Touch prompt device

Abstract

To provide a tactile presentation device that has a waterproof function and can clearly convey information through vibration to a user.SOLUTION: A tactile presentation device includes: a vibrating body 2 that generates vibration; a housing 3 that hermetically houses the vibrating body 2; a base 4 that supports the casing 3; and an elastic member 5 that connects the housing 3 and the base 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tactile sensation presentation device that can clearly present predetermined information through a tactile sensation by relative vibration between two components of a device having a waterproof and dustproof structure. [Background technology]

[0002] A typical prior art is described, for example, in Patent Document 1. In this prior art, in order to solve the problem that the number of types of tactile sensations that a user can sense due to vibration of a vibrating body is limited and the amount of information conveyed to the user by tactile sensation is small, a touch panel is described that includes a support member, a protective plate disposed on the support member at intervals, the protective plate having an operation surface on the side opposite to the support substrate side, a plurality of vibrating bodies that vibrate the protective plate, and an elastic support member disposed between the support substrate and the protective plate, supporting the protective plate and being arranged so as to expand and contract in a direction oblique to the thickness direction of the protective plate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-124792 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the prior art described in the aforementioned Patent Document 1, an elastic support member that expands and contracts obliquely relative to the thickness direction of the protective plate is disposed between the support member and the protective plate to support the protective plate, and the protective plate is vibrated by multiple vibrators, so if a sealing member made of a soft elastic material is provided to waterproof the gap between the support member and the protective plate and seal the gap to prevent water from entering, the sealing member will attenuate the vibration of the protective plate, making it impossible to clearly convey information to the user through vibration. Therefore, there has been a need for a tactile sensation presentation device that is waterproof and can clearly convey information to the user through vibration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The tactile sensation presentation device of the present disclosure includes a vibrating body that generates vibrations, a housing that hermetically houses the vibrating body, a base that supports the housing, and an elastic member that connects the housing and the base. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the tactile sensation presentation device of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a tactile sensation presentation device that has waterproof and dustproof functions and is capable of clearly conveying information to the user by vibration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view illustrating a configuration of a tactile sensation presentation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 2 is a front view showing the arrangement of the housing and vibrator shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the tactile sensation providing device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a tactile sensation providing device; [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a front view showing another embodiment of the haptic sensation providing device. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of mounting a vibrator in a haptic sensation presentation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of how the vibrator of the haptic sensation providing device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is attached. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of how the vibrator of the haptic sensation providing device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is attached. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a waterproof structure of a haptic system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the waterproof structure of a haptic feedback device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the waterproof structure of a haptic feedback device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the haptic feedback device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a haptic feedback device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a haptic feedback device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the configuration of a tactile sensation presentation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the configuration of a tactile sensation presentation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a specific example of a vibrating body. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another specific example of the vibrating body. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another specific example of the vibrating body. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another specific example of the vibrating body. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another specific example of the vibrating body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of a haptic sensation presentation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The haptic sensation presentation device 1 of this embodiment includes a vibrator 2 that generates vibrations, a housing 3 that hermetically houses the vibrator 2, a base 4 that supports the housing 3, and an elastic member 5 that connects the housing 3 to the base 4. The housing 3 may be, for example, a box made of a waterproof synthetic resin. The vibrator 2 is housed within the housing 3 in a sealed state to prevent dust and moisture from entering from the outside, thereby preventing the intrusion of liquids such as water into the housing 3 and preventing liquid from adhering to the vibrator 2 and other components within the housing 3. The housing 3 may be, for example, a molded resin product or a machined product made of an aluminum alloy or the like. The elastic member 5 helps to clearly transmit the vibrations of the housing 3, and it is preferable to arrange multiple elastic members 5. Furthermore, uniform arrangement is preferable to eliminate regional differences in the way vibrations are transmitted. Arranging the elastic members at each corner is preferable to arranging them only in the center.

[0010] The frequency of the vibration generated by vibrator 2 is about 30 Hz to 300 Hz, and for tactile vibration that provides a good tactile sensation with the fingers, it is preferably about 150 Hz to 250 Hz. The amplitude of the vibration is about 30 μm to 1000 μm, and for tactile vibration that provides a good tactile sensation with the fingers, it is preferably about 50 μm to 150 μm.

[0011] Fig. 2 is a front view showing the arrangement of the housing and vibrator shown in Fig. 1. Housing 3 has a first housing part 3a and a second housing part 3b that is detachably attached to first housing part 3a. First housing part 3a and second housing part 3b are each made of a box-shaped body and are joined with adhesive or screw members such as screws with their openings facing each other, realizing a liquid-tight structure that prevents liquid from entering the interior from the outside.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the haptic sensation presentation device shown in FIG. 1. The haptic sensation presentation device 1 includes a touch detector 6 disposed within the housing 3, which detects a user's pressing of the housing 3 and outputs a detection signal; an internal controller 7 disposed within the housing 3, which vibrates the vibrator 2 in response to the detection signal from the touch detector 6 and outputs a vibration feedback signal indicating that the vibrator 2 has been vibrated; a communication unit 10 which transmits a signal to operate a predetermined actuator in response to the vibration feedback signal from the internal controller 7; a power supply unit 9; a pressure detector 11; and a light source unit 12. An external controller which receives the signal transmitted from the communication unit 10 and operates the predetermined actuator is also provided separately from the haptic sensation presentation device 1. While FIG. 3 illustrates a direct connection from the communication unit 10 to the external controller 8, a transceiver unit may be provided within the device body including the external controller 8 and connected to the external controller 8 via the transceiver unit. The vibration frequency of the vibrator 2 may be preset in the internal controller 7 or may be specified in a program executed by the internal controller 7. For example, when the tactile sensation providing device 1 is incorporated to operate in conjunction with a vehicle's electronic control unit (ECU), such frequencies may be a strong, long-lasting vibration pattern to notify the ECU that the user's (driver's) command has been reliably input, or a weak, short, simple signal pattern to notify the user that the input has not been properly accepted, or may be any other vibration pattern that represents information that is preferable to be notified to the user by tactile sensation.

[0013] The internal controller 7 and the external controller 8 are realized by hardware resources including, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) and software resources, which are programs that operate the hardware resources according to a predetermined algorithm, such as image display. The internal controller 7 is housed within the housing 3, and the external controller 8 is disposed in a location separate from the housing 3, such as a related portion of the device body on which the haptic feedback device 1 is installed. The external controller 8 may include one or more processors. The processor may include a general-purpose processor that loads a specific program to execute a specific function, or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. The dedicated processor may include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The processor may include a programmable logic device (PLD). The PLD may include a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The external controller 8 may be either a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or a system-in-a-package (SiP) in which one or more processors work together. The external controller 8 may include a storage unit that stores various types of information or programs for operating the components of the housing 3. The storage unit may be configured, for example, with a semiconductor memory. The storage unit may function as a work memory for the external controller 8.

[0014] The power supply unit 9 is configured to be able to supply driving power to each of the vibrator 2, touch detector 6, internal controller 7, communication unit 10, pressure detector 11, and light source unit 12, and may be realized by a power supply circuit that converts power input from a battery or an external power source into the required voltage and current. The power supply unit 9 may be a button battery or the like. If the power supply unit 9 is configured independently within the tactile sensation presentation device 1 and the communication unit 10 uses wireless communication means, the tactile sensation presentation device 1 can be easily replaced and can be made more versatile. The light source unit 12 may be realized by, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED), or a self-luminous light-emitting element such as an electroluminescence (EL) element or a semiconductor laser element.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a front view showing an embodiment of the haptic sensation presentation device. The haptic sensation presentation device 1 described above may be applied to, for example, an operation panel 14 of a control panel 13 of machinery and equipment. The operation panel 14 is configured to include a display screen, such as a liquid crystal display device, and is driven in response to a drive signal from an external controller 8 to display an image signal supplied from the external controller 8. The image signal may be either a still image or a video, and may be monochrome or color. The haptic sensation presentation device 1 is incorporated so as to form a portion of the operation panel 14. When a user's finger approaches the haptic sensation presentation device 1, a touch detector 6 such as a touch panel detects the user's finger. When the user's finger touches the haptic sensation presentation device 1, a pressure detector 11 detects the user's finger contact, and the vibrator 2 vibrates to notify the user of whether or not an input has been made through operation. A vibration feedback signal can also be supplied to the external controller 8 and reflected on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a front view showing another embodiment of the haptic sensation presentation device. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the haptic sensation presentation device 1 is incorporated into the steering hub 16 of the steering wheel 15 to form steering switches 17 and 18. The steering switches 17 and 18 are operation switches for turning on / off audio equipment such as a vehicle radio, adjusting the volume, tuning, turning on / off an obstacle detection function related to security, turning on / off a lane change detection function, and turning on / off an auto-lock function. The switches are configured to be turned on / off by the user's finger. Such operations are often performed while driving, and the vibration of the haptic sensation presentation device 1 can reliably inform the driver (user) whether the on / off switching operation has been performed successfully. Furthermore, by standardizing the external shape of the left and right steering switches 17 and 18 and the components within the housing 3, it is not necessary to create separate right and left steering switches. In this case, the external controller 8 simply issues commands corresponding to the respective functions to the steering switches 17 and 18.

[0017] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of mounting a vibrator in a haptic sensation presentation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. When the housing 3 is configured with a first housing portion 3a and a second housing portion 3b as described above, the vibrator 2 can be mounted on the inner surface of the first housing portion 3a by, for example, bonding with an adhesive or mechanically joining with a screw or other screw member. The vibrator 2 can be an eccentric rotating mass (ERM), a linear resonant actuator (LRA), a piezoelectric element, or the like, as described below. Making the first housing portion 3a and the second housing portion 3b separable in this way facilitates replacement of the battery serving as the power supply unit 9 within the housing 3.

[0018] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of mounting the vibrator of a haptic device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As another example of the mounting structure of the vibrator 2 to the housing 3, as shown in Fig. 7, two bases 19a, 19b may be fixed to the second housing portion 3b, both ends of a strip-shaped leaf spring 20 may be fixed to each of the bases 19a, 19b, and the vibrator 2 may be fixed to the center of the leaf spring 20 and the first housing portion 3a. An example of the vibrator 2 to which such a mounting structure can be applied is a piezoelectric element.

[0019] 8 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of how the vibrator 2 is attached to the housing 3 of a haptic device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As an example of how the vibrator 2 is attached to the housing 3, one end of the vibrator 2 may be fixed to the first housing portion 3a, and the other end of the vibrator 2 may be fixed to the second housing portion 3b. An example of a vibrator 2 to which such an attachment method can be applied is a voice coil motor (VCM), which will be described later.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a waterproof structure of a haptic device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As an example of waterproofing the housing 3, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, a ring-shaped sealing member 21 may be interposed between the periphery of the opening of the first housing portion 3a and the periphery of the opening of the second housing portion 3b. The sealing member 21 may be made of a soft elastic material such as silicone rubber. In other examples, packing, adhesive, double-sided tape, etc. may be used instead of the sealing member 21.

[0021] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the waterproof structure of a haptic feedback device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this other example of the waterproof structure, as shown in Fig. 10, the housing 3 may be filled with a waterproof filler 22, also called a potting material. The waterproof filler 22 is a two-component urethane resin that is injected into the housing 3 and then cured in a thermostatic chamber, thereby making the inside of the housing 3 moisture-proof and waterproof. Furthermore, since the housing 3 is filled with resin, dust is prevented from adhering to the vibrating body 2 and the mounting board, and resistance to vibration and impact can be improved.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the waterproof structure of a haptic device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As another example of waterproofing the interior of the housing 3, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, in which the first housing portion 3a is a cover lens made of transparent glass or resin, and the second housing portion 3b is a box-shaped case, the vibrator 2 is fixed to the first housing portion 3a, and the first housing portion 3a is fitted to the periphery of the opening of the second housing portion 3b. A sealing member 23 is interposed between the periphery of the first housing portion 3a and the periphery of the opening of the second housing portion 3b, sealing the gap between the first housing portion 3a and the second housing portion 3b. In another example, an adhesive or double-sided tape may be used instead of the sealing member 23. This configuration allows the housing 3 to have a waterproof structure.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the haptic sensation presentation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The operation of the haptic sensation presentation device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 as well. In step a1, when the haptic sensation presentation device 1 is powered on, the internal controller 7 and the external controller 8 execute programs stored in a storage unit (not shown), activating the touch detector 6, the pressure detector 11, and the communication unit 10. In this state, the process proceeds to step a2. When the user approaches the touch detector 6 of the haptic sensation presentation device 1 for a desired operation, the touch detector 6 detects the approach of the finger and outputs a detection signal to the internal controller 7. In step a3, when the detection signal from the touch detector 6 exceeds a preset threshold, the internal controller 7 outputs a drive signal to the vibrator 2, causing the vibrator 2 to operate. The internal controller 7 also outputs a feedback signal of the vibration of the vibrator 2 to the communication unit 10. The communication unit 10 notifies the external controller 8 that it has received the vibration feedback signal. The process then proceeds to step a4, where the vibration generation operation in response to the approach of the finger is terminated. The external controller 8 determines whether a vibration feedback signal has been received via the communication unit 10, and switches the display, for example.

[0024] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a haptic sense presentation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The operation of the haptic sense presentation device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 as well. In step b1, when the haptic sense presentation device 1 is powered on, the internal controller 7 and the external controller 8 execute programs stored in a storage unit (not shown), activating the touch detector 6, the pressure detector 11, and the communication unit 10. In this state, the process proceeds to step b2. When the user approaches the touch detector 6 of the haptic sense presentation device 1 for a desired operation, the touch detector 6 detects the approach of the finger and outputs a detection signal to the internal controller 7. In step b3, in response to the detection signal from the touch detector 6, the internal controller 7 outputs an operation command signal to the pressure detector 11, thereby activating the pressure detector 11. In step b4, when the user presses the pressure detector 11 with their finger, the internal controller 7 receives the detection signal from the pressure detector 11 and activates the vibrator 2 in response to the detection signal. The internal controller 7 also outputs a feedback signal of the vibration of the vibrating body 2 to the communication unit 10, and the communication unit 10 notifies the external controller 8 that it has received the vibration feedback signal, then proceeds to step b5, and ends the vibration generation operation in response to the proximity and pressure detection of the fingers.

[0025] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a haptic sense presentation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The operation of the haptic sense presentation device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 as well. In step c1, when the haptic sense presentation device 1 is powered on, the internal controller 7 and the external controller 8 execute programs stored in a storage unit (not shown), activating the touch detector 6, pressure detector 11, and communication unit 10. In this state, the process proceeds to step c2. When the user brings their finger into contact with the touch detector 6 of the haptic sense presentation device 1 for a desired operation, the touch detector 11 detects the approach of the finger and outputs a detection signal to the internal controller 7. In step c3, the internal controller 7 outputs an operation command signal to the pressure detector 11 in response to the detection signal from the touch detector 6, thereby activating the pressure detector 11. In step c4, when a detection signal from the pressure detector 11 is input, the internal controller 7 activates the vibrating body 10 in response to the detection signal. Furthermore, the internal controller 7 outputs a feedback signal of the vibration of the vibrating body to the communication unit 10, and the communication unit 10 notifies the external controller 8 that the vibration feedback signal has been received. When the external controller 8 receives the vibration feedback signal from the internal controller 7, it outputs a light source flashing signal to the internal controller 7 in step c5 to cause the light source unit 12 to flash, and then in step c5 ends the vibration generation operation and light flashing operation in response to finger contact and pressure detection.

[0026] FIG. 15 is a front view showing the configuration of a haptic sensation presentation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that parts corresponding to those in the previously described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. The haptic sensation presentation device 1A of this embodiment includes a vibrator 2 that generates vibrations, a housing 3 that hermetically houses the vibrator 2, a base 4 that supports the housing 3, and an elastic member 5a that connects the housing 3 to the base 4. The housing 3 may be, for example, a box made of a waterproof synthetic resin. The vibrator 2 is hermetically housed within the housing 3, preventing the intrusion of liquids such as water into the housing 3 from the outside and preventing liquid from adhering to the vibrator 2 and other components within the housing 3. Although not shown, the housing 3 also houses electronic components such as an internal controller 7 and a power supply 9 for driving the vibrator 2. Electronic components, including the vibrator 2, may be subject to corrosion or electrolytic corrosion due to moisture. Furthermore, minute particles of dust or other contaminants may cause poor connections between the electronic components. Therefore, it is important that the housing 3 water-seals the electronic components and other components to maintain the electronic components, including the vibrator 2, in good condition.

[0027] The elastic member 5a may be realized by, for example, a coil spring having a right cylindrical outer shape. Since the vibrating body 2 is liquid-tightly housed within the housing 3, the vibration generated by the vibrating body 2 is transmitted directly to the housing 2 and can be transmitted to the housing 2 without attenuation.

[0028] FIG. 16 is a front view showing the configuration of a haptic sensation presentation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The same reference numerals are used to designate parts corresponding to those in the previously described embodiment. The haptic sensation presentation device 1B of this embodiment includes a vibrator 2 that generates vibrations, a housing 3 that hermetically houses the vibrator 2, a base 4 that supports the housing 3, and an elastic member 5b that connects the housing 3 to the base 4. The housing 3 may be, for example, a box made of a waterproof synthetic resin. The vibrator 2 is hermetically housed within the housing 3, which prevents liquids such as water from entering the housing 3 from the outside and prevents liquids from adhering to the vibrator 2 and other parts within the housing 3.

[0029] Elastic member 5b may be realized, for example, by an elastic block made of synthetic rubber having a rectangular parallelepiped appearance. Because vibrating body 2 is liquid-tightly housed within housing 3, vibrations generated by vibrating body 2 are transmitted directly to housing 2 and can be transmitted to housing 2 without attenuation.

[0030] Next, a specific example of the vibrating body 2 will be described.

[0031] 17 is a perspective view showing a specific example of a vibrating body. The vibrating body 2 described above may be realized by a voice coil motor (VCM). The voice coil motor includes a coil bobbin 20 made of a non-magnetic material, a coil 21 to which the coil bobbin 20 is coaxially fixed, a cylindrical permanent magnet body 22 through which the coil 21 is inserted, a cylindrical inner yoke 27 inserted into the coil 21, and an outer yoke 28 coaxially fixed to the inner yoke 27. The permanent magnet body 22 is made of, for example, an Nd-Fe-B magnet. When a current flows through the coil 21, the coil 21 and the coil bobbin 20 move in the directions of arrows A1 and A2 along the axis L using the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet body 22 as a medium according to Fleming's left-hand rule, thereby generating high-frequency vibration.

[0032] Such a voice coil motor has a drive frequency of 10 to 1000 Hz and a response time of 10 to 50 msec, and by fixing the coil bobbin 20 to the first housing part 3a, it is possible to vibrate the first housing part 3a.

[0033] 18 is a cross-sectional view showing another specific example of a vibrating body. The vibrating body 2 described above may be realized by a shape memory alloy impact-driven actuator. The shape memory alloy impact-driven actuator includes a rod-shaped moving element 29, a rod-shaped stator 30, and an electrically conductive shape memory alloy 31 sandwiched between the moving element 29 and the stator 30.

[0034] By fixing the moving element 29 of the vibrating body 2 to the first housing part 3a, the first housing part 3a can be vibrated.

[0035] FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing another specific example of a vibrating body. The vibrating body 2 described above may be realized by a piezoelectric thin film actuator, also called a haptic film. The piezoelectric thin film actuator includes a first electrode thin film 33 formed on a first surface of a substrate 32, a piezoelectric thin film 34 formed on the first electrode thin film 33, a second electrode thin film 35 formed on the piezoelectric thin film 34, and an insulating film 36 formed on the second electrode thin film 35. A second metal wiring film 37 connected to the second electrode thin film 35 is formed on the insulating film 36, and a first metal wiring film 38 connected to the first electrode thin film 33 is formed at a position insulated from and spaced apart from the second metal wiring film 35. The thickness T of such a piezoelectric thin film 34 may be, for example, approximately 7 μm. When a DC voltage is applied between the first electrode thin film 33 and the second electrode thin film 35, which are the upper and lower films of the piezoelectric thin film 34, the piezoelectric thin film actuator can bend, and when an AC current is applied, it can vibrate.

[0036] 20 is a perspective view showing another specific example of a vibrating body. The vibrating body 2 described above may be realized by an eccentric motor. The eccentric motor (Eccentric Rotating Mass: ERM) includes a motor 40 and a weight 42 fixed to a rotation shaft 41 of the motor 40. The weight 42 is shaped so that its center of gravity is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis L1 of the rotation shaft 41 of the motor 40. When the rotation shaft 41 of the motor 40 rotates about the rotation axis L1, the rotation of the eccentric weight can generate vibrations.

[0037] Such an eccentric motor has a drive frequency of 60 to 240 Hz and a response time of 50 msec, and by fixing the motor 40 to the first housing part 3a, it is possible to vibrate the first housing part 3a.

[0038] 21 is a cross-sectional view showing another specific example of the vibrating body. The vibrating body 2 described above may be realized by a linear vibrator (Linear Resonant Actuator: LRA). The linear vibrator includes a casing 43, a ring-shaped coil 44 housed in the casing 43, a cylindrical permanent magnet 45 inserted into the coil 44, a compression coil spring 46 connected to the permanent magnet 45, and a yoke 47 into which the permanent magnet 45 is inserted.

[0039] Such a linear vibrator has a drive frequency of 60 to 240 Hz and a response time of 10 to 50 msec, and generates an electromagnetic force by passing a current through the coil 44, and the coil 44 itself can be vibrated in the directions of arrows B1 and B2 along the axis L2 by the repulsive force of this electromagnetic force and the magnetic force of the permanent magnet body 45. By fixing the casing 43 to which the coil 44 is fixed to the first housing part 3a, the vibration of the coil 44 can be transmitted to the first housing part 3an, causing the first housing part 3a to vibrate.

[0040] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. It goes without saying that all or part of the components constituting each of the above-described embodiments can be combined as appropriate within the scope of not contradicting each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 Tactile sensation presentation device 2 vibrating body 3. Housing 4 Base 5 Elastic member 3a First housing part 3b Second housing part 6 Touch Detector 7 Internal Controller 8 External Controller 9 Power supply section 10. Communications Department 11 Pressure detector 11 Light source section 13 Display device 14 Display panel 15. Steering wheel 16 Steering hub 17,18 Steering switch 19a,19b Base 20 Leaf spring 21 Sealing material 22 Waterproof filler 23 Sealing material 1B Tactile sensation presentation device 24 Coil bobbin 25 coils 26 Permanent magnet body Permanent magnet body 27 Inner Yoke 28 Outer Yoke 29 Moving Child 30 Stator 31 Current-carrying shape memory alloy 32 PCB 33 First electrode thin film 34 Piezoelectric thin film 35 Second electrode thin film 36 insulating film 37 Second metal wiring film 38 First metal wiring film 40 Motor 41 Rotation axis 42 Weight 43 Casing 44 coils 45 Permanent magnet body 46 Compression coil spring 46 York

Claims

1. a vibrating body that generates vibrations; a housing that hermetically houses the vibrator; a base supporting the housing; an elastic member connecting the housing and the base, the elastic member is a coil spring or an elastic block, a plurality of which are arranged at corners of the housing, a touch detector disposed within the housing, which detects an operation by a user and outputs a detection signal; an internal controller disposed within the housing, the internal controller vibrating the vibrating body in response to a detection signal from the touch detector and outputting a vibration feedback signal representing that the vibrating body has been vibrated; a communication unit disposed within the housing and configured to transmit a signal to operate a predetermined operating unit in response to a vibration feedback signal from the internal controller.

2. The haptic sensation presentation device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing has a first housing portion and a second housing portion detachably attached to the first housing portion.

3. The haptic sensation presentation device according to claim 2 , wherein the vibrator is disposed in the first housing portion.

4. The haptic sensation presentation device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a seal member disposed between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

5. The tactile sensation presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a waterproof filler filled in the housing.

6. 5. The tactile sensation presentation device according to claim 4, wherein the first housing portion is a box-shaped body having an opening, the second housing portion is a plate-shaped lid body that covers the opening, and the sealing member is interposed between the opening and the lid body.

7. The haptic sensation presentation device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined operating unit is a light source unit disposed in the housing.

Images