Input device

• US 9,436,344 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Kuwabara, Megumi, Ujii, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sitta, Grant
• Application Number:
  US13/146,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20110279395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,414 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An input device is disclosed. An input device comprises a display unit, an input unit, a load detection unit and a control unit. The display unit is configured to display an object of a folder with a hierarchical structure. The load detection unit is configured to detect a pressing load with respect to the input unit corresponding to the location of the object of the folder that is displayed on the display unit. The control unit opens and closes folders based on a change in the pressing load.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a display unit displaying a first display screen comprising a closed folder icon on the display unit, the closed folder icon representing a hierarchical structure comprising sub-items, such that when the closed folder icon is opened, the display unit displays a second display screen comprising an open folder icon that replaces the closed folder icon, and the sub-items of the hierarchical structure displayed separate from the open folder icon or partially overlapping the open folder icon;

a touch panel receiving pressing inputs with respect to the display unit;

a load detection unit detecting a pressing load with respect to the touch panel or the display unit; and

a control unit controlling the display of the hierarchical structure such that, if the open folder icon and the hierarchical structure of the second display screen are displayed on the display unit, and when a pressing load satisfying a predefined load standard with respect to the touch panel or the display unit is detected on the open folder icon by the load detection unit, the control unit informs a user of the input device that the open folder will be closed before closing the open folder, and the display unit displays the first display screen comprising the closed folder icon.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the predefined load standard is greater than a zero load state.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the pressing load satisfying a predefined load standard comprises a pressing load that changes from a state of being lower than the predefined load standard to a state of being higher than the predefined load standard.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein, if the pressing load satisfies the predefined load standard, the control unit informs the user that the open folder will be closed by changing a color of the open folder before closing the open folder.

5. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a voice output unit, wherein, if the pressing load satisfies the predefined load standard, the control unit informs the user that the open folder will be closed by causing the voice output unit to generate a sound before closing the open folder.

6. An input device, comprising:

a touch panel display unit;

a load detection unit detecting pressing loads with respect to the touch panel display unit; and

a control unit

displaying a closed folder object on the touch panel display unit, the folder-closed object representing a hierarchical structure comprising sub-items;

opening the closed folder object by displaying, on the touch panel display unit, an open folder object in place of the closed folder object and the sub-items of the hierarchical structure separate from, or partially overlapping, the open folder object when the load detection unit detects a first predefined pressing load on the closed folder object;

when the load detection unit detects a second pre-defined non-zero pressing load on the open folder object, informing a user of the input device that the open folder object will be closed before closing the open folder object;

performing a close operation by removing the display of the sub-items of the hierarchical structure from the touch panel display unit and replacing the open folder object with the closed folder object when the load detection unit detects the second pre-defined non-zero pressing load on the open folder object, the second pre-defined non-zero pressing load different from the first pressing load.

7. An input device, comprising:

a display unit displaying a folder object on the display unit, the folder object representing a hierarchical folder structure comprising sub-items;

a touch panel receiving pressing inputs with respect to the display unit;

a load detection unit detecting pressing loads with respect to the touch panel or the display unit; and

a control unit

performing an open operation by displaying, on the display unit, an open folder object in place of the folder object and the sub-items of the hierarchical folder structure separate from, or partially overlapping, the open folder object, when the load detection unit detects a first predefined pressing load on the folder object;

when the load detection unit detects a second pre-defined non-zero pressing load on the open folder object, informing a user of the input device that the open folder object will be closed before closing the open folder object;

performing a close operation by removing the display of the sub-items of the hierarchical structure from the display unit and replacing the open folder object with the folder object when the load detection unit detects the second pre-defined non-zero pressing load on the open folder object, the second pre-defined non-zero pressing load different from the first pressing load.