Input method and input device

• US 7,088,342 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Rekimoto, Junichi, Nashida, Tatsushi, Poupyrev, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Application Number:
  US10/437,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20030234768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 345/176, 345/179, 345/160, 345/162, 345/172, 345/705, 345/773, 178/18.01, 178/18.02, 178/19.01, 178/19.02, 715/771, 715/773, 715/705
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A display panel disposed on the front surface of a device shows information related to an operation input. A sensor for detecting a touch of an object is disposed on the back surface of the device. A mark representing the touch position is displayed at a position directly above the position of a touch detected by the sensor on the display panel. When the mark representing the touch position and the display position of the information are overlapped, an input process corresponding to the overlapped information is performed.

Claims

1. An input method comprising:

an operation-input display step of displaying information related to an operation input at a display position on a first surface;

a detecting step of detecting a touch of a first object at a first touch position on the first surface, wherein the first touch position on the first surface sets an adjustment value;

a detecting step of detecting a touch of a second object at a second touch position on a second surface behind the first surface;

a touch-position display step of displaying a mark at a mark position directly above the second touch position, the mark representing the second touch position;

an input step of determining whether the display position of the information displayed at the operation-input display step and the mark position of the mark displayed at the touch-position display step are overlapped; and

an executing step of executing an input process corresponding to the overlapped information and the adjustment value;

wherein the first touch position and the second touch position are offset in a direction parallel to the first surface.

2. An input method according to claim 1, wherein:

the detecting step detects an approach of the second object to an approach position on the second surface behind the information displayed at the operation-input display step; and

the touch-position display step displays a mark representing the approach position.

3. An input method according to claim 1, further comprising a vibrating step causing temporary vibration in accordance with a state of the touch detection at the detecting step.

4. An input device comprising:

a display panel disposed on a front surface of a casing;

a front-surface sensor for detecting a touch of a first object at a first touch position on the front surface of the casing;

a back-surface sensor for detecting a touch of a second object at a second touch position on a back surface behind the front surface of the casing; and

a control means for;

displaying information related to an operation input on the display panel on the front surface,

displaying a mark representing the second touch position at a mark position directly above the second touch position detected by the back-surface sensor,

determining whether the display position of the information related to the operation input and a position of the mark are overlapped,

determining an adjustment value based on the first touch position on the front surface;

executing an input process corresponding to the overlapped information and the adjustment value;

wherein the first touch position and the second touch position are offset in a direction parallel to the first surface.

5. An input device according to claim 4, wherein:

the back-surface sensor detects an approach of the second object to an approach position on the back surface of the casing; and

the control means displays a mark representing the approach position detected by the back-surface sensor on the corresponding display panel position.

6. An input device according to claim 4, further comprising an actuator for temporarily vibrating the casing provided with the display panel, wherein the control means controls vibrations of the actuator in accordance with a touch-detection state obtained by the back-surface sensor.