Operation device, electronic book device and electronic apparatus

• US 8,077,165 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Sakurai, Satoshi, Yatsu, Nobuo, Akieda, Shinichiro, Uchiyama, Takuya, Harada, Keita, Arita, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALTHALL, ALLISON N
• Application Number:
  US11/497,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20070033541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: 345/901, 345156-184, 3404071-4072, 116/205
• US Class Current: 345/184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

An operation device includes: an operated body; an operation signal producing part that produces an operation signal based on an operation on the operated body; and a tactile information presenting part that presents tactile information through the operated body. The operation device may be applied to an electronic book device for flipping of pages.

Claims

1. An operation device comprising:

an operated body swingably supported in a first direction and a second direction focusing on a swing axis;

an operation signal producing part that produces an operation signal based on an operation on the operated body; and

a tactile information presenting part that presents tactile information through the operated body,

wherein the tactile information presenting part comprises a first touch member, a second touch member, a first driver, and a second driver,

the first touch member and the second touch member being provided in the operated body,

the first driver that drives the first touch member to protrude partially from a surface of the operated body through an opening formed in the operated body so as to bring the first touch member into contact with an object that operates the operated body when the operated body is swung in the first direction by the object, and

the second driver that drives the second touch member to protrude partially from the surface of the operated body through an opening formed in the operated body so as to bring the second touch member into contact with the object when the operated body is swung in the second direction by the object.

2. The operation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first driver and the second driver comprise a piezoelectric element that drives the touch member that includes a film-like member.

3. The operation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and the second touch member have a vibratory element that partially protrudes from the operated body.

4. The operation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation signal producing part comprises a switch circuit that produces the operation signal based on the operation on the operated body.

5. The operation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation signal producing part comprises a detection element that detects an amount of operation on the operated body.

6. The operation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation signal producing part comprises multiple elements that detect a direction in which the operated body is operated.

7. The operation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation signal producing part comprises a light-emitting element attached to the operated body, and a light-receiving element converting light emitted from the light-emitting element into an electric signal.

8. The operation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation signal producing part comprises magnetoelectric elements that detect magnetic flux generated by a driver that drives a touch member of the tactile information presenting part, the touch member being touchable to an object that operates the operated body.

9. The operation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first and second drivers comprise an electromagnetic actuator having a coil and a magnet.

10. An operation device for use by an operator, comprising:

an operated body movable relative to a housing to slide in first and second directions;

an operation signal producing part that responds to the sliding movement of the operated body by presenting tactile information through the operated body; and

a rotatable touch member received in the operated body and having at least one protrusion permanently fixed to the touch member,

wherein the touch member is rotated by the operation signal producing part to cause the at least one protrusion to contact the operator, and

wherein a travelling direction of the touch member being changeable in accordance with a sliding direction of the operated body.

11. The operation device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a motor for rotating the touch member in the first and second directions.

12. An electronic book device comprising:

a display;

a memory that stores book data to be displayed on the display;

an operation device instructing flipping of pages of the book data; and

a processor controlling the display, the memory and the operation device, the operation device including;

an operated body swingably supported in a first direction and a second direction focusing on a swing axis that is operated at the time of flipping of pages;

an operation signal producing part that produces an operation signal based on flipping of pages on the operated body; and

a tactile information presenting part that presents tactile information through the operated body, the tactile information being based on flipping of pages,

wherein the tactile information presenting part comprises a first touch member, a second touch member, a first driver, and a second driver,

the first touch member and the second touch member being provided in the operated body,

the first driver that drives the first touch member to protrude partially from a surface of the operated body through an opening formed in the operated body so as to bring the first touch member into contact with an object that operates the operated body when the operated body is swung in the first direction by the object, and

the second driver that drives the second touch member to protrude partially from the surface of the operated body through an opening formed in the operated body so as to bring the second touch member into contact with the object when the operated body is swung in the second direction by the object.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a processor; and

an operation device connected to the processor, the operation device including;

an operated body swingably supported in a first direction and a second direction focusing on a swing axis,

an operation signal producing part that produces an operation signal based on an operation on the operated body, the operation signal being sent to the processor; and

a tactile information presenting part that presents tactile information through the operated body under the control of the processor,

wherein the tactile information presenting part comprises a first touch member, a second touch member, a first driver, and a second driver,

the first touch member and the second touch member being provided in the operated body,

the first driver that drives the first touch member to protrude partially from a surface of the operated body through an opening formed in the operated body so as to bring the first touch member into contact with an object that operates the operated body when the operated body is swung in the first direction by the object, and

the second driver that drives the second touch member to protrude partially from the surface of the operated body through an opening formed in the operated body so as to bring the second touch member into contact with the object when the operated body is swung in the second direction by the object.