JP2006209570A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device capable of sensing an operation touch as an input response from any part on a surface panel. <P>SOLUTION: A first drive signal Sd1 is generated and vibration is generated from a vibration generator 15A. Then, a second drive signal Sd2 is generated after a lapse of a delay time T, and vibration is generated from a vibration generator 15B. In this way, positions for a part serving as an antinode and a part serving as a node are properly distributed in vibration waves which are generated from both the vibration generators transmitted to the surface panel 13, and the vibration waves from the both generators are surely transmitted to the whole of the surface panel 13. Consequently, an operator can sense the operation touch serving as a response to pressing operation to the surface panel 13 from any part of the surface panel 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device that generates vibration as a response to an input operation of a surface panel such as a touch panel, and more particularly to an input device that can feel an operation feeling as an input response from any part of the surface panel.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view of a conventional input device as viewed from the front panel side, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a drive signal of the conventional vibration generator. In FIG. 6, the horizontal axis t represents time, and the vertical axis V represents the voltage value of the drive signal.

  When the operator performs a pressing operation on the display area 13 </ b> A of the front panel 13, the detection unit provided on the front panel 13 detects the coordinate data of the pressed portion where the pressing operation has been performed. When the control unit of the input device 10 acquires the coordinate data from the detection unit and determines that the pressing operation has been performed by the operator, the control unit outputs an activation signal to the driving unit that drives the vibration generators 15A and 15B. To do. The drive means that has received the start signal generates a first drive signal Sd1 and a second drive signal Sd2 having a predetermined frequency as shown in FIG. 6, and uses the first drive signal Sd1 as the vibration generator 15A. The second drive signal Sd2 is output toward the vibration generator 15B. And vibration is generated from vibration generator 15A, 15B, and the wave of this vibration is transmitted to the surface (surface of illustration Z1 direction) of surface panel 13. As a result, a click feeling (operation feeling) is given to the operator via the front panel 13 as a response to the pressing operation of the front panel 13.

Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a conventional transparent flat speaker.
FIG. 7 is a rear view showing an excitation method of a conventional transparent flat speaker.

  In the transparent flat speaker 200, vibration is generated by driving the transparent flat plate 202 using the two exciters 201 and 201, and the sound is amplified by the vibration.

The exciters 201 and 201 are provided on the long side edge 202a and the short side edge 202b of the transparent flat plate 202.
JP 2002-252895 A

  However, in the conventional input device 10, as shown in FIG. 5, the vibration generators 15A and 15B are arranged at symmetrical positions, and as shown in FIG. 6, the first drive signal Sd1 of the vibration generator 15A is arranged. And the second drive signal Sd2 of the vibration generator 15B are simultaneously generated at time t1, and the vibration generators 15A and 15B are driven simultaneously. Therefore, when the region 101, 103, 105 shown in FIG. 5 is pressed, the operator can feel the click feeling. Here, the display area 13A is equally divided into five areas, which are defined as areas 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 in the X2 direction from the X1 side in the figure. On the other hand, in the areas 102 and 104, the vibration waves generated from the vibration generators 15A and 15B interfere with each other and the vibration waves transmitted through the surface of the front panel 13 are weakened. In some cases, the operator can hardly feel the click feeling. In other words, in the conventional input device 10, there are areas in the front panel 13 where the click feeling can be felt and areas where the click feeling cannot be felt.

  Moreover, in the said patent document 1, the drive method of the exciters 201 and 201 is not described at all.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an input device that can feel an operation feeling as an input response from any part of a surface panel.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a front panel provided with detection means for detecting a pressing operation therein, first and second excitation means for applying vibration to the front panel, and the first excitation means. An input device comprising: a first drive signal for driving the first drive signal; and a drive means for generating a second drive signal for driving the second excitation means.
Control that causes the first drive signal and the second drive signal to be generated from the drive means in a time-shifted manner, and that the first excitation means and the second excitation means are driven in a time-shifted manner Means are provided.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the first drive signal and the second drive signal are generated while being shifted in time, and the first excitation vibration means and the second excitation vibration means are vibrated while being shifted in time. . For this reason, the phase of the vibration wave generated from the first excitation vibration means and the phase of the vibration wave generated from the second excitation vibration means transmitted to the front panel are shifted, The positions of the belly part and the node part are appropriately dispersed, and both vibration waves are reliably transmitted to the entire surface panel. As a result, the operator can feel the operational feeling as a response to the pressing operation on the front panel from any part of the front panel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a front panel provided with detection means for detecting a pressing operation therein, first and second excitation means for applying vibration to the front panel, and the first excitation means. An input device comprising: a first drive signal for driving the first drive signal; and a drive means for generating a second drive signal for driving the second excitation means.
The front panel is a quadrangle, the first excitation means is disposed along one of two end sides of the surface panel that extend perpendicular to each other, and the second excitation means is disposed along the other. It is characterized by being.

  Also in this case, the first drive signal and the second drive signal are generated from the drive means while being shifted in time, and the first excitation means and the second excitation means are driven while being shifted in time. It is preferable that a control means is provided.

  As described above, when the first excitation means and the second excitation means are arranged on the edges orthogonal to each other, the first drive signal and the second drive signal are generated simultaneously, as in the prior art. Even when the first excitation means and the second excitation means are driven at the same time, or as described above, the first drive signal and the second drive signal are generated while being shifted in time, so that the first excitation means Even when the second excitation means and the second excitation means are driven while being shifted in time, the vibration wave generated from the first excitation means interferes with the vibration wave generated from the second excitation means. Is reliably transmitted to the entire surface panel. As a result, the operator can feel an operation feeling as a response to the pressing operation on the front panel from any part of the front panel 1.

  Further, the surface panel has a short side and a long side, the first excitation means is arranged along the short side, and the second excitation means is arranged along the long side and It is preferable to dispose at a position deviated from the center of the long side in a direction away from the first excitation means.

  In this way, vibration waves generated from both the first excitation means and the second excitation means are more reliably transmitted to the entire surface panel. As a result, the operator can feel the operational feeling as a response to the pressing operation on the front panel more reliably from any part of the front panel.

In the present invention, for example, the second drive signal is generated after a predetermined delay time T has elapsed from the generation of the first drive signal,
In the delay time T, the first excitation means is driven by the first drive signal, and the wave transmitted from the first excitation means to the front panel is provided with the first excitation means. T0 / 2 ≦ T ≦ t0, where t0 is the arrival time from the edge of the surface panel to the edge of the surface panel opposite to the edge on which the first excitation means is provided Preferably there is.

  When the delay time T is set in this way, vibration waves generated from both the first excitation means and the second excitation means are more reliably transmitted to the entire surface panel. As a result, the operator can feel the operational feeling as a response to the pressing operation on the front panel more reliably from any part of the front panel.

  In the input device of the present invention, an operation feeling as an input response can be felt from any part of the front panel.

  1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the input device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the input device of the present invention, a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 5, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the drive signal given to an apparatus. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis t represents time, and the vertical axis V represents the voltage value of the drive signal.

  The input device 10 of the present invention is used, for example, in a display unit that displays a map or the like in a car navigation system. Or it is used for operation panel parts, such as household electronic equipment and office electronic equipment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 10 includes a detection means K provided on a surface panel 13 such as a so-called touch panel, a display means 14 for displaying an image, etc., and a vibration generator 15A (first excitation) operating as an excitation means. Means), 15B (second excitation means), drive means 16 for driving the vibration generators 15A, 15B, control means 17 and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the input device 10 includes a housing 11, and the housing 11 is formed with, for example, a rectangular opening 11 </ b> A. A surface panel 13 is provided on the lower surface (surface in the Z2 direction in the figure) side of the housing 11, and a display area 13A that is a part of the surface panel 13 is exposed from the opening 11A.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front panel 13 includes an upper sheet 13a and a lower substrate 13b, and is light transmissive as a whole.

  The upper sheet 13a is made of a synthetic resin such as transparent polyethylene terephthalate and has flexibility. An upper resistive film is formed on the entire lower surface of the upper sheet 13a by sputtering using ITO (indium tin oxide) as a raw material. Or a predetermined thickness by vacuum deposition. A pair of upper electrodes made of silver or the like are formed on the upper resistance film on the Y1 side and Y2 side edges in the figure and formed in parallel in the Y1-Y2 direction.

  The lower substrate 13b is a transparent glass substrate, and a lower resistance film made of ITO has a predetermined thickness in a predetermined region on the upper surface (the surface in the Z1 direction in the drawing) of the lower substrate 13b, like the upper resistance film. It is formed with. A pair of lower electrodes made of silver or the like are formed on the lower resistance film on the X1 side and the X2 side end in the drawing, and are formed in parallel with an interval in the X1-X2 direction.

  The upper sheet 13a is combined so that the upper resistance film faces the lower resistance film, and faces the lower substrate 13b. The upper resistance film, the upper electrode, the lower resistance film, and the lower electrode constitute detection means K.

  An elastic support member 12 made of rubber or the like is provided on the periphery of the opening 11 </ b> A on the lower surface side of the housing 11, and the surface panel 13 is fixed to the lower portion of the elastic support member 12. That is, the front panel 13 is elastically supported by the opening 11 </ b> A via the elastic support member 12.

  The display area 13A is exposed to the outside through the opening 11A of the housing 11, and the front panel 13 can be pressed with an operating body such as a finger or an operation pen in the display area 13A. .

  For example, when the upper sheet 13a of the front panel 13 corresponding to the display area 13A is pressed downward with an operation pen (not shown), the upper sheet 13a is deformed downward, and the upper resistive film and the lower substrate 13b of the upper sheet 13a are deformed downward. The lower resistance film contacts. Here, a voltage is alternately applied a plurality of times by the control means 17 between the upper electrodes of the upper sheet 13a and between the lower electrodes of the lower substrate 13b at predetermined time intervals. When a voltage is applied between the upper electrodes of the upper sheet 13a, a contact ratio between the upper resistive film of the upper sheet 13a and the lower resistive film of the lower substrate 13b and a resistance ratio between the upper electrodes of the upper sheet 13a Thus, the coordinate position of the operation pen in the Y1-Y2 direction is detected. Similarly, when a voltage is applied between the lower electrodes of the lower substrate 13b, the coordinate position of the operating pen in the X1-X2 direction is detected from the resistance ratio between the contact point and the lower electrode of the lower substrate 13b. The In this way, the coordinate position of the operating pen in the XY plane in the display area 13A is detected.

  Below the display area 13A, display means 14 such as an FPD (Flat Panel Display) is arranged with a predetermined distance from the lower substrate 13b. As shown in FIG. 1, when various display data are given from the control unit 17 to the display unit 14, an image based on the display data is displayed on the display unit 14. And the image displayed on the display means 14 can be visually recognized from the outside through the display area 13A. Therefore, the operator can perform a pressing operation (input operation) on the display area 13 </ b> A while confirming an image seen through the front panel 13.

  On the lower surface 13b1 of the lower substrate 13b of the front panel 13, the vibration generator 15A is located on the end 131 on the X1 side of the portion elastically supported by the elastic support member 12, and the vibration generator is located on the end 132 on the X2 side. 15B is fixed. That is, the vibration generators 15A and 15B are arranged symmetrically as shown in FIG.

  Inside the case covering the vibration generators 15A and 15B, a yoke member, a magnet, a coil wound around an iron core, and the like (all not shown) are provided. In the vibration generators 15A and 15B, for example, the yoke member and the magnet form a magnetic path, the iron core and the coil are elastically supported, and when a current flows through the coil, the magnetic path A magnetic driving force is generated by the magnetic field forming the current and the current, and the iron core and the coil vibrate in the Z1-Z2 direction shown in the figure.

  The vibration generators 15A and 15B are not limited to those using the magnetic driving force as described above. For example, a piezoelectric vibrator is provided inside the vibration generators 15A and 15B. It may be vibrated by.

  The control means 17 is mainly a CPU, and has storage means, calculation means, various interfaces, and the like.

  Next, the operation of the input device 10 of the present invention will be described based on the block diagram of FIG.

  The control means 17 outputs a predetermined display data to display a predetermined image on the display means 14. Moreover, the control means 17 always monitors the state of the detection means K of the display panel 13. Specifically, as described above, the control unit 17 applies a predetermined voltage to the detection unit K at a constant period, and detects a resistance value change caused by a pressing operation on the display region 13A as a voltage change. . When the operator performs a pressing operation on the display area 13A, the coordinate data of the pressed portion where the pressing operation has been performed is detected according to the above principle. The control means 17 can acquire this coordinate data from the detection means K.

  When the control unit 17 acquires the coordinate data and determines that the pressing operation has been performed by the operator, the control unit 17 outputs an activation signal S1 to the driving unit 16. The drive means 16 that has received the start signal S1, as shown in FIG. 3, generates a first drive signal Sd1 having a predetermined frequency at the time ta, and outputs it to the vibration generator 15A. Thereafter, after the delay time T has elapsed, a second drive signal Sd2 having a predetermined frequency is generated at time tb and output toward the vibration generator 15B.

  The first drive signal Sd1 and the second drive signal Sd2 are both signals having a predetermined frequency that continue for a short time, and the vibration generating means 15A or the vibration generating means 15B that has received this drive signal generates a short-time vibration. Is generated.

  Vibration is generated from the vibration generator 15A according to the above principle, and after the delay time T (= tb−ta) has elapsed, vibration is generated from the vibration generator 15B according to the above principle. The vibration generated from the vibration generators 15A and 15B is transmitted as a wave to the front panel 13, and the operator is given a click feeling (operation feeling) as a response to the pressing operation through the front panel 13.

  In the present invention, the first drive signal Sd1 is output to the vibration generating device 15A to vibrate the vibration generating device 15A, and then, after the delay time T has elapsed, the second drive signal Sd2 is generated, and the second The drive signal Sd2 is output to the vibration generator 15B to vibrate the vibration generator 15B. That is, the first drive signal Sd1 and the second drive signal Sd2 are generated while being shifted in time, and the vibration generator 15A and the vibration generator 15B are vibrated while being shifted in time. For this reason, the phase of the vibration wave generated from the vibration generating device 15A and the phase of the vibration wave generated from the vibration generating device 15B transmitted to the front panel 13 are shifted. The positions of the portions to be the nodes and the portions to be the nodes are appropriately dispersed, so that both vibration waves are reliably transmitted to the entire surface panel 13. As a result, the operator can feel the click feeling as a response to the pressing operation from any part of the front panel 13. In the above, the vibration generators 15A and 15B do not have to be provided symmetrically, and as will be described later, the vibration generator 15B is orthogonal to the edge of the surface panel on which the vibration generator 15A is provided. It may be provided on the edge in the direction of

  Further, in the present invention, the delay time T is the vibration wave generated from the vibration generator 15 </ b> A up to the end 132 on the X <b> 2 side of the front panel 13, that is, the vibration generator of the end of the front panel 13. It is preferable that t0 / 2 ≦ T ≦ t0, where t0 is the time (arrival time) to reach the side opposite to the side to which 15A is fixed. When the delay time T is set in this way, vibration waves generated from both the vibration generators 15A and 15B are more reliably transmitted to the entire surface panel 13. As a result, the operator can more reliably feel the click feeling as a response to the pressing operation from any part of the front panel 13.

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 5, showing a modification of the input device of the present invention.
In FIG. 4, members similar to those of the input device 10 illustrated in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the input device 10A of this modification, unlike the input device 10, the vibration generator 15B is elastically supported by the elastic support member 12 on the lower surface 13b1 of the lower substrate 13b of the front panel 13, as shown in FIG. It is provided on the end side 133 on the Y2 side (long side) in the drawing from the portion, that is, the vibration generating device 15B is not provided symmetrically with the vibration generating device 15A, and the short provided with the vibration generating device 15A. It is provided in a direction orthogonal to the edge 131 that is the side, and is a predetermined distance from the center of the edge 133 to the X1 or X2 side in the drawing, preferably L / 5 (L is the X1-X2 in the display area 13A). It is fixed at a distance of (direction dimension).

  In this way, the first drive signal Sd1 of the vibration generator 15A and the second drive signal Sd2 of the vibration generator 15B are generated simultaneously as in the conventional case of FIG. 5, and the vibration generators 15A and 15B are generated. Even when driven at the same time, or as shown in FIG. 3, the first drive signal Sd1 and the second drive signal Sd2 are shifted in time and the vibration generators 15A and 15B are shifted in time. Even when driven, the vibration wave generated from the vibration generator 15A interferes with the vibration wave generated from the vibration generator 15B, and both vibration waves are reliably transmitted to the entire surface panel 13. The As a result, the operator can feel the click feeling as a response to the pressing operation from any part of the front panel 13.

  In the above description, the vibration generator 15B is located on the X2 side from the center of the edge 133 of the surface panel 13, that is, on the opposite side to the edge 131 of the surface panel 13 to which the vibration generator 15A is fixed. It is preferable that they are fixed at a predetermined distance in the direction of the end side 132.

  In this way, vibration waves generated from both the vibration generators 15A and 15B are more reliably transmitted to the entire surface panel 13. As a result, the operator can more reliably feel the click feeling as a response to the pressing operation from any part of the front panel 13.

  In the above description, the vibration generator 15B may be provided not on the Y133 side edge 133 of the front panel 13 but on the Y1 side edge 134 of the figure.

  In the present invention, the vibration generating device 15A may be fixed to the end side 132 on the X2 side of the surface panel 13 instead of the end side 131 on the X1 side of the illustration. In this case, it is preferable that the vibration generator 15B is fixed at a predetermined distance from the central portion of the Y2 side end 133 or the Y1 side end 134 of the front panel 13 to the X1 side.

  Alternatively, the vibration generator 15A is provided on the Y2 side edge 133 of the front panel 13, and the vibration generator 15B is the center of the X1 side edge 131 or the X2 side edge 132 of the surface panel 13. It may be fixed at a predetermined distance from the portion on the Y1 side in the drawing. Alternatively, the vibration generating device 15A is provided on the Y134 side end 134 of the front panel 13, and the vibration generating device 15B is the center of the X1 side end 131 or the X2 side end 132 of the front panel 13. It may be fixed at a predetermined distance from the portion on the Y2 side in the drawing.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the input device of this invention, It is sectional drawing which shows the input device of this invention, and is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the 2-2 line of FIG. The figure which shows the drive signal given to the vibration generator of this invention, The top view similar to FIG. 5 which shows the modification of the input device of this invention, A plan view of a conventional input device viewed from the front panel side, The figure which shows the drive signal of the conventional vibration generator, Rear view showing excitation method of conventional transparent flat speaker

Explanation of symbols

10, 10A Input device 11 Housing 11A Opening portion 13 Front panel 13A Display areas 15A, 15B Vibration generator 16 Driving means 131, 132, 133, 134 Edge Sd1 First drive signal Sd2 Second drive signal T Delay time

Claims (5)

A front panel provided with detection means for detecting a pressing operation therein, first excitation means and second excitation means for applying vibration to the front panel, and first drive for driving the first excitation means An input device comprising a signal and a drive means for generating a second drive signal for driving the second excitation means;
Control that causes the first drive signal and the second drive signal to be generated from the drive means in a time-shifted manner, and that the first excitation means and the second excitation means are driven in a time-shifted manner Means provided with an input device. A front panel provided with detection means for detecting a pressing operation therein, first excitation means and second excitation means for applying vibration to the front panel, and first drive for driving the first excitation means An input device comprising a signal and a drive means for generating a second drive signal for driving the second excitation means;
The front panel is a quadrangle, the first excitation means is disposed along one of two end sides of the surface panel that extend perpendicular to each other, and the second excitation means is disposed along the other. An input device.   Control means for generating the first drive signal and the second drive signal from the drive means while being shifted in time, and driving the first excitation means and the second excitation means while being shifted in time. The input device according to claim 2 provided.   The front panel has a short side and a long side, the first excitation means is arranged along the short side, and the second excitation means is arranged along the long side and the long side The input device according to claim 2, wherein the input device is disposed at a position deviated from the center in a direction away from the first excitation means. The second drive signal is generated after a predetermined delay time T has elapsed from the generation of the first drive signal,
In the delay time T, the first excitation means is driven by the first drive signal, and the wave transmitted from the first excitation means to the front panel is provided with the first excitation means. T0 / 2 ≦ T ≦ t0, where t0 is the arrival time from the edge of the surface panel to the edge of the surface panel opposite to the edge on which the first excitation means is provided The input device according to claim 1, 3 or 4.

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