JP2018120298A - Tactile feedback device, and electronic apparatus including tactile feedback device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a good pressing feeling of a touch input unit.
SOLUTION: A case 10, a touch input unit 20 that moves between an initial position before a touch operation and a pressed position that is pressed by a touch operation, and a touch input unit 20 that is integrally fixed to the touch operation. A vibration actuator 40 that vibrates accordingly, a bullet member 50 that bullets the touch input unit 20 from the inside of the housing 10 and holds the touch input unit 20 on the initial position side, and a guide mechanism G1 that guides the movement of the touch input unit 20 Prepared.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a haptic feedback device configured to vibrate a touch input unit in response to a touch operation, and an electronic device including the haptic feedback device.

  Generally, a touch panel is a user interface (input device) that combines a touch sensor and an image display device, and corresponds to a displayed image when an operation surface overlapping the display screen is touched by an operator. Output a signal. The touch pad is an input device that inputs a signal when the operation surface is touched by an operator, and an electronic device including the touch pad generally includes a display unit separately from the operation surface of the touch pad. . According to these touch input units such as a touch panel and a touch pad, an operator can visually recognize that a signal is input by displaying a display image, but an operation feeling having a stroke like a keyboard button operation is obtained. I can't.

On the other hand, technology that obtains skin sensation feedback by applying force, vibration, movement, etc. to the interface operator (haptic technology) has recently been studied, and the touch input unit also operates the user who operates the interface. There has been proposed one that feeds back vibration to a finger or the like.
As such a tactile feedback device, there is known a device in which the back surface of a touch panel having a vibration part is supported on a housing via an elastic damper made of an elastic material (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-59756 A

  However, according to the above-described conventional technology, when the touch panel is pushed in by a touch operation, the touch panel is shifted in a crossing direction with respect to the pushing direction, or only a part of the touch panel sinks deeply and the other part is floated. Or a dull push-in feeling due to a rubber elastic damper, and a good push-in feeling cannot be obtained.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention has the following configuration.
A touch input unit that moves between a housing, an initial position before the touch operation, and a pressed position that is pressed by the touch operation, and a vibration actuator that is integrally fixed to the touch input unit and vibrates in response to the touch operation A tactile feedback device comprising: a resilient member that ejects the touch input unit from the inside of the housing and holds the touch input unit on the initial position side; and a guide mechanism that guides the movement of the touch input unit. .

It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the 1st embodiment of the tactile feedback device concerning the present invention from the front side slanting direction. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the 1st embodiment from the back side slanting direction. It is the perspective view which looked at the internal structure of the 1st embodiment from the back side diagonal direction. It is a disassembled perspective view of a 1st embodiment. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of a 1st embodiment, (a) shows an initial position, (b) shows a pushing position. It is the perspective view which looked at the 2nd embodiment of the tactile feedback device concerning the present invention from the front side slanting direction. It is a disassembled perspective view of a 2nd embodiment. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of a 2nd embodiment, (a) shows an initial position, (b) shows a pushing position. It is the perspective view which looked at the 3rd embodiment of the tactile feedback device concerning the present invention from the back side slanting direction. It is a disassembled perspective view of a 3rd embodiment. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of a 3rd embodiment, (a) shows an initial position, (b) shows a pushing position. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of a 4th embodiment, (a) shows an initial position, (b) shows a pushing position. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the electronic device provided with the tactile feedback apparatus which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate parts having the same function, and repeated description in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

<About the first embodiment>
1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a haptic feedback device according to the present invention.
As shown particularly well in FIG. 5, the tactile feedback device 1 covers the housing 10, the touch input unit 20 that is pushed into the housing 10 by a touch operation, and the peripheral side of the touch input unit 20. The cover member 30 fixed to the housing 10, the vibration actuator 40 that is integrally fixed to the touch input unit 20 and vibrates according to the touch operation, and the touch input unit 20 is repelled from the inside of the housing 10 to A resilient member 50 held on the initial position side, a guide mechanism G1 for guiding the touch input unit 20 to move between the initial position and the pushing position, and an elastic receiving part for receiving the pushed touch input unit 20 60.

The housing 10 is formed in a substantially box shape having an opening in the counter-pressing direction side (the Z direction side in the drawing) from a hard material such as hard synthetic resin or a metal material.
The housing 10 includes a rectangular flat plate-like bottom wall portion 11 and side wall portions 12 that protrude in opposite directions from each side of the bottom wall portion 11.

A plurality of convex portions 13 projecting in a cylindrical shape are provided on the back surface side of the bottom wall portion 11. According to the illustrated example, four of these convex portions 13 are provided so as to be positioned on the square side of the bottom wall portion 11.
And the guide hole 14 is provided in the center side of each convex part 13 so that these bottom wall parts 11 and the convex part 13 may be penetrated to the thickness direction.

  The guide hole 14 includes a straight hole-shaped cylindrical surface portion 14a located on the side opposite to the pressing direction and an inclined surface portion 14b continuous on the cylindrical surface portion 14a in the pressing direction P side, and constitutes a guide mechanism G1 described later. .

According to the illustrated example, the cylindrical surface portion 14a is a hole having an inner peripheral surface formed in a cylindrical shape.
Further, the inclined surface portion 14b is formed in an inclined surface shape (in detail, a conical surface shape) that is inclined in the diameter increasing direction toward the pushing direction P side.

  The touch input unit 20 integrally includes a transparent touch panel 21 and an image display unit 22 and is supported by being ejected toward an initial position side (Z direction side in the drawing) by a later-described resilient member 50.

The touch panel 21 is a rectangular flat plate-shaped transparent touch panel that outputs a signal when the exposed surface portion is touched with a finger or the like. For example, a touch panel having a pressure-sensitive (resistive film type) sensor may be used as the touch input unit 20, but a touch panel using a capacitance type sensor or another type of sensor may be used.
The peripheral end portion of the touch panel 21 is positioned so as not to contact the surrounding members (such as the side wall portion 12) (see FIG. 5). Further, the surface portion on the peripheral end side of the touch panel 21 is close to or in contact with the back surface of the cover member 30 (in the illustrated example, close to the cover member 30 with a gap).

The image display unit 22 is a rectangular plate-like liquid crystal display device having an image display surface 22a on the side opposite to the pushing direction, and displays an image corresponding to an image signal input from a control circuit (not shown) on the image display surface 22a.
The image display unit 22 is fixed by overlapping the image display surface 22 a on the back surface of the touch panel 21 so as to be located inside the periphery of the touch panel 21.
A plurality of convex portions 22 b are provided on the back surface side of the image display portion 22 so as to be located concentrically with the guide hole 14 described above. And the guide shaft 23 which comprises the guide mechanism G1 is protrudingly provided in each convex part 22b by concentric form.

The guide shaft 23 is fixed to a protruding end of the convex portion 22 b on the back surface side of the image display unit 22 by fastening means such as screwing, and is inserted through the guide hole 14 of the housing 10.
The guide shaft 23 contacts the shaft main body portion 23a inserted into the cylindrical surface portion 14a of the guide hole 14 and the inclined surface portion 14b of the guide hole 14 at the initial position, and is separated from the inclined surface portion 14b at the pushing position. It has the contact part 23b integrally (refer FIG. 5 (a) (b)).
In the guide shaft 23, the portion further in the pushing direction P side than the contact portion 23 b is formed in a columnar shape according to the illustrated example, and protrudes from the protruding end surface of the convex portion 13 on the back surface of the housing 10.

The shaft body 23 a is formed in a cylindrical shaft shape that can be loosely inserted into the cylindrical surface portion 14 a of the guide hole 14.
A washer 24 is annularly attached to the shaft body 23a. This washer 24 loosely inserts the shaft main body 23 a and receives one end side of the elastic member 50.

  The contact portion 23b is formed in an inclined surface shape (in detail, a conical surface shape) that makes surface contact with the inclined surface portion 14b of the guide hole 14.

  Further, the cover member 30 includes four side wall portions 31 that overlap each other on the outer surface of the side wall portion 12 on the four sides of the housing 10, and a frame that covers the opening of the housing 10 and has a peripheral edge connected to the side wall portion 31. It is formed integrally with the plate-like plate part 32. A rectangular opening 32 a that exposes the touch input unit 20 is formed on the center side of the frame-shaped plate portion 32.

The vibration actuator 40 has a long cubic shape and is configured to vibrate in the lateral direction.
The vibration actuator 40 is disposed on one end side and the other end side of the touch input unit 20 in the short direction. Each vibration actuator 40 is fixed to the back side of the touch input unit 20 (the back side of the image display unit 22 according to FIG. 3) so as to vibrate in the Y direction shown in the figure.
As a specific example of the vibration actuator 40, a mechanism for reciprocating the mover by the attractive force and the repulsive force generated between the magnetic action and the magnet when AC power is supplied to the drive coil may be used.

The elastic member 50 is a compression coil spring that is annularly mounted from the convex portion 22b of the image display unit 22 to the shaft main body 23a of the guide shaft 23, and is sandwiched between the back surface of the touch input unit 20 and the bottom surface of the housing 10. Yes (see FIG. 5).
One seat portion of the elastic member 50 is in contact with the back surface of the image display unit 22, and the other seat portion is in contact with the bottom surface of the housing 10 via the washer 24.

Further, the guide mechanism G1 guides the touch input unit 20 from the initial position (see FIG. 5A) to the push-in position (see FIG. 5B) by the guide hole 14 and the guide shaft 23 described above. It is a mechanism to do.
In the illustrated guide mechanism G1, a gap s1 is secured between the shaft main body portion 23a of the guide shaft 23 and the cylindrical surface portion 14a of the guide hole 14 at the initial position and the pushing position. Further, at the pushing position, a gap s <b> 2 is also secured between the contact portion 23 b of the guide shaft 23 and the inclined surface portion 14 b of the guide hole 14.

  The gaps s1 and s2 are appropriately set so that the touch input unit 20 can move from the initial position to the pushing position and be finely moved in the plane direction.

The elastic receiving portion 60 is formed in a block shape from an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer resin, and is bonded and fixed to the inner surface of the bottom wall portion 11 of the housing 10 via an adhesive.
A plurality of the elastic receiving portions 60 are disposed so as to correspond to appropriate places such as the four corner sides of the image display portion 22, for example, and receive the back surface of the touch input portion 20 when moved in the pushing direction P. The receiving surface is elastically retracted.

A gap s3 is secured between the elastic receiving portion 60 and the back surface of the image display portion 22 at the initial position (see FIG. 5).
The gap s3 is such that when the touch input unit 20 is pushed in by a normal touch operation, the back surface of the image display unit 22 does not come into contact with the elastic receiving unit 60, and the touch input unit 20 is in a case by a touch operation stronger than normal. 10 is appropriately set so that the back surface of the image display unit 22 comes into contact with the elastic receiving portion 60 when pushed inward.
The elastic receiving unit 60 receives the back surface of the image display unit 22 and elastically deforms when the touch input unit 20 is pressed stronger than usual.

  As another example other than the illustrated example, the elastic receiving portion 60 can be omitted. In this case, an appropriate gap is provided between the back surface of the image display portion 22 and the inner surface of the bottom wall portion 11. .

Next, the characteristic operation and effect of the haptic feedback device 1 having the above configuration will be described in detail.
First, in the initial state, as shown in FIG. 5A, the contact portion 23 b of the guide shaft 23 integrated with the touch input portion 20 is in surface contact with the inclined surface portion 14 b on the housing 10 side. It is possible to prevent the touch input unit 20 from unintentionally vibrating due to vibration received from the user.

When the surface of the touch input unit 20 is touched by the operator's finger, the touch input unit 20 is pushed into the housing 10 by the pressing force at the time of the touch operation.
At this time, the touch input unit 20 is smoothly pushed into the shaft body 23a of the guide shaft 23 by being guided by the cylindrical surface portion 14a of the guide hole 14 and elastically compressing the plurality of elastic members 50. Gives the operator a good feeling of pushing.

Then, when the touch input unit 20 is pushed in as described above, the vibration actuator 40 vibrates substantially simultaneously with or immediately after that, and this vibration is transmitted to the touch input unit 20 so that the touch input unit 20 is in the plane direction ( According to the illustrated example, it vibrates in the Y direction).
During this vibration, the touch input unit 20 vibrates by flexing the elastic member 50 in the horizontal direction in a state separated from the housing 10 via the gaps s1 and s2. At this time, since only the touch input unit 20 vibrates without substantially vibrating the housing 10, a unique haptic effect can be given to the operator's finger or the like by the vibration of only the touch input unit 20, Responsiveness is also good.

  Further, when the operator's finger is separated from the surface of the touch input unit 20, the touch input unit 20 is returned to the initial position side by the elastic force of the elastic member 50, and the contact part 23 b of the guide shaft 23 is moved. It comes into surface contact with the inclined surface portion 14b of the guide hole 14 and is in a stable stationary state that is hardly affected by external vibration or the like.

  Further, when the vibration actuator 40 is controlled to vibrate as a transmission means such as an alert or an incoming call in a state where the touch input unit 20 is not depressed (see FIG. 5A), the vibration of the vibration actuator 40 Therefore, the vibration can be transmitted even to an operator who has not touched the touch input unit 20.

<About the second embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the haptic feedback device according to the present invention will be described (see FIGS. 6 to 8).
This haptic feedback device 2 is obtained by partially changing the internal structure of the haptic feedback device 1 described above, and its external shape is substantially the same as that of the haptic feedback device 1 (see FIG. 1).
More specifically, the haptic feedback device 2 replaces the haptic feedback device 1 by replacing the housing 10 with the housing 10 ', replacing the guide shaft 23 with the guide shaft 25, omitting the washer 24, and elastic member. 32b is added.

The housing 10 ′ is obtained by replacing the guide hole 14 of the housing 10 with a guide hole 14 ′.
The guide hole 14 ′ is formed in a straight hole shape (in other words, a cylindrical hole shape), and does not have the inclined surface portion 14b like the guide hole 14 described above (see FIG. 8).
Reference numeral 14c ′ in the figure is a C chamfered portion and does not have the function of the inclined surface portion 14b.

The guide shaft 25 is fixed to a protruding end of the convex portion 22b on the back side of the image display portion 22 by fastening means such as screwing, and is inserted through the guide hole 14 ′.
The guide shaft 25 integrally includes a shaft body portion 25a that is in sliding contact with the entire length of the guide hole 14 ′ and a flange portion 25b that is connected to the pushing direction side of the shaft body portion 25a (see FIG. 8).
The shaft main body portion 25a is formed in a columnar shape whose outer peripheral surface can be slidably contacted with the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 14 ′. The flange portion 25b is formed with a larger diameter than the shaft main body portion 25a so as to contact the protruding end of the convex portion 13.

  The guide shaft 25 and the guide hole 14 ′ configured as described above function as a guide mechanism G <b> 2 that guides the touch input unit 20 in the pushing direction P.

The elastic member 32b is fastened in a band shape along the inner edge of the opening 32a on the back surface side of the frame-shaped plate portion 32 (see FIGS. 7 and 8).
The elastic member 32b prevents foreign matter and the like from entering the housing 10 from between the front surface of the touch input unit 20 and the back surface of the frame-like plate unit 32, but can be omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the elastic member 50 has one seat portion abutting against the back surface of the image display portion 22 and the other seat portion on the inner surface of the bottom wall portion 11 without a washer or the like. Direct contact.

  Therefore, according to the tactile feedback device 2, when the touch input unit 20 is touch-operated, the shaft main body portion 25a of the guide shaft 25 is guided in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 14 ′, and a plurality of touch input devices 20 Since the elastic member 50 is elastically compressed and the touch input unit 20 is pushed in smoothly, a good push feeling can be given to the operator.

<About the third embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the haptic feedback device according to the present invention will be described (see FIGS. 9 to 11).
This haptic feedback device 3 is obtained by partially changing the internal structure with respect to the haptic feedback device 2 described above, and the appearance on the front side is substantially the same as the haptic feedback devices 1 and 2 (see FIG. 1).
The haptic feedback device 3 has a configuration in which the housing 10 ′ is replaced with a housing 10 ″, the resilient member 50 is replaced with a resilient member 70, and the guide shaft 25 is omitted with respect to the haptic feedback device 2. It is said.

The casing 10 ″ is formed in a substantially box shape having an opening in the counter-pressing direction side (Z direction side in the drawing) from a hard material such as a hard synthetic resin or a metal material.
The casing 10 ″ includes a rectangular flat plate-like bottom wall portion 11 ″ and side wall portions 12 ″ projecting in opposite directions from each side of the bottom wall portion 11 ″.

The bottom wall portion 11 ″ is formed in a flat plate shape without unevenness.
In the figure, reference numeral 11a ″ denotes a through hole for releasing a fastening tool (for example, a screw or a bolt) for fastening the resilient member 70 to the touch input unit 20.

Guide surfaces 12a "are provided at the four corners of the housing 10" so as to protrude from the inner surface of the side wall 12 "to the inside of the housing. Each guide surface 12a" is shown in a plan view L as shown in FIG. It is formed in a corner shape consisting of two faces arranged in a letter shape.
The guide surface 12a ″ functions as a guide mechanism G3 that is in sliding contact with the corner side surface of the image display unit 22 and guides the touch input unit 20 in the pushing direction P.

The elastic member 70 is a leaf spring that extends in the crossing direction (X direction in the illustrated example) with respect to the pressing direction of the touch input unit 20 and is elastically deflectable, and touches one end in the crossing direction. The elastic member 70 is fixed to the back surface of the input unit 20 (specifically, the image display unit 22) and the other end is in contact with the inner surface of the bottom wall portion 11 ″. Are extending in the Y direction shown in the figure, and one end and the other end thereof are fixed to the back surface of the image display unit 22, respectively, and both ends of the horizontal piece 71 in the Y direction. Contact piece portions 72, 72 each extending in the X direction and having a distal end bent into a substantially V shape are provided, and the protruding ends of the contact piece portions 72 are in contact with the inner surface of the bottom wall portion 11 ″.
The material of the elastic member 70 may be any material that can be bent in the pushing direction P, and may be, for example, a spring metal material, an elastically deformable synthetic resin material, or the like.

  Therefore, according to the tactile feedback device 3, when the touch input unit 20 is touched, the side surface of the touch input unit 20 is guided in sliding contact with the guide surface 12a "in the housing 10". Since the elastic member 70 is elastically bent and the touch input unit 20 is smoothly pushed, a good feeling of pushing can be given to the operator.

<About the fourth embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the haptic feedback device according to the present invention will be described (see FIG. 12).
This haptic feedback device 4 is obtained by partially changing the internal structure with respect to the haptic feedback device 3 described above, and the appearance on the front side is substantially the same as the haptic feedback devices 1 to 3 (see FIG. 1).
The haptic feedback device 4 is configured by replacing the haptic feedback device 3 by replacing the housing 10 'with a housing 10 "' and replacing the touch input unit 20 with a touch input unit 20"'.

The casing 10 ″ ′ is formed in a substantially box shape having an opening in the counter-pressing direction side (Z direction side in the drawing) from a hard material such as a hard synthetic resin or a metal material.
The casing 10 ″ ′ is configured to have a guide mechanism G4 by replacing the side wall 12 ″ with the side wall 12 ″ ′ with respect to the above-described casing 10 ″ (see FIG. 11).

The side wall portion 12 "'protrudes in the counter-pressing direction from each side of the bottom wall portion 11", and has an inclined surface portion 12a "' on the inner side surface.
The guide surfaces 12a "'are respectively provided on the opposite side wall portions 12"' of the housing 10 "'. Each inclined surface portion 12a"' moves in the outward direction of the housing (in other words, in other words, in the pushing direction P side). For example, it is a flat inclined surface that is inclined in a direction in which the space in the casing 10 ″ ′ is enlarged.

The inner wall portion 12 b ″ ′ on the side opposite to the pushing direction than the inclined surface portion 12 a ″ ′ in the side wall portion 12 ″ ′ is formed in a flat surface shape substantially orthogonal to the bottom wall portion 11 ″. Close to each other with a gap.
Similarly, the inner wall portion 12c ″ ′ on the side wall portion 12 ″ ′ closer to the pushing direction P than the inclined surface portion 12a ″ ′ is also formed in a flat surface shape substantially orthogonal to the bottom wall portion 11 ″, and the image display portion 22 ″ ′. It is in close proximity to the peripheral edge of the gap.

The touch input unit 20 ″ ′ contacts the inclined surface portion 12a ″ ′ at the initial position (see FIG. 12A) on the end side of the touch input unit 20 described above, and is pushed in (see FIG. 12B). ) Has a contact portion 22a ″ ′ that is separated from the inclined surface portion 12a ″ ′.
That is, the touch input unit 20 ″ ′ is configured by replacing the image display unit 22 described above with the image display unit 22 ″ ′. This image display part 22 "'has contact parts 22a"' on both sides facing each other.

  Each contact portion 22a "'is formed in an inclined surface shape following the inclined surface portion 12a"' of the casing 10 "', and is in surface contact with the inclined surface portion 12a"' at the initial position and inclined at the pushing position. It is separated from the surface portion 12a ″ ′.

  The guide mechanism G4 is a mechanism that guides the movement of the touch input portion 20 "'by the shape of the peripheral end portion of the touch input portion 20" "and the inner wall surface shape of the side wall portion 12" ".

Therefore, according to the haptic feedback device 4 having the above-described configuration, the touch input unit 20 ″ ′ vibrates due to external vibration at the initial position (see FIG. 12A) in substantially the same manner as the haptic feedback device 1 described above. In the push-in position (see FIG. 12B), the vibration of the vibration actuator 40 can be transmitted only to the touch input unit 20 ″ ′ without transmitting to the housing 10 ″ ′.
Further, at the initial position (see FIG. 12A), for example, the vibration of the vibration actuator 40 can be transmitted to the entire body including the casing 10 ″ ′ as a transmission means such as an alert or an incoming call.

  According to the tactile feedback device 4, the inclined surface portion 12a ″ ′ is provided over the entire length in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the side wall portion 12 ″ ′. However, as another example, the inclined surface portion 12a ″ ′ is provided on the side wall portion 12 ′. You may make it provide partially with respect to the longitudinal direction of "".

<About electronic devices>
FIG. 13 illustrates an electronic apparatus A including any one of the haptic feedback devices 1 to 4 having the above-described configuration.
The electronic device A has an opening a2 on one surface of the case a1, and the touch input unit 20 is exposed from the opening a2, and the tactile feedback device 1, 2, 3, or 4 is mounted in the case a1. doing.
Specific examples of the electronic device A may be home appliances, amusement devices, various composite electronic devices, medical devices, vehicle-mounted devices including a navigator, and the like.
According to this electronic device A, it is possible to give a good operational feeling to an operator who performs a touch operation on the touch input unit 20, and also the responsiveness to the operation is good.
In particular, when the electronic device A is a vehicle-mounted device, it is possible to reliably operate only the vibration of the touch input unit 20 without being affected by external vibration of the vehicle or the like at the push-in position (see FIG. 5B). Can be transmitted to a person's hand (finger).

As another example of the electronic device A, it is possible to use any one of the tactile feedback devices 1 to 4 as the device exemplified above without providing the case a1.
Further, as another example, any one of the tactile feedback devices 1 to 4 may constitute a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a personal computer capable of screen touch operation, other wearable electronic devices, etc. It is also possible to configure a touch pad for a personal computer and a touch pad for other electronic devices.

In particular, when the electronic device A is a smartphone or a wearable electronic device, touch input can be performed without transmitting vibration to the hand or body touching the case a1 of the device at the push-in position (see FIG. 5B). The vibration can be transmitted only to the hand (finger) operating the unit 20 to improve tactile recognition.
Explaining in detail, when displacement in the Z direction and vibration in the X or Y direction (lateral vibration) by the operation surface of the touch input unit 20 are applied only to the hand (finger) to be operated, it exists near the skin surface of the finger The tactile sensation receptor called Meissner body receives a sensation similar to the displacement of the skin surface, and the tactile sensation receptor called pachini body present in the subcutaneous tissue of the finger receives a sensation similar to the sinking of the finger. When these sensations are transmitted to the brain, an illusion that the operation surface partially sinks in the brain and a comfortable operation feeling such as a click feeling can be obtained.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, although the touch sensor which comprised the touch input part 20 was comprised, the touch sensor was not comprised in the said touch panel as another example, but other than an image display part and a touch panel. It is also possible to adopt an aspect provided in the part.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, as a particularly preferable example, the vibration actuator 40 is provided on one end side and the other end side in the short direction of the touch input unit 20, but as another example, the vibration actuator 40 is provided only on one side thereof. 40, an aspect in which the vibration actuator 40 is provided on both sides or one side in the longitudinal direction of the touch input unit 20, an aspect in which the vibration actuator 40 is provided on the peripheral end surface of the touch input unit 20, and a back surface of the touch input unit 20 It is also possible to provide the vibration actuator 40 in an arrangement or number other than the illustrated example, such as an aspect in which the vibration actuator 40 is provided near the center or an aspect in which three or more vibration actuators 40 are provided.

  In the above embodiment, each type of guide mechanism is provided. However, as another example, the guide mechanism G3 or G4 (see FIGS. 11 and 12) is added to the haptic feedback device 1 having the above configuration. A plurality of types of guide mechanisms, such as a mode and a mode in which guide mechanisms G1 and G2 are added to the haptic feedback device 3, can be used in appropriate combination.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the back surface of the touch input part 20 was supported on the bottom face in a housing | casing via a resilient member, as another example, the back surface or side surface of the touch input part 20 is made a resilient member ( For example, it is also possible to adopt a mode in which it is supported on a side surface in the housing via a leaf spring or the like.

Further, in the haptic feedback device 1 (see FIG. 5), the contact portion 23b is formed in a conical surface shape that is in surface contact with the inclined surface portion 14b as a particularly preferable aspect, but as another example, the cylindrical surface portion 14a in the guide shaft 23 is formed. In addition, it is possible to form a cylindrical portion with an enlarged diameter on the side in the pushing direction P, and to bring the edge of the cylindrical portion on the side opposite to the pushing direction into line contact with the inclined surface portion 14b.
As another example, the contact portion having the same function as that of the contact portion 23b can be shaped to make point contact with the inclined surface portion 14b.

  Similarly, in the haptic feedback device 4 (see FIG. 12), the contact portion 22a ″ ′ is formed so as to be in surface contact with the inclined surface portion 12a ″ ′ as a particularly preferable aspect, but as another example, the contact portion 22a ″ ′. It is also possible to adopt a mode in which the inclined surface portion 12a ″ ′ is in line contact, a point contact, or the like.

  The embodiments according to the present invention have been described in detail above, but the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention can be changed even if there is a design change or the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. include. In addition, the above-described embodiments can be combined by utilizing each other's techniques unless there is a particular contradiction or problem in the purpose, configuration, or the like.

1, 2 and 3: Tactile feedback device 10, 10 ', 10 ": Housing 14: Guide hole 14a: Cylindrical surface portion 14b: Inclined surface portion 20: Touch input portion 21: Touch panel 22: Image display portion 23, 25: Guide Shafts 23a, 25a: Shaft body 23b: Contact portion 40: Vibration actuator 50, 70: Elastic member 60: Elastic receiving portion G1, G2, G3: Guide mechanism P: Pushing direction

Claims (8)

  A touch input unit that moves between a housing, an initial position before the touch operation, and a pressed position that is pressed by the touch operation, and a vibration actuator that is integrally fixed to the touch input unit and vibrates in response to the touch operation A tactile feedback device comprising: a resilient member that ejects the touch input unit from the inside of the housing and holds the touch input unit on the initial position side; and a guide mechanism that guides the movement of the touch input unit. .   The guide mechanism includes a guide shaft that protrudes from a back surface of the touch input unit, and a guide hole that is provided on a housing surface facing the back surface and into which the guide shaft is inserted. The haptic feedback device according to claim 1.   At least one of the outer peripheral surface of the guide shaft and the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole is provided with an inclined surface portion that inclines in the diameter increasing direction toward the pushing direction side, and the other is the initial position. The tactile feedback device according to claim 2, further comprising a contact portion that contacts the inclined surface portion and separates from the inclined surface portion at the pushing position.   The guide mechanism is provided on at least one of the inner side surface of the casing and the outer side surface of the touch input unit, and is inclined to the outer side of the casing as it goes to the pushing direction side, and the other side. 2. The haptic feedback device according to claim 1, further comprising a contact portion that is provided at a position that contacts the inclined surface portion at the initial position and is separated from the inclined surface portion at the pushing position.   The haptic feedback device according to claim 3, wherein the contact portion is formed in an inclined surface shape in surface contact with the inclined surface portion.   The haptic feedback device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a compression coil spring sandwiched between a back surface of the touch input unit and an inner surface of the housing.   The elastic member is a leaf spring extending in a direction intersecting the pressing direction of the touch input unit, and one end side is fixed to the back surface of the touch input unit, and the other end side is opposed to the back surface. The haptic feedback device according to claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback device is in contact with an inner surface of the casing.   An electronic apparatus comprising the haptic feedback device according to claim 1.

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