Input device, information terminal provided with the same and input method

• US 8,319,727 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Norieda, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERMAN, STEPHEN G
• Application Number:
  US12/808,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20100265170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-178, 178 1801- 1809, 178/18.11, 463 36- 39
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

In an input device used in mobile apparatuses in which portability is considered important and in mobile apparatuses in which a display unit such as a display is considered important, even if an input unit of the apparatus is made small in size, the input device is configured so that an input can be carried out without requiring an operator for skill. The input device is provided with the input unit including a detecting unit that, when a part of a living body in contact with the input device is pushed, detects a force transmitted through the living body and outputs detection data, and an input information specifying module that, when receiving the detection data, refers to stored data at a database, specifies a position where the living body is pushed, and outputs data allotted to the position as input information of electronic data.

Claims

1. An input device which outputs input information of electronic data corresponding to a physical quantity by detecting the physical quantity applied to a living body as an electric signal, comprising:

a detecting unit which outputs the physical quantity applied to the living body as analog-quantity detection data; and

an input information specifying module which collates data accumulated in a database with the detection data, and outputs the input information of the electronic data corresponding to the physical quantity based on a collation result thereof,

wherein the database carries, as the accumulated data, a relation regarding a ratio of forces in a push-in direction and in a slide direction perpendicular to the push-in direction in the detecting unit, or a relation regarding tracing actions and changes in the ratio of forces in the push-in direction and in the slide direction perpendicular to the push-in direction in the detecting unit, or a relation regarding normalized gravity center position of load for the detecting unit and push-in position, or a relation regarding changes in the normalized gravity center position of load for the detecting unit and the tracing actions.

2. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the detecting unit detects the physical quantity transmitted via the living body as the electric signal, when it is in contact with a part of the living body and vicinity of a contact part of the living body is traced; and

the input information specifying module collates the data accumulated in the database with the detection data, and outputs data allotted to a position by corresponding to the physical quantity as the input information of the electronic data based on the collation result.

3. The input device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising

an information presenting module which displays the input information showing prescribed symbols, characters, or functions allotted to the positions in the living body.

4. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the detecting unit detects the physical quantity transmitted via the living body as the electric signal, when it is in contact with a part of the living body and vicinity of a contact part of the living body is traced; and

the input information specifying module collates the data accumulated in the database with the detection data, and outputs data allotted to the action in the region by corresponding to the physical quantity as the input information of the electronic data based on the collation result.

5. The input device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising

an information presenting module which displays the input information showing prescribed symbols, characters, or functions allotted to the actions.

6. The input device as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the functions showing the input information include functions which show positions and actions of a pointer, scroll actions, or page turning actions.

7. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the detecting unit is formed with:

a force sensor which captures the physical quantity as a pushing force applied to a part of the living body and detects the pushing force as one-direction component or detects the pushing force by dividing it to a plural-direction components;

a strain sensor which captures the physical quantity as a pushing force applied to a part of the living body and detects the pushing force as a force distribution of a plurality of points;

or a plurality of force sensors disposed in a linear or surface-like manner.

8. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the database carries, as the accumulated data, a relation regarding push-in positions and the detection data of the detecting unit configured with a force sensor which detects the force of one-direction component or a relation regarding tracing actions and changes in the detection data of the detecting unit configured with the force sensor which detects the force of one-direction component.

9. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the accumulated data recorded in the database contains detection values for which specification of push-in positions are not conducted, as misjudgment preventing data when the input information specifying module specifies the push-in position.

10. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the living body is a finger.

11. An information terminal equipped with an input device which outputs input information of electronic data, the input device outputting the input information of the electronic data corresponding to a physical quantity by detecting the physical quantity applied to a living body as an electric signal, wherein

the input device comprises:

a detecting unit which outputs the physical quantity applied to the living body as analog-quantity detection data; and

an input information specifying module which collates data accumulated in a database with the detection data, and outputs the input information of the electronic data corresponding to the physical quantity based on a collation result thereof,

wherein the database carries, as the accumulated data, a relation regarding a ratio of forces in a push-in direction and in a slide direction perpendicular to the push-in direction in the detecting step, or a relation regarding tracing actions and changes in the ratio of forces in the push-in direction and in the slide direction perpendicular to the push-in direction in the detecting step, or a relation regarding normalized gravity center position of load for the detecting unit and push-in position, or a relation regarding changes in the normalized gravity center position of load for the detecting unit and the tracing actions.

12. An input method for outputting input information of electronic data corresponding to a physical quantity by detecting the physical quantity applied to a living body as an electric signal, comprising:

a detecting step which outputs the physical quantity applied to the living body as analog-quantity detection data; and

an information outputting step which collates data accumulated in a database with the detection data, and outputs the input information of the electronic data corresponding to the physical quantity based on a collation result thereof,

wherein the database carries, as the accumulated data, a relation regarding a ratio of forces in a push-in direction and in a slide direction perpendicular to the push-in direction in the detecting step, or a relation regarding tracing actions and changes in the ratio of forces in the push-in direction and in the slide direction perpendicular to the push-in direction in the detecting step, or a relation regarding normalized gravity center position of load for the detecting unit and push-in position, or a relation regarding changes in the normalized gravity center position of load for the detecting unit and the tracing actions.

13. The input method as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

in the detecting step, processing for detecting the physical quantity transmitted via the living body as the electric signal is executed, when being in contact with a part of the living body and vicinity of a contact part of the living body is traced; and

in the information outputting step, processing for collating the data accumulated in the database with the detection data and for outputting data allotted to a position by corresponding to the physical quantity as the input information of the electronic data based on the collation result is executed.

14. The input method as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

in the detecting step, processing for specifying a region of the living body to which the physical quantity is applied and an action for applying the physical quantity to the living body and for outputting the action in the region based on the physical quantity as the analog-quantity detection data is executed; and

in the information outputting step, processing for collating the data accumulated in the database with the detection data and for outputting data allotted to the action in the region by corresponding to the physical quantity as the input information of the electronic data based on the collation result is executed.

15. The input method as claimed in claim 14, which uses, as the database, a database that carries, as the accumulated data, a relation regarding push-in positions and the force of one-direction component detected in the detecting step or a relation regarding tracing actions and changes in the force of one-direction component detected in the detecting step.

16. The input method as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

a finger is used as the living body;

the physical quantity at a position of the finger to which the physical quantity is applied is outputted as the analog-quantity detection data;

or an action applied to the finger in a region of the finger to which the physical quantity is applied is outputted as the analog-quantity detection data.

17. The input method as claimed in claim 12, wherein

in the detecting step, the physical quantity is:

captured as a pushing force applied to a part of the living body and the pushing force is detected as one-direction component or detected by being divided to a plural-direction components;

or captured as a pushing force applied to a part of the living body and the pushing force is detected as a force distribution of a plurality of points;

or detected with a plurality of force sensors disposed in a linear or surface-like manner.

18. The input method as claimed in claim 12, which uses, as the database, a database that contains detection values for which specification of push-in positions are not conducted, as misjudgment preventing data for specifying the push-in position in the information specifying step.