Tactile response type electric switch

Abstract

A tactile response type electric switch which generates vibration at the time of a user's touch input and transmits it to the user. The tactile response type electric switch according to the present invention, the gist of which is to include: an activation part including a floating screen having a touch area for inputting a user's touch and a bracket combined with the floating screen; a fixed part including a substrate and a housing which houses the substrate and is equipped with two or more damping members; a vibration transmission plate interposed between the bracket and the housing so that the activation part and the fixed part are connected to each other; an actuator which operates in such a manner that the bracket and the vibration transmission plate combined with the bracket vibrate in a horizontal direction as a user's touch input; and the damping members are formed in a single object shape in the housing with one side end portion protruding toward the upper portion of the housing, the activation part is supported in a state of floating from the fixed part by an arbitrary distance by the damping members protruding toward the upper portion of the housing, and the horizontal direction vibration is attenuated while the damping members are displaced by the vibration in the horizontal direction of the bracket and the vibration transmission plate by the actuator.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric switch for a vehicle, which outputs a command for executing a desired function by a user's touch input, and more particularly, to a haptic reaction type electric switch that generates vibration when a user touches and inputs with a force of a certain level or more and transmits the vibration to the user's finger in the form of stimulation. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the case of an electric switch for a vehicle, a recent trend is to shift from an analog type that inputs a function execution command through a physical simple operation (e.g., a press operation or a rotation operation, etc.) to a digital type that displays information related to a corresponding switch function while selecting a function desired by a user and operating the same through a touch input.

[0003] In addition, in the case of a recent digital type electric switch, a haptic function is being applied, in which if a panel is touched in order to execute a desired function, vibration is fed back in a form corresponding to the user's touch input (haptic feedback), so that the user can instantly recognize whether his or her touch input is properly implemented. Such a haptic function is implemented by a vibration feedback device that reacts to a user's touch in the form of vibration.

[0004] The so-called "haptic" means a tactile sensation that can be felt by a user's fingertip (finger tip or stylus) when touching an object. The vibration feedback device for implementing such a haptic reaction is most desirably used to reproduce a dynamic characteristic by the responsiveness such as touching an actual object (actual button) when a user touches a button displayed on a panel.

[0005] Accordingly, one of the most important conditions that the vibration feedback device should have is to provide sufficient vibration force that can be instantly recognized by a haptic when a user operates a panel (touch panel). As a vibration feedback device that is applied to an electric switch in order to implement a haptic function, a rotary type vibration motor or a linear vibration motor is widely used.

[0006] The vibration feedback device is generally installed in a plate (circuit board) inside a touch input part such as a touch panel, so as to be covered and protected with the touch panel. Most of the existing haptic reaction type electric switches have a mechanism that makes a touch input part shake up and down by vibration generated by a vibration feedback device, so as to be fed back to a user by a tactile sensation.

[0007] However, with the configuration that the touch input portion is shaken in the up-down direction to provide a tactile sensation feedback, there is a problem that the vibration force transmitted by the user's finger is weak. In particular, with the configuration that the vibration of the touch input portion is generated in the up-down direction, there is a problem that the larger the area of the touch input portion, the larger the vibration deviation with the touch position due to the blind zone in which the vibration force is weak.

[0008] A large-capacity vibration feedback device is used to solve the vibration deviation problem to some extent. However, there is a problem that the larger the capacity, the larger the size of the vibration feedback device, and thus the size of the electric switch in which the vibration feedback device is built-in can only be increased, and in particular, the larger the capacity, the slower the reaction speed to the touch input, and thus a time difference is generated between the point in time at which the touch is recognized by the vibration feedback and the point in time at which the touch input is recognized.

[0009] Prior Art Documents

[0010] (Patent Document 1) Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1968944 (Registration Date: 2019.04.09.) SUMMARY

[0011] The present application aims to solve the technical problem of providing a tactile response type electric switch that, when a tactile function is added to a large panel having a wide range of touch input or operation, generates vibration with uniform strength throughout the panel regardless of how far the vibration source is, thereby solving the problem of the blind zone in which the vibration force is weak.

[0012] As a solution to the problem, according to the present application, there is provided a tactile response type electric switch, characterized by comprising:

[0013] an activation portion including a floating screen having a touch area for inputting a user's touch and a bracket combined with the floating screen;

[0014] a fixing portion including a substrate and a housing that houses the substrate and is equipped with two or more damping members, a vibration transmission plate interposed between the bracket and the housing to connect the activation portion and the fixing portion to each other, and

[0015] an actuator provided inside the housing to operate in such a manner that the bracket and the vibration transmission plate combined with the bracket vibrate in a horizontal direction as the user inputs a touch,

[0016] the damping members are configured in a single object form protruding toward the upper portion of the housing at the upper end portion,

[0017] the activation portion is supported in a state of floating from the fixing portion by the damping members protruding toward the upper portion of the housing,

[0018] The damping member is displaced and horizontal vibration is attenuated by the actuator vibrating the support and the vibration transmission plate in the horizontal direction.

[0019] The tactile response type electric switch according to the present application can further include a load detecting portion that detects the intensity of the user's touch input input through the touch area.

[0020] Here, preferably, the load detecting portion can be configured to include a load detecting rod formed in one body with the bottom surface of the support and extending toward the substrate inside the housing, and a non-contact distance sensor installed on the substrate in a manner of being spaced apart from the load detecting rod by a predetermined distance and facing each other.

[0021] Also, the actuator can be configured to include a fixed side wire cylinder fixed to the housing, and a start side yoke fixed to the support and facing the fixed side wire cylinder, the fixed side wire cylinder and the start side yoke being spaced apart by a certain gap in a manner of facing each other while maintaining a distance from each other.

[0022] Further, the vibration transmission plate can be configured to be a plate-shaped body having a predetermined thickness, and having an opening of a certain area that allows light of the light source installed on the substrate to pass in a manner of being directed toward the touch area of the floating screen.

[0023] Also, the damping member can be configured to include a fixed piece vertically extending downward from the upper plate of the housing toward the substrate, a start piece disposed in parallel with the fixed piece while maintaining a distance from the fixed piece, a lower end bridge connecting the lower end portions of the start piece and the fixed piece to each other, and a connection support piece bent at a right angle from the upper end of the start piece in a direction away from the fixed piece and extending in the horizontal direction.

[0024] At this time, the damping member can be disposed one each in the four corner regions of the housing.

[0025] Preferably, the vibration transmission plate and the housing constituting the fixed portion can be connected to each other by a first close connection member that is closely connected to a first close connection point of the vibration transmission plate corresponding to each of the connection support pieces of the damping member through which the connection support pieces are penetrated,

[0026] The vibration transmission plate and the support constituting the start portion can be connected to each other by a second close connection member that is closely connected to a second close connection point of the vibration transmission plate penetrated through the support and spaced apart from the first close connection point.

[0027] Here, the second close connection point can be formed at positions spaced apart by the same distance from the longitudinal center line of the vibration transmission plate from the first close connection points respectively disposed adjacent to the corner regions of the vibration transmission plate.

[0028] Further, the fixed part further includes a lower cover which is combined with the housing, and an installation space for installing the substrate is formed inside, and the substrate is attached to a substrate pulling lever which is protruded downward from the upper plate of the housing at a certain height, and can be installed in the installation space in a floating state.

[0029] The haptic response type electric switch according to the embodiment of the present application makes the activation part including the floating screen for inputting the user's touch to vibrate in the horizontal direction with respect to the fixed part including the housing, thereby providing the user with uniform switch operation feeling without deviation in each area even if the floating screen is configured in a large panel form having a wide switch input or operation range.

[0030] Further, when the horizontal direction vibration feedback is transmitted, there is no part directly interfering between the fixed part and the activation part, thereby providing the user with more definite switch operation feeling without noise, and when the touch input is input, the degree of the load inputted in a non-contact manner is converted from the distance variation between the load detection lever and the sensor and the operation of the actuator is controlled, thereby preventing the erroneous operation due to the unintentional touch.

[0031] Further, according to the vibration transmission plate which functions as a vibration transmission medium between the activation part and the fixed part, not only in the periphery of the vibration generating device, i.e., the actuator, but also in the touch area farthest from the actuator, the vibration loss is minimized and transmitted, and accordingly, the dead zone problem generated in the existing up-and-down vibration type haptic device can be more definitely solved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the haptic response type electric switch according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0033] Figure 2 is a view showing the haptic response type electric switch in an exploded state. Figure 1

[0034] Figure 3 is a combined perspective view showing the combined state of the haptic response type electric switch according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0035] Figure 4 is a sectional view of the haptic response type electric switch as seen from the direction of line A-A. Figure 3

[0036] Figure 5 is a view showing the haptic response type electric switch according to the embodiment of the present application as seen from a plan.

[0037] Figure 6 is a view showing the "D" portion of Figure 4 in an enlarged manner.

[0038] Figure 7 ​​is a view of the vibration transmission plate as seen from the B-B line direction Figure 3 A sectional view of the tactile response type electric switch.

[0039] Figure 8 (a) of FIG. 1 is a plan view of the vibration transmission plate, Figure 8 (b) of FIG. 1 is a side view showing the displacement state of the vibration transmission plate at the time of touch input.

[0040] Figure 9 (a) of FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the present application showing a portion in which an actuator is mounted, Figure 9 (b) of FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic model of the actuator.

[0041] Figure 10 As an operation state diagram of the present application, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation state of the damping member at the time of actuator operation.

[0042] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0043] 10: activation section 12: charge screen

[0044] 14: touch film 16: support

[0045] 20: vibration transmission plate 22: opening

[0046] 24: reinforcing bridge 30: fixed section

[0047] 20: coupling member

[0048] 32: substrate 33: light source

[0049] 34: housing 35: damping member

[0050] 36: lower cover 37: pull rod

[0051] 40: load detection section 42: load detection rod

[0052] 44: distance sensor 50: actuator

[0053] 52: bobbin 53: coil

[0054] 54: yoke 120: touch area

[0055] 160: front light transmission hole 340: rear light transmission hole

[0056] 350: fixed piece 352: lower end bridge

[0057] 354: activation piece 356: connection support piece

[0058] B1: first close coupling member (close coupling member coupling the damping member and the vibration transmission plate)

[0059] B2: second tight connection component (tight connection component of the support and the vibration transmission plate)

[0060] D: width of the bending interval of the vibration transmission plate DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0062] The terms used in the specification are used only to explain specific embodiments and not to limit the purpose of the present application. If there is no clear different meaning, the singular expression also includes the plural expression.

[0063] In the specification, the terms "include" or "have" or the like are understood to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, constituent elements, components or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not preclude the presence or possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, constituent elements, components or combinations thereof.

[0064] In addition, the terms of first, second, and the like can be used when explaining various constituent elements, but the constituent elements are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one constituent element from other constituent elements.

[0065] In addition, the terms "… part", "… unit", "… module" and the like described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or action, which can be implemented by hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software.

[0066] In the description with reference to the drawings, the same constituent elements are given the same reference numerals, and repeated description thereof is omitted. Also, in explaining the present application, in the case where it is judged that detailed description of related known technology can unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present application, detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0067] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the tactile response type electric switch according to the embodiment of the present application, Figure 2 is a view showing the tactile response type electric switch from the front, Figure 1 is a view showing the tactile response type electric switch in an exploded state. Also, Figure 3 is an assembled perspective view showing the tactile response type electric switch according to the embodiment of the present application in an assembled state, Figure 4 is a sectional view of the tactile response type electric switch, which is shown from the A-A line direction, Figure 3 is a sectional view of the tactile response type electric switch, which is shown from the A-A line direction.

[0068] Referring to Figures 1 to 4The haptic response type electric switch according to the embodiment of the present application generally includes an activation portion 10 and a fixed portion 30. Here, it is preferably understood that the activation portion 10 and the fixed portion 30 are mutually opposite concepts, the fixed portion 30 meaning a portion fixed with respect to the activation portion 10, and the activation portion 10 meaning a portion vibrating with respect to the fixed portion.

[0069] The activation portion 10 includes a floating screen 12 and a bracket 16. The floating screen 12 has a touch area 120 for inputting a user's touch, and the bracket 16 is combined with the floating screen 12 at a lower portion of the floating screen 12. A touch film 14 recognizing a user's touch is interposed between the floating screen 12 and the bracket 16, by means of a projection and a groove (or a groove and a projection, omitting reference numerals) formed in a mutually matching form at each edge and a surrounding surface.

[0070] The touch area 120 of the floating screen 12 can be composed of a transparent or translucent tempered glass or synthetic resin capable of allowing a light source 33 on a substrate 32 to be described later to transmit light and to diverge to the outside, and the touch film 14 is made to a size corresponding to the touch area 120, and can be attached in a form recognizing a user's touch input through the touch area 120 by means of an additional adhesive film at the back of the floating screen 12.

[0071] At least one or more front light transmission holes 160 can be formed in the bracket 16. The front light transmission holes 160 can be formed in a variety of symbol forms such as a specific pattern or characters, symbols, signs, etc., so that a user can intuitively recognize the function of a touch button. Light of the light source 33 mounted on the substrate 32 transmits through the front light transmission holes 160 and is irradiated from the back of the floating screen 12, thereby generating a button in the form of a specific symbol pattern in a two-dimensional planar design form in the touch area 120.

[0072] When a user touches the button generated in the specific symbol pattern in the touch area 120, the touch film 14 recognizes the touch and generates a corresponding signal. Also, the generated signal is transmitted to a control element (omitting reference numerals) on the substrate 32. The control element extracts a coordinate value of a position where the touch is recognized from the signal output from the touch film 14, and outputs a function execution command set in advance in a form corresponding to the coordinate value.

[0073] The fixed portion 30 includes the substrate 32 and a case 34 housing the substrate 32. The light source 33 and a sensor, etc. including the control element are mounted on the substrate 32, and can be configured to have a circuit pattern for organic signal transmission between the mounted constituent products, and the case 34 is a box-shaped structure having an open lower portion and a housing space formed in the inside, and is provided with at least two or more damping members 35 protruding toward the upper portion of the case 34.

[0074] The lower portion of the housing 34 is combined with the lower cover 36, thereby forming a closed mounting space, and the substrate 32 can be safely protected from the outside environment together with the housing 34, and the substrate 32 is attached to the substrate pulling lever 37, which is protruded downward from the upper plate of the housing 34 at a certain height, by a fastening member such as a screw (omitted reference numeral), so that it can be mounted in a floating state in the mounting space.

[0075] As shown in the illustration of FIG. Figure 1 As shown in the illustration of FIG.

[0076] The activation portion 10 and the fixed portion 30 are connected to each other through the vibration transmission plate 20 interposed therebetween. More specifically, the vibration transmission plate 20 is interposed between the bracket 16 and the housing 34, connecting the activation portion 10 and the fixed portion 30. The vibration transmission plate 20 can be configured as a plate-shaped body having a predetermined thickness, having an opening 22 of a certain area, which allows the light of the light source 33 mounted on the substrate 32 to pass therethrough toward the touch area 120 of the floating screen 12.

[0077] The opening 22 formed in the vibration transmission plate 20 can be a large-area opening as a whole, or as shown in the illustration of FIG. (see Figure 1 and the illustration of Figure 8 (a) to be described later, it can be divided into two or more portions by a reinforcing bridge 24. At this time, the reinforcing bridge 24 and the edge side of the vibration transmission plate 20 can have a hole 25 formed at a position corresponding to the load detection lever 42, through which the load detection lever 42 penetrates at the time of product assembly.

[0078] One portion of the vibration transmission plate 20 is fixed to the upper end portion of the damping member 35, and the other portion is fixed to the bracket 16, and the damping member 35 is configured in a single object form on the housing 34. The upper end portion of the damping member 35 configured on the housing 34 is protruded toward the upper portion of the housing 34, so that the activation portion 10 connected to the fixed portion 30 through the vibration transmission plate 20 is kept apart from the fixed portion 30 by the damping member 35 and supported in a floating state.

[0079] Figure 5 is a plan view of a tactile response type electric switch according to an embodiment of the present application, and is a view for illustrating a position at which a damping member formed to connect a fixed portion and a vibration transmission plate, Figure 6 is a plan view of a tactile response type electric switch according to an embodiment of the present application, and is a view for illustrating a position at which a damping member formed to connect a fixed portion and a vibration transmission plate, Figure 4An enlarged view of a main part of the present application shown in the "D" part of FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the damping member.

[0080] As Figure 5 and the foregoing Figure 1 shown, the damping member 35 can be provided one each in the four corner regions of the housing 34, but the number or position of the damping member 35 is not particularly limited to the number or position shown in the drawing, and although not shown in the drawing, in addition to the damping member 35 formed at the four corners, other damping means such as springs or rubber can be additionally provided between the vibration transmission plate 20 and the housing 34.

[0081] Preferably, as Figure 6 shown, the damping member 35 can be configured to include a fixed plate 350 connected to the housing 34, an activation plate 354 parallel to the fixed plate 350, a lower end bridge 352 connecting the fixed plate 350 and the activation plate 354, and a connection support plate 356 formed at the upper end of the activation plate 354.

[0082] The fixed plate 350 extends vertically downward from the upper plate of the housing 34 toward the substrate 32, and the activation plate 354 is disposed in parallel at an arbitrary distance from the fixed plate 350. Also, the lower end bridge 352 functions as a connecting member connecting the lower end portions of the activation plate 354 and the fixed plate 350 to each other, and the connection support plate 356 is bent at a right angle at the upper end of the activation plate 354 in a direction away from the fixed plate 350 and extends in the horizontal direction.

[0083] Figure 7 is a sectional view of the tactile response type electric switch shown from the direction of the B-B line. Figure 3

[0084] Referring to Figure 7 , the tactile response type electric switch according to the embodiment of the present application further includes one or more load detecting portions 40. The load detecting portion 40 detects the intensity of the touch input of the user input through the touch area 120 of the floating screen 12 and transmits the detected information to a control element (not shown). At this time, the control element can determine whether or not the operation of the actuator 50 described later is performed on the basis of the information related to the intensity of the touch input.

[0085] Preferably, the load detecting portion 40 can include a load detecting rod 42 and a sensor 44 disposed in a facing relationship with each other. The load detecting rod 42 can be configured to be integrated with the bottom surface of the bracket 16 and extend toward the substrate 32 inside the housing 34, and the sensor can be a non-contact distance sensor 44 mounted on the substrate 32 in a facing relationship with the load detecting rod 42 at a predetermined distance therefrom.

[0086] ​If a load is applied in the direction of pressing the floating screen 12 backward after inputting a touch in any touch area of the floating screen 12, the bracket 16 combined with the floating screen 12 and the load detecting rod 42 formed in the bracket 16 are moved downward by a small distance. At this time, if the distance d between the load detecting rod 42 and the distance sensor 44 detected by the distance sensor 44 changes more than a certain value, the control element recognizes a normal touch and applies an operation signal to the actuator 50 to be described later.

[0087] That is, when a force of pressing the floating screen 12 backward is applied after inputting a touch in any touch area of the floating screen 12, the control element judges whether the touch input through the floating screen 12 is a normal touch intended by the user from the distance information between the load detecting rod 42 and the distance sensor 44 which changes according to the magnitude of the force, and operates the actuator if it is recognized as a normal touch, thereby generating vibration.

[0088] Figure 8 (a) is a plan view of the vibration transmission plate, Figure 8 (b) is a side view showing the displacement state of the vibration transmission plate at the time of touch input, and ① position in the figure indicates a point at which the vibration transmission plate is connected to the damping member integrally formed in the housing, and ② position indicates a point at which the bracket and the vibration transmission plate are connected.

[0089] Referring to Figure 8 and the foregoing Figure 4 and Figure 6 , the vibration transmission plate 20 is connected to the fixing portion 30 through the first close connection member B1. Specifically, the first close connection member B1 is closely connected to the first close connection point (corresponding to ① position in the figure) which is a position corresponding to the connection support piece 356 formed in each damping member 35 from the lower portion, and accordingly, the vibration transmission plate 20 and the housing 34 constituting the fixing portion 30 are connected to each other through the first close connection member B1.

[0090] The vibration transmission plate 20 is also connected to the starting portion 10 floating from the fixing portion 30 by any distance through the second close connection member B2. Specifically, the second close connection member B2 is closely connected to the second close connection point (corresponding to ② position in the figure) spaced apart from the first close connection point ① from the upper portion by penetrating the bracket 16 constituting the starting portion 10, and accordingly, the vibration transmission plate 20 and the bracket 16 constituting the starting portion 10 are connected to each other through the second close connection member B2.

[0091] Here, the first tight connection point ① is a position corresponding to the connection support piece 356 of the damping member 35 provided in the housing 34, and thus can be located adjacent to each corner region of the vibration transmission plate 20, and the second tight connection point ② can be a position spaced apart by the same distance from the first tight connection point ① toward the longitudinal center line CL of the vibration transmission plate 20, respectively, provided adjacent to each corner region of the vibration transmission plate 20.

[0092] If a touch is input in any touch region of the floating screen 12, the vibration transmission plate 20 is bent and deformed downward (Bending deflection, see dotted line of (b)) with the force, with the first tight connection point ① as a fulcrum. The load detection lever 42 formed in the bracket 16 moves toward the non-contact distance sensor 44. At this time, as the intensity of the touch pressure, the degree of bending of the vibration transmission plate 20 and the distance between the load detection lever 42 and the non-contact distance sensor 44 become different. Figure 8

[0093] When the user touches and inputs, a displacement is substantially generated in the vibration transmission plate 20 in the interval between the first tight connection point ① and the second tight connection point ②. This is because, in the first tight connection point ①, the damping member 35 supports the vibration transmission plate 20 from below in the direction opposite to the touch input of the user, and in the second tight connection point ②, the bracket 16 grips the vibration transmission plate 20 from above in the same direction as the direction in which the user touches and inputs.

[0094] As the distance between the first tight connection point ① and the second tight connection point ② (the width D of the bending interval in which bending and deformation is substantially generated), the displacement amount (the degree of bending) of the vibration transmission plate 20 can also become different. More specifically, if the width D of the bending interval becomes large, the bending of the vibration transmission plate 20 is generated larger even if the touch input is of the same intensity, and conversely, if the width D of the bending interval becomes small, the bending of the vibration transmission plate 20 is generated smaller even if the touch input is of the same intensity.

[0095] Even if the touch input is of the same intensity, if the degree of bending of the vibration transmission plate 20 becomes different as the width D of the bending interval, the vertical direction movement distance of the load detection lever 42 becomes larger or smaller in proportion thereto, and finally even if the touch input is of the same intensity, it can be recognized as a normal touch and cause the actuator 50 to operate or not to operate. In other words, it means that the operation sensitivity can be adjusted by adjusting the width of the bending interval.

[0096] ​For example, in the case where the width D of the bending interval is a certain width, assuming that the force required to displace the vibration transmission plate 20 to a degree sufficient to be recognized as a normal touch by touching the touch area of the floating screen 12 is "1 N", in the case where the width D of the bending interval is greater than the certain width, the vibration transmission plate 20 can be displaced to a degree sufficient to be recognized as a normal touch even with a force less than "1 N".

[0097] Thus, the width D of the bending interval is appropriately adjusted at the design stage in the present application, so that the operating sensitivity can be made relatively dull or, conversely, sensitive. Therefore, the distance between the first close connection point 1 and the second close connection point 2, i.e., the width D of the bending interval, is not limited to a certain width, and it is clarified that the width can be designed to be different according to the requirements of the user or the required pattern of the electric switch.

[0098] The foregoing Figure 1 and Figure 2 The component denoted by reference numeral 50 in FIG. 50 is a vibration generating component, i.e., an actuator. When it is recognized that the user's touch is a normal touch, the actuator 50 generates vibration by control of the control element, and causes the support 16 and the vibration transmission plate 20 combined with the support 16 to vibrate in the horizontal direction, so as to be fed back to the user's finger in the form of a tactile stimulus.

[0099] Figure 9 (a) of FIG. 50 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the present application showing an enlarged view of a portion in which the actuator is installed, Figure 9 (b) is a perspective view showing a schematic model of the actuator.

[0100] Referring to Figure 9 , the actuator 50 applicable to the present application can include a fixed-side bobbin 52 and a start-side yoke 54. The fixed-side bobbin 52 is fixed to the housing 34, and can be a component in which a coil 53 electrically connected to the substrate 32 is installed or surrounded. Also, the start-side yoke 54, which is a magnetic body, can be fixed to the support 16 in a form in which it is spaced apart from the fixed-side bobbin 52 by a certain gap g and faces the fixed-side bobbin 52.

[0101] By introducing electric current to the coil 53 by control of the control element, the fixed-side bobbin 52 is magnetized by the electric current introduced to the coil 53. Thereby, by the interaction between the fixed-side bobbin 52 and the start-side yoke 54, an attractive force is generated, the start-side yoke 54 moves in the direction of the fixed-side bobbin 52, and the support 16 and the vibration transmission plate 20 connected to the support 16 also move in the direction of the arrow symbol as shown in Figure 9 (a).

[0102] Accordingly, a force is applied in the same direction to the start piece 354 of the damping member 35 connected to the vibration transmission plate 20, and thereby, as shown in Figure 10As shown in (b) of FIG. 4, the actuating piece 354 is displaced in the horizontal direction by a certain distance. For reference, Figure 10 (a) of FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which there is no user touch input, i.e., an initial state of the damping member 35 before the current is introduced to the actuator 50.

[0103] Then, if the current introduced to the actuator 50 is cut off by the control of the control element, the actuating piece 354 is displaced in the direction opposite to the displacement direction by the elastic restoring force of the damping member itself and the inertia, as shown in (c) of FIG. 4. At this time, the states of (b) and (c) of FIG. 4 are repeated, and at the same time, the actuating piece 10 is vibrated in the horizontal direction, and in this process, the kinetic energy is gradually attenuated, and the actuating piece 10 is restored to the initial state, as shown in (d) of FIG. 4. Figure 10 Figure 10 Figure 10

[0104] In the above, in explaining the present application, as a preferred example, the configuration in which the vibration transmission plate 20 is independently formed from the bracket 16 and attached to the bracket 16 through the additional tight coupling member B2 has been shown and explained, but even if the vibration transmission plate 20 is inserted into the bracket 16 and formed as one object shape with the bracket, the same effects and advantages explained above can be exerted, and thus it is clarified that such a modification can be included in the scope of the present application.

[0105] The conventional general haptic device that makes the touch input portion swing in the up-and-down direction and feeds back the haptic sensation has a problem in that the vibration force transmitted through the user's finger is weak, and in particular, there is a problem in that the larger the area of the touch input portion, the larger the blind zone in which the vibration force is weak, etc., and the larger the vibration deviation according to the touch position.

[0106] The application of the large-capacity vibration feedback device can solve the vibration deviation problem to some extent, but there is a problem in that the larger the capacity, the larger the size of the vibration feedback device, and the size of the electric switch in which the vibration feedback device is built-in can only be increased, and in particular, there is a problem in that the larger the capacity, the slower the reaction speed to the touch input, and thus a time difference is generated between the time point of recognizing the touch through the vibration feedback and the touch input time point.

[0107] On the contrary, the haptic reaction type electric switch according to the embodiment of the present application makes the actuating portion including the floating screen for inputting the user's touch vibrate in the horizontal direction with respect to the fixed portion including the housing, and thus even if the floating screen is configured in the form of a large-sized panel having a wide switch input or operation range, the user can be fed back the uniform switch operation feeling without deviation in each area.

[0108] ​​​Further, when transmitting the horizontal vibration feedback, there is no part directly interfering between the fixed part and the starting part, so that a more definite switching operation feeling without noise can be provided to the user, and when touching, the degree of the load inputted in a non-contact manner is calculated from the distance change between the load detecting rod and the sensor and the operation of the actuator is controlled, so that the misoperation due to the unintentional touch can be prevented.

[0109] Further, according to the vibration transmission plate functioning as a vibration transmission medium between the starting part and the fixed part, not only in the periphery of the vibration generating device, i.e., the actuator, but also in the touch area farthest from the actuator, the vibration loss is minimized and transmitted, and accordingly, the dead zone problem generated in the existing up-and-down vibration type haptic device can be more definitely solved.

[0110] In the detailed description of the present application above, only the specific embodiments according to the present application are described. However, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the specific forms mentioned in the detailed description, but rather should be understood to include all modifications and equivalents and substitutes within the spirit and scope of the present application defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A tactile response electrical switch, characterized by The present application relates to a tactile reaction type electric switch, and more particularly, to a tactile reaction type electric switch which is capable of providing a user with a tactile reaction in response to a user's touch input. The tactile reaction type electric switch includes: an activation portion including a floating screen having a touch area for inputting a user's touch and a support combined with the floating screen; a fixed portion including a base plate and a housing which houses the base plate and is equipped with two or more damping members; a vibration transmission plate interposed between the support and the housing so that the activation portion and the fixed portion are connected to each other; and an actuator provided inside the housing and operated in such a manner that the support and the vibration transmission plate combined with the support are vibrated in a horizontal direction in response to a user's touch input. The damping members are formed in a single object shape in the housing, and upper end portions thereof protrude toward an upper portion of the housing. The activation portion is supported in a state of floating from the fixed portion by the damping members protruding toward the upper portion of the housing. The damping members are displaced while the horizontal vibration is attenuated by the support and the vibration transmission plate being vibrated in the horizontal direction by the actuator.

2. The tactile reaction type electric switch according to claim 1, further comprising a load detection portion which detects a strength of the user's touch input through the touch area.

3. The tactile reaction type electric switch according to claim 2, wherein the load detection portion includes: a load detection rod which is formed in one body with a bottom surface of the support and extends toward the base plate inside the housing; and a non-contact distance sensor which is installed on the base plate in a manner of being spaced apart from the load detection rod by a predetermined distance and facing each other.

4. The tactile reaction type electric switch according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator includes: a fixed side wire cylinder which is fixed to the housing; and an activation side yoke which is fixed to the support and faces the fixed side wire cylinder.

5. The tactile reaction type electric switch according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vibration transmission plate is a plate-shaped body having a predetermined thickness and an opening having a certain area, and the opening allows light of a light source installed on the base plate to pass in a manner of being directed toward the touch area of the floating screen.

6. The tactile reaction type electric switch according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the damping member includes: a fixed sheet which vertically extends downward from an upper plate of the housing toward the base plate; an activation sheet which is disposed in parallel with the fixed sheet at a distance therefrom; a lower end bridge which connects lower end portions of the activation sheet and the fixed sheet to each other; and a connection support sheet which is bent at a right angle from an upper end of the activation sheet in a direction away from the fixed sheet and extends in a horizontal direction.

7. The tactile reaction type electric switch according to claim 6, wherein the damping member is disposed at one of four corner regions of the housing.

8. The tactile reaction type electric switch according to claim 7, wherein the vibration transmission plate and the housing constituting the fixed portion are connected to each other by a first tight connection member which is tightly connected to a first tight connection point of the vibration transmission plate corresponding to each connection support sheet of the damping member. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The vibration transmission plate and the bracket constituting the starting portion are connected to each other by a second tight connection member which is tightly connected to a second tight connection point which passes through the bracket and is spaced apart from the first tight connection point.

9. The electric switch of claim 8, wherein The second tight connection point is formed at a position spaced apart by the same distance from the longitudinal center line of the vibration transmission plate from the first tight connection point respectively disposed adjacent to each corner region of the vibration transmission plate.

10. The electric switch of claim 1, wherein The fixing portion further includes a lower cover which is combined with the case and has an installation space for installing the substrate formed therein, The substrate is attached to a substrate pulling lever which is protruded downward from the upper plate of the case by a certain height, and is installed in a suspended state in the installation space.

Images