INPUT APPARATUS ACCEPTING A PRESSURE INPUT

• US 20100141410A1
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Shiokawa, Yuta, Tashiro, Kaoru, AONO, Tomotake
• Granted Patent: US 11,003,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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

There is provided an input apparatus having a configuration simple enough to be compact and capable of presenting an operator with the same real feeling of pressing as the feeling of operating a push-button switch when the operator operates a pressing-type input unit. The input apparatus includes an input unit which accepts a pressure input; a load detection unit which detects a pressure load to the input unit; a vibration unit which vibrates the input unit; and a control unit which, when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion for accepting an input to the input unit, controls driving of the vibration unit so as to generate a floating force on a pressing object pressing the input unit.

Claims

1. An input apparatus comprising:

an input unit which accepts a pressure input;

a load detection unit which detects a pressure load to the input unit;

a vibration unit which vibrates the input unit; and

a control unit which, when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion for accepting an input to the input unit, controls driving of the vibration unit so as to generate a floating force on a pressing object pressing the input unit.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit accepts the input to the input unit, and then the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit so as to generate a floating force on the pressing object.

3. The input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input object which is formed on the input unit; and

a position detection unit which detects an input position to the input unit,

wherein when the position detection unit detects the input position where the input object is formed, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit.

16. The input apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

an input object which is formed on the input unit; and

a position detection unit which detects an input position to the input unit,

wherein when the position detection unit detects the input position where the input object is formed, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit.

4. An input apparatus comprising:

a display unit which displays an input object;

an input unit which accepts a pressure input to the display unit;

a load detection unit which detects a pressure load to the input unit;

a vibration unit which vibrates the input unit; and

a control unit which, when an input to the input unit is an input to the input object displayed on the display unit, and the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion for accepting the input, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit so as to generate a floating force on a pressing object pressing the input unit.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the control unit accepts the input to the input unit, and then the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit so as to generate a floating force on the pressing object.

6. An input apparatus comprising:

an input unit which accepts a pressure input;

a load detection unit which detects a pressure load to the input unit;

a vibration unit which vibrates the input unit; and

a control unit which, when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion for accepting an input to the input unit, controls driving of the vibration unit so as to produce a squeeze film effect on a pressing object pressing the input unit.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the control unit accepts an input to the input unit, and then the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit so as to produce a squeeze film effect on the pressing object.

8. The input apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

an input object which is formed on the input unit; and

a position detection unit which detects an input position to the input unit, wherein

when the position detection unit detects the input position where the input object is formed, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit.

17. The input apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

an input object which is formed on the input unit; and

a position detection unit which detects an input position to the input unit, wherein

when the position detection unit detects the input position where the input object is formed, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit.

9. An input apparatus comprising:

a display unit which displays an input object;

an input unit which accepts a pressure input to the display unit;

a load detection unit which detects a pressure load to the input unit;

a vibration unit which vibrates the input unit; and

a control unit which, when an input to the input unit is an input to the input object displayed on the display unit, and the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion for accepting the input, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit so as to produce a squeeze film effect on a pressing object pressing the input unit.

10. The input apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the control unit accepts the input to the input unit, and then the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit so as to produce a squeeze film effect on the pressing object.

11. An input apparatus comprising:

an input unit which accepts a pressure input;

a load detection unit which detects a pressure load to the input unit;

a vibration unit which vibrates the input unit; and

a control unit which, when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion for accepting an input to the input unit, controls driving of the vibration unit so as to reduce a frictional force between the input unit and a pressing object pressing the input unit.

12. The input apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the control unit accepts the input to the input unit, and then the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit so as to reduce a frictional force between the pressing object and the input unit.

13. The input apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

an input object which is formed on the input unit; and

a position detection unit which detects an input position to the input unit, wherein

when the position detection unit detects the input position where the input object is formed, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit.

18. The input apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

an input object which is formed on the input unit; and

a position detection unit which detects an input position to the input unit, wherein

when the position detection unit detects the input position where the input object is formed, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit.

14. An input apparatus comprising:

a display unit which displays an input object;

an input unit which accepts a pressure input to the display unit;

a load detection unit which detects a pressure load to the input unit;

a vibration unit which vibrates the input unit; and

a control unit which, when an input to the input unit is an input to the input object displayed on the display unit, and the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion for accepting the input, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit so as to reduce a frictional force between the input unit and the pressing object pressing the input unit.

15. The input apparatus according to claim 14, wherein when the control unit accepts the input to the input unit, and then the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined criterion, the control unit controls driving of the vibration unit so as to reduce a frictional force between the pressing object and the input unit.