JP2011090628A - Softness-presenting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a softness-presenting device which is simple and new in composition, and presents softness to a user, and is easily applicable to various kinds of interfaces such as a touch panel, a keyboard and a mouse. <P>SOLUTION: A contacting means 14 which has a flat contacting face with which user's fingers contact includes: rotation means 36, 38 which are connected to the contacting means 14 and rotate the contacting means 14 about an axial line which is parallel to the plane direction of the contacting face and passes through the contacting means 14; a contact detecting means 32 which detects that the fingers contact with the contacting face; and a control means 16 which reciprocally rotates the contacting means 14 about the axial line by means of the rotation means 36, 38 when the contact detecting means 32 detects that the fingers contact with the contacting face. A feedback function by softness is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a softness presentation device that presents softness to a user through a finger that the user contacts.

  In recent years, user satisfaction with various man-machine-interfaces (hereinafter also simply referred to as “interfaces”) such as touch panels, keyboards, and mice that exchange information between a computer and a user who uses the computer. As one means for improving the usage efficiency and the like, it has been studied to present a tactile sensation to the user to stimulate the psychological or physiological aspect of the user.

  There are several types of tactile sensations, such as softness and hardness, smoothness, roughness, and sneezing, but among these tactile sensations, there is a great interest in presenting softness. . In general, an interface is often formed using a hard material such as a metal or a hard resin material. Therefore, when the softness is presented to the user, it has a great impact due to the difference between the hard feeling of the material of the interface. This is thought to be possible.

  As a kind of softness presentation device for presenting such softness, for example, a bag-like rubber film is arranged on the part where the user's finger contacts, and air is sent inside the rubber film with an air compressor, A softness presentation device that presents softness to the user by gradually increasing the contact area of the rubber film with the finger as the rubber film bulges (expands) is known (non-patent document). 1).

"Presentation of flexible elastic object by simultaneous control of fingertip contact area and reaction force, co-authored by Yoshiaki Ikeda and Junya Fujita", [online], [searched September 15, 2009], Internet <http: //reality.ei .tuat.ac.jp / papers / TVRSJ92.PDF>

  However, in the softness presentation device shown in Non-Patent Document 1, when the rubber film that is in contact with the finger swells, the finger is pushed back, and the contact area of the rubber film with respect to the finger may be difficult to increase. It was necessary to insert a finger into a ring-shaped member provided with a rubber film to prevent the finger from being pushed back by the rubber film. Therefore, when applied to an interface such as a touch panel, a keyboard, or a mouse, there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated due to the arrangement of the ring-shaped member, so that it cannot be easily applied.

  The present invention has been made in the background as described above, and the problem to be solved is that it is possible to present softness to the user with a simple configuration, and various interfaces such as a touch panel, a keyboard, and a mouse. It is an object of the present invention to provide a soft presentation device having a novel configuration that can be easily applied to the present invention.

  In the softness presentation device according to the first aspect of the present invention made to solve the above-described problem, when the user's finger contacts the contact surface of the contact means, the contact detection means detects the contact. When contact is detected by the contact detection means, the control means causes the rotation means to repeatedly rotate the contact means around an axis line parallel to the plane direction of the contact surface and passing through the contact means.

  Here, when the user brings a finger into contact with a portion parallel to the axis of the contact surface, both side portions sandwiching the contact portion with the finger in the contact means are contact portions with the contact means on the finger (the finger is initially in contact with the contact means). A part of a finger that is in contact with the contact part so as to spread alternately on both sides of the contact part.

  Thereby, the aspect which the contact area with respect to the contact means of a finger | toe becomes large gradually is implement | achieved repeatedly by repeated rotation of a contact means. As a result, even if the contact means is not formed using a particularly soft material, the user can feel the softness.

  In short, according to the softness presentation device of the present invention, since softness is presented to the user using a flat contact surface that is easily secured in various interfaces such as a touch panel, a keyboard, and a mouse, Of course, the present invention can be applied to a presentation device that only presents the message.

  By the way, in the softness presentation apparatus of this invention, the softness presentation apparatus of Claim 2 is employ | adopted suitably for the purpose of reduction of manufacturing cost, simplification of a structure, etc., for example. In this softness presentation device, the rotation means includes a straight rod-shaped rotation shaft fixed to the contact means along the axis of the contact means, and a rotation actuator that rotates the rotation shaft about the central axis. The control means repeatedly rotates the contact means around the central axis of the rotation shaft by the rotation actuator.

  In other words, since the rotation shaft is directly fixed to the contact means and the rotation shaft itself is rotated, the contact means is rotated. Reduction and simplification of the structure.

  Furthermore, in the softness presentation device of the present invention, for example, the softness presentation device according to claim 3 is preferably employed in order for the rotation means to rotate the contact means more stably. In this softness presentation device, the rotation means supports a pair of support members that support both side portions of the contact surface of the contact means in the plane direction across the axis so as to be movable upward and downward from the axis, respectively. A vertical movement actuator that moves the member upward and downward from the axis, and the control means alternately moves the one support member and the other support member up and down by the vertical movement actuator to move the contact means about the axis. Rotate repeatedly.

  As a result, the load exerted on the contact means by the finger is distributed by the pair of support members, and the stress concentration of the contact means is reduced, so that the load resistance of the contact means on the finger is improved, and eventually the contact means The rotation of the means is stabilized.

  By the way, as described above, in order to present softness to the user, it is desirable for the user to place the finger on the axis of the contact means. If it is only provided, the user may not be able to easily position the finger on the axis, and as a result, it may be difficult to easily present softness to the user.

  In order to solve this problem, the softness presentation device according to claim 4 is preferably employed particularly in the softness presentation device of the present invention. This softness presentation device is characterized in that a plurality of contact means are arranged in the plane direction, and the control means controls the movement of each contact means according to the position of the contact surface of the contact means with which the user touches the finger. And

  Specifically, a drive shaft that is rotated or moved up and down by a rotation actuator and a vertical movement actuator is fixed to the contact means, and a plurality of such contact means are arranged in the plane direction of the contact surface.

  Further, when the user contacts the finger with the contact means, the contact detection means detects the position of the finger on the contact surface, and the position determination means detects the position of the finger detected by the contact detection means based on the contact surface. It is determined which of the first drive shaft side provided in the first contact means and the first contact means and the boundary side of the second contact means adjacent to the first contact means is closer to. .

  Further, the control means is such that the position of the finger on the contact surface detected by the position detection means is closer to the first drive shaft side than the boundary side between the first contact means and the second contact means by the position determination means. When it is determined to be in the position, the first contact means is repeatedly rotated around the central axis of the first drive shaft by the rotation actuator.

  On the other hand, the control means is such that the position of the finger on the contact surface detected by the position detection means is closer to the boundary side between the first contact means and the second contact means than the first drive shaft side by the position determination means. When it is determined to be in the position, the vertical drive actuator alternately moves the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft as the drive shaft provided in the second contact means up and down, and rotates The first drive shaft and the second drive shaft are synchronously rotated by the actuator in the same rotation direction and rotation amount.

  That is, according to the softness presentation device according to claim 4, in the plurality of contact means, at or near the contact position of the contact surface on which the user contacts the finger, the one or more contact means move around the position. It is rotated repeatedly. Therefore, it is possible to present the softness to the user by efficiently contacting the contact means alternately with both side portions of the finger that sandwich the contact portion with the contact means.

  Further, according to the softness presentation device of the present invention, for example, as shown in claim 5, the control means is a contact means according to the pressure of contact with the finger contact surface detected by the pressure detection means. A configuration may be employed in which at least one of a rotation amount and a rotation speed of a rotation unit that repeatedly rotates is controlled. According to the present invention as described above, the softness to be presented can be changed according to the contact pressure of the finger, whereby the intended softness can be transmitted more reliably.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a controller as one embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the controller is installed in the vehicle. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of a controller. The top view which expands and shows schematically the touchscreen which is one principal part of a controller. (A) is the longitudinal cross-sectional view which expands and shows the said touch panel roughly, Comprising: It is a figure corresponded in the AA cross section of FIG. 4, (b) is an electric motor which is another principal part of a controller, and It is a perspective view which expands and shows a drive shaft roughly. The flowchart which shows the process for showing softness to a user using a controller. It is drawing which shows one use condition of a controller, (a) is the top view, (b) is the front view. It is drawing which shows one use condition different from FIG. 7 in a controller, (a) is the top view, (b) is the front view.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a controller 10 as an embodiment of the present invention. The controller 10 includes a housing body 12, a touch input device 14, and a control device (hereinafter also referred to as ECU) 16. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the controller 10 is installed in an automobile, for example, for operating various in-vehicle devices such as a car navigation device, an audio device, and an air conditioner at hand of a driver or the like. The input device is a so-called interface.

In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction refer to the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction of the vehicle, respectively.
Specifically, the housing body 12 of the controller 10 has a substantially rectangular box shape as a whole, and is provided below the center console 20 of the automobile (between the driver seat and the passenger seat). In addition, the upper portion of the housing body 12 has a streamlined plate shape in consideration of easiness of placing a hand, an arm, etc., designability, and the like.

  4 and 5, the touch input device 14 includes a plurality of drive units 30 each including a drive plate 24, a drive shaft 26, and a pair of drive motors 28, a touch panel 32, and a display panel 34. It consists of

  The drive plate 24 has a long and substantially rectangular plate shape, and the drive shaft 26 has a long and straight bar shape. The drive shaft 26 is fixed to one surface of the drive plate 24 along a center line that is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the drive plate 24 and passes through a substantially central portion in the lateral direction. The portions protrude outward from the respective end portions of the drive plate 24 in the longitudinal direction. Each end of the drive shaft 26 is fixed to a drive motor 28.

  Each drive motor 28 includes a rotation motor 36 and a vertical movement motor 38. The rotation motor 36 is a stepping motor that is fixed to the end of the drive shaft 26 and rotates the drive shaft 26 about the central axis. The vertical movement motor 38 includes a linear motor including a stator and a mover that moves linearly with respect to the stator by the action of a magnetic field, and the mover moves in the vertical direction of the housing body 12 (the vehicle vertical direction). The stator is fixed to the housing body 12 in such a manner that the stator moves. A rotation motor 36 is fixed to each mover. Thereby, the vertical movement motor 38 moves the drive shaft 26 in the vertical direction via the rotation motor 36. The driver circuits for the rotation motor 36 and the vertical movement motor 38 are built in the ECU 16.

  In the plurality of drive units 30 including the drive plate 24, the drive shaft 26, and the pair of drive motors 28, the axial direction of each drive shaft 26 is parallel to the front-rear direction (vehicle front-rear direction) of the housing body 12. In this form, the housing body 12 is arranged in parallel in the left-right direction (vehicle left-right direction). In addition, the plurality of drive plates 24 are substantially flush with each other in an initial state where they are not moved by the drive motor 28, thereby exhibiting a single flat plate shape.

  A plurality of liquid crystals (including organic liquid crystals and inorganic liquid crystals) 40 are provided on the surface of each drive plate 24 opposite to the surface on which the drive shaft 26 is fixed, and the plurality of liquid crystals 40 cooperate with each other. A thin display panel 34 is configured. An electrode (not shown) of the liquid crystal 40 is electrically connected to the ECU 16.

  A touch panel 32 is attached to the display panel 34. The touch panel 32 includes pressure-sensitive elements arranged at predetermined intervals in the plane direction of the panel, and is composed of a plate-like member having optical transparency as a whole, and detects the contact of the finger 33 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). A so-called pressure-sensitive touch panel that outputs a detection signal of the touched position to the ECU 16 is provided.

  In particular, since the touch panel 32 is attached to each drive plate 24, it is possible to detect which position of which drive plate 24 the finger 33 contacts in the plurality of drive plates 24. Further, since the plurality of drive plates 24 are not connected to each other via the touch panel 32 or the display panel 34, each drive plate 24 can be moved independently without being obstructed by the touch panel 32 and the display panel 34. Has been.

  The plurality of drive units 30 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. The touch input device 14 is disposed in front of the housing body 12 with the touch panel 32 and the display panel 34 exposed to the outside.

The housing body 12, the drive unit 30, the touch panel 32, and the like are hard materials that are difficult to elastically deform by being formed using a hard synthetic resin material.
The ECU 16 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The ECU 16 receives a signal of a position where the finger 33 touches the touch panel 32 by a pressure sensitive element of the touch panel 32, and based on the position signal, the rotation motor 36 and Alternatively, a drive control signal is output to the vertical movement motor 38 to control repetitive rotation of the drive plate 24.

  Further, the center console 20 is provided with a display screen unit 42 that is electrically connected to an in-vehicle computer (not shown). The display screen unit 42 displays operation screens of various in-vehicle devices such as a car navigation device, an audio device, and an air conditioner based on the image information sent from the in-vehicle computer.

  ECU16 is electrically connected with the said vehicle-mounted computer, receives the position signal of the finger | toe 33 detected by the touch panel 32, and outputs this position signal to a vehicle-mounted computer. The in-vehicle computer controls the movement of the cursor displayed on the operation screen based on the position signal.

  Further, when the user's finger 33 touches the touch panel 32 of the controller 10 and detects a predetermined pressure when the cursor is within the frame of the image information indicating the operation of the predetermined in-vehicle device, A detection signal is output to the in-vehicle computer via the ECU 16. Thereby, the in-vehicle computer controls the in-vehicle device and displays the image information selected from the predetermined image information with the cursor on the display screen unit 42.

  When the headlight of the automobile is turned on, a lighting signal is output to the ECU 16 via the in-vehicle computer, and the ECU 16 outputs a display control signal for lighting and displaying the liquid crystal 40 superimposed on the touch panel 32.

  The procedure of the process of presenting softness to the user (driver or other occupant) when operating the in-vehicle device using such a controller 10 will be described with reference to FIG. “S” shown in FIG. 6 is a shorthand notation for “step”.

  The ECU 16 receives power supply when the ignition switch of the automobile is turned on, and executes the processing shown in FIG. 6. When the ignition switch is turned off, the power supply is cut off and the processing ends.

  First, in S <b> 100, the ECU 16 determines whether or not a signal indicating that the user's finger 33 is in contact with the touch panel 32 of the touch input device 14 is detected. If no signal is detected (S100, NO (hereinafter abbreviated as N)), the ECU 16 proceeds to a pre-processing (ie, start) of S100. When a signal is detected (S100, YES (hereinafter abbreviated as Y)), in S102, based on the signal, the ECU 16 determines that the touch position of the finger 33 is one of the plurality of touch panels 32 in the touch input device 14. Which position of which touch panel 32 is located is read.

  In S104, the ECU 16 determines that the position of the finger 33 is on the side of the drive shaft 26 (hereinafter also referred to as the first drive shaft 26a) provided on the touch panel 32 (hereinafter also referred to as the first touch panel 32a) in contact, It is determined which one is closer to the boundary side between one touch panel 32a and the touch panel 32 adjacent to the first touch panel 32a (hereinafter also referred to as the second touch panel 32b).

  As shown in FIG. 7, for example, when the finger 33 is positioned on the first drive shaft 26a, the position of the finger 33 is the boundary side between the first touch panel 32a and the second touch panel 32b. Since the ECU 16 is closer to the first drive shaft 26 side (S104, Y), in S106, the ECU 16 turns the rotation motor 36 of the pair of drive motors 28, 28 fixed to the first drive shaft 26a. , 36, the first drive shaft 26a is repeatedly rotated around the central axis. As a result, the left plate-like portion and the right plate-like portion positioned in the left-right direction across the first drive shaft 26a in the touch panel 32 are the contact portions of the finger 33 with the touch panel 32 (in this embodiment, the finger 33). The contact area between the finger 33 and the touch panel 32 is changed from the initial contact portion to both sides. It gradually grows toward. As a result, the controller 10 including the touch input device 14 can present softness to the user through the finger 33.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, when the finger 33 is located at the boundary between the first touch panel 32 a and the second touch panel 32 b, the position of the finger 33 is the first drive shaft 26. Since the ECU 16 is located closer to the boundary side between the first touch panel 32a and the second touch panel 32b than the side (S104, N), the ECU 16 proceeds to S108.

  In S108, the ECU 16 controls the drive motors 28, 28 fixed to the first drive shaft 26a and the drive shaft 26 (hereinafter also referred to as the second drive shaft 26b) provided on the second touch panel 32b. A control signal is output, and the control of the drive motors 28 and 28 (a) and (b) is alternately performed at a predetermined cycle.

  (A) The first drive shaft 26a is moved upward by the vertical movement motor 38, the second drive shaft 26b is moved downward by the vertical movement motor 38, and the vertical movement motor 38, Along with the movement of 38, the first drive shaft 26a and the second drive shaft 26b are both rotated clockwise by the same rotation amount (angle) by the rotation motors 36 and 36, whereby the first touch panel 32a. And the second touch panel 32b are inclined so as to gradually rise from the second touch panel 32b toward the first touch panel 32a in a state where they are flush with each other.

  (B) The first drive shaft 26a is moved downward by the vertical movement motor 38, the second drive shaft 26b is moved upward by the vertical movement motor 38, and the vertical movement motor 38, Along with the movement of 38, the first drive shaft 26a and the second drive shaft 26b are both rotated counterclockwise by the same rotation amount (angle) by the rotation motors 36 and 36, whereby the first touch panel 32a. And the second touch panel 32b are inclined so as to gradually rise from the first touch panel 32a toward the second touch panel 32b in a state where they are flush with each other.

In short, the ECU 16 causes the first drive shaft 26 a and the second drive shaft 26 b to move up and down alternately by the vertical movement motor 38 of each drive motor 28, and the first motor by the rotation motor 36 of each drive motor 28. By rotating the drive shaft 26a and the second drive shaft 26b in synchronization with the same rotation direction and rotation amount, the first touch panel 32a and the second touch panel 32b are connected to the panels 32a and 32b. Rotate repeatedly around the boundary.
(See FIG. 8 (b)).

  As a result, the first touch panel 32a and the second touch panel 32b are alternately brought into contact with both side portions of the finger 33 that sandwich the contact portion with the touch panel 32 (that is, the boundary portion). And the first and second touch panels 32a and 32b gradually increase from the initial contact portion toward both sides. As a result, the controller 10 including the touch input device 14 can present softness to the user through the finger 33.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the ECU 16 rotates when detecting that the pressure of the finger 33 is increased by the pressure-sensitive element of the touch panel 32 as the finger 33 strongly presses the pressure-sensitive touch panel 32 in S106 or S108. The rotation amount and rotation speed of the motor 36 and the vertical movement amount and movement speed of the vertical movement motor 38 are increased. Accordingly, even when the finger 33 strongly presses the touch panel 32, even when the finger 33 is deeply buried in the touch panel 32, the touch panel 32 is efficiently and alternately brought into contact with the finger 33 to surely present softness. I can do it.

  When the ECU 16 detects that the touch signal of the finger 33 is not sent by the touch panel 32, the ECU 16 measures the time when the touch signal is not sent in S110, that is, the time when the finger 33 is separated from the touch panel 32: t1. If t1 is smaller than the predetermined set time t2 (S110, N), the process proceeds to S102. On the other hand, if the time: t1 is larger than the predetermined set time: t2 (S110, Y), a stop signal is output to the drive shaft 26 in S112, and the process is terminated.

  In addition, when the drive shaft 26 is stopped, each drive plate 24 is programmed so as to be in the initial position, so that when the drive shaft 26 is stopped, the drive plates 24 are substantially flush with each other. Thus, the touch panel 32 as a whole has one substantially flat plate shape.

As described above, according to the controller 10 of the present embodiment, softness can be reliably presented with a simple configuration using the flat surface of the touch panel 32.
In particular, in the present embodiment, a plurality of drive plates 24 are provided, and the ECU 16 controls the drive of each drive plate 24 according to the contact position of the touch panel 32 where the user touches the finger 33. 32 can be efficiently and alternately brought into contact with both side portions of the finger 33 sandwiching the contact portion with the touch panel 32.

  In the touch input device 14, the drive plate 24 and the touch panel 32 having a flat plate shape correspond to the contact means of the present invention, and the surface of the touch panel 32 corresponds to the contact surface of the present invention. Further, the drive shaft 26 fixed to each drive plate 24 and the pair of drive motors 28 and 28 fixed to the drive shaft 26 correspond to the rotating means of the present invention. Further, in each drive plate 24, the longitudinal center line (on the same line as the center line of the drive shaft 26) at the position where the drive shaft 26 is provided, the center line of the first drive shaft 26 a, and the second line. The axis line located in the middle portion of the center line of the drive shaft 26b and parallel to the center lines of the drive shafts 26a and 26b corresponds to the axis line of the present invention. Furthermore, the control device (ECU) 16 corresponds to the control means of the present invention. Further, the drive shaft 26 corresponds to a rotating shaft or a support member in addition to the drive shaft of the present invention. Further, the rotation motor 36 corresponds to the rotation actuator of the present invention. Furthermore, the vertical movement motor 38 corresponds to the vertical movement actuator of the present invention. Moreover, the process of S104 is equivalent to the position determination means of this invention.

  As mentioned above, although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications can be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art unless the embodiment departs from the spirit of the present invention. The present invention can be implemented in a mode to which changes, corrections, improvements, and the like are added.

  Specifically, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of drive plates 24 and touch panels 32 each having a long, substantially rectangular flat plate shape are arranged in parallel. For example, one drive plate 24 and one touch panel 32 are provided. The touch input device is configured by one drive unit 30, and the ECU 16 repeatedly rotates the drive plate 24 and the touch panel 32 around the central axis of the drive shaft 26 of the drive unit 30 by the rotation motor 36 of the drive unit 30. It can be implemented. The drive shaft 26 of the drive unit 30 in this embodiment corresponds to the rotation shaft described in claim 2 of the present invention, and the rotation motor 36 of the drive unit 30 corresponds to the rotation shaft described in claim 2 of the present invention. It corresponds to a moving actuator.

Further, for example, a touch input device is configured by a pair of drive units 30, 30 adjacent to each other, and the ECU 16 uses a vertical movement motor 38 of each drive unit 30 to drive the drive shaft 26 of one drive unit 30 and the other drive unit 30. Alternately drive up and down the drive shaft 26,
A mode in which each pair of drive plates 24 and the touch panel 32 are repeatedly rotated around an axis parallel to the drive shaft 26 at the boundary between the pair of drive units 30 and 30 is also possible. Note that the pair of drive shafts 26 and 26 in this embodiment correspond to the pair of support members according to claim 3 of the present invention, and the pair of vertical movement motors 38 and 38 according to claim 3 of the present invention. Corresponds to a vertical actuator.

  Further, the touch panel 32 has a flat contact surface that contacts a finger in at least a part thereof, and has a plate shape that bends or bends as a whole as long as it has a form that can be rotated by a rotating means. May be.

  The touch panel 32 is not an essential constituent element. For example, an infrared sensor is provided around the drive plate 24 as a contact detection unit that detects that the user's finger 33 is in contact with the drive plate 24. When the drive plate 24 is directly contacted, the infrared sensor may detect such contact, and the ECU 16 may rotate the drive plate 24 repeatedly.

  In the embodiment, when the headlight is turned on, the ECU 16 lights the display panel 34. For example, when the touch of the finger 33 is detected by the touch panel 32, a part of the display panel 34 is displayed. Or you may make it light the whole.

The display panel 34 is not an essential component, and the touch panel 32 may be directly attached to the drive plate 24.
In the above-described embodiment, an electric actuator such as a stepping motor or a linear motor is employed as the rotation actuator or the vertical movement actuator. However, for example, an actuator such as a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator may be employed. It is.

  In addition, in the said embodiment, although the softness presentation apparatus of this invention showed the specific example applied to the touch input device 14 of the controller 10 which operates the cursor etc. of the display screen part 42, for example, a display The present invention is applied to a touch input device provided on the screen unit 42, a joystick for operating a cursor or the like of the display screen unit 42, and other various man-machine interfaces with which a human finger contacts. Of course it is also possible. In particular, when a touch input device is provided on the display screen unit 42, the display screen unit 42 itself is configured as a softness presentation device, and image information can be displayed by liquid crystal provided in the touch input device. it can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Controller, 12 ... Housing main body, 14 ... Touch input device, 16 ... Control device (ECU), 20 ... Center console, 22 ... Position sensor, 24 ... Drive plate, 26 ... Drive shaft, 28 ... Drive motor, 30 ... Drive unit, 32 ... touch panel, 33 ... finger, 34 ... display panel, 36 ... rotating motor, 38 ... vertical motion motor, 40 ... liquid crystal, 42 ... display screen section

Claims (5)

A softness presentation device that presents softness to a user through a finger when the user touches the finger,
Contact means having a flat shaped contact surface with which the user makes contact with a finger;
A rotating means coupled to the contact means for rotating the contact means around an axis parallel to the plane direction of the contact surface and passing through the contact means;
Contact detection means for detecting that the finger touches the contact surface;
When the contact detecting means detects that the finger touches the contact surface, the rotating means repeatedly rotates the contact means around the axis,
A softness presentation device characterized by comprising: The rotating means is
A rotating shaft that has a straight bar shape and is fixed to the contact means along the axis of the contact means;
A rotation actuator that is fixed to the rotation axis and rotates the rotation axis about a central axis;
2. The softness presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the control means repeatedly turns the contact means around a central axis of the rotation shaft by the rotation actuator. The rotating means is
A pair of support members that support both sides of the contact surface of the contact means in the planar direction across the axis so as to be movable above and below the axis, respectively;
A vertical movement actuator for moving the pair of support members above and below the axis, respectively;
2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the one support member and the other support member are alternately moved up and down by the vertical movement actuator, and the contact means is repeatedly rotated around the axis. The softness presentation device described in 1. The rotating means is
A drive shaft that exhibits a straight bar shape, is fixed to the contact means along the axis, and supports the contact means so as to be movable in the vertical direction;
A rotation actuator fixed to the drive shaft and rotating the drive shaft about a central axis;
A vertical movement actuator for moving the drive shaft in the vertical direction;
A plurality of the contact means are arranged in parallel in the plane direction of the contact surface, with the drive shafts being parallel to each other.
The contact detection means can detect not only that the finger touches the contact surface but also a position where the finger touches the contact surface.
The position of the finger on the contact surface detected by the contact detection means is a first drive shaft side as the drive shaft provided in the first contact means as the contact means having the contact surface; Position determining means for determining which of the first contact means and the second contact means as the contact means adjacent to the first contact means is closer to the boundary side;
The control means includes
The position of the finger on the contact surface detected by the position detection means is closer to the first drive shaft than the boundary between the first contact means and the second contact means by the position determination means. When the first contact means is repeatedly rotated around the center axis of the first drive shaft by the rotation actuator when it is determined that the position is close,
The position of the finger on the contact surface detected by the position detection means is closer to the boundary side between the first contact means and the second contact means than the first drive shaft side by the position determination means. When it is determined that the position is close, the vertical drive actuator alternately moves the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft as the drive shaft provided in the second contact means up and down. The soft actuator according to claim 1, wherein the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft are repeatedly rotated in the same rotation direction and rotation amount by the rotation actuator. Presentation device. Pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure with which the finger contacts the contact surface;
The control unit controls at least one of a rotation amount and a rotation speed of the rotation unit that repeatedly rotates the contact unit according to the pressure detected by the pressure detection unit. The softness presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.