Inputting device stimulating tactile sense of operator thereof

• US 20040252104A1
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Kurashima, Shigemi, Shimizu, Nobuyoshi, Arita, Takashi, Nakamura, Akio, Akieda, Shinichiro, Nishiyama, Yuriko
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/160
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04755 Magnetic sensor, e.g. hall generator, pick-up coil
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/05 electromechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

In an inputting apparatus which is manipulated with a finger placed on a manipulating section included in the inputting apparatus, the manipulating section is configured to stimulate the tactile sense of the finger used in the manipulating, enabling to confirm the inputting.

Claims

1. An inputting apparatus, comprising:

a manipulating section upon which a finger may be placed to manipulate the inputting apparatus,

wherein said manipulating section is configured to tactile-stimulate said finger in place on said manipulating section upon occurrence of a predetermined condition.

2. The inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is met when a pointer which the inputting apparatus is used to control movement of on a display screen is positioned in a predetermined position on the display screen.

9. A manipulating apparatus which incorporates thereinto the inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

3. An inputting apparatus for use with a pointer on a display screen, comprising:

a tilt-enabled manipulating section upon which a finger may be placed to manipulate the inputting apparatus;

a signal-producing section configured to produce a signal in response to a tilt of the manipulating section, which signal causes the pointer on the display screen to be moved;

wherein said manipulating section includes a tactile-stimulating device configured to tactile-stimulate said finger when said pointer is in a predetermined position on the display screen.

4. The inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said signal producing section includes:

a permanent magnet disposed with respect to said manipulating section for tilting movement therewith; and

magneto-electric converting elements which detect a change in magnetic field corresponding to tilting movement of said permanent magnet, wherein the signal produced by said signal-producing section is based on said change in magnetic field;

wherein said tactile-stimulating device includes;

a tactile-stimulating element moveable between a tactile-stimulating position and a non tactile-stimulating position,

the tactile-stimulating element being positioned with respect to the permanent magnet such that an electromagnetic force is generated using the magnetic field formed by said permanent magnet, which electromagnetic force moves said tactile-stimulating element to the tactile-stimulating position.

5. The inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 3,

wherein said manipulating section includes:

a keytop having an opening therein;

a tubular-shaped holder held to a lower side of said keytop;

wherein said signal-producing section includes;

a permanent magnet disposed at a bottom portion of said manipulating section for tilting movement therewith; and

magneto-electric converting elements which detect a change in magnetic field corresponding to tilting movement of said permanent magnet, wherein the signal produced by said signal-producing section is based on said change in magnetic field;

wherein said tactile-stimulating device includes a tactile-stimulating element disposed for movement within said holder between a tactile-stimulating position and a non tactile-stimulating position, which tactile-stimulating element includes a coil and a projecting member positioned with respect to an upper side of said coil, a portion of said projecting member projecting from said opening when the tactile-stimulating element is in the tactile-stimulating position;

wherein delivery of a first drive current to said coil generates a first electromagnetic force using the magnetic field formed by said permanent magnet, which electromagnetic force moves said tactile-stimulating element away from the permanent magnet.

6. The inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 5,

wherein delivery of a second drive current in a direction reverse to said first drive current generates a second electromagnetic force directed towards said permanent magnet, which electromagnetic force moves said tactile-stimulating element towards the permanent magnet.

7. The inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 3,

wherein said manipulating section includes:

a keytop having an opening therein;

a tubular-shaped holder held to a lower side of said keytop;

wherein said signal-producing section includes;

a permanent magnet disposed at a bottom portion of said manipulating section for tilting movement therewith; and

magneto-electric converting elements which detect a change in magnetic field corresponding to tilting movement of said permanent magnet, wherein the signal produced by said signal-producing section is based on said change in magnetic field;

wherein said tactile-stimulating device includes a tactile-stimulating element for movement within said holder with respect to a top face of said permanent magnet, which tactile-stimulating element includes a coil and a projecting member positioned with respect to an upper side of said coil, a portion of said projecting member projecting from said opening when the tactile-stimulating element is along the top face of said permanent magnet;

wherein delivery of a first drive current to said coil generates a first electromagnetic force using the magnetic field formed by said permanent magnet, which electromagnetic force moves said tactile-stimulating element to said top face of said permanent magnet.

8. The inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 4,

wherein said tactile-stimulating element is a keytop itself.

10. A manipulating apparatus which incorporates thereinto the inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 3.

11. A manipulating apparatus which incorporates thereinto the inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 4.

12. A manipulating apparatus which incorporates thereinto the inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 5.

13. A manipulating apparatus which incorporates thereinto the inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 6.

14. A manipulating apparatus which incorporates thereinto the inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 7.

15. A manipulating apparatus which incorporates thereinto the inputting apparatus as claimed in claim 8.