Tactile display device
Actuators are disposed between a lower wiring substrate and an upper wiring substrate. The actuators, the lower wiring substrate, and the upper wiring substrate are interposed between a lower frame and an upper frame. The end of each actuator is held between pushing parts of the lower frame and upper frame. The free ends of the actuators move projections upward that are displayed in a tactile display.
1. A tactile display device comprising:
a casing including a lower frame and an upper frame attached to each other, the lower frame having lower pushing parts provided on an inner surface thereof, and the upper frame having upper pushing parts provided on an inner surface thereof;
a plurality of projection members configured to protrude from the surface of the casing, the plurality of projection members forming a tactile display;
a plurality of membrane actuators, each being displaceable in a thickness direction and configured to move corresponding one of the projection members to protrude from the surface of the casing, the plurality of membrane actuators being arranged such that respective surfaces thereof are in a plane intersecting with a projection direction of the projection members, each of the membrane actuators having first and second electrode layers disposed on upper and lower surfaces thereof, respectively;
a lower wiring substrate having a plurality of lower electrodes thereon, the lower wiring substrate being provided between the membrane actuators and the lower frame such that each of the lower electrodes is electrically connected to the second electrode layer of corresponding one of the membrane actuators at a base end thereof;
an upper wiring substrate having a plurality of upper electrodes thereon, the upper wiring substrate being provided between the membrane actuators and the upper frame such that each of the upper electrodes is electrically connected to the first electrode layer of the corresponding one of the membrane actuators at the base end thereof,
wherein the base ends of the membrane actuators are held between the lower pushing parts and the corresponding upper pushing parts.
2. The tactile display device according to claim 1 , wherein
the lower wiring substrate includes a flexible substrate and deformable connecting parts,
the upper wiring substrate includes a flexible substrate and deformable connecting parts, and
the connecting parts of the lower wiring substrate are interposed between the base ends of the membrane actuators and the lower pushing parts, and the connecting parts of the upper wiring substrate are interposed between the base ends of the membrane actuators and the upper pushing parts.
3. The tactile display device according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the lower frame and the upper frame is integrated with a resilient part, and
the lower pushing parts or the upper pushing parts are disposed on the resilient part.
4. The tactile display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of housing portions provided on the inner surface of at least one of the lower frame and the upper frame,
wherein the membrane actuators are disposed inside the housing portions such that movement of the membrane actuators in a width direction is restricted.
5. The tactile display device according to claim 1 , wherein an area of the lower pushing parts holding the base ends of the membrane actuators differs from an area of the upper pushing parts holding the base ends of the membrane actuators.
6. The tactile display device according to claim 5 , wherein the area of the lower pushing parts holding the base ends of the membrane actuators is larger than the area of the upper pushing parts holding the base ends of the membrane actuators.
7. The tactile display device according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane actuators are polymeric actuators containing ionic liquid therein.
8. The tactile display device according to claim 7 , wherein each of the upper and lower electrodes has a conductive layer containing carbon.
9. The tactile display device according to claim 1 , wherein the lower wiring substrate and the upper wiring substrate are independent substrates.
10. The tactile display device according to claim 1 , wherein the lower wiring substrate and the upper wiring substrate are formed in one flexible body.
11. The tactile display device according to claim 1 , wherein the lower pushing parts face the corresponding upper pushing parts such that the lower wiring substrate, the lower electrode, the base end of the actuator, the upper electrode, and the lower wring substrate are interposed therebetween.