Control input device with vibrating function

• US 7,639,239 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kajimoto, Tomomi, Tsunokake, Yasuharu, Ishida, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen; Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): MISHLER, ROBIN J
• Application Number:
  US11/291,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20060146032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 715/701, 715/702
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3652 Guidance using non-audiovisual output, e.g. tactile, haptic or electric stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A vibration-function-equipped control input system includes: a display panel capable of displaying a control screen; a touch panel; a pressure-position detector; a vibration section that generates vibration to apply to the touch panel; and a controller operatively connected to the display panel, the touch panel, the pressure-position detector, and the vibration section. The controller directs the vibration section to generate a vibration of a first vibration pattern when a predetermined time has passed after the part of the touch panel corresponding to the position of a control key displayed on the control screen is pushed, and subsequently directs the vibration section to generate a vibration of a second vibration pattern when a change of a control object controlled by the control key is detected after the predetermined time has passed.

Claims

1. A vibration-function-equipped control input system comprising:

a display panel operable to display a control screen;

a touch panel disposed on the display panel, an area of the touch panel defining a control key, the control key being displayed on the control screen and configured to adjust a setting of a control object controlled by pressing at least a portion of the area of the touch panel defining the control key;

a pressure-position detector operable to detect a pressed position of the touch panel when the touch panel is pressed;

a position comparing section operable to determine if the pressed position of the touch panel is within a same area as the area of the touch panel defining the control key;

a vibration section operable to generate vibration to apply to the touch panel; and

a controller operatively connected to the display panel, the touch panel, the pressure-position detector, the position comparing section, and the vibration section, wherein

the controller directs the vibration section to generate a vibration for confirming a key entry when the position comparing section determines that the pressed position of the touch panel is within the area of the touch panel defining the control key; and

when the position comparing section determines that the pressed position of the touch panel is within the area of the touch panel defining the control key, a timer starts measuring a time elapsed during which the pressed position of the touch panel (1) remains within the area of the touch panel defining the control key and (2) has been continuously pressed, and

if the time elapsed that the pressed position of the touch panel remains within the area of the touch panel defining the control key and has been continuously pressed reaches a pre-determined time, the controller further directs the vibration section to generate a first vibration pattern at the area of the touch panel defining the control key to confirm the entry of a long key press, and subsequently directs the vibration section to generate a second vibration pattern at the area of the touch panel defining the control key if the pressed position of the touch panel remains within the area of the touch panel defining the control key and is continued to be pressed for a period of time after the entry of the long key press such that a current setting of the control object controlled by the control key is changed by the continued pressing of at least a portion of the area of the touch panel defining the control key.

2. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 1, wherein the second vibration pattern varies every time the current setting of the control object changes by pushing the control key.

3. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 2, wherein the control object is music to be played by a sound reproducing system.

4. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 1, wherein the control object is music to be played by a sound reproducing system.

5. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 1, wherein the control object is a folder of selectable music pieces.

6. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 1, wherein the control object is a section of video to be played by a video reproducing system.

7. A vibration-function-equipped control input system comprising:

a display panel operable to display a control screen;

a touch panel disposed on the display panel, an area of the touch panel defining a control key, the control key being displayed on the control screen in the area of the touch panel defining the control key and configured to adjust a setting of a control object controlled by the control key when the at least a portion of the area of the touch panel defining the control key is pressed;

a pressure-position detector operable to detect a position of the touch panel pressed;

a position comparing section operable to determine if the pressed position of the touch panel is within a same area as the area of the touch panel defining the control key;

a vibration section operable to generate vibration to apply to the touch panel; and

a controller operatively connected to the display panel, the touch panel, the pressure-position detector, the position comparing section, and the vibration section, wherein

the controller directs the vibration section to generate a vibration for confirming a key entry when the position comparing section determines that the pressed position of the touch panel is within the area of the touch panel defining the control key; and

when the position comparing section determines that the pressed position of the touch panel is within the area of the touch panel defining the control key, a timer starts measuring a time elapsed during which the pressed position of the touch panel (1) remains within the area of the touch panel defining the control key and (2) has been continuously pressed, and

the controller further directs the vibration section to generate a first vibration pattern at the area of the touch panel defining the control key when the time elapsed that the pressed position of the touch panel remains within the area of the touch panel defining the control key and has been continuously pressed reaches a predetermined time to confirm the entry of long key press, and subsequently directs the vibration section to generate a second vibration pattern at the area of the touch panel defining the control key when a setting of a gradually varying value of the control object controlled by the continued pressing of at least a portion of the area of the touch panel defining the control key has passed a predetermined reference point.

8. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 7, wherein the second vibration pattern varies depending upon the direction of the change in the setting of the gradually varying value of the control object.

9. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 7, wherein the setting of the gradually varying value of the control object has a lower limit, a median, and a higher limit, wherein after changing from the lower limit to the higher limit, the control object shifts to the lower limit, and after changing from the higher limit to the lower limit, the control object shifts to the higher limit.

10. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined reference value is the median of the gradually varying value of the control object.

11. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 10, wherein the control object is a gradually, continuously varying sound level.

12. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 10, wherein the control object is a gradually, continuously varying visual setting.

13. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined reference point is the higher limit or the lower limit of the gradually varying value of the control object.

14. A vibration-function-equipped control input system comprising:

a display panel operable to display a control screen;

a touch panel disposed on the display panel, an area of the touch panel dedicated to a control key, the control key being displayed on the control screen and configured to adjust a setting of a control object controlled by pressing at least a portion of the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key;

a pressure-position detector operable to detect a position of the touch panel pressed;

a position comparing section operable to determine if the pressed position of the touch panel is within a same area of the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key;

a vibration section operable to generate vibration to apply to the touch panel; and

a controller operatively connected to the display panel, the touch panel, the pressure-position detector, the position comparing section, and the vibration section, wherein

when the position comparing section determines that the pressed position of the touch panel is within the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key, a timer starts measuring a time elapsed during which the pressed position of the touch panel (1) remains within the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key and (2) has been continuously pressed, and

the controller directs the vibration section to generate a first vibration pattern at the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key when the time elapsed during which the pressed position of the touch panel (a) remains within the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key and (b) has been continuously pressed reaches a predetermined time to confirm entry of a long key press, and subsequently directs the vibration section to generate a second vibration pattern at the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key when a setting of the control object controlled by pressing at least a portion of the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key has reached a predefined value.

15. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 14, wherein the second vibration pattern varies every time the setting of the control object varies.

16. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 15, wherein the setting of the control object controls field intensity associated with reception of broadcasting.

17. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 14, wherein the setting of the control object controls field intensity associated with reception of broadcasting.

18. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 17, wherein the control object is field intensity associated with receiving FM broadcasting.

19. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 17, wherein the control object is field intensity associated with receiving AM broadcasting.

20. The vibration-function-equipped control input system according to claim 17, wherein the control object is field intensity associated with receiving TV broadcasting.