KR20130074411A - Haptic device having variable unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A haptic device with a variant part is provided to configure the variant part which varies according to the supply of an electric signal, thereby providing a mechanically stabilized structure and various haptic effects. CONSTITUTION: A haptic device (10) comprises an electronic device body (20), a touch panel (30) including vibration actuators (31), a variant part (40), and a controller (50). The touch panel is disposed on the upper surface of the electronic device body so that a user can touch the touch panel with a hand or a pen. The variant part is disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the electronic device body and varies to flexibility according to the supply of an electric signal. The controller detects the input of touch on the touch panel, and controls the supply of the electric signal to the variant part according to the detection result. Adhesive surfaces (41,42) are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the variant part in order to prevent the formation of a gap between the electronic device body and the touch panel. An insertion groove (43) is formed on the variant part in order to insert the vibration actuator of the touch panel. [Reference numerals] (50) Controller

Description

Haptic device with variable part {HAPTIC DEVICE HAVING VARIABLE UNIT}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a haptic device, and more particularly, to a haptic device having a variable portion that is flexibly changed by applying an electrical signal.

In general, the haptic device has a number of advantages such as space saving, improved operability and simplicity, easy specification change, and high user recognition, as well as easy interoperability with a mobile terminal. Such advantages are mainly used for small portable terminals.

The haptic device is disposed in close contact with a display device such as an LCD (LCD) that displays a transparent touch panel, and when a user presses the touch panel while viewing the screen through the touch panel, a vibration motor or a piezoelectric actuator By applying a vibration feeling to the touch panel by vibration generating means such as a (piezoelectric actuator), a structure in which the vibration feeling is transmitted to the user is adopted. Piezoelectric actuators are often used in small portable terminals.

1 and 2, the structure of the conventional haptic device 1, the touch panel 2, the piezoelectric actuator (3) attached to the lower surface of the touch panel 2, and the touch panel ( It is composed of a spacer 5 made of a foam or silicon which is provided at the edge of 2) and connects the portable terminal case 4 and the touch panel 2 to each other and is spaced apart from each other.

However, in the conventional haptic device, as shown in FIG. 2, a spacer 5 having a constant rigidity is formed between the touch panel 2 and the terminal case 4, and the piezoelectric actuator 3 is moved in this state. During the vibration, the touch panel 2 and the terminal case 4 vibrate together by the spacer, and at the same time, the whole product vibrates. Due to this, the vibration force of the product is weak, and it is not possible to provide a strong vibration feed pack on the touched surface of the touch panel 2, and the driving frequency band is narrow, thereby limiting various haptic effects.

In addition, since the conventional haptic device has a structure in which the touch panel and the terminal case are spaced apart from each other by using a spacer, a gap is generated due to the separation of the touch panel and the terminal case, and foreign matter penetrates into the gap. According to the use, the rigidity of the spacer cannot be changed, and when the product is dropped, the spacer part is damaged, thereby degrading mechanical reliability and airtightness.

The tablet device constituting the haptic device has already been disclosed in the Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2006-0041744 (published date 2006, 05, 12).

Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus that can be flexibly changed by applying an electrical signal and can prevent formation of a gap formed between the touch panel and the terminal case.

According to the present invention, by configuring a variable portion that is flexibly changed by applying an electric signal, there is no application of an electric signal at all times, and thus the rigidity of the variable portion is high, thereby preventing the product from being damaged when the product falls, and applying an electric signal when touching the touch panel. Due to the flexibility to change the variable part and the rigidity is lowered, the touch panel unit and the electronic device main body can be separated from each other to enable the drive of a strong feed pack and a wide frequency band on the touch surface of the touch panel unit, resulting in a variety of haptic products In addition to the effect can be implemented, and to provide a haptic device having a variable portion to provide a mechanically stable structure of the product.

In addition, the present invention forms an attachment surface for attaching the variable portion between the electronic device main body and the touch panel, thereby preventing the formation of a gap between the electronic device main body and the touch panel, thereby preventing foreign matter from entering the product. To provide a haptic device having a variable portion to improve the mechanical reliability and air tightness of the product.

In addition, the present invention provides a variable portion that is expanded or contracted by applying an electrical signal to vary the separation distance between the main body portion of the electronic device and the touch panel portion, thereby increasing the rigidity of the variable portion when the touch panel portion is not normally touched. By narrowing the separation distance between the touch panel unit and the main body of the electronic device, it is possible not only to prevent the product from being damaged when the product falls, but also to further improve the mechanical reliability and airtightness of the product. In addition, when the touch panel unit is touched, a haptic unit having a variable unit which lowers the rigidity of the variable unit and increases the separation distance between the touch panel unit and the main body unit of the electronic device to give a strong feed pack to the touched surface. ) To provide a device.

In addition, the present invention is coupled to the side circumference of the touch panel portion to configure a variable portion that is flexibly changed by the application of an electrical signal, by coupling the variable portion to the circumference of the side of the touch panel portion to reduce the thickness of the product, and also usually the electrical signal Since there is no authorization, the rigidity of the variable part is high, which prevents the formation of gaps between the touch panel part and the main body part of the electronic device, and thereby prevents foreign matter from penetrating the product and prevents it from being broken when the product falls. In addition, the airtightness is further improved, and when the touch panel unit is touched, the variable unit is flexibly changed by applying an electrical signal and the rigidity is lowered, so that the touch panel unit can be spaced vertically or horizontally so that a strong feed is applied to the touch surface of the touch panel unit. It can drive a pack and a wide frequency band, which makes it possible to produce various haptic effects Having a variable portion to be implemented to provide a haptic (haptic) device.

In order to solve the above problems, the first embodiment of the present invention, in the haptic device having a variable portion,

An electronic apparatus main body portion;

A touch panel unit including a vibration actuator provided in the electronic device body unit;

A variable part provided between the electronic device body part and the touch panel part to be flexibly changed by applying an electric signal; And

A control unit for detecting the presence of a touch input of the touch panel unit, and thereby controls the application of the electrical signal of the variable unit.

In addition, the second embodiment of the present invention, in the haptic device having a variable portion,

An electronic apparatus main body portion;

A touch panel unit including a vibration actuator provided in the electronic device body unit;

A variable part provided between the electronic device main body part and the touch panel part to expand or contract by applying an electrical signal to vary a separation distance between the electronic device main body part and the touch panel part; And

A control unit for detecting the presence of a touch input of the touch panel unit, and thereby controls the application of the electrical signal of the variable unit.

According to the haptic device having a variable portion according to the present invention as described above,

The flexible part is configured to be flexibly changed by applying an electric signal, and thus there is no application of an electric signal at all times, so the rigidity of the variable part is high to prevent breakage when the product falls. Flexibility is variable and rigidity is reduced, so that the touch panel unit and the main body of the electronic device can be spaced apart from each other, so that a strong feed pack and a wide frequency band can be driven on the touch surface of the touch panel unit, thereby realizing various haptic effects of the product. In addition, it is possible to provide a mechanically stable structure of the product.

Furthermore, the upper and lower surfaces of the variable part are provided with attachment surfaces for attaching the variable part between the electronic device main body part and the touch panel part to prevent the formation of gaps between the electronic device main body part and the touch panel part. There is an effect to further improve the mechanical reliability and airtightness of the product by preventing the.

In addition, when the electronic device is expanded or contracted by applying an electrical signal, the variable part configured to vary the separation distance between the main body part of the electronic device and the touch panel part to increase the rigidity of the variable part and the touch panel part and It is possible to further improve the mechanical reliability and airtightness of the product by narrowing the separation distance between the main body of the electronic device to prevent breakage when the product falls. In addition, when the touch panel unit is touched, the rigidity of the variable unit is lowered and the separation distance between the touch panel unit and the main body of the electronic device is widened, thereby providing a strong feed pack on the touched surface.

In addition, it is coupled to the side circumference of the touch panel portion to form a variable portion that is flexibly changed by the application of an electrical signal to combine the variable portion on the side circumference of the touch panel portion to reduce the thickness of the product, and further, the touch panel portion and the electronic device body portion It can be attached without gaps between them, thereby preventing foreign matter from penetrating the product, and preventing breakage when the product falls, further improving the mechanical reliability and airtightness of the product. Furthermore, when the touch panel is touched, the variable part is flexibly changed by applying an electrical signal and the rigidity is lowered so that the touch panel can be spaced vertically or horizontally so that a strong feed pack and a wide frequency band are applied to the touch surface of the touch panel. It can be driven, which makes it possible to further implement various haptic effects of the product.

1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional haptic device.
Figure 2 is a side view showing the operating state of a conventional haptic device.
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a haptic device having a variable portion according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a coupling state of the haptic device having a variable portion according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a touch panel unit is not touched during configuration of a haptic device having a variable unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a touch panel unit is touched in a configuration of a haptic device having a variable unit according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a graph showing simulation results of lowering the rigidity of the variable part of the haptic device having the variable part according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a simulation result graph of increasing the rigidity of the variable part of the configuration of the haptic device having a variable part according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an operating state of a haptic device having a variable unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
10 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the variable portion of the configuration of the haptic device having a variable portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a view showing another embodiment of the variable portion of the configuration of the haptic device having a variable portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a side cross-sectional view showing an operating state of the variable portion.
12 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of portion A of FIG.
FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a touch panel unit is not touched during configuration of a haptic device having a variable unit according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
14 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a touch panel unit is touched in a configuration of a haptic device having a variable unit according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the present invention, a detailed description of the configuration is omitted in order to avoid obscuring the gist of the present invention.

[First Embodiment]

3 and 4 are views showing the configuration of the haptic device 10 having a variable portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, the configuration of the haptic device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The haptic device 10 includes an electronic device main body 20, a touch panel unit 30 including a vibration actuator 31, a variable unit 40, and a controller 50. The touch panel unit 30 and the variable unit 40 may be provided on an upper surface of the electronic device main body 20. The touch panel unit 30 is provided on an upper surface of the electronic device main body 20 so as to be touched by a user's hand or a pen. The variable part 40 is provided on an upper surface of the electronic device main body 20 and a lower surface of the touch panel unit 30 so as to be flexibly changed by applying an electric signal. The controller 50 is configured to detect the presence or absence of a touch input of the touch panel unit 30 and control the application of the electrical signal to the variable unit 40 accordingly.

Here, the aforementioned electronic device main body 20 is made of a case of a mobile terminal, and the electronic device main body 20 is preferably made of a case of another terminal in addition to the case of the portable terminal. Phone, computer monitor, navigation, game machine, laptop, etc.) In addition, the vibration actuator 31 is composed of any one of a piezoelectric actuator (piezoelectricity) and a vibration motor, the vibration actuator 31 is a piezoelectric actuator (piezoelectricity) and vibration motor In addition to the vibration actuator 31 is also preferably made.

In addition, the variable part 40 is made of SPC (Switchable Compliant Plate; SCP), and the variable part 40 is preferably made of other variable parts 40 in addition to the SPC (Switchable Compliant Plate; SCP). . In addition, the material of the variable part 40 may be formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA), an electro-active polymer (EAP), or an electro-strict polymer (ESP). The material of the variable part 40 may include a shape memory alloy (SMA), an electro-active polymer (EAP), or an electro-strictive polymer; ESP) is preferably made of other materials.

Moreover, the reaction means of the variable portion 40 is made of any one of heat, light, electric field and magnetic field in addition to the electric signal, the reaction means of the variable portion 40 other reactions other than heat, light, electric field and magnetic fields It is also preferable to make it by means.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the electronic device main body is formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the variable part 40 to prevent gaps formed in the electronic device main body 20 and the touch panel unit 30. Attaching surfaces 41 and 42 are formed to be attached to an upper surface of the unit 20 and a lower surface of the touch panel unit 30, respectively. The variable portion 40 is formed with an insertion groove 43 to insert the electric actuator 41 of the touch panel portion 30, the variable portion 40 is preferably made of "□" shape. . The variable portion 40 may have a shape other than a “□” shape.

On the other hand, the haptic device 10 having the variable portion 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied to the electronic device body 20 as a representative application example. However, the haptic device 10 is not necessarily limited to the electronic device main body 20, and may be applied to various types of terminals including the haptic device 10.

Examples of the various types of terminals according to an embodiment of the present invention include MP3 players and PMPs, including all mobile communication terminals operating based on communication protocols corresponding to various communication systems. Includes all information and communication devices such as portable multimedia player, navigation, game consoles, notebooks, billboards, TVs, digital broadcasting players, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and smart phones, and applications thereof. can do.

In this state, the operation of the haptic device 10 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the variable part 40 may be configured as the touch panel part 30. It is attached to the lower edge surface. Two vibration actuators 31 are attached to the lower surface of the touch panel unit 30. In this state, the touch panel unit 30 is attached to the upper surface of the electronic device main body 20.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, when the touch panel unit 30 is not touched, the controller 50 does not apply an electrical signal to the variable unit 40 so that the variable unit 40 is not variable with flexibility. Do not. At this time, the variable portion 40 is increased in rigidity. The variable part 40 having increased rigidity connects the electronic device main body 20 and the touch panel unit 30 to one, and in this state, when the vibration actuator 31 is driven, the electronic device main body unit 20 and the touch panel unit 30 are driven together to vibrate the entire electronic device.

When the touch panel unit 30 is touched by a user's finger, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the controller 50 senses an external input, and the controller 50 transmits an electrical signal to the variable unit 40. At the same time as applying the variable portion 40 is variable in flexibility. In this case, the variable portion 40, which is variable by flexibility, has low rigidity, thereby causing an effect of floating the touch panel portion 30. In this state, when the touch panel unit 30 is touched using a user's finger, the controller 50 drives the vibration actuator 31, and the vibration actuator 31 is the variable unit 40. By virtue of flexibility, only the touch panel unit 30 is vibrated and a strong vibration feed pack is generated on the touch surface of the touch panel unit 30.

In this case, when the stiffness change is not large, the variable part 40 may change the stiffness little by little depending on whether an electric signal is applied or the electric strength. That is, the variable unit 40 may change the resonant frequency at which the vibration can be maximized by generating the effect of varying the frequency response in the touch panel unit 30 by controlling the variability of the flexibility and the rigidity. Can be.

7 and 8 are attached to the rim of the glass (not shown) and the bottom of the variable portion 40 is assumed to support the plastic portion (not shown), the variable portion 40 shows the results of the test of the stiffness of (40).

As shown in FIG. 7, when the rigidity of the variable portion 40 is lowered, the vibration force on the touch surface of the touch panel portion 30 is large and the resonance frequency is relatively low.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the rigidity of the variable part 40 is increased, the vibration force on the touch surface of the touch panel part 30 decreases, and the resonance frequency moves upward.

7 and 8 mentioned above are results of frequency response characteristics assuming that the stiffness of the variable unit 40 is low, 1 Ma, and high, 200 GPa.

As described above, the haptic device 10 may drive various resonance frequencies by changing the strength of the variable part 40.

9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of the haptic device 10 having the variable unit 40 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, first, the controller 50 determines whether the electronic device main body 20 is an incoming call, an alarm situation (S1), or a touch input situation (S1-1). The control unit 50 does not apply an electrical signal to the variable unit 40 in the case of an incoming call or an alarm situation S1, and the variable unit 40 maintains a normal state of high rigidity (S2). . Next, when the control unit 50 drives the vibration actuator 31 (S3), the electronic device main body 20 and the touch panel unit 30 vibrate together to vibrate as a whole.

As described above with reference to FIG. 9, in the case of the touch input situation S1-1, the controller 50 applies an electrical signal to the variable part 40 to activate it, and also makes the variable part 40 flexible. (S2-1) At this time, the variable portion 40 has the property of flexibility. In this state, only the touch panel unit 30 vibrates mainly by the variable unit 40 which is flexibly changed when the touch surface of the touch panel unit 30 is touched, so that a strong padback on the touch surface is generated. (S3)

10 to 12 are views showing another embodiment of the variable part 200.

As shown in FIG. 10, the variable part 200 is horizontally attached to the side circumference of the touch panel part 30, and the variable part 200 is attached to the side circumferential surface of the touch panel part 30. Since the attachment surface 201 is attached to the inner surface of the electronic device body 20 and the outer surface of the touch panel unit 30 on the circumferential surface of the variable unit 200, the variable unit ( 200 is attached to an outer surface of the touch panel unit 30 by the attachment surface 201. In this state, the touch panel unit 30 is inserted into and coupled to the coupling groove 21 formed in the electronic device main body 20. As such, since the touch panel unit 30 is coupled to the coupling groove 21 of the electronic device main body 20, the touch panel unit 30 and the electronic device main body 20 may be formed to have a thickness. I can make it slim. Since the attachment surface 201 is attached to the inner surface of the electronic device body 20 and the outer surface of the touch panel unit 30 on the circumferential surface of the variable unit 200, the variable unit ( 200 is attached to the inner surface of the electronic device body 20 by the attachment surface 201.

11, when not touching the touch panel unit 30, the controller 50 does not apply an electric signal to the variable unit 200. In this case, the variable part 200 has high rigidity, and thus the electronic device main body 20 and the touch panel part 30 are connected to one. In this state, when the vibration actuator 31 is driven, the electronic device main body 20 and the touch panel unit 30 are driven together to vibrate the entire electronic device.

When the touch panel unit 30 is touched by a user's finger, as shown in FIG. 12, the controller 50 senses an external input, and the controller 50 transmits an electrical signal to the variable unit 200. At the same time, the variable part 200 is variable in flexibility and low in rigidity. In this state, when the touch panel unit 30 is vertically touched using a user's finger, the controller 50 drives the vibration actuator 31. In this case, the variable part 200 having low rigidity transmits the vibration of the vibration actuator 31 to the touch panel unit 30 and also flexibly vibrates in the vertical direction. At this time, a strong vibration feed pack is generated on the touch surface of the touch panel unit 30.

In addition, as described above with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, when the variable unit 200 touches the touch panel unit 30 in a horizontal direction by using a user's finger, the controller 50 controls the vibration actuator ( 31). In this case, the variable part 200 having low rigidity transmits the vibration of the vibration actuator 31 to the touch panel unit 30 and vibrates flexibly in the left and right horizontal directions. At this time, a strong vibration feed pack is generated on the touch surface of the touch panel unit 30.

As described above, the touch panel unit 30 is coupled to the coupling groove 21 formed in the electronic device main body 20 in a state where the variable unit 200 is fitted to the side of the touch panel unit 30. In addition, the thickness of the product is slim, and in addition, the rigidity of the variable part 200 is usually high, and the rigidity is fixed to the touch panel part 30, thereby preventing foreign matters from penetrating the product. It can be prevented from being damaged when falling. In addition, when the touch panel unit 30 is touched, the surface of the touch panel unit 30 is touched by lowering the rigidity of the variable unit 200 by the application of the electrical signal of the controller 50 and having the flexibility. In addition to providing a strong feed pack, it is possible to drive a wide frequency band, thereby realizing a variety of haptic effects of the product.

[Second Embodiment]

13 and 14 are views illustrating a configuration of a haptic device having a variable unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

First, the configuration of the haptic device will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. The haptic device includes an electronic device main body 20, a touch panel unit 30 including a vibrating actuator 31, a variable unit 100, and a controller 50. The touch panel unit 30 and the variable unit 100 may be provided on an upper surface of the electronic device main body 20. The touch panel unit 30 is provided on an upper surface of the electronic device main body 20 so as to be touched by a user's hand or a pen. The variable unit 100 is expanded or contracted by an electrical signal to change the separation distance L1 between the electronic device main body 20 and the touch panel unit 30. ) Is provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of the touch panel unit 30. The controller 50 detects the presence or absence of a touch input of the touch panel unit 30, and accordingly controls the application of an electrical signal to the variable unit 100.

Here, the aforementioned electronic device main body 20 is made of a case of a mobile terminal, and the electronic device main body 20 is preferably made of a case of another terminal in addition to the case of the portable terminal. Phones, computer monitors, navigation, game consoles and laptops)

In addition, the vibration actuator 31 is made of any one of a piezoelectric actuator (piezoelectricity) and a vibration motor, the vibration actuator 31 is preferably made of a vibration actuator 31 other than the piezoelectric actuator (piezoelectricity) and the vibration motor. .

In addition, the variable part 100 is made of SCP (Switchable Compliant Plate; SCP), and the variable part 100 is preferably made of other variable parts (100) in addition to the SCP (Switchable Compliant Plate; SCP). . In addition, the material of the variable part 100 may be formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA), an electro-active polymer (EAP), or an electro-strict polymer (ESP). The material of the variable part 100 may include a shape memory alloy (SMA), an electro-active polymer (EAP), or an electro-strictive polymer; ESP) is preferably made of other materials. Furthermore, the reaction means of the variable part 100 is made of any one of heat, light, electric field and magnetic field in addition to the electric signal, and the reaction means of the variable part 100 reacts other than heat, light, electric field and magnetic fields. It is also preferable to make it by means.

13 and 14, the variable portion 100 is preferably formed with an insertion groove 101 for inserting the electric actuator 31 of the touch panel unit 30.

In this state, the operation of the haptic device will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 described above. First, as shown in FIG. 13, the variable unit 100 may be configured as the touch panel unit 30. It is attached to the lower edge surface. Two vibration actuators 31 are attached to the lower surface of the touch panel unit 30. In this state, the touch panel unit 30 is attached to the upper surface of the electronic device main body 20. The variable part 100 is formed with an insertion groove 101 through which the electric actuator 31 of the touch panel part 30 is inserted, thereby attaching the variable part 100 to the touch panel part and simultaneously touching the touch part. The vibration actuator 31 of the panel unit 30 is inserted into the insertion groove 101. The vibration actuator 31 is vibrated in the insertion groove 101.

Here, as shown in FIG. 13, when the touch panel unit 30 is not touched, the controller 50 is contracted by not applying an electrical signal to the variable unit 100 and the variable unit 100 is rigid. Is higher. In this case, the contracted variable part 100 forms a narrow separation distance L1 between the electronic device main body 20 and the touch panel unit 30. That is, the contracted variable part 100 forms a narrow distance L1 between the electronic device main body 20 and the touch panel unit 30 and narrows the electronic device main body 20 and the electronic device main body 20. When the touch panel unit 30 is connected as one and the vibration actuator 31 is driven in this state, the electronic device main body 20 and the touch panel unit 30 are driven together to form the entire electronic device. Will vibrate.

When the touch panel unit 30 is touched by a user's finger, as described above with reference to FIG. 14, the controller 50 senses an external input, and the controller 50 controls the variable unit 100. At the same time as applying an electrical signal to the variable portion 100 is expanded and stretched. In this case, the expanded variable portion 100 forms a large distance L2 between the electronic device main body 20 and the touch panel unit 30, and at the same time, the variable portion 100 has low rigidity. . In this state, when the touch panel unit 30 is touched using a user's finger, the controller 50 drives the vibration actuator 31. The vibration actuator 31 vibrates only the touch panel unit 30 by the expanded variable unit 100 and generates a strong vibration feed pack on the touch surface of the touch panel unit 30.

As described above, when the stiffness change is not large, the variable part 100 may change the stiffness little by little depending on whether the electrical signal is applied or the intensity. That is, the variable unit 100 may change the separation distance L1 and L2 between the electronic device main body 20 and the touch panel unit 30. This may cause an effect of varying the frequency response of the touch panel unit 30 to change the resonance frequency at which the vibration can be maximized.

The variable unit 100 is expanded or contracted by the application of the electrical signal of the controller 50 to vary the separation distance L1 and L2 between the electronic device body 20 and the touch panel unit 30. In this configuration, when the touch panel unit 30 is not normally touched, the electrical signal of the controller 50 is not applied to the variable unit 100, so that the variable unit 100 is contracted and rigidity is increased. The separation distance between the touch panel unit 30 and the electronic device main body 20 is narrowed. This prevents breakage during product drop, further improving the mechanical reliability and airtightness of the product.

In addition, when the touch panel unit 30 is touched, an electrical signal of the controller 50 is applied to the variable unit 100 to expand and lower the stiffness of the variable unit 100. The distance between the touch panel unit 30 and the electronic device main body 20 can be increased to give a strong feed pack to the touch surface.

The haptic device provided with the variable part of the present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and drawings, and various substitutions, modifications, and changes are possible within the technical scope of the present invention. It will be clear to those of ordinary knowledge.

Electronic device body: 20 Touch panel: 30
Variable part: 40, 100, 200 Control part: 50
Vibration Actuator: 31

Claims (19)

In the haptic device having a variable portion,
An electronic apparatus main body portion;
A touch panel unit including a vibration actuator provided in the electronic device body unit;
A variable part provided between the electronic device body part and the touch panel part to be flexibly changed by applying an electric signal; And
And a control unit for sensing the touch input of the touch panel unit and controlling the application of the electrical signal according to the variable unit.
The haptic device of claim 1, wherein the main body of the electronic device is a case of a portable terminal.
The haptic device of claim 1, wherein the vibration actuator comprises one of a piezoelectric actuator and a vibration motor.
The haptic device of claim 1, wherein the variable part is made of a switchable compliant plate (SCP).

The method of claim 1, wherein the material of the variable part is selected from a shape memory alloy (SMA), an electro-active polymer (EAP), or an electro-strictive polymer (ESP). Haptic device having a variable portion, characterized in that made of any one.
The haptic device of claim 1, wherein the reaction unit of the variable unit is formed of any one of heat, light, electric field, and magnetic field in addition to the electric signal.
The haptic device of claim 1, wherein an upper and lower surfaces of the variable unit are attached to upper and lower surfaces of the main body of the electronic device and attached to the lower surface of the touch panel unit.
The haptic device of claim 1, wherein an insertion groove is formed in the variable portion to insert an electric actuator of the touch panel unit.
The haptic device of claim 1, wherein the variable part is formed in a “□” shape.
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller does not apply an electrical signal to the variable part when the touch panel part is not touched, thereby increasing the rigidity of the variable part, and when the vibration actuator is driven, the whole of the electronic device vibrates. Make it work,
When the touch panel part is touched, an electrical signal is applied to the variable part, and the variable part is changed to flexibility and low in rigidity. When the vibration actuator is driven, only the touch panel part vibrates to touch the touch panel part. Haptic device having a variable portion characterized in that for generating a strong vibration feed pack on the surface.
The variable part of claim 1, wherein the variable part is coupled to a side circumference of the touch panel part, and is variable in flexibility according to application of an electrical signal of the control part, and vibrates the touch panel part in a vertical or horizontal direction. Haptic device provided.
The haptic device of claim 11, wherein an attaching surface is attached to an inner surface of the main body of the electronic device and an outer surface of the touch panel, respectively.
The haptic device of claim 11, wherein a coupling groove coupled to the variable part is formed in the electronic device body part.
In the haptic device having a variable portion,
An electronic apparatus main body portion;
A touch panel unit including a vibration actuator provided in the electronic device body unit;
A variable part provided between the electronic device main body part and the touch panel part to expand or contract by applying an electrical signal to vary a separation distance between the electronic device main body part and the touch panel part; And
And a control unit for sensing the touch input of the touch panel unit and controlling the application of the electrical signal according to the variable unit.
15. The haptic device of claim 14, wherein the variable part is made of a switchable compliant plate (SCP).
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the material of the variable portion of the shape memory alloy (Shape Memory Alloy (SMA), Electro-Active Polymer (EAP) or Electro-Strictive Polymer (ESP) Haptic device having a variable portion, characterized in that made of any one.
15. The haptic device according to claim 14, wherein the reaction means of the variable part comprises one of heat, light, electric field, and magnetic field in addition to the electric signal.
15. The haptic device according to claim 14, wherein an insertion groove is formed in the variable portion to insert an electric actuator of the touch panel portion.
The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to narrow the separation distance between the electronic device body part and the touch panel part by not applying an electrical signal to the variable part when the touch panel part is not touched. In addition, the rigidity of the variable portion is increased, and when the vibration actuator is driven, the entire electronic device is vibrated,
When the touch panel is touched, an electrical signal is applied to the variable part to be expanded, thereby widening a separation distance between the main body part of the electronic device and the touch panel part, and lowering the rigidity of the variable part. The vibration actuator When driving, the haptic device having a variable portion, characterized in that for generating only a strong vibration feed pack on the touch surface of the touch panel unit by vibrating.

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