KR101036618B1 - Haptic feedback providing device of a flexible display and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for providing a haptic feedback of a flexible display and a method for providing the haptic feedback to a hand of a user who is holding or to make a displayed image more three-dimensional by modifying the flexible display. To this end, in the flexible display capable of elastic deformation, the haptic feedback generating unit is provided on at least one side of the periphery of the display 100 to induce deformation in the display 100; And a controller 150 which controls the haptic feedback generator to be deformed based on a predetermined program command or an input value input by a user.

Flexible, display, visual, bending, wire, shape memory alloy, haptic, motor

Description

Haptic feedback providing device and a method of providing the same

The present invention relates to providing haptic feedback of a flexible display, and more particularly, by modifying the flexible display, to provide haptic feedback to a hand of a user who is holding or to provide haptic feedback of a flexible display that can make a displayed image more three-dimensionally visible. An apparatus and a method of providing the same.

In general, a flexible display device (flexible display device) is to implement a video display device by making a flexible substrate using a plastic, a polymer film and the like. Such flexible displays are being realized such as LCD, OLED, e-paper. This flexible display is a replacement for conventional glass substrates with a flexible material, so it can be bent or rolled up like paper.

However, the conventional flexible display device has only a feature that can bend the device with human force. Thus, the user was only satisfied with the bending of the flexible display, and there was no emotional feeling that could be conveyed from this flexibility. In addition, the technology to actively transform the flexible display is only wound in a circle for ease of portability.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention, by actively modifying the flexible display, the device for providing a haptic feedback of a flexible display that can feel the haptic in the user's hand while holding And it provides a method of providing the same.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a haptic feedback providing apparatus and a method for providing the flexible display, which can make the displayed image more three-dimensional by actively deforming the flexible display.

The object of the present invention as described above,

In the flexible display capable of elastic deformation,

A haptic feedback generator provided on at least one side of the periphery of the display 100 to induce deformation in the display 100; And

It may be achieved by the haptic feedback providing apparatus for a flexible display, characterized in that it comprises a control unit 150 for controlling the haptic feedback generation unit to be deformed based on a predetermined program command or an input value input by a user.

The flexible display 100 may be any one of a flexible LCD, an OLED, and an e-paper. In addition, the display may have a quadrangular shape, and the haptic feedback generator may be provided on at least one side of the perimeter of the quadrangular display.

In addition, the haptic feedback generators are provided at opposite sides of the rectangular display periphery, respectively.

In addition, the haptic feedback generator,

Shape memory alloy portion deformed at a predetermined temperature; And a heater part for heating the shape memory alloy part, and the controller may control the heater part.

The shape memory alloy portion may have a band shape formed along at least one side of the periphery of the display 100.

In another embodiment, the haptic feedback generator,

A haptic feedback substrate 220 formed along at least one side of the periphery of the display 100;

An end 230 embedded in the haptic feedback substrate 220; And

A wire 270, one end of which is connected to the end 230 and located within the haptic feedback substrate 220; And

It is connected to the other end of the wire 270 may be composed of a tension means capable of tensioning the wire 270.

At this time, the end 230 and the wire 270 is provided with a plurality.

In addition, the plurality of ends 230 may be provided at different positions in the haptic feedback substrate 220.

The plurality of end portions 230 and the wires 270 are preferably provided on the same plane. In addition, the plurality of ends 230 and the wires 270 are provided on two parallel planes, respectively. The wire 270 may include a metal material or a synthetic resin material.

The tension means may be any one of a motor, a linear motor, a piezoelectric element, a shape memory alloy element, or a combination thereof.

In addition, it is preferable that one side of the haptic feedback substrate 220 is further provided with a unidirectional bending induction part 280 for guiding a bending direction of the haptic feedback substrate 220 when a tensile force is applied to the wire 270.

An object of the present invention as described above, in another category, in the haptic feedback providing method of the flexible display capable of elastic deformation,

The controller 150 outputting a haptic feedback control command based on a predetermined program command or an input value input by a user (S100); And

A haptic feedback generator provided on at least one side of the circumference of the display 100 inducing deformation in the display 100 based on the haptic feedback control command (S200); It can also be achieved by the method.

And, the deformation induction step (S200),

Heating the heater unit based on the control command (S210); And deforming an adjacent shape memory alloy part by the heated heater part (S220).

In addition, a plurality of heater units and shape memory alloy units may be provided, and the control unit may independently control the plurality of heater units.

In addition, the deformation induction step (S200), the tension means for generating a tensile force on the wire 270 connected to the tension means based on the control command (S250);

Deforming the haptic feedback substrate 220 fixed to one end of the wire 270 as the wire 270 is tensioned (S260); And

As the haptic feedback substrate 220 is deformed, the integrated display 100 is deformed (S270).

In addition, the control command output step S100 may output the haptic feedback control command independently for the plurality of tensioning means.

In addition, the tensile force generating step (S250), the step of rotating the motor 240; Moving the linear motor; And deforming by applying a temperature change to the shape memory alloy element.

In addition, the deformation of the display in the deformation induction step S200 may include at least one of one-way bending, two-way bending, waveform bending, vibration deformation, and partial deformation of the display 100.

Other objects, specific advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the preferred embodiments described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, by actively deforming the flexible display, it is possible to feel a variety of emotional haptic feedback in the hand of the user holding. Emotional haptic feedback can be, for example, transfer of bending, waveforms, tremors, and the like.

By actively deforming the flexible display, it is possible to make the displayed image appear more three-dimensional. Thus, realistic images can be displayed.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the above-mentioned preferred embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various other modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is obvious that all modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

First of all, haptic feedback is a tactile sensation that can be felt when touching an object.Tactile feedback that the skin touches the surface of the object and kinetic force feedback that is felt when the movement of joints and muscles are disturbed. force feedback). As used herein, "haptic feedback" is used in the sense encompassing this concept.

Hereinafter, the configuration of each embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Configuration of First Embodiment)

First, Figure 1 is a deformation state diagram of a flexible display equipped with a haptic feedback providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible displays 100 and 200 may be held by the hand 1 or mounted on a desk. Such flexible displays 100 and 200 include LCD, OLED, and e-paper using electronic ink. The haptic feedback substrates 160 and 220 are provided around the flexible displays 100 and 200 to generate bending. The haptic feedback substrates 160 and 220 may be provided on only one side of the rectangular flexible display 100 or 200, may be provided on both sides facing each other, may be provided on three sides except the control unit, and may be provided on all four sides. It may be.

2 is a plan view of a flexible display equipped with a haptic feedback providing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of the haptic feedback providing apparatus shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the display 100 is supplied with data signals and power by the wiring 110. The haptic feedback generators are provided on the upper and lower sides of the display 100 of the rectangle 4: 3 or 16: 9, respectively.

Each haptic feedback generator is composed of a haptic feedback substrate 160, shape memory alloy (120, 130) and heaters (122, 132). The haptic feedback substrate 160 may be firmly fixed to the upper side of the display 100 to be deformed integrally, and may be restored to its original state when external force is not applied due to a constant restoring force. The haptic feedback substrate 160 may be made of synthetic resin, urethane, silicone, flexible substrate, or the like.

Shape Memory Alloy is a special alloy that remembers a certain shape and restores its original shape when it reaches a certain temperature even if it is deformed by applying force. The shape memory alloy parts 120 and 130 are formed in a band shape along the upper side of the display 100 and are molded to bend round at a predetermined temperature. Dozens of alloys, such as gold, cadmium, copper, and zinc, have been found as shape-memory effect alloys. Among them, a band or fiber type based on a nickel-titanium alloy is preferable.

The shape memory alloy has an electric heating driving method that moves as self-heating by applying current to itself, and has a method of driving by heat transfer from an adjacent heater part, and a shape memory alloy and a heater part are integrally formed. In the embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described how to be driven by heat transfer can also be replaced by the electric heating drive method.

The heaters 122 and 132 are members that generate heat by a current applied from the driver 140 according to a control signal of the controller 150. The heaters 122 and 132 are disposed to be in close contact with or adjacent to the shape memory alloy parts 120 and 130.

The shape memory alloy parts 120 and 130 and the heater parts 122 and 132 may be provided in pairs, one in one haptic feedback generation part, or may be provided in plurality. In addition, the controller 150 is configured to independently control the plurality of heaters 122 and 132.

(Operation of the first embodiment)

Hereinafter, the operation of the first embodiment having the above configuration will be described. First, the controller 150 outputs a predetermined haptic feedback control command by a running program (operating program or application program) or based on a user input (touch, mouse click, keyboard input, etc. by a touch screen). These control commands are made independently for the plurality of heaters 122 and 132.

Then, each of the heaters 122 and 132 generates a predetermined heat, and thus the corresponding shape memory alloy parts 120 and 130 begin to bend. The bending of the shape memory alloy parts 120 and 130 leads to the bending of the haptic feedback substrate 160, and is simultaneously connected to the bending of the display 100. Therefore, the user who held the display 100 by the hand 1 may feel the display 100 bent through the hand 1. In addition to the bending operation, various deformations such as bidirectional bending, waveform bending, vibration deformation, partial deformation, and the like may be induced to provide a user with more emotional and various haptic feedback.

When the control unit 150 commands the restoration, the shape memory alloy parts 120 and 130 are returned to their initial state while the heaters 122 and 132 stop the operation. Accordingly, the display 100 is also in a flat state again.

(Configuration of Second Embodiment)

4 is a plan view of a flexible display equipped with a haptic feedback providing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of the haptic feedback providing apparatus shown in FIG. 4 and 5, the display 200, the wiring 210, and the haptic feedback substrate 220 are similar to those of the first embodiment, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

End 230 is spherical and is securely fixed within haptic feedback substrate 220. The end 230 may be integrally fused to the haptic feedback substrate 220 without being spherical. The end 230 may be made of the same material as the wire 270. The end portion 230 may be disposed about three to five along the upper side, and may be arranged at equal intervals. In addition, when viewed from the side cross section, the ends 230 may all be coplanar. Meanwhile, in order to maximize bending by the tensile force transmitted from the end 230, the plane in which the end 230 is positioned may be eccentric from the central axis (not shown) of the haptic feedback substrate 220. The greater the eccentric distance, the greater the tensile force and the greater the bending force. Arrangement of the end 230 may be a variety of forms, it may be located in a stacked form when viewed in the side cross-sectional direction.

One end of the wire 270 is fixed to each end 230, the other end is connected to the motor 240, and the middle part passes straight through the haptic feedback substrate 220. The wire 270 may be a metal wire (eg wire) or may be a thin synthetic resin material (eg fishing line). In addition, the wire 270 may be buried in the haptic feedback substrate 220 to be integrally tensioned or may be slightly separated to allow relative movement.

The motor 240 may be a DC motor, a servo motor, a stepping motor, or the like, and the wire 270 is wound around the rotating shaft and configured to generate a tensile force. The motor 240 may be provided with a reducer or a pulley for winding as needed. The motor 240 is provided for each wire 270. However, one of the motors 240 may be configured to tension several wires 270 at the same time by changing the tension structure at the level of those skilled in the art. The motor 240 is an example of the wire tensioning means, and may be replaced with components that deform the piezoelectric element, move the linear motor, and deform by applying a temperature change to the shape memory alloy element.

Each motor 240 is driven by the driver 250, and the driver 250 is configured to receive a control command from the controller 260.

The motor 240, the wire 270, and the end 230 may be provided in pairs and one in one haptic feedback generator, or may be provided in plural. In addition, the controller 260 is configured to independently control the plurality of motors 240.

(Operation of the second embodiment)

6 to 8 are side cross-sectional views sequentially illustrating a process of deforming the flexible display according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 6 is an initial state in which the flexible display is not deformed. Accordingly, the flexible display is flat, and the wires 270a, 270b, and 270c are not in tension. For reference, in FIG. 6, the plurality of wires 270a, 270b, and 270c are shown in an overlapped state because they are provided at different positions on the same horizontal plane when viewed from the side.

7 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the flexible display 200 starts to bend with a small tensile force 10. As shown in FIG. 7, the motor 240 starts to rotate according to the haptic feedback control command of the controller 260. Then, while the small tensile force 10 (arrow) is transmitted to the wire 270c, the tensile force 10 is transmitted to the end 230. At this time, since the end 230 is eccentric with respect to the central axis of the haptic feedback substrate 220, a bending moment acts on the haptic feedback substrate 220. Therefore, the flexible display 200 connected integrally starts to bend in the direction of the arrow. At this time, no tensile force acts on the wires 270a and 270b. This process is similar to the configuration of bending the endoscope tip using wire in the endoscope.

In addition, the unidirectional bending guide portion 280 is provided to prevent bending in the direction in which the unidirectional bending guide portion 280 is installed during bending. This may cause the end 230 to be eccentric to direct the direction of bending in the desired direction, but may help to prevent bending or distorting the display in an unintended direction, depending on the bent shape of the flexible display. Specific examples of the unidirectional bending induction part 280 may be any film or tape made of a thin and hard synthetic resin material as long as it is for achieving cross-sectional asymmetry.

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a process in which the flexible display 200 is bent to a greater extent by the greater tensile force than in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 8, a greater tensile force 20 is applied to the wire 270c. The larger bending moment then causes the flexible display 200 to bend more. At the same time, another motor 240 may exert a tensile force on the wire 270b. The magnitude of the tensile force, the acting time, and the like for the respective wires 270a, ... 270f are determined by the controller 260.

(Third embodiment)

Fig. 9 is a side sectional view showing a configuration for bending a flexible display in both directions as a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 9, two virtual planes exist in a direction parallel to the planar direction of the flexible display, and ends 230 and wires are provided similarly to the second embodiment on each plane.

If the flexible display 200 is to be bent in an upward direction (see FIG. 9), a tensile force 30a may be applied to the wires 270a, 270b, and 270c on the upper side. On the contrary, if the flexible display 200 is to be bent in the downward direction (see FIG. 9), a tensile force 30b may be applied to the wires 270d, 270e, and 270f at the bottom thereof.

Accordingly, the control unit 260 determines the magnitude of the tensile force, the action time, and whether the action of the wires 270a, ... 270f is determined according to a predetermined program. Various haptic feedbacks can be provided.

1 is a modified state diagram of a flexible display provided with a haptic feedback providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,

2 is a plan view of a flexible display with a haptic feedback providing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic block diagram of the haptic feedback providing apparatus shown in FIG.

4 is a plan view of a flexible display provided with a haptic feedback providing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a schematic block diagram of the haptic feedback providing apparatus shown in FIG.

6 to 8 are side cross-sectional views sequentially illustrating a process of deforming the flexible display according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a side sectional view showing a configuration for bending a flexible display in both directions as a third embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: hand,

10, 20, 30a, 30b: tensile force,

40: neutral axis,

100: display,

110: display wiring,

120: first shape memory alloy,

122: first heater,

130: n-th shape memory alloy,

132: nth heater part,

140: drive unit,

150: control unit,

160: haptic feedback substrate,

200: display,

210: display wiring,

220: haptic feedback substrate,

230: end,

240: first, ..., n motor,

250: drive unit,

260: control unit,

270a, 270b, 270c, 270d, 270e, 270f, 270n: wire,

280: unidirectional bending guide portion.

Claims (21)

In the flexible display capable of elastic deformation, The display 100 has a rectangular shape, and is provided on at least one side of the periphery of the display 100, the haptic feedback generating unit for inducing deformation in the display 100; And And a controller (150) for controlling the haptic feedback generator to be deformed based on a predetermined program command or an input value input by a user. The method of claim 1, The flexible display 100 is a haptic feedback providing device of the flexible display, characterized in that any one of a flexible LCD, OLED, e-paper. delete The method of claim 1, The haptic feedback generating unit is provided on each side of the circumference of the rectangular display facing each other, haptic feedback providing apparatus for a flexible display. The method of claim 1, The haptic feedback generator, Shape memory alloy portion deformed at a predetermined temperature; And A heater part for heating the shape memory alloy part; The control unit controls the heater unit haptic feedback providing apparatus for a flexible display. The method of claim 5, The shape memory alloy unit is a haptic feedback providing apparatus of the flexible display, characterized in that the strip shape formed along at least one side of the circumference of the display (100). The method of claim 1, The haptic feedback generator A haptic feedback substrate 220 formed along at least one side of the circumference of the display 100; An end portion 230 embedded in the haptic feedback substrate 220; And A wire 270 having one end connected to the end 230 and positioned in the haptic feedback substrate 220; And Haptic feedback providing apparatus for a flexible display, characterized in that consisting of a tension means connected to the other end of the wire 270 to tension the wire (270). The method of claim 7, wherein The end 230 and the wire 270 is provided with a plurality of haptic feedback providing apparatus for a flexible display. The method of claim 8, The plurality of ends 230 are haptic feedback providing apparatus of the flexible display, characterized in that provided in different positions in the haptic feedback substrate 220. The method of claim 7, wherein Haptic feedback providing apparatus of the flexible display, characterized in that the plurality of end 230 and the wire (270) is provided on the same plane. The method of claim 7, wherein The plurality of ends 230 and the wires (270) is provided on the two parallel planes haptic feedback providing apparatus for a flexible display. The method of claim 7, wherein The wire 270 is a haptic feedback providing device of the flexible display, characterized in that it comprises a metal or synthetic resin material. The method of claim 7, wherein The tension means is a haptic feedback providing apparatus for a flexible display, characterized in that any one of a motor, a linear motor, a piezoelectric element, a shape memory alloy element. The method of claim 7, wherein One side of the haptic feedback substrate 220 is flexible, characterized in that the one-way bending induction part 280 is further provided to guide the bending direction of the haptic feedback substrate 220 when a tensile force is applied to the wire 270 Haptic feedback providing device of the display. In the haptic feedback providing method of the flexible display capable of elastic deformation, The controller 150 outputting a haptic feedback control command based on a predetermined program command or an input value input by a user (S100); And Inducing deformation on the display 100 on the basis of the haptic feedback control command provided on at least one side of the circumference of the display 100 (S200); including, the deformation induction step (S200) ), The heater unit is heated based on the control command (S210); And Haptic feedback providing method of a flexible display comprising a; (S220) the adjacent shape memory alloy is deformed by the heat of the heated heater. delete The method of claim 15, The heater unit and the shape memory alloy portion is provided with a plurality, The control unit provides a haptic feedback of a flexible display, characterized in that for controlling a plurality of heaters independently. The method of claim 15, The deformation induction step (S200), Tensioning means for generating a tensile force on the wire (270) connected to the tensioning means based on the control command (S250); Deforming the haptic feedback substrate 220 fixed to one end of the wire 270 as the wire 270 is tensioned (S260); And And a step (S270) of integrally connecting the display (100) as the haptic feedback substrate (220) is deformed. The method of claim 18, The control command output step (S100), A haptic feedback providing method of a flexible display, characterized in that for outputting a haptic feedback control command independently for a plurality of tension means. The method of claim 18, The tensile force generating step (S250), Rotating the motor 240; Deforming by a piezoelectric element; Moving the linear motor; And Deformation by applying a temperature change to the shape memory alloy device; Haptic feedback providing method of a flexible display comprising at least one of. The method of claim 15, In the deformation inducing step (S200), the deformation of the display includes at least one of unidirectional bending, bidirectional bending, waveform bending, vibration deformation, and partial deformation of the display 100. .

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