Input apparatus for performing input operation corresponding to indication marks and coordinate input operation on the same operational plane

• US 7,312,790 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Tadamitsu, Soma, Masahiro, Hagiwara, Yasuji, Kato, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Henry N
• Application Number:
  US10/214,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345168-179, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.06, 178/18.1, 200/512, 715/702, 379/428.03, 379/433
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

An input apparatus includes a flat input device of a pressure-sensitive type or a capacitive type, and an indicator sheet on which indication marks are formed is fixed on the surface of the flat input device. A tactile-feel-generating unit is provided behind the flat input device. The tactile-feel-generating unit includes dome-shaped inversion plates which are disposed at positions corresponding to the indication marks. When one of the indication marks is pressed setting an input mode, an operation signal is generated in accordance with an item represented by the indication mark, and a tactile feel is generated by a reaction force of the corresponding inversion plate. When an indication mark is touched, while in an input mode, the control unit recognizes the resulting signal to be a coordinate data signal.

Claims

1. An input apparatus comprising:

a locally deformable input unit with which a coordinate input operation and an indication mark input operation are performed and which includes indication marks which indicate a plurality of input positions, said input unit generating an input signal in response to the coordinate input operation and the indication mark input operation, the coordinate input operation and the indication mark input operation sharing an operational surface of the input unit;

a control unit which receives the input signal from the input unit and generates an operation signal in accordance with the input signal; and

wherein the control unit recognizes the input signal obtained from the input unit as coordinate data, and when one of the indication marks is touched individually, the control unit generates the operation signal corresponding to an item indicated at the corresponding input position;

wherein the control unit is capable of switching from an indication mark input operation mode to a coordinate input operation mode when an operating member does not keep contacting the indication marks for a predetermined time interval.

2. An input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises a flat input device with which the coordinate input operation is performed and the indication marks formed on the surface of the flat input device.

3. An input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a position of contact on the input unit moves, the control unit recognizes the movement of the position of contact as coordinate data.

4. An input apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a display panel, wherein when the control unit recognizes the coordinate data, the display panel shows a display according to the coordinate data, and when one of the indication marks is touched, the display panel shows a character, a symbol, or a number corresponding to the touched indication mark.

5. An input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tactile-feel-generating unit which generates a reaction force when one of the indication marks is pushed.

6. An input apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the tactile-feel-generating unit includes tactile-feel-generating members which are disposed at positions corresponding to the indication marks.

7. An input apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the tactile-feel-generating unit includes a moveable tactile-feel-generating member.

8. An input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the tactile-feel-generating members are formed of dome-shaped inversion plates placed behind the input unit.

9. An input apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the inversion plates serve to generate a switch input.

10. An input apparatus comprising:

a locally deformable input unit which is flat and with which a dual input mode can be set;

indication marks formed on an operational surface of the input unit which indicate a plurality of input positions;

a tactile-feel generating unit disposed underlying the operational surface of the input unit and being capable of generating a signal operable to recognize a distinction between a first input mode and a second input mode; and

,

a control unit which receives an input signal from the input unit and generates an operation signal in accordance with the input signal; and

wherein in the first input mode, the control unit detects that one of the input positions is touched and generates an operation signal corresponding to an item indicated at the corresponding input position, and in the second input mode, the control unit recognizes the input signal obtained from the input unit as coordinate data irrespective of items indicated at the input positions; and

wherein the control unit is capable of switching from the first input mode to the second input mode when an operating member does not keep contacting the indication marks for a predetermined time interval.

11. An input apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a display panel that displays a pattern traced by the operating member wherein the pattern represents a character.

12. An input apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the tactile-feel-generating unit comprises an inversion plate disposed above an electrode, the inversion plate coming into contact with the electrode upon deformation of the input unit.

13. An input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the inversion plate is disposed at positions corresponding to each of the indication marks.

14. An input apparatus according to claim 13, wherein after the inversion plate comes into contact with the electrode, a coordinate input operation is not performed.

15. An input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the tactile-feel-generating unit comprises a projection having a moveable end in a vertical direction.

16. An input apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the tactile-feel-generating unit further comprises an elevation unit that moves in a vertical direction.

17. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a locally deformable and sheet-shaped input member which is disposed under an indicator unit and which inputs a position of an operating member when the operating member comes into contact with a surface of the indicator unit, and the indicator unit includes indication marks;

a tactile-feel generating unit disposed underlying the input member and being capable of generating a switch signal; and

a control unit which generates an operation signal on the basis of a signal from the input member and which recognizes a distinction between a first input mode and a second input mode in response to the switch signal,

wherein the operating signal is generated in correspondence with a trajectory of the position of contact between the operating member and the surface of the indicator unit; and

wherein the control unit is further capable of switching from the second input mode to the first input mode when the operating member does not keep contacting the indication marks for a predetermined time interval.

18. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the input member is of a capacitive type and includes a dielectric resin sheet having a detection electrode, and

wherein, when the operating member comes into contact with the surface of the indicator unit, the input member outputs a coordinate signal representing the position of contact in the first input mode.

19. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the input member is of a capacitive type and includes a resin sheet having an X-direction detection electrode on one side and a Y-direction detection electrode on the other side.

20. An input apparatus comprising:

a locally deformable sheet-shaped input member which is disposed under an indicator unit and which inputs a position of an operating member when the operating member comes into contact with a surface of the indicator unit, and the indicator unit includes indication marks; and

a signal processor which processes a signal from the input member as coordinate information and which processes the signal from the input member as selection in response to a tapping of the operating member;

wherein movement position data is output when the operating member slides on the surface of the indicator unit; and

wherein the signal processor is capable of processing the signal from the input member as the coordinate information in a first input mode and information corresponding to the indication marks in a second input mode ; and

wherein the signal processor switches from the second input mode to the first input mode when the operating member does not keep contacting the indication marks for a predetermined time interval.

21. The input apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the input member is of a capacitive type and the signal processor distinguishes the tapping from a depression of the indication marks based on a difference in change of a capacity.

22. The input apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the input member is a pressure-sensitive type and the signal processor distinguishes the tapping from a depression of the indication marks based on a difference in change of a resistance.

23. An input apparatus comprising:

a dual mode input unit which is sheet-shaped and which generates a coordinate signal in a coordinate signal input mode, the input unit further generating an indication signal corresponding to a predetermined function in an indication signal input mode;

an indicator unit provided on a surface of the input unit and displaying a plurality of indication marks which indicate respective input positions; and

,

a control unit which processes the coordinate signal and/or an indication signal and which switches between the coordinate signal input mode and the indication signal input mode in response to presence or absence of a touch of the indication marks by an operating member wherein the control unit switches from the indication signal input mode to the coordinate signal input mode when the operating member does not contact the indication marks for a predetermined time interval and changes the position before the predetermined time interval elapses;

wherein the input unit is locally deformable and the indicator unit is disposed on the input unit.

24. The input apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the input unit is of a capacitive type and includes a dielectric resin sheet having a detection electrode, and

wherein, in the coordinate signal input mode, when the operating member, such as a finger, presses the input unit, the input unit outputs the coordinate signal representing the position of contact.

25. The input apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the input unit is of a capacitive type and includes a resin sheet having an X-direction detection electrode on one side and a Y-direction detection electrode on the other side.

26. The input apparatus according to claim 23, wherein when the operating member, such as a finger, presses the input unit, a resistance of the input unit changes and the input unit outputs the coordinate signal representing the position at which the input unit is pressed in the coordinate signal input mode.

27. An input apparatus comprising:

a first input unit element which is sheet-shaped and which generates a coordinate signal;

an indicator unit provided on a surface of the first input unit element and displaying a plurality of indication marks which indicate respective input positions;

a second input unit element which generates an indication signal corresponding to a predetermined function; and

a control unit which processes the coordinate signal and/or the indication signal and which switches between the coordinate signal input mode and the indication signal input mode in response to presence or absence of a touch of the indication marks by an operating member,

wherein the first input unit element is locally deformable and the indicator unit is disposed on the first input unit element, and

wherein the control unit switches from the indication signal input mode to the coordinate signal input mode when the operating member is in no contact with the indication marks for the time interval.

28. The input apparatus according to claim 27, wherein each of the indication marks comprises a convex or concave portion provided on the surface of the display unit, and the character, the number, or the symbol is provided on the surface of the convex or concave portion.

29. An input apparatus comprising:

a locally deformable and sheet-shaped dual-mode input unit which generates a coordinate signal and an indication signal corresponding to the input positions;

a sheet-shaped indicating unit provided on a surface of the coordinate-input unit and comprising a plurality of indication marks indicating a plurality of input positions;

a switch-input unit which generates a switch input; and

a control unit which processes the coordinate signal and/or the indication signal, and,

wherein the indicating unit is laminated on the coordinate-input unit and the coordinate-input unit is laminated on the switch-input unit,

wherein the control unit switches from an indication signal input mode to a coordinate signal input mode when an operating member does not contact the indication marks for a predetermined time interval.

30. The input apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the switch-input unit includes a substrate having dome-shaped inversion plates and an electrode facing the inversion plates, the inversion plates generating tactile feel when the indicating unit is pressed at the input positions.

31. The input apparatus according to claim 29, wherein a switch output is turned on in response to the switch input and the control unit subsequently recognizes only the indication signal.

32. The input apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the switch-input unit provides a tactile feel when the deformed coordinate-input unit is restored.

33. The input apparatus according to claim 32, wherein upon restoration of the deformed coordinate-input unit, the control unit recognizes the coordinate signal.

34. A portable electronic apparatus comprising an input apparatus including:

a locally deformable dual mode input unit which is sheet-shaped and which generates a coordinate signal in a first input mode and which generates an indication signal corresponding to a predetermined function in a second input mode;

a display unit provided on a surface of the input unit and displaying a plurality of indication marks which indicate respective input positions;

a tactile-feel generating unit which is capable of generating a switch signal operable to switch between the coordinate signal and the indication signal; and

a control unit which processes the coordinate signal or the indication signal and the switch signal; and

a screen unit showing a cursor which moves on the screen unit or a display which corresponds to the predetermined function in response to a signal from the control unit,

wherein the display unit is laminated on the input unit, and the input unit is laminated on the tactile-feel generating unit, and

wherein the control unit switches from the second input mode to the first input mode when an operating member does not contact the indication marks for a predetermined time interval.

35. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the screen unit displays a menu of items and the cursor, and an item is selected from the menu with the cursor moved by sliding an operating member, such as a finger, along the surface of the input unit.

36. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the control unit outputs a first display signal and a second display signal to the screen unit, the first display signal corresponding to the coordinate signal and the second display signal representing a character, a number, or a symbol corresponding to the indication signal.

37. An input apparatus comprising:

an indicating unit which comprises a plurality of indication marks which indicates a plurality of input positions;

an input unit including a first input unit element and a second input unit element and being locally deformable and sheet-shaped, the first input unit element outputting a coordinate signal as continuous coordinate data representing the state of contact between an operating member, such as a finger, and the second input unit element outputting an indication signal corresponding to a predetermined function;

a tactile-feel generating unit which generates a signal operable to switch between a first input mode and a second input mode; and

,

a control unit which processes the coordinate signal and/or the indication signal; and

wherein in the first input mode, the control unit detects that one of the input positions is touched and outputs an operation signal corresponding to an item indicated at the corresponding input position and in the second input mode, the control unit recognizes the input signal obtained from the input unit as coordinate data irrespective of items indicated at the input positions,

wherein the control unit further switches from the first input mode to the second input mode when the operating member does not contact the indication marks for a predetermined time interval.