Information processing apparatus, method and computer readable medium for fixing an input position according to an input operation

• US RE47,028 E1
• Filed: 06/23/2016
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamano, Ikuo, Noda, Takuro, Ikeda, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Basehoar, Adam L
• Application Number:
  US15/190,831
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 715700-702, 715707, 715860, 715856, 715864, 345156, 345157, 345160, 345173-178
• 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 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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

Provided is an information processing apparatus including an input position acquisition unit, a depressing force acquisition unit and an input control unit. An input position acquisition unit obtains an input position detected with respect to an input operation. A depressing force acquisition unit obtains a depressing force detected with respect to the input operation. An input control unit fixes the input position as a position of an input candidate in response to a timing at which an increase amount of the depressing force has exceeded a first threshold value, at a stage prior to an input candidate determination operation of determining the input candidate as input information.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

circuitry configured to;

obtain an input position detected with respect to an input operation;

obtain a depressing force detected with respect to the input operation;

fix the input position as a position of an input candidate in response to a first timing at which an increase amount of the depressing force has exceeded a first threshold value, at a stage prior to an input candidate determination operation of determining the input candidate as input information;

and

cancel fixing of the input candidate position, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a second timing at which the depressing force has started to decrease after having increased, or; and

cancel fixing of the input candidate position, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a third timing at which the depressing force has exceeded an input start threshold value.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a touch panel, wherein

the input operation is performed by a user touching the touch panel at the input position with the depressing force, and

the circuitry is configured to detect the input operation to obtain the input position and the depressing force.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the touch panel includes a pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber layer, and

the pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber layer deforms with respect to depression of the touch panel according to the depressing force of the input operation at the input position.

2. An input control method of an information processing apparatus, comprising:

obtaining, using circuitry of the information processing apparatus, an input position detected with respect to an input operation;

obtaining, using the circuitry, a depressing force detected with respect to the input operation;

fixing, using the circuitry, the input position as a position of an input candidate in response to a first timing at which an increase amount of the depressing force has exceeded a first threshold value, at a stage prior to an input candidate determination operation of determining the input candidate as input information;

and

cancelling fixing of the input candidate position, using the circuitry, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a second timing at which the depressing force has started to decrease after having increased, or; and

cancelling fixing of the input candidate position, using the circuitry, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a third timing at which the depressing force has exceeded an input start threshold value.

6. The input control method according to claim 2, wherein

the information processing apparatus includes a touch panel,

the input operation is performed by a user touching the touch panel at the input position with the depressing force, and

the input control method further comprises detecting, by the circuitry, the input operation on the touch panel to obtain the input position and to obtain the depressing force.

7. The input control method according to claim 6, wherein

the touch panel includes a pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber layer, and

the pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber layer deforms with respect to depression of the touch panel according to the depressing force of the input operation at the input position.

3. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having executable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by circuitry of a computer, cause the computer to execute an input control method of an information processing apparatus, comprising:

obtaining, using by circuitry, an input position detected with respect to an input operation;

obtaining, using by the circuitry, a depressing force detected with respect to the input operation;

fixing, using by the circuitry, the input position as a position of an input candidate in response to a first timing at which an increase amount of the depressing force has exceeded a first threshold value, at a stage prior to an input candidate determination operation of determining the input candidate as input information; and

cancelling fixing of the input candidate position, using by the circuitry, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a second timing at which the depressing force has started to decrease after having increased, or; and

cancelling fixing of the input candidate position, by the circuitry, after the position of the input candidate has been fixed, in response to a third timing at which the depressing force has exceeded an input start threshold value.