JP5295072B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus for enabling a user to simply and easily identify and confirm various notification information. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus includes: a touch sensor for detecting a touch input; a tactile sensation presentation unit for presenting a tactile sensation to a touch object which has touched the touch face of the touch sensor; a memory for storing different various notification information; and a control unit for associating different touch frequency with each of the different various notification information which can be stored in the memory, and for, when the notification information is stored in the memory, controlling the tactile sensation presentation unit to present the tactile sensation to the touch object according as the touch face is touched by the touch object by the touch frequency associated with the notification information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device capable of presenting notification information by tactile sensation.

  Some conventional electronic devices have a function of notifying various information, and the user can know various information by the information notification function. As an example of the information notification function of this electronic device, when unread mail or unanswered incoming call is stored in the electronic device, information indicating that there is unread mail or unanswered incoming call is displayed on the display unit provided in the electronic device. To notify the user. With this function, the display unit displays whether or not a new received mail or a new incoming call has been received on an electronic device that has been left for a certain period of time, that is, whether or not there is an unread mail or an unanswered incoming call. It can be confirmed by information.

However, electronic devices that are carried and used, such as mobile phone terminals and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), are often carried in bags or pockets. In this case, to check the notification information displayed on the display unit of the electronic device, take out the electronic device from the bag or pocket one by one, press the operation key depending on the model, or open the device if it is foldable. The notification information displayed on the display unit is visually recognized by performing a troublesome operation such as. For this reason, in a situation where it is difficult to take out the electronic device due to a clogged item in a pocket or bag, it is difficult to check the notification information, which is inconvenient for the user. Further, every time the notification information is confirmed, it is troublesome for the user to perform a series of operations of taking out the electronic device from the pocket or the like and then returning the electronic device to the pocket or the like again.

  In addition, as a conventional foldable electronic device, there has been proposed a device in which a sub-display portion is provided in a portion exposed in a folded state, and date / time, incoming call, new mail, etc. are displayed on the sub-display portion ( For example, see Patent Document 1). According to this electronic device, the notification information displayed on the sub display unit can be confirmed by visually checking the sub display unit while the device is folded without opening the device and looking at the main display unit. Can do. However, also in this electronic device, when the electronic device is in a pocket or the like, the device is taken out and the sub display unit is visually recognized, so that the same inconvenience occurs.

  In addition, since electronic devices are carried and used in various places, for example, notification information displayed on a display unit may be viewed under a hot sun or a bright light. However, under such an environment, reflection of external light by the display unit, reflection of the outside world onto the display unit, etc. occur, making it difficult to see the notification information displayed on the display unit.

  On the other hand, as a conventional electronic device, a predetermined key of the key input unit is configured as a predetermined switch that represents two tactilely different states, and predetermined processing such as incoming call or reception of e-mail is performed. There is also known an electronic device that, when executed, causes the predetermined switch to transition to a predetermined state (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  According to the electronic device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the user can check whether there is an unread mail or an unanswered call by touching a predetermined switch. In addition, the user only needs to touch a predetermined switch. If the electronic device is in a pocket or bag, touch the predetermined switch while the electronic device is in the pocket or the like to check whether there is an unread mail or unanswered call. It becomes possible to do.

JP 2003-198676 A JP 2001-249759 A

  However, in the case of the electronic device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the user can know that there is an incoming call or an e-mail by touching a predetermined switch, but there is an incoming call. It is not possible to determine whether an e-mail has been received. For this reason, for example, when waiting for a call or waiting for an e-mail, the user needs a troublesome operation of checking the incoming call by looking at the display unit.

  Further, the predetermined switch is relatively small with the size of one key of the key input unit. For this reason, when touching a predetermined switch while the electronic device is still in a bag, pocket, etc., it is difficult to grasp the electronic device's accommodation state and posture, and the search for the predetermined switch is made. It may take some time.

  For this reason, it is desired to develop an electronic device that can easily and easily identify and confirm unread mail and unanswered incoming calls without looking at the display unit. In particular, in recent electronic devices, various information such as schedules can be notified in addition to the above-mentioned unread mail and unanswered incoming calls. It is hoped that it can be identified and confirmed.

  The present invention has been made to meet such a demand, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that allows a user to easily and easily identify and confirm various types of notification information.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an electronic device according to a first invention includes a touch sensor that detects a touch input, and a tactile sensation presentation unit that presents a tactile sensation to a touch target that touches the touch surface of the touch sensor. A storage unit that can store different types of notification information, and a different number of touches for each different type of notification information that can be stored in the storage unit, and when the notification information is stored in the storage unit, A control unit that controls the tactile sensation providing unit so as to present a tactile sensation to the touch target when the touch target touches the touch surface with the number of touches associated with the notification information.

  In the electronic device according to a second aspect of the invention, when the notification information is stored in the storage unit, the control unit gives a tactile sensation to the touch target every time the touch target touches the touch surface. Presenting and controlling the tactile sensation providing unit to present a tactile sensation different from the tactile sensation to the touch target when the touch target touches the touch surface corresponding to the notification information.

  Further, in the electronic device according to the third invention, the control unit associates different tactile sensations for different types of notification information that can be stored in the storage unit, and the notification information is stored in the storage unit. When the touch target touches the touch surface associated with the notification information, the tactile sensation providing unit is controlled to present a tactile sensation associated with the notification information to the touch target.

  In the electronic device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control unit finishes presenting the touch target to the touch target based on the notification information stored in the storage unit, and then the touch target changes the touch surface. When touched, the tactile sensation providing unit is controlled so that a tactile sensation different from the tactile sensation is presented to the touch target.

  According to the electronic device of the present invention, when different types of notification information are associated with different types of notification information and the notification information is stored in the storage unit, the touch number touch surface in which the touch target is associated with the notification information. When is touched, a tactile sensation is presented to the touch target. Therefore, the user can identify and check various notification information by touching the touch surface.

It is a functional block diagram of the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the tactile sensation which the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention presents. It is a figure for demonstrating the tactile sensation which the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention presents. It is a figure for demonstrating the tactile sensation which the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention presents. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the tactile sense presentation operation | movement of the notification information by the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This electronic device is a mobile phone terminal having a telephone function and an e-mail transmission / reception function, and includes a touch sensor 11, a load detection unit 12, a tactile sensation presentation unit 13, a display unit 14, a communication unit 15, a storage unit 16, and the entire It has the control part 17 which controls operation | movement.

  The touch sensor 11 detects a touch input by a touch target such as a finger or a stylus pen on the touch surface 11a. The touch sensor 11 includes a resistive film type, a capacitance type, an optical type, and the like, and is arranged on the display unit 14. To do. The load detection unit 12 detects a pressing load on the touch surface 11a of the touch sensor 11, and is configured using an element that reacts to a load such as a strain gauge sensor or a piezoelectric element, for example. The tactile sensation providing unit 13 vibrates the touch sensor 11 and is configured using, for example, a piezoelectric element.

  The display unit 14 displays an input object such as an input button such as a push button switch (push button switch), and is configured using, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL display panel. The touch input to the input object displayed on the display unit 14 is detected by the control unit 17 based on the position information output from the touch sensor 11. The communication unit 15 is configured to perform wireless communication such as telephone and e-mail via a network such as a known cellular network.

  The storage unit 16 includes various operation programs including a wireless communication program, incoming information (notification information) of unread mail and unanswered telephone calls, various notification information such as a schedule input by a user, driving signal information of the tactile sensation presentation unit 13, The number of times that the touch target touches the touch surface is stored. The storage unit 16 stores information such as a name, an e-mail address, and a telephone number for each communication partner. These pieces of information can be stored in groups for each specific communication partner according to the user's arbitrary settings. Note that different types of notification information can be stored in the storage unit 16, but the types here include not only types such as mail, telephone, and schedule, but also types such as group A and group B, and communication partners. A, the type of information that can be classified and notified to the user, such as the type of communication partner B.

  The control part 17 consists of CPU etc., for example, and controls operation | movement of each part based on the positional information from the touch sensor 11, and the press load information from the load detection part 12. FIG.

  Next, a tactile sense presenting operation by the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the vertical axis indicates the pressing load detected by the load detection unit 12, and the horizontal axis indicates time. When a touch target such as a finger touches the touch surface 11a and directly applies a pressing force to the touch surface 11a, the pressing load detected by the load detection unit 12 increases. When the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12 satisfies the load reference F1 by applying a pressing force to the touch target, the control unit 17 causes the touch target such as a finger to feel the touch by vibrating the touch surface 11a. The tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled so as to be presented.

  As a mode in which the tactile sensation providing unit 13 vibrates the touch surface 11a, as shown in FIG. 3, the touch surface is vibrated for two cycles at time T in order to present a tactile sensation of “bulburu” to a touch target such as a finger. As shown in FIG. 4, in order to present a tactile sensation of “blur bull” to a touch target such as a finger, an aspect in which the touch surface is vibrated for four periods at time T, or as shown in FIG. There is a mode in which the touch surface is vibrated for one cycle at time T in order to present a touching feeling to the touch target such as “Buru”. In this way, by causing the touch surface 11a to vibrate at different frequencies, different tactile sensations can be presented to a touch target such as a finger.

  Next, a tactile sensation presentation operation of notification information by the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the vertical axis indicates the pressing load detected by the load detection unit 12, and the horizontal axis indicates time.

  In the present embodiment, information such as a telephone number and a mail address related to the communication partner is stored in the storage unit 16, and this communication partner information is classified into any one of groups 1 to 4. ing. Then, when there is incoming information (notification information) of an unanswered call (unanswered incoming call) from a communication partner classified as group 1, the control unit 17 can handle one touch as the notification information related to group 1. It is attached. Similarly, group 2 is associated with 2 touches, group 3 with 3 touches, and group 4 with 4 touches. Here, the number of touches is associated with the number of times that a touch target such as a finger touches the touch surface 11a.

  Here, a case where there is an unanswered incoming call or unread mail (notification information) from a communication partner classified as group 3 will be described. First, when a touch target such as a finger touches the touch surface 11a for a short time such as a double click as an operation for starting the notification information confirmation mode (FIG. 6: “activation”), the control unit 17 The notification information confirmation mode is started.

  In order to check the notification information, the user touches the touch surface 11a with a touch target. After starting the confirmation mode, the group 1 is confirmed when the first touch is made on the touch surface 11a. In this case, since there is no notification information from the communication partner classified in the group 1, the control unit 17 touches the touch surface 11a with a tactile sensation such as “Bururu” shown in FIG. The tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled so as to be presented to the touch target being performed (FIG. 6: “Group 1”). In addition, it is preferable that the user recognizes that there is no notification information when a tactile sensation such as “Buruburuku” is presented in advance. Thereafter, when the second touch is made on the touch surface 11a, the group 2 is confirmed. Also in this case, since there is no notification information from the communication partner classified in the group 2, the control unit 17 gives a touch feeling such as “Bururu” shown in FIG. The tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled so as to be presented to the touch target being touched (FIG. 6: “Group 2”).

  When the third touch is made on the touch surface 11a, the group 3 is confirmed. In this case, since there is notification information from the communication partner classified in the group 3, the control unit 17 gives the touch feeling such as “Bulburu” shown in FIG. 4 (the touch feeling of “Yes” determination) to the touch surface 11a. The tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled so as to be presented to the touch target touching (FIG. 6: “Group 3”). In addition, it is preferable that the user recognizes that there is notification information when a tactile sensation such as “Bull Bull Bull” is presented in advance. As a result, the user can know that there is notification information from the communication partner classified in the group 3. After that, when the fourth touch is made on the touch surface 11a, the group 4 is confirmed, and there is no notification information from the communication partner classified into the group 4. The tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled so as to present the touch target touching the touch surface 11a with a tactile sensation such as “Bulburu” shown in FIG. 6 (FIG. 6: “Group 4”). When the touch surface 11a is touched for the fifth time, since there is no more group to be confirmed, in order to notify that the confirmation mode of the notification information is to be ended, the control unit 17 as shown in FIG. The tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled so as to present the tactile sensation of “bur” to the touch target touching the touch surface 11a (FIG. 6: “end”). It is preferable that the user recognizes that the notification information confirmation mode has ended when a tactile sensation such as “blue” is presented in advance. Accordingly, the user can recognize that the notification information confirmation mode has ended.

  As described above, in a mode in which the notification information confirmation mode is terminated after the user confirms all the groups, a group other than the group that the user wants to confirm must be confirmed. Therefore, a mode in which the notification information confirmation mode is terminated before confirming all the groups will be described with reference to FIG. The description until the third touch is performed on the touch surface 11a and the group 3 is confirmed is the same as the description of FIG. A touch target in which the touch surface 11a is touched for the third time, and the control unit 17 touches the touch surface 11a with a tactile sensation such as “Bulbuluru” shown in FIG. By controlling the tactile sensation providing unit 13 so as to be presented to the user, the user can confirm that there is notification information from the communication partner classified in the group 3. Thereafter, when the user determines that confirmation of the group 4 is not necessary, in order to end the notification information confirmation mode, the touch surface 11a is touched on the touch target continuously for a short time such as a double click. (FIG. 7: “End”), the notification information confirmation mode is terminated and the normal mode is entered.

  Next, the tactile sensation presenting operation of notification information by the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the control unit 17 detects whether or not the touch sensor 11 detects a touch input by a touch target such as a finger, and whether or not the pressing load related to the touch input detected by the load detection unit 12 satisfies a predetermined load standard. Judgment is made (step S101). When the pressing load related to the detected touch input satisfies a predetermined load criterion, it is determined whether or not the touch input is an input for starting the notification information confirmation mode (step S102). In the following flow, when a touch input by a touch target is detected, the pressing load related to the touch input satisfies a predetermined load standard.

  If it is determined in step S102 that the touch input is an input for starting the notification information confirmation mode, the control unit 17 starts the notification information confirmation mode (step S103). After starting the notification information confirmation mode, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the touch sensor 11 has detected a new touch input (step S104). When a new touch input is detected in step S104, the control unit 17 indicates that the number of times that the touch target such as a finger has touched the touch surface 11a is one after the notification information confirmation mode is started. 16 (step S105). Here, as a new touch input, after the touch target is in a non-contact state with the touch surface 11a, the touch surface 11a newly touched (contacted) may be used as the new touch input. In a state where the surface 11a is touched, after the pressing load detected by the load detection unit 12 changes from a state satisfying a predetermined load criterion to a state where the predetermined load criterion is not satisfied, a new one satisfying the predetermined load criterion is newly added. It may be a touch input.

  Subsequently, the control unit 17 specifies a group associated with the number of times of one touch in advance (step S106). And it is determined whether the notification information of the communication partner classified into the group is memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 16 (step S107). If the control unit 17 determines that the notification information is stored, the control unit 17 touches the touch target 11 touching the touch surface 11a with the tactile sensation of “Bulburu” shown in FIG. If the tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled so as to present it (step S108), and it is determined that the notification information is not stored, the tactile sensation “Bulbul” shown in FIG. The tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled so as to present the touch target touching 11a (step S109).

  After step S108 or step S109, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the touch sensor 11 has detected a new touch input (step S110). If it is determined in step S110 that a new touch input has been detected, in step S111, the number of touches stored in the storage unit 16 is incremented by one and newly stored, and no new touch input is detected. If this is the case, this process ends. After step S111, it is determined whether there is a group other than the group specified in step S106 (another group). When it is determined in step S112 that there is no other group, the control unit 17 gives a touch feeling for ending the confirmation mode “BRU” shown in FIG. 5 to the touch target touching the touch surface 11a. The tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled so as to be presented (step S113), and this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S112 that there is another group, it is determined whether or not the touch input detected in step S110 is an input for ending the confirmation mode (step S114). Here, if the input is for ending the confirmation mode, the process is terminated. If the input is not for ending the confirmation mode, the group corresponding to the number of touches newly stored in step S111 is specified. The group specified in step S106 is updated (step S115). After updating the group in step S115, the process proceeds to step S107, and this process is continued. If it is determined in step S102 that the input is not for starting the confirmation mode, it is detected as a normal touch input in step S116, and a predetermined process corresponding to the normal touch input is executed ( Step S117).

  According to the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment, when there is incoming information (notification information) of an unanswered telephone call (unanswered incoming call) from a communication partner classified in a group preset in the storage unit 16 When a touch target such as a finger count or a finger associated with the group touches the touch surface 11a of the touch sensor 11, the tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled so as to present a tactile sensation to the touch target. Therefore, the user knows in advance the number of touches and the group associated with the number of touches, so that when the touch surface 11a is touched for the number of touches, the tactile sensation providing unit 13 determines “Yes”. Whether or not there is an unanswered call from the group associated with the number of touches can be determined based on whether or not a tactile sensation is presented.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and corrections based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, when the pressing load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined load standard, the tactile sensation providing unit performs various processes such as presenting a tactile sensation to the touch target. Without being limited to the above, when the touch sensor detects a touch input without having a load detection unit, various processes such as presenting a tactile sensation to the touch target may be performed by the tactile sensation providing unit.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when there is notification information in the storage unit and when there is no notification information, the tactile sense of “Bulbully” shown in FIG. 4 (tactile sense of “Yes” determination) and “Bulbully” shown in FIG. The tactile sensation presentation unit is controlled so as to present the tactile sensation (tactile sensation of “none” determination) to the touch target touching the touch surface, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the storage unit The control unit may control the tactile sensation providing unit so that the tactile sensation is presented to the touch target touching the touch surface only when the notification information is present or absent.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the different number of touches is associated with each group having the notification information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of touches is different for each different type such as an unreceived response or unread mail. Needless to say, can be matched. For example, one touch may be associated with an unreceived response, and two touches may be associated with an unread mail.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when there is notification information, a tactile sensation “Bulbuluru” is presented, and when there is no notification information, a tactile sensation “Bulbulut” is presented, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the notification information of the unreceived response is stored, a tactile feeling “Buru” may be presented, and when the notification information of the unread mail is stored, the tactile feeling “Burubrutsu” may be presented.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the tactile sensation to be presented is a tactile sensation of “Buru”, a tactile sensation of “Buru Buru”, and a tactile sensation of “Bul Buru Blu”. Not too long.

  In the present embodiment, when the load detection unit detects a pressing load that satisfies a predetermined load standard, various processes are performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two load standards are set. Various processes described in the present embodiment can be performed when the low load criterion is satisfied, and new processes can be assigned when the high load criterion is satisfied. As a new process to be assigned, when the load detection unit satisfies a pressing load that satisfies a low load standard, a tactile sense of “Bulbuluru” (tactile of “Yes” determination) is presented, and there is an unread mail as notification information When notified, the user may increase the pressing force as it is, and when a pressing load that satisfies a high load criterion is detected by the load detection unit, the mail application may be activated to read the unread mail. Here, activation of the mail application is an example, and an application related to the notification information presented when the low load criterion is satisfied may be activated when the high load criterion is satisfied.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Touch sensor 11a Touch surface 12 Load detection part 13 Tactile sense presentation part 14 Display part 15 Communication part 16 Storage part 17 Control part

Claims (4)

A touch sensor for detecting touch input;
A tactile sensation providing unit that provides a tactile sensation with respect to a touch target touching the touch surface of the touch sensor;
A storage unit capable of storing different types of notification information;
When different notification counts are associated with different types of notification information that can be stored in the storage unit, and the notification information is stored in the storage unit, the number of touches in which the touch target is associated with the notification information A control unit that controls the tactile sensation providing unit to present a tactile sensation with respect to the touch target when touching the touch surface;
Electronic equipment comprising.   When the notification information is stored in the storage unit, the control unit presents a tactile sensation to the touch target every time the touch target touches the touch surface, and the touch target is included in the notification information. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the tactile sensation providing unit is controlled so that a tactile sensation different from the tactile sensation is presented to the touch target when the touch surface is touched. .   The control unit associates different tactile sensations for different types of notification information that can be stored in the storage unit, and when the notification information is stored in the storage unit, the touch target is associated with the notification information. The tactile sensation providing unit is controlled to present a tactile sensation associated with the notification information to the touch target when the touch surface is touched. Electronics.   When the touch target touches the touch surface after the control unit finishes presenting the touch target based on the notification information stored in the storage unit, the control unit touches the touch target. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tactile sensation providing unit is controlled so as to present a tactile sensation different from the tactile sensation.