WO2018163626A1 - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an input device, comprising: a detection unit (112) which detects an operation state of an operation body (F) with regard to an operation surface (111) on an operation side; and a control unit (130) which, according to the operation state detected by the detection unit, carries out an input with regard to a prescribed device (50). A drive unit (120) is disposed upon the input device, which oscillates the operation surface in a direction in which the operation surface expands. When the operation body is in contact with the operation surface, the control unit: causes the operation surface to oscillate forward and backward in a direction of a movement destination (52a) of the operation body inferred from an operation state detected by the detection unit; and performs control such that either the speed or the acceleration of the oscillation varies between the forward side and the backward side of the oscillation.

Description

Input device Cross-reference of related applications

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-44196 filed on March 8, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

This disclosure relates to an input device that enables an input operation using an operating body such as a finger, such as a touch pad or a touch panel.

As a conventional input device, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. An input device (electronic device) of Patent Literature 1 includes a contact surface with which an operating body (e.g., an operator's finger) contacts, a housing that indicates the contact surface, and a drive device that moves the contact surface relative to the housing. It has. Then, the contact surface is moved by the driving device based on the position information of the operating body.

As a result, the contact surface is moved in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the operating body to provide a drag to the operating body, and the contact surface is moved in the same direction as the moving direction of the operating body. Gives force (inductive force).

JP 2016-184428 A

However, in the input device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the amount of movement of the operating body is large, it is necessary to increase the amount of movement of the contact surface accordingly. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the movable range of the contact surface in the case, leading to an increase in size of the case and lack of realism.

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an input device capable of applying a pulling force to the operating body in a small movable region regardless of the amount of movement of the operating body.

An input device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a detection unit that detects an operation state of an operating body with respect to an operation surface serving as an operation side, and a control unit that performs input to a predetermined device according to the operation state detected by the detection unit In the input device including the drive unit, the drive unit that vibrates the operation surface in the direction in which the operation surface expands is provided, and the control unit is estimated from the operation state by the detection unit when the operation body is in contact with the operation surface. Vibration that reciprocates in the direction of the movement destination of the operating body is generated on the operation surface, and control is performed so that the vibration speed or acceleration differs on the forward path side and the return path side of the reciprocating vibration.

According to this disclosure, the control unit generates vibrations with different speeds or accelerations on the operation surface on the forward path side and the return path side in the direction of the movement destination of the operating body. In a direction in which the speed or acceleration of vibration is large, the operating body is difficult to follow the movement of the operating surface and is left at that position due to the law of inertia. On the other hand, in a direction where the speed or acceleration of vibration is small, due to the law of inertia, the operating body is easily subjected to a force that is moved along with the movement of the operating surface. The acceleration is drawn in the direction of small acceleration.

Therefore, on the operation surface, vibration that reciprocates in the direction of the moving body of the operating body is generated, and the vibration speed or acceleration is controlled to be different between the forward path side and the return path side. Alternatively, an effective pulling force can be obtained on the side where the acceleration is small. Therefore, as in the prior art, when the amount of movement of the operating body is large, the matter that the amount of movement of the contact surface must be increased accordingly can be eliminated.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a mounting state of an input device in a vehicle, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the input device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 3A is a side view showing the operation unit and the drive unit in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a plan view seen from the direction IIIb in FIG. 3A. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where a finger operation in one axis direction is performed, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a finger operation in an oblique direction (biaxial direction) is performed, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the input device. FIG. 7 is a graph 1 showing the speed and acceleration of vibration in the first embodiment, FIG. 8 is a graph 2 showing the speed and acceleration of vibration in another example. FIG. 9 is a graph 3 showing the speed and acceleration of vibration in still another embodiment. FIG. 10A is a side view showing an operation unit and a drive unit in the second embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 10B is a plan view seen from the Xb direction of FIG.

Hereinafter, a plurality of modes for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. When only a part of the configuration is described in each mode, the other modes described above can be applied to the other parts of the configuration. Not only combinations of parts that clearly indicate that the combination is possible in each embodiment, but also a combination of the embodiments even if they are not clearly specified unless there is a problem with the combination. It is also possible.

(First embodiment)
An input device 100 according to the first embodiment is shown in FIGS. The input device 100 of this embodiment is applied to a remote operation device for operating the navigation device 50, for example. The input device 100 is mounted on the vehicle 10 together with the navigation device 50. The navigation device 50 corresponds to a predetermined device of the present disclosure.

The navigation device 50 is a route guidance system that displays the current position information of the vehicle on the map, traveling direction information, or guidance information for a destination desired by the operator. The navigation device 50 has a liquid crystal display 51 as a display unit. The liquid crystal display 51 is disposed at the center of the instrument panel 13 of the vehicle 10 in the vehicle width direction, and the display screen 52 is visually recognized by the operator.

The navigation device 50 is formed separately from the input device 100, and is set at a position away from the input device 100. The navigation device 50 and the input device 100 are connected to each other by, for example, a Controller Area Network bus (CAN bus (registered trademark)).

The display screen 52 of the liquid crystal display 51 displays the position of the vehicle on the map and various operation buttons 52a for enlarged display, reduced display, destination guidance setting, and the like (FIG. 4). FIG. 5). The operation button 52a is a so-called operation icon. Further, on the display screen 52, for example, a pointer 52b designed in an arrow shape is displayed so as to correspond to the position of the operator's finger F (operation body) on the operation unit 110 (operation surface 111).

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the input device 100 is provided at a position adjacent to the armrest 12 in the center console 11 of the vehicle 10, and is disposed in a range that can be easily reached by the operator. The input device 100 includes an operation unit 110, a drive unit 120, a control unit 130, and the like.

The operation unit 110 forms a so-called touch pad, and is a part for performing an input operation on the navigation device 50 by an operator's finger F. The operation unit 110 includes an operation surface 111, a touch sensor 112, a housing 113, and the like.

The operation surface 111 is exposed to the operator side at a position adjacent to the armrest 12, and is a flat surface part on which the operator performs finger operations. For example, a material that improves the sliding of the finger over the entire surface is provided. It is formed by that. It is set so that input for operations (selection, push determination, etc.) for various operation buttons 52a displayed on the display screen 52 can be performed by an operator's finger operation on the operation surface 111. The operation button 52a on the display screen 52 corresponds to the movement destination of the operation body estimated from the operation state on the operation surface of the present disclosure. Around the operation surface 111, a rib 111a extending on the opposite side to the operation side is provided.

The touch sensor 112 is, for example, a capacitance type detection unit provided on the back side of the operation surface 111. The touch sensor 112 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, and detects an operation state by the operator's finger F on the sensor surface.

The touch sensor 112 is formed by arranging electrodes extending along the x-axis direction on the operation surface 111 and electrodes extending along the y-axis direction in a grid pattern. These electrodes are connected to the control unit 130. Each electrode is configured such that the generated capacitance changes according to the position of the operator's finger F close to the sensor surface, and the generated capacitance signal (sensitivity value) is controlled by the control unit. 130 is output. The sensor surface is covered with an insulating sheet made of an insulating material. The touch sensor 112 is not limited to the capacitance type, and various types such as other resistive film types can be used.

The housing 113 is a support portion that supports the operation surface 111 and the touch sensor 112. The housing 113 is formed in a frame shape, and is disposed, for example, inside the center console 11.

The drive unit 120 vibrates the operation surface 111 in the direction in which the operation surface 111 expands in the biaxial directions of the x and y axes, and the rib 111 a and the housing are provided on at least one of the four sides around the operation surface 111. 113. The drive unit 120 is connected to the control unit 130, and the generation of vibration is controlled by the control unit 130.

The drive unit 120 generates vibration in one axial direction (x-axis direction or y-axis direction) on the operation surface 111 by enabling vibration in only one axial direction out of the two axial directions. By simultaneously enabling the biaxial vibration, it is possible to generate an oblique vibration that combines both vibrations on the operation surface 111.

Also, the drive unit 120 can be operated so that the vibration speed or acceleration is different on the forward path side and the return path side of the reciprocating vibration.

As the drive unit 120, for example, an electromagnetic actuator such as a solenoid or a voice coil motor, a vibrating body such as a piezo, or a combination of the vibrating body and a spring can be used. For example, if one vibrating body generates biaxial vibration, the driving unit 120 is formed by providing one vibrating body on at least one of the four sides around the operation surface 111. be able to. Alternatively, if the vibrating body generates vibration only in one axial direction, the driving unit 120 is provided by providing one vibrating body (two in total) on each of two adjacent sides around the operation surface 111. Can be formed. Or the drive part 120 can be formed by providing the combination of the vibrating body and spring of 1 axial direction in the opposing edge part, and providing 2 sets. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the driving unit 120 is provided with vibrating bodies on four sides around the operation surface 111.

The control unit 130 includes a CPU, a RAM, a storage medium, and the like. From the signal obtained from the touch sensor 112, the control unit 130 determines the operation state of the operator's finger F as the position of the pointer 52b on the display screen 52, which is the contact position of the finger on the operation surface 111, and the various operation buttons 52a. Among these, the direction from the pointer 52b, which is the operator's finger F, to the nearest operation button 52a, the distance from the pointer 52b, which is the operator's finger F, to the nearest operation button 52a, and the like are acquired. In addition, the control unit 130 acquires the presence / absence of a pressing operation at a position corresponding to the operation button 52a on the operation surface 111 as the operation state. And the control part 130 controls the generation | occurrence | production state of the vibration by the drive part 120 according to these operation states.

The configuration of the input device 100 of the present embodiment is as described above, and the operation and effect will be described below with reference to FIGS.

First, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the operator's finger F is touching (contacting) the operation surface 111 based on a signal obtained from the touch sensor 112 in step S100 illustrated in FIG. If the determination is NO, control unit 130 repeats step S100. If the determination is affirmative, the control unit 130 proceeds to step S110. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the operator's finger F is touched on the operation surface 111, the display of the pointer 52 b on the display screen 52 becomes valid, and the operator's finger on the operation surface 111 is displayed. A pointer 52b is displayed on the display screen 52 so as to correspond to the position of F.

In step S110, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the operator's finger F is selecting any one of the operation buttons 52a among the various operation buttons. The control unit 130 determines that the position of the operator's finger F is selected (Yes) when the position of the operator's finger F overlaps any of the operation buttons 52a, and the position of the operator's finger F is any of the operation buttons 52a. If it is a position that does not overlap, it is determined that it is not being selected (No).

Note that when the operator's finger F is not selecting any one of the operation buttons 52a, the operator's finger F is located away from any one of the operation buttons 52a. The state where it is moving toward is shown. If the control unit 130 determines NO in step S110, the control unit 130 proceeds to step S120.

In step S120, the control unit 130 estimates the operation button 52a to which the finger F is moved from the operation state of the operator's finger F. Here, the operation button 52a closest to the current position of the finger F is estimated as the operation button 52a to be moved.

Then, the control unit 130 calculates a vector from the position of the operator's finger F on the operation surface 111 that is the position of the pointer 52b on the display screen 52 to the position of the operation button 52a to which the operator's finger F is to move. calculate. In calculating the vector, the control unit 130 calculates the length of the vector, which is the distance between the position of the pointer 52b and the position of the operation button 52a, and the direction of the vector, which is the direction from the position of the pointer 52b to the position of the operation button 52a. To do. Note that the distance between the position of the pointer 52b and the position of the operation button 52a corresponds to the distance to the destination of the present disclosure.

In step S130, the control unit 130 drives the driving unit 120 to draw (guide) the operator's finger F into the operation button 52a in accordance with the vector (length and orientation), and performs an operation. Vibration is generated on the surface 111. That is, the control unit 130 causes the operation unit 111 to generate vibrations that reciprocate in the direction of the vector (the direction in which the operating body is moved).

For example, if the vector is in any one of the two axial directions, the control unit 130 generates vibration along the axial direction as shown in FIG. If it is inclined with respect to the angle, as shown in FIG. 5, the vibration in the oblique direction obtained by the synthesis in the biaxial direction is generated.

Then, the control unit 130 controls the drive unit 120 so that the vibration speed or acceleration differs between the reciprocating vibration forward path side and the return path side. Here, the forward path side is the direction in which the operator's finger F is about to move, and the control unit 130 speeds the forward path side relative to the return path side with respect to the drive unit 120 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the drive unit 120 is controlled so that the acceleration becomes small.

Further, the control unit 130 determines the magnitude of the vibration speed or acceleration relative to the drive unit 120 according to the distance (vector length) between the position of the pointer 52b and the position of the operation button 52a on the operation surface 111. Control to change the height. Specifically, the longer the distance between the position of the pointer 52b and the position of the operation button 52a, the smaller the speed or acceleration on the forward path side.

After Step S130, the control unit 130 repeats Steps S100 to S130 until the operator's finger F selects the operation button 52a desired by the operator.

If the affirmative determination is made in step S110 while repeating the above steps S100 to S130, the control unit 130 determines whether or not there has been a pressing operation on the operation button 52a in step S140. The push-in operation is an operation that indicates selection of the operation button 52a by the operator, and is performed when the operator pushes a finger on the operation surface 111 at a position corresponding to the operation button 52a. If an affirmative determination is made in step S140, the control unit 130 performs a push determination process in step S150. That is, an instruction corresponding to the operation button 52a is given to the navigation device 50. If a negative determination is made in step S140, the process returns to step S100.

In step S160, the control unit 130 generates a vibration (click feeling vibration) for giving a click feeling to the operator's finger F. Here, unlike the pulling-in vibration in step S130 using the driving unit 120, it is possible to recognize that the operator has performed a pushing operation by vibrating the driving unit 120 once.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 130 causes the operation surface 111 to vibrate at different speeds or accelerations in the direction of the movement destination (the operation button 52a) of the operator's finger F on the forward path side and the return path side. Generated. In a direction in which the vibration speed or acceleration is large, the operator's finger F is less likely to follow the movement of the operation surface 111 due to the law of inertia, and is left behind at that position. On the other hand, in a direction where the speed or acceleration of vibration is small, due to the law of inertia, a force that moves along with the movement of the operation surface 111 is easily applied to the operator's finger F. The vibration speed or acceleration is drawn in a smaller direction.

Therefore, vibration is generated in the direction of the movement destination of the operator's finger F on the operation surface 111, and control is performed so that the vibration speed or acceleration is different between the forward path side and the return path side. An effective pulling force can be obtained on the side where the speed or acceleration is small. Therefore, as in the prior art, when the amount of movement of the operating body is large, the matter that the amount of movement of the contact surface must be increased accordingly can be eliminated.

Further, in the present embodiment, the forward path side of the vibration is the direction of the movement destination, and the control unit 130 makes the speed or acceleration on the forward path side smaller than the return path side with respect to the drive unit 120. Accordingly, it is possible to generate a pulling force that causes the finger F of the operator who is approaching the operation button 52a to be drawn into the operation button 52a.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 130 also measures the distance from the position of the operator's finger F on the operation surface 111 that is the position of the pointer 52b to the position of the operation button 52a to which the operator's finger F is to move. Accordingly, the speed of vibration or the magnitude of acceleration is changed on the operation surface 111. Specifically, the longer the distance between the position of the pointer 52b and the position of the operation button 52a, the smaller the speed or acceleration on the forward path side. Thereby, the farther the operator's finger F is from the operation button 52a, the greater the pull-in force, and the more effective the pull-in effect on the operation button 52a can be improved.

In addition, when the control unit 130 acquires a pressing operation on the operation surface 111 as an operation state from the touch sensor 112, the control unit 130 clicks on the operator's finger F with respect to the driving unit 120, unlike vibration for retraction. A click feeling vibration that gives a feeling is generated. Accordingly, the driver 120 can be used to make the operator recognize the selection determination operation.

It should be noted that the vibration speed or acceleration may be other forms shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, than that shown in FIG.

(Second Embodiment)
An input device 100A of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the setting positions of the housing 113 and the driving unit 120 are changed to form the housing 113A and the driving unit 120A.

The housing 113 </ b> A is formed in a plate shape and is disposed on the back side of the operation surface 111. The drive unit 120 </ b> A is disposed on the back side of the operation surface 111. The drive unit 120A is located between the back side of the operation surface 111 and the housing 113A. For example, the drive unit 120 </ b> A generates vibrations in the two axial directions of the x and y axes, and one drive unit 120 </ b> A is disposed at the center on the back side of the operation surface 111. The driving unit 120A uses the electromagnetic actuator, such as a voice coil motor, which can generate vibration in two axial directions, as described in the first embodiment. The drive unit 120 is not limited to one, and a plurality of drive units 120 may be used.

In this embodiment, the basic operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained.

(Other embodiments)
In each of the above-described embodiments, the controller 130 estimates the operation button 52a that is the movement destination of the finger F from the operation state of the operator's finger F. The movement button 52a is estimated as the movement destination. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the operation button 52a frequently used by the operator in the past predetermined period may be estimated as the operation button 52a that is the movement destination. Alternatively, the operation button 52a ahead of the operator's finger F to be moved may be estimated as the operation button 52a to be moved.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the pulling force is generated on the operation button 52a side with respect to the operator's finger F approaching the operation button 52a. When trying to leave the vicinity of the button 52a, a pulling force toward the operation button 52a may be generated. In this case, vibration is generated in the direction in which the operator's finger F moves away from the operation button 52a, the direction in which the operator's finger F moves away is the forward path side, and the opposite direction is the return path side. Should be made smaller than the outgoing path side.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the speed or acceleration on the forward path side is made smaller as the distance between the position of the pointer 52b and the position of the operation button 52a is longer. In contrast, the shorter the distance between the position of the pointer 52b and the position of the operation button 52a, the smaller the speed or acceleration on the forward path side. In this case, the closer the operator's finger F is to the operation button 52a, the greater the pulling force.

In each of the above embodiments, the operation unit 110 is a so-called touch pad type. However, the operation unit 110 is not limited to this, and is a so-called touch panel type that is visible on the operation surface 111 through the display screen 52 of the liquid crystal display 51. It can also be applied to things.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, when a pressing operation is performed in steps S140 to S160 described with reference to FIG. 6, a click feeling vibration that gives a click feeling is generated. However, in the present disclosure, basically, the pulling force is generated by the difference in vibration speed or acceleration between the forward path side and the backward path side, and steps S140 to S160 may be omitted.

In each of the above embodiments, the operation body is described as the operator's finger F. However, the operation body is not limited to this and may be a stick imitating a pen.

In each of the above embodiments, the navigation device 50 is used as an input control target (predetermined device) by the input devices 100 and 100A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to other devices such as devices.

Claims (4)

A detection unit (112) for detecting an operation state of the operation body (F) with respect to the operation surface (111) on the operation side;
In an input device comprising: a control unit (130) that performs input to a predetermined device (50) according to the operation state detected by the detection unit;
A drive unit (120) for vibrating the operation surface in a direction in which the operation surface expands is provided;
The control unit generates vibrations reciprocating in a direction of a movement destination (52a) of the operation body estimated from the operation state by the detection unit when the operation body is in contact with the operation surface. And an input device that controls the speed or acceleration of the vibration to be different on the forward path side and the return path side of the reciprocating vibration. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the driving unit so that the speed or the acceleration on the forward path side is smaller than the return path side. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit controls the driving unit to change the speed or the magnitude of the acceleration according to a distance to the destination on the operation surface. . When the control unit obtains a push operation on the operation surface as the operation state from the detection unit, the click feeling vibration that gives a click feeling to the operating body, unlike the vibration, to the drive unit. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

Images