Electronic device, operation control method, and operation control program

• US 9,733,708 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Fuji, Masateru
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang-Hurst, Kathy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hannan, B. M. M
• Application Number:
  US14/009,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20140024414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 455566, 345168-173, 345175, 345156, 715207, 715210, 715273, 715761, 715828
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

According to an aspect, an electronic device includes: a display unit; a detection unit for detecting contact with the display unit; a vibration unit for vibrating the detection unit; and a control unit for switching between a first state where a predetermined process is not performed based on an operation by contact with the display unit and a second state where the predetermined process is performed based on the operation by contact with the display unit. When the detection unit detects contact at a predetermined position on the display unit in the first state, the control unit causes the vibration unit to vibrate the detection unit based on the contact, and switches from the first state to the second state.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display unit; and

a controller for switching between (i) a first state where a predetermined process is not performed based on contact with the display unit and (ii) a second state where the predetermined process is performed based on contact with the display unit,

wherein

in the first state,

in response to a detection of a first contact outside a display area of a reference position on the display unit, the controller is configured only to vibrate the display unit according to the first contact; and

in response to a detection of (i) a second contact, being different from the first contact and following the first contact, within the display area of the reference position on the display unit and (ii) a pressing force of the second contact with the display unit being equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the controller is configured to

vibrate the display unit according to the second contact to inform a user of the electronic device about a setting of the reference position for contact on the display unit, and then

switch from the first state to the second state, and

in the second state,

in response to a detection of a third contact, being different from the second contact and following the second contact, with the display unit,

the controller is configured to perform the predetermined process and vibrate the display unit again in response to said third contact to inform the user that the predetermined process is performed.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second contact follows a release of the first contact from the display unit.

3. An operation control method to be executed by an electronic device including a display unit, the operation control method comprising:

in a first state where a predetermined process is not performed based on contact with the display unit,

in response to a detection of a first contact outside a display area of a reference position on the display unit, only vibrating the display unit according to the first contact; and

in response to a detection of (i) a second contact, being different from the first contact and following the first contact, within the display area of the reference position on the display unit and (ii) a pressing force of the second contact with the display unit being equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value,

vibrating the display unit according to the second contact to inform a user of the electronic device about a setting of the reference position for contact on the display unit, and then

switching from the first state to a second state where the predetermined process based on contact with the display unit is performed, and

in the second state,

in response to a detection of a third contact, being different from the second contact and following the second contact, with the display unit,

performing the predetermined process and vibrating the display unit again in response to said third contact to inform the user that the predetermined process is performed.

4. The operation control method according to claim 3, wherein the second contact follows a release of the first contact from the display unit.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising an operation control program configured to cause, when executed by an electronic device including a display unit, the electronic device to execute:

in a first state where a predetermined process is not performed based on contact with the display unit,

in response to a detection of a first contact outside a display area of a reference position on the display unit, only vibrating the display unit according to the first contact; and

in response to a detection of (i) a second contact, being different from the first contact and following the first contact, within the display area of the reference position on the display unit and (ii) a pressing force of the second contact with the display unit being equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value,

vibrating the display unit according to the second contact to inform a user of the electronic device about a setting of a reference position for contact on the display unit, and then

switching from the first state to a second state where the predetermined process based on contact with the display unit is performed, and

in the second state,

in response to a detection of a third contact, being different from the second contact and following the second contact, with the display unit,

performing the predetermined process and vibrating the display unit again in response to said third contact to inform the user that the predetermined process is performed.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 5, wherein the second contact follows a release of the first contact from the display unit.

7. An electronic device, comprising:

a display unit;

a touch sensor; and

a controller for switching between (i) a first state where a predetermined process is not performed based on contact with the touch sensor and (ii) a second state where the predetermined process is performed based on contact with the touch sensor, wherein

in the first state,

in response to a detection of a first contact, with the touch sensor, outside a display area of a reference position on the display unit, the controller is configured only to vibrate the display unit according to the first contact; and

in response to a detection of (i) a second contact, with the touch sensor, within the display area of the reference position on the display unit and (ii) a pressing force of the second contact being equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the second contact being different from the first contact and following the first contact,

the controller is configured to

vibrate the display unit according to the second contact to inform a user of the electronic device about a setting of the reference position for contact on the touch sensor, and then

switch from the first state to the second state, and

in the second state,

in response to a detection of a third contact with the touch sensor, said third contact being different from the second contact and following the second contact,

the controller is configured to perform the predetermined process and vibrate the display unit again in response to said third contact to inform the user that the predetermined process is performed.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the second contact follows a release of the first contact from the display unit.

9. An operation control method to be executed by an electronic device including a display unit and a touch sensor, the operation control method comprising:

in a first state where a predetermined process is not performed based on contact with the touch sensor,

in response to a detection of a first contact, with the touch sensor, outside a display area of a reference position on the display unit, only vibrating the display unit according to the first contact; and

in response to a detection of (i) a second contact, with the touch sensor, within the display area of the reference position on the display unit and (ii) a pressing force of the second contact being equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the second contact being different from the first contact and following the first contact,

vibrating the display unit according to the second contact to inform a user of the electronic device about a setting of the reference position for contact on the touch sensor, and then

switching from the first state to a second state where the predetermined process based on contact with the touch sensor is performed, and

in the second state,

in response to a detection of a third contact with the touch sensor, said third contact being different from the second contact and following the second contact,

performing the predetermined process and vibrating the display unit again in response to said third contact to inform the user that the predetermined process is performed.

10. The operation control method according to claim 9, wherein the second contact follows a release of the first contact from the display unit.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising an operation control program configured to cause, when executed by an electronic device including a display unit and a touch sensor, the electronic device to execute:

in a first state where a predetermined process is not performed based on contact with the touch sensor,

in response to a detection of a first contact, with the touch sensor, outside a display area of a reference position on the display unit, only vibrating the display unit according to the first contact; and

in response to a detection of (i) a second contact, with the touch sensor, within the display area of the reference position on the display unit and (ii) a pressing force of the second contact being equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the second contact being different from the first contact and following the first contact,

vibrating the display unit according to the second contact to inform a user of the electronic device about a setting of the reference position for contact on the touch sensor, and then

switching from the first state to a second state where the predetermined process based on contact with the touch sensor is performed, and

in the second state,

in response to a detection of a third contact with the touch sensor, said third contact being different from the second contact and following the second contact,

performing the predetermined process and vibrating the display unit again in response to said third contact to inform the user that the predetermined process is performed.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the second contact follows a release of the first contact from the display unit.