JP2014167777A - Tactile sensation presentation device and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in which a steady feeling like a feeling of dent cannot be provided, not causing a consecutive change due to an oscillation to be felt.SOLUTION: A tactile sensation presentation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises: an elastic body; and a linear shape memory alloy that is arranged to have at least one part contacted with the elastic body. The shape memory alloy contracts due to electrification, and deforms the elastic body. Further, an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is provided with the tactile sensation presentation device and a control section that causes the shape memory alloy to contract due to the electrification, and causes the elastic body to be deformed.

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 unable to give a steady feel such as a dent.

  A tactile sensation presentation apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an elastic body and a linear shape memory alloy that is disposed at least partially in contact with the elastic body, and the shape memory alloy contracts by energization and is elastic. Deform.

  An electronic device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the tactile sensation presentation apparatus and a control unit that contracts the shape memory alloy by energization and deforms the elastic body.

  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 Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating shrinkage | contraction of an SMA line | wire. It is a figure for demonstrating shrinkage | contraction of an SMA line | wire. It is a figure for demonstrating the variation of a tactile sense presentation apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the variation of a tactile sense presentation apparatus. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a digital camera according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the tactile presentation by a tactile presentation apparatus in a digital camera. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of an electronic 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 presentation apparatus according to the present embodiment is an apparatus that imparts a sense of unevenness to a touching operator's finger or the like by using contraction and extension of a shape memory alloy processed into a linear shape. When the shape memory alloy is deformed and shrunk so as to sink 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 shape deformation ( Sense as concave. Here, “the shape memory alloy is deformed and contracted so as to sink into the elastic member” means that the shape memory alloy sinks into the elastic member without elastically destroying the elastic member. When the shape memory alloy sinks into the elastic member, the elastic member is deformed, and a groove as a physical shape is formed 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. In particular, according to the tactile sense presentation device 100 of the present embodiment, in the elastic member, the elastic member and the shape memory alloy are set so that the region where the tightening force of the shape memory alloy is strongest is the operation region in which the operator's finger or the like contacts. The shape is defined. Thereby, the tightening force of the shape memory alloy can be effectively presented as a tactile sensation for the operator. 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.

  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 according to the present embodiment will be described on the assumption that a dent feeling is provided, depending on the selection of the shape memory alloy wire diameter or the like, it is possible to provide a feeling of sag (convex feeling). Should be noted.

  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 tactile sense presentation device 100 includes a base material 110, a SMA (Shape Memory Alloy) line 130, and a pressure sensor 140.

  The base material 110 includes an elastic body 101 that constitutes a side on which an operator's finger contacts, and a support body 102 that supports and fixes the elastic body 101. The elastic body 101 has a resilient semi-elliptical cylindrical shape. The curvature of the curved surface of the elastic body 101 is not uniform, and becomes the largest at the apex of the semi-elliptical cylinder. The elastic body 101 is made of, for example, insulating silicon rubber. In the elastic body 101, the area near the apex of the semi-elliptical cylinder that is assumed to be contacted by the operator is a contact area that is contacted by the operator. The support body 102 is formed in a plate shape as a whole by, for example, polycarbonate, which is a material having a hardness higher than that of the elastic body 101. The support body 102 has a protruding portion 103 at a portion where the SMA wire 130 is disposed. More specifically, the protrusion 103 protrudes outward from the lateral side surface of the support 102 on the paper surface, and protrudes upward on the paper surface. As shown in the drawing, a plane including an elliptic cylinder axis in the elastic body 101 and a plate surface of the support body 102 are overlapped with a pressure sensor 140 (described later) partially sandwiched, and fixed by, for example, an adhesive.

  The SMA wire 130 is, for example, a shape memory alloy obtained by processing an alloy of titanium and nickel into a linear shape. The SMA line 130 is disposed so as to straddle the base material 110 in the left-right direction of the paper surface as a whole. The SMA wire 130 has an R portion 131 that is gentler than the R portion of the elastic body 101. Therefore, the entire SMA line 130 is not arranged along the elastic body 101, but is arranged so that a part of the R portion 131 is in contact with a part of the R portion of the elastic body 101 (near the apex). The SMA line 130 has straight portions 132 at both ends of the R portion 131. The straight portion 132 is fixed to the protruding portion 103 with, for example, an adhesive. The protrusion 103 has the same height as the straight portion 132, and thus the contraction of the straight portion 132 of the SMA wire 130 is limited.

  In the present embodiment, the two SMA wires 130 are arranged on the substrate 110 with a space therebetween. In other words, the two SMA wires 130 are disposed on the common substrate 110. That is, the adjacent elastic bodies 101 are integrally formed. The interval between the SMA lines 130 adjacent to each other may be set to, for example, 20 mm or less in consideration of the size of the operator's finger. The right end of the SMA line 130 is connected to an external control circuit via the control circuit line 150, and the left end is connected to the ground connection line 160. When a voltage is applied to the SMA line 130, the SMA line 130 generates heat due to its own resistance. The SMA wire 130 contracts due to heat generation. As will be described in detail later, as shown in FIG. 1B, the portion tightened by the SMA wire 130 sinks by Δd in the shape of a groove in the vicinity of the apex of the elastic body 101, and accordingly, the periphery thereof is entirely Dent. On the other hand, if no voltage is applied to the SMA wire 130, the SMA wire 130 does not contract and the elastic body 101 does not dent.

  The pressure sensor 140 is provided corresponding to each SMA line 130. Specifically, the pressure sensor 140 is installed directly below the SMA wire 130 so as to be sandwiched between the elastic body 101 and the support body 102. For example, a strain gauge is used as the pressure sensor 140.

  Each SMA line 130 constitutes a tactile sense unit together with a corresponding pressure sensor 140. When an operator touches the surface area of the elastic body 101 in a tactile part, the pressure sensor 140 outputs an output signal corresponding to the contact to the detection circuit via the detection circuit line 170. The detection circuit identifies which tactile part has detected contact and passes the detection result to the control circuit. When receiving the detection result, the control circuit applies a voltage to the corresponding SMA line 130 in synchronization therewith. Then, a current flows through the SMA wire 130, and the surface area of the elastic body 101 touched by the operator is dented. As will be described in detail later, according to the tactile sensation providing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the tightening force by the SMA wire 130 is the largest in the vicinity of the top of the elastic body 101, so the surface area of the elastic body 101 is greatly recessed. Accordingly, the operator feels a large dent just by lightly touching the surface of the elastic body 101. When the elastic body 101 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 circuit stops applying the voltage when a predetermined time of, for example, about 100 msec elapses. Then, the SMA wire 130 dissipates heat and returns to its original length. That is, the tightened elastic body 101 returns to its original shape. At this time, if the operator still touches the surface of the elastic body 101, only the deformation due to the pressing remains in the elastic body 101.

  Note that the contact surface of the elastic body 101 on which the SMA wire 130 is disposed may be covered with a protective film together with the SMA wire 130. In this case, it is preferable that the protective film does not hinder the elasticity of the elastic body 101. The protective film is formed by rubber coating, for example. In addition, even if it does not coat | cover the whole elastic body 101, the contact area should just be coat | covered. In the haptic presentation device 100, since the SMA wire 130 is exposed outside the haptic presentation device 100, the SMA wire 130 may be coated to suppress heat transfer from the SMA wire 130 to the operator. .

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the contraction of the SMA wire 130. In FIG. 2, the control circuit line, the detection circuit line, the ground connection line, and the pressure sensor are omitted for easy understanding of the drawing. In the subsequent drawings, these members may be omitted in some cases. Fig.2 (a) is AA sectional drawing of the tactile sense presentation apparatus 100 shown to Fig.1 (a). The arrows in the figure indicate the vector of the tightening force generated by the contraction of the SMA wire 130. FIG. 2A shows the state of the SMA wire 130 when power is not supplied. FIG. 2B shows the state of the SMA wire 130 during energization. FIG. 2B corresponds to the cross-sectional view of the tactile sense presentation device 100 illustrated in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the elastic body 101 has a convex R shape in the AA cross section including the operation direction. That is, the elastic body 101 has a convex shape toward the SMA wire 130, and the convex portion is formed in an R shape. The SMA wire 130 is disposed so that the R portion 131 is in contact with the vicinity of the center of the R portion of the elastic body 101. Here, since the R portion 131 contracts in the downward direction and the left-right direction, the elastic body 101 is the portion 112 having the largest curvature at the contact portion with the R portion 131 and has the largest tightening force due to the contraction of the SMA wire 130. . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the R portion 131 contracts most at the portion 112 where the curvature contacting the elastic body 101 is the largest in relation to the elastic body 101. In the present embodiment, as described above, the elastic body 101 has a convex R shape, and the curvature of the R portion 131 of the SMA wire 130 is smaller than the curvature of the elastic body 101. Therefore, in the SMA line 130, the portion 112 having the largest curvature in contact with the elastic body 101 is closer to the apex of the elastic body 101 than when the curvature of the R portion 131 and the curvature of the elastic body 101 are the same. . Then, compared to the case where the curvature of the R portion 131 and the curvature of the elastic body 101 are the same, in the portion 112 where the curvature contacting the elastic body 101 in the SMA wire 130 is the largest, the tightening force by the SMA wire 130 is the contact operation. The component in the operation direction (downward on the page) becomes larger. In particular, the tightening force of the portion 112 is preferably such that the component amount along the operation direction of the contact operation is larger than the component amount orthogonal to the operation direction. Thus, if the amount of components along the operation direction of the contact operation increases, the elastic body 101 can be further contracted in that direction, so that the operator can easily perceive a sense of touch. In this way, by configuring the portion 112 having the largest curvature in contact with the elastic body 101 in the SMA wire 130 in the vicinity of the top of the elastic body 101, it is possible to effectively present a sense of touch without increasing the applied voltage.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the contraction of the SMA line. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views of a tactile sense presentation device 300 as a comparative example. FIG. 3A shows a state where the operator's contact operation is not performed, and FIG. 3B shows a state where the operator's contact operation is performed. The arrows in the figure indicate the tightening force vector generated by the contraction of the SMA line 330. 3C and 3D are cross-sectional views of the tactile sense presentation device 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3C illustrates a state where the operator's contact operation is not performed, and FIG. 3D illustrates a state where the operator's contact operation is performed.

  The tactile presentation device 300 as a comparative example has the same configuration as the tactile presentation device 100 of the present embodiment except for the shape of the elastic body 301 and the shape of the SMA wire 330. As shown in the figure, the elastic body 301 has a rounded rectangular shape with rounded corners at two points at the upper end. In the SMA line 330, the portion 312 having the largest curvature contacting the elastic body 301 is closer to the left and right ends than the center of the elastic body 301. For this reason, as shown in FIG.3 (b), the part 312 in which the curvature which contact | connects the elastic body 301 in the SMA line 330 becomes the largest will be located in the outer side of an operator's contact area. As described above, although the SMA line 330 contracts most in the portion 312, the portion 312 is not included in the contact area of the operator. Therefore, the contraction of the SMA line 330 in the portion 312 hardly contributes to the tactile sensation presented to the operator. In order to present a tactile sensation by contraction of the SMA line 330 in the contact area of the operator, the contraction of the R portion 331 of the SMA line 330 in the contact area is performed by increasing the applied voltage or increasing the current value to be applied. The amount needs to be increased.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3C, in the haptic presentation device 100 according to the present embodiment, the portion 112 having the largest curvature in contact with the elastic body 101 in the SMA line 130 is the elastic body 101 of the R portion 131. Close to the center. For this reason, as shown in FIG.3 (d), in the SMA line | wire 130, the part 112 in which the curvature which contacts the elastic body 101 becomes the largest will be located inside an operator's contact area. Since the portion 112 is included in the contact area of the operator, the contraction of the SMA line 130 in the portion 112 contributes to tactile presentation to the operator. Therefore, in order to present a tactile sensation by contraction of the SMA line 130 in the contact area of the operator, it is not necessary to increase the contraction amount of the SMA line 130 in the contact area. Therefore, an increase in power consumption can be avoided. In the tactile presentation device 100 according to the present embodiment, the voltage for obtaining the contraction amount similar to the contraction amount of the SMA line in the contact area of the operator in the tactile presentation device 300 as the comparative example is smaller. I'm sorry. Therefore, it contributes to reduction of power consumption.

  In the above description, the elastic body 101 has a semi-elliptical cylindrical shape, but the elastic body 101 may have another shape. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a variation of the tactile sense presentation device. FIG. 4 corresponds to the cross-sectional view of the tactile sense presentation device 100 shown in FIG.

  In the example of FIG. 4A, the elastic body 101 has a steep convex R shape at the center of the upper surface. For this reason, the portion of the SMA wire 130 where the curvature in contact with the elastic body 101 is the largest is closer to the center of the SMA wire 130. As a result, in the portion where the curvature in contact with the elastic body 101 in the SMA wire 130 is the largest, the amount of contraction due to the SMA wire 130 is larger in the component amount along the operation direction. As a result, the elastic body 101 is greatly contracted in the operation direction, so that the operator can easily perceive a tactile sense with respect to the contact operation. Moreover, since the amount of components along the operation direction can be increased, the voltage required to obtain the amount of contraction equivalent to the SMA line 130 of the haptic presentation device 100 shown in FIG. 1 can be reduced. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced, and as a result, the amount of heat generated by the SMA wire 130 can also be reduced. Note that, by forming the convex R shape of the elastic body 101 more steeply, it may be in contact with the SMA line 130 at one point of the vertex of the elastic body 101. With this configuration, the contraction amount in the operation direction can be maximized at the contact point between the elastic body 101 and the SMA wire 130. Therefore, the contraction of the SMA wire 130 can be most effectively presented as a tactile sense.

  In FIG. 4B, the elastic body 101 is formed in a convex R shape as a whole and has three steep convex R shapes. One convex R shape is formed in the central portion of the upper surface of the elastic body 101, and the other two convex R shapes are formed on the left and right sides of the convex R shape formed in the central portion. In this way, by forming a plurality of steep convex R shapes, it is possible to disperse portions where the tightening force is concentrated in the elastic body 101. In this case, even if the operator's finger is in contact with the region shifted from the vicinity of the top, if any of the left and right convex R shapes is included in the operator's contact region, the operation is performed. The tactile sensation can be effectively presented to the person.

  In FIG.4 (c), the elastic body 101 has comprised the trapezoid in the cross section. The length of the upper base 121 is shorter than the length of the lower base 122. Therefore, the portion of the SMA wire 130 that contacts the elastic body 101, that is, the portion where the SMA wire 130 sinks into the elastic body 101 can be brought closer to the center. Since the elastic body 101 is in point contact with the SMA wire 130 in the portion, the elastic body 101 is most deformed in the portion. The smaller the ratio of the lower base 122 and the upper base 121, the closer the portion can be to the center. By appropriately adjusting the length of the lower bottom 122, a portion where the deformation of the elastic body 101 is maximized can be included in the contact area of the operator.

  As described above, the elastic body 101 can take various shapes. In the cross-sectional view along the SMA line 130, the length of the contact area in the elastic body 101 is shorter than the length in contact with the support body 102.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a variation of the tactile sense presentation device. In FIG. 5, for the purpose of making the drawing easier to see, the potentiometer 190 described later is omitted except for the SMA line 130 at the left end.

  In FIG. 5, the base material 110 includes an elastic body 101 that constitutes a side on which an operator's finger contacts, and a support body 102 that supports and fixes the elastic body 101. The elastic body 101 has elasticity and has a cylindrical shape as a whole. On the outer periphery of the elastic body 101, the central portion 106 is raised compared to the upper portion 104 and the lower portion 105 over the entire circumferential direction. That is, the convex part is formed over the whole circumferential direction of an outer peripheral surface. The elastic body 101 is made of, for example, insulating silicon rubber. The support body 102 is formed in a disk shape from, for example, polycarbonate, which is a material having higher hardness than the elastic body 101. As shown in the drawing, the upper surface of the elastic body 101 and the lower surface of the upper support body 102 are fixed by, for example, an adhesive. Similarly, the lower surface of the elastic body 101 and the upper surface of the lower support body 102 are fixed by, for example, an adhesive. Thus, in the tactile sense presentation device 100 shown in FIG. 5, the two support bodies 102 are configured to sandwich the elastic body 101 from above and below.

  The SMA wire 130 is disposed so as to straddle the base material 110 as a whole. Specifically, the SMA wire 130 is disposed over the upper surface of the upper support body 102, the outer periphery of the elastic body 101, and the lower surface of the lower support body 102. The SMA wire 130 is fixed on the upper surface of the upper support 102 and the lower surface of the lower support 102 with, for example, an adhesive. The SMA line 130 has an R portion. The R portion is in contact with the elastic body 101 at the edge portion 113 between the upper portion 104 and the central portion 106 and the edge portion 113 between the lower portion 105 and the central portion 106 in the elastic body 101. Since the elastic body 101 is in point contact with the SMA line 130 at the edge portion 113, the elastic body 101 is most deformed at the edge portion 113. That is, at the edge portion 113, the elastic body 101 is greatly recessed by receiving the largest tightening force. As shown in the figure, the edge portion 113 is located inside the contact area of the operator. That is, it is included in the contact area of the operator. Therefore, the contraction of the SMA line 130 in the edge portion 113 contributes to the tactile sensation presented to the operator, and the operator can easily perceive the tactile sensation.

  In the tactile sensation presentation apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 5, four SMA lines 130 are arranged on the base material 110 at intervals. In other words, the four SMA wires 130 are arranged on the common base material 110. As described above, the interval between the SMA lines 130 adjacent to each other may be set to, for example, 20 mm or less in consideration of the size of the operator's finger. The upper end of the SMA line 130 is connected to an external control circuit via the control circuit line 150, and the lower end is connected to the ground connection line 160.

  In addition to the pressure sensor, a potentiometer can be used as the detection unit that detects the contact operation of the operator. In FIG. 5, a potentiometer is used instead of the pressure sensor. Specifically, the potentiometer applies a weak voltage to any two points on the SMA line 130. When the operator performs a contact operation in this state, the resistance value changes. By detecting the change in the resistance value, the contact operation of the operator can be detected. When the contact operation of the operator is detected, the external control circuit applies a voltage to the SMA line 130 via the control circuit line 150. The external control circuit may apply a voltage when the elastic body 101 is pressed with a strength higher than a preset value.

  Each of the tactile sense presentation devices described above is mounted on an electronic device. Hereinafter, a case where the electronic apparatus is mounted on a digital camera will be described as an example.

  FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of the digital camera. In addition to the tactile presentation device 100, the digital camera 200 includes a CPU 201, a nonvolatile memory 202, an imaging unit 203, an A / D conversion unit 204, an image processing unit 205, a display control unit 206, a display unit 207, and a temperature sensor 208. Prepare. An operator can operate the digital camera 200 by operating the tactile sensation presentation apparatus 100. The operator sets, for example, a shooting mode by operating the tactile sensation providing apparatus 100.

  The tactile sense presentation device 100 includes a detection unit 210 including a pressure sensor and a detection circuit. Since the pressure sensor is provided, it can be used as an input member. When the operator touches the tactile presentation device 100, the detection unit 210 delivers the detection result to the CPU 201.

  CPU201 plays the role as a control part which controls tactile sense presentation device 100 by a PWM system. When receiving the detection result, the CPU 201 controls the voltage applied to the SMA line 130 to be controlled with reference to a table to be described later. When the voltage application time becomes longer, the amount of heat generated by the SMA wire 130 increases, and the temperature of the tactile sensation presentation apparatus 100 increases. Therefore, the CPU 201 monitors the heat of the SMA wire 130 of the tactile presentation device 100 via the temperature sensor 208 and stops applying the voltage when the temperature exceeds a preset temperature. As described above, the CPU 201 can adjust the heat generation amount of the SMA wire 130 by adjusting the duty ratio according to the heat of the SMA wire 130. The CPU 201 may stop applying the voltage after a predetermined time has elapsed. The time until the voltage is stopped is calculated in advance by experiments in consideration of the time until the SMA wire 130 finishes contracting, the time until the SMA wire 130 reaches a certain temperature, and the like. As described above, for example, the application is stopped after 100 msec from the voltage application. Further, the CPU 201 controls the digital camera 200 in an integrated manner.

  The SMA wire 130 begins to shrink when it reaches a certain temperature. Therefore, the CPU 201 may apply a voltage to the SMA line 130 when the temperature of the SMA line 130 becomes lower than a preset temperature. Thereby, the temperature of the SMA wire 130 can be kept at a preset temperature or higher. By maintaining the temperature close to the temperature at which the SMA wire 130 starts to contract, the responsiveness of the operator to the touch operation can be improved.

  The nonvolatile memory 202 stores a program for controlling the tactile sensation presentation apparatus 100 and various tables referred to by the program. As an example of the table, a table in which the hierarchy and the SMA line 130 are associated with each menu hierarchy can be exemplified. In this case, the CPU 201 determines the SMA line 130 associated with the table among the SMA lines 130 included in the tactile presentation device 100 as a control target, and determines the control target according to the contact operation of the operator. The voltage applied to the SMA line 130 is controlled. Furthermore, the current value to be supplied to the corresponding SMA line 130 or the voltage application time to be applied may be associated with each layer. In this case, the CPU 201 controls the voltage applied to the corresponding SMA line 130 by adjusting the duty ratio so that the associated current value or voltage application time is obtained. Thereby, the tactile sensation presented by the tactile sensation providing apparatus 100 can be made different for each menu hierarchy.

  The non-volatile memory 202 also stores various constants and programs for operating the digital camera 200. The CPU refers to the above-described constants, programs, and the like by appropriately calling them from the nonvolatile memory.

  The imaging unit 203 includes an optical system, and photoelectrically converts an optical image that is a subject image that is transmitted through the optical system and is incident thereon. The imaging unit 203 amplifies the electric charge obtained by the photoelectric conversion, and then outputs it to the A / D conversion unit 204 as an analog image signal. The A / D conversion unit 204 converts the analog image signal output from the imaging unit 203 into a digital image signal.

  The image processing unit 205 performs various image processes on the digital image signal to generate image data. The display control unit 206 causes the display unit 207 to display image data in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201. The display control unit 206 can also display various menu items related to various settings on the display unit 207 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 201. When the shooting mode is set, the display control unit 206 causes the display unit 207 to display display items representing the night view mode, the person mode, and the like.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining tactile presentation by the tactile presentation device 100 in the digital camera. FIGS. 7A and 7B show views of the digital camera 200 viewed from the display unit 207 side. In the following description, as shown in the figure, a case will be described in which a shooting mode item is selected by operating the tactile presentation device 100, assuming that a shooting mode item is displayed on the display unit 207. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the tactile sensation providing apparatus 100 includes eleven SMA wires 130.

  In the example of FIG. 7A, the display unit 207 displays 11 items as shooting mode items. The table stored in the nonvolatile memory 202 associates all the SMA lines 130 with this display hierarchy. That is, all 11 SMA lines are controlled. Therefore, the operator can perceive a tactile sensation by sliding the finger. A preset item is highlighted on the display unit 207. In this example, the rightmost item among the 11 items is highlighted and becomes the highlighted item 209. The operator can sequentially change the highlighted items 209 while feeling the tactile sensation presented from the tactile presentation device 100 by operating the tactile presentation device 100 in the vertical direction as indicated by the arrows in the figure. For example, when the finger is slid upward, the item is also moved upward, that is, counterclockwise, and the highlighted items 209 are sequentially changed. The operator can select an item while feeling a tactile sensation according to the contact operation.

  In the example of FIG. 7B, the display unit 207 displays four items as shooting mode items. The table stored in the non-volatile memory 202 associates four SMA lines 130 with this display hierarchy. That is, four SMA lines are controlled. Therefore, there is a portion that does not contract even if the operator slides the finger. In FIG. 7B, the SMA line 130 to be controlled is indicated by a solid line. In the case of FIG. 7B as well, preset items are highlighted on the display unit 207. Thereafter, by operating the tactile sensation providing apparatus 100 in the vertical direction as indicated by the arrows in the figure, the highlighted items 209 can be sequentially changed while feeling the tactile sensation presented from the tactile presentation apparatus 100.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the CPU 201 displays 11 items as the shooting mode items on the display unit 207, and displays 4 items as shown in FIG. 7B. The voltage control may be different depending on the display on the unit 207. When eleven items are displayed on the display unit 207, the density of the SMA line 130 to be controlled becomes higher. Therefore, in order to make it easier to perceive the tactile sensation due to the contraction of the SMA line 130, when 11 items are displayed on the display unit 207, compared to when 4 items are displayed on the display unit 207. The voltage application time may be increased. As a result, the amount of contraction of the SMA wire 130 becomes larger, so that the operator can easily perceive the sense of touch. Note that when 11 items are displayed on the display unit 207, the same effect can be expected by increasing the supplied current value.

  The shooting mode items may be displayed side by side in the left-right direction. By making the operation direction and the display direction the same, the operator can easily intuitively understand the moving direction of the item with respect to the operation. The tactile presentation device 100 may be arranged in a state rotated 90 degrees from the state shown in FIG. In this case, it is operated in the left-right direction on the paper surface. The shooting mode items may be displayed side by side in the horizontal direction on the paper according to the operation direction. In the above example, the tactile sense presentation device is also used as an input member, but an input member may be provided separately.

  In the above description, the display unit 207 and the tactile presentation device 100 are provided independently of each other, but the tactile presentation device 100 may be incorporated in the display unit 207. In other words, the display unit 207 and the tactile presentation device 100 may be configured integrally without dividing the area. In this case, if the display unit 207 is configured as a touch panel, a tactile sensation can be presented for an operation on the touch panel.

  In the above embodiment, a digital camera has been described as an example of an electronic device. However, the above-described aspect is not limited to a digital camera and can be applied to various electronic devices. For example, it can be applied to a mobile phone, a game terminal, a tablet terminal, an operation panel of an industrial machine, and the like. In addition, in this specification, tactile sense is a concept including a force sense that is a sense of feeling a change in force in addition to a touch feeling when touching.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining another example of the electronic apparatus. FIG. 8A is an external perspective view of the mobile phone 400. The mobile phone 400 includes a display panel 420 and function buttons 440 with respect to the housing 410. The mobile phone 400 includes the tactile presentation device 100 on the side surface of the housing 410. The operator can switch the display content displayed on the display panel 420 while feeling the tactile sensation presented from the tactile presentation device 100 by operating the tactile presentation device 100 in the vertical direction, for example. The tactile sensation providing apparatus 100 may be disposed adjacent to the display panel 420 on the same surface as the display panel 420, or may be disposed on the surface opposite to the display panel 420.

  FIG. 8B is an external perspective view of the tablet terminal 500. The tablet terminal 500 includes a display panel 520 and function buttons 540 with respect to the housing 510. In addition, the tablet terminal 500 includes a tactile sensation presentation apparatus 100 disposed adjacent to the display panel 520. The operator can switch the display content displayed on the display panel 520 while feeling the tactile sensation presented from the tactile presentation device 100 by operating the tactile presentation device 100 in the vertical direction, for example. Note that the tactile presentation device 100 may be disposed on the side surface of the housing 510 or may be disposed on a surface opposite to the display panel 520.

  In the above description, the tactile sensation presentation apparatus 100 is configured to include a plurality of SMA lines 130, but may be configured to include a single SMA line 130.

  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.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Tactile sense presentation apparatus, 101 elastic body, 102 support body, 103 protrusion part, 104 upper part, 105 lower part, 106 center part, 110 base material, 112 part, 113 edge part, 121 upper bottom, 122 lower bottom, 130 SMA line, 131 R part, 132 linear part, 140 pressure sensor, 150 control circuit line, 160 ground connection line, 170 detection circuit line, 190 potentiometer, 200 digital camera, 201 CPU, 202 nonvolatile memory, 203 imaging unit, 204 A / D Conversion unit, 205 Image processing unit, 206 Display control unit, 207 Display unit, 208 Temperature sensor, 209 Highlight display item, 210 Detection unit, 300 Tactile presentation device, 301 Elastic body, 312 part, 330 SMA line, 331 R part, 400 mobile phone, 410 housing, 420 Display panel, 440 function button, 500 tablet terminal, 510 case, 520 Display panel, 540 function button

Claims (10)

An elastic body,
A linear shape memory alloy at least partially disposed in contact with the elastic body,
The tactile sensation presentation device in which the shape memory alloy contracts by energization to deform the elastic body. The elastic body has a contact area to be contacted by an operator,
2. The shape memory alloy according to claim 1, wherein the amount of component along the operation direction is larger than the amount of component orthogonal to the operation direction among the amount of contraction of the portion in contact with the elastic body. Tactile presentation device.   The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the portion is a portion having the largest curvature in contact with the elastic body. A support for supporting and fixing the elastic body;
The tactile sensation presentation apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a length of the contact region is shorter than a length in contact with the support in a cross section along the shape memory alloy.   The tactile sense presentation device according to claim 4, wherein the elastic body has a convex shape toward the shape memory alloy in the cross section, and a convex portion is formed in an R shape.   The tactile sense presentation device according to claim 2, wherein at least the contact area is covered.   The tactile sensation presentation apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a detection unit that detects a contact operation.   The tactile sense presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a plurality of sets of the elastic body and the shape memory alloy are arranged adjacent to each other, and the adjacent elastic bodies are integrally formed. A tactile sensation presentation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
An electronic apparatus comprising: a control unit that contracts the shape memory alloy by energization and deforms the elastic body. A display unit,
The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit displays an image on the display unit in conjunction with energization of the shape memory alloy.

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