Haptic feedback input device

• US 20050259076A1
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hayasaka, Satoshi, Matsumoto, Ken
• Application Number:
  US11/129,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20050259076A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects

Abstract

A haptic feedback input device includes an operation unit that calculates distances from the current position of a pointer to display positions at the peripheries of a plurality of buttons nearest to the pointer, based on coordinates at the current position of the pointer and positional information about the peripheries of the respective buttons displayed on a display unit, that finds one button whose periphery is displayed at a position closest to the current position of the pointer, and that drives first and second driving units such that the pointer is attracted to a central position of the found button.

Claims

1. A haptic feedback input device comprising:

an operating portion that is operated by a user;

detecting units that detect an operation state of the operating portion;

driving units that apply driving force to the operating portion;

a display unit that displays a pointer and a plurality of functional areas; and

a control unit that controls the display of the pointer based on signals output from the detecting units and that controls the driving of the driving units such that the pointer is attracted to one of the plurality of functional areas,

wherein the control unit calculates distances from a display position of the pointer to display positions at peripheries of the respective functional areas closest to the pointer, and controls the driving of the driving units such that the pointer is attracted to one functional area located closest to the display position of the pointer.

2. The haptic feedback input device according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit controls the driving of the driving units such that the pointer is vertically attracted to the peripheries of the functional areas.