JP6973325B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device including a dielectric elastomer actuator.

In recent years, electronic devices using dielectric elastomer actuators have been developed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a diaphragm valve that controls an open / closed state based on an application of a voltage to a film-shaped dielectric elastomer actuator. The diaphragm valve of Patent Document 1 includes a film-shaped dielectric elastomer actuator, a base material that supports the dielectric elastomer actuator, and an elastic member that elastically urges the dielectric elastomer actuator. When a voltage is applied to the dielectric elastomer actuator of the diaphragm valve in the open state, the dielectric elastomer actuator extends in the plane direction and is pushed down to cover the orifice based on the urging force of the elastic member. As a result, the diaphragm valve switches from the open state to the closed state.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-4736

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of adjusting the output of a dielectric elastomer actuator.

The electronic device that solves the above problems is an electronic device provided with a film-shaped dielectric elastomer actuator, which includes a base material that supports the dielectric elastomer actuator, a first magnetic device attached to the base material, and the dielectric elastomer. A second magnetic device attached to the actuator and generating a repulsive force or an attractive force with the first magnetic device is provided, and the first magnetic device is configured to be movable or replaceable.

According to the above configuration, the repulsive force or attractive force (force on the dielectric elastomer actuator) generated between the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device is changed by moving or replacing the first magnetic device with one having a different magnetism. By doing so, the output of the dielectric elastomer actuator can be adjusted.

Further, as the urging means for urging the dielectric elastomer actuator, a repulsive force or an attractive force generated between the magnetic devices attached to the dielectric elastomer actuator side and the base material side is used. In this case, since the first magnetic device and the dielectric elastomer actuator are separated from each other, the first magnetic device can be moved or replaced without interfering with the dielectric elastomer actuator.

It is preferable that the electronic device includes a movable member that can move relative to the base material, and the first magnetic device is attached to the movable member.
According to the above configuration, the first magnetic device can be easily moved to an arbitrary position by displacing the movable member.

In the electronic device, a plurality of the first magnetic devices having different magnetisms are attached to the movable member, and by displace the movable member, the movable member is positioned at a specific position based on the position of the second magnetic device. It is preferable that the first magnetic device is configured to be changeable.

According to the above configuration, an electronic device having various output patterns of the dielectric elastomer actuator according to the number of the first magnetic devices can be obtained. Then, the output pattern of the dielectric elastomer actuator can be switched by a simple operation of displacing the movable member.

In the electronic device, the base material includes a mounting portion for detachably mounting the first magnetic device, and the mounting portion is located on a portion of the base material opposite to the side facing the dielectric elastomer actuator. It is preferable that it is provided.

According to the above configuration, when the first magnetic device attached to the mounting portion is replaced, the dielectric elastomer actuator is less likely to become an obstacle, and the replacement work of the first magnetic device can be easily performed.

In the electronic device, it is preferable that the second magnetic device generates a repulsive force with the first magnetic device.
According to the above configuration, the operation of the dielectric elastomer actuator can be efficiently converted into a pseudo-force sense (tactile sensation) presented to the user.

According to the electronic device of the present invention, the output of the dielectric elastomer actuator can be adjusted.

Explanatory drawing of a stuffed animal as an electronic device. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a beating device in which a first magnetic device having medium magnetism is positioned at a specific position. A cross-sectional view of a beating device in a state where the first magnetic device having weak magnetism is positioned at a specific position. A cross-sectional view of a beating device in a state where a first magnetic device having strong magnetism is positioned at a specific position. Explanatory drawing of the heartbeat device of the modified example. Explanatory drawing of the heartbeat device of the modified example. Explanatory drawing of the heartbeat device of the modified example. Explanatory drawing of the electronic device of the modification example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the electronic device of the present invention is applied to a beating stuffed animal will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the stuffed animal 10 includes a skin material 11 having a shape imitating an animal or the like. The skin material 11 is made of a soft material such as a cloth material. Inside the skin material 11, a heartbeat device 12 is housed together with a padding (not shown) such as cotton.

The beating device 12 includes a base material 20 made of a hard resin such as PP or ABS. The base material 20 is a box-shaped member having a plate-shaped bottom wall 21 and a peripheral wall 22 erected from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 21 and one side of which is open. A film-shaped dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) 23 is attached to a portion of the peripheral wall 22 of the base material 20 on the distal end side in the vertical direction. The entire circumference of the peripheral portion of the DEA 23 is supported by the peripheral wall 22, and the DEA 23 is arranged in the base material 20 in a state substantially parallel to the bottom wall 21.

The DEA 23 is a multilayer structure having a sheet-shaped dielectric portion 24 made of a dielectric elastomer, and a positive electrode 25 and a negative electrode 26 made of a conductive elastomer and laminated on both sides of the dielectric portion 24 in the thickness direction. When a DC voltage is applied between the positive electrode 25 and the negative electrode 26 of the DEA 23, the dielectric portion 24 of the DEA 23 is compressed in the thickness direction and the surface of the dielectric portion 24 is compressed according to the magnitude of the applied voltage. It is deformed so as to extend in the plane direction along the surface.

The dielectric elastomer constituting the dielectric portion 24 is not particularly limited, and a known dielectric elastomer used for DEA can be used. Examples of the dielectric elastomer include crosslinked polyrotaxane, silicone elastomer, acrylic elastomer, and urethane elastomer. One of these dielectric elastomers may be used, or a plurality of types may be used in combination. The thickness of the dielectric portion 24 is, for example, 20 to 200 μm.

The conductive elastomer constituting the positive electrode 25 and the negative electrode 26 is not particularly limited, and a known conductive elastomer used for DEA can be used. Examples of the conductive elastomer include a conductive elastomer containing an insulating polymer and a conductive filler.

Examples of the insulating polymer include crosslinked polyrotaxane, silicone elastomer, acrylic elastomer, and urethane elastomer. One of these insulating polymers may be used, or a plurality of types may be used in combination. Examples of the conductive filler include metal particles such as Ketjen Black (registered trademark), carbon black, copper and silver. One of these conductive fillers may be used, or a plurality of types may be used in combination. The thickness of the positive electrode 25 and the negative electrode 26 is, for example, 10 to 100 μm.

A movable member 27 that can slide and move linearly along the inner surface of the bottom wall 21 is attached to the central portion of the base material 20 on the inner surface side. The movable member 27 includes a main body portion 27a provided so as to be slidable on the inner surface side of the bottom wall 21, and an operation lever 27b protruding from the main body portion 27a to the outer surface side of the bottom wall 21. The bottom wall 21 of the base material 20 is provided with an insertion hole 21a through which the operation lever 27b is inserted.

On the upper surface of the main body 27a, a plurality of first magnetic devices, each of which is composed of a columnar magnet and has different magnetism, are attached by screwing. The number of the first magnetic devices is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, a case where three first magnetic devices 28a to 28c are attached will be described as an example.

The first magnetic device 28a is a magnet having a relatively weak magnetism, the first magnetic device 28b is a magnet having a medium magnetism, and the first magnetic device 28c is a magnet having a relatively strong magnetism. .. The first magnetic devices 28a to 28c are arranged side by side along the moving direction A so that the magnetism becomes stronger in order toward one side of the moving direction A of the movable member 27.

A second magnetic device 29 composed of a disk-shaped magnet is attached to the central portion of the first main surface 23a (the surface of the base material 20 facing the bottom wall 21 side) of the DEA 23. The second magnetic device 29 is configured to generate a repulsive force between the first magnetic devices 28a and 28c. Therefore, the central portion of the DEA 23 to which the second magnetic device 29 is attached is separated from the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c by the repulsive force generated between the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c and the second magnetic device 29. It is in a state where the urging force is always acting.

The pad 30 is attached to the central portion of the second main surface 23b, which is the opposite surface of the first main surface 23a in the DEA 23, that is, the opposite side of the portion to which the second magnetic device 29 is attached. The tip of the pad 30 is in close proximity to or in contact with the skin material 11 when no voltage is applied to the DEA 23.

Further, a control unit 32 and a power supply 33 electrically connected to the DEA 23 by a conducting wire 31 are attached to the outer surface of the peripheral wall 22 of the base material 20. The control unit 32 controls the voltage applied from the power supply 33 to the DEA 23 so as to increase or decrease in a predetermined cycle.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
First, the movable member 27 of the beating device 12 is operated so that any one of the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c is positioned at the specific position B which is the position facing the second magnetic device 29. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the movable member 27 is displaced so that the first magnetic device 28b, which has medium magnetism, is located at the specific position B.

In this state, when a voltage is applied to the DEA 23 so as to increase or decrease in a predetermined cycle, the DEA 23 expands and contracts in the plane direction. As a result, the DEA23 is continuously deformed so that the repulsive force (the urging force acting on the DEA23) between the first magnetic device 28b and the second magnetic device 29 located at the specific position B and the tension of the DEA23 are in equilibrium. do. Then, the central portion of the DEA 23 is continuously displaced in the vertical direction (direction approaching and separating from the first magnetic device 28b). As a result, the DEA 23 vibrates in the vertical direction with a predetermined rhythm imitating a heartbeat.

The vibration of the DEA 23 is transmitted to the skin material 11 through the pad 30. By vibrating the skin material 11 following the DEA 23, the user can visually and tactilely feel the heartbeat of the stuffed animal 10.

Here, the beating device 12 can adjust the output (the magnitude of the beating) based on the displacement width C of the DEA 23 by operating the movable member 27. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable member 27 is displaced to the right to position the weakly magnetic first magnetic device 28b at a specific position B. In this case, the displacement width C of the DEA 23 becomes smaller based on the smaller repulsive force generated between the second magnetic device 29 and the second magnetic device 29. As a result, the heartbeat of the stuffed animal 10 becomes smaller.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the movable member 27 is displaced to the left side to position the first magnetic device 28c, which has strong magnetism, at the specific position B. In this case, the displacement width C of the DEA 23 increases based on the increase in the repulsive force generated between the second magnetic device 29 and the second magnetic device 29. As a result, the heartbeat of the stuffed animal 10 becomes large.

Next, the effect of this embodiment will be described.
(1) The plush toy 10 includes a film-shaped DEA23, a base material 20 that supports the DEA23, first magnetic devices 28a to 28c attached to the base material 20, and first magnetic devices 28a to 28c attached to the DEA23. It is provided with a second magnetic device 29 that generates a repulsive force between the two. The first magnetic devices 28a to 28c are configured to be movable.

According to the above configuration, the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c are moved to change the repulsive force (repulsive force against the DEA23) generated between the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c and the second magnetic device 29. The output of DEA23 can be adjusted.

Further, as the urging means for urging the DEA23, the repulsive force generated between the magnetic devices attached to the DEA23 side and the base material 20 side is used. In this case, since the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c and the DEA23 are separated, the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c can be moved without interfering with the DEA23.

(2) A movable member 27 that can move relative to the base material 20 is provided, and the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c are attached to the movable member 27.
According to the above configuration, by displacing the movable member 27, the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c can be easily moved to an arbitrary position.

(3) A plurality of first magnetic devices 28a to 28c having different magnetisms are attached to the movable member 27, and by displacing the movable member 27, the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c located at the specific position B can be moved. It is configured to be modifiable.

According to the above configuration, an electronic device having various output patterns of DEA23 according to the number of the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c can be obtained. Then, the output pattern of the DEA 23 can be switched by a simple operation of displacing the movable member 27.

(4) The second magnetic device 29 is configured to generate a repulsive force between the second magnetic device 29 and the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c.
According to the above configuration, the operation of the DEA 23 can be efficiently converted into the operation of the skin material 11.

In addition, this embodiment can be changed and carried out as follows. The present embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
The configuration of the movable member 27 is particularly limited as long as the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c located at the specific position B can be selected and changed from the plurality of first magnetic devices 28a to 28c having different magnetisms. It's not a thing. For example, the movable member 27 configured by the turntable may be used. In this case, it is preferable to arrange a plurality of first magnetic devices 28a to 28c side by side in a circumferential shape centered on the rotation center of the movable member 27.

The movable member 27 may be manually displaced or may be displaced using a drive device such as a motor.
-The first magnetic device configured to be movable may be singular. In this case, it occurs between the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device 29 based on the change in the positional relationship between the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device 29 due to the movement of the first magnetic device. The output of DEA23 can be adjusted by changing the repulsive force.

-The direction in which the first magnetic device is moved is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the first magnetic device 28 may be moved in a direction of approaching and separating from the second magnetic device 29. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the first magnetic device 28 may be moved so as to change the orientation with respect to the second magnetic device 29. In this case, the displacement direction of the DEA 23 changes. The adjustment of the output of the DEA23 in the present invention also includes the adjustment of the displacement direction of the DEA23.

By replacing the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c with other magnetic devices 28a to 28c instead of moving the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c, the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c and the second magnetic device 29 can be separated from each other. The repulsive force generated between them may be changed to adjust the output of the DEA23.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the bottom wall 21 of the base material 20 is provided with a mounting portion 21b (for example, a screw hole) for detachably mounting the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c. Then, the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c attached to the attachment portion 21b are configured to be replaceable by selecting from a plurality of first magnetic devices 28a to 28c having different magnetisms.

The position of the mounting portion 21b is preferably a portion of the base material 20 opposite to the side facing the DEA23. In this case, when the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c attached to the mounting portion 21b are replaced, the DEA 23 is less likely to become an obstacle, and the replacement work of the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c can be easily performed.

The second magnetic device 29 may be configured to generate an attractive force between the first magnetic devices 28a and 28c. In this case, it is preferable that the DEA 23 and the skin material 11 are configured to operate integrally by, for example, adhering the skin material 11 (the working portion through which the operation of the DEA 23 is transmitted) and the pad 30.

-In the above embodiment, magnets are used as the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c and the second magnetic device 29, but the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c and the second magnetic device 29 are not limited to magnets. For example, one of the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c and the second magnetic device 29 may be a magnet, and the other may be a magnetic material that generates an attractive force with the magnet.

-The attachment method of the first magnetic device 28a to 28c and the second magnetic device 29 may be changed. Examples of the mounting method include a mounting method using an adhesive and a mounting method using a magnetic force.

-The application of the present invention is not limited to the beating plush toy 10, but can be applied to all electronic devices provided with a film-shaped DEA23. For example, FIG. 8 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a push button type switch.

The switch 40 shown in FIG. 8 includes a plate-shaped base 41 and a bottomed cylindrical button body 42 (base material) attached to the surface side of the base 41. The button body 42 is attached to the base 41 in a state where it can be slidably moved in the vertical direction (pushing direction) and is prevented from coming off. The button body 42 includes a protrusion 42a that protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall thereof. An urging member 43 for urging the button body 42 upward is provided between the protrusion 42a and the base 41, and the first contact 44a and the first contact 44a and the first contact 44a and the first contact 44a and the first contact 44a and the first contact 44a and the first contact 44a and a second Two contacts 44b are provided.

Inside the button body 42, the DEA 23 is attached so as to be supported by the peripheral wall of the button body 42. The second magnetic device 29 is attached to the central portion of the main surface (first main surface) on the base 41 side in the DEA23, and the central portion of the main surface (second main surface) opposite to the base 41 side in the DEA23. A pad 30 is attached to the. Further, on the back surface side of the base 41, a movable member 27 that can slide and move linearly along the back surface of the base 41 is attached. A plurality of first magnetic devices 28a to 28c having different magnetisms are attached to the movable member 27.

When the user pushes the button body 42, the first contact 44a and the second contact 44b come into contact with each other, and the electric circuit (not shown) is switched from the off state to the on state. At the timing when the first contact 44a and the second contact 44b come into contact with each other, a voltage is applied to the DEA 23 so as to vibrate the DEA 23 up and down, and the pad 30 attached to the DEA 23 hits the button body 42. The user can intuitively grasp that the electric circuit has been switched by feeling the vibration of the pad 30 hitting the button body 42. Further, when the movable member 27 is displaced to change the first magnetic devices 28a to 28c located at the specific position B, the output of the DEA 23 changes, and the strength of the vibration transmitted from the switch 40 to the user can be adjusted.

Further, examples of other electronic devices include haptics devices that present a pseudo-force sensation (tactile sensation) to the user, and drive devices such as a diaphragm valve disclosed in Patent Document 1. When applied to a haptics device, the operation of the DEA23 can be efficiently converted into a pseudo-force sense (tactile sensation) presented to the user, so that the second magnetic device 29 is between the first magnetic devices 28a and 28c. It is preferable that it is configured to generate a repulsive force.

-The configurations such as the shapes of the base material 20 and the DEA 23 may be changed according to the use of the electronic device and the like. Further, the support structure of the base material 20 that supports the DEA 23 is not particularly limited, and a support structure used in a known electronic device having a film-shaped DEA 23 can be applied. For example, in the above embodiment, the entire circumference of the peripheral edge portion of the DEA 23 is supported by the base material 20, but a part of the peripheral edge portion of the DEA 23 may be partially supported by the base material 20.

10 ... Plush toy, 11 ... Skin material, 12 ... Beating device, 20 ... Base material, 21b ... Mounting part, 23 ... Dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA), 23a ... First main surface, 23b ... Second main surface, 27 ... Movable Members, 28, 28a to 28c ... 1st magnetic device, 29 ... 2nd magnetic device.

Claims (2)

An electronic device equipped with a film-shaped dielectric elastomer actuator.
The substrate that supports the dielectric elastomer actuator and
The first magnetic device attached to the substrate and
A second magnetic device attached to the dielectric elastomer actuator and generating a repulsive force or an attractive force with the first magnetic device is provided.
Wherein the first magnetic device is configured to movably ability,
A movable member that can move relative to the base material is provided.
The first magnetic device is attached to the movable member and is attached to the movable member.
A plurality of the first magnetic devices having different magnetisms are attached to the movable member.
An electronic device characterized in that the first magnetic device located at a specific position based on the position of the second magnetic device can be changed by displacing the movable member. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic device generates a repulsive force with the first magnetic device.

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