WO2016006400A1

WO2016006400A1 - Input device and electronic machine

Info

Publication number: WO2016006400A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/067427
Authority: WO
Inventors: 拓生羽田; 藤本　克己
Original assignee: 株式会社村田製作所
Priority date: 2014-07-11
Filing date: 2015-06-17
Publication date: 2016-01-14
Also published as: JP6245368B2; JPWO2016006400A1

Abstract

A member (2) for input has a plurality of projections provided along a straight line or a curved line. A first vibration sensor (4) and/or a second vibration sensor (5) detect vibrations that occur when a user's finger touches the plurality of projections and are transmitted through members in an electronic machine. A signal processing circuit (6) determines, on the basis of the output of the first vibration sensor (4) and/or the second vibration sensor (5), whether the user's finger swept in a first direction in a straight line or in a curved line, or whether the user's finger swept in a second direction opposite the first direction in a straight line or in a curved line.

Description

Input device and electronic device

The present invention relates to an input device and an electronic device, and more particularly to an input device and an electronic device that accept an input operation with a user's finger.

Conventionally, a touch panel is known as an input device that accepts an input operation by a user's finger in an electronic device.

For example, Japanese Patent No. 4610416 (Patent Document 1) describes a capacitive touch panel.

Also, Japanese Patent No. 5204286 (Patent Document 2) describes an electronic device including an acceleration sensor for detecting a touch impact level in addition to a touch panel.

Japanese Patent No. 4610416 Japanese Patent No. 5204286

However, when the user performs an input operation with the finger on the touch panels described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the touch panel is soiled, which makes it difficult to see the display screen under the touch panel.

Furthermore, in the touch panel described in Patent Document 2, the degree of touch impact can be detected by an acceleration sensor, but after touch impact, the touch panel is used to determine whether or not the display is touched like a finger. It is. Therefore, only the acceleration sensor cannot accept a screen scroll operation by the user.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can accept a scroll operation by a user and that is not easily soiled by the touch of a user's finger, and an electronic apparatus including such an input device.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an input device mounted on an electronic device, and includes an input member having a plurality of protrusions provided along a straight line or a curve, and a plurality of protrusions. Based on the output of at least one vibration sensor that is generated when the user's finger comes into contact and is transmitted through a member of the electronic device, and the output of the at least one vibration sensor, the user's finger is aligned or curved. And a signal processing circuit for determining whether the user's finger has been swept in a second direction opposite to the first direction on a straight line or a curve.

Preferably, the input device includes a first vibration sensor and a second vibration sensor as at least one vibration sensor. The phase of the output of the first vibration sensor is opposite to the phase of the output of the second vibration sensor. The signal processing circuit determines that the user's finger has been swept in the first direction when the output of the first vibration sensor first rises and the output of the second vibration sensor first falls, and the first When the output of the first vibration sensor falls first and the output of the second vibration sensor first rises, it is determined that the user's finger has been swept in the second direction.

Preferably, the input device includes a first vibration sensor and a second vibration sensor as at least one vibration sensor. The distance between the first vibration sensor and one end on the straight line or the curve is shorter than the distance between the second vibration sensor and one end, and the distance between the first vibration sensor and the other end on the straight line or the curve is The first vibration sensor and the second vibration sensor are disposed at a position that is longer than the distance between the second vibration sensor and the other end. The signal processing circuit is configured such that the user's finger moves in the first direction based on a temporal change in the relationship between the peak time of the output of the first vibration sensor and the peak time of the output of the second vibration sensor. It is determined whether it has been swept or swept in the second direction.

Preferably, the signal processing circuit has a sweep speed of the user's finger based on a time interval between a plurality of peaks of the output of the first vibration sensor or a time interval between a plurality of peaks of the output of the second vibration sensor. Is calculated.

Preferably, the input device includes one vibration sensor as at least one vibration sensor. The distance between the protrusion and the vibration sensor increases or decreases in accordance with the order of arrangement of the plurality of protrusions. The signal processing circuit determines whether the user's finger has been swept in the first direction or in the second direction based on whether the amplitude of the peak of the output of the vibration sensor increases or decreases. To do.

Preferably, the input device includes one vibration sensor as at least one vibration sensor. The protrusion is formed in a staircase shape in which the side near one end on a straight line or a curve is high and the side near the other end on the straight line or the curve is low, and the direction from one end to the other end is the first direction. . The signal processing circuit determines that the user's finger has been swept in the second direction when there is one whose peak time interval of the output of the vibration sensor is within a predetermined time.

Preferably, the input device includes one vibration sensor as at least one vibration sensor. The interval between the edges near the one end on the straight line or the curve in the plurality of protrusions is different from the interval between the edges near the other end on the straight line or the curve in the plurality of protrusions. Whether the signal processing circuit has swept the user's finger in the first direction or in the second direction based on whether the time interval between the peaks of the vibration sensor output is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. Determine.

Preferably, the signal processing circuit calculates the sweep speed of the user's finger based on a time interval between a plurality of peaks of the output of the vibration sensor.

The present invention is an input device mounted on an electronic apparatus, and includes an input member having a plurality of protrusions provided along a straight line or a curved line, and a user's finger contacting the plurality of protrusions. At least one vibration sensor that detects vibrations that are generated and transmitted through a member of the electronic device, and a signal processing circuit that calculates a sweep speed of the user's finger based on the output of the at least one vibration sensor.

Preferably, the input device includes a first vibration sensor and a second vibration sensor as at least one vibration sensor. The signal processing circuit calculates the sweep speed of the user's finger based on the time interval between the plurality of peaks of the output of the first vibration sensor or the time interval between the plurality of peaks of the output of the second vibration sensor. .

Preferably, the input device includes one vibration sensor as at least one vibration sensor. The signal processing circuit calculates the sweep speed of the user's finger based on the time interval between the peaks of the vibration sensor output.

The present invention is an electronic apparatus including the above-described input device, and the plurality of protrusions of the input member are not arranged on the surface of the display unit included in the electronic apparatus.

The input device of the present invention can accept a scroll operation by the user and is not soiled by the touch of the user's finger.

It is a figure showing the structure of the input device of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure showing the external appearance of the member for input. It is a figure showing a board | substrate. It is a figure showing the external appearance of the electronic device by which an input device is mounted. (A) is the figure which looked at the projection part of a 1st embodiment from the Z direction. (B) is the figure which looked at the projection part of a 1st embodiment from the Y direction. (A) is a figure showing a load. (B) is a simulation result of the transient response of the displacement amount in the Z-axis direction of the first vibration sensor and the second vibration sensor when the load shown in (a) is applied in the −X direction of the side surface of the substrate. FIG. (A) is a figure showing the output voltage of a 1st vibration sensor and the output voltage of a 2nd vibration sensor when a finger | toe is swept from the top to the bottom (X direction) with respect to a projection part. . (B) is a diagram showing the output voltage of the first vibration sensor and the output voltage of the second vibration sensor when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion. is there. It is a flowchart showing the procedure of determination of the sweep direction of a user's finger | toe with respect to a projection part, and calculation of sweep speed by 1st Embodiment. (A) is the peak time of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor and the peak of the output voltage of the second vibration sensor when the finger is swept from the top to the bottom (in the X direction) with respect to the protrusion. FIG. (B) shows the peak time of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor and the output voltage of the second vibration sensor when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion. It is a figure showing a peak time typically. It is a flowchart showing the procedure of determination of the sweep direction of a user's finger | toe with respect to a projection part, and calculation of sweep speed by 2nd Embodiment. (A) is a figure which represents typically the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of a 1st vibration sensor when a finger | toe is swept with respect to a projection part from the top to the bottom (X direction). (b) is a diagram schematically showing the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion. It is a flowchart showing the procedure of determination of the sweep direction of a user's finger | toe with respect to a projection part, and calculation of sweep speed by 3rd Embodiment. (A) is a figure showing typically the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the 2nd vibration sensor when a finger is swept from the upper part to the lower part (X direction) to the projection part. (B) is a diagram schematically showing the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the second vibration sensor when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion. It is a figure showing the projection part of 4th Embodiment. (A) is a figure which represents typically the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of a 1st vibration sensor when a finger | toe is swept with respect to a projection part from the top to the bottom (X direction). (B) is a diagram schematically showing the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion. It is a flowchart showing the procedure of determination of the sweep direction of a user's finger | toe with respect to a projection part, and calculation of sweep speed by 4th Embodiment. (A) is the figure which looked at the projection part of a 5th embodiment from the Z direction. (B) is the figure which looked at the projection part of 5th Embodiment from the Y direction. (A) is a figure which represents typically the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of a 1st vibration sensor when a finger | toe is swept with respect to a projection part from the top to the bottom (X direction). (B) is a diagram schematically showing the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion. It is a flowchart showing the procedure of determination of the sweep direction of a user's finger | toe with respect to a projection part, and calculation of sweep speed by 5th Embodiment. (A) is the figure which looked at the projection part of the modification of 5th Embodiment from the Z direction. (B) is the figure which looked at the projection part of the modification of 5th Embodiment from the Y direction.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the input device according to the first embodiment.

The input device 1 includes an input member 2 and a substrate 3. A first vibration sensor 4, a second vibration sensor 5, and a signal processing circuit 6 are mounted on the substrate 3. The signal processing circuit 6 includes a sweep direction determination circuit 7 and a sweep speed calculation circuit 8.

The first vibration sensor 4 and the second vibration sensor 5 are composed of acceleration sensors, and detect vibrations at the arranged positions.

The sweep direction determination circuit 7 determines the sweep direction of the user's finger with respect to the protrusion 9.
The sweep speed calculation circuit 8 calculates the sweep speed of the user's finger with respect to the protrusion 9.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of the input member 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the substrate 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an electronic device in which the input device 1 is mounted. 3 and 4 show the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis. Hereinafter, the position where the coordinate value in the X-axis direction is large is referred to as the lower side, and the position where the coordinate value in the X-axis direction is small is referred to as the upper side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the input member 2 includes a protruding portion 9 including a plurality of protruding portions 9-1 to 9-N.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first vibration sensor 4 is disposed on the substrate 3 at a special position on the upper side of the watch-type electronic device. The second vibration sensor 5 is disposed on the substrate 3 at a special position below the watch-type electronic device. The first vibration sensor 4 and the second vibration sensor 5 detect vibration in the Z-axis direction. Unlike the touch panel, the protrusion 9 included in the input member 2 is not arranged on the surface of the display 51 (display unit) of the electronic device.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first vibration sensor 4 and the signal processing circuit 6 are connected by a wiring 61. The second vibration sensor 5 and the signal processing circuit 6 are connected by a wiring 62.

As shown in FIG. 3, the substrate 3 is attached to a member of an electronic device by passing a pin (not shown) through the pin holes 10 and 11.

The input member 2 is attached to an electronic device. When the user touches the protrusion 9 of the input member 2, the vibration of the protrusions 9-1 to 9-N is transmitted to the substrate 3 through the members constituting the electronic device, and the first vibration sensor 4 and the second vibration are transmitted. The sensor 5 detects the vibration at the arranged position.

FIG. 5A is a diagram of the protrusion 9 according to the first embodiment viewed from the Z direction. FIG. 5B is a diagram of the protrusion 9 according to the first embodiment viewed from the Y direction.

All the protrusions 9-1 to 9-N have the same shape. Each protrusion 9-i is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped whose length in the X direction and the Z direction is w and whose length in the Y direction is u.

The protrusions 9-1 to 9-N are arranged on a straight line L. A protrusion 9-1 is disposed closer to one end point EN1 of the straight line L, and a protrusion 9-N is disposed closer to the other end point EN2 of the straight line L. The end point EN1 is at a position where the coordinate value in the X-axis direction is small (upper side), and the end point EN2 is at a position where the coordinate value in the X-axis direction is large (lower side). The interval between adjacent protrusions is D. The plurality of protrusions may be arranged on a straight line as in the present embodiment, or may be arranged on a curve. Even when a plurality of protrusions are arranged on the curve, the protrusion 9-1 is arranged closer to one end point EN1 on the curve, and the protrusion 9-N is arranged closer to the other end point EN2 on the curve. Is done. Also in this case, the end point EN1 is at a position where the coordinate value in the X-axis direction is small (upper side), and the end point EN2 is at a position where the coordinate value in the X-axis direction is large (lower side).

Next, how the load applied to the substrate 3 is transmitted at a special position where the first vibration sensor 4 is placed and a special position where the second vibration sensor 5 is placed will be described.

FIG. 6A shows a load. FIG. 6B shows the displacement of the first vibration sensor 4 and the second vibration sensor 5 in the Z-axis direction when the load shown in FIG. 6A is applied in the −X direction of the side surface of the substrate 3. It is a figure showing the simulation result of the quantity transient response.

As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the displacement vibration of the first vibration sensor 4 and the displacement vibration of the second vibration sensor 5 in the Z-axis direction are in opposite phases.

If the positions of the first vibration sensor 4 and the second vibration sensor 5 are shifted, the above displacements are not in opposite phases. That is, in the present embodiment, the first vibration sensor 4 and the second vibration sensor 4 are in special positions such that the output of the first vibration sensor 4 and the output of the second second vibration sensor 5 are out of phase with each other. The vibration sensor 5 is arranged.

The first vibration sensor 4 and the second vibration are positioned so that the vibration of the displacement of the first vibration sensor 4 in the Z-axis direction and the vibration of the displacement of the second vibration sensor 5 in the Z-axis direction are in phase. The sensor 5 is arranged, and the first vibration sensor 4 and the second vibration sensor 5 are electrically connected so that the output of the first vibration sensor 4 and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 are in opposite phases. It may be connected.

FIG. 7A illustrates the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 and the output voltage of the second vibration sensor 5 when the finger is swept from the top to the bottom (in the X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. FIG. FIG. 7A shows a result in a period in which the user's finger is in contact with the three protrusions.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the noise component is removed, first, the output of the first vibration sensor 4 rises and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 falls. Thereafter, each output attenuates while vibrating.

Therefore, first, when the output of the first vibration sensor 4 rises and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 falls, the user's finger is in contact with the protrusion 9 and from top to bottom (X It can be determined that it has been swept (in the direction).

In an environment where noise exists, it can be determined as follows whether the output of the first vibration sensor 4 first rises and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 falls.

The first peak P1 in which the absolute value of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value THU and the first peak P2 in which the absolute value of the output of the second vibration sensor 5 becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value THU at regular intervals. And detect. When the first peak P1 of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 has a positive value and the first peak P2 of the output of the second vibration sensor 5 has a negative value, first, the first vibration sensor 4 It can be determined that the output rises and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 falls.

FIG. 7B shows the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 and the output voltage of the second vibration sensor 5 when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. FIG. FIG. 7B shows a result in a period in which the user's finger is in contact with the three protrusions, as in FIG. 7A.

As shown in FIG. 7B, when the noise component is removed, first, the output of the first vibration sensor 4 falls and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 rises. Thereafter, each output attenuates while vibrating.

Therefore, first, when the output of the first vibration sensor 4 falls and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 rises, the user's finger is in contact with the protrusion 9 and from the bottom to the top (− It can be determined that it has been swept (in the X direction).

In an environment where noise exists, it can be first determined whether the output of the first vibration sensor 4 has fallen and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 has risen.

The first peak P1 at which the absolute value of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 becomes greater than or equal to the predetermined value THU and the first peak P2 at which the absolute value of the output of the second vibration sensor 5 becomes greater than or equal to the predetermined value TUH at regular intervals. And detect. When the first peak P1 of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 is a negative value and the first peak P2 of the output of the second vibration sensor 5 is a positive value, first, the first vibration sensor 4 It can be determined that the output has fallen and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 has risen.

Note that the above-described rising / falling relationship is merely an example, and rising / falling may be reversed depending on how the substrate 3 is fixed. That is, when the finger is swept from the top to the bottom (in the X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9, the output of the first vibration sensor 4 first falls and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 When the finger rises and sweeps the finger from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction), the output of the first vibration sensor 4 first falls and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 May stand up.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining the sweep direction of the user's finger with respect to the protrusion 9 and calculating the sweep speed according to the first embodiment.

In step S101, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 detects a peak at which the amplitude (absolute value) of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 first becomes a predetermined value or more at regular intervals, and detects the detected peak value V1 and The peak time t1 is acquired.

In step S102, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 detects a peak at which the amplitude (absolute value) of the output of the second vibration sensor 5 first becomes a predetermined value or more at regular intervals, and detects the detected peak value V2 and The peak time t2 is acquired.

In step S103, when V1> 0 and V2 <0, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 advances the process to step S104.

In step S104, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 determines that the output of the first vibration sensor 4 rises and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 falls, and based on the determination, the user's finger is a protrusion. 9 is determined to have been swept in the X direction while in contact with 9.

In step S105, when V1 <0 and V2> 0, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 advances the process to step S106.

In step S106, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 determines that the output of the first vibration sensor 4 falls and the output of the second vibration sensor 5 rises, and based on the determination, the user's finger is a protrusion. It is determined that the signal was swept in the −X direction while touching 9.

In step S107, the sweep speed calculation circuit 8 calculates an average value of time intervals between times t1 of a plurality of peaks of the output of the first vibration sensor 4. The sweep speed calculation circuit 8 calculates the sweep speed of the user's finger by dividing the calculated average value by the interval D between adjacent protrusions.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user's finger is swept from the top to the bottom or swept from the bottom to the top using the difference in phase between the outputs of the two vibration sensors. Can be determined. Thereby, the scroll operation by the user can be received. Also, unlike a member such as a touch panel, the protrusion is not easily soiled by the touch of the user's finger and cannot be attached to the surface of the display unit of the electronic device like the touch panel, so that the screen of the display unit is difficult to see due to the dirt. Nor.

Also, based on the determined sweep direction of the user's finger, the date and time change direction of the clock-type electronic device can be switched (scroll processing is possible). The date and time change speed of the clock-type electronic device can be switched according to the calculated sweep speed of the user's finger.

[Modification of First Embodiment]
The sweep direction determination circuit 7 calculates an average value of time intervals between times t2 of a plurality of peaks of the output of the second vibration sensor 5, and divides the calculated average value by an interval D between adjacent protrusions. Thus, the sweep speed of the user's finger may be calculated.

[Second Embodiment]
The input device 1 according to the present embodiment also includes first and second vibration sensors. In the present embodiment, the sweep direction of the user's finger is detected based on a change in the peak amplitude of the output of the first vibration sensor 4. The first vibration sensor 4 is disposed closest to the protrusion 9-1 among the protrusions 9-1 to 9-N. The second vibration sensor 5 is disposed closest to the protrusion 9-N among the protrusions 9-1 to 9-N.

In the present embodiment, the sweep direction of the user's finger is detected based on the change in the relationship between the peak times of the outputs of the first vibration sensor 4 and the second vibration sensor 5.

FIG. 9A shows the peak time of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 and the second vibration sensor 5 when the finger is swept from the top to the bottom (in the X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. It is a figure showing typically the time of the peak of the output voltage.

As shown in FIG. 9A, at first, the peak time of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 is earlier than the peak time of the output voltage of the second vibration sensor 5, and the time difference gradually decreases. After that, the time of the peak of the output voltage of the second vibration sensor 5 becomes earlier than the time of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4, and the time difference gradually increases. This is because the protrusion 9-1 is closer to the first vibration sensor 4 than the second vibration sensor 5, and the protrusion 9-N is closer to the second vibration sensor 5 than the first vibration sensor 4. is there.

FIG. 9B shows the peak time of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 and the second vibration sensor when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a peak time of an output voltage of 5. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9B, at the beginning, the peak time of the output voltage of the second vibration sensor 5 is earlier than the peak time of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4, and the time difference gradually decreases. After that, the time of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 becomes earlier than the time of the peak of the output voltage of the second vibration sensor 5, and the time difference gradually increases. This is because the protrusion 9-1 is closer to the first vibration sensor 4 than the second vibration sensor 5, and the protrusion 9-N is closer to the second vibration sensor 5 than the first vibration sensor 4. is there.

In this embodiment, the sweep direction of the user's finger is determined by using the above feature.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining the sweep direction of the user's finger with respect to the protrusion 9 and calculating the sweep speed according to the second embodiment.

In step S201, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 detects a peak at which the amplitude of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the detected peak times t1 (1), t1 (2), t1 (3 ) ...

In step S202, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 detects a peak at which the amplitude of the output of the second vibration sensor 5 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the detected peak times t2 (1), t2 (2), t2 (3 ) ...

In step S203, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 sets t1 (i) <t2 (i) when i <M for a certain M, and t1 (i)> t2 (i) when i> M. If is established, the process proceeds to step S204. That is, when i is small, the peak time of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 is earlier than the peak time of the output of the second vibration sensor 5, and when i is large, the output of the first vibration sensor 4 is When the peak time becomes later than the peak time of the output of the second vibration sensor 5, the process proceeds to step S204.

In step S204, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 determines that the user's finger has been swept in the X direction while contacting the protrusion 9.

In step S205, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 sets t1 (i)> t2 (i) when i <M for a certain M, and t1 (i) <t2 (i) when i> M. If is established, the process proceeds to step S206. That is, when i is small, the peak time of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 is later than the peak time of the output of the second vibration sensor 5, and when i is large, the output of the first vibration sensor 4 is When the peak time becomes earlier than the peak time of the output of the second vibration sensor 5, the process proceeds to step S206.

In step S206, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 determines that the user's finger has been swept in the −X direction while contacting the protrusion 9.

In step S207, the sweep speed calculation circuit 8 calculates the average value of the time intervals between times t1 (1), t1 (2), t1 (3)... Of the plurality of peaks of the output of the first vibration sensor 4. Is calculated. The sweep speed calculation circuit 8 calculates the sweep speed of the user's finger by dividing the calculated average value by the interval D between adjacent protrusions.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user's finger is swept from the top to the bottom or swept from the bottom to the top with respect to the protrusion using the front and rear relationship between the outputs of the two vibration sensors. Can be determined.

[Modification of Second Embodiment]
The sweep direction determination circuit 7 calculates an average value of time intervals between times t2 (1), t2 (2), t2 (3)... Of a plurality of peaks of the output of the second vibration sensor 5. The sweep speed of the user's finger is calculated by dividing the calculated average value by the interval D between adjacent protrusions.

[Third Embodiment]
The input device 1 of the present embodiment does not include the first and second vibration sensors but includes only the first vibration sensor 4. In the present embodiment, the sweep direction of the user's finger is detected based on a change in the peak amplitude of the output of the first vibration sensor 4. The first vibration sensor 4 is disposed closest to the protrusion 9-1 among the protrusions 9-1 to 9-N, and the distance between the protrusions 9-1, 9-2,. Becomes larger.

FIG. 11A schematically shows the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 when the finger is swept from the top to the bottom (in the X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. is there.

As shown in FIG. 11 (a), the peak amplitude of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 decreases with time.

FIG. 11B schematically shows the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. It is.

As shown in FIG. 11 (b), the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 increases with time.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining the sweep direction of the user's finger with respect to the protrusion 9 and calculating the sweep speed according to the third embodiment.

In step S301, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 detects a peak at which the amplitude of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the detected peak values V (1), V (2), V1 (3 ... And peak times t1 (1), t1 (2), t1 (3).

In step S302, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 advances the process to step S303 when V (i) decreases as i increases.

In step S303, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 determines that the user's finger has been swept in the X direction while contacting the protrusion 9.

In step S304, when V (i) increases as i increases, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 advances the process to step S305.

In step S305, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 determines that the user's finger has been swept in the −X direction while contacting the protrusion 9.

In step S306, the sweep speed calculation circuit 8 calculates the average value of the time intervals between times t1 (1), t1 (2), t1 (3)... Of the plurality of peaks of the output of the first vibration sensor 4. Is calculated. The sweep speed calculation circuit 8 calculates the sweep speed of the user's finger by dividing the calculated average value by the interval D between adjacent protrusions.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user's finger is swept from the top to the bottom with respect to the protrusion using the time change of the amplitude of the output of one vibration sensor, or from the bottom to the top. It can be determined whether it has been swept.

[Modification of Third Embodiment]
FIG. 13A schematically shows the peak amplitude of the output voltage of the second vibration sensor 5 when the finger is swept from the top to the bottom (in the X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. is there.

As shown in FIG. 13 (a), the peak amplitude of the output voltage of the second vibration sensor 5 increases with time.

FIG. 13B schematically shows the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the second vibration sensor 5 when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. It is.

As shown in FIG. 13B, the peak amplitude of the output voltage of the second vibration sensor 5 decreases with time.

By utilizing the above characteristics, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 allows the user's finger to move the protrusion 9 when the peak value V (i) of the output of the second vibration sensor 5 decreases as i increases. It is determined that it has been swept in the −X direction while being in contact with it, and if it increases as i increases, it is determined that the user's finger has been swept in the X direction while being in contact with the protrusion 9.

Further, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 calculates an average value of time intervals between times t2 (1), t2 (2), t2 (3)... Of the plurality of peaks of the output of the second vibration sensor 5. Then, the sweep speed of the user's finger is calculated by dividing the calculated average value by the interval D between the adjacent protrusions.

The position of the first vibration sensor 4 may be anywhere as long as the peak amplitude increases or decreases due to the sweep of the user's finger. Therefore, the first vibration sensor 4 is arranged at a position other than a position (for example, a central position on the substrate) where the amplitude of the peak increases for a certain period and decreases for another period by the sweep of the user's finger. The

[Fourth Embodiment]
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the shape of the protrusions. Further, the input device 1 according to the present embodiment does not include the first and second vibration sensors but includes only the first vibration sensor 4. For example, the first vibration sensor 4 is arranged at the same position as in the first embodiment, but may be at an arbitrary position on the substrate 3.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of the protrusion 9 according to the fourth embodiment viewed from the Z direction.
The protrusions 9-1 to 9-N are arranged on a straight line L. A protrusion 9-1 is disposed closer to one end point EN1 of the straight line L, and a protrusion 9-N is disposed closer to the other end point EN2 of the straight line L. The end point EN1 is at a position where the coordinate value in the X-axis direction is small (upper side), and the end point EN2 is at a position where the coordinate value in the X-axis direction is large (lower side).

The protrusion 9-i is formed in a stepped shape that is high on the side close to the end point EN1 (height d1) and low on the side close to the end point EN2 (height d2). That is, the protrusion 9-i is composed of two rectangular parallelepipeds. The upper rectangular parallelepiped has, for example, a length d1 in the Y direction, a length u in the Z direction, and a length w1 in the X direction. The lower rectangular parallelepiped has a length in the Y direction of d2, a length in the Z direction of u, and a length in the X direction of w2. Here, d1> d2 and w1> w2.

Since d1> d2, when the user's finger is swept down from the top (X direction), the user's finger contacts only the surface of the upper rectangular parallelepiped with respect to one protrusion. When the user's finger is swept upward from the bottom (-X direction), the user's finger contacts only the surface of the upper rectangular parallelepiped with respect to one protrusion, and the surface of the lower rectangular parallelepiped and the upper side May come into contact with the surface.

FIG. 15A is a diagram schematically showing the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 when the finger is swept from top to bottom (in the X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. is there.

As shown in FIG. 15A, the time intervals E1, E2, E3, and E3 of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 all exceed a predetermined value TH1.

FIG. 15B schematically shows the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. It is.

As shown in FIG. 15 (b), the time intervals F1, F3, F4, and F6 of the peak time of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 exceed the predetermined value TH, but F2 and F5 are less than the predetermined value TH1. Become. F2 and F5 are equal to or less than the predetermined value TH1 because the user's finger is swept upward from the bottom (−X direction) and the user's finger is placed on the surface of the upper rectangular parallelepiped at the two protrusions. This is due to contact with two places on the surface of the lower rectangular parallelepiped.

Accordingly, when at least one of the adjacent peak time intervals of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value TH1, the user's finger moves from the bottom to the top (−X direction). Can be determined to have been swept.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the procedure for determining the sweep direction of the user's finger with respect to the protrusion 9 and calculating the sweep speed according to the fourth embodiment.

In step S401, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 detects a peak where the amplitude of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the detected peak times t1 (1), t1 (2), t1 (3 ) ...

In step S402, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 advances the process to step S403 when there is at least one of the adjacent peak time intervals that is equal to or less than the predetermined value TH1.

In step S403, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 determines that the user's finger has been swept in the −X direction while contacting the protrusion 9.

In step S404, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 determines that the user's finger has been swept in the X direction while contacting the protrusion 9. That is, when there is no time interval between adjacent peaks that is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value TH1, it is determined that the user's finger has been swept in the X direction.

In step S405, the sweep speed calculation circuit 8 calculates the average value of the time intervals between times t1 (1), t1 (2), t1 (3)... Of the plurality of peaks of the output of the first vibration sensor 4. Is calculated. The sweep speed calculation circuit 8 calculates the sweep speed of the user's finger by dividing the calculated average value by the interval D between adjacent protrusions.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the protrusion is configured in a step shape, and the user's finger is moved from the top to the bottom with respect to the protrusion using the time interval of the peak of the output of one vibration sensor. It can be determined whether it has been swept or swept from bottom to top.

[Fifth Embodiment]
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the width of the protrusions and the interval between the protrusions.

In addition, the input device 1 according to the present embodiment includes only the first vibration sensor 4 instead of including the first and second vibration sensors. For example, the first vibration sensor 4 is arranged at the same position as in the first embodiment, but may be at an arbitrary position on the substrate 3.

FIG. 17A is a diagram of the protrusion 9 according to the fifth embodiment viewed from the Z direction. FIG. 17B is a diagram of the protrusion 9 according to the fifth embodiment viewed from the Y direction.

The protrusions 9-1 to 9-N are arranged on a straight line L. A protrusion 9-1 is disposed closer to one end point EN1 of the straight line L, and a protrusion 9-N is disposed closer to the other end point EN2 of the straight line L. The end point EN1 is at a position where the coordinate value in the X-axis direction is small (upper side), and the end point EN2 is at a position where the coordinate value in the X-axis direction is large (lower side).

The protrusion 9-i is a rectangular parallelepiped, for example, the length in the Z direction is w and the length in the Y direction is u. The length in the X direction of the protrusion 9-i and the interval between adjacent protrusions are not constant.

The length of the projection 9-i in the X direction and the interval between adjacent projections are designed to satisfy the following conditions.

The distance between the upper edge of a certain protrusion 9-i (side closer to the end point EN1) and the upper edge of the adjacent protrusion 9-i + 1 (side closer to the end point EN1) is a. The distance between the lower edge of the projection 9-i (side closer to the end point EN2) and the lower edge of the adjacent projection 9-i + 1 (side closer to the end point EN2) is b. Here, a <b.

Therefore, when the user's finger is swept from the bottom to the top (-X direction), if the sweep speed is not much different than when the user's finger is swept from the top to the bottom (X direction), The time interval of the peak of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 becomes longer.

FIG. 18A schematically shows the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 when the finger is swept from top to bottom (in the X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. is there.

As shown in FIG. 18A, the time intervals G1, G2, G3 of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 are all equal to or less than a predetermined value TH2. This is because, when the finger is swept from the top to the bottom, the user's finger is likely to come into contact with the upper edge of the protrusion 9-i or the periphery of the upper edge. Because it is in contact with i.

FIG. 18B schematically shows the amplitude of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top (in the −X direction) with respect to the protrusion 9. It is.

As shown in FIG. 18B, the time intervals H1, H2, and H3 of the peak of the output voltage of the first vibration sensor 4 all exceed a predetermined value TH2. This is because when the finger is swept from the bottom to the top, the user's finger is likely to come into contact with the lower edge of the protrusion 9-i or around the lower edge. This is because they come into contact with the protrusions 9-i.

Here, the peak time interval changes not only with the sweep direction but also with the sweep speed. However, the sweep speed by the user's finger does not take an arbitrary value and normally falls within a predetermined range. Accordingly, by appropriately setting the distance a between the upper edges of the adjacent protrusions, the distance b between the lower edges of the adjacent protrusions, and the predetermined value TH2 for a predetermined range of sweep speed, The direction can be determined.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining the sweep direction of the user's finger with respect to the protrusion 9 and calculating the sweep speed according to the fifth embodiment.

In step S501, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 detects a peak at which the amplitude of the output of the first vibration sensor 4 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the detected peak times t1 (1), t1 (2), t1 (3 ) ...

In step S502, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 calculates an average value M of time intervals of adjacent peaks from the detected peak times t1 (1), t1 (2), and t1 (3).

In step S503, when the average value M of the time intervals between adjacent peaks exceeds the predetermined value TH2, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 advances the process to step S504.

In step S504, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 determines that the user's finger has been swept in the −X direction while contacting the protrusion 9.

In step S505, the sweep direction determination circuit 7 determines that the user's finger has been swept in the X direction while contacting the protrusion 9. That is, when the average value M of the time intervals between adjacent peaks is equal to or less than the predetermined value TH2, it is determined that the user's finger has been swept in the X direction.

In step S506, the sweep speed calculation circuit 8 calculates the average value of the time intervals between times t1 (1), t1 (2), t1 (3)... Of the plurality of peaks of the output of the first vibration sensor 4. Is calculated. The sweep speed calculation circuit 8 calculates the sweep speed of the user's finger by dividing the calculated average value by the interval D between adjacent protrusions.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the interval between the upper edges of the protrusions and the interval between the lower edges are made different, and the peak time interval of the output of one vibration sensor is used to Whether the user's finger has been swept from the top to the bottom or from the bottom to the top can be determined.

[Modification of Fifth Embodiment]
Fig.20 (a) is the figure which looked at the projection part 9 of the modification of 5th Embodiment from the Z direction. FIG. 20B is a diagram of the protrusion 9 according to the modification of the fifth embodiment viewed from the Y direction.

The lower side of the protrusion 9-i (side closer to the end point EN2) is a plane. The upper side of the protrusion 9-i (side closer to the end point EN1) is a curved surface.

Therefore, when the user's finger is swept from the top to the bottom (X direction), the contact area between the user's finger and the protrusion is larger than when the user's finger is swept from the bottom to the top (−X direction). Becomes larger. As a result, if the user's finger is swept from the top to the bottom (X direction) and the user's finger is swept from the bottom to the top (−X direction), the sweep speed is not significantly different. The time interval of the peak of the output of the first vibration sensor becomes longer.

Since it has such characteristics, it is possible to determine the sweep direction of the user's finger and calculate the sweep speed according to the flowchart of FIG. 19 described in the fifth embodiment. However, the processes in steps S504 and S505 need to be exchanged.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and includes, for example, the following modifications.

(Modification)
(1) The input device of this embodiment can be incorporated not only in the electronic device on the watch side but also in an electronic device such as a smartphone or a smart watch.

The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1. Input device, 2. Input member, 3. Substrate, 4. First vibration sensor, 5. Second vibration sensor, 6. Signal processing circuit, 7. Sweep direction determination circuit, 8. Sweep speed calculation circuit, 9. Protrusion, 9-1. ~ 9-N protrusion, 51 display.

Claims

An input device mounted on an electronic device,
An input member having a plurality of protrusions provided along a straight line or along a curve; and at least detecting vibrations generated when a user's finger contacts the plurality of protrusions and transmitted through the member of the electronic device One vibration sensor,
Based on the output of the at least one vibration sensor, a user's finger has been swept in a first direction on the straight line or on the curve, or the user's finger has been swept in the straight line or on the curve. An input device comprising: a signal processing circuit that determines whether or not the signal has been swept in a second direction opposite to the direction.
The input device includes a first vibration sensor and a second vibration sensor as the at least one vibration sensor,
The phase of the output of the first vibration sensor is opposite to the phase of the output of the second vibration sensor,
The signal processing circuit determines that the user's finger has been swept in the first direction when the output of the first vibration sensor first rises and the output of the second vibration sensor first falls. And determining that the user's finger has been swept in the second direction when the output of the first vibration sensor first falls and the output of the second vibration sensor first rises. The input device according to 1.
The input device includes a first vibration sensor and a second vibration sensor as the at least one vibration sensor,
The distance between the first vibration sensor and the one end on the straight line or the curve is shorter than the distance between the second vibration sensor and the one end, and the first vibration sensor and the one line or the curve. The first vibration sensor and the second vibration sensor are arranged at a position such that the distance from the other end is longer than the distance between the second vibration sensor and the other end,
The signal processing circuit is configured so that the user's finger is moved to the first vibration sensor based on a temporal change in a prior relationship between a peak time of the output of the first vibration sensor and a peak time of the output of the second vibration sensor. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device determines whether it has been swept in one direction or in the second direction.
The signal processing circuit sweeps the user's finger based on a time interval between a plurality of peaks of the output of the first vibration sensor or a time interval between a plurality of peaks of the output of the second vibration sensor. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the speed is calculated.
The input device includes one vibration sensor as the at least one vibration sensor, and the distance between the protrusion and the vibration sensor increases or decreases according to the order of the plurality of protrusions.
The signal processing circuit may sweep the user's finger in the first direction or sweep in the second direction based on whether the amplitude of the peak of the output of the vibration sensor increases or decreases. The input device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether it has been performed.
The input device includes one vibration sensor as the at least one vibration sensor,
The protrusion is formed in a stepped shape in which the side close to one end on the straight line or the curve is high and the side close to the other end on the straight line or the curve is low, and the direction from the one end to the other end Is the first direction;
The signal processing circuit determines that the user's finger has been swept in the second direction when there is a signal whose time interval of the output peak of the vibration sensor is within a predetermined time. Input device.
The input device includes one vibration sensor as the at least one vibration sensor,
A distance between edges on one side of the plurality of protrusions near the one end on the straight line or the curve; and a distance between edges on the side of the plurality of protrusions near the other end on the straight line or the curve. Is different,
The signal processing circuit determines whether the user's finger has been swept in the first direction based on whether a time interval between a plurality of peaks of the output of the vibration sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, or the second The input device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not it has been swept in a direction.
The input device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the signal processing circuit calculates a sweep speed of the user's finger based on a time interval between a plurality of peaks of the output of the vibration sensor.
An input device mounted on an electronic device,
An input member having a plurality of protrusions provided along a straight line or along a curve; and at least detecting vibrations generated when a user's finger contacts the plurality of protrusions and transmitted through the member of the electronic device One vibration sensor,
An input device comprising: a signal processing circuit that calculates a sweep speed of a user's finger based on an output of the at least one vibration sensor.
The input device includes a first vibration sensor and a second vibration sensor as the at least one vibration sensor,
The signal processing circuit sweeps the user's finger based on a time interval between a plurality of peaks of the output of the first vibration sensor or a time interval between a plurality of peaks of the output of the second vibration sensor. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the speed is calculated.
The input device includes one vibration sensor as the at least one vibration sensor,
The input device according to claim 9, wherein the signal processing circuit calculates a sweep speed of the user's finger based on a time interval between a plurality of peaks of the output of the vibration sensor.
12. An electronic apparatus comprising the input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions of the input member are not arranged on a surface of a display unit included in the electronic apparatus. machine.