Electronic device and control method with feedback to perceive presence and activation of an object
An electronic device having a display screen that displays a user interface including at least one object, comprising: a display mechanism that displays the user interface; a coordinate detection mechanism that detects coordinates of a user touch point on the display screen; a first feedback presentation mechanism that presents tactile feedback at a prescribed point to make the user perceive the presence of an object; a measurement mechanism that measures a force generated by the user pressing the display screen; and a second feedback presentation mechanism that detects an operation trigger based on the force and generates mechanical vibration.
1. An electronic device having a display screen that displays a user interface including at least one object, comprising:
a display that displays the user interface, the display including the display screen;
a touch panel that is provided on the display, detects coordinates of a user touch point on the display screen, and presents tactile feedback at a prescribed point for the user to perceive the presence of an object;
a force sensor that measures a force generated by the user pressing the display screen;
a carrier, a base, and an actuator that together detect an operation trigger based on the force and generate mechanical vibration, and
a controller that updates a baseline used as a reference value of the force, wherein the controller is configured to:
store a force value measured by the force sensor in a buffer;
discard the force value stored in the buffer when the touch panel detects the user touching the display or when the force sensor detects the user pressing the display; and
update the baseline based on the force values if the number of force values accumulated in the buffer is greater than a prescribed number, wherein
the carrier, the base, and the actuator are connected to the display via the force sensor.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the carrier, the base, and the actuator are together configured to:
detect the force at the position of the object as the operation trigger when the force is greater than a threshold value; and
generate the mechanical vibration for the user to perceive that an operation performed on the object has been accepted.
3. The electronic device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the touch panel is constituted of a substrate having a plurality of electrodes patterned therein, and a circuit that applies a voltage to the plurality of electrodes, and
wherein the touch panel presents an electrostatic tactile feedback by applying a voltage to at least one of the plurality of electrodes corresponding to a position of a prescribed object in the display screen.
4. The electronic device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the carrier, the base, and the actuator together generate mechanical vibration in a direction substantially parallel to the direction that is perpendicular to a direction of the force.
5. The electronic device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the carrier, the base, and the actuator, and the display are connected through a connection mechanism that reduces attenuation of the mechanical vibration.
6. The electronic device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the touch panel and the carrier, the base, and the actuator operate independently of each other.
7. The electronic device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the actuator is provided on the base, and the carrier is connected to the actuator, and the carrier vibrates in a specific direction with respect to the base,
wherein the force sensor connects the carrier and the display.
8. A control method for an electronic device having a display screen that displays a user interface including at least one object, the electronic device including:
a display that displays the user interface, the display including the display screen;
a touch panel that is provided on the display, detects coordinates of a user touch point on the display screen, and presents tactile feedback at a prescribed point for the user to perceive the presence of an object;
a force sensor that measures a force generated by the user pressing the display screen;
a carrier, a base, and an actuator that tougher detect an operation trigger based on the force and that generate mechanical vibration, and
a controller that updates a baseline used as a reference value of the force, wherein the controller is configured to:
store a force value measured by the force sensor in a buffer;
discard the force value stored in the buffer when the touch panel detects the user touching the display or when the force sensor detects the user pressing the display; and
update the baseline based on the force values if the number of force values accumulated in the buffer is greater than a prescribed number, wherein
the carrier, the base, and the actuator are connected to the display via the force sensor, the control method for the electronic device including:
a step of identifying, by the touch panel, an object for which tactile feedback is presented, based on setting information of the user interface;
a step of presenting, by the touch panel, tactile feedback at a position of the identified object in the display screen; and
a step of detecting, by the carrier, the base, and the actuator, the operation trigger when the force at the position of the identified object is greater than a threshold value, and generating the mechanical vibration for the user to perceive that an operation performed on the identified object has been accepted.