JP2013080369A - Tactile presentation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tactile presentation device which can suppress a processing load without degrading accuracy for calculating an operation position.SOLUTION: A tactile presentation device 1 mainly comprises, as shown in Fig. 2, for example: a plurality of display pins 12 which are arranged in a matrix form along a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction, and are driven by a driving unit 14; the driving unit 14 for generating driving power; a detection unit 16 for detecting capacitance on the basis of an operation performed on the display pins 12; and a capacity correction unit 18 for performing correction of capacitance detected by the detection unit 16 on the basis of the number of driven display pins 12 for each of the first direction and second direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a tactile sense presentation device.

  As a conventional technique, there is known a tactile display device including a plurality of tactile pins that express the structure and function of a computer window with projections and depressions, and a tactile sensor that detects an operation performed on the tactile pins (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  Since this tactile display device detects an operation performed on a tactile pin in a convex state by a tactile sensor, the operator selects a function corresponding to the tactile pin by operating the tactile pin. be able to.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-69218

  If the tactile sensor of this conventional tactile display device is, for example, a capacitance type sensor, it is detected after forming irregularities due to the displacement of the tactile pin, which is also a dielectric, even though no operation is performed. The capacitance for each tactile pin to be changed changes. For example, the correction of the change in the capacitance is performed in consideration of the contact state of the operator's finger after forming the unevenness, so that there is a problem that the processing load is large and the calculation accuracy of the operation position is lowered. .

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tactile sensation presentation apparatus that can suppress the processing load without reducing the calculation accuracy of the operation position.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of driving units that generate driving force, a first direction, and a second direction that intersects the first direction are arranged in a matrix and are driven by the driving unit. A display pin, a detection unit for detecting capacitance based on an operation performed on the display pin, and a static detected by the detection unit based on the number of driven display pins in each of the first direction and the second direction. Provided is a tactile sensation presentation apparatus including a correction unit that corrects electric capacity.

  According to the present invention, the processing load can be suppressed without reducing the calculation accuracy of the operation position.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a tactile sense presentation device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram for explaining correction by a capacity correction unit. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the tactile sense presentation device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart regarding correction according to the embodiment.

(Summary of embodiment)
The tactile sensation presentation apparatus according to the embodiment is arranged in a matrix along a driving unit that generates a driving force, a first direction, and a second direction that intersects the first direction, and is driven by the driving unit. A plurality of display pins, a detection unit for detecting capacitance based on an operation performed on the display pins, and detection by the detection unit based on the number of display pins driven in each of the first direction and the second direction. And a correction unit that corrects the electrostatic capacitance.

[Embodiment]
(Configuration of the tactile presentation device 1)
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a tactile sense presentation device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram for explaining correction by a capacity correction unit. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the tactile sense presentation device according to the embodiment. In each drawing according to the embodiment, the ratio between parts may differ from the actual ratio.

  As an example, the tactile sense presentation device 1 is based on icons included in an image displayed on a liquid crystal display or the like as a display unit of a controlled device controlled by the tactile sense presentation device 1 as shown in FIG. The display pin 12 is driven, and the icon is expressed by unevenness formed by the display pin 12 that is not driven and the display pin 12 that is driven. Therefore, for example, the operator can recognize the convex portion 120 corresponding to the icon by touching the tactile sense presentation device 1. Examples of the controlled device include a car navigation device, an air conditioner, and a music playback device that are mounted on a vehicle.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the tactile sense presentation device 1 is arranged in a matrix mainly along a first direction and a second direction that intersects the first direction, and is driven by a driving unit 14. A plurality of display pins 12, a drive unit 14 that generates a driving force, a detection unit 16 that detects capacitance based on an operation performed on the display pins 12, and a first direction and a second direction, And a capacitance correction unit 18 as a correction unit that corrects the capacitance detected by the detection unit 16 based on the number of the driven display pins 12.

  Here, the xyz coordinate system shown in FIG. 1A is an orthogonal coordinate system, the x axis is the longitudinal axis of the haptic presentation device 1, and the y axis is the short direction of the haptic presentation device 1. The z-axis is an axis that is orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis and has a positive direction on the paper surface of FIG. The origin of the coordinates is, for example, the lower left of the tactile sense presentation device 1 shown in FIG. Therefore, the first direction is, for example, the x-axis direction. Further, the second direction is, for example, the y-axis direction. The display pins 12 are arranged in a matrix along the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction.

  Moreover, the tactile sense presentation device 1 is schematically configured to include, for example, a coordinate calculation unit 20, a drive information generation unit 22, and a communication unit 24.

-Configuration of the main body 10 The main body 10 has a box shape, for example, as shown in FIG. The main body 10 is formed using a synthetic resin material such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polyamide, acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene (ABS), for example.

-Configuration of the display pin 12 As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the display pin 12 is schematically configured to include an operation unit 12a and a shaft unit 12b.

  The display pin 12 is formed by using a synthetic resin material such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polyamide, acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene (ABS), for example.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the operation unit 12a has a quadrangular prism shape in which an upper surface and a lower surface are square.

  The shaft portion 12 b has, for example, a cylindrical shape, one end is connected to the operation unit 12 a, and the other end is attached to the drive unit 14. For example, the drive unit 14 is configured to drive the display pin 12 in the z-axis direction via the other end. As for the display pin 12, the operation part 12a and the axial part 12b may be attached by the adhesive agent or screwing, for example.

-Configuration of Drive Unit 14 The drive unit 14 includes, for example, an actuator that drives the display pin 12 in the z-axis direction. As the actuator, for example, a linear motor capable of linear displacement is used. The drive unit 14 is controlled according to the drive information generated by the drive information generation unit 22, for example.

-Structure of the detection part 16 The detection part 16 is roughly provided with the electrostatic detection sensor part 16a and the electrostatic detection part 16b, for example.

  As an example, the detection unit 16 is a capacitive touch panel that detects a change in current inversely proportional to the distance between the sensor wire and the finger due to the finger touching the display pin 12. For example, the sensor wires are provided in a matrix in the electrostatic detection sensor unit 16a described later.

  In the x-axis direction shown in FIG. 1A, for example, n sensor wires are arranged at equal intervals corresponding to the display pins 12 arranged in the x-axis direction. This number n is, for example, a positive integer. In the y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1A, for example, m sensor wires are arranged at equal intervals corresponding to the display pins 12 arranged in the y-axis direction. This number m is, for example, a positive integer. In addition, although the detection part 16 in this Embodiment has the same number of sensor wires as the number of the display pins 12, if it is the structure which can calculate the coordinate by which operation was made, it will not be limited to this.

  The sensor wires arranged along the x-axis are formed in a layer closer to the surface 100 of the main body 10 than the sensor wires arranged along the y-axis, for example. In addition, the sensor wires arranged along the x axis are electrically insulated from the sensor wires arranged along the y axis, for example.

  The electrostatic detection unit 16b is electrically connected to, for example, a sensor wire, and is configured to sequentially read out the electrostatic capacitance corresponding to the sensor wire in the x-axis direction and the sensor wire in the y-axis direction based on the clock signal. Has been. The capacitance read for each sensor wire is input to the electrostatic detection unit 16b as detection information, for example.

  The electrostatic detection unit 16b associates the x-axis and y-axis sensor wires with the capacitance read from the respective sensor wires based on the detection information acquired from the electrostatic detection sensor unit 16a. It is configured to generate capacitance information.

-Configuration of Capacitance Correction Unit 18 The capacitance detected by the detection unit 16 changes when, for example, the distance from the detection unit 16 to the operation unit 12a of the display pin 12 is different. This is because the dielectric constant before and after driving differs in the z-axis direction.

  Therefore, the capacitance correction unit 18 performs correction based on the number of driven display pins 12 related to the sensor wire that reads the capacitance. The capacity correction unit 18 has a predetermined correction value 180 in order to perform this correction, for example. The correction value 180 is determined based on one driven display pin 12 as an example.

  Specifically, as an example of determining the correction value 180, the difference between the capacitance of the sensor wire in which the driven display pin 12 does not exist and the capacitance of the sensor wire in which one display pin 12 is driven. And the difference is determined as a correction value 180.

  As a modification, the method of determining the correction value 180 is, for example, calculating the difference from the capacitance when not driven while changing the position of the driven display pin 12 on the sensor wire, and averaging the difference May be determined as a correction value 180. As another modification, the method of determining the correction value 180 may be, for example, a method of calculating a correction value for each sensor wire in which one display pin 12 is driven and determining the average as the correction value 180. Furthermore, as another modification, the correction value 180 may be acquired via the communication unit 24, and is not limited to the above method.

  For example, the capacity correction unit 18 multiplies the number of driven display pins 12 and the correction value 180 for each of the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction, thereby obtaining a correction amount for each of the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. It is configured to calculate and correct. Hereinafter, the correction using the correction value 180 will be specifically described.

FIG. 1B schematically shows sensor wires x ₁ to x _{n in} the x-axis direction and sensor wires y ₁ to y _{m in} the y-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 1B, when the tactile sense presentation device 1 has only the convex portion 120 as the convex portion, the sensor wire x ₁ , the sensor wire x ₄ to the sensor wire x _n , the sensor wire y ₁ , and the indicator pin 12 associated with the sensor wire y _{4 ~} sensor wire y _m is not driven. Further, the sensor wire _{x 2} and the sensor wires _{x 3,} indicator pin 12 and sensor wire _{y 2} and sensor wire _{y 3,} related to are driven.

In other words, the sensor wire x ₂ and the sensor wire x ₃ has two display pins 12 are driven. In addition, two display pins 12 are driven in the sensor wire y ₂ and the sensor wire y ₃ . Therefore, the capacitance correction unit 18 is driven with the correction value 180 to the capacitance acquired from the sensor wire x ₂ , the sensor wire x ₃ , the sensor wire y _2, and the sensor wire y ₃ where the display pin 12 is driven. Correction is performed using a correction amount obtained by multiplying the number of display pins 12.
Correction capacitance of sensor wire x ₂ = acquired capacitance + correction value x 2
Correcting the capacitance of the sensor wire x ₃ = acquired electrostatic capacitance + correction value × 2
Correcting the capacitance of the sensor wire y ₂ = acquired electrostatic capacitance + correction value × 2
Correcting the capacitance of the sensor wire y ₃ = acquired electrostatic capacitance + correction value × 2
The capacitance correction unit 18 associates one sensor wire with the capacitance acquired from the one sensor wire, and corrects one sensor wire that has been corrected, and correction after correction of the one sensor wire. The corrected capacitance information in which the capacitance is associated is generated and output to the coordinate calculation unit 20.

  The capacity correction unit 18 is configured to determine the number of driven display pins 12 for each sensor wire in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction based on, for example, drive information acquired from the drive information generation unit 22. ing.

The configuration of the coordinate calculation unit 20 The coordinate calculation unit 20 has a threshold value 200, for example, and is operated based on the threshold value 200 and the corrected capacitance information acquired from the capacitance correction unit 18. It is configured to determine whether or not. In addition, for example, when it is determined that an operation has been performed, the coordinate calculation unit 20 is configured to calculate the coordinate at which the operation has been performed and generate coordinate information that is coordinate information. As a method for calculating coordinates by the coordinate calculation unit 20, for example, a known method such as a method using a weighted average is used.

Specifically, the coordinate calculation unit 20, for example, the capacitance associated with the sensor wire x _a is greater than the threshold value 200 exceeds the threshold 200 is the capacitance associated with the sensor wire y _a If it has, then calculates the coordinates of an intersection of the sensor wire x _a and sensor wire y _a, the calculated coordinate, and an operating position in the time reading the electrostatic capacity. Note that the coordinate calculation unit 20 may be configured to calculate a plurality of operation positions (multi-touch), for example.

Configuration of Drive Information Generating Unit 22 The drive information generating unit 22 selects, for example, the display pin 12 to be driven based on image information acquired via the communication unit 24, and drive information that is information on the display pin 12 to be driven. Is configured to generate

Configuration of Communication Unit 24 The communication unit 24 is connected to, for example, an external device, and acquires image information that is image information displayed on the display unit of the external device. Moreover, the communication part 24 is comprised so that the coordinate information which is the information of operation performed on the tactile sense presentation apparatus 1 may be output, for example.

  Below, operation | movement of the tactile sense presentation apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment is demonstrated in detail according to the flowchart of FIG. In the following, the correction operation after the tactile sensation providing apparatus 1 forms the unevenness based on the acquired image information will be described.

(Operation)
The capacitance correction unit 18 of the tactile sense presentation device 1 acquires capacitance information from the electrostatic detection unit 16b based on the clock signal (S1) and also acquires drive information from the drive information generation unit 22.

  Next, the capacity correcting unit 18 compares the display pin 12 driven based on the drive information acquired last time with the display pin 12 driven based on the drive information acquired this time. When there is a change in the driven display pin 12 (S2: Yes), the capacitance correction unit 18 calculates a correction amount for each sensor wire in which the driven display pin 12 is present based on the correction value 180 (S3). .

  Next, the capacitance correction unit 18 generates corrected capacitance information based on the acquired capacitance information and the calculated correction amount (S4).

  Next, when the coordinate calculation unit 20 acquires the corrected capacitance information from the capacitance correction unit 18, the coordinate calculation unit 20 calculates the coordinate (operation position) on which the operation is performed based on the acquired correction capacitance information (S5). Subsequently, the coordinate calculation unit 20 outputs the coordinate information of the coordinates (operation position) calculated by the calculation via the communication unit 24 and ends the correction operation.

  Here, when there is no change in the drive number of the display pin 12 in step 2 (S2: No), the capacitance correction unit 18 generates a corrected electrostatic capacitance based on the previously calculated correction amount and the read electrostatic capacitance. The capacity information is output to the coordinate calculation unit 20, and the coordinate calculation unit 20 performs calculation based on the corrected capacitance information to calculate coordinates (operation position).

(effect)
The tactile sensation presentation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment calculates the correction amount by multiplying the number of driven display pins 12 and the correction value 180 for each sensor wire arranged in a matrix. Compared with correction that takes into account the contact of a person's finger, the correction amount is calculated by four arithmetic operations, so that a complicated calculation is not required and the processing load can be suppressed. In addition, since the tactile sensation presentation device 1 does not require complicated calculations, the time until the operation can be detected is quick and the operability is improved.

  Further, since the correction by the tactile sense presentation device 1 does not need to consider the presence or absence of the finger touch of the operator, the calculation accuracy of the operation position is improved.

  Furthermore, since the tactile sense presentation device 1 does not require a calculation unit that enables complex calculations, the cost is low.

  As mentioned above, although some embodiment and modification of this invention were demonstrated, these embodiment and modification are only examples, and do not limit the invention based on a claim. These novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments and modifications are necessarily essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention. Furthermore, these embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tactile presentation apparatus 10 ... Main body 12 ... Display pin 12a ... Operation part 12b ... Shaft part 14 ... Drive part 16 ... Detection part 16a ... Electrostatic detection sensor part 16b ... Electrostatic detection part 18 ... Capacitance correction part 20 ... Coordinate calculation Unit 22 ... Drive information generation unit 24 ... Communication unit 100 ... Surface 120 ... Convex part 180 ... Correction value 200 ... Threshold value

Claims (3)

A driving unit for generating a driving force;
A plurality of display pins arranged in a matrix along a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction, and driven by the driving unit;
A detection unit for detecting capacitance based on an operation performed on the display pin;
A correction unit that corrects the capacitance detected by the detection unit based on the number of driven display pins for each of the first direction and the second direction;
A tactile presentation device.   The correction unit has a correction value based on one driven display pin, and calculates the number of the driven display pins and the correction value for each of the first direction and the second direction. The tactile sense presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the correction is performed by calculating a correction amount for each of the first direction and the second direction by multiplication. Furthermore, it has a drive information generation unit that acquires image information displayed on the display unit of the controlled device controlled by the tactile sense presentation device, and generates display pin drive information based on the image information,
The said correction | amendment part determines the number of the said driven display pins for every said 1st direction and said 2nd direction based on the said drive information acquired from the said drive information generation part. Tactile presentation device.

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