INPUT APPARATUS

• US 20120154316A1
• Filed: 08/05/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Kono, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 9,952,705 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 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers

Abstract

An input apparatus capable of providing, through a touch sensor, a tactile sensation as it were a sensation obtained when operating a key and the like constituted of a mechanical switch.

An input apparatus 1 has a touch sensor 11 configured to detect a contact, a load detection unit 12 configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor 11, a tactile sensation providing unit 13 configured to vibrate the touch face, and a control unit 15 configured to control drive of the tactile sensation providing unit 13, when a position of the contact detected by the touch sensor 11 moves into a predetermined region while the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12 satisfies a predetermined standard, such that a tactile sensation is provided to an object pressing the touch face.

Claims

1. An input apparatus comprising:

a touch sensor configured to detect a contact;

a load detection unit configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor;

a tactile sensation providing unit configured to vibrate the touch face; and

a control unit configured to control drive of the tactile sensation providing unit, when a position of the contact detected by the touch sensor moves into a predetermined region while the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined standard, such that a tactile sensation is provided to an object pressing the touch face.

2. (canceled)

3. An input apparatus comprising:

a touch sensor configured to detect a contact;

a load detection unit configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor;

a tactile sensation providing unit configured to vibrate the touch face; and

a control unit configured to control drive of the tactile sensation providing unit, when a position of the contact detected by the touch sensor moves out of a predetermined region while the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a predetermined standard, such that a tactile sensation is provided to an object pressing the touch face.