Pointer operation apparatus and program for controlling same
First Claim
1. A pointer operation apparatus comprising:
- an operation unit that is susceptible to a movement caused by a user operation;
a force applicator that applies a force to the operation unit;
a signal output unit that outputs a position signal to a display control unit according to a position of the operation unit;
an association unit that associates a pointer position displayed on a display unit under control of the display control unit according to the position signal and the force applied to the operation unit by the force applicator by using a predetermined relationship;
a force control unit that controls the force applicator to yield a force that accords with a current pointer position based on the predetermined relationship determined by the association unit;
a recording unit that records a movement history of the pointer position; and
a user input unit that receives a determination instruction for determining the pointer position from a user,wherein the association unit changes the predetermined relationship based on the movement history recorded by the recording unit,wherein the association unit changes the predetermined relationship based on the movement history of the pointer position during a selected period that is defined as a period between a start of the user operation of the operation unit and the determination instruction by using the user input unit, andwherein the association unit decreases the force in the predetermined relationship based on a fact that the trace of a pointer position movement in the selected period is a detour path.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pointer operation apparatus having a reaction force to a user operation changes an intensity of the reaction force according to respective users and/or user'"'"'s conditions by using an operation unit, a force applicator, and other units. The intensity of the reaction force is determined by the pointer operation apparatus based on a relationship between a position of a pointer on a display unit and the reaction force applied to the operation unit, and the force applicator is controlled according to the relationship and the pointer position by the pointer operation apparatus. The relationship is changed based on a history of a pointer position movement (e.g., a speed/path of a pointer movement) recorded by the pointer operation apparatus.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pointer operation apparatus comprising:
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an operation unit that is susceptible to a movement caused by a user operation; a force applicator that applies a force to the operation unit; a signal output unit that outputs a position signal to a display control unit according to a position of the operation unit; an association unit that associates a pointer position displayed on a display unit under control of the display control unit according to the position signal and the force applied to the operation unit by the force applicator by using a predetermined relationship; a force control unit that controls the force applicator to yield a force that accords with a current pointer position based on the predetermined relationship determined by the association unit; a recording unit that records a movement history of the pointer position; and a user input unit that receives a determination instruction for determining the pointer position from a user, wherein the association unit changes the predetermined relationship based on the movement history recorded by the recording unit, wherein the association unit changes the predetermined relationship based on the movement history of the pointer position during a selected period that is defined as a period between a start of the user operation of the operation unit and the determination instruction by using the user input unit, and wherein the association unit decreases the force in the predetermined relationship based on a fact that the trace of a pointer position movement in the selected period is a detour path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A pointer operation apparatus comprising:
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an operation unit that is susceptible to a movement caused by a user operation; a force applicator that applies a force to the operation unit; a signal output unit that outputs a position signal to a display control unit according to a position of the operation unit; an association unit that associates a pointer position displayed on a display unit under control of the display control unit according to the position signal and the force applied to the operation unit by the force applicator by using a predetermined relationship; a force control unit that controls the force applicator to yield a force that accords with a current pointer position based on the predetermined relationship determined by the association unit; a recording unit that records a movement history of the pointer position; and a user input unit that receives a determination instruction for determining the pointer position from a user, wherein the association unit changes the predetermined relationship based on the movement history recorded by the recording unit, wherein the association unit changes the predetermined relationship based on the movement history of the pointer position during a selected period that is defined as a period between a start of the user operation of the operation unit and the determination instruction by using the user input unit, and wherein the association unit increases the force in the predetermined relationship based on a fact that the trace of a pointer position movement takes a return path that passes a final pointer position in the selected period before returning to the final pointer position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A pointer operation apparatus comprising:
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an operation unit that is susceptible to a movement caused by a user operation; a force applicator that applies a force to the operation unit; a signal output unit that outputs a position signal to a display control unit according to a position of the operation unit; an association unit that associates a pointer position displayed on a display unit under control of the display control unit according to the position signal and the force applied to the operation unit by the force applicator by using a predetermined relationship; a force control unit that controls the force applicator to yield a force that accords with a current pointer position based on the predetermined relationship determined by the association unit; and a recording unit that records a movement history of the pointer position, wherein the association unit changes the predetermined relationship based on the movement history recorded by the recording unit, and wherein the association unit decreases the force in the predetermined relationship based on a fact that the trace of a pointer position movement is a path of a forced back route under an influence of the force from the force applicator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A pointer operation apparatus comprising:
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an operation unit that is susceptible to a movement caused by a user operation; a force applicator that applies a force to the operation unit; a signal output unit that outputs a position signal to a display control unit according to a position of the operation unit; an association unit that associates a pointer position displayed on a display unit under control of the display control unit according to the position signal and the force applied to the operation unit by the force applicator by using a predetermined relationship; a force control unit that controls the force applicator to yield a force that accords with a current pointer position based on the predetermined relationship determined by the association unit; and a recording unit that records a movement history of the pointer position, wherein the association unit changes the predetermined relationship based on the movement history recorded by the recording unit, and wherein the association unit decreases the force in the predetermined relationship when a speed difference between a speed of a pointer position movement in a first period during which the force applicator does not apply a reactive force to the operation unit and a speed of a pointer position movement in a second period that succeeds the first period, during which the force applicator applies a reactive force to the operation unit is greater than a standard difference. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A pointer operation apparatus comprising:
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an operation unit that is susceptible to a movement caused by a user operation; a force applicator that applies a force to the operation unit; a signal output unit that outputs a position signal to a display control unit according to a position of the operation unit; an association unit that associates a pointer position displayed on a display unit under control of the display control unit according to the position signal and the force applied to the operation unit by the force applicator by using a predetermined relationship; a force control unit that controls the force applicator to yield a force that accords with a current pointer position based on the predetermined relationship determined by the association unit; and a recording unit that records a movement history of the pointer position, wherein the association unit changes the predetermined relationship based on the movement history recorded by the recording unit, and wherein the association unit decreases the force in the predetermined relationship when a speed of a pointer position movement in a period during which the force applicator applies the reactive force to the operation unit is smaller than a standard speed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification