JP5015082B2 - INPUT DEVICE, ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING THE SAME, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR INPUT DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device capable of improving sensory operability for a user, an electronic apparatus including the input device, and an input device control method.

  At present, PCs (personal computers) are widely used, and applications having various functions are implemented. As an application mounted on a PC, for example, there is software having functions of document creation and numerical calculation (spreadsheet calculation). These applications usually have a scrolling function (scroll bar) of a highly useful window system. This scroll bar is one of GUI (Graphical User Interface) parts (widgets), and is used to change the display area of information that does not fit in a single window displayed on the PC screen.

  The scroll bar is displayed on the PC screen as shown in FIG. 23, for example. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a scroll bar displayed in a window, showing the prior art. A screen 201 shown in FIG. 23 displays a vertical scroll bar 202 arranged vertically in a window displaying an application having a numerical calculation function, and a horizontal scroll bar 203 arranged horizontally.

Each vertical scroll bar 202 and the horizontal scroll bar 203, a knob portion (knob) 202A, 20 3A, a composite component consisting of Arrow 20 2B, and 203B. Knob portion 202A, 20 3A, among the information that does not fit in window, indicates the position in the window, to represent like percentage of entire information. Further, arrow 20 2B, 203B is used to move the site 202A, 20 3A knob displayed arrow direction.

The knob portion 202A, 20 3A and Arrows 20 2B, and is 203B, usually operated by a mouse connected to a PC, a pointing device such as a touch pad (an input device). For example knob portion 202A, 20 3A, by being dragged by using these input devices, makes it possible to move to work with the movement of the information displayed. Each time the arrows 20 2B and 203B are clicked using these input devices, the displayed information and the knob part 202A, the predetermined amount of movement set in the direction indicated by the arrows 20 2B and 203B is displayed. 20 3A is moved.

  In addition, the scroll function adjusts the output from the speaker connected to (internal) the PC as well as the vertical scroll bar 202 (or horizontal scroll bar 203) that functions in an application having document creation and numerical calculation functions. Also applies. For example, a PC usually has a volume control function for adjusting the output from a speaker. When adjusting the output from the speaker, the user displays a volume control screen 210 as shown in FIG. The volume control screen 210 displays a balance bar 211 that has a scroll function and adjusts the output from the speaker, and a volume bar 212 that adjusts the volume output from the speaker. Similar to the vertical scroll bar 202, the user operates the balance bar 211 or the volume bar 212 by using an input device such as a mouse to adjust the output from the speaker. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a volume control screen for adjusting the output from a speaker connected to a PC, which shows a conventional technique.

  Further, as an application having a scroll function, for example, there is a media player having a function of reproducing / recording a moving image or music (sound). The media player is not only capable of playing video or music, but also a playlist function, a skin function that can customize the appearance or operation of the software, a recording function from a CD (compact disk), a copyright management function, It has various functions such as a function for displaying the lyrics of a song. Furthermore, many media players also have a function for easily receiving a net radio or the like, a function for distributing promotional audio / video on a startup screen, a function for using a video content distribution service, and the like.

  In addition to the various functions as described above, the media player is usually equipped with a scroll function for adjusting the playback position of a moving image or music. As shown in FIG. 25, when the media player is used, the media player screen 220 displaying various functions of the media player displays moving images, information on the music to be output, and the like, and plays back the moving images or music. A reproduction bar 221 having a scroll function for indicating the position is displayed. Similar to the vertical scroll bar 202, the user operates the playback bar 221 to adjust the playback position by using an input device such as a mouse. In addition, the media player has a scroll function that enables operations other than the playback bar 221, and the user can use the scroll function to control the volume bar, the balance bar, the playback bar, and the selection as described above. It is also possible to operate functions such as station, fast forward / rewind. FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a media player screen that displays various functions of the media player, showing a conventional technique.

  Furthermore, the application such as the media player as described above is implemented not only in the PC but also in a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a mobile PC, and a PDA (personal digital assistance). These mobile terminals include, for example, a display that displays information provided by executing an application, and function keys as hardware such as a push cross key, a rotation key, and a touch panel for operating the application. Also in these portable terminals, an application having a scroll function is mounted in order to realize the same operation as that of the PC. When this scroll function is executed (that is, when the user uses a scroll bar, volume bar, balance bar, reproduction bar, etc.), the user operates the function keys. As a result, as in the case of the PC, for example, the playback position of the moving image or music played back by the media player can be changed.

  Here, when the touch panel is provided in the electronic device as in the case where the touch panel is used as the function key of the mobile terminal, the normal display and the touch panel are integrally provided. Some of such electronic devices have a configuration in which the touch panel itself vibrates or a configuration in which a vibration unit provided in the touch panel vibrates. Examples of such an electronic device include various devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a touch panel device in which a touch panel having ears on each of the upper, lower, left, and right sides is laid on the entire display, and a horizontal displacement portion or a vertical displacement portion is provided at a position corresponding to each ear portion. Has been. Specifically, in this touch panel device, the horizontal direction displacement unit displaces the touch panel in the left-right direction, and the vertical direction displacement unit displaces the touch panel in the vertical direction. Moreover, since the horizontal direction displacement part and the vertical direction displacement part are driven by adjusting timing, displacement speed, and size, a plurality of vibration patterns can be generated. That is, the touch panel can be vibrated in a desired two-dimensional direction by the horizontal direction displacement unit and the vertical direction displacement unit.

  With this configuration, the touch panel device can move the user's finger or the like to a specific position desired by the user. In addition, by giving specific meanings to various vibration patterns, information output from the touch pad device can be provided to the user as tactile information based on the vibration patterns.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an input device including a display, a vibration film divided into grid-like sections, and a touch panel provided with a switch at an arbitrary position. Specifically, the input device is provided with a vibration film on a display, and a touch panel is provided on the vibration film, and a switch provided on the touch panel and each part of the vibration film divided in a grid shape Are provided to respond.

  In this input device, when a switch is pressed by the user, each display on the display corresponding to each switch is visually vibrated by vibrating vertically or horizontally, or when the size is relatively changed. The visual vibration given to the user is provided to the user. Further, in the case where each part of the vibration film is configured to vibrate differently, the user can sense which switch is pressed from the vibration transmitted to the fingertip.

  Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a display-type input device including a display panel having a plurality of scroll areas, a touch panel for performing scroll control corresponding to the scroll areas, and a vibration panel for vibrating the touch panel. Yes. Specifically, each scroll area is set to scroll items displayed on the scroll unit in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed. When an arbitrary scroll area is pressed, the vibration panel is controlled to vibrate corresponding to the scroll area.

With this configuration, the user is given feedback by different vibrations depending on the scroll direction and speed, and therefore can grasp the scroll direction and speed without gazing at the menu screen.
JP 2003-58321 A (published February 28, 2003) JP 2003-186622 A (published July 4, 2003) JP 2006-163460 A (published June 22, 2006)

  However, the scroll bar, the volume bar, the balance bar, and the playback bar shown in FIGS. 23 to 25 are implemented as software in an electronic device such as a PC, but are not implemented as hardware. That is, in order to execute software having these scroll functions, hardware such as a mouse, a push cross key, a rotation key, and a touch panel is operated. In other words, in order to execute functions such as the conventional scroll bar implemented by software, it is necessary to operate through hardware, so the operability is inferior compared to the case of directly operating the scroll bar etc. Problems arise. Note that it is difficult to mount an input device such as a mouse in a portable terminal or the like, and there may be a situation where the scroll function cannot be fully utilized.

  Here, there is a slide key as hardware having a configuration similar to the shape of the scroll bar. The slide key is used, for example, for opening and closing a mobile terminal, key lock, and the like, and does not assume that the knob part of the slide key is moved finely. Therefore, when a scroll bar as hardware is realized by using a slide key, there is a problem that its operability is greatly inferior to the scroll function as software.

  Moreover, in the techniques of Patent Documents 1 to 3, the information recognizing the information is improved by transmitting the information displayed on the display to the user by using vibration. Is not disclosed. Furthermore, in the techniques of Patent Documents 1 to 3, although the entire touch panel or one switch or one scroll area provided on the touch panel is vibrated, the configuration is not configured to move the vibration location.

  In addition, software having a scroll function, slide keys, and the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are based on the assumption that a user operates while viewing information displayed on a display. That is, these techniques do not assume that the user operates without looking at the display, and it is difficult to perform a desired operation without looking at the display. For example, it is difficult for the user to perform a desired scrolling operation in a state where the portable terminal is inserted into a pocket of the user's clothes or bag (that is, the user cannot see the display). Therefore, with these technologies, it is difficult to provide sensory operability to the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is an input device capable of improving sensory operability for a user, an electronic apparatus including the input device, and an input device control method. Is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, an input device according to the present invention is an input device for a user to input a position, and includes a tactile stimulation unit having a tactile stimulation surface that performs perceptible output when the user touches, and the tactile sense A position detection unit that detects a contact position touched by a user on the tactile stimulation surface of the stimulation unit and outputs the contact position as a position input by the user; a first region including the contact position on the tactile stimulation surface; Output state control means for controlling the tactile stimulation unit so as to be in an output state different from the second region excluding the first region.

  Further, an input device control method according to the present invention is a control method for an input device in which a user inputs a position in order to solve the above-described problem, and the input device outputs an output that can be perceived by the user. A tactile stimulation unit having a tactile stimulation surface to perform, a position detection step of detecting a contact position touched by the user on the tactile stimulation surface of the tactile stimulation unit and outputting the contact position as a position input by the user; An output state control step for controlling the tactile stimulus unit so that the first region including the contact position on the tactile stimulus surface and the second region excluding the first region are in different output states; It is characterized by including.

  According to the above configuration, the output state control means outputs the first region including the contact position on the tactile stimulation surface that can be perceived by the user and the second region excluding the first region. The tactile stimulation unit is controlled so as to be different from each other. Note that the output state of the first region and the second region includes a state in which no output is performed.

  Therefore, when the user touches the tactile stimulation surface, the input device can control the output on the tactile stimulation surface so as to match the movement of the contact position touched by the user. That is, the input device can move the first region in an output state different from the other region (second region) of the tactile stimulation surface so as to follow the movement of the contact position touched by the user. .

  Therefore, the input device can realize the function of the scroll bar as software as hardware. That is, the input device can improve sensory (tactile) operability for the user. Further, the user can experience a scroll bar as hardware by using the input device.

  Furthermore, since the input device performs tactile output to the user, it can be operated without looking at the input device itself. When the input device is provided in an electronic device having a display, for example, the user can recognize the output by simply touching the tactile stimulation surface without looking at the display. The operation can be performed reliably.

  Furthermore, in the input device according to the present invention, the haptic stimulation unit may be divided into a plurality of sections whose output states are independently controlled by the output state control means.

  According to the above configuration, the input device can generate an independent output state for each section on the tactile stimulation surface. For this reason, the input device can accurately control the output states of the first region and the second region.

  Furthermore, in the input device according to the present invention, the output on the tactile stimulation surface may be vibration.

  According to the above configuration, the input device can control the output on the tactile stimulation surface as vibration. Therefore, the user can realize a scroll bar as hardware that can be perceived by vibration.

  Furthermore, in the input device according to the present invention, the tactile stimulation unit includes a thin plate-like vibration unit having the tactile stimulation surface that outputs vibration and a thin plate-like protruding unit that raises or sinks the tactile stimulation surface. You may have been.

  According to the above configuration, the input device can raise or lower the tactile stimulation surface in a direction perpendicular to the tactile stimulation surface so as to change the center position of the vibration amplitude on the tactile stimulation surface. Therefore, since the input device can raise or lower the first region or the second region of the tactile stimulation surface, it is possible to provide a user with more sensory operability.

  Further, in the input device according to the present invention, the tactile stimulation unit is formed by laminating a thin plate-like vibration unit having a vibration surface for outputting vibration and a thin plate-like ridge portion for raising or lowering the vibration surface. It may be.

  According to the above configuration, the tactile stimulation unit of the input device has a structure in which the raised part that raises or sinks the vibration surface and the vibrating part are stacked. Therefore, since the vibration surface is raised or depressed by the raised portion, the input device can output to the user an output in addition to an output by vibration. For this reason, the input device can provide more sensual operability to the user.

Furthermore, in the input device according to the present invention, the output on the tactile stimulation surface may be vibration, and a protrusion may be formed in a region of the tactile stimulation surface corresponding to each section of the tactile stimulation unit.

According to the above configuration, in the input device, the protrusion is formed in the region of the tactile stimulation surface that outputs the vibration corresponding to each section of the tactile stimulation unit. Therefore, the user can easily determine the region of the tactile stimulation surface that is vibrating by touching the protrusion formed for each section. That is, the user can surely grasp the vibrating position of the tactile stimulation surface.

  Furthermore, in the input device according to the present invention, the output on the tactile stimulation surface may be a weak current.

  According to the above configuration, the input device can generate an electrical current from the tactile stimulation surface by generating a weak current on the tactile stimulation surface. Therefore, the input device can improve sensory operability for the user by providing the user with electrical perception. Note that the weak current is a current that is large enough to realize a perceptible output when touched by the user.

  Furthermore, an electronic device according to the present invention is an electronic device including the above-described input device, and may include an activation unit that activates the input device when a user operation is acquired.

  According to the above configuration, for example, when the electronic device is carried and is operating in a pocket of a user's clothes or a bag, the input device accepts an input operation that the user does not desire by touching the tactile stimulation surface to the pocket. There is a possibility that.

  Therefore, when the user does not want to operate the input device by providing the electronic device with the starting unit, each function of the input device (output by the tactile stimulation unit, detection of the contact position by the position detection unit, etc.) can be stopped. it can. Thereby, the power consumption of the electronic device provided with the input device can be reduced. In addition, in the electronic device, it is possible to prevent a malfunction of the input device such as the input device acquiring an input operation not desired by the user.

  As described above, the input device according to the present invention includes a tactile stimulation unit having a tactile stimulation surface that performs perceptible output when touched by the user, and a contact position where the user touches the tactile stimulation surface of the tactile stimulation unit. A position detection unit that detects and outputs the contact position as a position input by a user is different from a first area including the contact position on the tactile stimulation surface and a second area excluding the first area. And an output state control means for controlling the tactile stimulation unit so as to be in an output state.

  In the input device control method according to the present invention, the input device includes a tactile stimulation unit having a tactile stimulation surface that performs perceptible output when touched by a user, and the tactile stimulation surface of the tactile stimulation unit is provided. A position detection step of detecting a contact position touched by a user and outputting the contact position as a position input by the user; a first area including the contact position on the tactile stimulation surface; and excluding the first area An output state control step for controlling the tactile stimulus unit so that the output state differs from the second region.

  Therefore, when the user touches the tactile stimulation surface, the input device can control the output on the tactile stimulation surface so as to match the movement of the contact position touched by the user. That is, the input device can move the first region in an output state different from the other region (second region) of the tactile stimulation surface so as to follow the movement of the contact position touched by the user. .

  Therefore, the input device can realize the function of the scroll bar as software as hardware. That is, the input device can improve sensory (tactile) operability for the user. Further, the user can experience a scroll bar as hardware by using the input device.

  Furthermore, since the input device performs tactile output to the user, it can be operated without looking at the input device itself. When the input device is provided in an electronic device having a display, for example, the user can recognize the output by simply touching the tactile stimulation surface without looking at the display. The operation can be performed reliably.

Embodiment 1
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[Outline of Digital Audio Player 1]
First, an example of the outline of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the digital audio player 1 according to the present invention. A digital audio player (electronic device) 1 is a portable device capable of recording and reproducing contents such as music and moving images. As shown in FIG. 2, an input device 2, a function key 3, a display 4, and operation keys are provided. (Starting means) 5.

  The input device 2 includes a vibration unit (tactile stimulation unit) 21 having an elongated rectangular (band-shaped) vibration surface (tactile stimulation surface) that performs perceptible output when touched by the user, and the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 by the user. A touch panel (position detection unit) 23 that detects a contact position when touched and outputs the contact position as a position input by the user is provided. The input device 2 has a vibration state (output state) in which a region (first region) including the contact position of the user on the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 is different from another region (second region) excluding the region. The vibration unit 21 is controlled so that Note that the vibration state includes a state in which no vibration occurs (a state in which the vibration amplitude is zero). Further, the area including the contact position of the user may not be one, but may be plural.

  As shown in FIG. 2, for example, when the digital audio player 1 includes the input device 2, the input device 2 vibrates in the vibration unit 21 so as to be interlocked with the operation of the scroll function of the digital audio player 1. To control.

  The input device 2 is provided at an arbitrary position on the surface of the digital audio player 1. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the input device 2 is provided on a side surface of the surface of the digital audio player 1 provided with the display 4. This side surface is, for example, the surface on the thumb side when the user holds the digital audio player 1 with the right hand when viewing the display 4. The specific configuration of the input device 2 will be described later.

Thus, if the input device 2 can be mounted on a portable terminal such as the digital audio player 1, it is difficult to mount a pointing device with high operability such as a mouse. But it can be used.

  The function key 3 is used to generate a command for designating the operation state of the application when pressed by a user operating the digital audio player 1. For example, in FIG. 2, the function key 3 is provided on the same surface as the surface on which the display 4 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the function keys 3 include a play key 31, a fast forward key 32, a rewind key 33, a stop key 34, and the like, but are not limited thereto. In other words, the function key 3 only needs to have a function for designating the application state by being pressed by the user, and other examples include a pause key and a recording key.

  The display 4 is provided on the surface of the digital audio player 1 at a position where the user can easily see, and is configured by a liquid crystal display, for example. The display 4 displays moving images, application states, and the like.

  In the digital audio player 1 shown in FIG. 2, the operation key 5 is provided on the side surface of the digital audio player 1 (the surface on which the input device 2 described above is provided). It may be provided at any position on the surface of the digital audio player 1 as long as it is easy to do. The operation key 5 is realized by a slide SW (switch), but is not limited to this, and may be realized by a switching device (or key device) adapted to the function, shape, etc. of the digital audio player 1. Good.

  The operation key 5 controls activation of the input device 2 and is a function key for enabling or disabling the functions of the vibration unit 21 and the touch panel 23. Specifically, when the operation key 5 is switched to the valid side (on side), the input device 2 generates vibration on the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 and the user inputs to the touch panel 23. Accept the operation. That is, when the operation key 5 is switched to the valid side, the functions of the vibration unit 21 and the touch panel 23 are valid.

  On the other hand, when the operation key 5 is switched to the invalid side (off side), the input device 2 does not generate vibration on the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 and accepts a user input operation on the touch panel 23. Absent. That is, when the operation key 5 is switched to the invalid side, the functions of the vibration unit 21 and the touch panel 23 are invalid.

  Here, when the input device 2 is provided in a portable terminal such as the digital audio player 1, the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 when the digital audio player 1 is operating in a pocket such as a user's clothes or a bag. Touching the pocket may cause the input device 2 to accept an input operation not desired by the user.

  Accordingly, when the digital audio player 1 includes the operation key 5 and the user does not want to operate the input device 2, each function of the input device 2 (output from the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21, contact position by the touch panel 23). Detection, etc.) can be stopped. Thereby, the power consumption of the digital audio player 1 provided with the input device 2 can be reduced. Further, in the digital audio player 1, it is possible to prevent a malfunction of the input device 2, such as the input device 2 acquiring an input operation not desired by the user.

  Further, the operation key 5 may be a slide SW capable of switching between three values. In this case, the operation key 5 realizes switching between three values, for example, “hold mode”, “vibration key mode (operation mode of the input device 2)”, and “normal input mode”.

  Here, the “hold mode” refers to a mode in which all operations on the digital audio player 1 including the input device 2 are invalid. The “vibration key mode” refers to a mode in which only an operation using the input device 2 is valid. The “vibration key mode” is a mode used when the digital audio player 1 is operated in a user's clothes or a pocket such as a bag. Further, the “normal input mode” refers to a mode in which all operations for each function of the digital audio player 1 including the input device 2 are valid. The “normal input mode” is a mode used when the user performs an operation while looking at the display 4 of the digital audio player 1, for example.

  Examples of the “hold mode” include “content output type hold mode” and “content / vibration output type hold mode”.

  In the “content output type hold mode”, when the digital audio player 1 disables acceptance of all operations, only content such as music and moving images is output, and vibration is not generated on the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 (that is, This is a mode for functioning so that vibration is not output on the vibration surface. On the other hand, in the “content / vibration output type hold mode”, when the digital audio player 1 disables acceptance of all operations, content such as music and moving images is output and vibration is generated on the vibration surface. It is a mode for functioning.

  When the “content output type hold mode” is set, the digital audio player 1 does not output unnecessary vibration from the vibration unit 21 when the user does not want to operate the input device 2. The power consumption of the digital audio player 1 can be reliably reduced.

  On the other hand, when the “content / vibration output type hold mode” is set, the input device 2 of the digital audio player 1 does not accept the user's input operation, but allows the user to recognize the vibration location on the vibration surface. be able to. For example, when the user cancels the “content / vibration output type hold mode” while recognizing a vibration location, the user can perform an input operation on the input device 2 as it is. That is, when the “content / vibration output type hold mode” is provided as the mode of the operation key 5, the operability of the digital audio player 1 and the input device 2 can be improved. This mode functions particularly effectively when used as the operation key 5 of the digital audio player 1 having the input device 2b described below.

  When the input device 2 is provided in an electronic device other than a portable terminal such as the digital audio player 1, the electronic device may not be configured to include the operation key 5. For example, when the input device 2 is configured to be in a hold state when the digital audio player 1 is normally used, the touch panel 23 indicates that the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 is touched for two seconds, for example. For example, when the detection continues for 2 seconds), the hold state of the input device 2 may be released using this as a trigger. In addition, the input device 2 may be configured to release the hold state of the input device 2 when the touch panel 23 detects a double click as a trigger.

  Further, the digital audio player 1 further includes an application control unit 11 and a key state detection unit 12 as shown in FIG.

  The application control unit 11 controls applications executed on the digital audio player 1. Examples of the application include a media player that distributes music and moving images. The media player also has a scroll function for adjusting the playback position of music and moving images, or adjusting the volume or audio output, for example. In addition to the above, the scroll function of the media player is also used for operations such as channel selection, fast forward / rewind.

  Further, the application control unit 11 detects the position of the knob portion when a scroll bar (including a volume bar, a balance bar, and a reproduction bar) is displayed on the display 4, and sends the detected position information to the input device 2. Send. On the other hand, when the position of the vibration region in the vibration unit 21 of the input device 2 is changed, the application control unit 11 adjusts the knob part of the scroll bar displayed on the display 4 so as to be interlocked with the position change of the vibration region. Control the position.

  When either the function key 3 or the operation key 5 is operated, the key state detection unit 12 detects that the function key 3 or the operation key 5 is operated, and transmits the detection result to the input device 2.

  For example, a scroll bar as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display 4. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a scroll bar displayed on the display. The scroll bar 40 shown in FIG. 3 includes a knob portion 41 and an arrow 42, like the vertical scroll bar 202 shown in FIG.

[Appearance of input device 2]
Next, the external appearance of the input device 2 will be described based on FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the appearance of the input device 2 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the input device 2 includes a vibration unit 21 and a touch panel 23, and has an elongated rectangular shape. The shape of the input device 2 is a shape corresponding to the shape of the scroll bar 40 displayed on the display 4 of the digital audio player 1 shown in FIG. Also, the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4 indicates the key surface direction, that is, the surface (vibration surface) direction in which the vibration of the vibration unit 21 can be perceived when touched by the user. The surface opposite to the surface facing the key surface is the key surface.

  In the input device 2, the vibration unit 21 and the touch panel 23 are laminated in order from the vibration surface side, and the length in the moving direction of the vibration region (length L illustrated in FIG. 4) is on the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21. The structure is longer than the length in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction (width W shown in FIG. 4). The input device 2 (that is, the exposed surface (vibration surface) of the input device 2) is designed to have a length L of about 50 mm and a width W of about 10 mm, for example. 2 can be changed in accordance with the size of the electronic device such as the digital audio player 1 equipped with 2. Moreover, the said exposed surface should just be a magnitude | size which can ensure the operativity of the said input device 2, when the input device 2 is mounted in this electronic device.

  In addition, although the input device 2 is a long and narrow rectangle in FIG. 4, the input device 2 is not limited to this, and may be a uniaxial belt shape such as a curved shape. Moreover, the input device 2 may not be a uniaxial belt-like shape, and for example, may be configured such that the vibration surface is a biaxial plane.

  The vibration unit 21 has an elongated rectangular vibration surface that performs perceptible output when touched by the user, and a specific area of the vibration surface vibrates and can be perceived by the user touching the specific area. Output. The vibration unit 21 has a structure divided into a plurality of sections whose vibration states are independently controlled by a control unit 25 described later, and this structure is realized by a vibration cell or a vibration transmission panel 22. .

  Since the input device 2 can generate independent vibrations for each section on the vibration surface by the configuration of the vibration unit 21, the vibration state of the specific region of the vibration surface (or the vibration state other than the specific region) is determined. It can be controlled with high accuracy.

  Note that the vibration unit 21 illustrated in FIG. 4 is realized by, for example, a vibration cell, but is not limited thereto, and may be realized by the vibration transmission panel 22 and the drive unit 24 illustrated in FIG. 7. The case where the vibration unit 21 is realized by the vibration transmission panel 22 and the drive unit 24 will be described later.

  When a vibration cell is used for the vibration part 21, the vibration part 21 is configured to be able to vibrate independently for each of a plurality of divided sections (that is, for each vibration cell). It is realized with an electric film. The size of each vibration cell is, for example, about (width 5 mm in the length L direction shown in FIG. 4) × (width W shown in FIG. 4), but the function as a scroll bar is realized and the operability of the user As long as the size and shape are not damaged. In addition, although the said division is divided | segmented into the said length L direction (parallel to the length W direction), it is not restricted to this, Furthermore, you may be divided | segmented also into the said length W direction.

  Specifically, the vibration unit 21 has a structure in which a plurality of stacked piezoelectric sheets are sandwiched from above and below by two films. Electrodes are formed on the lower surface side of the film at the upper end (vibration surface side) of the vibration portion 21 and the upper surface side of the film at the lower end. The vibrating unit 21 is provided with electrodes for each vibration cell so as to be able to vibrate independently for each vibration cell. As a result, when the high voltage is applied to the upper and lower electrodes, the vibration part 21 becomes thin, and when the high voltage is removed, the thickness returns. Therefore, the vibration part 21 has a repetition frequency that repeats high voltage application and no load at high speed. It is possible to realize a structure that vibrates in the thickness direction.

  When the input device 2 is provided in the digital audio player 1, the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 is exposed on the surface of the digital audio player 1. In this case, the specific region on the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 is the vibration region illustrated in FIG. 4 and corresponds to the knob portion 41 of the scroll bar 40 illustrated in FIG. On the other hand, a region that is not vibrating on the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 (a region other than the specific region) corresponds to the non-vibration region illustrated in FIG. 4.

  In addition, in the structure of the vibration part 21, it is comprised so that the area | region corresponding to the knob part 41 of the scroll bar 40 may vibrate, but it is not restricted to this, The area | region corresponding to the said knob part 41 is a non-vibration area | region. The other region may be a vibration region. The same applies to a configuration in which a vibration transmission panel 22 and a drive unit 24 described later are used for the vibration unit 21.

  In other words, when the input device 2 is provided in the digital audio player 1, the user perceives the output state of the area corresponding to the knob portion 41 of the scroll bar 40 by changing the output state to a different output state from the other areas. Control can be performed so that

  Further, the control unit 25 described later may control the inside of the vibration region on the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 to various vibration states. For example, the control unit 25 may perform control so that the vibration state is changed for each region in the vibration region even if the vibration region is in a monotonous vibration state.

  Here, when the vibration area of the vibration surface corresponds to the knob portion 41 illustrated in FIG. 3 (in the case of the vibration area illustrated in FIG. 4), the input device 2 moves the user's finger touching the vibration surface. It is also possible to control as described above. In this case, for example, the control unit 25 performs control so as to weaken the vibration in the region in the vibration region on the side where the user's finger touching the vibration surface is moved.

  When the user touches the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21, the touch panel 23 detects which position on the vibration surface is in contact and outputs the contact position as a position input by the user. That is, the touch panel 23 detects a user input operation on the touch panel 23 when the user touches the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21.

  Further, considering the distance from the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 to the touch panel 23 (thickness of the vibration unit 21) as the touch panel 23, it is preferable to use a capacitive touch panel. You may use touch panels, such as a system and a resistive film system.

  Here, the capacitive touch panel detects a movement of a finger on the vibration surface by detecting a change in the amount of internal charge in the touch panel when the user touches the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21. In addition, an ultrasonic touch panel propagates high-frequency surface acoustic waves (that is, ultrasonic waves) to the glass surface forming the touch panel, and detects vibrations by detecting the attenuated position of the surface acoustic waves. Detect finger movement on the surface. Furthermore, a resistive film type touch panel is a sensor that detects the movement of a finger by attaching a conductive thin film to the surface of the touch panel and a film attached to the surface at a slight interval, and whether the thin film is in contact with electricity. To do.

  In addition, although the touch panel 23 was demonstrated and demonstrated here as a structure which detects a user's input operation, what is necessary is just a structure which can detect that the user touched the vibration surface of the vibration part 21. As the above configuration, for example, depending on the size of the input device 2, it may be configured by a position detection device that detects an input operation of a user by an imaging unit such as a camera, a push SW arranged in a line in the length L direction, and the like. .

  As described above, the input device 2 controls the vibration unit 21 so that the control unit 25 described later has a different vibration state between the region including the contact position on the elongated rectangular vibration surface and other regions other than the region. To do.

  Therefore, since the input device 2 allows the user to perceive the vibration state of the region including the contact position, which is different from the vibration state of other regions, the function of the scroll bar as software can be realized as hardware. it can. That is, the input device 2 can improve sensory (tactile) operability for the user. In addition, the user can experience a scroll bar as hardware by using the input device 2.

  Furthermore, since the input device 2 performs tactile output to the user, it can be operated without looking at the input device 2 itself. When the input device 2 is provided in the digital audio player 1, the user can recognize the output by simply touching the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 without looking at the display 4 of the digital audio player 1. A user-desired operation can be reliably performed on the input device 2.

  In addition, by providing the electronic device such as the digital audio player 1 with the input device 2, the electronic device mounts an existing system called a scroll bar as hardware. For this reason, the input device 2 can be easily introduced into the electronic apparatus. Further, even when the user does not read the instruction manual of the input device 2, the user can operate the input device 2 sensuously without a sense of incongruity.

The input device 2 may include a display unit (not shown) having the same shape as the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 and may be stacked on the display unit. At this time, a scroll bar shown in FIG. 3 may be displayed on the display unit.

  Further, the input device 2 may be configured to include a cover portion 20 on the vibration surface of the vibration portion 21 as shown in FIGS. Here, FIG. 5 shows a modified example of the input device 2 shown in FIG. 4 and is an external view showing a stacked state of the input device 2. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation state of the input device 2 which is a modified example of FIG. The direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5 indicates the key surface (vibration surface) direction as in FIG. 4. In this case, the surface of the cover 20 opposite to the surface facing the vibration unit 21 is the key. It becomes the surface.

  The input device 2 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a cover unit 20, a vibration unit 21 including a vibration cell, and a touch panel 23. The configuration includes the cover unit 20 on the entire vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 illustrated in FIG. It has become. In addition, since the vibration part 21 and the touch panel 23 have the same function as the vibration part 21 and the touch panel 23 shown in FIG. 4, description of these members is abbreviate | omitted.

  The cover part 20 is provided so as to cover the entire vibration surface of the vibration part 21, and includes a ball (projection part) 20a and a line part 20b. As shown in FIG. 6, the ball 20 a protrudes substantially perpendicularly from both surfaces of the cover portion 20 (that is, the vibration surface and the surface facing the vibration portion 21), and 1 in each vibration cell of the vibration portion 21. Are arranged to correspond. The ball 20a is made of rubber such as natural rubber or butadiene rubber. However, the ball 20a is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that the ball 20a has elastic rubber properties. In other words, the ball 20a may be configured so that, when any vibration cell of the vibration unit 21 vibrates, the vibration of the vibration cell can be output to the user.

  Adjacent balls 20a are connected by a line portion 20b. The line part 20b should just have the rubber-like property which can be expanded-contracted similarly to the ball | bowl 20a. When an arbitrary vibration cell of the vibration unit 21 vibrates, this vibration is transmitted to the ball 20a corresponding to the vibration cell. At this time, since the balls 20a are connected by the line portion 20b, the vibration transmitted to the ball 20a is attenuated at the line portion 20b before being transmitted to the adjacent ball 20a. That is, even if any vibration cell of the vibration unit 21 vibrates, the vibration is not transmitted to the adjacent ball 20a.

  As described above, by providing the input device 2 with the cover portion 20, any vibration in the vibration portion 21 is output to the user via the ball 20 a of the cover portion 20. For this reason, it becomes easy for the user to determine the position where the vibration surface is vibrating.

  Of course, even when the input device 2 is provided with the cover unit 20, the input device 2 is configured so that the user input to the touch panel 23 (that is, sensor input from above the vibration cell forming the vibration unit 21). It is comprised so that it can accept.

  Further, in the above, by providing the input device 2 with the cover unit 20, the vibration in the vibration unit 21 is output to the user via the ball 20 a, but not limited to this, each vibration cell of the vibration unit 21 is provided. A ball 20a may be formed in the region of the vibration surface corresponding to. Even with this configuration, the user can easily determine the vibrating position of the vibration surface. Moreover, the cover part 20 (especially ball 20a) is applicable not only to the case where the vibration part 21 is a vibration cell, but also to the vibration transmission panel 22. In this case, the ball 20 a is formed so as to correspond to each panel of the vibration transmission panel 22.

[Appearance of Modified Example of Input Device 2]
Next, the external appearance of the input device 2 will be described based on FIG. FIG. 7 shows an example of the input device 2 according to the present embodiment, and is a perspective view, a side view, and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ for explaining the appearance of the input device 2. The input device 2 illustrated in FIG. 7 is different from the input device 2 illustrated in FIG. 4 in that the vibration unit 21 includes a vibration transmission panel 22 and a drive unit 24 instead of the vibration cell. Since the touch panel 23 has been described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the input device 2 includes a vibration transmission panel 22 and a touch panel 23 that are stacked in order from a surface (vibration surface) on which the vibration of the vibration unit 21 can be perceived when touched by a user. Further, the input device 2 is provided with a drive unit 24 so as to be in contact with the surface of the vibration transmission panel 22 opposite to the vibration surface side (key surface side). That is, the drive unit 24 is provided along the side surface of the touch panel 23 (a surface perpendicular to the width W direction of the vibration transmission panel 22 and parallel to the length L direction). For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, the width of the touch panel 23 is smaller than the width W of the vibration transmission panel 22 by the amount of the drive unit 24.

  The vibration transmission panel 22 is formed by connecting a plurality of panels in the length L direction so that a user who touches the vibration surface can perceive vibration generated when the driving unit 24 is driven (a user who touches the vibration surface). To transmit vibration). Further, the vibration transmission panel 22 has a structure in which each panel can operate independently like a key top of a keyboard, and is formed of rubber such as natural rubber or butadiene rubber, but is not limited thereto. However, it is only necessary to be made of a stretchable rubber-like property. With this configuration, the user can easily identify a vibration region (vibration site) generated in the vibration transmission panel 22.

  Further, the size of each panel of the vibration transmission panel 22 is, for example, about (width 5 mm in the length L direction shown in FIG. 7) × (width W shown in FIG. 7), but the function as a scroll bar is realized. And it should just be a size and a shape of the grade which does not impair a user's operativity.

  For example, a motor as shown in FIG. 8 is provided along the side surface of the touch panel 23 so that the drive unit 24 is arranged for each panel of the vibration transmission panel 22. FIG. 8 shows an example of a motor used in the drive unit 24, and shows the result of comparing the size of the motor with a 10-yen coin.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the motor is slightly smaller than a 10-yen coin, and its diameter is about 2.8 mm. In addition, since the motor is mounted on a mobile phone or the like, the motor is small enough to be applied to the input device 2 according to the present embodiment. The drive unit 24 may not be a motor as shown in FIG. 8, and may be any configuration that can output vibration from each panel of the vibration transmission panel 22.

  As described above, in the input device 2 shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 25 described later drives each motor of the drive unit 24, so that the panel of the vibration transmission panel 22 having an elongated rectangular vibration surface corresponds to the motor. Vibrate. Accordingly, the input device 2 shown in FIG. 7 can perceive the vibration state of the region including the contact position, which is different from the vibration state of other regions, like the input device 2 shown in FIG. The function of the scroll bar can be realized as hardware. That is, the input device 2 shown in FIG. 7 has the same effects as the input device 2 shown in FIG. 4, such as being able to improve sensory (tactile) operability for the user.

[Configuration of Input Device 2]
Next, a configuration for controlling the input device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an input device 2 provided in a digital audio player 1 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital audio player 1 includes an input device 2, a function key 3, an operation key 5, an application control unit 11, and a key state detection unit 12. Since the function key 3, the operation key 5, the application control unit 11, and the key state detection unit 12 have been described above, description thereof will be omitted here.

  The input device 2 includes a vibration unit 21, a touch panel 23, a control unit (output state control means) 25, and a storage unit 27. In FIG. 1, the vibration unit 21 includes the vibration transmission panel 22 and the drive unit 24 described above, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured by the vibration cell described above. When the vibration part 21 is formed of a vibration cell, the function of the drive unit 24 is included in the structure of the vibration cell. In addition, since the vibration part 21, the vibration transmission panel 22, the touch panel 23, and the drive part 24 were mentioned above, the description is abbreviate | omitted here.

  The control unit 25 includes a drive control unit (output state control unit) 251 and a position control unit (output state control unit) 252. The control unit 25 includes a region including the contact position of the user on the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 and the region. The vibration unit 21 is controlled so that the vibration state is different from that of the other areas. The control unit 25 performs predetermined arithmetic processing for controlling various functions of the input device 2 and is realized by, for example, a CPU. Further, the control unit 25 exchanges information with the application control unit 11 of the digital audio player 1 to link the output state of the vibration unit 21 and the application state. Further, the control unit 25 detects the state of the operation key 5 based on the information from the key state detection unit 12.

  The drive control unit 251 controls the electrode of the vibration cell or the drive unit 24 in order to vibrate a specific region of the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 based on the vibration position information transmitted from the position control unit 252. When the vibration unit 21 is formed of a vibration cell made of an electrostatic film, the drive control unit 251 periodically and rapidly applies to the electrodes provided to correspond to the vibration cells of the vibration unit 21. The voltage to be switched is applied. In addition, when the vibration unit 21 includes the vibration transmission panel 22 and the drive unit 24, the drive control unit 251 configures the drive unit 24 to vibrate each panel of the vibration transmission panel 22 independently. Control the drive of each motor.

  The position control unit 252 controls a vibration position indicating a vibration region on the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 and a contact position obtained from the touch panel 23. Further, the position control unit 252 links the application state and the vibration region of the vibration unit 21. The position control unit 252 determines, for example, the state of the scroll bar 40 displayed on the display 4 (position of the knob part 41), the volume, output balance, and playback position when playing a video or music by a media player. Control to link with.

  In addition, the control unit 25 transmits the contact position information indicating the contact position detected by the touch panel 23 to the application control unit 11, thereby controlling the application (input device 2) controlled by the digital audio player 1 corresponding to the contact position. Can change the state of external applications). The contact position information may be transmitted directly from the touch panel 23 to the application control unit 11.

  The storage unit 27 stores various data used by the control unit 25, data obtained by executing a program, and the like. The storage unit 27 includes a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read -Only Memory) and non-volatile memory such as flash memory. The various data are stored in various storage units inside the storage unit 27.

[Flow of processing in input device 2]
Next, the flow of processing in the input device 2 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow in the input device 2.

  First, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the state of the operation key 5 is on (that is, switched to the on side) (S21). Specifically, when the operation key 5 is switched to the ON side, the key state detection unit 12 detects a valid signal from the operation key 5 and transmits it to the control unit 25. On the other hand, when the operation key 5 is switched to the OFF side, the key state detection unit 12 detects an invalid signal from the operation key 5 and transmits it to the control unit 25. The control unit 25 determines that the state of the operation key is on when the signal from the key state detection unit 12 is a valid signal. In other words, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the state of the operation key 5 is on by receiving a valid signal or invalid signal transmitted from the key state detection unit 12.

  When the control unit 25 receives the valid signal and determines that the state of the operation key 5 is on (YES in S21), the control unit 25 receives a knob part of the scroll bar 40 displayed on the display 4 from the application control unit 11. The knob position information indicating the position 41 is detected. The position control unit 252 of the control unit 25 calculates vibration position information indicating a vibration region in which the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 is vibrated from the knob position information. The position control unit 252 determines the vibration position information by referring to, for example, a position correspondence table in which the knob position information and the vibration position information are associated with each other. When the position control unit 252 refers to the position correspondence table, the position correspondence table may be stored in the storage unit 27.

  The position control unit 252 transmits the vibration position information to the drive control unit 251. When receiving the vibration position information from the position control unit 252, the drive control unit 251 drives the motor of the drive unit 24 corresponding to the region (panel) indicated by the vibration position information. That is, in the vibration unit 21, the region indicated by the vibration position information vibrates in conjunction with the drive of the drive unit 24, and a vibration in accordance with the application (position of the knob part 41) is output (S22). ). The drive control unit 251 drives the motor of the drive unit 24 by referring to a drive correspondence table in which vibration position information and motor identification information for identifying each motor of the drive unit 24 are associated, for example. When the drive control unit 251 refers to the drive correspondence table, the drive correspondence table may be stored in the storage unit 27. When receiving the vibration position information from the position control unit 252, the drive control unit 251 stores the vibration position information in the control unit 25 or the storage unit 27. Note that if the control unit 25 determines that the state of the operation key 5 is OFF (NO in S21), the control unit 25 returns to the process of S21 again.

  When the process of S22 is completed, the position control unit 252 determines whether or not there is an input by the user on the touch panel 23 (S23). Specifically, the position control unit 252 determines that there is an input on the touch panel 23 when a detection result indicating which position is touched (or no contact) is detected by the touch panel 23.

  When it is determined that there is an input on the touch panel 23 (YES in S23), the position control unit 252 detects and stores contact position information indicating the contact position included in the detection result. Then, the position control unit 252 determines whether or not the vibration position information stored in the process of S22 matches the detected contact position information. That is, the position control unit 252 determines whether or not the position where the user touches the vibration unit 21 matches the vibration position indicating the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 at this time (S24). When the position control unit 252 determines that there is no input on the touch panel 23 (NO in S23), the process returns to the process of the control unit 25 in S21.

  In the process of S23, the position control unit 252 determines whether or not there is an input from the user on the touch panel 23 after a predetermined time preset in the control unit 25 (or the storage unit 27) has elapsed. May be. According to this configuration, the user can search for a vibration region while a predetermined time has elapsed after touching the vibration surface.

  When the position control unit 252 determines that the vibration position information and the contact position information match (YES in S24), the control unit 25 controls the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 (S25). On the other hand, when it is determined that the vibration position information and the contact position information do not match (NO in S24), the control unit 25 controls the non-vibration region of the vibration unit 21 (S26). And the control part 25 will complete | finish the process in the input device 2, if the process of S25 or S26 is completed.

  Here, a specific processing flow of the control unit 25 in S25 or S26 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the control unit 25 for the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 when the vibration position information and the contact position information match. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the control unit 25 for the non-vibration region of the vibration unit 21 when the vibration position information and the contact position information do not match. Further, FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing flow in the control unit 25 for the non-vibration region of the vibration unit 21 when the vibration position information and the contact position information do not match.

  In the process of S25 shown in FIG. 9, as shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the state of the operation key 5 is on (that is, switched to the on side) (S31). When the control unit 25 receives the valid signal from the key state detection unit 12 and determines that the state of the operation key 5 is on (YES in S31), the position control unit 252 indicates that there is no input on the touch panel 23. It is determined whether or not the detection result shown is detected. That is, the position control unit 252 determines whether or not the user's finger has been removed from the touch panel 23 (S32).

  Here, the position control unit 252 detects the detection result by the touch panel 23 every predetermined time. The position controller 252 detects and stores contact position information included in the detection result every time the detection result is detected. That is, each time the contact position information is detected, the position control unit 252 updates the contact position information as the current contact position information and the information stored as the current contact position information as the previously detected contact position information. .

  In the process of S32, when it is determined that the user's finger has not been removed from the touch panel 23 (NO in S32), the position control unit 252 matches the previously detected contact position information with the current contact position information. It is determined whether or not. In other words, the position control unit 252 determines whether or not the touch position of the user detected by the touch panel 23 has moved (S33).

  If it is determined that the contact position has moved, that is, if the previously detected contact position information does not match the current contact position information (YES in S33), the position control unit 252 displays the current contact position information. The vibration position information is transmitted to the drive control unit 251. When receiving the vibration position information from the position control unit 252, the drive control unit 251 drives the motor of the drive unit 24 corresponding to the region (panel) indicated by the vibration position information. That is, the position control unit 252 moves the vibration area of the vibration unit 21 so as to match the contact position of the user detected by the touch panel 23 (S34).

  At this time, the position control unit 252 refers to the position correspondence table, acquires the knob position information corresponding to the current vibration position information, and transmits it to the application control unit 11. Thereby, the application control unit 11 can move the knob portion 41 of the scroll bar 40 displayed on the display 4 in association with (in conjunction with) the contact position of the user detected by the touch panel 23. Thereby, the input device 2 can change the operation of the application (volume bar, balance bar, playback bar, channel selection, fast forward / rewind, etc.) that can be controlled by the scroll bar 40.

  When the process of S34 is completed and when it is determined by the position control unit 252 that the contact position has not been moved (NO in S33), the process returns to S31. Further, when the control unit 25 receives the invalid signal from the key state detection unit 12 and determines that the state of the operation key 5 is OFF (NO in S31), the position control unit 252 receives the user's finger from the touch panel 23. If it is determined that the control device is separated (YES in S32), the control process for the vibration region of the input device 2 is terminated.

  Next, the process of the control part 25 with respect to a non-vibration area | region is demonstrated based on FIG. The processing shown in FIG. 11 is effective when, for example, the volume bar, balance bar, and playback bar that can be displayed on the display 4 are operated when the digital audio player 1 outputs moving images or music. .

  First, in the process of S26 shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 25 moves the vibration area of the vibration unit 21 so as to coincide with the contact position of the user detected by the touch panel 23 (S41). Specifically, the position control unit 252 sets the contact position information included in the detection result by the touch panel 23 as the current contact position information, and transmits the current contact position information to the drive control unit 251 as the vibration position information. . When receiving the vibration position information from the position control unit 252, the drive control unit 251 drives the motor of the drive unit 24 corresponding to the region (panel) indicated by the vibration position information. That is, the position control unit 252 matches the user contact position and the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 by moving the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 to the user contact position detected by the touch panel 23.

  When the process of S41 is completed, the control unit 25 executes the process of S25 shown in FIG. 9, that is, the process shown in FIG. 10 (S42). And if the process of S42 is completed, control with respect to the non-vibration area | region of the input device 2 will be complete | finished.

  That is, when there is a user input in the non-vibration region, the control unit 25 moves the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 to the contact position of the user (matches the contact position and the vibration region), thereby The same processing as when the user touches the vibration area is performed.

  Here, a process different from the control process of the input apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 11 when the control unit 25 determines that the vibration position information and the contact position information do not match will be described with reference to FIG. The process shown in FIG. 12 is an effective process when, for example, the scroll bar 40 displayed in the window of the digital audio player 1 is operated.

  First, similarly to the process of S31 shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the state of the operation key 5 is ON (that is, switched to the ON side) (S51). When the control unit 25 receives the valid signal from the key state detection unit 12 and determines that the state of the operation key 5 is on (YES in S51), the position control unit 252 is similar to the process of S32 illustrated in FIG. Determines whether or not a detection result indicating that there is no input on the touch panel 23 has been detected. That is, the position control unit 252 determines whether or not the user's finger has been removed from the touch panel 23 (S52). When the control unit 25 receives the invalid signal from the key state detection unit 12 and determines that the state of the operation key 5 is off (NO in S51), the position control unit 252 receives a finger from the touch panel 23. If it is determined that the control device is separated (YES in S52), the control process for the vibration region of the input device 2 is terminated.

  In the process of S52, when it is determined that the user's finger is not separated from the touch panel 23 (NO in S52), the control unit 25 detects the vibration area of the vibration unit 21 in the direction of the contact position of the user detected by the touch panel 23. (S53). In other words, the control unit 25 moves the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 at a predetermined speed when the time from the processing of S53 to the processing of S53 again (the time required for one loop) is the same. .

  At this time, the control unit 25 moves the vibration region in the direction of the contact position at a speed of (5% of the length L of the input device 2 / 0.2 seconds) until, for example, the contact position information and the vibration position information match. (The process of the control unit 252 is referred to as “a certain distance movement process”). Specifically, the position control unit 252 updates the position moved in the position direction indicated by the contact position information by 5% of the entire length L of the input device 2 every 0.2 seconds as the vibration position information, and drives It transmits to the control part 251. However, in this case, the input device 2 is designed so that the vibration region can be moved more finely than 5% of the entire length L of the input device 2.

  Moreover, the control part 25 may be the structure which moves the vibration area | region of the vibration part 21 at a stretch to a user's contact position on the basis of having entered into the process of S53 similarly to the process shown in FIG. The position may be a vibration position indicating a vibration region).

  Further, the control unit 25 may be configured to move the vibration region to the contact position so as to be proportional to the distance between the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 and the contact position of the user. That is, the control unit 25 may be configured to control the movement of the vibration area so that the movement speed of the vibration area becomes slower as the vibration area becomes closer to the contact position.

  At this time, the control unit 25 moves the vibration area at a speed of (5% of the distance from the vibration position indicating the vibration area to the contact position) until the contact position information matches the vibration position information, for example. Move in the direction of the contact position (the process of the control unit 252 is referred to as “a certain rate of movement process”). Specifically, the position control unit 252 first calculates the distance between the vibration region and the contact position using the vibration position information and the contact position information. Next, the position control unit 252 updates the position moved in the position direction indicated by the contact position information by 5% of the calculated distance as vibration position information, and transmits the vibration position information to the drive control unit 251. The position control unit 252 repeats the process of calculating the distance between the vibration area and the contact position and updating the position information every 0.2 seconds. In this case, however, the input device 2 is designed so that the vibration position can be moved sufficiently finely.

  Moreover, the control part 25 may be the structure which performs the process which combined the movement process of the said fixed distance, and the movement process of a fixed ratio as a process which moves a vibration area only a predetermined distance. In this case, for example, in the control unit 25 (or the storage unit 27), a distance between the vibration region and the contact position as a threshold (for example, 40% of the entire length L of the input device 2) is set in advance. And the control part 25 performs the said fixed distance movement process, when the distance of a vibration area | region and a contact position is more than this threshold value, and when it is less than a threshold value, performs the said fixed ratio movement process. Thereby, the control part 25 can control the movement of the said vibration area so that the said vibration area may be brought close to the said contact position earlier, when the vibration area and the contact position are separated.

  Note that the above combination is not limited to this, and may be a combination of the above combinations in reverse (that is, a certain percentage of movement processing is performed when the vibration region and the contact position are separated). Further, the above combination may be a combination of a certain percentage of moving processing and processing that moves at a stroke.

  In addition, for example, when the input device 2 is mounted on the digital audio player 1 to realize a playback bar, the control of the moving process of the control unit 25 is, for example, vibration until 30 seconds before the playback position indicated by the contact position. Control of the movement process of the vibration area can be mentioned so that the area is moved at a stroke, and then the fast-forward state is achieved by the movement process of the constant distance.

  When the input device 2 is mounted on the digital audio player 1, the movement processing control of the control unit 25 can be changed to correspond to the application mounted on the digital audio player 1.

  Further, in the process of S53, the position control unit 252 refers to the position correspondence table, acquires the knob position information corresponding to the current vibration position information, and transmits it to the application control unit 11. Thereby, the application control unit 11 can move the knob portion 41 of the scroll bar 40 displayed on the display 4 in association with (in conjunction with) the contact position of the user detected by the touch panel 23. When the process of S53 is completed, the process returns to S51.

  As described above, the input device 2 outputs the vibration corresponding to the application state (the state of the scroll bar 40 or the like) from the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21. On the other hand, the input device 2 controls the movement of the vibration region by determining whether or not the vibration position indicating the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 is coincident with the contact position of the user.

  Therefore, the input device 2 detects the contact position (detection result by the touch panel 23) when the user touches the elongated rectangular vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 so that the position control unit 252 moves the contact position. Next, the drive control unit 251 is controlled. Then, the drive control unit 251 controls the vibration position of the vibration unit 21 based on an instruction from the position control unit 252. That is, the input device 2 can control the output on the vibration surface so as to match the movement of the contact position touched by the user when the user touches the elongated rectangular vibration surface of the vibration unit 21. That is, the input device 2 can move a region in a vibration state different from other regions of the vibration surface so as to follow the movement of the contact position touched by the user.

  For this reason, the input device 2 can implement | achieve the function of the scroll bar as software as hardware. As a result, the input device 2 can also control functions such as a volume bar, balance bar, playback bar, channel selection, fast forward / rewind, and the like that can be controlled by the scroll bar function as software.

  Therefore, the input device 2 can improve sensory (tactile) operability for the user by providing the user with perception by vibration. In addition, the user can experience a scroll bar as hardware by using the input device 2.

  Furthermore, since the input device 2 performs tactile output to the user, it can be operated without looking at the input device 2 itself. When the input device 2 is provided in the digital audio player 1, the user can recognize the output by simply touching the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 without looking at the display 4 of the digital audio player 1. A user-desired operation can be reliably performed on the input device 2.

  In the configuration of the input device 2, the vibration unit 21 and the touch panel 23 are integrally provided. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration, and the vibration unit 21 and the touch panel 23 are provided separately. It may be. In this case, in the input device 2, the vibration position of the vibration unit 21 is controlled according to the contact position when the user directly touches the touch panel 23.

[Embodiment 2]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the above-mentioned embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Here, the input device 2a according to the present embodiment is different from the configuration of the input device 2 according to the first embodiment in that an expansion / contraction unit 26 is provided between the vibration unit 21 and the touch panel 23.

[Appearance of input device 2a]
First, based on FIGS. 13-15, the external appearance of the input device 2a which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the external appearance of the input device 2a according to the present embodiment.

  Similar to the input device 2 according to the first embodiment, the input device 2a includes a region (first region) including the contact position of the user on the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21, and another region (second region) excluding the region. The vibration unit 21 is controlled so that the vibration state (output state) is different from the region. Note that the vibration state includes a state in which no vibration occurs (a state in which the vibration amplitude is zero). Further, the area including the contact position of the user may not be one, but may be plural.

  For example, when the digital audio player 1 includes the input device 2a, the input device 2a controls the vibration in the vibration unit 21 so as to be interlocked with the operation of the scroll function of the digital audio player 1.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the input device 2 a includes a vibrating unit 21, a touch panel 23, and an expansion / contraction unit (tactile stimulation unit, raised portion) 26, and has an elongated rectangular shape. Moreover, the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 13 indicates the key surface direction, that is, the surface (vibration surface) direction in which the vibration of the vibration unit 21 can be perceived when touched by the user. The surface opposite to the surface facing the key surface is the key surface.

  In the input device 2 a, the vibration unit 21, the expansion / contraction unit 26, and the touch panel 23 are stacked in order from the vibration surface side, and the length of the vibration region in the moving direction (length L illustrated in FIG. 13) is On the vibration surface, the structure is longer than the length in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction (width W shown in FIG. 13). Note that the shape (length L and width W) of the input device 2a is the same as that of the input device 2 according to the first embodiment.

  In the input device 2 a shown in FIG. 13, a case where a vibration cell is used for the vibration unit 21 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the vibration transmission panel 22 and the drive unit 24 may be used. In addition, since the vibration part 21 and the touch panel 23 were demonstrated in Embodiment 1, the description is abbreviate | omitted here.

  The expansion / contraction part 26 has a plurality of expansion / contraction sections extending and contracting in the length L direction (that is, the long side direction of the vibration part 21), and expands and contracts an area corresponding to the vibration area of the vibration part 21. That is, when a section where the vibration part 21 is vibrating is vibrated, as shown in FIG. 14, the stretchable part 26 is stretched in a region corresponding to the section (stretchable section), and is raised in a direction perpendicular to the vibration surface. As described above, the control is performed by a control unit 25a described later. At this time, the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 is raised by the expansion and contraction of the expansion and contraction unit 26. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 of the input device 2a is raised.

  The expansion / contraction part 26 is implement | achieved using the plate-shaped artificial muscle as shown, for example in FIG. FIG. 15 is a view showing a plate-shaped artificial muscle used for the stretchable portion 26. The artificial muscle is formed of a plurality of plate-like polymers, and two electrodes 261 are provided on both surfaces of each plate (expandable section). In addition, it is preferable that the plurality of artificial muscle plates have a size corresponding to the vibration region in the vibration unit 21.

  In the artificial muscle, by applying a voltage to the two electrodes 261 provided on both surfaces of each plate, the surface of the plate on the higher voltage side contracts. For this reason, the plate provided with the electrode 261 to which the voltage is applied is bent, and a part (vibration region) of the vibration unit 21 stacked on the plate can be raised. Therefore, the above-described undulation can be generated by setting the electrode 261 on the side to which a high voltage is applied in the artificial muscle plate to the touch panel 23 side.

  In addition, when the input device 2a is configured not to vibrate the region of the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 (when the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 is wider than the region that does not vibrate), the input device 2a corresponds to a region that does not vibrate. The telescopic section to be raised may be configured to rise.

  In the above description, the electrode 261 on the side of the artificial muscle where the voltage is applied is arranged so as to be on the touch panel 23 side. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the electrode 261 on the side where the voltage is applied is increased. You may make it arrange | position to the vibration part 21 side. With this configuration, the vibration region of the vibration unit 21 can be depressed.

  The plate-like artificial muscle used as the expansion / contraction part 26 may not be formed of a polymer, and may be, for example, an artificial muscle such as a piezoelectric type, a shape memory alloy, an electrostatic type, or a pneumatic type.

  Furthermore, although the input device 2a has a configuration in which the vibration unit 21 is stacked on the expansion / contraction unit 26, a configuration in which only the expansion / contraction unit 26 is stacked on the touch panel 23 may be used. In addition, the input device 2a is not limited to the above-described configuration in the stacking order of the vibration part 21 and the expansion / contraction part 26 as long as the expansion / contraction part 26 can raise or lower the vibration surface of the vibration part 21.

[Configuration of Input Device 2a]
Next, a configuration for controlling the input device 2a will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the input device 2a according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the input device 2 a includes a vibration unit 21, a touch panel 23, a control unit (output state control unit) 25 a, an expansion / contraction unit 26, and a storage unit 27. In the input device 2 a shown in FIG. 16, the vibration unit 21 is configured by a vibration cell. However, when the vibration transmission panel 22 is used, the drive unit 24 is provided as in the input device 2. Moreover, since the vibration part 21, the touch panel 23, the expansion-contraction part 26, and the memory | storage part 27 were mentioned above, the description is abbreviate | omitted here.

  The control unit 25a includes a drive control unit (output state control means) 251a and a position control unit 252, and performs predetermined arithmetic processing for controlling various functions of the input device 2a. The control unit 25a is realized by a CPU or the like, for example. Similarly to the control unit 25 of the input device 2, the control unit 25a can link the output state of the vibration unit 21 and the application state by exchanging information with the application control unit 11 of the digital audio player 1. It is. Further, the control unit 25 a can detect the state of the operation key 5 based on the information from the key state detection unit 12.

  The drive control unit 251a controls the electrodes of the vibration cell to vibrate a specific region of the vibration surface of the vibration unit 21 based on the vibration position information transmitted from the position control unit 252, and expands and contracts corresponding to the specific region. A voltage is applied to the two electrodes 261 provided on the plate of the unit 26. Upon receiving the vibration position information, for example, the drive control unit 251a receives the vibration position information, the position of the vibration cell corresponding to the vibration position information (that is, the electrode to be controlled), and the artificial muscle plate (that is, the voltage of the expansion / contraction unit 26). The expansion / contraction section of the expansion / contraction part 26 may be raised so as to be interlocked with the vibration region of the vibration part 21 by referring to the drive correspondence table in which the applied electrode 261) is associated.

  As described above, the control unit 25a expands / contracts the expansion / contraction section of the expansion / contraction part in the long side direction so as to correspond to the specific region of the vibrating surface to vibrate. The expansion / contraction section of the expansion / contraction part 26 can elongate and contract the vibration region of the vibration surface in a direction perpendicular to the vibration surface. Therefore, since the input device 2a can perform the output by the bulge in addition to the output by the vibration, it can provide the user with more sensational operability.

  In the configuration of the input device 2a, a thin plate-like vibration part 21 (vibration cell or vibration transmission panel 22) having a vibration surface and a thin plate-like expansion / contraction part 26 for raising or sinking the vibration surface are stacked. However, it is not limited to this. That is, the input device 2a does not include the expansion / contraction part 26, and the vibration part 21 is raised or depressed in a direction perpendicular to the vibration surface so as to change the center position of the vibration amplitude on the vibration surface. It may be. Even in this case, the input device 2a can raise or lower the vibration region with respect to the user, and thus can provide more sensual operability to the user.

[Embodiment 3]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the above-mentioned embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Here, the input device 2b according to the present embodiment includes an input device 2 according to the first and second embodiments in that an electrode unit (tactile stimulation unit) 28 is provided instead of the vibration unit 21 and the expansion / contraction unit 26. Different from 2a.

[Appearance of input device 2b]
First, the external appearance of the input device 2b according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the appearance of the input device 2b according to the present embodiment.

  Similar to the input device 2 according to the first embodiment, the input device 2b includes a region (first region) including the contact position of the user on the output surface (tactile stimulation surface) of the electrode unit 28, and other regions excluding the region. The electrode unit 28 is controlled so that the output state is different from the region (second region). The output state in this case refers to a state of electrical output to the user by generating a weak current on the output surface. The output state includes a state where no electrical output is performed (a state where no weak current is generated). Further, the area including the contact position of the user may not be one, but may be plural.

  For example, when the digital audio player 1 is provided with the input device 2 b, the input device 2 b controls the output at the electrode unit 28 so as to be interlocked with the operation of the scroll function of the digital audio player 1.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the input device 2b includes an electrode unit 28 and a touch panel 23, and has an elongated rectangular shape. Further, the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 17 indicates the key surface direction, that is, the surface (output surface) direction in which the electrical output of the electrode unit 28 can be perceived when touched by the user. The surface opposite to the surface facing the touch panel 23 is the key surface.

  In the input device 2b, the electrode unit 28 and the touch panel 23 are laminated in order from the output surface side, and the length in the moving direction of the region in which the weak current is generated (the length L shown in FIG. On the output surface, the length is longer than the length in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction (width W shown in FIG. 17). Note that the shape (length L and width W) of the input device 2b is the same as that of the input device 2 according to the first and second embodiments.

  The electrode portion 28 generates a weak current in a specific region on its output surface. That is, the electrode unit 28 performs an electrical output that can be perceived by the user touching a specific area of the electrode unit 28. The magnitude of the weak current is preferably such that a perceptible output is realized by touching the user. The weak current is determined based on the size and safety of the input device 2 on which the electrode unit 28 is mounted. For example, the weak current is a pulse current having a charge amount of about 10 μC and a frequency of several hundred Hz or less. There may be.

  The electrode unit 28 has the same configuration as that of the vibration cell, and can generate a weak current independently for each of the divided sections. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, two conductors 281 composed of a plus electrode and a minus electrode are attached to each section of the electrode portion 28 at diagonal positions. And in the electrode part 28, by making a weak electric current flow between the two conductors 281, the electrical output from each division is performed.

  That is, the electrode unit 28 has a structure divided into a plurality of sections whose output states are independently controlled by a control unit 25b described later. With this configuration, the input device 2b can generate a weak current that is independent for each section on the output surface, and thus accurately controls the output state of the specific area on the output surface (or the output state other than the specific area). can do. In addition, about the magnitude | size and shape of each division, it is the same shape as each vibration cell of the vibration cell used for the vibration part 21 of the input device 2 which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG.

  Each section of the electrode portion 28 is made of rubber such as natural rubber, polybutadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber, butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, EPDM, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, or silicon rubber. The conductor 281 is preferably, for example, a conductive plate electrode, and a conductive powder such as carbon black, graphite, or metal powder, oil, or the like dispersed in the rubber and sulfur vulcanized or peroxide crosslinked is used. The

  In the above section, the two conductors 281 are attached at diagonal positions. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any configuration can be used in the section as long as a weak current can be generated in the section. May be arranged as follows.

  Further, the weak current generation region and the non-generation region (the region where the weak current is not generated) in the electrode unit 28 may be opposite to the region illustrated in FIG. 17. That is, the control unit 25b, which will be described later, may control the electrode unit 28 so that the generation region illustrated in FIG. 17 is a non-generation region and the non-generation region illustrated in FIG.

[Configuration of Input Device 2b]
Next, a configuration for controlling the input device 2b will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the input device 2b according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the input device 2 b includes a touch panel 23, a control unit (output state control unit) 25 b, a storage unit 27, and an electrode unit 28. In the input device 2b shown in FIG. 18, since the touch panel 23, the storage unit 27, and the electrode unit 28 have been described above, description thereof is omitted here.

  The control unit 25b includes a drive control unit (output state control unit) 251b and a position control unit (output state control unit) 252b, and includes the contact position of the user on the output surface (tactile stimulation surface) of the electrode unit 28. The electrode unit 28 is controlled so that the output state is different between the region and the other regions excluding the region. The control unit 25b performs predetermined arithmetic processing for controlling various functions of the input device 2b, and is realized by, for example, a CPU. Further, like the control unit 25 of the input device 2, the control unit 25b exchanges information with the application control unit 11 of the digital audio player 1 to link the output state of the electrode unit 28 and the application state. It is. Further, the control unit 25 b can detect the state of the operation key 5 based on information from the key state detection unit 12.

  The drive control unit 251b applies a voltage to the conductor 281 in each section in order to generate a weak current in a specific region of the output surface of the electrode unit 28 based on the current generation position information transmitted from the position control unit 252b. . When the drive control unit 251a receives the current generation position information, for example, the drive control unit 251a creates a drive correspondence table in which the current generation position information is associated with the position of the section corresponding to the current generation position information (that is, the electrode to which the voltage is applied). By referencing, a weak current may be generated in a specific region of the electrode unit 28.

  The drive control unit 251b has a voltage applied to the conductor 281 of the electrode unit 28 that is large enough to allow the user to perceive the electrical output from the section having the conductor 281 to which the voltage is applied. What is necessary is just the magnitude | size of the grade which produces | generates the electric current of the frequency of 1 to several hundred hertz, for example.

  The position control unit 252 b controls current generation position information indicating a weak current generation region in the electrode unit 28 and contact position information obtained from the touch panel 23. The position control unit 252b links the application state and the weak current generation region in the electrode unit 28. Similarly to the position control unit 252, the position control unit 252b determines, for example, the state of the scroll bar 40 (position of the knob portion 41) displayed on the display 4, the volume, output balance, and reproduction position when playing a video or music by the media player. , And control to interlock with the generation area.

[Flow of Processing in Input Device 2b]
Next, the flow of processing in the input device 2b will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow in the input device 2b.

  First, the control unit 25b determines whether or not the state of the operation key 5 is ON as in the process of S31 illustrated in FIG. 9 (S61).

  When the control unit 25b determines that the state of the operation key 5 is ON by receiving a valid signal from the key state detection unit 12 (YES in S61), the control unit 25b is displayed on the display 4 from the application control unit 11. Knob position information indicating the position of the knob part 41 of the scroll bar 40 is detected. The position control unit 252b of the control unit 25b calculates current generation position information indicating a region in which a weak current is generated on the output surface of the electrode unit 28 from the knob position information. The position control unit 252b determines the current generation position information by referring to, for example, a position correspondence table in which the knob position information and the current generation position information are associated with each other. When the position control unit 252b refers to the position correspondence table, the position correspondence table may be stored in the storage unit 27.

  The position control unit 252b transmits the current generation position information to the drive control unit 251b. Upon receiving the current generation position information from the position control unit 252, the drive control unit 251 b drives the conductor 281 in the section corresponding to the region indicated by the current generation position information to make the application (position of the knob part 41). At the same time, a weak current is generated in the region indicated by the current generation position information (S62). Note that the drive control unit 251b refers to the drive correspondence table in which, for example, the current generation position information and the conductor identification information for identifying the conductor 281 of each section of the electrode unit 28 are associated with each other, the conductor 281 is displayed. Drive. When the drive control unit 251 b refers to the drive correspondence table, the drive correspondence table may be stored in the storage unit 27. Upon receiving the current generation position information from the position control unit 252b, the drive control unit 251b stores the current generation position information in the control unit 25b or the storage unit 27. In addition, when it determines with the state of the operation key 5 being OFF (it is NO at S61), the control part 25b returns to the process of S61 again.

  When the process of S62 is completed, the position control unit 252b determines whether or not there is an input by the user on the touch panel 23, similarly to the process of S23 shown in FIG. 9 (S63).

  If it is determined that there is an input on the touch panel 23 (YES in S63), the position control unit 252b detects and stores contact position information indicating the contact position included in the detection result. Then, the position control unit 252 determines whether or not the current generation position information stored in the process of S62 matches the detected contact position information (S64). When the position control unit 252b determines that there is no input on the touch panel 23 (NO in S63), the process returns to the process of the control unit 25b in S61.

  In the process of S63, the position control unit 252b determines whether or not there is an input by the user on the touch panel 23 after a predetermined time preset in the control unit 25b (or the storage unit 27) has elapsed. May be. According to this configuration, the user can search for a region where a weak current is generated while a predetermined time elapses after touching the output surface.

  When it is determined by the position control unit 252b that the current generation position information and the contact position information match (YES in S64), the control unit 25b performs control over the weak current generation region in the electrode unit 28 (S65). ). On the other hand, when it is determined that the current generation position information and the contact position information do not match (NO in S64), the control unit 25b does not generate a weak current in the electrode unit 28 (a region where a weak current is not generated). Is controlled (S66). And the control part 25b will complete | finish the process in the input device 2b, if the process of S65 or S66 is completed.

  Here, a specific processing flow of the control unit 25b in S65 or S66 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the control unit 25b for the weak current generation region in the electrode unit 28 when the current generation position information matches the contact position information. FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow in the control unit 25b for the non-generation region of the weak current in the electrode unit 28 when the current generation position information and the contact position information do not match. Furthermore, FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing flow in the control unit 25b for the non-generation region of the weak current in the electrode unit 28 when the current generation position information and the contact position information do not match.

  In the process of S65 shown in FIG. 19, the control unit 25b determines whether or not the state of the operation key 5 is on as shown in FIG. 20 (S71). When the control unit 25b determines that the state of the operation key 5 is on by receiving a valid signal from the key state detection unit 12 (YES in 71), the position control unit 252b releases the user's finger from the touch panel 23. It is determined whether or not (S72). Note that the processing of S71 to S73 shown in FIG. 20 is the same as the processing of S31 to S33 shown in FIG.

  In the process of S72, when it is determined that the user's finger has not been removed from the touch panel 23 (NO in S72), the position control unit 252b determines whether or not the touch position of the user detected by the touch panel 23 has moved. (S73).

  When it is determined that the contact position has moved (YES in S73), the position control unit 252b transmits the current contact position information as current generation position information to the drive control unit 251b. When receiving the current generation position information from the position control unit 252b, the drive control unit 251b drives the conductor 281 in the section corresponding to the region indicated by the current generation position information. That is, the position control unit 252b moves the weak current generation region in the electrode unit 28 so as to match the contact position of the user detected by the touch panel 23 (S74).

  At this time, the position control unit 252 refers to the position correspondence table, acquires the knob position information corresponding to the current current generation position information, and transmits it to the application control unit 11. Thereby, the application control unit 11 can move the knob portion 41 of the scroll bar 40 displayed on the display 4 in association with (in conjunction with) the contact position of the user detected by the touch panel 23. As a result, the input device 2b can change the operation of the application (volume bar, balance bar, playback bar, channel selection, fast forward / rewind, etc.) that can be controlled by the scroll bar 40.

  When the process of S74 is completed and when it is determined by the position control unit 252b that the contact position has not been moved (NO in S73), the process returns to S71. Further, when the control unit 25b determines that the state of the operation key 5 is OFF (NO in S71), and when the position control unit 252b determines that the user's finger is released from the touch panel 23 (YES in S72), The control process for the weak current generation region in the electrode unit 28 of the input device 2b is terminated.

  Next, the processing of the control unit 25b for the non-generation region of the weak current in the electrode unit 28 will be described based on FIG. The processing shown in FIG. 21 is effective when, for example, the volume bar, balance bar, and playback bar that can be displayed on the display 4 are operated when the digital audio player 1 outputs moving images or music. .

  First, in the process of S66 shown in FIG. 19, the control unit 25b moves the weak current generation region in the electrode unit 28 to coincide with the contact position of the user detected by the touch panel 23 (S81). Specifically, the position control unit 252b sets the contact position information included in the detection result by the touch panel 23 as current contact position information, and transmits the current contact position information as current generation position information to the drive control unit 251b. To do. When receiving the current generation position information from the position control unit 252b, the drive control unit 251b drives the conductor 281 in the section corresponding to the region indicated by the current generation position information. That is, the position control unit 252b moves the weak current generation region to the user's contact position detected by the touch panel 23, thereby matching the user's contact position with the weak current generation region.

  When the process of S81 is completed, the control unit 25b executes the process of S65 shown in FIG. 19, that is, the process shown in FIG. 20 (S82). Then, when the process of S82 is completed, the control for the non-generation region of the weak current in the electrode unit 28 of the input device 2b is ended.

  That is, when there is a user input in a region where a weak current is not generated, the control unit 25b moves the region where the weak current is generated to the contact position of the user (matches the region where the weak current is generated with the contact position). Thus, the same processing as when the user touches the position where the weak current is generated is performed.

  Here, a process different from the control process of the input device 2b shown in FIG. 21 when the control unit 25b determines that the vibration position information and the contact position information do not match will be described based on FIG. The process shown in FIG. 21 is an effective process when, for example, the scroll bar 40 displayed in the window of the digital audio player 1 is operated. Note that the processing of S91 to S92 shown in FIG. 22 is the same as the processing of S51 to S52 shown in FIG.

  In the process of S92, when it is determined that the user's finger has not been removed from the touch panel 23 (NO in S92), the control unit 25b detects the weak current generation region in the electrode unit 28 when the touch panel 23 detects the user contact. It is moved by a predetermined distance in the direction of the position (S93). That is, the control unit 25b moves the region where the weak current is generated in the electrode unit 28 at a predetermined speed when the time until the process of S93 is performed again after the process of S93 (the time required for one loop) is the same. It will be. In addition, since the process of the control part 25b in the process of S93 is the same as the process of S53 shown in FIG. 12, the description is abbreviate | omitted here.

  In the process of S93, the position control unit 252b refers to the position correspondence table, acquires the knob position information corresponding to the current current generation position information, and transmits it to the application control unit 11. Thereby, the application control unit 11 can move the knob portion 41 of the scroll bar 40 displayed on the display 4 in association with (in conjunction with) the contact position of the user detected by the touch panel 23. When the process of S93 is completed, the process returns to S91.

  According to the configuration described above, the input device 2b can generate a weak current in a specific area on the output surface of the electrode unit 28, and can control the weak current generation area to move in accordance with a user's input operation. . That is, the input device 2b can control the output on the output surface so that the user touches the elongated rectangular (band-shaped) output surface of the electrode unit 28 in accordance with the movement of the contact position touched by the user. . That is, the input device 2b can move a region in an output state different from other regions of the output surface so as to follow the movement of the contact position touched by the user.

  For this reason, the input device 2b can implement | achieve the function of the scroll bar as software as hardware. As a result, the input device 2 can also control functions such as a volume bar, balance bar, playback bar, channel selection, fast forward / rewind, and the like that can be controlled by the scroll bar function as software.

  Therefore, the input device 2 can improve the sensory (tactile) operability for the user by providing the user with electrical perception. In addition, the user can experience a scroll bar as hardware by using the input device 2b.

  Furthermore, since the input device 2b performs tactile output to the user, it can be operated without looking at the input device 2b itself. When the input device 2 b is provided in the digital audio player 1, the user can recognize the output by simply touching the output surface of the electrode unit 28 without looking at the display 4 of the digital audio player 1. A user-desired operation can be reliably performed on the input device 2b.

[Supplement]
Finally, each block of the input devices 2, 2 a, 2 b, in particular, the control unit 25, the drive control units 251, 251 a, 251 b and the position control unit 252 of the control unit 25 a may be configured by hardware logic. As described above, it may be realized by software using a CPU.

  That is, the input devices 2, 2a, and 2b include a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, and a RAM (random) that expands the program. access memory), a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. The object of the present invention is to record the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the control program of the input device 2, 2a, 2b, which is software that realizes the above-described functions, in a computer-readable manner. This can also be achieved by supplying a recording medium to the input devices 2, 2 a, and 2 b and reading out and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Further, the input devices 2, 2a, 2b may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The input device according to the present invention has an elongated rectangular shape corresponding to the shape of the scroll bar, and the vibration region of the vibration unit (the protruding region of the expansion / contraction unit, the output region of the electrode unit) is a knob part of the scroll bar as software. Therefore, a hardware scroll bar can be realized. With the above configuration, the input device can also control functions such as a volume bar, balance bar, playback bar, channel selection, fast forward / rewind, and the like that can be controlled by the scroll bar function as software. Therefore, the input device can be applied to various electronic devices having a scroll bar function, such as a personal computer such as a PC, a mobile phone, and a PDA.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the input device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the digital audio player based on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the scroll bar displayed on the display of the digital audio player shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the external appearance of the input device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7 is a view showing a modification of the input device shown in FIG. 4 and is an external view showing a stacked state of the input device. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation state of the input device shown in FIG. An example of the input device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is shown, It is the perspective view for demonstrating the external appearance of the said input device, a side view, and an A-A 'arrow directional cross-sectional view. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a motor used in the drive unit of the input device illustrated in FIG. 7 and illustrating a result of comparing the size of the motor with a 10-yen coin. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process in the input device shown in FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the control unit for the vibration region of the vibration unit when the vibration position information and the contact position information match in the process shown in FIG. 9. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in a control unit for a non-vibration region of a vibration unit when vibration position information and contact position information do not match in the process illustrated in FIG. 9. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the flow of processing in the control unit for the non-vibrating region of the vibration unit when the vibration position information and the contact position information do not match in the processing illustrated in FIG. 9. It is a figure for demonstrating the external appearance of the input device which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows a mode that the vibration area | region of the vibration part of the input device shown in FIG. 13 protrudes. It is a figure which shows the plate-shaped artificial muscle used for the expansion-contraction part shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the input device shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the external appearance of the input device which concerns on further another embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the input device shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process in the input device shown in FIG. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the control unit for a weak current generation region in the electrode unit 28 when current generation position information and contact position information match in the processing shown in FIG. 19. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the control unit for a non-generation region of a weak current in the electrode unit when the current generation position information and the contact position information do not match in the process illustrated in FIG. 19. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the flow of processing in the control unit for the non-generation region of the weak current in the electrode unit when the current generation position information and the contact position information do not match in the processing illustrated in FIG. 19. It is a figure which shows a prior art and shows an example of the scroll bar displayed in a window. It is a figure which shows a prior art and shows an example of the volume control screen which adjusts the output from the speaker connected to PC. It is a figure which shows a prior art and shows an example of the media player screen which displays the various functions of a media player.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital audio player (electronic equipment)
2, 2a, 2b Input device 5 Operation key (starting means)
20a Ball (protrusion)
21 Vibration part (tactile stimulation part)
22 Vibration transmission panel (tactile stimulation part)
23 Touch panel (position detection unit)
25, 25a, 25b Control unit (output state control means)
251, 251a, 251b Drive control section (output state control means)
252 and 252b Position control unit (output state control means)
26 Stretchable part (tactile stimulation part, raised part)
28 Electrode unit (tactile stimulation unit)

Claims (9)

An input device for a user to input a position,
A tactile stimulation unit having a tactile stimulation surface that performs perceptible output when touched by a user;
A position detection unit that detects a contact position touched by a user on the tactile stimulation surface of the tactile stimulation unit and outputs the contact position as a position input by the user;
As a second region excluding the first region and the first region that put on the tactile stimulation surface is different output states, e Bei output state control means for controlling the tactile stimulation unit, the ,
The output state control means includes
When the contact position is included in the first area, the tactile stimulation unit is controlled so as to move the first area so as to match the movement of the contact position while maintaining the output state.
When the contact position is not included in the first area, the first area is moved to a position including the contact position while maintaining the output state, or a predetermined distance in the direction of the contact position An input device that controls the tactile stimulation unit so as to be moved only by a distance .   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the tactile stimulation unit is divided into a plurality of sections whose output states are independently controlled by the output state control unit.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the output on the tactile stimulation surface is vibration.   The input device according to claim 3, wherein the tactile stimulation surface is raised or depressed in a direction perpendicular to the tactile stimulation surface so as to change a center position of an amplitude of vibration on the tactile stimulation surface. .   The tactile stimulation unit is formed by laminating a thin plate-like vibration unit having the tactile stimulation surface that outputs vibration and a thin plate-like protruding unit that raises or sinks the tactile stimulation surface. 4. The input device according to 4. The output on the tactile stimulation surface is vibration,
The input device according to claim 2, wherein a protrusion is formed in a region of the tactile stimulation surface corresponding to each section of the tactile stimulation unit.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the output on the tactile stimulation surface is a weak current. An electronic device comprising the input device according to claim 1,
An electronic apparatus comprising an activation unit that activates the input device when a user operation is acquired. A method for controlling an input device in which a user performs position input,
The input device includes a tactile stimulation unit having a tactile stimulation surface that performs perceptible output when touched by a user.
A position detection step of detecting a contact position touched by a user on the tactile stimulation surface of the tactile stimulation unit and outputting the contact position as a position input by the user;
As a second region excluding the first region and the first region that put on the tactile stimulation surface is different output states, wherein the output state control step of controlling the tactile stimulation unit,
In the output state control step,
When the contact position is included in the first area, the tactile stimulation unit is controlled so as to move the first area so as to match the movement of the contact position while maintaining the output state.
When the contact position is not included in the first area, the first area is moved to a position including the contact position while maintaining the output state, or a predetermined distance in the direction of the contact position A control method for an input device, wherein the tactile stimulation unit is controlled so as to be moved only by a distance .

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