Input device

• US 7,821,506 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ono, Shuzo, Sato, Tadamitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): LAO, LUN YI
• Application Number:
  US11/518,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20070063987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 345/104, 178/18.01, 178/18.02, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.06, 178/18.07, 178/19.01, 178/19.03, 178/19.04
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An input device is provided. The input device includes a first position detection unit having a detection section which detects the absolute position of a predetermined operation tool in a predetermined region. A second position detection unit has a detection section, which detects contact or approach of the operation tool. An input control unit that controls an input operation on the basis of an input signal obtained from the first position detection unit or the second position detection unit, or a complex input signal combining an input signal obtained from the first position detection unit and an input signal obtained from the second position detection unit. The detection section of the second position detection unit is provided to partially or entirely enclose the outer circumference of the detection section of the first position detection unit.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

first position detection unit having a detection section that detects an absolute position of a predetermined operation tool in a predetermined region;

second position detection unit having a detection section that detects whether an operator has performed contact or approach with the operation tool without detecting the absolute position of the operation tool;

input control unit that controls an input operation on the basis of an input signal obtained from the first position detection unit or the second position detection unit, or a complex input signal combining an input signal combining an input signal obtained from the first position detection unit and an input signal obtained from the second position detection unit;

a first detection processing unit; and

a second detection processing unit,

wherein the detection section of the second position detection unit is provided to at least partially enclose an outer circumference of the detection section of the first position detection unit,

wherein the first detection processing unit and the second detection processing unit are separate from each other,

wherein the first detection processing unit operates the first position detection unit, and the second detection processing unit operates the second position detection unit,

wherein the input control unit controls the first detection processing unit and the second processing detection unit,

wherein when the input operation is performed to the first position detection unit, the operation tool approaches the detection section of the second position detection unit provided at the outer circumference of the first position detection unit.

2. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the detection section of the second position detection unit is separate from the detection section of the first position detection unit.

3. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the second position detection unit is configured to detect the operation tool within a predetermined time at a lower position detection frequency than a position detection frequency of the first position detection unit.

4. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the detection section of the second position detection unit is linearly formed.

5. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the detection section of the second position detection unit is provided with a predetermined gap from the outer circumference of the detection section of the first position detection unit.

6. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the detection section of the second position detection unit is provided in accordance with respective sides of the outer circumference of the detection section of the first position detection unit.

7. The input device as described in claim 6,

wherein the detection section of the second position detection unit is provided to enclose only the left side and the right side or only the upper side and the lower side of the outer circumference of the detection section of the first position detection unit.

8. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the detection section of the second position detection unit is provided to enclose only the right or left side and the lower side of the outer circumference of the detection section of the first position detection unit.

9. The input device as described in claim 1, wherein the second position detection unit further includes:

the detection section having rectangular electrodes applied with a pulse voltage,

detection processing unit that detects a change in the pulse voltage applied to the electrodes, and that sends the input control unit an input signal in accordance with the change, and

a dielectric protection sheet that protects a surface formed with the electrodes.

10. The input device as described in claim 9, wherein the first position detection unit includes:

the detection section including an X-detecting electrode having a plurality of linear electrodes, which are aligned at regular intervals on a single surface and which extend in one direction,

a common electrode having a plurality of linear electrodes, which are aligned at regular intervals between the respective linear electrodes of the X-detecting electrode on the surface formed with the X-detecting electrode and which extend in the extending direction of the linear electrodes of the X-detecting electrode, the common electrode applied with a pulse voltage, and

a Y-detecting electrode having a plurality of linear electrodes, which are aligned at regular intervals on a surface parallel to and different from the surface formed with the X-detecting electrode and the common electrode and which extend in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the linear electrodes of the X-detecting electrode and the common electrode,

detection processing unit that detects, for each of the linear electrodes of the X-detecting electrode and the Y-detecting electrode, a change in the pulse voltage applied to the X-detecting electrode and Y-detecting electrode by the common electrode through electrostatic coupling, and sends the input control unit an input signal in accordance with the change, and

a dielectric protection sheet that protects one of the surfaces formed with the X-detecting electrode and the surface formed with the Y-detecting electrode, which is closer to the external space.

11. The input device as described in claim 10,

wherein the detection processing unit of the first position detection unit, the detection processing unit of the second position detection unit, and the input control unit are integrated into an application specific integrated circuit.

12. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the input control unit is configured to perform control of switching an input mode used in an input in the first position detection unit, on the basis of an input signal obtained through the detection of the operation tool by the second position detection unit.

13. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the input control unit is configured to perform control of switching an input mode to a predetermined input mode selected from a plurality of input modes used in an input in the first position detection unit, on the basis of a particular input signal obtained from the second position detection unit by a particular input method using the operation tool, such as tapping input and long-press input.

14. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the input control unit is configured to perform control of switching an input mode to a predetermined input mode selected from a plurality of input modes used in an input in the first position detection unit, on the basis of a complex input signal combining an input signal obtained from the detection section of the second position detection unit and an input signal obtained through the detection of a particular absolute position of the operation tool by the detection section of the first position detection unit.

15. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the input control unit is configured to perform control of starting the operation of the first position detection unit after the detection of the operation tool by the second position detection unit.

16. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the input control unit is configured to perform control of interrupting the operation of the first position detection unit during a time period in which the second position detection unit detects the operation tool after elapse of a predetermined time since completion of the detection of the operation tool by the first position detection unit.

17. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the input control unit is formed separately from main control unit for comprehensively controlling an electronic device including, as one component, the input device.

18. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the detection section of the first position detection unit forms input keys provided to a mobile terminal, and

wherein the detection section of the second position detection unit is provided around or at sides of a region in which the input keys are provided.

19. The input device as described in claim 1,

wherein the detection section of the second position detection unit is entirely encloses an outer circumference of the detection section of the first position detection unit.