ELECTRONIC DEVICE, OPERATION CONTROL METHOD, AND OPERATION CONTROL PROGRAM

• US 20140024414A1
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Fuji, Masateru
• Granted Patent: US 9,733,708 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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

According to an aspect, an electronic device includes: a display unit; a detection unit for detecting contact with the display unit; a vibration unit for vibrating the detection unit; and a control unit for switching between a first state where a predetermined process is not performed based on an operation by contact with the display unit and a second state where the predetermined process is performed based on the operation by contact with the display unit. When the detection unit detects contact at a predetermined position on the display unit in the first state, the control unit causes the vibration unit to vibrate the detection unit based on the contact, and switches from the first state to the second state.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display unit;

a detection unit for detecting contact with the display unit;

a vibration unit for vibrating the detection unit; and

a control unit for switching between a first state where a predetermined process is not performed based on an operation by contact with the display unit and a second state where the predetermined process is performed based on the operation by contact with the display unit, wherein

upon the detection unit detecting contact at a predetermined position on the display unit in the first state,

the control unit causes the vibration unit to vibrate the detection unit based on the contact, and switches from the first state to the second state.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the display unit displays a plurality of objects each associated with functions, and

upon the detection unit detecting contact with one object of the plurality of objects displayed on the display unit after switching from the first state to the second state,

the control unit executes a function associated with the one object as the predetermined process based on the operation by the contact.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein

upon the detection unit detecting contact with a predetermined object arranged in accordance with the predetermined position on the display unit among the plurality of objects in the first state,

the control unit causes the vibration unit to vibrate the detection unit without executing the function associated with the predetermined object, and switches from the first state to the second state.

4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein

upon the detection unit detecting contact with the one object after switching from the first state to the second state,

the control unit causes the vibration unit to vibrate the detection unit and executes the function associated with the one object, as the predetermined process based on the operation by the contact.

5. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein

upon the detection unit detecting first contact with the one object after switching from the first state to the second state,

the control unit causes the vibration unit to vibrate the detection unit as the predetermined process based on the operation by the first contact, and

upon the detection unit subsequently detecting second contact with the one object,

the control executes the function associated with the one object as the predetermined process based on the operation by the second contact.

6. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit changes at least one of intensity and a pattern of vibration of the detection unit by the vibration unit for each object displayed on the display unit.

7. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit changes at least one of intensity and a pattern of vibration of the detection unit by the vibration unit in accordance with a distance between the predetermined position on the display unit and an object displayed on the display unit.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit causes the vibration unit to vibrate the detection unit stronger for the object closer to the predetermined position.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the detection unit further detects a press caused by contact with the display unit, and

upon the detection unit detecting contact by a press equal to or more a predetermined threshold value at the predetermined position on the display unit,

the control unit causes the vibration unit to vibrate the detection unit based on the contact and switches from the first state to the second state.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is in the vicinity of a center of the display unit.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein upon a virtual QWERTY keyboard being displayed on the display unit, the predetermined positions are provided within a display area of a button corresponding to “

F” and

within a display area of a button corresponding to “

J.”

12. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein upon a virtual numeric keyboard being displayed on the display unit, the predetermined position is provided within a display area of a button corresponding to “

5.”

13. An operation control method to be executed by an electronic device including

a display unit,

a detection unit for detecting contact with the display unit, and

a vibration unit for vibrating the detection unit, the operation control method comprising:

the detection unit detecting contact with the display unit in a first state where a predetermined process based on an operation by contact with the display unit is not performed;

the vibration unit vibrating the display unit based on the contact detected by the detection unit; and

upon the detection unit detecting contact at a predetermined position on the detection unit in the first state, switching from the first state to a second state where the predetermined process based on the operation by the contact with the display unit is performed.

14. An operation control program to cause an electronic device including

a display unit,

a detection unit for detecting contact with the display unit, and

a vibration unit for vibrating the detection unit to execute:

the detection unit detecting contact with the display unit in a first state where a predetermined process based on an operation by contact with the display unit is not performed;

the vibration unit vibrating the detection unit based on the contact detected by the detection unit; and

upon the detection unit detecting contact at a predetermined position on the display unit in the first state, switching from the first state to a second state where the predetermined process based on the operation by the contact with the display unit is performed.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a touch sensor;

a vibration unit for vibrating the touch sensor; and

a control unit for switching between a first state of not performing a predetermined process based on an operation by contact with the touch sensor and a second state of performing the predetermined process based on an the operation by contact with the touch sensor, wherein

upon detection of contact at a predetermined position on the touch sensor in the first state,

the control unit causes the vibration unit to vibrate the touch sensor based on the contact, and switches from the first state to the second state.