OPERATION PANEL AND OPERATION APPARATUS

• US 20150138111A1
• Filed: 10/24/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Akieda, Shinichiro, Okuyama, Takeshi, Nakamura, Akio, Iizuka, Koji, Sekizawa, Mitsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 10,007,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• 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

Abstract

An operation panel includes a first board, a second board, a load sensor provided between the first board and the second board, and a clip that holds together the first board and the second board.

The load sensor detects the magnitude of a force applied to the first board.

Claims

1. An operation panel, comprising:

a first board;

a second board;

a load sensor provided between the first board and the second board, wherein the load sensor detects magnitude of a force applied to the first board; and

a clip that holds together the first board and the second board.

2. The operation panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a vibration generating element provided on the first board or the second board, wherein the vibration generating element vibrates in response to the magnitude of the force detected by the load sensor.

3. The operation panel as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the load sensor detects the magnitude of the force applied to the first board at multiple levels, and

wherein the vibration generating element vibrates in different patterns in accordance with the magnitude of the force detected by the load sensor.

4. The operation panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a display,

wherein the display is configured to display a region to be operated.

5. The operation panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a groove provided in each of a part of the first board and a part of the second board being held by the clip.

6. The operation panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a screw provided in the clip, wherein the screw fixes the first board, the load sensor, and the second board that are stacked.

7. The operation panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load sensor is provided between a part of the first board and a part of the second board being held by the clip.

8. An operation apparatus, comprising:

a first board;

a second board;

a load sensor provided between the first board and the second board, wherein the load sensor detects magnitude of a force applied to the first board; and

a clip that holds together the first board and the second board.