JP2004157933A - Asperity forming device and unevenness display device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to enable an accurate input operation without relying on vision.
A plurality of displacement elements are formed in a matrix on an upper surface of a substrate. The displacement element 3 closes the microvalve 11 and energizes the heater 7 when a projection forming command is given through the control lines 4 and 5. As a result, the liquid contained in the expansion body 8 evaporates and the internal pressure of the expansion body 8 increases, and the tip portion 14 provided at the tip end of the expansion body 8 comes into contact with the film layer 6 to form a projection. Form. When a convex part disappearance command is given, the heater 7 is turned off and the micro valve 11 is opened. As a result, the internal pressure of the expansion body 8 decreases, so that the expansion body 8 contracts, and the convex portion disappears due to the restoring force of the film layer 6.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an unevenness forming device for forming unevenness at a predetermined position on a surface and an unevenness display device using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a touch panel configured on a display, a resistance wire type, an optical type, a capacitance type, a magnetic induction type, and the like are put into practical use depending on a method of detecting an input position. When the user touches the touch panel, information on the touched position is output, and the master device connected to the touch panel can perform processing according to the position.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the screen display of the display is fine, the touching position is difficult to understand, and the user may touch an incorrect position. In particular, it is often difficult for elderly people or the like to accurately touch the designated display position on the touch panel. Further, the conventional touch panel cannot be operated by visually impaired persons, which is inconvenient. Furthermore, even when it is necessary to keep an eye on the front as in the case of driving a car, there has been a demand for an operation means having an excellent human interface that can be operated without moving the line of sight to the operation part.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a concavo-convex forming device capable of performing an input operation accurately without relying on visual perception, and a concavo-convex display device using the same.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the means described in claim 1, a plurality of displacement elements are arranged on a substrate, and when a displacement command is output from the control means to the displacement element at a position where a projection is to be formed, the displacement element is output. Displaces the displacement unit in the substrate separation direction. As a result, the displacement portion comes into contact with the film layer, and the contact portion is displaced in a convex shape by the displacement force. The user can search for the projections (or depressions) formed on the surface of the flat film layer by the sense (touch) of touching the surface of the film layer. As a result, the unevenness can be obtained without relying on the visual sense. As a clue, it is possible to accurately touch a position to be touched.
[0006]
The protrusions can be generated and eliminated independently for each displacement element by a control signal from a control unit. For this reason, the master device connected to the concavo-convex forming device sequentially forms and disappears convex portions (or concave portions) at necessary positions in accordance with each operation step in a series of operations required by the user, thereby reducing the user's operation. Operability is improved, and an accurate input operation can be performed without relying on vision. By using this unevenness forming device, it is possible to configure a braille generating device for visually impaired persons, a blind touch operation panel for a car driver, and the like, including an unevenness display device described later.
[0007]
According to the means described in claim 2, when the convex portion is formed on the film layer, the drive section closes the opening / closing means provided between the expansion body and the pressure adjustment chamber, and the expansion body and the pressure adjustment chamber. Are in a non-communication state (interruption state). In this state, when the expansion body is heated by the heating means, the internal pressure of the expansion body increases and expands, and a part of the expansion body comes into contact with the film layer to displace the film layer in a convex shape. Thereafter, when the driving unit opens the opening / closing means, the internal pressure of the expansion body escapes to the pressure adjusting chamber through the opening / closing means, so that the internal pressure of the expansion body decreases and the expansion body contracts. Accordingly, the protrusions formed on the film layer disappear due to the restoring force of the film layer. Since all the components of the unevenness forming device can be microstructured, the displacement elements can be arranged at a high density.
[0008]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the drive unit controls the expansion and contraction of the expansion body by feeding back the detection signal of the pressure sensor indicating the internal pressure of the expansion body, so that the displacement accuracy can be improved. .
[0009]
According to the means described in claim 4, the driving section controls the protrusion holding by controlling the pressure of the expansion body within a predetermined range during the formation driving of the protrusion, so that the driving section is formed on the film layer. The amount of displacement of the projection can be kept substantially constant.
[0010]
According to the means described in claim 5, the pressure protection means reduces the internal pressure by leaking to the outside when the internal pressure of any of the expansion body and the pressure adjustment chamber exceeds a predetermined upper limit pressure. In addition, it is possible to prevent the expansion body or the pressure adjustment chamber from being damaged due to excessive pressure.
[0011]
According to the means described in claim 6, since the displacement of the expansion body is directed in the direction away from the substrate by the regulating means, the expansion body is efficiently displaced in the direction away from the substrate as the internal pressure of the expansion body increases. be able to.
[0012]
According to the means described in claim 7, the heating means functions not only as a heating means for heating the expansion body but also as a restriction means for restricting the displacement of the expansion body in the direction away from the substrate. There is no need to provide.
[0013]
According to the means described in claim 8, when the convex portion is formed on the film layer, the driving section drives the opening / closing means so that the fluid flows from one end or both ends of the rod into the expansion body to be expanded, and Fluid is introduced by the supply means. In this case, if necessary, the derivation of the fluid from the inflatable body that does not need to be expanded, the introduction of the fluid to another inflatable portion, and the like may be performed in a stepwise manner. The expanded body into which the fluid flows expands due to an increase in internal pressure, and a part of the expanded body comes into contact with the film layer to displace the film layer in a convex shape. On the other hand, when all the opening / closing means are opened and the fluid is led out from the rod-shaped body, the internal pressure of the expanded body is reduced and the expanded body contracts. Accordingly, the protrusions formed on the film layer disappear due to the restoring force of the film layer.
[0014]
According to the means described in claim 9, in the film layer, since the film thickness of the contact portion with the displacement portion is formed smaller than the film thickness of the non-contact portion, the film subjected to the displacement force The contact portion of the layer is easily displaced in a convex shape. As a result, the projection can be formed with a smaller displacement force, and the displacement element can be further miniaturized.
[0015]
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the hard portion is provided at the contact portion of the displacement portion with the film layer, the area of the convex portion is narrowed down, and the broadening of the convex portion can be prevented. As a result, a high-density and high-resolution unevenness forming device can be configured.
[0016]
According to the eleventh aspect, since the driving section is constituted by the TFT, the unevenness forming device can have a finer structure.
[0017]
According to the twelfth aspect, the display device and the unevenness forming device are combined, and the display by the display device and the formation of the unevenness by the unevenness forming device are performed corresponding to the touch operation position on the panel surface. Thus, the user can visually recognize the position where the touch operation is to be performed, and can recognize the accurate position by tactile sensation using the protrusion (or recess) on the surface of the film layer as a clue.
[0018]
The detection of the touch operation is performed by the contact detecting means. For example, a transparent conductive film is formed on the surface of the panel, and the contact position is specified based on the resistance of the conductive film. Configuration.
[0019]
According to the means described in claim 14, a calibration function for performing alignment between the display device and the concavo-convex forming device is provided. Can be reduced as much as possible.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(1st Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an uneven dot matrix display device will be described with reference to FIG.
An uneven dot matrix display device (hereinafter, referred to as an uneven display device) according to the present embodiment is configured such that a substrate surface of an uneven device (to be described later) is superimposed on a display surface of a dot matrix display device (hereinafter, referred to as a display device). It has a panel structure in which a transparent conductive film is formed on the film surface side of the device. The display device is a well-known active dot matrix type color liquid crystal panel using a TFT, but an EL display device, a plasma display device, a CRT, or the like can be used instead. The conductive film is required to detect a touch operation on the panel surface.
[0021]
1 and 2 are a perspective view and a longitudinal sectional view, respectively, of the unevenness forming device 1. A display device that is overlapped on the lower surface side (substrate surface side) of the unevenness forming device 1 is omitted. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of displacement elements 3 are formed in a matrix on the upper surface of a transparent glass substrate 2 corresponding to each pixel (dot) of the display device. , A plurality of control lines 4 and 5 for transmitting control signals are formed along the X direction and the Y direction, respectively. A transparent film layer 6 is provided near the displacement element 3 so as to entirely cover the displacement element 3 from above.
[0022]
The displacement element 3 includes a substantially square cylindrical heater 7 (corresponding to a heating means) erected on the substrate 2, a vertically elongated expansion body 8 whose lower half has a bellows structure, and is housed inside the heater 7. A cylindrical pressure adjusting chamber 9 erected close to the expansion body 8, a communication pipe 10 connecting the expansion body 8 and the pressure adjustment chamber 9, and a microvalve provided at a substantially central portion of the communication pipe 10. 11 (corresponding to opening / closing means), a pressure sensor 12 provided in proximity to the microvalve 11 to detect an internal pressure, and a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) for controlling the power cutoff of the heater 7 and the opening / closing of the microvalve 11. It comprises a driving unit 13 having a structure. Here, the expansion body 8 corresponds to a displacement unit, and the other members correspond to a displacement force generation unit.
[0023]
As the heater 7, for example, a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater is used. The expansion body 8 has a hollow structure and is made of a resin that can expand and contract according to the internal pressure. Further, a tip portion 14 made of a hard material (for example, ceramics or metal) is formed at an upper end portion of the expansion body 8, and a portion of the film layer 6 where the tip portion 14 of each displacement element 3 contacts (for example, a contact portion). The film thickness in a circle centered on the contact portion is smaller than the film thickness in the non-contact portion.
[0024]
A liquid such as water or alcohol is sealed in the inside of the expansion body 8, the pressure adjusting chamber 9, and the communication pipe 10 (hereinafter, referred to as the inside of the system). As the liquid, a liquid that exists as a liquid at the operating environment temperature of the concavo-convex display panel and has a property of being vaporized by heating by the heater 7 is used.
[0025]
The microvalve 11 opens and closes in response to a drive signal from the drive unit 13. During the opening operation, the expansion body 8 and the pressure adjustment chamber 9 communicate with each other through the communication pipe 10, and during the closing operation. Is in a non-communication state (cutoff state). In addition, the microvalve 11 includes a leak valve (automatic safety valve) that leaks the gas inside the system to the outside when the pressure inside the system exceeds the limit pressure. This leak function operates not only by the drive signal from the drive unit 13 but also by the pressure detection function of the microvalve 11 itself. This constitutes a pressure protection means, and the displacement element 3 is protected from breaking due to excessive pressure.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a top view of the concavo-convex display device when all the pixels are lit and displayed. Each pixel is displayed by a display device, and the displacement element 3 of the unevenness forming device 1 is provided corresponding to each pixel. Then, a projection can be formed on the panel surface for each displacement element 3. In the drawing, the dots shown in black are the pixels on which the convex portions are formed. The correspondence between the pixels of the display device and the displacement elements 3 of the unevenness forming device 1 can be corrected by calibration.
[0027]
Further, a driver 15 (corresponding to control means) for transmitting a control signal to the display device and the unevenness forming device 1 is provided adjacent to the upper side portion and the left side portion of the panel portion. The driver 15 can individually output a control signal to each of the unevenness forming devices 1. The driver 15 functions as a position specifying unit that detects a resistance value of the conductive film formed on the panel surface and specifies a touch position based on the resistance value. The driver 15 and the conductive film correspond to the contact detecting means according to the present invention.
[0028]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 schematically shows an uneven state formed on the panel surface of the uneven display device by the uneven forming device 1. 3A shows a case where the expansion element 8 is expanded for the displacement element 3 located on the side of the rectangle. The figure on the right shows the displacement state of each inflatable body 8, and the figure on the left shows the feeling of unevenness obtained when the user touches the panel surface. Similarly, (b) shows a case where the expansion body 8 is expanded for the displacement element 3 located within the rectangle. If the size of this rectangle is adjusted to, for example, the size of a finger, the user can accurately touch a position to be touched on the panel surface. (C) shows a case where a basic pattern of Braille is formed.
[0029]
The unevenness of the panel surface may be formed by independently displacing the expansion body 8 of the displacement element 3 provided corresponding to each pixel of the display device. (For example, four pixels) may be displaced as a group. Further, a configuration in which one displacement element 3 is provided for each of a plurality of adjacent pixels may be adopted.
[0030]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart schematically showing control contents when the unevenness forming device 1 forms and disappears a convex portion on the panel surface of the unevenness display device. This control is performed by the drive unit 13 of each displacement element 3 by its own logic circuit, but may be performed by the driver 15 instead.
[0031]
The unevenness display device is connected to the master device. The display device in the concavo-convex display device displays characters, graphics, symbols, and the like in color on the panel surface in accordance with the display command from the master device, and the concavo-convex forming device 1 in the concavo-convex display panel issues a convex portion forming command from the master device. In accordance with the convex part disappearance command, a convex part is formed at a predetermined position and is eliminated.
[0032]
That is, the unevenness display device performs an initial setting process (step A1) and shifts to a waiting state (step A2). During this time, the display device executes a display process according to a display command from the master device. Then, when a convex portion forming command is input from the master device (Step A3), the unevenness forming device 1 executes a convex portion forming process (Step A4) and a convex portion holding process (Step A5). Thereafter, when it is detected that the user has performed a selection operation by touching the panel surface (step A6), the content of the selection operation is transmitted to the master device, and in response to this, a convex portion disappearing command is input from the master device. The convex part disappearance processing is executed (Step A7).
[0033]
Hereinafter, the contents of these processes will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing contents of an initial setting process, a waiting process, a convex portion forming command input process, a convex portion forming process, and a convex portion holding process of steps A1 to A5 in FIG. is there.
[0034]
First, the drive unit 13 of the displacement element 3 opens the microvalve 11 in step B1 to bring the expansion body 8 and the pressure adjustment chamber 9 into communication. As a result, the internal pressure of the expansion body 8 (hereinafter, referred to as expansion body pressure) decreases, and the expansion body 8 is contracted and the initial state is obtained in which the convex portions disappear.
[0035]
If the pressure of the expander is lower than the operation lower limit pressure P1 (see FIG. 7) due to a decrease in ambient temperature or the like, it takes a longer time than usual from the start of energization of the heater 7 to the completion of the formation of the protrusion due to the expansion of the expander 8. May be required. On the other hand, in the initial setting process A1, the expansion body pressure is maintained at the operation lower limit pressure P1 or more while waiting for the input of the projection forming command, and the pressure rise abnormality is detected.
[0036]
That is, in step B2, it is determined whether or not the expansion body pressure detected by the pressure sensor 12 is equal to or higher than the operation lower limit pressure P1. Here, if it is determined that the pressure is lower than the operation lower limit pressure P1 (NO), the process proceeds to step B12 to energize the heater 7, and then it is determined in step B13 whether or not the pressure of the expanded body increases. If it rises, "YES" is determined and the process returns to step B2. If it does not rise, "NO" is determined and the process proceeds to step B14 to perform an abnormality determination process and stop the process.
[0037]
On the other hand, when the drive unit 13 determines in step B2 that the inflatable body pressure is equal to or higher than the operation lower limit pressure P1 (YES), the process proceeds to step B3 to perform a power cut-off process of the heater 7. This power cutoff process corresponds to the heater energization process in step B12. Thereafter, in step B4, it is determined whether or not a convex portion forming command has been input from the master device via the driver 15, and if not, "NO" is determined and the process returns to step B2. This loop processing corresponds to the waiting processing (step A2).
[0038]
When the convex portion forming command is input, the drive section 13 proceeds to a convex portion forming process (Step A4) and a convex portion holding process (Step A5). That is, the driving unit 13 proceeds to step B5 to close the micro valve 11, and further proceeds to step B6 to energize the heater 7. Thereby, the expansion body 8 and the pressure adjustment chamber 9 are brought into a non-communication state, and the expansion body 8 is heated. As a result, a part of the liquid contained in the expansion body 8 evaporates, and the internal pressure of the expansion body 8 increases.
[0039]
FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the temperature of the expansion body 8 and the pressure of the expansion body. The expansion body pressure is substantially constant until the expansion body 8 reaches the vaporization temperature T1 of the liquid. However, when the expansion body temperature exceeds the vaporization temperature T1, the tip part 14 formed at the upper end of the expansion body 8 becomes a film. After coming into contact with the layer 6, it rises with a further increase in inclination.
[0040]
In step B7, the drive unit 13 determines whether or not the inflatable body pressure is equal to or higher than the inflation lower limit pressure P2. Determine if it rises. If it rises, "YES" is determined and the process returns to step B7. If it does not rise, "NO" is determined and the process proceeds to step B16 to perform an abnormality determination process and stop the process.
[0041]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step B7 that the inflatable body pressure is equal to or higher than the inflation lower limit pressure P2 (YES), the process proceeds to step B8 to determine whether or not the inflatable body pressure is less than the inflation upper limit pressure P4. The expansion upper limit pressure P4 is a maximum pressure that the displacement element 3 can take in normal operation, and is set to a value higher than a contact determination pressure P3 described later.
[0042]
If the pressure is lower than the expansion upper limit pressure P4, "YES" is determined and the process proceeds to step B9, where it is determined whether or not the tip portion 14 is in contact with the film layer 6 based on the expanded body pressure. The reference pressure used for the judgment at this time, that is, the contact judging pressure P3, is not the pressure of the expanded body immediately after the chip portion 14 comes into contact with the film layer 6 (P3 'shown in FIG. 7), but is an appropriate convex pressure on the panel surface. This is the pressure of the inflatable body in a state where the portion is formed.
[0043]
If the drive unit 13 determines that it is not in contact (NO), it proceeds to step B6, and if it determines that it is in contact (YES), it proceeds to step B10 and turns off the heater 7. Then, after waiting for a predetermined time in step B11, the process returns to step B9. By this loop processing, the projection formed once is held.
[0044]
During the convex part holding process, the inflatable body pressure is controlled near the contact judging pressure P3, and does not reach the inflation upper limit pressure P4. However, for example, when a strong force is applied to the panel surface, there is a possibility that the pressure of the expander temporarily exceeds the expansion upper limit pressure P4. If it is determined in step B8 that the pressure is equal to or higher than the expansion upper limit pressure P4 (NO), the flow shifts to step B17 to turn off the heater 7, and waits for a predetermined time in step B18. Thereafter, in step B19, it is determined whether or not the inflatable body pressure is equal to or higher than the limit pressure P5. If it is determined that the pressure is lower than the limit pressure P5 (NO), the process proceeds to step B6. The limit pressure P5 is a maximum pressure at which the displacement element 3 can operate without failure.
[0045]
When the drive unit 13 determines in step B19 that the inflatable body pressure is equal to or higher than the limit pressure P5 (YES), the process proceeds to step B20 and opens the leak valve provided in the microvalve 11. However, as described above, the leak valve may be opened by the micro valve 11 itself. Thereafter, in step B21, the process waits in a loop until the pressure of the expanded body drops below the expansion upper limit pressure P4. When the pressure of the inflatable body is lower than the upper limit pressure P4, the process proceeds to step B22, closes the leak valve, and then proceeds to step B6.
[0046]
Next, the processing contents of the selection operation detection processing (step A6) and the convex part disappearance processing (step A7) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the user performs a predetermined touch operation (for example, an operation of intermittently touching twice) on the protrusion-formed portion using the protrusion formed on the panel surface as a clue, the conductive film formed on the panel surface becomes transparent. The resistance changes according to the contact pattern (time, time interval, etc.). The driver 15 or the master device of the unevenness display device recognizes the selection operation performed by the user based on the electric signal. The master device outputs a convex part disappearance command according to the result of the selection operation.
[0047]
After performing the convex part holding process in step A5, the drive unit 13 of the displacement element 3 determines whether or not a convex part disappearance command has been input in step C1. Here, if it is determined that the input has not been made (NO), the process returns to step A5, and if it is determined that the input has been made (YES), the process proceeds to step C2, in which the heater 7 is turned off. open. As a result, the expansion body 8 and the pressure adjustment chamber 9 are in communication with each other, and the internal pressure of the expansion body 8 decreases, so that the expansion body 8 contracts, and the convex portion disappears due to the restoring force of the film layer 6.
[0048]
Thereafter, the drive unit 13 performs a self-check on the pressure inside the system and the like. Then, it is determined whether or not the check result is normal (step C4). If it is determined that the result is normal (YES), the process is terminated and the process returns to the initial setting process (step A1) again. On the other hand, if the pressure inside the system is not normal, the process proceeds to step C5 to execute the adjustment process. Thereafter, it is determined in step C6 whether or not the adjustment has been performed. If the adjustment has been performed (YES), the process is terminated. If the adjustment has not been performed (NO), the process proceeds to step C7 to perform the abnormality determination process. The process ends. As described above, the self-check and the adjustment process are performed each time the convex portion is formed and disappears, so that the pressure state inside the system can be appropriately maintained.
[0049]
As described above, the concavo-convex display device of the present embodiment has the display device and the concavo-convex forming device 1 in which the plurality of displacement elements 3 are formed in a matrix corresponding to each pixel of the display device. It has a structure, and it is possible to form irregularities on the film layer 6 as a panel surface for each displacement element 3. Therefore, the user can search for the convex portion (the concave portion based on the state where the expansion bodies 8 of all the displacement elements 3 are displaced) by touching the film layer 6, and as a result, the display device It is possible to accurately touch the position where the touch operation is to be performed by using the uneven portion as a clue without relying on the display.
[0050]
The protrusions can be generated and eliminated independently for each displacement element 3. For this reason, the master device connected to the unevenness forming device 1 sequentially forms and eliminates a convex portion (or concave portion) at a necessary position according to each operation step in a series of operations requested by the user, thereby eliminating the user. Operability is improved, and an accurate input operation can be performed without relying on vision. In addition, the driving unit 13 is formed of a TFT and has a fine structure such as the use of the microvalve 11, so that the displacement elements 3 can be arranged at a high density.
[0051]
The drive unit 13 feeds back the detection signal of the pressure sensor 12 to control the expansion and contraction of the expansion body 8, so that the displacement accuracy can be improved. Further, since the protrusion holding control is performed by controlling the internal pressure of the expansion body 8 within a predetermined range, the amount of displacement of the protrusion formed on the film layer 6 can be kept substantially constant. Further, when the internal pressure of the expansion body 8 becomes equal to or higher than the limit pressure P5, the drive unit 13 and the microvalve 11 reduce the internal pressure by leaking to the outside. it can.
[0052]
Since the expansion body 8 is housed inside the heater 7 having a cylindrical shape, the displacement of the expansion body 8 when heated is restricted in the direction away from the substrate. Thereby, the expansion body 8 can be efficiently displaced in the direction away from the substrate, and the convex portion can be formed with a small change in pressure.
[0053]
In the film layer 6, since the thickness of the portion where the tip portion 14 of each displacement element 3 contacts is smaller than the thickness of the non-contact portion, the contact portion of the film layer 6 which has received the displacement force. Are easily displaced in a convex shape. As a result, the convex portion can be formed with a smaller displacement force, and the displacement element 3 can be further downsized. In addition, since the tip portion 14 is formed at the tip of the expansion body 8, the area of the convex portion is narrowed down, so that the broadening of the convex portion can be prevented, and high resolution can be obtained even when the displacement elements 3 are arranged at high density. Can be.
[0054]
(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9, which is a perspective view of an unevenness forming device. The unevenness forming device 16 shown in FIG. 9 is connected to a master device, and is used alone or as an unevenness display device superimposed on a display device.
[0055]
A plurality of rods 18 (corresponding to displacement parts) are arranged in parallel on the transparent substrate 17, and the rods 18 are transparently arranged close to the rods 18 so as to entirely cover the rods 18 from above. (Not shown). The rod 18 has a hollow structure, and a plurality of expanded bodies 19 (19a, 19b, 19c) which expand and contract according to the internal pressure thereof are provided via micro valves 20 (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d). It has a structure connected in a line so that it can communicate. The microvalve 20 includes a leak valve that leaks internal air to the outside when the internal pressure of the expansion body 19 exceeds a limit pressure.
[0056]
Although not shown, an air supply unit (corresponding to a fluid supply unit) that introduces air (corresponds to fluid) from one end of the rod 18 to the rod 18 is provided at an end of the substrate 17. I have. A drive unit (not shown) for driving the microvalve 20 and the air supply unit is provided on or outside the substrate. The air supply unit and the drive unit correspond to a displacement force generation unit according to the present invention.
[0057]
The expansion and contraction of each expansion body 19 are performed as follows.
{Circle around (1)} In the case of the rod 18 indicated by "A" in FIG.
The drive unit introduces air into the rod 18 from the end where the microvalve 20d is located, with the microvalve 20a closed and the microvalves 20b, 20c, 20d open. Since the expansion bodies 19a, 19b, and 19c are in communication, air is sequentially sent from the expansion body 19c toward the expansion body 19a, and the internal pressure of the expansion bodies 19a, 19b, and 19c rises and expands. When the air is sufficiently introduced, the micro valves 20b, 20c, and 20d are closed. When the expanders 19a, 19b, and 19c expand, they come into contact with the film layer and push up the film layer, so that convex portions are formed at positions corresponding to the expanders 19a, 19b, and 19c.
[0058]
Thereafter, when a convex part disappearance command is input from a master device connected to the unevenness forming device 16, the driving unit opens the microvalves 20b, 20c, and 20d to derive the air inside the rod-shaped body 18. As a result, the expansion bodies 19a, 19b, and 19c contract, and the projections disappear.
[0059]
{Circle around (2)} In the case of the rod 18 indicated by “B” in FIG.
The drive unit introduces air into the rod 18 from the end where the microvalve 20d is located with the microvalves 20a, 20b, 20c closed and the microvalve 20d open. In this case, since the air is introduced only into the expansion body 19c and not into the expansion bodies 19a and 19b, only the expansion body 19c expands. When the air is sufficiently introduced, the microvalve 20d is closed. As a result, a convex portion is formed only at a position corresponding to the expansion body 19c. To eliminate the protrusion, the microvalve 20d is opened, and the air inside the rod 18 is led out.
[0060]
(3) In the case of the rod 18 indicated by "C" in FIG.
In this case, a two-stage operation is performed. That is, the drive unit introduces air into the rod 18 from the end where the microvalve 20d is located, with the microvalve 20a closed and the microvalves 20b, 20c, 20d open. Air is sequentially sent from the expansion body 19c toward the expansion body 19a. When the air is sufficiently introduced into the inflatable body 19a, the microvalve 20b is closed, and the air in the inflatable bodies 19b and 19c is once drawn out. Thereafter, the microvalve 20c is closed, air is introduced again, and the microvalve 20d is closed. As a result, convex portions are formed at positions corresponding to the expansion bodies 19a and 19c. In order to eliminate the protrusion, the microvalves 20b, 20c, and 20d are opened, and the air inside the rod 18 is led out.
[0061]
In the above description, air is introduced and derived only from the microvalve 20d side. However, if the configuration is also performed from the microvalve 20a side, the time for introducing and deriving air can be reduced. In particular, in the case of the above (3), a one-step operation can be performed, and the operation time can be greatly improved.
[0062]
The projections (or depressions) can be formed in the film layer for each expansion body 19 also by the unevenness display device 16 of the present embodiment. Therefore, for example, by combining with a display device, it is possible to obtain a concavo-convex display device having the same effects as in the first embodiment.
[0063]
(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings. For example, the present invention can be modified or expanded as follows.
Using the unevenness forming devices 1 and 16 described above, it is possible to configure an input means that is excellent in a human interface that can perform a blind operation, such as a braille generation device for the visually impaired. By using this input means, even when it is necessary to keep watching the front, for example, while driving a car, a reliable input operation can be performed without moving the line of sight to the input means.
[0064]
In this case, when the user holds the hand over the operation panel and touches the panel surface with the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger, the inside of the rectangle that forms a diagonal line connecting the contact positions is the operable range. And the unevenness is formed by the unevenness forming devices 1 and 16 only within the operable range. In this way, the calibration function that sets the operable range according to the size of the user's hand allows the unevenness to be formed only in the easy-to-use range of the user's dominant hand, improving the convenience and operability of the user. Can be As a result, the blind operation can be performed such that the thumb position is “Yes”, the index finger position is “No”, and the middle finger position is canceled on the panel surface.
[0065]
The displacement force generating unit that causes the displacement unit to generate a displacement may use an electrostatic force, a magnetic force, or the like. Further, a concave portion may be formed instead of a convex portion by receiving a displacement force.
The contact detection means may be an optical type, a capacitance type, a magnetic induction type, or the like.
In the first embodiment, in addition to the case where the inflatable body pressure becomes equal to or higher than the expansion upper limit pressure P4, the pressure reduction control may be performed when the internal pressure of the pressure adjustment chamber 9 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit pressure.
[0066]
Also in the second embodiment, a tip portion made of a hard material may be formed at the upper end of the expansion bodies 19a, 19b, 19c. Further, in the film layer, it is preferable that the film thickness of the portion where the expansion bodies 19a, 19b and 19c (tip portion) come into contact is thinner than the film thickness of the non-contact portion. Further, it is preferable to provide a restricting portion for directing the expansion directions of the expansion bodies 19a, 19b, and 19c in the direction away from the substrate. Further, the fluid introduced into the rod 18 may be a gas or a liquid other than air.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an unevenness forming device showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an unevenness forming device.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the concavo-convex display device displaying all lights.
FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart in the case of forming and disappearing a convex portion.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing contents from initial setting processing to convex part holding processing.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a selection operation detecting process and a convex portion disappearing process.
FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between the expansion body temperature and the expansion body pressure.
FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing an uneven state formed on a panel surface of the uneven display device.
FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a second embodiment of the present invention;
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference numerals 1 and 16 denote unevenness forming devices, 2 and 17 are substrates, 3 is a displacement element, 6 is a film layer, 7 is a heater (heating means), 8, 19, 19a, 19b and 19c are expansion bodies (displacement portions), 9 Is a pressure adjustment chamber, 11, 20, 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are microvalves (opening / closing means), 12 is a pressure sensor, 13 is a driving section, 14 is a chip section (hard section), and 15 is a driver (control section, Position specifying means) and 18 are rod-shaped bodies (displacement portions).

Claims (14)

A plurality of displacement elements arranged on a substrate, the plurality of displacement elements comprising a displacement unit and a displacement force generation unit that displaces the displacement unit in a direction away from the substrate according to a control signal;
A film layer which is provided close to these displacement elements, and which receives a displacement force in a state where the displacement portions are in contact with each other, the contact portion is displaced in a convex shape;
Control means capable of individually outputting a control signal to each of the displacement elements. The displacement unit is configured by an expansion body having a hollow structure and expanding and contracting in the substrate separation direction according to the internal pressure thereof,
The displacement force generator,
Heating means for heating the expansion body;
A pressure regulating chamber,
Opening / closing means interposed between the expansion body and the pressure adjustment chamber, and setting the expansion body and the pressure adjustment chamber to one of a communicating state and a non-communicating state;
By heating the expansion body by the heating means with the opening / closing means closed, the expansion body is expanded to form a convex portion on the film layer, and the opening / closing means is opened to contract the expansion body. The unevenness forming device according to claim 1, further comprising: a driving unit configured to perform driving control so as to eliminate the protrusion. The displacement force generator includes a pressure sensor that detects an internal pressure of the expansion body,
3. The unevenness forming device according to claim 2, wherein the driving unit is configured to control expansion and contraction of the expansion body based on a detection signal from the pressure sensor. 4. The unevenness according to claim 3, wherein the driving unit is configured to perform the convex part holding control by controlling the pressure of the expansion body within a predetermined range during the driving of forming the convex part. 5. Forming device. 3. A pressure protection means for reducing the internal pressure by leaking to the outside when the internal pressure of any one of the expansion body and the pressure adjustment chamber exceeds a predetermined upper limit pressure. 5. The unevenness forming device according to any one of 4. The unevenness forming device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the displacement unit includes a restricting means for restricting a displacement of the expansion body in a direction away from the substrate. The unevenness forming device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the heating unit is formed on the substrate so as to surround the expansion body from the periphery. The displacement portion is constituted by a rod-like body having a hollow structure and having a plurality of inflatable bodies that expand and contract according to the internal pressure thereof connected in a row so as to be able to communicate with each other via opening / closing means,
The displacement force generator,
Fluid supply means for introducing or discharging fluid from one or both ends of the rod to the rod,
The opening / closing means is controlled to an open / close state in accordance with the control signal, and a fluid is introduced or led out to the rod-shaped body to expand an expansion body specified by the control signal, thereby forming a convex portion on the film layer. And a drive unit for controlling the drive so as to open all the opening / closing means and derive the fluid from the rod-shaped body, thereby contracting the expanded body and eliminating the convex part. The unevenness forming device according to claim 1. The unevenness according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein in the film layer, a film thickness of a contact portion with the displacement portion is formed to be thinner than a film thickness of a non-contact portion. Forming device. The unevenness forming device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a hard portion is provided at a contact portion of the displacement portion with the film layer. The unevenness forming device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the drive unit is configured by a TFT (Thin Film Transistor). A panel comprising a display device, a transparent substrate and a film layer, wherein the displacement elements are arranged in a plane on the substrate, and the unevenness forming device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 overlapped with the display device. Having a structure,
A concavo-convex display device comprising a contact detecting means for detecting contact with a panel surface portion. 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the contact detecting means includes a transparent conductive film formed on a surface of the panel and a position specifying means for specifying a contact position based on a resistance of the conductive film. The unevenness display device according to the above. 14. The unevenness display device according to claim 12, further comprising a calibration function for performing alignment between the display device and the unevenness forming device.

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