Functional device and its control method

Abstract

To provide a functional device and a control method of the same capable of locally and dynamically controlling a physical characteristic such as elasticity and hardness.SOLUTION: A tactile sensation presentation device system includes, as main constitution: a tactile sensation presentation device 1; a hardness data storage unit 2 which stores data regarding hardness and elasticity as tactile sensation to be presented on the tactile sensation presentation device 1; and a control circuit 3 which locally and dynamically controls the tactile sensation presented on the tactile sensation presentation device 1 on the basis of the hardness data. The tactile sensation presentation device 1 is constituted by mutually connecting a plurality of complex units 10 formed by combining static units 11 and dynamic units 12, as module structure, to each other in one dimensionally, two dimensionally, or three dimensionally. When a hand, finger, or the like touches a tactile sensation presentation surface 13 of the tactile sensation presentation device 1, the control circuit 3 acquires hardness data associated with a contact position from the hardness data storage unit 2, and locally and dynamically presents the tactile sensation by generating hardness and elasticity based on the hardness data on exposed surfaces of the respective complex units 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Claims

1. In a functional device configured by interconnecting multiple composite units, each of which at least one static unit and a dynamic unit are combined in series in at least one direction, The static unit has substantially constant physical properties, The physical characteristics of the aforementioned dynamic unit change when it is biased or de-energized. Each of the composite units exhibits different physical properties in one direction depending on whether the dynamic unit is biased or de-energized. The aforementioned physical properties are elastic, A functional device characterized in that, in the composite unit, when the elasticity of the dynamic unit is relatively high due to either biasing or de-biasing, the elasticity of the static unit becomes dominant, and when the elasticity of the dynamic unit is relatively low due to the other biasing or de-biasing, the elasticity of the dynamic unit becomes dominant.

2. The functional device according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic modulus of the static unit is lower than the elastic modulus when the elastic modulus of the dynamic unit is relatively high, and higher than the elastic modulus when the elastic modulus of the dynamic unit is relatively low.

3. A functional device configured by interconnecting a plurality of composite units, each of which at least one static unit and a dynamic unit are combined in series in at least one direction, The static unit has substantially constant physical properties, The physical characteristics of the aforementioned dynamic unit change when it is biased or de-energized. Each of the composite units exhibits different physical properties in one direction depending on whether the dynamic unit is biased or de-energized. The dynamic unit is composed of a constant elasticity member whose elasticity is substantially constant and a variable elasticity support member whose flexibility changes with temperature. The aforementioned elastic variable support member becomes more flexible when biased and its temperature rises, while becoming less flexible when de-energized and its temperature drops. In the dynamic unit, when the elastic variable support member is biased, the elasticity of the elastic variable support member becomes dominant, and when the elastic variable support member is de-bending, the elasticity of the constant elastic member becomes dominant. A functional device characterized by having shape memory properties as a whole dynamic unit.

4. The functional device according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic variable support member further possesses shape memory properties.

5. A functional device configured by interconnecting a plurality of composite units, each of which at least one static unit and a dynamic unit are combined in series in at least one direction, The static unit has substantially constant physical properties, The physical characteristics of the aforementioned dynamic unit change when it is biased or de-energized. Each of the composite units exhibits different physical properties in one direction depending on whether the dynamic unit is biased or de-energized. A functional device characterized in that the dynamic unit is either a phase-change material or a thermoplastic resin incorporating a conductive heating element internally.

6. The functional device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each composite unit is composed of a static unit and a dynamic unit combined in one direction.

7. The functional device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each composite unit is composed of a plurality of static units and dynamic units alternately combined in the one direction.

8. The functional device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each composite unit is configured by combining a plurality of composite unit elements, each composed of at least one static unit and a dynamic unit combined in series in one direction, in parallel in a direction perpendicular to the aforementioned one direction.

9. The functional device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the plurality of composite units are arranged in a one-dimensional manner.

10. The functional device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the plurality of composite units are arranged in a two-dimensional manner.

11. The functional device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the plurality of composite units are arranged three-dimensionally.

12. The functional device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the plurality of composite units are interconnected by at least one of a mechanical bonding interface, a magnetic bonding interface, a thermosensitive adhesive interface, and a self-healing bonding interface.

13. The functional device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is composed of a plurality of composite units having different physical properties for the static unit.

14. A control method for a functional device configured by interconnecting multiple composite units, each of which at least one static unit and a dynamic unit are combined in series in at least one direction, The static unit has substantially constant physical properties, The physical characteristics of the aforementioned dynamic unit change when it is biased and de-energized. The composite unit exhibits different physical properties in one direction depending on whether the dynamic unit is biased or de-energized. Selectively biasing or de-energizing each dynamic unit of the composite unit, The aforementioned physical properties are elastic, A method for controlling a functional device, characterized in that, in the composite unit, when the elasticity of the dynamic unit is relatively high due to either biasing or de-biasing, the elasticity of the static unit becomes dominant, and when the elasticity of the dynamic unit is relatively low due to the other biasing or de-biasing, the elasticity of the dynamic unit becomes dominant.

15. A control method for a functional device configured by interconnecting a plurality of composite units, each of which at least one static unit and a dynamic unit are combined in series in at least one direction, The static unit has substantially constant physical properties, The physical characteristics of the aforementioned dynamic unit change when it is biased and de-energized. The composite unit exhibits different physical properties in one direction depending on whether the dynamic unit is biased or de-energized. Selectively biasing or de-energizing each dynamic unit of the composite unit, The dynamic unit is composed of a constant elasticity member whose elasticity is substantially constant and a variable elasticity support member whose flexibility changes with temperature. The aforementioned elastic variable support member becomes more flexible when biased and its temperature rises, while becoming less flexible when de-energized and its temperature drops. In the dynamic unit, when the elastic variable support member is biased, the elasticity of the elastic variable support member becomes dominant, and when the elastic variable support member is de-bending, the elasticity of the constant elastic member becomes dominant. A control method for a functional device characterized by having shape memory properties as a whole dynamic unit.

16. A control method for a functional device configured by interconnecting a plurality of composite units, each of which at least one static unit and a dynamic unit are combined in series in at least one direction, The static unit has substantially constant physical properties, The physical characteristics of the aforementioned dynamic unit change when it is biased and de-energized. The composite unit exhibits different physical properties in one direction depending on whether the dynamic unit is biased or de-energized. Selectively biasing or de-energizing each dynamic unit of the composite unit, A method for controlling a functional device, characterized in that the dynamic unit is either a phase-change material or a thermoplastic resin incorporating a conductive heating element.

17. Each of the aforementioned composite units includes a plurality of dynamic units, A method for controlling a functional device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that it switches the combination of dynamic units that bias or debuff based on separately provided hardness data.

Images