JP2012181826A - Electronic apparatus and portable terminal with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus which can sufficiently bend and vibrate an operation board, and a portable terminal with the same.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus X1 includes a substrate 5, a touch panel 3 arranged facing the substrate 5, a vibrator 4 for vibrating the touch panel 3, and a frame body 6 provided on the substrate 5 so as to surround the touch panel 3. Corner parts C1-C4 of the touch panel 3 form arc shapes in a plane view, and the vibrator 4 is provided at a position other than the corner parts C1-C4 of the touch panel 3.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device and a portable terminal including the same.

  In recent years, when a user operates an operation panel such as a touch panel, tactile transmission technology is known that transmits various tactile sensations such as a pressing feeling, a tracing feeling, and a feeling of touch to the operated user (for example, , See Patent Document 1). In such a tactile sensation transmission technique, a vibrating body is arranged on the operation plate, and the operation plate is curved and vibrated according to the expansion and contraction motion of the vibration body, thereby transmitting a tactile sensation to the operated user.

JP 2003-122507 A

  In recent years, operation panels such as the above-mentioned touch panel have begun to be mounted on portable terminals such as mobile phones, smartphones, and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). For this reason, the corners of the operation plate often have an arc shape in plan view for design reasons. In order to transmit sufficient tactile sensation to a user who operates such an operation plate, it is necessary to sufficiently vibrate the operation plate. In order to sufficiently vibrate the operation plate, it is necessary to devise the arrangement position of the vibrating body with respect to the operation plate.

  Note that the above-mentioned problem is other than the tactile transmission technology, for example, a speaker technology that outputs a sound by bending vibration of the operation plate, or a bone conduction technology that can hear sound by bone conduction by bending vibration of the operation plate. Even so, it is the same.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof relates to an electronic device that can sufficiently bend and vibrate an operation plate, and a portable terminal including the same.

  One aspect of the electronic device of the present invention is provided on the base body so as to surround the base plate, an operation plate disposed to face the base body, a vibrating body that vibrates the operation plate, and the operation plate. A corner of the operation plate having an arc shape in plan view, and the vibrating body is provided at a portion other than the corner of the operation plate.

  One aspect of the portable terminal of the present invention includes an electronic device according to the present invention in a housing. According to another aspect of the portable terminal of the present invention, the base body and the frame body in the electronic device according to the present invention serve as a casing.

  The electronic device of the present invention and the mobile terminal equipped with the electronic device have an effect that the operation plate can be sufficiently curved and vibrated.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the cutting line II shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the cutting line II-II shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the cutting line III-III shown in FIG. It is the figure which expanded the support body. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of an electronic device. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of a portable terminal. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the cutting line IV-IV shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the cutting line VV shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  However, for convenience of explanation, the drawings to be referred to below show simplified main members necessary for explaining the present invention, among the constituent members of one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the electronic device according to the present invention and the mobile terminal including the electronic device can include arbitrary constituent members that are not shown in the drawings referred to in the present specification.

[Embodiment 1]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the electronic apparatus X <b> 1 according to this embodiment includes a liquid crystal panel 2, a touch panel 3, a vibrating body 4, a base body 5, a frame body 6, and a support body 7.

  The liquid crystal panel 2 is a display panel using a liquid crystal composition for display. Specifically, the liquid crystal panel 2 includes one substrate, the other substrate disposed opposite to the one substrate, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the one substrate and the other substrate, and between the one substrate and the other substrate. And a display member layer that contributes to display and a backlight that irradiates light to one substrate and the other substrate. Here, for convenience of explanation, illustration of one substrate, the other substrate, the liquid crystal layer, the display member layer, and the backlight is omitted. Examples of the display member layer include a pixel electrode, an alignment film, and a color filter. The driving method of the liquid crystal panel 2 may be a simple matrix driving method or an active matrix driving method.

  Instead of the liquid crystal panel 2, a display panel such as a plasma panel, an organic EL panel, or electronic paper may be used. Here, the organic EL panel is a display panel using a substance that emits light when a voltage is applied. Specifically, the organic EL panel is displayed by depositing a light emitter using an organic substance such as diamine on a substrate and applying a DC voltage of 5 to 10V. In addition, when an organic EL panel is used instead of the liquid crystal panel 2, a backlight is not necessary.

  The touch panel (operation panel) 3 is an input device that detects a position operated by a user with a finger or a pen as an input position. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the touch panel 3 is disposed to face the liquid crystal panel 2 with the space S <b> 1 therebetween. The touch panel 3 has an operation surface 3a and a back surface 3b located on the opposite side of the operation surface 3a. That is, the operation surface 3a of the touch panel 3 is a surface directly operated by the user with a finger or a pen. In this embodiment, the touch panel 3 uses a capacitive touch panel from the viewpoint of improving detection sensitivity, but instead of the capacitive touch panel, a resistive touch panel and a surface acoustic wave touch panel are used. Alternatively, an infrared touch panel or an electromagnetic induction touch panel may be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the touch panel 3 has four corners C1 to C4. In the present embodiment, the four corners C1 to C4 of the touch panel 3 have an arc shape in plan view. The reason why the four corners C1 to C4 of the touch panel 3 are arcuate in plan view is due to design reasons. In addition, when the four corners C1 to C4 of the touch panel 3 have an arc shape in plan view, the stress is relieved even when external stress is applied to the corners C1 to C4. be able to. For this reason, possibility that the touch panel 3 will be damaged can be reduced.

  The vibrating body 4 has a function of vibrating the touch panel 3 when a predetermined input operation by the user is detected. Specifically, the vibrating body 4 repeats the expansion and contraction movement in the short side direction of the touch panel 3 (left and right direction when FIG. 1 is viewed from the paper surface), whereby the thickness direction of the touch panel 3 (hereinafter, the direction is referred to as “ The touch panel 3 is caused to vibrate and bend in the “vertical direction”. As will be described in detail later, the vibrating body 4 also has a function of detecting a pressing load on the touch panel 3.

  In the present embodiment, the vibrating body 4 is a piezoelectric element. Specifically, it is a unimorph type piezoelectric element. For this reason, the vibrating body 4 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration. That is, the vibrating body 4 is configured by alternately laminating electrodes and active layers, and an inactive layer is provided at a position located near the back surface 3 b of the touch panel 3. Here, the active layer is made of a polarized piezoelectric material. The inactive layer is made of any one of a piezoelectric material, a metal material, and an insulating material that is not polarized. A bimorph type piezoelectric element may be used instead of the unimorph type piezoelectric element.

  In the present embodiment, the vibrating body 4 is provided on a portion of the back surface 3b of the touch panel 3 other than the four corners C1 to C4 of the touch panel 3. Specifically, the vibrating body 4 is provided at a portion other than the four corners C1 to C4 of the touch panel 3 so as not to overlap the liquid crystal panel 2 in plan view. In the present embodiment, two vibrating bodies 4 are arranged on the back surface 3 b of the touch panel 3 along the short side of the touch panel 3. The number of vibrating bodies 4 is not particularly limited.

  Here, suppose that a part of the vibrating body is located at a corner of the touch panel. When a part of the vibrating body is positioned at the corner of the touch panel, vibration transmitted to the touch panel due to the expansion and contraction of the vibrating body is suppressed at the corner. This is because the corner portion has an arc shape in plan view, and vibration is dispersed in the arc shape. If the vibration transmitted to the touch panel is suppressed at the corners, the amount of deflection of the touch panel becomes small. That is, the touch panel cannot be sufficiently curved and vibrated. For this reason, sufficient tactile sensation cannot be transmitted to the user.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the vibrating body 4 is provided in parts other than the corners C1 to C4 of the touch panel 3. When the vibrating body 4 is provided in a part other than the corners C1 to C4 of the touch panel 3, the vibration transmitted to the touch panel 3 due to the expansion and contraction of the vibrating body 4 can be reduced from being suppressed at the corners C1 to C4. . Since the possibility that the vibration transmitted to the touch panel 3 is suppressed at the corners C1 to C4 can be reduced, the amount of deflection of the touch panel 3 increases. That is, the touch panel 3 can be sufficiently curved and vibrated. For this reason, in the electronic device X1, it becomes possible to transmit sufficient tactile sensation to the user.

  In the present specification, “sufficient bending vibration of the touch panel 3” means that the touch panel 3 is subjected to bending vibration to such an extent that a desired tactile sensation can be transmitted to the user.

The base body 5 and the frame body 6 have a function of accommodating the liquid crystal panel 2. The base 5 has a main surface 5a. The liquid crystal panel 2 is provided on the main surface 5 a of the base 5. The frame 6 is provided on the main surface 5 a of the base 5 so as to surround the liquid crystal panel 2 and the touch panel 3.
Examples of the constituent material of the base body 5 and the frame body 6 include resins such as polycarbonate and metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, and magnesium alloys. Here, the base body 5 and the frame body 6 may be formed integrally, or may be formed separately and independently.

  The support 7 has a function of supporting the touch panel 3. The support 7 is provided on the main surface 5 a of the base 5. In the present embodiment, four supports 7 are provided. The support 7 has elasticity so as not to suppress the bending vibration of the touch panel 3. For this reason, examples of the constituent material of the support 7 include silicone rubber, urethane rubber, urethane foam, and other rubbers.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the support 7 preferably supports each of the four corners C <b> 1 to C <b> 4 of the touch panel 3. When the support body 7 supports each of the four corners C <b> 1 to C <b> 4 of the touch panel 3, the vibration of the vibration body 4 is sufficiently transmitted to the touch panel 3. In other words, the touch panel 3 becomes sufficiently flexible due to the expansion and contraction motion of the vibrating body 4. This is because the support bodies 7 are positioned at the four corners C1 to C4 of the touch panel 3, respectively.

  In addition to the four corners C1 to C4, the support 7 may be located between the corners C1 and C2 and between the corners C3 and C4.

  In the present embodiment, the vibrating body 4 is located inside an imaginary line L1 that connects the four supports 7 in a plan view. Here, suppose that the vibrating body is positioned outside the virtual line L1 connecting the four supports in plan view. In this case, the vibration transmitted to the touch panel by the expansion and contraction motion of the vibrating body is suppressed by the support body. If the vibration transmitted to the touch panel is suppressed by the support, the amount of deflection of the touch panel becomes small. That is, the touch panel cannot be sufficiently curved and vibrated. For this reason, sufficient tactile sensation cannot be transmitted to the user.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the vibrating body 4 is located inside the virtual line L1 that connects the four support bodies 7 in plan view. For this reason, the vibration transmitted to the touch panel 3 by the expansion / contraction motion of the vibrating body 4 can reduce the possibility of being suppressed by the support body 7. Since the possibility that the vibration transmitted to the touch panel 3 is suppressed by the support 7 can be reduced, the amount of deflection of the touch panel 3 increases. That is, the touch panel 3 can be sufficiently curved and vibrated. For this reason, in the electronic device X1, it becomes possible to transmit sufficient tactile sensation to the user.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the support 7. As shown in FIG. 5, the diameter M1 of the surface 7a that contacts the back surface 3b of the touch panel 3 of the support 7 is preferably smaller than the diameter M2 of the surface 7b that contacts the main surface 5a of the base 5 of the support 7. . That is, the support 7 in the present embodiment has a so-called tapered shape in which the diameter gradually increases from the back surface 3 b of the touch panel 3 toward the main surface 5 a of the base 5. By configuring the support body 7 in this way, the degree of restraint of the touch panel 3 by the support body 7 can be reduced. That is, the touch panel 3 can be sufficiently curved and vibrated. For this reason, in the electronic device X1, it becomes possible to transmit sufficient tactile sensation to the user.

  Note that the “diameter of the surface” referred to above means the diameter of the circle when the surface is circular when viewed in plan, and when the surface is polygonal when viewed in plan. This means the diagonal of the polygon.

  In addition, although the support body 7 demonstrated the example which has comprised what is called a taper shape above, it is not restricted to this. For example, the support 7 may simply have a cylindrical shape.

  Next, an operation example of the electronic device X1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the following, an operation example of the electronic device X1 when transmitting a pressing feeling to the user in the tactile transmission will be described. The electronic device X1 is other than the pressing feeling, for example, a feeling of tracing, a feeling of touch, etc. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to transmitting various tactile sensations.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the user presses the touch panel 3, the vibrating body 4 detects a pressing load on the touch panel 3 (Op 1). Here, the load detection function of the vibrating body 4 will be described. That is, when the user presses the touch panel 3, the touch panel 3 is bent downward. When the touch panel 3 is bent downward, the vibrating body 4 is also bent downward. That is, the bending amount of the vibrating body 4 changes according to the pressing load on the touch panel 3. In this embodiment, since the vibrating body 4 is a piezoelectric element, it can be converted into a voltage corresponding to the amount of bending. As a result, the pressing load on the touch panel 3 can be detected by the vibrating body 4. In addition, although the example which implement | achieved the load detection function with the vibrating body 4 was demonstrated above, you may implement | achieve with not only this but load sensors, such as a distortion sensor, for example.

  Then, the tactile transmission driver (not shown) determines whether or not the pressing load detected in Op1 is equal to or greater than the threshold when the input operation by the user is a pressing operation on the input object displayed on the display screen. (Op2). The tactile transmission driver is provided on a flexible printed circuit (FPC) connected to the touch panel 3 together with the touch panel driver that controls the touch panel 3, for example.

  If the tactile transmission driver determines that the pressing load detected at Op1 is equal to or greater than the threshold (YES at Op2), the tactile transmission driver causes the vibrating body 4 to expand and contract in the short side direction of the touch panel 3 (Op3). Then, the touch panel 3 is curved and vibrated in the vertical direction by the vibrating body 4 expanded and contracted at Op3 (Op4). Thereby, a pressing feeling is transmitted to the user who pressed the touch panel 3. On the other hand, if the tactile sensation transmission driver determines that the pressing load detected at Op1 is less than the threshold (NO at Op2), the process of FIG. 6 ends.

  As described above, the electronic device X1 can sufficiently vibrate the touch panel 3 in a curved manner.

  Next, the portable terminal Y1 including the electronic device X1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of the mobile terminal P1 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the mobile terminal P1 is, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PDA, and the like, and includes the electronic device X1, the audio input unit 101, the audio output unit 102, the key input unit 103, A housing 104 is provided.

  The voice input unit 101 includes, for example, a microphone or the like, and inputs a user's voice or the like. The audio output unit 102 includes a speaker or the like, and outputs audio from the other party. The key input unit 103 is constituted by, for example, a mechanical key. Note that the key input unit 103 may be an operation key displayed on the display screen. The housing 104 has a function of accommodating the electronic device X1, the audio input unit 101, the audio output unit 102, and the key input unit 103.

  In addition, the mobile terminal P1 may include a short-distance wireless communication unit such as a digital camera function unit, a one-segment broadcasting tuner, an infrared communication function unit, and various interfaces, depending on the required functions. The detailed illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

  Since the mobile terminal P1 includes the electronic device X1, the touch panel 3 can sufficiently bend and vibrate.

  In addition, although the example which provided the audio | voice input part 101 in the portable terminal P1 was demonstrated above, it is not limited to this. That is, the voice input unit 101 may not be provided in the mobile terminal P1.

  Moreover, although the portable terminal P1 demonstrated the example provided with the housing | casing 104 which accommodates the electronic device X1 above, it is not restricted to this. A mobile terminal in which the base body 5 and the frame body 6 in the electronic device X1 serve as a housing may be provided without providing the housing 104 separately.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the electronic apparatus X2 according to the present embodiment. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line IV-IV shown in FIG. 8 and 9, the same reference numerals are given to configurations having the same functions as those in FIGS. 1 and 2, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the electronic device X2 includes a liquid crystal panel 21 having an operation position detection function for detecting an operation position instead of the liquid crystal panel 2 and the touch panel 3 described in the first embodiment. Yes.

  The liquid crystal panel 21 includes one substrate, the other substrate disposed opposite the one substrate, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the one substrate and the other substrate, and a display interposed between the one substrate and the other substrate. A display member layer that contributes to light, a backlight that irradiates light to the one substrate and the other substrate, and a light detection unit provided on the one substrate. This light detection unit corresponds to an operation position detection function. By placing a finger on the operation surface 21a of the liquid crystal panel 21 in a state where external light is incident on the light detection unit, external light incident on the light detection unit corresponding to the finger is blocked. Thereby, in the liquid crystal panel 21, the operation position can be detected by comparing the detection level of the light detection unit in which external light is incident with the detection level of the light detection unit in which no external light is incident. it can.

  In addition, although the example of the liquid crystal panel provided with the light detection unit has been described above as the liquid crystal panel 21 having the operation position detection function, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the liquid crystal panel 21 having an operation position detection function may be a liquid crystal panel in which detection electrodes in a capacitive touch panel are directly formed on the other substrate of the liquid crystal panel 21.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of the electronic apparatus X3 according to the present embodiment. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line VV shown in FIG. 10 and 11, the same reference numerals are given to configurations having the same functions as those in FIGS. 1 and 2, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in the electronic device X <b> 3, the protection member 30 is provided on the operation surface 3 a of the touch panel 3 and the upper surface 6 a of the frame body 6. For this reason, the space S <b> 1 is sealed by the base body 5, the frame body 6, and the protection member 30. Since the space S1 is sealed, the electronic device X3 can ensure waterproofness and dustproofness to the liquid crystal panel 2 to some extent. Here, the protective member 30 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate formed into a film, glass, plastic, or the like.

In the first embodiment, the example of the portable terminal Y1 including the electronic device X1 has been described. However, the electronic device X2 or the electronic device X3 may be employed instead of the electronic device X1. Further, the first to third embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  Moreover, although Embodiment 1-3 demonstrated the example which applied the electronic devices X1-X3 to the tactile sense transmission technique, it is not restricted to this. In addition to the tactile transmission technology, the present invention is also applied to, for example, a speaker technology that outputs a sound by bending and vibrating the operation plate, or a bone conduction technology that can hear sound by bone conduction by bending and vibrating the operation plate. Is possible. Of the bone conduction techniques, the present invention can be applied to a technique capable of transmitting sound by bringing the electronic devices X1 to X3 into contact with the ear directly or via other objects and transmitting vibration to the cartilage of the ear. is there.

X1 to X3 Electronic device Y1 Mobile terminal 2 Liquid crystal panel (display panel)
3 Touch panel (operation panel)
4 Vibrating body 5 Base 5a Main surface 6 of base 6 Frame 7 Support 10 Housing 21 Liquid crystal panel (operation panel, display panel)
30 Protective members C1 to C4 Corner S1 space of touch panel

Claims (11)

A substrate;
An operation plate disposed to face the substrate;
A vibrating body that vibrates the operation plate;
A frame provided on the base so as to surround the operation plate,
The corner of the operation plate has an arc shape in plan view,
The vibrator is an electronic device provided in a portion other than a corner of the operation plate.   The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a support that supports the corner of the operation plate. The operation plate has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view,
The operation plate has four corners,
The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the support supports each of the four corners of the operation plate.   The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the vibrating body is provided at a portion other than the four corners of the operation plate.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating body is disposed along a short side direction of the operation plate. The support is provided on the substrate;
6. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein a diameter of a surface of the support that contacts the operation plate is smaller than a diameter of a surface of the support that contacts the base body.   The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a protection member on the operation plate. The operation plate is a touch panel,
The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display panel provided on the base body and disposed to face the operation plate. The operation panel is a display panel,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display panel has an operation position detection function of detecting an operation position.   A portable terminal comprising a housing including the electronic device according to claim 1.   The portable terminal in which the said base | substrate and the said frame in the electronic device as described in any one of Claims 1-9 become a housing | casing.

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