Apparatus for effecting display and input

• US 20060262098A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Hideaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,491 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: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field

Abstract

In an apparatus for effecting at least one of display and input, a sheet-like member is designed so that it has rigidity only when the rigidity is required for input or display and can be bent or rolled at other times. An apparatus 100 capable of effecting at least one of display and input includes a flexible sheet-like member 200 which effects at least one of display and input. The apparatus 100 further includes rigidity adjusting means for at least partially changing rigidity of the sheet-like member as desired.

Claims

1. An apparatus for effecting at least one of display and input, comprising:

a flexible sheet-like member for effecting at least one of display and input, and

a rigidity adjusting means for changing at least partially a rigidity of said flexible sheet-like member.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sheet-like member comprises an input portion and a display portion which substantially overlap each other to provide a unit when viewed from a direction of a user'"'"'s line of sight.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rigidity adjusting means comprises a control portion and a rigidity adjusting member attached to the sheet-like member, said rigidity adjusting member being formed of a variable-rigidity material.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises first detection means for detecting a state of said sheet-like member, and said rigidity adjusting member is not controlled to ensure rigidity necessary for said sheet-like member unless said detection means at least detects that said sheet-like member is not placed on a surface having a certain degree of rigidity.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises second detection means for detecting start of input, and said rigidity adjusting member is not controlled to ensure rigidity necessary for said apparatus unless said second detection means at least detects start of input.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises third detection means for detecting stop of input, and said rigidity adjusting member is controlled to return said rigidity adjusting member in a flexible state when said third detection means detects stop of input in such a state that rigidity necessary for said apparatus is ensured.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprising means for controlling timing of ensuring and/or losing rigidity necessary for the apparatus.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first detection means detects a state of said apparatus to control said rigidity adjusting means even during input is performed.

9. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said apparatus further comprises control portion operation means for permitting a user to operate a control portion, and rigidity of said apparatus is controllable by operating the control portion operation means by the user.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rigidity adjusting means comprises a movable mechanism which can be placed in such a state that it does not impair flexibility of said sheet-like member and is movable in an area capable of at least partially ensure rigidity of said sheet-like member.

11. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said apparatus is at least an apparatus for effecting display, and said rigidity adjusting member also functions as a base portion of drive means for driving said apparatus.