Electronic apparatus and operation device for operating the apparatus

• US 7,116,313 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nasu, Tetsutaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TAMMY T
• Application Number:
  US10/387,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20030210237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 345/161, 345156-160, 345/168, 345173- 4
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane

Abstract

In an electronic apparatus, an inputting-operation device includes a touch panel actuated by a push button of a switch jointed to a laterally-movable strip. As the single switch moved laterally, the push button presses down the touch panel for the panel to output a first signal. The first signal makes a pointer shifts to a corresponding position on a display for selecting an item. The selected item is then actuated by a second signal produced by the switch pressing down the touch panel. This operation allows the pointer to shift to the selected item and allows the selected item to be actuated in a continuous sequence by a finger of an operator holding but not departing from a particular portion of the inputting-operation device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising an operation device which includes:

a touch panel for producing a first signal corresponding to a position where said touch panel is pressed; and

a switch including a push button arranged for moving substantially in parallel with said touch panel and for pressing down said touch panel, said switch producing a second signal when said push button is pressed down.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said operation device further includes a movable member arranged for moving in all directions substantially in parallel with said touch panel, and

wherein said switch further includes a main body having said push button fixed thereto, and

wherein said main body is coupled to said touch panel and is joined to said movable member to move together with said movable member.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said operating device further includes an elastic member provided between said movable member and said touch panel, said elastic member being arranged not to deform by a force smaller than a force of actuating said switch.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said touch panel includes:

substrates facing each other; and

electrically-conductive layers provided on respective facing sides of said substrates.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller for performing a predetermined process in response to said first and second signals.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a display for displaying a cursor moving according to a controlling of said controller corresponding to said first signal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein said display displays an item under control of said controller,

wherein said controller selects said item with said cursor, and

wherein said controller determines said selected item in response to said second signal.

8. An operation device comprising:

a touch panel for producing a first signal corresponding to a position where said touch panel is pressed; and

a switch including a push button arranged for moving substantially in parallel with said touch panel and for pressing down said touch panel, said switch producing a second signal when said push button is pressed down.

9. The operation device according to claim 8, further comprising a movable member arranged for moving in all directions substantially in parallel with said touch panel,

wherein said switch further includes a main body having said push button fixed thereto, and

wherein said main body is coupled to said touch panel and is joined to said movable member to move together with said movable member.

10. The operating device according to claim 9, further comprising an elastic member provided between said movable member and said touch panel, said elastic member being arranged not to deform by a force smaller than a force of actuating said switch.

11. The operating device according to claim 9, wherein said touch panel includes:

substrates facing each other; and

electrically-conductive layers provided on respective facing sides of said substrates.