JP2016133952A - User interface device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user interface device configured to prevent a selection input operation not intended by a user, while preventing an input error of the user.SOLUTION: A user interface device includes: an input section having a deformable elastic surface formed of an elastic member; deformation means for deforming the elastic surface; operation detection means for detecting a depression operation on the input section; changing means which changes detection sensitivity of the operation detection means, on the basis of a state of the input section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a user interface device, and more particularly to a user interface device provided with touch detection.

  Conventionally, in an information display / input device in which a so-called touch panel is arranged on a display such as a liquid crystal panel, for example, an image of a virtual button or the like is displayed on the display screen. In this state, when the user touches the touch panel area corresponding to the display position of the virtual key with the fingertip or the stylus pen tip, the information assigned to the virtual button may be input or selected. Made possible. Since such a touch panel is substantially flat and relies on visual guidance for user input, it is difficult to distinguish adjacent buttons by touch and it is essentially difficult to input data accurately. Therefore, user interfaces that can provide tactile guidance have been proposed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a user interface that allows a user to be given tactile guidance by deforming a specific region of the surface by expanding a cavity below the surface layer.

  In addition, when the button position is to be grasped by the user by tactile guidance as in Patent Document 1, if the button selection is accepted by touching the button position as in the case of a conventional flat panel, an erroneous input may occur. turn into. Therefore, the selection of the button is accepted depending on whether or not the deformed specific area is further deformed (pressed) by the user.

Special table 2011-508935 gazette

  However, in the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, there is only a description that the user touch is detected based on whether or not the deformation (push-in) of the specific area by the user is significant, and a detailed determination method is described. Absent. The criterion for determining whether or not the deformation is remarkable for determining whether or not the selection is intended by the user differs depending on the state of the deformation for providing tactile guidance. Therefore, when the above-described determination criterion is constant, detection different from the user's intention may be performed, and operability is deteriorated due to erroneous input.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a user interface device that can prevent an erroneous input by a user.

  In order to achieve the above object, a user interface device according to the present invention includes an input unit having an elastic surface that is deformable by an elastic member, deformation means for deforming the elastic surface, and a pressing operation on the input unit. It has an operation detecting means for detecting, and a changing means for changing the detection sensitivity of the operation detecting means based on the state of the input unit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the user interface apparatus which enabled it to prevent a user's erroneous input can be provided.

1 is a configuration diagram of a user interface device in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a tactile sense UI of each button in the first embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship between the user input in Example 1, and a detection boundary. The figure which shows the relationship between a user input and detection boundary when the convex in Example 1 is high. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of input detection processing in the first embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship between the user input and the detection boundary in case the convex in Example 2 is soft. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of input detection processing in the second embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship between a user input and the detection boundary in case the convex in Example 3 is small. The figure which shows the relationship between the user input of other embodiment in Example 3, and a detection boundary.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, a user interface device for detecting a pressing operation (pressing input) of an input unit by a user according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a user interface of a calculator function of a tablet terminal will be described as an example of a user interface device.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a user interface device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The user interface device of the present embodiment is provided in the tablet terminal 1 and further shows a user interface of a calculator function of the tablet terminal 1.

  The tablet terminal 1 has a display screen 10, and an arithmetic expression display area 11, a numeric button group 12, an operator button group 13, and an execution button group 14 are configured on the display screen 10. . The arithmetic expression display area 11 is a display area for displaying arithmetic expressions input by the user and their solutions. The number button group 12 is an input unit that displays numbers “0” to “9” and receives an input operation by the user. The operator button group 13 is an input unit on which symbols of four arithmetic operations “+”, “−”, “×”, and “÷” are displayed and accepts an input operation by the user. The execution button group 14 is an input unit on which “=” indicating calculation of an arithmetic expression and “CLR” indicating erasure are displayed and an input operation is accepted by the user. Furthermore, the tablet terminal 1 includes a pump unit 15 connected to each button group.

  The tablet terminal 1 has various functions, and the display screen 10 performs various displays or input detections according to the functions. In addition, the display screen 10 has a generally flat surface, but in order to give a tactile guidance to the user, a specific area (input unit) on the flat surface can be transformed into a convex shape (tactile user). Interface: hereinafter also referred to as a tactile UI). At the time of the calculator function of the present embodiment, the surface of each button in the button group is deformed into a convex shape by a tactile sense UI.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of the tactile UI of each button. FIG. 2A is a state in which the tactile UI is flat, and FIGS. 2B and 2C are for providing tactile guidance to the user. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a tactile sense UI is deformed into a convex shape.

  The tactile sense UI includes a transparent sheet 101, a transparent substrate 102, a cavity 103, a touch sensor 104, a display 105, and a pump 110. The transparent sheet 101 is formed of a stretchable transparent elastomer material or the like. It is provided on the surface of the display screen 10 and is arranged so as to cover substantially the entire surface of the display screen 10. Further, the transparent sheet 101 is formed to be deformable by an elastic member, and a specific region of the transparent sheet 101 is configured as an elastic surface. When the cavity 103 is expanded, the elastic surface is deformed and becomes convex, and when the cavity 103 contracts. It functions to return to the normal flat state. The transparent substrate 102 functions to support the transparent sheet 101 and at least partially define the cavity 103. The transparent substrate 102 is preferably hard. The cavity 103 holds the fluid and functions to have a contracted volume state (shown in FIG. 2A) and an expanded volume state (shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C). The fluid is preferably a liquid, but may be a gas or other material. The cavity 103 is connected to the pump 110 via a flow path. The pump 110 functions to change the volume of the fluid in the cavity 103, expands the cavity 103 from the contracted volume state to the expanded volume state, and finally, a specific region (cavity portion) of the transparent sheet 101. The upper part of). The volume in the cavity 103 is changed by adding (inflowing) and removing (outflowing) the fluid from the pump 110. Therefore, the amount of expansion of the volume of the cavity 103 can be changed by controlling the additional amount of the fluid. That is, it is possible to control the height from the surface other than the specific area of the touch-sensitive UI (other than the input unit). FIG. 2A shows a state in which the cavity 103 is in a contracted state and the transparent sheet 101 is flat. FIG. 2B shows a state in which the hollow portion 103 is expanded and the transparent sheet 101 is deformed. FIG. 2C illustrates a state in which the hollow portion 103 is further expanded than in FIG. 2B and the transparent sheet 101 is deformed. Therefore, (c) forms a higher convex shape than (b). The pump 110 is configured in the pump unit 15 and has one pump for each tactile UI. The touch sensor (operation detection means) 104 is, for example, a conventional capacitive touch sensor, and receives user input to a button based on a change in capacitance caused by the proximity of a fingertip or a stylus pen tip. To detect. Details of the user operation detection method will be described later. Display 105 functions to interface with the user in a visual manner, such as a conventional liquid crystal display.

  As described above, the haptic UI can form a convex shape on the display screen 10 and can be pressed by the user when used in combination with the input graphic displayed on the display 105 to notify the input position on the touch sensor 104. Functions as a button.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a user input in the haptic UI and a detection boundary of the touch sensor 104, and illustrates a cross-sectional configuration of the haptic UI. FIG. 3A shows a state where no user input is detected, and FIG. 3B shows a state where a user input is detected. Components similar to those described in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  A method of detecting user input by the touch sensor 104 will be described with reference to FIG.

  A fingertip 121 is a fingertip when the user selects a tactile UI (button), and indicates an input operation (protruding depression) to the tactile UI. The detection boundary 122 indicates a height that serves as a boundary for determining whether or not to detect a user input with respect to the height of the fingertip obtained from the amount of change in capacitance detected by the touch sensor 104. The detection boundary 122 is set to be lower than the transparent sheet 101 and higher than the flat surface outside the specific area in the specific area (convex shape, input unit) of the tactile UI by a changing unit (not shown). When the height of the fingertip 121 is lower than the detection boundary 122 (close to the touch sensor 104), it is recognized that the button of the tactile UI has been selected, and the user input is detected. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the convex shape is touched with a fingertip. In this state, since the fingertip 121 is higher than the detection boundary 122, no user input is detected. Since the haptic UI gives a tactile guidance to the user, the user searches for the input position while touching the convex shape. Therefore, no user input is detected in the state of FIG. FIG. 3B shows a state where the convex shape is pushed with the fingertip 121. In this state, since the fingertip 121 is lower than the detection boundary 122, user input is detected. The detection boundary 122 detects an input even if the fingertip 121 is further away from the touch sensor 104 as the height is higher. Therefore, increasing the height of the detection boundary 122 is equivalent to increasing the detection sensitivity. As described above, since the input is detected by the user grasping the input position by tactile guidance and pressing the convex shape, the operation feeling similar to that of the conventional button can be obtained.

  However, as described above, the height of the convex shape of the haptic UI varies depending on the amount of fluid flowing from the pump. Therefore, if the tactile UIs having different heights are set to the detection boundary 122 having the same height, there is a difference in the push-in amount until the input is accepted. Therefore, even if the user intentionally pushes in, the operability is deteriorated such that the input is not detected. Therefore, in this embodiment, an example will be described in which the height of the detection boundary 122 is changed (the detection sensitivity is changed) according to the height of the convex shape.

  4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the user input in the haptic UI and the detection boundary of the touch sensor 104, as in FIG. 3, where the haptic UI has a convex shape higher than the convex shape shown in FIG. Represents. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the user grasps the input position, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the user has performed a pushing operation. Components similar to those described in FIGS. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 4 shows a case where the height is higher than the convex shape in FIG. 3. For example, the operability is improved by changing the height of the convex shape according to the probability that the user can select it. The case where it has a function is shown.

  The dotted line of the detection boundary 122 represents the detection boundary in FIG. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the convex elastic surface is pushed in with a fingertip, and the pushing amount at this time is substantially the same as that in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the convex shape is high, the user input is not detected at the same detection boundary 122 (dotted line) as in FIG. It gives the feeling that the reaction is bad. Therefore, as shown by the detection boundary 122 (solid line), when the convex shape is high, the detection boundary 122 is also set high according to the height. Thereby, detection can be received with high accuracy for an input operation intended by the user.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of input detection processing in this embodiment.

  In step S <b> 10, the height of the convex shape of the haptic UI is detected based on the amount of fluid flowing into the cavity 103. In step S11, the detection boundary 122 is set to a value stored in advance corresponding to the height of the convex shape detected in step S10. Specifically, the detection boundary 122 (detection sensitivity) is set higher as the height of the convex shape is higher. In step S12, the height of the fingertip 121 detected by the touch sensor 104 is compared with the detection boundary 122 set in step S11. When the height of the fingertip 121 is lower than the detection boundary 122, the process proceeds to step S13, and when the height of the fingertip 121 is higher than the detection boundary 122, the process proceeds to step S14. In step S13, it is determined that the input operation by the user is invalid. In step S14, it is determined that the input operation by the user is valid.

  As described above, even if the height of the convex shape of the tactile UI is different, the detection boundary (detection sensitivity) is changed according to each height, so that deterioration in operability can be prevented.

  Further, in this embodiment, a tablet type terminal is taken as an example of the user interface device, and further, a calculator function of the tablet type terminal is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Other devices and functions may be used as long as the interface accepts user input.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the fluid flows into the hollow portion is described as the configuration for changing the shape of the tactile UI. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape of the surface is changed so that the user can touch the tactile UI. Any configuration that can provide guidance is acceptable.

  Furthermore, although the example which comprises a capacitive touch sensor as a structure which detects a user's input was demonstrated in the present Example, it is not necessarily restricted to this. For example, a piezoelectric sensor may be configured in the hollow portion, a change in pressure in the hollow portion due to the user pushing in the convex shape may be detected, and the user's pushing operation may be detected.

  Hereinafter, a user interface device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, an example of setting a detection boundary (detection sensitivity) when the hardness of a convex shape that gives tactile guidance is different will be described.

  Since the configuration of the user interface device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment, the explanation is omitted.

  6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the user input in the haptic UI and the detection boundary of the touch sensor 104, as in FIG. 3, and the fluid has a lower viscosity and a convex shape than the haptic UI shown in FIG. This represents a case where the hardness of is soft. FIG. 6A shows a state in which the user grasps the input position, and FIG. 6B shows a state in which the user has performed a pushing operation. Components similar to those described in FIGS. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 shows a case where the hardness of the convex shape is soft, for example, an example in which different fluids are configured by each tactile UI.

  The dotted line of the detection boundary 122 represents the detection boundary in FIG. FIG. 6A shows a state in which the convex shape is touched by the fingertip 121 in the operation of searching for the button position, and FIG. 6B shows that the convex shape is pushed by the fingertip in order to select the button. It shows the state. If the convex shape is soft, the convex shape may be pushed in unintentionally just by touching the convex shape with the fingertip. Therefore, when the detection boundary along the convex shape is set like the detection boundary 122 (dotted line) same as that in FIG. 3, the input is accepted and the user's erroneous operation is caused. Therefore, when the convex shape is soft as in this embodiment, as shown by the detection boundary 122 (solid line), the detection boundary is set low so that an input can be detected by a large push, and the user unintentionally presses the button. Prevents erroneous operations that might cause input.

  The hardness of the convex shape changes depending on the viscosity of the fluid flowing into the cavity 103. Therefore, when a fluid of different substances is configured for each tactile UI, a detection boundary corresponding to the hardness of each tactile UI is set to prevent an erroneous operation by the user.

  Furthermore, the hardness of the convex shape differs not only in the difference of the fluid substance itself but also in the temperature. In general, the viscosity of a liquid decreases with increasing temperature. Therefore, the detection boundary may be changed depending on the temperature of the fluid.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the input detection process according to the temperature of this embodiment. Processes similar to those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In step S20, the temperature around the tablet terminal is detected by a temperature sensor (temperature detection means) (not shown) configured in the tablet terminal 1. In step S21, the temperature of the fluid flowing into the cavity 103 is estimated from the ambient temperature, the viscosity with respect to the temperature of the fluid is acquired by a viscosity acquisition unit (not shown), and the convex hardness is calculated based on the viscosity. To do. In step S22, the detection boundary 122 is set to a value stored in advance corresponding to the hardness of the convex shape. Steps S12 to S14 are the same as in FIG.

  As described above, an appropriate detection boundary (detection sensitivity) is set even if the hardness of the convex shape changes depending on the temperature environment in which the tablet terminal 1 is used, so that it is possible to prevent erroneous operations with higher accuracy.

  In the present embodiment, the ease of pushing the finger when the transparent sheet 101 is pushed with the finger was examined using the viscosity of the fluid as a parameter, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the elasticity of the elastic member forming the transparent sheet 101 in a specific region also affects, and in this case, the influence of temperature that affects the elasticity of the elastic member can also be a parameter that affects the ease of pressing.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the ambient temperature is detected has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which a temperature sensor is provided in the cavity to directly detect the temperature of the fluid.

  Hereinafter, a user interface device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, an example of setting a detection boundary (detection sensitivity) when the sizes of convex shapes giving tactile guidance are different will be described.

  Since the configuration of the user interface device according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment, the explanation is omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the user input in the haptic UI and the detection boundary of the touch sensor 104 as in FIG. 3. Like the operator button group 13, the haptic UI is shown in FIG. This represents a case where the size is smaller than the shape and the interval between adjacent buttons of a plurality of touch sense UIs (input units) is narrow. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the user grasps the input position, and FIG. 8B shows a state in which the user has performed a pushing operation. Components similar to those described in FIGS. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 8 shows an example where the user intentionally selects the “−” button.

  The dotted line of the detection boundary 122 represents the detection boundary along the convex shape as in FIG. When the convex shape is small and the interval between adjacent buttons is narrow, there is a possibility that the adjacent button (“+” button) may be touched when the convex shape is pushed in. In the case of a detection boundary along a convex shape, such as the detection boundary 122 (dotted line) similar to FIG. 3, it is detected that the adjacent “+” button has been pressed, leading to an erroneous operation by the user. . In order to prevent such a malfunction, when the convex shape is small as in this embodiment, as shown by the detection boundary 122 (solid line), the detection boundary is set high only in the vicinity of the vertex (center) of the convex shape, The detection boundary is set as low as the flat surface so that the convex peripheral portion is not substantially detected. Therefore, when the intended “−” button is selected, even if the adjacent “+” button is touched, the “+” button is not detected, and thus the user's unintended selection can be prevented. it can.

  As described above, when the tactile UI is arranged with a small convex shape and a small interval between adjacent buttons, the detection boundary is set so that the convex shape is detected only when the vicinity of the apex is detected. Thus, it is possible to prevent a user's erroneous operation.

  Further, as an example for further ensuring the prevention of an erroneous operation, as shown in FIG. 8A, when touching the convex shape of the tactile UI, adjacent buttons (surrounding input section, surrounding specific area) ) May be lowered, or the height of the convex shape may be lowered. As a method for detecting that the convex shape of the tactile sense UI has been touched, for example, it can be realized by having the detection boundary of the touch sensor 104 in two stages. That is, when a contact detection boundary for detecting a user's touch (contact) is set so as to be at the level of the surface of the transparent sheet 101 and the detection is made at the contact detection boundary, it is adjacent according to the position. You may make it lower the detection boundary of the button to perform. Further, as another example, an electrode is disposed on the surface of each of the specific regions where the input unit on the transparent sheet 101 is set, and by contact with the electrode or a change in capacitance detected by the electrode, You may make it detect a user's contact. FIG. 9A shows an example in which the detection boundary of the adjacent button is lowered, and FIG. 9B shows an example in which the height of the convex shape of the adjacent button is lowered. As described above, it is possible to reduce the possibility of selecting a button other than the intended button by making it difficult to detect an adjacent button when the user grasps the selection position.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

12 Input part (surface part)
15 Pump (deformation means)
101 Transparent sheet (surface)
103 Cavity (fluid)
104 Touch sensor (operation detection means)
110 Pump (deformation means)

Claims (11)

An input portion having an elastic surface formed to be deformable by an elastic member;
Deformation means for deforming the elastic surface;
Operation detecting means for detecting a pressing operation on the input unit;
Changing means for changing the detection sensitivity of the operation detecting means based on the state of the input unit;
A user interface device comprising:   2. The user interface device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic surface is deformed into a convex shape by the deformation means in a state where the pressing operation is not performed. 3.   The state of the input unit is the height of the elastic surface, and the detection sensitivity of the operation detection unit is set higher as the height of the elastic surface is higher. User interface device. The deformation means deforms the elastic surface by the pressure of a fluid,
The state of the input unit is the viscosity of the fluid, and the lower the viscosity, the lower the detection sensitivity of the operation detection unit.
The user interface device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein   The user interface device according to claim 4, further comprising: a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the fluid; and a viscosity acquisition unit that acquires the viscosity of the fluid based on the temperature. A plurality of the input units;
The state of the input part is the size of the convex shape of the elastic surface,
The changing means is set so that the detection sensitivity of the peripheral portion of the input unit relative to the detection sensitivity of the center of the input unit is lower in each of the input units, as the interval between the adjacent input units is narrower.
The user interface device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein When the user touches the elastic surface of the input unit, it has contact detection means for detecting the position,
When the contact detection unit detects the contact, the changing unit sets a detection sensitivity of the input unit around the input unit where the contact is detected to be low.
The user interface device according to claim 6.   7. The structure according to claim 6, wherein when the contact is detected by the contact detection unit, the deforming unit lowers the height of the elastic surface of the input unit around the input unit where the contact is detected. 8. The user interface device according to 7.   The user interface device according to claim 1, wherein the operation detection unit detects a pressing operation on the input unit based on a change in capacitance. The deformation means is means for deforming the elastic surface by the pressure of a fluid,
The user interface device according to claim 1, wherein the operation detection unit detects a pressing operation on the input unit based on a change in pressure of the fluid.   The user interface device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is configured on a display screen of a display device.

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