JP2022010483A - Controller using magnetic viscous fluid and electronic apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a controller that is small size and low cost and uses a magnetic viscous fluid.SOLUTION: A controller has a main body part, a plurality of moving members that are rotatably supported by the main body part, a magnetic viscous fluid that is provided between the main body part and the plurality of moving members or between the plurality of moving members, and one magnetic field generation part for applying a magnetic field to the magnetic viscous fluid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a control device using a ferrofluid and an electronic device provided with the control device.

An operating member such as a dial or a slide lever for changing a control value is arranged in the electronic device. Some of these operating members use rubber, highly viscous grease, or the like for the sliding portion to appropriately increase the sliding torque of the operating member so that it can rotate comfortably. In addition, by incorporating a click structure, one click feeling can be obtained each time the control value is changed, and all of them are devised to improve the operation feeling of the operating member.

As a device for controlling the operational feeling of such an operating member, a control device using an MR fluid (Magneto Rheological fluid) has been proposed. The MR fluid is obtained by dissolving fine powder of a ferromagnetic material such as iron (about 10 μm in diameter) in a solvent such as oil. When a magnetic field is applied to this, the powders bond with each other and have the property of increasing the viscosity of the MR fluid. Further, since the viscosity also increases as the magnetic field becomes stronger, it is possible to control the viscosity by controlling the strength of the magnetic field.

A well-known configuration as an operation feeling control device using MR fluid is to enclose the MR fluid around a rotating moving body (rotor) and arrange a coil in the vicinity to change the current flowing through the coil. It changes the rotational torque of the rotor. By connecting an operation unit such as a dial to this rotor, the feeling of rotation can be freely changed.

Since such an operation feeling control device is configured to include one rotor and one coil each, a plurality of operation feeling control devices are required to control the feel of a plurality of operation members.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-167603

However, if an operation feeling control device is arranged for each of a plurality of operation members included in the electronic device, the device becomes large and the cost increases.

Therefore, the present invention provides a low-cost and compact control device using a ferrofluid.

The control device as one aspect of the present invention comprises a main body, a plurality of moving members movably supported by the main body, and between the main body and each of the plurality of moving members, or a plurality of the moving members. It has a ferrofluid provided between the moving members and a magnetic field generating unit for applying a magnetic field to the ferrofluid.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be described in the following examples.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a small-sized control device at low cost using a ferrofluid. Further, by using this control device for an electronic device, it is possible to provide a small-sized electronic device at a low cost in which the operation feeling of a plurality of operating members can be changed to a preference.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the operation feeling control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the relationship between the magnetic force applied to MR fluid and the shear stress of MR fluid. The figure which shows the example of the electronic device which used the operation feeling control apparatus of Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the operation feeling control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the example of the electronic device which used the operation feeling control apparatus of Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the operation feeling control device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the example of the electronic device which used the operation feeling control apparatus of Example 3 of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Example 1>
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an operation feeling control device 101 as a control device for realizing the embodiment of the present invention.

The main body of the operation feeling control device 101 is composed of a first main body 101a that also serves as a casing and a second main body 101b. The first main body portion 101a has a structure in which the core portion 101a1 and the cover portion 101a2 form two bodies.

In this configuration, the core portion 101a1 is formed of a magnetic material such as iron, and the cover portion 101a2 is formed of a non-magnetic material such as a resin material. The second main body portion 101b has the same configuration as the cover portion 101a2 of the first main body portion 101a. The first main body portion 101a and the second main body portion 101b may be made of the same material or may be integrated.

An inner cylinder portion 101e is inserted inside the core portion 101a1. The inner cylinder portion 101e has an integrated structure of the coil 101e1 and the holder portion 101e2 by enclosing the coil 101e1 as the magnetic field generating portion with the holder portion 101e2 of the resin material.

In the space surrounded by the first main body portion 101a and the inner cylinder portion 101e, a push button-shaped button device 102, which is an operating member for controlling the feel, is provided. The button device 102 shows the configuration of a push button type switch which is a straight-ahead operation member that slides in the vertical direction of FIG. 1 and can move straight-ahead. The button device 102 is composed of a key top 102a which is a linear movement member and a switch 102b which is a switch member, and the key top 102a turns on the switch by pressing the switch 102b. The electric ON / OFF of the switch is switched by the operation of the switch 102b.

A gap is provided between the key top 102a and the core portion 101a1, and the MR fluid 101d1 is enclosed in this gap. The key top 102a is basically made of a magnetic material, but the magnetic material portion may be the whole or only the tip portion on which the magnetic field acts.

Next, the first rotor 101c, which is a rotating member for controlling the feel of the rotation operating member, is rotatably supported by the inner cylinder portion 101e. A gap is provided between the disk portion 101c1 and the core portion 101a1 of the first rotor 101c, and the MR fluid 101d2 is enclosed in this gap. The first rotor 101c is made of a magnetic material, but the rotor shaft portion 101c2 connected to the outside should be made of a non-magnetic material.

A second main body 101b is attached as a casing for sealing the first rotor 101c, and the second main body 101b is configured to be used as a rotation support member for the first rotor 101c. ing.

In the operation feeling control device 101 having such a configuration, when a current is passed through the coil 101e1, a magnetic field M as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1 is generated. Since the MR fluids 101d1 and 101d2 are provided in the region through which the magnetic field M passes, the viscosity can be changed under the influence of the magnetic field M. When the viscosity of the MR fluid 101d1 increases, viscous resistance occurs when the key top 102a moves straight, and when the viscosity of the MR fluid 101d2 increases, the viscous resistance between the disk portion 101c1 and the MR fluid 101d2 when the first rotor 101c rotates. Occurs. Further, since the viscosity of the MR fluids 101d1 and 101d2 increases when the current value flowing through the coil 101e1 is increased, the viscous resistance of each can be changed by changing the current value flowing through the coil 101e1.

Here, the operating principle will be described using the MR fluid 101d2. As shown in FIG. 2, when the current flowing through the coil 101e1 is T1, the shear stress of the MR fluid 101d2 becomes σ1, and the rotation resistance R1 is generated in the first rotor 101c. Further, when T2 is higher than T1, the shear stress of the MR fluid 101d2 becomes σ2 higher than σ1, and rotational resistance R2 (R2> R1) is generated in the first rotor 101c. As a result, a force for rotating the first rotor 101c is required as compared with the case where the current flowing through the coil 101e is set to T1, so that the operation feeling of the operating member connected to the first rotor 101c can be made heavier (harder). ..

As an example of an electronic device using the operation feeling control device 101 of the present configuration, FIG. 3 shows a device in which the operation feeling control device 101 of the present configuration is applied to the operation members around the release of the camera. In the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the button device 102 is a release device, the key top 102a which is a straight-ahead operation member indicates a release button, and the switch 102b indicates a release switch. As described above, the key top 102a is inserted into the operation feeling control device 101.

Next, the first rotation operation device 103 includes a dial 103a which is a dial-shaped rotation operation member, a first substrate 103b, and a dial brush 103c attached to the dial 103a. A contact pattern is formed on the first substrate 103b, and when the dial 103a is rotated, the dial brush 103c also rotates at the same time and slides on the contact pattern. By detecting the connection state and timing of the contact pattern by the dial brush 103c, the rotation amount, position, rotation direction, etc. of the dial 103a can be read. This makes it possible to change settings such as various parameters of the electronic device (in this embodiment, the shutter speed is changed, the shooting mode is changed, and the like). A first connecting member 105 is attached between the first rotation operation device 103 and the operation feeling control device 101. The dial-side connecting member 105b is a rotating body, and the rotational force is transmitted to the dial 103a by a structure such as frictional contact or a gear. Similarly, the rotor side connecting member 105a and the dial side connecting member 105b attached to the rotor shaft portion 101c2 also transmit rotation by a structure such as frictional contact or a gear.

When the dial 103a is rotated, the first rotor 101c of the operation feeling control device 101 is rotated via the first connecting member 105. Therefore, the rotation resistance of the first rotor 101c is changed by changing the current flowing through the coil 101e1. Can be changed. As a result, the rotational torque of the dial 103a can be changed, and the feel on the finger during rotation can be changed.

Here, regarding the change in feel due to the operation feeling control device 101, when a constant current is continuously passed through the coil 101e1, the MR fluids 101d1 and 101d2 have a constant viscosity. Therefore, the first rotor 101c has a constant rotational torque, and when the key top 102a or the dial 103a is operated, a constant operational resistance force is always felt. When a time-varying current such as a sine wave or a pulse wave is passed through the coil 101e1, a time-series torque change can be obtained when the first rotor 101c is rotated. By passing a current that changes with time in this way, it is possible to obtain a pseudo click feeling when the dial 103a is rotated.

Whether the key top 102a or the dial 103a as an operating member having a one-to-one correspondence with the key top 102a and the first rotor 101c is operated is a contact sensor as an operation determining means for detecting the contact of a finger with each operating member. It can be detected by arranging (not shown). Further, if it is determined that the dial 103a is being operated by installing an encoder and detecting a change in the control value, it is not necessary to dispose the contact sensor with respect to the dial 103a. In this case, normally, the operation feeling of the key top 102a may be controlled, and the operation feeling of the dial 103a may be controlled only when the operation of the dial 103a is detected. By doing so, it is possible to control each operation feeling without providing a contact sensor for the dial 103a.

Further, the button device 102 is a detection means for detecting the movement position, and if an encoder is installed to detect the movement amount of the key top 102a, the button device 102 can be configured according to the movement amount without using the switch 102b. It can be configured to give operation instructions.

Further, there may be a case where it is desired to change the characteristics when controlling the operation feel according to the form and size of the operation device. In such a case, the initial viscosity and the viscosity when a magnetic field is applied can be changed by changing the solvent of the MR fluid or changing the particle size and content of the iron powder contained in the MR fluid depending on the place where the MR fluid is placed. It is possible to change the change aspect of. As a result, it is possible to obtain an optimum operation feel according to the member that controls the operation feel.

As described above, in order to arrange MR fluids in a form specialized for the operation method of a plurality of operation members and control them with one coil, a low-cost and compact operation feeling control device using MR fluid is provided. Is possible. Further, by using this operation feeling control device for an electronic device, it is possible to miniaturize a device capable of changing the operation feeling of a plurality of operation members to a preference at low cost.
<Example 2>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cross section of an operation feeling control device 201 for realizing the second embodiment of the present invention. Members having the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment shall perform the same functions.

Similar to the first embodiment, the main body portion is composed of a first main body portion 201a and a second main body portion 201b that also serve as a casing. The first main body portion 201a has a structure in which the core portion 201a1 and the cover portion 201a2 form two bodies. In this configuration, the core portion 201a1 is formed of a magnetic material such as iron, and the cover portion 201a2 and the second main body portion 201b are formed of a non-magnetic material such as a resin material. An inner cylinder portion 201e is inserted inside the core portion 201a1. The inner cylinder portion 201e has an integrated structure of the coil 201e1 and the holder portion 201e2 by enclosing the coil 201e1 with the holder portion 201e2 of the resin material. A second rotor 202c, which is a rotating member that is rotationally supported, is provided in the first main body portion 201a, and the disk portion 202c1 exists in a space surrounded by the core portion 201a1, the inner cylinder portion 201e, and the cover portion 201a2. .. A gap is provided between the disk portion 202c1 and the core portion 201a1 of the second rotor 202c, and the MR fluid 201d1 is enclosed in this gap. The second rotor 202c is made of a magnetic material, but the rotor shaft portion 202c2 connected to the outside should be made of a non-magnetic material.

Next, the first rotor 201c, which is a rotating member, is rotatably supported by the inner cylinder portion 201e. A gap is provided between the disk portion 201c1 and the core portion 201a1 of the first rotor 201c, and the MR fluid 201d2 is enclosed in this gap.

A second main body portion 201b is attached as a casing for sealing the first rotor 201c, and the second main body portion 201b is configured to be used as a rotation support member of the first rotor 201c. Has been done. The first rotor 201c is made of a magnetic material like the second rotor 202c, but the rotor shaft portion 201c2 connected to the outside should be made of a non-magnetic material.

In the operation feeling control device 201 having such a configuration, when a current is passed through the coil 201e1, the magnetic field M as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4 is generated. Since the MR fluids 201d1 and 201d2 are provided in the region through which the magnetic field M passes, the viscosity can be increased under the influence of the magnetic field M. When the viscosity of the MR fluid 201d1 increases, a viscous resistance is generated between the disk portion 202c1 and the MR fluid 201d1 when the second rotor 202c rotates. When the viscosity of the MR fluid 201d2 increases, a viscous resistance is generated between the disk portion 201c1 and the MR fluid 201d2 when the first rotor 201c rotates. Further, as described above, each viscous resistance can be changed by changing the value of the current flowing through the coil 101e1.

As an example of an electronic device using the operation feeling control device 201 of the present configuration, FIG. 5 shows a device in which the operation feeling control device 201 of the present configuration is applied to the operation members around the release of the camera. Since the operation principle and the operation feeling control method of the first rotation operation device 103 are as described above, they will be omitted. The second rotation operation device 104 is a zoom operation device that changes the focal length of the lens as it is called in a camera.

The second rotation operation device 104 is attached so that the zoom lever 104a as a rotation lever-shaped zoom switch, which is a rotation operation member, rotates coaxially with the key top 102a, and the first substrate 104b and the zoom lever 104a are attached. Consists of a zoom brush 104c attached to. A contact pattern is formed on the second substrate 104b, and when the zoom lever 104a is rotated, the zoom brush 104c also rotates at the same time and slides on the contact pattern. Similar to the first rotation operation device 103, the parameters of the electronic device are changed (in the present embodiment, the focal length of the lens is changed) by determining the connection state of the contact pattern by the zoom brush 104c.

A second connecting member 106 is attached between the second rotation operation device 104 and the operation feeling control device 201. Rotational force is transmitted between the rotor side connecting member 106b attached to the rotor shaft portion 202c2 of the operation feeling control device 201 and the zoom lever side connecting member 106a attached to the zoom lever 104a by a structure such as frictional contact or gear. Will be done.

When the zoom lever 104a is rotated, the second rotor 202c of the operation feeling control device 201 is rotated via the second connecting member 106. At this time, the rotational resistance of the second rotor 202c can be changed by changing the current flowing through the coil 201e1. As a result, the rotational torque of the zoom lever 104a can be changed, and the feeling of being applied to the finger during rotation can be changed.

Similar to the above-described embodiment, it is also possible to obtain a click feeling by passing a time-varying current through the coil 201e1.

As described above, which of the first and second rotation operation devices 103 and 104 as the operation member corresponding to the first and second rotors 201c and 202c one-to-one is operated is determined by the finger on each operation device. It may be detected by arranging a contact sensor for detecting contact. Further, the rotation may be detected by arranging an encoder or the like, or the operation may be determined by detecting the change in the control value due to the operation of the operating member.

As described above, in order to arrange MR fluids in a form specialized for the operation method of a plurality of operation members and control them with one coil, a low-cost and compact operation feeling control device using MR fluid is provided. Is possible. Further, by using this operation feeling control device for an electronic device, it is possible to miniaturize a device capable of changing the operation feeling of a plurality of operation members to a preference at low cost.
<Example 3>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a cross section of an operation feeling control device 301 for realizing the third embodiment of the present invention. Members having the same reference numerals as those of Examples 1 and 2 shall perform the same operation.

Similar to Examples 1 and 2, the main body portion is composed of a first main body portion 301a and a second main body portion 301b that also serve as a casing. The first main body portion 301a has a structure in which the core portion 301a1 and the cover portion 301a2 form two bodies. In this configuration, the core portion 301a1 is formed of a magnetic material such as iron, and the cover portion 301a2 and the second main body portion 301b are formed of a non-magnetic material such as a resin material. The inner cylinder portion 301e is inserted inside the core portion 301a1. The inner cylinder portion 301e has an integrated structure of the coil 301e1 and the holder portion 301e2 by enclosing the coil 301e1 with the holder portion 301e2 of the resin material.

The second rotor 302c, which is a rotating member, is rotatably supported by the cover portion 301a2. Further, a key top 102a, which is a linearly moving member, is provided coaxially with this so as to be fitted with the second rotor 302c. The key top 102a is a part constituting the button device 102, and is a linear operation member that slides in the vertical direction in FIG. The second rotor 302c is made of a magnetic material, but the rotor shaft portion 302c2 connected to the outside should be made of a non-magnetic material.

A gap is provided between the key top 102a and the second rotor 302c, and the MR fluid 301d1 is enclosed in this gap. Further, a gap is also provided between the second rotor 302c and the core portion 301a1, and the MR fluid 301d3 is enclosed in this gap. Although the MR fluids 301d1 and 301d3 are described in the drawings so as to be arranged separately from each other, they may be integrally enclosed (the MR fluid exists between the inner cylinder portion 301e and the disk portion 302c2). May be good).

Next, the first rotor 301c, which is a rotating member, is rotatably supported by the inner cylinder portion 301e. A gap is provided between the disk portion 301c1 and the core portion 301a1 of the first rotor 301c, and the MR fluid 301d2 is enclosed in this gap.

A second main body portion 301b is attached as a casing for sealing the first rotor 301c, and the second main body portion 301b is configured to be used as a rotation support member of the first rotor 301c. Has been done. The first rotor 301c is made of a magnetic material like the second rotor 302c, but the rotor shaft portion 301c2 connected to the outside should be made of a non-magnetic material.

In the operation feeling control device 301 having such a configuration, when a current is passed through the coil 301e1, the magnetic field M as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6 is generated. Since the MR fluids 301d1, 301d2 and 301d3 are provided in the region through which the magnetic field M passes, the viscosity can be changed under the influence of the magnetic field M. When the viscosity of the MR fluid 301d1 increases, viscous resistance occurs when the key top 102a moves straight. When the viscosity of the MR fluid 301d2 increases, a viscous resistance is generated between the disk portion 301c1 and the MR fluid 301d2 when the first rotor 301c rotates. When the viscosity of the MR fluid 301d3 increases, a viscous resistance is generated between the disk portion 302c1 and the MR fluid 301d2 when the second rotor 302c rotates. Further, as described above, each viscous resistance can be changed by changing the value of the current flowing through the coil 301e1.

Here, the MR fluid 301d3 exists to control the second rotor 302c, but in the present configuration, if the MR fluid 301d1 exists, the operation feeling of the key top 102a and the second rotor 302c is felt. Control can be combined. Therefore, the MR fluid 301d3 may not be present. However, since the MR fluid 301d1 exists in the inner diameter portion of the second rotor 302c, it may not be possible to finely control the second rotor 302c. Therefore, by using the MR fluid 301d3 for a portion having a larger diameter of the second rotor 302c, necessary control can be performed.

As an example of an electronic device using the operation feeling control device 301 of the present configuration, FIG. 7 shows a device in which the operation feeling control device 301 of the present configuration is applied to the operation members around the release of the camera. The key top 102a of the button device 102, which is a release device, is inserted into the operation feeling control device 301.

Since the operation principle and the operation feeling control method of the first rotation operation device 103 are as described above, they will be omitted.

The second rotation operation device 104 is a zoom operation device that changes the focal length of the lens as it is called in a camera. The zoom lever 104a, which is a rotation operation member of the second rotation operation device 104, is attached so as to rotate coaxially with the key top 102a and rotates. The rotor shaft portion 302c2 of the second rotor 302c, which is also arranged coaxially with the key top 102a, is connected to the zoom lever 104a so as to rotate integrally. As a result, when the zoom lever 104a is rotated, the second rotor 302c rotates at the same time, so that the feel during rotation can be changed by changing the viscosity of the MR fluid 301d3.

As described above, the button device 102 and the second rotation operation device 104 can be controlled by using the MR fluids 301d1 and 301d2, respectively, to change the operation feel.

As described above, in order to arrange MR fluids in a form specialized for the operation method of a plurality of operation members and control them with one coil, a low-cost and compact operation feeling control device using MR fluid is provided. Is possible. Further, by using this operation feeling control device for an electronic device, it is possible to miniaturize a device capable of changing the operation feeling of a plurality of operation members to a preference at low cost.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and modifications can be made within the scope of the gist thereof.

Main body 101a, 101b, 201a, 201b, 301a, 301b
Moving members 101c, 102a, 201c, 202c, 301c, 302c
MR fluid 101d1,101d2,201d1,201d2,301d1,301d2,301d3
Magnetic field generator 101e1,201e1,301e1

Claims (15)

With the main body
A plurality of moving members movably supported by the main body,
A ferrofluid provided between the main body and each of the plurality of moving members or between the plurality of moving members, respectively.
A control device having one magnetic field generating unit for applying a magnetic field to the ferrofluid. The control device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of moving members is a rotary member rotatably supported. The control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of moving members is a linearly movable member supported so as to be linearly movable. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ferrofluid has different characteristics depending on the place where it is arranged. With multiple operating members
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and the like.
An electronic device characterized in that the plurality of operating members and the plurality of moving members are connected to each other on a one-to-one basis. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of operating members are a linearly moving and operating member or a rotationally moving and operating member. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the straight-ahead operation member is a push button-shaped operation member for operating the electronic device. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the push button-shaped operating member is provided with a switch member that is electrically turned on / off by operating the operating member. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the push button-shaped operating member is provided with a detecting means for detecting a moving position of the operating member. The electronic device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the rotation operating member includes a dial-shaped operating member for changing a control value of the electronic device. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the parameters of the electronic device can be changed according to the amount of rotation of the dial-shaped operating member. The electronic device according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the rotation operation member includes a rotation lever-shaped operation member for changing a control value of the electronic device. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the parameters of the electronic device can be changed according to the amount of rotation of the rotary lever-shaped operating member. The electronic device is a camera
The straight-ahead operation member is an operation member that operates a release switch included in the camera.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the rotation operation member is a dial for changing the setting of the camera and a zoom switch for changing the focal length of the lens. .. The electronic device according to any one of claims 5 to 14, further comprising an operation determining means for detecting whether or not each of the plurality of operating members is being operated.

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