OPERATION INPUT DEVICE

• US 20100238129A1
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Original Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Inventors: NAKANISHI, Noriyuki, MIZUKI, Takayuki
• Application Number:
  US12/707,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20100238129A1
• 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 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Provided is an operation input device having a first substrate, a first conductive film provided on the first substrate, a second substrate that is provided opposing the side of the first conductive film on the first substrate and have flexibility to be deformed according to pressing strength applied to the film, a second conductive film that is provided on the second substrate at a side opposing the first substrate, and a spacer provided on the first conductive film at the side opposing the second conductive film. The resistance value between the first conductive film and the second conductive film varies according to a contact area between the films.

Claims

1. An operation input device, comprising:

a first substrate;

a first conductive film provided on the first substrate;

a second substrate that is provided opposing the side of the first conductive film on the first substrate and having flexibility to be deformed according to pressing strength applied thereto;

a second conductive film that is provided on the second substrate at a side opposing the first substrate; and

a spacer provided on the first conductive film at the side opposing the second conductive film, wherein

the resistance value between the first conductive film and the second conductive film varies according to a contact area therebetween.

2. The operation input device according to claim 1, further comprising a position calculation part to calculate a contact position between the first conductive film and the second conductive film based upon a potential of the second conductive film, when the first conductive film comes into contact with the second conductive film while voltage is applied to both ends of the first conductive film, which is a resistant film.

3. The operation input device according to claim 2, further comprising an operation processing part that executes processing of different operation functions depending on the resistance value between the first conductive film and the second conductive film when the films come into contact with each other.

4. The operation input device according to claim 3, further comprising a judgment part that judges whether the resistance value conforms to a first condition or a second condition when the first conductive film and the second conductive film come into contact with each other, wherein

the operation processing part executes the processing of the different operation functions depending on the conformity result of the resistance value with respect to the first condition and the second condition.

5. The operation input device according to claim 4, wherein

the operation processing part allocates one or more of the operation functions to a position corresponding to the contact position that the position calculation part calculated when it is judged that the resistance value conforms to the first condition, and executes processing of the operation function allocated to the position corresponding to the contact position when it is judged that the resistance value conforms to the second condition while the one or more operation functions are allocated.

6. The operation input device according to claim 5, further comprising a display part that is provided substantially in parallel with the first substrate, wherein

the operation processing part displays one or more display objects that correspond respectively to the one or more operation functions at a position on the display part corresponding to the contact position that the position calculation part calculated when it is judged that the resistance value conforms to the first condition.

7. The operation input device according to claim 4, wherein

the judgment part judges that the resistance value conforms to the first condition when the resistance value exceeds a predetermined first threshold value, and the judgment part judges that the resistance value conforms to the second condition when the resistance value exceeds a predetermined second threshold value that is larger than the first threshold value.

8. The operation input device according to claim 4, further comprising a vibration part that vibrates the second substrate, wherein

the operation processing part causes the vibration part to vibrate with different vibration properties depending on the conformity result of the resistance value to the first condition and the second condition.

9. The operation input device according to claim 8, wherein

the operation processing part causes the vibration part to vibrate with different vibration patterns depending on the conformity result of the resistance value to the first condition and the second condition.