop personal computer. However, as shown in FIG. 4, a portable personal computer or an electronic organizer in which a display unit 22 and an input unit 24 are formed on one and the other of a folding type. Also applicable to Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the present invention can be applied to a remote control having a key input unit 34 for remotely controlling a television receiver or the like. Further, the present invention can be applied to a mobile phone and a car navigation device. Each of these devices obtains an operational feeling and a touch feeling by operating a key switch by vibrating a built-in vibration generator.

Next, an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The embodiment input device described here is:
When the key switch is operated, if it is a correct operation, the first mode operation is performed, and a touch feeling and a touch feeling are obtained, and the accidentally operated key switch is an erroneous operation and the operation is not permitted. In the above, the vibration in the second mode is replaced with the key switch, and the fact that an erroneous operation has been performed is conveyed to the user by a bodily sensation, and a warning is issued. The vibration in the first mode is, for example, one-shot as shown in FIG. 6A, and the vibration in the second mode is, for example, as shown in FIG.
The vibration is divided into two times as shown in FIG. Both are not only different from FIG. 6A and FIG.
Other different vibration modes may be used. The circuit configuration is the same as that shown in FIG.

Next, the processing operation of the input device of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when a key is touched (step ST1), an ON signal of the switch is read by the CPU 11 (step ST1).
2) The CPU 11 determines whether the operation of the key switch is permitted in the operation sequence or in ensuring the safety of the operation of the device (step ST).
3). When it is determined that the operation is the operation of the key switch that does not cause a problem, the vibration generator 3 is driven in the first mode described above (step ST4). With this vibration, the operator obtains a touch feeling and an operation feeling, and the CPU 11 executes a process corresponding to the key operation (Step ST).
5) Return to step ST1 until all processes are completed (step ST6), and prepare for the next key operation. If it is determined in step ST3 that the operated key is not permitted, the vibration generator 3 is driven in a second mode different from the first mode (step S3).
T7). In this case, the CPU 11 does not execute the processing corresponding to the key operation, and returns to step ST1. Naturally, different types of vibrations are transmitted to the operator's finger, so that the operator can know that he or she has made an erroneous operation.

Although the input device according to the embodiment described above transmits a different mode of vibration to each of the permitted key switch and the non-permitted key switch, the input device is distinguished from the other. Vibration may not be given to the operation, and the vibration generator may be driven only in the case of operation of a key switch that is not permitted, and the key switch may be vibrated to warn of an erroneous operation.

In a portable telephone or the like that operates a vibration generator in response to a call and conveys the call to a carrier, the vibration generator for calling the carrier is erroneously operated to obtain a key operation feeling. When used also as a vibration generator for notifying
Functions can be improved without increasing costs. Next, an example of a vibration generator used in the input device of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the appearance of the vibration generator, FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway internal structure diagram, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view thereof.

The vibration generator comprises a housing 41 which is a cylindrical body having an inner space 42, a fixed permanent magnet 43 fixed to one end of the inner space 42 of the housing 41, A fixed permanent magnet 44 fixed to the other end of the portion 42, a movable permanent magnet 45 movably housed between the fixed permanent magnets 43 and 44 of the inner space 42, and wound around the outer periphery of the housing 41. A drive coil 46, a pulse power supply 47 for generating a pulse signal at a predetermined cycle, and a terminal 48 for applying a pulse signal from the pulse power supply 47 to energize the drive coil 46. Fixed permanent magnet 43 and fixed permanent magnet 44
Are of different magnitudes of magnetic force,
Here, the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 43 is increased. In this way, by making the magnetic force different, the initial operation becomes smooth because the movable permanent magnet 45 is located on one side when the drive coil 46 is not energized. The housing 41 has an outer peripheral portion 41c around which the drive coil 46 is wound, and outer peripheral portions 41a and 41b not around which the drive coil 46 is wound.
Is set smaller in diameter than the outer peripheral portions 41a and 41b. By doing so, in a state where the drive coil 46 is wound around the outer peripheral portion 41c, the outer peripheral surface is formed into the outer peripheral portion 41a,
The vibration generator can be almost the same as 41b, and a small vibration generator having a small outer diameter can be obtained. In addition, the outer peripheral portion 41a
Is formed shorter in the axial direction than the outer peripheral portion 41b.
An outer peripheral portion 41c is formed between a and 41b.

In the case 41, the inner diameter of the both ends of the case 41 to which the fixed permanent magnet 43 and the fixed permanent magnet 44 are fixed is set to be larger than the diameter of the inner space 42.
3 and 44, and the fixed permanent magnet 4
The diameter of 3, 44 is increased to reduce the length. By doing so, a vibration generator having a small length can be obtained as a result.

In this vibration generator, the magnetic energy of the electromagnetic coil 46 and the magnetic energy of the movable permanent magnet 45 and the fixed permanent magnets 43 and 44 generated by applying a pulse current to the drive coil 46 balance the magnetic energy. As a result, the movable permanent magnet 45 moves inside the housing 41. That is, from the movable permanent magnet 45 to the fixed permanent magnet 43,
Reference numeral 44 denotes a vibration that reciprocates in a non-contact manner to generate vibration.

However, the vibration generator used in the input device of each of the above embodiments is not limited to those shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 but may be any small vibration generator driven by receiving an electric command. , Any may be used. In each of the above embodiments, the touch switch is described as a sheet type. However, the present invention provides a keyboard including button-type switches with a vibration generator so that any one of the button switches can be operated. In this case, the vibration generator operates in response to the operation, and in addition to the click feeling of the button switch itself, the vibration transmitted from the vibration generator causes
Further, the present invention can be applied to a case where the operation feeling is improved.

[0020]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when one of the touch switches is operated, the vibration generator vibrates in response to the operation, and transmits the vibration to the key. Therefore, the operator can obtain the operational feeling by the vibration without disturbing the surroundings. In addition, a single vibration generator can provide a sense of operation for a plurality of key switches, and even if a low-cost switch having no sense of operation itself is used, the sense of operation can be obtained for them. As a result, A low-cost input device can be realized.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether the operated key switch is a key switch whose operation is permitted or not, and
Vibration is generated in a different manner between a permitted case and a non-permitted case, and the vibration is transmitted to the key switch.
With the vibration generators, the operator can obtain an operational feeling of each key switch, and can immediately recognize an erroneous operation by vibrating in a different mode when an unauthorized operation is performed.

According to the present invention, it is determined whether the operated key switch is a key switch to which the operation is permitted or not.
The vibration generator is vibrated only when it is not permitted, and the vibration is transmitted to the key switch, so that the operator can immediately know the erroneous operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the input device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation image of the input device according to the embodiment in the case of a key touch.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of a portable electronic device to which the input device of the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a remote control device to which the input device of the embodiment is applied.

FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram for explaining a vibration mode of an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a processing operation of the input device in another embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing an example of a vibration generator used in the input device of each of the embodiments.

FIG. 9 is an internal structural view showing a part of the vibration generator in a cutaway manner.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the vibration generator.

[Explanation of symbols]

_{DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS} 1 Case body 2 Display panel 3 Vibration generator _4-1 , 4 _-2 , ..., 4 _-9 Touch switch

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A touch input device comprising: a plurality of touch switches that are turned on by being touched; and a vibration generator that generates vibration in response to operation of any of the touch switches. apparatus. 2. The touch-type input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch is performed via an operation rod. 3. A means for judging whether or not the operation of the touch switch has been permitted, and wherein the vibration mode of the vibration generator is made different depending on the result of this judgment. The touch input device according to claim 1. 4. A portable electronic device comprising the touch-type input device according to claim 1, 2 or 3. 5. A remote control device comprising the touch-type input device according to claim 1, 2 or 3. 6. A plurality of key switches, means for determining, when one of these key switches is operated, whether or not the operation of the key switch is permitted, and the determining means. A key input device comprising: a vibration generator that vibrates when it is determined that an operation is not permitted.