Information Input Device

• US 20080100594A1
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Touch Panel Systems KK (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Touch Panel Systems KK (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Tsumura, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,427,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0436 in which generating transducers and detecting transducers are attached to a single acoustic waves transmission substrate
• 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 information input device (1) includes a touch panel (2), an image display (6), and a sensor section (12) for detecting touched contact positions on the touch panel (2). A detection region of the touch panel (2), surrounded by the sensor section (12), is divided into a rectangular main region (10) and at least one sub region (14), which has a smaller area than the main region (10), is separated from the main region (10), and extends along at least one edge thereof. Images are displayed by the image display (6) and contact positions are detected in the main region (10). Only the presence or absence of contact is detected in the at least one sub region (14).

Claims

1. An information input device, comprising:

a touch panel;

an image display; and

a sensor section for detecting contact positions on the touch panel;

characterized by;

a detection region of the touch panel surrounded by the sensor section being divided into a rectangular main region and at least one sub region, which has a smaller area than the main region, is separated from the main region, and extends along at least one edge thereof;

images being displayed by the image display and contact positions being detected in the main region; and

only the presence or absence of contact being detected in the at least one sub region.

2. An information input device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one sub region comprises:

a first sub region, which is separated from, adjacent to, and extends along a first edge of the main region;

a second sub region, which is separated from, adjacent to, and extends along a second edge of the main region perpendicular to the first edge; and

a third sub region, which is positioned at an intersection of the directions in which the first edge and the second edge extend, and separated from the first sub region and the second sub region.

3. An information input device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the touch panel is an acoustic type touch panel; and

the sensor section comprises reflective arrays surrounding the detection region, for reflecting acoustic waves.

4. An information input device as defined in claim 3, wherein:

the reflective arrays are separated from one of the main region and the at least one sub region.

5. An information input device as defined in claim 3, wherein:

the reflective arrays are separated from both of the main region and the at least one sub region.

6. An information input device as defined in claim 2, wherein:

the touch panel is an acoustic type touch panel; and

the sensor section comprises reflective arrays surrounding the detection region, for reflecting acoustic waves.

7. An information input device as defined in claim 6, wherein:

the reflective arrays are separated from one of-the main region and the at least one sub region.

8. An information input device as defined in claim 6, wherein:

the reflective arrays are separated from both of the main region and the at least one sub region.