WO2020044631A1

WO2020044631A1 - Operation device and vibration generating device

Info

Publication number: WO2020044631A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/010390
Authority: WO
Inventors: 宏涌田
Original assignee: アルプスアルパイン株式会社
Priority date: 2018-08-29
Filing date: 2019-03-13
Publication date: 2020-03-05
Also published as: JP2021183295A

Abstract

This operation device comprises a vibration generating unit, etc. The vibration generating unit includes a movable yoke, a fixed yoke, a permanent magnet that is attached to the movable yoke, an excitation coil that is attached to the fixed yoke, and an elastic support portion that is disposed between the movable yoke and the fixed yoke. The fixed yoke includes a base portion, a first protruding portion, and two second protruding portions. The permanent magnet is magnetized such that both ends thereof in the first direction have different magnetic poles, and the boundary between the magnetic poles overlaps, in a second direction, with the first protruding portion. In the initial state, the magnetic attraction force of the permanent magnet urges the movable yoke, in the second direction, toward the fixed yoke, the elastic support portion is compressed between the movable yoke and the fixed yoke, and the movable yoke is urged, in the first direction, toward a first position. When current flows through the excitation coil, the movable yoke vibrates in the first direction with the first position set as a neutral position.

Description

Operating device and vibration generator

The present disclosure relates to an operating device and a vibration generating device.

In recent years, an operation device that can perform an input operation by touching an operation surface, such as a touch pad, has become widespread. When operating such an operating device, the operator cannot obtain the operational feeling as when operating a switch device, a variable resistor, or the like. Therefore, an operation device with force feedback has been proposed in which a pseudo operation feeling is felt by applying vibration to the operation surface when operated.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an input device that uses a yoke offset to cross a pressing direction and a vibration direction in order to suppress vibration noise. Patent Document 2 discloses a device including an excitation coil and a permanent magnet as an electromagnetic vibration device that can be used for a reciprocating electric shaver or the like.

International Publication No. WO 2017/010171 JP-A-8-98493

However, in the input device described in Patent Document 1, the posture of the yoke may not be stable, and the magnitude of the vibration may be unstable. Further, the electromagnetic vibration device of Patent Document 2 cannot be used as an operation device that can perform an input operation.

The present disclosure aims to provide an operation device and a vibration generation device that can generate stable vibration.

According to the present disclosure, the operation device includes a movable unit having an operation member to be pressed, a vibration generation unit that applies vibration to the movable unit in a first direction along an operation surface of the operation member, A fixed unit that vibratably supports the movable unit, a detection unit that detects that the operation member has been pressed, and a control unit that drives the vibration generation unit according to a detection result of the detection unit. Have. A movable yoke attached to the movable unit, a fixed yoke attached to the fixed unit, and opposed to the movable yoke in a second direction intersecting the first direction; A permanent magnet attached to the movable yoke, an excitation coil attached to the fixed yoke and generating a magnetic flux when energized, and disposed between the movable yoke and the fixed yoke; And an elastic supporting portion that holds the vibration member so as to be able to vibrate. The fixed yoke includes a base, a first protrusion protruding from the base toward the movable yoke, and a protrusion protruding from the base toward the movable yoke, and the first protrusion in the first direction. And two second protrusions provided at positions sandwiched therebetween. The permanent magnet is magnetized such that both ends in the first direction have different magnetic poles, and a boundary between the magnetic poles and the first protrusion overlap in the second direction. In the initial state in which the excitation coil is not energized, the movable yoke is biased in the second direction to approach the fixed yoke by the magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet, and the movable yoke is fixed to the fixed yoke. The elastic support portion is compressed between the movable yoke and the yoke, and the movable yoke is urged toward the first position in the first direction. Vibrating in the first direction with the first position as a neutral position.

According to the present disclosure, stable vibration can be generated.

It is a perspective view showing the composition of the operating device concerning an embodiment. It is a top view showing the composition of the operating device concerning an embodiment. It is a sectional view showing the composition of the operating device concerning an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of an actuator. FIG. 5 is a plan view excluding a movable yoke and a permanent magnet from FIG. 4. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of an actuator. It is a figure showing composition of a control device. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing by the control device. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of rubber.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same function and configuration will be denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description may be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the operating device according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a top view showing the configuration of the operating device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is the configuration of the operating device according to the embodiment. FIG. FIG. 3 corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the operating device 100 according to the embodiment has a fixed base 110, a bezel 120 fixed on an edge of the fixed base 110, and a decorative panel 141 inside the bezel 120. An electrostatic sensor 142 is provided on the fixed base 110 side of the decorative panel 141, and a touch pad 140 is formed by the decorative panel 141 and the electrostatic sensor 142. The movable base 130 is provided on the fixed base 110 side of the touch pad 140. The movable base 130 includes a flat plate portion 131 wider than the touch pad 140 in a plan view, and a wall portion 132 extending from an edge of the flat plate portion 131 toward the fixed base 110. The fixed base 110 includes a flat portion 111 wider than the flat portion 131 in a plan view, a wall portion 112 extending upward from an edge of the flat portion 111 outside the wall portion 132, and a flange portion 113 protruding outward from the wall portion 112. Have. The lower end of the bezel 120 contacts the flange 113.

アクチュエータ The actuator 160 is provided on the flat plate portion 111. Actuator 160 contacts

flat portions

111 and 131. In a plan view, the actuator 160 is located substantially at the center of the

flat portions

111 and 131. A plurality of pretension springs 150 are provided around the actuator 160 between the

flat plate portions

111 and 131 to attract the

flat plate portions

111 and 131 to each other. The touch pad 140 is an example of an operation member, and the movable base 130 and the touch pad 140 are included in a movable unit. Further, the fixed base 110 is an example of a fixed portion, and the actuator 160 is an example of a vibration generating portion (vibration generating device).

パネル A panel guide 190 is provided between the wall portion 112 and the wall portion 132 to be in contact with the

wall portions

112 and 132. For example, the panel guide 190 has elasticity, and guides the movable base 130 inside the fixed base 110.

反射 Further, a plurality of reflection type photo interrupters 170 are provided on the flat plate portion 111 of the fixed base 110. The photo-interrupter 170 irradiates the flat portion 131 of the movable base 130 above the light with light, receives the light reflected by the flat portion 131, and detects the distance to the irradiated portion of the flat portion 131. can do. For example, the photo interrupters 170 are arranged inside the four corners of the touch pad 140 in plan view. The photo interrupter 170 is an example of a detection unit.

制御 A control device 180 is further provided on the fixed base 110. The control device 180 drives the actuator 160 in accordance with the operation of the touch pad 140 to perform tactile feedback to the user by the processing described below. The control device 180 is, for example, a semiconductor chip. In the present embodiment, the control device 180 is provided on the flat plate portion 111, but the location where the control device 180 is provided is not limited, and may be provided, for example, between the touch pad 140 and the movable base 130. .

Next, the configuration of the actuator 160 will be described. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of the actuator 160, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the actuator 160 with the movable yoke and the permanent magnet removed, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the actuator 160. FIG. 6 corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIGS.

アクチュエータ As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the actuator 160 includes the fixed yoke 10, the movable yoke 20, the excitation coil 30, the rubber 40, and the permanent magnet 60. The fixed yoke 10 has a plate-shaped base 11 having a substantially rectangular planar shape. The longitudinal direction of the base 11 is defined as the X direction, the lateral direction is defined as the Y direction, and the thickness direction is defined as the Z direction. The rubber 40 is an example of an elastic support. The X direction corresponds to a first direction, and the Z direction corresponds to a second direction.

The fixed yoke 10 further includes a central projecting portion 12 projecting upward (Z direction) from the center of the base portion 11 and a lateral projecting projecting upward (Z direction) from near both ends in the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the base portion 11. It has a part 13. The two side protrusions 13 are provided at positions sandwiching the center protrusion 12 in the X direction. The excitation coil 30 is wound around the central projection 12 between the two side projections 13. A rubber 40 is provided on each side protrusion 13. The central protrusion 12 is an example of a first protrusion, and the side protrusion 13 is an example of a second protrusion.

The movable yoke 20 is plate-shaped and has a substantially rectangular plane shape. The movable yoke 20 is in contact with the rubber 40 at an end in the longitudinal direction (X direction). A permanent magnet 60 is attached to a surface of the movable yoke 20 on the fixed yoke 10 side. The permanent magnet 60 is magnetized so that both ends in the X direction have different magnetic poles, and has an N pole portion 61 and an S pole portion 62. The permanent magnet 60 is attached to substantially the center of the movable yoke 20 in a plan view such that a boundary 63 between the N pole portion 61 and the S pole portion 62 overlaps with the center projecting portion 12 in the Z direction. The permanent magnet 60 magnetizes the fixed yoke 10 and the movable yoke 20, and the movable yoke 20 is urged in a direction approaching the fixed yoke 10 in the Z direction by magnetic attraction. Further, both ends of the movable yoke 20 are urged in a direction approaching each of the two side protrusions 13 in the X direction by the magnetic attraction. That is, the movable yoke 20 is urged toward a predetermined position in the X direction. This predetermined position is an example of a first position.

The control device 180 drives the actuator 160 so that the direction of the current flowing through the exciting coil 30 is alternately reversed when performing tactile feedback to the user. That is, the control device 180 alternately reverses the direction of the current flowing through the exciting coil 30, and alternately reverses the magnetic poles of the surface of the central protrusion 12 and the side protrusion 13 on the permanent magnet 60 side. As a result, the permanent magnet 60 and the movable yoke 20 are alternately attracted to each of the two side projections 13 and reciprocate in the X direction. That is, the energization of the exciting coil 30 causes the movable yoke 20 to vibrate in the X direction with the predetermined position (first position) in the initial state as a neutral position.

For example, the rubber 40 has a rectangular planar shape whose longitudinal direction is the Y direction, and the equivalent spring constant of the rubber 40 in the X direction is smaller than the equivalent spring constant in the Z direction. Therefore, when the same force is applied in the X direction and the Z direction, the rubber 40 is more greatly deformed in the X direction than in the Z direction. That is, the rubber 40 is not easily deformed in the Z direction and is easily deformed in the X direction. For example, the equivalent spring constant in the X direction of the rubber 40 is 3.2 N / mm, and the equivalent spring constant in the Z direction is 25 N / mm.

The rubber 40 is sandwiched between the side protrusion 13 and the movable yoke 20. That is, it is sandwiched between the fixed yoke 10 and the movable yoke 20. Therefore, the rubber 40 is held between the fixed yoke 10 and the movable yoke 20 unless it is intentionally disassembled. The rubber 40 may be fixed to the upper surface of the side protruding portion 13, the lower surface of the movable yoke 20, or both of them.

Next, driving of the actuator 160 by the control device 180 will be described. The control device 180 determines whether the load applied to the operation position of the touch pad 140 has reached a reference value for generating haptic feedback, and drives the actuator 160 according to the result to generate haptic feedback. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the control device 180.

The control device 180 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 181, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 182, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 183, and an auxiliary storage unit 184. The CPU 181, the ROM 182, the RAM 183, and the auxiliary storage 184 constitute a so-called computer. Each part of the control device 180 is mutually connected via a bus 185.

The CPU 181 executes various programs (for example, a load determination program) stored in the auxiliary storage unit 184.

The ROM 182 is a nonvolatile main storage device. The ROM 182 stores various programs and data necessary for the CPU 181 to execute various programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 184. Specifically, the ROM 182 stores a boot program such as a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) and an EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface).

The RAM 183 is a volatile main storage device such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory). The RAM 183 functions as a work area that is developed when various programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 184 are executed by the CPU 181.

The auxiliary storage unit 184 is an auxiliary storage device that stores various programs executed by the CPU 181 and various data generated by the CPU 181 executing the various programs.

The control device 180 has such a hardware configuration and performs the following processing. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the content of the processing by control device 180.

First, the control device 180 detects the touch pad 140 (step S1). Then, it is determined whether or not a finger has touched the touch pad 140 based on the output of the electrostatic sensor 142 (step S2). If the finger has not touched, the drift of the photo interrupter 170 is canceled (step S2). S3).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the finger has touched the touch pad 140, a detection signal is obtained from each of the photo interrupters 170 (step S4). For example, when the output signal of the photo interrupter 170 is an analog signal, a signal after conversion into a digital signal is obtained.

Next, from the detection signals of the photointerrupter 170, the displacement amount in the Z-axis direction at the detected position of the flat plate portion 131 is calculated (step S5).

Then, the amount of displacement Z in the Z-axis direction at the operation position of the touch pad 140 is calculated (step S6). That is, from the displacement amount in the Z-axis direction calculated from the detection signals of all or some of the four photo interrupters 170, and the X coordinate and Y coordinate of the operation position detected by the touch pad 140, the Z at the operation position is determined. An axial displacement Z is calculated.

In addition, the relationship between the applied load and the displacement amount in the Z-axis direction is obtained in advance, this is stored in the ROM 182, and is read out to calculate the threshold value (on threshold value) Zth in the Z-axis direction at the operation position. (Step S7).

Then, it is determined whether the displacement amount Z is greater than the ON threshold value Zth (step S8). If the displacement amount Z is greater than the ON threshold value Zth, it is determined that the applied load is greater than the reference value and the actuator 160 is driven to perform haptic feedback. (Step S9). At this time, the control device 180 drives the actuator 160 such that a current in a direction in which a repulsive force acts between the fixed yoke 10 and the movable yoke 20 flows through the exciting coil 30.

The control device 180 performs such an operation.

In the operating device 100 configured as described above, in the initial state where the excitation coil 30 is not energized, the movable yoke 20 is urged in the Z direction by the magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet 60 so as to approach the fixed yoke 10. In addition, the rubber 40 is compressed between the movable yoke 20 and the fixed yoke 10. Therefore, the relative position of the movable yoke 20 with respect to the fixed yoke 10 in the Z direction is stabilized.

When the touch pad 140 is pressed by the user, a drag force from the rubber 40 acts on the movable yoke 20, and the position of the movable yoke 20 is unlikely to change. Therefore, the actuator 160 is less likely to rattle due to the pressing operation. Also at this point, the relative position of the movable yoke 20 with respect to the fixed yoke 10 in the Z direction is easily stabilized. Where the strength of the drag from the rubber 40 depends on the amount of compression of the rubber 40, the amount of compression of the rubber 40 in the initial state depends on, for example, the elastic force of the rubber 40 and the pretension spring 150 and the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 60. Dependent. Therefore, by these selections, the amount of compression in the initial state and the strength of the drag at the time of the pressing operation can be appropriately adjusted.

In the initial state, the movable yoke 20 is urged toward a predetermined position (first position) in the X direction by the magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet 60. Therefore, the relative position of the movable yoke 20 with respect to the fixed yoke 10 in the X direction is stabilized.

可動 Furthermore, the movable yoke 20 overlaps the central projecting portion 12 and the side projecting portion 13 in plan view. That is, the movable yoke 20 overlaps with the center projecting portion 12 and the side projecting portion 13 in the Z direction. Therefore, the movable yoke 20 tends to stop at the center of the fixed yoke 10 even in the Y direction by the magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet 60. Therefore, the relative position of the movable yoke 20 with respect to the fixed yoke 10 in the Y direction is also stabilized.

As described above, the operating device 100 has excellent self-positioning performance, and the relative position of the movable yoke 20 with respect to the fixed yoke 10 is easily stabilized in the X, Y, and Z directions. That is, the posture of the movable yoke 20 is easily stabilized when viewed from the fixed yoke 10. Therefore, a stable vibration can be generated during tactile feedback.

On the other hand, when performing tactile feedback to the user, the excitation coil 30 is energized, and the movable yoke 20 vibrates in the X direction with a predetermined position (first position) in the initial state as a neutral position. At this time, since the equivalent spring constant of the rubber 40 in the X direction is smaller than the equivalent spring constant in the Z direction, the rubber 40 is not easily deformed by the pressing operation, and a large vibration amount can be obtained in the X direction.

As described above, in the operation device 100, when the touch pad 140 is operated, the actuator 160 vibrates in the direction along the operation surface of the touch pad 140 (first direction) according to the operation position and the operation load. By feeling the vibration on the operation surface, the user can recognize how the operation performed on the operation device 100 is reflected without visually recognizing the display device provided on the operation device 100 or the like. For example, when the operation device 100 is provided on a center console for various switches of a vehicle, the driver recognizes from the vibration of the actuator 160 how the operation performed by the driver is reflected without moving his / her eyes to the operation device 100. can do. In addition, if the vibration direction is a direction perpendicular to the operation surface, the air is likely to vibrate to generate a vibration sound, but the generation of such a vibration sound can be suppressed.

上端 The upper and lower ends of the rubber 40 may be fixed to the movable yoke 20 and the side protruding portions 13, respectively. Further, the upper end of the rubber 40 may be fixed to the movable yoke 20 and the lower end may not be fixed to the side protruding portion 13 but may be in close contact. Further, the lower end of the rubber 40 may be fixed to the side protruding portion 13 and the upper end may not be fixed to the movable yoke 20 but may be in close contact. Either the upper end or the lower end of the rubber 40 is fixed to the movable yoke 20 or the side protruding portion 13, and the other is not fixed, but is merely adhered, so that the assembling workability can be improved.

形状 The shape of the rubber 40 is not particularly limited. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the rubber. As shown in FIG. 9A, a columnar rubber 70 may be used. Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, a rubber 80 having a shape in which two truncated cones are stacked with their bottoms having small areas overlapping each other may be used. That is, a rubber-like rubber 80 in which a constriction is formed in the center of the cylinder in the height direction may be used. The ratio of the equivalent spring constant in the Z direction to the equivalent spring constant in the X direction is larger in the rubber 80 than in the rubber 70 if the diameters and materials of the upper surface and the lower surface are the same. That is, according to the rubber 80, it is possible to obtain a larger vibration amount in the X direction than the rubber 70, while suppressing the rattling caused by the pressing operation.

Further, the number of rubbers is not limited, and two or more rubbers may be provided for each side projecting portion 13.

The operation member is not limited to the operation panel member such as the touch pad 140, and may be a push button having an operation surface.

Note that a non-contact position detection sensor such as an electrostatic sensor may be used instead of the photo interrupter 170. Further, the pressure applied to the touch pad 140 may be detected using a pressure sensor.

操作 The operating device of the present disclosure is particularly suitable for an operating device provided on a center console of an automobile. Since the center console is provided between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat, the planar shape of the operation device provided on the center console may be complicated. In the operation device according to the present disclosure, since the magnitude of the vibration is stable within the operation surface, appropriate tactile feedback can be performed even when the planar shape of the operation member is complicated.

As described above, the preferred embodiments and the like have been described in detail, but are not limited to the above-described embodiments and the like, and various modifications and substitutions may be made to the above-described embodiments and the like without departing from the scope described in the claims. Can be added.

This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-160751 filed on August 29, 2018, and the entire contents of the application are incorporated into this international application.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 fixed yoke 11 base 12 central projection 13 side projection 20 movable yoke 30 excitation coil 40 rubber 60

permanent magnet

70, 80 rubber 100 operating device 110 fixed base 120 bezel 130 movable base 140 touch pad 141 makeup panel 142 electrostatic sensor 150 Pretension spring 160 Actuator 170 Photointerrupter 180 Control device

Claims

A movable portion having an operation member to be pressed,
A vibration generation unit that applies vibration in a first direction along the operation surface of the operation member to the movable unit;
A fixed portion that supports the movable portion so that it can vibrate,
A detection unit that detects that the operation member has been pressed,
A control unit that drives the vibration generation unit according to a detection result of the detection unit;
Has,
The vibration generator,
A movable yoke attached to the movable portion,
A fixed yoke attached to the fixed portion and opposed to the movable yoke in a second direction intersecting the first direction;
A permanent magnet attached to the movable yoke,
An excitation coil attached to the fixed yoke and generating a magnetic flux when energized;
An elastic support portion disposed between the movable yoke and the fixed yoke, for holding the movable yoke oscillatable with respect to the fixed yoke;
Has,
The fixed yoke,
The base,
A first protrusion protruding from the base toward the movable yoke;
Two second protrusions projecting from the base toward the movable yoke and provided at positions sandwiching the first protrusion in the first direction;
Has,
The permanent magnet is magnetized such that both ends in the first direction have different magnetic poles,
A boundary of the magnetic pole and the first protrusion overlap in the second direction;
In the initial state in which the excitation coil is not energized, the movable yoke is biased in the second direction to approach the fixed yoke by the magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet, and the movable yoke is fixed to the fixed yoke. The elastic support portion is compressed between the yoke and the yoke, and the movable yoke is urged toward the first position in the first direction;
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the movable yoke vibrates in the first direction with the first position being a neutral position by energizing the excitation coil.
The operation device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic support portion is further compressed from an initial state when the operation member is pressed.
The one end of the elastic support part is fixed to one of the movable yoke or the fixed yoke, and the other end is separable from the other of the movable yoke or the fixed yoke. Operating device.
4. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein an equivalent spring constant of the elastic support in the first direction is smaller than an equivalent spring constant of the elastic support in the second direction. 5.
With a movable yoke,
A fixed yoke opposed to the movable yoke in a second direction;
A permanent magnet attached to the movable yoke,
An excitation coil attached to the fixed yoke and generating a magnetic flux when energized;
An elastic support portion disposed between the movable yoke and the fixed yoke, for holding the movable yoke oscillatable with respect to the fixed yoke;
Has,
The fixed yoke,
The base,
A first protrusion protruding from the base toward the movable yoke;
Two second protrusions projecting from the base toward the movable yoke and provided at positions sandwiching the first protrusion in a first direction intersecting the second direction;
Has,
The permanent magnet is magnetized such that both ends in the first direction have different magnetic poles,
A boundary of the magnetic pole and the first protrusion overlap in the second direction;
In the initial state in which the excitation coil is not energized, the movable yoke is biased in the second direction to approach the fixed yoke by the magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet, and the movable yoke is fixed to the fixed yoke. The elastic support portion is compressed between the yoke and the yoke, and the movable yoke is urged toward the first position in the first direction;
The vibration generator according to claim 1, wherein the movable yoke vibrates in the first direction with the first position being a neutral position by energizing the excitation coil.
The vibration generator according to claim 5, wherein one end of the elastic support portion is fixed to one of the movable yoke and the fixed yoke, and the other end is separable from the other of the movable yoke and the fixed yoke. apparatus.
7. The vibration generator according to claim 5, wherein an equivalent spring constant of the elastic support portion in the first direction is smaller than an equivalent spring constant in the second direction. 8.