Input device
There are provided an input means 2 that allows information to be input as touched by an operator, a vibration application means 3 disposed on a back side of the input means 2 , and a control means 5 . The input means 2 is a touch panel 6 . The vibration application means 3 is shaped like a flexible sheet, and includes a plurality of actuators 17 arranged as vibration sources. Each of the actuators 17 includes a first electrode 13 , a second electrode 14 , and an insulating layer 15 is provided between the first electrode 13 and the second electrode 14 and containing a ferroelectric layer. The control means 5 drives a preset actuator 17 of the actuators 17 according to input from the control panel 6.
1. An input device comprising:
an input portion that allows information to be input as touched by an operator;
a vibrator disposed on a back side of the input portion so as to vibrate the input portion;
a secondary input portion disposed on a back side of the vibrator, and including at least one switch that is operable to perform switching in response to a pressing force applied to the input portion; and
a controller that is operable to control operations of the input portion, the vibrator, and the secondary input portion,
wherein the input portion is a sheet-shaped flexible control panel to which coordinates are input,
wherein the vibrator is shaped like a flexible sheet, and includes a plurality of actuators arranged as vibration sources,
wherein each of the actuators includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating layer, the insulating layer being provided between the first electrode and the second electrode and including a ferroelectric layer,
wherein the first electrode, the insulating layer, and the second electrode in the actuator are stacked in a thickness direction, the insulating layer of the actuator is shaped like a sheet, and the first electrode and the second electrode are provided on both sides of the insulating layer in the thickness direction in a manner so as not to overlap the electrodes with each other, and
wherein the controller drives a preset actuator of the actuators according to at least coordinate information from the control panel or a signal output from the switch.
2. The input device according to claim 1 ,
wherein an elastic intermediate insulating layer is provided between two adjacent actuators.
3. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuators are provided in multiple layers with an interlayer insulating layer disposed between the layers.
4. The input device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a sound generator that is operable to generate audible sound,
wherein the audible sound from the sound generator is formed by vibration of the electrodes caused when the actuator is driven.