Electronic device

• US 9,557,815 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Adachi, Yusuke, Koga, Akira, Inata, Masahiro, Okumura, Ryo, Yumiki, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sarma, Abhishek
• Application Number:
  US13/950,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20130307804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-174, 715/773, 715/835, 715/863
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An electronic device 10 according to an embodiment includes: a display section 12 for displaying an operation area 45 including a reference area 41 and a non-reference area 42; a touch panel 11 provided on a display surface side of the display section 12; an informing section 13 for informing a user of an operation status of the user; a control section 33 and 20 for controlling the operation of the informing section 13; and a distinction section 16 for distinguishing between a first operation where the user searches for the reference area 41 on the touch panel 11 and a second operation which is a key input operation to the operation area 45. The control section 33 and 20 controls the operation of the informing section 13 based on a result of distinction by the distinction section 16.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

an integrated touchscreen panel touched by a user, comprising a display section for visually rendering an operation area that includes a reference area and a non-reference area;

an informer informs the user of an operation status of the user;

a controller controls an operation of the informer; and

a distinguisher distinguishes between a first operation where the user searches for the reference area on the integrated touchscreen panel and a second operation which is a key input operation to the operation area, wherein

the controller controls the operation of the informer based on a result of distinction by the distinguisher,

wherein the controller disables key input to the operation area during the first operation;

wherein, when key input to the operation area is disabled during the first operation and the controller determines that the user has continuously touched the reference area for a predetermined time or longer, the electronic device indicates a change in input mode through a visual, auditory or tactile sensation, the controller enables key input to both the reference area and the non-reference area after the touch on the reference area ceases based on the determination that the user has continuously touched the reference area for the predetermined time or longer and then ceased touching the reference area, so that key input to the operation area is no longer disabled; and

wherein when key input to the operation area is disabled during the first operation and the controller determines that the user has not continuously touched the reference area, for the predetermined time or longer while key input is disabled, key input to the operation area remains disabled.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the informer is a tactile presentation section for presenting a tactile sensation to the user.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the tactile presentation section is a vibration section for vibrating the integrated touchscreen panel.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein,

the first operation is an operation where a touched position of the user on the integrated touchscreen panel gradually changes;

and

the second operation is a keystroke operation on the integrated touchscreen panel.

5. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the controller varies the operation of the vibration section depending on whether the user is touching the non-reference area or touching the reference area in the first operation.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, when key input to the operation area is enabled and the user has not touched the operation area for a predetermined time or longer, the controller disables key input to the operation area, so that key input to the operation area is no longer enabled.

7. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the controller varies a vibration pattern of the vibration section depending on the operation being the first operation or the second operation.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein, the controller controls the vibration section to vibrate in a first vibration pattern when the user touches the reference area in the first operation;

and

the controller controls the vibration section to vibrate in a second vibration pattern different from the first vibration pattern when the user touches the operation area in the second operation.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, the non-reference area includes a portion that is disposed apart from the reference area.

10. A program embodied on a non-transitory medium for causing an electronic device to execute an operation of informing a user of an operation status of the user on an integrated touchscreen panel for visually rendering an operation area that includes a reference area and a non-reference area,

the program causing the electronic device to execute:

a step of distinguishing between a first operation where the user searches for the reference area on the integrated touchscreen panel and a second operation which is a key input operation to the operation area;

a step of controlling an operation of informing the user based on a result of distinction;

a step of disabling key input to the operation area during the first operation;

a step of indicating a change in input mode through a visual, auditory or tactile sensation when key input to the operation area is disabled during the first operation and the user has continuously touched the reference area for a predetermined time or longer;

a step of enabling key input to both the reference area and the non-reference area, so that key input to the operation area is no longer disabled, wherein when key input to the operation area is disabled during the first operation, the key input to both the reference area and the non-reference area is enabled after touch on the reference area ceases based on a determination that the user has continuously touched the reference area for a predetermined time or longer and then ceased touching the reference area; and

a step of determining that the user has not continuously touched the reference area, for the predetermined time or longer while key input is disabled, wherein when key input to the operation area is disabled during the first operation and the user has not continuously touched the reference area, for the predetermined time or longer while key input is disabled, key input to the operation area remains disabled.

11. The program of claim 10, wherein, the non-reference area includes a portion that is disposed apart from the reference area.