Input apparatus for performing input operation corresponding to indication marks and coordinate input operation on the same operational plane

• US 20030030628A1
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Tadamitsu, Soma, Masahiro, Hagiwara, Yasuji, Kato, Katsumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,312,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

An input apparatus includes a flat input device of a pressure-sensitive type or a capacitive type, and an indicator sheet on which indication marks are formed is fixed on the surface of the flat input device. A tactile-feel-generating unit is provided behind the flat input device. The tactile-feel-generating unit includes dome-shaped inversion plates which are disposed at positions corresponding to the indication marks. When one of the indication marks is pressed setting an input mode, an operation signal is generated in accordance with an item represented by the indication mark, and a tactile feel is generated by a reaction force of the corresponding inversion plate. When an indication mark is touched, while in an input mode, the control unit recognizes the resulting signal to be a coordinate data signal.

Claims

1. An input apparatus comprising:

an input unit with which a coordinate input operation is performed and which includes indication marks which indicate a plurality of input positions, said input unit generates a signal in response to the activation of an indication mark;

a control unit which receives an input signal from the input unit and generates an operation signal in accordance with the input signal; and

wherein the control unit recognizes the input signal obtained from the input unit as coordinate data, and when one of the indication marks is touched individually, the control unit generates an operation signal corresponding to an item indicated at the corresponding input position.

2. An input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises a flat input device with which the coordinate input operation is performed and the indication marks formed on the surface of the flat input device.

3. An input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a position of contact on the input unit moves, the control unit recognizes the movement of the position of contact as coordinate data.

4. An input apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising display panel, wherein when the control unit recognizes the coordinate data, the display means shows a display according to the coordinate data, and when one of the indication marks is touched, the display means shows a character, a symbol, or a number corresponding to the touched indication mark.

5. An input apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising tactile-feel-generating means which generates a reaction force when one of the indication marks is pushed.

6. An input apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the tactile-feel-generating unit includes tactile-feel-generating members which are disposed at positions corresponding to the indication marks.

7. An input apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the tactile-feel-generating means includes a single tactile-feel-generating member disposed behind the input unit.

8. An input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the tactile-feel-generating members are formed of dome-shaped inversion plates placed behind the input unit.

9. An input apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the inversion plates serve to generate a switch input.

10. An input apparatus comprising:

an input unit which is flat and with which an input mode can be set and a coordinate input operation can be performed;

indication marks are formed on the surface of the input unit which indicate a plurality of input positions;

a control unit which receives an input signal from the input means and generates an operation signal in accordance with the input signal; and

wherein, when a predetermined input mode is set, the control unit detects that one of the input positions is touched and generates an operation signal corresponding to an item indicated at the corresponding input position, and when another indication mark is touched, the control unit recognizes the input signal obtained from the input unit as coordinate data irrespective of items indicated at the input positions.

11. An input apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a display panel, wherein when the control unit recognizes the coordinate data, the display means shows a display according to the coordinate data, and when one of the indication marks is touched, the display panel shows a character, a symbol, or a number corresponding to the touched indication mark.

12. An input apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising tactile-feel-generating unit which generates a reaction force when one of the indication marks is pushed.

13. An input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the tactile-feel-generating unit includes tactile-feel-generating members which are disposed at positions corresponding to the indication marks.

14. An input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the tactile-feel-generating unit includes a single tactile-feel-generating member disposed behind the input unit.

15. An input apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the tactile-feel-generating members are formed of dome-shaped inversion plates placed behind the input unit.

16. An input apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the inversion plates serve to generate a switch input.