Input device

Abstract

To provide an input device and an information processing system which can improve use feelings.SOLUTION: An input device is a pen type input device and comprises: a housing which is formed in an elongate bar shape; a pen tip part which is provided on a tip of the housing; a vibration generation part which is arranged at a position closer to the pen tip part than the center of the housing in a longitudinal direction in the housing, in which a driving signal obtained by synthesizing a vibration component and a sound component is input, and which generates vibration according to the driving signal; and a sound output part which is provided at a position distant from the vibration generation part, to which sound vibration according to the driving signal of the sound component generated by the vibration generation part is transmitted via a vibration transmission medium, and which outputs the sound vibration to the outside of the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pen-type input device and an information processing system including the input device and an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] For information processing apparatuses such as notebook computers, tablet computers, and smartphones, a pen-type input device may be used for input operations on a touch screen. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a vibration generator is provided inside a rod-shaped housing in a touch pen used for input to a touch panel.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An input device provided with the above-described vibration generator is also called a haptic pen and has a tactile feedback function. The tactile feedback generates vibrations in response to contact with a touch screen that displays characters or the like, and is for improving the usability.

[0005] By the way, general writing utensils such as pencils and ballpoint pens contribute to improving the usability not only with vibrations that can be perceived tactilely but also with the sounds (writing sounds) generated during writing. However, conventional input devices do not consider such writing sounds.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an input device and an information processing system that can improve the usability.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] The input device according to the first aspect of the present invention is a pen-shaped input device, which includes a housing formed in an elongated rod shape, a pen tip provided at the tip of the housing, and is disposed in the housing at a position closer to the pen tip than the center in the longitudinal direction of the housing. When a drive signal obtained by synthesizing a vibration component and a sound component is input, a vibration generating unit that generates vibration according to the drive signal, and is provided at a position away from the vibration generating unit. Sound vibration according to the drive signal of the sound component generated by the vibration generating unit is transmitted through a vibration transmission medium, and a sound output unit that outputs the sound vibration to the outside of the housing.

[0008] The sound output unit may be disposed at a position closer to the butt of the pen on the side opposite to the pen tip than the center in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

[0009] The sound output unit may have a hole formed through the outer wall of the housing.

[0010] The sound output unit may have a cavity space that communicates with the hole and increases the sound vibration.

[0011] The housing is provided with a button switch supported by the housing so as to block a part of the opening provided in the housing, and the hole may be a gap formed between the button switch and the housing.

[0012] In the housing, a communication path is formed that extends along the longitudinal direction of the housing and connects between the vibration generating unit and the sound output unit, and the vibration transmission medium may include air in the communication path.

[0013] The sound output unit may be provided inside the housing, and may include a cavity space that increases the sound vibration transmitted through the vibration transmission medium, and a diaphragm that is provided so as to block an opening formed in the outer wall of the housing and forms one surface of the cavity space.

[0014] The sound output unit has a metal pen clip attached to the outer wall of the housing. The vibration transmission medium may include a metal rod that extends along the longitudinal direction of the housing and connects between the vibration generating unit and the pen clip.

[0015] The housing is provided with a cap-shaped member detachably attached thereto, and the sound output unit may be provided on the cap-shaped member and have a cavity space for increasing the sound vibration and a hole formed through the outer wall of the cap-shaped member and communicating with the cavity space.

[0016] The vibration transmission medium may include a metal rod that extends along the longitudinal direction of the housing and connects between the vibration generating unit and the sound output unit.

[0017] An information processing system according to a second aspect of the present invention is an information processing system including an information processing device and a pen-type input device, wherein the input device includes an elongated rod-shaped housing, a pen tip provided at a tip of the housing, and a vibration generating unit that is disposed inside the housing at a position closer to the pen tip than the center in the longitudinal direction of the housing and that generates vibration according to a drive signal obtained by synthesizing a vibration component and a sound component and inputs the drive signal, and a sound output unit that is provided at a position away from the vibration generating unit and that transmits sound vibration according to the drive signal of the sound component generated by the vibration generating unit and outputs the sound vibration to the outside of the housing.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the above aspect of the present invention, the usability can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the input device and the information processing system according to the present invention will be given, and detailed description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration example of an information processing system 12 including an input device 10 according to an embodiment. The input device 10 is a pen-type input device used for input operations of the information processing apparatus 14. The input device 10 is also called a digital pen, a stylus, an electronic pen, a smart pen, or the like. In the present embodiment, a tablet terminal is exemplified as the information processing apparatus 14. The information processing apparatus for which the input device 10 is used may be, for example, a notebook PC, a smartphone, or the like, in addition to the tablet terminal.

[0022] The information processing apparatus 14 includes a device housing 16 having a thin and flat plate shape, and a touch screen 18 covering one surface of the device housing 16. Inside the device housing 16, a motherboard on which a processing device such as a CPU is mounted and various electronic components such as a battery device are mounted.

[0023] The touch screen 18 includes a display unit 18a and a touch sensor 18b. The display unit 18a is formed of liquid crystal, organic EL, etc., and can display various information. The touch sensor 18b is disposed so as to overlap the surface of the display unit 18a. The touch sensor 18b is a touch panel capable of detecting the input operation of the input device 10 with respect to the surface 18c of the touch screen 18. The information processing device 14 can monitor the presence or absence of the input operation, identify the position where the input operation is detected, and execute data input or editing based on the input operation. The information processing device 14 causes, for example, the display unit 18a to display the locus of the contact position where the input device 10 contacts the touch sensor 18b.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the input device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0025] The input device 10 can be held by a user and moved while contacting the surface 18c of the touch screen 18, and can be used for data input and editing of characters, symbols, figures, etc.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the input device 10 includes a housing 20, a pen tip portion 22, a vibration generating portion 24, a sound output portion 26, a communication path 27, a circuit board 28, a wireless communication portion 30, and a battery device 31. In FIG. 2, thick lines connecting between the circuit board 28 and the vibration generating portion 24, the battery device 31, etc. indicate wirings, and the same applies to FIGS. 4 to 8.

[0027] The housing 20 is an elongated rod-shaped cylindrical body formed of resin, metal, or wood. The housing 20 can adopt various cross-sectional shapes such as a circular cylinder shape of a perfect circle or an ellipse, or a rectangular tube shape. The housing 20 has a length and thickness suitable for being held by hand, similar to writing utensils such as pencils and ballpoint pens.

[0028] The pen tip portion 22 is an input portion for the touch screen 18. The pen tip portion 22 is provided so as to protrude from the tip end portion 20a of the housing 20. The tip end portion 20a has a tapered shape that tapers towards the tip, for example, a frustum of a cone shape. The pen tip portion 22 protrudes along the axial direction A of the housing 20 from the center of the tip end portion 20a. The axial direction A is a direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the slender rod-shaped housing 20. The pen tip portion 22 has a thin rod-shaped base end portion 22a supported by a holder 32 inside the housing 20, and a conical pen tip 22b exposed outside the housing 20. The holder 32 is supported near the tip inside the housing 20. The pen tip portion 22 is supported by the holder 32 detachably or non-detachably.

[0029] The vibration generating unit 24 vibrates according to a drive signal that has passed through the circuit board 28 from the information processing device 14. The vibration generating unit 24 is supported, for example, on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 20 via a bracket 34. The vibration generating unit 24 is configured by, for example, a linear resonant actuator (LRA) and includes an actuator 24a that reciprocates (see also FIG. 3). The vibration generating unit 24 can be arranged such that the vibration direction of the actuator 24a is along the axial direction A. In this case, the vibration generating unit 24 generates vibrations along the axial direction A inside the housing 20. The vibration generating unit 24 can also be arranged such that the vibration direction of the actuator 24a is orthogonal to the axial direction A. In this case, the vibration generating unit 24 generates vibrations in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction A inside the housing 20.

[0030] The bracket 34 is a block-shaped member made of, for example, resin or metal. The bracket 34 is, for example, a cylindrical member or a columnar member interposed between the vibration generating unit 24 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing 20. The bracket 34 can firmly cover the side surface of the vibration generating unit 24 so that the vibration does not escape. The bracket 34 transmits vibrations according to the vibration components of the vibration generating unit 24, which will be described later, to the housing 20 and the fingers holding the housing 20. For example, in the input devices 60 and 70 shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, it is also effective to form the bracket 34 from a rubber material or the like that can support the vibration generating unit 24 in a floating manner. The bracket 34 may be omitted. In this case, the vibration generating unit 24 may be directly fixed to the inner wall of the housing 20 with a screw, an adhesive, or the like.

[0031] The sound output unit 26 is a part that outputs the sound vibration generated by the vibration generating unit 24 to the outside of the housing 20. The sound output unit 26 is provided at a position away from the vibration generating unit 24. The sound output unit 26 of this embodiment is configured with a hole 26a formed through the outer wall 20b of the housing 20. The sound output unit 26 can be arranged at a position closer to the pen end 20c than the center in the longitudinal direction of the housing 20. The hole 26a of this embodiment opens on the side of the housing 20 near the pen end 20c of the housing 20. The pen end 20c is a base end on the opposite side to the pen tip 22 (tip 20a) side in the longitudinal direction of the housing 20. The hole 26a is a fine hole formed on the side of the outer wall 20b. There may be one hole 26a, or multiple holes may be formed along the circumferential direction of the outer wall 20b.

[0032] The communication path 27 is a space extending in the longitudinal direction (direction A) of the housing 20. The communication path 27 is an air passage connecting the vibration generating unit 24 and the sound output unit 26. The communication path 27 shown in Fig. 2 is a long and narrow space that communicates from the hole 26a to the vibration generating unit 24. Inside the housing 20, electronic components such as the vibration generating unit 24, a circuit board 28, a wireless communication unit 30, and a battery device 31, as well as various structural components, are housed. The communication path 27 extends along the axial direction A while avoiding these electronic components and structural components.

[0033] The circuit board 28 is supported within the housing 20. The circuit board 28 is the control board of the input device 10 and implements, for example, an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) 38. The MCU 38 is a processing device that comprehensively controls the functions of the input device 10. The MCU 38 includes a processor, memories such as ROM and RAM, and various input / output interfaces. The MCU 38 operates independently of the information processing device 14. The wireless communication unit 30 is a wireless communication module for transmitting and receiving wireless data with the wireless communication unit 46 (see FIG. 3) of the information processing device 14. The battery device 31 is the power source of the input device 10. The battery device 31 may be a dry battery or a rechargeable battery.

[0034] Next, an example of the functional configuration of the information processing system 12 will be described.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the information processing system 12 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the information processing system 12 includes an information processing device 14 and an input device 10.

[0036] The information processing device 14 includes a touch screen 18, a control unit 40, a touch pen module 42, a drawing application 44, and a wireless communication unit 46. The touch screen 18 has the display unit 18a and the touch sensor 18b as described above.

[0037] The control unit 40 comprehensively controls the functions of the information processing device 14. The control unit 40 may be realized, for example, by causing a processing device such as a CPU to execute a program, that is, by software, or by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or by a combination of software and hardware. The control unit 40 of the present embodiment includes software such as an OS (Operating System) and a processing device such as a CPU.

[0038] The touch pen module 42 is associated with the control unit 40 and controls the touch screen 18 and the input device 10. The touch pen module 42 may be configured as a sub-card connected to a motherboard implementing, for example, a CPU or the like. The drawing application 44 is application software that controls the touch screen 18 and the input device 10 via the touch pen module 42. The wireless communication unit 46 is a wireless communication module for transmitting and receiving wireless data with the wireless communication unit 30 of the input device 10.

[0039] The input device 10 includes an MCU 38, a wireless communication unit 30, and a vibration generation unit 24.

[0040] The MCU 38 receives vibration control information and sound control information from the information processing device 14 using the wireless communication unit 30. The sound control information and the vibration control information are, for example, information for the touch pen module 42 to also be associated with the control unit 40 to control the vibration frequency and the like during an input operation on the touch screen 18 of the input device 10, and at the same time to control the volume, frequency, and the like of the sound (writing sound) generated by this vibration. The MCU 38 uses these control information to generate a drive signal obtained by synthesizing a vibration component and a sound component. The MCU 38 outputs the generated drive signal to the vibration generation unit 24.

[0041] The vibration generation unit 24 includes an actuator 24a, a DAC 24b, and an amplifier 24c. The DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) 24b converts the digital drive signal input from the MCU 38 into an analog drive signal. The DAC 24b outputs the converted analog drive signal to the amplifier 24c. The amplifier 24c adjusts the amplitude of the drive signal input from the DAC 24b and outputs the drive signal with the adjusted amplitude to the actuator 24a. The actuator 24a is a vibration generation source that generates vibration according to the vibration component and a sound generation source that generates sound vibration according to the sound component among the drive signals input from the amplifier 24c.

[0042] Next, the input operation by the input device 10 and its effects will be described.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, the input operation of the input device 10 is to bring the pen tip 22b into contact with and move it on the surface 18c of the touch screen 18. Then, the input device 10 receives control information from the touch pen module 42 via the drawing application 44 and the control unit 40. Based on this control signal, the input device 10 inputs a drive signal obtained by synthesizing a vibration component and a sound component to the vibration generation unit 24 under the control of the MCU 38, and drives the actuator 24a to generate vibration.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the vibration generation unit 24 generates a vibration (vibration H) according to the drive signal of the vibration component. This vibration H can be sensed as a tactile sensation by the finger holding the housing 20. Therefore, the user can receive the vibration H associated with writing with the input device 10 at the fingertip, and a high sense of usability can be obtained. The resonance frequency of the vibration H can be, for example, about 150 to 300 Hz, which is a frequency that is easily felt by humans.

[0045] Furthermore, the vibration generation unit 24 generates a sound vibration (sound S) according to the drive signal of the sound component. This sound S is transmitted to the sound output unit 26 using the air in the communication path 27 as a vibration transmission medium and is efficiently output from the hole 26a to the outside of the housing 20. The arrow shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2 schematically shows the transmission of the sound signal, and the same applies to each figure from FIG. 4 onwards. Therefore, the user can perceive the sound S associated with writing with the input device 10 by hearing, and an even higher sense of usability can be obtained. The resonance frequency of the sound S can be, for example, about 500 Hz to 2 kHz, where high sensitivity can be obtained within the audible band of humans.

[0046] As described above, the input device 10 of the present embodiment includes a housing 220 formed in an elongated rod shape, a pen tip portion 22 provided at the tip of the housing 20, a vibration generating portion 24 disposed within the housing 20 at a position closer to the pen tip portion 22 than the center in its longitudinal direction, and a sound output portion 26 provided at a position away from the vibration generating portion 24. The vibration generating portion 24 receives a drive signal obtained by synthesizing a vibration component and a sound component, and generates vibrations according to the drive signal. The sound output portion 26 outputs sound vibrations according to the drive signal of the sound component generated by the vibration generating portion 24 to the outside of the housing 20 through a vibration transmission medium.

[0047] Therefore, the input device 10 can perform an input operation while outputting a tactile vibration H and an audible sound S to the user, and a high usability similar to writing utensils such as pencils and ballpoint pens can be obtained. Moreover, the input device 10 can generate the vibration H and the sound S by a common vibration generating portion 24 mounted within the housing 20. For this reason, the input device 10 can reduce power consumption and also reduce costs through simplification of the configuration and reduction of the number of components.

[0048] In particular, even when an actuator 24a capable of outputting sufficient tactile vibrations is used for the vibration generating portion 24, it is difficult to produce a loud sound. That is, when vibrations are output by an actuator, the characteristics of the actuator have a resonance frequency in the frequency range of 200 to 300 Hz in the tactile vibration region. For this reason, when attempting to produce a sound along with the tactile vibration, if the frequency in the frequency band of the sound is also input to the actuator, the sound will be produced at the same time, but it is difficult to produce a sufficiently loud sound. In this regard, since the input device 10 has a sound output portion 26 (hole portion 26a) for outputting the sound vibrations generated by the actuator 24a to the outside of the housing 20, it is possible to output a loud sound S.

[0049] On the other hand, it is also conceivable to configure the input device 10 to generate the writing sound from, for example, the speaker of the information processing device 14. However, in this case, although a sufficient volume can be produced by the speaker, it is difficult to obtain synchronization between the sound generation position and the vibration, which gives the user a sense of discomfort. In this regard, in the input device 10 of the present embodiment, since the sound S is generated from the input device 10 itself, the sound generation position is synchronized with the writing position. Further, since the input device 10 also synchronizes the sound S and the vibration, there is an advantage that a high usability without a sense of discomfort can be obtained. In particular, the sound output unit 26 is located at a position close to the pen tip portion 20c and can be said to be at the position closest to the user's ear among the input device 10. For this reason, even when the volume of the sound S is small, there is an advantage that it is easy for the user's auditory sense to perceive it.

[0050] The sound output unit 26 of the input device 10 is constituted by a hole portion 26a formed in the outer wall 20b of the housing 20. For this reason, although the sound output unit 26 has a simple configuration, it can efficiently output the sound S from the vibration generation unit 24 generated inside the housing 20 to the outside of the housing 20. Note that the hole portion 26a is formed to penetrate the housing 20 of the input device 10. Therefore, the input device 10 can also provide waterproof treatment such as a waterproof coating to electronic components such as the circuit board 28 housed inside the housing 20 and each connection terminal.

[0051] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an input device 10A according to a modified example of the input device 10 shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 denote the same or similar configurations, and for this reason, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted as having the same or similar functions and effects, and the same applies to FIG. 5.

[0052] The input device 10A shown in FIG. 4 includes a sound output unit 26A having a configuration different from that of the sound output unit 26 as compared with the input device 10 shown in FIG. 2. The sound output unit 26A has a hollow space 26b together with the hole portion 26a.

[0053] The hollow space 26b is a cavity formed inside the housing 20. The hollow space 26b has, for example, a cross-sectional area larger than that of the communication path 27. The hollow space 26b is provided, for example, between the pen butt 20c and the battery device 31. The hollow space 26b in the configuration example shown in FIG. 4 is formed between a lid body (pen butt 20c) that closes the proximal opening of the housing 20 and a standing wall 20d provided behind the battery device 31. The standing wall 20d is integrally formed with, for example, a wall portion that forms the outer wall 20b of the housing 20 and is a nodal member that partitions the internal space of the housing 20 in the axial direction A. The communication path 27 penetrates through a part of the standing wall 20d, thereby connecting the communication path 27 and the hollow space 26b. The standing wall 20d may be omitted. In this case, for the hollow space 26b, a component housed in the housing 20, for example, the battery device 31, may be used instead of the standing wall 20d.

[0054] The hollow space 26b corresponds to the internal space of the speaker enclosure. The hollow space 26b is a space that increases the sound vibration (sound S) from the vibration generating unit 24 transmitted through the communication path 27. The sound output unit 26A can efficiently output the sound S increased in the hollow space 26b from the hole portion 26a to the outside of the housing 20. Therefore, the input device 10A can output a large writing sound to the user.

[0055] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an input device 10B according to another modification of the input device 10 shown in FIG. 2.

[0056] The input device 10B shown in FIG. 5 includes a sound output unit 26B having a configuration different from that of the sound output unit 26 compared to the input device 10 shown in FIG. 2.

[0057] The housing 20 of the input device 10B is provided with a button switch 48 at an opening 20e formed in the outer wall 20b. The opening 20e is, for example, a cylindrical opening formed at the pen tip portion 20c of the housing 20. The button switch 48 is arranged so as to close most of the opening 20e and is a push button that can move forward and backward along the axial direction A. The button switch 48 can be used, for example, to turn on and off the power of the input device 10B. A clearance for the forward and backward movement of the button switch 48 (clearance) is formed between the button switch 48 and the inner peripheral surface of the opening 20e. This clearance functions as a hole 26c of the sound output portion 26B in place of the hole 26a of the sound output portion 26.

[0058] Therefore, also in the input device 10B, the writing sound (sound S) can be efficiently output from the hole 26c to the user. The hole 26c of the input device 10B utilizes the clearance necessary for the forward and backward movement of the button switch 48. For this reason, the input device 10B does not need to form the hole 26a in the outer wall 20b of the housing 20, and the appearance quality is improved.

[0059] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the input device 50 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 6, the same reference numerals as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 denote the same or similar configurations, and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted as having the same or similar functions and effects, and the same applies to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0060] The input device 50 shown in FIG. 6 includes a cap-shaped member 52 that is detachably attached to the housing 20. The cap-shaped member 52 is, for example, a cap that opens and closes when replacing the battery device 31. The cap-shaped member 52 has, for example, a screw portion 52a on the tip side. The screw portion 52a can be tightened against a female screw formed on the inner peripheral surface of the pen tip portion 20c of the housing 20.

[0061] The input device 50 includes a sound output unit 26A similar to the input device 10A shown in FIG. 4 in a cap-shaped member 52. The cap-shaped member 52 has a hole 26a formed through its outer wall 52b, and a cavity space 26b communicating with the hole 26a is provided inside. In the input device 50, the sound vibration (sound S) generated by the vibration generating unit 24 according to the drive signal of the sound component is transmitted to the sound output unit 26A of the cap-shaped member 52 using, for example, the wall portion forming the outer wall 20b of the housing 20 as a vibration transmission medium. The outer walls 20b and 52b are preferably formed of a hard metal such as stainless steel. The sound S transmitted from the outer wall 20b to the outer wall 52b is increased in the cavity space 26b and then output from the hole 26a to the outside of the cap-shaped member 52.

[0062] Therefore, in the input device 50 as well, it is possible to output the writing sound (sound S) to the user. The input device 50 is provided with the sound output unit 26A in the cap-shaped member 52. For this reason, the input device 50 can be configured such that the sound output unit 26A is substantially detachable. Thus, the input device 10B can be lined up with, for example, a specification including a cap-shaped member for replacing a simple battery device 31 having no sound output unit and a specification including a cap-shaped member 52 having the sound output unit 26A. In other words, the cap-shaped member 52 having the sound output unit 26A can be used as an externally attachable optional component for increasing the writing sound that is exchangeable with the input device, and high versatility and convenience can be obtained.

[0063] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the input device 60 according to the third embodiment.

[0064] The input device 60 shown in FIG. 7 includes a sound output unit 62 having a configuration different from that of the sound output unit 26A and includes a metal rod 64 instead of the communication path 27, as compared with the input device 10A described above. The sound output unit 62 has a diaphragm 66 forming one surface of the cavity space 26b.

[0065] The diaphragm 66 is fixed so as to close the opening 20e formed in the outer wall 20b of the housing 20. The diaphragm 66 is a component that generates sound by vibrating, and can be configured in the same manner as the diaphragm (cone) provided in a general speaker. The input device 60 uses the space including the opening 20e as the cavity space 26b, and has a configuration in which one surface of this cavity space 26b is closed by the diaphragm 66.

[0066] The metal rod 64 is a metal rod extending along the longitudinal direction of the housing 20, for example, a hard stainless steel rod. One end of the metal rod 64 is connected to the vibration generating portion 24, and the other end is connected to the diaphragm 66. Thereby, the metal rod 64 functions as a vibration transmission medium that transmits the sound vibration (sound S) generated by the vibration generating portion 24 to the diaphragm 66 according to the drive signal of the sound component.

[0067] In the input device 60, the sound vibration (sound S) generated by the vibration generating portion 24 is transmitted to the diaphragm 66 via the metal rod 64, and the diaphragm 66 functions as an active radiator. Thereby, the input device 60 can output the sound S increased in the cavity space 26b to the outside of the housing 20 due to the vibration of the diaphragm 66. The other end of the metal rod 64 may be arranged in the cavity space 26b without being directly connected to the diaphragm 66. In this case, the diaphragm 66 functions as a passive radiator, and the sound S increased in the cavity space 26b can be output to the outside of the housing 20.

[0068] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the input device 70 according to the fourth embodiment.

[0069] The input device 70 shown in FIG. 8 includes a sound output portion 72 having a different configuration from the sound output portion 26, and includes a metal rod 64 instead of the communication path 27, as compared with the above-described input device 10. The sound output portion 72 has a pen clip 74.

[0070] The pen clip 74 is a clip that can be used when hanging the input device 70 on the edge of a pocket of clothing or the like. The pen clip 74 is preferably made of a metal such as hard stainless steel that can amplify sound vibrations (sound S). One end of the metal rod 64 is connected to the vibration generating portion 24, and the other end is connected to the pen clip 74. The pen clip 74 may be integrally formed with the metal rod 64 at the end. The pen clip 74 may be configured to be attached to the outer wall 20b of the housing 20. In this case, it may be firmly fixed to the end of the metal rod 64 exposed on the outer wall 20b with an adhesive or the like.

[0071] In the input device 70, the sound vibration (sound S) generated by the vibration generating portion 24 according to the drive signal of the sound component is transmitted to the pen clip 74 using the metal rod 64 as a vibration transmission medium. As a result, the pen clip 74 functions as a diaphragm similar to the diaphragm shown in FIG. 7, and the sound S can be increased and output to the outside of the housing 20.

[0072] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be freely changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0073] 10, 10A, 10B, 50, 60, 70 Input device 12 Information processing system 14 Information processing device 20 Housing 20c Pen tip 22 Pen tip 24 Vibration generating portion 24a Actuator 26, 26A, 26B, 62, 72 Sound output portion 26a, 26c Hole portion 26b Cavity space 27 Communication path 48 Button switch 52 Cap-shaped member 64 Metal rod 66 Diaphragm 74 Pen clip

Claims

1. A pen-shaped input device, comprising: a housing formed in an elongated rod shape; a pen tip provided at the tip of the housing; a vibration generating unit disposed within the housing at a position closer to the pen tip than the center in the longitudinal direction of the housing, to which a drive signal obtained by synthesizing a vibration component and a sound component is input, and which generates vibrations according to the drive signal; a sound output unit provided at a position away from the vibration generating unit, through which sound vibrations according to the drive signal of the sound component generated by the vibration generating unit are transmitted via a vibration transmission medium, and which outputs the sound vibrations to the outside of the housing; An input device, characterized by comprising the above.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the sound output unit is disposed at a position closer to the rear end of the pen, which is opposite to the pen tip, than the center in the longitudinal direction of the housing. An input device, characterized by the above.

3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the sound output unit has a hole formed through the outer wall of the housing. An input device, characterized by the above.

4. The input device according to claim 3, wherein the sound output unit has a cavity space communicating with the hole and increasing the sound vibrations. An input device, characterized by the above.

5. The input device according to claim 3, wherein the housing is provided with a button switch supported by the housing so as to close a part of an opening provided in the housing, and the hole is a gap formed between the button switch and the housing. An input device, characterized by the above.

6. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a communication path extending along the longitudinal direction of the housing and connecting between the vibration generating unit and the sound output unit is formed within the housing, and the vibration transmission medium includes air within the communication path. An input device, characterized by the above.

7. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the sound output unit includes a cavity space provided inside the housing and increasing the sound vibrations transmitted through the vibration transmission medium, and a diaphragm provided so as to close an opening formed in the outer wall of the housing and forming one surface of the cavity space. An input device, characterized by having the above. An input device, characterized by the above.

8. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the sound output unit has a metal pen clip attached to the outer wall of the housing, and the vibration transmission medium includes a metal rod extending along the longitudinal direction of the housing and connecting between the vibration generating unit and the pen clip. An input device characterized by the above.

9. The input device according to claim 2, comprising a cap-shaped member detachably attached to the housing, wherein the sound output unit is provided in the cap-shaped member and has a cavity space for increasing the sound vibration, and a hole portion formed through the outer wall of the cap-shaped member and communicating with the cavity space. It has An input device characterized by the above.

10. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the vibration transmission medium includes a metal rod extending along the longitudinal direction of the housing and connecting between the vibration generating unit and the sound output unit. An input device characterized by the above.

11. An information processing system comprising an information processing device and a pen-type input device, wherein the input device includes a housing formed in an elongated rod shape, a pen tip provided at the tip of the housing, a vibration generating unit disposed inside the housing at a position closer to the pen tip than the center in the longitudinal direction of the housing, to which a drive signal synthesizing a vibration component and a sound component is input and which generates vibration according to the drive signal, and a sound output unit provided at a position away from the vibration generating unit, to which sound vibration according to the drive signal of the sound component generated by the vibration generating unit is transmitted and which outputs the sound vibration to the outside of the housing. It comprises An information processing system characterized by the above.

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