Information input device, information input method, and information input program

• US 20060181520A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ikegawa, Yoshiharu
• Granted Patent: US 8,723,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An information input device which enable even a user incapable of seeing an operation panel to identify the respective locations of keys on the operation panel and functions assigned to the keys, thereby enhancing operability of the device. The information input device is provided with a touch panel for inputting coordinate information based on a location thereon touched by a user. A pressure sensor detects the location on the touch panel touched by the user. A CPU determines whether or not there is a key assigned to the location detected by the pressure sensor. When it is determined that there is a key assigned to the location, a vibration generator vibrates the touch panel in a vibration pattern associated with the key. Further, when it is determined that there is a key assigned to the location, a voice output section outputs a voice associated with the key.

Claims

1. An information input device comprising:

a touch panel that inputs operation information based on a location thereon touched by a user;

a location detector section that detects the location on said touch panel touched by the user;

a determination section that determines whether or not there is a key assigned to the location detected by said location detector section;

a vibrator section that is operable in a case where said determination section determines that there is a key assigned to the location, to vibrate said touch panel in a vibration pattern associated with the key;

a voice output section that is operable in a case where said determination section determines that there is a key assigned to the location, to output a voice associated with the key;

a key press-detecting section that detects whether or not the key is pressed; and

a key input-accepting section that is operable in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied after detecting that the key is pressed, to accept a key input.

2. An information input device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a configuration section that configures as to whether or not said vibrator section should perform vibration and whether or not said voice output section should perform voice output.

3. An information input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a case where a key displayed on said touch panel has been kept touched over a predetermined time period, said voice output section outputs a voice associated with the key.

4. An information input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a case where a key displayed on said touch panel is touched and then the user'"'"'s finger is removed from the key within a predetermined time period, said key input-accepting section accepts a key input, whereas in a case where the key is kept touched even after a lapse of the predetermined time period, said key input-accepting section cancels the key input.

5. An information input device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a pressure detector section that is operable in a case where the user presses said touch panel, to detect a pressure value of the pressing, and

wherein in a case where said pressure detector section detects that the pressure value of the pressing has reached a predetermined value, said voice output section outputs the voice associated with the key.

6. An information input device as claimed in claim 5, wherein in a case where the pressure value of the pressing reaches a predetermined value within a predetermined time period after said touch panel using pressed, said key input-accepting section accepts the key input, whereas in a case where the predetermined time period elapses before the pressure value of the pressing reaches the predetermined value, said key input-accepting section cancels the key input.

7. An information input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a case where a same key displayed on said touch panel is touched twice in succession within a predetermined time period, said voice output section outputs a voice associated with the key.

8. An information input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein after execution of voice output by said voice output section, in a case where the key has been kept touched over a predetermined time period, said key input-accepting section accepts a key input, whereas in a case where another key is touched, said key input-accepting section cancels the key input.

9. An information input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a state where a key displayed on said touch panel is touched, in a case where the location detected by said location detector section shifts out of an area to which the key is assigned, said key input-accepting section refuses acceptance of the key input, whereas in a case where the user'"'"'s finger is removed from the key within the area to which the key is assigned, said key input-accepting section accepts the key input.

10. An information input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a case where a predetermined operation is carried out in a state where a key displayed on said touch panel is touched, said voice output section outputs a voice associated with the key.

11. An information input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a case where a predetermined time period has elapsed after said touch panel was touched, said vibrator section changes the vibration pattern associated with the key.

12. An information input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said touch panel includes a display section that displays screens associated with respective keys.

13. An information input method comprising:

a display step of displaying an operating screen including keys;

a location detecting step of detecting a location on a touch panel touched by a user;

a determination step of determining whether or not there is a key assigned to the location detected in said location detecting step;

a vibration step of vibrating the touch panel, in a case where it is determined in said determination step that there is a key assigned to the location, in a vibration pattern associated with the key;

a voice output step of outputting, in a case where it is determined in said determination step that there is a key assigned to the location, a voice associated with the key;

a key press-detecting step of detecting whether or not the key is pressed; and

a key input-accepting step of accepting a key input, in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied after detecting that the key is pressed.

14. An information input program executed by a computer provided with a touch panel, comprising:

a location detecting module for detecting a location on the touch panel touched by a user;

a determination module for determining whether or not there is a key assigned to the location detected by said location detecting module;

a vibration module for vibrating the touch panel, in a case where it is determined by said determination module that there is a key assigned to the location, in a vibration pattern associated with the key;

a voice output module for outputting, in a case where it is determined by said determination module that there is a key assigned to the location, a voice associated with the key;

a key press-detecting module for detecting whether or not the key is pressed; and

a key input-accepting module for accepting a key input, in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied after detecting that the key is pressed.