Input device capable of button input and coordinate input on the same operating surface

• US 20020180707A1
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Tadamitsu, Shigetaka, Hiroshi, Itoh, Akihisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,339,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/08 composed of different parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/01 Different switch sites under one actuator in same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/034 Coordinate determination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/05 Mode selector switch, e.g. shift, or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

An input device including a main device composed of a coordinate input device, an operating surface having input portions displayed thereon, and a switch device having switches connected in parallel, and a control device which selects one of a first mode in which an item signal is generated in accordance with an indication item at an input portion when the input portion is operated, and a second mode in which a position signal corresponding to an operating position on the operating surface is generated independently of the indication item at the input portion. The item signal is generated on the basis of an absolute coordinate signal output from the coordinate input device and a switch signal output from the switch device in the first mode, and the position signal is generated on the basis of a relative coordinate signal output from the coordinate input device in the second mode.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a main device comprising a coordinate input device, said coordinate input device having a coordinate input section, an operating surface disposed on a side of said coordinate input section and having a plurality of input portions displayed thereon, and a switch device having a plurality of switches connected in parallel and arranged on a switch surface, said coordinate input section, said operating surface, and said switch device being disposed in a stacked arrangement with the positions of said switches corresponding to the positions of said input portions; and

a control device which selects one of a first mode in which an item signal is generated in accordance with an indication item at an input portion when said input portion is operated, and a second mode in which a position signal corresponding to an operating position on said operating surface is generated independently of an indication item at said input portion and on the basis of signals from said coordinate input device and said switch device,

wherein the item signal is generated on the basis of an absolute coordinate signal output from said coordinate input device and a switch signal output from said switch device in the first mode, and the position signal is generated on the basis of a relative coordinate signal output from said coordinate input device in the second mode.

2. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said switches of said switch device generate an equivalent switch signal.

3. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the relative coordinate signal is generated when said coordinate input section detects the position of an operated input portion of said input portions, and the switch signal is generated when a switch corresponding to said input portion is operated by the force of pressing said input portion in the first mode.

4. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the relative coordinate signal is generated in the second mode when said coordinate input section detects an operating position on said operating surface.