JP6428076B2 - Tactile presentation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a haptic presentation device that provides haptic feedback by transmitting vibrations to a user.

  In recent years, a touch-sensitive keyboard or the like has been proposed in which a tactile feedback is given by transmitting vibration when a user touches a key so that the key is “pressed”.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a structure in which both ends of a piezoelectric bimorph element made of piezoelectric ceramics or the like are held by a low elastic body, and a vibrating material is connected to the center of the piezoelectric bimorph. In the structure of Patent Document 1, vibration is transmitted to a user through a connected vibration-receiving material by inputting an AC signal to the piezoelectric bimorph element and causing it to vibrate.

JP 2005-303937 A

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a unimorph structure 800 in which a piezoelectric body 820 having a shorter side length than the diaphragm 840 is attached to the center of the diaphragm 840 is pressed with a finger. The case of bending in a state where force is applied will be described.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 7C, the region of the diaphragm 840 to which the piezoelectric body 820 is affixed bends and vibrates, but the region of the diaphragm 840 to which the piezoelectric body 820 is not affixes does not flex and vibrate. Therefore, a “pressed” feeling cannot be felt with a key switch or the like disposed on the diaphragm 840.

  Therefore, even a piezoelectric material that is more expensive than the diaphragm 840 and has a short length and sufficient expansion / contraction amount, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a), (b), and (c), a piezoelectric body having almost the same length as the diaphragm 840. 920 must be affixed, and the product price increases accordingly.

  The object of the present invention is to “press” a finger on almost the entire surface of the diaphragm by bending the entire surface of the diaphragm when the diaphragm is pressed with a finger using an electric field on a piezoelectric or electrostrictive elastic body. An object is to provide a tactile sensation presentation device capable of transmitting a feeling.

  The tactile sense presentation device according to the present invention includes a piezoelectric or electrostrictive stretchable body having electrodes formed on both principal surfaces, and an end portion of the exciter film at the end of the stretchable body in the surface direction of one principal surface of the stretchable body. A composite having an exciter film connected to the substrate, a diaphragm fixed to both ends of the composite in a state where bending stress is generated, a touch detection unit that detects a touch operation, and the touch detection unit And a drive unit that applies a drive signal to the stretchable body when detected.

  In this configuration, when the user performs a touch operation, a drive signal is applied to the stretchable body, and the stretchable body expands and contracts in the surface direction. A force is applied to both ends of the diaphragm by the expansion and contraction of the expansion and contraction, and the entire diaphragm is bent.

  Therefore, even when a force that is pressed by a finger is applied to the diaphragm, it is possible to convey a feeling of “pressing” in a direction orthogonal to the main surface over almost the entire surface of the diaphragm.

  Therefore, the tactile sense presentation device of the present invention can make a piezoelectric or electrostrictive stretchable body having a high material unit price shorter than the diaphragm, and is easy to reduce the price.

  The stretchable body includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and the exciter film includes a fourth end opposite to the third end and the third end. The aspect comprised by the 1st exciter film which has an edge part, and the 2nd exciter film which has a 6th edge part on the opposite side to a 5th edge part and a 5th edge part may be sufficient.

  The third end of the first exciter film is connected to the diaphragm, and the main surface of the fourth end of the first exciter film is connected to the main surface of the first end of the stretchable body. And the main surface of the second end of the stretchable body is connected to the main surface of the fifth end of the second exciter film, and the sixth end of the second exciter film is connected to the diaphragm. It may be a mode.

  The stretchable body has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and the exciter film is an eighth opposite to the seventh end and the seventh end. The aspect which has an edge part may be sufficient. And the 1st end part of the said expansion-contraction body is connected to the diaphragm, the main surface of the 2nd end part of the said expansion-contraction body is connected to the main surface of the 7th end part of an exciter film, Exciter The eighth end of the film may be connected to the diaphragm.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the elasticity of the exciter film is lower than that of the stretchable body. For example, the material of the exciter film is preferably a metal.

  In this configuration, the stretching force in the surface direction of the exciter film is transmitted to the diaphragm without being weakened by the exciter film. Therefore, the tactile sense presentation device having this configuration can vibrate the diaphragm more efficiently with respect to expansion and contraction of the exciter film.

  Moreover, the aspect which detects the touch operation with respect to a diaphragm may be sufficient as a touch detection part, and the aspect which detects the touch with respect to the touchscreen with which a diaphragm is mounted | worn may be sufficient.

  Further, the diaphragm may be configured to generate bending stress by being fixed to both ends of the composite in a state of being curved in a direction orthogonal to the main surface of the exciter film, or to both ends of the composite. In an unfixed state, the flat plate surface may have a curved shape, and a bending stress may be generated by being fixed to both ends of the composite so that the curved flat plate surface is flat.

  The stretchable body may be lead zirconate titanate ceramics having a high d constant. However, when an electric field is applied in the main surface normal direction, the stretch body is an electrostrictive material that expands and contracts in the parallel direction of the main surface, particularly a high electrostriction coefficient. Desirable (vinylidene fluoride / ethylene trifluoride / chloroethene trifluoride) terpolymer P (VDF / TrFE / CTFE) or vinylidene fluoride / ethylene trifluoride copolymer P (VDF / TrFE). Further, although the amount of expansion and contraction is small, a piezoelectric film such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) may be used.

  According to the present invention, an expensive piezoelectric or electrostrictive material can be used on a finger with a feeling of “pushing” an almost piezoelectric piezoelectric material or electrostrictive material on almost the entire surface of the diaphragm, and the cost of the tactile presentation device that provides tactile feedback can be reduced. Is effective.

1 is an external perspective view of a tactile presentation device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the front view and side view of the tactile sense presentation device 10 shown in FIG. It is a partial expanded side view of the tactile sense presentation apparatus 10 shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the tactile sense presentation apparatus 10 shown in FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the tactile sense presentation apparatus 10 shown in FIG. It is a side view of the tactile sense presentation device 210 concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a side view showing the configuration of the unimorph structure 800. FIG. 7B is a side view showing the bending shape of the unimorph structure 800 in a state where no force is applied (when the user is not pressing with a finger). FIG.7 (c) is a side view which shows the bending shape of the unimorph structure 800 when a user pushes with a finger | toe. FIG. 8A is a side view showing the configuration of the unimorph structure 900. FIG. 8B is a side view showing the bending shape of the unimorph structure 900 in a state where no force is applied (when the user is not pressing with a finger). FIG.8 (c) is a side view which shows the bending shape of the unimorph structure 900 when a user presses with a finger | toe.

Hereinafter, the tactile sense presentation device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a tactile presentation device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a front view of the haptic presentation device 10, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the haptic presentation device 10.

  The tactile sense presentation device 10 includes a stretchable body 20, an exciter film 31, an exciter film 32, a diaphragm 40, and a touch panel 50. The stretchable body 20 has a thin plate shape or a film shape, and stretches or contracts by piezoelectricity or electrostriction. The exciter film 31, the stretchable body 20, and the exciter film 32 constitute a composite 120.

  The exciter film 31 and the exciter film 32 correspond to the “exciter film” of the present invention. The exciter film 31 corresponds to the “first exciter film” of the present invention. The exciter film 32 corresponds to the “second exciter film” of the present invention.

  The tactile sense presentation device 10 is a so-called keyboard, and a flat touch panel 50 is provided with a plurality of touch sensors 80 at positions corresponding to the key arrangement. The touch sensor 80 corresponds to the touch detection unit of the present invention.

  The touch sensor 80 may be of any type as long as it has a function of detecting a user's touch operation, and various types such as a membrane type, a capacitance type, and a piezoelectric film type may be used.

  The touch panel 50 is attached to one main surface (front surface) of the flat diaphragm 40. The diaphragm 40 has a rectangular shape in plan view. Both ends of the diaphragm 40 in the short direction are fixed to both ends of the composite 120. The diaphragm 40 is made of, for example, acrylic resin PMMA. The diaphragm 40 may be made of other materials such as a metal plate, PET, polycarbonate (PC), PLLA, and glass. Further, the fixing may be at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the diaphragm.

  Note that the touch panel 50 is not essential. For example, a plurality of touch sensors 80 may be provided on the front surface of the diaphragm 40 at positions corresponding to the key arrangement.

  Each of the exciter film 31 and the exciter film 32 has a rectangular shape in plan view like the diaphragm 40.

  The stretchability of each of the exciter film 31 and the exciter film 32 is lower than the stretchability of the compression body 20. Each of the exciter film 31 and the exciter film 32 is made of metal.

  Therefore, the stretching force in the surface direction of the stretchable body 20 described later is transmitted to the diaphragm 40 without being weakened by the exciter film 31 and the exciter film 32 so much.

  Each of the exciter film 31 and the exciter film 32 uses other materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene nanophthalate (PEN), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). May be.

  In addition, the thickness of each of the exciter film 31 and the exciter film 32 is desirably a thickness that does not impair stretchability (for example, about 0.02 to 0.5 mm).

  The stretchable body 20 expands and contracts in the plane direction when a voltage is applied. Here, the stretchable body 20 has a first end 20A and a second end 20B opposite to the first end 20A. The exciter film 31 has a third end 31A and a fourth end 31B opposite to the third end 31A. The exciter film 32 has a fifth end 32A and a sixth end 32B opposite to the fifth end 32A.

  And the exciter film 31, the said expansion-contraction body 20, and the exciter film 32 are connected by the edge part to the surface direction of the diaphragm 40 side main surface of the said expansion-contraction body 20. As shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the third end 31 </ b> A of the exciter film 31 is connected to the diaphragm 40. A main surface of the fourth end portion 31B of the exciter film 31 on the vibration plate 40 side is connected to a main surface of the first end portion 20A of the expandable body 20 on the opposite side to the vibration plate 40.

  The main surface of the second end portion 20B of the stretchable body 20 on the vibration plate 40 side is connected to the main surface of the exciter film 32 on the opposite side to the vibration plate 40 of the fifth end portion 32A. The sixth end portion 32 </ b> B of the exciter film 32 is connected to the diaphragm 40.

  As shown in the partial enlarged side view of the tactile sense presentation device 10 in FIG. 3, the stretchable body 20 includes a rectangular base film 200 in a plan view and electrodes formed on both opposing main surfaces of the base film 200. 201A and electrode 201B are provided.

  The base film 200 expands and contracts in the plane direction when a voltage is applied. The base film 200 may be an expensive lead zirconate titanate ceramic with a high d constant, and an electrostrictive material that expands and contracts in the main surface parallel direction when an electric field is applied in the main surface normal direction. Desirable (vinylidene fluoride / ethylene trifluoride / chloroethene trifluoride) terpolymer P (VDF / TrFE / CTFE) or vinylidene fluoride / ethylene trifluoride copolymer P (VDF / TrFE). Further, although the amount of expansion and contraction is small, a piezoelectric film such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) may be used.

  The electrode 201 </ b> A and the electrode 201 </ b> B are formed on substantially the entire main surfaces of the base film 200. The electrode 201A and the electrode 201B are preferably composed mainly of indium tin oxide (ITO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and polythiophene.

  In addition, it is also possible to use a silver nanowire electrode for the electrode 201A and the electrode 201B, and it is preferable to use an aluminum vapor-deposited electrode as long as the light transmitting property may be low.

  A lead wiring conductor (not shown) is connected to the electrode 201A and the electrode 201B, and a drive signal is applied to the electrode 201A and the electrode 201B through the wiring conductor.

  Here, the electrode 201 </ b> A disposed on the exciter film 32 side is attached to the exciter film 32 via the adhesive layer 61. The electrode 201 </ b> B disposed on the exciter film 31 side is attached to the exciter film 31 via the adhesive layer 60.

  The exciter film 31 may be a metal foil and the adhesive layer may be conductive so that it is part of the signal lead-out line.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the user touches the touch sensor 80 provided on the touch panel 50, the drive unit 81 applies drive signals to the electrodes 201 </ b> A and 201 </ b> B of the stretchable body 20. Thereby, the elastic body 20 expands and contracts.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the diaphragm 40 is curved to the opposite side (front side of the diaphragm 40) with respect to the side where the composite 120 is present (the back side of the diaphragm 40). It is being fixed to the both ends of the composite 120 so that it may become the shape which protrudes.

  With this configuration, a hollow region 100 is formed between the diaphragm 40 and the composite body 120. The side where the diaphragm 40 is located is the front side of the tactile sense presentation device 10, and the side where the composite 120 is located is the back side of the tactile sense presentation device 10.

  However, in the present embodiment, the curved state of the diaphragm 40 is exaggerated for the sake of explanation. Actually, the main surface of the diaphragm 40 and the main surface of the stretchable body 20 are more parallel. Nearly, it is desirable to have as few hollow regions 100 as possible.

  In this way, the diaphragm 40 is fixed to both ends of the composite body 120 in a state where the flat plate surface is curved. Therefore, as shown by the white arrow F901 in FIG. It is fixed to both ends of the body 120. In addition, the composite 120 is in a state in which a tensile force is applied in the short direction on the main surface of the stretchable body 20 as indicated by the white arrow S901 in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the tactile sense presentation device 10, and FIG. 5A shows a state at a timing when the expansion / contraction body 20 is contracted by a drive signal. FIG. 5B shows a state where no drive signal is applied or the amplitude of the drive signal is zero. FIG. 5C shows a state at a timing when the pressure expansion / contraction body 20 is extended by a drive signal.

  When the drive unit 81 applies a drive signal to the stretchable body 20 and applies an electric field in the first direction of the stretchable body 20, the stretchable body 20 vibrates as shown by an arrow S911 in FIG. It contracts along the direction (surface direction of the main surface of the elastic body 20 on the diaphragm 40 side) orthogonal to the fixed ends of the plate 40 and the composite body 120.

  Here, the stretchable body 20 has a main surface on the vibration plate 40 side of the fourth end portion 31B of the connection film 31 and a main surface on the opposite side to the vibration plate 40 of the fifth end portion 32A of the connection film 32. It is installed. Therefore, with the contraction of the stretchable body 20, the composite 120 is slightly curved toward the front side in the direction orthogonal to the main surface.

  Then, the diaphragm 40 is pulled in the central direction from a portion (an end portion in the short direction) fixed to the composite body 120.

Thereby, the diaphragm 40 is curved so as to protrude further forward as indicated by an arrow F911 in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the drive unit 81 applies a drive signal to the stretchable body 20 and applies an electric field in the second direction opposite to the first direction, the stretch and contraction is performed as indicated by an arrow S912 in FIG. The body 20 extends along the direction orthogonal to the fixed ends of the diaphragm 40 and the composite 120 (the surface direction of the main surface of the stretchable body 20 on the diaphragm 40 side).

  Here, the stretchable body 20 has a main surface on the vibration plate 40 side of the fourth end portion 31B of the connection film 31 and a main surface on the opposite side to the vibration plate 40 of the fifth end portion 32A of the connection film 32. It is installed. Therefore, with the contraction of the stretchable body 20, the composite 120 is slightly curved toward the back side in the direction orthogonal to the main surface.

  Then, the diaphragm 40 is pulled from a central direction to a place (an end portion in the short direction) fixed to the composite body 120. Thereby, as shown by arrow F912 in FIG. 5C, diaphragm 40 is in a curved state in which the amount of forward protrusion is reduced.

  Therefore, the vibration plate 40 changes to the state shown in FIG. 5A or the state shown in FIG. 5C based on the state shown in FIG. It vibrates along the direction (direction orthogonal to the main surface of the diaphragm 40).

  Thereby, the vibration according to the drive signal is transmitted to the touch panel 50 via the diaphragm 40 and transmitted to the user who touched the touch panel 50. Therefore, when the user touches the touch sensor 80 of the touch panel 50, the vibration is fed back, so that the user can feel that the key is “pressed”.

  In any case, since the vibration force is exerted on the diaphragm 40 over the entire surface, it is possible to convey a “pressed” feeling almost anywhere on the diaphragm 40 with a finger.

  Since the diaphragm 40 is given a steady bending stress in a non-operating state, the force applied to the diaphragm 40 when the telescopic body 20 is extended is in the same direction as the bending stress. Therefore, the tactile sense presentation device 10 can vibrate the diaphragm 40 efficiently and can transmit a strong vibration to some extent even when the stretchable body is used. In addition, the tactile sense presentation device 10 can be made thinner than vibration caused by a motor or the like.

  Therefore, the tactile sense presentation device 10 can transmit a strong vibration to some extent even when the stretchable body 20 is used, and is excellent in efficiency.

  In addition, it is desirable to fill the hollow region 100 with a soft resin such as silicone gel to suppress the sound generated when the exciter film 31, the exciter film 32, and the vibration plate 40 vibrate.

  Next, the tactile sense presentation device 210 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a side view of the tactile presentation device 210 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The tactile sense presentation device 210 is different from the tactile sense presentation device 10 in that the stretchable body 220 is directly connected to the diaphragm 40. The stretchable body 220 is in the form of a thin plate or a film, and stretches or contracts by piezoelectricity or electrostriction. The other points are the same as the tactile sense presentation device 10.

  The difference between the stretchable body 220 and the stretchable body 20 is the shape. The other points are the same as those of the stretchable body 20.

  In this configuration, the stretchable body 220 and the exciter film 32 constitute a composite. The stretchable body 220 and the exciter film 32 are connected in the surface direction of the main surface of the stretchable body 220 on the diaphragm 40 side.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the end 220 </ b> A of the stretchable body 220 is connected to the diaphragm 40, and the main surface of the end 220 </ b> B of the stretchable body 220 on the diaphragm 40 side is an exciter film. The end portion 32 </ b> A of the end 32 </ b> A is connected to the main surface opposite to the diaphragm 40, and the end portion 32 </ b> B of the exciter film 32 is connected to the diaphragm 40.

  In the structure of this embodiment, the stretchable body 220 is preferably a resin film material.

  Therefore, the stretching force in the surface direction of the stretchable body 220 is easier to be transmitted to the diaphragm 40 than the tactile sense presentation device 910 described above. Therefore, the tactile sense presentation device 210 can efficiently vibrate the diaphragm 40 with respect to the expansion and contraction of the expandable body 220.

  Therefore, the haptic presentation device 210 has the same effect as the haptic presentation device 10.

  In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the main surface of the end portion 31 </ b> B of the exciter film 31 on the vibration plate 40 side is the vibration plate 40 of the end portion 20 </ b> A of the stretchable body 20. The main surface on the diaphragm 40 side of the end portion 20B of the elastic body 20 is connected to the main surface on the opposite side to the diaphragm 40 of the end portion 32A of the exciter film 32. However, it is not limited to this.

  In the implementation, for example, the main surface of the end portion 31B of the exciter film 31 opposite to the diaphragm 40 is connected to the main surface of the first end portion 20A of the expandable body 20 on the diaphragm 40 side, and the expansion and contraction is performed. The main surface of the end 20B of the body 20 opposite to the diaphragm 40 may be connected to the main surface of the end 32A of the exciter film 32 on the diaphragm 40 side.

  Similarly, in the second embodiment, the main surface on the opposite side of the diaphragm 40 of the end portion 220B of the elastic body 220 is connected to the main surface of the end portion 32A of the exciter film 32 on the diaphragm 40 side. May be.

  In each of the above embodiments, the stretchable body may be composed of, for example, a piezoelectric film, an electrostrictive film, an electret film, a piezoelectric ceramic, a composite film in which piezoelectric particles are dispersed in a polymer, or an electroactive polymer film. it can.

  Here, the electroactive polymer film is a film that generates stress by electrical driving, or a film that deforms and generates displacement by electrical driving. Specifically, there are an electrostrictive film, a composite material (a material obtained by resin-molding piezoelectric ceramics), an electrically driven elastomer, or a liquid crystal elastomer.

  Finally, the description of each of the embodiments should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Tactile sense presentation apparatus 20 ... Elastic body 31, 32 ... Exciter film 40 ... Diaphragm 50 ... Touch panel 60, 61 ... Adhesive layer 80 ... Touch sensor 81 ... Drive part 100 ... Hollow area 120 ... Composite 200 ... Base film 201A, 201B ... Electrode 210 ... Tactile presentation device 220 ... Stretch body 800 ... Unimorph structure 820 ... Piezoelectric body 840 ... Diaphragm 900 ... Unimorph structure 920 ... Piezoelectric body

Claims (9)

A composite comprising a piezoelectric or electrostrictive stretchable body having electrodes formed on both principal surfaces, and an exciter film having an end connected to the end of the stretchable body in the surface direction of one principal surface of the stretchable body Body,
Diaphragms fixed to both ends of the composite in a state where bending stress is generated;
A touch detection unit for detecting a touch operation;
A tactile sense presentation device comprising: a drive unit that applies a drive signal to the stretchable body when the touch detection unit detects a touch operation. The elastic body has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end,
The exciter film includes a first exciter film having a third end and a fourth end opposite to the third end, and a sixth end opposite to the fifth end and the fifth end. A second exciter film having an end, and
The third end of the first exciter film is connected to the diaphragm;
The main surface of the fourth end of the first exciter film is connected to the main surface of the first end of the stretchable body,
The main surface of the second end of the stretchable body is connected to the main surface of the fifth end of the second exciter film,
The tactile sense presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the sixth end portion of the second exciter film is connected to the diaphragm.   The first exciter film and the second exciter film have conductivity,
  The first exciter film is connected to the one main surface of the stretchable body,
  The second exciter film is connected to the other main surface of the stretchable body,
  The first exciter film and the second exciter film constitute a part of a signal lead line,
  The tactile sense presentation device according to claim 2. The elastic body has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end,
The exciter film has a seventh end and an eighth end opposite to the seventh end;
The first end of the telescopic body is connected to the diaphragm;
The main surface of the second end portion of the stretchable body is connected to the main surface of the seventh end portion of the exciter film,
The tactile sense presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the eighth end portion of the exciter film is connected to the diaphragm. The stretch of the exciter film, tactile sense presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that less than stretchability of the elastics. The tactile sensation presentation apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the material of the exciter film is a metal. The touch detection unit, tactile sense presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is realized by a touch panel mounted on the diaphragm. The tactile sensation according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the diaphragm is fixed to the composite body in a state of being curved in a direction orthogonal to a main surface of the exciter film. Presentation device. The vibration plate has a shape in which a flat plate surface is curved when not fixed to the complex, and is fixed to the complex so that the curved flat plate surface is flat. The tactile sense presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 .

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