Input device, information processing device, remote control device, and input device control method

• US 20070146334A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Inokawa, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,728,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position

Abstract

An input apparatus 100 has a sensor section 101 that detects whether a pressing operation or a touching operation is being performed on the front surface of a panel with a detected data value that varies when the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed, a position determination process section 102 that generates a control signal corresponding to the detected data value, and a control section 103 that generates a signal waveform of a drive voltage supplied to a drive section 104 to deform the panel with the control signal. When the operator performs an input operation, after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed until the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed, the panel is deformed corresponding to a signal waveform having a small amplitude. After the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed, the panel is deformed with a signal waveform having a large amplitude. The operator can feel a stroke sense with the weak vibration after the pressing operation or the like is performed. Thereafter, with strong vibration, the operator can feel a click sense.

Claims

1. An input apparatus for performing an input operation as a pressing operation or a touching operation on a front surface of a panel, comprising:

input detection means for detecting whether the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel;

waveform generation means for generating a signal waveform after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed when the input detection means detects that the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed and generating a signal waveform having a larger amplitude after the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed than the signal waveform generated after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed; and

panel deforming means for deforming the panel corresponding to the signal waveform generated by the waveform generation means.

2. The input apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the signal waveform generated by the waveform generation means after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed has a smaller amplitude and a higher frequency than the signal waveform generated by the waveform generation means after the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed.

3. The input apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the input detection means detects a signal that varies when the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel to determine whether the pressing operation or the touching operation is being preformed on the front surface of the panel, and

wherein the waveform generation means generates a signal waveform after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed and the signal starts changing and generates a signal waveform having a larger amplitude after the signal becomes stable and the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed than the signal waveform generated after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed.

4. The input apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the waveform generation means varies a signal waveform after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed until the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed.

5. The input apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein when the input detection means detects that the pressing operation or the touching operation is being preformed and the pressing operation or the touching operation is not accepted as the input operation, the waveform generation means generates a signal waveform only after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed until the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed.

6. An information process apparatus having an input apparatus for performing an input operation as a pressing operation or a touching operation on a front surface of a panel, comprising:

input detection means for detecting whether the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel;

waveform generation means for generating a signal waveform after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed when the input detection means detects that the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed and generating a signal waveform having a larger amplitude after the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed than the signal waveform generated after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed; and

panel deforming means for deforming the panel corresponding to the signal waveform generated by the waveform generation means.

7. A remote control apparatus having an input apparatus for performing an input operation as a pressing operation or a touching operation on a front surface of a panel, comprising:

input detection means for detecting whether the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel;

waveform generation means for generating a signal waveform after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed when the input detection means detects that the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed and generating a signal waveform having a larger amplitude after the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed than the signal waveform generated after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed; and

panel deforming means for deforming the panel corresponding to the signal waveform generated by the waveform generation means.

8. A control method of an input apparatus for performing an input operation as a pressing operation or a touching operation on a front surface of a panel, comprising the steps of:

generating a signal waveform after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed when it is detected that the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed;

generating a signal waveform having a larger amplitude after the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed than the signal waveform generated after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed; and

deforming the panel corresponding to the generated signal waveform.

9. An input apparatus for performing an input operation as a pressing operation or a touching operation on a front surface of a panel, comprising:

input detection means for detecting whether the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel;

time period measurement means for measuring a time period after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed until the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed when the input detection means detects that the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel;

waveform generation means for generating a signal waveform corresponding to the time period measured by the time period measurement means; and

panel deforming means for deforming the panel corresponding to the signal waveform generated by the waveform generation means.

10. The input apparatus as set forth in claim 9,

wherein the waveform generation means generates a signal waveform having an amplitude reversely proportional to the time period measured by the time period measurement means.

11. The input apparatus as set forth in claim 9,

wherein the waveform generation means generates a signal waveform having a larger amplitude when the time period measured by the time period measurement means is shorter than a predetermined time period than a signal waveform generated when the time period measured by the time period measurement means is longer than the predetermined time period.

12. The input apparatus as set forth in claim 9,

wherein the input detection means detects a signal that varies when the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel to determine whether the pressing operation or the touching operation is being preformed on the front surface of the panel, and

wherein the time period measurement means confirms the pressing operation or the touching operation when the signal that varies after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed becomes stable and measures a time period after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed until the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed.

13. An information process apparatus having an input apparatus for performing an input operation as a pressing operation or a touching operation on a front surface of a panel, comprising:

input detection means for detecting whether the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel;

time period measurement means for measuring a time period after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed until the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed when the input detection means detects that the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel;

waveform generation means for generating a signal waveform corresponding to the time period measured by the time period measurement means; and

panel deforming means for deforming the panel corresponding to the signal waveform generated by the waveform generation means.

14. A remote control apparatus having an input apparatus for performing an input operation as a pressing operation or a touching operation on a front surface of a panel, comprising:

input detection means for detecting whether the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel;

time period measurement means for measuring a time period after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed until the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed when the input detection means detects that the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel;

waveform generation means for generating a signal waveform corresponding to the time period measured by the time period measurement means; and

panel deforming means for deforming the panel corresponding to the signal waveform generated by the waveform generation means.

15. A control method of an input apparatus for performing an input operation as a pressing operation or a touching operation on a front surface of a panel, comprising the steps of:

measuring a time period after the pressing operation or the touching operation is performed until the pressing operation or the touching operation is confirmed when it is detected that the pressing operation or the touching operation is being performed on the front surface of the panel;

generating a signal waveform corresponding to the measured time period; and

deforming the panel corresponding to the signal waveform generated by the waveform generation means.