Character string retrieval apparatus

• US 9,740,286 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Sasaki, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Amy M
• Application Number:
  US13/818,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20130151961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• Field of Search: 715702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings

Abstract

In order to enable an operator to unfailingly recognize a retrieved character string displayed on a display unit as a result of retrieval from a target such as text, a character string retrieval apparatus 1 for retrieving the character string from the target includes a display unit 20 for displaying a retrieval result of the character string, an operation unit 30 for detecting an input operation, a tactile sensation providing unit 40 for vibrating the operation unit 30, and a control unit 10 for shifting an area of the retrieval result of the character string displayed on the display unit 20, based on the input operation detected by the operation unit 30, and, when displaying the retrieved character string on the display unit 20, for controlling the tactile sensation providing unit 40 such that a tactile sensation is provided to an object pressing the operation unit 30.

Claims

1. A character string retrieval apparatus for retrieving a character string from a target, comprising:

a display configured to display a retrieval result of the character string;

an input device having at least one switch and/or at least one touch sensor configured to detect an input operation;

a tactile sensation provider configured to vibrate the input device; and

a controller configured to, based on the input operation detected by the input device, control to shift an area of the retrieval result of the character string displayed on the display, wherein

the controller, in displaying a retrieved character string on the display, controls the tactile sensation provider such that a tactile sensation is provided to a pressing object pressing the input device,

the controller, in displaying the retrieved character string together with a predetermined number of characters before or after the retrieved character string on the display, controls the tactile sensation provider such that the tactile sensation is provided to the pressing object,

the controller, in displaying the retrieved character string on the display, controls to disable the input operation detected by the input device for a predetermined time, the predetermined time is operator dependent, the operator dependent predetermined time is set based at least in part on an automatic determination based on a time learned by the controller from normal input operations by the operator, and

the tactile sensation includes an instant strong vibration, wherein the instant strong vibration is provided at a moment when the retrieved character string is displayed on the display, and wherein the instant strong vibration has a strength greater than a strength of a vibration provided at a time other than the moment when the retrieved character string is displayed on the display.

2. The character string retrieval apparatus of claim 1, wherein a mobile terminal includes the input device.

3. The character string retrieval apparatus of claim 1, wherein a keyboard for a personal computer includes the input device.

4. The character string retrieval apparatus of claim 1, wherein a mouse for a personal computer includes the input device.

5. A character string retrieval apparatus for retrieving a character string from a target, comprising:

a display configured to display a retrieval result of the character string;

an input device having at least one switch and/or at least one touch sensor;

a tactile sensation provider configured to vibrate the input device;

a controller configured to, based on the input operation detected by the input device, control to shift an area of the retrieval result of the character string displayed on the display, wherein

the controller, in displaying a retrieval character string on the display, controls the tactile sensation provider such that a tactile sensation is provided to a pressing object pressing the input device,

the controller, in displaying the retrieved character string together with a predetermined number of characters before or after the retrieved character string on the display, controls the tactile sensation provider such that the tactile sensation is provided to the input device,

the controller, in displaying the retrieved character string on the display, controls to disable the input operation detected by the input device for a predetermined time, the predetermined time is operator dependent, the operator dependent predetermined time is set based on a static value considering a time taken by an operator to stop the input operation after perceiving a provided tactile sensation, and

the tactile sensation includes an instant strong vibration, wherein the instant strong vibration is provided at a moment when the retrieved character string is displayed on the display, and wherein the instant strong vibration has a strength greater than a strength of a vibration provided at a time other than the moment when the retrieved character string is displayed on the display.

6. The character string retrieval apparatus of claim 5, wherein a mobile terminal includes the input device.

7. The character string retrieval apparatus of claim 5, wherein a keyboard for a personal computer includes the input device.

8. The character string retrieval apparatus of claim 5, wherein a mouse for a personal computer includes the input device.

9. A character string retrieval apparatus for retrieving a character string from a target, comprising:

a display configured to display a retrieval result of the character string;

an input device having at least one switch and/or at least one touch sensor;

a tactile sensation provider configured to vibrate the input device;

a processor controller configured to, based on the input operation detected by the input device, control to shift an area of the retrieval result of the character string displayed on the display, wherein

the controller, in displaying a retrieval character string on the display, controls the tactile sensation provider such that a tactile sensation is provided to a pressing object pressing the input device,

the controller, in displaying the retrieved character string together with a predetermined number of characters before or after the retrieved character string on the display, controls the tactile sensation provider such that the tactile sensation is provided to the input device,

the controller, in displaying the retrieved character string on the display, controls to disable the input operation detected by the input device for a predetermined time, the predetermined time is operator dependent,

the operator dependent predetermined time is set based on an automatic determination based on a time learned by the processor controller from normal input operation by the operators and

the tactile sensation includes an instant strong vibration, wherein the instant strong vibration is provided at a moment when the retrieved character string is displayed on the display, and wherein the instant strong vibration has a strength greater than a strength of a vibration provided at a time other than the moment when the retrieved character string is displayed on the display.

10. The character string retrieval apparatus of claim 9, wherein a mobile terminal includes the input device.

11. The character string retrieval apparatus of claim 9, wherein a keyboard for a personal computer includes the input device.

12. The character string retrieval apparatus of claim 9, wherein a mouse for a personal computer includes the input device.