Input precision

• US 8,269,733 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Hu, Wanhua
• Primary Examiner(s): Haley, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, NICHOLAS J
• Application Number:
  US12/399,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20090225053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An improved input precision touch panel having a sensor for detecting external pressure exerted on a display. The display displays an object icon, first auxiliary icon that corresponds to a detection area on which the sensor detects the pressure. On the display, the size of the first auxiliary icon is greater than the object icon and a second auxiliary icon corresponds to a second detection area, with the size of the second auxiliary icon greater than that of the object icon. Upon detection of external pressure an operation signal output unit outputs different operation signals according to positional relationships of a pressure-detected position on which the sensor detected the external pressure, in correspondence to a display position of the first auxiliary icon and a display position of the second auxiliary icon displayed by the display unit.

Claims

1. An input apparatus for receiving input data in response to user operation, comprising:

a sensor for detecting external pressure;

a display unit for displaying an object icon to be processed in response to pressing on the sensor, a first auxiliary icon corresponding to a first detection area on which the sensor detects the pressure, with the size of the first auxiliary icon greater than that of the object icon, and a second auxiliary icon corresponding to a second detection area, with the size of the second auxiliary icon greater than that of the object icon;

an operation signal output unit for outputting different operation signals according to a positional relationship between a pressure-detected position, on which the sensor detected the external pressure, and with a display position of the first auxiliary icon and a display position of the second auxiliary icon displayed by the display unit;

a detection position determiner for determining the pressure-detected position; and

an operation determiner for determining the positional relationship between the pressure-detected position that is determined by the detection position determiner, and the display position of the first auxiliary icon and the display position of the second auxiliary icon,

wherein the operation signal output unit outputs a first operation signal upon the operation determiner determining that the pressure-detected position is identical to the display position of the first auxiliary icon and outputs a movement operation signal to move the first auxiliary icon according to the pressure-detected position upon the operation determiner determining that a change has occurred in the condition of the pressure detected position and the pressure-detected position being identical to the display position of the second auxiliary icon, and

the first auxiliary icon and the second auxiliary icon are brought into contact with each other by their edge.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

in the case where the pressure-detected position is two different positions detected by the sensor, the operation signal output unit outputs an icon display end signal upon the operation determiner determining that the two pressure-detected positions constitute an area, that excludes the display area of the first auxiliary icon and constitute an area, that excludes the display area of the second auxiliary icon, respectively, and

the display unit stops displaying the first auxiliary icon and the second auxiliary icon upon the icon display end signal being outputted.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the first auxiliary icon is expressed by a circle including a symbol which points out an object that will be selected upon the display position of the first auxiliary icon being pressed;

and

the second auxiliary icon is expressed by a circle including a symbol which points out movable directions of the first auxiliary icon.

8. The input apparatus according to claim 7, wherein,

the symbol that is included in the first auxiliary icon is an arrow whose leading end points out the object that will be selected;

and

the symbol that is included in the second auxiliary icon is a plurality of arrows which extend outward from the center of the second auxiliary icon.

9. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the first auxiliary icon or the second auxiliary icon is expressed by a circle or a predetermined diagram.

10. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the size of the first auxiliary icon or the second auxiliary icon is greater than a finger of the user.

3. A method for inputting data into an input apparatus, which has a sensor for detecting external pressure, the method comprising:

displaying an object icon to be processed in response to pressing on the sensor, a first auxiliary icon corresponding to a first detection area on which the sensor detects the pressure, with the size of the first auxiliary icon greater than that of the object icon, and a second auxiliary icon corresponding to a second detection area, with the size of the second auxiliary icon greater than that of the object icon;

outputting different operation signals according to a positional relationship between a pressure-detected position, on which the sensor detected the external pressure and a display position of the first auxiliary icon and a display position of the second auxiliary icon displayed in the displaying;

determining the pressure-detected position; and

determining the positional relationship between the pressure-detected position that is determined by the determining of the pressure-detected position, and the display position of the first auxiliary icon and the display position of the second auxiliary icon,

wherein the outputting of different operation signals includes outputting a first operation signal upon the determining of the positional relationship of the pressure-detected position determines that the pressure-detected position is identical to the display position of the first auxiliary icon, and includes outputting a movement operation signal to move the first auxiliary icon according to the pressure-detected position upon the determining of the positional relationship of the pressure-detected position determines that a change has occurred in the condition of the pressure detected position and the pressure-detected position being identical to the display position of the second auxiliary icon, and

the first auxiliary icon and the second auxiliary icon are brought into contact with each other by their edge.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein,

in the case where the pressure-detected position is two different positions detected by the sensor, the outputting of different operation signals includes outputting an icon display end signal upon the determining of the positional relationship of the pressure-detected position determining that the two pressure-detected positions are an area, that excludes the display area of the first auxiliary icon and an area, that excludes the display area of the second auxiliary icon, respectively, and

the displaying stops displaying the first auxiliary icon and the second auxiliary icon upon the icon display end signal being outputted.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first auxiliary icon is expressed by a circle including a symbol which points out an object that will be selected upon the display position of the first auxiliary icon being pressed;

and

the second auxiliary icon is expressed by a circle including a symbol which points out movable directions of the first auxiliary icon.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein,

the symbol that is included in the first auxiliary icon is an arrow whose leading end points out the object that will be selected;

and

the symbol that is included in the second auxiliary icon is a plurality of arrows which extend outward from the center of the second auxiliary icon.

13. The method according to claim 3, wherein,

the first auxiliary icon or the second auxiliary icon is expressed by a circle or a predetermined diagram.

14. The method according to claim 3, wherein,

the size of the first auxiliary icon or the second auxiliary icon is greater than a finger of the user.

5. A non-transitory recording medium having recorded thereon a computer-readable program for running an operation signal output process on a computer, the program comprising:

displaying an object icon to be processed in response to pressing on the sensor, a first auxiliary icon corresponding to a first detection area on which the sensor detects the pressure, with the size of the first auxiliary icon greater than that of the object icon, and a second auxiliary icon corresponding to a second detection area, with the size of the second auxiliary icon greater than that of the object icon;

outputting different operation signals according to a positional relationship between a pressure-detected position, on which the sensor detected the external pressure and a display position of the first auxiliary icon and a display position of the second auxiliary icon displayed in the displaying;

determining the pressure-detected position; and

determining the positional relationship between the pressure-detected position that is determined by the determining of the pressure-detected position, and the display position of the first auxiliary icon and the display position of the second auxiliary icon,

wherein the outputting of different operation signals includes outputting a first operation signal upon the determining of the positional relationship of the pressure-detected position determining that the pressure-detected position is identical to the display position of the first auxiliary icon, and includes outputting a movement operation signal to move the first auxiliary icon according to the pressure-detected position upon the determining of the positional relationship of the pressure-detected position determining that a change has occurred in the condition of the pressure detected position upon the pressure-detected position being identical to the display position of the second auxiliary icon, and

the first auxiliary icon and the second auxiliary icon are brought into contact with each other by their edge.

6. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 5, wherein,

in the case where the pressure-detected position is two different positions detected by the sensor, the outputting of different operation signals includes outputting an icon display end signal upon the determining of the positional relationship of the pressure-detected position determining that the two pressure-detected positions are an area, that excludes the display area of the first auxiliary icon and an area, that excludes the display area of the second auxiliary icon, respectively, and

the displaying stops displaying the first auxiliary icon and the second auxiliary icon upon the icon display end signal being outputted.

15. The record medium according to claim 5, wherein,

the first auxiliary icon is expressed by a circle including a symbol which points out an object that will be selected upon the display position of the first auxiliary icon being pressed;

and

the second auxiliary icon is expressed by a circle including a symbol which points out movable directions of the first auxiliary icon.

16. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 15, wherein,

the symbol that is included in the first auxiliary icon is an arrow whose leading end points out the object that will be selected;

and

the symbol that is included in the second auxiliary icon is a plurality of arrows which extend outward from the center of the second auxiliary icon.

17. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 5, wherein,

the first auxiliary icon or the second auxiliary icon is expressed by a circle or a predetermined diagram.

18. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 5, wherein,

the size of the first auxiliary icon or the second auxiliary icon is greater than a finger of the user.