Input device

Abstract

To provide an input device that is capable of precisely detecting an operation amount resulting from pressing.SOLUTION: An input device includes: a fixed section (110) having a base section (111) and a plurality of holding sections (112) provided at the base section; a movable section (120) having a plurality of held sections (121A) positioned with respect to the fixing section by the plurality of holding sections and held to be freely swingable; an electrostatic sensor (130); an elastic member (140) that is provided between the base section and the movable section around the plurality of holding sections in a direction connecting an operation surface and the held sections of the movable section in planar view, and biases the movable section toward the base section; a plurality of displacement sensors (150) detecting displacement of the movable section when the operation surface of the movable section is pressed and the movable section swings with the plurality of holding sections serving as a center of rotation; and a control unit (160) that identifies a displacement sensor in which a distance from an operation position detected by the electrostatic sensor in a direction connecting the plurality of held sections is the shortest among the plurality of displacement sensors and determines the displacement of the movable section on the basis of an output of the identified displacement sensor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an input device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been an operating device provided with a support unit, an operating body, an elastic member that supports the operating body on the support unit, a proximity sensor that detects the approach distance of the operating body to the support unit, and a control unit. The proximity sensor or a tilt detection sensor provided separately from the proximity sensor can detect the tilt of the operating body relative to the support unit. The control unit changes a threshold value for determining that a pressing operation has been performed based on the detection output from the proximity sensor according to the tilt of the operating body. The approach distance is calculated by calculating the average value of the detection outputs of multiple proximity sensors (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 073152 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional operating devices (input devices) find the approach distance (amount of operation) by calculating the average value of the detection outputs of a plurality of approach sensors, and therefore cannot accurately detect the amount of operation by pressing.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can accurately detect the amount of pressing operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An input device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a fixed part having a base and a plurality of holding parts provided on the base, a movable part having a plurality of held parts that are positioned relative to the fixed part by the plurality of holding parts and are held so as to be able to swing freely, an electrostatic sensor provided on the movable part and detecting an operation position of an operating body on an operation surface located on a second side of the movable part opposite to a first side facing the base, and an electrostatic sensor provided between the base and the movable part around the plurality of holding parts in a direction connecting the held parts of the movable part and the operation surface in a plan view, and configured to move the movable part in a direction from the first side to the second side with respect to the base. a plurality of displacement sensors that detect displacement of the movable part in a direction connecting the first side and the second side when the operation surface of the movable part is pressed from the second side toward the first side and the movable part swings around the plurality of holding parts as a rotation center, the plurality of displacement sensors being arranged in a direction connecting the plurality of held parts; and a control part that identifies, among the plurality of displacement sensors, a displacement sensor that is shortest in distance from the operation position detected by the electrostatic sensor in the direction connecting the plurality of held parts, and determines the displacement of the movable part based on the output of the identified displacement sensor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] It is possible to provide an input device that can detect the amount of pressing operation with high accuracy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of an input device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of an input device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation performed when an operation surface is pressed in the input device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of control performed by a control unit to identify a photoreflector. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of an input device according to an embodiment. [Figure 6]10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed by a main control unit of the input device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an input device according to a first modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by a main control unit of an input device according to a first modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an input device according to a second modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by a main control unit of an input device according to a second modified example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment to which the input device of the present disclosure is applied will be described.

[0010] In the following description, the XYZ coordinate system is defined. The direction parallel to the X axis (X direction), the direction parallel to the Y axis (Y direction), and the direction parallel to the Z axis (Z direction) are perpendicular to one another. For ease of explanation, the -Z direction may be referred to as the lower side or bottom, and the +Z direction as the upper side or top, but this does not represent a universal vertical relationship. Furthermore, a planar view refers to a view on an XY plane.

[0011] In the following description, the length, width, thickness, etc. of each part may be exaggerated to make the configuration easier to understand. Furthermore, terms such as parallel, up and down, etc. may be misaligned to the extent that the effect of the embodiment is not impaired.

[0012] <Embodiment> 1 and 2 are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of an input device 100 according to an embodiment. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a cross section taken along the line AA in Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the input device 100 in a plan view.

[0013] <Input device 100> The input device 100 includes a fixed part 110, a movable part 120, an electrostatic sensor 130, an elastic member 140, a photoreflector 150, and a control part 160. The photoreflector 150 is an example of a displacement sensor. The input device 100 is, for example, mounted on a vehicle and can be used as an input device for operating electronic devices mounted on the vehicle. However, the use of the input device 100 is not limited to this use, and the input device 100 can also be used as an input device for electronic devices other than those mounted on a vehicle.

[0014] <Fixed part 110> The fixed part 110 is fixed directly or indirectly to the body of the vehicle on which the input device 100 is mounted. The fixed part 110 is arranged in a fixed manner without moving relative to the vehicle body. When the input device 100 is used as an input device for electronic equipment other than an in-vehicle electronic equipment, the fixed part 110 is fixed to the housing of the electronic equipment or the like.

[0015] The fixing part 110 has a base 111, a plurality of screws 112 fastened to the base 111, and a cover 113. The screws 112 are an example of a holding part. Here, as an example, a form in which the fixing part 110 has two screws 112 will be described, but the number of screws 112 may be three or more. As an example, the fixing part 110 can be made by molding a synthetic resin or the like. It is more preferable that the screws 112 be made of a metal material such as aluminum.

[0016] The base 111 has screw holes 111A on its upper surface into which the tips (lower ends in FIG. 1) of the screws 112 are fastened. In this embodiment, the base 111 is a plate-like portion that is fixed to the vehicle body, and the multiple screw holes 111A are provided parallel to the Y direction. The number of screw holes 111A is equal to the number of screws 112, so here, for example, there are two.

[0017] The screw 112 has a threaded portion 112A and a head portion 112B. The head portion 112B is an example of a restricting portion. The multiple screws 112 are arranged parallel to the Y direction, and the tip (the lower end in FIG. 1) of the threaded portion 112A is fastened to a screw hole 111A of the fixed portion 110. The threaded portion 112A is inserted into a through hole 121A of the movable portion 120, and the size of the head portion 112B in a plan view is larger than the opening size of the through hole 121A in a plan view. When the through hole 121A of the movable portion 120 and the screw hole 111A of the base portion 111 are aligned in a plan view, the screw 112 is inserted into the through hole 121A and fastened to the base portion 111, thereby obtaining the structure shown in FIG. The size of head 112B in a plan view is larger than the opening size of through-hole 121A in a plan view, and therefore head 112B functions as a restricting part that restricts movable part 120 from slipping out upward from screw 112 of fixed part 110. It is more preferable that threaded part 112A is formed only at the tip (lower end in FIG. 1) of screw 112, and that the area facing through-hole 121A is made cylindrical with a flat surface without forming a thread.

[0018] The cover 113 is fixed to the base 111 by a portion not shown, or is fixed directly or indirectly to the vehicle body. The cover 113 covers the heads 112B of the screws 112 and the upper side of a portion of the top surface of the base 121 of the movable part 120 where the electrostatic sensor 130 is not provided (the portion where the through-hole 121A is provided). Therefore, an operating object such as a fingertip can touch the operating surface 121S, which is the portion of the top surface of the base 121 of the movable part 120 that is not covered by the cover 113. A gap in the Z direction is provided between the cover 113 and the base 121 of the movable part 120, allowing the movable part 120 to swing.

[0019] <Movable part 120> Movable section 120 has a plate-shaped base section 121 and a plurality of columnar extending sections 122 extending downward from the lower surface of base section 121. Movable section 120 can be produced, for example, by molding synthetic resin or the like.

[0020] The base 121 has a plurality of through holes 121A through which the plurality of screws 112 of the fixing portion 110 are respectively inserted. The plurality of through holes 121A are an example of a held portion and an example of a plurality of hole portions. The plurality of through holes 121A are arranged parallel to the Y direction. The number of through holes 121A is equal to the number of the plurality of screws 112, so here, as an example, the number of through holes 121A is two.

[0021] The opening size of through hole 121A in a plan view is larger than the cross-sectional size, in a plan view, of threaded portion 112A of screw 112. The opening size of through hole 121A in a plan view is smaller than the size, in a plan view, of head portion 112B and the size, in a plan view, of base portion 111.

[0022] Furthermore, elastic member 140 is sandwiched between the lower surface of base 121 of movable part 120 and the upper surface of base 111 of fixed part 110 in a state in which it is contracted in the vertical direction from its natural length. Therefore, movable part 120 is biased upward relative to base 111 of fixed part 110, and with the portion around through-hole 121A in the upper surface of base 121 abutting against head 112B of screw 112, movement in the vertical direction is restricted so as not to slip out upward. Therefore, movable part 120 is held swingably relative to fixed part 110 with the upper surface of base 121 engaged with head 112B of screw 112.

[0023] The portion of base 121 that is covered by cover 113 in plan view is a held portion (or held area) that is held by fixed part 110, and is an area where through-hole 121A, an example of a held portion, is provided. The portion that is not covered by cover 113 in plan view is an operation portion (or operation area) where the user's operating body can press the upper surface downward. The portion of the upper surface of base 121 that is not covered by cover 113 in plan view is operation surface 121S.

[0024] The extending portion 122 extends downward from the lower surface of the base portion 121, and its lower end faces the photoreflector 150. A plurality of extending portions 122 are provided parallel to each other in the Y direction. The number of extending portions 122 is equal to the number of photoreflectors 150. In this example, the number of extending portions 122 is three. As an example, as shown in FIG. 2, the extending portions 122 are provided at the same position in the X direction and at equal intervals in the Y direction. As an example, as shown in FIG. 2, the three extending portions 122 are offset from two through holes 121A in the X direction, and the two through holes 121A are located between the three extending portions 122 in the Y direction.

[0025] The number of extending portions 122 may be two or may be four or more. Furthermore, it is sufficient that a plurality of extending portions 122 are provided along the Y direction, and they do not necessarily have to be provided on a single straight line parallel to the Y axis.

[0026] When the operation surface 121S of the base 121 is pressed, the base 121 and the extension 122 are displaced downward, and the displacement of the movable part 120 is detected by the photoreflector 150.

[0027] In the present embodiment, the fixed part 110 has the screw 112, the movable part 120 has the through-hole 121A, the screw 112 is inserted into the through-hole 121A, and the movable part 120 is positioned in the horizontal direction (XY plane) with respect to the fixed part 110. However, conversely, the fixed part 110 may have a through-hole or a recess (an example of a holding part), and the movable part 120 may have a screw or a protrusion, so that the movable part 120 is positioned in the horizontal direction (XY plane) with respect to the fixed part 110. In this case, the movement of the movable part 120 in the Z direction by the elastic member 140 may be restricted by the cover 113 instead of the head 112B, and the movable part 120 may be held so as to be swingable with respect to the fixed part 110.

[0028] In addition, in this embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the head 112B of the screw 112 functions as a restricting part that restricts the movable part 120 from slipping upward from the screw 112 of the fixed part 110. However, a configuration may also be adopted in which a columnar member extending upward from the base part 111 is provided instead of the screw 112, and the cover 113 functions as the restricting part. In this case, the cover 113 functions as a restricting part that restricts the movable part 120 from slipping upward from the fixed part 110.

[0029] <Electrostatic sensor 130> The electrostatic sensor 130 is provided on the base 121 of the movable part 120 so as to be located below the operation surface 121S that is not covered by the cover 113 in a plan view. The electrostatic sensor 130 has, as an example, a plurality of thin wire-shaped electrodes extending in the X direction and the Y direction, and detects the position (operation position) of an operating object in contact with or close to the operation surface 121S. The operation position detected by the electrostatic sensor 130 is input to the control unit 160.

[0030] The operating object is a part of the user's body, such as a fingertip. "Close to the operating surface 121S" means that the operating object is close enough to the operating surface 121S so that the electrostatic sensor 130 can detect the electrostatic capacitance of the operating object without contacting the operating surface 121S. The movable part 120 may be transparent. In this case, the electrostatic sensor 130 may be formed, for example, by forming a transparent conductive film such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) on the surface of transparent glass and patterning it into a plurality of thin wire-shaped electrodes extending in the X and Y directions.

[0031] <Elastic member 140> The elastic member 140 is, for example, a metal spring, and is sandwiched between the lower surface of the base 121 around the through-hole 121A of the movable part 120 and the upper surface of the base 111 around the screw hole 111A of the fixed part 110 in a state in which the elastic member 140 is contracted in the vertical direction from its natural length. The elastic member 140 is provided around the threaded part 112A of the screw 112. The elastic member 140 biases the movable part 120 upward relative to the base 111 of the fixed part 110, and abuts against the head 112B when the operating body is in a non-operating state. When the operating body is in a non-operating state, the abutment between the head 112B and the movable body 120 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) is surface contact. Furthermore, because elastic member 140 is disposed below head 112B (in the Z-axis direction), a load component in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) is applied to the surface contact portion between head 112B and movable body 120, and almost no load is applied in the X or Y directions. In this way, when the operating body is in a non-operating state, movable part 120 makes surface contact with head 112B, and a load component in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) is applied to this contact portion, so that movable part 120 maintains a stable horizontal state (parallel to the XY plane). Note that although the vertical (Z-axis) contact between head 112B and movable body 120 is considered to be surface contact and elastic member 140 is disposed below head 112B (in the Z-axis direction), point contact at multiple points is also possible as long as it is possible to maintain movable part 120 in a stable horizontal state (parallel to the XY plane), and the number of elastic members 140, their positions on the XY plane, and their sizes may be changed. Furthermore, elastic member 140 may be something other than a spring as long as it can be arranged in a state of being contracted in the vertical direction between the lower surface of base 121 of movable part 120 and the upper surface of base 111 of fixed part 110. For example, a ring-shaped elastomer or the like can be used as elastic member 140.

[0032] <Photoreflector 150> A plurality of photoreflectors 150 are provided on a straight line parallel to the Y axis. The photoreflectors 150 are provided on a fixed portion (not shown). The fixed portion (not shown) may be part of the fixed unit 110, or may be a portion fixed directly or indirectly to the vehicle body.

[0033] For example, the number of photoreflectors 150 is equal to the number of extending portions 122. In this example, since there are three extending portions 122, three photoreflectors 150 are provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the photoreflectors 150 are provided at equal intervals in the Y direction. When distinguishing between the three photoreflectors 150, they are referred to as photoreflectors 150A, 150B, and 150C from the +Y direction side to the −Y direction side, as shown in FIG. 2. When there is no need to distinguish between the photoreflectors 150A, 150B, and 150C, they are simply referred to as photoreflectors 150.

[0034] The number of photoreflectors 150 is not limited to three, but may be any number corresponding to the number of extending portions 122. Furthermore, the multiple photoreflectors 150 may be arranged along the Y direction, and are not necessarily required to be arranged on a single straight line parallel to the Y axis.

[0035] Photoreflector 150 is connected to control unit 160 and detects the position of the lower end of extension unit 122 of movable unit 120. Photoreflector 150 has, for example, an infrared emitting diode and a light receiving unit, and detects the position of the lower end of extension unit 122 by receiving reflected light of infrared light output from the infrared emitting diode with the light receiving unit. Therefore, by using photoreflector 150, control unit 160 can detect displacement of the lower end of extension unit 122. Because displacement of the lower end of extension unit 122 is displacement of the entire movable unit 120, it is possible to detect displacement of movable unit 120 caused by operation surface 121S being pressed downward.

[0036] <Control unit 160> The control unit 160 is realized by a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), an input / output interface, an internal bus, etc. As an example of the computer that realizes the control unit 160, an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) can be used.

[0037] The control unit 160 receives the operation position detected by the electrostatic sensor 130 and the output of the photoreflector 150. The control unit 160 identifies, among the multiple photoreflectors 150, the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position detected by the electrostatic sensor 130 in the direction connecting the multiple through-holes 121A (Y direction), and determines the displacement of the movable unit 120 based on the output of the identified photoreflector 150. More specifically, the control unit 160 determines the displacement of the movable unit 120 based only on the output of the photoreflector 150 identified in this manner among the multiple photoreflectors. The control by the control unit 160 to identify the photoreflector in this manner will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

[0038] Here, when the control unit 160 determines the displacement of the movable part 120 based only on the output of the photoreflector 150 identified as described above among the multiple photoreflectors, it does not only mean that the displacement of the movable part 120 is determined using only the output of the identified photoreflector 150, but also means that the displacement of the movable part 120 is determined using a value obtained by adding a correction value or the like to the output of the identified photoreflector 150.

[0039] Furthermore, when the control unit 160 determines the displacement of the movable part 120 based on the output of the identified photoreflector 150, this also means that the control unit 160 determines the displacement of the movable part 120 based on the output obtained by weighting the output of the identified photoreflector 150 and the outputs of photoreflectors 150 other than the identified photoreflector 150 with a heavier weight on the output of the identified photoreflector 150.

[0040] <Operation of input device 100> 3 is a diagram showing an example of the operation when the operation surface 121S is pressed in the input device 100. Here, the operation of the input device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0041] 1 and 3, the end point on the −X direction side of the lower surface of head 112B of screw 112 becomes fulcrum S, and movable part 120 rotates slightly clockwise with respect to fixed part 110 around fulcrum S. The end point on the −X direction side of the lower surface of head 112B of screw 112 becomes fulcrum S because the length of the portion of movable part 120 extending in the −X direction beyond through hole 121A is longer than the length of the portion of head 112B of screw 112 extending in the −X direction beyond threaded part 112A. In other words, compared to the end of the underside of head 112B of screw 112 on the -X direction side, the portion located on the -X direction side of through hole 121A of movable part 120 extends further in the -X direction, and the end of the underside of head 112B of screw 112 on the -X direction side is located in a portion extending further in the -X direction than through hole 121A on the upper surface of base 121 of movable part 120. Conversely, if the length of the portion of head 112B of screw 112 extending in the -X direction beyond threaded portion 112A is longer than the length of the portion extending in the -X direction beyond through hole 121A of movable part 120, and head 112B of screw 112 extends further in the -X direction than the portion located on the -X direction side of through hole 121A of movable part 120, then the -X direction end of the upper surface of base 121 of movable part 120 will be located in a portion extending in the -X direction beyond threaded portion 112A on the lower surface of head 112B of screw 112, and therefore the end point on the -X direction side of the upper surface of movable part 120 will become fulcrum S.

[0042] <Control by the control unit 160 to identify the photoreflector> Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of control for identifying a photoreflector by the control unit 160. When the operation position FT of the operating body is at a position as shown in Fig. 4, the control unit 160 identifies the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position FT detected by the electrostatic sensor 130 in the direction connecting the plurality of through-holes 121A (Y direction).

[0043] 4, the operation position FT is located in the Y direction between the photoreflector 150A located furthest in the +Y direction among the three photoreflectors 150A, 150B, and 150C and the central photoreflector 150B. In this case, the distance in the Y direction between the photoreflector 150A located furthest in the +Y direction and the operation position FT is Y1. The distance in the Y direction between the central photoreflector 150B and the operation position FT is Y2. The distance in the Y direction between the photoreflector 150C located furthest in the -Y direction and the operation position FT is Y3.

[0044] In such a case, the control unit 160 identifies the photoreflector 150A that is located at the shortest distance Y1 among the distances Y1, Y2, and Y2 and that is located closest to the +Y direction side.

[0045] In this embodiment, Y1, Y2, and Y3 are the distances in the Y direction from the operation position to the center of each of the photoreflectors 150A, 150B, and 150C, but they may also be the distances to the outer edges.

[0046] <Block diagram> Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a block configuration of the input device 100. Fig. 5 shows a vibrator 170 in addition to the electrostatic sensor 130, the photoreflector 150, and the control unit 160. The control unit 160 has a main control unit 161, a determination unit 162, and a memory 163. The main control unit 161 and the determination unit 162 are functional blocks showing the functions of the program executed by the control unit 160. The memory 163 is a functional representation of the memory of the control unit 160.

[0047] The vibrator 170 is provided, for example, on the lower surface of the base 111 (see FIG. 1) of the movable part 120. The vibrator 170 is, for example, a vibrator such as a piezoelectric element or an LRA (Linear Resonant Actuator), and generates vibrations on the operation surface 121S when driven by the main control part 161. The vibrator 170 is, for example, driven when an input to the input device 100 is confirmed, and presents a vibration to the operation body, thereby making the user perceive by touch that the input has been completed.

[0048] The main control unit 161 performs control to acquire the position (operation position) of the operating body detected by the electrostatic sensor 130, control to identify the photoreflector 150 and determine the displacement of the movable unit 120 based on the output of the identified photoreflector 150, and in addition, when a vibration command is input from the determination unit 162, control to drive the vibrator 170.

[0049] The determination unit 162 acquires data indicating the displacement detected by the identified photoreflector 150, and acquires a vibration generation threshold from the memory 163. The vibration generation threshold is a threshold (displacement threshold) for determining whether the displacement detected by the photoreflector 150 is a displacement that should drive the vibrator 170. The determination unit 162 compares the displacement detected by the photoreflector 150 with the threshold to determine whether it is time to drive the vibrator 170, and outputs a vibration command to the main control unit 161 when it is time to drive the vibrator 170.

[0050] The memory 163 stores programs and data used for executing processes by the main control unit 161 and the determination unit 162. The data stored in the memory 163 includes data representing a vibration occurrence threshold (displacement threshold).

[0051] <Flowchart> FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the main control unit 161 of the input device 100.

[0052] When the flow starts, the main control unit 161 calculates the coordinates of the operation position based on data representing the operation position detected by the electrostatic sensor 130 (step S1).

[0053] The main control unit 161 determines whether the distance Y1 in the Y direction between the operation position and the photoreflector 150A is shorter than the distance Y2 in the Y direction between the operation position and the photoreflector 150B (step S2).

[0054] When the main control unit 161 determines that the Y-direction distance Y1 between the operation position and the photoreflector 150A is shorter than the Y-direction distance Y2 between the operation position and the photoreflector 150B (True), it identifies the photoreflector 150A as the photoreflector 150 having the shortest Y-direction distance from the operation position (step S2A).

[0055] Furthermore, if the main control unit 161 determines in step S2 that the distance Y1 in the Y direction between the operation position and the photoreflector 150A is not shorter than the distance Y2 in the Y direction between the operation position and the photoreflector 150B (False), it determines whether the distance Y2 in the Y direction between the operation position and the photoreflector 150B is shorter than the distance Y3 in the Y direction between the operation position and the photoreflector 150C (step S3).

[0056] When the main control unit 161 determines that the Y-direction distance Y2 between the operation position and the photoreflector 150B is shorter than the Y-direction distance Y3 between the operation position and the photoreflector 150C (True), it identifies the photoreflector 150B as the photoreflector 150 having the shortest Y-direction distance from the operation position (step S3A).

[0057] If the main control unit 161 determines in step S3 that the Y-direction distance Y2 between the operation position and the photoreflector 150B is not shorter than the Y-direction distance Y3 between the operation position and the photoreflector 150C (False), it identifies the photoreflector 150C as the photoreflector 150 having the shortest Y-direction distance from the operation position (step S3B).

[0058] This completes the series of processes, and the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction is identified.

[0059] 6 is completed, the determination unit 162 acquires data indicating the displacement detected by the identified photoreflector 150, and acquires a vibration generation threshold value from the memory 163. The determination unit 162 compares the displacement detected by the photoreflector 150 with the threshold value to determine whether it is time to drive the vibrator 170, and when it is time to drive the vibrator 170, outputs a vibration command to the main control unit 161. As a result, the vibrator 170 is driven.

[0060] <Effects> The input device 100 includes a fixed part 110 having a base 111 and a plurality of screws 112 provided on the base 111, a movable part 120 having a plurality of through holes 121A that are positioned relative to the fixed part 110 by the plurality of screws 112 and are held so as to be able to swing freely, an electrostatic sensor 130 that is provided on the movable part 120 and detects an operation position of an operation object on an operation surface 121S that is located on a second side (upper side) of the movable part 120 opposite to a first side (lower side) that faces the base 111, and an elastic member that is provided between the base 111 and the movable part 120 around the plurality of screws 112 in a direction (X direction) that connects the through holes 121A of the movable part 120 and the operation surface 121S in a plan view and that biases the movable part 120 in a direction (+Z direction) from the first side (lower side) toward the second side (upper side) with respect to the base 111. 140, a plurality of photoreflectors 150 that detect displacement of the movable part 120 in a direction connecting the first side (lower side) and the second side (upper side) (Z direction) when the operation surface 121S of the movable part 120 is pressed from the second side (upper side) toward the first side (lower side) and the movable part 120 swings around the plurality of holding parts (screws 112) as a rotation center, the plurality of photoreflectors 150 being arranged in a direction connecting the plurality of through holes 121A (Y direction), and a control part 160 that identifies, among the plurality of photoreflectors 150, the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position detected based on the output of the electrostatic sensor 130 in the direction connecting the plurality of through holes 121A (Y direction), and determines the displacement of the movable part 120 based on the output of the identified photoreflector 150.

[0061] In this embodiment, the movable part 120 can be held relative to the fixed part 110 with a simple configuration in which the elastic member 140 biases the movable part 120 against the fixed part 110. In this case, depending on the position and manner of pressing by the operating body, not only will the movable part 120 rotate around the Y axis as the center of rotation, but there is also the possibility that a rotation component will occur around the X axis as the center of rotation. However, since the displacement of the movable part 120 is determined based on the output of the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operating position in the direction connecting the multiple through holes 121A (the Y direction), the movable part 120 can be held swingably relative to the fixed part 110 with a simple configuration, and at the same time, the amount of operation can be detected with high accuracy based on the displacement detected by the photoreflector 150 that is closest in the Y direction to the position of the operating body.

[0062] Therefore, it is possible to provide the input device 100 that can detect the amount of pressing operation with high accuracy.

[0063] Furthermore, since the control unit 160 determines the displacement of the movable unit 120 based only on the output of the identified photoreflector 150, the amount of operation can be detected with higher accuracy based only on the displacement detected by the photoreflector 150 that is closest to the position of the operating body in the Y direction.

[0064] Furthermore, the multiple held portions of movable portion 120 are multiple through holes 121A, and the multiple screws 112 provided in base portion 111 are multiple columnar portions that are inserted into the multiple through holes 121A, respectively. Therefore, fixed portion 110 can hold movable portion 120 so that it can swing freely with a simple configuration, and when operation surface 121S is pressed, the displacement of movable portion 120 when it rotates can be detected with high accuracy by photoreflector 150 that is closest to the operation position in the Y direction, using an axis that connects multiple fulcrums S arranged in the Y direction as the rotation axis.

[0065] Furthermore, since the multiple photoreflectors 150 are arranged on a straight line parallel to the line connecting the multiple through holes 121A, by arranging the multiple photoreflectors 150 on a straight line in the direction connecting the multiple fulcrums S, the amount of operation can be detected with higher accuracy based on the displacement detected by the photoreflector 150 that is closest in the Y direction to the position of the operating body.

[0066] <First Modification> 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an input device 100M1 according to a first modified example of the embodiment, which shows the input device 100M1 in a plan view, similar to FIG.

[0067] The input device 100M1 has a configuration in which the electrostatic sensor 130 of the input device 100 (see FIG. 2) is replaced with an electrostatic sensor 130M1. The electrostatic sensor 130M1 divides the operation surface 121S into three operation areas (A), (B), and (C) in the Y direction, and can detect in which area the operation position is located.

[0068] The boundaries in the Y direction between operation areas (A), (B), and (C) are aligned with photoreflectors 150A to 150C that are arranged at equal intervals in the Y direction. More specifically, the boundary AB in the Y direction between operation areas (A) and (B) is located at the center between photoreflectors 150A and 150B in the Y direction and extends parallel to the X direction. Furthermore, the boundary BC in the Y direction between operation areas (B) and (C) is located at the center between photoreflectors 150B and 150C in the Y direction and extends parallel to the X direction.

[0069] Therefore, if the operation position is within operation area (A), the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction is photoreflector 150A. If the operation position is within operation area (B), the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction is photoreflector 150B. If the operation position is within operation area (C), the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction is photoreflector 150C.

[0070] By using such electrostatic sensor 130M1, it is possible to determine which of the operation areas (A) to (C) the operation position is in, and thereby identify the photoreflector 150 that is closest to the operation position in the Y direction.

[0071] <Flowchart> FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the main control unit 161 of the input device 100M1.

[0072] When the flow starts, the main control unit 161 calculates the coordinates of the operation position based on the data representing the operation position detected by the electrostatic sensor 130M1 (step S11). The process of step S1 is the same as the process of step S1 shown in FIG.

[0073] The main control unit 161 identifies the operation area including the operation position based on the coordinates of the operation position (step S12). By the processing of step S12, the operation area is identified as one of the operation areas (A), (B), and (C).

[0074] The main control unit 161 determines whether the operation area identified in step S12 is operation area (A), (B), or (C) (step S13).

[0075] When the main control unit 161 determines in step S13 that the area is the operation area (A), it specifies the photo reflector 150A as the photo reflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction (step S14A).

[0076] Furthermore, when the main control unit 161 determines in step S13 that the area is the operation area (B), it specifies the photo reflector 150B as the photo reflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction (step S14B).

[0077] Furthermore, when the main control unit 161 determines in step S13 that the area is the operation area (C), it specifies the photo reflector 150C as the photo reflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction (step S14C).

[0078] This completes the series of processes, and the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction is identified. As a result, the displacement of the movable part 120 is determined based on the output of the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the direction connecting the multiple through-holes 121A (Y direction).

[0079] In the first variant, too, the displacement of the movable part 120 is determined based on the output of the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the direction connecting the multiple through holes 121A (Y direction), so the amount of operation can be detected with high accuracy based on the displacement detected by the photoreflector 150 that is closest in the Y direction to the position of the operating body.

[0080] Therefore, it is possible to provide the input device 100M1 that can detect the amount of pressing operation with high accuracy.

[0081] <Second Modification> 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an input device 100M2 according to a second modified example of the embodiment, which shows the input device 100M2 in a plan view, similar to FIG.

[0082] The input device 100M2 has a configuration in which the electrostatic sensor 130 of the input device 100 (see FIG. 2) is replaced with electrostatic sensors 130MA, 130MB, and 130MC. As an example, three electrostatic sensors 130MA are arranged in the X direction in the area of ​​the operation surface 121S that is closest to the +Y direction. The area closest to the +Y direction corresponds to the area in the +Y direction from the boundary AB shown in FIG.

[0083] As an example, two electrostatic sensors 130MB are arranged in the X direction in a central region in the Y direction of operation surface 121S. The central region in the Y direction corresponds to the region between boundary AB and boundary BC shown in Fig. 7. As an example, three electrostatic sensors 130MC are arranged in the X direction in a region on the most negative Y direction side of operation surface 121S. The most negative Y direction side region corresponds to the region on the most negative Y direction side of boundary BC shown in Fig. 7.

[0084] The electrostatic sensors 130MA, 130MB, and 130MC are not electrostatic sensors that detect XY coordinates as shown in Figure 2, but are electrostatic sensors that can detect whether an operating object is in contact with or in proximity to each of the three electrostatic sensors 130MA, two electrostatic sensors 130MB, and three electrostatic sensors 130MC.

[0085] In addition, the control unit 160 stores in the memory 163 data representing the positions of the three electrostatic sensors 130MA, the two electrostatic sensors 130MB, and the three electrostatic sensors 130MC, and the position of the photoreflector 150 closest to them in the Y direction.

[0086] Therefore, by detecting which of the three electrostatic sensors 130MA, two electrostatic sensors 130MB, and three electrostatic sensors 130MC the operating object is in contact with or in proximity to, it is possible to identify the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance in the Y direction from the operating position.

[0087] <Flowchart> FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the main control unit 161 of the input device 100M2.

[0088] When the flow starts, the main control unit 161 determines at which of the three electrostatic sensors 130MA, two electrostatic sensors 130MB, and three electrostatic sensors 130MC an electrostatic sensor is being operated, based on data indicating the operation position detected by the three electrostatic sensors 130MA, two electrostatic sensors 130MB, and three electrostatic sensors 130MC (step S21). The processing of step S21 identifies one electrostatic sensor at the position where the sensor is being operated.

[0089] The main control unit 161 determines which of the electrostatic sensors 130MA, 130MB, and 130MC the electrostatic sensor identified in step S21 is (step S22). By the processing of step S22, the electrostatic sensor is identified as one of the electrostatic sensors 130MA, 130MB, and 130MC arranged in the three regions.

[0090] If the main control unit 161 determines in step S22 that the sensor is the electrostatic sensor 130MA, it specifies the photoreflector 150A as the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction (step S23A).

[0091] Furthermore, if the main control unit 161 determines in step S22 that the sensor is the electrostatic sensor 130MB, it specifies the photoreflector 150B as the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction (step S23B).

[0092] Furthermore, when determining in step S22 that the sensor is electrostatic sensor 130MC, main control unit 161 specifies photoreflector 150C as the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction (step S23C).

[0093] This completes the series of processes, and the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the Y direction is identified. As a result, the displacement of the movable part 120 is determined based on the output of the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the direction connecting the multiple through-holes 121A (Y direction).

[0094] In the second variant, too, the displacement of the movable part 120 is determined based on the output of the photoreflector 150 that is the shortest distance from the operation position in the direction connecting the multiple through holes 121A (Y direction), so the amount of operation can be detected with high accuracy based on the displacement detected by the photoreflector 150 that is closest in the Y direction to the position of the operating body.

[0095] Therefore, it is possible to provide the input device 100M2 that can detect the amount of pressing operation with high accuracy.

[0096] The above describes an input device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0097] The following additional notes are provided regarding the above-described embodiments. (Appendix 1) a fixing portion having a base and a plurality of holding portions provided on the base; a movable portion having a plurality of held portions that are positioned relative to the fixed portion by the plurality of holding portions and are held so as to be able to swing; an electrostatic sensor provided on the movable portion, the electrostatic sensor detecting an operation position of an operation object on an operation surface located on a second side of the movable portion opposite to a first side facing the base portion; an elastic member provided between the base and the movable portion around the plurality of holding portions in a direction connecting the held portions of the movable portion and the operation surface in a plan view, the elastic member biasing the movable portion in a direction from the first side toward the second side relative to the base; a plurality of displacement sensors that detect displacement of the movable part in a direction connecting the first side and the second side when the operation surface of the movable part is pressed from the second side toward the first side and the movable part swings around the plurality of holding parts as a rotation center, the plurality of displacement sensors being provided in a direction connecting the plurality of held parts; a control unit that identifies a displacement sensor among the plurality of displacement sensors that has the shortest distance from the operation position detected by the electrostatic sensor in a direction connecting the plurality of held portions, and determines a displacement of the movable portion based on an output of the identified displacement sensor; an input device, (Appendix 2) 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the displacement of the movable part based only on the output of the identified displacement sensor. (Appendix 3) the plurality of held portions of the movable portion are a plurality of holes, 3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of holding portions provided on the base are a plurality of columnar portions inserted through the plurality of hole portions, respectively. (Appendix 4) 4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of displacement sensors are arranged on a single straight line that is parallel to a line connecting the plurality of held portions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 100, 100M1, 100M2 input devices 110 Fixed part 111 Base 112 Screw (an example of a holding part) 120 Moving parts 121 Base 121A through hole (an example of a held portion, an example of a plurality of holes) 122 Extension 130, 130M1, 130MA, 130MB, 130MC electrostatic sensors 140 Elastic member 150, 150A, 150B, 150C Photoreflector (Example of displacement sensor) 160 control section 161 Main control unit 162 Judgment section 163 memory 170 vibrator

Claims

1. a fixing portion having a base and a plurality of holding portions provided on the base; a movable portion having a plurality of held portions that are positioned relative to the fixed portion by the plurality of holding portions and are held so as to be able to swing; an electrostatic sensor provided on the movable portion, the electrostatic sensor detecting an operation position of an operation object on an operation surface located on a second side of the movable portion opposite to a first side facing the base portion; an elastic member provided between the base and the movable portion around the plurality of holding portions in a direction connecting the held portions of the movable portion and the operation surface in a plan view, the elastic member biasing the movable portion in a direction from the first side toward the second side relative to the base; a plurality of displacement sensors that detect displacement of the movable part in a direction connecting the first side and the second side when the operation surface of the movable part is pressed from the second side toward the first side and the movable part swings around the plurality of holding parts as a rotation center, the plurality of displacement sensors being provided in a direction connecting the plurality of held parts; a control unit that identifies a displacement sensor among the plurality of displacement sensors that has the shortest distance from the operation position detected by the electrostatic sensor in a direction connecting the plurality of held portions, and determines a displacement of the movable portion based on an output of the identified displacement sensor; an input device,

2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines the displacement of the movable part based only on the output of the identified displacement sensor.

3. the plurality of held portions of the movable portion are a plurality of holes, The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holding portions provided on the base portion are a plurality of columnar portions inserted into the plurality of holes, respectively.

4. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of displacement sensors are arranged on a single straight line that is parallel to a line connecting the plurality of held portions.

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