JP2014167775A - Tactile sensation presentation device and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steady feeling such as a feeling of dent in accordance with an operation portion of an operator, not causing a consecutive change due to an oscillation to be felt.SOLUTION: A tactile sensation presentation device 100 comprises: a base material 110 which has at least a contact surface side of an operator formed by an elastic body 111; and an SMA line 120 that is wound around the base material, and is a shape memory alloy having a power source and a ground connected so as to be contracted by electrifying selectively to a plurality of segmented electrification sections. Further, an electronic device is provided with the tactile sensation presentation device, for example, causes a change in a picture to be displayed on a display section and electrification to the shape memory alloy to be interlocked.

Description

  The present invention relates to a tactile sense presentation device and an electronic apparatus.

An operator in contact with the other end of the tactile sensation by controlling on / off of the pulse voltage with respect to the shape memory alloy to which one end of the tactile sensation is attached and vibrating the tactile sensation by expansion and contraction of the shape memory alloy according to the control. A device for giving a tactile sensation is known (see Patent Document 1).
[Prior art documents]
[Patent Literature]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-262478

  Rather than letting it feel a continuous change due to vibration, it was not possible to give a steady feel such as a dent feeling according to the operation location of the operator.

  The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is configured to selectively energize a base material in which at least an operator's contact surface side is formed of an elastic body, and a plurality of energized sections that are wound around the base material and divided. And a shape memory alloy to which a power source and a ground are connected so as to be contracted.

  An electronic device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the above-described tactile sense presentation device. It should be noted that the above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention. In addition, a sub-combination of these feature groups can also be an invention.

It is explanatory drawing explaining the tactile sense presentation apparatus which concerns on 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing explaining the tactile sense presentation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing explaining the case where a shape memory alloy wire is made to cross | intersect. It is a schematic explanatory drawing explaining the tactile sense presentation apparatus based on 3rd Example. It is a schematic explanatory drawing explaining the tactile sense presentation apparatus based on 4th Example. It is an external view at the time of applying a tactile sense presentation apparatus to an electronic device. It is a block diagram of the electronic device incorporating the tactile sense presentation device.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solving means of the invention.

  The tactile sensation presenting apparatus according to each of the following examples in the present embodiment is an apparatus that imparts a sense of unevenness to the operator's finger or the like that makes contact using the contraction and extension of the shape memory alloy processed into a linear shape. . When the shrinking shape memory alloy bites into the elastic member, the elastic member is tightened in a groove shape along the shape memory alloy, and the operator who is in contact with the elastic member feels the groove-like deformation depressed (concave feeling). Sense as. Further, when the contraction is released and the film expands, the original plane is restored, and the dent feeling is eliminated. Shrinkage and elongation of the shape memory alloy are controlled by energizing the shape memory alloy. When the shape memory alloy is energized, the shape memory alloy shrinks due to the generated heat. When energization is stopped, the heat is dissipated and extended to the original length. Here, “the shape memory alloy bites into the elastic member” means that the shape memory alloy deforms the elastic body and sinks into the elastic member without elastically destroying the elastic member. When the shape memory alloy bites into the elastic member, the elastic member is formed with a groove as a physical shape over a certain period of time. The groove formed in this way can make an operator perceive a dent feeling as a groove over a certain period of time. That is, the tactile sensation providing apparatus can make the operator perceive a steady dent feeling that makes the formed shape feel as such a shape.

  A steep groove shape can also be realized depending on the selection of the shape memory alloy wire diameter, the material of the elastic member, and the like. It is known that if the groove width with respect to the touching finger is adjusted to a certain ratio or less, even if the physical shape is a groove shape, the operator may feel convex as a biological reaction. Therefore, although the tactile sensation presentation apparatus in each of the following embodiments will be described on the premise that it gives a dent feeling, depending on the selection of the shape memory alloy wire diameter, etc., it may also give a feeling of tingling (convex feeling). It should be noted that it can be done. Hereinafter, the configuration and characteristics of each embodiment will be described in order.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a tactile sense presentation device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a simplified connection structure, and FIG. 1B is a side view showing a partially deformed state.

  The base material 110 includes an elastic body 111 that constitutes a side on which an operator's finger contacts, and a support body 112 that supports and fixes the elastic body 111. The elastic body 111 has a resilient semi-cylindrical shape and is made of, for example, insulating silicon rubber. The support 112 is formed in a plate shape from, for example, polycarbonate, which is a material having higher hardness than the elastic body 111. As shown in the figure, a plane including the cylindrical axis of the elastic body 111 and a plate surface of the support 112 are overlapped with a pressure sensor 130 described later partially sandwiched, and fixed by, for example, an adhesive.

  The SMA (Shape Memory Alloy) wire 120 is a shape memory alloy obtained by processing an alloy of titanium and nickel into a linear shape, for example. The SMA wire 120 is wound around the surface of the substrate 110 so as to have a predetermined periodic interval in the cylindrical axis direction. The period interval is preferably set so that at least one line intersects about 10 mm square where the operator's finger contacts the elastic body 111, that is, 10 mm or less.

  In this embodiment, the power line 150 and the ground line 160 are alternately connected every time the SMA line 120 goes around the substrate 110 once. In addition, a switch 140 is connected to each power line 150, and an address line 170 is connected to each switch 140. The address line 170 is connected to a selection circuit, and the selection circuit executes opening / closing of an arbitrary switch 140 via the address line 170.

  When a switch 140 is closed via the address line 170, the SMA line 120 for two turns from the power line 150 to which the switch 140 is connected to the ground line 160 one turn before and the ground line 160 one turn ahead. Current flows through Then, the SMA wire 120 for the two turns contracts and bites into the elastic body 111, and the elastic body 111 is dented into a groove shape. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the portion tightened by the SMA wire 120 sinks in a groove shape at the apex of the semi-cylindrical shape by Δd, and the periphery thereof is also entirely depressed accordingly. Mu

  On the other hand, if the switch 140 is in an open state, the SMA line 120 for two turns from the power line 150 to which the switch 140 is connected to the ground line 160 one turn before and the ground line 160 one turn ahead is included in the SMA line 120. Current does not flow. Therefore, the SMA wire 120 for the two turns does not contract, and thus the elastic body 111 does not dent.

  The elastic body 111 is deformed as described above by the contraction of the SMA wire 120. However, since the support body 112 is a plate member having high rigidity, the elastic body 111 is not deformed even when the SMA wire 120 contracts. Therefore, a portion of the elastic body 111 adjacent to the support body 112 does not receive the contraction force so much and the vicinity of the apex part away from the support body 112 receives the contraction force most. That is, the elastic body 111 is most displaced in the vicinity of the apex where the operator's contact is assumed.

  As described above, the tactile sensation providing apparatus 100 is divided every two rounds of the SMA line 120 to which the ground line 160 is connected. In other words, it can be said that the SMA wire 120 is divided every two turns in the winding cycle, and each of them constitutes an energization unit. That is, one power supply line 150 and one switch 140 are provided for each energization unit, and each energization unit can be contracted selectively and independently according to the selection of the switch 140 by the selection circuit.

  In addition, the winding period said here is a repeating unit which makes one cycle the case where the SMA wire 120 is spirally wound around the base 110. In addition, the distance between the starting point and the ending point of the round with respect to the winding axis direction is one pitch. In this embodiment, the SMA line 120 is connected to the ground line 160 every two cycles, and one energization unit is configured with two cycles. However, for example, it may be configured with 10 cycles or 100 cycles. In this case, if the pitch is narrowed, that is, if the SMA wire 120 is wound closely, the width of the groove to be cut in can be increased, or a jagged groove can be formed.

  When the energization unit is configured for each unit to which the ground line 160 is connected as described above, it can be considered that the energization units adjacent to each other share the ground line 160. That is, even if each energization unit does not have the ground line 160 at both ends, a pair of adjacent energization units may share one ground line 160. In this way, if at least one pair of adjacent energization units share the ground line 160, the wiring can be configured simply.

  The pressure sensor 130 is provided corresponding to each energization unit. Specifically, the pressure sensor 130 is sandwiched and installed between the elastic body 111 and the support body 112 immediately below the position where the SMA wire 120 forming the current-carrying portion passes through the apex portion. For example, a strain gauge is used as the pressure sensor 130.

  Each energization unit constitutes a tactile sense unit together with a corresponding pressure sensor 130. When the operator touches the surface area of the elastic body 111 in a tactile part, the pressure sensor 130 outputs an output signal corresponding to the contact to the detection circuit via the detection circuit line 180. The detection circuit identifies which tactile part has detected contact, and delivers the detection result to the control part. Upon receiving the detection result, the control unit closes the switch 140 connected to the energization unit constituting the tactile unit via the selection circuit in synchronization with the detection result. Then, a current flows through the SMA wire 120 constituting the energization unit, and the surface area of the elastic body 111 touched by the operator is dented. Thereby, the operator feels a large dent just by lightly touching the surface of the elastic body 111. If the elastic body 111 dents more than the dent amount due to the operator's pressing, the operator can feel the dent feeling and sense it as a feeling.

  The control unit opens the switch 140 when a predetermined time of, for example, about 1 second elapses. Then, the SMA wire 120 that constitutes the current-carrying part dissipates heat and returns to its original length. That is, the tightened elastic body 111 returns to its original shape. At this time, if the operator still touches the surface of the elastic body 111, only deformation due to the pressing remains in the elastic body 111.

  Note that the contact surface of the elastic body 111 around which the SMA wire 120 is wound may be covered with a protective film together with the SMA wire 120. In this case, it is preferable that the protective film does not hinder the elasticity of the elastic body 111. The protective film is formed by rubber coating, for example.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a tactile sensation providing apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a simplified connection structure, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a state of deformation in the cross section A of FIG. 2A.

  The base material 210 includes an elastic body 211 that constitutes a side on which an operator's finger contacts, and a support body 212 that supports and fixes the elastic body 211. The base material 210 has an annular shape with the elastic body 211 as the outer peripheral side and the support body 212 as the inner peripheral side. The elastic body 211 is made of, for example, conductive silicon rubber, and is grounded by a ground line 260 so that the whole becomes a ground potential. The support 212 is made of, for example, polycarbonate, which is a material having a hardness higher than that of the elastic body 211. As shown in the figure, an outer peripheral elastic body 211 and an inner peripheral support body 212 are in contact with each other at a cylindrical surface having a circular axis as a central axis, and are partially overlapped with a pressure sensor 230 interposed therebetween, for example, an adhesive. It is fixed by. In FIG. 2A, unlike FIG. 1A, only the pressure sensor 230 at a position corresponding to the A cross section is shown.

  The SMA line 220 is a linear material similar to the SMA line 120 described above. The SMA wire 220 is wound around the surface of the substrate 210 so as to have a predetermined periodic interval in the annular circumferential direction. As in the first embodiment, the periodic interval is preferably set to 10 mm or less.

  In this embodiment, the power line 250 is connected every time the SMA line 220 goes around the substrate 210 once. The connection point 221 to which the power line 250 is connected is set on the support 212 side. The SMA wire 220 is fixed to the surface of the support 212 with, for example, an adhesive so as not to slide at the connection point 221. A switch 240 is connected to each power line 250, and an address line is connected to each switch 240 as in the first embodiment. The address line is connected to a selection circuit, and the selection circuit opens and closes an arbitrary switch 240 via the address line. In FIG. 2, drawing of address lines is omitted from the viewpoint of easy viewing.

  When a switch 240 is closed via an address line, the power line 250 to which the switch 240 is connected to the lower ground point 222 about ¼ turn before and the upper ground point 223 about ¼ turn ahead. A current flows through the SMA wire 220 for about half of the circumference. Each ground point is a position where the SMA wire 220 passing through the surface of the support 212 formed of an insulator reaches the elastic body 211 formed of a conductor. It is a boundary point.

  The SMA wire 220 for about half a circumference through which the current flows contracts due to heat generation. However, since the portion where the current flows is located on the surface of the support 212 having high rigidity, it does not bite into the support 212. Since the SMA line 220 is fixed for each connection point 221, the length of the SMA line 220 up to one turn ahead and one turn before is shortened by this contraction. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, a portion where no current flows (portion located on the surface of the elastic body 211) bites into the elastic body 211, and the surface of the elastic body 211 is depressed.

  As described above, the SMA wire 220 is contracted by one turn from the connection point 221 to the front and rear, while the energizing portion is about a half turn from the lower ground point 222 to the upper ground point 223 through the connection point 221 in the winding cycle. The elastic body 211 is tightened by the action. One power line 250 and one switch 240 are provided for each energization section, and each energization section can be selectively and independently contracted according to the selection of the switch 240 by the selection circuit.

  The pressure sensor 230 is provided corresponding to each energization unit, and the process from when the operator touches the surface of the elastic body 211 until the operator feels a dent is the same as in the first embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, the contact surface of the elastic body 211 around which the SMA wire 220 is wound may be covered with a protective film together with the SMA wire 220.

  Note that which of the elastic body 211 and the support body 212 is a conductor can be changed as appropriate. In the above description, the elastic body 211 is a conductor, but the support body 212 may be a conductor and a common ground potential may be used. In this case, the relationship between the power supply line and the ground line is opposite to the above example.

  Thus, according to the tactile sensation presentation device 200 having an annular shape, if the circular ring as a three-dimensional shape suggests the rotation direction to the operator, for example, if the SMA line 220 is contracted sequentially in the circumferential direction, The operator can explicitly perceive rotation. In addition, when the tactile sense presentation device 200 is applied to an electronic device, it is compatible with a rotary operation member such as a rotary dial that is widely used in the electronic device. That is, by linking the tactile sensation providing apparatus 200 and the rotary operation member, the operator can receive a response to an input to the electronic device with a tactile sensation.

  Next, application examples of the first and second embodiments will be described. In the above embodiment, the case where one SMA wire is wound spirally has been described, but the number of SMA wires to be wound is not limited to one. A plurality of SMA wires may be wound around the substrate. When winding a plurality of SMA wires, wrap them in parallel with a phase shift while aligning the pitch so that the other SMA wire begins to be wound from the period in which one SMA wire makes a round turn so as not to cross each other. Can do. Moreover, it can also wind so that it may mutually cross | intersect by changing the pitch which makes one round of a spiral, or reversing a winding direction.

  FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram for explaining a case where two SMA lines intersect each other. In particular, the tactile sensation presentation apparatus 300 shown in the figure has a cylindrical base 310 composed of a support 312 as a mandrel and an elastic body 311 covering the entire circumference of the support 312. Then, the first SMA line 321 and the second SMA line 322 are spirally wound so as to cross each other along the cylindrical axis direction. Connection structures such as a power supply line, a ground line, and a pressure sensor are drawn out from the base material 310 via the inside of the support 312.

  The first SMA line 321 and the second SMA line 322 are covered with insulation except for a portion where the power supply line and the ground line are connected, respectively, and do not short-circuit at a location where they intersect each other. Therefore, the control unit can cause a current to flow independently to each of the plurality of energization units in which the first SMA line 321 is segmented and the plurality of energization units in which the second SMA line 322 is segmented. According to the tactile sensation providing apparatus 300 configured as described above, even if the operator touches one place on the surface of the elastic body 311, it is possible to sense a plurality of types of dent feelings by energization control by the control unit. .

  When the first SMA wire 321 and the second SMA wire 322 intersect with each other, it is preferable that the first SMA wire 321 and the second SMA wire 322 are wound so as to alternately contact the elastic body 311 at the intersecting point. That is, in FIG. 3A, on the front side of the paper surface indicated by the solid line, the first SMA line 321 is in contact with the elastic body 311 and intersects so that the second SMA line 322 passes through, and conversely, the paper surface indicated by the broken line. On the back side, the second SMA wire 322 is in contact with the elastic body 311 and is wound so as to cross over so that the first SMA wire 321 passes therethrough. When wound in this way, the amount of biting into the elastic body 311 can be made equal to each other.

  FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a haptic presentation device 301 configured by winding more SMA wires around the haptic presentation device 300 of FIG. As illustrated, in addition to the first SMA line 321 and the second SMA line 322, a third SMA line 323 parallel to the first SMA line 321, a fifth SMA line 325, a seventh SMA line 327, and a fourth SMA line parallel to the second SMA line 322 are shown. 324, a sixth SMA line 326, and an eighth SMA line 328. According to the tactile presentation device 301 configured in this way, even if the operator touches one place on the surface of the elastic body 311, for example, many SMA lines intersect the area of 10 mm square touched. By the energization control by the control unit, it is possible to detect a sense of dent rich in change.

  Still another embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view for explaining a tactile sense presentation device 400 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a simplified connection structure, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing a state of deformation in the B cross section of FIG. 4A.

  The base material 410 includes an elastic body 411 that constitutes a side on which an operator's finger contacts, and a support body 412 that supports and fixes the elastic body 411. The base material 410 has a shape obtained by dividing a hollow cylindrical shape into two in the cylindrical axis direction as a whole. The elastic body 411 is disposed on the outer peripheral side, and the support body 412 is disposed on the inner peripheral side. However, the support 412 has an upper end surface portion 413 that covers the upper end portion of the elastic body 411 and a lower end surface portion 414 that covers the lower end portion. In the present embodiment, a semi-cylindrical shape is described from the viewpoint of ease of application to an electronic device, but a cylindrical shape (annular shape) having an entire circumference may be used.

  The elastic body 411 is made of, for example, insulating silicon rubber. The support body 412 is made of, for example, polycarbonate, which is a material having a hardness higher than that of the elastic body 411. As shown in the figure, an outer peripheral elastic body 411 and an inner peripheral support 412 are in contact with each other on a cylindrical surface having a cylindrical axis as a central axis, and are overlapped with a pressure sensor 430 partially sandwiched therebetween, for example, by an adhesive. It is fixed. In FIG. 4A, unlike FIG. 1A, only the pressure sensor 430 at a position corresponding to the B cross section is shown.

  The SMA line 420 is a linear material similar to the SMA line 120 described above. The SMA wire 420 is wound around the surface of the base material 410 so as to have a predetermined periodic interval in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical shape. In particular, here, the elastic body 411 is wound so as to be parallel to the cylindrical axis. As in the first embodiment, the periodic interval is preferably set to 10 mm or less.

  In the present embodiment, of the wound SMA wire 420, the power line 450 is connected at a position passing through the upper end surface portion 413, and the ground line 460 is connected at a position passing through the lower end surface portion 414. . At the connection point to which the power line 450 is connected, the SMA line 420 is not fixed to the surface of the support 412. Therefore, the SMA wire 420 can slide on the surface of the support 412 at the connection point. On the other hand, at the connection point to which the ground wire 460 is connected, the SMA wire 420 is fixed to the surface of the support 412 with, for example, an adhesive.

  A switch 440 is connected to each power line 450, and an address line is connected to each switch 440, as in the first embodiment. The address line is connected to a selection circuit, and the selection circuit opens and closes an arbitrary switch 440 via the address line. In FIG. 4, drawing of address lines is omitted from the viewpoint of easy viewing.

  When a switch 440 is closed via an address line, a current flows from the power supply line 450 to which the switch 440 is connected to the connection point of two adjacent ground lines 460. That is, a current flows through the SMA line 420 for about one turn as a whole.

  The SMA wire 420 for about one turn through which current flows contracts due to heat generation. Here, as described above, since the connection point with the power supply line 450 can slide, the contraction acts as a whole for about one turn between the connection points of the two fixed ground lines 460. The contracted SMA wire 420 bites into the surface of the elastic body 411.

  As described above, both ends of the elastic body 411 are covered with the upper end surface portion 413 and the lower end surface portion 414, but the elastic body 411 corresponds to the amount of biting of the SMA wire 420 as shown in FIG. It arrange | positions so that it may protrude from each end surface part by (DELTA) d. Since the upper end surface portion 413 and the lower end surface portion 414 are part of the support body 412, the rigidity is high, and the SMA wire 420 does not bite into these. Therefore, as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 4B, due to the contraction of the SMA line 420, a groove having a uniform depth along the cylindrical axis direction is formed in the elastic body 411.

  As described above, the SMA wire 420 tightens the elastic body 411 in the winding period with the current passing portion being about one turn between the connection points of the two ground wires 460. One power supply line 450 and one switch 440 are provided for each energization unit, and each energization unit can be selectively and independently contracted according to the selection of the switch 440 by the selection circuit.

  The pressure sensor 430 is provided corresponding to each energization unit, and the process from when the operator touches the surface of the elastic body 411 until the operator feels a dent is the same as in the first embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, the contact surface of the elastic body 411 around which the SMA wire 420 is wound may be covered with a protective film together with the SMA wire 420.

  In the third embodiment, the configuration in which both end portions of the elastic body 411 are covered with the upper end surface portion 413 and the lower end surface portion 414 has been described. However, without providing such end surface portions, the elastic body 411 is made of an anisotropic material. By doing so, the same action can be obtained. Specifically, the elastic body 411 may be a material whose anisotropy in the direction along which the SMA wire 420 is wound has higher anisotropy than the elastic modulus in the direction orthogonal thereto. As such a material, for example, silicon rubber in which needle-shaped glass fibers having the same orientation are mixed is used. If the elastic body 411 made of such a material is employed, the SMA wire 420 can easily bite in only the radial direction, and a groove having a uniform depth along the cylindrical axis direction can be realized.

  The elastic body 411 is not limited to being contacted with a fingertip, and may be contacted so as to straddle a plurality of current-carrying parts with a palm, for example. In the case where the electronic device is disposed at a location where it is contacted with a palm, for example, in the case where the electronic device is disposed in a housing formed of a curved surface such as a grip portion, the tactile presentation device 400 having a semi-cylindrical shape is applicable. Excellent.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view for explaining a tactile sense presentation device 500 according to the fourth embodiment. The tactile sensation presentation apparatus 500 is an apparatus in which the method of winding the SMA wire 420 of the haptic presentation apparatus 400 in the third embodiment is changed. Therefore, the difference between the two will be mainly described. In addition, about the structure similar to the tactile presentation apparatus 400 in the tactile presentation apparatus 500, the same number is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The SMA wire 520 is a linear material similar to the SMA wire 420 described above. The SMA wire 520 is wound around the surface of the base material 410 so as to have a predetermined periodic interval in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical shape, but unlike the third embodiment, a cylindrical shaft is formed on the surface of the elastic body 411. It is wound so as to be oblique to the direction. Specifically, it is wound so as to form 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the cylindrical axis direction.

  The pressure sensor 530 has a shape along the direction of the SMA wire 520 wound obliquely in this manner, and is installed between the elastic body 411 and the support body 412 corresponding to each energizing portion. Yes. In particular, in the present embodiment, it is preferable to install about 10 mm square with which a finger contacts so that a plurality of energization parts intersect. If installed in this way, a tactile sensation rich in change can be given to the operator by a combination of the winding angle of the SMA wire 520, the energization order to the corresponding energization unit, the energization time, and the like. For example, it is possible to give a tactile sensation as a change in the vertical direction along the cylindrical axis direction or a change in the horizontal direction along the circumferential direction.

  Further, as described with reference to FIG. 3, a plurality of SMA wires may be wound. For example, if the first SMA wire is wound in the 45 ° direction and the second SMA wire is wound in the −45 ° direction and crosses each other, independent tactile sensation in the vertical and horizontal directions can be easily achieved by the combination of the energization. Can be provided. When a plurality of SMA wires are wound in this way, a single pressure sensor may be shared by a plurality of energization units. Alternatively, even in a single energization unit, a region intersecting with another SMA line and a region other than that may be divided, and independent pressure sensors may be installed respectively.

  The tactile sensation presentation apparatus in each embodiment described above and the tactile sensation presentation apparatus as a modification thereof are incorporated in various electronic devices and exhibit their functions. One example will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is an external view of the imaging apparatus 600 when the haptic presentation apparatus 400 described with reference to FIG. 4 is used as a representative example and the haptic presentation apparatus 400 is applied to an imaging apparatus 600 as an electronic device. The tactile sense presentation device 400 is disposed on the back surface of the imaging device 600. In particular, in the grip part gripped by the operator, it is arranged in a region where the right thumb is located.

  A liquid crystal monitor 610 serving as a display unit is provided on the rear surface of the imaging apparatus 600. The liquid crystal monitor 610 displays information such as menu items in addition to displaying a captured image. Here, a case where the operator selects an aperture value as menu item display will be described.

  As shown in the drawing, item values 620 that can be selected by the operator are displayed in the order of “4.0... 5.6... 8.0” along the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the liquid crystal monitor 610. Yes. The values that can be selected are not limited to the displayed values, but there are values such as “2.8” and “2.0” that are smaller than “4.0”, and are larger than “8.0”. Values such as “11” and “16” exist. That is, the operator can display these values by scrolling the numerical values in the left-right direction.

  In the tactile sensation presentation apparatus 400, the SMA line 420 is wound in parallel along the short direction (vertical direction) of the liquid crystal monitor 610 as illustrated. When the operator traces the surface in order from the left side to the right side as indicated by, for example, a drawing arrow, the pressure sensor corresponding to each energization unit detects the contact and delivers the detection result to the control unit. The control unit determines that the operator has given an instruction from the left side to the right side, that is, the right direction, and sequentially scrolls the numerical values displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 610 in the right direction. At this time, the control unit continuously energizes / shuts off sequentially from the left energization unit to the right energization unit in conjunction with the scroll display operation (when the right end is reached, the energization is performed again from the left end). Then, the operator who puts his finger on the tactile sensation presentation device 400 senses a continuous tactile sensation (a feeling of dent) linked to the visual sense by scroll display. Then, when the value to be selected is arranged at the center, the operator presses an OK button 630 to execute the selection.

  In this way, an electronic device equipped with a tactile sensation presentation apparatus can recognize changes in display items that have been dependent only on the visual perception of the operator by tactile sense. In the above example, the tactile sense presentation device is used as an input member, but an input member may be provided separately.

  Next, the configuration of an electronic device incorporating the tactile presentation device will be briefly described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electronic device 700 incorporating the haptic presentation device 710. Here, description will be made assuming an electronic device having an imaging function.

  The electronic device 700 includes a tactile sensation presentation device 710, a CPU 730 as a control unit that controls the entire control, an imaging unit 740 including a lens and an imaging element, a display unit 750 that displays acquired images and menu items, a control program, and the like Is stored.

  The tactile sense presentation device 710 includes a detection unit 720 including a pressure sensor and a detection circuit. When the operator touches tactile presentation device 710, detection unit 720 hands over the detection result to CPU 730. The CPU 730 instructs the tactile sense presentation device 710 to energize the energization unit corresponding to the position touched by the operator. In response to this, the tactile sense providing device 710 performs energization.

  In addition, when the CPU 730 processes the image data acquired by the imaging unit 740 and continuously displays the image data on the display unit 750, the CPU 730 instructs the tactile sensation presentation device 710 at the same time to energize in conjunction with the scrolling. Is executed. In these processes, the CPU 730 reads and executes a control program stored in the memory 760.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The order of execution of each process such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, the description, and the drawings is particularly “before” or “prior to”. It should be noted that the output can be realized in any order unless the output of the previous process is used in the subsequent process. Regarding the operation flow in the claims, the description, and the drawings, even if it is described using “first”, “next”, etc. for convenience, it means that it is essential to carry out in this order. It is not a thing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Tactile sense presentation apparatus, 110 base material, 111 elastic body, 112 support body, 120 SMA line, 130 pressure sensor, 140 switch, 150 power supply line, 160 ground line, 170 address line, 180 detection circuit line, 200 tactile sense presentation apparatus, 210 base material, 211 elastic body, 212 support body, 220 SMA line, 221 connection point, 222 lower ground point, 223 upper ground point, 230 pressure sensor, 250 power line, 240 switch, 260 ground line, 300 tactile display device, 301 haptic presentation device, 310 base material, 311 elastic body, 312 support, 321 1st SMA line, 322 2nd SMA line, 323 3rd SMA line, 324 4th SMA line, 325 5th SMA line, 326 6th SMA line, 327 7th SMA Line, 328 8th MA line, 400 tactile display device, 410 base material, 411 elastic body, 412 support, 413 upper end surface part, 414 lower end surface part, 420 SMA line, 430 pressure sensor, 440 switch, 450 power supply line, 460 ground line, 500 tactile display Device, 520 SMA line, 530 pressure sensor, 600 imaging device, 610 liquid crystal monitor, 620 item value, 630 OK button, 700 electronic device, 710 tactile display device, 720 detection unit, 730 CPU, 740 imaging unit, 750 display unit, 760 memory

Claims (13)

A base material on which at least the contact surface side of the operator is formed of an elastic body;
A tactile sensation presentation device comprising a shape memory alloy to which a power source and a ground are connected so as to selectively energize and contract a plurality of divided energization portions wound around the base material.   The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of current-carrying portions are segmented corresponding to a predetermined period of the shape memory alloy wound around the base material.   The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one set of the energization units adjacent to each other among the plurality of energization units is connected to the ground via a common wire. The substrate has the elastic body and a support,
4. The tactile sense presentation device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the elastic body and the support is formed of a conductive material and connected to the ground. 5. A plurality of the shape memory alloys are wound around the substrate;
5. The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one set of the plurality of shape memory alloys is wound around the base material so as to cross each other.   6. The tactile sensation presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body has an elastic modulus in a direction along the shape memory alloy higher than an elastic modulus in a direction orthogonal to the direction along the shape memory alloy.   The tactile sense presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the base material has an arc shape or an annular shape.   The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an outer peripheral side of the circular arc shape or the annular shape is formed by the elastic body.   The tactile sense presentation device according to claim 8, wherein the shape memory alloy appearing on the outer peripheral side is wound obliquely with respect to a center axis of the arc shape or the annular shape.   The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coating that covers the elastic body and the shape memory alloy. A detection unit for detecting the contact operation of the operator;
The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit configured to energize the shape memory alloy in synchronization with detection by the detection unit.   An electronic apparatus comprising the tactile sensation presentation apparatus according to claim 11. With a display,
The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the control unit links an energization to the shape memory alloy and a change in an image displayed on the display unit.

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