JP7373255B2 - Tactile presentation device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tactile sensation presentation device.

In recent years, mobile information terminals such as smartphones, smart watches, and tablet PCs, as well as electronic devices such as in-vehicle navigation systems, have incorporated tactile sensation presentation devices that use vibrations to provide tactile sensations in response to operator operations. There are many cases.

For example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, when a fingertip touches a contact panel placed on the front side of a touch panel, the touch panel is momentarily moved using a shape memory alloy wire to touch the fingertip. BACKGROUND ART A tactile sensation presentation device that simulates a dynamic operating sensation (so-called click sensation) is known. In this tactile sensation presentation device, the contact panel is instantaneously moved in a predetermined displacement direction by an actuator that utilizes the expansion and contraction of a shape memory alloy wire due to electrical heating. As a result, a pseudo tactile sensation similar to a click can be applied to the fingertip touching the contact panel, making it possible to feel the tactile sensation as if pressing a mechanical switch.

International Publication No. 2012/023606

In this type of tactile sensation presentation device, it is important to determine how the texture of the click sensation, that is, the tactile sensation of pressing a mechanical switch, can be simulated. In this regard, when a shape memory alloy wire is used, there are advantages in that starting and stopping characteristics are excellent and it is easy to obtain a good pseudo-tactile sensation. However, further improvement in the quality of the simulated tactile sensation is desired.

Therefore, the present invention provides a tactile sensation presentation device that can provide a high-quality pseudo-tactile sensation.

The tactile sensation presentation device of the present invention includes a casing having an operation panel operated with a fingertip, a movable body movable along a movable direction relative to the casing, and a movable body disposed fixedly relative to the casing. a stator, a movable element attached to the movable body and arranged to be movable relative to the stator in the movable direction; and a movable element disposed between the stator and the movable element according to temperature a shape-memory alloy wire whose length changes as the shape-memory alloy wire moves toward the stator; and an elastic member that biases the movable element toward the stator along the movable direction. and the movable element are sandwiched between the stator and the movable element in a wavy manner while alternately contacting the movable element, and the distance between the stator and the movable element is changed by expansion and contraction caused by electrical heating, and the stator and the movable element are One of the movable elements is formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the other of the stator and the movable element.

According to the present invention, the movable body can be instantaneously moved relative to the casing along the movable direction by utilizing a change in the interval between the stator and the movable element. Thereby, the inertial force (thrust force) of the movable body can be applied to the entire tactile sensation presentation device based on the rapid displacement of the movable body. Therefore, it is possible to give a simulated dynamic operating sensation to the fingertip touching the operation panel, and it is possible to produce a pseudo tactile sensation as if a clicking sensation is given to the fingertip.
Here, in the process of changing the distance between the stator and the movable element, the state of contact between the stator and the movable element and the shape memory alloy wire also changes. By making the stator and mover have different thermal conductivities, the heat dissipation characteristics of the shape memory alloy wire can be changed depending on the state of contact between the stator and mover, respectively, and the shape memory alloy wire. Therefore, it is possible to impart good heat dissipation properties to the shape memory alloy wire and improve the responsiveness of the expansion and contraction operations.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a tactile sensation presentation device that can provide a high-quality pseudo-tactile sensation.

The above-mentioned tactile sensation presentation device may include a wire support portion that is fixedly arranged with respect to the one of the stator and the movable member and supports the shape memory alloy wire.

In this configuration, when the distance between the stator and the movable element changes, the shape memory alloy wire is displaced in the movable direction together with one of the stator and the movable element. Therefore, in the process of increasing the distance between the stator and mover, the contact pressure of the shape memory alloy wire against the other of the stator and mover decreases due to the inertia of the mover, and the distance between the stator and mover decreases. The other of the stator and the mover may be separated from the shape memory alloy wire before and after the maximum timing. On the other hand, one of the stator and mover is in constant contact with the shape memory alloy wire.
One of the stator and mover is formed to have higher thermal conductivity than the other, so the shape memory alloy wire is can dissipate heat efficiently. In addition, when the distance between the stator and mover is at its minimum, the shape memory alloy wire is in contact with both the stator and mover, so the thermal conductivity of the other of the stator and mover is lower than that of the stator and mover. Compared to the case where the thermal conductivity of one of the wires is the same, the heat radiation of the shape memory alloy wire can be suppressed.
As described above, it is possible to rapidly raise the temperature of the shape memory alloy wire by electrical heating and to efficiently cool the heated shape memory alloy wire. Therefore, by rapidly expanding and contracting the shape memory alloy wire, the movable body can be moved instantaneously, and a high-quality pseudo-tactile sensation can be produced.

In the above tactile sensation presentation device, the contact distance between the one of the stator and the mover and the shape memory alloy wire is greater than the contact distance between the other of the stator and the mover and the shape memory alloy wire. It can also be long.

In this configuration, the contact distance between one of the stator and mover and the shape memory alloy wire is shorter than the contact distance between the other of the stator and mover and the shape memory alloy wire. Heat can be efficiently dissipated from the wire. Thereby, the shape memory alloy wire that has contracted due to the temperature increase can be instantly expanded. Therefore, the movable body can be moved instantaneously, and a high-quality pseudo-tactile sensation can be produced.

In the tactile sensation presentation device described above, the other of the stator and the movable element may be formed of a resin material.

According to this configuration, the other of the stator and the movable element can be easily formed by injection molding, compared to a configuration in which the other of the stator and the movable element is formed of a metal material. Therefore, the tactile sensation presentation device can be manufactured at low cost. Furthermore, wear of the shape memory alloy wire can be suppressed compared to a configuration in which the other of the stator and the movable element is formed of a metal material.

In the above tactile sensation presentation device, the other of the stator and the movable member may be formed of a resin material containing a filler that imparts thermal conductivity to an insulating resin.

According to this configuration, the thermal conductivity of the other of the stator and the movable element can be adjusted. That is, the thermal conductivity of the other of the stator and the movable element can be increased compared to a configuration in which the other of the stator and the movable element is formed of a resin material containing no filler. Therefore, in the process of cooling the heated shape memory alloy wire, when the shape memory alloy wire comes into contact with the other of the stator and the mover, the shape memory alloy wire can efficiently radiate heat. Thereby, the shape memory alloy wire that has contracted due to the temperature increase can be instantly expanded. Therefore, the movable body can be moved instantaneously, and a high-quality pseudo-tactile sensation can be produced.

In the above-mentioned tactile sensation presentation device, the one of the stator and the mover may be formed of a resin material containing a filler that imparts thermal conductivity to an insulating resin.

According to this configuration, one of the stator and the movable element can be easily formed by injection molding, compared to a configuration in which one of the stator and the movable element is formed of a metal material. Therefore, the tactile sensation presentation device can be manufactured at low cost. Further, since resin materials generally have lower surface hardness than metal materials, wear of the shape memory alloy wire can be suppressed compared to a configuration in which one of the stator and mover is formed of a metal material. Furthermore, although one of the stator and the mover is formed of a resin material, it has desired thermal conductivity due to the filler. Therefore, it is possible to form one of the stator and the movable element to have higher thermal conductivity than the other.

In the tactile sensation presentation device described above, the one of the stator and the movable element may be formed of a metal material, and may have an insulating film on a contact surface with the shape memory alloy wire.

According to this configuration, the strength of one of the stator and the movable element can be improved compared to a configuration in which one of the stator and the movable element is formed of a resin material. In particular, when the distance between the stator and the movable element changes, the shape memory alloy wire is displaced in the movable direction together with one of the stator and the movable element. Therefore, the shape memory alloy wire is located closer to one of the stator and the mover than the other, and a strong force is applied from the shape memory alloy wire. Therefore, by forming one of the stator and the movable element from a metal material, the reliability of the tactile sensation presentation device can be effectively improved.

The tactile sensation presentation device described above may include a display panel that displays information through the operation panel, and a control section that controls display on the display panel in response to operations on the operation panel.

According to this configuration, when operating the operation panel with a fingertip while visually checking the information displayed on the display panel, the user can perform the operation while feeling a pseudo tactile sensation such as a click sensation. Therefore, it can be suitably used, for example, as a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone or a smart watch.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tactile sensation presentation device that can provide a high-quality pseudo-tactile sensation.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portable information terminal according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a portable information terminal according to a first embodiment. 2 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. It is a perspective view showing an actuator concerning a 1st embodiment. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 3. FIG. It is a figure showing operation of an actuator concerning a 1st embodiment. 6 is a diagram showing the inside of a portable information terminal according to a second embodiment, and is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an actuator according to a second embodiment viewed from below. It is a perspective view showing a smart watch concerning a 3rd embodiment.

(First embodiment)
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a tactile sensation presentation device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a portable information terminal such as a smartphone will be used as an example of a tactile sensation presentation device.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portable information terminal according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the mobile information terminal 1 of the present embodiment includes a casing 4 having a touch panel 2 (operation panel) that can be operated with a fingertip, and a casing 4 that covers the touch panel 2 and is movable with respect to the casing 4. It includes a contact panel 3 (movable body) and an actuator 5 that instantaneously displaces the contact panel 3.

In this embodiment, two directions that are orthogonal to each other with respect to the thickness direction L1 of the casing 4 in a plan view of the casing 4 are referred to as a first direction L2 and a second direction L3.
The casing 4 is formed into a rectangular shape in a plan view in which the length along the first direction L2 is longer than the length along the second direction L3, and is formed into a thin cylindrical shape with a bottom. The opening 4a of the casing 4 is closed by the contact panel 3 described above. In addition, in the thickness direction L1, the direction from the bottom wall portion 10 of the casing 4 toward the contact panel 3 is referred to as an upper direction, and the opposite direction is referred to as a lower direction.

The casing 4 is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom wall portion 10 and four peripheral wall portions 11 that surround the bottom wall portion 10 and protrude upward from the bottom wall portion 10, and are open upward. ing. Among the four peripheral wall parts 11, a pair of peripheral wall parts 11 facing each other in the first direction L2 is referred to as a front wall part 12 and a rear wall part 13, and a pair of peripheral wall parts 11 facing each other in the second direction L3 is referred to as a side wall part 14.
Note that the casing 4 does not need to be a single component, and may be configured by combining a plurality of components into one, for example.

A control board 15 is housed inside the casing 4 . The control board 15 is, for example, a printed circuit board on which various electronic components (not shown) for operating the mobile information terminal 1 are mounted, and circuit patterns (not shown) are formed on both sides. The control board 15 is formed into a rectangular shape in a plan view in which the length along the first direction L2 is longer than the length along the second direction L3 in accordance with the shape of the casing 4, and is supported inside the casing 4 by a support member (not shown). is stably supported.

A control unit 16 such as a CPU that comprehensively controls the mobile information terminal 1 is mounted on the control board 15 . Further, the control board 15 is mounted with various storage units such as a flash memory, a small speaker, a small microphone, a small camera, and the like. Note that illustration of the storage unit, speaker, microphone, camera, etc. is omitted.

Further, inside the casing 4, a power supply section (not shown) for supplying power to various components is disposed, and a removable memory card (not shown) is disposed. Note that the power supply unit is, for example, a rechargeable and dischargeable secondary battery.

A touch panel 2 and a contact panel 3 are arranged above the control board 15. The contact panel 3 is a thin transparent panel made of, for example, a synthetic resin material (for example, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, etc.) or glass material, and is inserted into the opening 4a of the casing 4 while covering the touch panel 2 from above. It is combined with the casing 4 so as to close it.

The contact panel 3 has an outer size slightly smaller than the opening size of the opening 4a so that a predetermined gap is left between the contact panel 3 and the opening 4a in the casing 4. Further, the contact panel 3 is combined with the casing 4 by a support member (not shown) while being supported so as to be movable in the first direction L2, which is the longitudinal direction of the casing 4. Therefore, the movable direction of the contact panel 3 corresponds to the first direction L2.

Further, a panel wall portion 3a is formed at the rear end portion of the contact panel 3 and protrudes downward and is arranged to face the rear wall portion 13 of the casing 4 in the first direction L2. . Note that the panel wall portion 3a is arranged with a predetermined gap provided between the panel wall portion 3a and the rear wall portion 13.

The touch panel 2 is arranged below the contact panel 3 so as to overlap the touch panel 3. The touch panel 2 is a thin transparent panel made of a synthetic resin material or a glass material, and has a known contact detection function such as a resistive film method, a capacitance method, or an optical method. Thereby, the touch panel 2 is able to detect a location touched by a fingertip through the contact panel 3. Therefore, the upper surface of the touch panel 2 serves as a so-called tactile sensation presentation surface, which is an operation surface that is operated by an operator's fingertip or the like through the contact panel 3 .

A display panel 17 is arranged below the touch panel 2 so as to overlap with the touch panel 2. The display panel 17 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and is capable of displaying various information through the touch panel 2 and the contact panel 3. As a result, by touching the touch panel 2 with a fingertip through the contact panel 3 in response to various information displayed on the display panel 17, an input signal (command signal) based on the operation content corresponding to the touched area is sent to the control unit. It is said that it is possible to send it to 16.

The above-mentioned control unit 16 controls the display on the display panel 17 based on the input signal associated with the operation of the touch panel 2. Further, the control unit 16 applies a predetermined voltage to the shape memory alloy wire 40 (described later) based on the operation of the touch panel 2, thereby controlling energization of the shape memory alloy wire 40.

The actuator 5 plays the role of momentarily displacing the contact panel 3 in a first direction L2, which is a movable direction, and applying an inertial force (thrust force) to the casing 4 based on the displacement.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the actuator according to the first embodiment viewed from below. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the actuator 5 is attached to the stator 20 attached to the casing 4 and the contact panel 3, and faces the stator 20 in the first direction L2, which is the movable direction. The movable element 30 is disposed between the stator 20 and the movable element 30, and a shape memory alloy wire 40 whose length changes depending on the temperature is provided. In addition, in FIG. 4, the stator 20 and the movable element 30 are shown separated from each other in order to make the drawing easier to see. Further, in FIG. 5, illustration of the touch panel 2 and the display panel 17 is omitted to make the drawing easier to see.

The stator 20 is fixed to a central portion of the front wall portion 12 of the casing 4 in the second direction L3. Note that the stator 20 only needs to be fixedly arranged with respect to the casing 4 and does not necessarily need to be attached to the casing 4. The stator 20 includes a base 21 extending along the second direction L3, and a plurality of protrusions 22 protruding from the base 21 toward the movable element 30. The plurality of protrusions 22 are arranged at regular intervals in the second direction L3. The plurality of protrusions 22 protrude from the base 21 by a predetermined protrusion amount. The tip of each protrusion 22 is formed in a rounded shape, for example, an arc shape in plan view. In addition, although the stator 20 has three protrusions 22 in the illustrated example, the number of protrusions 22 is not limited to this case.

The movable element 30 is arranged to be movable relative to the stator 20 in the first direction L2. The movable element 30 is fixed to the lower surface 3b of the contact panel 3 on the front edge side facing the front wall 12 of the casing 4. The movable element 30 is disposed at the center of the contact panel 3 in the second direction L3, and is disposed at the same height as the stator 20. As a result, as described above, the stator 20 and the movable element 30 are arranged to face each other in the first direction L2, which is the movable direction.

The movable element 30 includes a base 31 that extends along the second direction L3, and a plurality of protrusions 32 that protrude from the base 31 toward the stator 20 side. The plurality of protrusions 32 are arranged at regular intervals in the second direction L3. The plurality of protrusions 32 protrude from the base 31 toward the stator 20 by a predetermined protrusion amount. The tip end of each protrusion 32 is formed in a rounded shape, for example, an arc shape in plan view, similarly to the stator 20 side. In the illustrated example, the movable element 30 has four protrusions 32, but the number of protrusions 32 is not limited to this case.

The interval between the protrusions 22 on the stator 20 side and the interval between the protrusions 32 on the movable element 30 side are the same (pitch). Further, the amount of protrusion of each protrusion 22 on the stator 20 side is equal to the amount of protrusion of each protrusion 32 on the movable element 30 side. The stator 20 and the movable element 30 are arranged to face each other so that the protrusions 22 on the stator 20 side fit between the protrusions 32 on the movable element 30 side. Thereby, each protrusion 32 on the movable element 30 side and each protrusion 22 on the stator 20 side are arranged in a comb-teeth shape.

The shape memory alloy wire 40 is made of, for example, a nickel-titanium alloy. The shape memory alloy wire 40 is sandwiched between the stator 20 and the movable element 30 in a wavy manner while alternately contacting the tip of each protrusion 22 of the stator 20 and the tip of each protrusion 32 of the movable element 30. ing. In this embodiment, the number of protrusions 32 on the movable element 30 is greater than the number of protrusions 22 on the stator 20, so the contact distance between the movable element 30 and the shape memory alloy wire 40 is smaller than that between the stator 20 and the shape memory alloy wire 40. It is longer than the contact distance with the alloy wire 40. Note that the material of the shape memory alloy wire 40 is not limited to the nickel-titanium alloy, and may be changed as appropriate.

Both ends of the shape memory alloy wire 40 are supported and electrically connected to connection terminals 41 (wire support portions) provided on the lower surface 3b of the contact panel 3. The connection terminal 41 is fixedly arranged with respect to the movable element 30. The connection terminal 41 is electrically connected to a circuit pattern (not shown) on the control board 15 through a wiring section (not shown). Thereby, the shape memory alloy wire 40 is electrically connected to the control board 15 via the connection terminal 41, and can be energized by applying a predetermined voltage.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation of the actuator according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 6, the shape memory alloy wire 40 instantaneously contracts when heated by electricity. As a result, the shape memory alloy wire 40 transitions from a loose state to a tensioned state, so that it is possible to move the mover 30 away from the stator 20 along the first direction L2, which is the movable direction. Become. In this way, the shape memory alloy wire 40 is able to change the distance between the movable element 30 and the stator 20 by expanding and contracting due to electrical heating.

Note that the stator 20 and mover 30 described above are arranged so as to be in contact with the shape memory alloy wire 40, and also function as a heat radiator (thermal conductor) that radiates heat from the shape memory alloy wire 40. The mover 30 is made of a material with higher thermal conductivity than the stator 20. Specifically, the stator 20 is made of a resin material, and the mover 30 is made of a metal material. The stator 20 is formed of a resin material having an insulating resin as a base material and containing a particulate or fibrous filler that imparts thermal conductivity to the base material. The matrix is an injection moldable thermoplastic. For example, polyphenylene sulfide, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyether ether ketone, polyacetal, etc. can be used as the base material. The filler has insulation properties. For example, alumina, hexagonal boron nitride, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum nitride, etc. can be used as the filler. Note that the resin material forming the stator 20 does not need to contain the above-mentioned filler. The movable element 30 is made of aluminum, iron, or the like, and has an insulating film on its contact surface with the shape memory alloy wire 40. When the mover 30 is made of aluminum, an aluminum oxide film is formed on the surface by alumite treatment. When the mover 30 is made of iron, a crystalline phosphate film is formed on the surface by phosphate film treatment. In this embodiment, the stator 20 and the movable element 30 are each entirely made of the above-mentioned material, but at least the portions that contact the shape memory alloy wire 40 (for example, the protrusions 22 and 32) are made of the above-mentioned material. It is sufficient if it is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the actuator 5 configured as described above is arranged such that at least the movable element 30 and the shape memory alloy wire 40 overlap with the contact panel 3 and the control board 15 in the thickness direction L1. It is located in

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mobile information terminal 1 further includes a coil spring 45 (elastic member). A coil spring 45 is arranged between the casing 4 and the contact panel 3. The coil spring 45 biases the contact panel 3 along the first direction L2, which is the movable direction, so that the movable element 30 approaches the stator 20 side.

The coil spring 45 is arranged in a compressed state between the rear wall 13 of the casing 4 and the panel wall 3a of the contact panel 3. One end of the coil spring 45 is connected to the rear wall 13, and the other end of the coil spring 45 is connected to the panel wall 3a of the contact panel 3. Thereby, the coil spring 45 biases the entire contact panel 3 toward the stator 20 side using elastic restoring force (biasing force). Note that the number of coil springs 45 is not limited to one, and a plurality of coil springs may be arranged at intervals in the second direction L3, for example.

Since the contact panel 3 is biased toward the stator 20 as described above, the shape memory alloy wire 40 is sandwiched between the mover 30 and the stator 20 as shown in FIG. It is said that Furthermore, the contact panel 3, which is biased by the coil spring 45, is prevented from further displacing toward the stator 20 by the shape memory alloy wire 40, and is positioned as shown in FIG. .

The operation when using the portable information terminal 1 configured as described above will be explained.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, by operating the touch panel 2 with a fingertip through the contact panel 3 while visually checking the information displayed on the display panel 17, it is possible to perform an operation corresponding to the touched area. can. This allows various functions of the mobile information terminal 1 to be used as appropriate.

In particular, by operating the touch panel 2 through the contact panel 3, the contact panel 3 can be moved in the movable direction relative to the casing 4 using the change in the distance between the stator 20 and the movable element 30 caused by the shape memory alloy wire 40. It can be moved instantaneously along one direction L2. Thereby, based on the rapid displacement of the contact panel 3, the inertial force of the contact panel 3 can be applied to the entire mobile information terminal 1. Therefore, it is possible to give a simulated dynamic operating sensation to the fingertip touching the contact panel 3, and it is possible to produce a pseudo tactile sensation as if a clicking sensation is given to the fingertip.

This will be explained in more detail.
When the touch panel 2 is operated with a fingertip through the contact panel 3, the control unit 16 energizes the shape memory alloy wire 40 through the connection terminal 41. Thereby, the shape memory alloy wire 40 can be heated and instantly contracted. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the shape memory alloy wire 40 sandwiched between each protrusion 22 of the stator 20 and each protrusion 32 of the mover 30 is changed from a loose state to a tensioned state. Thus, the movable element 30 can be separated from the stator 20 against the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 45.

Thereby, while elastically deforming the coil spring 45, it is possible to instantaneously move the contact panel 3 on which the mover 30 is provided along the first direction L2, which is the movable direction, with respect to the casing 4. . Therefore, the inertial force of the contact panel 3 can be applied to the entire mobile information terminal 1, and a pseudo tactile sensation similar to a click can be applied to the fingertip touching the contact panel 3.

Furthermore, by dissipating the heat generated by the electrical heating from the shape memory alloy wire 40, the shape memory alloy wire 40 can be elongated instantaneously, for example, and can be changed from a tensioned state to a relaxed state. .
At this time, the contact panel 3 is urged by the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 45 so that the movable element 30 approaches the stator 20 side. Therefore, as the shape memory alloy wire 40 expands, the movable element 30 can be reliably moved toward the stator 20 using the biasing force of the coil spring 45. Therefore, the contact panel 3 on which the mover 30 is provided can be instantaneously moved in the opposite direction relative to the casing 4 along the first direction L2, which is the movable direction, and returned to the state shown in FIG. be able to. At the time of this return, a pseudo tactile sensation similar to that of a click can be applied to the fingertip that touched the contact panel 3 in the same way as before.

Therefore, it becomes possible to vibrate the contact panel 3 in the movable direction by utilizing the expansion and contraction of the shape memory alloy wire 40. In particular, it is possible to generate pulse-like vibrations, and for example, it is possible to produce a tactile sensation similar to that of a mechanical switch or a tactile sensation different from that of a vibration motor or the like. Furthermore, since shape memory alloys generally have excellent reproducibility and responsiveness of expansion and contraction, the moment you touch the contact panel 3 with your fingertip, you will experience a pseudo-click sensation. It is possible to provide a stable tactile sensation.
In particular, in this embodiment, since the contact panel 3 itself that is directly touched by the fingertip is momentarily displaced, it is easy to more effectively apply a pseudo-tactile sensation to the fingertip.

Furthermore, it is also possible to vibrate the casing 4, for example, by displacing the contact panel 3 as necessary, apart from the operator's operation. This makes it possible to notify the operator of, for example, the arrival of a telephone call or e-mail, and there is no need to provide a dedicated vibration source (such as a vibration motor) for this purpose. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the configuration and reduce costs.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the movable element 30 is formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the stator 20. Here, in the process of changing the distance between the stator 20 and the movable element 30, the state of contact between the stator 20 and the movable element 30 and the shape memory alloy wire 40 also changes. By making the stator 20 and the mover 30 have different thermal conductivities, the heat dissipation characteristics of the shape memory alloy wire 40 are changed depending on the contact state between the stator 20 and the mover 30 and the shape memory alloy wire 40. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to provide the shape memory alloy wire 40 with good heat dissipation characteristics and improve the responsiveness of the expansion and contraction operations.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a portable information terminal 1 that can provide a high-quality pseudo-tactile sensation.

Furthermore, the mobile information terminal 1 includes a connection terminal 41 that is fixedly arranged with respect to the movable element 30 and supports the shape memory alloy wire 40. In this configuration, when the distance between the stator 20 and the movable element 30 changes, the shape memory alloy wire 40 is displaced in the first direction L2 together with one of the stator 20 and the movable element 30. Therefore, in the process of increasing the distance between the stator 20 and the movable element 30, the contact pressure of the shape memory alloy wire 40 against the stator 20 decreases due to the inertia of the movable element 30, and the contact pressure between the stator 20 and the movable element 30 decreases. The stator 20 may be separated from the shape memory alloy wire 40 before or after the timing when the distance becomes maximum. On the other hand, the mover 30 is always in contact with the shape memory alloy wire 40.
Since the mover 30 is formed to have higher thermal conductivity than the stator 20, it efficiently radiates heat from the shape memory alloy wire 40 at the timing when the distance between the stator 20 and the mover 30 is maximum. be able to. Furthermore, when the distance between the stator 20 and the mover 30 is at its minimum, the shape memory alloy wire 40 is in contact with both the stator 20 and the mover 30, so that the thermal conductivity of the stator is lower than that of the mover 30. Compared to the case where the thermal conductivity is the same, heat radiation of the shape memory alloy wire 40 can be suppressed.
As described above, it becomes possible to rapidly raise the temperature of the shape memory alloy wire 40 by heating with electricity, and to efficiently cool the heated shape memory alloy wire 40. Therefore, the shape memory alloy wire 40 can be rapidly expanded and contracted, and the contact panel 3 can be moved instantaneously, thereby providing a high-quality pseudo-tactile sensation.

Further, the contact distance between the mover 30 and the shape memory alloy wire 40 is longer than the contact distance between the stator 20 and the shape memory alloy wire 40. In this configuration, heat can be efficiently dissipated from the shape memory alloy wire 40 compared to a configuration in which the contact distance between the mover and the shape memory alloy wire is shorter than the contact distance between the stator and the shape memory alloy wire. . Thereby, the shape memory alloy wire 40 that has contracted due to the temperature increase can be instantly expanded. Therefore, the contact panel 3 can be moved instantaneously, and a high-quality pseudo-tactile sensation can be produced.

Stator 20 is made of resin material. According to this configuration, the stator 20 can be easily formed by injection molding, compared to a configuration in which the stator is formed of a metal material. Therefore, the portable information terminal 1 can be manufactured at low cost.
Furthermore, wear of the shape memory alloy wire 40 can be suppressed compared to a configuration in which the stator 20 is formed of a metal material.

Further, the stator 20 is made of a resin material containing an insulating resin and a filler that imparts thermal conductivity. According to this configuration, the thermal conductivity of the stator 20 can be adjusted. That is, the thermal conductivity of the stator 20 can be increased compared to a structure in which the stator is formed of a resin material that does not contain filler. Therefore, when the shape memory alloy wire 40 contacts the stator 20 in the process of cooling the heated shape memory alloy wire 40, the shape memory alloy wire 40 can efficiently radiate heat. Thereby, the shape memory alloy wire 40 that has contracted due to the temperature increase can be instantly expanded. Therefore, the contact panel 3 can be moved instantaneously, and a high-quality pseudo-tactile sensation can be produced.

The movable element 30 is formed of a metal material and has an insulating film on the contact surface with the shape memory alloy wire 40. According to this configuration, the strength of the movable element 30 can be improved compared to a configuration in which the movable element 30 is formed of a resin material. In particular, the shape memory alloy wire 40 is displaced in the first direction L2 together with the movable element 30 when the distance between the stator 20 and the movable element 30 changes. Therefore, the shape memory alloy wire 40 is located closer to the movable element 30 than the stator 20, and a strong force is applied from the shape memory alloy wire 40. Therefore, by forming the mover 30 from a metal material, the reliability of the mobile information terminal 1 can be effectively improved.

(Modified example of the first embodiment)
Note that the materials forming the stator 20 and the movable element 30 are not limited to those in the above embodiments, and it is sufficient that the movable element 30 is formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the stator 20. For example, both the stator 20 and the movable element 30 may be made of resin material. In this case, at least the mover 30, like the stator 20 of the first embodiment, has an insulating resin as a base material and contains a particulate or fibrous filler that imparts thermal conductivity to the base material. It is made of a resin material. For example, by making the filler content of the mover 30 higher than the filler content of the stator 20, the thermal conductivity of the mover 30 can be made higher than the thermal conductivity of the stator 20. Note that, also in this modification, the stator 20 does not need to contain a filler.

In this way, by forming the mover 30 from a resin material containing a filler that imparts thermal conductivity to an insulating resin, injection The mover 30 can be easily formed by molding. Therefore, the portable information terminal 1 can be manufactured at low cost.
Further, since resin materials generally have lower surface hardness than metal materials, wear of the shape memory alloy wire 40 can be suppressed compared to a configuration in which the mover is formed of a metal material.
Furthermore, although the mover 30 is made of a resin material, it has desired thermal conductivity due to the filler. Therefore, the movable element 30 can be formed to have higher thermal conductivity than the stator 20.

Moreover, the stator 20 and the movable element 30 may be formed of a metal material. For example, by forming the stator 20 with iron and forming the movable element 30 with aluminum, the thermal conductivity of the movable element 30 can be made higher than that of the stator 20. In this case, a crystalline phosphate film is formed on the surface of the stator 20 by phosphate film treatment, and an aluminum oxide film is formed on the surface of the mover 30 by alumite treatment. Thereby, the insulation properties of each of the stator 20 and the movable element 30 can be ensured.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the tactile sensation presentation device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in this 2nd embodiment, the same code|symbol is attached|subjected about the same component as a 1st embodiment, and the description is abbreviate|omitted.

In the first embodiment, the stator 20 is formed to have a protrusion 22 protruding from the base 21 toward the movable element 30, and the stator 20 is formed to have the protrusion 32 protruding from the base 31 toward the stator 20. In this embodiment, the stator has a plurality of fixed pins, and the movable element has a plurality of movable pins.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the inside of the portable information terminal according to the second embodiment, and is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the actuator according to the second embodiment viewed from below.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the mobile information terminal 70 (tactile sensation presentation device) of this embodiment includes a stator 80 having a plurality of fixed pins 81 and a mover 90 having a plurality of movable pins 91. The actuator 71 has an actuator 71. In addition, in FIG. 8, the stator 80 and the movable element 90 are shown separated from each other in order to make the drawing easier to see.

The stator 80 includes a fixing plate 82 arranged parallel to a first direction L2, which is a movable direction, and a plurality of fixing pins 81 attached to the fixing plate 82 so as to protrude in the thickness direction L1. There is. The fixed plate 82 is a plate-like plate formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view, and the length along the second direction L3 is longer than the length along the first direction L2. The fixing plate 82 is fixed to a central portion of the front wall portion 12 of the casing 4 in the second direction L3. The fixed plate 82 is fixed so as to be located below the contact panel 3.

The fixing pin 81 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is attached to the fixing plate 82 so as to protrude upward from the fixing plate 82. Specifically, the fixing pin 81 is fixed to the fixing plate 82 by press fitting. However, the method of attaching the fixing pin 81 to the fixing plate 82 is not limited to this case, and may be fixed by, for example, adhesion. Further, the fixing pin 81 and the fixing plate 82 may be integrally formed.

The tip (upper end) of the fixing pin 81 is formed into a rounded hemisphere. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and the tip of the fixing pin 81 may be formed into a flat shape. Note that the fixed pin 81 is formed with a length such that its upper end approaches a movable plate 92, which will be described later, or a length that ensures a slight gap between the upper end and the movable plate 92.

The fixing pins 81 described above are arranged at regular intervals in a first direction L2, which is a movable direction, and a second direction L3, which is an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the thickness direction L1. In the illustrated example, three fixing pins 81 are attached to the fixing plate 82. However, the number of fixing pins 81 is not limited to this case.

The movable element 90 includes a movable plate 92 arranged parallel to a first direction L2, which is a movable direction, and a plurality of movable pins 91 attached to the movable plate 92 so as to protrude in the thickness direction L1. There is. The movable plate 92 is a plate-like plate formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view, and the length along the second direction L3 is longer than the length along the first direction L2. The movable plate 92 is fixed to the lower surface 3b of the contact panel 3 on the front edge side facing the front wall 12 of the casing 4. The movable plate 92 is fixed to a central portion of the contact panel 3 in the second direction L3. Therefore, the movable plate 92 is disposed above the fixed plate 82 and is disposed in line with the control board 15 in the first direction L2. Further, the movable plate 92 is arranged such that at least a portion thereof faces the fixed plate 82 in the thickness direction L1.

The movable pin 91 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is attached to the movable plate 92 so as to protrude downward from the movable plate 92. Specifically, the movable pin 91 is fixed to the movable plate 92 by press fitting. However, the method of attaching the movable pin 91 to the movable plate 92 is not limited to this case, and may be fixed by, for example, adhesion.

The lower end (tip) of the movable pin 91 is formed into a rounded hemispherical shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and the tip of the movable pin 91 may be formed into a flat shape. Note that the movable pin 91 is formed with a length such that its lower end approaches the fixed plate 82, or a length that ensures a slight gap between the lower end and the fixed plate 82.

The movable pins 91 described above are arranged at regular intervals in a first direction L2, which is a movable direction, and a second direction L3, which is an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the thickness direction L1. In the illustrated example, four movable pins 91 are attached to the movable plate 92. However, the number of movable pins 91 is not limited to this case.

The above-mentioned intervals between the plurality of fixed pins 81 and the intervals between the plurality of movable pins 91 are set to be the same interval (pitch). Furthermore, the length of the fixed pin 81 and the length of the movable pin 91 are made equal. Thereby, the fixed pins 81 and the movable pins 91 are alternately arranged at regular intervals along the second direction L3.

The shape memory alloy wire 40 is sandwiched between the fixed pin 81 and the movable pin 91 in a wavy manner while alternately contacting the fixed pin 81 and the movable pin 91. In this embodiment, since the number of movable pins 91 is greater than the number of fixed pins 81, the contact distance between the mover 30 and the shape memory alloy wire 40 is longer than the contact distance between the stator 20 and the shape memory alloy wire 40. It's also long.

Both ends of the shape memory alloy wire 40 are supported and electrically connected to connection terminals 41 attached to the movable plate 92. The connection terminal 41 is electrically connected to a circuit pattern (not shown) on the control board 15 via a wiring part (not shown).

Note that the stator 80 and mover 90 described above are arranged so as to be in contact with the shape memory alloy wire 40, and also function as a heat radiator (thermal conductor) that radiates heat from the shape memory alloy wire 40. At least the movable pin 91 of the movable element 90 is formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than at least the fixed pin 81 of the stator 80. Specifically, the fixed pin 81 has the same material as the stator 20 of the first embodiment, and the movable pin 91 has the same material as the movable element 30 of the first embodiment.

Even in the case of the mobile information terminal 70 configured as described above, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be achieved.
That is, since the shape memory alloy wire 40 is sandwiched between the fixed pin 81 and the movable pin 91 in a wavy manner, the distance between the fixed pin 81 and the movable pin 91 can be adjusted by expanding and contracting the shape memory alloy wire 40. It can be changed in one direction L2. Thereby, the control board 15 to which the mover 90 is attached can be instantaneously displaced in the first direction L2 by utilizing the expansion and contraction of the shape memory alloy wire 40. Therefore, a tactile sensation that gives a clicking sensation can be applied to the fingertip that touches the touch panel 2.

In this way, even in the case of the actuator 71 that uses the fixed pin 81 and the movable pin 91, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be achieved by forming the fixed pin 81 and the movable pin 91 from the above-mentioned materials. It can be successful.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments described with reference to the drawings, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope thereof.
For example, in each of the above embodiments, the tactile sensation presentation device has been described as an example in which it is applied to a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone, but it may also be applied to a smart watch 100, as shown in FIG. 9, for example. Furthermore, it is not limited to mobile information terminals, and may be applied to, for example, in-vehicle car navigation systems, and various electronic devices that simulate a physical operation tactile sensation to the fingertip when touched. I do not care.

Further, in the above embodiment, the connection terminals of the shape memory alloy wire 40 are fixedly arranged with respect to the movers 30 and 90, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the connection terminal of the shape memory alloy wire may be fixedly arranged with respect to the stator. In this case, the above-mentioned effects can be achieved by forming the stator from a material having higher thermal conductivity than the movable element.

Further, in the above embodiment, the contact distance between the movers 30 and 90 and the shape memory alloy wire 40 is longer than the contact distance between the stators 20 and 80 and the shape memory alloy wire 40, but this is not limited to this. . That is, the contact distance between the stator and the shape memory alloy wire may be longer than the contact distance between the mover and the shape memory alloy wire. In this case, the above-mentioned effects can be achieved by forming the stator from a material having higher thermal conductivity than the movable element.

Further, in the above embodiment, the movers 30 and 90 are fixed to the contact panel 3, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The movable element may be fixed to a member disposed inside the touch panel 2. For example, even if the mover is fixed to the control board 15, it is possible to instantaneously move the control board 15 with respect to the casing 4 along the first direction L2, which is the movable direction. Therefore, the inertial force (thrust force) of the control board 15 can be applied to the entire mobile information terminal, and a tactile sensation similar to a click can be applied to the fingertip touching the touch panel 2. Further, the actuator may be configured to displace a weight fixed to the movable element with respect to the casing. Even in this case, the inertial force (thrust) of the weight can be applied to the entire mobile information terminal, and it is possible to create a tactile sensation similar to a click on the fingertip touching the touch panel 2. can.

In addition, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, the components in the embodiments described above can be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, and the embodiments and modifications described above may be combined as appropriate. good.

1, 70...Personal information terminal (tactile sensation presentation device) 2...Touch panel (operation panel) 3...Touch panel (movable body) 4...Casing 16...Control unit 17...Display panel 20,80...Stator 30,90...Movable element 40... Shape memory alloy wire 41... Connection terminal (wire support part) 45... Coil spring (elastic member) 100... Smart watch (tactile sensation presentation device)

Claims (6)

a casing having an operation panel operated with a fingertip;
a movable body movable along a movable direction with respect to the casing;
a stator fixedly arranged with respect to the casing;
a movable element attached to the movable body and arranged to be movable relative to the stator in the movable direction;
a shape memory alloy wire disposed between the stator and the movable element, the length of which changes depending on the temperature;
an elastic member that biases the movable element toward the stator side along the movable direction;
a wire support part that is fixedly arranged with respect to the movable element and supports the shape memory alloy wire;
Equipped with
The shape memory alloy wire is sandwiched between the stator and the movable element in a wavy manner while alternately contacting the stator and the movable element, and expands and contracts as a result of heating with electricity. By changing the interval of
The movable element is formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the stator.
Tactile presentation device. A contact distance between the movable element and the shape memory alloy wire is longer than a contact distance between the stator and the shape memory alloy wire,
The tactile sensation presentation device according to claim 1. The stator is formed of a resin material.
The tactile sensation presentation device according to claim 1 or claim 2 . The stator is formed of a resin material containing an insulating resin and a filler that imparts thermal conductivity.
The tactile sensation presentation device according to claim 3 . The movable element is formed of a metal material and has an insulating film on a contact surface with the shape memory alloy wire.
The tactile sensation presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . a display panel that displays information through the operation panel;
a control unit that controls display on the display panel according to operations on the operation panel;
The tactile sensation presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , comprising:

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