INFORMATION PRESENTING DEVICE, TACTILE SENSE PRESENTING METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20110248962A1
• Filed: 03/24/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: POUPYREV, Ivan, Maruyama, Shigeaki
• Granted Patent: US 9,024,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

An information presenting device of present invention includes a conductive layer to which an AC voltage is applied, an insulating layer for covering the conductive layer and presenting a tactile sense when a part of a body of a user set to a ground potential is in contact with the insulating layer.

Claims

1. An information presenting device comprising:

a conductive layer to which an AC voltage is applied;

an insulating layer for covering the conductive layer and presenting a tactile sense when a part of a body of a user set to a ground potential is in contact with the insulating layer.

2. The information presenting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit, which is arranged integrally with or separately from a stack structure including the conductive layer and the insulating layer and displays information.

3. The information presenting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a position sensor for detecting a position of the part of the body of the user on the insulating layer.

4. The information presenting device according to claim 3, wherein the position sensor detects the position of the part of the body of the user on the basis of variation of electrostatic capacitance generated in the conductive layer when the part of the body of the user is close to or in contact with the insulating layer.

5. The information presenting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tactile control module for controlling an amplitude or frequency of the AC voltage applied to the conductive layer.

6. The information presenting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a position sensor for detecting a position of the part of the body of the user on the insulating layer; and

a tactile control module for controlling an amplitude or frequency of the AC voltage applied to the conductive layer on the basis of the position of the part of the body of the user.

7. The information presenting device according to claim 2, wherein the stack structure including the conductive layer and the insulating layer is formed of a transparent material and is arranged to cover a display surface of the display unit.

8. The information presenting device according to claim 3, wherein the position sensor detects the position of the part of the body of the user by optical detection.

9. The information presenting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure-sensitive sensor for detecting pressure force when the part of the body of the user is in contact with the insulating layer.

10. The information presenting device according to claim 1, wherein a stack structure including the conductive layer and the insulating layer is formed in a planar shape extending in a two-dimensional direction.

11. The information presenting device according to claim 1, wherein a stack structure including the conductive layer and the insulating layer is formed in a stripe shape or a line shape extending in a one-dimensional direction.

12. The information presenting device according to claim 1, wherein a stack structure including the conductive layer and the insulating layer is formed of a deformable material.

13. The information presenting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electrode unit to which the ground potential is applied,

wherein a potential of the user is set commonly with the ground potential of the electrode unit.

14. The information presenting device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a battery for driving at least the display unit,

wherein a ground potential of the battery is connected to the body of the user.

15. A tactile sense presenting method for use in an information presenting device having a conductive layer and an insulating layer, which covers the conductive layer and is in contact with a part of a body of a user set to a ground potential, comprising the steps of:

applying an AC voltage to the conductive layer;

detecting a position of the part of the body of the user on the insulating layer; and

controlling an amplitude or frequency of the AC voltage applied to the conductive layer on the basis of the position of the part of the body of the user.

16. A tactile sense presenting method for use in an information presenting device having a conductive layer, an insulating layer, which covers the conductive layer and is in contact with a part of a body of a user set to a ground potential, and a display unit, which is arranged integrally with or separately from a stack structure including the conductive layer and the insulating layer and displays information, comprising the steps of:

applying an AC voltage to the conductive layer;

detecting a position of the part of the body of the user on the insulating layer; and

controlling an amplitude or frequency of the AC voltage applied to the conductive layer on the basis of the position of the part of the body of the user.

17. A program in an information presenting device including a conductive layer and an insulating layer, which covers the conductive layer and is in contact with a part of a body of a user set to a ground potential, the program causing a computer to function as:

a portion for applying an AC voltage to the conductive layer;

a portion for detecting a position of the part of the body of the user on the insulating layer; and

a portion for controlling an amplitude or frequency of the AC voltage applied to the conductive layer on the basis of the position of the part of the body of the user.

18. A program in an information presenting device including a conductive layer, an insulating layer, which covers the conductive layer and is in contact with a part of a body of a user set to a ground potential, and a display unit, which is arranged integrally with or separately from a stack structure including the conductive layer and the insulating layer and displays information, the program causing a computer to function as:

a portion for applying an AC voltage to the conductive layer;

a portion for detecting a position of the part of the body of the user on the insulating layer; and

a portion for controlling an amplitude or frequency of the AC voltage applied to the conductive layer on the basis of the position of the part of the body of the user.