Input device

• US 8,368,655 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2008
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hagiwara, Yasuji
• Primary Examiner(s): PARDO, THUY N
• Application Number:
  US12/273,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20090128510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/173, 345/158, 345/166, 345/168, 345/175
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

An input device includes an operation surface, a first detection means, a second detection means, an operation signal generating means, and a transmission means. The operation signal generating means generates an operation signal used to perform a first operation on a screen where a detection result of the first detection means has been reflected, if the duration of the detection, which is performed at the same contact position by the first detection means, is shorter than a predetermined time. The operation signal generating means generates an operation signal used to perform a second operation on the screen where a detection result of the second detection means has been reflected, as long as the detection is continued at the same contact position, if the duration of the detection, which is performed at the same contact position by the first detection means, reaches the predetermined time.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

an input device body that encases the input device, the input device body having an operation surface on which an input operation is performed by a finger;

a first detection means that detects a contact position of the finger on the operation surface;

a second detection means that detects the movement of the input device body;

a third detection means for detecting that the operation surface is pressed;

a signal generating means that generates a signal that controls a screen displayed by a display device while being interlocked with the detection means; and

a transmission means for sending the signal, which is generated by the signal generating means, to the display device,

wherein the signal generating means generates a first signal for a first control of the screen where a detection result of the first detection means has been reflected when the detection of the contact position by the first detection means is performed without corresponding to the detection of the pressing of the operation surface by the third detection means,

the signal generating means generates a second signal for a second control of the screen where detection results of the first and third detection means have been reflected if the duration of the detection of the pressing by the third detection means is shorter than a predetermined time when the detection of the contact position by the first detection means is performed corresponding to the detection of the pressing of the operation surface by the third detection means, and

the signal generating means generates a third signal for a third control of the screen where a detection result of the second detection means has been reflected, as long as the detection of the pressing is continued if the duration of the detection of the pressing by the third detection means reaches the predetermined time when the detection of the contact position by the first detection means is performed corresponding to the detection of the pressing of the operation surface by the third detection means.

2. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the third detection means is a switch that is pushed down due to the pressing of the operation surface to represent that the operation surface is pressed.

3. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the first control is a control for changing a position designated on the screen while the contact position is changed by making a finger slide on the operation surface,

the second control is a control for deciding a position designated when the operation surface is pressed, and

the third control is a control for changing the screen.

4. The input device according to claim 3,

wherein the control for changing the screen is a control for switching a currently displayed screen among a plurality of screens, which has hierarchical structure, to a superordinate screen of the screen;

or a control for switching the currently displayed screen to a subordinate screen of the screen.

5. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the second detection means includes an acceleration sensor or an inclination sensor.

6. An input device comprising:

an input device body that encases the input device, the input device body having an operation surface on which an input operation is performed by a finger;

a first detection means that detects a contact position of the finger on the operation surface;

a second detection means that detects the movement of the input device body;

a signal generating means that generates a signal that controls a screen displayed by a display device while being interlocked with the detection means; and

a transmission means for sending the signal, which is generated by the signal generating means, to the display device,

wherein the signal generating means generates a first signal for a first control of the screen where a detection result of the first detection means has been reflected, if the duration of the detection, which is performed at the same contact position by the first detection means, is shorter than a predetermined time when the detection of the contact position by the first detection means is performed, and

the signal generating means generates a second signal for a second control of the screen where a detection result of the second detection means has been reflected, as long as the detection is continued at the same contact position, if the duration of the detection, which is performed at the same contact position by the first detection means, reaches the predetermined time when the detection of the contact position by the first detection means is performed.

7. The input device according to claim 6,

wherein the first control is a control for changing a position designated on the screen while the contact position is changed by making a finger slide on the operation surface, and

the second control is a control for changing the screen.

8. The input device according to claim 6,

wherein the second detection means includes an acceleration sensor or an inclination sensor.

9. An input device comprising:

an input device body that encases the input device, the input device body having an operation surface on which an input operation is performed by a finger;

a touch pad unit that detects a contact position of the finger on the operation surface;

a motion sensor that detects the movement of the input device body;

a switch that detects whether the operation surface is being pressed;

a signal generating means that generates a signal that controls a screen displayed by a display device while being interlocked with the detection means; and

a transmission means for sending the signal, which is generated by the signal generating means, to the display device,

wherein the signal generating means generates a first signal for a first control of the screen where a detection result of the touch pad unit has been reflected, when the detection of the contact position by the touch pad unit is performed without corresponding to the detection of the pressing of the operation surface by the switch,

the signal generating means generates a second signal for a second control of the screen where detection results of the touch pad unit and switch have been reflected, if the duration of the detection of the pressing by the switch is shorter than a predetermined time when the detection of the contact position by the touch pad unit is performed corresponding to the detection of the pressing of the operation surface by the switch, and

the signal generating means generates a third signal for a third control of the screen where a detection result of the motion sensor has been reflected, as long as the detection of the pressing is continued, if the duration of the detection of the pressing by the switch reaches the predetermined time when the detection of the contact position by the touch pad unit is performed corresponding to the detection of the pressing of the operation surface by the switch.

10. The input device according to claim 9,

wherein the touch pad unit comprises a touch pad sensor and a touch pad controller.

11. The input device according to claim 9,

wherein the switch is pushed down due to the pressing of the operation surface to represent that the operation surface is pressed.

12. The input device according to claim 9,

wherein the first control is a control for changing a position designated on the screen while the contact position is changed by making a finger slide on the operation surface,

the second control is a control for deciding a position designated when the operation surface is pressed, and

the third control is a control for changing the screen.

13. The input device according to claim 9,

wherein the motion sensor includes an acceleration sensor or an inclination sensor.

14. An input device comprising:

an input device body that encases the input device, the input device body having an operation surface on which an input operation is performed by a finger;

a touch pad unit that detects a contact position of the finger on the operation surface;

a motion sensor that detects the movement of the input device body;

an signal generator that generates a signal that controls a screen displayed by a display device while being interlocked with the detection means; and

an radio frequency transmitter that sends the control signal, which is generated by the signal generator, to the display device,

wherein the signal generator generates a first signal for a first control of the screen where a detection result of the touch pad unit has been reflected, if the duration of the detection, which is performed at the same contact position by the touch pad unit, is shorter than a predetermined time when the detection of the contact position by the touch pad unit is performed, and

the signal generator generates a second signal for a second control of the screen where a detection result of the motion sensor has been reflected, as long as the detection is continued at the same contact position, if the duration of the detection, which is performed at the same contact position by the touch pad unit, reaches the predetermined time when the detection of the contact position by the touch pad unit is performed.

15. The input device according to claim 14,

wherein the touch pad unit comprises a touch pad sensor and a touch pad controller.

16. The input device according to claim 14,

wherein the first control is a control for changing a position designated on the screen while the contact position is changed by making a finger slide on the operation surface, and

the second control is a control for changing the screen.

17. The input device according to claim 16,

wherein the for changing the screen is a control for switching a currently displayed screen among a plurality of screens, which has hierarchical structure, to a superordinate screen of the screen;

or a control for switching the currently displayed screen to a subordinate screen of the screen.

18. The input device according to claim 14,

wherein the motion sensor includes an acceleration sensor or an inclination sensor.