WO2019017009A1

WO2019017009A1 - Input device

Info

Publication number: WO2019017009A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/012273
Authority: WO
Inventors: 徹也登丸
Original assignee: 株式会社デンソー
Priority date: 2017-07-20
Filing date: 2018-03-27
Publication date: 2019-01-24
Also published as: JP2019021172A

Abstract

This input device is provided with: a detecting unit (112) that detects an operating state of an operating body (F) with respect to an operation surface (111); a control unit (130) that performs an input to a predetermined apparatus (50) according to the operating state; and a driving unit (120) that causes the operation surface to vibrate in an extending direction of the operation surface. A plurality of operation regions (1111, 1112) for operation on the predetermined apparatus are preset on the operation surface. When it is determined that the operating body moves from the first operation region (1111) to the second operation region (1112), the control unit performs a control such that the driving unit generates, on the operation surface, reciprocating vibration in the movement direction of the operating body, and the intensity of the vibration forms a maximum value between (cp) the first operation region and the second operation region according to the movement of the operating body.

Description

Input device

Cross-reference to related applications

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-140680 filed on Jul. 20, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to an input device that enables an input operation by an operating body such as a finger, such as a touch pad or a touch panel.

As a conventional input device, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. The input device (electronic apparatus) of Patent Document 1 includes a contact surface with which an operating body (for example, an operator's finger) contacts, a housing for instructing the contact surface, and a drive device for moving the contact surface with respect to the housing Is equipped. Then, the contact surface is moved by the drive device based on the position information of the operation body.

As a result, the contact surface is moved in the direction opposite to the movement direction of the operation body to apply a drag force to the operation body, and the contact surface is moved in the same direction as the movement direction of the operation body. Force (induction force) is given.

JP, 2016-184428, A

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an input device capable of guiding an operating body in a moving direction when an operator moves the operating body and obtaining a sense of guidance to a moving destination.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the input device performs an input to a predetermined device according to a detection unit that detects an operation state of an operating body on an operation surface on the operation side, and the operation state detected by the detection unit. A control unit, and a drive unit controlled by the control unit and vibrating the operation surface in a direction in which the operation surface expands. A plurality of operation areas for operation on the predetermined device are set in advance on the operation surface. When the control unit determines from the operation state that the operating body moves from the first operation area to the second operation area among the plurality of operation areas, the driving unit moves the operating body in the movement direction In addition to generating reciprocating vibration on the operation surface, control is performed so that the intensity of the vibration forms a maximum value between the first operation region and the second operation region as the operation body moves. Do.

According to the above input device, when moving from the first operation area to the second operation area, the operating body receives resistance by the vibration generated on the operation surface. In addition, as the operating body moves from the first operating region to the intermediate position, the magnitude of the vibration is controlled to form a maximum value, so that the resistance to the operating body increases. Further, as the operating body moves from the intermediate position to the second operating area and is controlled so as to pass through the maximum value and decrease in vibration intensity, the resistance to the operating body decreases.

Therefore, the operating body overcomes the resistance which is maximum at the intermediate position, reaches the second operation area, and seems as if it were guided (retracted) from the intermediate position toward the second operation area. Will be affected.

As described above, when the operator moves the operating body, the operating body can be guided in the moving direction, and an input device can be obtained from which a feeling of guidance to the moving destination can be obtained.

The above object and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings. The drawing is
It is explanatory drawing which shows the mounting state of the input device in a vehicle, It is a block diagram showing an input device in a 1st embodiment, (A) is a side view showing the operation unit and the drive unit in the first embodiment, and (b) is a plan view seen from the IIIb direction of (a), It is an explanatory view showing an image of an operation button, an operation area, an intermediate position, and a strength of vibration, It is a flowchart which shows the control content of an input device, It is a graph showing the strength of vibration, It is a graph which shows the vibration waveform in 1st Embodiment, It is a graph which shows the vibration waveform in the modification 1 of 1st Embodiment, It is a graph which shows the strength of the vibration in modification 2 of a 1st embodiment, (A) which shows the operation part and drive part in 2nd Embodiment is a side view, (b) is the top view seen from the Xb direction of (a).

In the input device of Patent Document 1, when the amount of movement of the operating body is large, it is necessary to increase the amount of movement of the contact surface accordingly. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the movable range of the contact surface in the case accordingly, resulting in the enlargement of the case and the lack of reality.

Therefore, in the previous application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-44196), the present inventors generate vibration on the operation surface that reciprocates in the direction of the movement destination of the operation body, and also on the forward path and return path side of the reciprocating vibration. We proposed an input device that controls the speed or acceleration of vibration to be different.

In this input device, slippage occurs between the operation surface and the operation body in the direction in which the velocity or acceleration of the vibration is large, and the operation body does not easily follow the movement of the operation surface according to the law of inertia, It becomes a form left behind at that position. Conversely, in the direction in which the speed or acceleration of the vibration is small, the frictional force between the operating surface and the operating body acts, and according to the law of inertia, the operating body receives a force to be moved along with the movement of the operating surface. It becomes easy to work.

This makes it possible to obtain an effective pull-in force on the side where the speed or acceleration of vibration is small in a small movable region, and accordingly, when the amount of movement of the operating body is large as in the prior art. The problem of the need to increase the movement of the contact surface has been solved.

However, in the above proposal, although the operating body can be moved (retracted) in a state where there is no movement in the operating body itself, no frictional force is generated in the state where the operating body is moving itself. It is difficult to move in the direction.

Hereinafter, a plurality of modes for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The same referential mark may be attached | subjected to the part corresponding to the matter demonstrated by the form preceded in each form, and the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted. When only a part of the configuration is described in each form, the other forms described above can be applied to other parts of the configuration. Not only combinations of parts which clearly indicate that combinations are possible in each embodiment, but also combinations of embodiments even if not explicitly specified, unless any problem occurs in the combinations. It is also possible.

First Embodiment
The input device 100 according to the first embodiment is shown in FIGS. The input device 100 of the present embodiment is applied to, for example, a remote control device for operating the navigation device 50. The input device 100 is mounted on the vehicle 10 together with the navigation device 50. The navigation device 50 corresponds to the predetermined device of the present disclosure.

The navigation device 50 is a route guidance system that displays current position information of the vehicle on a map, traveling direction information, guidance information to a destination desired by the operator, and the like. The navigation device 50 has a liquid crystal display 51 as a display unit. The liquid crystal display 51 is disposed at the center of the instrument panel 13 of the vehicle 10 in the vehicle width direction, so that the display screen 52 can be viewed by the operator.

The navigation device 50 is formed separately from the input device 100, and is set at a position away from the input device 100. The navigation device 50 and the input device 100 are connected by, for example, a Controller Area Network bus (CAN bus (registered trademark)).

On the display screen 52 of the liquid crystal display 51, the vehicle position on the map is displayed, and various operation buttons for operating the navigation device 50 are displayed (FIG. 4). The various operation buttons are, for example, a first operation button 52a1, a second operation button 52a2, a third operation button 52a3, and a fourth operation button 52a4, etc. for enlarged display, reduced display of a map, and destination guidance setting, etc. is there. The various operation buttons 52a1 to 52a4 are so-called operation icons. Further, on the display screen 52, for example, a pointer 52b designed in the shape of an arrow is displayed to correspond to the position of the finger F (operating body) of the operator on the operation unit 110 (operation surface 111) described later. It is supposed to be.

The input device 100 is provided at a position adjacent to the armrest 12 at the center console 11 of the vehicle 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and is disposed in a range easily accessible by the operator. The input device 100 includes an operation unit 110, a drive unit 120, a control unit 130, and the like.

The operation unit 110 forms a so-called touch pad, and is a part that performs an input operation on the navigation device 50 with the finger F of the operator. The operation unit 110 includes an operation surface 111, a touch sensor 112, a housing 113, and the like.

The operation surface 111 is exposed to the operator at a position adjacent to the armrest 12 and is a flat portion where the operator performs a finger operation. For example, a material or the like that improves the slip of the finger over the entire surface is provided It is formed by In the operation surface 111, operation areas respectively corresponding to the various operation buttons 52a1 to 52a4 on the display screen 52 are set in advance. Here, in order to simplify the following description, the operation area corresponding to the first operation button 52a1 is taken as the first operation area 1111, and the operation area corresponding to the second operation button 52a2 is taken as the second operation area 1112. And

In the operation areas (the

operation areas

1111 and 1112 etc.) on the operation surface 111, it is for operation (selection, depression determination, etc.) on various operation buttons 52a1 to 52a4 displayed on the display screen 52 by the operator's finger operation. Is set to allow input. Around the operation surface 111, a rib 111a extending to the side opposite to the operation side is provided.

The touch sensor 112 is, for example, a capacitance type detection unit provided on the back surface side of the operation surface 111. The touch sensor 112 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, and is configured to detect an operation state of the sensor surface by the finger F of the operator.

The touch sensor 112 is formed by arranging electrodes extending along the x-axis on the operation surface 111 and electrodes extending along the y-axis in a grid. These electrodes are connected to a control unit 130 described later. Each electrode is configured such that the generated capacitance changes in accordance with the position of the finger F of the operator in proximity to the sensor surface, and the signal (sensitivity value) of the generated capacitance is a controller It is output to 130. The sensor surface is covered by an insulating sheet made of an insulating material. The touch sensor 112 is not limited to the above-described electrostatic capacitance type, and various types such as other pressure-sensitive types can be used.

The housing 113 is a support portion that supports the operation surface 111 and the touch sensor 112. The housing 113 is formed in a frame shape, and is disposed, for example, inside the center console 11.

The drive unit 120 vibrates the operation surface 111 in the expanding direction of the operation surface 111 in two axial directions of the x and y axes, and at least one of four sides around the operation surface 111, the rib 111a and the housing It is provided between them. The drive unit 120 is connected to a control unit 130 described later, and the control unit 130 controls vibration generation.

The driving unit 120 generates vibration in one axial direction (x-axis direction or y-axis direction) on the operation surface 111 by validating vibration in only one axial direction among the two axial directions. By simultaneously making vibration in two axial directions effective, it is possible to generate an oblique vibration in which both vibrations are combined on the operation surface 111.

As the drive unit 120, it is possible to use, for example, an electromagnetic actuator such as a solenoid or a voice coil motor, or a vibrator such as piezo, or a combination of the vibrator and a spring. For example, if one vibrating body generates vibrations in two axial directions, the driving unit 120 is formed by providing one vibrating body on at least one of the four sides around the operation surface 111. be able to. Alternatively, if the vibrator generates vibration in only one axial direction, the drive unit 120 may be provided by providing one vibrator (two in total) on two adjacent side portions around the operation surface 111. Can be formed. Alternatively, the drive unit 120 can be formed by providing a combination of a vibrating body in one axial direction and a spring on opposing sides and providing two sets of vibration directions crossing each other. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, in the drive unit 120, vibrators are provided on four sides around the operation surface 111.

The control unit 130 includes a CPU, a RAM, a storage medium, and the like. From the signal obtained from the touch sensor 112, the control unit 130 is in contact with the touch position of the finger on the operation surface 111, among the operation areas (1111, 1112, etc.) as the operation state of the operator's finger F. The direction from the area to the closest operation area and the distance to the closest operation area are acquired. In addition, the control unit 130 acquires, as an operation state, the presence or absence of the pressing operation or the like on any of the operation areas (1111, 1112, etc.) on the operation surface 111.

Then, the control unit 130 controls the generation state of the vibration by the drive unit 120 according to the operation state. In addition, a vibration control parameter (control table) at the time of vibration control is stored in advance in the storage medium of the control unit 130, and the control unit 130 performs vibration control based on the vibration control parameter. (Details described later).

The configuration of the input device 100 according to the present embodiment is as described above, and the operation and effects will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

First, in step S100 illustrated in FIG. 5, the control unit 130 determines whether the finger F of the operator touches (touches) the operation surface 111 according to a signal (operation state of the finger F) obtained from the touch sensor 112. Determine The control unit 130 repeats step S100 if determined as negative, and proceeds to step S110 if determined affirmative. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the finger F of the operator is touched on the operation surface 111, the display of the pointer 52b on the display screen 52 becomes effective, and the finger of the operator on the operation surface 111 is The pointer 52 b is displayed on the display screen 52 so as to correspond to the position of F.

Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 4B, a case where the finger F is moved from the first operation area 1111 to the second operation area 1112 will be described as one model.

In step S110, the control unit 130 controls the second operation area 1112 (another operation area) on the first operation area 1111 (any operation area) of the

various operation areas

1111 and 1112 of the operator's finger F. Determine if it is moving or stopped. If the control unit 130 determines that the finger F is moving, the process proceeds to step S120, and if it is determined that the finger F is stopped, the process proceeds to step S140.

In step S120, the control unit 130 calculates a vector between the current first operation area 1111 (the current position of the pointer 52b) and the closest second operation area 1112. In calculating the vector, the control unit 130 calculates the distance between the first operation area 1111 (the position of the pointer 52b) and the second operation area 1112 (the length of the vector) and the first operation area 1111 (the position of the pointer 52b). The direction (direction of the vector) toward the 2-operation area 1112 is calculated.

Then, in step S130, the control unit 130 drives to draw (guide) the operator's finger F from the first operation button 52a1 to the second operation button 52a2 according to the vector (length and direction). The unit 120 is driven to generate vibration on the operation surface 111. First, the control unit 130 causes the operation surface 111 to generate a vibration that reciprocates in the direction of the vector (the direction of the movement destination of the operation body) with respect to the drive unit 120.

Here, since the

operation areas

1111 and 1112 are set to line up in the x-axis direction, the direction of the vector is the x-axis direction, and the control unit 130 generates vibration along the x-axis direction.

Then, in accordance with the movement of the finger F, the control unit 130 controls the strength of the vibration to form a maximum value between the first operation area 1111 and the second operation area 1112. The control unit 130 makes a linear change as shown in FIG. 6 when giving the maximum value to the vibration intensity. Hereinafter, the “interval” between the first operation area 1111 and the second operation area 1112 will be referred to as an intermediate position cp. In FIG. 4B, the intermediate position cp is displayed at the central position between the first operation area 1111 and the second operation area 1112 for better understanding, but the intermediate position cp is the center of both the

areas

1111 and 1112 The position is not limited, and any position may be provided between the first operation area 1111 and the second operation area 1112 (can be any position).

The control unit 130 responds by changing the frequency of vibration as shown in FIG. 7 in order to give a maximum value to the intensity of vibration. Specifically, while the finger F reaches the first operation area 1111 to the intermediate position cp, the vibration frequency is increased in order to increase the vibration intensity. Then, after the finger F exceeds the intermediate position cp, the vibration frequency is sequentially lowered to return to the original frequency, thereby reducing the vibration intensity. By changing the frequency of such vibration, as shown in FIG. 4C, a valley of resistance is formed on the operation surface 111, and the finger F is manipulated (moved) while crossing over this mountain. It becomes.

After step S130, the control unit 130 repeats steps S100 to S130 until the finger F of the operator is stopped in any of the operation areas.

If it is determined that the movement of the finger F is stopped in step S110 while repeating the above steps S100 to S130, the control unit 130, in step S140, performs a pressing operation on any of the operation areas (any operation button) It is determined whether there was a The pressing operation is an operation indicating the selection determination on the operation area (operation button) of the operator, and is performed by the operator pressing a finger on the operation surface 111 at a position corresponding to the operation area (operation button). . If an affirmation judging is carried out at Step S140, control part 130 will perform pushing decision processing at Step S150. That is, an instruction corresponding to one of the operation buttons is issued to the navigation device 50. If the negative determination is made in step S140, the process returns to step S100.

Then, in step S160, the control unit 130 generates a vibration (click feeling vibration) for giving a click feeling to the finger F of the operator. Here, unlike the vibration in the above-described step S130, the driving unit 120 is used alone to vibrate the driving unit 120 so that it can be recognized that the operator has performed the pressing operation.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the finger F moves from the first operation area 1111 to the second operation area 1112 in the plurality of operation areas (1111, 1112) from the operation state of the finger F by the control unit 130. If it judges, it will perform the following vibration control. That is, the control unit 130 causes the drive unit 120 to generate vibration reciprocating on the operation surface 111 in the movement direction of the finger F, and the vibration strength is the first operation area 1111 and the second operation region 1111 along with the movement of the finger F. Control is performed so as to form a maximum value at an intermediate position cp between the operation area 1112.

As a result, when the finger F moves from the first operation area 1111 to the second operation area 1112, the finger F receives resistance by the vibration generated on the operation surface 111. In addition, as the finger F moves from the first operation area 1111 to the intermediate position cp, the magnitude of the vibration is controlled to form a maximum value, and thus the resistance to the finger F increases. Further, as the finger F moves from the intermediate position cp to the second operation area 1112, the intensity of the vibration is controlled to decrease by passing the maximum value, so that the resistance to the finger F decreases.

Therefore, the finger F overcomes the resistance (the peak in FIG. 4C) at the intermediate position cp and reaches the second operation area 1112 and moves from the intermediate position cp to the second operation area 1112 It will receive a feeling (action) as if it were induced (retracted). The sense of guidance at this time can be reworded as a sense of overtaking the mountain.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the operator moves the finger F, the finger F can be guided in the movement direction, and the input device 100 can obtain a feeling of guidance to the movement destination.

Further, in the present embodiment, when giving the maximum value to the intensity of vibration, it is made to change linearly. This facilitates control when changing the strength of vibration.

(Modification 1 of the first embodiment)
A modification 1 of the first embodiment is shown in FIG. Here, in order to give a maximum value to the intensity of vibration, the control unit 130 has the same frequency as shown in FIG. 8 and responds by changing the amplitude of the vibration. Specifically, the amplitude of vibration is sequentially increased while the finger F reaches the intermediate position cp from the first operation region 1111, thereby increasing the strength of the vibration. Then, after the finger F exceeds the intermediate position cp, the amplitude of the vibration is successively reduced, and the amplitude of the vibration is reduced by returning to the original amplitude.

In general, the drive unit 120 (actuator etc.) has a resonance point, and the drive unit 120 (actuator having a very large output when the frequency of vibration is changed as in the first embodiment) Etc.), which entails an increase in size of the device. However, in the first modification, since the amplitude is controlled, it is effective as a method of controlling the strength of the vibration without accompanying such enlargement.

(Modification 2 of the first embodiment)
A modification 2 of the first embodiment is shown in FIG. Here, the control unit 130 makes an exponential change when giving the maximum value to the vibration intensity.

According to Weberfechner's law, the amount of human sense is proportional to the logarithm of the stimulus intensity, so that such an exponential change can be made more understandable to a human.

Second Embodiment
An input device 100A of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, the setting positions of the housing 113 and the drive unit 120 are changed to the housing 113A and the drive unit 120A in the first embodiment.

The housing 113A is formed in a plate shape, and is disposed on the back surface side of the operation surface 111. The drive unit 120A is disposed on the back side of the operation surface 111. The drive unit 120A is located between the back side of the operation surface 111 and the housing 113A. The driving unit 120A generates vibration in, for example, two axial directions of the x and y axes, and one driving unit 120A is disposed at a central portion on the back surface side of the operation surface 111. As the drive unit 120A, for example, the electromagnetic actuator such as a voice coil motor capable of generating vibrations in two axial directions as described in the first embodiment is used. The number of drive units 120A is not limited to one, and a plurality of drive units may be used.

Also in the present embodiment, the basic operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained.

(Other embodiments)
In each of the above-described embodiments, the vibration control parameter (control table) provided in advance is used to control the strength of vibration. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and depending on the operation state of the finger F, The vibration pattern may be obtained by calculation each time.

In each of the above embodiments, the operation unit 110 is a so-called touch pad type, but not limited to this, a so-called touch panel type in which the display screen 52 of the liquid crystal display 51 is transmitted and visually recognized on the operation surface 111 It is also applicable to things.

In each of the above-described embodiments, when there is a pressing operation in steps S140 to S160 described with reference to FIG. 5, click feeling vibration giving a click feeling is generated. However, the present disclosure basically generates an induction force (retraction force) by causing the vibration intensity to have a maximum value at an intermediate position cp of the operation region (1111, 1112). The steps S140 to S160 may be eliminated.

Further, in the above embodiments, the operating body is described as the finger F of the operator, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be a stick imitating a pen.

Moreover, in said each embodiment, although it was set as the navigation apparatus 50 as a target (predetermined apparatus) of the input control by the

input device

100, 100A, it is not limited to this, The air conditioner for vehicles, or the audio for vehicles The present invention can also be applied to other devices such as devices.

Here, the flowchart described in this application or the process of the flowchart is composed of a plurality of sections (or referred to as steps), and each section is expressed as, for example, S100. Furthermore, each section can be divided into multiple subsections, while multiple sections can be combined into one section. Furthermore, each section configured in this way can be referred to as a device, a module, or a means.

Although the present disclosure has been described based on the examples, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the examples and structures. The present disclosure also includes various modifications and variations within the equivalent range. In addition, various combinations and forms, and further, other combinations and forms including only one element, or more or less than these elements are also within the scope and the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

A detection unit (112) for detecting an operation state of the operating tool (F) with respect to the operation surface (111) on the operation side;
A control unit (130) which performs an input to a predetermined device (50) according to the operation state detected by the detection unit;
And a drive unit (120) controlled by the control unit to vibrate the operation surface in a direction in which the operation surface expands.
A plurality of operation areas (1111, 1112) for operating the predetermined device are set in advance in the operation surface,
When the control unit determines that the operating body moves from the first operation area (1111) to the second operation area (1112) among the plurality of operation areas from the operation state, the drive unit A vibration reciprocating in the moving direction of the operating body is generated on the operating surface, and the strength of the vibration is between the first operating area and the second operating area along with the movement of the operating body (cp) An input device that controls to form a local maximum.
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the strength of the vibration linearly or exponentially when forming the maximum value.
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit increases the frequency of the vibration and then decreases the frequency to form the maximum value.
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit increases the amplitude of the vibration and then decreases the amplitude to form the maximum value.
The control unit, when acquiring the pressing operation on the operation surface as the operation state from the detection unit, clicks and vibrates the drive unit to give a click feeling to the operation body unlike the vibration. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which generates