JP6070363B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, input devices for inputting parameters that determine the operating state of a predetermined device are known. In the input device shown in Patent Document 1, a user rotates a dial member provided in the input device, and parameters are changed depending on the rotation position.

JP 2007-3111181 A

  However, since this type of input device uses a mechanically rotating dial member as a user interface, there is a problem that the durability of a bearing or the like that supports the dial member must be considered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an input device with improved durability.

The present invention is an input device (100) for inputting a parameter (P) that determines the operating state of a predetermined device (1), which is formed in a protruding shape and has an outer peripheral surface (22a) of a protruding portion. Detected by a convex member (22) that can be contacted by the user, contact detection means (31) that detects the contact position of the user with respect to the outer peripheral surface, an actuator (40) that vibrates the convex member, and contact detection means Control means (32) for controlling the actuator based on the touched position, and control means for changing the strength of vibration by the actuator according to the number of contact points (31a) detected simultaneously by the contact detection means. As the number of contact points detected at the same time increases, the vibration caused by the actuator is weakened, and if the number of contact points detected at the same time increases beyond a certain level, The intensity of vibration caused by Chueta, and maintains the minimum intensity that has been set.

  According to the present invention, when the outer peripheral surface of the convex member is traced or pinched with a finger, the contact position is detected by the contact detection means. Therefore, the user can operate the input device with a finger without rotating the convex member. As a result, the convex member can be configured without using a member such as a bearing, and the durability of the input device can be improved.

  Furthermore, in the input device shown in Patent Document 1, an elastic piece is provided on one of the main body to which the dial member is attached and the dial member, and on the other side, a protrusion over which the elastic piece gets over by the rotation of the dial member is provided. It has been. As a result, when the elastic piece climbs over the protrusion due to the rotation of the dial member, the user can feel a click.

  However, as described above, when the user performs an input operation without rotating the convex member, the user cannot feel a click feeling, and there is a concern that the operation feeling is inferior. Therefore, in the present invention, the control means vibrates the convex member with the actuator based on the change in the contact position detected by the contact detection means, so whether or not the contact detection means detects the change in the contact position. The user can recognize the click feeling (hereinafter, referred to as “pseudo click feeling”) reproduced in a pseudo manner. Therefore, it is possible to realize an input device that allows the user to recognize whether or not it has been operated by a pseudo click feeling.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the input device in 1st embodiment. It is the conceptual diagram which applied the input device of 1st embodiment of this invention to the vehicle air conditioner. It is the (a) perspective view of the input device in a first embodiment, and (b) the exploded perspective view showing the structure around an actuator. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure around the sensor of the input device in 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross section of the convex member in 1st embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the point of input operation with respect to the input device in 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the control flow in 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the control flow in 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the control flow in 3rd embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the control flow in 4th embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol to the corresponding component in each embodiment. When only a part of the configuration is described in each embodiment, the configuration of the other embodiment described above can be applied to the other part of the configuration.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, an input device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used for a user to input a parameter P that defines an operating state of a predetermined device 1. Here, the parameter P is, for example, a set temperature of the blown air set in a predetermined temperature range (for example, 18 ° C. to 32 ° C.) in the vehicle air conditioner as the vehicle equipment 1 mounted on the vehicle. The parameter P can be input by the input device 100 so that the vehicle interior temperature according to the preference of

  As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 100 includes an input unit 20, a control unit 30, and an actuator 40. As shown in FIG. 2, the input unit 20, the control unit 30, and the actuator 40 are arranged in a position such that the vehicle occupant who is the user can easily operate, such as the center position surface of the instrument panel in the vehicle interior. In addition, the vehicle device 1 of the present embodiment includes a display unit 3 such as a liquid crystal display that displays the parameter P. Here, the contact detection block 31 in the first to fourth embodiments corresponds to the contact detection means in the claims, and the drive control block 32 corresponds to the control means in the claims.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the input unit 20 includes a sensor panel 21, a convex member 22, a film member 23, a sensor element 24, and a wiring unit 25. The sensor panel 21 is formed in a plate shape with resin, and constitutes an outer design surface of the input unit 20. The sensor panel 21 is provided along the surface of an instrument panel of a vehicle, for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the convex member 22 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape integral with the sensor panel 21 by resin. The convex member 22 protrudes from the design surface of the sensor panel 21 so that it can be contacted by a user's finger. An outer peripheral surface 22a having a cylindrical surface shape in the convex member 22 functions as a sensing surface 22a that senses a user's finger contact. The appearance of the convex member 22 is the same as that of a mechanical rotary dial member that has been conventionally used.

  The film member 23 is a thin film member having flexibility, and is formed of a resin. The film member 23 has a ring-shaped part 26 and a band-shaped part 27. The ring-shaped portion 26 is formed in an annular shape along the inner peripheral surface 22 b of the convex member 22, and is accommodated coaxially in the convex member 22. The belt-like portion 27 extends from one place in the circumferential direction of the ring-like portion 26 to the side opposite to the bottom portion of the convex member 22. The film member 23 is made of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate or polyimide.

  The sensor element 24 is formed in a thin film shape by a printing member containing metal or a conductive substance, and a plurality of sensor elements 24 are joined to the outer peripheral surface 26 a of the ring-shaped portion 26 of the film member 23. The sensor elements 24 are arranged at equal intervals from each other so as to be arranged in the circumferential direction along the sensing surface 22a of the convex member 22 surrounding the outer peripheral side. Each sensor element 24 forms a capacitor via a convex member 22 between the sensing surface 22a and a user's contact point, and represents a capacitance between the sensor element 24 and the user's finger, for example. Output a signal. Accordingly, since the sensor element 24 closest to the contact position of the user with respect to the sensing surface 22a outputs a signal representing the largest capacitance, the contact position of the user is detected based on the output signal. It can be accurately identified in the circumferential direction 22a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the wiring portion 25 is formed in a linear shape by a printing member containing metal or a conductive substance, and is a film member extending from the outer peripheral surface 26 a of the ring-shaped portion 26 to the outer peripheral surface 27 a of the strip-shaped portion 27. 23. The same number of wiring parts 25 as the sensor elements 24 are prepared, and a plurality of wiring parts 25 are provided so as to form a pair with each sensor element 24. Each wiring part 25 is connected to the sensor element 24 to which one end corresponds. By connecting the other end to the control unit 30, an output signal from the corresponding sensor element 24 is transmitted to the control unit 30.

  The actuator 40 shown in FIG. 3 is configured by a piezo actuator using a piezoelectric element or a solenoid. The actuator 40 is fixed by being sandwiched between fixing members 42 in contact with the sensor panel 21. The actuator 40 vibrates based on the contact position with the sensing surface 22 a and vibrates the convex member 22 via the sensor panel 21. A buffer member 41 such as foaming urethane is disposed on the side surface of the sensor panel 21 to which the actuator 40 is fixed, and the vibration of the actuator 40 is buffered.

  The control unit 30 shown in FIG. 1 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and is electrically connected to the wiring unit 25 of the input unit 20, the display unit 3 of the vehicle device 1, and the actuator 20. The control unit 30 executes the computer program to realize three functional blocks for driving the actuator 40 and changing the parameter P of the vehicle device 1 according to the input value of the input unit 20.

  The contact detection block 31 which is the first functional block captures the output signal of each sensor element 24 via each wiring unit 25 at every predetermined sampling period (for example, every several tens of milliseconds). Furthermore, the contact detection block 31 identifies the signal indicating the maximum capacitance among the output signals from the respective sensor elements 24 that have been taken in, so that the presence or absence of the user's contact with the sensing surface 22a and the sensing surface 22a. The contact position of the user in the circumferential direction is detected.

  The drive control block 32 that is the second functional block controls the actuator 40 based on the contact position of the user detected by the contact detection block 31. Specifically, every time the contact position of the user with the sensing surface 22a changes by a predetermined length in the circumferential direction of the sensing surface 22a, a driving voltage is applied to the actuator 40 to vibrate the actuator 40. Further, the contact detection block 31 detects a contact point 31a (see FIG. 6) where the electrostatic capacitance is locally maximized from the output signals from the respective sensor elements 24 taken in, and the drive control block 32 simultaneously The magnitude of vibration by the actuator 40 is changed according to the number of detected contact points 31a. The magnitude of the vibration is adjusted by a method such as changing the duty ratio of the drive voltage applied to the actuator 40 or changing the frequency. In the first embodiment, the drive control block 32 weakens the vibration caused by the actuator 40 as the number of contact points 31a detected simultaneously increases. Here, when the number of contact points 31a increases more than a certain value, the magnitude of vibration by the actuator 40 is maintained at a certain strength.

  The change control block 33 that is the third functional block changes the parameter P of the vehicle device 1 based on the contact position detected by the contact detection block 31. Specifically, the change control block 33 changes the parameter P every time the contact position detected by the contact detection block 31 changes by a predetermined length in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 22a. In addition, the change control block 33 stops the change in the parameter P in the state in which the contact position detected by the contact detection block 31 stops in the circumferential direction but the user continues to contact the outer peripheral surface 22a.

  Next, a control flow of the input device 100 by the control unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG. This control flow starts when the vehicle device 1 is turned on and ends when the vehicle device 1 is turned off.

  In S <b> 101 of the control flow, the contact detection block 31 determines whether the user has touched the outer peripheral surface 22 a of the input unit 20 based on the output signal of each sensor element 24. While the negative determination is made in S101, S101 is repeatedly executed, and when the positive determination is made in S101, the process proceeds to S102.

  In S102, the drive control block 32 determines whether the contact position detected based on the output signal of each sensor element 24 in the contact detection block 31 has changed in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 22a within the sampling period of the output signal. Judgment by While a negative determination is made in S102, the process returns to S101, and when an affirmative determination is made in S102, the process proceeds to S103.

  In S103, the contact detection block 31 detects the contact point 31a where the electrostatic capacitance is locally maximized from the output signals from the sensor elements 24, and determines whether or not the contact point 31a is one drive control block 32. Judgment by If a negative determination is made in S103, the process proceeds to S105, and if a positive determination is made in S103, the process proceeds to S104.

  In S104, each time the position of contact with the outer peripheral surface 22a of the user changes by a predetermined length in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 22a, the actuator 40 is controlled by the drive control block 32, so The convex member 22 is vibrated with the strength of. After execution of S104, the process proceeds to S106.

  In S106, it is determined by the contact detection block 31 based on the output signal of each sensor element 24 whether or not the user continues to contact the outer peripheral surface 22a. If a negative determination is made in S106, the process proceeds to S107, and if an affirmative determination is made, the process returns to S101.

  In S107, the drive control block 32 stops the vibration of the actuator 40. Further, in S105, which is shifted when a negative determination is made in S103, the drive control block 32 determines whether or not there are two contact points 31a. If a negative determination is made in S105, the process proceeds to S109, and if a positive determination is made in S105, the process proceeds to S108.

  In S108, the drive control block 32 controls the actuator 40 every time when the contact position of the user with the outer peripheral surface 22a changes by a predetermined length in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 22a. The convex member 22 is vibrated with the strength of vibration. After execution of S108, the process proceeds to S106.

  In S109, which is shifted when a negative determination is made in S105, the minimum vibration strength that is set every time the contact position of the user with the outer peripheral surface 22a changes by a predetermined length in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 22a. Thus, the actuator 40 is controlled by the drive control block 32. Thereby, the actuator 40 vibrates the convex member 22. After execution of S109, the process proceeds to S106. As described above, after the vibration of the actuator 40 is stopped, the process returns from S107 to S101, whereby S101 and its subsequent steps are appropriately executed.

  The operation | movement of the input device 100 of 1st embodiment mentioned above, and an effect are demonstrated in detail below. According to the first embodiment, when the outer peripheral surface 22 a of the convex member 22 is traced or pinched with a finger, the contact position is detected by the contact detection block 31. Therefore, the user can operate the input device 100 with a finger without rotating the convex member 22. As a result, it is possible to improve the durability of the input device 100 by configuring the convex member 22 without using a member such as a bearing.

  Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, if the outer peripheral surface 22 a of the convex member 22 is slid by pinching with a finger and the slidable contact position is detected by the contact detection block 31, it looks like a rotatable dial member. It is also possible to perform various input operations.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the drive control block 32 vibrates the convex member 22 by the actuator 40 based on the change in the contact position detected by the contact detection block 31, so that the change in the contact position is detected by the contact detection block 31. The user can recognize whether the actuator 20 vibrates every time the contact position changes by a predetermined length (hereinafter, referred to as “pseudo click feeling”). Therefore, it is possible to realize the input device 100 that allows the user to recognize whether or not the operation has been performed by a pseudo click feeling.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the magnitude of vibration by the actuator 40 is changed by the drive control block 32 according to the number of contact points 31a detected at the same time. Therefore, it becomes possible to give a pseudo click feeling to the user according to the number of fingers touched.

  Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the vibration of the actuator 40 is weakened by the drive control block 32 as the number of detected contact points 31a increases. Generally, as the number of fingers to be touched increases, the number of places where the vibration from the convex member 22 is felt increases, and the user is likely to feel the vibration. Here, if the vibration is weakened as the number of fingers increases, the user can feel a pseudo click feeling as large as when the number of fingers is small. As a result, it is possible to give the user a pseudo click feeling with the magnitude of vibration corresponding to the number of fingers touched.

(Second embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 8, the second embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the parameter P is changed by the change control block 33 according to the change of the contact position. In the first embodiment, regardless of whether or not the parameter P has changed, every time the contact position of the user with the sensing surface 22a changes by a predetermined length in the circumferential direction of the sensing surface 22a, the actuator 40 is vibrated by the drive control block 32. However, in the second embodiment, the actuator 40 is vibrated by the drive control block 32 every time the parameter P changes. The vibration of the actuator 40 is stopped by the drive control block 32 after the control corresponding to the change of the parameter P is performed.

  Next, a control flow of the input device 100 by the control unit 30 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This control flow starts when the vehicle device 1 is turned on and ends when the vehicle device 1 is turned off.

  In S201, the change control block 33 determines whether or not the parameter P has changed by a predetermined amount. Here, the predetermined amount may be a display unit on the display unit 3 or may be obtained by dividing several upper limit values from the lower limit value of the parameter P. While the negative determination is made in S201, S201 is repeatedly executed. When the positive determination is made in S201, the process proceeds to S202.

  In S202, the convex member 22 is vibrated by controlling the actuator 40 by the drive control block 32 with the intensity of vibration corresponding to the number of contact points 31a. After execution of S202, the process proceeds to S203.

  In S203, the drive control block 32 stops the vibration of the actuator 40. As described above, after the vibration of the actuator 40 is stopped, the process returns from S203 to S201, whereby S201 and its subsequent steps are appropriately executed.

  According to the second embodiment described so far, since the actuator 40 is moved by the drive control block 32 every time the parameter P changes, the user can recognize by tactile sense that the parameter P has been changed by the input operation. Therefore, the user can reliably perform the input operation without relying on visual observation or the like. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the input device 100 with improved operability can be realized.

(Third embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 9, the third embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the actuator 40 is vibrated each time the parameter P changes. However, the case where the parameter P reaches the upper limit value or the lower limit value is not particularly defined. However, in the third embodiment, when the parameter P reaches the upper limit value or lower limit value of the change, the actuator 40 is vibrated by the drive control block 32 with a vibration having a magnitude or pattern different from the vibration other than the limit value. Thereby, the user can grasp that the vibration of the actuator 40 has reached the limit value. The vibration of the actuator 40 is stopped by the drive control block 32 after being controlled according to the transition of the parameter P to the limit value.

  Next, a control flow of the input device 100 by the control unit 30 of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This control flow starts when the vehicle device 1 is turned on and ends when the vehicle device 1 is turned off.

  In S302, where the determination is affirmative in S201 and the process proceeds to S302, the change control block 33 determines whether the parameter P is an upper limit value or a lower limit value. If a negative determination is made in S302, the process proceeds to S304, and if a positive determination is made in S302, the process proceeds to S303.

  In S303, the actuator 40 is controlled by the drive control block 32, so that the convex member 22 is vibrated with the vibration intensity corresponding to the number of contact points 31a and the vibration for the limit value. After execution of S303, the process proceeds to S305.

  In S 305, the drive control block 32 stops the vibration of the actuator 40. In S304, in which a negative determination is made in S302 and the transition is made, the convex member 22 is vibrated by controlling the actuator 40 by the drive control block 32 with the intensity of vibration corresponding to the number of contact points 31a. After execution of S304, the process proceeds to S305. As described above, after the vibration of the actuator 40 is stopped, the process returns from S303 to S201, whereby S201 and its subsequent steps are appropriately executed.

  According to the third embodiment described so far, when the parameter P reaches the upper limit value or the lower limit value of the change, the vibration of the actuator 40 is changed by the drive control block 32, so that the parameter P has reached the limit value. The user can be made aware of the change in vibration. Therefore, it can be suppressed that the user recognizes that the parameter P has reached the limit value without relying on visual observation or the like, and continues the input operation even if the parameter P has reached the limit value. Therefore, according to the third embodiment, the input device 100 with further improved operability can be realized.

(Fourth embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 10, the fourth embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the magnitude and pattern of vibration of the actuator 40 are the same regardless of whether the parameter P increases or decreases. However, in the fourth embodiment, the parameter P is The vibration of the actuator 40 is changed depending on whether it increases or decreases. When the parameter P is increased by the change control block 33, an increase vibration is generated in the actuator 40 by the drive control block 32. On the other hand, when the parameter P is decreased by the change control block 33, the actuator 40 is caused to vibrate for reduction by the drive control block 32. The vibration of the actuator 40 is stopped by the drive control block 32 after being controlled according to the transition of the parameter P.

  Next, a control flow of the input device 100 by the control unit 30 of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This control flow starts when the vehicle device 1 is turned on and ends when the vehicle device 1 is turned off.

  In S402, in which the determination is affirmative in S201 and the process proceeds to S402, the change control block 33 determines whether or not the parameter P has increased. If a negative determination is made in S402, the process proceeds to S404, and if a positive determination is made in S402, the process proceeds to S403.

  In S403, the actuator 40 is controlled by the drive control block 32, and the vibration for increasing the parameter P is applied to the convex member 22 with the strength corresponding to the number of the contact points 31a. After execution of S403, the process proceeds to S405.

  In S 405, the drive control block 32 stops the vibration of the actuator 40.

  In S404, where a negative determination is made in S402, the actuator 40 is controlled by the drive control block 32, so that vibration for decreasing the parameter P is applied to the convex member 22 with the strength according to the number of contact points 31a. Add. After execution of S404, the process proceeds to S405 and the same processing is performed. As described above, after the vibration of the actuator 40 is stopped, the process returns from S405 to S201, whereby S201 and its subsequent steps are appropriately executed.

  According to the fourth embodiment described so far, the vibration of the actuator 40 is changed by the drive control block 32 depending on whether the parameter P increases or decreases. Without the user being able to recognize. Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, the input device 100 with improved operability can be realized.

(Other embodiments)
Although a plurality of embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not construed as being limited to these embodiments, and various embodiments and combinations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Can be applied.

  Specifically, in the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment, the sensor element 24 uses a capacitive sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a position signal is generated with a pressing force at the time of contact. A pressure-sensitive sensor element may be used. In the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment, the actuator 40 is fixed in contact with the sensor panel 21. However, the actuator 40 may be fixed inside the convex member 22 or fixed at another position. It may be done.

  Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, the actuator 40 is a piezo actuator or a solenoid, but may have other configurations. In addition, in the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment, when three or more contact points 31a are detected, the actuator 40 adds vibration of the set minimum strength to the convex member 22. The above may be executed when four or more contact points 31a are detected, or may be other points or more.

  In addition, in the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment, the parameter P is changed by the change control block 33 every time the contact position changes by a predetermined length. It may be a predetermined length when vibrating due to a change, or may be different. In other words, the vibration may be generated only at the timing of the parameter P change, or the vibration may be generated a plurality of times during a predetermined length in which the parameter P is changed by one.

  In the second embodiment, the drive control block 32 vibrates the actuator 40 every time the parameter P changes by a predetermined amount or more. However, the drive control block 32 may vibrate every time the parameter P changes by a predetermined amount. You may vibrate whenever it changes above. Further, in the third embodiment, the drive control block 32 changes the vibration of the actuator 40 when the parameter P reaches the limit value. However, the vibration may be different between the upper limit value and the lower limit value, or equivalent. It is good.

  In addition, in the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment, the actuator 40 is vibrated by the drive control block 32 with the intensity of vibration corresponding to the number of contact points 31a. The vibration intensity may be constant. Furthermore, in the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment, the drive control block 32 reduces the vibration of the actuator 40 as the number of contact points 31a increases. However, the vibration may be increased.

  In the second embodiment to the fourth embodiment, the actuator 40 is vibrated by the drive control block 32 due to the change of the parameter P. However, only the contact position detected by the contact detection block 31 is changed and the parameter P is changed. Even if it does not change, it may be vibrated or may not be vibrated.

  Furthermore, about the input device 100 of 1st embodiment-4th embodiment, although the setting temperature of a vehicle air conditioner shall be input, in addition to this, the amount of blowing (air flow) into the vehicle interior of conditioned air It is good also as what inputs blowing mode (face mode, foot mode, etc.), etc. Moreover, it is good also as what inputs the volume in a vehicle audio, or a radio channel selection. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to the input device 100 of various household devices as well as vehicles.

1 predetermined device, 20 input unit, 22 convex member, 22a outer peripheral surface (sensing surface), 30 control unit, 31 contact detection block (contact detection unit), 31a contact point, 32 drive control block (control unit), 33 change Control block, 40 actuators, 100 input devices

Claims (4)

An input device (100) for inputting a parameter for determining an operating state of a predetermined device (1),
A convex member (22) that is formed into a protruding shape and that can contact the outer peripheral surface (22a) of the protruding portion by a user;
Contact detection means (31) for detecting the contact position of the user with respect to the outer peripheral surface;
An actuator (40) for vibrating the convex member;
Control means (32) for controlling the actuator based on the contact position detected by the contact detection means,
In accordance with the number of contact points (31a) detected simultaneously by the contact detection means, the control means for changing the strength of vibration by the actuator increases the number of contact points simultaneously detected by the actuator. An input device characterized by weakening vibration and maintaining the strength of vibration by the actuator at a set minimum strength when the number of contact points detected simultaneously increases to a certain level or more. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit moves the actuator every time the parameter changes. Wherein, when the parameter has reached the upper limit value or lower limit value of the change, the input device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that changing the vibration by the actuators. Wherein, in the case of a decrease in the case where the parameter is increased, the input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that changing the vibration by the actuators.

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