Sample presentation device

Abstract

To realize evaluation of the tactile sensation of a sample in which the influence of individual differences and physical conditions of each individual is suppressed.SOLUTION: A sample presentation device used when an evaluator evaluates the tactile sensation of a sample comprises: a support part that supports the sample; a drive part that moves the support part in a state where the sample is supported; a placement part that is disposed on the upper side in the vertical direction of the support part for placing a portion of the evaluator's body, and has an opening for bringing the placed portion of the body into contact with the sample supported by the support part; a sensor that detects a load applied to the placement part or to a contact surface between the sample and the portion of the body when the portion of the body is in contact with the sample through the opening; and a display part that displays, as an image, the load detected by the sensor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sample presentation device. [Background technology]

[0002] Materials used on the surfaces of industrial products include metal, wood, leather, cloth, and resin. Evaluation of the texture, which is the visual and tactile feel of these industrial products, has been conducted in the past (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 and Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2). The tactile sensation measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a contactor to detect the tactile sensation of an object as vibration. The tactile sensation measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 2 detects the load applied to a sample when the evaluator's finger in contact with the sample moves. Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a method for determining the texture of various types of fabric. Non-Patent Document 2 discloses a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of a hairless palm. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-088673 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-144213 [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Saito Makoto and Harada Takashi, "Differences in the Methods for Evaluating the Feeling of Various Fabrics," Journal of the Society of Textile Machinery 40, 1987, pp. 239-245 [Non-patent document 2] Gianluca Cruciani et., "Pleasantness ratings in response to affective touch across hairy and glabrous skin: A meta-analysis", Neurosci Biobehav Rev 131 (2021) P88-P95

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Among the textures, the evaluation of the tactile sensation is generally performed with the fingertips. In the determination method disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, among the 10 classification operations for determining the texture, only one operation using the palm of the hand rather than the fingertips is exemplified. However, when an evaluator grasps or strokes an industrial product targeted by a sample, the palm of the hand also comes into contact with the sample as well as the fingertips. As described in Non-Patent Document 2, since the palm of the hand is a part that feels the tactile sensation of comfort, the sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of the palm of the hand is important, and it is preferable to reduce the variation in the sensory evaluation. However, the sensory evaluation disclosed in Non-Patent Document 2 only evaluates the difference in the tactile sensation between the hairy skin and the hairless skin, and the evaluation of the tactile sensation of the hairless skin is not sufficient, leaving room for a more detailed sensory evaluation. Further, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the tactile sensation of the sample is detected as vibration, the detected vibration cannot be directly used for the sensory evaluation of the sample. In the device disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the finger is moved according to the intention of the evaluator, individual differences and the physical condition of each individual are affected, and there is a risk that the variation included in the sensory evaluation will increase.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to realize a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of a sample in which the influence of individual differences and the physical condition of each individual is suppressed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve at least a part of the above-described problems and can be realized in the following forms.

[0008] (1) According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample presentation device used when an evaluator evaluates the tactile sensation of a sample. This sample presentation device includes a support portion that supports the sample, a drive portion that moves the support portion in a state where the sample is supported, and a placement portion that is disposed above the support portion in the vertical direction and is for placing a part of the evaluator's body, and an opening is formed in the placement portion for bringing the placed part of the body into contact with the sample supported by the support portion, and a sensor that detects a load applied to the placement portion or the contact surface between the sample and the part of the body when the part of the body is in contact with the sample through the opening, and a display portion that displays the load detected by the sensor as an image.

[0009] According to this configuration, when a sample supported by the support portion contacts a part of the body through the opening with a part of the evaluator's body placed on the placement portion, the load applied to the contact surface is detected by the sensor. In this state, when the sample is moved by the drive portion, the contact surface where a part of the body is in contact with the sample changes. The change in the load corresponding to the change is displayed as an image on the display portion. Therefore, in this configuration, even if the evaluator does not move a part of the body voluntarily, the contact surface between a part of the body and the sample changes due to the moving portion, and the tactile sensation of the evaluator with respect to the sample changes. Even if the load applied to the contact surface is the same, depending on the material and surface shape of the sample, the tactile sensation felt by the evaluator changes. In this configuration, the evaluator can evaluate the tactile sensation corresponding to the load applied to the contact surface by visually recognizing the display portion without moving a part of the body by oneself. That is, since the evaluator only needs to place a part of the body on the placement portion, a change in the load on the contact surface due to the will of the evaluator is suppressed, and a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of the sample is realized in which the influence of individual differences and the physical condition of each individual is suppressed.

[0010] (2) In the sample presentation device of the above aspect, the drive portion may move the support portion at a speed of 1 cm / s or more and 10 cm / s or less with respect to the opening surface of the opening. According to this configuration, the moving speed of the contact surface between a part of the evaluator's body and the sample is controlled within a range of 1 cm / s or more and 10 cm / s or less with respect to the opening surface. When the evaluator moves a part of the body of their own volition, it is difficult to move at a constant speed and within the range of the upper limit speed and the lower limit speed. Although a skilled tester can move the sample within the above speed range instead of the driving part of this configuration, when the number of evaluators and the number of samples increase, it becomes difficult for the tester to continuously move the sample within a certain speed range. In contrast, in this configuration, since the moving speed of the contact surface is controlled by the driving part, even when the number of evaluators and the number of samples are large, a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of the sample that suppresses the influence of individual differences and the physical condition of each individual is realized.

[0011] (3) In the sample presenting device of the above aspect, the part of the body may be the hand of the evaluator, and the sample presenting device may further include a shielding part that covers the hand of the evaluator placed on the placement part. According to this configuration, since the part of the body that contacts the sample is the palm of the evaluator's hand, a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of the palm is performed. In addition, since the evaluator cannot visually recognize the sample due to the shielding part, a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of the sample with less blur that excludes visual information is realized.

[0012] (4) In the sample presenting device of the above aspect, it may further include a head-mounted display worn on the head of the evaluator. According to this configuration, by having the evaluator wear a head-mounted display, displaying an image unrelated to the sample on the display panel of the head-mounted display, and preventing the evaluator from visually recognizing the sample, a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of the sample with less blur that excludes visual information is realized.

[0013] Note that the present invention can be realized in various forms, for example, in the form of a sample presentation device, a sample presentation method, a system including these devices or realizing the method, a computer program for executing these devices or methods, a server device for distributing this computer program, a non-transitory storage medium storing the computer program, and the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] <Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a sample presentation system (sample presentation device) 100 as one embodiment of the present invention. The sample presentation system 100 of the present embodiment is used when an evaluator evaluates the tactile sensation of a sample SN. In the sample presentation system 100, a sample SN supported by a support part 70 moves together with a moving stage 60 in a state of being in contact with a hand (target) HD of an evaluator placed on a placement part 50. Load sensors (sensors) 41 and 42 arranged on the placement part 50 detect the load applied to the contact surface between the sample SN and the hand HD. The detected load is used to evaluate the tactile sensation of the sample SN.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the sample presentation system 100 includes a placement unit 50 on which the hand HD of the evaluator is placed, a shielding unit 55 that covers the hand HD placed on the placement unit 50, load sensors 41 and 42, a support unit 70 that supports the sample SN, a moving stage 60 that moves the support unit 70 in a state where the sample SN is supported, a control device 10, an input unit 32, a display unit 90, and an HMD (Head Mounted Display) 80.

[0017] The placement unit 50 is where the hand HD, which is a part of the evaluator's body that contacts the sample SN, is placed. The placement unit 50 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and as shown in FIG. 1, an opening 52 is formed in the central part of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the opening 52, the hand HD placed on the placement unit 50 and the sample SN supported by the support unit 70 come into contact. The shielding unit 55 is a cover that is located above the placement unit 50 in the vertical direction and covers a part of the hand HD placed on the placement unit 50. Due to the shielding unit 55, the evaluator is in a state where the sample SN contacted by the hand HD cannot be visually recognized. The detailed shapes of the placement unit 50 and the shielding unit 55 will be described later.

[0018] The load sensors 41 and 42 in the present embodiment are load cells that detect the load from the hand HD placed on the placement unit 50 as an electrical signal. The load sensors 41 and 42 detect the load applied to the contact surface between the palm PL of the hand facing vertically downward among the hand HDs and the sample SN. The load sensors 41 and 42 transmit the detected electrical signal to the control device 10. The arrangement of the load sensors 41 and 42 will be described later together with the shape of the placement unit 50.

[0019] The support portion 70 of the present embodiment fixes the vertically lower side of the sample SN. The moving stage 60 is fixed to the support portion 70 that supports the sample SN. The moving stage 60 moves the support portion 70 and the sample SN supported by the support portion 70. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the moving stage 60 moves within the opening 52 of the placement portion 50 in a state where the sample SN is in contact with the palm PL. Due to the movement of the sample SN, the tactile sensation of the sample SN received by the evaluator through the palm PL changes. The movement of the placement portion 50 is controlled by the control device 10.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the support portion 70 and the moving stage 60. As shown in FIG. 2, the moving stage 60 includes a rail 62 of a linear guide, a carriage 63 of the linear guide, and a motor 61 that rotates the rail 62 about an axis. When the motor 61 rotates the rail 62 about the axis, the carriage 63 moves in the axial direction. The support portion 70 includes a sample fixing portion 71 fixed to the carriage 63 and four fasteners 72 that fix the sample SN on the sample fixing portion 71. Along with the movement of the carriage 63, the sample fixing portion 71 fixed to the carriage 63 and the sample SN fixed to the sample fixing portion 71 move. In the present embodiment, by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 61, the carriage 63 moves at a speed of 1 cm / s or more and 10 cm / s or less.

[0021] Note that in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a rectangular coordinate system CS composed of an X-axis parallel to the axial direction of the rail 62, a Z-axis parallel to the vertical direction, and a Y-axis orthogonal to the X-axis and the Z-axis is defined. The rectangular coordinate system CS in FIG. 2 corresponds to the rectangular coordinate system CS after FIG. 3.

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the sample fixing part 71 and the fastener 72. As shown in Figure 3, the sample fixing part 71 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A sample SN having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape placed on the positive Z-axis side of the sample fixing part 71 is fixed by being sandwiched from the positive and negative sides of the X-axis and Y-axis respectively. The thickness t71 along the Z-axis direction of the sample fixing part 71 is 5 mm in this embodiment. Also, the thickness t72 along the Z-axis direction of the fastener 72 of this embodiment is 2.5 mm. In this embodiment, the length of the sample SN along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction fixed by the fastener 72 is 20 mm or more and 40 mm or less.

[0023] In this embodiment, the control device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is composed of a personal computer. The control device 10 includes a storage unit 31 that stores various information and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20. The storage unit 31 is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like.

[0024] The CPU 20 is connected to each part of the sample presentation system 100 and a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) (not shown), and controls each part of the sample presentation system 100 by expanding and executing the computer program stored in the ROM in the RAM. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the CPU 20 also functions as an acquisition unit 21, a calculation unit 22, a display control unit 23, and a drive control unit 24.

[0025] The acquisition unit 21 acquires various information. For example, the acquisition unit 21 acquires the electrical signals transmitted from the load sensors 41 and 42 and the input signals transmitted from the input unit 32. The calculation unit 22 calculates the load applied to the contact surface between the sample SN and the palm PL using the electrical signals of the load sensors 41 and 42.

[0026] The display control unit 23 controls the image to be displayed on the display unit 90 and the image to be displayed on the display panel of the HMD 80. For example, the display control unit 23 causes the display unit 90 to display, as a numerical value, the load applied to the contact surface between the sample SN calculated by the calculation unit 22 and the palm PL. Further, the display control unit 23 can provide visual information unrelated to the sample SN to the evaluator wearing the HMD 80 by displaying an image on the display panel of the HMD 80. In the present embodiment, the evaluator evaluates the tactile sensation felt from the palm PL according to the load applied to the contact surface. Even when the load applied to the contact surface is the same, the tactile sensation felt by the evaluator differs depending on the material and surface pattern of the sample SN.

[0027] The drive control unit 24 moves the carriage 63 of the moving table 60 according to the input information received by the input unit 32 and a preset program. As the carriage 63 moves, the position of the sample SN fixed to the carriage 63 changes, so the tactile sensation received by the evaluator from the sample SN via the palm PL changes. The input unit 32 shown in FIG. 1 receives inputs from the evaluator and the user. Examples of the input unit 32 include a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone. Note that the drive control unit 24 and the moving table 60 correspond to the drive unit.

[0028] The display unit 90 of the present embodiment is a monitor that displays various images according to a control signal from the display control unit 23. The HMD 80 is an electronic device that is worn on a human head and includes a display panel capable of displaying an image in front of the eyes in a worn state. An image corresponding to a control signal from the display control unit 23 is displayed on the display panel located in front of the eyes of the wearer. By the evaluator wearing the HMD 80, the evaluator can visually recognize an image unrelated to the sample SN.

[0029] Figures 4 to 6 are explanatory views of the shapes of the placement portion 50 and the shielding portion 55. FIG. 4 shows a schematic top view of the placement portion 50 and the shielding portion 55 with the hand HD placed on the flat surface portion 51 of the placement portion 50. FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of the placement portion 50 and the shielding portion 55 with the hand HD placed on the flat surface portion 51. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the placement portion 50 includes a flat surface portion 51 on which the hand HD, which is a part of the evaluator's body, is placed, and an opening 52 formed in the central portion of the flat surface portion 51. The flat surface portion 51 is a surface parallel to the XY plane orthogonal to the vertical direction, and the opening surface of the opening 52 is a surface parallel to the XY plane. The shielding portion 55 has a box-like shape with a part open. By covering the vertically upper side of the opening 52, the shielding portion 55 covers the hand HD of the evaluator in a state where the hand HD of the evaluator is placed on the flat surface portion 51.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the length L51 of the flat surface portion 51 along the Y axis is 250 mm. Also, the width W51A from the end face on the negative X-axis side of the flat surface portion 51 to the end face on the negative X-axis side of the shielding portion 55 is 50 mm. Similarly, the width W51B from the end face on the positive X-axis side of the flat surface portion 51 to the end face on the positive X-axis side of the shielding portion 55 is 50 mm. The width W55 of the shielding portion 55 along the X axis is 150 mm. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the height H55 of the shielding portion 55 from the flat surface portion 51 in the present embodiment is 100 mm.

[0031] FIG. 6 shows a schematic top view of the placement portion 50 and the load sensors 41 and 42. As shown in FIG. 6, the opening 52 is formed in the central portion of the flat portion 51 in the XY plane so as to penetrate the flat portion 51 along the vertical direction. The width W52 along the X-axis direction of the opening 52 in the present embodiment is 80 mm. Also, the width W51C from the end face on the negative X-axis side of the flat portion 51 to the end face on the negative X-axis side of the opening 52 is 85 mm. Similarly, the width W51D from the end face on the positive X-axis side of the flat portion 51 to the end face on the positive X-axis side of the opening 52 is 85 mm. Further, the length L52 along the Y-axis direction of the opening 52 is 80 mm. The length L51A from the end face on the negative Y-axis side of the flat portion 51 to the end face on the negative Y-axis side of the opening 52 is 85 mm. Similarly, the length L51B from the end face on the positive Y-axis side of the flat portion 51 to the end face on the positive Y-axis side of the opening 52 is 85 mm.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, the load sensor 41 and the load sensor 42 are arranged at positions facing each other with the opening 52 therebetween. Specifically, in the XY plane, the load sensor 41 is arranged on the negative X-axis side of the opening 52, and the load sensor 42 is arranged on the positive X-axis side of the opening 52.

[0033] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the sample presentation method. In the sample presentation flow shown in FIG. 7, first, the sample SN is supported on the support portion 70 (step S1). The sample SN is fixed to the sample fixing portion 71 by four fasteners 72. The support portion 70 to which the sample SN is fixed is fixed to the carriage 63 and is in a state of being movable along the axial direction of the rail 62.

[0034] A hand HD, which is a part of the evaluator's body, is placed on the flat portion 51 of the placement portion 50 (step S2). In the state where the hand HD is placed on the flat portion 51, the hand HD is covered by the shielding portion 55, and the sample SN cannot be directly visually recognized by the evaluator. In the present embodiment, further, the HMD 80 may be worn on the head of the evaluator.

[0035] When the hand HD of the evaluator is placed on the flat portion 51, the detection of the load received by the placement portion 50 from the hand HD starts via the load sensors 41 and 42 (step S3). In the present embodiment, calibration is performed and the zero point is set with the hand HD placed on the placement portion 50 and the sample SN not in contact with the hand HD.

[0036] The sample SN is moved by the moving stage 60, and the sample SN comes into contact with the hand HD, which is a part of the body of the evaluator placed on the placement portion 50 (step S4). In this process, the sample SN fixed to the moving stage 60 and the support portion 70 moves from the vertically lower side of the opening 52. When the sample SN comes into contact with the hand HD, the load sensors 41 and 42 detect the load applied to the contact surface between the sample SN and the palm PL of the hand.

[0037] Next, with a load applied to the contact surface, the moving stage 60 moves the sample SN (step S5). By the drive control unit 24 controlling the rotation speed of the motor 61 of the moving stage 60, the sample SN fixed to the carriage 63 and the support portion 70 moves along the axial direction of the rail 62. In the present embodiment, by the drive control unit 24, the moving stage 60 moves the support portion 70 to which the sample SN is fixed at a speed of 1 cm / s or more and 10 cm / s or less along the X-axis direction, which is the XY plane parallel to the opening surface of the opening 52.

[0038] Next, it is determined whether or not to end the detection of the load by the presented sample SN (step S6). Examples of the end determination of sample presentation include, for example, when the sample SN moves from one end to the other end along the rail 62, or when a predetermined input is received via the input unit 32. When it is determined that the sample presentation is not ended (step S6: NO), the detection of the load in the state where the sample SN is moved is continued (step S5). When it is determined that the sample presentation is ended (step S6: YES), the sample presentation flow ends.

[0039] As described above, the sample presentation system 100 of the present embodiment includes a placement unit 50 on which the hand HD of the evaluator is placed, load sensors 41 and 42 disposed on the placement unit 50, a support unit 70 that supports the sample SN, a moving stage 60 that moves the support unit 70 in a state where the sample SN is supported, a control device 10, and a display unit 90 that displays the load detected by the load sensors 41 and 42 as an image. The placement unit 50 has the hand HD, which is a part of the body of the evaluator that contacts the sample SN, placed thereon, and an opening 52 is formed in the central portion. In the opening 52, the palm PL of the hand HD placed on the placement unit 50 contacts the sample SN supported by the support unit 70. The load sensors 41 and 42 detect the load applied to the contact surface between the palm PL of the hand HD facing vertically downward and the sample SN. In the present embodiment, when the sample SN supported by the support unit 70 contacts the hand HD through the opening 52 with the hand HD, which is a part of the body of the evaluator, placed on the placement unit 50, the load applied to the contact surface is detected by the load sensors 41 and 42. In this state, when the sample SN fixed to the support unit 70 by the moving stage 60 moves, the contact surface where the palm PL of the hand HD contacts the sample SN changes. The change in the load corresponding to the change in the contact surface is displayed as an image on the display unit 90. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the evaluator does not move the hand HD voluntarily, the contact surface between the palm PL of the hand and the sample SN changes due to the moving stage 60, and the tactile sensation of the evaluator with respect to the sample SN changes. Even if the load applied to the contact surface is the same, the tactile sensation felt by the evaluator changes depending on the material and surface shape of the sample SN. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the evaluator can evaluate the tactile sensation corresponding to the load applied to the contact surface by visually recognizing the display unit 90 without moving the hand HD himself / herself. That is, since the evaluator only needs to place the hand HD, which is a part of the body, on the placement unit 50, a change in the load on the contact surface due to the will of the evaluator is suppressed, and a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of the sample SN is realized in which the influence of individual differences and the physical condition of each individual is suppressed.

[0040] In addition, the drive control unit 24 of the present embodiment moves the support unit 70 and the moving table 60 to which the sample SN is fixed along the X-axis direction in the XY plane parallel to the opening surface of the opening 52 at a speed of 1 cm / s or more and 10 cm / s or less. In the present embodiment, the moving speed of the contact surface between the hand HD of the evaluator and the sample SN is controlled within the range of 1 cm / s or more and 10 cm / s or less. When the evaluator moves a part of the body according to their own will, it is difficult to move at a constant speed and within the range of the upper limit speed and the lower limit speed. Although a skilled tester can move the sample SN within the above speed range instead of the drive control unit 24, it is difficult for the tester to continuously move the sample SN within a certain speed range when the number of evaluators and the number of samples increase. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the moving speed of the contact surface is controlled by the drive control unit 24, a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of the sample SN with reduced influence of individual differences and the physical condition of each individual is realized.

[0041] In addition, in the present embodiment, a part of the body of the evaluator that contacts the sample SN is the hand HD of the evaluator. Further, the shielding unit 55 covers the hand HD placed on the placement unit 50. According to this configuration, since a part of the body that contacts the sample SN is the palm PL of the hand of the evaluator, a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of the palm PL is performed. In addition, since the evaluator cannot visually recognize the sample SN due to the shielding unit 55, a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of the sample SN with less blur excluding visual information is realized.

[0042] In addition, the sample presentation system 100 of the present embodiment includes an HMD 80 that can be worn on the head of the evaluator. In the present embodiment, by having the evaluator wear the HMD 80, displaying an image unrelated to the sample SN on the display panel of the HMD 80, and preventing the evaluator from visually recognizing the sample SN, a sensory evaluation of the tactile sensation of the sample SN with less blur excluding visual information is realized.

[0043] <Modification Example of the Embodiment> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible. Also, in the above-described embodiments, a part of the configuration that was realized by hardware may be replaced with software, or conversely, a part of the configuration that was realized by software may be replaced with hardware.

[0044] The sample presentation system 100 of the above-described embodiment is deformable within a range in which the moving base 60 moves the sample SN supported by the support portion 70 in a state where the load applied to the contact surface between a part of the evaluator's body placed on the placement portion 50 and the sample SN can be detected. In the above-described embodiment, the part of the evaluator's body that contacts the sample SN was the palm PL, but for example, it may be the back of the hand, the arm, the cheek of the face, and the scalp. In the above-described embodiment, the opening 52 formed in the placement portion 50 was a rectangular hole that penetrates the flat portion 51 in the Z-axis direction, but it is deformable within a range in which a part of the evaluator's body and the sample SN supported by the support portion 70 can be brought into contact. The shape of the opening 52 may be a circle or the like other than a rectangle. The opening 52 does not have to penetrate along the Z-axis orthogonal to the flat portion 51, and for example, it may be a hole inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the flat portion 51.

[0045] In the above-described embodiment, the support portion 70 that supports the sample SN and the moving stage 60 that moves the moving stage 60 by the drive control unit 24 have separate configurations. However, the sample SN may be directly supported on the moving stage 60. In this case, the moving stage 60 also functions as the support portion 70. Further, in the moving stage 60 of the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 63 moved along the X-axis by the rail 62. However, the moving stage 60 may be a rail different from the rail 62 and include a rail that extends in the Y-axis direction and moves the carriage 63 along the Y-axis direction. In this case, the moving stage 60 can move the sample SN supported by the support portion 70 along a plane parallel to the XY plane along the X-axis and the Y-axis. In the moving stage 60 of the above-described embodiment, the carriage 63 moved along the axial direction of the rail 62 when the rail 62 formed of a screw shaft rotated about the axis. However, a belt drive type may be used instead of the screw shaft rail 62, and the carriage 63 fixed to the belt may move along the conveyance direction of the belt. A well-known device may be applied as the drive unit that moves the sample SN supported by the support portion 70. The drive control unit 24 moved the moving stage 60 at a speed of 1 cm / s or more and 10 cm / s or less along the XY plane parallel to the opening surface of the opening 52. However, the moving stage 60 may move at a speed outside this range. Further, the drive control unit 24 of another embodiment may rotationally move the moving stage 60 with respect to the opening surface of the opening 52 at a speed of 1 cm / s or more and 10 cm / s or less. For example, the drive control unit 24 may rotate the carriage 63 with respect to the opening surface integrally with the rotation about the axis of the rail 62 of the above-described embodiment.

[0046] In the above-described embodiment, the support portion 70 supported the sample SN by sandwiching and fixing each of the four side surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped-shaped sample SN with the four fasteners 72. However, the method by which the support portion 70 supports the sample SN can be modified. For example, female threads may be machined in a part of the sample fixing portion 71 and the sample SN may be fixed to the sample fixing portion 71 with male threads of the screw. As a method by which the support portion 70 supports the sample SN, a well-known method can be applied.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the sample presentation system 100 included the shielding part 55 that covered the hand HD of the evaluator placed on the placement part 50 and the HMD 80 worn on the head of the evaluator. However, the sample presentation system 100 may not include either the shielding part 55 or the HMD 80, or may include only one of them. It is preferable that the shielding part 55 or the HMD 8 enables the tactile sensation of the sample SN to be evaluated in a state without visual information, without the evaluator being able to directly visually recognize the sample SN. Further, the sample presentation system 100 may not include the input part 32 and the storage part 33. The sample presentation system 100 may include, for example, a communication part capable of communicating with another device or a speaker that outputs sound.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the load applied to the contact surface between the palm PL, which is a part of the body of the evaluator placed on the placement part 50, and the sample SN was detected by the two load cells, the load sensors 41 and 42. However, the load applied to the contact surface may be detected by one load cell, the load sensor 41, or may be detected by three or more load cells. Further, as a device in which the load sensor (sensor) detects the load on the contact surface, a well-known device other than the load cell can be applied. The image displayed on the display part 90 may be the numerical values of the two loads respectively detected by the load sensors 41 and 42, or may be the average value of the two loads. The image displayed on the display part 90 can be deformed within a range in which the evaluator can recognize the load detected by the load sensors 41 and 42.

[0049] The orthogonal coordinate system CS defined in FIG. 2 and the like is a coordinate system defined for explaining the placement part 50 and the moving base 60, and may be appropriately deformed according to the shapes of the placement part 50 and the moving base 60. In the above embodiment, the flat part 51 of the placement part 50 was described as a plane parallel to the horizontal direction orthogonal to the Z-axis in the vertical direction. However, the flat part 51 may be installed at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction. In this case, the evaluator may place a part of the body inclined according to the installed flat part 51 on the placement part 50.

[0050] In the above embodiment, an example of the dimensions of the sample SN and the placement unit 50 (for example, the length L51, etc.) was described. However, with regard to the dimensions of the sample SN and the placement unit 50, etc., the sample presentation system 100 can be deformed within a range where it can detect the load on the contact surface between a part of the evaluator's body and the sample SN.

[0051] As described above, the present aspect has been explained based on the embodiment and the modification example. However, the embodiments of the above-described aspects are for facilitating the understanding of the present aspect and do not limit the present aspect. The present aspect can be changed and improved without departing from its gist and the scope of the claims, and equivalents thereof are included in the present aspect. Also, if the technical features are not described as essential in this specification, they can be deleted as appropriate.

[0052] The present invention can also be realized in the following forms. [Application Example 1] A sample presentation device used when an evaluator evaluates the tactile sensation of a sample, a support part for supporting the sample, a drive part for moving the support part in a state where the sample is supported, a placement part disposed above the support part in the vertical direction for placing a part of the evaluator's body, the placement part having an opening formed for bringing the placed part of the body into contact with the sample supported by the support part, a sensor for detecting the load applied to the placement part or the contact surface between the sample and the part of the body when the part of the body is in contact with the sample through the opening, a display part for displaying the load detected by the sensor as an image, a sample presentation device comprising the same. [Application Example 2] The sample presentation device according to Application Example 1, wherein the drive part moves the support part at a speed of 1 cm / s or more and 10 cm / s or less with respect to the opening surface of the opening, a sample presentation device. [Application Example 3] The sample presentation device according to Application Example 1 or Application Example 2, wherein the part of the body is the hand of the evaluator, the sample presentation device further comprises a shielding part that covers the hand of the evaluator placed on the placement part, the sample presentation device. [Application Example 4] The sample presentation device according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 3, further comprising a head-mounted display worn on the head of the evaluator, the sample presentation device.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0053] 10…Control device 20…CPU 21…Acquisition unit 22…Calculation unit 23…Display control unit 24…Drive control unit (drive unit) 31…Memory unit 32…Input unit 33…Memory unit 41, 42…Load sensor (sensor) 50…Placement part 51…Flat part 52…Opening 55…Shielding part 60…Moving stage (drive unit) 61…Motor 62…Rail 63…Carriage 70…Support part 71…Sample fixing part 72…Fastener 90…Display part 100…Sample presentation system (sample presentation device) CS…Cartesian coordinate system HD…Hand SN…Sample

Claims

1. A sample presentation device used when an evaluator evaluates the tactile sensation of a sample, a support part for supporting the sample, a drive part for moving the support part in a state where the sample is supported, a placement part arranged above the support part in the vertical direction for placing a part of the evaluator's body, the placement part having an opening formed for bringing the placed part of the body into contact with the sample supported by the support part, a sensor for detecting a load applied to the placement part or the contact surface between the sample and the part of the body when the part of the body is in contact with the sample through the opening, a sample presentation device comprising a display part for displaying the load detected by the sensor as an image.

2. The sample presentation device according to Claim 1, wherein the drive part moves the support part at a speed of 1 cm / s or more and 10 cm / s or less with respect to the opening surface of the opening, the sample presentation device.

3. The sample presentation device according to Claim 1, wherein the part of the body is the hand of the evaluator, and the sample presentation device further comprises, a shielding part for covering the hand of the evaluator placed on the placement part, the sample presentation device.

4. The sample presentation device according to Claim 1, further comprising, a head-mounted display worn on the head of the evaluator, the sample presentation device.

Images