Control device and contact-type input device

Abstract

To provide a vibration device which uses an electromagnetic actuator and therefore can be reduced in cost and can be thinned, and to provide a contact input device which can efficiently generate thrust suitable for tactile feedback to an operator operating the contact input device in a contact manner.SOLUTION: A vibration device comprises: an actuator having a base member, a coil member in which a coil is wound around a core and which is fixed to the base member, a yoke arranged opposing to the coil member and formed to surround the coil, and an elastic body connecting the coil member to the yoke; and a control unit which supplies the coil member with current, wherein the yoke and the base member approach each other to vibrate the actuator, by suction force generated by magnetic force generated through distribution of electric power to the coil member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device for driving a vibration actuator and a contact-type input device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when operating a touch panel which is a sensing panel, a configuration is known in which vibration is applied by a vibration actuator to the fingertip or the like of an operator who touches the display screen displayed on the touch panel as a contact operation feeling (the feeling of touching and operating). (See Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile terminal device in which a vibration actuator is attached to the back surface of a touch panel via a vibration transmission portion. In this vibration actuator, a mover is disposed in a housing fixed to the vibration transmission portion so as to be reciprocally movable along a guide shaft disposed perpendicular to the touch panel. In this vibration actuator, by causing the mover to collide with the housing in response to an operation on the touch panel, vibration is applied to the fingertip touching the touch panel via the vibration transmission portion.

[0004] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a vibration presentation device that applies vibration in response to an operation on a touch panel. In this vibration presentation device, between a vibration panel which is a vibration portion that presents vibration and a housing that supports the vibration panel, a voice coil motor that generates vibration, a support portion that is disposed with the vibration panel and compressed with a predetermined force, and a damper that imparts a braking action to the vibration of the vibration portion, and a spring that imparts a compressive force to the support portion and the damper are interposed in parallel.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0006] Incidentally, when applying a vibration feedback device to in-vehicle devices such as car navigation systems to provide a tactile sensation to the fingertips of the operator touching the touch panel, there is a demand for strong tactile feedback that provides this tactile sensation, while at the same time, a reduction in the cost of the device itself is desired.

[0007] To reduce the cost of the device itself, a vibration actuator can be constructed that does not use relatively expensive magnets, but instead uses, for example, a solenoid-driven thrust generation mechanism to hold the operating device with an elastic body. In this structure, pulses are simply input to the solenoid to retract the movable part of the solenoid held by the elastic body, and then release it to move the operating device, so the driving direction relative to the operating device is unidirectional. In such a solenoid-driven structure, the magnitude of the thrust generated to retract the movable part is proportional to the supply voltage and therefore depends on the size of the actuator itself.

[0008] Therefore, in recent years, there has been a desire to generate suitable thrust for tactile feedback more efficiently while reducing costs and making the device thinner.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a control device and a contact-type input device that can be made lower cost and thinner by using an electromagnetic actuator, and that can efficiently generate thrust suitable for tactile feedback to an operator who operates it by contact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The control device of the present invention is Rectangular in plan view A base member and a core around which a coil is wound. Rectangular in plan view A coil member fixed to a base member, and the aforementioned Rectangular in plan viewBase member surface With respect to vertical Arranged in the direction, and the coil Having an opening into which is inserted A yoke having a flat plate shape, and At both ends of the rectangular base member in plan view, The yoke 、 The Rectangular in plan view On the surface of the base member In contrast, it is held with a gap, and the surface of the rectangular base member in plan view is Vertical direction to Displaceably Support An elastic body, and an actuator having the same, Supply current to the coil member do By the attractive force generated by the magnetic force due to energization of the coil member, the yoke is vibrated in the vertical direction with respect to the base member, and a control unit for vibrating the yoke, Rectangular in plan view Adopts the configuration of Equipped with, The control unit supplies the next drive pulse after the actuator has been released from the magnetic force following the supply of the previous drive pulse and has reached the maximum amplitude position in the reverse direction. Adopts the configuration of The contact input device of the present invention is A contact input device in which the vibration device having the above configuration is arranged on the back surface of the operation surface, According to the contact operation of the operator on the operation surface, the coil is energized to vibrate the yoke, and a configuration for presenting a tactile sensation to the operator is adopted.

Effect of the invention

[0011] According to the present invention, by using an electromagnetic actuator, cost reduction and miniaturization can be achieved, and a suitable thrust for tactile feedback to an operator who operates by contact can be efficiently generated.

Brief description of the drawings

[0012] [Figure 1] It is a side view showing a vibration presentation device having a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a plan side external perspective view of an electromagnetic actuator as an example driven and controlled by a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a bottom side external perspective view of the electromagnetic actuator. [Figure 4] It is a plan view of the electromagnetic actuator. [Figure 5]It is a sectional view taken along the line A - A of FIG. 4, as viewed in the arrow direction. [Figure 6] It is an exploded perspective view of the electromagnetic actuator. [Figure 7] It is a sectional view showing the state where a sensor is provided in the electromagnetic actuator. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing the magnetic circuit configuration of the electromagnetic actuator. [Figure 9] FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the electromagnetic actuator. [Figure 10] It is an overall configuration diagram showing a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It is a diagram showing Pattern 1 of the drive current pulse for driving the electromagnetic actuator by the control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing Pattern 2 of the drive current pulse for driving the electromagnetic actuator by the control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing Pattern 3 of the drive current pulse for driving the electromagnetic actuator by the control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0014] In the present embodiment, an explanation will be given using a rectangular coordinate system (X, Y, Z). The same rectangular coordinate system (X, Y, Z) is also shown in the figures described later. Hereinafter, the width, depth, and height of the vibration presentation device 200 having the control device 1 are the lengths in the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, respectively, and the width, depth, and height of the electromagnetic actuator 10 also correspond to the lengths in the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, respectively. Further, the plus side in the Z direction is the direction in which vibration feedback is given to the operator, and is referred to as the "upper side", and the minus side in the Z direction is the direction in which the operator presses when operating, and will be described as the "lower side".

[0015] (Basic configuration of the vibration presentation device 200 using the control device 1) The vibration presentation device 200 shown in Figure 1 comprises a control device 1, an electromagnetic actuator 10 driven and controlled by the control device 1, and an operating device (touch panel 2) that is operated by the operator. The vibration presentation device 200 applies vibration to the operating device in response to the operator's contact operation with the operating device. In other words, it provides tactile feedback to the operator who operates the operating device by contact, via the operating device. In this embodiment, the operating device is a touch panel 2 that displays a screen and is operated by touching the screen.

[0016] The vibration presentation device 200 is used, for example, as an electronic device, such as a touch panel device for a car navigation system, and functions as a device that presents vibrations to an operator who operates the touch panel 2 by touching its screen 2a. In the vibration presentation device 200, the touch panel 2, as an operating device, is a panel that has a display function to display images, etc., that the operator can touch on the screen 2a, but it may also be an operating device that does not have a display function and is simply an operating device that the operator can touch and operate.

[0017] In the vibration display device 200 shown in Figure 1, the electromagnetic actuator 10 is positioned between the touch panel 2 and the base 3, which serves as the back surface of the device and is located on the back side of the touch panel 2. The control device 1 may be provided on the electromagnetic actuator 10 itself or on the base 3.

[0018] The touch panel 2 is fixed on its back side to the surface fixing portion 44 of the movable body 40 (see Figure 2) of the electromagnetic actuator 10. The base 3 is positioned opposite the touch panel 2, and the fixed body of the electromagnetic actuator 10 is fixed to the base 3 via the support portion 3a. In this way, the electromagnetic actuator 10 is positioned to connect the touch panel 2 and the central parts of the base 3.

[0019] The touch panel 2 itself is driven integrally with the movable body 40 of the electromagnetic actuator 10. When an operator presses on the screen of the touch panel 2 to perform an operation, the direction in which the operator's finger or other body contacts the screen, for example, the direction in which the operator presses perpendicularly to the screen of the touch panel 2, is the same direction as the Z-direction, which is the vibration direction of the movable body 40 in the electromagnetic actuator 10.

[0020] Thus, with the vibration presentation device 200, which incorporates the control device 1, touch panel 2, and electromagnetic actuator 10, the touch panel 2 is directly operated, that is, the touch panel 2 is driven in the same direction as the finger contact direction together with the movable body 40, so the touch panel 2 can be directly driven with strong vibrations.

[0021] Therefore, when operating by touching an image of a mechanical switch or the like displayed on the touch panel 2, the movable body 40 is moved to provide a vibration that corresponds to the image, for example, a vibration that feels similar to the operation of an actual mechanical switch, thereby achieving a comfortable user experience.

[0022] <Overall configuration of electromagnetic actuator 10> Figure 2 is a plan view perspective of the electromagnetic actuator of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a bottom view perspective of the same electromagnetic actuator, and Figure 4 is a plan view of the electromagnetic actuator of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Figure 4, and Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the electromagnetic actuator of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] The electromagnetic actuator 10 shown in Figures 2 to 6 is mounted on an electronic device to which the control device 1 is applied and functions as a vibration source for a touch panel 2 (see Figure 1), which is an example of an operating device.

[0024] The electromagnetic actuator 10 has a fixed body and a movable body 40 that is fixed to the operating device and supported by the fixed body 30 so as to be elastically vibrable. The movable body 40 is driven in one direction, and the movable body 40 is moved in the opposite direction by the biasing force of a biasing force generating member (plate-shaped elastic support part 50), thereby causing the movable body 40 to move linearly back and forth (including vibration).

[0025] The electromagnetic actuator 10 responds to touch operations performed by the operator on the screen 2a of the touch panel 2 by transmitting vibrations to the operator, allowing them to feel the vibrations, thereby enabling intuitive operation for the operator who touches the touch panel 2. The touch panel 2 has a contact position output unit that receives touch operations performed by the operator on the touch panel 2 and outputs the contact position. Based on the contact position information output by the contact position output unit and the drive timing, the control device 1 outputs a drive signal to the electromagnetic actuator 10 and supplies a drive current so that vibrations corresponding to the touch operations are generated. The electromagnetic actuator 10, upon receiving the drive current supplied from the control device 1, drives by generating vibrations corresponding to the contact position output from the touch panel 2, and transmits them to the touch panel 2, causing the touch panel 2 to vibrate directly. In this way, the electromagnetic actuator 10 is driven in response to the operator's operations received on the touch panel 2.

[0026] The electromagnetic actuator 10 includes a fixed body 30 having a core assembly 20 in which a coil 22 is wound around a core 24 and a base portion 32, a movable body 40 having a magnetic yoke 41, and plate-shaped elastic parts 50 (50-1, 50-2). The plate-shaped elastic parts 50 (50-1, 50-2) elastically support the movable body 40 relative to the fixed body 30 so that it can move in the direction of vibration.

[0027] The electromagnetic actuator 10 drives the movable body 40, which is movably supported by a plate-shaped elastic part 50, to move in one direction relative to the fixed body 30. Movement of the movable body in the opposite direction to the one direction is performed by the biasing force of the plate-shaped elastic part 50.

[0028] Specifically, the electromagnetic actuator 10 vibrates the yoke 41 of the movable body 40 by the core assembly 20. Specifically, the movable body 40 is vibrated by the attractive force of the energized coil 22 and the core 24 excited by the energized coil 22, and the biasing force of the plate-shaped elastic parts 50 (50-1, 50-2).

[0029] The electromagnetic actuator 10 is configured in a flattened shape with the Z direction as the thickness direction. The electromagnetic actuator 10 vibrates the movable body 40 relative to the fixed body 30 in the Z direction, that is, with the thickness direction as the vibration direction, causing one of the front and back surfaces of the electromagnetic actuator 10, which are spaced apart in the thickness direction, to move closer to or further away from the other surface in the Z direction.

[0030] In this embodiment, the electromagnetic actuator 10 moves the movable body 40 in the negative Z direction by the attractive force of the core 24, and moves the movable body 40 in the positive Z direction by the biasing force of the plate-shaped elastic parts 50 (50-1, 50-2).

[0031] In the electromagnetic actuator 10 of this embodiment, the movable body 40 is elastically supported by a plurality of plate-shaped elastic parts 50 (50-1, 50-2) arranged in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction at a point-symmetric position with respect to the movable center of the movable body 40, but the configuration is not limited to this. The plate-shaped elastic part 50 is fixed between the movable body 40 and the fixed body 30 and has an elastically deformable bellows-shaped part that elastically supports the movable body 40 relative to the fixed body 30 so that it can move in a direction facing at least one end of the ends of the core 24 (magnetic pole parts 242, 244). With such a configuration, the plate-shaped elastic part 50 may be provided in any way. For example, the plate-shaped elastic part 50 may be configured to elastically support the movable body 40 relative to the fixed body 30 (core assembly 20) so that it can move in a direction facing one end of the core 24 (magnetic pole part 242 or magnetic pole part 244). Furthermore, the plate-shaped elastic parts 50-1 and 50-2 may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center (movable center) of the movable body 40, and two or more plate-shaped elastic parts 50 may be used. Each plate-shaped elastic part 50-1 and 50-2 is fixed to the fixed body 30 at one end and to the movable body 40 at the other end, supporting the movable body 40 so that it can move relative to the fixed body 30 in the direction of vibration (the Z direction, which in this case is the vertical direction).

[0032] <Fixed body 30> As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the fixed body 30 has a core assembly 20 having a coil 22 and a core 24, and a base portion 32.

[0033] The base portion 32 is to which the core assembly 20 is fixed and is connected to the movable body 40 via plate-shaped elastic portions 50 (50-1, 50-2), supporting the movable body 40 so that it can move freely in the direction of vibration. The base portion 32 is a flat-shaped member and forms the bottom surface of the electromagnetic actuator 10. The base portion 32 has mounting portions 32a to which one end of the plate-shaped elastic portions 50 (50-1, 50-2) is fixed, sandwiching the core assembly 20. The mounting portions 32a are each spaced at the same distance from the core assembly 20. This distance is the distance that constitutes the deformation region of the plate-shaped elastic portions 50 (50-1, 50-2).

[0034] The mounting portion 32a has fixing holes 321 for fixing the plate-shaped elastic portion 50 (50-1, 50-2) and fixing holes 322 for fixing the base portion 32 to the base 3 (see Figure 1). The fixing holes 322 are provided at both ends of the mounting portion 32a so as to sandwich the fixing holes 321. As a result, the base portion 32 is stably fixed to the base 3 (see Figure 1) in its entirety.

[0035] In this embodiment, the base portion 32 is formed by processing sheet metal so that one side portion, which is the mounting portion 32a, and the other side portion are positioned apart in the width (X direction) direction, with the bottom surface portion 32b in between. A concave portion is provided between the mounting portions 32a, having a bottom surface portion 32b that is lower in height than the mounting portions 32a. The space within the concave portion, that is, the space on the surface side of the bottom surface portion 32b, secures the elastic deformation region of the plate-like elastic portion 50 (50-1, 50-2), and is a space for securing the movable region of the movable body 40 supported by the plate-like elastic portion 50 (50-1, 50-2).

[0036] The bottom portion 32b is rectangular in shape, and an opening 36 is formed in its center, within which the core assembly 20 is positioned.

[0037] The core assembly 20 is fixed in a partially inserted state within the opening 36. Specifically, the divided portion 26b of the bobbin 26 and the lower portion of the coil 22 of the lower core assembly 20 are inserted into the opening 36, and the core 24 is fixed so that it is positioned on the bottom surface 32b when viewed from the side. As a result, the length (thickness) in the Z direction is thinner compared to a configuration in which the core assembly 20 is mounted on the bottom surface 32b. In addition, since a part of the core assembly 20, in this case a part on the bottom side, is fixed in a state where it fits into the opening 36, the core assembly 20 is firmly fixed in a state where it is difficult to come off the bottom surface 32b.

[0038] The opening 36 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the core assembly 20. In this embodiment, the opening 36 is formed in a square shape. This allows the core assembly 20 and the movable body 40 to be positioned in the center of the electromagnetic actuator 10, making the entire electromagnetic actuator 10 substantially square in plan view. Note that the opening 36 may also be rectangular (including square).

[0039] The core assembly 20, in cooperation with the plate-shaped elastic parts 50 (50-1, 50-2), causes the yoke 41 of the movable body 40 to vibrate (reciprocating linear motion in the Z direction).

[0040] In this embodiment, the core assembly 20 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate. Magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 are arranged on both sides of the rectangular plate that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. These magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 are arranged so that the lower surfaces of the attractable surfaces 46 and 47 of the movable body 40 face each other with a gap G (see Figure 7) in the Z direction, and the upper opposing surfaces (opposing surface portions) 20a and 20b face the lower surfaces of the attractable surfaces 46 and 47 of the yoke 41 in the direction of vibration of the movable body 40.

[0041] In this embodiment, the core assembly 20 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate and has magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 on both sides that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. These magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 are arranged so that the attracted surfaces 46 and 47 of the movable body 40 face each other with a gap G in the Z direction.

[0042] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the core assembly 20 is fixed to the base portion 32 with the winding axis of the coil 22 facing in the opposite direction of the mounting portions 32a that are spaced apart in the base portion 32.

[0043] In this embodiment, the core assembly 20 is positioned in the central part of the base portion 32, specifically in the central part of the bottom surface portion 32b.

[0044] The core assembly 20 is constructed by winding a coil 22 around the outer circumference of a core 24 via a bobbin 26.

[0045] As shown in Figure 5, the core assembly 20 is fixed to the bottom surface 32b such that the core 24 is positioned parallel to the bottom surface 32b and straddles the opening 36 on the bottom surface. The core assembly 20 is fixed by fastening members, screws 68 (see Figures 1, 4 to 8), with the coil 22 and the portion wound around the coil 22 (core body 241) positioned within the opening 36 of the base portion 32.

[0046] Specifically, the core assembly 20 is fixed to the bottom portion 32b by fastening screws 68 through fixing holes 28 and fastening holes 33 (see Figure 6) in the bottom portion 32b, with the coil 22 positioned inside the opening 36. The core assembly 20 and the bottom portion 32b are joined at two points on the axis of the coil 22 by the screws 68, sandwiching the coil 22 between the two sides of the opening 36, which is spaced apart in the X direction, and the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244.

[0047] The coil 22 is a solenoid that generates a magnetic field when energized during the operation of the electromagnetic actuator 10. The coil 22, together with the core 24 and the movable body 40, constitutes a magnetic circuit (magnetic path) that attracts and moves the movable body 40. Power is supplied to the coil 22 from an external power source via the control device 1. For example, the control device 1 supplies a drive current to the electromagnetic actuator 10, thereby supplying power to the coil 22 and driving the electromagnetic actuator 10.

[0048] The core 24 has a core body 241 around which the coil 22 is wound, and magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 provided at both ends of the core body 241, which are excited by energizing the coil 22.

[0049] The core 24 can have any structure as long as it has a length such that both ends become magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 when the coil 22 is energized. For example, it may be formed in the shape of a straight (I-shaped) flat plate, but the core 24 in this embodiment is formed in the shape of an H-shaped flat plate in plan view.

[0050] In the case of an I-shaped core, the area of ​​the surfaces (gap sides) on the opposing attracted surfaces 46 and 47 at both ends (magnetic pole portions) of the I-shaped core becomes smaller due to the gap G. This may increase the magnetic resistance in the magnetic circuit and reduce the conversion efficiency. Also, when attaching a bobbin to the core, the positioning of the bobbin in the longitudinal direction of the core is eliminated or reduced, requiring a separate positioning member. In contrast, since the core 24 is H-shaped, the gap sides at both ends of the core body 241 can be expanded in the front-to-back direction (Y direction) to be longer than the width of the core body 241 around which the coil 22 is wound, thereby reducing magnetic resistance and improving the efficiency of the magnetic circuit. Furthermore, the positioning of the coil 22 can be achieved simply by fitting the bobbin 26 between the protruding portions from the core body 241 at the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244, eliminating the need to provide a separate positioning member for the bobbin 26 relative to the core 24.

[0051] The core 24 has magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 provided at both ends of a plate-shaped core body 241 around which the coil 22 is wound, protruding in a direction perpendicular to the winding axis of the coil 22.

[0052] The core 24 is a magnetic material and is formed from, for example, silicon steel sheet, permalloy, ferrite, etc. Alternatively, the core 24 may be made from electromagnetic stainless steel, sintered material, MIM (metal injection molded) material, laminated steel sheet, electro-galvanized steel sheet (SECC), etc.

[0053] The magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 are provided so as to protrude in the Y direction from both openings of the coil 22.

[0054] The magnetic poles 242 and 244 are energized by the current supplied to the coil 22, attracting and moving the yoke 41 of the movable body 40, which is separated in the direction of vibration (Z direction). Specifically, the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic poles 242 and 244 attracts the attracted surfaces 46 and 47 of the movable body 40, which are positioned opposite each other across the gap G.

[0055] The magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 are plate-like bodies that extend in the Y direction, which is perpendicular to the core body 241 that extends in the X direction. Because the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 are long in the Y direction, the area of ​​the opposing surfaces 20a and 20b facing the yoke 41 is larger than that of the configuration formed at both ends of the core body 241.

[0056] The magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 have fixing holes 28 formed in the central part in the Y direction, and are fixed to the base portion 32 by screws 68 inserted into the fixing holes 28.

[0057] The bobbin 26 is positioned to surround the core body 241 of the core 24. The bobbin 26 is made of, for example, a resin material. This ensures electrical insulation from other metal components (e.g., the core 24), thereby improving the reliability of the electrical circuit. By using a highly fluid resin material, moldability is improved, and the thickness of the bobbin 26 can be reduced while ensuring its strength. The bobbin 26 is formed into a cylindrical body that surrounds the core body 241 by assembling divided parts 26a and 26b so as to sandwich the core body 241. The bobbin 26 is provided with flanges at both ends of the cylindrical body, and the coil 22 is positioned on the outer circumference of the core body 241.

[0058] <Movable body 40> The movable body 40 is positioned opposite the core assembly 20, with a gap G in a direction perpendicular to the vibration direction (Z direction). The movable body 40 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate relative to the core assembly 20 in the vibration direction.

[0059] The movable body 40 has a yoke 41 and includes movable body side fixing portions 54 of plate-shaped elastic parts 50-1 and 50-2 fixed to the yoke 41.

[0060] The movable body 40 is suspended approximately parallel to the bottom surface 32b and spaced apart, so as to be movable in the direction of approach and separation (Z direction) via plate-shaped elastic parts 50 (50-1, 50-2) (reference normal position).

[0061] The yoke 41 is a plate-like body composed of magnetic materials such as electromagnetic stainless steel, sintered material, MIM (metal injection molded) material, laminated steel sheet, and electro-galvanized steel sheet (SECC). In this embodiment, the yoke 41 is formed by processing an SECC sheet.

[0062] The yoke 41 is suspended from the core assembly 20 with a gap G (see Figure 7) in the vibration direction (Z direction) between them, by plate-shaped elastic parts 50 (50-1, 50-2) fixed to each of the adsorption surfaces 46 and 47 which are spaced apart in the X direction.

[0063] The yoke 41 has a surface fixing portion 44 for attaching an operating device (see touch panel 2 shown in Figure 1), and attractable surface portions 46 and 47 that are positioned opposite the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244.

[0064] In this embodiment, the yoke 41 has an opening 48 in the center. The yoke 41 is formed in a rectangular frame shape. The yoke 41 is formed in a frame shape with a surface fixing portion 44 and adsorption surface portions 46 and 47 surrounding the opening 48.

[0065] The opening 48 faces the coil 22. In this embodiment, the opening 48 is located directly above the coil 22, and the shape of the opening 48 is formed such that the coil 22 portion of the core assembly 20 can be inserted when the yoke 41 moves toward the bottom surface portion 32b.

[0066] By configuring the yoke 41 to have an opening 48, the overall thickness of the electromagnetic actuator can be reduced compared to the case where there is no opening 48.

[0067] Furthermore, because the core assembly 20 is positioned within the opening 48, the yoke 41 is not placed near the coil 22, which suppresses the decrease in conversion efficiency due to leakage flux leaking from the coil 22 and enables high output.

[0068] The surface fixing portion 44 has a fixing surface 44a that fixes a touch panel 2, which is an example of an operating device, by surface contact. The fixing surface 44a has a trapezoidal shape in plan view and makes surface contact with the touch panel 2 fixed to the surface fixing portion 44 via fasteners such as screws inserted into the surface fixing holes 42.

[0069] The surfaces to be attracted 46 and 47 are attracted to the magnetized magnetic poles 242 and 244 in the core assembly 20, and the plate-shaped elastic parts 50 (50-1, 50-2) are fixed to them.

[0070] The movable body side fixing portions 54 of the plate-shaped elastic portions 50-1 and 50-2 are fixed to the adsorption surfaces 46 and 47, respectively, in a stacked state. The adsorption surfaces 46 and 47 are provided with notches 49 that allow the heads of the screws 68 of the core assembly 20 to escape when they move toward the bottom surface portion 32b.

[0071] As a result, even when the movable body 40 moves toward the bottom surface 32b and the adsorbed surfaces 46 and 47 approach the magnetic poles 242 and 244, they do not come into contact with the screws 68 that fix the magnetic poles 242 and 244 to the bottom surface 32b, thereby ensuring a sufficient range of motion for the yoke 41 in the Z direction.

[0072] <Plate-shaped elastic part 50 (50-1, 50-2)> The plate-shaped elastic parts 50 (50-1, 50-2) movably support the movable body 40 relative to the fixed body 30. The plate-shaped elastic parts 50 (50-1, 50-2) support the upper surface of the movable body 40 at the same height as the upper surface of the fixed body 30, or below the upper surface of the fixed body 30 (in this embodiment, the upper surface of the core assembly 20), and are parallel to each other. The plate-shaped elastic parts 50-1 and 50-2 have a symmetrical shape with respect to the center of the movable body 40, and in this embodiment, they are similarly formed members.

[0073] The plate-shaped elastic portion 50 is positioned substantially parallel to the yoke 41 so as to face the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 of the core 24 of the fixed body 30 with a gap G between them. The plate-shaped elastic portion 50 supports the lower surface of the movable body 40 so as to be movable in the direction of vibration at a position closer to the bottom surface portion 32b than the height level of the upper surface of the core assembly 20.

[0074] The plate-shaped elastic portion 50 is a leaf spring having a fixed body side fixing portion 52, a movable body side fixing portion 54, and a bellows-shaped elastic arm portion 56 that connects the fixed body side fixing portion 52 and the movable body side fixing portion 54.

[0075] The plate-shaped elastic part 50 has a fixed body side fixing part 52 attached to the surface of the mounting part 32a, and a movable body side fixing part 54 attached to the surfaces of the adsorbed surfaces 46 and 47 of the yoke 41, and the movable body 40 is attached with the bellows-shaped elastic arm part 56 parallel to the bottom surface part 32b.

[0076] The fixed body side fixing portion 52 is fixed by joining it with screws 62 in surface contact with the mounting portion 32a, and the movable body side fixing portion 54 is fixed by joining it with screws 64 in surface contact with the surfaces to be adsorbed 46 and 47.

[0077] The bellows-shaped elastic arm portion 56 is an arm portion having a bellows shape. By having a bellows shape, the bellows-shaped elastic arm portion 56 ensures a length that allows for the deformation necessary for the vibration of the movable body 40 between the fixed body side fixing portion 52 and the movable body side fixing portion 54, and in a plane perpendicular to the vibration direction (a plane formed in the X direction and the Y direction).

[0078] In this embodiment, the bellows-shaped elastic arm portion 56 extends in the opposing direction between the fixed body side fixing portion 52 and the movable body side fixing portion 54, and folds back. The ends that are joined to the fixed body side fixing portion 52 and the movable body side fixing portion 54 are formed at positions offset in the Y direction. The bellows-shaped elastic arm portion 56 is positioned point-symmetrically or line-symmetrically with respect to the center of the movable body 40.

[0079] As a result, the movable body 40 is supported on both sides by the bellows-shaped elastic arm portion 56, which has a bellows-shaped spring, thus enabling stress distribution during elastic deformation. In other words, the plate-shaped elastic portion 50 can move the movable body 40 in the vibration direction (Z direction) without tilting relative to the core assembly 20, thereby improving the reliability of the vibration state.

[0080] Each plate-shaped elastic section 50 has at least two or more bellows-shaped elastic arm sections 56. Compared to the case where each bellows-shaped elastic arm section 56 has only one, the stress during elastic deformation is distributed, improving reliability, and the balance of support to the movable body 40 is improved, thus improving stability.

[0081] In this embodiment, the plate-shaped elastic part 50, which is a leaf spring, is made of a magnetic material. The movable-side fixing part 54 of the plate-shaped elastic part 50 is positioned opposite or above both ends of the core 24 (magnetic pole parts 242, 244) in the coil winding axis direction, and functions as a magnetic path. In this embodiment, the movable-side fixing part 54 is fixed in a stacked state above the adsorbed surface parts 46, 47. This allows the thickness H (see Figure 7) of the adsorbed surface parts 46, 47 facing the magnetic pole parts 242, 244 of the core assembly 20 to be increased by the thickness of the magnetic material. Since the thickness of the plate-shaped elastic part 50 is the same as the thickness of the yoke 41, the cross-sectional area of ​​the magnetic material portion facing the magnetic pole parts 242, 244 can be doubled. As a result, compared to the case where the leaf spring is non-magnetic, the magnetic circuit can be expanded, the deterioration of characteristics due to magnetic saturation in the magnetic circuit can be mitigated, and the output can be improved.

[0082] In addition, in the electromagnetic actuator 10 of this embodiment, a detection unit may be provided to detect the amount of indentation of the movable body 40 when the operating surface fixed by the surface fixing part 44 is operated. In this embodiment, for example, as shown in Figure 7, a strain detection sensor 70 is provided as a detection unit to detect the strain of the plate-shaped elastic part 50.

[0083] The strain detection sensor 70 detects the strain of the plate-shaped elastic part 50, which deforms when the surface fixing part 44 is pushed towards the bottom surface part 32b. The detected strain is output to the control unit, etc., and the coil 22 is energized to move the movable body 40 by attracting it, so that the amount of movement of the movable body 40 corresponds to this strain.

[0084] In this embodiment, the electromagnetic actuator 10 functions even if it does not determine the amount of movement of the operating device being operated, as long as it can detect contact with the operating device. On the other hand, if the electromagnetic actuator 10 can detect the amount of indentation into the plate-shaped elastic part 50 with a movement amount corresponding to the actual amount of movement of the operating device, it can use this detection result to achieve a more natural feel. Furthermore, the vibration period of the movable body 40 (the touch panel 2, which is the operating device) when the current pulse supply unit of the control device 1 outputs a drive current pulse may be adjusted based on the detection result of a sensor that detects the operator's contact operation, that is, the amount of indentation of the movable body 40, such as the strain detection sensor 70.

[0085] The strain detection sensor 70 is attached to the bellows-shaped elastic arm portion 56 of the plate-shaped elastic portion 50 near the base where the strain is greatest, and is positioned in a so-called dead space, an area that does not interfere with other components. Alternatively, instead of the strain detection sensor 70, a detection unit for detecting indentation, such as a capacitance sensor, may be placed below the plate-shaped elastic portion 50 on the bottom surface portion 32b facing the deformed portion of the plate-shaped elastic portion 50, to measure the distance between the indented and displaced plate-shaped elastic portion 50.

[0086] Figure 8 shows the magnetic circuit of the electromagnetic actuator 10. Note that Figure 8 is a perspective view of the electromagnetic actuator 10 cut along line AA in Figure 4, and the magnetic circuit has the same magnetic flux flow M in both the parts not shown and the parts shown. Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the movement of the movable body by the magnetic circuit. More specifically, Figure 9A shows the movable body 40 being held at a position separated from the core assembly 20 by the plate-shaped elastic part 50, while Figure 9B shows the movable body 40 being attracted to and moved towards the core assembly 20 by the magnetomotive force of the magnetic circuit.

[0087] Specifically, when the coil 22 is energized, the core 24 is energized and a magnetic field is generated, and both ends of the core 24 become magnetic poles. For example, as shown in Figure 8, in the core 24, the magnetic pole portion 242 becomes the north pole and the magnetic pole portion 244 becomes the south pole. Then, a magnetic circuit, indicated by the flow of magnetic flux M, is formed between the core assembly 20 and the yoke 41. The flow of magnetic flux M in this magnetic circuit flows from the magnetic pole portion 242 to the adsorbed surface portion 46 of the opposing yoke 41, passes through the surface portion fixing portion 44 of the yoke 41, and from the adsorbed surface portion 47 to the magnetic pole portion 244 facing the adsorbed surface portion 47. In this embodiment, the plate-shaped elastic portion 50 is also a magnetic material, so the magnetic flux (indicated by the flow of magnetic flux M) that flows to the adsorbed surface portion 46 first passes through the adsorbed surface portion 46 of the yoke 41 and the movable body side fixing portion 54 of the plate-shaped elastic portion 50-1. Next, the magnetic flux (flow of magnetic flux M) extends from both ends of the surface to be attracted 46, through the surface fixing portion 44, to both ends of the surface to be attracted 46 and the movable body side fixing portion 54 of the plate-shaped elastic portion 50-2.

[0088] As a result, the magnetic poles 242 and 244 of the core assembly 20 generate an attractive force F that attracts the attracting surfaces 46 and 47 of the yoke 41, according to the principle of an electromagnetic solenoid. Then, the attracting surfaces 46 and 47 of the yoke 41 are attracted by both the magnetic poles 242 and 244 of the core assembly 20, the coil 22 is inserted into the opening 48 of the yoke 41, and the movable body 40 including the yoke 41 moves in the direction F against the biasing force of the plate-shaped elastic part 50 (see Figures 9A and 9B).

[0089] Furthermore, when the power to coil 22 is released, the magnetic field disappears, the attractive force F on the movable body 40 by the core assembly 20 is eliminated, and the movable body 40 moves back to its original position (moves in the -F direction) due to the biasing force of the plate-shaped elastic part 50.

[0090] By repeating this process, the electromagnetic actuator 10 generates vibrations in the vibration direction (Z direction) as the movable body 40 moves back and forth in a linear fashion.

[0091] By moving the movable body 40 back and forth in a linear motion, the touch panel 2, which is an operating device to which the movable body 40 is fixed, also displaces in the Z direction in accordance with the movable body 40. In this embodiment, the displacement of the movable body 40 due to the drive, that is, the displacement G of the touch panel 2 (see Figure 1), is in the range of 0.03 mm to 0.3 mm.

[0092] This range of displacement is due to the fact that if the displacement of the tactile feedback provided to the operator when the operator presses the screen 2a of the touch panel 2, which is the operating device, is too small, the feeling will be insufficient, and if it is too large, it will feel unpleasant.

[0093] Sensory evaluations of touch panel displacement were conducted on multiple subjects A to D. The results are shown in Table 1. Specifically, the amount of displacement (amplitude [mm]) of the touch panel when subjects A to D touched the touch panel was set to a range of 0.03 to 0.3, and tactile and visual evaluations were performed for each displacement state. The evaluation criteria were as follows: for "tactile" evaluation, ○: good, △: acceptable, ×: unpleasant; and for "visual" evaluation, ○: good, △: slightly difficult to see, ×: difficult to see.

[0094] [Table 1]

[0095] In particular, when moving displays such as touch panels, there is a problem that large displacements can cause visual impairment.

[0096] As is clear from Table 1, when the displacement G1 (see Figure 1) is less than 0.03 mm, the tactile feedback feeling is insufficient, and in Table 1, many evaluations are "△": acceptable, "×": unpleasant. Therefore, the acceptable displacement G1 should be 0.03 mm or more. Furthermore, when the displacement is greater than 0.3 mm, the tactile sensation becomes strongly "unpleasant," or visual impairments such as the screen appearing distorted are likely to occur. For this reason, the displacement G1 is set to 0.25 mm or less. Therefore, the displacement G1 is more preferably in the range of 0.03 mm to 0.2 mm, and even more preferably in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm. Even more preferably, the displacement G1 is 0.1 mm, and a displacement amount close to 0.1 mm is preferable. This allows for sufficient tactile feeling to be provided to the operator within a range that suppresses visual impairment.

[0097] In the electromagnetic actuator 10, the magnetic circuit efficiency can be increased and high output power can be achieved by positioning the magnetic pole portions 242 and 244 of the core assembly 20 in close proximity to the adsorption surfaces 46 and 47 of the yoke 41. Furthermore, since the electromagnetic actuator 10 does not use magnets, it has a low-cost structure. The bellows-shaped springs, which are plate-shaped elastic portions 50 (50-1, 50-2), enable stress distribution and improve reliability. In particular, since the movable body 40 is supported by multiple plate-shaped elastic portions 50 (50-1, 50-2), stress distribution is made even more effective. In this way, the electromagnetic actuator 10 can provide a direct feel through vertical drive.

[0098] A core assembly 20 having a core 24 around which a coil 22 is wound is fixed to a stationary body 30, and this core assembly 20 is positioned within an opening 48 of a yoke 41 of a movable body 40, which is supported by a plate-shaped elastic part 50 so as to be movable in the Z direction relative to the stationary body 30. As a result, it is not necessary to overlap the members provided on the stationary body and the movable body in the Z direction to generate magnetism and drive the movable body in the Z direction (for example, by arranging the coil and magnet opposite each other in the Z direction), so the thickness in the Z direction of the electromagnetic actuator can be reduced. In addition, by driving the movable body 40 back and forth linearly without using a magnet, vibration as a tactile feeling can be imparted to the operating device. Thus, because the support structure is simple, the design is simplified, space can be saved, and the electromagnetic actuator 10 can be made thinner. Furthermore, since no magnet is used, the cost can be reduced compared to a configuration that uses a magnet.

[0099] The driving principle of the electromagnetic actuator 10 is briefly described below. The electromagnetic actuator 10 can also be driven by generating a resonance phenomenon using pulses with the following equations of motion and circuit equations. Note that the operation is not resonant driving, but rather expresses the feel of operating a mechanical switch displayed on a touch panel as an operating device. In this embodiment, it is driven by inputting short pulses via a control unit (not shown), but it may also be driven to generate arbitrary vibrations without using short pulses. Examples of mechanical switches include tactile switches, alternate switches, momentary switches, toggle switches, slide switches, rotary switches, DIP switches, and rocker switches.

[0100] Furthermore, the movable body 40 in the electromagnetic actuator 10 performs reciprocating motion based on equations (1) and (2).

[0101]

number

[0102]

number

[0103] That is, the mass m [Kg], displacement x (t) [m], and thrust constant K in the electromagnetic actuator 10. f [N / A], current i(t)[A], spring constant K sp The voltage [N / m], damping coefficient D [N / (m / s)], etc., can be appropriately changed within the range that satisfies equation (1). Also, voltage e(t) [V], resistance R [Ω], inductance L [H], and back electromotive force constant K e [V / (rad / s)] can be changed as appropriate within the range that satisfies equation (2).

[0104] Thus, the electromagnetic actuator 10 is composed of the mass m of the movable body 40 and the spring constant K of the metal spring (elastic body, a leaf spring in this embodiment) as the plate-shaped elastic part 50. sp It is determined by [the following].

[0105] Furthermore, in the electromagnetic actuator 10, screws 62 and 64 are used to fix the base portion 32 to the plate-shaped elastic portion 50, and to fix the plate-shaped elastic portion 50 to the movable body 40. This allows the plate-shaped elastic portion 50, which needs to be firmly fixed to the fixed body 30 and the movable body 40 in order for the movable body 40 to be driven, to be mechanically and firmly fixed in a way that allows for rework.

[0106] <Control device 1> The control device 1 controls an electromagnetic actuator 10 that drives an elastically vibrable operating device (touch panel 2 in Figure 1) in one direction of its vibration.

[0107] The control device 1 supplies a drive current to the electromagnetic actuator 10 in response to a contact operation of the operating device, thereby moving the elastically vibrating movable body 40 in one direction relative to the fixed body 30, in this case, the -Z direction. The control device 1 supplies a drive current to the electromagnetic actuator 10, pulling the movable body 40 into the fixed body 30, thereby moving the touch panel 2 in the -Z direction relative to the base 3 on which the fixed body 30 is fixed. By stopping the supply of drive current to the coil 22, the movable body 40 is released, and the plate-shaped elastic part 50 biases the movable body 40 to move in the opposite direction to the direction in which it was pulled.

[0108] When the operator touches the operating device, the control device 1 outputs a combination of two or more current pulses to the coil 22 of the vibration actuator 10 to drive the movable body 40, thereby driving the vibration actuator 10 and providing the operator with a tactile sensation of touching the operating device via the operating device (touch panel 2 in Figure 1).

[0109] Figure 10 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control device 1 includes a current pulse supply unit and a voltage pulse application unit. The current pulse supply unit supplies multiple drive current pulses to the coil 22 of the electromagnetic actuator 10 as drive current to drive the operating device (touch panel 2) in response to contact operations on the operating device. The current pulse supply unit may also supply multiple drive current pulses such that the displacement of the movable body 40 (touch panel 2) after the last drive current pulse is supplied is 0.03 to 0.3 mm.

[0110] The voltage pulse application unit intermittently applies multiple control voltage pulses, each generating multiple drive current pulses, to the current pulse supply unit.

[0111] Furthermore, the voltage pulse application unit applies the first control voltage pulse until the current value of the corresponding drive current pulse reaches V / R, where V is the input voltage to the coil and R is the coil resistance of coil 22. The voltage pulse supply unit also applies control voltage pulses other than the first control voltage pulse until the increase in the current value of the corresponding drive current pulse reaches V / R.

[0112] The control device 1 shown in Figure 10 includes a switching element 82 as a current pulse supply unit composed of a MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor), a signal generation unit 84 as a voltage pulse application unit, resistors R1 and R2, and an SBD (Schottky Barrier Diode).

[0113] In the control device 1, the signal generation unit 84 connected to the power supply voltage Vcc is connected to the gate of the switching element 82. The switching element 82 is a discharge switching switch and is connected to the SBD and also to an electromagnetic actuator (shown as [Actuator] in Figure 10) 10 to which voltage is supplied from the power supply unit Vact.

[0114] The current pulse supply unit outputs a drive current pulse train in sets of two pulses to the coil 22 of the electromagnetic actuator 10, in accordance with the operator's contact operation of the control device in this embodiment.

[0115] <Pattern 1> Figure 11 shows a pattern 1 of drive current pulses input to the electromagnetic actuator of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 11, voltage, current, and displacement correspond to each other, and displacement is the displacement of the movable body 40 or operating device due to the supplied drive current pulses. Similarly, in Figures 12 and 13, voltage, current, and displacement correspond to each other. The interval JK1 between peaks for each drive current pulse P1 and P2 is in the range of 1 / 2 to 1 times the vibration period T of the elastic vibration. The period T is given by T = 2π√(m / ks) where m is the mass of the movable body 40 and Ks is the spring constant of the elastic body that elastically supports the movable body. For example, when an operator touches the screen 2a with their finger (finger pad) to perform an operation, the first of two or more drive current pulses supplied to the coil 22 of the electromagnetic actuator 10 is supplied, and then, after an interval ranging from 1 / 2 to 1 times the vibration period T of the elastic vibration, a second drive current pulse is supplied to the electromagnetic actuator 10.

[0116] The drive current pulse P1 causes current to flow through the electromagnetic actuator 10, driving the movable body 40 (and similarly the touch panel 2) in one direction. Before the current pulse becomes zero, the subsequent drive current pulse P2 causes current to flow through the electromagnetic actuator 10, increasing the output current value and achieving maximum output. As a result, the movable body is displaced greater than the displacement caused by the drive current pulse P1 alone, reaching its maximum displacement.

[0117] In other words, the movable body 40 is pulled by the electromagnetic actuator 10 by the drive current pulse P1 and moves in one direction (-Z direction) (indicated by arrow H1).

[0118] When the drive current pulse P1 decreases, that is, when the current value of the drive current pulse P1 reaches V / R, the control voltage pulse Q1 is applied and then falls, the movable body 40 moves in the direction of returning to the reference normal position (Z direction) due to the biasing force generated by the elastic deformation of the plate-shaped elastic part 50, and is displaced beyond the reference normal position to the opposite side of the reference normal position by the amount attracted to the electromagnetic actuator 10. Then, the movable body 40 moves beyond the reference normal position to the maximum displacement position (HP1) due to the supply of the drive current pulse P1, or after it has reached the maximum displacement position, the drive current pulse P2 is supplied to the coil 22. As a result, the movable body 40 is driven to move in one direction (-Z direction) (indicated by arrow H2) by the electromagnetic force from the drive current pulse P2 and the biasing force of the plate-shaped elastic part 50. When the increase in the drive current pulse P2 reaches V / R (V / R of P2), the movable body 40 is displaced from the reference normal position to the maximum displacement position, and as the control voltage pulse P2 falls, the retracted state due to the electromagnetic force is released, and the movable body 40 moves in the opposite direction to the retraction direction (-Z direction) to reach its maximum displacement. When the movable body 40 is at its maximum displacement in this way, the operator is provided with tactile feedback from the electromagnetic actuator 10.

[0119] Furthermore, it is desirable that the timing of the application of the control voltage pulse Q2 by the voltage pulse application unit be at the position HP1, which is the maximum displacement in the Z direction due to the drive current pulse P1. This allows the drive current pulse to be increased efficiently, thereby increasing the displacement of the movable body 40.

[0120] Thus, with the control device 1, even small products can achieve increased output through efficient driving. In other words, by using an electromagnetic actuator, it is possible to reduce costs and make the device thinner, while efficiently generating thrust suitable for tactile feedback to the operator who operates it by contact.

[0121] Furthermore, since the thrust of the movable body 40 can be increased without increasing the voltage, it is possible to reduce power consumption and the cost of the drive system, thereby reducing the overall cost of the installed device.

[0122] Furthermore, the drive current supplied by the control device 1 to the electromagnetic actuator 10 may be a set of two or more pulses spaced at a time interval T1, which is then input to the electromagnetic actuator 10 as an input pulse voltage. This allows drive control to be performed using voltage input, and can be implemented with a simpler system configuration and a simpler circuit configuration.

[0123] Here, the voltage pulse application unit applies the first control voltage pulse Q1 to the electromagnetic actuator 10 (specifically, the coil 22) until the current value of the corresponding drive current pulse P1 reaches V / R, where V is the input voltage to the coil 22 and R is the coil resistance of the coil. The voltage pulse application unit also applies control voltage pulses other than the first control voltage pulse Q1, in this case the subsequent control voltage pulse Q2, until the increase in the current value of the corresponding drive current pulse P2 reaches V / R. As a result, in the electromagnetic actuator 10, since the output (thrust that displaces the movable body 40) is proportional to the current, even if the maximum input current is not reached instantaneously when the inductance of the coil 22 is large, the control voltage pulses other than the first control voltage pulse Q1 can be applied until the maximum input current value is reached, thereby driving the movable body 40 of the electromagnetic actuator 10 with the output that provides the maximum thrust.

[0124] Furthermore, the first control voltage pulse Q1 and the subsequent control voltage pulse Q2 have the same pulse width, the start timing of the subsequent control voltage pulse Q2 is approximately 1 / 2 times (1 / 2 to 1) the pulse width of the control voltage pulse after the end timing of the first control voltage pulse Q1, and the peak arrival timing of the drive current pulse P2 corresponding to the subsequent control voltage pulse Q2 (the V / R position of P2) is 1 / 2 to 1 times the pulse width after the start timing of the subsequent control voltage pulse Q2. Furthermore, the start timing of the subsequent control voltage pulse (control voltage pulse Q2 in this embodiment) is 1 / 2 to 1 times the vibration period of the elastic vibration after the end timing of the first control voltage pulse (control voltage pulse Q1 in this embodiment), and the peak arrival timing of the drive current pulse (drive current pulse P2 in this embodiment) corresponding to the subsequent control voltage pulse is 1 / 2 to 1 times the vibration period of the elastic vibration after the start timing of the subsequent control voltage pulse. As a result, as described above, the movable body 40 of the electromagnetic actuator 10 can be driven with the output that provides the maximum thrust.

[0125] <Pattern 2> Figure 12 shows a signal pattern 2 for driving an electromagnetic actuator of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the pattern shown in Figure 12, the current pulse supply unit intermittently supplies multiple drive current pulse trains P11 and P12, each containing multiple drive current pulses, to the coil 22 of the electromagnetic actuator 10. The multiple drive current pulse trains P11 and P12 correspond to control voltage pulses Q11 and Q12 applied to the electromagnetic actuator 10 (specifically the coil 22) by the voltage pulse application unit.

[0126] The interval between multiple drive current pulse trains P11 and P12 is, for example, 50 to 250 msec. Specifically, the interval (JK2) between the maximum peaks of each drive current pulse train P11 and P12 is 50 to 250 msec. This interval is designed to provide the operator with a tactile feeling, similar to the tactile sensation of the return of a recess in various switches, such as push switches. By adjusting this interval and driving the movable body 40, various tactile feelings, such as those of tactile switches and push switches, can be provided.

[0127] Thus, even when the tactile feeling to be reproduced in an operating device is the feeling of a button where a reaction force is transmitted to the finger when pressed and released, it is possible to add the feeling of the button returning to its original position. For example, this can be reproduced by detecting the tactile sensation of a rocker switch, a tactile switch with a recessed feel, a rotary encoder that provides a tactile sensation of multiple bumps when pressed and released, or by detecting the tactile sensation of a mouse as acceleration and elastically vibrating the electromagnetic actuator 10 in response.

[0128] <Pattern 3> Figure 13 shows a signal pattern 3 for driving the electromagnetic actuator of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The multiple drive current pulse trains P21 and P22 correspond to control voltage pulses Q21 and Q22 applied to the electromagnetic actuator 10 (specifically the coil 22) by the voltage pulse application unit, respectively.

[0129] As shown in Figure 13, in pattern 3, the current pulse supply unit sets the maximum peak value of the subsequent drive current pulse train P22 lower than the maximum peak value of the first drive current pulse train P21. As a result, the tactile feeling due to the displacement of the driven movable body 40 is composed of vibrations applied by the subsequent drive current pulse train P22 while the vibration reverberation from the first drive current pulse train P21 is still lingering. Since the maximum displacement in the Z direction of the movable body 40 due to the subsequent drive current pulse train P22 is smaller by a difference SA than the maximum displacement in the Z direction of the movable body 40 due to the supply of the first drive current pulse train P21, a feeling that more closely approximates the tactile feeling of a tactile switch can be provided.

[0130] For example, if the current pulse supply unit provides two sets of multiple drive current pulses to the electromagnetic actuator 10, it ensures that the maximum displacement of the operating device caused by the subsequent drive current pulse train is 0.9 times or less the maximum displacement of the operating device caused by the first drive current pulse train. This magnitude often depends on the size of the switch.

[0131] Thus, according to this embodiment, even small products can achieve increased output through efficient driving. Furthermore, low power consumption can be achieved, and costs can be reduced without using magnets or the like, thus contributing to a lower overall device cost.

[0132] 4 This allows for cost reduction and efficiently generates thrust for the movable body 40, which is suitable for tactile feedback to the operator controlling the device.

[0133] It is preferable that multiple plate-shaped elastic parts 50 are fixed at positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the movable body 40, but as described above, a single plate-shaped elastic part 50 may be used to support the movable body 40 so that it can vibrate relative to the fixed body 30. The plate-shaped elastic part 50 may have at least two arm parts that connect the movable body 40 and the fixed body 30 and each have a bellows-shaped arm part 56. The plate-shaped elastic part 50 may be made of a magnetic material. In this case, the movable body side fixing part (movable part side mounting part) 54 of the plate-shaped elastic part 50 is arranged at both ends of the core 24 in the direction of the winding axis of the coil 22 or in a direction perpendicular to the winding axis, and together with the core 24, it forms a magnetic path when the coil 22 is energized.

[0134] Furthermore, in the configuration of the electromagnetic actuator 10, rivets may be used instead of screws 62, 64, and 68 used to fix the base portion 32 to the plate-shaped elastic portion 50 and to fix the plate-shaped elastic portion 50 to the movable body 40, respectively. Each rivet consists of a head and a body without a threaded portion, and the two perforated members are joined together by inserting the rivet into the perforated member and crimping the opposite end to cause plastic deformation. Crimping may be performed, for example, using a press machine or a special tool.

[0135] The period of the input pulse may be corrected based on the sensor data from sensor 70, taking into account individual differences in each component.

[0136] Embodiments of the present invention have been described above. It should be noted that the above description illustrates preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. In other words, the description of the configuration of the apparatus and the shape of each part is merely an example, and it is clear that various modifications and additions to these examples are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0137] In this embodiment, the driving direction of the electromagnetic actuator controlled by the control device 1 is set to the Z direction. However, the effects such as efficient driving and vibration enhancement described above can also be obtained in directions parallel to the operator's contact surface, specifically in the X or Y directions. [Industrial applicability]

[0138] The control device and contact-type input device according to the present invention utilize an electromagnetic actuator, enabling cost reduction and miniaturization, while also having the effect of efficiently generating thrust suitable for tactile feedback to the operator who operates it by contact. For example, it is useful in operating devices such as touch display devices equipped with a touch panel that allows operation input by touching an image on a screen with a finger or the like in automotive products or industrial equipment, generating vibrations in response to the touch operation of the image, and providing feedback that is similar to the feeling of operating when touching various images such as mechanical switches displayed on the image. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0139] 1 Control device 2 Touch panel 3 bases 10 Electromagnetic actuators 20 Core Assembly 22 coils 24 cores 26 bobbins 26a, 26b split body 28 Fixing hole 30 Fixed body 32 Base section 32a Mounting part 32b Bottom part 33 Fastening hole 36, 48 openings 40 Movable body 41 York 44 Surface fixing part 44a Fixed surface 46, 47 Adsorption surface part 49 Notch 50, 50-1, 50-2 Plate-shaped elastic section 52 Fixed body side fixing part 54 Movable body side fixed part 56 Bellows-shaped elastic arm section 62, 64, 68 screws 70. Strain detection sensor 82 switching elements 84 Signal Generation Unit 200 Vibration Presentation Device 241 Core Unit 242, 244 Magnetic pole part

Claims

1. An actuator comprising: a base member with a rectangular shape in plan view; a coil member having a coil wound around a core and fixed to the base member with a rectangular shape in plan view; a flat plate-shaped yoke positioned perpendicular to the surface of the base member with a rectangular shape in plan view and having an opening into which the coil is inserted; and elastic bodies at both separated ends of the base member with a rectangular shape in plan view that hold the yoke with a gap between it and the surface of the base member with a rectangular shape in plan view, and support it so as to be displaceable in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the base member with a rectangular shape in plan view; A control unit that supplies current to the coil member and vibrates the yoke in the direction perpendicular to the rectangular base member in plan view by the attractive force generated by the magnetic force due to the energization of the coil member, Equipped with, The control unit supplies the next drive pulse after the actuator has been released from the magnetic force following the supply of the previous drive pulse and has reached the maximum amplitude position in the reverse direction. Vibration device.

2. A contact-type input device having the vibration device described in claim 1 arranged on the back surface of the operating surface, In response to the operator's contact motion with the operating surface, the coil is energized to vibrate the yoke, thereby providing the operator with a tactile sensation. Contact-type input device.

Images