JP2009187579A - Touch panel display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch panel display device, which enables a user to feel an operation for the touch display with reality. <P>SOLUTION: The touch panel display device 1 comprises: a display 3 for displaying information through an image presentation; a transparent electrode membrane 5 having a plurality of excitation electrodes 17, which are arranged in two dimensional and layered on a screen of a display 3; an invariant electrode 11 for maintaining a constant potential; a voltage applying means for generating difference of potentials between the invariant electrode 11 and the excitation electrode 17 by changing the potential for the electrode; and a pressure detection portion 9 for detecting a touch pressure for the transparent electrode membrane 5. While a touch to the transparent electrode membrane 5 is continued, the voltage applying means changes over time the potential for the excitation electrode 17 included in a region for the transparent electrode membrane 5 touched so that a second state having the potential for the invariant electrode 11, which is higher than the excitation electrode 17, is intermittently generated in a predetermined pulse width and a predetermined frequency, and also the frequency is changed based on a touch pressure detected by a pressure detecting portion 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel display device.

  As a conventional touch panel display device, when a data input unit is pressed with a finger, a device that makes a user feel a pseudo click by energizing the finger is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2000-284909 A

  However, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to notify the user of the presence / absence of an input by energization. However, for example, it is not possible to make the user feel the touch when the operation unit is pressed. There was a problem of lack of reality.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel display device that can solve the above-described problems and make a user feel a realistic operation feeling.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a touch panel display device according to the present invention detects a contact on the screen by a display that presents information to the user by displaying an image on the screen, and a contact position on the screen. A position detection means for detecting the surface, a transparent electrode layer provided on the screen of the display, and having a plurality of transparent electrodes arranged two-dimensionally on the opposite side of the surface facing the screen, and the transparent electrode and the electrical An indifferent electrode that is insulated and maintained at a constant potential, a voltage applying means that changes the potential of the transparent electrode and generates a potential difference between the transparent electrode and the indifferent electrode, and the transparent electrode Contact pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure of the contact when the layer is contacted, and the voltage applying means continues the contact when the transparent electrode layer is contacted The potential of the transparent electrode included in the region of the transparent electrode layer that has been contacted with time is generated so that a state in which the potential of the indifferent electrode is higher than that of the transparent electrode is intermittently generated at a predetermined pulse width and a predetermined frequency. The frequency is changed based on the contact pressure detected by the contact pressure detecting means.

  According to the touch panel display device, the potential difference between the transparent electrode and the indifferent electrode changes when the user's fingertip contacts the transparent electrode layer to operate the touch panel display device. For example, if the indifferent electrode is mounted near the base of the user's finger, a current corresponding to the potential change flows through the user's finger due to the potential difference. Since the potential difference changes so as to intermittently generate the second state in which the potential of the indifferent electrode is higher than that of the transparent electrode at a predetermined pulse width and frequency while the contact is continued, The current flowing through the finger is directed from the fingertip to the outside, and changes in the same manner following the potential difference change. By causing such a current to flow through the user's finger, the user can feel as if the finger is pressing on the display. In addition, since the frequency of the potential change changes based on the change of the pressing force of the user's finger, it is possible to give the user a feeling as if the reaction force from the display changes according to the pressing force. it can. Thus, according to the touch panel display device, the user can feel a realistic operational feeling.

  In the touch panel display device of the present invention, the voltage application unit further detects a predetermined time before the contact ends when the contact pressure detected by the contact pressure detection unit is lower than the predetermined pressure. In the meantime, a first state in which the potential of the transparent electrode is higher than that of the indifferent electrode may be generated.

  In the touch panel display device of the present invention, the voltage application means further displays the first state in which the potential of the transparent electrode is higher than that of the indifferent electrode during a predetermined time before the contact is finished, with a predetermined pulse width. And at least once at a predetermined frequency.

  According to the touch panel display device, it is possible to give the user a feeling that the user's fingertip is repelled from the operation button immediately before leaving the transparent electrode layer, and to make the user feel more realistic operation.

  Further, in the touch panel display device of the present invention, the voltage application means changes the potential of the transparent electrode in the predetermined region over time among the transparent electrodes included in the region of the transparent electrode layer that has been contacted, This area may be set corresponding to the image displayed on the display.

  According to the touch panel display device, it is possible to set the region through which the current flows as described above corresponding to the image displayed on the display. Therefore, a tactile sensation corresponding to the image displayed to the user can be given, and the user can feel a realistic operation feeling.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a touch panel display device that allows a user to feel a realistic operational feeling.

It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of a touchscreen display apparatus. It is the figure which showed the cross section of the surface vicinity of a touchscreen display apparatus. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the stimulation electrode arranged on the transparent conductive film. It is a figure which shows the concept of image data and application map data. It is a flowchart of the process which a control part performs. (A), (b) is a figure which shows a contact region and a stimulation electrode. It is a graph which shows a time-dependent change of contact pressure and the electric current which changes with it.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is used for the same element and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  With reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, the touchscreen display apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the touch panel display device 1. The touch panel display device 1 includes a display 3, a transparent conductive film (transparent electrode layer) 5, a position detection unit 7, a pressure detection unit 9, an indifferent electrode 11, an amplification unit 13, a data storage unit 14, and a control unit 15. Yes. FIG. 2 is a view showing a cross section near the surface of the touch panel display device 1. Here, the surface of the touch panel display device 1 facing the user is referred to as “front surface”, and the opposite surface is referred to as “back surface”.

  The display 15, the transparent conductive film 5, the position detection unit 7, the pressure detection unit 9, the indifferent electrode 11, the amplification unit 13, and the data storage unit 14 are connected to the control unit 15. Send and receive electrical signals with the device. The control unit 15 processes the received electrical signal according to a predetermined program, and controls the operation of these connected devices by transmitting the electrical signal. The data storage unit 14 stores the device control program and the like, and the program is appropriately read into the control unit 15.

  The display 3 has a display screen for presenting information representing the operation state of the touch panel display device 1 and information for prompting the user's input as an image to the user. The display screen displays, for example, an image of a push button that accepts a pressing operation by the user. At this time, the user performs an operation such as depressing a desired push button by bringing the finger 2 into contact with the transparent conductive film 5 at a position corresponding to the image of the push button to be operated. As the display 3, for example, a cathode ray tube monitor, a liquid crystal monitor or the like is used.

The transparent conductive film 5 is provided on the display 3 so as to cover almost the entire surface of the display screen of the display 3. On the surface side of the transparent conductive film 5 (on the side opposite to the surface facing the screen of the display 3), as shown in FIG. 3A, stimulation electrodes (transparent electrodes) 17 are arranged vertically and horizontally over almost the entire surface. The transparent conductive film 5 is provided on the outermost surface side of the touch panel display device 1, and the stimulation electrode 17 is exposed on the outermost surface side of the device. The stimulation electrode 17 is formed on the transparent conductive film 5 by an etching method. The formation method of the stimulation electrode 17 is not limited to the etching method, and may be an evaporation method, a pasting method, a peeling method, or the like. The array density of the stimulation electrodes 17 is about 30 per 1 cm ² . If the arrangement density of the stimulation electrodes 17 is increased, a finer tactile sensation can be presented, but the manufacturing process and the like become complicated. If the size of the stimulation electrode 17 is too small, the contact impedance with the skin becomes too large. The arrangement density and size of the stimulation electrodes 17 are set to appropriate values from the above viewpoint.

  When the user's finger 2 comes into contact with the transparent conductive film 5, the user's finger 2 comes into contact with any one of the stimulation electrodes 17 or the plurality of stimulation electrodes 17. When the user's finger 2 comes into contact with a portion on the surface of the transparent conductive film 5, the stimulation electrode 17 and an indifferent electrode 11 described later are energized through the finger 2, and the stimulation electrode 17 and the indifferent electrode 11 are energized. A current flows through the user's finger 2 due to the potential difference between and. Both the transparent conductive film 5 and the stimulation electrode 17 are substantially transparent so that the user can see the image displayed on the display 3 through the transparent conductive film 5. The shape and arrangement shape of the stimulation electrodes 17 are not limited to FIG. 3A, and may be, for example, as shown in FIG. Further, the shape or the like of the stimulation electrode 17 may be any shape such as a circle, a rectangle, and a triangle.

  Which position range on the transparent conductive film 5 the contact area (hereinafter referred to as “contact area”) when the user's finger 2 touches the transparent conductive film 5 (hereinafter referred to as “contact position”). The touch panel display device 1 of the present embodiment uses a well-known resistance film method. Usually, since the user's finger 2 contacts the transparent conductive film 5 with a contact surface having a certain contact area, the touch panel display device 1 recognizes the range of the position of the contact region. Therefore, the term “contact region” means a portion having a certain area, and the term “contact position” means a range having a certain area as the range of the position of the contact region.

  The position detector 7 has a position sensor 7s. The position sensor 7s is provided in a layer between the transparent conductive film 5 and the display screen of the display 3, and substantially covers the entire display screen of the display 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the position sensor 7 s is configured by sandwiching a dot spacer 7 b made of an insulating material between two conductive films 7 a. When the user's finger 2 comes into contact with the transparent conductive film 5, the conductive film 7 a on the front surface side is distorted at the contact position, and the conductive film 7 a on the back surface side is contacted and energized. An electric signal corresponding to the contact position can be generated by detecting which region the energized point is divided by the dot spacer 7b.

  When the user's finger 2 comes into contact with the transparent conductive film 5, the position sensor 7 s transmits a contact position signal corresponding to the contact position to the control unit 15 described later. The control unit 15 calculates the contact position by processing the received contact position signal according to a program stored in advance in the data storage unit 14 or the like. The processing by the position sensor 7s and the control unit 15 constitutes a position detection unit (contact position detection means) 7 as a functional component.

  The detection method of the contact position of the position detection unit 7 is not limited to the resistance film method, and other methods may be used as long as the contact position can be detected. For example, as the position detection method of the position detection unit 7, other known methods such as an infrared method, an ultrasonic method, and a capacitance method may be used.

  The pressure detector 9 has a pressure sensor 9s. As shown in FIG. 2, the pressure sensors 9 s are arranged at a predetermined interval between the glass layer installed on the back side of the position sensor 7 s and the display 3. When the user's finger 2 comes into contact with the transparent conductive film 5, it is sandwiched between the glass layer 19 and the display screen of the display 3 and receives a compressive stress. A contact pressure signal corresponding to “contact pressure”) is transmitted to the control unit 15 described later. The control unit 15 calculates the contact pressure by processing the received contact pressure signal according to a program stored in advance in the data storage unit 14 or the like. The above processing by the pressure sensor 9s and the control unit 15 constitutes a pressure detection unit (contact pressure detection unit) 9 as a functional component. As the pressure sensor 9s, for example, a pressure sensor using a known piezoelectric element, pressure-sensitive conductive rubber, or the like is used.

  The indifferent electrode 11 is made of a conductive material and is provided to be electrically insulated from the stimulation electrode 17 so that the potential of the indifferent electrode 11 is always maintained at 0V. As shown in FIG. 2, the indifferent electrode 11 is used by being mounted near the base of the finger 2 that operates the touch panel display device 1. When the user wears the indifferent electrode 11 near the base of the finger 2 and the fingertip of the user's finger 2 comes into contact with the stimulating electrode 17 on the transparent conductive film, the predetermined distance between the electrodes, that is, the user A current flows between the fingertip and the vicinity of the base of the finger, and the user feels a stimulus to the finger by the current.

  The potential difference between the indifferent electrode 11 and the stimulation electrode 17 and the current flowing between the electrodes will be described. The potential of the indifferent electrode 11 is kept at 0 V, and a potential difference is generated between the indifferent electrode 11 and the stimulation electrode 17 by raising and lowering the potential on the stimulation electrode 17 side (hereinafter simply referred to as “voltage application”). Can be done). In the touch panel display device 1, both voltage application of making the potential of the stimulation electrode 17 positive (hereinafter referred to as “positive application”) and making the potential of the stimulation electrode 17 negative (hereinafter referred to as “negative application”) are performed. It is possible. The first state can be generated by applying a positive voltage, and the second state can be generated by applying a negative voltage. A voltage can be applied independently for each of the stimulation electrodes 17 arranged on the transparent conductive film 5. That is, each stimulation electrode 17 can have a different potential independently. Further, the potential of the stimulation electrode 17 can be changed over time, and the potential of each stimulation electrode 17 can be changed independently in different modes (for example, different pulse widths and frequencies). It is.

The maximum potential difference between the indifferent electrode 11 and the stimulation electrode 17 is about ± 150 V, and the size of the contact surface where the indifferent electrode contacts the surface of the finger 2 is about 5 cm ² . In such a setting, a current of about ± 2 mA per one stimulation electrode 17 flows to the user's finger 2, and the stimulus given to the user's finger 2 can be set to an appropriate size. Since the indifferent electrode 11 is configured to be attached to the base of the finger that operates the touch panel display device 1 of the user, the distance between the indifferent electrode 11 and the stimulation electrode 17 can be reduced. For this reason, variation in the electric resistance value between both electrodes can be reduced, and a stable current can be obtained.

  The data storage unit 14 stores image data to be displayed on the display 3 in each operation stage, and application map data indicating the arrangement of application electrodes and non-application electrodes in each operation stage. Here, the “applied electrode” refers to the stimulation electrode 17 that applies voltage when the user's finger 2 comes into contact, and the “non-applied electrode” refers to the case where the user's finger 2 comes into contact. The stimulation electrode 17 which does not apply a voltage is said. In addition, when the user's finger 2 is not in contact with both the applied electrode and the non-applied electrode, the voltage is not applied. In the application map data, all stimulation electrodes 17 on the transparent conductive film 5 are set as either application electrodes or non-application electrodes.

  The control unit 15 reads the image data at each operation stage and displays the image data on the display 3 at each operation stage. Further, the control unit 15 reads application map data at each operation stage, and recognizes the arrangement setting of the application electrode and the non-application electrode in the transparent conductive film 5. The image data 21 is obtained by converting an image displayed on the display screen of the display 3 into data. The application map data 23 is obtained by converting the arrangement of the application electrodes and non-application electrodes on the transparent conductive film 5 into data. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the concept of the image data 21 and the application map data 23 in a certain operation stage of the touch panel display device 1. In the application map data 23 of FIG. 4, black circles represent application electrodes, and white circles represent non-application electrodes.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the application electrodes and non-application electrodes in the application map data 23 are arranged corresponding to the positions and patterns of the objects shown in the image data 21. For example, for the position range for displaying the operation button 21 a in the image data 21, the stimulation electrode 17 (23 a) at a position corresponding to the position range (within a predetermined area) is used as the application electrode on the application map data 23. The stimulation electrode 17 (23b) that is set and corresponds to the position outside the position range 21b is set as a non-application electrode. Further, the stimulation electrode 17 (23c) at the position corresponding to the black line portion 21c of the stripe pattern in the image data 21 is set as the application electrode, and the stimulation electrode 17 (23d) at the position corresponding to the white background portion 21d is not. It is set as an application electrode. Thus, the application electrode and the non-application electrode are arranged in correspondence with the design of the image displayed on the display 3.

  Hereinafter, the process performed by the control unit 15 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing performed by the control unit 15 and the like when the user's finger 2 comes into contact with the transparent conductive film 5 at a certain operation stage of the touch panel display device 1.

  First, image data and application map data corresponding to the operation stage of the touch panel display device 1 are read (S102). An image is displayed on the display 3 in accordance with the read image data, and the contact with the transparent conductive film 5 is awaited. When the user's finger 2 comes into contact with the transparent conductive film 5, the position sensor 7s sends a contact position signal corresponding to the contact position to the control unit 15, and the control unit 15 detects the contact position based on the contact position signal ( S106). Next, the contact position and the application map data are compared, and positive application is performed only to the stimulation electrode 17 set as the application electrode among the stimulation electrodes 17 included in the contact region, and the current is applied to the user's finger 2. Flows (S108). When the stimulation electrode 17 set as the application electrode is not included in the contact area, the processing may be terminated as it is.

  In the touch panel display device 1, in the positive application in S <b> 108, a square wave voltage having a pulse width of 500 μs is applied at a voltage of 150 V and a pulse number of one.

Next, a contact pressure signal corresponding to the contact pressure is sent to the control unit 15 by the pressure sensor 9s, and the control unit 15 detects the contact pressure based on the contact pressure signal (S110). The contact pressure is compared with the predetermined pressure (S112). If the contact pressure is lower than the predetermined pressure, it is considered that the user's finger 2 is separated from or just before the transparent conductive film 5, and again in S108. A positive application is made in the same manner as the application (S120), and the process ends. The predetermined pressure is set to about 0.1 to 3.0 N / m ^2, for example. When the contact pressure is not lower than the predetermined pressure, a frequency for applying a voltage is calculated. The frequency is calculated by a predetermined calculation method according to the detected contact pressure. According to the predetermined calculation method, the contact pressure and the frequency are proportional, the frequency increases as the contact pressure increases, and the frequency decreases as the contact pressure decreases (S114).

  Subsequently, the contact position is detected again (S116). The detected contact position is compared with the application map data, and negative application is made only to the stimulation electrode 17 set as the application electrode among the stimulation electrodes 17 included in the contact region, and current is applied to the finger 2 of the user. Flows (S118). At this time, negative application is intermittently performed at the frequency calculated in S114. In negative application in S118, a square wave voltage having a pulse width of 500 μs is intermittently applied at a voltage of about −150 V and a frequency of about 50 to 200 Hz. Since the process of S114 is performed at any time while the user's finger 2 is in contact, the frequency changes at any time according to the contact pressure.

  After that, it returns to S110 and repeats the process from contact pressure detection. Immediately before the user's finger 2 is released, the contact pressure becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined pressure in S112, so that a positive application is again made in the same manner as the application in S108 (S120), and the process is terminated.

  As described above, the electrodes to be positively applied in S108 and negatively applied in S118 are only the stimulation electrodes 17 set as application electrodes among the stimulation electrodes 17 included in the contact region. A specific description will be given with reference to FIG. 6A shows a case where the contact area 31 is partially hung on the area (predetermined area) 33 where the operation buttons are displayed, and FIG. 6B shows that the contact area 41 is hung on the position where the stripe pattern is displayed. FIG. In the case of FIG. 6B, the contact area 31 is partially hung on the area (predetermined area) 33 in which the stripe-patterned black line is displayed. A large black circle indicates the application electrode 35a included in the contact area, and a large white circle indicates the non-application electrode 35b included in the contact area. A small black circle indicates an applied electrode 35c that is not included in the contact area, and a small white circle indicates a non-applied electrode 35d that is not included in the contact area. In S108 and S118, voltage is applied only to the electrodes included in the contact area and within the predetermined area 33 corresponding to the image (set as application electrodes), that is, the stimulation electrodes 35a represented by large black circles. No voltage is applied to the other stimulation electrodes 35b, 35c, and 35d.

  In summary, the change in voltage application over time results in a waveform as shown in FIG. In the upper graph of FIG. 7, time is set on the horizontal axis and current is set on the vertical axis, and the change in contact pressure with time is shown. In the lower graph, the horizontal axis represents the time corresponding to the upper graph, the vertical axis represents the current, and the change with time of the current corresponding to the contact pressure is shown. First, for a predetermined time immediately after contact (range 201 in the figure), positive application is performed only once in a square waveform with a pulse width of 500 μsec. After that, while the contact is continued (range 203 in the figure), intermittent negative application is performed in a square wave shape with a pulse width of 500 μsec and a frequency of about 50 to 200 Hz. During this time, the contact pressure is detected by the pressure detector 9, and when the contact pressure increases, the frequency is increased accordingly, and when the contact pressure decreases, the frequency is decreased as needed. ing. Immediately before the end of contact (range 205 in the figure), positive application is performed only once in a square waveform with a pulse width of 500 μsec. However, here, the case where the contact pressure detected by the pressure detection unit 9 becomes lower than a predetermined pressure is regarded as immediately before the contact ends, and the positive application is performed.

  Hereinafter, operations and effects of the touch panel display device 1 described above will be described.

  First, according to a mechanism in which a human finger feels a tactile sensation, when a human receives vibration at the fingertip, a nerve extending in a direction perpendicular to the skin is stimulated. In addition, when a person receives pressure on a fingertip, a nerve that extends in a direction parallel to the skin is stimulated. On the other hand, if the nerve that extends in the direction perpendicular to the skin is stimulated at the fingertip, the human will feel vibration at the fingertip, and if the nerve that extends in the direction parallel to the skin is stimulated, the human will feel pressure at the fingertip. In order to stimulate nerves extending in the direction perpendicular to the skin, a current in the direction of entering the fingertip from the outside (hereinafter referred to as “positive current”) may be passed, and in order to stimulate nerves extending in the direction parallel to the skin, It is known that a current flowing in the direction from the fingertip to the outside (hereinafter referred to as “negative current”) may be supplied to the terminal. In order to feel both the positive current and the negative current as described above, it is effective that current flows intermittently with a predetermined pulse width and a predetermined frequency in a square wave shape. In particular, it is preferable that intermittent current flows with a pulse width of about 500 μsec, a frequency of about 50 to 200 Hz, and a current of about 2 mA for both positive and negative currents. Further, when the negative current intermittently flows in a square wave shape, the pressure that the human senses increases as the frequency of the negative current increases, and the pressure that the human feels decreases as the frequency of the negative current decreases. In view of the above mechanism, the operation and effect of the touch panel display device 1 will be described.

  In the touch panel display device 1, when the user's finger 2 contacts the transparent conductive film 5 to operate the touch panel display device 1, the user touches the stimulation electrode 17 arranged on the transparent conductive film 5. When the user's finger 2 comes into contact with the stimulation electrode 17 that is set as the application electrode, a waveform as shown in the graph of FIG. 7 is formed between the stimulation electrode 17 and the indifferent electrode 11. A voltage application that changes with time is applied. By this voltage application, a current having a waveform similar to the waveform of the voltage application flows through the finger 2 of the user.

  For example, consider a case where the user's finger 2 operates an operation button displayed on the display 3. In order to operate an imaginary operation button on the display 3, the user's finger 2 contacts the region of the transparent conductive film 5 corresponding to the region where the operation button is displayed. The stimulation electrode 17 in this region is set as an application electrode corresponding to the operation button, and the user's finger 2 comes into contact with the stimulation electrode 17. First, since a positive current flows through the finger 2 immediately after the user's finger 2 touches the operation button (range 201 in FIG. 7), the user feels a vibration. As a result, the user feels as if the finger had hit the operation button. Next, while the contact with the operation button is continued as it is (range 203 in FIG. 7), a negative current flows intermittently through the finger 2 at a frequency of about 50 to 200 Hz, so the user feels pressure. As a result, the user feels as if the finger is pressing the operation button and receiving a reaction force from the operation button. In addition, when the user changes the pressure with which the operation button is pressed, the frequency of the current changes in accordance with the change in the pressure, so that the reaction force from the operation button changes as if the user were in response to the finger pressing force. Feel like you are. Next, since a positive current flows through the finger 2 immediately before the user's finger 2 moves away from the operation button (range 205 in FIG. 7), the user feels a vibration. As a result, the user feels as if the finger is repelled from the operation button at the moment when the finger leaves the operation button.

  As described above, according to the touch panel display device 1, when the user operates an imaginary object displayed in a plane on the display 3, a realistic operation feeling as if operating a real object is provided. You can feel it.

  Further, according to the touch panel display device 1, when the user's finger 2 comes into contact with the stimulation electrode 17 that is set as the application electrode, the above-described voltage application is performed. On the other hand, when the stimulation electrode 17 that is set as a non-application electrode is contacted, no voltage is applied. Further, the arrangement of the application electrode and the non-application electrode is set corresponding to the image displayed on the display 3. For example, the application electrode is set to correspond to the area corresponding to the object displayed on the display 3, and the non-application electrode is set to correspond to the other area. This setting allows the user to feel as if the object is present in the area where the object is displayed by the tactile sensation of the finger, and as if the object does not exist in other areas. It can be made to feel a realistic operation. In addition, since the position of the object can be presented to the user by tactile sensation, the operation is easy even for visually handicapped persons.

  Further, the user's finger 2 often comes into contact with the transparent conductive film 5 in a contact area having a certain area, and at this time, the user's finger 2 comes into contact with a plurality of stimulation electrodes 17 included in the contact area. . According to the touch panel display device 1, since only the stimulation electrode 17 within the range corresponding to the object image is set as the application electrode among the stimulation electrodes 17 included in the contact area, only the stimulation electrode 17 is the object. The user feels the tactile sensation of touching. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the contact area is an area straddling the edge of the object displayed on the display 3, it is as if the user is touching the edge of the object. You can feel the tactile sensation.

  Further, in the touch panel display device 1, as shown in FIG. 6B, the arrangement of the application electrode and the non-application electrode is set in correspondence with a fine pattern such as a stripe pattern. Therefore, when the user's finger 2 comes into contact with a portion corresponding to a fine pattern image, the user can feel as if the fine pattern is actually formed in irregularities. Further, if the setting of the arrangement of the applied electrode and the non-applied electrode is changed corresponding to the material (for example, wood, cloth) of the object displayed on the display 3, it is possible to make the object material feel by touch. Become.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the touch panel display device 1, immediately after the user's finger 2 contacts the transparent conductive film 5, positive application is performed with one pulse. However, the positive application time is set to a predetermined time immediately after the contact. If it is between, the number of pulses may be set to a plurality of times, and the positive application may be performed a plurality of times at a predetermined frequency. Exactly in the same manner, the positive application immediately before the end of the contact may similarly have a plurality of pulses. The predetermined time is preferably set to about 0.1 seconds from the viewpoint of giving a realistic vibration feeling to the user.

  In the touch panel display device 1, the contact pressure is detected by the pressure detection unit 9 and the frequency of voltage application is changed according to the contact pressure. However, in the present invention, according to the pressure detection unit 9 and the contact pressure. It is not always essential to change the frequency.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Touch panel display device, 2 ... Finger, 3 ... Display, 5 ... Transparent conductive film, 7s ... Position sensor, 7 ... Position detection part, 9s ... Pressure sensor, 9 ... Pressure detection part, 11 ... Indifferent electrode, 15 ... Control part, 17 ... stimulation electrode.

Claims (3)

A display that presents information to the user by displaying an image on the screen;
Position detecting means for detecting contact of the display on the screen by the user and detecting a contact position on the screen;
A transparent electrode layer provided on the screen of the display, and having a plurality of transparent electrodes arranged two-dimensionally on the opposite side of the surface facing the screen;
An indifferent electrode provided to be electrically insulated from the transparent electrode and maintained at a constant potential;
A voltage applying means for changing a potential of the transparent electrode to generate a potential difference between the transparent electrode and the indifferent electrode;
Contact pressure detection means for detecting the pressure of the contact when the transparent electrode layer receives contact, and
The voltage applying means includes
When the transparent electrode layer receives contact, while the contact continues, a state in which the potential of the indifferent electrode is higher than that of the transparent electrode is intermittently generated with a predetermined pulse width and a predetermined frequency. , Changing the potential of the transparent electrode included in the region of the transparent electrode layer that has been contacted over time,
The touch panel display device, wherein the frequency changes based on a contact pressure detected by the contact pressure detecting means. The voltage applying means includes
Further, when the contact pressure detected by the contact pressure detecting means is lower than a predetermined pressure, a first state is generated in which the potential of the transparent electrode is higher than that of the indifferent electrode. The touch panel display device according to claim 1. The voltage applying means includes
Among the transparent electrodes included in the region of the transparent electrode layer that has received contact, the potential of the transparent electrode in a predetermined region is changed over time,
The touch panel display device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is set corresponding to an image displayed on the display.

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