JP6901755B2 - Touch sensor unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a touch sensor unit.

A switch whose output value changes according to the amount of operation by the user is used. As such a switch, for example, a mechanical switch having a movable mechanism such as a linear potentiometer for detecting a position on a straight line such as a slider and a rotary potentiometer for detecting a rotation angle of a volume or a dial is known. ..

Further, as a switch whose output value changes according to the amount of operation, a GUI displayed on a display such as a touch panel and a position input device using a touch sensor such as a track pad are also known. A mechanical switch causes a failure when the switch portion is worn or damaged by the switch operation, but a touch panel or a trackpad has an advantage that such a mechanical failure does not occur.

However, in the case of a touch panel or trackpad, since there is no mechanical switch operation, the switch operation is not transmitted to the fingertips as a tactile sensation, and the operability is poor. Therefore, even in the case of a touch panel or a trackpad, a method is adopted in which mechanical vibration is transmitted to a fingertip to give a feeling of operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-36786

In the method of giving some kind of mechanical vibration to the touch panel as described above, it is necessary to provide the touch panel with a vibration mechanism, which increases the number of parts, hinders miniaturization, and increases the manufacturing cost.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touch sensor unit capable of giving a tactile operation feeling with a simple configuration.

In order to solve the above problems, the touch sensor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an operation surface for detecting the slide operation, which extends in the operation direction of the slide operation. The operation surface has a first surface and a second surface extending in parallel in the operation direction. The difference in height between the first surface and the second surface differs depending on the position in the operating direction.

It should be noted that any combination of the above components and the conversion of the expression of the present invention between methods, devices, systems and the like are also effective as aspects of the present invention.

According to the present invention, the touch sensor unit can be given a tactile operation feeling to the user with a simple configuration.

It is a block diagram of the touch sensor unit which concerns on embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows another configuration example of a touch sensor. It is a perspective view which shows still another configuration example of a touch sensor. It is sectional drawing explaining still another structural example of a touch sensor. 5 (a) is a perspective view showing still another configuration example of the touch sensor, and FIG. 5 (b) is a top view of the touch sensor of FIG. 5 (a). FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing still another configuration example of the touch sensor, and FIG. 6B is a top view of the touch sensor of FIG. 6A. It is a top view which shows still another configuration example of a touch sensor. It is a side view which shows still another configuration example of a touch sensor.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the touch sensor unit 100 according to the embodiment. The touch sensor unit 100 includes a touch sensor 10 and a controller 50.

The touch sensor 10 is an input device that detects a contact point by a finger or the like and a state quantity such as a capacitance or an electric resistance amount indicating a contact state at the contact point by various methods. The touch sensor 10 is, for example, a capacitance type, a resistive film type, or an infrared type touch sensor. Alternatively, the touch sensor 10 may include a plurality of piezoelectric elements.

The touch sensor 10 is provided with an operation surface 20, and when a user touches the operation surface 20 with an operation site such as a finger and performs a slide operation of tracing the operation surface 20, a predetermined operation input is performed. The predetermined operation input is, for example, an operation of increasing or decreasing the volume, the amount of light, the temperature, and the like. The touch sensor 10 can be provided on, for example, a remote controller, a side surface of a smartphone, a side surface of a wristwatch, an operation panel of various devices, a steering wheel of an automobile, or the like.

The touch sensor 10 includes a first protrusion 12 and a second protrusion 14. The first protrusion 12 and the second protrusion 14 are provided on the reference surface S1 which is the upper surface of the substrate or the like. Here, the reference plane S1 is a plane parallel to the operation direction d1 of the slide operation, but is not particularly limited, and may be a plane non-parallel to the operation direction d1 or a curved surface.

The first protrusion 12 and the second protrusion 14 extend in the operation direction d1. The first protrusion 12 and the second protrusion 14 are arranged in the direction d2 with a predetermined interval g1. The direction d2 is a direction orthogonal to the operation direction d1 in the reference plane S1.

The first protrusion 12 and the second protrusion 14 include an operation surface 20 for detecting a slide operation. The operation surface 20 extends in the operation direction d1 along the operation path of the slide operation. The operation surface 20 has a first surface 12a and a second surface 14a extending in parallel with the operation direction d1. The first surface 12a is the upper surface of the first protrusion 12. The second surface 14a is the upper surface of the second protrusion 14. Here, the upper surface represents a surface of the first protrusion 12 and the second protrusion 14 on the direction d3 side which is the normal direction of the reference plane S1.

At the reference position P1 on the operation surface 20 on the start point side of the operation direction d1, the height h1 of the first protrusion 12, that is, the height h1 of the first surface 12a is the height h2 of the second protrusion 14, that is, the second. It is substantially equal to the height h2 of the two surfaces 14a. The height h1 and the like represent the height from the reference plane S1. The height h1 of the first surface 12a gradually increases in the operating direction d1. The height h2 of the second surface 14a is substantially constant regardless of the position of the operation direction d1. Therefore, the height difference (h1-h2) between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a differs depending on the position of the operation direction d1. Specifically, the height difference (h1-h2) between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a increases as the position in the operation direction d1 moves away from the reference position P1. The maximum value of this height difference (h1-h2) is set so that the fingertip 200 of one finger can come into contact with the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a. The maximum value of this height difference (h1-h2) is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 2 mm or less, and the optimum value can be appropriately determined by experiments.

Further, the interval g1 is also set so that the fingertip 200 of one finger can come into contact with the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a. The interval g1 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, about 5 to 7 mm, and the optimum value thereof can be appropriately determined by an experiment.

Further, the width w1 of the first surface 12a is set so that the fingertip 200 can feel the tactile pressure sensation due to the first surface 12a. The width w1 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, about 2 to 5 mm, and the optimum value thereof can be appropriately determined by an experiment. The width w2 of the second surface 14a can be determined in the same manner, and is equal to, for example, the width w1.

The controller 50 is connected to the touch sensor 10, detects a contact point and a state quantity on the touch sensor 10, and performs predetermined signal processing on the detected signal. Specifically, the controller 50 changes the operation input amount when a slide operation is performed by a finger or the like, and outputs the operation input amount as an output value. The controller 50 increases the operation input amount as the touch position on the operation surface 20 moves away from the reference position P1 along the operation direction d1. In response to this increase in the amount of operation input, the height difference (h1-h2) between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a becomes large. On the contrary, the controller 50 reduces the operation input amount as the touch position on the operation surface 20 approaches the reference position P1 along the opposite direction of the operation direction d1. The controller 50 can be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

Next, the operation of the touch sensor unit 100 with the above configuration will be described. Here, it is assumed that the user performs an operation of increasing or decreasing the volume.

As shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the user's fingertip 200 is initially in contact with the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a at the reference position P1 on the start point side in the operation direction d1. From this state, the fingertip 200 slides in the operation direction d1 while touching the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a. At this time, there is no change in the tactile pressure sensation of the portion of the fingertip 200 in contact with the second surface 14a having a substantially constant height h2, or the change is relatively small, whereas the height h1 is The tactile sensation of the portion of the fingertip 200 in contact with the changing first surface 12a changes more significantly.

By comparing the tactile illusions at the two parts of the fingertip 200, the user's fingertip 200 has one virtual surface having a height variation larger than the actual height variation of the first surface 12a. An emphasized illusion of tactile pressure is created, as if tracing. The occurrence of such an illusion can also be called the multiple ridgeline effect. Therefore, the operation feeling that the operation input is performed can be fed back to the user by the tactile pressure sensation emphasized by the illusion. The tactile pressure sensation at this time increases as the slide amount of the fingertip 200 increases. This is because the height h1 of the first surface 12a gradually increases in the operation direction d1.

Further, since the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a are separated by an interval g1, there is no tactile pressure sensation on the fingertip 200 in the portion between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a. Therefore, the tactile pressure sensation is more likely to be emphasized.

At this time, the controller 50 increases the operation input amount according to the slide amount of the fingertip 200 according to the change of the position information of the contact point of the fingertip 200. As the amount of operation input increases, the volume output from a voice output device (not shown) increases. Therefore, it is possible to give the user tactile feedback that becomes stronger in response to the increase in volume.

Further, by sliding the operation in the opposite direction of the operation direction d1, the operation input amount can be reduced and the volume can be lowered. In this case, the tactile pressure sensation becomes smaller as the slide operation is performed. Therefore, it is possible to give the user tactile feedback that weakens according to the amount of decrease in volume.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the touch sensor 10 is provided with the first protrusion 12 and the second protrusion 14, and the first surface 12a and the second of the first protrusion 12 are provided according to the position of the operation direction d1. The height difference between the protrusion 14 and the second surface 14a is different. Therefore, as the touch position slides, the tactile pressure sensations of the fingertips 200 in contact with the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a change. The contrast between the two tactile sensations of the fingertip 200 creates an emphasized illusion of the tactile sensation at the fingertip 200. Therefore, the tactile pressure sensation emphasized by the illusion can give the user tactile feedback whose strength changes in response to the change in the operation input amount. Therefore, the touch sensor 10 can give the user a feeling of operation by tactile sensation with a simple configuration.

Further, since it is only necessary to provide the first protrusion 12 and the second protrusion 14 on the touch sensor 10, the number of parts is smaller and the manufacturing cost is lower than when mechanical vibration is applied by a vibrating element or the like. Since it is structurally simple, it is unlikely to break down.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another configuration example of the touch sensor 10. If the difference in height between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a differs depending on the position of the operation direction d1, the height h2 of the second surface 14a may change according to the position of the operation direction d1. In the example of FIG. 2, the height h2 of the second surface 14a gradually increases in the operation direction d1. The amount of increase in the height h2 of the second surface 14a per unit length in the operating direction d1 is smaller than the amount of increase in the height h1 of the first surface 12a per unit length in the operating direction d1.

In this configuration example, since the height h1 of the first surface 12a and the height h2 of the second surface 14a are gradually increased, the user is more aware that the height of the operation surface 20 is changing visually. Cheap. As a result, the illusion of emphasized tactile pressure is likely to occur.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing still another configuration example of the touch sensor 10. In the example of FIG. 3, the height h1 of the first surface 12a is substantially constant regardless of the position of the operation direction d1, and the height h2 of the second surface 14a gradually decreases in the operation direction d1. With this configuration, the height difference (h1-h2) between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a gradually increases in the operation direction d1. Even with such a configuration, the same effect as that of the configuration of FIG. 1 can be obtained.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating still another configuration example of the touch sensor 10. In the cross section perpendicular to the operation direction d1, the shapes of the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a are arbitrary, and any shape may be used as long as the user can slide the finger. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a may be convex portions having a curvature. In this configuration example, the contact area between the fingertip 200 and the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a is reduced, so that the slide operation can be facilitated.

5 (a) is a perspective view showing still another configuration example of the touch sensor 10, and FIG. 5 (b) is a top view of the touch sensor 10 of FIG. 5 (a). The operation surface 20 may include three surfaces. That is, the operation surface 20 further has a third surface 16a extending in the operation direction d1 in parallel with the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a. The touch sensor 10 includes a third protrusion 16 including a third surface 16a. The first surface 12a is located between the second surface 14a and the third surface 16a. The height h2 of the second surface 14a and the height h3 of the third surface 16a at each position in the operation direction d1 are substantially equal. The height h2 of the second surface 14a and the height h3 of the third surface 16a at each position in the operation direction d1 may be different from each other as long as the desired tactile feedback is obtained, and the optimum values thereof shall be appropriately determined by experiments. Can be done.

The maximum value of the height difference (h1-h2) between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a, that is, the maximum value of the height difference (h1-h3) between the first surface 12a and the third surface 16a is The fingertip 200 of one finger is set so as to be able to contact the first surface 12a, the second surface 14a, and the third surface 16a. The maximum value of this height difference (h1-h2) is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 2 mm or less, and the optimum value can be appropriately determined by experiments.

The width w1 of the first surface 12a is such that the fingertip 200 of one finger can contact the first surface 12a, the second surface 14a, and the third surface 16a, and the fingertip 200 is touched by the first surface 12a. It is set to the extent that you can feel pressure. The width w1 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, about 2 to 5 mm, and the optimum value thereof can be appropriately determined by an experiment. The width w2 of the second surface 14a and the width w3 of the third surface 16a are equal to, for example, the width w1.

In the configuration of FIG. 1, since the fingertip 200 contacts only the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a, the height of the first surface 12a gradually increases when the illusion of emphasized tactile pressure is generated by the slide operation. Nevertheless, the height of the first surface 12a is constant, and there is an illusion that the height of the second surface 14a is gradually decreasing. On the other hand, in the configuration of FIG. 5, in addition to the first surface 12a, the fingertip 200 comes into contact with the second surface 14a and the third surface 16a having substantially the same height at each position in the operation direction d1. Therefore, during the slide operation, the number of parts of the fingertip 200 where there is no change in the tactile pressure sensation or the change is relatively small increases to two places. Therefore, the illusion that the height of the second surface 14a is gradually decreasing can be suppressed.

Further, since the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a are separated by the distance g1 and the second surface 14a and the third surface 16a are separated by the distance g1, the portion between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a, and , There is no tactile pressure sensation on the fingertip 200 in the portion between the second surface 14a and the third surface 16a. Therefore, the illusion that the tactile pressure sensation is emphasized is likely to occur.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing still another configuration example of the touch sensor 10, and FIG. 6B is a top view of the touch sensor 10 of FIG. 6A. Also in this configuration example, the operation surface 20 includes three surfaces. The substrate 70 includes a second surface 14a and a third surface 16a. The second surface 14a and the third surface 16a are the upper surfaces of the substrate 70. The first protruding portion 12 projects from between the second surface 14a and the third surface 16a of the substrate 70. The height difference between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a and the height difference between the first surface 12a and the third surface 16a are equal to the height h1 of the first surface 12a, respectively. In this configuration example, the same effect as in FIG. 5 can be obtained, and since the second protrusion 14 and the third protrusion 16 in FIG. 5 are not required, the configuration can be further simplified.

FIG. 7 is a top view showing still another configuration example of the touch sensor 10. The operation direction d1 does not have to be constant during the slide operation. The operation direction d1 may change during the slide operation, and may be, for example, a circumferential direction. That is, the operation path of the slide operation does not have to be a straight line, but may be a curved line or a polygonal line. In this configuration example, the operation surface 20 bends and extends in the operation direction d1 which is the circumferential direction. The first surface 12a and the second surface 14a are bent and extended in parallel with the operation direction d1. The height difference between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a gradually increases in the operating direction d1. In this configuration, the fingertip 200 can be slid in an arc shape in the operation direction d1 centering on the vicinity of the base of the finger. Therefore, it is possible to give the user a feeling of operation different from the case where the operation direction d1 is the linear direction.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing still another configuration example of the touch sensor 10. The height difference (h1-h2) between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a does not have to gradually increase in the operation direction d1, and may be repeatedly increased or decreased in the operation direction d1. In the example of FIG. 8, the first surface 12a of the first protrusion 12 includes an uneven portion. The height h1 of the uneven portion of the first surface 12a repeatedly increases and decreases in the operation direction d1. The height h1 of the first surface 12a other than the uneven portion is substantially the same as the height h2 of the second surface 14a of the second protrusion 14. The height h2 of the second surface 14a is substantially constant regardless of the position of the operation direction d1, as in FIG.

The touch sensor unit 100 provided with such a touch sensor 10 can be used, for example, in a language learning device that outputs the voice of a predetermined phrase. The data of the plurality of syllables constituting the predetermined phrase are associated with each position of the operation direction d1 on the uneven portion together with the strength of the sound. At the position of the syllable with strong sound, the height difference between the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a is relatively large, and at the position of the syllable with weak sound, the first surface 12a and the second surface 14a The difference in height is relatively small. The controller 50 outputs a syllable audio signal corresponding to the position in the operation direction d1 when the position information of the contact point of the fingertip is on the uneven portion. When the fingertip slides the uneven portion in the operation direction d1, the voice of the phrase is output. During the slide operation, the tactile sensation of the fingertip becomes large at the position of strong sound, and the tactile sensation of the fingertip becomes small at the position of weak sound. With such an operation feeling, it is possible to make it easier for the user to remember the accent of the phrase.

The action and effect of the touch sensor unit 100 described above will be described.

(1) Hard to break down Since the touch sensor 10 of the present embodiment does not have a movable mechanism such as a button or a switch, the device is not deformed or damaged due to it, and it is hard to break down.

(2) The touch sensor 10 of the present embodiment, which can be manufactured at low cost, includes a component representing the shape as a switch, a touch sensor of a resistance film type or a capacitance type, or a touch sensor using a piezoelectric element or the like. It is composed of existing inexpensive members. In addition, since it does not require a complicated mechanical mechanism, the labor required for processing is less than that for manufacturing a general switch. These features make it possible to manufacture the touch sensor unit 100 at low cost.

(3) Easy to expand the application environment Generally, when a movable switch member exists in a certain device, water and dust enter through the gap required to move the switch, so that dustproof and waterproof properties are ensured. It becomes difficult. Since the touch sensor unit 100 of the present embodiment does not have a movable mechanism, the airtightness of the switch can be ensured by a simple coating, and it is easy to raise the protection grade such as dustproof and waterproof. When considering waterproofness, it is necessary that the sensing method of the touch sensor on the operation surface is not a capacitance but a resistance film or the like that is not easily affected by water wetting.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an example, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible for each of these components and combinations of each processing process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.

For example, the configuration example of FIG. 4 may be combined with each configuration example of FIGS. 2, 3, 3 and 5-8. The configuration example of FIG. 5 may be combined with the configuration examples of FIGS. 2, 3, 7, and 8. The configuration example of FIG. 6 may be combined with the configuration examples of FIGS. 2, 3, 7, and 8. The configuration example of FIG. 7 may be combined with each of the configuration examples of FIGS. 2 and 3. The configuration example of FIG. 8 may be combined with each of the configuration examples of FIGS. 2 and 3. The new embodiments resulting from the combination have the effects of each of the combined embodiments.

d1 ... Operation direction, 10 ... Touch sensor, 12 ... 1st protrusion, 12a ... 1st surface, 14 ... 2nd protrusion, 14a ... 2nd surface, 16 ... 3rd protrusion, 16a ... 3rd surface, 20 ... Operation surface, 50 ... Controller, 70 ... Board, 100 ... Touch sensor unit.

Claims (8)

Equipped with an operation surface for detecting the slide operation, which extends in the operation direction of the slide operation.
The operation surface has a first surface and a second surface extending in parallel in the operation direction.
The difference in height between the first surface and the second surface in accordance with the position of the operation direction Ri Do different,
The first protrusion including the first surface and
A touch sensor unit further comprising a second protrusion including the second surface. The height of the first surface is gradually increased to the operating direction, the touch sensor unit according to claim 1 the height of the second surface, which is a constant. The touch sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the height of the first surface and the height of the second surface gradually increase in the operation direction. Equipped with an operation surface for detecting the slide operation, which extends in the operation direction of the slide operation.
The operation surface has a first surface and a second surface extending in parallel in the operation direction.
The difference in height between the first surface and the second surface differs depending on the position in the operation direction.
A touch sensor unit characterized in that the height of the first surface and the height of the second surface gradually increase in the operation direction. Equipped with an operation surface for detecting the slide operation, which extends in the operation direction of the slide operation.
The operation surface has a first surface and a second surface extending in parallel in the operation direction.
The difference in height between the first surface and the second surface differs depending on the position in the operation direction.
The operation surface has a third surface extending in the operation direction in parallel with the first surface and the second surface.
The first surface is located between the second surface and the third surface.
The height of the height and the third surface of the second surface at each position of the operation direction substantially V equal,
The first protrusion including the first surface and
The second protrusion including the second surface and
The third projection and further features and to filter pitch sensor unit further comprising a containing said third surface. The touch sensor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the operation direction changes during a slide operation. A controller is provided that increases the operation input amount as the touch position on the operation surface moves away from the reference position along the operation direction.
The touch sensor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the difference in height between the first surface and the second surface increases as the position in the operating direction moves away from the reference position. The touch sensor unit according to claim 1 or 5 , wherein the difference in height between the first surface and the second surface increases or decreases in the operation direction.

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