JP2003330618A - Input method and input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and surely execute an operation using a contact detection type input device such as a touch panel. <P>SOLUTION: This input device is provided with a detection sensor 110 for detecting the approach and contact of an organism or an object within a predetermined detection range, a control means for outputting a driving signal when the approach is detected by the detection sensor 110, and for executing input processing to accept the input of a predetermined function when the contact is detected in a predetermined condition, and an actuator 120 to be temporarily vibrated by the driving signal to be outputted by the control means. Thus, it is possible to temporarily vibrate equipment when the approach of the finger or a pen or the like to the detection range of the sensor 110 with the equipment held in the hand is detected by the sensor 110, to transmit the vibration to the hand holing the equipment, and to execute an input operation when the position is touched. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input method and an input device suitable for operating, for example, a portable electronic device which is relatively small in size.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic device such as a PDA (Personal Didital Assistants) which is relatively small and portable, it is difficult to arrange a keyboard such as a general computer device. There has been put into practical use a so-called input device which is provided with a so-called input means so that various inputs can be performed by touching the panel with a finger or a dedicated pen.

For example, when a touch panel is formed on a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel, the operation buttons and keyboard are displayed on the display panel and then the displayed buttons and keys are touched. In addition, by accepting the input of the function assigned to the button or key, even a panel having a relatively small area can handle complicated input.

[0004]

By the way, in the case of the conventional touch panel, the touch panel is touched on the device and the device is touched regardless of whether a finger is used or a dedicated pen is used. Until the sensor inside detects the touch and the input corresponding to the touched position is performed, there is a problem that the user who is operating does not know whether or not the touch is correctly performed.

For example, when a portion of the display panel where an operation button is displayed is touched with an input pen, a sensor in the device detects the touched state and the displayed color of the displayed operation button is inverted. By doing so, it is known that the input has been made, and immediately after the display panel is touched, it is understood that the touch panel has been operated. However, such a conventional input notification process is a process of notifying after detecting that an operation has been performed, and it is not so easy for the user to understand how to touch the panel to input. I could not say.

That is, unlike the case of a physical button or keyboard, how much strength the panel is touched to detect an input, or when the boundary between the portion displayed as a button and the surroundings is touched There was a problem that I didn't know whether I had touched the button or not until the device actually operated. Such a thing can be solved to some extent by getting accustomed to the operation of the touch panel, but it is not preferable to operate the device of this kind that it is necessary to get accustomed to the certainty of the operation.

In view of the above point, the present invention has an object to enable an operation using a touch detection type input device such as a touch panel to be easily and surely performed.

[0008]

An input method according to the present invention comprises a detection step of detecting approach and contact of a living body or an object within a predetermined detection range, and a detection step of detecting the approach in the detection step. It has a vibrating step of temporarily vibrating and an input step of performing a predetermined input process in response to detection of contact in a predetermined state in the detecting step.

The input device of the present invention comprises a detection sensor for detecting the approach and contact of a living body or an object within a predetermined detection range,
Outputs a drive signal when the detection sensor detects approach,
It is provided with a control unit that performs an input process for receiving an input of a predetermined function when a contact in a predetermined state is detected, and an actuator that temporarily vibrates by a drive signal output from the control unit.

According to the present invention, when the approach of a living body or an object is detected within a predetermined detection range, it is caused to vibrate, so that, for example, the panel of a small portable device is set as the detection range and the device is detected. When you hold it with one hand and bring it closer to the panel with a finger or pen of the other hand, the detection of the approach causes the device to vibrate temporarily, and the vibration is transmitted to the hand holding the device. By touching the position on the panel, the user can know that the input can be performed.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the present example, the input device is arranged on the surface of a casing constituting the electronic device and operated by the user. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example in which the input device of this example is applied to a data processing terminal called a PDA, which is small in size and is portable. As shown in FIG. 1, P in this example
A display panel 101 is attached to the surface of the DA 100. The display panel 101 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel and can display various characters and figures. Also,
An operation key 102 is arranged at the lower end of the front surface of the PDA 100.

In this example, the display panel 101
A sensor that can detect the approach and contact of a finger or the like to the surface of the PDA 100 is incorporated in the PDA 100. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a PDA on the back side of the display panel 101
A substrate 110, on which electrodes functioning as an approach / contact detection sensor are arranged, is arranged inside 100, and when the living body such as a finger approaches or comes into contact with the surface of the display panel 101, the respective states are To be able to detect. In this case, it is possible to detect which position on the display panel 101 is approaching or touching. A specific configuration example for detecting approach and contact will be described later.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the PDA 1 of this example is used.
A vibrator 120, which functions as an actuator for transmitting vibrations to the housing that constitutes the PDA main body, is arranged inside the housing 00, and the housing is temporarily opened based on the detection state of approach and contact by the detection sensor. It is configured to vibrate.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a configuration example of a sensor for detecting approach and contact according to this embodiment. In the case of this example, the plurality of electrodes 111 of the first group and the plurality of electrodes 112 of the second group are alternately arranged at substantially constant intervals on the substrate 110 arranged on the back side of the display panel 101. They are arranged in a straight line. Here, the electrode 111 of the first group is an electrode functioning as a transmitting electrode, and the electrode 112 of the second group is an electrode functioning as a receiving electrode. In FIG. 3, the electrodes 111 and 112 are shown side by side for simplification of the description, but if the area for detecting the approach and the contact is large, it is necessary to arrange the electrodes in a plurality of rows. is there. For example, when the entire area of the display panel 101 is set as a range for detecting approach and contact, the substrate 110 has substantially the same area as the display panel 101, and the electrodes 111, It is necessary to arrange the 112 in a predetermined pattern.

The capacitance value between the adjacent electrodes 111 and 112 changes depending on the state where a finger approaches the surface and the capacitive coupling between the approaching finger and the electrodes 111 and 112. In the case of this example, the change in the capacitance value is electrically measured to detect approach and contact, and simultaneously detect the approach or contact position. The details of the detection process will be described later. The approach in this example means, for example, the display panel 101.
The finger is approaching within a few mm of the surface of the.

A specific signal output from the signal source 11 is supplied to the first group of electrodes 111 via the changeover switch 12 in a time division manner. The changeover switch 12 performs a process of sequentially changing over the electrodes 111 in a relatively short cycle so that all the prepared electrodes 111 are sequentially time-divided into the signal source 41.
Supply the signal from. Further, a changeover switch 13 that changes over in synchronization with the changeover switch 12 is provided so that the signals obtained at the electrodes 112 of the second group are sequentially time-divided into the amplifier 1.
It is configured to supply to No. 4. The changeover switch 12 and the changeover switch 13 are configured to change over at the same cycle. For example, at the timing when the changeover switch 12 is changed over so that the signal from the signal source 11 is supplied to the electrode 111 at a certain position, the changeover switch 12 and the changeover switch 13 are switched to each other. The signal obtained at the electrode 112 adjacent to the electrode 111 to which the signal is supplied is selected by the changeover switch 13 and supplied to the amplifier 14.

The signal source 11 is a circuit for outputting a preset specific signal such as an AC signal having a specific frequency. The signal output from the signal source 41 is sequentially supplied to the plurality of transmitting electrodes 111 via the changeover switch 12. The amplifier 14 connected to the electrode 112, which is an electrode for receiving the signal from each transmitting electrode 111, amplifies the supplied signal and then supplies the amplified signal to the synchronous detector 15. The synchronous detector 15 is also supplied with the output signal of the signal source 11,
A signal component included in the output of the amplifier 14 and synchronized with the frequency of the output signal of the signal source 11 is detected. The detected signal component is supplied to the low-pass filter 16 and converted into a direct current, and the converted signal component is supplied to the analog / digital converter 17 to convert the signal reception intensity into digital data.

The data obtained by the analog / digital converter 17 is supplied to the controller 18 which controls the input device. The controller 18 determines the operation state based on the supplied data, and outputs the command obtained based on the determination of the operation state from the terminal 20. In this example,
The controller 18 determines a change in signal intensity based on the data supplied via the converter 17, and determines a state in which a finger or the like approaches or contacts the display panel 101 based on the change in signal intensity.

Further, the controller 18 controls the output of the pulse signal from the pulse generator 19 according to the state judged based on the data supplied from the converter 17 side. The pulse signal output from the pulse generator 19 is supplied to the vibrator 120 to vibrate the vibrator 120. Pulse generator 1
As the pulse signal output from 9, for example, a pulse signal having a frequency of about 20 Hz is output for a short period such as one cycle. Vibrator 120 that is an actuator for vibrating
For example, a member that vibrates when a signal is applied, such as a piezoelectric vibrator, is used. By supplying such a short-time pulse signal to the vibrator 120, the vibrator 120 temporarily vibrates for a short time, and the housing (that is, the PDA 100 main body) to which the vibrator 120 is attached vibrates.

Here, a plurality of types of vibration states can be set under the control of the controller 18. For example, a pulse signal of 1 cycle
When a single vibration is generated only once, and when a pulse signal of 1 cycle is generated at intervals of about 0.5 seconds
By supplying the vibrator 120 continuously twice, it is possible to set two kinds of vibrations, such as the case of generating two consecutive vibrations.

The controller 18 may be a control means independently provided as an input device, but may be a controller of an electronic device (PDA in this case) in which the input device is incorporated.

Next, the principle of detecting the approach and contact of a finger or the like with the input device of this example will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 4
A shows a state in which one finger touches a specific position on the display panel 101, which is directly above the portion where the electrodes 111 and 112 are arranged. The touched positions are T1 and T2.
2, T3, T4 ... In this example, one finger touches an almost intermediate position between the positions T3 and T4. When touched in this way, the intensity of the signal detected by the synchronous detector 15 via the electrode corresponding to the touched angular position becomes weaker than the intensity of the signal synchronously detected via the other electrode.

For example, the positions T1, T2, T3, T4 ...
, Which corresponds to the position of each electrode 111 arranged at a constant interval, the electrode 111 at the position T1
At the timing at which the signal from the signal source 11 is supplied to the signal source 11, the received signal strength of the signal detected by the synchronous detector 15 from the electrode 112 adjacent to the electrode 111 is the position T1.
Signal strength. In this way, the electrodes 111, 11
2 is measured, and the signal strength between the positions where the electrodes 111 and 112 are arranged is generated in the controller 18 by an interpolation process in the controller 18, whereby the display panel 101 is completely controlled. 4A is not close to each other, the signal strength is almost uniform at any angular position as shown by the signal reception strength characteristic S0 in the normal state in FIG. 4A.

On the other hand, for example, position T3 and position T4
When one finger approaches the almost middle position of the above, the signal reception intensity at the approaching position is lower than that at the other positions, as shown by the characteristic S1 shown in FIG. 4A. Further, when the approaching finger touches the surface of the display panel 101 at that position, the signal reception intensity further decreases as compared with the other positions, and the characteristic S2 shown in FIG. 4A is obtained.

The decrease in the signal reception intensity at the touched position is caused by capacitive coupling between the finger and the electrodes 111 and 112, and the reception intensity is most reduced at the position where the finger is present. When the controller 18 determines the decrease in the reception intensity, the position where the finger approaches or touches is calculated in the controller 18. Furthermore, by determining the level difference between the reception intensity S1 when approaching the panel and the reception intensity S2 when touching the panel in the controller 18, it is possible to distinguish between the approaching state and the contacting state.

In the case of the approach and contact detection in the configuration shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to detect even when a plurality of points on the panel are touched or approached at the same time. For example, 1
By approaching the vicinity of the position T1 with one finger and approaching the vicinity of the position T6 with another finger, the signal reception intensity in this state is almost equal to that in the non-contact state as shown in FIG. 4B. Compared to the flat signal reception intensity S0, the characteristic S3 has a peak of a decrease in the signal reception intensity at two locations near the position T1 and near the position T6. Further, when the finger touches the panel at each position, the signal reception strength is lower than the characteristic S4. Therefore, by calculating the respective peak positions in the controller 18, the positions where the two fingers approach or contact can be obtained. Even when three or more points are approached or contacted at the same time, they can be detected by the same principle.

When the approach or contact of the finger is detected in this manner, the vibrator 120 is temporarily vibrated in this example. That is, for example, when an operation example is shown in FIG. 5, with the PDA 100 held by the left hand L of the user,
When the finger f of the right hand R is brought within a few mm from the surface of the display panel 101, the vibrator 120 in the PDA 100 temporarily vibrates, and the temporary vibration is transmitted to the left hand L holding the PDA 100. If you touch the position, you will know that you can input. Further, when the surface of the display panel 101 at the approaching position is touched, the touching enables the input operation by the button or the like displayed at the position. Even when this is touched, as can be seen, the vibrator 120 in the PDA 100 temporarily vibrates, and it becomes possible to know that the input processing has been performed.

Next, with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 6, a description will be given of the processing carried out in response to the detection of approach and contact in the controller 18 as described above. First, the controller 18 determines whether or not a finger (or an input pen as described later) approaches a display panel configured as a detection sensor (step S11). When the approach is not detected, the process waits until the approach is detected. When the approach is detected in step S11, it is determined whether or not the approached finger (or input pen) position is within the area of the operation button displayed on the panel (step S12).

When it is determined that the displayed operation button area is approached, a command is sent to the pulse generator 19 so as to vibrate the actuator (vibrator 120) in the first vibration pattern. The vibrator 120 is temporarily vibrated to give a tactile feedback to the hand holding the device (step S13). At this time, the first vibration pattern is, for example, a state in which it vibrates only once.

When it is determined in step S12 that the finger in the approaching state is not within the button area, the process proceeds to step S14, and the finger (or the input pen) moves to the button on the displayed screen. It is determined whether or not the contact has been made. Here, when it is determined that the contact is made, a command is sent to the pulse generator 19 to cause the actuator (vibrator 120) to vibrate in the second vibration pattern, and the vibrator 12
0 is temporarily vibrated to give a tactile feedback to the hand holding the device (step S15). As the second vibration pattern at this time, for example, two consecutive vibrations are performed so that it can be distinguished from the tactile feedback when approaching.

After the tactile feedback in step S15 (or at the same time), the controller 18 performs an input process corresponding to the touched button (step S1).
6). For example, when a button for instructing a transition to a specific operation mode is touched, a command to transition the operation mode of this device to the operation mode assigned to the button is output from the output terminal 20.

After the processes of steps S13 and S16 are performed, and when it is determined in step S14 that the button on the screen is not touched, the process returns to step S11.

In this way, the tactile feedback processing for vibrating the device is performed based on the detection of the approach and the contact of the finger or the like, so that the user operating the device can operate on the panel to be touched by the finger or the like. Whether or not the position is a position operated by contact is determined by the tactile sensation due to vibration, and the operability of the touch panel is improved. For example, if you try to touch the operation button displayed on the display panel and the vicinity of the boundary of the part that is not the button with your finger, you may have pressed the operation button when you touched that position. You can tell by the vibration when approaching. That is, if there is a tactile sensation due to vibration,
When you touch that position, you know that you pressed the operation button. If you do not feel the vibration, you can correct the position by touching it with your finger and press the operation button correctly. .

Therefore, conventionally, when the vicinity of the boundary between the operation button and the non-button portion is touched with a finger and the operation is not performed, it is necessary to press the same button again. In the case of the present example, since the touch position can be set by relying on the tactile sensation, the operation can be surely performed only by touching once.

The PD described in the above embodiment is used.
A100 shows an example of a device to which the input device of this example is applied, and various electronic devices other than the PDA100 are
Of course, the same input device can be applied. Also,
Although the PDA 100 described above is configured to detect approach and contact on the display panel, it may be configured as an input device configured to detect approach and contact at a position where there is no display means.

In the above example, the vibrator 120 is temporarily vibrated both when the approach is detected and when the contact is detected. However, the vibrator 120 is temporarily vibrated only when the approach is detected. When the contact is detected, the vibrator 12
A configuration in which vibration due to 0 is not performed may be used. Alternatively, the vibration of the vibrator 120 due to the detection of the contact may be temporarily vibrated when the contact state continues to some extent or when a change in a predetermined amount of the contact position is detected. Further, the user may be allowed to select whether or not to vibrate upon detection of the approach or contact by setting the operation mode of the device. For example, only when the approach is detected, the mode of temporarily vibrating and the mode of temporarily vibrating when both the approach and the contact are detected may be selectable.

Further, in the circuit configuration of the input device shown in FIG. 3, the signal is applied to each electrode in a time division manner, and the signal transmitted through each electrode is detected in a time division manner. Alternatively, the signal transmitted through each electrode may be detected by the processing.

Further, in the examples described so far, the input device detects the approach and contact of a finger, which is a living body, within a predetermined predetermined range such as a display panel. The contact of an object other than the living body may be detected, and the input process may be performed based on the detection of the contact.

That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, an input pen 90 having a coil 91 and the like built in the tip portion thereof is prepared and arranged on a substrate 110 'arranged on the back side of the display panel 101 of the PDA 100. An electrode or the like may be used to detect the approach and contact of the tip of the input pen 90. By doing so, the tip of the input pen 90 having the coil 91 built therein approaches the display panel 101, so that the change in the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic induction by the coil 91 is detected and the position of the approaching pen is detected. You will be able to detect.

The configuration for approaching and contacting described in the above embodiment is an example, and other configurations may be applied.

[0042]

According to the present invention, when the approach of a living body or an object is detected within a predetermined detection range, it is made to vibrate, so that, for example, a panel of a small portable device is set as a detection range. When the device is held with one hand and brought closer to the panel with a finger or pen of the other hand, the detection of the approach causes the device to temporarily vibrate, and the vibration will cause the hand to hold the device. The user can know that the input can be made by touching that position on the panel. Therefore, just before touching the panel, it becomes possible to know from the temporary vibration that input can be made when touching the position, and reliable operation of the touch panel becomes possible.

In this case, even when the detection sensor detects a contact in a predetermined state, the drive signal is output and the actuator temporarily vibrates so that not only the approach but also the contact can be known from the vibration. become.

Further, when the detection sensor detects the approach, the vibration state in which the actuator is vibrated and the vibration state in which the actuator is vibrated when the contact is detected by the detection sensor are set to different vibration states. It is possible to distinguish the state of approaching from the state of contacting.

The detection sensor is a sensor for detecting the magnetic field or signal strength within the detection range. Based on the amount of change in the magnetic field or signal strength detected by the detection sensor, the approach of the living body or the object and the living body Alternatively, by making a distinction between the contact of an object and the contact, it is possible to reliably detect an approach and a contact separately by using one sensor.

Further, by determining the approaching and / or contacting position from the position or timing at which the magnetic field or signal strength changes within the detection range of the detection sensor, the approaching and / or contacting position is determined. Also, you will be able to easily judge.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example (PDA example) of a device to which an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement example inside a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the approach and contact detection configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing an example of detection characteristics according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation example according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an input processing example according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a configuration example (example of pen input) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Signal source, 12, 13 ... Changeover switch, 14 ... Amplifier, 15 ... Synchronous detector, 16 ... Low-pass filter, 17
… Analog / digital converter, 18… Controller, 1
9 ... Pulse generator, 20 ... Output terminal, 90 ... Input pen,
91 ... Coil, 100, 100 '... PDA, 101 ... Display panel, 110, 110' ... Substrate, 111 ... Electrode (first group), 112 ... Electrode (second group), 120 ... Transducer

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 5B068 AA05 AA21 AA32 BB09 BD06                       BE03 BE06 DE11                 5B087 AA09 AB12 CC01 CC11 CC25                       CC26 CC39                 5E501 AA04 BA05 CA10 CB05 CC14                       EA01 FA31 FA41

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A detection step of detecting the approach and contact of a living body or an object within a predetermined detection range, a vibration step of temporarily vibrating according to the detection of the approach in the detection step, and the detection described above. An input step of performing a predetermined input process in response to detection of contact in a predetermined state in the step. 2. The input method according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating step performs a process of temporarily vibrating even when the contact in the predetermined state is detected in the detecting step. 3. The input method according to claim 2, wherein in the state vibration step, a vibration state when an approach is detected and a vibration state when a contact is detected are different from each other. 4. A detection sensor that detects the approach and contact of a living body or an object within a predetermined detection range, and outputs a drive signal when the detection sensor detects the approach to detect contact in a predetermined state. In this case, the input device includes a control unit that performs an input process that receives an input of a predetermined function, and an actuator that temporarily vibrates in response to a command from the control unit. 5. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the control means performs a process of temporarily vibrating the actuator even when the detection sensor detects a contact in a predetermined state. 6. The input device according to claim 5, wherein when the detection sensor detects an approach, the control means vibrates the actuator and when the detection sensor detects a contact, An input device for performing control for changing a vibration state different from a vibration state for vibrating the actuator. 7. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the detection sensor is a sensor for detecting a magnetic field or signal strength within a detection range, and the control means is a magnetic field or signal strength detected by the detection sensor. An input device that distinguishes between the approach of a living body or an object and the contact of the living body or an object based on the change amount of 8. The input device according to claim 7, wherein the control means determines the approaching and / or contacting position from the position or timing at which the magnetic field or signal strength changes within the detection range of the detection sensor. Input device to perform.