Vibration presentation device and input device

Abstract

To provide a vibration presentation device and an input device, capable of increasing vibration force.SOLUTION: An input device 1 includes a vibration presentation device 2. The vibration presentation device 2 comprises a support body, a movable body, a vibration source (such as an actuator 50) provided between the support body and the movable body, a vibration regulating member (such as a leaf spring 30), and a biasing member (such as a compression spring 60). A biasing force Fb of the biasing member is set in a direction to increase vibrations caused by an excitation force Fe of the vibration source, so that the biasing force Fb is superimposed on the excitation force Fe generated when the vibration source is energized, thereby increasing the vibration force. Such an arrangement allows even a compact vibration presentation device to present necessary and sufficient vibration to an operator.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration presentation device and an input device that are used, for example, in a touch-type input device and that provide tactile feedback to an operator. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of a vibration presentation device that provides tactile feedback, Patent Document 1 describes a touch panel 201 that includes a touch sensor 203, an operation panel 204, a panel fixing bracket 208 on which the touch sensor 203 and the operation panel 204 are placed, a fixing portion 205, a support member (leaf spring 206) that supports the panel fixing bracket 208 on the fixing portion 205, and an actuator 207 that vibrates the operation panel 204 (see FIG. 7). In this touch panel 201, since the support member (plate spring 206) has spring properties only in one axial direction (X direction), it is said that variation in the vibration direction of the operation panel 204 can be reduced. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-206275 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, since operation panel 204 is supported by non-elastic leaf spring 206, there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain a large vibration force compared to the case where operation panel 204 is supported by an elastic spring such as a coil spring. This problem is particularly noticeable when the leaf spring is short, so when a leaf spring is used as a vibration suppression member, there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size of the entire device while maintaining the vibration force.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS The present invention provides a vibration presentation device and an input device that can solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional techniques. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The following describes aspects of the present invention that have been made to solve the above problems. The components employed in each aspect described below can be employed in any combination possible. Furthermore, the aspects or technical features of the present invention are not limited to those described below, but are recognized based on the entire specification and drawings, or the inventive idea that a person skilled in the art can grasp from those descriptions.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention comprises: A vibration presentation device that presents vibration to an operator, The vibration presentation device includes: A support; A movable body, a vibration regulating member that connects the movable body to the support body in a vibratory and undetachable manner; A vibration source that vibrates the movable body; A biasing member, The vibration source applies a vibration force to the movable body in a predetermined vibration direction, The biasing member applies a biasing force to the movable body in a predetermined biasing direction, The biasing direction is set in a direction in which the biasing force increases the vibration generated by the excitation force. It is characterized by the above.

[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, as a further feature, "The biasing member biases the movable body in the biasing direction even when the vibration source is not energized and the movable body is stationary." "The biasing force is set to a degree that does not displace the movable body when the movable body is stationary, or to a degree that the operator cannot recognize the displacement of the movable body." "The angle between the biasing direction and the vibration direction is within a range of -30 degrees to 30 degrees with respect to the vibration direction." "The angle between the biasing direction and the vibration direction is approximately 0 degrees with respect to the vibration direction." "The vibration source is a solenoid having a vibration force only in the vibration direction." "The vibration suppressing member is a leaf spring that limits the direction in which vibration is easy to occur to only one direction." "The vibration presentation device described above, and a switch provided on the movable body. "The vibration presentation device described above, and a touch panel provided on the movable body, Includes. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vibration presentation device and an input device capable of increasing vibration force. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view of a vibration presenting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 1 is a perspective view of a vibration presentation device according to an embodiment of the present invention from which a carrier 20 and a leaf spring 30 have been removed. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration and effects of a vibration presentation device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a modification of the vibration presentation device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a modified example of a vibration presentation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram and FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vibration presentation device according to a conventional embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] In this specification, in Fig. 2 etc., a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vibration presentation device is called the "left-right direction", a direction parallel to the lateral direction of the vibration presentation device is called the "front-rear direction", and a height direction of the vibration presentation device is called the "up-down direction". In Fig. 4(a) etc., the right direction is simply called the "right direction", the left direction is simply called the "left direction", the up direction is simply called the "upward direction", and the down direction is simply called the "downward direction". Note that the up, down, front, back, left and right directions do not necessarily coincide with the positional relationship and directions when incorporated into an actual device.

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the drawings.

[0013] A vibration presentation device and an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 6. In Fig. 3, for ease of explanation, a part of the carrier 20 is cut away, and the leaf spring 30 is not shown.

[0014] The input device 1 includes a vibration presentation device 2 and a touch panel 40 placed on the vibration presentation device 2.

[0015] The vibration presentation device 2 has a base 10, a carrier 20 facing the base 10, a leaf spring 30 that connects the base 10 and the carrier 20 so that the base 10 and the carrier 20 can vibrate, an actuator 50 that is a vibration source that vibrates the carrier 20, and a compression spring 60 that is fixed on the base 10 and engages with the carrier 20.

[0016] The base 10 is formed by pressing a thin metal plate, and has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the left-right direction and short in the front-rear direction. Two upwardly raised leaf spring fixing parts 11 are provided on each of the left and right ends of the base 10, and leaf springs 30, which will be described later, are fixed thereto by a method such as screwing. Furthermore, a plurality of through holes 12 are provided on generally both ends of the base 10 in the front-rear direction, and the base 10 is fixed to a housing (not shown) in the dashboard of the vehicle by a method such as screwing. In this embodiment, the base 10 corresponds to the support body in the present invention.

[0017] The carrier 20 is formed by pressing a thin metal plate like the base 10, has an external shape substantially the same as that of the base 10, and is provided above the base 10 so as to face the upper surface 10a of the base 10. Two leaf spring fixing parts 21 extending downward are provided at both left and right ends of the carrier 20, and leaf springs 30 described later are fixed thereto by a method such as screwing. A plurality of through holes 22 are provided at approximately four corners of the carrier 20, and a touch panel 40 described later and the like are fixed to the upper surface of the carrier 20 by a method such as screwing. In this embodiment, the base 10 and the carrier 20 are thin metal plates, but are not limited thereto. The base 10 and the carrier 20 may be made of resin, and are applicable as long as they have rigidity. In this embodiment, the carrier 20 corresponds to the movable body in the present invention.

[0018] A rising portion 13 is provided on the base 10 by raising a portion of the base 10 upward. A hanging portion 23 is provided on the carrier 20 by hanging a portion of the carrier 20 downward. The rising portion 13 on the base 10 side and the hanging portion 23 on the carrier 20 side face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, and a compression spring 60, which will be described later, is provided between the rising portion 13 and the hanging portion 23.

[0019] The leaf spring 30 is made of a thin resin plate or the like, and has elasticity in a specific direction. In this embodiment, the left-right direction is the easy vibration direction, and the front-rear direction and the up-down direction are the difficult vibration directions. The leaf spring 30 has locking portions 31 at both ends in the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the locking portions 31 are holes for screwing. The locking portion 31 at one end of the leaf spring 30 is fixed to the leaf spring fixing portion 11 of the base 10 by a method such as screwing, and the locking portion 31 at the other end of the leaf spring 30 is fixed to the leaf spring fixing portion 21 of the carrier 20 by a method such as screwing. Accordingly, the base 10 and the carrier 20 are connected in an undetachable manner. At this time, the carrier 20 is held on the base 10 so as to be vibrated only in the left-right direction due to the elasticity of the leaf spring 30. In this embodiment, the leaf spring 30 corresponds to the vibration-reducing member in the present invention. In this embodiment, the vibration-reducing member is the leaf spring 30, but is not limited to this. The vibration regulating member may be a coil spring, elastic rubber, or the like, as long as it can fix the carrier 20 to the base 10 so that it can vibrate and cannot be removed.

[0020] The touch panel 40 is an input device that combines a display device such as a liquid crystal display 41 with a touch sensor (not shown) that has the function of detecting an input position, such as a touchpad. It displays image information such as map information on the liquid crystal display 41 and detects the area touched by the operator, thereby detecting the operator's operating intention.

[0021] The actuator 50 includes a resin frame 51 having a substantially rectangular shape and suitable elasticity, a fixed piece 52 fixed to one long side of the resin frame 51, a movable piece 53 fixed to the other long side of the resin frame 51, and a solenoid 54 attached to the fixed piece 52 side. The movable piece 53 is made of a rigid magnetic material, and a portion of it faces the tip of the solenoid 54 with a predetermined gap 55 between them. The fixed piece 52 is fixed to the upper surface 10a of the base 10 by a method such as screwing, and the movable piece 53 is fixed to the lower surface of the carrier 20 by a method such as screwing.

[0022] When a current is applied to the solenoid 54, the actuator 50 generates an excitation force Fe in a predetermined excitation direction by attracting the movable piece 53 to the solenoid 54. In this embodiment, the predetermined excitation direction is the rightward direction. Accordingly, the excitation force Fe is transmitted to the touch panel 40 on the carrier 20 fixed to the movable piece 53. Vibrations corresponding to the transmitted excitation force Fe are generated on the touch panel 40, and the operator is presented with a tactile sensation corresponding to the operation. Note that the actuator is not limited to a solenoid, and may be, for example, a motor provided with an eccentric weight, a piezoelectric element, or another linear actuator.

[0023] The compression spring 60 is an urging member that is interposed between the base 10 and the carrier 20 and applies an urging force Fb to the carrier 20 in a predetermined urging direction. In this embodiment, the compression spring 60 has a coil spring shape that expands and contracts in the left-right direction, one end of which is fixed by any method to the rising portion 13 provided on the base 10, and the other end of which is fixed by any method to the hanging portion 23 provided on the carrier 20.

[0024] Even when the actuator 50 is stationary and not energized, the compression spring 60 applies a predetermined biasing force Fb to the carrier 20. The biasing force Fb when stationary is set to a magnitude that does not displace the carrier 20, or, even if it does displace the carrier 20, to a magnitude that does not allow the operator to recognize the displacement of the carrier 20. Specifically, the displacement of the carrier 20 when the biasing force Fb is applied is set to within 2 mm, and more preferably within 0.5 mm, based on the position of the carrier 20 when the biasing force Fb is not applied.

[0025] Fig. 4(a) is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the excitation force Fe of the actuator 50 and the biasing force Fb by the compression spring 60. In Fig. 4(a) and other figures, for ease of explanation, both ends of the base 10 are shown standing up. In this embodiment, the excitation force Fe of the actuator 50 and the biasing force Fb by the compression spring 60 are in substantially the same direction, and the angle between the excitation force Fe and the biasing force Fb is substantially 0° with respect to the vibration direction (rightward) of the actuator 50.

[0026] Since the vibration direction of the actuator 50 and the biasing direction of the compression spring 60 are substantially the same direction, the biasing force Fb is superimposed on the vibration force Fe generated when electricity is applied to the actuator 50. As a result, the biasing force Fb increases the vibration force due to the vibration force Fe, so that the vibration force of the overall vibration presentation increases, and necessary and sufficient vibration can be presented to the operator even with a small vibration presentation device.

[0027] In this embodiment, a compression spring 60 is used as the biasing member, but the present invention is not limited to this. A tension spring 61 may be used as shown in the schematic diagram of Fig. 4(b). In this case, too, by directing the excitation force Fe of the actuator 50 and the biasing force Fb of the tension spring 61 in substantially the same direction, the biasing force Fb can be superimposed on the excitation force Fe, thereby obtaining a larger vibration.

[0028] 5(a)-(c) are schematic diagrams showing modified examples in which the biasing force Fb is formed as a resultant force of a plurality of biasing members. In FIG. 5(a), a compression spring 60 is arranged on the left side of the carrier 20, and a tension spring 61 is arranged on the right side of the carrier 20. The biasing forces Fb provided by the compression spring 60 and the tension spring 61 are both in the same direction as the excitation force Fe of the actuator. In FIG. 5(b), a compression spring 60s with a large elastic force is arranged on the left side of the carrier 20, and a compression spring 60w with a small elastic force is arranged on the right side of the carrier 20. The large biasing force Fbs by the compression spring 60s and the small biasing force Fbw by the compression spring 60w are opposed to each other, but due to the difference in the elastic forces of the two, a composite biasing force Fbt in approximately the same direction as the excitation force Fe of the actuator 50 can be obtained. 5(c), compression springs 60 having the same elastic force are provided on both the left and right sides of the carrier 20, but by shifting the installation position of the carrier 20 to the left, the compression spring 60 on the left side is compressed more and has a larger biasing force Fbs. The large biasing force Fbs and the small biasing force Fbw of the two compression springs 60 are opposed to each other, but due to the difference between the two biasing forces, a composite biasing force Fbt in the same direction as the excitation force Fe of the actuator 50 can be obtained.

[0029] As described above, when multiple biasing members are provided, the composite biasing force Fbt provided by the multiple biasing members can be arranged to be in approximately the same direction as the excitation force Fe of the actuator 50, thereby superimposing the composite biasing force Fbt on the excitation force Fe and obtaining a larger vibration.

[0030] In addition, the biasing force Fb and the excitation force Fe of the actuator do not have to be in the same direction. In the modification shown in FIG. 6(a)-(b), the biasing force Fb by the compression spring 60 is inclined by about an angle α with respect to the excitation force Fe of the actuator. Even in such a case, the rightward component Fbr of the biasing force Fb is in the same direction as the excitation force Fe, so that the rightward component Fbr of the biasing force Fb is superimposed on the excitation force Fe, and a larger vibration can be obtained. However, if the angle α becomes too large, the rightward component Fbr of the biasing force Fb becomes small, so that the effect of increasing the vibration force decreases. Therefore, it is desirable to keep the angle α between the biasing force Fb and the excitation force Fe within the range of -30° to +30° with respect to the excitation direction (rightward) of the actuator 50. In addition, although the compression spring 60 is used in this modification, the same can be applied to the case where a tension spring 61 or a plurality of biasing members is used.

[0031] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and can be implemented in various other modified forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0032] In the embodiment of the present invention, the compression spring 60 and the tension spring 61 are used as the biasing member, but the biasing member is not limited to this. The biasing member may be any member having elasticity, such as a leaf spring made of metal or resin, rubber, sponge, etc.

[0033] In the embodiment of the present invention, the base 10 formed from a metal plate is used as the support body, but this is not limited to this. For example, the bottom plate inside the dashboard of the vehicle body or the inner wall of the housing of a car navigation system may be used as the support body. Furthermore, the location of the biasing member can be selected arbitrarily without departing from the object of the present invention.

[0034] In the embodiment of the present invention, the input device uses the touch panel 40, but the present invention is not limited to this. Other switches such as a touch sensor or a push switch may be placed on the carrier 20 to provide a switch with a vibration presentation function. The touch panel, the switch, etc. may be provided parallel to the upper surface 10a of the base 10, connected to the base 10 by a vibration regulating member, and engaged with a biasing member. In this case, the housing that houses the touch panel, the switch, etc. functions as a movable body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1 Input Device 2. Vibration presentation device 10 Base 10a top surface 11 Leaf spring fixing part 12 Through hole 13 Rising section 20 Career 21 Leaf spring fixing part 22 Through hole 23 Drooping part 30 Leaf Spring 31 Locking part 40 Touch Panel 41 Liquid crystal display 50 Actuator 51 Resin Frame 52 Fixed piece 53 Movable piece 54 Solenoid 55 interval 60 Compression spring 60s High elasticity compression spring 60w compression spring with low elasticity 61 Tension Spring 201 Touch Panel 203 Touch Sensor 204 Operation Panel 205 Fixed part 206 Support member 207 Actuator 208 Panel fixing bracket Fe Excitation Force Fb biasing force Fbt composite biasing force Fbs Large bias force Fbw Small bias force Fbr Rightward component of biasing force α angle

Claims

1. A vibration presentation device that presents vibration to an operator, The vibration presentation device includes: A support; A movable body, a vibration regulating member that connects the movable body to the support body in a vibratory and undetachable manner; A vibration source that vibrates the movable body; A biasing member, The vibration source applies a vibration force to the movable body in a predetermined vibration direction, The biasing member applies a biasing force to the movable body in a predetermined biasing direction, The biasing direction is set in a direction in which the biasing force increases the vibration generated by the excitation force. A vibration presentation device comprising:

2. The biasing member biases the movable body in the biasing direction even when the vibration source is not energized and the movable body is at rest.

2. The vibration presentation device according to claim 1,

3. The biasing force is set to a degree that does not displace the movable body when the movable body is stationary, or to a degree that an operator cannot recognize the displacement of the movable body.

3. The vibration presentation device according to claim 2.

4. The angle between the biasing direction and the vibration direction is within a range of −30 degrees to 30 degrees with respect to the vibration direction.

4. The vibration presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration presentation device is a vibration display device.

5. The angle between the biasing direction and the vibration direction is approximately 0 degrees with respect to the vibration direction.

4. The vibration presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration presentation device is a vibration display device.

6. The vibration source is a solenoid having the excitation force only in the excitation direction.

4. The vibration presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration presentation device is a vibration display device.

7. The vibration suppressing member is a leaf spring that limits the direction in which vibration is likely to occur to only one direction.

4. The vibration presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration presentation device is a vibration display device.

8. A vibration presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A switch provided on the movable body.

1. An input device comprising:

9. A vibration presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A touch panel provided on the movable body.

1. An input device comprising:

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