Display unit with touch panel and information processing method

• US 6,940,494 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hoshino, Takeshi, Tsukada, Yujin, Minemoto, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US10/230,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20040021643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/177, 345/179, 345/182, 345/87, 178/18.01, 178/18.06, 178/19.01, 178/19.02, 178/19.03, 178/19.04
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A display unit with a touch panel to move a touch-driven member such as a functional button to a desired position through a touch operation. By touching a draggable icon displayed on a screen with a finger, the icon is changed in color to indicate that the user can drag the icon. Then, by pushing the icon, the icon is changed in size and color to indicate that the user can drag the icon. As by reducing the pushing force to touch on the icon, and moving the finger, the icon is dragged following the finger. As by pushing the icon with the finger at a predetermined position, the icon is set at this position and changed in size and color. When releasing the finger from the icon, the icon is settled at this position.

Claims

1. A display unit having a display panel, and a touch panel disposed on a display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said display unit comprising:

sensing means for sensing a pushing force P produced by said indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member; and

a control unit for performing first processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1, and for performing second processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P),

wherein said first processing includes dragging said touch-driven member following said indicating means pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and said second processing includes activating a processing previously assigned to said touch-driven member, and

wherein said second processing includes activating the function previously assigned to said touch-driven member in combination with a region to which said touch-driven member is moved through said first processing.

2. A display unit having a display panel, and a touch panel disposed on a display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said display unit comprising:

sensing means for sensing a pushing force P produced by said indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member; and

a control unit for performing first processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1, and for performing second processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P),

wherein said first processing includes dragging said touch-driven member following said indicating means pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and said second processing includes an operation associated with a movement of said touch-driven member,

wherein said control unit performs said second processing for permitting said touch-driven member to start moving when the pushing force P applied to said touch-driven member and sensed by said sensing means changes from a value less than the first set pressure P1 (P<

P1) to a value equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P) through a value equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), and

wherein said control unit performs said first processing for dragging said touch-driven member as long as the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2) when the pushing force P applied to said touch-driven member by said indicating means is subsequently reduced from a value equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P) to a value equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), and

wherein said control unit performs processing for settling the destination of said touch-driven member at a position when said indicating means is released from said touch panel so that the pushing force P is reduced from the value equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2) to the value smaller than the first set pressure P1 (P<

P1).

3. A display unit having a display panel, and a touch panel disposed on a display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said display unit comprising:

sensing means for sensing a pushing force P produced by said indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member; and

a control unit for performing first processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1, and for performing second processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P),

wherein said first processing includes dragging said touch-driven member following said indicating means pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and said second processing includes an operation associated with a movement of said touch-driven member,

wherein said control unit performs said second processing for permitting said touch-driven member to start moving when the pushing force P applied to said touch-driven member and sensed by said sensing means changes from a value less than the first set pressure P1 (P<

P1) to a value equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P) through a value equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2),

wherein said control unit performs said first processing for dragging said touch-driven member as long as the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2) when the pushing force P applied to said touch-driven member by said indicating means is subsequently reduced from a value equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P) to a value equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), and

wherein said control unit performs said second processing for determining the destination of said touch-driven member at a position at which said touch-driven member is present when the pushing force P applied to said touch-driven member by said indicating means is subsequently changed from a value equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2) to a value equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P).

4. A display unit having a display panel according to claim 3, wherein said control unit returns said touch-driven member to a position before said dragging thereof when the pushing force P applied to said touch-driven member and sensed by said sensing means becomes smaller than the first set pressure P1 during said dragging of said touch-driven member.

5. A display unit having a display panel, and a touch panel disposed on a display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said display unit comprising:

sensing means for sensing a pushing force P produced by said indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member; and

a control unit for performing first processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1, and for performing second processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P),

wherein said first processing includes dragging said touch-driven member following said indicating means pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and said second processing includes an operation associated with a movement of said touch-driven member,

wherein said control unit performs said first processing for dragging said touch-driven member as long as the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2) when the pushing force P applied to said touch-driven member by said indicating means is changed from a value smaller than the first set pressure P1 (P1>

P) to a value equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), and

said control unit performs said second processing for determining the destination of said touch-driven member at a position at which said touch-driven member is present when the pushing force P applied to said touch-driven member by said indicating means is subsequently changed from a value equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2) to a value equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P).

6. A display unit having a display panel according to claim 5, wherein said control unit returns said touch-driven member to a position before said dragging thereof when the pushing force P applied to said touch-driven member and sensed by said sensing means becomes smaller than the first set pressure P1 during said dragging of said touch-driven member.

7. A display unit having a display panel for displaying a touch-driven members on a display surface thereof, and a touch panel disposed on the display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said display unit comprising:

sensing means for sensing a pushing force P produced by said indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member; and

a control unit for performing a first processing associated with the touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1, and for performing a second processing associated with the touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P<

=P2),

wherein said touch-driven member, include a first touch-driven member capable of the first processing when said indicating means touches said first touch-driven member with the pushing force P equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2) as detected by said detecting means, said first processing including a dragging operation for moving its touch-driven location pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and a second touch-driven member capable of the second processing when said indicating means touches said second touch-driven member with the pushing force P equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P) as sensed by said sensing means, said second processing including activation of a processing previously assigned to said second touch-driven member.

8. A display unit having a display panel, and a touch panel disposed on a display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said display unit comprising:

sensing means for sensing a pushing force P produced by the indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member; and

a control unit for performing first processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1, and for performing second processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P),

wherein, as said touch-driven member, a touch-driven member when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member with the pushing force P equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2) as detected by said detecting means, capable of the first processing including a dragging operation for moving said touch-driven member pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member with the pushing force P equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

32 P) as sensed by said sensing means, capable of the second processing including activation of a function previously assigned to said touch-driven member, is displayed.

9. A display unit having a display panel, and a touch panel disposed on a display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said display unit comprising:

sensing means for sensing a pushing force P produced by the indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member; and

a control unit for performing first processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1, and for performing second processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P),

wherein, as said touch-driven member, a touch-driven member when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member with the pushing force P equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2) as detected by said detecting means, capable of the first processing including a dragging operation for moving said touch-driven member pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and capable of the second processing for activating a function previously assigned to said touch-driven member in combination with a region to which said touch-driven member is moved in said first processing.

10. An information processing method for use with a display unit having a display panel, and a touch panel disposed on a display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing a pushing force P produced by said indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member using sensing means for sensing the pushing force P;

performing first processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2, said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1 (P1<

=P<

P2); and

performing second processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P),

wherein said first processing includes dragging said touch-driven member following said indicating means pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and said second processing includes activating a function previously assigned to said touch-driven member, and

wherein said second processing includes activating the function previously assigned to said touch-driven member in combination with a region to which said touch-driven member is moved through said first processing.

11. An information processing method for use with a display unit having a display panel, and a touch panel disposed on a display surface of the display panel for detecting a position touched by indicating means, said touch panel permitting an operator to touch a touch-driven member displayed on said display surface to handle said touch-driven member, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing a pushing force P produced by the indicating means when said indicating means touches said touch-driven member using sensing means for sensing the pushing force P;

performing first processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by the indicating means when the pushing force P detected by said sensing means is equal to or larger than a first set pressure P1 and smaller than a second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), said second set pressure P2 being larger than said first set pressure P1; and

performing second processing associated with said touch-driven member pushed by said indicating means when the pushing force P is equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P),

wherein said first processing includes dragging said touch-driven member following said indicating means pursuant to a movement of said indicating means, and said second processing includes an operation for permitting a movement of said touch-driven member,

wherein said first processing includes dragging said touch-driven member as long as the using force P is equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2) when the pushing force P applied to said touch-driven member by said indicating means is changed from a value smaller than the first set pressure P1 (P1>

P) to a value equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2), and

said second processing including determining the destination of said touch-driven member at a position at which said touch-driven member is present when the pushing force P applied to said touch-driven member by said indicating means is subsequently changed from a value equal to or larger than the first set pressure P1 and smaller than the second set pressure P2 (P1<

=P<

P2) to a value equal to or larger than the second set pressure P2 (P2<

=P).