TACTILE SENSATION PROVIDING APPARATUS

• US 20120293435A1
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Miki, Tomohiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,804,674 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

Abstract

When an operation to a touch sensor 11 is detected in a first operation state in which a main control unit 16 is not busy with data processing, a tactile sensation provision control unit 14 controls a tactile sensation providing unit 13 to vibrate a touch face 11a in a first vibration mode such that a first tactile sensation is provided to an operation object. On the other hand, when the operation is detected in a second operation state in which the main control unit 16 is busy with data processing, the touch face 11a is vibrated in a second vibration mode such that a second vibration is provided to the operation object. Since different tactile sensations are provided, an operator may recognize whether processing corresponding to the operation may be executed. Thereby, re-inputs are minimized

Claims

1. A tactile sensation providing apparatus comprising:

a touch sensor;

a main control unit configured to process data;

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

an operation detection unit configured to detect an operation to the touch sensor; and

a tactile sensation provision control unit configured to control drive of the tactile sensation providing unit, wherein

the main control unit outputs a state signal indicating a first operation state in which the main control unit is not busy with data processing or a second operation state in which the main control unit is busy with data processing, and

the tactile sensation provision control unit, based on the state signal, vibrates the tactile sensation providing unit in a first vibration mode when the operation detection unit detects the operation in the first operation state such that a first tactile sensation is provided to an operation object on the touch face, and vibrates the tactile sensation providing unit in a second vibration mode when the operation detection unit detects the operation in the second operation state such that a second tactile sensation is provided to the operation object.

2. The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tactile sensation providing unit has a piezoelectric element, and

the operation detection unit detects the operation based on an output of the piezoelectric element.

3. The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation detection unit detects the operation based on an output of the touch sensor.

4. The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display a panel for allowing the touch sensor to detect a touch input.