JP6504011B2 - Tactile presentation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tactile presentation device that provides tactile feedback by transmitting vibration to a user.

  In recent years, in a keyboard or the like, a tactile presentation device has been proposed in which tactile feedback is given by transmitting vibration to the user when the user touches the key, and the user feels that the key is "pressed".

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a tactile sense presentation device including a piezoelectric film, a drive unit, a diaphragm, and a touch panel. The piezoelectric film expands and contracts in the surface direction. The drive unit drives the piezoelectric film. The diaphragm is fixed to the piezoelectric film in a state of being bent in the thickness direction. The touch panel is provided on the main surface of the diaphragm. On the touch panel, a plurality of touch sensors (a plurality of keys) are provided at a position corresponding to the key arrangement of the keyboard. The plurality of touch sensors detect a touch operation of the user.

  In the tactile sense presentation device of Patent Document 1, when the user performs a touch operation on at least one of the plurality of touch sensors, the drive unit applies a drive signal to the piezoelectric film, and the piezoelectric film expands and contracts. When the piezoelectric film expands and contracts, the diaphragm vibrates and the vibration is transmitted to the user's finger. This allows the user to feel tactile feedback and feel the key "pressed".

International Publication No. 2015/053247 brochure

  However, in the tactile sense presentation device of Patent Document 1, the diaphragm vibrates while generating a node of vibration. The displacement of the diaphragm at the nodes of vibration is very small or zero. Therefore, even if the user touches the key placed on the node of vibration with a finger, sufficient vibration is not transmitted to the user's finger. That is, it is difficult for the key placed on the node of vibration to make the user feel that the key is "pressed".

  Therefore, the tactile presentation device of Patent Document 1 has a problem that sufficient tactile feedback can not be obtained even when the user touches the key placed on the node of vibration with a finger.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to place a key on the area of the diaphragm excluding the vibration node without arranging the key on the vibration node, but this method creates a gap in part of the keyboard key arrangement. This causes another problem such as poor operability or an increase in size of the tactile presentation device.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a haptic presentation device capable of obtaining sufficient haptic feedback even when the user touches a key placed on a node of vibration with a finger.

  The tactile sense presentation device of the present invention comprises a diaphragm, a vibrator and a detector. The vibrating portion is made of, for example, an elastic film that expands and contracts in the surface direction. The vibrating portion is connected to the diaphragm. The vibrating portion vibrates the diaphragm while generating a node of vibration and a vibration region other than the node of vibration. The tactile sense presentation device preferably includes a drive unit that drives the vibration unit when the detection unit detects a touch operation.

  The detection unit is provided on the diaphragm. The detection unit corresponds to the above-described key and receives a touch operation. The detection unit includes a pressing unit, a pusher, and a switch unit. The pressing unit is pressed by the touch operation. The pusher is connected to the pressing portion. The switch unit is pressed by the pusher to detect that a touch operation has been performed.

  The pressing portion overlaps the node of vibration when the pressing portion is viewed from the front. The pusher overlaps the vibration area when the pressing portion is viewed from the front. For example, the pusher is preferably connected to the pressing portion at a position farthest from the node of vibration when the pressing portion is viewed from the front.

  In this configuration, the displacement of the diaphragm at the node of vibration is very small or zero. However, the displacement of the diaphragm increases with distance from the nodes of vibration. That is, as the pusher moves away from the node of vibration, the displacement of the pusher also increases.

  Therefore, in this configuration, the minimum necessary vibration is transmitted to the user's finger from the vibration area of the diaphragm via the presser and the pressing portion, regardless of where on the upper surface of the pressing portion the user presses the finger. That is, the touch sensor can make the user feel that the key has been "pressed" although the pressing portion is disposed on the node of vibration.

  Therefore, in this configuration, sufficient tactile feedback can be obtained even when the user touches the key (detection unit) placed on the vibration node with a finger.

  According to the present invention, sufficient tactile feedback can be obtained even when the user touches a key placed on a node of vibration with a finger.

It is a perspective view of tactile sense presentation device 100 concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the vibration apparatus 20 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the vibration device 20 shown in FIG. 1 from which a diaphragm 21 is removed. It is sectional drawing of the SS line shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the touch sensor 31 shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the touch sensor 131 shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the SS line which shows a mode that the diaphragm 21 is vibrating in the tactile sense presentation apparatus 100 shown in FIG. It is a sectional view of tactile sense presentation device 200 concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that the diaphragm 21 vibrates in the tactile sense presentation apparatus 200 shown in FIG. It is a sectional view of tactile sense presentation device 300 concerning a 3rd embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the touch sensor 331 shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing how the diaphragm 21 vibrates in the tactile sense presentation device 300 shown in FIG. 10.

Hereinafter, the tactile sense presentation device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described using the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tactile sense presentation device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vibration device 20 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the vibration device 20 shown in FIG. 1 from which the diaphragm 21 is removed. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of line S-S shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the tactile sense presentation device 100 constitutes a touch sensor type keyboard. The tactile sense presentation device 100 includes a control unit 11, a drive unit 12, and a vibration device 20. The vibrating device 20 includes a touch panel 30, a diaphragm 21, a piezoelectric film 22, and two spacers 70.

  The diaphragm 21 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the thickness direction of the vibration device 20, and a short side along a first surface direction (hereinafter, also referred to as a film stretching direction) orthogonal to the thickness direction of the vibration device 20. It has a long side along a second surface direction (hereinafter, also referred to as a film width direction) orthogonal to the thickness direction and the first surface direction of the vibration device 20. That is, the diaphragm 21 has a shape extending in the first surface direction and the second surface direction orthogonal to each other.

  Moreover, the diaphragm 21 is convex on the top surface side and is concavely curved on the bottom surface side when viewed from the second surface direction (film width direction). The diaphragm 21 is made of a material that can be elastically deformed in the thickness direction, for example, FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic). The diaphragm 21 may be made of other materials such as a metal plate, PET, PMMA, polycarbonate (PC), PLLA, a glass epoxy substrate, glass and the like.

  The touch panel 30 is mounted on one main surface (front) of the diaphragm 21. The touch panel 30 is provided with a plurality of touch sensors 31 and a plurality of touch sensors 131 at positions corresponding to the key arrangement of the keyboard. The plurality of touch sensors 31 and the plurality of touch sensors 131 constitute a plurality of keys of the keyboard and receive a touch operation of the user. The differences between the plurality of touch sensors 31 and the plurality of touch sensors 131 will be described later.

  The touch sensor 131 corresponds to an example of a detection unit of the present invention. The diaphragm 21 corresponds to an example of the vibration part of the present invention. The piezoelectric film 22 corresponds to an example of the stretch film of the present invention.

  Each touch sensor 31 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 11 when detecting a touch operation by the user. Similarly, each touch sensor 131 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 11 when detecting a touch operation by the user.

  When the control unit 11 receives a detection signal from one of the plurality of touch sensors 31 and the plurality of touch sensors 131, the control unit 11 outputs a control signal to the drive unit 12. When receiving the control signal from the control unit 11, the drive unit 12 applies a drive voltage to the piezoelectric film 22 of the vibration device 20.

  The touch sensor 31 may be any type as long as it detects the touch operation of the user, and various types such as membrane type, capacitance type, piezoelectric film type, etc. may be used. it can. Similarly, the touch sensor 131 may be any system as long as it detects the touch operation of the user, and various systems such as a membrane system, a capacitance system, and a piezoelectric film system may be used. it can.

  The piezoelectric film 22 is disposed on the bottom side of the diaphragm 21. Both ends of the piezoelectric film 22 in the first surface direction (film stretching direction) are attached to the diaphragm 21 as the fixed end 24. That is, the piezoelectric film 22 is connected to the diaphragm 21 at a plurality of locations aligned in the first surface direction (film stretching direction) on the bottom surface side of the diaphragm 21. The piezoelectric film 22 expands and contracts in at least a first surface direction (film stretching direction) when a drive voltage is applied.

  More specifically, the piezoelectric film 22 is configured by providing electrodes (not shown) on the entire surfaces of both main surfaces of the film made of a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material of the piezoelectric film 22 is, for example, L-type polylactic acid (PLLA) which is a chiral polymer, or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

  When the piezoelectric film 22 is composed of PLLA, the direction of approximately 45 ° with respect to the main stretching direction is a first surface direction (a direction from the film stretched in the direction indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 3). By cutting out the piezoelectric film 22 as the film stretching direction), the piezoelectric film 22 can be made to have piezoelectricity so as to expand and contract in the first surface direction (film stretching direction). The stretching direction is most effectively 45 °, but substantially the same effect can be obtained even in the range of 45 ± 10 °, for example.

  The piezoelectric film 22 is stretched on the bottom side of the diaphragm 21 with tension in the first surface direction (film stretching direction), whereby the diaphragm 21 is elastically deformed so as to bend in the thickness direction. ing. Thus, the vibrating plate 21 and the piezoelectric film 22 constitute a vibrating device 20 configured in an arc shape as viewed from the second surface direction (film width direction). In the vibration device 20, when the piezoelectric film 22 expands and contracts in the first surface direction (film stretching direction), the diaphragm 21 vibrates so that the amount of bending changes.

  The two spacers 70 are made of, for example, metal, PET, polycarbonate (PC), ABS resin, fiberglass reinforced plastics (FRP), or the like. Each spacer 70 is sandwiched between the lower surface of the diaphragm 21 and the upper surface of the piezoelectric film 22. The spacers 70 are arranged in the first surface direction (film stretching direction) at the gap portion where the diaphragm 21 and the piezoelectric film 22 face each other, and extend in the second surface direction (film width direction). There is.

  Both ends in the second surface direction (film width direction) of each spacer 70 are mounted on the mounting surface (for example, the ground) of the vibration device 20 at a position not overlapping the piezoelectric film 22. Therefore, the two spacers 70 define the minimum distance between the diaphragm 21 and the piezoelectric film 22 and support the diaphragm 21 and the piezoelectric film 22 so as to face the mounting surface of the vibration device 20.

  Next, a specific structure of the spacer 70 will be described.

  Each of the two spacers 70 described above includes a plurality of legs 71, a base 73, and a plurality of protrusions 75, as shown in FIGS. The base portion 73 is a prismatic portion and extends between both ends of the spacer 70 in the second surface direction. That is, the base portion 73 extends in the second surface direction (film width direction) through a gap portion sandwiched between the piezoelectric film 22 and the diaphragm 21.

  The plurality of leg portions 71 are provided so as to protrude from both ends in the second surface direction (film width direction) of the base portion 73 to the bottom surface side in the thickness direction. The distance between the plurality of legs 71 in the second surface direction (film width direction) is set larger than the dimension of the piezoelectric film 22 in the second surface direction (film width direction).

  The piezoelectric film 22 is provided to pass between the plurality of legs 71 in the second surface direction (film width direction). More specifically, the piezoelectric film 22 here is in contact with the bottom surface of the base 73 between the plurality of legs 71 in the second surface direction (film width direction). That is, the plurality of legs 71 are arranged along the second surface direction (film width direction), and project from the base 73 at a position not overlapping the piezoelectric film 22.

  The protrusions 75 protrude from the base portion 73 to the top surface side in the thickness direction, and are provided so as to be able to contact the diaphragm 21 at their top surfaces.

Next, configurations of the touch sensor 31 and the touch sensor 131 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor 31 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor 131 shown in FIG. The touch sensor 31 and the touch sensor 131 are different from each other in the pushers 61, 62, 63.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the touch sensor 31 has a pressing unit 50, a pusher 61, and a switch unit 40. The pressing unit 50 is flat and is a portion pressed by a touch operation.

  The switch portion 40 has a conductive first contact sheet 44, an insulating spacer 43, a conductive second contact sheet 42, and an insulating surface sheet 41. The pusher 61 is connected to the central portion of the pressing portion 50. Further, the lower surface of the presser 61 is attached to the upper surface of the top sheet 41 with an adhesive or the like.

  The first contact sheet 44 and the second contact sheet 42 sandwich the spacer 43. Thus, a space 49 is formed between the first contact sheet 44 and the second contact sheet 42, and the first contact sheet 44 and the second contact sheet 42 are insulated.

  When the upper surface of the pressing unit 50 in the touch sensor 31 is pressed by the touch operation, the second contact sheet 42 is pressed by the pusher 61 and contacts the first contact sheet 44. Thereby, the touch sensor 31 detects a touch operation by the user, and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 11.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the touch sensor 131 has a pressing unit 50, pushers 62 and 63, and a switch unit 40. The pushers 62, 63 are connected to both ends of the pressing portion 50. The lower surfaces of the pressers 62 and 63 are attached to the upper surface of the top sheet 41 with an adhesive or the like.

  When the upper surface of the pressing unit 50 in the touch sensor 131 is pressed by the touch operation, the second contact sheet 42 is pressed by the pushers 62 and 63 and contacts the first contact sheet 44. Thereby, the touch sensor 131 detects a touch operation by the user, and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 11.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S-S showing how the diaphragm 21 vibrates in the tactile sense presentation device 100 shown in FIG. In addition, FIG. 7 emphasizes and shows the vibration of the diaphragm 21 for convenience of explanation.

  When an alternating voltage is applied to the piezoelectric film 22 to drive it, expansion and contraction in the first surface direction (film stretching direction) occurs repeatedly on the piezoelectric film 22. Then, the tension transmitted from the piezoelectric film 22 to the diaphragm 21 changes periodically. Thereby, as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 7, the deflection amount of the diaphragm 21 changes periodically.

  Thus, when the piezoelectric film 22 contracts, the central portion in the first surface direction (film stretching direction) of the diaphragm 21 is displaced upward. Then, when the piezoelectric film 22 expands, the central portion in the first surface direction (film stretching direction) of the diaphragm 21 is displaced downward. That is, the piezoelectric film 22 vibrates the diaphragm 21 while generating the node N of the vibration and the vibration region other than the node N of the vibration. A region of the diaphragm 21 opposed to the upper surface of the spacer 70 is a node N of vibration.

  Here, the plurality of touch sensors 131 are all provided on the node N of the vibration. Then, as shown in FIG. 7 for each touch sensor 131, the pressing unit 50 overlaps the node N of the vibration when the pressing unit 50 is viewed from the front, and the pushers 62 and 63 vibrate when the pressing unit 50 is viewed from the front Overlap with the area. In particular, the pusher 63 is connected to the pressing portion 50 at a position farthest from the node N of the vibration when the pressing portion 50 is viewed from the front.

  The displacement of diaphragm 21 at node N of the vibration is very small or zero. However, the displacement of the diaphragm 21 becomes larger as it goes away from the node N of the vibration. That is, as the pushers 62, 63 move away from the node N of vibration, the displacement of the pushers 62, 63 also increases.

  Therefore, no matter where the user presses the upper surface of the pressing unit 50 with a finger, the minimum necessary vibration is from the vibration area of the diaphragm 21 to the user's finger via the pushers 62 and 63 and the pressing unit 50. It is transmitted. That is, although the pressing unit 50 is disposed on the node N of the vibration, the touch sensor 131 can make the user feel that the key is “pressed”.

  Therefore, in the tactile presentation device 100, sufficient tactile feedback can be obtained even when the user touches the key placed on the node N of vibration with a finger.

Hereinafter, a tactile sense presentation device 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described using the drawings.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the tactile sense presentation device 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing how the diaphragm 21 vibrates in the tactile sense presentation device 200 shown in FIG.

  The tactile presentation device 200 is different from the tactile presentation device 100 of the first embodiment in that all the keys on the touch panel 30 are configured by the touch sensor 131. The other configuration is the same, so the description will be omitted.

  Also in the touch sensor 131 of the tactile sense presentation device 200, the pressing unit 50 is viewed from the front of the pressing unit 50 and overlaps with the node N of vibration, and the pushers 62 and 63 are viewed from the front of the pressing unit 50 and overlap with the vibration region.

  Therefore, even with the tactile presentation device 200, sufficient tactile feedback can be obtained even when the user touches the key placed on the node N of the vibration with a finger, as in the tactile presentation device 100.

Hereinafter, a tactile sense presentation device 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described using the drawings.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a tactile sense presentation device 300 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor 331 shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing how the diaphragm 21 vibrates in the tactile sense presentation device 300 shown in FIG.

  The touch display device 331 differs from the touch display device 100 according to the first embodiment in the touch sensor 331. The other configuration is the same, so the description will be omitted.

  Also in the touch sensor 331 of the tactile sense presentation device 300, the pressing unit 50 overlaps the node N of the vibration when the pressing unit 50 is viewed from the front. Then, when the pressing portion 50 is viewed from the front, the pusher 62 overlaps the node N of the vibration, and the pusher 63 overlaps the vibration region.

  Therefore, in the tactile sense presentation device 300 as well as the tactile sense presentation device 100, sufficient tactile feedback can be obtained even when the user touches the key placed on the node N of the vibration with a finger.

  In each of the embodiments described above, an example in which the piezoelectric film 22 is used as the vibrating portion is shown, but the vibrating portion of the present invention is not limited to this. Similarly, although the example which uses the piezoelectric film 22 as an elastic film was shown, the elastic film of this invention is not restricted to this.

  At the time of implementation, for example, an electrostrictive film, an electret film, a piezoelectric ceramic, a composite film in which piezoelectric particles are dispersed in a polymer, an electroactive polymer film, or the like can be used. The electroactive polymer film is a film which generates stress by electric drive or a film which is deformed by electric drive to generate displacement. Specifically, there are an electrostrictive film, a composite material (a material obtained by resin-molding a piezoelectric ceramic), an electrically driven elastomer, a liquid crystal elastomer, and the like.

  Moreover, in each embodiment mentioned above, although the vibration apparatus 20 is provided with the touch panel 30, and the some touch sensor 31 and the some touch sensor 131 are provided on the touch panel 30, it does not restrict to this. At the time of implementation, the vibrating device 20 may not include the touch panel 30, and the plurality of touch sensors 31 and the plurality of touch sensors 131 may be directly provided on the diaphragm 21.

  Moreover, in each embodiment mentioned above, although the lower surface of the pressers 61, 62, and 63 is fixed to the upper surface of the switch part 40 with an adhesive etc., it does not restrict to this. In practice, the lower surfaces of the pushers 61, 62, 63 may not be fixed to the upper surface of the switch portion 40 by an adhesive or the like.

  Moreover, in each embodiment mentioned above, although the tactile sense presentation apparatus 100, 200, 300 is provided with the two spacers 70, it does not restrict to this. In practice, the haptic presentation device 100, 200, 300 may not have the spacer 70. In this case, both ends of the diaphragm 21 come in contact with the mounting surface (for example, the ground).

  Finally, the descriptions of the above-described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated not by the embodiments described above but by the claims. Further, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims.

N: Section 11: Control section 12: Drive section 20: Vibration device 21: Vibration plate 22: Piezoelectric film 24: Fixed end 30: Touch panel 31: Touch sensor 40: Switch section 41: Surface sheet 42: Second contact sheet 43: Spacer 44: First contact sheet 49: Space 50: Pressing portion 61: Pusher 62: Pusher 63: Pusher 70: Spacer 71: Leg portion 73: Base portion 75: Projection 100: Tactile indication device 131: Touch sensor 200 ... Tactile presentation device 300 ... Tactile presentation device 331 ... Touch sensor

Claims (6)

A diaphragm,
A vibration unit connected to the diaphragm to vibrate the diaphragm while generating a vibration node and a vibration region other than the vibration node;
And a detection unit which is provided on the diaphragm and receives a touch operation.
The detection unit includes a pressing unit pressed by the touch operation, a presser connected to the press unit, and a switch unit pressed by the presser to detect that the touch operation has been performed. And
The tactile presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing unit overlaps the node of the vibration when the pressing unit is viewed from the front, and the pusher overlaps the vibration area when the pressing unit is viewed from the front.   The tactile presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the pusher is connected to the pressing portion at a position farthest from the node of the vibration when the pressing portion is viewed from the front. The number of pushers is plural,
The tactile presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pushers overlap the node of the vibration and the vibration area when the pressing portion is viewed from the front.   The tactile presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pusher is not fixed to the switch unit.   The tactile sense presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vibration unit is configured of an elastic film that expands and contracts in a surface direction.   The tactile sense presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a drive unit configured to drive the vibration unit when the detection unit detects the touch operation.

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