JP2021197042A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an input device that can reduce the time required to confirm a situation of selecting an operational item and can prevent a wrong recognition in the reduction.SOLUTION: An input device 100 includes: rotary switches 10 and 12 operated by a finger of a user; a plurality of vibration units which vibrate using a plurality of vibrators 40 to 46; an operation content switching unit 22 and a vibration control unit 30 for switching a vibration unit to vibrate, in turn, according to a rotation operation using the rotary switches 10 and 12; and an operation item selection unit 50 for selecting an operation item corresponding to a vibration unit that is vibrating when a rotation operation is being done.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an input device that is manually operated by a user to perform various inputs.

Conventionally, there has been known a rotary input device in which different vibration patterns are transmitted to a wheel when an item is selected from an operation target in which different functional items are mixed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). With this input device, it is possible to grasp the selection status, which relies entirely on the visual sense, by tactile sense, and it is possible to reduce the visual burden during operation.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-89401

By the way, in the rotary input device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, the selection status can be grasped by changing the content of the vibration pattern generated in the wheel, so that the difference between a plurality of types of vibration patterns can be different. It is necessary to distinguish and recognize, and it takes time to confirm the selected operation status, and there is a problem that erroneous recognition is likely to occur when trying to distinguish the vibration pattern in a short time.

The present invention has been created in view of these points, and an object thereof is an input device capable of shortening the time required for confirming the selection status of an operation item and preventing erroneous recognition at that time. Is to provide.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the input device of the present invention uses an operation unit operated by a user's finger, a plurality of vibration units vibrating using each of a plurality of oscillators, and an operation unit. A plurality of operation items are set so as to correspond to each of the switching means for sequentially switching the vibrating vibrating parts and the plurality of vibrating parts to be switched by the switching means according to the content of the first operation. It is provided with an item selection means for selecting an operation item corresponding to the vibrating unit that is vibrating at the time when the second operation using the operation unit is performed.

By operating the operation unit, the vibrating parts in different positions are switched in order to vibrate, and this item can be selected when the vibrating part corresponding to the item to be selected is vibrating, and the difference in vibration pattern. Since it is not necessary to distinguish between the above and the like, the time required for confirming the selection status of the operation item can be shortened, and it is possible to prevent erroneous recognition of the operation item to be selected.

Further, it is desirable that the plurality of vibrating portions described above are arranged at different locations on the planar member covered with the palm of the user. As a result, it is possible to quickly and accurately recognize which vibrating part is vibrating in the tactile receptive field area of the palm where the sensitivity of the tactile stimulus is high.

Further, it is desirable that the plurality of vibrating portions described above are arranged apart from each other at positions corresponding to the four corners of the rectangular shape. By arranging the vibrating portions apart in this way, it is possible to prevent erroneous recognition of the vibrating portion.

Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned operation unit is provided at a position operated by the user's thumb or middle finger. This makes it easy to operate the operation unit while covering each vibrating unit with the palm.

Further, it is desirable that the first operation described above is an operation of rotating the operation unit. Alternatively, it is desirable that the first operation described above is an operation of sliding a finger along the operation unit. This makes it easy to switch the operation items in order.

Further, it is desirable that the input device is used for the user to give an operation instruction to the in-vehicle device. As a result, when selecting an operation item in the in-vehicle device, it is possible to perform the operation without looking at the operation screen, that is, without moving the viewpoint during operation.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the in-vehicle system of one Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the operator used in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the information about the operation content held by the operation content setting part. It is a flow chart which shows the operation procedure which selects the operation item using an input device. It is a figure which shows the modification of the operation element provided with the operation part which detects the slide operation of a finger.

Hereinafter, an in-vehicle system according to an embodiment to which the input device of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle system of one embodiment. The vehicle-mounted system shown in FIG. 1 includes an input device 100, a display device 200, an air conditioner 300, an audio device 310, a vehicle body control device 320, and a heater 330.

The input device 100 is for giving various operation instructions to each of the air conditioner 300, the audio device 310, the vehicle body control device 320, and the heater 330 as in-vehicle devices to be operated by being operated by the user. .. In the present embodiment, a common input device 100 capable of operating various in-vehicle devices is provided, and operation instructions having different contents are given to each in-vehicle device. Further, the display device 200 displays an operation screen or the like when the user performs an operation using the input device 100. The in-vehicle device to be operated is an example, and it is not always necessary that a plurality of in-vehicle devices are to be operated, and one in-vehicle device may be an operation target. Further, the input device 100 of the present embodiment makes it possible to select an operation item without visually observing the operation screen displayed on the display device 200, and the operation screen may not be displayed. good.

Each of the above-mentioned input device 100, display device 200, air conditioner 300, audio device 310, vehicle body control device 320, and heater 330 is connected via an in-vehicle bus, and various data are transmitted and received to each other.

The input device 100 includes rotary switches (RS) 10, 12, operation content setting unit 20, operation content switching unit 22, vibration control unit 30, oscillators 40, 42, 44, 46, operation item selection unit 50, and operation control unit. It has 60.

Each of the rotary switches 10 and 12 outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of rotation when the rotation is operated by the user's finger. Further, these rotary switches 10 and 12 output a signal corresponding to this pressing operation when pressed in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

The operation content setting unit 20 holds information on the operation content of each of the air conditioner 300, the audio device 310, the vehicle body control device 320, and the heater 330, which are the targets of operation by the input device 100, and can be executed at that time. Set the operation details. A specific example of this will be described later.

The operation content switching unit 22 sequentially switches the operation items that can be selected at that time in conjunction with the rotation operation (first operation) using the rotary switches 10 and 12. The operation of switching in this order is referred to as "temporary selection". This switching content is sent to the vibration control unit 30.

The vibration control unit 30 selectively vibrates any of the vibrators 40, 42, 44, 46 corresponding to the switching content by the operation content switching unit 22. Each of the operation items tentatively selected by the operation content switching unit 22 corresponds to any of the vibrators 40, 42, 44, 46, and which operation item is tentatively selected corresponds to the vibrators 40, 42, 44, 46. It can be seen from the vibration state of.

The oscillators 40, 42, 44, and 46 are provided inside the operator 100A operated by the user, and the four vibrating portions set on the upper surface (planar member) of the operator 100A are separately separated. Vibrate. These oscillators 40, 42, 44, 46 can be realized by using, for example, a linear resonance actuator, an eccentric motor (ERM), a piezo actuator, or the like.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the actuator 100A used in the present embodiment. The operator 100A of the present embodiment has a box-shaped shape similar to that of a mouse used in a personal computer, and is assumed to be used by a user covering it with his / her palm.

The operator 100A includes rotary switches 10 and 12 and oscillators 40, 42, 44 and 46. On the other hand, the rotary switch 10 is partially exposed from the left side surface 110 of the operator 100A, and is provided at a position where the exposed portion can be rotated and pressed by the user's thumb. The other rotary switch 12 is partially exposed from the upper surface 112 of the operator 100A, and is provided at a position where the exposed portion can be rotated and pressed by the user's middle finger.

Further, the vibrators 40, 42, 44, and 46 are dispersedly arranged at four locations in the operator 100A, and when each of them is vibrated, a part of the upper surface 112 of the operator 100A vibrates and the upper surface thereof is vibrated. This vibration is transmitted to the palm of the user covering the 112. In the example shown in FIG. 2, vibration portions a, b, c, and d are set at each of the four corners of the upper surface 112 as a rectangular planar member. The vibrating part a corresponds to the vibrator 40, the vibrating part b corresponds to the vibrator 42, the vibrating part c corresponds to the vibrator 44, and the vibrating part d corresponds to the vibrator 46.

The operation item selection unit 50 sets the operation item tentatively selected by the operation content switching unit 22 when any one of the rotary switches 10 and 12 is pressed as the operation item selected by the user.

The operation control unit 60 controls each of the display device 200, the air conditioner 300, the audio device 310, the vehicle body control device 320, and the heater 330 according to the operation items selected by the operation item selection unit 50.

The rotary switches 10 and 12 described above correspond to the operation unit, the operation content switching unit 22 and the vibration control unit 30 correspond to the switching means, and the operation item selection unit 50 corresponds to the item selection means.

The input device 100 of the present embodiment has such a configuration, and next, the operation of selecting an operation item using the input device 100 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of information regarding the operation content held by the operation content setting unit 20. In FIG. 3, "A" indicates an operation item that can be selected by rotating the rotary switch 10, and "B" indicates an operation item that can be selected by operating the rotary switch 12 to rotate the rotary switch 12. Further, modes 1, 2, and 3 are operation modes and show transition states (hierarchies) of selection contents of operation items, and in this example, they have three hierarchies.

Initially, the hierarchy selection operation shown in mode 1 is enabled. When the rotary switch 10 is rotated, temporary selection is performed in the order of air conditioner 300 → audio device 310 → vehicle body control device 320 → heater 330, and at the same time, the vibrating part of the vibration location corresponding to this temporarily selected item is a → b. It vibrates in the order of → c → d.

When the user presses the rotary switch 10 while the vibrating unit b is vibrating, for example, during the operation in the mode 1, the selection operation for the audio device 310 in the hierarchy shown in the mode 2 becomes effective. When the rotary switch 12 is rotated, temporary selection is performed in the order of mode switching → volume → fast forward / rewind, and at the same time, the vibrating part of the vibration location corresponding to this temporarily selected item is in the order of a → b → c. Vibrate.

When the user presses the rotary switch 12 while the vibrating unit b is vibrating, for example, during the operation in the mode 2, the selection operation for the volume in the hierarchy shown in the mode 3 becomes effective. When the rotary switch 10 is rotated again, temporary selection is performed in the order of (volume) Up → (volume) Down, and at the same time, the vibrating part of the vibration location corresponding to this temporarily selected item vibrates in the order of a → b. do.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure for selecting an operation item using the input device 100. First, the operation content switching unit 22 reads out the information of the mode 1 (FIG. 3) (step 100), and determines whether or not the rotary switch 10 has been rotated by the user (step 102). If the rotation operation is not performed, a negative judgment is made and this judgment is repeated.

Further, when the rotary switch 10 is rotated, a positive judgment is made in the determination in step 102. Next, the operation content switching unit 22 tentatively selects any of the operation items (air conditioner / audio device / vehicle body control / heater) according to the rotation amount of the rotation operation (step 104). Further, the operation content switching unit 22 sends an instruction to the vibration control unit 30 to vibrate the vibrator at the vibration location corresponding to the tentatively selected operation item (step 106).

Next, the operation item selection unit 50 determines whether or not the rotary switch 10 has been pressed (step 108). If it is not pressed, a negative determination is made, and the process returns to step 102 to repeat the operation after the determination of the presence / absence of the rotation operation. Further, when the rotary switch 10 is pressed, a positive judgment is made in the determination in step 108.

Next, the operation content switching unit 22 determines whether or not a lower operation mode exists (step 110). When a lower operation mode exists (when mode 2 or mode 3 exists as shown in FIG. 3), a positive judgment is made.

Next, the operation item selection unit 50 sets the operation item temporarily selected at that time as the operation item selected by the user (step 112), and reads out the information of the corresponding mode (step 114). For example, in the mode 1 shown in FIG. 3, the "air conditioner" is temporarily selected (the user can recognize that the operation item "air conditioner" is being provisionally selected because the operation unit a is vibrating. When the rotary switch 10 is pressed, "air conditioner" is set as this operation item, and information about the air conditioner corresponding to the lower mode 2 is read out. After that, the process returns to step 102, and the operation after the determination of the presence / absence of the rotation operation of the rotary switch 12 corresponding to the next mode 2 is repeated.

Further, when a negative judgment is made in the determination in step 110 without the existence of the lower operation mode, the operation item selection unit 50 next selects the operation item tentatively selected at that time by the user. It is set as a selected operation item (step 116), and the operation control unit 60 executes control corresponding to the operation item selected by the operation item selection unit 50 (step 118).

In this way, in the input device 100 of the present embodiment, the rotary switches 10 and 12 are rotated to switch the vibrating portions a, b, c, and d at different positions in order to vibrate, and the item to be selected is selected. This item can be selected when the corresponding vibrating part is vibrating, and it is not necessary to distinguish between different vibration patterns, so the time required to confirm the selection status of the operation item can be shortened. It is possible to prevent erroneous recognition of the operation item to be selected.

Further, since each of the vibrating portions a, b, c, and d is arranged at different locations on the upper surface 112 (FIG. 2) as a planar member covered by the user's palm, the palm with high sensitivity to tactile stimulation. In the tactile receptive field area, it is possible to quickly and accurately recognize which vibrating part is vibrating.

Further, since the vibrating portions a, b, c, and d are arranged apart from each other at the positions corresponding to the four corners of the rectangular upper surface 112, it is possible to prevent erroneous recognition of the vibrating portion.

Further, by providing the rotary switches 10 and 12 at positions that can be operated by the user's thumb or middle finger, it becomes easy to operate the rotary switches 10 and 12 while covering each vibrating portion with the palm.

Further, by using the input device 100 for the user to give an operation instruction to the in-vehicle device, when selecting an operation item in the in-vehicle device, the viewpoint can be moved without looking at the operation screen, that is, while driving. It is possible to perform the operation without accompanying.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, four vibrating portions are set, but three or less or five or more vibrating portions may be provided. In addition, the two rotary switches 10 and 12 are used alternately to select the operation item corresponding to each operation mode, but one rotary switch or three or more rotary switches are used. May be good. When using three rotary switches, instead of the rotary switch 12 shown in FIG. 2, two rotary switches are provided in the vicinity thereof at predetermined intervals, and each is operated by the index finger and the middle finger of the user. Can be considered.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the rotary switches 10 and 12 that perform the rotation operation are used, but an operation unit that performs an operation other than the rotation operation may be used.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modified example of an operator provided with an operation unit for detecting a finger slide operation. The operation units 14 and 16 included in the operator 100B can be replaced with the rotary switches 10 and 12 used in the operator 100A shown in FIG. 2, and are used along the touch sensor provided on the surface. When a person slides his / her finger, the slide amount due to this slide operation can be detected. One operation unit 14 corresponds to the operation of the user's thumb, and the other operation unit 16 corresponds to the operation of the user's middle finger. Further, these operation units 14 and 16 output a signal corresponding to this pressing operation when pressed by the user. By using such operation units 14 and 16, it is possible to switch and select operation items according to a slide operation using a user's finger.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the input device 100 for operating the in-vehicle device has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to applications for operating electronic devices other than the in-vehicle device.

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation unit is operated to switch the vibrating parts at different positions in order to vibrate, and this item is when the vibrating part corresponding to the item to be selected is vibrating. Since it is not necessary to distinguish between different vibration patterns, it is possible to shorten the time required to confirm the selection status of the operation item and prevent erroneous recognition of the operation item to be selected. Is possible.

100 Input device 300 Air conditioner 310 Audio device 320 Body control device 330 Heater 10, 12 Rotary switch (RS)
14, 16 Operation unit 20 Operation content setting unit 22 Operation content switching unit 30 Vibration control unit 40, 42, 44, 46 Oscillator 50 Operation item selection unit 60 Operation control unit a, b, c, d Vibration unit

Claims (7)

The operation unit operated with the user's finger and
Multiple vibrating parts that vibrate using each of multiple oscillators,
A switching means for sequentially switching the vibrating vibrating unit according to the content of the first operation using the operating unit, and
A plurality of operation items are set so as to correspond to each of the plurality of vibration units targeted for switching by the switching means, and vibration occurs when a second operation using the operation unit is performed. An item selection means for selecting the operation item corresponding to the vibrating portion, and an item selection means.
An input device characterized by comprising. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of vibrating portions are arranged at different locations on the planar member covered with the palm of the user. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of vibrating portions are arranged apart from each other at positions corresponding to the four corners of the rectangular shape. The input device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the operation unit is provided at a position operated by the user's thumb or middle finger. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first operation is an operation of rotating the operation unit. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first operation is an operation of sliding a finger along the operation unit. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the input device is used for a user to give an operation instruction to an in-vehicle device.

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