JP2019021172A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an input device capable of guiding an operation body in a movement direction and obtaining guiding feeling to a movement destination when an operator moves the operation body.SOLUTION: An input device includes: a detection section 112 which detects an operation state of an operation body F with respect to an operation surface 111; a control section 130 which performs input to a prescribed device 50 according to an operation state; and a driving section 120 which is controlled by the control section and vibrates the operation surface in an expanding direction of the operation surface. A plurality of operation regions 1111 and 1112 for operation with respect to the prescribed device are preliminarily set on the operation surface. When the control section determines that the operation body moves from the first operation region 1111 to the second operation region 1112 of the plurality of operation regions from the operation state, the control section generates vibration reciprocating in the movement direction of the operation body on the operation surface by the driving section and controls the intensity of vibration to form a maximum value in cp between the first operation region and the second operation region according to the movement of the operation body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device that enables an input operation with an operating body such as a finger, such as a touch pad or a touch panel.

  As a conventional input device, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. An input device (electronic device) of Patent Literature 1 includes a contact surface with which an operating body (e.g., an operator's finger) contacts, a housing that indicates the contact surface, and a drive device that moves the contact surface relative to the housing. It has. The contact surface is moved by the driving device based on the position information of the operating body.

  As a result, the contact surface is moved in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the operating body to provide a drag to the operating body, and the contact surface is moved in the same direction as the moving direction of the operating body. Force (inductive force) is applied.

JP, 2006-184428, A

  In the input device of Patent Document 1, when the amount of movement of the operating body is large, it is necessary to increase the amount of movement of the contact surface accordingly. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the movable range of the contact surface in the case, leading to an increase in size of the case and lack of realism.

  Therefore, in the previous application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-44196), the present inventors generate vibrations that reciprocate in the direction of the movement destination of the operating body on the operation surface, and on the forward path side and the return path side of the reciprocating vibrations. An input device was proposed to control the vibration speed or acceleration.

  In this input device, in the direction in which the vibration speed or acceleration is large, slip occurs between the operation surface and the operation body, and due to the law of inertia, the operation body is less likely to follow the movement of the operation surface, It will be left in that position. On the contrary, in the direction where the speed or acceleration of vibration is small, the frictional force between the operation surface and the operation body acts, and the force that moves with the movement of the operation surface is applied to the operation body according to the law of inertia. It becomes easy to work.

  As a result, it is possible to obtain an effective pulling force on the side where the vibration speed or acceleration is small in a small movable region, and according to this when the movement amount of the operating body is large as in the prior art. The problem that the amount of movement of the contact surface also has to be increased was solved.

  However, in the above proposal, the operating body can be moved (retracted) when there is no movement of the operating body itself, but when the operating body is moving by itself, friction force is not generated in the first place. It is difficult to move in the direction.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an input device that guides an operating body in a moving direction when an operator moves the operating body and obtains a sense of guidance to a moving destination.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

In the present invention, a detection unit (112) that detects an operation state of the operation body (F) with respect to the operation surface (111) on the operation side,
A control unit (130) for performing input to a predetermined device (50) according to an operation state detected by the detection unit;
In an input device including a drive unit (120) that is controlled by the control unit and vibrates the operation surface in a direction in which the operation surface expands,
On the operation surface, a plurality of operation areas (1111 and 1112) for operating a predetermined device are set in advance.
When the control unit determines from the operation state that the operation body moves from the first operation area (1111) to the second operation area (1112) among the plurality of operation areas, the control unit moves the operation body in the moving direction of the operation body. Reciprocating vibration is generated on the operation surface, and control is performed so that the intensity of vibration forms a maximum value between the first operation region and the second operation region (cp) as the operation body moves. It is characterized by. Hereinafter, “between the first operation area and the second operation area” will be referred to as an intermediate position (cp).

  According to the present invention, when the operating body (F) moves from the first operating area (1111) to the second operating area (1112), the operating body (F) receives resistance due to vibration generated on the operating surface (111). . In addition, since the strength of vibration is controlled to form a maximum value as the operating body (F) moves from the first operating area (1111) to the intermediate position (cp), the resistance received by the operating body (F) Is getting bigger. Further, since the operating body (F) is controlled so as to pass the maximum value and decrease in vibration intensity from the intermediate position (cp) toward the second operating area (1112), the operating body (F) The resistance received by is getting smaller.

  Therefore, the operating body (F) overcomes the maximum resistance at the intermediate position (cp) and reaches the second operation region (1112), and moves from the intermediate position (cp) to the second operation region (1112). It will be acted as if it were guided (drawn).

  Thus, in the present invention, when the operator moves the operating tool (F), the operating tool (F) can be guided in the moving direction, and an input device can be obtained that provides a feeling of guidance to the moving destination.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows a corresponding relationship with the specific means of embodiment description mentioned later.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the mounting state of the input device in a vehicle. It is a block diagram which shows the input device in 1st Embodiment. (A) which shows the operation part and drive part in 1st Embodiment is a side view, (b) is the top view seen from the IIIb direction of (a). It is explanatory drawing which shows the image of an operation button, an operation area | region, an intermediate position, and the strength of a vibration. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of an input device. It is a graph which shows the strength of vibration. It is a graph which shows the vibration waveform in 1st Embodiment. It is a graph which shows the vibration waveform in the modification 1 of 1st Embodiment. It is a graph which shows the strength of vibration in modification 2 of a 1st embodiment. (A) which shows the operation part and drive part in 2nd Embodiment is a side view, (b) is the top view seen from Xb direction of (a).

  A plurality of modes for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. When only a part of the configuration is described in each mode, the other modes described above can be applied to the other parts of the configuration. Not only combinations of parts that clearly indicate that the combination is possible in each embodiment, but also a combination of the embodiments even if they are not clearly specified unless there is a problem with the combination. It is also possible.

(First embodiment)
An input device 100 according to the first embodiment is shown in FIGS. The input device 100 of this embodiment is applied to a remote operation device for operating the navigation device 50, for example. The input device 100 is mounted on the vehicle 10 together with the navigation device 50. The navigation device 50 corresponds to a predetermined device of the present invention.

  The navigation device 50 is a route guidance system that displays the current position information, traveling direction information, or guidance information for a destination desired by the operator on a map. The navigation device 50 has a liquid crystal display 51 as a display unit. The liquid crystal display 51 is disposed at the center of the instrument panel 13 of the vehicle 10 in the vehicle width direction, and the display screen 52 is visually recognized by the operator.

  The navigation device 50 is formed separately from the input device 100 and is set at a position away from the input device 100. The navigation device 50 and the input device 100 are connected to each other by, for example, a controller area network bus (CAN bus (registered trademark)).

  On the display screen 52 of the liquid crystal display 51, the vehicle position on the map is displayed, and various operation buttons for operating the navigation device 50 are displayed (FIG. 4). The various operation buttons are, for example, a first operation button 52a1, a second operation button 52a2, a third operation button 52a3, and a fourth operation button 52a4 for enlarged display, reduced display, and destination guidance setting. is there. The various operation buttons 52a1 to 52a4 are so-called operation icons. Further, on the display screen 52, for example, a pointer 52b designed in an arrow shape is displayed so as to correspond to the position of the operator's finger F (operation body) on an operation unit 110 (operation surface 111) described later. It is like that.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the input device 100 is provided at a position adjacent to the armrest 12 in the center console 11 of the vehicle 10, and is disposed in a range that can be easily reached by the operator. The input device 100 includes an operation unit 110, a drive unit 120, a control unit 130, and the like.

  The operation unit 110 forms a so-called touch pad, and is a part that performs an input operation on the navigation device 50 with the finger F of the operator. The operation unit 110 includes an operation surface 111, a touch sensor 112, a housing 113, and the like.

  The operation surface 111 is exposed to the operator side at a position adjacent to the armrest 12, and is a flat surface part on which the operator performs finger operations. For example, a material that improves the sliding of the finger over the entire surface is provided. It is formed by that. On the operation surface 111, operation areas respectively corresponding to the various operation buttons 52a1 to 52a4 on the display screen 52 are set in advance. Here, in order to simplify the following description, the operation area corresponding to the first operation button 52a1 is defined as the first operation area 1111, and the operation area corresponding to the second operation button 52a2 is defined as the second operation area 1112. It is said.

  In the operation area on the operation surface 111 (each operation area 1111, 1112, etc.), for operations (selection, push determination, etc.) on various operation buttons 52 a 1 to 52 a 4 displayed on the display screen 52 by the operator's finger operation. It is set to be able to input. Around the operation surface 111, a rib 111a extending on the opposite side to the operation side is provided.

  The touch sensor 112 is, for example, a capacitance type detection unit provided on the back side of the operation surface 111. The touch sensor 112 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, and detects an operation state of the sensor surface with the operator's finger F.

  The touch sensor 112 is formed by arranging electrodes extending along the x-axis direction on the operation surface 111 and electrodes extending along the y-axis direction in a grid pattern. These electrodes are connected to a control unit 130 described later. Each electrode is configured such that the generated capacitance changes according to the position of the operator's finger F close to the sensor surface, and the generated capacitance signal (sensitivity value) is controlled by the control unit. 130 is output. The sensor surface is covered with an insulating sheet made of an insulating material. The touch sensor 112 is not limited to the capacitance type, and various types such as other pressure-sensitive types can be used.

  The housing 113 is a support unit that supports the operation surface 111 and the touch sensor 112. The housing 113 is formed in a frame shape, and is disposed, for example, inside the center console 11.

  The drive unit 120 vibrates the operation surface 111 in the direction in which the operation surface 111 expands in the biaxial directions of the x and y axes, and the rib 111 a and the housing are provided on at least one of the four sides around the operation surface 111. 113. The drive unit 120 is connected to a control unit 130, which will be described later, and the generation of vibration is controlled by the control unit 130.

  The drive unit 120 generates vibration in one axial direction (x-axis direction or y-axis direction) on the operation surface 111 by enabling vibration in only one axial direction out of the two axial directions. By simultaneously enabling biaxial vibrations, the operation surface 111 can generate oblique vibrations that are a combination of both vibrations.

  As the drive unit 120, for example, an electromagnetic actuator such as a solenoid or a voice coil motor, a vibrating body such as a piezo, or a combination of the vibrating body and a spring can be used. For example, if one vibrating body generates biaxial vibration, the driving unit 120 is formed by providing one vibrating body on at least one of the four sides around the operation surface 111. be able to. Alternatively, if the vibrating body generates vibration only in one axial direction, the driving unit 120 is provided by providing one vibrating body (two in total) on each of two adjacent sides around the operation surface 111. Can be formed. Alternatively, the drive unit 120 can be formed by providing a combination of a vibrating body and a spring in one axial direction on opposite sides and providing two sets so that the vibration directions intersect. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, in the drive unit 120, the vibrating body is provided on four sides around the operation surface 111.

  The control unit 130 includes a CPU, a RAM, a storage medium, and the like. From the signal obtained from the touch sensor 112, the control unit 130 is in contact with the finger F on the operation surface 111 as the operation state of the operator's finger F and among the operation areas (1111, 1112, etc.). The direction from the area to the nearest operation area, the distance to the nearest operation area, and the like are acquired. In addition, the control unit 130 acquires the presence / absence of a push operation in any of the operation areas (1111, 1112, etc.) on the operation surface 111 as the operation state.

  And the control part 130 controls the generation | occurrence | production state of the vibration by the drive part 120 according to these operation states. Note that a vibration control parameter (control table) at the time of vibration control is stored in the storage medium of the control unit 130 in advance, and the control unit 130 performs vibration control based on the vibration control parameter. (Details will be described later).

  The configuration of the input device 100 of the present embodiment is as described above, and the operation and effect will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  First, in step S100 illustrated in FIG. 5, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the operator's finger F is touching (contacting) the operation surface 111 based on a signal (operation state of the finger F) obtained from the touch sensor 112. Determine. If the determination is NO, control unit 130 repeats step S100. If the determination is affirmative, the control unit 130 proceeds to step S110. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the operator's finger F is touched on the operation surface 111, the display of the pointer 52b on the display screen 52 becomes valid, and the operator's finger on the operation surface 111 is displayed. A pointer 52b is displayed on the display screen 52 so as to correspond to the position of F.

  Hereinafter, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, a case where the finger F is moved from the first operation area 1111 to the second operation area 1112 will be described as one model.

  In step S110, the control unit 130 determines that the operator's finger F is on the first operation area 1111 (any operation area) among the various operation areas 1111, 1112, and the second operation area 1112 (other operation areas). It is determined whether it is moving toward or stopped. When determining that the finger F is moving, the control unit 130 proceeds to step S120, and when determining that the finger F is stopped, the control unit 130 proceeds to step S140.

  In step S120, the control unit 130 calculates a vector between the current first operation area 1111 (current position of the pointer 52b) and the nearest second operation area 1112. In calculating the vector, the control unit 130 calculates the first operation area 1111 (position of the pointer 52b) and the distance (vector length) between the second operation area 1112 and the first operation area 1111 (position of the pointer 52b). 2 The direction (vector direction) toward the operation area 1112 is calculated.

  In step S130, the control unit 130 drives to pull (guide) the operator's finger F from the first operation button 52a1 to the second operation button 52a2 in accordance with the vector (length and orientation). The unit 120 is driven to generate vibration on the operation surface 111. First, the control unit 130 causes the drive unit 120 to generate vibrations on the operation surface 111 that reciprocate in the direction of the vector (the direction in which the operation body is moved).

  Here, since the operation areas 1111 and 1112 are set so as to be aligned in the x-axis direction, the direction of the vector is the x-axis direction, and the control unit 130 generates vibration along the x-axis direction.

  Then, as the finger F moves, the control unit 130 performs control so that the intensity of vibration forms a maximum value between the first operation region 1111 and the second operation region 1112. The control unit 130 changes linearly as shown in FIG. 6 when giving the maximum value to the strength of vibration. The “between” between the first operation area 1111 and the second operation area 1112 is hereinafter referred to as an intermediate position cp. In FIG. 4B, the intermediate position cp is displayed at the center position between the first operation area 1111 and the second operation area 1112 in order to deepen understanding, but the intermediate position cp is the center between both areas 1111 and 1112. The position is not limited, and any position between the first operation area 1111 and the second operation area 1112 may be used (it can be any position).

  The control unit 130 responds by changing the frequency of the vibration as shown in FIG. 7 in order to give the maximum value to the strength of the vibration. Specifically, the vibration intensity is increased by sequentially increasing the vibration frequency while the finger F reaches the intermediate position cp from the first operation region 1111. Then, after the finger F exceeds the intermediate position cp, the frequency of vibration is sequentially lowered, and the intensity of vibration is reduced by returning to the original frequency. By such a change in the frequency of vibration, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), a resistance valley is formed on the operation surface 111, and the finger F is operated (moved) over the mountain. It becomes.

  After step S130, the control unit 130 repeats steps S100 to S130 until the operator's finger F is stopped in any operation region.

  If it is determined in step S110 that the movement of the finger F has been stopped while repeating steps S100 to S130, in step S140, the control unit 130 performs a pressing operation on any operation region (any operation button). It is determined whether or not there was. The push-in operation is an operation indicating selection and determination for the operation area (operation button) of the operator, and is performed when the operator pushes a finger on the operation surface 111 at a position corresponding to the operation area (operation button). . If an affirmative determination is made in step S140, the control unit 130 performs a push determination process in step S150. That is, an instruction corresponding to one of the operation buttons is given to the navigation device 50. If a negative determination is made in step S140, the process returns to step S100.

  In step S <b> 160, the control unit 130 generates vibration (click feeling vibration) for giving a click feeling to the operator's finger F. Here, unlike the vibration in step S130, the driving unit 120 is diverted, and the driving unit 120 is vibrated once so that the operator can recognize that the pushing operation has been performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 130 causes the finger F to move from the first operation area 1111 to the second operation area 1112 among the plurality of operation areas (1111 and 1112) from the operation state of the finger F. When it is determined, the following vibration control is executed. That is, the control unit 130 causes the operation unit 111 to generate a vibration that reciprocates in the moving direction of the finger F by the driving unit 120, and the strength of the vibration increases with the first operation region 1111 and the second operation as the finger F moves. Control is performed so that a maximum value is formed at an intermediate position cp between the operation region 1112 and the operation region 1112.

  Thereby, when the finger F moves from the first operation area 1111 to the second operation area 1112, the finger F receives resistance due to vibration generated on the operation surface 111. In addition, since the intensity of vibration is controlled to form a maximum value as the finger F moves from the first operation region 1111 toward the intermediate position cp, the resistance received by the finger F increases. Further, as the finger F moves from the intermediate position cp toward the second operation region 1112, the control is performed so that the intensity of vibration is reduced after passing through the maximum value, and thus the resistance received by the finger F is reduced.

  Therefore, the finger F overcomes the maximum resistance (the mountain in FIG. 4C) at the intermediate position cp and reaches the second operation region 1112. From the intermediate position cp toward the second operation region 1112 The sensation (action) is as if it is induced (drawn). The feeling of guidance at this time can be rephrased as a feeling of overcoming a mountain.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, when the operator moves the finger F, the finger F can be guided in the moving direction, and the input device 100 can be obtained that provides a sense of guidance to the moving destination.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when a maximum value is given to the strength of vibration, it is changed linearly. This facilitates control when changing the strength of vibration.

(Modification 1 of the first embodiment)
Modification 1 of the first embodiment is shown in FIG. Here, the control unit 130 responds by changing the amplitude of vibration with the same frequency as shown in FIG. Specifically, the vibration strength is increased by sequentially increasing the amplitude of vibration while the finger F reaches the intermediate position cp from the first operation region 1111. Then, after the finger F exceeds the intermediate position cp, the amplitude of the vibration is sequentially reduced, and the strength of the vibration is reduced by returning to the original amplitude.

  Generally, the drive unit 120 (actuator or the like) has a resonance point, and when the vibration frequency is changed as in the first embodiment, the drive unit 120 (actuator) having a very large output. Etc.) must be used, which involves an increase in the size of the apparatus. However, in the first modification, since the amplitude is controlled, it is effective as a method for controlling the strength of vibration without such an increase in size.

(Modification 2 of the first embodiment)
FIG. 9 shows a second modification of the first embodiment. Here, the control unit 130 changes exponentially when giving the maximum value to the intensity of vibration.

  According to Weberfehner's law, the amount of human sensation is proportional to the logarithm of the stimulus intensity. Therefore, such an exponential change can be made easier for humans to understand.

(Second Embodiment)
An input device 100A of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the setting positions of the housing 113 and the driving unit 120 are changed to form the housing 113A and the driving unit 120A.

  The housing 113 </ b> A is formed in a plate shape and is disposed on the back side of the operation surface 111. The drive unit 120 </ b> A is disposed on the back side of the operation surface 111. The drive unit 120A is located between the back side of the operation surface 111 and the housing 113A. For example, the drive unit 120 </ b> A generates vibrations in the two axial directions of the x and y axes, and one drive unit 120 </ b> A is disposed at the center on the back side of the operation surface 111. The driving unit 120A uses the electromagnetic actuator, such as a voice coil motor, which can generate vibration in two axial directions, as described in the first embodiment. The drive unit 120A is not limited to one, and a plurality of drive units may be used.

  Also in this embodiment, the basic operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained.

(Other embodiments)
In each of the above embodiments, the vibration control parameter (control table) provided in advance is used to control the strength of vibration. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and depending on the operation state of the finger F, You may make it obtain a vibration pattern by calculation each time.

  In each of the above embodiments, the operation unit 110 is based on a so-called touch pad type. However, the operation unit 110 is not limited to this, and is a so-called touch panel type that is visible on the operation surface 111 through the display screen 52 of the liquid crystal display 51. It can also be applied to things.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, when a pressing operation is performed in steps S140 to S160 described with reference to FIG. However, in the present invention, basically, the induction force (retraction force) is generated by setting the vibration intensity to the maximum value at the intermediate position cp of the operation region (1111, 1112). Steps S140 to S160 may be eliminated.

  In the above embodiments, the operation body is described as the operator's finger F. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a stick imitating a pen may be used.

  In each of the above embodiments, the navigation device 50 is used as an input control target (predetermined device) by the input devices 100 and 100A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to other devices such as devices.

50 Navigation device (predetermined equipment)
100, 100A Input device 111 Operation surface 1111 First operation area 1112 Second operation area 112 Touch sensor (detection unit)
120 drive unit 130 control unit F operator's finger (operation body)
cp intermediate position

Claims (5)

A detection unit (112) for detecting an operation state of the operation body (F) with respect to the operation surface (111) on the operation side;
A control unit (130) for performing input to a predetermined device (50) according to the operation state detected by the detection unit;
An input device comprising: a drive unit (120) controlled by the control unit and configured to vibrate the operation surface in a direction in which the operation surface expands;
A plurality of operation areas (1111 and 1112) for operating the predetermined device are set in advance on the operation surface,
When the control unit determines from the operation state that the operation body moves from the first operation region (1111) to the second operation region (1112) among the plurality of operation regions, the control unit performs the operation. Vibration that reciprocates in the moving direction of the operating body is generated on the operating surface, and the intensity of the vibration is between the first operating area and the second operating area as the operating body moves (cp). An input device that is controlled so as to form a local maximum value.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the intensity of the vibration linearly or exponentially when forming the maximum value.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit forms the maximum value by increasing the frequency of the vibration and then decreasing the frequency.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit forms the maximum value by increasing the amplitude of the vibration and then decreasing the amplitude.   When the control unit obtains a push operation on the operation surface as the operation state from the detection unit, the click feeling vibration that gives a click feeling to the operating body, unlike the vibration, to the drive unit. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

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