Input device and inputting method with input device

• US 20020158851A1
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Atsushi, Mukai, Masaki, Sameshima, Osamu, Kamo, Osamu
• Granted Patent: US 6,801,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An input device is provided which is capable of entering a double tap operation even if an operation through a touch panel is performed in difficulty. The input device includes a coordinate acquiring section, a pressure acquiring section, a coordinate condition storing section, an on-pressure storing section for storing a first pressure and a second pressure smaller than the first pressure, a time condition storing section, and an input judging section. In operation, the pressure of the first pen touch operation detected by the pressure acquiring section exceeds a first pressure. Then, if the pressure of the second pen touch operation detected by the pressure acquiring section exceeds the second pressure within a certain time stored in the time condition storing section, and if the second pen touch operation is performed within a distance stored in the coordinate condition storing section, the input judging section qualifies the two consecutive pen touch operations as a double tap operation. As the threshold of the pressure of the second pen touch operation is smaller than an ordinary pressure, the double tap operation can correctly be identified even if the pressure of the second pen touch operation by any user becomes small.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

an input unit for accepting first and second operations;

operation amount acquiring means for detecting a first amount of the first operation and a second amount of the second operation;

a timer starting counting time at a specified time at which or before which the first amount changes from smaller than a first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold; and

input judging means for judging that a double tap operation is performed when the second amount changes from smaller than a second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold before said timer counts a certain time,

wherein the second threshold is smaller than the first threshold.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the timer starts counting time when the first amount changes from smaller than the first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold.

3. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a peak detector for detecting a peak of the first amount, wherein said timer starts counting time when the peak of the first amount is detected.

4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the timer starts counting time when the first amount changes from not smaller than a third threshold to smaller than the third threshold.

5. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a position acquiring means for detecting a first position of the first operation and a second position of the second operation,

wherein the first and second amounts are pressures applied to said input unit at the first and second operations, respectively, and

wherein said input judging means judges that the double tap operation is performed when the second amount changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold before said timer counts the certain time and when a distance between the first and second positions is smaller than a certain distance.

6. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein respective one of the first and second operations is a certain operation measurable as a physical quantity, and

wherein respective one of the first and second amounts is a magnitude of the certain operation.

7. The input device according to claim 6, wherein the certain operation is to input a voice sound.

8. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said input judging means judges that the double tap operation is performed when the first amount changes from not smaller than a fourth threshold to smaller than the fourth threshold before said timer counts the certain time and when the second amount changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold before said timer counts the certain time.

9. The input device according to claim 8, wherein the fourth threshold is smaller than the second threshold.

10. The input device according to claim 8, wherein the fourth threshold is equal to the third threshold.

11. The input device according to claim 8, further comprising position acquiring means for detecting a first position of the first operation and a second position of the second operation,

wherein the first and second amounts are pressures applied to said input unit at the first and second operations, respectively, and

wherein said input judging means judges that the double tap operation is performed when the first amount changes from not smaller than the fourth threshold to smaller than the fourth threshold before said timer counts the certain time, when the second amount changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold before said timer counts the certain time, and when a distance between the first and second positions is smaller than a certain distance.

12. The input device according to claim 8,

wherein respective one of the first and second operations is a certain operation measurable as a physical quantity, and

wherein respective one of the first and second amounts is a magnitude of the certain operation.

13. The input device according to claim 12, wherein the certain operation is to input a voice sound.

14. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising position acquiring means for detecting a first position of the first operation and a second position of the second operation,

wherein the first amount is a duration of the first operation,

wherein the second amount is a duration of the second operation, and

wherein said input judging means judges that the double tap operation is performed when the second amount changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold before said timer counts the certain time and when a distance between the first and second positions is smaller than a certain distance.

15. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein respective one of the first and second operations is a certain operation measurable as a physical quantity, and

wherein respective one of the first and second amounts is a duration of the certain operation.

16. The input device according to claim 15, wherein the certain operation is to input a voice sound.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first time is a time at which the first amount changes from smaller than the first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of detecting a peak of the first amount, wherein the first time is a time when the peak is detected.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first time is a time at which the first amount changes from not smaller than a third threshold to smaller than the third threshold.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a first position of the first operation; and

detecting a second position of the second operation,

wherein the first and second amounts are pressures applied to the input unit at the first and second operations, respectively, and

wherein said step of judging that the double tap operation is performed comprises the step of judging that the double tap operation is performed when the second amount changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within the certain time from the first time and when a distance between the first and second positions is smaller than a certain distance.

22. The method according to claim 17,

wherein respective one of the first and second operations is a certain operation measurable as a physical quantity, and

wherein respective one of the first and second amounts is a magnitude of the certain operation.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the certain operation is to input a voice sound.

24. The method according to claim 17, wherein said step of judging that the double tap operation is performed comprises the step of judging that the double tap operation is performed when the first amount changes from not smaller than a fourth threshold to smaller than the fourth threshold within the certain time from the first time and when the second amount changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within the certain time from the first time.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the fourth threshold is smaller than the second threshold.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the fourth threshold is equal to the third threshold.

27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a first position of the first operation; and

detecting a second position of the second operation,

wherein the first and second amounts are pressures applied to the input unit at the first and second operations, respectively, and

wherein said step of judging that the double tap operation is performed comprises the step of judging that the double tap operation is performed when the first amount changes from not smaller than the fourth threshold to smaller than the fourth threshold within the certain time from the first time, when the second amount changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within the certain time from the first time, and when a distance between the first and second positions is smaller than a certain distance.

28. The method according to claim 24,

wherein respective one of the first and second operations is a certain operation measurable as a physical quantity, and

wherein respective one of the first and second amounts is a magnitudes of the certain operation.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the certain operation is to input a voice sound.

30. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a first position of the first operation; and

detecting a second position of the second operation,

wherein the first amount is a duration of the first and second operations,

wherein the second amount is a duration of the second operations, and

wherein said step of judging that the double tap operation is performed comprises the step of judging that the double tap operation is performed when the second amount changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second within the certain time from the first time and when a distance between the first and second positions is smaller than a certain distance.

31. The method according to claim 17,

wherein respective one of the first and second operations is a certain operation measurable as a physical quantity, and

wherein respective one of the first and second amounts is a duration of the certain operation.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the certain operation is to input a voice sound.

17. A method of inputting data with an input device having an input unit for accepting first and second operations, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first amount of the first operation;

detecting a second amount of the second operation; and

judging that a double tap operation is performed when the second amount changes from smaller than a second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within a certain time from a first time at which or before which the first amount changes from smaller than a first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold,

wherein the second threshold is smaller than the first threshold.

33. A program for instructing an input device to execute a method of inputting data, the input device having an input unit for accepting first and second operations, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first pressure and a first position of the first operation;

detecting a second pressure and a second position of the second operation; and

judging that a double tap operation is performed when the second pressure changes from smaller than a second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within the certain time from a first time at which or before which the first pressure changes from smaller than a first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold and when a distance between the first and second positions is smaller than a certain distance.

34. The program according to claim 33, wherein the first time is a time at which the first amount changes from smaller than the first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold.

35. The program according to claim 33, wherein said method further comprises the step of detecting a peak of the first amount, and the first time is a time when the peak is detected.

36. The program according to claim 33, wherein the first time is a time at which the first amount changes from not smaller than a third threshold to smaller than the third threshold.

37. The program according to claim 33, wherein said step of judging that the double tap operation is performed comprises the step of judging that the double tap operation is performed when the first pressure changes from not smaller than a fourth threshold to smaller than the fourth threshold within the certain time from the first time, when the second pressure changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within the certain time from the first time, and when a distance between the first and second positions is smaller than the certain distance.

38. The program according to claim 37, wherein the fourth threshold is smaller than the second threshold.

39. The program according to claim 37, wherein the fourth threshold is equal to the third threshold.

40. A recording medium for storing a program which instructs an input device to execute a method of inputting data, the input device having an input unit for accepting first and second operations, said recording medium being readable for the input device, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first pressure and a first position of the first operation;

detecting a second pressure and a second position of the second operation; and

judging that a double tap operation is performed when a second pressure changes from smaller than a second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within the certain time from a first time at which or before which the first pressure changes from smaller than a first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold and when a distance between the first and second positions is smaller than a certain distance.

41. The recording medium according to claim 40, wherein the first time is a time at which the first amount changes from smaller than the first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold.

42. The recording medium according to claim 40, wherein said method further comprises the step of detecting a peak of the first amount, and the first time is a time when the peak is detected.

43. The recording medium according to claim 40, wherein the first time is a time when the first amount changes from not smaller than the third threshold to smaller than the third threshold.

44. The recording medium according to claim 40, wherein said step of judging that the double tap operation is performed comprises the step of judging that the double tap operation is performed when the first pressure changes from not smaller than a fourth threshold to smaller than the fourth threshold within the certain time from the first time, when the second pressure changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within the certain time from the first time, and when the distance between the first and second positions is smaller than the certain distance.

45. The recording medium according to claim 44, wherein the fourth threshold is smaller than the second threshold.

46. The recording medium according to claim 44, wherein the fourth threshold is equal to the third threshold.

48. The program according to claim 47, wherein the first time is a time at which the first amount changes from smaller than the first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold.

49. The program according to claim 47, wherein said method further comprises the step of detecting a peak of the first amount, and the first time is a time when the peak is detected.

50. The program according to claim 47, wherein the first time is a time when the first amount changes from not smaller than a third threshold to smaller than the third threshold.

51. The program according to claim 47, wherein said step of judging that the double tap operation is performed comprises the step of judging that the double tap operation is performed when the first pressure changes from not smaller than a fourth threshold to smaller than the fourth threshold within the certain time from the first time, when the second pressure changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within the certain time from the first time, and when the distance between the first and second positions is smaller than the certain.

52. The program according to claim 51, wherein the fourth threshold is smaller than the second threshold.

53. The program according to claim 51, wherein the fourth threshold is equal to the third threshold.

47. A program for instructing a computer to execute a method of inputting data, the computer being coupled with an input device having an input unit for accepting first and second operations, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first pressure and a first position of the first operation;

detecting a second pressure and a second position of the second operation; and

judging that a double tap operation is performed when a second pressure changes from smaller than a second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within the certain time from a first time at which or before which the first pressure changes from smaller than a first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold and when a distance between the first and second positions is smaller than a certain distance.

54. A recording medium for storing a program which instructs a computer to execute a method of inputting data, the computer being coupled with an input device having an input unit for accepting first and second operations, said recording medium being readable for the computer, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first pressure and a first position of the first operation;

detecting a second pressure and a second position of the second operation; and

judging that a double tap operation is performed when the second pressure changes from smaller than a second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within the certain time from a first time at which or before which the first pressure changes from smaller than a first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold and when a distance between the first and second positions is smaller than a certain distance.

55. The recording medium according to claim 54, wherein the first time is a time at which the first pressure changes from smaller than the first threshold to not smaller than the first threshold.

56. The recording medium according to claim 54, wherein said method further comprises the step of detecting a peak of the first pressure, wherein the first time is a time when the peak is detected.

57. The recording medium according to claim 54, wherein the first time is a time when the first pressure changes from not smaller than a third threshold to smaller than the third threshold.

58. The recording medium according to claim 54, wherein said step of judging that the double tap operation is performed comprises the step of judging that the double tap operation is performed when the first pressure changes from not smaller than a fourth threshold to smaller than the fourth threshold within the certain time from the first time, when the second pressure changes from smaller than the second threshold to not smaller than the second threshold within the certain time from the first time, and when the distance between the first and second positions is smaller than the certain distance.

59. The recording medium according to claim 58, wherein the fourth threshold is smaller than the second threshold.

60. The recording medium according to claim 58, wherein the fourth threshold is equal to the third threshold.