Touch type input device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10120507-B2
Application number	US-201514751428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2015
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

When determining that a level of a deformation detection signal is greater than a threshold, a controller assumes that a touch operation is performed at an initially-detected position and virtually at another position different from the position, and outputs a position detection signal to a processor indicating that the two touch positions and separate from each other based on the touch position. Thus, the controller converts the deformation detection signal into the position detection signal corresponding to a pinch-out operation, and outputs the position detection signal to the processor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A touch type input device comprising:
an operation surface;
a touch sensor configured to detect a single touch position corresponding to a location where a user has used a single finger to input a touch operation on the operation surface and to output a position detection signal indicating the single touch position;
a deformation detection sensor configured to detect a level of a deformation operation at the single touch position on the operation surface and to output a deformation level detection signal which varies over time as a function of the level of the deformation operation; and
a controller configured to output a position signal as a function of the position detection and deformation level detection signals, the position signal corresponding to:
(a) the single touch position when the deformation level detection signal is less than a threshold value; and
(b) two or more spaced locations on the operation surface when the level detection signal is greater than the threshold value, the spaced locations varying over time, one of the two or more spaced locations corresponding to the single touch position, the other of the spaced locations corresponding to virtual touch positions.

2. The touch type input device of claim 1 , wherein the pair of position signals correspond two or more spaced locations correspond to a pinch operation and the spaced locations move relative to one another over time.

3. The touch type input device of claim 2 , wherein the touch position moves over time and the controller determines whether the pinch operation is a pinch-in or a pinch-out operation as a function of movement of the touch position.

4. The touch type input device of claim 3 , wherein the touch position moves over time and the controller determines that the pinch operation is a pinch-in operation when the location of the touch position moves in a first direction and determines that the pinch operation is a pinch-out operation when the location of the touch position moves in a second direction.

5. The touch type input device of claim 2 , wherein the controller determines whether the pinch operation is a pinch-in or a pinch-out operation as a function of the number of times a touch operation takes place within a predetermined time period.

6. The touch type input device of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the spaced locations varies as a function of the level of the deformation level detection signal.

7. The touch type input device of claim 1 , wherein the deformation operation is one of a pressing operation, a bending operation or a twisting operation.

8. The touch type input device of claim 1 , wherein the level of the deformation sensor detects deformation of a side surface of the touch type input device.

9. The touch type input device of claim 1 , wherein the deformation sensor detects the level of the deformation of a rear surface of the touch type input device.

10. The touch type input device of claim 1 , wherein the deformation operation is detected at the location of the touch operation.

11. The touch type input device of claim 10 , wherein the spaced locations on the operation surface are a function of the location of the deformation operation on the operation surface.

12. The touch type input device of claim 1 , wherein the deformation detection sensor comprises a piezoelectric film made of a chiral polymer.

13. The touch type input device of claim 12 , wherein the chiral polymer is composed of polylactic acid.

14. A method for detecting a touch operation on an operation surface of an input device, the method comprising:
detecting a single touch position corresponding to a location where a user has used a single finger to input a touch operation on the operation surface and outputting a position detection signal indicating the single touch position;
detecting a level of a deformation operation at the single touch position on the operation surface and outputting a deformation level detection signal which varies as a function of the level of the deformation operation; and
outputting a position signal as a function of the position detection and deformation level detection signals, the position signal:
(a) the single touch position when a level of the deformation level detection signal is less than a threshold value; and
(b) two or more spaced locations on the operation surface when the level of the deformation level detection signal is greater than the threshold value, the spaced locations varying over time, one of the two or more spaced locations corresponding to the single touch position, the other of the spaced locations corresponding to virtual touch positions.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the two or more spaced locations correspond to a pinch.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the touch position moves over time and it is determined that (a) the pinch operation is a pinch-in operation when the touch position moves in a first direction and (b) the pinch operation is a pinch-out operation when the touch position moves in a second direction.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising determining whether the pinch operation is a pinch-in or a pinch-out operation as a function of movement of the touch position over time.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining whether the pinch operation is a pinch-in or a pinch-out operation as a function of the number of times a touch operation takes place within a predetermined time period.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein a distance between the spaced locations vary as a function of the level of the deformation level detection signal.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the deformation operation is one of a pressing operation, a bending operation or a twisting operation.

21. The method of claim 14 , wherein the deformation operation takes place on the operation surface.

22. The method of claim 14 , wherein the deformation operation takes place on a side surface of the input device.

23. The method of claim 14 , wherein the deformation operation takes place on a rear surface of the touch input device.

24. The method of claim 14 , wherein the deformation operation takes place on the operation surface at a location corresponding to the touch operation.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the spaced locations on the operation surface are a function of the location of the deformation operation on the operation surface.

Assignees

• Murata Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Ando Masamichi
• Kano Hidekazu
• Kitada Hiroaki

Classifications

• G06F2203/04102

  Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper · CPC title

• G06F3/0485

  Scrolling or panning · CPC title

• G06F2203/04806

  Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation · CPC title

• G06F3/044 Primary

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F3/0414

  using force sensing means to determine a position · CPC title