Input device capable of button input and coordinate input on the same operating surface

• US 7,339,577 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Tadamitsu, Shigetaka, Hiroshi, Itoh, Akihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, RYAN R
• Application Number:
  US10/157,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,107 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/179, 345/168, 345/157, 178/18.01
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/08 composed of different parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/01 Different switch sites under one actuator in same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/034 Coordinate determination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/05 Mode selector switch, e.g. shift, or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

An input device including a main device composed of a coordinate input device, an operating surface having input portions displayed thereon, and a switch device having switches connected in parallel, and a control device which selects one of a first mode in which an item signal is generated in accordance with an indication item at an input portion when the input portion is operated, and a second mode in which a position signal corresponding to an operating position on the operating surface is generated independently of the indication item at the input portion. The item signal is generated on the basis of an absolute coordinate signal output from the coordinate input device and a switch signal output from the switch device in the first mode, and the position signal is generated on the basis of a relative coordinate signal output from the coordinate input device in the second mode.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a main device comprising a coordinate input device, said coordinate input device having a coordinate input section;

an operating surface disposed on a side of said coordinate input section and having a plurality of input portions displayed thereon;

a switch device having a plurality of switches arranged on a switch surface, said coordinate input section, said operating surface, and said switch device being disposed in a stacked arrangement with the positions of said switches corresponding to the positions of said input portions; and

a control device configured to receive and process an item signal, generated in a first mode based on an absolute coordinate signal output from said coordinate input device in conjunction with a single switch signal output caused by activation of any of said plurality of switches; and

the control device configured to receive and process a position signal generated in a second mode based solely on the absolute coordinate signal output from said coordinate input device and independent of said plurality of switches.

2. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the control device receives a single switch signal output indicating that any one of said switches is activated.

3. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the absolute coordinate signal is generated when said coordinate input section detects the position of an operated input portion of said input portions, and the switch signal is generated when a switch corresponding to said input portion is operated by the force of pressing said input portion in the first mode.

4. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate signal is generated in the second mode when said coordinate input section detects an operating position on said operating surface.

5. An input device comprising:

a main device comprising a coordinate input device, said coordinate input device having a coordinate input section, an operating surface disposed on a side of said coordinate input section and having a plurality of input portions displayed thereon, and a switch device having a plurality of switches arranged on a switch surface, said operating surface and said switch device being disposed such that the positions of said switches correspond to the positions of said input portions; and

a control device which receives and processes signals in a first mode in which an item signal is generated in accordance with an indication item at an input portion when said input portion is operated and on the basis of an absolute coordinate signal output from said coordinate input device in conjunction with a single switch signal output from said plurality of switches, and a second mode in which a coordinate signal is generated when an operating position on said operating surface is touched and independently of the plurality of switches,

wherein said operating position is located on an operating surface of said input portions and around said input portions.

6. An input device comprising:

a main device comprising a coordinate input device, said coordinate input device having a coordinate input section, an operating surface disposed on a side of said coordinate input section and having a plurality of input portions displayed thereon, and a switch device having a plurality of switches arranged on a switch surface, said operating surface and said switch device being disposed such that the positions of said switches correspond to the positions of said input portions; and

a control device which receives and processes signals in a first mode in which an item signal is generated in accordance with an indication item at an input portion when said input portion is operated and on the basis of an absolute coordinate signal output from said coordinate input device in conjunction with a single switch signal output from said plurality of switches, and a second mode in which a coordinate signal is generated when a corresponding operating position on said operating surface is touched and independently of the plurality of switches,

wherein the coordinate signal controls a cursor on a display, the cursor being movable in all directions of a plane of the display, and

wherein the plurality of switches are operable to generate a single signal received by the control device.

7. An input device comprising:

a main device having a coordinate input device having a coordinate input section;

an operating surface disposed on a side of the coordinate input section and having a plurality of input portions displayed thereon;

a plurality of switches arranged on a switch surface, wherein the coordinate input section, the operating surface, and the switch surface are disposed in a stacked arrangement, and wherein positions of the plurality of switches correspond to the positions of the input portions; and

a control device that is operable to receive and process signals in a first mode that comprises an item signal generated by an operation of the coordinate input device, which outputs an absolute coordinate signal in conjunction with least one of the plurality of switches, which outputs a single switch signal,

wherein the control device is operable to simultaneously receive and process the absolute coordinate signal and the single switch signal, and

wherein the control device is also operable to receive and process signals in a second mode that comprises a position signal that is generated solely on the basis of a coordinate signal output from said coordinate input device and is generated independently of the switch surface.