Operating tool, input device, and electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10191569-B2
Application number	US-201515556266-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2015
Priority date	Apr 13, 2015
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

In a rotary switch ( 1 ), a rotation unit ( 2 ) is rotatably supported by a holder unit ( 3 ). The holder unit ( 3 ) is fixed onto a detection surface of a touch panel ( 7 ). Contact points ( 4 ) make contact with the detection surface of the touch panel ( 7 ) with their positional relationship corresponding to a function of the rotary switch ( 1 ). A contact point ( 5 ) rotates while making contact with the detection surface of the touch panel ( 7 ), as the rotation unit ( 2 ) rotates.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An operating tool comprising:
a holder to be fixed onto a detection surface of a touch panel;
a movable member movably supported by the holder;
a movable contact point that is provided on the movable member, and that moves, while making contact with the detection surface of the touch panel, as the movable member moves; and
a plurality of holder contact points that are provided on the holder, and that are to be in contact with the detection surface of the touch panel in a positional relationship of the plurality of holder contact points, the positional relationship corresponding to a function of the operating tool, wherein
the touch panel is a capacitance-type touch panel,
the movable member, the movable contact point, and the plurality of holder contact points are formed of electrically-conductive members,
the holder is formed of an electrically non-conductive member, and
the plurality of holder contact points are electrically connected to the movable member.

2. The operating tool of claim 1 , further comprising
a switching contact point for switching the function of the operating tool; and
an operation member that, upon receiving operation, causes the switching contact point to make contact with the detection surface of the touch panel.

3. An input device comprising:
a display;
a touch panel provided on a screen of the display in an overlapping manner;
the operating tool of claim 1 fixed onto a detection surface of the touch panel; and
a processing circuitry configured to
determine a function of the operating tool, on a basis of the positional relationship of the plurality of holder contact points in contact with the detection surface of the touch panel;
detect, with respect to the determined function, an operation corresponding to a movement of the movable contact point; and
control display by the display.

4. The input device of claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry
causes the display to display an operation to order switching of the function of the operating tool, and
switches the function of the operating tool in response to selection of the operation with the respect to the touch panel.

5. The input device of claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry
causes the display to display an operation to order switching of the operating tool between effectiveness and ineffectiveness, and
switches the operating tool between the effectiveness and ineffectiveness in response to selection of the operation with respect to the touch panel.

6. The input device of claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry switches the function of the operating tool in accordance with displayed content on the display.

7. The input device of claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry switches the function of the operating tool in accordance with a state of a moving object that moves together with the input device.

8. The input device of claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry switches the operating tool between effectiveness and ineffectiveness in accordance with displayed content on the display.

9. The input device of claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry switches the operating tool between effectiveness and ineffectiveness in accordance with a state of a moving object that moves together with the input device.

10. The input device of claim 3 , wherein, when a user makes contact with the operating tool, the processing circuitry causes the display to display content related to the function of the operating tool.

11. The input device of claim 3 , wherein the operating tool is formed of a translucent member, so that displayed content on the display can be seen through the operating tool.

12. An electronic device, comprising:
the input device of claim 3 ; and
a processing circuitry configured to execute a function corresponding to an operation received by the input device.

13. The operating tool of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holder contact points are arranged at asymmetric positions on a bottom surface of the holder, the plurality of holder contact points form vertices of a polygon where the ratio of the distances between the vertices is associated with a function of the operating tool.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Inventors

• Uno Masahiko

Classifications

• G06F2203/0381

  Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• G06F3/0362 Primary

  with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F3/0338

  with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks · CPC title