INPUT DEVICE

• US 20080266143A1
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Tadamitsu, Hagiwara, Yasuji, Ohshita, Kazuhito
• Granted Patent: US 8,077,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

A capacitive input pad is provided at a position near input keys constituting a keyboard input unit. A left palm detecting unit and a right palm detecting unit are provided both sides of this input pad. When the left palm detecting unit and the right palm detecting unit detect both palms, an input operation, corresponding to a space key input area, an L-key input portion, or an R-key input portion, is performed through an operation of the input pad. When the left palm detecting unit and the right palm detecting unit do not detect both palms, a coordinate input operation is performed using the input pad.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a keyboard input unit having a plurality of input keys;

an input pad, provided on a proximal side with respect to the keyboard input unit, that detects touch of a hand through a change in capacitance;

a palm detecting unit, provided outside of the input pad, that detects the hand that is in a position of operating the keyboard input device; and

a data processing unit that generates different input signals on the basis of a detection output of the input pad according to whether the palm detecting unit detects the hand or not.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein,

when the palm detecting unit detects the hand, the data processing unit determines whether or not the position on the input pad touched with the hand corresponds to a first operation area, and generates a space key input signal upon determining that the first operation area is touched with the hand, whereas

when the palm detecting unit does not detect the hand, the data processing unit generates a pad input signal including coordinate information on the basis of a detection signal generated when the input pad is operated with the hand.

3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein,

when the palm detecting unit does not detect the hand, both of the first operation area of the input pad and a second operation area, corresponding to an area on the input pad other than the first operation area, are set as a coordinate detection area, and the data processing unit generates the pad input signal including the coordinate information.

4. The input device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a detection switch that switches an output in response to pressing of the input pad with a finger, wherein,

when the palm detecting unit detects the hand, the data processing unit determines whether or not the position on the input pad touched with the hand corresponds to the first operation area, and generates the space key input signal if the data processing unit determines that the first operation area is touched with the hand and the output of the detection switch is switched.

5. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the first operation area on the input pad is located within an array of the input keys constituting the keyboard input unit.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein,

when the palm detecting unit detects the hand, the data processing unit determines whether or not the position on the input pad touched with the hand corresponds to a particular specification area, and generates a predetermined input signal corresponding to the specification area upon determining that the specification area is touched with the hand, whereas

when the palm detecting unit does not detect the hand, the data processing unit generates a pad input signal including the coordinate information on the basis of the detection signal generated when the input pad is operated with the hand.

7. The input device according to claim 6, wherein the data processing unit generates a switching signal upon determining that the specification area is touched with the hand.

8. The input device according to claim 7, wherein the switching signal is a mouse button signal.

9. The input device according to claim 7, wherein the switching signal is an arrow key operation signal for an arrow key of the keyboard input unit that allows the position of a displayed object to be moved on a screen.

10. The input device according to claim 7, wherein the switching signal is a numeral key input signal.

11. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the palm detecting unit detects touch of the hand through a change in capacitance.