Input device which allows button input operation and coordinate input operation to be performed in the same operation plane
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An input device comprising:
- a planar input that generates a coordinate input operation;
an indicator section provided at a surface of the planar input, the indicator section having a plurality of input sections; and
a control section that generates an operation signal in accordance with an input signal that the control section has received from the planar input, wherein, when the input device is set in ma first input mode, the control section detects that any one of the input sections has been touched, and generates an operation signal in accordance with a prescribed item of the input section, and, wherein, when the input device is set in a second mode, the control section recognizes the input signal from the planar input as coordinate data regardless of what is indicated at the touched input section.
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Abstract
An input device includes a pressure-sensitive or capacitive planar input unit with an indicator sheet which has input sections being secured to the surface of the planar input unit. A tactile feedback generator is provided at the back side of the planar input unit. The tactile feedback generator includes dome-shaped inversion plates that are separately provided at locations corresponding to the input sections and provide feedback to the operator. When an input section is pressed, an operation signal in accordance with what is indicated at the pressed input section is generated.
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Citations
83 Claims
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1. An input device comprising:
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a planar input that generates a coordinate input operation;
an indicator section provided at a surface of the planar input, the indicator section having a plurality of input sections; and
a control section that generates an operation signal in accordance with an input signal that the control section has received from the planar input, wherein, when the input device is set in ma first input mode, the control section detects that any one of the input sections has been touched, and generates an operation signal in accordance with a prescribed item of the input section, and, wherein, when the input device is set in a second mode, the control section recognizes the input signal from the planar input as coordinate data regardless of what is indicated at the touched input section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 62)
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8. An input device having a first mode and a second mode, the input device comprising:
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a planar input having an upper surface that includes a plurality of input sections, each input section generating a signal when operated; and
a control section that determines the mode of the input device and generates an operation signal corresponding to a combination of the mode and the signal received from the planar input, the control section generating a first operation signal when the input device is in the first mode and a second operation signal when the input device is in the second mode, the first operation signal corresponding to a particular function indicated by the contacted input section and the second operation signal corresponding to coordinate data of the contacted input section, the coordinate data independent of the particular function indicated by the contacted input section. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 64)
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18. An input device having a first mode and a second mode, the input device comprising:
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a planar input having an upper surface that includes a plurality of input sections, each input section generating a signal when operated;
a control section that automatically controls the mode of the input device and generates an operation signal corresponding to a combination of the mode and the signal received from the planar input, the control section generating a first operation signal when the input device is in the first mode and a second operation signal when the input device is in the second mode, the first operation signal corresponding to a particular function indicated by the operated input section and the second operation signal corresponding to coordinate data of the operated input section, the coordinate data independent of the particular function indicated by the contacted input section;
a display mechanism disposed separately from the planar input, the display mechanism providing a display in correspondence with the coordinate data when the input device is in the second mode; and
a single tactile feedback generator disposed at one location at a back side of the planar input, the tactile feedback generator producing a uniform reactive force that resists deformation of the operated input section when any of the input sections are pressed.
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19. An input device having a first mode and a second mode, the input device comprising:
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a planar input having an upper surface that includes a plurality of input sections, each input section generating a signal when operated;
a control section that automatically controls the mode of the input device and generates an operation signal corresponding to a combination of the mode and the signal received from the planar input, the control section generating a first operation signal when the input device is in the first mode and a second operation signal when the input device is in the second mode, the first operation signal corresponding to a particular function indicated by the operated input section and the second operation signal corresponding to coordinate data of the operated input section, the coordinate data independent of the particular function indicated by the contacted input section;
a display mechanism disposed separately from the planar input, the display mechanism providing a display in correspondence with the coordinate data when the input device is in the second mode; and
a plurality of dome-shaped inversion plates disposed at a back side of the planar input, each inversion plate individually provided at a location of a corresponding input section and generating a reactive force that resists deformation of the operated input section, the reactive forces of the inversion plates being uniform with each other.
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20. A method of increasing operability of an input device, the method comprising:
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operating an input section of a planar input;
generating a signal corresponding to the operation of the input section;
automatically controlling a mode of the input device;
generating a first operation signal corresponding to a particular function indicated by the operated input section when the input device is in a first mode and a second operation signal corresponding to coordinate data of the contacted input section when the input device is in a second mode; and
ignoring the particular function indicated by the contacted input section when the input device is in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An input device, comprising:
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an operational plane having an indicator section with input sections;
a touch sensitive surface; and
a plurality of switches, each switch in the plurality of switches associated with a respective input section, wherein an output of the touch sensitive surface is associated with a touching of a location on the touch sensitive surface, and the output of each of the plurality of switches is associated with one of the input sections. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. An input device, comprising:
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touch sensitive surface, having a plurality of input sections displayed thereon; and
a control section, wherein the control section is configured to process an output signal from the touch sensitive surface and output at least one of a first function signal corresponding to one of the operation of one of the plurality of input sections or a coordinate signal representing a location on the touch sensitive surface. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. An input device, comprising:
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a touch sensitive surface displaying a plurality of input sections; and
a control section, wherein the control section is configured to process an output from the touch sensitive surface and output one of a first function signal or a coordinate signal depending on a first or second operating mode, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. An input device having an operational surface, the input device comprising:
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a planar input that generates a coordinate input operation; and
an indicator section provided at a surface of the planar input, the indicator section having a plurality of input sections, the planar input and the indicator section sharing the operational surface of the input device, wherein, in a first mode, the input device detects one of the input sections and generates an operation signal in accordance with a prescribed item of the detected input section, and wherein, in a second mode, the input device recognizes an input signal from the planar input as coordinate data corresponding to touched movement operation.
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56. An input device having a first mode and a second mode, the input device comprising:
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a planar input that includes an operational surface having a plurality of input sections on an upper surface of the planar input, the planar input generating a signal when any one of the input sections is operated; and
a control section that receives the signal from the planar input and generates an operation signal corresponding to the mode, wherein the control section generates a first operation signal when the input device is set to the first mode and a second operation signal when the input device is set to the second mode, the first operation signal corresponding to a particular function indicated by the operation of one of the plurality of input sections and the second operation signal corresponding to coordinate data indicated by a touched movement operation on the operational surface, and wherein the coordinate data is independent of the particular function indicated by the operated input section.
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57. An input device comprising:
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an operational display surface having a plurality of indication display elements showing input positions on a surface of the operational display surface;
a coordinate input member;
a pressing input member;
wherein the operational display surface, the coordinate input member, and the pressing input member are fixedly attached such that they define a shared operational surface; and
wherein a first operation signal is output from the pressing input member when a pressing operation is performed at one of the input positions, and a second signal comprising a coordinate signal is output from the coordinate input member in accordance with a movement of a contact position on the operational display surface. - View Dependent Claims (58)
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59. A planar input device comprising:
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an operational display surface having a plurality of indication display elements showing input positions on a surface of the operational display surface;
first operation-signal-generating means which generates an operation signal in accordance with one of the indication display elements which corresponds to a contact position on the operational display surface; and
second operation-signal-generating means which generates an operation signal corresponding to a movement trajectory when the contact position moves on the operational display surface.
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60. A planar input device, comprising:
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an operational display surface having a plurality of indication display elements showing input positions on a surface of the operational display surface;
a first operation-signal-generating means adjacent the operational display surface, for generating a switch operation signal in accordance with a pressing operation with respect to the indication display elements; and
second operation-signal-generating means, for generating an operation signal corresponding to a movement trajectory when a contact position on the display member moves on the operational display surface.
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61. A planar input device, comprising:
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a coordinate input sensor disposed under a display sheet that inputs a position of an operating member of a plurality of input positions on the surface of the display sheet when the operating member comes into contact with one of the input positions on the surface of the display sheet; and
a signal processing unit that processes a signal from the input sensor and outputs the processed signal as an operational signal correlated to one of the plurality of input positions on the surface of the display sheet; and
wherein the planar input device also outputs movement position data corresponding to a movement on the display sheet of the operating member.
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63. A planar input device, comprising:
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a first input sensor unit which has a planar shape and which generates a coordinate signal representing a state of contact of an operating member on the first input sensor;
a second input switch member acting coplanar with the first input sensor which generates an indication signal corresponding to a particular function and which generates a tactile operation feel; and
a control section which processes the coordinate signal.
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65. An input device, comprising:
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an input unit that generates an input signal representing coordinate data, the input unit having an input surface;
a control section that receives the input signal and generates an operational signal in response thereto; and
a tactile feedback generator disposed to provide a pressing reaction force to the input surface in response to a pressing of the input surface;
wherein the input unit is supported so as to be movable in a direction upward and downward relative to the input surface. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. An input device comprising:
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a planar input section that generates an input signal representing coordinate data, the input section having an input surface, wherein the planar input section is supported so as to be movable in a direction upward and downward relative to the input surface;
a control section that receives the input signal and generates an operation signal in response to the coordinate signal; and
a tactile feedback generator that operates when the planar input section is pressed. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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Specification