INPUT DEVICE

• US 20140062932A1
• Filed: 03/06/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC CASIO Mobile Communications Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Ebata, Susumu
• Application Number:
  US14/115,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20140062932A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• 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 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

Display unit (110) displays a plurality of input areas for entering information. Input unit (120) enters information based on one of the input areas which includes a position that is touched or approached. Area editor (130) edits a layout of the input areas based on an input applied to input unit (120). Area controller (140) controls the input areas displayed by display unit (110) based on the edited layout from area editor (130).

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a display unit that displays a plurality of input areas for entering information;

an input unit that enters information based on one of the input areas which includes a position that is touched or approached;

an area editor that edits a layout of the input areas based on an input applied to said input unit; and

an area controller that controls the input areas displayed by said display unit based on the edited layout from said area editor.

2. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an action determiner that determines a given action; and

a memory that stores the action and the layout of the input areas which has been edited by said area editor, in association with each other;

wherein said area controller reads the input area corresponding to the action determined by said action determiner from said memory, and controls the input areas displayed by said display unit.

3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein said area editor edits a shape of said input areas in addition to the layout of the input areas.

4. The input device according to claim 3, wherein said memory stores said action and the shape edited by said area editor in association with each other;

and

said area controller reads the input area corresponding to the action determined by said action determiner from said memory, and controls the input areas displayed by said display unit.

5. The input device according to claim 2, wherein said action determiner comprises a pressure sensor.

6. An input method for entering information, comprising:

a process of displaying a plurality of input areas for entering information;

an input process of entering information based on one of the input areas which includes a position that is touched or approached;

a process of editing a layout of the input areas based on an input applied in said input process; and

a process of controlling the displayed input areas based on the edited layout.

7. (canceled)