Tactile presentation device

• US 9,348,414 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Kagayama, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US14/315,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20140306914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A tactile presentation device includes a chassis having a top surface chassis, a bottom surface chassis, and an inner space, a touch panel fixed to the top surface chassis and having an operation surface, an actuator arranged in the inner space, and a vibration transmission member arranged between the actuator and the touch panel. The top surface chassis includes a top surface having a top surface opening exposing the operation surface of the touch panel to outside, and a side surface formed along a peripheral edge of the top surface. The actuator is fixed to the side surface.

Claims

1. A tactile presentation device comprising:

a chassis including;

an upper frame with a top surface having an opening disposed therein and a side surface extending perpendicularly from a peripheral edge of the top surface,

a lower frame coupled to the upper frame to define an inner space therebetween of the chassis;

a touch panel coupled to the top surface of the upper frame of the chassis, such that at least a portion of the touch panel is disposed in the inner space of the chassis and a first surface of the touch panel is exposed by the opening of the upper frame;

an actuator having a planar surface directly coupled to a first bottom surface of the top frame that extends perpendicularly from the side surface of the upper frame and facing the lower frame, where the actuator is disposed in the inner space of the chassis; and

a vibration transmission member disposed between the actuator and the touch panel,

wherein the lower frame has a top surface that is directly coupled to a second bottom surface of the top frame with the second bottom surface of the top frame being in a different plane than the first bottom surface of the top frame.

2. The tactile presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration transmission member comprises a first end abutted to a second surface of the touch panel opposite the first surface of the touch panel, and a second end abutted to the actuator.

3. The tactile presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric element and a base substrate.

4. The tactile presentation device according to claim 3, wherein the vibration transmission member comprises a height equal to a distance between a plane defined by the second surface of the touch panel and a plane defined by a surface of the base substrate of the actuator.

5. The tactile presentation device according to claim 3, further comprising a cover member that covers the piezoelectric element of the actuator.

6. The tactile presentation device according to claim 1,

wherein the planar surface of the actuator is substantially parallel to the first surface of the touch panel, and

wherein the actuator is configured to vibrate in a direction orthogonal to the first surface of the touch panel.

7. The tactile presentation device according to claim 1,

wherein the vibration transmission member is abutted to a center position of the actuator, and

wherein a peripheral edge of the actuator is coupled to the side surface of the upper frame of the chassis.

8. The tactile presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the side surface of the upper frame of the chassis includes:

an outer surface extending perpendicularly from the peripheral edge of the top surface of the upper frame,

an inner surface extending perpendicularly from a portion of the top surface interior to the peripheral edge, with the inner surface extending parallel to the outer surface; and

a fixing surface extending perpendicular from the inner surface towards the outer surface and parallel to the top surface of the upper frame,

wherein the fixing surface comprises at least a portion of the bottom surface of the top frame.

9. The tactile presentation device according to claim 8, wherein a peripheral edge of the actuator is coupled to the fixing surface.

10. The tactile presentation device according to claim 9, wherein the vibration transmission member has a height equal to a distance between a plane defined by the second surface of the touch panel and a plane defined by the fixing surface.

11. The tactile presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration transmission member comprises an insulating material.

12. The tactile presentation device according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcement member disposed between the actuator and the touch panel and having a through-hole in which the vibration transmission member is disposed therethrough.

13. The tactile presentation device according to claim 12, wherein a first space between the actuator and the reinforcement member and a second space between the touch panel and the reinforcement member are equal to or less than a maximum allowable warping amount of the actuator.

14. The tactile presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the top surface is a planar surface and the first surface of the touch panel is disposed in a plane defined by the planar surface.

15. The tactile presentation device according to claim 14, wherein the touch panel comprises a peripheral edge that is parallel to the first surface and disposed in the inner space of the chassis, and the peripheral edge of the touch panel is coupled to the top surface of the upper frame by a buffer material.

16. A tactile presentation device, comprising:

a chassis including;

an upper frame with a top surface having an opening disposed therein and a side surface extending perpendicularly from a peripheral edge of the top surface,

a lower frame coupled to the upper frame to define an inner space therebetween of the chassis;

a touch panel coupled to the top surface of the upper frame of the chassis, such that at least a portion of the touch panel is disposed in the inner space of the chassis and a first surface of the touch panel is exposed by the opening of the upper frame;

an actuator coupled to the side surface of the upper frame and disposed in the inner space of the chassis;

a vibration transmission member disposed between the actuator and the touch panel; and

a reinforcement member disposed between the actuator and the touch panel and having a through-hole in which the vibration transmission member is disposed therethrough,

wherein the reinforcement member is integral with the side surface of the upper frame of the chassis.

17. The tactile presentation device according to claim 16, wherein the touch panel is disposed between the top surface of the upper frame of the chassis and the reinforcement member.

18. The tactile presentation device according to claim 17, wherein the touch panel is coupled to the top surface of the upper frame of the chassis and the reinforcement member by a buffer material.

19. A tactile presentation device, comprising:

a chassis including;

an upper frame with a top surface having an opening disposed therein and a side surface extending perpendicularly from a peripheral edge of the top surface,

a lower frame coupled to the upper frame to define an inner space therebetween of the chassis;

a touch panel coupled to the top surface of the upper frame of the chassis, such that at least a portion of the touch panel is disposed in the inner space of the chassis and a first surface of the touch panel is exposed by the opening of the upper frame;

an actuator coupled to the side surface of the upper frame and disposed in the inner space of the chassis;

a vibration transmission member disposed between the actuator and the touch panel; and

a reinforcement member disposed between the actuator and the touch panel and having a through-hole in which the vibration transmission member is disposed therethrough,

wherein a first surface of the reinforcement member is coupled to the side surface of the upper frame of the chassis, and

wherein a second surface of the reinforcement member is coupled to the actuator.