Electronic apparatus vibration generator, vibratory informing method and method for controlling information

• US 20020149561A1
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Sugimura, Toshiaka, Fukumoto, Masaaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,292,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• 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 3/04886 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

An electronic device drives an oscillatory actuator to cause generation of vibration when it is detected that an operation input to a touch panel or operation key has been received. The electronic device causes, by this vibration, the touch panel and operation key to vibrate in a direction perpendicular to their respective front surfaces. Alternatively, the housing of the electronic device is made to vibrate. Further, the oscillatory actuator has a weight, a support member for supporting the weight to allow it to reciprocate, and connected to the touch panel or housing or other vibratory member of the electronic device, or vibratory member of the base member of the oscillatory actuator in contact with the vibratory member, and a mechanism for imparting a magnetic force or electrostatic force to cause reciprocal movement of the weight.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to a hand-touched portion of said electronic device; and

vibration control means for controlling said vibration generator, to generate vibration when said vibration control means detects that said operating unit has received said operation input.

2. An electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vibration generator comprises:

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said hand-touched portion or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said hand-touched portion; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

3. An electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein in a case of driving said vibration generator to generate vibration, said vibration control means applies to said vibration generator a drive signal, to cause said vibration generator or said hand-touched portion to resonate.

4. An electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vibration generator comprises a motor having an eccentric spindle attached to an end of a shaft.

5. An electronic device as set forth in claim 4, wherein when said motor rotates to generate vibration, said vibration control means controls a rotational speed of said motor to match that of a frequency at which said motor or said hand-touched portion is caused to resonate.

6. An electronic device as set forth in claim 4 or 5, wherein rotation of said motor is stopped such that said eccentric spindle is stopped each time at a same position.

7. An electronic device as set forth in claim 1,

said device further comprising designating means for designating whether an operation input should result in a report by vibration, and wherein,

in a case that said designating means designates execution of said report by vibration, said vibration control means causes said vibration generator to vibrate when it detects an operation input.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

an operation unit for receiving an operation input;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to said operation unit; and

vibration control means for controlling said vibration generator, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said control unit is received, to generate vibration, and wherein said vibration generator comprises;

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said operating unit or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said operating unit; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

9. An electronic device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said vibration generator causes said operation unit to vibrate in a direction of contact made by a user, and an opposite direction, said direction of contact being that made at a time of an operation input to said operation unit made by said user.

10. An electronic device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said vibration control means detects that an operation input to said control unit has been received, and then causes said vibration generator to generate vibration for a predetermined period of not more than 1 second.

11. An electronic device as set forth in claim 8 or 10, wherein, in a case of driving said vibration generator to cause generation of vibration, said vibration control means applies to said vibration generator a drive signal, to cause said vibration generator or said operation unit to resonate.

12. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein

said operation unit is a touch panel;

and

wherein said vibration generator causes said touch panel or a display means provided for said touch panel to vibrate.

13. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein

said operation unit has an operating member;

and

wherein said vibration generator causes said operating member to vibrate.

14. An electronic device as set forth in claim 8, further comprising said device further comprising designating means for designating whether an operation input should result in a report by vibration, and wherein,

in a case that said designating means designates execution of said report by vibration, said vibration control means causes said vibration generator to vibrate when it detects an operation input.

16. An electronic device as set forth in claim 15, wherein said vibration control means switches a vibration mode of said vibration generator in accordance with a result of an execution of said processing.

17. An electronic device as set forth in claim 15 or 16, wherein said vibration generator imparts vibration to said operating unit or a hand-touched portion of said electronic device.

18. An electronic device as set forth in claim 15 or 16, wherein

said vibration generator transmits vibration to said operating unit, and wherein said vibration generator comprises:

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said operating unit or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said operating unit; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

19. An electronic device as set forth in claim 15 or 16, wherein

said vibration generator transmits vibration to said hand-touched portion;

and wherein said vibration generator comprises;

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said hand-touched portion or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said hand-touched portion; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

20. An electronic device as set forth in claim 15 or 16, wherein

said vibration generator transmits vibration to said operating unit or said hand-touched portion of said electronic device;

and

wherein said vibration control means, in a case of driving said vibration generator to generate vibration, applies to said vibration generator a drive signal for causing one of said vibration generator, said operating unit, and said hand-touched portion to resonate.

26. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 8, 18, and 24, wherein said vibration generator causes said weight to reciprocate under excitation generated by said excitation generating means and causes vibrational acceleration at said operating unit by a counter force of said reciprocation or transmits to said operating unit vibrational acceleration caused at said base member by a counter force of said reciprocation.

27. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 2, 19, and 25, wherein said vibration generator causes said weight to reciprocate under excitation generated by said excitation generating means and causes vibrational acceleration at said hand-touched portion by a counter force of said reciprocation or transmits to said hand-touched portion vibrational acceleration caused at said base member by a counter force of said reciprocation.

28. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 8, 18, and 24, wherein said support member is formed using an elastic body;

and wherein one end of said support member is connected to said operating unit or said base member and another end is connected to said weight.

29. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 2, 19, and 25, wherein said support member is formed to have an elastic body;

and wherein one end of said support member is connected to said hand-touched portion or said base member and another end is connected to said weight.

30. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 2, 8, 18, 19, 24, and 25, wherein said vibration generator further comprises a guide mechanism of said weight for causing said weight to linearly reciprocate.

31. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 2, 8, 18, 19, 24, and 25, wherein said excitation generating means causes generation of magnetic force as said excitation.

32. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 2, 8, 19, 24, and 25, wherein said excitation generating means causes generation of electrostatic force as said excitation.

33. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 2, 8, 18, 19, 24, and 25, wherein said vibration generator is one which causes said weight to linearly reciprocate and further comprises a resistance imparting member for imparting contact resistance to said weight, said resistance imparting member being in constant contact with a side surface parallel to a direction of reciprocation of said weight performing reciprocation.

34. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 2, 8, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 30, wherein

said vibration generator further comprises a brake means for, in a case that generation of excitation by said excitation generating means has stopped, contacting said weight and causing said weight to stop reciprocating.

35. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 2, 8, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 30, wherein

said vibration generator comprises a coil as said excitation generating means for causing generation of magnetic force, and

said electronic device further comprising short-circuiting means for, in a case that said electronic device stops supplying current to said coil, causing an input end of said coil to short-circuit.

36. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 2, 8, 18, 19, 24, and 25, wherein

said excitation generating means is one which causes generation of magnetic force as said excitation;

and

wherein said vibration generator houses said weight, said support member, and said excitation generating means in a space sealed by a case having an anti-magnetic effect.

37. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 2, 8, 18, 19, 24, and 25, wherein

said excitation generating means causes generation of magnetic force as said excitation;

and

wherein said weight is formed using a permanent magnet.

39. An electronic device as set forth in claim 38, wherein said display panel is attached to a housing of said electronic device through said elastic member.

40. An electronic device as set forth in claim 38, wherein said display panel is attached to a main body of said electronic device through said elastic member.

44. An electronic device as set forth in claim 38 or 41, wherein said vibration generator causes said weight to reciprocate under excitation generated by said excitation generating means and causes vibrational acceleration at said display panel by a counter force of said reciprocation or transmits to said display panel vibrational acceleration caused at said base member by a counter force of said reciprocation.

45. An electronic device as set forth in claim 38 or 41, wherein said support member is formed using an elastic body;

and wherein one end of said support member is connected to said display panel or said base member and another end is connected to said weight.

46. An electronic device as set forth in claim 38 or 41, wherein said vibration generator causes said display panel to vibrate in a direction perpendicular to a surface of said display panel.

47. An electronic device as set forth in claim 38 or 41, wherein said vibration control means detects that an operation input to said touch panel has been received, and then causes said vibration generator to generate vibration for a predetermined time of not more than 1 second.

51. An electronic device as set forth in claim 49 or 50, wherein said vibration generator comprises:

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said touch panel or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said touch panel; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight excitation, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

52. An electronic device as set forth in claim 38 or 41, wherein said vibration generator causes said weight to reciprocate under excitation generated by said excitation generating means and causes vibrational acceleration at said touch panel by a counter force of said reciprocation or transmits to said touch panel vibrational acceleration caused at said base member by a counter force of said reciprocation.

53. An electronic device as set forth in claim 51, wherein said support member is formed using an elastic body;

and wherein one end of said support member is connected to said touch panel or said base member and another end is connected to said weight.

56. An electronic device as set forth in claim 49 or 54, wherein said vibration generator is installed at a position not overlapping said display screen.

58. An electronic device as set forth in claim 49 or 50, wherein said vibration control means detects that a touch operation on said touch panel has been received, and then causes said vibration generator to generate vibration for a predetermined period of not more than 1 second.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

an operation unit for receiving an operation input;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to a user; and

vibration control means for causing, in a case that it is detected that execution of processing instructed by said operation input to said operation unit has ended, said vibration generator to generate vibration.

21. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

a first vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to said operating unit;

a second vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to a hand-touched portion of said electronic device; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, controlling at least one of said first vibration generator and said second vibration generator designated in advance by a user, to generate vibration.

24. An electronic device as set forth in claim 21 or 22, wherein said first vibration generator comprises:

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said operating unit or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said operating unit; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

25. An electronic device as set forth in claim 21 or 22, wherein said second vibration generator comprises:

a weight;

a support member supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said hand-touched portion or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said hand-touched portion; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

22. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

a first vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to said operating unit;

a second vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to a hand-touched portion of said electronic device;

detecting means for detecting whether said electronic device is being held by a user; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, selecting at least one of said first vibration generator and said second vibration generator in accordance with results of detection by said detecting means and causing the said selected vibration generator to generate vibration.

23. An electronic device as set forth in claim 22, wherein, in a case that said detecting means detects that said electronic device is not being held by said user after detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, said vibration control means causes only said first vibration generator to generate vibration.

38. An electronic device, comprising:

a display panel over which a touch panel is superposed;

a vibration generator installed in said display panel;

an elastic member formed using an elastic body, for supporting said display panel so as to allow said display panel to vibrate by vibration generated by said vibration generator; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that a touch operation on said touch panel has been received, causing said vibration generator to generate vibration, and

wherein said vibration generator comprises;

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said display panel or to a base member of said vibration generator and said base member being in contact with said display panel; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

48. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 38, 41, and 47, wherein, in a case of driving said vibration generator to cause vibration, said vibration control means applies to said vibration generator a drive signal for causing said vibration generator or said display panel to resonate.

41. An electronic device, comprising:

a display panel over which a touch panel is superposed;

a vibration generator supporting said display panel, for generating vibration which is transmitted to said display panel; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that a touch operation on said touch panel has been received, causing said vibration generator to generate vibration, and

wherein said vibration generator comprises;

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said display panel or to a base member of said vibration generator and said base member being in contact with said display panel; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight excitation, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

42. An electronic device as set forth in claim 41, wherein said display panel is attached to a housing of said electronic device through said vibration generator.

43. An electronic device as set forth in claim 41, wherein said display panel is attached to a main body of said electronic device through said vibration generator.

49. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a touch panel covering a display screen of said display;

a vibration generator provided between said display and said touch panel, for supporting said touch panel on said display screen and transmitting vibration to said touch panel; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that a touch operation on said touch panel has been received, causing said vibration generator to generate vibration.

57. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 49 to 52 and 56, wherein said vibration generator causes said touch panel to vibrate in a direction perpendicular to a front surface of said touch panel.

59. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 49, 50, and 58, wherein, in a case of driving said vibration generator to cause vibration, said vibration control means applies to said vibration generator a drive signal for causing said vibration generator or said touch signal to resonate.

50. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a touch panel covering a display screen of said display;

a vibration generator installed at said touch panel for transmitting vibration to said touch panel;

a vibration absorbing member provided between said display and said touch panel for absorbing, from among vibration components generated from said vibration generator, a vibration component which is about to be transferred to said display; and

vibration control means for, in case of detecting that a touch operation on said touch panel has been received, causing said vibration generator to generate vibration.

54. An electronic device as set forth in claim 50, wherein an said vibration absorbing member uses an elastic body.

55. An electronic device as set forth in claim 50 or 54, wherein said vibration absorption member is installed at a position not overlapping said display screen.

60. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

a vibration generator at least a part of which is provided exposed to the outside from a housing of said electronic device and transmitting vibration directly to said user; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, causing said vibration generator to generate vibration.

61. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to a part of a housing of said electronic device, while said part of said housing is different from said operating unit; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, identifying a type of operation input and causing said vibration generator to generate vibration by a vibration mode linked with said type of operation input.

62. An electronic device as set forth in claim 61, wherein

said operating unit is a touch panel;

and

wherein said vibration control means, in a case of detecting that a touch operation on said touch panel has been received, detects a touched position of said touch operation on said touch panel and causes said vibration generator to generate vibration by a vibration mode linked with said touched position.

63. An electronic device as set forth in claim 61, wherein

said operating unit has a plurality of operating members;

and

wherein, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, said vibration control means identifies a type of operated operating member and causes said vibration generator to generate vibration by a vibration mode linked with said type of said operated operating member.

64. An electronic device as set forth in claim 61, wherein, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, said vibration control means identifies a type of instruction indicated by said operation input and causes said vibration generator to generate vibration by a vibration mode linked with said type of said instruction.

66. An electronic device as set forth in claim 61 or 65, wherein said vibration generator comprises:

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said part of said housing or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said part of said housing; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

67. An electronic device as set forth in claim 66, wherein said vibration generator causes said weight to reciprocate under excitation generated by said excitation generating means and causes vibrational acceleration at said part of said housing by a counter force of said reciprocation or transmits to said part of said housing vibrational acceleration caused at said base member by a counter force of said reciprocation.

68. An electronic device as set forth in claim 66, wherein said support member is formed using an elastic body;

and wherein one end of said support member is connected to said part of said housing or said base member and another end is connected to said weight.

69. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 61 to 65, wherein, in a case of driving said vibration generator to cause vibration, said vibration control means applies to said vibration generator a drive signal for causing said vibration generator or said part of said housing to resonate.

65. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to a part of a housing of said electronic device, while said part of said housing given vibration is different from said operating unit;

changing means for changing a value of a parameter for controlling said electronic device in accordance with an operation input to said operating unit; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input for changing a value of a parameter has been received at said operating unit, causing said vibration generator to generate vibration by a vibration mode linked with said value of said parameter changed by said changing means in response to said operation input.

70. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to said operating unit; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input has been received at said operating unit, identifying a type of operation input and causing said vibration generator to generate vibration by a vibration mode linked with said type of said operation input, and

wherein said vibration generator comprises;

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said operating unit or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said member being in contact with said operating unit; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

71. An electronic device as set forth in claim 70, wherein

said operating unit is a touch panel;

and

wherein said vibration control means, in a case of detecting that a touch operation has been received at said touch panel, detects a touched position of said touch operation on said touch panel and causes said vibration generator to generate vibration by a vibration mode linked with said touched position.

72. An electronic device as set forth in claim 70, wherein

said operating unit has a plurality of operating members;

and

wherein said vibration control means, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, identifies a type of operating member operated and causes said vibration generator to generate by a vibration mode linked with said type of operating member operated.

73. An electronic device as set forth in claim 70, wherein, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, said vibration control means identifies a type of instruction indicated by said operation input and causes said vibration generator to generate vibration by a vibration mode linked with said type of instruction.

75. An electronic device as set forth in claim 70 or 74, wherein said vibration generator causes said weight to reciprocate under excitation generated by said excitation generating means and causes vibrational acceleration at said operating unit by a counter force of said reciprocation or transmits to said hand-touched portion vibrational acceleration caused at said base member by a counter force of said reciprocation.

76. An electronic device as set forth in claim 70 or 74, wherein said support member is formed using an elastic body;

and wherein one end of said support member is connected to said operating unit or said base member, and another end is connected to said weight.

77. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 70 to 74, wherein said vibration generator causes said operating unit to vibrate in a direction of contact made by a user and in an opposite direction, said direction of contact being that made at a time of operation input to said operating unit by said user.

78. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 70 to 74, wherein said vibration control means detects that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, and then causes said vibration generator to generate vibration for a predetermined period of not more than 1 second.

79. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 70 to 74 and 78, wherein, in a case of driving said vibration generator to cause generation of vibration, said vibration control means applies to said vibration generator a drive signal for causing said vibration generator or said operating unit to resonate.

74. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to said operating unit;

changing means for changing a value of a parameter for controlling said electronic device in accordance with said operation input to said operating unit; and

vibration control means for causing, in a case of detecting that an operation input for changing a value of a parameter has been received at said operating unit, said vibration generator to cause vibration by a vibration mode linked with said value of said parameter changed by said changing means in response to said operation input, and

wherein said vibration generator comprises;

a weight;

a support member supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said operating unit or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said member being in contact with said operating unit; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight excitation, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

80. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating member for continuously changing a value of a parameter for controlling said electronic device;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to a user;

changing means for changing said value of said parameter based on the operated amount of said operating member; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating member has been received, causing said vibration generator to generate vibration by a vibration mode linked to said value of said parameter changed by said changing means in response to said operation.

92. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 80, 81, 85, 86, 88, 89, and 91, wherein

said vibration generator gives vibration to said user by causing one of said members comprising said electronic device to vibrate;

and

wherein said vibration generator comprises;

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to a vibrated member of said electronic device or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said vibratory member; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight excitation, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

93. An electronic device as set forth in claim 92, wherein said vibration generator causes said weight to reciprocate under excitation generated by said excitation generating means and causes vibrational acceleration at said vibratory member by a counter force of said reciprocation or transmits to said vibratory member vibrational acceleration caused at said base member by a counter force of said reciprocation.

94. An electronic device as set forth in claim 92, wherein said support member is formed using an elastic body;

and wherein one end of said support member is connected to said vibratory member or said base member and another end is connected to said weight.

81. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input and detecting a level of pressure of said operation input;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to a user; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, causing said vibration generator to generate vibration by a vibration mode linked with a level of pressure of said operation input detected by said operating unit.

82. An electronic device as set forth in claim 81, wherein, in a case that a fingertip of the operator or an operation tool touches said operating unit, said operating unit detects that said fingertip or control tool has pressed said operating unit with a force greater than a predetermined level of pressure as a different level of pressure.

83. An electronic device as set forth in claim 81 or 82, wherein said operating unit is a touch panel.

84. An electronic device as set forth in claim 81, wherein said operating unit is a combination of a first touch panel for detecting that either a fingertip of said user or an operation tool touches said operating unit and receiving this as a touch operation and a second touch panel for detecting that either said fingertip or operation tool has pressed said operating unit with a force greater than a predetermined level of pressure and receiving this as a touch operation, said first touch panel and said second touch panel overlapping each other.

85. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

sound producing means for providing an audio report to a user;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to said user; and

report control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, reporting to said user that said operation input has been received using at least one of said sound producing means, and said vibration generator being designated by said user in advance.

86. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

sound producing means for providing an audio report to a user;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to said user;

measuring means for measuring a sound level of surroundings of said electronic device; and

report control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, selecting at least one of said sound producing means and said vibration generator based on measurement results of said measuring means and reporting to said user that an operation input has been received using said one selected.

87. An electronic device as set forth in claim 86, wherein, in a case of detecting that an amount of sound measured by said measuring means is above an amount of sound set in advance after detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, said report control means reports to said user that said operation input has been received by using at least said vibration generator.

88. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

sound producing means for providing an audio report to a user;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to said user;

receiving means for receiving a signal designating at least one of said sound generating means or vibration generator from a base station covering an area in which said electronic device is located; and

report control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, reporting to said user that said operation input has been received using at least one of said sound producing means or said vibration generator designated by a signal received by said receiving means.

90. An electronic device as set forth in claim 89, wherein, in a case that said electronic device is located in a preset area based on location information acquired by said acquiring means after detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, said report control means reports to said user that said operation input has been received using only said vibration generator.

89. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

sound producing means for providing an audio report to a user;

a vibration generator for generating vibration which is transmitted to said user;

acquiring means for acquiring location information of said electronic device; and

report control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received, selecting at least one of said sound producing means and said vibration generator based on location information acquired by said acquiring means and using said selected means to report to said user that said operation input has been received.

91. An electronic device, comprising:

an operating unit for receiving an operation input;

a vibration generator capable of transmitting vibration to a user and simultaneously causing generation of sound; and

drive control means for, in a case of detecting that an operation input to said operating unit has been received and causing said vibration generator to generate both vibration and sound, synthesizing a drive signal for driving said vibration generator to cause vibration and an audio signal for driving said vibration generator to cause sound, and for applying said synthesized signal to said vibration generator.

95. An electronic device, comprising:

an operation panel for receiving a touch operation;

a plurality of vibration generators for transmitting vibration to said operation panel;

detecting means for detecting a touched position on said operation panel; and

vibration control means for, in a case of detecting that a touch operation to said operation panel has been received, selecting at least one of said plurality of vibration generators based on a touched position of said touch operation detected by said detecting means and causing said selected vibration generator to generate vibration.

101. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 95, 96, and 99, wherein said vibration generator comprises:

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to said operating unit or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said operating unit; and

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate.

102. An electronic device as set forth in claim 101, wherein said vibration generator causes said weight to reciprocate under excitation generated by said excitation generating means and causes vibrational acceleration at said operation panel by a counter force of said reciprocation, or transmits to said operation panel vibrational acceleration caused at said base member by a counter force of said reciprocation.

103. An electronic device as set forth in claim 101, wherein said support member is formed using an elastic body;

and wherein one end of said support member is connected to said operation panel or said base member and another end is connected to said weight.

104. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 38, 41, 51, 66, 70, 74, 92, and 101, wherein said vibration generator further comprises a guide mechanism for said weight to cause said weight to linearly reciprocate.

105. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 38, 41, 51, 66, 70, 74, 92, and 101, wherein said excitation generating means generates magnetic force as said excitation.

106. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 38, 41, 51, 66, 70, 74, 92, and 101, wherein said excitation generating means generates electrostatic force as said excitation.

107. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 38, 41, 51, 66, 70, 74, 92, and 101, wherein said vibration generator causes said weight to linearly reciprocate and further comprises a resistance imparting member imparting contact resistance to said weight, said resistance imparting member being in constant contact with a side surface parallel to a direction of reciprocation of said weight performing reciprocation.

108. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 38, 41, 51, 66, 70, 74, 92, and 101, wherein said vibration generator further comprises brake means for, in a case that generation of excitation from said excitation generating means has stopped, contacting itself with said weight and causing said weight to stop reciprocating.

109. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 38, 41, 51, 66, 70, 74, 92, and 101, wherein

said vibration generator comprises, as said excitation generating means, a coil for generating magnetic force, and said electronic device further comprising a short-circuiting means for, in a case of stopping supply of current to said coil, causing said input end of said coil to short-circuit.

110. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 38, 41, 51, 66, 70, 74, 92, and 101, wherein

said excitation generating means generates magnetic force as said excitation;

and

wherein said vibration generator houses said weight, said support member, and said excitation generating means in a space sealed by a case having an anti-magnetic effect.

111. An electronic device as set forth in any one of claims 38, 41, 51, 66, 70, 74, 92, and 101, wherein

said excitation generating means generates magnetic force as said excitation;

and

wherein said weight is formed using a permanent magnet.

113. A vibration generator as set forth in claim 112, wherein said resistance imparting member surrounds all side surfaces of said weight parallel to said direction of reciprocation.

114. A vibration generator as set forth in claim 112, wherein a plurality of said resistance imparting members are provided at equal intervals, thereby surrounding all side surfaces of said weight parallel to said direction of reciprocation.

116. A vibration generator as set forth in claim 115, further comprising a guide mechanism of said weight which causes said weight to linearly reciprocate.

117. A vibration generator as set forth in claim 112 or 115, which causes said weight to linearly reciprocate under excitation generated by said excitation generating means and causes vibrational acceleration at said vibratory member by a counter force of said reciprocation or transmits to said vibratory member vibrational acceleration caused at said base member by a counter force of said reciprocation.

118. A vibration generator as set forth in claim 112 or 115, wherein said support member is formed using an elastic body;

and wherein one end of said support member is connected to said vibratory member or to said base member, and another end is connected to said weight.

119. A vibration generator as set forth in claim 112 or 115, wherein said kinetic force generating means generates magnetic force as said excitation.

120. A vibration generator as set forth in claim 112 or 115, wherein said kinetic force generating means generates of electrostatic force as said excitation.

121. A vibration generator as set forth in claim 112 or 115, wherein

said excitation generating means generates magnetic force as said excitation;

and

wherein said weight is formed using a permanent magnet.

96. An electronic device, comprising:

an operation panel for receiving a touch operation;

a plurality of vibration generators for transmitting vibration to said operation panel;

detecting means for detecting a touched position on said operation panel;

generating means for, in a case of detecting that a touch operation to said operation panel has been received, generating drive signals for driving each of said plurality of vibration generators so that an amplitude of vibration caused at a touched position in said touch operation detected by said detecting means is amplified as a result of mutual interference of oscillatory waves generated by each of said plurality of vibration generators; and

vibration control means for applying drive signals generated by said generating means to corresponding vibration generators to cause said vibration generators to generate vibration.

97. An electronic device as set forth in claim 96, wherein, in a case of detecting that a touch operation on said operation panel has been received, said generating means adjusts phases of drive signals for driving said plurality of vibration generators so that amplitudes of vibration caused at a touched position in said touch operation detected by said detecting means is amplified by mutual interference of oscillatory waves generated by each of said plurality of vibration generators.

98. An electronic device as set forth in claim 96, wherein, in a case of detecting that a touch operation on said operation panel has been received, said generating means generates drive signals for driving said plurality of vibration generators so that amplitudes of vibration caused at said position touched in said touch operation detected by said detecting means become greatest by mutual interference of oscillatory waves generated by each of said plurality of vibration generators.

99. An electronic device, comprising:

an operation panel over which a deformation layer deformable by vibration is laminated;

a plurality of vibration generators for transmitting vibration to said operation panel;

detecting means for detecting a touched position on said operation panel;

generating means for, in a case of detecting that a touch operation to said operation panel has been received, generating drive signals for driving said plurality of vibration generators so that a thickness of the deformation layer at said touched position of said touch operation detected by said detecting means becomes thinner or thicker than that of a time of non-touching as a result of mutual interference of oscillatory waves generated from said plurality of vibration generators; and

vibration control means for applying drive signals generated by said generating means to corresponding vibration generators and causing said vibration generators to generate vibration.

100. An electronic device as set forth in claim 99, wherein said deformation layer is formed using any one of a liquid, gel, or particulate substance.

112. A vibration generator, comprising:

a weight;

support means for supporting said weight so as to allow it to linearly reciprocate, said support member being connected to a vibratory member to which vibration is imparted by said vibration generator or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said vibratory member;

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate; and

a resistance imparting member for imparting contact resistance to said weight, said resistance imparting member being in constant contact with a side surface parallel to a direction of reciprocation of said weight linearly reciprocating by excitation generated by said excitation generating means.

115. A vibration generator, comprising:

a weight;

a support member for supporting said weight and so as to allow it to reciprocate, said support member being connected to a vibratory member to which vibration is imparted by said vibration generator, or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said vibratory member;

excitation generating means for generating excitation for supply to said weight, to cause said weight to reciprocate; and

brake means for being brought into contact with said weight, in a case that said generation of excitation by said excitation generating means has stopped, and causing said reciprocation of said weight to stop.

122. A vibration-type reporting method in an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that an operation input to an operating unit is received, causing a vibration generator provided in said electronic device to vibrate and thereby causing said hand-touched portion of said electronic device to vibrate.

123. A vibration-type reporting method in an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that an operation input to an operating unit is received, driving a vibration generator provided in said electronic device, causing a weight to reciprocate at said vibration generator, and thereby causing said operating unit to vibrate, said weight being able to reciprocate by being supported by a support member connected with said operating unit or with a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said operating unit.

124. A vibration-type reporting method in an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that execution of processing instructed by an operation input to an operating unit has ended, causing a vibration generator provided in said electronic device to generate vibration and thereby transmitting vibration to a user.

125. A vibration-type reporting method in an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that an operation input to an operating unit has been received, causing at least one of a first and second vibration generators designated in advance by a user to vibrate and thereby transmitting vibration to said user, said first vibration generator transmitting vibration to said operating unit, a second vibration generator transmitting vibration to a hand-touched portion of said electronic device, both said first and second vibration generators being provided in said electronic device.

126. A vibration-type reporting method in an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that an operation input to an operating unit has been received, selecting at least one of a first and second vibration generators in accordance with results of detection by a censor for detecting whether said electronic device is being held by a user, causing said selected vibration generator to generate vibration, and thereby transmitting vibration to said user, said first vibration generator transmitting vibration to said operating unit, said second vibration generator transmitting vibration to a hand-touched portion of said electronic device, and both said first and second vibration generators being provided in said electronic device.

127. A vibration-type reporting method in an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that an operation input to an operating unit has been received, identifying a type of said operation input, causing a vibration generator provided in said electronic device to generate vibration by a vibration mode linked with said type of said operation input, and thereby causing a part of a housing of said electronic device to vibrate, while said part of said housing is different from said operating unit.

128. A vibration-type reporting method in an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that an operation input to an operating unit has been received, identifying a type of operation input, driving a vibration generator provided in said electronic device, causing a weight to reciprocate at said vibration generator, and thereby vibrating said operating unit, said weight being able to reciprocate by being supported by a support member connected to said operating unit or to a base member of said vibration generator, and said base member being in contact with said operating unit.

129. A vibration-type reporting method in an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that an operation input to an operating unit has been received and causing a vibration generator provided in said electronic device to generate both vibration and sound, synthesizing a drive signal for driving said vibration generator to generate vibration and an audio signal for driving said vibration generator to generate sound, and using said synthesized signal to drive said vibration generator to transmit vibration to a user, and simultaneously to generate sound.

130. A vibration-type reporting method in an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that a touch operation to an operation panel has been received, detecting a touched position, selecting based on said touched position at least one of a plurality of vibration generators provided in said electronic device, and causing said selected vibration generator to generate vibration.

131. A vibration-type reporting method in an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that a touch operation to an operation panel has been received, detecting a touched position and generating drive signals to be applied to a plurality of vibration generators so that an amplitude of vibration caused at said touched position of said operation panel is amplified as a result of mutual interference of oscillatory waves generated by each of said plurality of vibration generators provided in said electronic device, and driving said vibration generators to transmit vibration to a user.

132. A report control method for an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that an operation input to an operating unit has been received, reporting to a user that said operation input has been received using at least one of sound producing means and a vibration generator designated by said user in advance, both said sound producing means for providing an audio report to said user and said vibration generator for transmitting vibration to said user being provided in said electronic device.

133. A report control method for an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that an operation input to an operating unit has been received, selecting at least one of sound producing means and a vibration generator based on measurement results of measuring means for measuring a sound level of surroundings of said electronic device, and reporting by way of one of said selected sound producing means or said vibration generator, that said operation input has been received, both said sound producing means for providing an audio report to said user and said vibration generator for transmitting vibration to said user being provided in said electronic device.

134. A report control method for an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that an operation input to an operating unit is received, reporting to a user that said operation input has been received using at least one of sound producing means and a vibration generator designated by a signal received from a base station covering an area in which said electronic device is located, both said sound producing means for providing an audio report to said user and said vibration generator for transmitting vibration to said user being provided in said electronic device.

135. A report control method for an electronic device, comprising a step of:

in a case of detecting that an operation input to an operating unit has been received, selecting at least one of sound producing means and a vibration generator based on location information of said electronic device, and reporting, using said at least one of selected means, to said user that said operation input has been received, both said sound producing means for providing an audio report to said user and said vibration generator for transmitting vibration to said user being provided in said electronic device.