Display unit with touch panel and information processing method

• US 7,245,293 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hoshino, Takeshi, Tsukada, Yujin, Minemoto, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick; Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US11/190,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20050259087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 345/87, 345/173, 345/177, 345/179, 345/182, 178/18.01, 178/18.06, 178/19.01, 178/19.02, 178/19.03, 178/19.04
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A display unit with a touch panel to move a touch-driven member such as a functional button to a desired position through a touch operation. By touching a draggable icon displayed on a screen with a finger, the icon is changed in color to indicate that the user can drag the icon. Then, by pushing the icon, the icon is changed in size and color to indicate that the user can drag the icon. As by reducing the pushing force to touch on the icon, and moving the finger, the icon is dragged following the finger. As by pushing the icon with the finger at a predetermined position, the icon is set at this position and changed in size and color. When releasing the finger from the icon, the icon is settled at this position.

Claims

1. A display unit having a display panel, and a touch panel disposed on a display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said display unit comprising:

sensing means for sensing a pushing force P produced by said indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member; and

a control unit for performing first processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2 (P1≦

P<

P2), said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1, and for performing second processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2≦

P),

wherein said first processing includes dragging said touch-driven member following said indicating means pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and said second processing includes activating a processing previously assigned to said touch-driven member in combination with a function associated with a region of said display surface to which said touch-driven member has been dragged,

wherein said display panel and said touch panel are placed within a housing, said housing supporting said display panel with a first supporting member, and said display panel supporting said touch panel with a second supporting member, and

wherein said sensing means for sensing said pushing force P is placed in said touch panel.

2. A display unit having a display panel, and a touch panel disposed on a display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said display unit comprising:

sensing means for sensing a pushing force P produced by said indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member; and

a control unit for performing first processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2 (P1≦

P<

P2), said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1, and for performing second processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2≦

P),

wherein said first processing includes dragging said touch-driven member following said indicating means pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and said second processing includes activating a processing previously assigned to said touch-driven member in combination with a function associated with a region of said display surface to which said touch-driven member has been dragged,

wherein said display panel and said touch panel are placed within a housing, said housing supporting said display panel with a first supporting member, and said display panel supporting said touch panel with a second supporting member, and

wherein said sensing means for sensing said pushing force P is placed in said second supporting member.

3. A display unit having a display panel, and a touch panel disposed on a display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said display unit comprising:

sensing means for sensing a pushing force P produced by said indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member; and

a control unit for performing first processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1, and for performing second processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P),

wherein said first processing includes dragging said touch-driven member following said indicating means pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and said second processing includes movement of said touch-driven member,

wherein said second processing proceeds to permit for said touch-driven member to move when said sensing means senses said pushing force P being from P<

P1 through P1≦

P<

P2 to P2≦

P, thereafter wherein said first processing proceeds for said touch-driven member to drag when said sensing means senses said pushing force P being from P2≦

P to P1≦

P<

P2, and

wherein, when it is detected that said pushing force P changes in a predetermined time from P<

P1 to P2≦

P or from P2≦

P to P<

P1, a predetermined processing for said touch-driven member is made without executing said dragging or movement for said touch-driven member.