Position input apparatus that detects a position where a pressure is applied

• US 9,046,956 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Koizumi, Yoshiaki, Hibara, Naoyuki, Kikuta, Toshiaki, Nakai, So, Higuma, Toshiyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lubit, Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US13/264,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20120032907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,960 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 178 1801- 2004
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

As for a position input apparatus that, when a user applies a pressure to an operation area, determines a pressed position where the pressure is applied, the manufacturing cost of the position input apparatus is reduced. An operation plate is a flat plate having the operation area on one surface. A plurality of pressure sensors (pressure detection devices) detect, at respectively different pressure detection positions, a detection position pressure generated by the pressure applied to the pressed position. A pressed position determination device determines the pressed position, based on a plurality of detection position pressures detected by the plurality of pressure sensors.

Claims

1. A position input apparatus that determines a pressed position where a pressure is applied within an operation area, the position input apparatus comprising:

an operation plate that is of a flat plate shape and has the operation area on one surface;

at least two pressure detection devices, each of which detects, at a pressure detection position different from one another, a detection position pressure generated by the pressure applied to the pressed position, the pressure detection position being located outside the operation area on the operation plate;

a pressed position determination device that determines the pressed position, based on at least two detection position pressures detected by the at least two pressure detection devices;

an operation plate support portion that supports the operation plate at a position different from the pressure detection position; and

an operation plate support adjustment portion having an adjustment screw, the adjustment screw adjusting at least either one of a height, a position, and a width of the operation plate support portion supporting the operation plate,

wherein the adjustment screw is inserted through a guide hole provided under the operation plate support portion and threadingly engages with the operation plate support portion, and adjusts by moving sideways parallel to a surface of the operation plate along the guide hole the position of the operation plate support portion supporting the operation plate.

2. The position input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a numerical value memory device that stores a numerical value to be displayed on the operation plate; and

a numerical value changing device that, when the pressed position determination device determines that a pressure has been applied to a predetermined position within the operation area, determines a difference and a time interval for changing the numerical value stored by the numerical value memory device based on the detection position pressure detected by a pressure detection device of the at least two pressure detection devices, and based on the determined time interval, periodically adds or subtracts the determined difference to or from the numerical value stored by the numerical value memory device.

3. A position input apparatus that determines a pressed position where a pressure is applied within an operation area, the position input apparatus comprising:

an operation plate that is of a flat plate shape and has the operation area on one surface;

at least two pressure detection devices, each of which detects, at a pressure detection position different from one another, a detection position pressure generated by the pressure applied to the pressed position, the pressure detection position being located outside the operation area on the operation plate;

a pressed position determination device that determines the pressed position, based on at least two detection position pressures detected by the at least two pressure detection devices;

an operation plate support portion that supports the operation plate at a position different from the pressure detection position; and

an operation plate support adjustment portion having an adjustment screw, the adjustment screw adjusting at least either one of a height, a position, and a width of the operation plate support portion supporting the operation plate,

wherein the operation plate support portion includes a left support portion and a right support portion,

the adjustment screw has an inverted conically-shaped tip located at an end of the adjustment screw that is opposite to the head of the adjustment screw, and the conically-shaped tip tapers from the tip towards the head of the adjustment screw, and

the inverted conically-shaped tip contacts tapers formed on inner sides of the left support portion and the right support portion, and thereby adjusts the width of the operation plate support portion supporting the operation plate.

4. A position input apparatus that determines a pressed position where a pressure is applied within an operation area, the position input apparatus comprising:

an operation plate that is of a flat plate shape and has the operation area on one surface, the operation area having a plurality of separated areas separated from one another;

at least two pressure detection devices each of which detects, at a pressure detection position different from one another, a detection position pressure generated by the pressure applied to the pressed position, the pressure detection position being located between the plurality of separated areas on the operation plate;

a pressed position determination device that determines which one of the plurality of separated areas includes the pressed position, based on at least two detection position pressures detected by the at least two pressure detection devices;

an operation plate support portion that supports the operation plate at a position different from the pressure detection position; and

an operation plate support adjustment portion having an adjustment screw, the adjustment screw adjusting at least either one of a height, a position, and a width of the operation plate support portion supporting the operation plate,

wherein the adjustment screw is inserted through a guide hole provided under the operation plate support portion and threadingly engages with the operation plate support portion, and adjusts by moving sideways parallel to a surface of the operation plate along the guide hole the position of the operation plate support portion supporting the operation plate.

5. The position input apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a numerical value memory device that stores a numerical value to be displayed on the operation plate; and

a numerical value changing device that, when the pressed position determination device determines that a pressure has been applied to a predetermined position within the operation area, determines a difference and a time interval for changing the numerical value stored by the numerical value memory device based on the detection position pressure detected by a pressure detection device of the at least two pressure detection devices, and based on the determined time interval, periodically adds or subtracts the determined difference to or from the numerical value stored by the numerical value memory device.

6. A position input apparatus that determines a pressed position where a pressure is applied within an operation area, the position input apparatus comprising:

an operation plate that is of a flat plate shape and has the operation area on one surface, the operation area having a plurality of separated areas separated from one another;

at least two pressure detection devices each of which detects, at a pressure detection position different from one another, a detection position pressure generated by the pressure applied to the pressed position, the pressure detection position being located between the plurality of separated areas on the operation plate;

a pressed position determination device that determines which one of the plurality of separated areas includes the pressed position, based on at least two detection position pressures detected by the at least two pressure detection devices;

an operation plate support portion that supports the operation plate at a position different from the pressure detection position; and

an operation plate support adjustment portion having an adjustment screw, the adjustment screw adjusting at least either one of a height, a position, and a width of the operation plate support portion supporting the operation plate,

wherein the operation plate support portion includes a left support portion and a right support portion,

the adjustment screw has an inverted conically-shaped tip located at an end of the adjustment screw that is opposite to the head of the adjustment screw, and the conically-shaped tip tapers from the tip towards the head of the adjustment screw, and

the inverted conically-shaped tip contacts tapers formed on inner sides of the left support portion and the right support portion, and thereby adjusts the width of the operation plate support portion supporting the operation plate.