Input device and control method of input device

Abstract

To suppress vibration attenuation generated when the vibration is transmitted from a vibration unit to a sensor unit, and provide sufficient haptic feedback to an operation body.SOLUTION: An input device 100 includes: a touch sensor 10 having a contact surface 10a which allows an operator to input an operation instruction to an air-conditioning device mounted on a vehicle, the contact surface being brought into contact with an operation body of the operator, and extending along a predetermined direction, the touch sensor being configured to detect a contact state between the operation body and the contact surface 10a; a vibration element which is fixed to the touch sensor 10 and generates vibration along the predetermined direction; a fixed section 30 fixed to the vehicle and formed to extend in the predetermined direction; a support section 40 which supports the touch sensor 10 to the fixed section 30 so that the touch sensor 10 can be moved with respect to the fixed section 30 in a moving range along the predetermined direction; and a control unit which controls the vibration element so as to generate vibration along the predetermined direction in accordance with the touch sensor 10 detecting the contact state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an input device and a method for controlling the input device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a touch panel type operation device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The operation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a tactile feedback function that vibrates a vibration plate by a piezoelectric actuator in order to give an operator an operation feeling as if a push button is pressed during a touch operation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the operation device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a vibration plate that vibrates by a piezoelectric actuator is fixed to a panel member by screwing via a bracket. Since a part of the vibration transmitted from the piezoelectric actuator to the vibration plate is restrained by screwing, a part of the vibration of the piezoelectric actuator is transmitted to the touch panel in a state where it is attenuated.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and suppresses attenuation of vibration when transmitting vibration from a vibration unit to a sensor unit with respect to an operator's input of an operation instruction, and provides sufficient tactile feedback to an operation body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible input device and a method for controlling the input device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the input device and the control method of the input device of the present disclosure employ the following means. An input device according to an aspect of the present disclosure is an input device for inputting an operation instruction by an operator to an operation target attached to a moving body, having a contact surface that is contacted by an operating body of the operator and extends along a predetermined direction, a sensor unit that detects a contact state in which the operating body and the contact surface are in contact, a vibration unit that is fixed to the sensor unit and generates vibration along the predetermined direction, a fixing unit that is fixed to the moving body and is formed to extend along the predetermined direction, a support unit that supports the sensor unit with respect to the fixing unit so that the sensor unit is movable within a moving range along the predetermined direction with respect to the fixing unit, and a control unit that controls the vibration unit to generate vibration along the predetermined direction in response to the sensor unit detecting the contact state.

[0007] A control method of an input device according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a control method of an input device for inputting an operation instruction by an operator to an operation target attached to a moving body, the input device having a contact surface that is contacted by an operating body of the operator and extends along a predetermined direction, a sensor unit that detects a contact state in which the operating body and the contact surface are in contact, a vibration unit that is fixed to the sensor unit and generates vibration along the predetermined direction, a fixing unit that is fixed to the moving body and is formed to extend along the predetermined direction, and a support unit that supports the sensor unit with respect to the fixing unit so that the sensor unit is movable within a moving range along the predetermined direction with respect to the fixing unit, the method including a detection step of detecting the contact state by the sensor unit, and a control step of controlling the vibration unit to generate vibration along the predetermined direction in response to the detection step detecting the contact state.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an input device and a control method of the input device that can suppress attenuation of vibration when transmitting vibration from a vibration unit to a sensor unit in response to an operator inputting an operation instruction, and can provide sufficient tactile feedback to an operating body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] 〔First Embodiment〕 Hereinafter, the input device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the input device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the input device 100 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the input device 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the input device 100 shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line A-A, showing a state in which the touch sensor 10 is attached to the fixing portion 30.

[0011] The input device 100 of the present embodiment is a device for inputting an operation instruction to an air conditioner 70 which is an operation target attached to a vehicle (mobile body). As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the input device 100 includes a touch sensor (sensor unit) 10, a vibration element (vibration unit) 20, a fixing portion 30, a support portion 40, a sheet-like member 50, and a control portion 60.

[0012] The touch sensor 10 has a contact surface 10a that is in contact with the finger (operating body) 200 of the operator and extends along a predetermined direction DR. The touch sensor 10 is a device that detects the contact state between the finger 200 and the contact surface 10a by the capacitance method. As shown in FIG. 4, the touch sensor 10 has a cover portion 11 and a case portion 12 attached to the cover portion 11. The case portion 12 has an opposing surface (first opposing surface) 12a that extends along the predetermined direction DR and is disposed to face the fixing portion 30.

[0013] The touch sensor 10 detects (detection step) which of the first contact region A1, the second contact region A2, the third contact region A3, the fourth contact region A4, and the fifth contact region A5 along the predetermined direction DR of the contact surface 10a is in a contact state where the finger 200 and the contact surface 10a are in contact. When the touch sensor 10 detects that any one of the first contact region A1, the second contact region A2, the third contact region A3, the fourth contact region A4, and the fifth contact region A5 is in a contact state, the touch sensor 10 transmits a signal for specifying the detected contact region to the control portion 60.

[0014] The vibration element 20 is a device that is fixed to the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 and generates vibrations along a predetermined direction DR. The vibration element 20 is a piezoelectric element such as a piezo element, for example, and generates vibrations along the predetermined direction DR by a pulse signal whose voltage value changes periodically and is transmitted from the control unit 60. The case portion 12 to which the vibration element 20 is fixed vibrates along the predetermined direction DR in response to the vibration element 20 generating vibrations along the predetermined direction DR.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vibration element 20 is fixed to the central region in the predetermined direction DR of the touch sensor 10. The vibration element 20 may be fixed to a region on the end side rather than the central region in the predetermined direction DR of the touch sensor 10.

[0016] The fixing portion 30 is a member that is fixed to the fixing surface 300 of the vehicle and is formed so as to extend in the predetermined direction DR. The fixing portion 30 has an opposing surface (second opposing surface) 30a that extends along the predetermined direction DR and is disposed opposite to the touch sensor 10.

[0017] The support portion 40 is a member that supports the touch sensor 10 on the fixing portion 30 so that the touch sensor 10 can move relative to the fixing portion 30 within a movement range MA along the predetermined direction DR. The movement range MA is a range obtained by adding the amplitude in the predetermined direction DR due to the vibration transmitted from the vibration element 20 to the length L1 in the predetermined direction DR of the touch sensor 10.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support portions 40 are arranged at a plurality of locations along the predetermined direction DR, for example. The support portions 40 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 support the touch sensor 10 on the fixing portion 30 at a plurality of locations in the predetermined direction DR. Also, the support portion 40 may be arranged at only one location in the predetermined direction DR.

[0019] The sheet-like member 50 is arranged in a state of being in contact with the opposing surface 12a of the touch sensor 10 and the opposing surface 30a of the fixing portion 30 in a supported state where the support portion 40 supports the touch sensor 10 on the fixing portion 30. The sheet-like member 50 is a member formed in a sheet shape by an elastic body such as rubber.

[0020] Here, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the relationship between the sheet-like member 50, the touch sensor 10, and the fixing portion 30 will be described. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of the input device 100 shown in FIG. 1, showing a state in which the touch sensor 10 is removed from the fixing portion 30. As shown in FIG. 5, with the touch sensor 10 removed from the fixing portion 30, the first surface 50a of the sheet-like member 50 faces the opposing surface 12a of the touch sensor 10, and the second surface 50b of the sheet-like member 50 faces the opposing surface 30a of the fixing portion 30. An insertion hole 50c into which the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 is inserted is formed in the sheet-like member 50.

[0021] In the state shown in FIG. 5, the case portion 12 is inserted into the insertion hole 50c of the sheet-like member 50, the case portion 12 is moved toward the fixing portion 30, and the touch sensor 10 is supported by the fixing portion 30 by the support portion 40, thereby achieving the state shown in FIG. 4. In the support state in which the support portion 40 supports the touch sensor 10 on the fixing portion 30, the sheet-like member 50 is arranged in a state where the first surface 50a contacts the opposing surface 12a and the second surface 50b contacts the opposing surface 30a.

[0022] Since the sheet-like member 50 is sandwiched and arranged between the opposing surface 12a of the touch sensor 10 and the opposing surface 30a of the fixing portion 30, the movement range MA of the touch sensor 10 with respect to the fixing portion 30 in the predetermined direction DR coincides with the range in which the sheet-like member 50 elastically deforms. When the vibration element 20 generates vibration, the touch sensor 10 vibrates along the predetermined direction DR with respect to the fixing portion 30 within the movement range MA in which the sheet-like member 50 elastically deforms.

[0023] Here, a mechanism by which the support portion 40 supports the touch sensor 10 on the fixing portion 30 so that the touch sensor 10 can move with respect to the fixing portion 30 within the movement range MA along the predetermined direction DR will be described. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of the input device 100 shown in FIG. 1, showing a state in which the touch sensor 10 is attached to the fixing portion 30.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 6, the support portion 40 includes a groove portion 41 formed at an end portion of the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 on the side of the fixing portion 30 and extending along a predetermined direction DR, and a rod-shaped member 42 formed integrally with the fixing portion 30 and extending along the predetermined direction DR. The support portion 40 supports the touch sensor 10 on the fixing portion 30 such that the touch sensor 10 is movable relative to the fixing portion 30 within a movement range MA along the predetermined direction DR by housing the rod-shaped member 42 in the groove portion 41.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 6, the fixing portion 30 includes a case portion 31 formed integrally with the rod-shaped member 42, and a fixing member 32 attached to the case portion 31. The fixing member 32 is inserted into the case portion 31 so that the groove portion 41 is not deformed in order to hold the state in which the rod-shaped member 42 is housed in the groove portion 41.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of the input device 100 shown in FIG. 1, showing a state in which the touch sensor 10 is removed from the fixing portion 30. As shown in FIG. 7, the groove portion 41 has a portion having a length W1 in the vertical direction VD and a portion having a length W2 that is longer than W1 in the vertical direction VD. The rod-shaped member 42 has a circular cross-section, and the diameter of this circle is longer than W1 and shorter than W2. An insertion hole 50d into which the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 is inserted is formed in the sheet-like member 50.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of the input device 100 shown in FIG. 1, showing a state before attaching the touch sensor 10 to the fixing portion 30 and before housing the rod-shaped member 42 in the groove portion 41. In the state shown in FIG. 8, since the rod-shaped member 42 has not passed through the portion having the length W1 of the groove portion 41, the rod-shaped member 42 is not housed in the groove portion 41. An operator assembling the input device 100 pushes the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 toward the fixing portion 30 from the state shown in FIG. 8, thereby deforming the resin-made groove portion 41 along the vertical direction VD, expanding the portion of W1, passing the rod-shaped member 42 therethrough, and bringing it into the state shown in FIG. 9.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of the input device 100 shown in FIG. 1, showing the state after the rod-shaped member 42 is accommodated in the groove portion 41 before the touch sensor 10 is attached to the fixing portion 30. In FIG. 9, although the rod-shaped member 42 is accommodated in the groove portion 41, there is a possibility that the groove portion 41 deforms along the vertical direction VD and the rod-shaped member 42 passes through by pushing and expanding the portion of W1 again. Therefore, the operator inserts the fixing member 32 into the case portion 31 to make the state shown in FIG. 6 in which the groove portion 41 does not deform along the vertical direction VD.

[0029] In the state shown in FIG. 6, the state in which the rod-shaped member 42 is accommodated in the groove portion 41 is maintained. Therefore, in a plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction DR, the touch sensor 10 is maintained in a state of being restrained by the support portion 40 so as not to move with respect to the fixing portion 30. On the other hand, in the predetermined direction DR, the touch sensor 10 is not restrained by the support portion 40 with respect to the fixing portion 30. Therefore, the touch sensor 10 can move along the predetermined direction DR with respect to the fixing portion 30 in the movement range MA in which the sheet-like member 50 elastically deforms due to the vibration generated by the vibration element 20.

[0030] The control unit 60 is a device that controls each part of the input device 100. The control unit 60 controls the vibration element 20 to generate vibrations along the predetermined direction DR in response to detecting a contact state in which the touch sensor 10 and the finger 200 are in contact with the contact surface 10a. When the operator touches the contact surface 10a with the finger 200, the touch sensor 10 transmits a signal to the control unit 60 that specifies that any one of the first contact region A1, the second contact region A2, the third contact region A3, the fourth contact region A4, and the fifth contact region A5 is in a contact state.

[0031] The control unit 60 controls the air conditioner 70 according to which of the first contact region A1, the second contact region A2, the third contact region A3, the fourth contact region A4, and the fifth contact region A5 the contact region in which the contact state is detected is (control step). The control unit 60 controls the air conditioner 70, for example, to set the air volume blown from the air conditioner 70 to the maximum value in response to detecting a contact state in the first contact region A1.

[0032] According to the input device 100 of the present embodiment described above, the following operations and effects can be obtained. According to the input device 100 of the present embodiment, when the operator touches the contact surface 10a of the touch sensor 10 with the finger 200 in order to input an operation instruction to the air conditioner 70, the touch sensor 10 detects the contact state in which the finger 200 and the contact surface 10a are in contact. In response to the touch sensor 10 detecting the contact state, the control unit 60 controls the vibration element 20 to generate vibrations along a predetermined direction DR. The vibration element 20 generates vibrations along a predetermined direction and transmits the vibrations to the touch sensor 10.

[0033] According to the input device 100 of the present embodiment, the touch sensor 10 is supported by the support portion 40 on the fixed portion 30 so as to be movable with respect to the fixed portion 30 within a movement range MA along a predetermined direction DR. Therefore, the vibrations along the predetermined direction DR generated by the vibration element 20 are transmitted to the touch sensor 10 without being restricted by the support portion 40 from moving with respect to the fixed portion 30. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the attenuation of vibrations when transmitting vibrations from the vibration element 20 to the touch sensor 10 in response to the operator inputting an operation instruction, and to impart sufficient tactile feedback to the finger 200.

[0034] According to the input device 100 of the present embodiment, in a state where the support portion 40 supports the touch sensor 10 on the fixed portion 30, a sheet-like member 50 formed of an elastic body is disposed in a state of being in contact with the opposing surface 12a of the touch sensor 10 and the opposing surface 30a of the fixed portion 30. Since the touch sensor 10 is in contact with the fixed portion 30 via the sheet-like member 50 formed of an elastic body, the sheet-like member 50 can appropriately maintain the movement range MA in which the touch sensor 10 moves in the predetermined direction DR due to vibrations transmitted from the vibration element 20 to the touch sensor 10 within the range in which the sheet-like member 50 deforms due to elastic force, and can impart stable tactile feedback.

[0035] According to the input device 100 of the present embodiment, the touch sensor 10 can be supported on the fixed portion 30 at a plurality of locations in the predetermined direction DR, and the movement of the touch sensor 10 in the predetermined direction DR due to vibrations can be stabilized.

[0036] According to the input device 100 of the present embodiment, since the vibration element 20 is fixed to the central region in the predetermined direction DR of the touch sensor 10, it is possible to equalize the transmission of vibration toward both ends in the predetermined direction DR of the touch sensor 10.

[0037] According to the input device 100 of the present embodiment, the touch sensor 10 can detect which of the plurality of contact regions A1 to A5 along the predetermined direction DR of the contact surface 10a is in the contact state, and can appropriately control the air conditioner 70 according to the detected contact region.

[0038] 〔Second Embodiment〕 Next, the input device 100A according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the input device 100A according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a state in which the touch sensor 10 is attached to the fixing portion 30. This embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and is the same as the first embodiment except as specifically described below, and the description below will be omitted.

[0039] The support portion 40 of the input device 100 of the first embodiment supports the touch sensor 10 with respect to the fixing portion 30 by accommodating the rod-shaped member 42 in the groove portion 41. On the other hand, the support portion 40A of the input device 100A of the present embodiment supports the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 with respect to the fixing portion 30 by inserting the rod-shaped member 42A into the through hole 41A.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 10, the support portion 40A of the input device 100A of the present embodiment includes a through hole 41A formed in the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 and a rod-shaped member 42A inserted into the through hole 41A. The rod-shaped member 42A is a member inserted into a through hole (not shown) formed in the case portion 31 of the fixing portion 30 and the through hole 41A formed in the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 in a state where the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 is attached to the case portion 31 of the fixing portion 30. Since the support portion 40A of the input device 100A of the present embodiment does not have the groove portion 41, the fixing member 32 of the first embodiment for preventing deformation of the groove portion 41 becomes unnecessary.

[0041] Instead of the input device 100A shown in FIG. 10, the input device 100A shown in FIG. 11 may be used. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the input device 100A according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a state where the touch sensor 10 is attached to the fixing portion 30. The support portion 40B of the input device 100A of this modified example includes a through hole 41B formed in the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 and a rod-shaped member 42B inserted into a through hole (not shown) formed in the case portion 31 of the fixing portion 30.

[0042] The rod-shaped member 42B is a member inserted into a through hole (not shown) formed in the case portion 31 of the fixing portion 30 and the through hole 41B formed in the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 in a state where the case portion 12 of the touch sensor 10 is attached to the case portion 31 of the fixing portion 30. Since the support portion 40B of the input device 100A of the present embodiment does not have the groove portion 41, the fixing member 32 of the first embodiment for preventing deformation of the groove portion 41 becomes unnecessary.

[0043] The through hole 41A and the rod-shaped member 42A of the input device 100A shown in FIG. 10 have a circular cross section. On the other hand, the through hole 41B and the rod-shaped member 42B of the input device 100A shown in FIG. 11 have a rectangular cross section.

[0044] The input device 100 and the control method of the input device described in each of the above-described embodiments can be understood as follows, for example. The input device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure inputs an operation instruction from an operator to an operation target (70) attached to a moving body (200), has a contact surface (10a) that the operation body of the operator contacts and extends along a predetermined direction, and a sensor unit (10) that detects a contact state in which the operation body and the contact surface are in contact, a vibration unit (20) that is fixed to the sensor unit and generates vibration along the predetermined direction, a fixing unit (30) that is fixed to the moving body and is formed to extend along the predetermined direction, a support unit (40) that supports the sensor unit on the fixing unit so that the sensor unit can move relative to the fixing unit within a moving range (MA) along the predetermined direction, and a control unit (50) that controls the vibration unit to generate vibration along the predetermined direction in response to the sensor unit detecting the contact state.

[0045] According to the input device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, when the operator contacts the operation body with the contact surface of the sensor unit in order to input an operation instruction to the operation target, the sensor unit detects the contact state in which the operation body and the contact surface are in contact. The control unit controls the vibration unit to generate vibration along a predetermined direction in response to the sensor unit detecting the contact state. The vibration unit generates vibration along the predetermined direction and transmits the vibration to the sensor unit.

[0046] According to the input device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the sensor unit is supported by the support unit on the fixing unit so that the sensor unit can move relative to the fixing unit within a moving range along the predetermined direction. Therefore, the vibration along the predetermined direction generated by the vibration unit is transmitted to the sensor unit without the movement of the sensor unit relative to the fixing unit being restricted by the support unit. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress attenuation of the vibration when transmitting the vibration from the vibration unit to the sensor unit in response to the operator inputting an operation instruction, and to impart sufficient tactile feedback to the operation body.

[0047] The input device according to the second aspect of the present disclosure further includes the following configuration in the first aspect. That is, the sensor unit has a first facing surface (12a) that extends along the predetermined direction and is disposed to face the fixed unit, and the fixed unit has a second facing surface (30a) that extends along the predetermined direction and is disposed to face the sensor unit. The support unit is provided with a sheet-like member (50) formed of an elastic body and disposed in a state of contacting the first facing surface and the second facing surface in a support state where the support unit supports the sensor unit on the fixed unit.

[0048] According to the input device according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, in a support state where the support unit supports the sensor unit on the fixed unit, a sheet-like member formed of an elastic body is disposed in a state of contacting the first facing surface of the sensor unit and the second facing surface of the fixed unit. Since the sensor unit is in contact with the fixed unit via the sheet-like member formed of the elastic body, the sheet-like member appropriately maintains the range in which the sensor unit moves in the predetermined direction due to the vibration transmitted from the vibration unit in the predetermined direction within the range in which the sheet-like member deforms due to the elastic force, and stable tactile feedback can be imparted.

[0049] The input device according to the third aspect of the present disclosure further includes the following configuration in the first aspect or the second aspect. That is, the support unit supports the sensor unit on the fixed unit at a plurality of locations in the predetermined direction.

[0050] According to the input device according to the third aspect of the present disclosure, the sensor unit can be supported on the fixed unit at a plurality of locations in the predetermined direction, and the movement of the sensor unit in the predetermined direction due to vibration can be stabilized.

[0051] The input device according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure further includes the following configuration in the first aspect or the second aspect. That is, the vibration unit is fixed to a central region of the sensor unit in the predetermined direction.

[0052] According to the input device according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, since the vibration unit is fixed to the central region of the sensor unit in the predetermined direction, the transmission of vibration toward both ends of the sensor unit in the predetermined direction can be made uniform.

[0053] The input device according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure further includes the following configuration in the first aspect or the second aspect. That is, the sensor unit detects the contact state by a capacitance method.

[0054] According to the input device according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the contact state can be appropriately detected by the capacitance-type sensor unit.

[0055] The input device according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure further includes the following configuration in the first aspect or the second aspect. That is, the sensor unit detects which of a plurality of contact regions (A1 to A5) along the predetermined direction of the contact surface is in the contact state, and the control unit controls the operation target according to the contact region in which the contact state is detected.

[0056] According to the input device according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the sensor unit detects which of a plurality of contact regions along the predetermined direction of the contact surface is in the contact state, and the operation target can be appropriately controlled according to the contact region in which the contact state is detected.

[0057] A control method for an input device according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure is a control method for an input device that inputs an operation instruction by an operator to an operation target attached to a moving body. The input device has a contact surface that is contacted by an operating body of the operator and extends along a predetermined direction, and includes a sensor unit that detects a contact state in which the operating body and the contact surface are in contact, a vibration unit that is fixed to the sensor unit and generates vibrations along the predetermined direction, a fixing unit that is fixed to the moving body and is formed to extend along the predetermined direction, and a support unit that supports the sensor unit on the fixing unit so that the sensor unit can move with respect to the fixing unit within a moving range along the predetermined direction. The control method includes a detection step of detecting the contact state by the sensor unit, and a control step of controlling the vibration unit to generate vibrations along the predetermined direction in response to the detection step detecting the contact state.

[0058] According to the method for controlling an input device according to the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, when an operator contacts an operating body with a contact surface of a sensor unit in order to input an operation instruction to an operation target, a detection step detects a contact state in which the sensor unit and the operating body are in contact with the contact surface. A control step controls a vibration unit to generate vibration along a predetermined direction in response to the sensor unit detecting the contact state. The vibration unit generates vibration along a predetermined direction and transmits the vibration to the sensor unit.

[0059] According to the method for controlling an input device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the sensor unit is supported by a support unit so as to be movable with respect to a fixed unit within a moving range along a predetermined direction. Therefore, the vibration along a predetermined direction generated by the vibration unit is transmitted to the sensor unit without being restricted by the support unit from moving with respect to the fixed unit. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress attenuation of vibration when transmitting vibration from the vibration unit to the sensor unit in response to the operator inputting an operation instruction, and to impart sufficient tactile feedback to the operating body.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0060] 10 Touch sensor (sensor unit) 10a Contact surface 11 Cover unit 12 Case unit 12a Opposing surface 20 Vibration element (vibration unit) 30 Fixed unit 30a Opposing surface 31 Case unit 32 Fixing member 40, 40A, 40B Support unit 41 Groove portion 41A, 41B Through hole 42, 42A, 42B Rod-shaped member 50 Sheet-like member 50a First surface 50b Second surface 50c, 50d Insertion hole 60 Control unit 70 Air conditioner 100, 100A Input device 200 Finger 300 fixed surface A1 First contact area A2 Second contact area A3 Third contact area A4 Fourth contact area A5 Fifth contact area DR Predetermined direction MA Movement range VD Vertical direction

Claims

1. An input device for inputting an operation instruction by an operator to an operation target attached to a moving body, having a contact surface that is contacted by an operating body of the operator and extends along a predetermined direction, and a sensor unit that detects a contact state in which the operating body and the contact surface are in contact; a vibration unit that is fixed to the sensor unit and generates vibration along the predetermined direction; a fixing unit that is fixed to the moving body and is formed to extend along the predetermined direction; a support unit that supports the sensor unit on the fixing unit so that the sensor unit can move with respect to the fixing unit within a moving range along the predetermined direction; and a control unit that controls the vibration unit to generate vibration along the predetermined direction in response to the sensor unit detecting the contact state. The input device is provided with the above components.

2. The sensor unit has a first opposing surface that extends along the predetermined direction and is disposed opposite to the fixing unit, the fixing unit has a second opposing surface that extends along the predetermined direction and is disposed opposite to the sensor unit, The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet-like member formed of an elastic body, which is disposed in a state of contacting the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface in a supporting state in which the supporting unit supports the sensor unit on the fixing unit.

3. The input device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support unit supports the sensor unit on the fixing unit at a plurality of locations along the predetermined direction.

4. The input device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the vibration unit is fixed to a central region of the sensor unit in the predetermined direction.

5. The input device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sensor unit detects the contact state by an electrostatic capacitance method.

6. The sensor unit detects which of a plurality of contact regions along the predetermined direction of the contact surface is in the contact state, and the control unit controls the operation target according to the contact region in which the contact state is detected. The input device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

7. A control method for an input device that inputs an operation instruction by an operator to an operation target attached to a moving body, wherein the input device includes: a sensor unit that has a contact surface that is contacted by an operating body of the operator and extends along a predetermined direction, and detects a contact state in which the operating body and the contact surface are in contact; a vibration unit that is fixed to the sensor unit and generates vibration along the predetermined direction; A fixed part that is fixed to the moving body and is formed to extend in the predetermined direction; A support part that supports the sensor part on the fixed part so that the sensor part can move relative to the fixed part within a moving range along the predetermined direction; and A detection step of detecting the contact state by the sensor part; A control method for an input device, comprising a control step of controlling the vibration part so as to generate vibration along the predetermined direction in response to the detection step detecting the contact state.

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