JP2022033481A - Operating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an operating apparatus which can secure high design quality with a simple configuration and can also give feedback on touch operations.SOLUTION: An operating apparatus 3 has a touch detection section 13 for detecting a touch operation on an operation surface 4, and a display section 12 for displaying images of display items inputted through the touch operation in the operation surface 4. A skin part 8, for making the display items visible in the operation surface 4 by passing through the images of the display items displayed by the display section 12, is wound around the display section 12 and the touch detection section 13. A shape-memory alloy wire 19 is sewn, as a vibration generation section 18 capable of generating vibrations, on the skin part 8. A touch operation causes the shape-memory alloy wire 19 to vibrate, thereby giving haptic operation feedback on the touch operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a touch-operated operating device.

Conventionally, as a kind of touch-type operation device that operates the operation surface by touch (including tracing etc.), a touch pad device that remotely controls the screen on the display by a touch pad arranged separately from the display is well known (). See Patent Document 1 etc.).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-206341

Currently, the touchpad is attached to a specified position such as the center console of the driver's seat or the steering wheel, and is always present in the driver's seat regardless of whether it is turned on or off. By the way, in recent years, there is a strong need to improve the design of the driver's seat space, but in order to satisfy this need with a touchpad, for example, the touchpad is made movable and stored in a predetermined frame when not in use. , It is assumed that a structure that is exposed to the outside by rotating or sliding during use will be adopted. However, in this case, there is a problem that the structure of the touch pad becomes complicated.

Further, in this type of touch pad, the operation surface of the touch pad vibrates during the touch operation, so that the user can be tactilely notified whether or not the touch operation has been executed. It is very convenient because it can be smoothly recognized whether or not the operation was possible. Therefore, there is a need for the development of a technology that can achieve both high designability with a simple structure and operation feedback at the time of touch operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide an operation device capable of ensuring high designability by a simple structure and performing operation feedback at the time of touch operation.

The operation device for solving the above-mentioned problems is a touch detection unit that detects a touch operation on the operation surface and outputs a touch detection signal corresponding to the touch operation, and a display unit that displays an image related to the touch operation on the operation surface. A skin portion that covers at least a part of the touch detection unit and the display unit and transmits an image of the display item displayed by the display unit so that the display item can be visually recognized on the operation surface. It is provided with a vibration generating portion that is held by the skin portion and vibrates in response to the touch operation to give a tactile sensation to the touch operation.

According to the present invention, it is possible to both secure high designability by a simple structure and perform operation feedback at the time of touch operation.

The perspective view which shows the mounting state in the vehicle of the operation apparatus of one Embodiment. Configuration diagram of the operating device. The perspective view which shows how to sew a shape memory alloy wire. Flowchart executed during touch operation. (A) and (b) are perspective views showing display items displayed on transparent leather. An explanatory diagram showing how the shape memory alloy expands and contracts. Sectional drawing of the operation device of another example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the operating device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.
As shown in FIG. 1, an operating device 3 to be operated when operating the in-vehicle device 2 is provided in the vehicle of the vehicle 1. The operation device 3 of this example is a touch panel type operation device that operates the operation surface 4 on the surface of the device by touching a finger or the like. The operation device 3 is arranged in, for example, a center cluster in the vehicle. The vehicle-mounted device 2 operated by the operating device 3 includes, for example, an air conditioner device, an audio device, a car navigation device, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation device 3 includes an operation unit 5 that serves as an interface for touch operation, and a control device 6 that controls the operation of the operation unit 5. The operation unit 5 includes a touch panel 7 that displays various images on the operation surface 4 to detect a touch operation on the operation surface 4, and a skin portion 8 arranged so as to cover the periphery of the touch panel 7.

The touch panel 7 includes a display unit 12 that displays an image related to the operation on the operation surface 4 when selecting or executing a function of the vehicle-mounted device 2, and a touch detection unit 13 that detects a touch operation on the operation surface 4. The display unit 12 is preferably, for example, a flexible organic EL display. The display unit 12 displays an image of the display item 11 (see FIG. 5B) on the operation surface 4 of the touch operation, that is, the surface of the skin unit 8. Display item 11 includes, for example, when the operation target is an air conditioner device, an air volume adjustment switch, an air flow mode selection switch, a temperature adjustment switch, an on / off switch, an A / C switch, an inside / outside air changeover switch, and the like.

The touch detection unit 13 is preferably an electrostatic electrode, for example, and is formed so as to be able to transmit the image displayed by the display unit 12 on the back surface side. The touch detection unit 13 outputs a touch detection signal Sa corresponding to a touch operation on the operation surface 4.

As the skin portion 8, a transparent leather 14 that transmits light is used. In this way, the skin portion 8 transmits the image of the display item 11 displayed by the display unit 12 and makes the display item 11 visible to the user on the operation surface 4. The transmissive leather 14 of this example preferably has a transmittance of 0.1 to 20% in the visible light region, for example. The transparent leather 14 is attached to the touch panel 7 so as to cover the entire touch panel 7. The transparent leather 14 is preferably made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride or an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer whose surface is textured (thickness is about 0.5 mm). The transparent leather 14 is attached so as to wrap the display unit 12 and the touch detection unit 13.

The operation unit 5 includes an operation intention detection unit 15 that detects the presence or absence of the user's operation intention with respect to the operation unit 5. The operation intention detection unit 15 is, for example, a pressure sensor incorporated in the operation unit 5, and determines whether or not a user's hand, finger, or the like is placed on the upper surface (for example, the operation surface 4) of the operation unit 5. It is to detect. When the operation intention detection unit 15 detects the placement of the user's hand, finger, or the like, the operation intention detection signal Sb outputs the operation intention detection signal Sb to the control device 6. The sensor type and the arrangement position of the operation intention detection unit 15 are not particularly limited as long as they can detect the operation intention of the user with respect to the operation surface 4.

The operation unit 5 includes a vibration generating unit 18 that vibrates in response to a touch operation on the operation surface 4 and tactilely gives operation feedback of the touch operation to the user. For the vibration generation unit 18 of this example, for example, a shape memory alloy wire (SMA) 19 is used. The shape memory alloy wire 19 is held by at least a part of the skin portion 8. In the case of this example, the shape memory alloy wire 19 is sewn into the joint 20 of the skin portion 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shape memory alloy wire 19 is provided so as to sew a joint 20 on the back surface of the skin portion 8 on the back surface of the operation unit 5. The shape memory alloy wire 19 is preferably a wire having a diameter of 100 μm or less, for example. In the case of this example, the shape memory alloy wire 19 is sewn so as to wind around the joint 20 on the back surface of the skin portion 8 to join the skin portions 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 6 has a detection determination unit 23 that determines a touch operation on the operation surface 4 based on the touch detection signal Sa input from the touch detection unit 13, and a display that controls the display mode of the display unit 12. It includes a control unit 24 and a vibration control unit 25 that controls the operation of the vibration generation unit 18. The control device 6 recognizes the touch-operated display item 11 based on the determination result of the detection determination unit 23 among the display items 11 displayed by the display control unit 24, and conforms to the touch-operated display item 11. The in-vehicle device 2 is controlled so as to operate.

At the time of touch operation, the vibration control unit 25 outputs a pulsed voltage signal Sc to the shape memory alloy wire 19 to cause the shape memory alloy wire 19 to vibrate minutely. As described above, the shape memory alloy wire 19 slightly vibrates by expanding and contracting based on the pulsed voltage signal Sc during the touch operation, and tactilely gives the operation feedback of the touch operation to the user. The shape memory alloy wire 19 shrinks at the time of inputting the Hi level signal and expands at the time of inputting the Lo level signal in the pulsed voltage signal Sc. By repeating the shape change every time the pulse is switched between Hi / Lo, it is minute. Vibrate.

Next, the operation of the operation device 3 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. The flowchart of FIG. 4 is started when, for example, the power supply of the vehicle 1 is ACC on (accessory power on) or IG on (ignition power on) and the power is turned on to the operation device 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, in step 101, the control device 6 determines whether or not the operation intention detection signal Sb has been input from the operation intention detection unit 15. That is, when the operation intention detection unit 15 detects the user's operation intention for the operation device 3 by placing a hand, a finger, or the like on the operation surface 4, the control device 6 is operated from the operation intention detection unit 15. It is determined whether or not the intention detection signal Sb is input. When the operation intention detection signal Sb is input, the process proceeds to step 102, and when the operation intention detection signal Sb is not input, the process proceeds to step 101.

In step 102, when the operation intention detection signal Sb is input from the operation intention detection unit 15, the control device 6 turns on the display unit 12. The display of the display unit 12 is controlled by the display control unit 24.

5 (a) and 5 (b) show the state diagrams of the display unit 12 when it is turned off and when it is turned on. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the display unit 12 is turned off, nothing is displayed on the skin portion 8. At this time, since the surface of the operation surface 4 looks like leather, the high design of the operation surface 4 can be ensured when the display unit 12 is turned off.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the display unit 12 is turned on, the image of the display item 11 displayed by the display unit 12 is projected onto the skin unit 8. In the case of this example, since the touch detection unit 13 is an electrostatic electrode, the image displayed by the display unit 12 passes through the touch detection unit 13 and reaches the skin portion 8. Therefore, the image of the display item 11 can be visually recognized through the skin portion 8. When the user wants to operate the in-vehicle device 2, the user touch-operates the display item 11 projected on the skin portion 8. In the case of this example, since the skin portion 8 is a kind of resin, the touch operation on the surface of the skin portion 8 is transmitted to the touch detection unit 13 via the skin portion 8.

As shown in FIG. 4, in step 103, the control device 6 determines whether or not the touch detection signal Sa has been input from the touch detection unit 13. In the case of this example, the detection determination unit 23 determines the touch coordinates touch-operated on the operation surface 4 based on the input touch detection signal Sa, and the image of which display item 11 displayed on the skin portion 8 is the touch operation. Recognize what was done. The control device 6 outputs a control signal Sd to the vehicle-mounted device 2 corresponding to the touch-operated display item 11, and operates the vehicle-mounted device 2 based on the control signal Sd. If the touch detection signal Sa is detected in step 103, the process proceeds to step 104, and if the touch detection signal Sa is not detected, the process proceeds to step 106.

In step 104, when the vibration control unit 25 detects a touch operation on the operation surface 4, the vibration generation unit 18, that is, the shape memory alloy wire 19 is energized. When the shape memory alloy wire 19 is energized, the shape memory alloy wire 19 vibrates.

FIG. 6 illustrates the vibration of the shape memory alloy wire 19. The waveform shown in the first stage from the top in the figure is a waveform diagram of the pulsed voltage signal Sc applied to the shape memory alloy wire 19. Further, the figure shown in the second stage of the figure is the shape of the shape memory alloy wire 19 when the pulse of the voltage signal Sc is applied, and the figure of the third stage of the figure shows the pulse of the voltage signal Sc. It is the shape of the shape memory alloy wire 19 when it is not applied.

As shown in the figure, the vibration control unit 25 causes the shape memory alloy wire 19 to vibrate minutely by outputting a pulsed voltage signal Sc to the shape memory alloy wire 19. The shape memory alloy wire 19 vibrates in the pulsed voltage signal Sc by repeating the shape deformation that contracts when the Hi level signal is input and expands when the Lo level signal is input, every time the pulse Hi / Lo is switched. Occurs.

Specifically, by applying a pulsed voltage signal Sc to the shape memory alloy wire 19, the suture expands and contracts in synchronization with the pulsed voltage signal Sc, which causes the skin portion 8 to be pulled and stretched to operate the touch panel. Vibration can be transmitted to the surface 4. This is transmitted to the finger or the like of the user who performs the touch operation as the operation feedback of the touch operation. The shape memory alloy wire 19 vibrates for a predetermined fixed time after the touch operation is detected. Further, the micro-vibration can generate a high frequency of about 30 to 200 Hz. Since this band is a frequency that humans can feel very sensitive, it is also one of the advantages that it is very effective in terms of signal transmission.

As shown in FIG. 4, in step 105, the display control unit 24 switches the display of the display unit 12 to a mode corresponding to the touch operation of the user. For example, when the set temperature is switched by a touch operation in the air conditioner device, the set temperature after the operation switching is displayed on the display unit 12.

In step 106, the control device 6 determines whether or not the operation intention detection signal Sb has been input from the operation intention detection unit 15. That is, the control device 6 determines whether or not the user's intention to operate the operation unit 5 is continued. When the operation intention detection signal Sb is input, the process returns to step 103 and the process is repeated, and when the operation intention detection signal Sb is not input, the process proceeds to step 107.

In step 107, when the operation intention detection signal Sb is not input from the operation intention detection unit 15, the control device 6 turns off the display unit 12. As a result, the image of the display item 11 displayed on the operation surface 4 of the operation unit 5, that is, the surface of the skin portion 8, disappears, and the image returns to the skin portion 8 of the leather-like design.

According to the operation device 3 of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A touch detection unit 13 that detects a touch operation on the operation surface 4 and outputs a touch detection signal Sa corresponding to the touch operation, a display unit 12 that displays an image related to the touch operation on the operation surface 4, and a display unit. The skin portion 8 and the skin portion 8 which cover at least a part of the touch detection unit 12 and the touch detection unit 13 and transmit the image of the display item displayed by the display unit 12 so that the display item can be visually recognized on the operation surface 4 are held. The operation device 3 is provided with a vibration generating unit 18 that imparts a tactile sensation to the touch operation by vibrating in response to the touch operation.

According to the configuration of this example, when the display unit 12 is turned off, the pattern on the surface of the skin portion 8 becomes the design surface, and the high designability of the operating device 3 is ensured. Therefore, the high design of the operating device 3 can be ensured by simply turning off the display unit 12. Further, when the display item 11 projected and displayed on the operation surface 4 on the surface of the skin portion 8 is touch-operated when the display unit 12 is lit, the vibration generating portion 18 sewn into the skin portion 8 is vibrated. It is possible to give tactile operation feedback to the touch operation. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both high designability by a simple structure and operation feedback at the time of touch operation.

(2) The operating device 3 is provided with a vibration control unit 25 that controls the vibration generation unit 18 based on the touch detection signal Sa of the touch detection unit 13. In this case, through the control of the vibration control unit 25, the vibration generation unit 18 can be vibrated in various modes according to the touch operation. Therefore, it is possible to generate appropriate vibration according to the type of the display item 11 that has been touch-operated and the method of touch operation.

(3) The vibration generating unit 18 is a shape memory alloy wire 19 that generates minute vibration by expanding and contracting based on a pulse-shaped (square wave) voltage signal Sc. In this case, since the shape memory alloy wire 19 can be sewn into the skin portion 8 as the vibration generation source, the vibration generation source can be attached to the skin portion 8 in an inconspicuous state. Therefore, it further contributes to ensuring the design of the operating device 3.

(4) The shape memory alloy wire 19 is formed to have a diameter of 100 μm or less. Therefore, the shape memory alloy wire 19 can be made inconspicuous, which further contributes to ensuring the design of the operating device 3. In addition, the sewing position of the skin portion 8 is less likely to be restricted.

(5) The shape memory alloy wire 19 is held by the skin portion 8 so as to connect the ends of the skin portion 8 to each other. Therefore, the vibration generation source at the time of touch operation can be shared as a member for connecting the skin portions 8, which contributes to suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

In addition, this embodiment can be changed and carried out as follows. The present embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
[About operating device 3]
-As shown in FIG. 7, the operating device 3 is not limited to a structure fixed to the mounting destination, and may be, for example, a portable handy type. In this case, the operation intention detection unit 15 may be a grip detection unit attached to the operation unit 5. Therefore, it is preferable to turn on the display unit 12 when the gripping detection unit detects that the operating device 3 has been gripped by the user. In this configuration, the operating device 3 can be used as a freely portable terminal.

The mounting position of the operation unit 5 of the operation device 3 is not limited to the center console, and may be provided, for example, on the armrest of the seat.
[About touch detection unit 13]
The touch detection unit 13 is not limited to the capacitance type, and can be changed to various types such as a resistance film type.

The touch detection unit 13 is not limited to a flat plate shape, but may be a curved surface shape.
The touch detection unit 13 may have a size (area) different from that of the display unit 12.
The touch detection unit 13 is not limited to being driven when the operation intention is detected by the operation intention detection unit 15, and may be constantly driven, for example, after the power is turned on.

[About display unit 12]
The display unit 12 is not limited to the organic display, and may be changed to a liquid crystal display or the like.
The display unit 12 may not have flexibility.

The display unit 12 is not limited to a flat plate shape, but may be a curved surface shape.
The display unit 12 is not limited to being driven when the operation intention is detected by the operation intention detection unit 15, and may be constantly driven, for example, after the power is turned on.

[About display item 11]
The display item 11 may be an image selected by the user, such as an icon or a screen.

-The display item 11 is not limited to the pattern, but may be characters.
[About the epidermis 8]
The skin portion 8 is not limited to the transparent leather 14, and may be any member as long as it can project an image of the display item 11 projected from the back surface.

The skin portion 8 is not limited to covering the entire periphery of the component group of the display unit 12 and the touch detection unit 13, and may at least cover the surface side that enters the user's field of view.
-The epidermis portion 8 is not limited to being composed of one epidermis, and may have a structure in which a plurality of epidermis are joined together.

[About the vibration generating part 18 and the shape memory alloy wire 19]
-The shape memory alloy wire 19 may be provided at a plurality of locations.
The shape memory alloy wire 19 is not limited to being provided on the back surface of the operation unit 5, but may be arranged on the front surface or the side surface of the operation unit 5.

The shape memory alloy wire 19 is not limited to being provided so as to sew the joint 20 of the skin portion 8, and may be sewn to a portion other than the joint 20.
The shape memory alloy wire 19 may be sewn either completely hidden inside the skin portion 8 or partially exposed on the surface of the skin portion 8. As described above, the shape memory alloy wire 19 may be sewn in any way.

The shape memory alloy wire 19 is not limited to being sewn into the skin portion 8, but may be held in the skin portion 8.
The diameter of the shape memory alloy wire 19 is not limited to 100 μm or less, and may be larger than this. The diameter of the shape memory alloy wire 19 is preferably 50 μm or less, for example, from the viewpoint of ease of sewing and inconspicuousness.

The vibration generating portion 18 is not limited to the shape memory alloy wire 19, and may be any member as long as it can be sewn into the skin portion 8.
[others]
-During the touch operation, the vibration is not limited to one vibration pattern for one touch operation, and the operation feedback of the touch operation may be given by a plurality of vibration patterns.

The operating device 3 may be provided on the steering wheel of the vehicle 1. In this case, it can also be provided on the grip portion (grip) of the steering wheel. When the operating device 3 is profitable from the grip portion of the steering wheel, it is preferable that the operating device 3 is formed in a circular cross section.

-The operating device 3 is not limited to being applied to the vehicle 1, and may be used for devices and devices other than the vehicle 1.

3 ... Operation device, 4 ... Operation surface, 8 ... Skin part, 11 ... Display item, 12 ... Display part, 13 ... Touch detection part, 18 ... Vibration generation part, 19 ... Shape memory alloy wire, 25 ... Vibration control part, Sa ... Touch detection signal, Sc ... Voltage signal.

Claims (5)

A touch detection unit that detects a touch operation on the operation surface and outputs a touch detection signal corresponding to the touch operation.
A display unit that displays an image related to the touch operation on the operation surface,
A skin portion that covers at least a part of the touch detection unit and the display unit, transmits an image of a display item displayed by the display unit, and makes the display item visible on the operation surface.
An operation device including a vibration generating portion that is held by the skin portion and vibrates in response to a touch operation to give a tactile sensation to the touch operation. The operation device according to claim 1, further comprising a vibration control unit that controls the vibration generation unit based on the touch detection signal of the touch detection unit. The operating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vibration generating portion is a shape memory alloy wire that generates minute vibration by expanding and contracting based on a pulsed voltage signal. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein the shape memory alloy wire is formed to have a diameter of 100 μm or less. The operating device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the shape memory alloy wire is held in the skin portion so as to connect the ends of the skin portions to each other.

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