INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INPUT APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING INPUT APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM

• US 20180011561A1
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawaguchi, Hiroto, Mizuno, Hiroshi, Ebisui, Akira, Nishimura, Taizo, Taka, Yoshiteru
• Application Number:
  US15/546,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20180011561A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Provided is an information processing apparatus, an input apparatus, a method of controlling an information processing apparatus, a method of controlling an input apparatus, and a program capable of improving operability. An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a main body, a detection unit, and a control unit. The main body includes a display unit and a casing unit that supports the display unit. The detection unit has a detection area provided on a surface of the casing unit, and is configured to be capable of electrostatically detecting a pressing force to the detection area. The control unit is configured to control an image displayed on the display unit on a basis of a pressing input operation in the detection area and a motion thereof.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a main body having a display unit and a casing unit that supports the display unit;

a detection unit configured to have a detection area disposed on a surface of the casing unit and be capable of electrostatically detecting a pressing force to the detection area; and

a control unit configured to control an image displayed on the display unit on a basis of a pressing input operation in the detection area and a motion thereof.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit is configured to be capable of setting a part of the detection area as an operation area in which the pressing input operation is valid by a selection operation of a user.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the detection unit includes

a sensor sheet having a plurality of capacitance devices arranged in the detection area in a matrix pattern,

an input operation surface which has a conductive layer, and is disposed to face the plurality of capacitance devices, and

a support layer that elastically supports the input operation surface with respect to the sensor sheet.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the plurality of capacitance devices has a plurality of device columns, arrangement intervals of the plurality of device columns along at least one direction being different from each other.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the main body is configured to be capable of being operated in a state of being held by the user, and

the detection area has the device columns arranged at shorter intervals as the device columns are closer to a holding portion of the main body.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the detection unit further includes a structure that is formed on the input operation surface and has a three-dimensional shape.

7. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a display unit;

an operation member having a key input unit having a plurality of input keys and a detection area configured to be capable of electrostatically detecting a pressing force; and

a control unit configured to control an image displayed on the display unit on a basis of a pressing input operation in the detection area and a motion thereof.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the control unit is configured to be capable of setting a part of the detection area as an operation area in which the pressing input operation is valid by a selection operation of a user.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the detection unit includes

a sensor sheet having a plurality of capacitance devices arranged in the detection area in a matrix pattern,

an input operation surface which has a conductive layer, and is disposed to face the plurality of capacitance devices, and

a support layer that elastically supports the input operation surface with respect to the sensor sheet, and

the plurality of capacitance devices has a plurality of device columns, arrangement intervals of the plurality of device columns along at least one direction being different from each other.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the detection area is provided in a polygonal area sectioned on a surface of the operation member, and

the plurality of device columns is provided to correspond to an area whose width sizes along the one direction in the detection area are different from each other.

11. An input apparatus, comprising:

a key input unit having a plurality of input keys;

a detection unit having a detection area configured to be capable of electrostatically detecting a pressing force; and

a control unit configured to generate a control signal that controls an image displayed on a display unit on a basis of a pressing input operation in the detection area and a motion thereof.

12. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus having a display unit and a casing unit that supports the display unit, the method of controlling an information processing apparatus comprising:

electrostatically detecting a motion of a pressing input operation in a detection area provided on a surface of the casing unit;

setting an operation range of the pressing input operation in the detection area as an operation area in which an input operation is valid; and

controlling an image displayed on the display unit on a basis of the pressing input operation in the operation area and a motion thereof.

13. A method of controlling an input apparatus having a key input unit having a plurality of input keys and a detection unit having a detection area configured to be capable of electrostatically detecting a pressing force, the method of controlling an input apparatus comprising:

electrostatically detecting a motion of a pressing input operation in the detection area;

setting an operation range of the pressing input operation in the detection area as an operation area in which an input operation is valid; and

controlling an image displayed on a display unit on a basis of the pressing input operation in the operation area and a motion thereof.

14. A program for causing an information processing apparatus having a display unit and a casing unit that supports the display unit to execute:

a step of electrostatically detecting a motion of a pressing input operation in a detection area provided on a surface of the casing unit;

a step of setting an operation range of the pressing input operation in the detection area as an operation area in which an input operation is valid; and

a step of controlling an image displayed on the display unit on a basis of the pressing input operation in the operation area and a motion thereof.

15. A program for causing an input apparatus having a key input unit having a plurality of input keys and a detection unit having a detection area configured to be capable of electrostatically detecting a pressing force to execute:

a step of electrostatically detecting a motion of a pressing input operation in the detection area;

a step of setting an operation range of the pressing input operation in the detection area as an operation area in which an input operation is valid; and

a step of generating a control signal for controlling an image displayed on a display unit on a basis of the pressing input operation in the operation area and a motion thereof.