Vibration presenting apparatus

Abstract

To achieve an improved impact resistance and a reduced sound in a device requiring detection of a pressing operation.SOLUTION: A vibration presenting apparatus comprises: a device on which an operator performs a pressing operation; an actuator configured to give vibration to the device; sensors configured to detect the pressing operation between a first fix part fixable to the device and a second fix part fixable to the actuator; and a regulating part provided on a first fix part and configured to engage with the actuator when the device moves in a direction separates away from the actuator, so as to regulate the movement.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration presentation device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a configuration is known in which vibration is applied by a vibration actuator as a contact operation feeling (a feeling of contacting and operating) to the fingertip of an operator who has contacted a display screen displayed on a touch panel which is a sensing panel (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a portable terminal device in which a vibration actuator is attached to the back surface of a touch panel via a vibration transmission unit. In the vibration actuator of this device, a mover is disposed in a housing fixed to the vibration transmission unit so as to be reciprocally movable along a guide shaft disposed perpendicular to the touch panel. In the vibration actuator, although there is a possibility that a collision sound may be generated by causing the mover to collide with the housing in response to an operation on the touch panel, vibration is applied to the fingertip contacting the touch panel via the vibration transmission unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, in a vibration presentation device that performs vibration presentation in response to a pressing operation, there may be strong vibrations or continuous strong impacts from the outside as vibrations according to the use and usage conditions of the operating device. On the other hand, it is known that a vibration presentation device requires detection of a pressing operation on the screen. When a strong impact continues on the vibration presentation device, not only does the collision sound occur frequently, but excessive stress is applied to the sensor, resulting in malfunctions and the possibility of requiring maintenance such as repair or replacement in a short period of time.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration presentation device capable of improving shock resistance and silencing in a device that requires detection of a pressing operation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The vibration presentation device of the present invention a device that an operator presses, an actuator that imparts vibration to the device, a sensor that detects the pressing operation between a first fixing part that can be fixed to the device and a second fixing part that can be fixed to the actuator, a restricting part that is provided on the first fixing part and engages with the actuator to restrict the movement when the device moves in a direction away from the actuator, adopts a configuration including the above.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, in a device that requires detection of a pressing operation, shock resistance can be improved and silencing can be achieved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] (Embodiment 1) In this embodiment, an orthogonal coordinate system (X, Y, Z) is used for the description. The same orthogonal coordinate system (X, Y, Z) is also shown in the figures described later. In the following, the width, height, and depth of the vibration presentation device 1 having the vibration actuator 10 are the lengths in the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, respectively. The width, height, and depth of the vibration actuator 10 also correspond to the lengths in the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, respectively. Further, the positive side in the Z direction is the direction in which vibration feedback is given to the operator, and is described as the "front side" (or "upper side"), and the negative side in the Z direction is the direction in which the operator presses when operating, and is described as the "back side" (or "lower side"). In each component constituting the vibration actuator 10, the surface on the "front side" (or "upper side") is described as the "front surface" (or "upper surface"), and the surface on the "back side" (or "lower side") is described as the "back surface" (or "lower surface").

[0012] <Basic configuration of the vibration presentation device 1 having the vibration actuator 10> The vibration presentation device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a vibration actuator 10 and an operating device (a touch panel 2 in this embodiment) as a vibration presentation unit with which the operator makes contact operations. The vibration presentation device 1 is a tactile presentation device that imparts a contact operation feeling (also referred to as "tactile sensation" or "force sensation") to an operator who makes contact operations with the operating device via the operating device according to the use and usage situation of the operating device.

[0013] In the present embodiment, the operating device is a touch panel 2 that displays a screen and is operated by contacting the screen. The touch panel 2 is a touch panel such as a capacitive type, a resistive film type, or an optical type. Note that the touch panel 2 detects the contact position of the operator and is controlled by a control unit (including, for example, the microcomputer 220 shown in FIG. 17). In the present embodiment, the touch panel 2 is a capacitive touch panel. This control unit can obtain information on the touch position of the user via a touch panel control unit (not shown). Further, the screen 2a of the touch panel 2 is configured by a display unit such as a liquid crystal method, an organic EL method, an electronic paper method, or a plasma method. The touch panel 2 may be controlled by a touch panel control unit. The touch panel control unit controls display information (not shown) and presents an image corresponding to the type of presentation vibration to the operator on the screen.

[0014] The vibration presentation device 1 is used, for example, as a touch panel device of a car navigation system as an electronic device. The vibration presentation device 1 functions as a device that presents vibration to an operator who touches and operates on the screen 2a of the touch panel 2. At this time, as the vibration presentation device 1, any device may be used as long as it is an electronic device that gives a tactile sensation to the operator by presenting vibration to the operator who contacts the vibration target. For example, the vibration presentation device 1 may be a smartphone, a tablet computer, an image display device such as a television, a game machine with a touch panel, or a game controller with a touch panel.

[0015] Specifically, when a pressing object such as the fingertip of the operator contacts and operates on the screen 2a of the touch panel 2, the vibration actuator 10 is driven and vibrates correspondingly. By this vibration, a tactile sensation is given to the operator.

[0016] The vibration actuator 10 of the present embodiment applies various types of tactile sensations corresponding to the display image operated by the operator. For example, the vibration actuator 10 applies a tactile sensation as a mechanical switch such as a tactile switch, an alternate switch, a momentary switch, a toggle switch, a slide switch, a rotary switch, a DIP switch, a rocker switch, etc., corresponding to an image that is touched and operated. Also, in the case of a push-type switch, it is possible to apply the tactile sensations of switches with different degrees of depression.

[0017] Note that in the vibration presentation device 1, instead of the touch panel 2 as an operating device, an operating device without a display function and simply operable by the operator touching it may be used.

[0018] In the vibration presentation device 1, the vibration actuator 10 is disposed between the touch panel 2 and a base portion (not shown) disposed on the back side of the touch panel 2. The vibration actuator 10 is fixed to the base portion (not shown) by a fixing body 30.

[0019] <Vibration presentation unit (touch panel 2)> The touch panel 2 is fixed, on the back side, to the strain generating member 90 of the load detection unit K1 provided on the movable body 40 (see FIG. 2) of the actuator body A1 in the vibration actuator 10. In this way, the vibration actuator 10 is disposed so as to connect each other between the touch panel 2 and the base portion (not shown).

[0020] The touch panel 2 itself can be driven integrally with the movable body 40. The direction in which the operator's finger or the like touches and presses the screen 2a of the touch panel 2, for example, the direction perpendicular to the screen of the touch panel 2 (also referred to as the "surface normal direction") is included in the same direction as the Z direction, which is the vibration direction of the movable body 40 in the vibration actuator 10. The pressing direction is the minus Z direction in the vibration actuator 10.

[0021] Thus, according to the vibration presentation device 1 implementing the control unit, the touch panel 2, and the vibration actuator 10, since the touch panel 2 is directly operated, that is, the touch panel 2 is driven in the same direction as the finger contact direction together with the movable body 40, the touch panel 2 can be directly vibrated.

[0022] Therefore, when touching and operating an image displayed on the touch panel 2, the movable body 40 can be moved to apply vibrations that provide an operation feeling corresponding to the image to the touch panel 2. Note that the image may be an image of an object that provides a tactile sensation to a finger or the like when touched, an image of an object that moves while providing a tactile sensation by a touch operation, or the like. Thereby, the touch panel 2 can present vibrations to the operator and express a comfortable operation.

[0023] The touch panel 2 of the present embodiment has a contact position detection unit that can detect, without contact, the position of a finger (pressing object) of an operator who presses the screen 2a of the touch panel 2. The contact position detection unit is a proximity sensor that electrically detects the presence of a pressing object in the vicinity. In the present embodiment, the capacitance coupling with the operator's finger is detected to detect the position of the finger.

[0024] The capacitance sensor used in a normal capacitive touch panel has a sensitivity level that reacts at the position of a finger in contact with the screen. In contrast, the contact position detection unit of the present embodiment can detect even when the finger floats from the screen 2a at a predetermined interval without touching the screen 2a. This predetermined interval is set by making the sensitivity of the contact position detection unit that detects capacitance coupling higher than that of the capacitance sensor used for detecting a pressing object in contact with the screen in a normal touch panel. Thereby, the contact position detection unit has a detection sensitivity capable of detecting the contact position of a pressing object such as a finger even for contact through a substance that cannot achieve capacitance coupling. Based on the position of the finger detected by the contact position detection unit in this way, the movable body 40 of the vibration actuator 10 is driven by a control unit described later.

[0025] <Overall Configuration of Vibration Actuator 10> FIG. 2 is a front view of the vibration actuator, FIG. 3 is a front-side perspective view of the vibration actuator, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an actuator main body and a load detection unit in the vibration actuator. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the vibration actuator, and FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a coil assembly of the vibration actuator shown in FIG. 5.

[0026] The vibration actuator 10 is a flat plate or thin plate-shaped vibration actuator. When the Z direction is the thickness direction, it is arranged so as to face the back surface side of the touch panel 2 in the thickness direction.

[0027] The vibration actuator 10 includes an actuator main body A1 and a load detection unit K1. The load detection unit K1 is provided on a movable body 40 of the actuator main body A1 and functions as a movable part together with the movable body 40.

[0028] When the touch panel 2 is pressed, the vibration actuator 10 detects the strain of the strain member 90 by the strain detection unit 99, and the vibration actuator 10 vibrates according to the detection result of the strain detection unit 99, and imparts vibration to the touch panel 2. First, the actuator main body A1 will be described.

[0029] <Actuator main body A1> FIG. 7 is a front-side perspective view of the actuator main body of the vibration actuator, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 7.

[0030] In the present embodiment, the actuator main body A1 shown in FIGS. 2 to 8 is mounted on the vibration presentation device (electronic device) 1 together with the control unit, and functions as a vibration generation unit of a touch panel 2 (see FIG. 1), which is an example of an operating device.

[0031] The actuator main body A1 functions as an electromagnetic actuator of electromagnetic drive that linearly reciprocates (vibrates) the movable body 40 by driving the movable body 40 in one direction and moving the movable body 40 in a direction opposite to the one direction by the biasing force of members (plate-shaped elastic parts 50-1, 50-2) that generate a biasing force.

[0032] In response to a contact operation by an operator on the screen 2a of the touch panel 2, the touch panel 2 is vibrated, and the vibration of the touch panel 2 is transmitted to the operator to be felt, enabling an intuitive operation for the operator who touches the touch panel 2. For example, the touch panel 2 receives a contact operation by an operator on the touch panel 2 by a contact position detection unit and outputs the contact position. In this case, based on the contact position information output by the contact position detection unit and the drive timing, the control unit outputs an actuator drive signal to the actuator main body A1 and supplies a drive current so that vibration corresponding to the contact operation is generated.

[0033] The actuator main body A1 that has received the drive current supplied from the control unit generates vibration corresponding to the contact position output from the touch panel 2, transmits it to the touch panel 2, and directly vibrates the touch panel 2. In this way, the touch panel 2 receives the operation of the operator and, in response, the actuator main body A1 is driven.

[0034] When an actuator drive signal is input to the actuator main body A1 via the control unit, the movable body 40 is moved in one direction, for example, the minus side in the Z direction, against the biasing force. Also, when the input of the actuator drive signal to the actuator main body A1 is stopped, the actuator main body A1 releases the biasing force and moves the movable body 40 to the other direction side (the plus side in the Z direction) by the biasing force. The actuator main body A1 vibrates the movable body 40 and the operating device by the input and stop of the actuator drive signal. The actuator main body A1 drives the movable body 40 without using a magnet and vibrates the operating device.

[0035] The actuator body A1 includes a fixed body 30 having a core assembly 20 formed by winding a coil 22 around a core 24 and a base portion 32, a movable body 40 having a magnetic yoke 41, and plate-shaped elastic portions 50 (50-1, 50-2) as elastic support portions. The plate-shaped elastic portions 50 (50-1, 50-2) elastically support the movable body 40 with respect to the fixed body 30 so as to be movable in the vibration direction. Details will be described later. Although the elastic support portion is assumed to be plate-shaped, the elastic support portion does not have to be plate-shaped as long as it elastically supports the movable body 40 with respect to the fixed body 30 so as to be movable in the vibration direction. Also, the number of the plate-shaped elastic portions 50 (50-1, 50-2) constituting the elastic support portion is not limited. In the following description, the "plate-shaped elastic portions 50-1, 50-2" are also collectively referred to simply as the "plate-shaped elastic portion 50".

[0036] When an electric current is applied to the coil 22, the actuator body A1 drives the movable body 40 to move in one direction (for example, the negative Z direction, which is the direction approaching the base portion 32) with respect to the fixed body 30. Also, the movement of the movable body 40 in the direction opposite to the one direction (for example, the movement in the positive Z direction) is performed by the biasing force of the plate-shaped elastic portion 50.

[0037] When an electric current is applied to the core assembly 20, the actuator body A1 vibrates the yoke 41 of the movable body 40. Specifically, the movable body 40 is vibrated by the attracting force with which the core 24 excited by the energized coil 22 electromagnetically attracts the yoke 41 and the biasing force of the plate-shaped elastic portion 50 that attempts to return the yoke 41 displaced in the Z direction to the neutral position in the Z direction.

[0038] The actuator body A1 is configured in a flat shape with the Z direction as the thickness direction. The actuator body A1 vibrates the movable body 40 with respect to the fixed body 30 in the Z direction, that is, in the thickness direction as the vibration direction.

[0039] In this embodiment, the actuator body A1 moves the movable body 40 in one direction, i.e., the negative Z direction, by the attracting force of the core 24, and moves the movable body 40 in the reverse direction, i.e., the positive Z direction, by the biasing force of the plate-like elastic portion 50. Note that in the actuator body A1, a plurality of plate-like elastic portions 50 are arranged along a direction orthogonal to the Z direction, and the movable body 40 is elastically supported at positions point-symmetric with respect to the movable center of the movable body 40, but the configuration is not limited to this.

[0040] Also, in this embodiment, the actuator body A1 detects the displacement of the touch panel 2 being pressed as the strain of the strain generating member 90 by the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4 as the strain detecting unit 99, and moves and vibrates the movable body 40 in response to the detected strain.

[0041] <Fixed body 30> As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fixed body 30 includes a core assembly 20 having a coil 22, a core 24, and a bobbin 26, a base portion 32, and an engaged portion 35.

[0042] <Base portion 32> The core assembly 20 is fixed to the base portion 32. The base portion 32 is connected to the movable body 40 via the plate-like elastic portion 50 and supports the movable body 40 movably in the vibration direction. The base portion 32 is a flat member and forms the bottom surface of the actuator body A1, in other words, the bottom surface of the vibration actuator 10.

[0043] The base portion 32 has a mounting portion 32a to which one end portion of the plate-like elastic portion 50 is fixed so as to sandwich the core assembly 20 in the width direction (X direction). The mounting portions 32a are arranged at the same intervals in the width direction (X direction) from the core assembly 20 and at a position higher in the Z direction (i.e., the front side) than the bottom surface portion 32b of the base portion 32. Note that the interval from the mounting portion 32a to the core assembly 20 is an interval that becomes the deformation region of the plate-like elastic portion 50.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5, the attachment portion 32a has a fixing hole 321 for fixing the plate-like elastic portion 50 and a fixing hole 322 for fixing the base portion 32 to the base portion side (not shown).

[0045] The fixing holes 322 are provided at both ends of the attachment portion 32a so as to sandwich the fixing hole 321 in the height direction (Y direction), and communicate with a through hole (not shown) of a cylindrical fixing leg portion 324 protruding from the back surface side of the attachment portion 32a. Thereby, the base portion 32 is stably fixed to the base portion (not shown) entirely by a fastening member that fits into the fixing hole 322 through the fixing leg portion 324.

[0046] In the present embodiment, the base portion 32 is formed of a processed sheet metal such that one side portion and the other side portion, which are the attachment portions 32a, sandwich the bottom surface portion 32b and are spaced apart in the width direction (X direction).

[0047] A concave portion having a bottom surface portion 32b located on the back side of the attachment portion 32a is provided between the attachment portions 32a. The space inside the concave portion, that is, the space on the surface side of the bottom surface portion 32b, is a space for ensuring the elastic deformation stroke of the plate-like elastic portion 50 and, thus, the movable stroke of the movable body 40 supported by the plate-like elastic portion 50.

[0048] The bottom surface portion 32b is rectangular, and an opening 36 is formed at the center thereof, and the core assembly 20 is disposed in the opening 36.

[0049] The opening 36 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the core assembly 20. In the present embodiment, the opening 36 is formed in a square shape. Thereby, the core assembly 20 and the movable body 40 can be disposed at the center of the actuator body A1, and the entire actuator body A1 can be made substantially square when viewed from the front. Note that the opening 36 may be rectangular (including square).

[0050] Inside the opening 36, the lower part of the core assembly 20 (the divided body 26b of the bobbin 26 and the lower part of the coil 22) is inserted and fixed so that the core 24 is positioned on the bottom surface portion 32b in a side view. As a result, compared with the configuration in which the entire core assembly 20 is arranged on the bottom surface portion 32b, the length (depth, thickness) of the actuator body A1 in the Z direction is shortened by the amount that a part of the core assembly 20 is arranged in the opening 36. Further, the core assembly 20 is fixed by a screw (not shown), which is an example of a fastening member, with a part of it, here the lower part, fitted into the opening 36. Thereby, the core assembly 20 is firmly fixed to the bottom surface portion 32b in a state where it is difficult to come off from the bottom surface portion 32b.

[0051] <Core assembly 20> As shown in FIG. 6, the core assembly 20 is configured by winding a coil 22 around the outer periphery of a core 24 via a bobbin 26.

[0052] When the coil 22 of the core assembly 20 is energized, it vibrates (reciprocates linearly in the Z direction) the yoke 41 of the movable body 40 in cooperation with the plate-like elastic portion 50.

[0053] In the present embodiment, the core assembly 20 is formed in a rectangular plate shape. Magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 are arranged at both side portions separated in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular plate shape (corresponding to the X direction in the present embodiment).

[0054] The magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 are arranged to face the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47 of the movable body 40 with a gap G in the Z direction (see FIG. 8). In the present embodiment, the opposing surfaces (opposing surface portions) 20a and 20b, which are the upper surfaces, are close to the back surfaces of the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47 in the yoke 41 in the vibration direction (Z direction) of the movable body 40. Specifically, the surfaces of the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 are arranged to face each other with a gap at positions other than the notch 49 from the back surfaces of the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 8, with the winding shaft of the coil 22 oriented in the direction in which the mounting portions 32a spaced apart on the base portion 32 face each other (X direction orthogonal to the vibration direction), in a state where the core assembly 20 is disposed, the core assembly 20 is fixed to the base portion 32. In the present embodiment, the core assembly 20 is disposed at the central portion of the base portion 32, specifically, at the central portion of the bottom surface portion 32b.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 8, the core assembly 20 is fixed to the bottom surface portion 32b such that the core 24 is parallel to the bottom surface portion 32b and located across the opening portion 36 on the bottom surface portion 32b. The core assembly 20 is fixed in a state where the coil 22 and the portion wound around the coil 22 (core main body 241) are located within the opening portion 36 of the base portion 32.

[0057] Specifically, the core assembly 20 is fixed to the bottom surface portion 32b by fastening a screw 68 as a fastening member through the fixing hole 28 and the fastening hole 33 (see FIG. 8) of the bottom surface portion 32b in a state where the coil 22 is disposed within the opening portion 36. The fastening positions of the screw 68 are two positions on the axis of the coil 22.

[0058] The coil 22 functions as a solenoid that is energized when the actuator main body A1 is driven to generate a magnetic field. The coil 22 constitutes a magnetic circuit (magnetic path) that attracts and moves the movable body 40 together with the core 24 and the movable body 40. A drive current is supplied to the coil 22 from an external power source via a control unit. When the drive current is supplied to the coil 22, the actuator main body A1 is driven.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 6, the core 24 has a core main body 241 around which the coil 22 is wound, and magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 provided at both ends of the core main body 241 and excited by energizing the coil 22. The core 24 may have any structure as long as it has a length such that both ends become the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 when the coil 22 is energized. For example, it may be formed in a straight (I-shaped) flat plate shape, but the core 24 of the present embodiment is formed in a flat plate shape having an H shape in plan view.

[0060] When the core is of type I, at both ends (magnetic pole portions) of the type I core, the area of the surfaces (air gap side surfaces) on the side of the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47 facing each other with an air gap G therebetween becomes narrow. As a result, the magnetic resistance in the magnetic circuit increases, and there is a risk of a decrease in conversion efficiency. Further, when the bobbin 26 is attached to the core 24, the protruding portions for positioning the bobbin in the longitudinal direction of the core 24 so that it does not come out from the longitudinal direction disappear or become small, so it is necessary to provide them separately. On the other hand, since the core 24 is of type H, the air gap side surfaces can be expanded in the height direction (Y direction) longer than the core body 241 around which the coil 22 is wound at both ends of the core body 241, reducing the magnetic resistance and improving the efficiency of the magnetic circuit. Further, the coil 22 can be positioned simply by fitting the bobbin 26 between the portions protruding from the core body 241 in the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244, and there is no need to separately provide a positioning member for the bobbin 26 with respect to the core 24.

[0061] The core 24 has magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 provided protruding in a direction orthogonal to the winding axis of the coil 22 (corresponding to the height direction (Y direction) in the present embodiment) at both ends of a plate-shaped core body 241 around which the coil 22 is wound. (In short, an H-shaped core).

[0062] The core 24 is a magnetic body made of a soft magnetic material or the like, and is formed of, for example, a silicon steel sheet, permalloy, ferrite, or the like. Further, the core 24 may be composed of electromagnetic stainless steel, sintered material, MIM (metal injection mold) material, laminated steel sheet, electrolytic galvanized steel sheet (SECC), or the like.

[0063] The magnetic pole portions (attracting portions) 242 and 244 are magnetized by energizing the coil 22, and attract and move the yoke 41 of the movable body 40 separated in the vibration direction (Z direction). Specifically, the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 adsorb the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47 of the movable body 40 disposed to face each other via the gap G by the generated magnetic flux, and move them to the minus side in the Z direction.

[0064] In the present embodiment, the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 are plate-like bodies extending in the Y direction, which is perpendicular to the core body 241 extending in the X direction. Since the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 are long in the Y direction, the areas of the opposing surfaces 20a and 20b facing the yoke 41 are larger than those formed at both ends of the core body 241.

[0065] The bobbin 26 extends along the XY plane in which the core body 241 of the core 24 extends and is arranged to surround the core body 241 so as to be orthogonal to the vibration direction (Z direction). The bobbin 26 is formed of, for example, a resin material. Thereby, electrical insulation from other members made of metal (for example, the core 24) can be ensured, so that the reliability of the coil 22 wound on the bobbin 26 as an electric circuit is improved. By using a highly fluid resin as the resin material, the moldability is improved, and the wall thickness can be reduced while ensuring the strength of the bobbin 26. The bobbin 26 is formed into a cylindrical body that covers the periphery of the core body 241 by assembling the divided bodies 26a and 26b so as to sandwich the core body 241. The bobbin 26 is provided with flanges at both ends of the cylindrical body, and the flanges define the arrangement positions of the coil 22 surrounding the outer periphery of the core body 241.

[0066] <Movable body 40> The movable body 40 is arranged to face the core assembly 20 with a gap G in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction (Z direction). The movable body 40 is provided so as to be reciprocally movable in the vibration direction with respect to the core assembly 20.

[0067] The movable body 40 has a yoke 41 and includes a movable-side fixing portion 54 of the plate-like elastic portion 50 fixed to the yoke 41.

[0068] The movable body 40 is arranged in a state (reference normal position) of being suspended substantially parallel and spaced apart so as to be movable in the approaching and separating direction (Z direction) with respect to the bottom surface portion 32b via the plate-like elastic portion 50.

[0069] The yoke 41 is a magnetic path of the magnetic flux generated when the coil 22 is energized, and is a plate-like body composed of a magnetic material such as electromagnetic stainless steel, sintered material, MIM (Metal Injection Molded) material, laminated steel plate, electrogalvanized steel sheet (SECC), etc. In this embodiment, the yoke 41 is formed by processing an SECC plate.

[0070] The yoke 41 is suspended with a gap G (see Fig. 8) in the vibration direction (Z direction) with respect to the core assembly 20 by plate-like elastic parts 50 fixed to the adsorbed surface parts 46 and 47 separated in the X direction so as to face each other.

[0071] The yoke 41 has a surface fixing part 44 fixed to the distortion generating member 90 and adsorbed surface parts 46 and 47 arranged to face the magnetic pole parts 242 and 244 in order to be attached to an operating device (see the touch panel 2 shown in Fig. 1). The yoke 41 is formed in a rectangular frame shape having an opening 48 in the central part with the surface fixing part 44 and the adsorbed surface parts 46 and 47. Further, the adsorbed surface parts 46 and 47 function as support part side fixing parts for fixing the movable body side fixing part 54 of the plate-like elastic part 50 and supporting it by the plate-like elastic part 50 to the fixed body 30.

[0072] The opening 48 faces the coil 22. In this embodiment, the opening 48 is located directly above the coil 22, and the opening shape of the opening 48 is such that the coil 22 portion of the core assembly 20 can be inserted when the yoke 41 moves to the bottom surface part 32b side.

[0073] By configuring the yoke 41 to have the opening 48, the thickness of the actuator body A1, and thus the entire vibration actuator 10, can be made thinner compared to the case where there is no opening 48.

[0074] Also, in order to position the core assembly 20 in the opening 48, the yoke 41 is not arranged in the vicinity of the coil 22, and a decrease in conversion efficiency due to leakage magnetic flux leaking from the coil 22 can be suppressed, and high output can be achieved.

[0075] The face fixing part 44 has a fixing surface 44a fixed to the main body frame part 95a of the distortion generating member 90. The face fixing part 44 is plate-shaped, and in the present embodiment, it is arranged to face the touch panel 2 at a position surrounding the center of the operation surface of the touch panel 2. The face fixing part 44 is fixed to the touch panel 2 via the distortion generating member 90.

[0076] Specifically, the edge of the fixing surface 44a of the face fixing part 44 is arranged along the long side part of the main body frame part 95a and is fixed in surface contact with this long side part. The fixing surface 44a has a trapezoidal shape in plan view in the present embodiment, and is fixed to the distortion generating member 90 via a fixing member such as a screw 69 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) inserted into the face fixing hole 42.

[0077] It is preferable that the face fixing part 44 is arranged such that the center of the movable body 40 when viewed from the front and the center extending in the vibration direction (Z direction) of the movable body 40 are located on the same line as the center of the operation surface of the touch panel 2. Thereby, the displacement of the touch panel 2 can be received by the movable body 40 through the distortion generating member 90 on the entire front side.

[0078] In the present embodiment, the face fixing holes 42 are provided at positions on the diagonal or in the vicinity thereof outside the core assembly 20 when viewed from the front in the movable body 40.

[0079] The adsorbed faces 46, 47 are fixed to the plate-shaped elastic part 50 in a state of being arranged at positions facing the magnetic pole parts 242, 244 so as to be attracted to the magnetic pole parts 242, 244 when the magnetic pole parts 242, 244 of the core assembly 20 are magnetized.

[0080] The movable body side fixing parts 54 of the plate-shaped elastic parts 50-1, 50-2 are laminated and fixed to the adsorbed faces 46, 47 respectively. The adsorbed faces 46, 47 are provided with cutouts 49 for avoiding the heads of the screws 68 of the core assembly 20 when moving to the bottom face part 32b side. As a result, even when the movable body 40 moves toward the bottom surface portion 32b side and the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47 approach the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244, the movable body 40 does not contact the screw 68 that fixes the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 to the bottom surface portion 32b, and thus a movable region (movable stroke) of the yoke 41 in the Z direction corresponding to this can be secured.

[0081] <Load detection unit K1> The load detection unit K1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is provided integrally with the movable body 40 of the actuator main body A1, is interposed between the main body of the movable body 40 and the touch panel 2, and is fixed to the movable body 40 and the touch panel 2.

[0082] The load detection unit K1 includes a strain generating member 90 and a strain detection unit 99 provided on the strain generating member 90. In response to a pressing operation on the touch panel 2, the strain detection unit 99 detects the strain generated in the strain generating member 90. The detected strain is output to the control unit, and the control unit drives the actuator main body A1 according to the strain to generate vibration.

[0083] <Strain generating member 90> The strain generating member 90 functions as a strain generating body that generates strain when an external force is applied by a pressing operation on the touch panel 2.

[0084] The strain generating member 90 has a movable body side fixing portion (support portion side fixing portion) 92 (see FIG. 10) fixed to the surface fixing portion 44 of the movable body 40 and a presentation portion side fixing portion 94 fixed to the touch panel 2. The strain generating member 90 further has a strain portion 97 provided between the movable body side fixing portion 92 and the presentation portion side fixing portion 94. A strain detection unit 99 is attached to the strain portion 97 to detect the strain of the strain portion 97.

[0085] In the present embodiment, the distortion generating member 90 is formed into a rectangular frame-shaped plate by processing sheet metal. This shape is arranged so as to surround, on the back surface side of the touch panel 2, a portion (for example, the central portion of the operation surface on the touch panel 2) that is pressed on the touch panel 2 when fixed to the touch panel 2. In the present embodiment, the distortion generating member 90 is composed of sheet metal harder than the plate-like elastic member 50. Note that the distortion generating member 90 is a plate-like spring plate material in the present embodiment. Thereby, even when repeated vibration is applied, metal fatigue can be alleviated and reliability can be improved.

[0086] In the distortion generating member 90, connecting arm portions 95b are provided so as to project along the extending direction of the long side portions 952 from the four corners of a flat rectangular frame-shaped main body frame portion 95a including a pair of opposing long side portions 952.

[0087] The distortion generating member 90 has a movable body side fixing portion 92 that is fixed to the yoke 41 via screws 69 which are fixing members provided at the portions of the main body frame portion 95a to which the base end portions of the connecting arm portions 95b are connected. The distortion generating member 90 is fixed to the surface portion fixing portion 44 via the movable body side fixing portion 92.

[0088] On the connecting arm portion 95b, a distortion portion 97 and a presentation portion side fixing portion 94 are provided in order from the base end portion in the protruding direction.

[0089] The connecting arm portion 95b has a distortion portion 97 between the long side portion 952 of the main body frame portion 95a and the presentation portion side fixing portion 94, and a distortion detecting portion 99 is provided in a state of being attached to the distortion portion 97.

[0090] In the distortion generating member 90 of the present embodiment, since the main body frame portion 95a is fixed to the surface portion fixing portion 44 of the movable body 40 and the presentation portion side fixing portion 94 is fixed to the touch panel 2, the function as a distortion generating body is exhibited by the distortion portion 97. When the presentation portion side fixing portion 94 is displaced, the distortion generating member 90 (particularly the distortion portion 97) is pushed into the bottom surface portion 32b side together with the surface portion fixing portion 44 and is distorted as the plate-like elastic member 50 is deformed.

[0091] The warping member 90 has a rib 95c provided perpendicular to the main body frame portion 95a along the outer edge of the long side portion 952 of the main body frame portion 95a. The main body frame portion 95a is in a state of being reinforced by the rib 95c.

[0092] In the warping member 90, the fixing portion 94 on the display portion side is joined and fixed to the touch panel 2 via a fixing member 202 inserted through the fixing hole 942. As a result, the fixing portion 94 on the display portion side is joined to the touch panel 2 at a portion surrounding the center of the operation surface of the touch panel 2. Further, the position of the fixing portion 92 on the movable body side fixed to the movable body 40 is an inner region surrounded by the fixing portion 94 on the display portion side.

[0093] <Warping detection unit 99> The warping detection unit 99 is provided at the warping portion 97 of the warping member 90, and detects the warping generated by the load applied to the warping member 90 as a warping body in order to drive the actuator main body A1. The warping detection unit 99 has, for example, a plurality of warping sensors 99-1 to 99-4. Since the warping sensors 99-1 to 99-4 are provided at the warping portion 97, they are respectively arranged between the fixing portion 92 on the movable body side and the fixing portion 94 on the display portion side.

[0094] As described above, in the present embodiment, the warping member 90 provided with the warping detection unit 99 is formed of an integral spring plate material. Thereby, the positional accuracy of the arrangement positions of the warping sensors 99-1 to 99-4 on the connection arm portion 95b of the warping member 90 can be improved, and the accuracy during assembly can be improved. That is, unlike the case where the connection arm portion 95b as a warping body to be detected is configured by separating into a plurality of parts in the warping member 90, no variation occurs during assembly, and the assemblability can be improved.

[0095] Further, in the present embodiment, the warping detection unit 99 is provided on the warping portion 97 as a warping body whose warping is detected by the warping detection unit 99. That is, the warping detection unit 99 and the warping portion 97 are disposed between the touch panel 2 as a vibration display portion and the movable body 40, that is, between the fixing portion 92 on the movable body side and the fixing portion 94 on the display portion side.

[0096] As a result, the strain detection unit 99 is not disposed within the actuator body A1, and the strain generating body is separate from the plate-shaped elastic part 50. Therefore, the strain detection target does not receive the mass of the movable body 40, and the vibration pattern of the plate-shaped elastic part 50 is not affected. This makes it possible to avoid difficulties in designing the actuator body A1 and to realize various specifications of the actuator body A1.

[0097] The actuator body A1 is fixed to the touch panel 2, which is a vibration presentation unit, via a load detection unit K1 that integrates the strain detection unit 99 and the strain generating member 90. As a result, after the load detection unit K1 and the actuator body A1 are assembled separately and in parallel, they can be assembled with the vibration actuator 10. This eliminates the need to assemble the actuator body A1 after assembling the strain detection unit 99 or vice versa, as compared to a configuration in which the strain detection unit and the strain generating body are part of the movable body of the actuator body, thus improving the assembly efficiency.

[0098] When the touch panel 2, to which the surface fixing part 44 is fixed via the strain generating member 90, is operated, the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4 detect the amount of strain of the strain part 97 that is displaced together with the movable body 40 (yoke 41) as the amount of depression of the touch panel 2. The detected strain is output to a control unit or the like, and a drive current generated so as to be the amount of movement of the movable body 40 corresponding to this strain is applied to the coil 22, whereby the core assembly 20 attracts and moves the yoke 41.

[0099] In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there is a control unit that determines the amount of movement of the touch panel 2 using the strain detected by the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4 and realizes vibration feedback for contact, but it is not limited to this. The control unit may use another sensor capable of detecting the contact of the operator with the operating device to detect the amount of depression of the plate-shaped elastic part 50 corresponding to the actual amount of movement of the operating device, and use this detection result to realize a more natural tactile expression.

[0100] Also, based on the detection results of the sensors that use the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4 to detect the contact operation of the operator, that is, the amount of depression of the movable body 40, the vibration period of the movable body 40 (which may include the touch panel 2 as an operating device) when a drive current pulse is supplied by the current pulse supply unit of the control unit may be adjusted. Further, separately from the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4, an operation signal indicating the operation state may be output to the control unit so as to generate vibrations corresponding to the display form in conjunction with the display form of the contact position of the operator detected on the touch panel 2, and the control unit may control accordingly.

[0101] The strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4 may be provided at one location in the strain generating member 90 at the strained portion 97, that is, the portion between the movable body side fixing portion 92 and the presentation portion side fixing portion 94, but it is preferable to provide them at a plurality of locations. In the present embodiment, since the vibration actuator 10 is attached to the vibration presentation portion (touch panel 2), it is preferable to provide at least three or more radially equidistant positions around the center of the operation surface of the vibration presentation portion (touch panel 2). Thereby, the vibration actuator 10 can accurately detect the displacement of the touch panel 2 being pressed in terms of area.

[0102] In the present embodiment, the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4 are provided at the four strained portions 97 near the presentation portion side fixing portion 94 which is the fixing location with the touch panel 2. Thereby, the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4 detect the strain at the corner portions of the frame shape surrounding the center of the pressing operation area of the touch panel 2. Therefore, when a rectangular touch panel display is used as the vibration presentation portion like the touch panel 2, the actuator main body A1 can be attached to this display via the load detection unit K1 in a well-balanced manner. Thereby, the strain direction of the strain generating member 90 can be stably made to coincide in the direction perpendicular to the surface.

[0103] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the wiring of the strain detection unit 99. The strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4 are arranged on the strain generating member 90 and are located on the same plane respectively. The inclination sensors 99-1 to 99-4 each have a plurality of strain gauge parts (R-A1 to R-A4, R-B1 to R-B4, R-C1 to R-C4, R-D1 to R-D4) and are strain sensors with a full bridge connection.

[0104] The inclination sensors 99-1 to 99-4 are each connected in parallel to the power supply voltage Vcc and GND and are connected in parallel with each other, and are connected so as to output the change amount of the electrical resistance value that changes when a load is applied. As a result, the outputs from the respective inclination sensors 99-1 to 99-4 are averaged, resulting in stable behavior. Also, the output values can differ depending on the temperature for each of the inclination sensors 99-1 to 99-4, but since this temperature dependence can be mitigated by averaging, the temperature stability and thus the reliability of the behavior can be improved.

[0105] <Movement restriction unit 96> The movement restriction unit 96 restricts the relative movement between the yoke 41 and the base part 32 so that the movable body 40 does not move away from the fixed body 30 by a predetermined distance or more, that is, so that the yoke 41 does not move away from the base part 32 by a predetermined distance or more.

[0106] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged front view showing the movement restriction unit of the same vibration actuator, and FIG. 11 is a partially right side view showing the movement restriction unit as viewed from the C direction in FIG. 10. When the movable body 40 moves in a direction away from the base part 32, the movement restriction unit 96 engages with the engaged part 35 of the base part 32 via the buffer member 80, thereby restricting the movement of the movable body 40 in the direction away from the base part 32.

[0107] The movement restricting portion 96 extends from the presentation portion side fixing portion 94 provided on the tip side of the connection arm portion 95b with respect to the strain portion 97, toward the base portion 32 side (inner side) in a direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the extending direction (X direction) of the connection arm portion 95b in plan view. More specifically, the movement restricting portion 96 bends downward in the vertical direction corresponding to the vibration direction (Z direction) at a position near the presentation portion side fixing portion 94, and further bends toward the base portion 32 side in the Y direction at a position below the attachment portion 32a, and extends to a position facing the engaged portion 35 of the attachment portion 32a on the back side of the attachment portion 32a. Therefore, the movable body 40 is configured such that when the movable body 40 moves in a direction away from the base portion 32, the movement restricting portion 96 moves in the same direction and approaches the engaged portion 35. In the present embodiment, the engaged portion 35 is provided in the vicinity of the fixing hole 322 of the fixed body 30. More specifically, the engaged portions 35 are provided on both sides of the attachment portion 32a that are separated in the Y direction. The engaged portion 35 is provided in the attachment portion 32a so as to protrude in a flange shape in the Y direction from the position where the fixed leg portion 324 is attached. The fixed leg portion 324 functions as a base fixing portion that fixes the base portion 32 to the base side (predetermined location).

[0108] In other words, the direction (Y direction) in which the movement restricting portion 96 extends from the position of the presentation portion side fixing portion 94 is not on the extension line of the direction (X direction) in which the connection arm portion 95b extends from the presentation portion side fixing portion 94. And the movement restricting portion 96 and the strain portion 97 do not have a positional relationship of extending in opposite directions with respect to the presentation portion side fixing portion 94. In this configuration, even if the movement restricting portion 96 collides with the engaged portion 35 with an impact due to the generation of strong vibration or a strong external impact, the impact and reaction are less likely to be transmitted to the strain portion 97. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a steep stress being applied to the strain portion 97 and plastic deformation occurring in the strain portion 97, and thus it is possible to maintain the detection reliability of the strain detection portions 99-1 to 99-4 on the strain portion 97, and also suppress malfunctions during impact resistance of the vibration actuator 10.

[0109] The movement restricting portion 96 is provided with a buffer member 80. The buffer member 80 reduces the impact in the collision between the movement restricting portion 96 and the engaged portion 35 by elastic deformation, and is composed of, for example, an elastomer such as silicone rubber or butyl rubber. By configuring the buffer member 80 with silicone rubber or butyl rubber, damage caused by deterioration of the material can be prevented compared to other materials such as materials containing air bubbles such as sponge or foamed materials, and its effect can be sustained.

[0110] The movement restricting portion 96 engages with the engaged portion 35 on the fixed body 30 side with the buffer member 80 interposed therebetween.

[0111] On the other hand, on the fixed body 30 side, here in the base portion 32, a protruding engaged portion 35 that engages with the movement restricting portion 96 to restrict movement in the opposite direction to each other is provided on the attachment portion 32a. The engaged portion 35 engages with the moving movement restricting portion 96 via the buffer member 80 in the Z direction, that is, the thickness direction of the base portion 32.

[0112] The movement restricting portion 96 is disposed, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, so that a gap G1 is formed between the buffer member 80 and the engaged portion 35 when not driven. That is, the buffer member 80 is provided on the movement restricting portion 96 so as to be separated from the engaged portion 35 so as to come into contact with the engaged portion 35 when the movement restricting portion 96 moves in a direction away from the 32 base portion.

[0113] In this way, by providing the gap G1 and causing the engaged portion 35 to collide with the movement restricting portion 96 via the buffer member 80, it is possible to prevent an impact on the movement restricting portion 96 while maintaining the tactile feeling presented by the vibration presenting portion without reducing it. Also, the sound associated with the contact of both can be suppressed, and noise can be reduced.

[0114] That is, when a load is applied from the outside, before the core assembly 20 and the movable body 40 (mainly the yoke 41) come into contact, the movement restricting portion 96 is displaced so as to come into contact with the engaged portion 35 via the buffer member 80, so that the generation of a collision sound between the core assembly 20 and the movable body 40 can be prevented.

[0115] Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the movement restricting portion 96 may be disposed such that a gap is formed between the movement restricting portion 96 and the buffer member 80 when the vehicle is not being driven. FIG. 12 is a view showing a first modification of the movement restricting portion as viewed from the C direction in FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 12, a buffer member 81 configured in the same manner as the buffer member 80 is provided on the engaged portion 35 so as to be separated from the movement restricting portion 96 and to contact the movement restricting portion 96 when the movement restricting portion 96 moves in a direction away from the 32 base portion.

[0116] In this way, by providing the gap G11 and causing the engaged portion 35 to collide with the movement restricting portion 96 via the buffer member 80, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the configuration in which the gap G1 is provided between the engaged portion 35 and the buffer member 80.

[0117] Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the distance in the facing direction between the buffer member 80 and the engaged portion 35 may not be provided. FIG. 13 is a view showing a second modification of the movement restricting portion as viewed from the C direction in FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 13, a buffer member 80A may be disposed between the movement restricting portion 96 and the engaged portion 35 in a state where the buffer member 80A is in contact with both of them. The buffer member 80A shown in FIG. 13 is made of the same material as the buffer member 80.

[0118] Since the buffer member 80A is disposed between the movement restricting portion 96 and the engaged portion 35 without a gap, a force that strongly pushes up the movable body 40 is applied to the movable body 40 due to strong vibration or an external load. When the movable body 40 moves a distance longer than the gap, the impact can be stably suppressed. Further, the generation of a collision sound when the two come into direct contact with each other can be prevented.

[0119] Furthermore, since the buffer member 80A is provided so as to fill the space between the movement restricting portion 96 and the engaged portion 35, it is easy to manage the dimensions between the movement restricting portion 96 and the engaged portion 35 in which the buffer member 80A is interposed.

[0120] In yet another modification (not shown), a ring-shaped buffer member having a diameter such that the outer peripheral portion is positioned between the movement restricting portion and the engaged portion 35 may be externally fitted to the fixed leg portion 324.

[0121] When an impact is applied to the vibration presenting device 1, the touch panel 2 may move in the plane normal direction, and accordingly, the strain generating member 90 and the movable body 40 may move toward the touch panel 2 side. In this case, the movement restricting portion 96 that moves along with the movement of the strain generating member 90 engages with the engaged portion 35.

[0122] Thereby, the movement of the movement restricting portion 96 is suppressed, the movement of the movable body 40 via the strain generating member 90 is also suppressed, and it is possible to prevent a load from being applied to the strain portion 97 of the strain generating member 90. Further, the movement of the movable body 40 toward the fixed body 30 side (Z - negative direction) is suppressed by the abutment of the components with each other, such as the screw 68 on the fixed body 30 side abutting on the yoke 41. On the other hand, the movement of the strain generating member 90 toward the fixed body 30 side (Z - negative direction) when the vibration presenting device 1 receives an impact is restricted by the movement restricting portion 96 of the strain generating member 90 engaging with the engaged portion 35 on the back side of the engaged portion 35.

[0123] As described above, in the vibration actuator 10 of the present embodiment, since the buffer member 80 (or buffer members 80A, 81) is provided, even when strong vibration occurs or a strong external impact is applied, it is possible to more surely suppress the collision of the movement restricting portion 96 and the engaged portion 35 due to a strong impact, and it is possible to more surely suppress the plastic deformation of the strain portion 97 of the strain generating member 90. Thereby, the reliability of the vibration actuator 10 is improved, and a stable contact operation feeling can be imparted in the long term. That is, malfunctions of the vibration actuator 10 during impact resistance can be suppressed.

[0124] In addition, by disposing a buffer member 80 (or buffer members 80A, 81) between the movement restricting portion 96 and the engaged portion 35, the collision sound between the movement restricting portion 96 and the engaged portion 35 is less likely to occur, so that the quietness can also be improved. Further, the buffer member 80 (or buffer members 80A, 81) is disposed between the movement restricting portion 96 that moves in the same direction while approaching the engaged portion 35 as the movable body 40 moves in the direction away from the base portion 32 and the engaged portion 35, so that a strong impact applied in the vibration direction can be directly buffered.

[0125] Further, even if the touch panel 2 itself, which is a vibration presenting portion to which the vibration actuator 10 is attached, does not have a stopper function, the vibration actuator 10 itself can protect the touch panel 2 from a strong impact.

[0126] <Plate-shaped elastic portions 50 (50-1, 50-2)> The plate-shaped elastic portion 50 includes a pair of plate-shaped elastic portions 50-1 and 50-2 in the present embodiment, and the plate-shaped elastic portions 50-1 and 50-2 respectively support the movable body 40 movably with respect to the fixed body 30. The plate-shaped elastic portions 50-1 and 50-2 support the upper surface of the movable body 40 so as to be parallel to each other at the same depth as the upper surface of the fixed body 30 or on the lower surface side of the upper surface of the fixed body 30 (in the present embodiment, the upper surface of the core assembly 20). Note that the plate-shaped elastic portions 50-1 and 50-2 have a shape symmetric with respect to the center of the movable body 40, and in the present embodiment, they are members formed in the same manner.

[0127] For example, the plate-shaped elastic portions 50-1 and 50-2 may be arranged line-symmetrically with respect to the center (movable center) of the movable body 40 in the XY plane, and the number thereof may be more than two. Each of the plate-shaped elastic portions 50-1 and 50-2 is fixed to the fixed body 30 at one end side and fixed to the movable body 40 at the other end side, and supports the movable body 40 movably with respect to the fixed body 30 in the vibration direction (Z direction).

[0128] The plate-shaped elastic part 50 is provided between the movable body 40 and the fixed body 30 to ensure elasticity, and has a meandering shape part with a meandering shape that elastically deforms. The plate-shaped elastic part 50 elastically supports the movable body 40 with respect to the fixed body 30 such that the movable body 40 is movable in the Z direction in which at least one of the adsorbed surface parts 46 and 47 of the movable part 40 faces at least one end part (magnetic pole part 242 or magnetic pole part 244) of both end parts (magnetic pole parts 242 and 244) of the core 24. For example, the plate-shaped elastic part 50 may elastically support the movable body 40 with respect to the fixed body 30 (core assembly 20) such that the movable body 40 is movable in the Z direction in which at least one of the adsorbed surface parts 46 and 47 faces one end part of the core 24. The plate-shaped elastic part 50 is arranged to extend on the XY plane orthogonal to the vibration direction (Z direction).

[0129] The plate-shaped elastic part 50 arranges the yoke 41 substantially parallel to the magnetic pole parts 242 and 244 so as to face the magnetic pole parts 242 and 244 in the vibration direction (Z direction) with a gap G with respect to the magnetic pole parts 242 and 244 of the core 24 of the fixed body 30. The plate-shaped elastic part 50 supports the lower surface of the movable body 40 to be movable in the vibration direction at a position on the bottom surface part 32b side from a level substantially the same as the depth level of the upper surface of the core assembly 20.

[0130] The plate-shaped elastic part 50 is a leaf spring (spring plate material), and has a fixed body side fixing part 52, a movable body side fixing part 54, and a meandering elastic arm part 56 as a meandering shape part that connects the fixed body side fixing part 52 and the movable body side fixing part 54.

[0131] The plate-shaped elastic part 50 attaches the fixed body side fixing part 52 to the surface of the attachment part 32a, attaches the movable body side fixing part 54 to the surfaces of the adsorbed surface parts 46 and 47 of the yoke 41, and attaches the movable body 40 with the elastic arm part 56 parallel to the bottom surface part 32b.

[0132] The fixed body side fixing part 52 is fixed by surface contact with the attachment part 32a and joining with a screw 62, and the movable body side fixing part 54 is fixed by surface contact with the adsorbed surface parts 46 and 47 and joining with a screw 64.

[0133] The elastic arm portion 56 has a meandering shape portion, thereby ensuring a length that enables deformation necessary for the vibration of the movable body 40 between the fixed body side fixing portion 52 and the movable body side fixing portion 54 and in a plane (XY plane formed by the X direction and the Y direction) orthogonal to the vibration direction.

[0134] Specifically, the elastic arm portion 56 has a shape that extends and folds back in the facing direction between the fixed body side fixing portion 52 and the movable body side fixing portion 54. In the elastic arm portion 56, the end portions joined to the fixed body side fixing portion 52 and the movable body side fixing portion 54 are formed at positions shifted in the Y direction. The elastic arm portion 56 is disposed at a point-symmetric or line-symmetric position with respect to the center of the movable body 40.

[0135] As a result, since the movable body 40 is supported on both sides by the elastic arm portion 56 having a meandering spring, stress dispersion during elastic deformation becomes possible. That is, the plate-like elastic portion 50 can move the movable body 40 in the vibration direction (Z direction) without inclining with respect to the core assembly 20, and the reliability of the vibration state can be improved.

[0136] The plate-like elastic portion 50 has at least two or more elastic arm portions 56 respectively. Thereby, compared with the case where the plate-like elastic portion 50 has one elastic arm portion one by one, the stress during elastic deformation is dispersed, the reliability can be improved, the balance of support for the movable body 40 is improved, and the stability can be improved.

[0137] In the present embodiment, the plate-like elastic portion 50 is made of a magnetic material. Further, the movable body side fixing portion 54 of the plate-like elastic portion 50 is disposed above both end portions (magnetic pole portions 242, 244) of the core 24 and functions as a magnetic path. In the present embodiment, the movable body side fixing portion 54 is fixed in a state of being laminated above the adsorbed surface portions 46, 47. Thereby, the thickness (Z direction, length in the vibration direction) H (see FIG. 8) of the adsorbed surface portions 46, 47 facing the magnetic pole portions 242, 244 of the core assembly can be increased as the thickness of the magnetic material.

[0138] In the present embodiment, since the thickness of the plate-like elastic portion 50 is the same as the thickness of the yoke 41, the cross-sectional area of the magnetic body portion facing the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 can be doubled. As a result, compared with the case where the leaf spring is non-magnetic, the magnetic circuit can be expanded, the deterioration of characteristics due to magnetic saturation in the magnetic circuit can be alleviated, and the output can be improved.

[0139] <Magnetic Circuit of Vibration Actuator 10> Further, the movable body side fixing portion 54 is disposed so as to cover, from above, the portion where the notch portion 49 is formed among the portions facing the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 in the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47. Thereby, when the coil 22 is energized, the magnetic flux passing through the notch portion 49 can be received.

[0140] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the magnetic circuit in the vibration actuator 10. Note that FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the actuator body A1 showing the portion cut along the line B-B in FIG. 7, and the magnetic circuit has the same magnetic flux flow M as the portion not shown and the portion shown.

[0141] Further, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the movement of the movable body 40 by the magnetic circuit. Specifically, FIG. 15A is a diagram showing a state in which the movable body 40 is held at a position separated from the core assembly 20 by the plate-like elastic portion 50, and FIG. 15B shows the movable body 40 that has been attracted and moved toward the core assembly 20 by the magnetomotive force of the magnetic circuit.

[0142] Specifically, when the coil 22 is energized, the core 24 is excited to generate a magnetic field, and both ends of the core 24 become magnetic poles. For example, in FIG. 14, in the core 24, the magnetic pole portion 242 becomes the N pole, and the magnetic pole portion 244 becomes the S pole. Then, a magnetic circuit indicated by the magnetic flux flow M is formed between the core assembly 20 and the yoke 41. The magnetic flux flow M in this magnetic circuit flows from the magnetic pole portion 242 to the attracted surface portion 46 of the yoke 41 facing it, passes through the surface fixing portion 44 of the yoke 41, and reaches from the attracted surface portion 47 to the magnetic pole portion 244 facing the attracted surface portion 47. In the present embodiment, the plate-like elastic portion 50 is also a magnetic material. Therefore, the magnetic flux (indicated by the magnetic flux flow M) that has flowed to the attracted surface portion 46 passes through the attracted surface portion 46 of the yoke 41 and the movable body side fixing portion 54, and from both ends of the attracted surface portion 46, through the surface fixing portion 44, to both ends of the attracted surface portion 47 and the movable body side fixing portion 54 of the plate-like elastic portion 50-2.

[0143] Thereby, based on the principle of the electromagnetic solenoid, the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 of the core assembly 20 generate an attractive force F that attracts the attracted surface portions 46 and 47 of the yoke 41. Then, the attracted surface portions 46 and 47 of the yoke 41 are attracted by both the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 of the core assembly 20. As a result, the coil 22 is inserted into the opening 48 of the yoke 41, and the movable body 40 including the yoke 41 moves in the direction of the attractive force F (minus Z direction) against the biasing force of the plate-like elastic portion 50 (see FIGS. 15A and 15B).

[0144] Also, when the energization of the coil 22 is released, the magnetic field disappears, the attractive force F of the movable body 40 by the core assembly 20 disappears, and due to the biasing force of the plate-like elastic portion 50, it moves back to its original position (moves in the plus Z direction opposite to the direction of the attractive force F).

[0145] By repeating this, in the actuator body A1, the movable body 40 can reciprocate to generate vibration in the vibration direction (Z direction).

[0146] By reciprocally moving the movable body 40 linearly, the touch panel 2, which is an operating device to which the movable body 40 is fixed, also displaces in the Z direction following the movable body 40. In the present embodiment, the displacement of the movable body 40 due to driving, that is, the displacement amount of the touch panel 2, is in the range of 0.03 mm to 0.3 mm.

[0147] This range of displacement amounts is a range in which vibrations corresponding to the display pressed by the operator can be imparted on the screen 2a of the touch panel 2, which is an operating device. For example, when the display to be pressed by the operator on the screen 2a is a mechanical button or various switches, it is a range of amplitudes that can impart the same tactile sensation as when actually pressing these mechanical buttons or various switches. This range is set based on the fact that if the amplitude displacement of the movable body 40 is small, the tactile sensation will be insufficient, and if it is large, it will feel uncomfortable.

[0148] In the actuator main body A1, by arranging the attracted surface portions 46 and 47 of the yoke 41 close to the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 of the core assembly 20, the magnetic circuit efficiency can be increased and high output can be achieved. Also, in the actuator main body A1, since no magnet is used, the structure is low-cost.

[0149] The meandering spring, which is the plate-shaped elastic portion 50, enables stress dispersion and can improve reliability. In particular, since the movable body 40 is supported by a plurality of plate-shaped elastic portions 50-1 and 50-2, stress dispersion can be made more effectively possible. In this way, the actuator main body A1 can provide a direct tactile sensation to the operator who contacts the screen 2a in the vertical direction by driving in the vertical direction.

[0150] A core assembly 20 having a core 24 around which a coil 22 is wound is fixed to a fixed body 30, and this core assembly 20 is disposed within an opening 48 of a yoke 41 of a movable body 40 that is supported by a plate-shaped elastic portion 50 so as to be movable in the Z direction with respect to the fixed body 30. As a result, in order to generate magnetism and drive the movable body in the Z direction, there is no need to stack the members provided on each of the fixed body and the movable body in the Z direction (for example, arranging the coil and the magnet to face each other in the Z direction). Therefore, the thickness of the actuator body A1 in the Z direction as an electromagnetic actuator can be reduced. Further, by reciprocally linearly moving the movable body 40 without using a magnet, vibration as a tactile feeling can be imparted to the operating device. In this way, since the support structure is simple, the design becomes simple, space can be saved, and the actuator body A1 can be made thinner. Further, since it is not an actuator using a magnet (it is an actuator having no permanent magnet), the cost can be reduced as compared with a configuration using a magnet.

[0151] <Driving Principle of Vibration Actuator 10> The driving principle of the actuator body A1 will be briefly described below. The actuator body A1, that is, the vibration actuator 10, can also be driven by generating a resonance phenomenon using pulses by using the following equations of motion and circuit equations. Note that the operation is not resonance driving, but expresses the operation feeling of a mechanical switch displayed on a touch panel as an operating device. In the present embodiment, it is driven by inputting a plurality of current pulses via a control unit (for example, the microcomputer 220 shown in FIG. 17).

[0152] Note that the movable body 40 in the actuator body A1 performs a reciprocating motion based on equations (1) and (2).

[0153]

Equation

[0154]

Equation

[0155] That is, the mass m [kg], displacement x(t) [m], thrust constant K f [N / A], current i(t) [A], spring constant K sp [N / m], damping coefficient D [N / (m / s)], etc. can be appropriately changed within the range that satisfies Equation (1). Also, voltage e(t) [V], resistance R [Ω], inductance L [H], back electromotive force constant K e [V / (rad / s)] can be appropriately changed within the range that satisfies Equation (2).

[0156] Thus, it is determined by the actuator body A1, the mass m of the movable body 40, and the spring constant K of the metal spring (elastic body, leaf spring in this embodiment) as the plate-like elastic part 50. sp It is determined by.

[0157] Also, in the actuator body A1, screws 62 and 64 as fastening members are used for fixing the base part 32 and the plate-like elastic part 50, and for fixing the plate-like elastic part 50 and the movable body 40. Thereby, in order for the movable body 40 to be driven, the plate-like elastic part 50 that needs to be firmly fixed to the fixed body 30 and the movable body 40 can be mechanically and firmly fixed in a state where rework is possible.

[0158] <Control of the Vibration Actuator> The actuator body A1 is controlled by a control unit, and the control unit drives an operating device that is elastically vibratably supported in one direction of its vibration direction.

[0159] In the vibration actuator 10, a drive current is supplied to the coil 22 in response to a contact operation of the operating device to generate a magnetic field, and a movable body 40 capable of elastic vibration is moved in one direction, here the minus side in the Z direction, with respect to the fixed body 30, and is moved to the plus side in the Z direction by eliminating the magnetic field. Thereby, when the operator touches the touch panel 2 (see FIG. 1), vibration is imparted as a tactile sensation. In the present embodiment, the contact operation is a signal detected by the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4, but in addition to this, for example, a signal indicating the contact state input from the touch panel 2 may be used.

[0160] In the vibration actuator 10, a single current pulse or a plurality of current pulses as an actuator drive signal for driving the vibration actuator 10 are supplied to the coil 22 by the control unit. In the present embodiment, the actuator drive signal is constituted by a series of a plurality of current pulses.

[0161] When the current pulse is supplied to the coil 22, the movable body 40 is pulled and displaced toward the coil 22 side, that is, the minus side in the Z direction, by the magnetic attraction force against the biasing force of the plate-like elastic portion 50. In accordance with this, the touch panel (vibration presentation unit) fixed to the movable body 40 also moves in the plus side in the Z direction with respect to a base (not shown) to which the fixed body 30 is fixed.

[0162] Further, by stopping the supply of the drive current to the coil 22, the biasing force is released, and the holding state of the movable body 40 at the position on the minus side in the Z direction with respect to the reference position is released. Thereby, the movable body 40 is biased and moved in the direction opposite to the pulled-in direction (the minus side in the Z direction), that is, the plus side in the Z direction, by the biasing force of the plate-like elastic portion 50, and vibration is fed back.

[0163] The actuator drive signal can be generated in various vibration modes by the amplitude of each pulse in a single current pulse or a series of multiple current pulses, each wavelength, each supply timing, etc., and can be supplied to the actuator body A1. As a result, the vibration of the actuator body A1 is imparted to the operator as a physical sensation.

[0164] For example, the control unit includes a current pulse supply unit and a voltage pulse application unit. The current pulse supply unit supplies a plurality of drive current pulses to the coil 22 of the vibration actuator 10 as a drive current for driving the operating device (vibration presentation unit) in response to a contact operation of the operating device.

[0165] The voltage pulse application unit intermittently applies a plurality of control voltage pulses for generating each single current pulse or a series of multiple current pulses constituting the actuator drive signal to the current pulse supply unit.

[0166] <Drive Circuit of Actuator Body A1> FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a drive circuit of the actuator body.

[0167] The drive circuit shown in FIG. 16 is included in the control unit. The drive circuit includes a switching element 12 as a current pulse supply unit constituted by a MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor), a signal generation unit 14 as a voltage pulse application unit, resistors R1, R2, and SBD (Schottky Barrier Diodes). This drive circuit is an example of a specific configuration of the actuator driver 230 described later.

[0168] In the control unit, the signal generation unit 14 connected to the power supply voltage Vcc is connected to the gate of the switching element 12. The switching element 12 is a discharge switching switch. The switching element 12 is connected to the actuator main body A1 (denoted as [Actuator] in FIG. 16) and is connected to the SBD, and a voltage is supplied from the power supply unit Vact to the vibration actuator, specifically, it is connected to the actuator main body A1.

[0169] Note that although not shown in the figure, the control unit may include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. for controlling the operations of the components of the vibration presentation device 1. The CPU reads out a program corresponding to the processing content from the ROM and expands it in the RAM, and in cooperation with the expanded program, controls the operations of the components of the vibration presentation device 1 including the vibration actuator 10. At this time, various data including various vibration decay period generation patterns stored in a storage unit (not shown) are referred to. The storage unit (not shown) may be composed of, for example, a non-volatile semiconductor memory (so-called flash memory), etc. For example, various pulse waveform data of a plurality of patterns of a plurality of pulse trains are stored in the storage unit, the ROM, or the RAM, etc. The ROM stores various programs including a vibration presentation program for driving the actuator main body A1 to present vibration and for controlling the vibration presentation device 1. As the vibration presentation program, for example, it is a program for reading out pulse waveform data for generating an actuator drive signal for generating vibration corresponding to the contact information when information indicating the contact state is input from the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4.

[0170] In addition, as the vibration presentation program, for example, there are a program for combining the read data to generate an actuator drive signal corresponding to the contact information, a program for supplying the generated actuator drive signal to the coil 22, and the like. The actuator drive signal is applied to the coil 22 via a drive circuit that drives the actuator main body A1 as a combination of a plurality of current pulses. The CPU (for example, the microcomputer 220 described later) may control the operation of the components of the vibration presentation device 1 using these programs and data, or may control the current pulse supply unit and the voltage pulse application unit. For example, signals from the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4 are amplified by an amplification unit (for example, the amplification unit (amplifier) 250 described later), subjected to analog-to-digital conversion by a conversion unit (for example, the conversion unit (ADC) 260 described later), output to the CPU, and the vibration actuator 10 is vibrated by the drive circuit shown in FIG. 16.

[0171] The control unit supplies a current pulse to the coil 22 to drive the movable body 40 to be displaced in one direction (-Z direction, the negative side of the Z direction) in the vibration direction against the biasing force of the plate-shaped elastic part 50. During the supply of the current pulse, the displacement of the movable body 40 in one direction in the vibration direction continues. By stopping the supply of the current pulse, that is, turning off the input of the current pulse to the coil 22, the force for displacing the movable body 40 in one direction in the vibration direction is released. Turning off the input of the current pulse means the timing when the voltage for generating the current pulse becomes off. At the time when the voltage becomes off, the current pulse is not completely off but is in a decaying state.

[0172] When the voltage is turned off, the movable body 40 moves and is displaced in the other direction (Z direction, the positive side of the Z direction) in the vibration direction by the biasing force of the plate-shaped elastic part 50 accumulated at the maximum displaceable position in the pulling-in direction (negative side of the Z direction). A strong vibration is propagated to the touch panel (operating device) 2 through the movable body 40 that has moved to the other direction side on the operating device side, and a tactile sensation is imparted to the operator.

[0173] The control unit supplies one or more current pulses to the coil 22 in response to the operator's contact with the touch panel screen based on the information from the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4. The control unit supplies the first pulse during the vibration of the movable body 40, and in addition, adjusts the vibration and the like that remains and continues even after the supply of the first pulse is stopped by the pulses supplied thereafter.

[0174] <Schematic Configuration of the Control System of the Vibration Presentation Device 1> FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically showing the control system of the vibration presentation device 1.

[0175] The vibration presentation device 1 includes a tactile presentation unit 210, a strain detection unit 99, an amplifier unit (amplifier) 250, an AD conversion unit (ADC) 260, a microcomputer 220, an actuator driver 230, and an actuator main body A1. An example of the tactile presentation unit 210 is the touch panel 2 described above.

[0176] For example, the touch panel 2 as the tactile presentation unit 210 is assumed to have a contact position detection unit (not shown) that receives the operator's contact operation on the touch panel 2 and outputs the contact position. The signal from the contact position detection unit (not shown) is output to the microcomputer 220 or the control unit of the entire device. The strain detection unit 99 detects the strain of the strain generating member 90 in the load detection unit K1 when the tactile presentation unit 210 is pressed, and the detected signal is input to the microcomputer 220 including the control unit via the amplifier unit 250 and the ADC 260.

[0177] The microcomputer 220 controls the actuator driver 230 so that vibrations corresponding to the contact operation are generated in response to the input signals, that is, the contact position information from the contact position detection unit, the drive timing, and the strain signal. That is, the microcomputer 220 outputs an actuator drive signal to the actuator (actuator main body A1) via the actuator driver 230 to supply a drive current.

[0178] The actuator body A1 that has received the drive current supplied from the actuator driver 230 transmits vibration to the tactile presentation unit 210 and vibrates it, thereby presenting, at the tactile presentation unit 210, vibration corresponding to the contact position output from the tactile presentation unit 210. In this way, the actuator body A1 receives the operation of the operator received by the tactile presentation unit 210 such as a touch panel and drives accordingly.

[0179] When an actuator drive signal is input to the actuator body A1, the actuator body A1 moves the movable body 40, specifically, the yoke 41 and the strain generating member 90, in one direction, for example, the negative Z direction, against the biasing force by the magnetic attractive force.

[0180] Also, when the input of the actuator drive signal to the actuator body A1 is stopped, the actuator body A1 releases the biasing force and moves the movable body 40 to the other direction side (the positive Z direction side) by the biasing force. The actuator body A1 vibrates the movable body 40 and the operating device by inputting and stopping the actuator drive signal. The actuator body A1 drives the movable body 40 without using a magnet and vibrates the operating device.

[0181] Note that, in the embodiment, the actuator drive signal corresponds to a series of a plurality of drive current pulses (also referred to as "current pulses") supplied to the coil 22 as a drive current for driving the movable body and the operating device. In the actuator body A1, when a current pulse is supplied to the coil 22, the movable body moves in one direction. By repeating this, the movable body vibrates.

[0182] In this way, the vibration presentation device 1 of the present embodiment realizes a realistic tactile sensation expression such as the feeling of a switch by a realistic tactile sensation expression based on load detection.

[0183] (Embodiment 2) FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the vibration actuator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 19 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the main part configuration of the vibration actuator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Note that FIG. 19 is a partial cross-sectional view obtained by cutting the vibration actuator along the width direction (X direction) at the center in the height direction (Y direction).

[0184] The vibration actuator 10B is different from the vibration actuator 10 (see FIGS. 1 to 5) in the position where the buffer member 800 is provided, and the other basic configurations are the same. Therefore, only the different points will be described, and the same points will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description will be omitted as appropriate. Also, the orthogonal coordinate system (X, Y, Z) will be used and described in the same manner in Embodiment 2. The vibration actuator 10B can be applied in the vibration presentation device 1 shown in FIG. 1 in place of the vibration actuator 10.

[0185] The vibration actuator 10B includes an actuator body A2 and a load detection unit K2. The load detection unit K2 includes a strain generating member 90 and a strain detection unit 99 provided on the strain generating member 90. In the present embodiment, it has the same function as the load detection unit K1.

[0186] The actuator body A2 includes a fixed body 30B having a base portion 32 and a core assembly 20, a movable body 40B, and a plate-shaped elastic portion 50.

[0187] In the actuator body A2, a buffer member 800 is provided between the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 of the opposing core assemblies 20 and the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47, which are opposing portions between the fixed body 30 and the movable body 40.

[0188] The buffer member 800 is made of the same material as the buffer member 80, that is, an elastomer such as silicone rubber or butyl rubber, and has the same function.

[0189] The buffer member 800 is made of silicone rubber or butyl rubber, which can prevent damage caused by material deterioration and maintain its effect compared with other materials.

[0190] The buffer member 800 is fixed to one of the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 of the core assembly 20 and the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47. In the present embodiment, the buffer member 800 is fixed to the opposing surfaces 20a and 20b of the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244. Note that the core assembly 20 is fixed to the base portion 32 using rivets instead of screws 68. Thereby, the core assembly 20 is fixed to the base portion 32 in a state where the opposing surfaces of the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 with the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47 are flat. Also, the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 and the base portion 32 may be fixed by adhesion.

[0191] The buffer member 800 has a thickness with a gap G2 provided therebetween and the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47. Thereby, even when a force is applied to the movable body 40 in the direction of pushing down the movable body 40 with respect to strong vibration or impact, the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 and the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47 do not come into direct contact with each other, and no contact sound is generated.

[0192] As shown in FIG. 20, the buffer member 800 may be provided on the other of the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 of the core assembly 20 and the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47. FIG. 20 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modification 1 of the main part configuration of the vibration actuator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. A buffer member 801 configured in the same manner as the buffer member 800 shown in FIG. 20 is fixed to a portion of the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 that opposes the opposing surfaces 20a and 20b, and a gap G21 is provided between the opposing surfaces 20a and 20b. With this configuration, the same effect as the configuration shown in FIG. 19 can be obtained.

[0193] As shown in Fig. 21, the buffer member 800 may be disposed without a gap between the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 and the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47. Fig. 21 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modification 2 of the main part configuration of the vibration actuator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The buffer member 800A shown in Fig. 21 is fixed to the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 so that there is no gap between the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 and the adsorbed surface portions 46 and 47. With this configuration, the same effects as those of the configuration shown in Fig. 19 can be obtained.

[0194] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. It should be noted that the above description is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the description of the configuration of the above device and the shape of each part is an example, and it is obvious that various changes and additions to these examples are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0195] For example, in the configurations of the vibration actuators 10 and 10B of the above embodiments, instead of the screws 62, 64, 68 (the screw 68 is not used in the vibration actuator 10B) and 69 as the fastening members, rivets may be used. A rivet consists of a body portion without a head and a screw portion, is inserted into a member with a hole, and the members with holes are joined by caulking the end portion on the opposite side to cause plastic deformation. Specifically, for example, rivets may be used for fixing the base portions 32 and 32B to the plate-shaped elastic portion 50 and for fixing the plate-shaped elastic portion 50 to the movable bodies 40 and 40B. The caulking may be performed using, for example, a press working machine or a dedicated tool.

[0196] Further, based on the strain data acquired by the strain sensors 99-1 to 99-4, the period of the input pulse may be corrected due to individual differences and the like of each component in the vibration actuators 10 and 10B.

Industrial Applicability

[0197] The vibration presentation device according to the present invention is used in equipment that requires detection of pressing operations such as vibration actuators, and has the effect of improving shock resistance and achieving quiet operation. For example, it is useful for operating devices such as touch display devices equipped with touch panel devices.

Explanation of Signs

[0198] 1 Vibration presentation device 2 Touch panel (vibration presentation section) 2a Screen (operation surface) 4 Yoke body 10, 10B Vibration actuator 12 Switching element 14 Signal generation section 20 Core assembly 20a, 20b Opposing surfaces 22 Coil 24 Core 26 Bobbin 26a, 26b Divided bodies 28, 321, 322 Fixing holes 30, 30B Fixing bodies 32, 32B Base sections 32a Mounting section 32b Bottom surface section 33 Fixing holes 35 Engaged section (engaged member) 36 Opening 40, 40B Movable bodies (movable sections) 41 Yoke 42 Face fixing holes 43a, 43b Frame forming sections 44 Face fixing section 44a Fixing surface 46, 47 Adsorbed face sections (support side fixing sections) 48 Opening 49 Notch 50, 50-1, 50-2 Plate-like elastic sections (elastic support sections) 52 Fixing body side fixing section 54 Movable body side fixing section 56 Elastic arm section 62, 64, 68, 69 Screws 80, 80A, 81, 800, 800A, 801 Buffer members 90, 90B Warping members 92 Movable body side fixing part (support part side fixing part) 94 Display part side fixing part 95a Main body frame part 95b Connection arm part 95c Rib 96 Movement restricting part (restricting part) 97 Warping part 99 Warping detection part 99-1, 99-2, 99-3, 99-4 Warping sensors 241 Core body 242, 244 Magnetic pole parts 942 Fixing hole A1, A2 Actuator bodies K1, K2 Load detection parts (load detectors)

Claims

1. A device that is pressed by an operator; An actuator that applies vibration to the device; a sensor that detects the pressing operation between a first fixing portion that can be fixed to the device and a second fixing portion that can be fixed to the actuator; a restricting portion provided on the first fixing portion, the restricting portion engaging with the actuator when the device moves in a direction away from the actuator to restrict the movement; A vibration presentation device comprising:

2. The first fixing portion is fixed to the device via a fastening member. The vibration presentation device according to claim 1 .

3. The device is a touch panel. The vibration presentation device according to claim 1 .

Images