JP2011048814A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device which can present a uniform tactile feeling to a user regardless of the position of a touch input. <P>SOLUTION: The input device includes: a touch sensor 11 for detecting a touch input; a piezoelectric element 17 mounted on the touch sensor; and a control part 16 for detecting a depression load to the touch surface of the touch sensor 11 based on the output signal of the piezoelectric element 17, and for, when the detected depression load satisfies a reference to present a tactile feeling, controlling the driving of the piezoelectric element 17 according to the depression position so that a tactile feeling due to vibration with fixed amplitude which is independent of the depression position can be presented to a depression object by which the touch surface is depressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device including a touch sensor.

  In recent years, mobile terminals such as mobile phones, information devices such as calculators and ticket machines, household appliances such as microwave ovens, televisions, and lighting equipment, industrial equipment (FA equipment), etc. As an input device such as a switch, an input device including a touch sensor such as a touch panel or a touch switch is widely used.

  As such a touch sensor, various systems such as a resistive film system, a capacitance system, and an optical system are known. However, any type of touch sensor accepts a touch input by a finger or a stylus pen, and the touch sensor itself is not physically displaced like a push button switch even when touched.

  As described above, even if the touch sensor is touched, the touch sensor itself is not physically displaced, so that the operator cannot obtain feedback for the input even if the touch input is accepted. For this reason, the operator is likely to repeatedly input such as touching the same position many times, and may stress the operator.

  In order to prevent such repeated input, for example, a touch input is received and a sound is produced, or a display color of an input object such as an input button displayed on the display unit corresponding to the input position is displayed. There are known ones in which the input operation can be confirmed by hearing or vision by changing the display mode such as changing.

  However, in the case of a feedback method that works on hearing, it is difficult to confirm in a noisy environment, and if the device used is in a silent state such as manner mode, it cannot be handled. In the feedback method that works visually, if the size of the input object displayed on the display unit is small, especially in the case of finger input, the input object is hidden under the finger and the display mode changes. There are cases where it is not possible.

  Also, a feedback method has been proposed in which when the touch sensor accepts an input regardless of hearing or sight, the touch sensor is vibrated to generate a tactile sensation at the fingertip of the operator (for example, Patent Document 1). 2).

  In addition, in a method for presenting a more detailed tactile sense, a sliding speed is calculated from a contact position of a user's finger or the like with respect to the touch sensor, and a plurality of types of vibrations having different vibration times for each user according to the sliding speed. There is known a feedback method that can generate the error (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2003-288158 A JP 2008-130055 A Japanese Patent No. 4046095

  However, the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 merely vibrate the touch sensor when the touch sensor receives an input. For this reason, especially when a button switch such as a push button switch (push-type button switch) is drawn on the top of the touch sensor, when the threshold value for accepting input from the touch sensor is low, a finger or the like touches the touch sensor lightly. A tactile sensation is presented just by touching. As a result, an erroneous operation is induced in response to an unintended operation (touch) before the operator pushes, or a sense of incongruity due to an unintended operation (touch) before the operator pushes is given. Here, the threshold value for accepting an input by touch of the touch sensor is a threshold value at which the touch sensor reacts. For example, in the resistive film method, the threshold value is a threshold value of the pressing force with which the upper conductive film contacts the lower conductive film. In the method, it is a detection threshold value of an electrical signal due to contact.

  In order to solve such an inconvenience, the present applicant detects a pressing load due to a touch on the touch surface of the touch sensor, and when the detected load reaches a predetermined threshold value that presents a tactile sensation, Is developing an input device that vibrates and presents a tactile sensation to a pressed object such as a finger.

  According to this input device, when the operator pushes the touch surface and the pressing load reaches a predetermined threshold value, a tactile sensation is presented, so that an erroneous operation due to the unintended touch described above is induced or uncomfortable. It is possible to reliably prevent the operator from recognizing that the input is accepted by the operator as a tactile sensation.

  In addition, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3 does not consider a change in the vibration amount of the touch surface due to the position of the touch surface when presenting the user with a tactile sensation. As a result of intensive studies on the change in the vibration amount of the touch surface depending on the position of the touch surface, the present inventor has found the knowledge described below. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the vibration element arrangement on the touch surface of the touch sensor, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a distribution of vibration amounts at a predetermined driving voltage in the vibration element arrangement illustrated in FIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the vibration elements illustrated in FIG. 7 are vibrated at a predetermined voltage (for example, 1 V), the amount of vibration on the touch surface varies depending on the pressed position on the touch surface. In the example of FIG. 8, the vibration amounts (amplitudes) at position A, position B, and position C are 20 μm, 15 μm, and 7 μm, respectively. There are various factors that can cause the vibration amount to vary depending on the position on the touch surface, such as the attenuation of vibration depending on the distance to the vibration element and the effect of reflected waves. Greatly affects the tactile sensation felt by the user.

  Since the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3 does not consider the change in the amount of vibration of the touch surface due to the position of the touch surface as described above, the same input operation (for example, the operation with the same sliding speed) from the user is not performed. Regardless of which position on the touch surface is input, the vibration element is driven by the same drive signal. However, in this case, since the amplitude of the vibration of the touch surface varies depending on the position of the touch surface, the user feels a different tactile sensation at each position. That is, the user feels a different tactile sensation for each position of the touch surface with respect to the same input operation, and the uncomfortable feeling during the operation increases. In order to improve the operational feeling of the user, it is preferable to present the same tactile sensation to the user regardless of the input position of the user.

  The present invention has been made to meet such a demand, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device capable of presenting the same tactile sensation to the user regardless of the position of the user's input.

The invention of the input device according to the first aspect to achieve the above object is as follows:
A touch sensor for detecting touch input;
A piezoelectric element attached to the touch sensor;
A pressing target that presses the touch surface when the pressing load on the touch surface of the touch sensor is detected based on an output signal of the piezoelectric element and the detected pressing load satisfies a criterion for presenting a tactile sensation A control unit for controlling the driving of the piezoelectric element according to the pressing position so as to present a tactile sensation due to vibration of a constant amplitude independent of the pressing position;
It is characterized by providing.

The invention according to a second aspect is the input device according to the first aspect,
The control unit adjusts a voltage applied to the piezoelectric element according to the pressed position, thereby causing the piezoelectric element to present the tactile sensation due to the vibration having the constant amplitude.
It is characterized by this.

The invention according to a third aspect is the input device according to the first or second aspect,
The control unit adjusts the phase of vibration of the piezoelectric element according to the pressed position, thereby causing the piezoelectric element to exhibit the tactile sensation due to the vibration of the constant amplitude.
It is characterized by this.

The invention according to a fourth aspect is the input device according to the first to third aspects,
The control unit controls the driving of the piezoelectric element so that the tactile sensation due to the vibration of the constant amplitude becomes a click tactile sensation.
It is characterized by this.

  According to the input device of the present invention, in order to control the user to present a tactile sensation due to vibration of a certain amplitude according to the pressing position of the pressing target such as the user's finger, regardless of the position of the user's input, It is possible to present the same tactile sensation to the user.

It is a functional block diagram of the input device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the mounting structure of the part containing the touch sensor shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the tactile sense presentation operation | movement by the input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the input device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the mounting structure of the part containing the touch sensor shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the tactile sense presentation operation | movement by the input device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of vibration element arrangement | positioning in the touch surface of a touch sensor. It is a figure which shows distribution of the vibration amount in the predetermined drive voltage in the vibration element arrangement | positioning shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the drive voltage and vibration amount in each position in the vibration element arrangement | positioning shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The input device includes a touch sensor 11, a load detection unit 12, a tactile sensation providing unit 13, a display unit 14, a storage unit 15, and a control unit 16 that controls the overall operation.

  The touch sensor 11 detects a touch input by a touch target such as a finger on the touch surface. The touch sensor 11 has two touch positions (pressed position of a press target such as a finger) such as a resistive film type, a capacitance type, and an optical type. It is composed of a known device that outputs dimension position information, and is arranged on the display unit 14. The load detection unit 12 detects a pressing load of a pressing target such as a finger on the touch surface of the touch sensor 11, and includes, for example, an element that linearly reacts to a load such as a strain gauge sensor or a piezoelectric element. To do. The tactile sensation providing unit 13 vibrates the touch sensor 11 and is configured using, for example, a piezoelectric element.

  The display unit 14 displays an input object such as an input button such as a push button switch (push button switch), and is configured using, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL display panel. Touch input to the input object displayed on the display unit 14 is detected by the control unit 16 based on position information output from the touch sensor 11. The storage unit 15 stores various information such as drive signal information of the tactile sensation providing unit 13 and drive adjustment information for adjusting the drive signal in accordance with the pressed position of the pressing target. For example, the storage unit 15 is volatile or nonvolatile. It is configured using a memory or the like. The control unit 16 includes, for example, a CPU or the like, and is based on the pressing position information of the pressing target from the touch sensor 11, the pressing load information from the load detection unit 12, and the driving signal information and driving adjustment information stored in the storage unit 15. Then, the driving of the tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled.

  The drive signal information of the tactile sensation providing unit 13 stored in the storage unit 15 includes various information such as the frequency for vibrating the touch surface and the number of vibration cycles for each tactile sensation presented to the user. The control unit 16 controls the driving of the tactile sensation providing unit 13 based on the drive signal information in the storage unit 15, and for example, feels “bull” or “buzz” with respect to a pressing target such as a finger. Various tactile sensations such as a tactile sensation and a tactile sensation that feels “cut” can be presented. Here, when the tactile sensation providing unit 13 is configured using a piezoelectric element, the control unit 16 provides a triangular wave signal of about 200 Hz to 500 Hz when presenting a soft tactile sensation that feels “bull” or “buzz”. A sine wave signal is applied to the piezoelectric element as a drive signal for two to three periods. In addition, when presenting a hard tactile sensation that feels “cut”, the control unit 16 applies a rectangular wave signal of about 200 Hz to 500 Hz to the piezoelectric element as a drive signal for two to three periods.

  In addition, the control unit 16 can control the driving of the tactile sensation providing unit 13 to further increase the user's operational feeling, and thus can present a click tactile sensation that feels “click” to a pressed object such as a finger. When presenting a click sensation that feels like a “click” as if a hard push button switch was pressed, the control unit 16 applies a sine wave signal or a rectangular wave signal of about 100 Hz to 200 Hz as a drive signal for one cycle. . In the case of a click tactile sensation that feels “click”, the user can obtain the tactile sensation of pressing a hardware button switch even when inputting to the software input object displayed on the display unit 14. The feeling of operation experienced by will be improved.

  The drive adjustment information for adjusting the drive signal according to the pressing position of the pressing target stored in the storage unit 15 includes voltage adjustment information for adjusting the voltage applied to the tactile sensation providing unit 13 and the phase of vibration between the vibration elements. This includes various information such as phase adjustment information for adjusting.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the drive voltage and the vibration amount at each position in the vibration element arrangement shown in FIG. In the case of FIG. 9, in order to generate vibrations with a certain amplitude X (μm) at position A, position B, and position C, driving at 0.5 V, 1.0 V, and 2.0 V, respectively. A voltage is required. As described above, the relationship between the position on the touch surface of the touch sensor 11 and the driving voltage necessary for generating the vibration having the predetermined amplitude is measured in advance and stored as a table or a list at the time of product shipment. It is conceivable to store in the unit 15. For example, it is possible to divide the touch surface of the touch sensor 11 into m′n areas of vertical m division and horizontal n division, and store the relationship between the amplitude and the drive voltage in the storage unit 15 for each area. Based on such voltage adjustment information, the control unit 16 generates a vibration having a predetermined amplitude, so that the standard drive voltage (eg, 1.0 V) of the drive signal is changed to, for example, a double drive voltage (eg, 2.0 V). The driving voltage can be adjusted according to the pressing position of the pressing object (pressing object), such as whether it is better to set the driving voltage or half driving voltage (for example, 0.5 V).

  Further, for example, in the vibration element arrangement shown in FIG. 7, it is also possible to control the amplitude of each position by combining vibrations between the vibration elements, that is, by forming a composite wave by a plurality of vibrations. For example, in order to generate a synthetic wave having a certain amplitude X (μm) at position A, position B, and position C, the phase difference between the two vibration elements shown in FIG. Is required to be π / 4, 0, and 3π / 4. In this case, the relationship between the position of the touch sensor 11 on the touch surface and the phase difference necessary for generating the vibration with a predetermined amplitude is measured in advance, and stored as a table or list at the time of product shipment. 15 may be stored. For example, the touch surface of the touch sensor 11 can be divided into m′n areas of vertical m division and horizontal n division, and the relationship between the amplitude and the phase difference can be stored in the storage unit 15 for each area. Based on such phase adjustment information, the control unit 16 generates a vibration having a predetermined amplitude, so that the standard phase difference (for example, 0) of the drive signal applied to each tactile sensation providing unit 13 is set to, for example, π / 4, Alternatively, the phase of the drive signal can be adjusted according to the pressing position of the pressing target, such as 3π / 4.

  The drive adjustment information for adjusting the drive signal according to the pressing position of the pressing target stored in the storage unit 15 includes voltage adjustment information for adjusting the voltage applied to the tactile sensation providing unit 13 and vibration between the vibration elements. It is not limited to only the phase adjustment information for adjusting the phase of the signal, and arbitrary parameters relating to the adjustment of the drive signal such as the frequency, period and amplitude of the drive signal, and the current and application time when the drive signal is applied are used. It is something that can be done.

  2A and 2B show an example of a mounting structure of a part including the touch sensor 11 shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2A is a main part sectional view, and FIG. 2B is a main part plan view. The display unit 14 is housed and held in the housing 21. The touch sensor 11 is held on the display unit 14 via an insulator 22 made of an elastic member. In the present embodiment, the touch sensor 11 and the display unit 14 are formed in a vertically long rectangular shape in plan view, and the touch sensor 11 is separated from the display area A of the display unit 14 indicated by a virtual line in FIG. It is held on the display unit 14 via insulators 22 arranged at the four corners.

  The casing 21 is provided with an upper cover 23 so as to cover the surface area of the touch sensor 11 that is out of the display area of the display unit 14, and is formed of an elastic member between the upper cover 23 and the touch sensor 11. An insulator 24 is provided.

  The touch sensor 11 shown in FIG. 2 is configured such that the front surface member having the touch surface 11a is made of, for example, a transparent film or glass, the back surface member is made of glass or acrylic, and the touch surface 11a is pressed. A part having a structure in which the portion bends (distorts) a little according to the pressing force or the structure itself bends a little is used.

  On the surface of the touch sensor 11, a strain gauge sensor for detecting a load (pressing force) applied to the touch sensor 11 and a load sensor 31 made of a piezoelectric element are bonded to each side in the vicinity of each side covered with the upper cover 23. Provide. In addition, on the back surface of the touch sensor 11, piezoelectric elements 32 for vibrating the touch sensor 11 are provided in the vicinity of two opposing sides by bonding or the like. In other words, the input device shown in FIG. 2 includes the load detection unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 using four load sensors 31 and the tactile sensation providing unit 13 using two piezoelectric elements 32. Then, the touch sensor 11 is vibrated by the tactile sensation providing unit 13 to vibrate the touch surface 11a so as to present a tactile sensation to the touch target on the touch surface 11a. In FIG. 2B, the casing 21, the upper cover 23, and the insulator 24 shown in FIG. 2A are not shown.

  In the input device according to the present embodiment, the touch sensor 11 detects a touch operation on the touch surface 11a. And the control part 16 determines whether the press load detected by the load detection part 12 satisfy | fills the load reference | standard (for example, 1.0N) which shows a tactile sensation. And when it determines with a press load satisfy | filling the load reference | standard which presents a tactile sensation, the control part 16 presents the tactile sensation by the vibration of a fixed amplitude independent of a press position with respect to the press target which is pressing the touch surface 11a. Thus, the drive of the tactile sensation providing unit 13 is controlled according to the pressed position.

  Hereinafter, the tactile sensation presenting operation of notification information by the input device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the control unit 16 detects an input of position information (pressed position to be pressed) from the touch sensor 11 (step S101), and detects that a finger or the like has touched the touch surface 11a (step S102). Next, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the pressing load input from the load detection unit 12 satisfies a load standard (1.0 N) that presents a tactile sensation (step S103). As a result, when it is determined that the pressing load satisfies the load standard (in the case of Yes), the control unit 16 refers to the storage unit 15 and responds to drive signal information that presents a tactile sensation and position information from the touch sensor 11. The drive adjustment information is acquired (step S104). The control unit 16 adjusts the drive signal information based on the drive adjustment information, drives the tactile sensation providing unit 13 with the adjusted drive signal, and gives the user a tactile sensation due to a constant amplitude vibration that does not depend on the pressed position. Present (step S105). When the drive adjustment information acquired in step S104 is drive voltage adjustment information, the control unit 16 adjusts the drive voltage of the drive signal and presents the tactile sensation providing unit 13 so as to present the user with a tactile sensation due to vibration with a constant amplitude. Drive. Further, when the drive adjustment information acquired in step S104 is phase adjustment information, the control unit 16 adjusts the phase of the drive signal and presents the tactile sensation providing unit 13 so as to present the user with a tactile sensation due to vibration with a constant amplitude. Drive. Furthermore, the control unit 16 can control the driving of the tactile sensation providing unit 13 so that the tactile sensation due to the vibration with a constant amplitude becomes a click tactile sensation.

  According to the input device according to the present embodiment, when the user presses the touch surface 11a of the touch sensor 11 with a pressing load that satisfies the criterion for presenting the tactile sensation, the control unit 16 controls the driving of the tactile sensation presenting unit 13 to the pressed position. The tactile sensation due to the vibration with a constant amplitude independent of the pressed position is presented to the pressed object such as a finger. Thereby, irrespective of the position of the user's input, a uniform tactile sensation can be presented to the user, and the user's operational feeling can be improved.

  In addition, the control unit 16 adjusts the voltage applied to the tactile sensation providing unit 13 according to the pressing position of the pressing target, thereby presenting the tactile sensation due to the vibration with a constant amplitude independent of the pressing position on the pressing target such as a finger. In other words, by adjusting the voltage, a uniform tactile sensation can be presented to the user regardless of the position of the user input, and the user's operational feeling can be improved.

  In addition, the control unit 16 adjusts the phase of vibration of the tactile sensation providing unit 13 according to the pressing position of the pressing target, thereby presenting a tactile sensation due to vibration with a constant amplitude independent of the pressing position on the pressing target such as a finger. That is, by adjusting the phase, a uniform tactile sensation can be presented to the user regardless of the position of the user input, and the user's operational feeling can be improved.

  Further, the control unit 16 controls the driving of the tactile sensation providing unit 13 so that the tactile sensation with a certain amplitude becomes a click tactile sensation. As a result, even when an input to the software input object displayed on the display unit 14 is performed, the user can obtain a tactile sensation as if a hardware button switch was pressed. be able to.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this input device, the load detection unit 12 and the tactile sensation providing unit 13 of the input device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The touch sensor 11, the display unit 14, the storage unit 15, and the control unit 16 have functions equivalent to those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Of the descriptions related to the touch sensor 11, the display unit 14, the storage unit 15, and the control unit 16 in the first embodiment, the descriptions regarding the load detection unit 12 and the tactile sensation providing unit 13 are “load detection unit 12” and “Tactile sensation providing unit 13” is appropriately read as “piezoelectric element 17”.

  The piezoelectric element 17 is attached to the touch sensor 11. The piezoelectric element 17 is touched using the load detection mode for detecting the pressing load on the touch surface 11a of the touch sensor 11 and the piezoelectric inverse effect under the control of the control unit 16 using the piezoelectric positive effect. The sensor 11 is operated in one of the tactile sensation presentation modes in which the touch surface 11a of the sensor 11 is vibrated. In the load detection mode, an output signal corresponding to the pressing load on the touch surface 11 a of the touch sensor 11 is supplied to the control unit 16. Further, in the tactile sensation presentation mode, the touch surface 11a of the touch sensor 11 is vibrated according to the drive signal supplied from the control unit 16, and a predetermined tactile sensation according to the drive signal is given to the pressing target pressing the touch surface. Present.

  FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration example of the mounting structure of the touch sensor 11, the piezoelectric element 17, and the display unit 14 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the main part, and FIG. FIG. The touch sensor 11 detects a pressing load on the touch surface 11a of the touch sensor 11 in the vicinity of one side or a plurality of sides covered with the upper cover 23, in this case, in the vicinity of the three sides, on the back surface. Are respectively attached to the piezoelectric elements 17 for presenting a tactile sensation to the pressing target pressing the touch surface 11a. The outputs of these three piezoelectric elements 17 are supplied to the control unit 16 in parallel. In FIG. 5B, the casing 21, the upper cover 23, and the insulator 24 shown in FIG. 5A are not shown.

  In the input device according to the present embodiment, the touch sensor 11 detects a touch operation on the touch surface 11a. And the control part 16 determines whether the press load detected by the piezoelectric element 17 satisfy | fills the load reference | standard (for example, 1.0N) which shows a tactile sensation. And when it determines with a press load satisfy | filling the load reference | standard which presents a tactile sensation, the control part 16 presents the tactile sensation by the vibration of a fixed amplitude independent of a press position with respect to the press target which is pressing the touch surface 11a. Thus, the drive of the piezoelectric element 17 is controlled according to the pressed position.

  Hereinafter, a tactile sensation presenting operation of notification information by the input device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the control unit 16 monitors the output signals of the three piezoelectric elements 17 in the load detection mode (step S201). Next, the control unit 16 detects input of position information (pressed position to be pressed) from the touch sensor 11 (step S202), and detects that a finger or the like has touched the touch surface 11a (step S203). Next, the control unit 16 calculates a pressing load to the touch sensor 11 based on the outputs of the three piezoelectric elements 17 and determines whether or not the pressing load satisfies a reference (1.0 N) for presenting a tactile sensation. Determination is made (step S204). As a result, when it is determined that the pressing load satisfies the load standard (in the case of Yes), the control unit 16 refers to the storage unit 15 and responds to drive signal information that presents a tactile sensation and position information from the touch sensor 11. The drive adjustment information is acquired (step S205). In addition, the control unit 16 switches the three piezoelectric elements 17 from the load detection mode to the tactile sensation presentation mode (step S206). The control unit 16 adjusts the drive signal information based on the drive adjustment information, drives the piezoelectric element 17 with the adjusted drive signal, and presents the user with a tactile sensation due to vibration with a constant amplitude (step S207). When the drive adjustment information acquired in step S205 is drive voltage adjustment information, the control unit 16 adjusts the drive voltage of the drive signal, and causes the piezoelectric element 17 to present the tactile sensation due to vibration with a constant amplitude to the user. To drive. Further, when the drive adjustment information acquired in step S205 is phase adjustment information, the control unit 16 adjusts the phase of the drive signal to change the piezoelectric element 17 so as to present the user with a tactile sensation due to vibration with a constant amplitude. To drive. Further, the control unit 16 can control the driving of the piezoelectric element 17 so that the tactile sensation due to the vibration with a constant amplitude becomes a click tactile sensation. Thereafter, the control unit 16 returns the three piezoelectric elements 17 to the load detection mode (step S208), and calculates the pressing load on the touch sensor 11.

  According to the input device according to the present embodiment, since the piezoelectric element 17 is shared as a load sensor that detects a pressing load on the touch surface 11a of the touch sensor 11 and an actuator that vibrates the touch surface 11a, the number of components is reduced. This can reduce costs. Moreover, since the number of parts can be reduced, the installation space for the parts can be reduced, and the apparatus can be miniaturized.

  Further, according to the input device according to the present embodiment, when the user presses the touch surface 11a of the touch sensor 11 with a pressing load that satisfies a criterion for presenting a tactile sensation, the control unit 16 presses the drive of the piezoelectric element 17. Control is performed according to the position, and a tactile sensation due to vibration with a constant amplitude independent of the pressed position is presented to the pressed object such as a finger. Thereby, irrespective of the position of the user's input, a uniform tactile sensation can be presented to the user, and the user's operational feeling can be improved.

  In addition, the control unit 16 adjusts the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 17 according to the pressing position of the pressing target, thereby presenting a tactile sensation due to vibration with a constant amplitude independent of the pressing position to the pressing target such as a finger. In other words, by adjusting the voltage, a uniform tactile sensation can be presented to the user regardless of the position of the user input, and the user's operational feeling can be improved.

  Further, the control unit 16 adjusts the phase of the vibration of the piezoelectric element 17 according to the pressing position of the pressing target, thereby presenting the tactile sensation due to the vibration with a constant amplitude independent of the pressing position to the pressing target such as a finger. That is, by adjusting the phase, a uniform tactile sensation can be presented to the user regardless of the position of the user input, and the user's operational feeling can be improved.

  Further, the control unit 16 controls the driving of the piezoelectric element 17 so that the tactile sensation with a certain amplitude becomes a click tactile sensation. As a result, even when an input to the software input object displayed on the display unit 14 is performed, the user can obtain a tactile sensation as if a hardware button switch was pressed. be able to.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and corrections based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, functions included in each component and the like can be rearranged so that there is no logical contradiction, and a plurality of components can be combined into one or divided.

  For example, pressure is stimulated until the load applied to the touch sensor 11 calculated based on the output of the load detection unit 12 or the piezoelectric element 17 satisfies a standard (for example, 1N) for presenting a tactile sensation, and the standard is satisfied. Then, the tactile sensation providing unit 13 or the piezoelectric element 17 is driven with a predetermined drive signal to vibrate the touch surface 11a to stimulate the sense of touch. As a result, a tactile sensation is presented to the operator to recognize that the input operation has been completed. Therefore, even if a button switch such as a push button switch (push-type button switch) is drawn on the upper part of the touch sensor 11, the operator can click the touch sensor 11 in the same way as when the push button switch is operated. Since the input operation can be performed while obtaining a tactile sensation, there is no sense of incongruity. Further, since the input operation can be performed in conjunction with the consciousness of “pressing” the touch sensor 11, an input error due to simple pressing can be prevented.

  In addition, the reference | standard of the press load which shows tactile sense can be suitably set according to the load characteristic at the time of pressing of the pushbutton switch to express, for example. For example, this reference may be set to the same load as the touch sensor 11 reacts to the touch input (the touch input reaction of the touch sensor 11 and the timing to present the tactile sensation are set the same), or the touch sensor 11 A load higher than the load that reacts to the touch input may be set (a setting that delays the timing of presenting the tactile sensation than the response of the touch input of the touch sensor 11). For example, in the case where the input device according to the present embodiment is applied to a mobile terminal, it is preferable that the touch sensor 11 be equal to or more than a load that reacts to a touch input (timing to present a tactile sensation rather than a touch input response of the touch sensor 11 Is set to slow down). In addition, the user may be able to set freely so that the elderly user can be set heavier (slower) and the younger user can be set lighter (faster).

  Further, for example, the number of tactile sensation providing units 13, load detecting units 12, and piezoelectric elements 17 is not limited to the number described in the embodiment, and may be an arbitrary number. For example, the number of piezoelectric elements 17 is not limited to three, but may be an arbitrary number. Also, the structure of the piezoelectric element 17 can be a known structure such as a monomorph, a unimorph, a bimorph, a laminated type, or the like according to the area of the touch sensor 11, the vibration amplitude, or the like.

  In addition, the present invention can also be effectively applied to an input device that functions as a touch switch in which the touch sensor 11 performs an on / off operation. Furthermore, the input device according to the present invention presents a tactile sensation sequentially with different standards (loads) in the middle of pressing against the touch sensor 11, and a multi-stage switch such as a two-stage switch (pressed and then pushed further). A tactile sensation can also be presented. Thereby, for example, when applied to a release button of a camera, it is possible to present a tactile sensation between focus lock (pressed one step) and release (pressed two steps). Further, when combined with the display unit 14, the display of the menu hierarchy screen and the like can be variously changed according to the number of push-in steps. Furthermore, when presenting the tactile sensation of the multi-stage switch as described above, it is possible to change the drive signal for vibrating the touch surface at each stage and present a different tactile sensation at each stage.

  Further, the input device according to the present invention drives the tactile sensation providing unit 13 or the piezoelectric element 17 when the pressing load detected based on the output of the load detecting unit 12 or the piezoelectric element 17 satisfies the standard for presenting the tactile sensation. To do. Here, when the pressing load detected based on the output of the load detection unit 12 or the piezoelectric element 17 satisfies the standard for presenting the tactile sensation, the detected pressing load reaches the reference value for presenting the tactile sensation. It may be when the detected pressure load exceeds a reference value for presenting a tactile sensation, or when a reference value for presenting a tactile sensation is detected based on the output of the load detection unit or the piezoelectric element. Good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Touch sensor 11a Touch surface 12 Load detection part 13 Tactile sense presentation part 14 Display part 15 Memory | storage part 16 Control part 17 Piezoelectric element 21 Case 22 Insulator 23 Upper cover 24 Insulator 31 Load sensor 32 Piezoelectric element

Claims (4)

A touch sensor for detecting touch input;
A piezoelectric element attached to the touch sensor;
A pressing target that presses the touch surface when the pressing load on the touch surface of the touch sensor is detected based on an output signal of the piezoelectric element and the detected pressing load satisfies a criterion for presenting a tactile sensation A control unit for controlling the driving of the piezoelectric element according to the pressing position so as to present a tactile sensation due to vibration of a constant amplitude independent of the pressing position;
An input device comprising:   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the piezoelectric element to present the tactile sensation due to the vibration having the constant amplitude by adjusting a voltage applied to the piezoelectric element according to the pressed position.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the piezoelectric element to present the tactile sensation due to the vibration of the constant amplitude by adjusting a phase of vibration of the piezoelectric element according to the pressed position. . The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls driving of the piezoelectric element such that the tactile sensation due to the vibration having the constant amplitude becomes a click tactile sensation.

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