INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20110141047A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Mcdonald, Andrew, Kawase, Yutaka, Iwaizumi, Tomoki
• Application Number:
  US13/001,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20110141047A1
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

[Object] To provide an input device that allows a user to perceive readily individual virtual buttons without having to watch the virtual buttons carefully, thereby resulting in improved operability for the user.

[Constitution] An input device includes a touch panel 12 that accepts input from a user, a CPU 100 that receives input of a detection signal from the touch panel 12, and a vibration unit 111 that is driven and controlled by the CPU 100. The CPU 100 assigns a plurality of operation button fields on a detection surface of the touch panel 12 and, in response to a touch on an operation button field, causes the vibration unit 111 to vibrate in a vibration pattern set for the operation button field.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a touch detecting section that accepts input from a user;

a button field assigning section that assigns a plurality of operation button fields on a detection surface of the touch detecting section; and

a notifying section that makes a notification in a first notification mode set for the operation button field in response to a touch on the operation button field.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein

the notifying section makes a notification in a second notification mode different from the first notification mode when an area of a touched portion on the detection surface increases in the touched operation button field.

3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein

the notifying section makes a notification in the second notification mode when the area in the touched operation button field increases and then decreases within a predetermined period of time.

4. The input device according to claim 3, wherein

when the area in the touched operation button field increases and then does not decrease within the predetermined period of time, the notifying section makes a notification in a third notification mode in which the touched operation button field can be identified.

5. The input device according to claim 4, wherein

the notifying section makes a notification in the second notification mode when a notification is made in the third notification mode and then the area decreases in the touched operation button field.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein

the notifying section determines that an operation button is touched if a barycenter of a touched portion on the detection surface is within the operation button field.

7. The input device according to claim 1, wherein

the notification mode is any one of vibration, sound, color, and brightness, or any combination of the same.

8. An input device comprising:

a touch detecting section that accepts input from a user; and

a notifying section that, when any field assigned on a detection surface of the touch detecting section is touched, makes a notification in a notification mode set for the touched field.

9. An inputting method for an input device with a touch detecting section and a notifying section, the inputting method comprising steps of:

accepting input from a user through the touch detecting section; and

making a notification with the notifying section when any field assigned on a detection surface of the touch detecting section is touched, the notification being performed in a notification mode set for the touched field.