JP5528492B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to an input device that accepts input in a plurality of stages according to a pressing area.

  Conventionally, in various electronic devices such as mobile phones and digital cameras, mechanical switches (mechanical switches) such as tact switches and membrane switches are generally used as input devices for an operator to input operations. It is used. In particular, recently, a variety of functions are often installed in small terminal devices, and keys and buttons composed of various switches are arranged on the surface of the casing of such terminal devices. Has been.

  In such a switch, one operation (or program) is usually assigned to one switch. For example, in the case of a cellular phone, when a press input is detected for a numeric keypad, a number corresponding to each key is output, and when a press input is detected for a menu key, a menu screen is displayed. To do.

  However, when it is desired to perform a plurality of operations in succession, if each operation is performed using a separate switch to which each operation is assigned, it may be very time-consuming and troublesome. In view of this, it is possible to use a single switch so that a plurality of operations are executed in sequence each time an input is detected on the switch. In such an input method, the operation is executed. The order must be defined in advance. Therefore, it is not possible to perform an operation in which any operation desired by the operator is immediately executed.

  As an apparatus that can cope with the above problems, an input device that can assign a plurality of operations in accordance with an input mode for one switch has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The input device described in Patent Document 1 can accept input in two stages according to an operation force (pressing force) applied to an input when performing an operation.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the operating device 100 described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the operating device 100 includes both a first detection unit 200 and a second detection unit 300 configured by a membrane switch, and is below the first detection unit 200 (in the pressing direction). Second detection means 300 is provided. The portion directly touched by the operator's finger F is composed of a flexible member. When the operator presses the operating device 100, the flexible member is bent, and the pressing force is detected by the first detecting means 200. To communicate. When the operator depresses the finger F at a position corresponding to the first contact S3 with a low load (first operating force), the first upper conductive portion 201c and the first lower conductive portion 202c come into contact with each other. Thus, the first contact S3 becomes conductive, and this is used as the first stage input. Further, when the finger F is pushed down by applying a high load (second operating force) larger than the low load, the second upper conductive portion 301c and the second lower conductive portion 302c come into contact with each other, and the second The contact T3 conducts, and this is used as the second stage input. In FIG. 8, the first contact S <b> 3 not only detects the first-stage input due to the operation device 100 being pressed by the second operating force of the operator's finger F. The second contact point T3 shows the state of detection up to the second stage input.

  Such an input device can assign different operations to each of these stages by receiving input in two stages according to the pressing force of the operator's input. By using such an input device, the operator uses one switch (input device) to adjust the pressing force when performing one operation of performing a pressing input to this switch, A plurality of inputs can be distinguished.

  That is, according to the input device that accepts such two-stage input, the first-stage input can be performed by maintaining the state where the operator presses the button with a weak pressing force. Such an input state is also referred to as “half-press”, and is hereinafter referred to as “first-stage input”. In addition, according to such an input device, the operator can perform the second-stage input by pressing the button with a stronger pressing force than the first-stage input. Such an input state is also referred to as “full press”, and is hereinafter referred to as “second stage input”.

  A shutter button of a camera exists as an example of a typical application of an input device that receives input in two stages according to the pressing force by such a mechanical switch. Usually, in a portable terminal equipped with a function such as a digital camera, the operator performs “half-press” input for performing the first-stage input, so that AE (Auto Exposure) or AF (Auto Exposure) is performed. Focus (autofocus) adjustment function can be turned on. In this state, the operator can perform the operation of releasing the shutter by performing “full press” input for performing the second-stage input. In this way, different operations can be assigned to the first-stage input and the second-stage input, and the operator can distinguish and operate the different operations as desired.

  Note that an input device that accepts a plurality of steps of input according to the pressing force is not limited to a mechanical switch. For example, even in a touch panel type input device configured by combining a display device and a position input device, an input device that accepts a plurality of stages of input in accordance with a pressing force by performing processing by software has been proposed (for example, , See Patent Document 2).

  The touch panel type input device described in Patent Document 2 includes a position detection unit that detects a pressing operation position of a touch panel provided on a surface portion of a display screen, and a pressure detection unit that detects a pressing force on the touch panel. This input device can perform two systems of input, that is, input according to the detection position of the position detection means and multistage input according to detection by the pressure detection means, by a single pressing operation of the touch panel.

  According to this input device, when the operator presses the touch panel on the display screen, the first system input can be performed by the pressing operation position, and at the same time, by the pressing force on the touch panel at that time, The second system input can be performed. At this time, it is possible to select multiple stages, that is, three or more stages according to the pressing force on the touch panel. Therefore, the operator can perform two systems of input by performing a single pressing operation on the touch panel, and can reduce the number of pressing operations.

  As described above, both the input device using the mechanical switch and the input device using the touch panel can accept input in a plurality of stages according to the pressing force. In such an input device, it is possible to consolidate a plurality of functions into one button or key by distinguishing and receiving the input in a plurality of stages according to the pressing force, thereby reducing the number of keys or buttons related to the operation input. Can do. In particular, in the case of a small terminal such as a portable terminal, it is difficult to dispose a large number of keys and buttons on the terminal body because the casing of the terminal is small. Accordingly, if a plurality of functions can be properly used by using a small number of keys and buttons in a portable terminal, there is an advantage that the number of keys and buttons that must be arranged in the terminal body is reduced.

JP 2006-134609 A JP 2006-039745 A

  However, in the operating device 100 described in Patent Document 1, specifications such as the arrangement configuration of the membrane switch of the first detection unit 200 and the membrane switch of the second detection unit 300 are already set at the time of design or manufacture. It is specified. In addition, the degree of flexibility of the members constituting the membrane switch is determined at the time of product manufacture, and it is generally difficult to change the specifications of such a configuration later.

  For this reason, in such an input device, how much pressing force the first stage input is received and how much the second stage input is received is determined by the operator actually performing the input operation. There is no choice but to understand it through trial and error. In other words, each operator has no choice but to adapt his / her own pressing force to the prescribed pressing force required by the input device.

  In general, fine adjustments and adjustments to the delicate force of the hand tend to vary greatly depending on the operator's strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, even if it is an input operation in such a manner that it can be naturally performed without special difficulties for a dexterous hand, it is said that all general operators can immediately respond to such an input operation. Not exclusively.

  For this reason, the operator wants to keep only the input at the first stage on the input device, but cannot properly adjust the delicate force and presses the button or key at a stretch by applying too much pressing force. There is a risk that the input of the second stage may be performed without. In particular, since the level of the pressing force at the time of pressing input is not visible to the operator, the operator must know exactly how much pressing force should be applied to accept the input at each stage. It is difficult.

  Such a situation is the same as in the case of Patent Document 2 described above. The touch panel type input device described in Patent Document 2 cannot distinguish and accept inputs in a plurality of stages according to the pressing force unless a threshold value of the pressing force accepted by the pressure detection means is set in advance. Therefore, each operator must adapt his / her pressing force to the specified pressing force required by the input device. Therefore, depending on the operator, it is impossible to properly adjust the delicate force, and excessive pressure is applied, so that the input at the first stage is not intended, but the input at the second stage is not intended. The problem remains.

  Note that the touch panel type input device described in Patent Document 2 does not use a mechanical switch, but the control unit can perform software control based on the pressing force received by the pressure detection unit. Therefore, it is considered impossible to change the threshold value at which the pressure detection means accepts the pressing force later by changing the setting in the control unit.

  However, every time the operator is changed, it is extremely troublesome to change the threshold at which the pressure detection means accepts the pressing force in accordance with the operator. Furthermore, even when the same operator operates, the pressing force when the operator performs an operation usually varies depending on the operation. Therefore, the problem that the pressing force is excessively applied to the input device and the input at the first stage is not intended but the input at the second stage is unintentionally cannot be solved.

  For example, when the above-described input device is applied to a shutter button of a camera, if the operator's pressing force is not properly adjusted and the input of the second stage is accepted at once without exceeding the input of the first stage, The shutter is released before the AE and AF functions operate properly. In this case, an out-of-focus image may be taken without the AE and AF functions operating properly. Also, when performing the process of adjusting the amount of something according to the pressing force detected by the input device as described above, or when assigning a stepwise process according to the pressing force, the second stage is performed at once. If the input is accepted, an inconvenience that an operation not intended by the operator is performed is assumed.

  Thus, if the threshold value for accepting input at each stage is set to a fixed value, there remains a problem that input unintended by the operator is made. If an input unintended by the operator is made, such an operation input only operates according to a processing procedure that is valid for the input device, but it is only a malfunction for the operator.

  Therefore, the objective of this invention made | formed in view of this situation provides the input device which can accept the input of the multistep according to the pressing area based on pressing force with different pressing force for every operation of an operator. There is.

The invention according to claim 1 that achieves the above object is as follows:
An input device that accepts multiple stages of input according to the pressing area,
An area detector for detecting the pressing area of the input by the pressing,
The area detecting section, each for detecting the pressing area satisfying the first area-based receiving an input of first stage, and a control unit for controlling so as to set the second area-based receiving an input of the second stage ,
It is characterized in that to obtain Bei a.

The invention according to claim 2
An input method using an input device that accepts a plurality of stages of input according to the pressing area,
An area detecting step for detecting a pressing area;
In the area detecting step, a step of controlling to set a second area criterion for receiving the second stage input each time a pressed area that satisfies the first area criterion for receiving the first stage input is detected; ,
It is characterized by having.

  According to the input device of the present invention, each time the area detection unit detects a pressed area that satisfies the first reference for receiving the first-stage input, the second reference for receiving the second-stage input is set. . That is, the input device of the present invention sets the reference value of the area for receiving the second-stage input when the operator performs an operation each time. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to accept a plurality of steps of input corresponding to the pressing area with different pressing forces for each operation of the operator. This eliminates the problem that the operator adds too much pressing area to the input device and unintentionally performs the second stage input even though the operator wants to keep the first stage input.

It is a functional block diagram which shows roughly the internal structure of the input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the mounting structure of each function part which comprises the input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the input reception process by the input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a graph showing a mode that the press area detected by the area detection part of the input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment changes. It is a graph showing a mode that the press area detected by the area detection part of the input device which concerns on 4th Embodiment changes. It is a flowchart explaining the input reception process by the input device which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a graph showing a mode that the press area detected by the area detection part of the input device which concerns on 7th Embodiment changes. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the internal structure of the operating device by a prior art.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each of the following embodiments, an example of an input device of the present invention will be described assuming a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA that includes a touch panel. However, the input device of the present invention is not limited to these portable terminals, and may be various terminals including an input device such as a digital camera, a portable audio player, a notebook PC, and a mini-notebook PC. it can. The input device of the present invention is not limited to a portable terminal, and may be any terminal equipped with an input device such as a bank ATM or a station ticket vending machine. Furthermore, as will be described later, the input device of the present invention is not limited to a terminal having a touch panel. The present invention can be applied to any input device as long as it has a function of detecting a switch and a push area (or key) that accepts an operation input by an operator and a pressing area applied to the switch. it can.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the input device 10 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the input device 10 includes a control unit 20, a touch panel 30, an area detection unit 40, a vibration unit 50, a storage unit 60, and an audio output unit 70.

  The control unit 20 controls and manages the entire mobile terminal 10 including each functional block of the mobile terminal 10. The control unit 20 includes an area change rate calculation unit 22 that calculates a temporal change rate of the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40 by an arithmetic process.

  In the present embodiment, the touch panel 30 includes a display unit 32 and an input unit 34. The touch panel 30 is configured by arranging an input unit 34 that receives an input from an operator so as to overlap the front surface of the display unit 32.

  The display unit 32 of the touch panel 30 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic EL display. In addition to displaying corresponding to each application, the display unit 32 draws and displays a user interface composed of various keys and buttons for accepting an operation input from the operator to the input unit 34 in a predetermined display area. Hereinafter, in order to accept the operator's operation input to the input unit 34 of the touch panel 30 as described above, images such as various keys and buttons displayed on the display unit 32 so that the operator can visually recognize them are simply “object”. ". When the display unit 32 is used as a user interface of the touch panel 30, an operation-related object such as a key or a push button or a slide lever is displayed on the display unit 32.

  Further, on the front surface of the display unit 32, an input unit 34 configured by a matrix switch or the like that receives input from an operator's finger or stylus pen is disposed. The input unit 34 detects (accepts) an input by contact (pressing) such as an operator's fingertip, and thereby outputs a signal corresponding to a position where the input by the contact (pressing) is detected. With such a configuration, the touch panel 30 can receive an operation input from an operator and display various information such as an input result according to each application.

  The area detection unit 40 detects a pressing area with respect to the touch panel 30 (or the input unit 34), and is configured by, for example, a matrix switch. The area detection unit 40 detects a pressing area of an input by pressing when an operator performs an operation input. For example, when the operator performs pressing input using a finger, the area of the contact surface between the touch panel 30 (or the input unit 34) and the finger is detected as the pressing area. The pressing area detection unit 40 does not necessarily need to detect an accurate numerical value of the pressing area. For example, it is only necessary to detect how the pressing area changes with the passage of time. The input detected by the matrix switch is only one point at the beginning, but it is two points, three points inside the ring. What is necessary is just to understand that the pressing area is increased by sequentially detecting from the outside to the outside.

  Thus, in this application, the area of the surface where the touch panel 30 (or the input unit 34) is in contact with an object such as a finger or a stylus pen that is used when the operator performs press input is referred to as a “press area”.

  When the input unit 32 and the area detection unit 40 are configured using a matrix switch, the input unit 32 and the area detection unit 40 can be configured by sharing the matrix switch.

  The vibration unit 50 transmits vibration to the touch panel 30 (or the input unit 34), and is configured using, for example, a piezoelectric element or an ultrasonic transducer. When the vibration unit 50 vibrates, the vibration can be transmitted to an operator's finger or the like pressing the input unit 34. Due to this vibration, when the operator's predetermined input is performed on the touch panel 30, the operator can be notified that the predetermined input has been normally received. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the vibration unit 50 constitutes a notification information generation unit. The predetermined information (such as a signal by vibration) that can be notified to the user when the vibration unit 50 serving as the notification information generation unit generates vibration is hereinafter referred to as “notification information”.

  The storage unit 60 stores various applications and various input information, and also functions as a work memory. In particular, in the present embodiment, the storage unit 60 indicates the pressing area of the pressing input by the operator detected by the area detecting unit 40, the temporal change rate of the pressing area calculated by the area change rate calculating unit 22, and the like. The control unit 20 temporarily holds the data for processing.

  With the configuration as described above, if a stepwise threshold is set for the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40, the input device 10 receives a plurality of levels of input according to the pressed area of the operation input by the operator. Can do.

The audio output unit 70 is configured by a buzzer, a speaker, and the like, and generates a sound that can be recognized by the operator through the control of the control unit 20. That is, the audio output unit 70 can convey information by sound to an operator who is pressing the input unit 34 by outputting a predetermined sound or the like. The sound output from the sound output unit 70 can be used in place of or together with the notification information of the vibration generated by the vibration unit 50 described above. By generating sound as well as vibration, when the operator's predetermined input is performed on the touch panel 30, the operator can be more surely notified that the predetermined input has been normally received. it can.

  2A is a diagram illustrating an example of a mounting structure of the touch panel 30, the area detection unit 40, and the vibration unit 50 of the input device 10 illustrated in FIG. Note that FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the input device 10.

  2A, when the operator presses the display of an object such as a button displayed on the display unit 32, the input unit 34 at a position corresponding to the display position of the object on the display unit 32 is displayed. It shows a state of pressing with a finger. The input unit 34 detects the pressing position of the input by detecting the pressing of the input by the operator's finger. In addition, the area detection unit 40 detects the area of the contact surface between the finger pressing the input unit 34 by the operator and the input unit 34. For this reason, the area detection part 40 is arrange | positioned in the back surface of the input part 34 so that the pressing area based on the pressing force concerning the input part 34 may be transmitted. The vibration unit 50 applies vibration to the operator's finger at an appropriate timing based on the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40. For this reason, the vibration part 50 is arrange | positioned so that the input part 34 may be contacted so that a vibration can be transmitted to the input part 34, for example. The vibration generated by the vibration unit 50 is controlled by the control unit 20 based on the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40. At this time, the control performed by the control unit 20 will be described later.

  As described above, the input device according to the present embodiment is not limited to one having a touch panel. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of a mounting structure of the input device 10 according to the present embodiment configured without using a touch panel. Note that FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the input device 10 when a touch panel is not used.

  In FIG. 2B, since the input device 10 does not use a touch panel, the display unit 32 does not exist, and when it is necessary to display information such as an input result, a separate display unit is provided. Accordingly, in the input device 10 shown in FIG. 2B, the operator does not input (press input) the object displayed on the display unit by pressing (button input), but physically exists. Press input to As described above, in the configuration in which the input unit 34 is not used, the area detection unit 40 can also serve as the input unit 34. That is, in this case, if the area detection unit 40 detects the pressed area, the input to the input unit 34 is regarded as ON, and if the area detection unit 40 does not detect the pressed area, the input to the input unit 34 is not received. Can be treated as being off.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2B, the area detection unit 40 is installed in the concave portion of the casing (base member) of the input device 10, and the vibration unit 50 is arranged on the area detection unit 40. Therefore, the upper surface of the vibration unit 50 can directly receive the operator's pressing input, and the area detection unit 40 detects the pressing area of the pressing input received by the vibration unit 50. Further, the vibration unit 50 directly applies vibrations to the operator's finger at an appropriate timing based on the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40. In this case, since the upper surface of the vibration unit 50 functions in the same manner as a button or a key, the shape of the vibration unit 50 that receives an operator's pressing input is the shape of the key top of the button, This function can be shown by clearly specifying the function.

  In the present embodiment, the structure of the input device 10 that does not use a touch panel is not limited to the structure shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the function unit related to the input of the input device 10 includes at least an area detection unit 40 that detects a pressing area of an input by the operator's pressing, and a notification that generates notification information due to vibration to the operator. What is necessary is just to have the vibration part 50 as an information generation part. Therefore, for example, by adding the area detection unit 40 and the vibration unit 50 to the conventional mechanical switch, or by using the conventional switch having these functions, the function unit related to the input of the input device of the present invention is configured. You can also

  Next, input acceptance processing by the input device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of input reception processing by the input device 10 according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, when performing an input reception process using the input device 10, an operator of the input device 10 inputs that the input device 10 receives at least two stages of input according to the pressed area. It is assumed that the device is recognized.

  In the input device 10, the control unit 20 monitors whether or not the area detecting unit 40 has detected the pressing area when the operator's pressing input is made to the input unit 34. The input reception process by the input device 10 starts when the area detection unit 40 detects the pressed area. When the input receiving process by the input device 10 is started, the control unit 20 increases the pressing area by the operator's pressing input, so that the area detection unit 40 satisfies the first area criterion for receiving the first stage input. It is determined whether or not an area has been detected (step S11).

  Note that the first area reference that receives the first-stage input is a threshold value of a predetermined pressing area that serves as a reference. When the area detection unit 40 detects a pressing area that exceeds this threshold, the control unit 20 processes that the first-stage input defined in the input device 10 has been received. Further, the first area reference for accepting the input of the first stage uses a predetermined pressing area set in advance as a threshold value, but may be changed later according to the preference of the operator.

  In step S11, when a pressing area that satisfies the first area criterion for receiving the input of the first stage is not detected, a waiting state is entered. On the other hand, when a pressed area that satisfies the first area criterion for accepting the first-stage input is detected in step S11, the control unit 20 controls the notification information generation unit to generate predetermined notification information (step S11). S12). That is, in the present embodiment, the control unit 20 controls the vibration unit 50 so as to generate a predetermined mode of vibration. When the vibration unit 50 generates vibration, the control unit 20 reads out information such as a waveform stored in the storage unit 60 in advance, thereby controlling the mode of vibration generated by the vibration unit 50. Thereby, the operator can recognize that the input of the first stage has been normally received by the input device 10 when the vibration is generated.

  In addition to such processing, the control unit 20 performs processing so as to perform an operation corresponding to the first-stage input defined in the input device 10 in response to receiving the first-stage input ( Step S13). For example, when the input device 10 is applied to a shutter button of a camera, the processing in step S13 is an operation when the input device 10 is “half-pressed”, that is, an operation for turning on a function for adjusting AE or AF. Is equivalent to

  FIG. 4 is a graph showing how the pressing area of the operator's pressing input detected by the area detection unit 40 changes. The X-axis direction represents a time transition, and the Y-axis direction represents a pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40. In FIG. 4A, the point in time when the operator touches the input unit 34 of the touch panel 30 is P0, and the pressing area at that time is Ar0. Thereafter, since the pressing force input by the operator is increased, the pressing area detected by the area detecting unit 40 gradually increases, and at a certain time point P1, a first area standard that is set in advance to accept the input of the first stage. It shows how Ar1 has been reached.

  At this time, the operator who recognizes that the first-stage input has been normally received due to the occurrence of vibration is conscious of trying not to perform the second-stage input at once. An operation for maintaining the pressure (that is, suppressing an increase in the pressing force) is performed. Here, any operator can recognize that the first-stage input has been normally received by the occurrence of vibration. However, after the operator recognizes that the first-stage input has been accepted, the pressing force for maintaining the input pressing force varies considerably depending on the operator.

  For example, in the graph of the pressing area shown in FIG. 4A, the operator increases the pressing force without suppressing the pressing force from the time P1 when the pressing area reaches Ar1, and then presses the pressing area at the time Ps. The pressure is maintained (without increasing). In the case of an operator who tends to strongly press a button or the like, even if the first stage input is accepted and vibration is generated by the vibration unit 50 and the intention is to maintain the pressing force immediately, a relatively large pressing force It is assumed that the pressing input is maintained.

  On the other hand, in the graph of the pressing area shown in FIG. 4B, the operator suppresses the increase of the pressing force relatively immediately from the time point P1 when the pressing area reaches Ar1, and increases the pressing force at the time point Ps. Maintained. In the case of an operator who normally tends to press a button weakly, it is assumed that the pressing force is maintained immediately when the first stage input is accepted and vibration is generated by the vibration unit 50.

  When the pressing area Ars at the time Ps shown in FIG. 4A is compared with the pressing area Ars at the time Ps shown in FIG. 4B, the pressing area Ars in FIG. It can be seen that it is. Thus, after recognizing that the input of the first stage has been accepted, it can be seen that the pressing force when the operator maintains the pressing force of the input varies considerably between individuals. In addition, even in the same operator, it is assumed that the pressing force at the time of maintaining the first-stage input pressing force varies with each operation.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, after the operator recognizes that the first-stage input has been received, the second-stage input is performed based on the pressing area Ars at the time point Ps at which the operator maintains the input pressing force. A second area reference Ar2 to be accepted is set. That is, every time the area detection unit 40 detects the pressed area Ar1 that satisfies the first area standard that receives the input of the first stage, the control unit 20 causes the area detection unit 40 to execute after the first area standard is satisfied. Based on the pressed area Ars to be detected, a second area reference Ar2 that accepts the second-stage input is set. At this time, the second area reference Ar2 that receives the second-stage input is set to a value larger than the first area reference Ar1 that receives the first-stage input.

  In order to perform such processing, the control unit 20 determines the pressing area Ars at the point Ps when the operator maintains the input pressing force (step S14). In the present embodiment, the area change rate calculation unit 22 calculates the temporal change rate of the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40. Therefore, in step S14 after the area detection unit 40 detects a pressed area that satisfies the first area criterion, the control unit 20 first determines that the change rate of the pressed area calculated by the area change rate calculation unit 22 is a predetermined value. The pressing area when reduced below is determined as the pressing area Ars. Therefore, after the area detecting unit 40 detects the pressing area Ar1 that satisfies the first area criterion, the control unit 20 first decreases the change rate of the pressed area calculated by the area change rate calculating unit 22 to a predetermined value or less. Based on the pressing area Ars at the time, the second area reference Ar2 is set.

  Here, the “predetermined value” when the rate of change of the pressing area decreases below a predetermined value is, for example, a small value close to zero, and the operator suppresses the increase in the input pressing force and reduces the pressing force. It is preferable to be able to identify the time point Ps maintained. In addition, the inclination of the tangent of the curve shown in the graph of FIG. 4 represents the temporal change rate of the pressing area detected by the area detection unit 40. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in FIG. 4, after the time point P1 when the area detection unit 40 detects the pressing area Ar1, the slope of the tangent line of the graph is first close to zero, that is, substantially parallel to the Y axis. The pressing area at a certain point Ps is determined as the pressing area Ars.

  When the pressing area Ars is determined in step S14, the control unit 20 sets a value obtained by adding a predetermined addition width value to the pressing area Ars as the second area reference Ar2 that receives the input of the second stage ( Step S15). The second area reference Ar2 set in this way is clear from the comparison of FIGS. 4A and 4B, and even if the same added width value is added, the operator does not press the input. The pressure varies depending on the pressing area Ars at the time Ps when the pressure is maintained.

  Thereafter, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the area detection unit 40 has detected a pressing area that satisfies the second area criterion for receiving the second-stage input due to an increase in the pressing area by the operator's pressing input. Determination is made (step S16).

  The second area standard that receives the second-stage input is a threshold value of a predetermined pressing area set by the above-described processing. After the second area reference is set in this way, when the area detection unit 40 detects a pressing area that exceeds the threshold, the control unit 20 receives the second-stage input defined in the input device 10. Treat as

  In step S16, when a pressed area that satisfies the second area criterion for accepting the second-stage input is not detected, a waiting state is entered. On the other hand, when a pressed area that satisfies the second area criterion for accepting the second-stage input is detected in step S16, the control unit 20 controls the notification information generation unit to generate predetermined notification information (step S16). S17). In other words, the control unit 20 controls the vibration unit 50 to generate a predetermined mode of vibration. As a result, the operator can recognize that the input of the second stage has been normally received by the input device 10 when the vibration is generated. Note that if the notification information when the second-stage input is received is different in vibration from the above-described notification information when the first-stage input is received, the operator can easily distinguish the input stage. can do.

  In addition to such processing, the control unit 20 performs processing to perform an operation corresponding to the second-stage input defined in the input device 10 in response to receiving the second-stage input ( Step S18). For example, when the input device 10 is applied to the shutter button of the camera, the processing in step S18 is performed when the input device 10 is “fully pressed”, that is, after the AE and AF functions are appropriately operated. This corresponds to performing a cutting operation.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the second area reference that accepts the second-stage input is set based on the pressed area after the first area reference is satisfied. Therefore, even when the operator operates the input device 10 for the first time, there is no risk of suddenly “full pressing” without knowing the amount of pressing force. In addition, even when a plurality of different operators use the same input device 10, the input device 10 adjusts the pressing force at the time of the input operation of each operator and sets the second area standard of an appropriate pressing area. To do. Therefore, it is not necessary for each operator to perform an operation in accordance with the pressing area required by the input device 10.

In addition, the input device 10 according to the present embodiment receives the second-stage input unless the operator performs an operation to maintain the pressing force once (that is, the pressing area Ars at the time point Ps is not determined). No area standard is set. Therefore, the input device 10 can take a sufficient time from the start of the first-stage input process to the end thereof, that is, until the second-stage input is received. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that the process related to the second-stage input starts before the process related to the first-stage input is normally completed because the operator suddenly performs the “full press” operation. You can also
(Second Embodiment)
Next, an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the method of determining the pressing area Ars in step S14 described in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment described above is changed. Other points can be implemented in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment. The input device according to the second embodiment can be implemented with the same configuration as the input device 10 described in the first embodiment, and the processing and operation of the control unit 20 (and the area change rate calculation unit 22) are different. Is. Therefore, the same description as the first embodiment described above is omitted as appropriate.

  In the input device 10 according to the second embodiment, the area change rate calculation unit 22 calculates the temporal change rate of the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40 as in the first embodiment. . In the second embodiment, the area change rate calculation unit 22 further changes the average change of the pressed area from when the area detecting unit 40 detects the pressed area until the pressed area that satisfies the first area criterion is detected. Calculate the rate. That is, in FIG. 4, the area change rate calculation unit 22 increases the pressing force input by the operator from the time point P0 when the area detection unit 40 detects the pressing area Ar0 due to the operator's pressing input, so that the pressing area becomes the first pressing area. The average change rate of the pressed area up to the point P1 when the area standard Ar1 is reached is calculated. The above processing is performed in step S11 in FIG.

  Thereafter, since the notification information is generated in step S12, the operator can recognize that the first-stage input receiving process in step S13 is performed, so that the pressing force for inputting is maintained (that is, the pressing force is reduced). Suppresses the increase).

  In the second embodiment, after the area detection unit 40 detects the pressed area Ar1 that satisfies the first area standard (that is, after P1), the area change rate calculation unit 22 changes the change rate during a predetermined period. Is calculated. The “predetermined period” appropriately defines a period such as an interval of 0.1 second, which is suitable for the area change rate calculation unit 22 to calculate the temporal change rate of the pressing force. In the vicinity of the time point Ps at which the pressing force input by the operator is to be maintained, the change rate of the pressed area in the predetermined period calculated by the area change rate calculation unit 22 is the pressure from the time point P0 to the time point P1. Compared to the average rate of change in area, it decreases rapidly.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, in step S14, the control unit 20 compares the above-described rate of change of the pressed area during the predetermined period with the above-described average change rate calculated by the area change rate calculating unit 22. As a result of the comparison, the control unit 20 determines, as the pressing area Ars, the pressing area when the rate of change of the pressing area in the predetermined period has decreased by a predetermined value or more than the average rate of change. That is, in the present embodiment, in FIG. 4, when the slope of the tangent of the curve in the subsequent predetermined period greatly decreases to a predetermined value or more compared to the average slope of the graph from the time point P0 to the time point P1. The pressing area at is determined as the pressing area Ars.

  In this embodiment, when the “predetermined value” is set to a very small value, the point is treated as Ps even though the operator does not intend to maintain the pressing force for input. The pressing area at that time is determined as the pressing area Ars. Therefore, the “predetermined value” has a certain size and is not set to a very small value.

Thus, also in the present embodiment, in order to appropriately determine the pressing area Ars at the time point Ps where the operator is assumed to maintain the input pressing force, the same as in the first embodiment described above. The effect of can be obtained.
(Third embodiment)
Next, an input device according to a third embodiment of the invention will be described. As in the second embodiment described above, the third embodiment of the present invention changes the method of determining the pressing area Ars in step S14 described in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment. The input device according to the third embodiment can be implemented with the same configuration as the input device 10 described in the first embodiment, and the operation of the control unit 20 (and the area change rate calculation unit 22) is different. is there. Therefore, the same descriptions as those of the first and second embodiments described above are omitted as appropriate.

  In the input device 10 according to the third embodiment, the area change rate calculation unit 22 calculates the temporal change rate of the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40 for each predetermined period. This “predetermined period” appropriately defines a period such as an interval of 0.2 seconds so that the change can be detected in comparison with the immediately preceding predetermined period when the pressing area by the operator's input changes greatly. To do.

  In the third embodiment, after the area detection unit 40 detects the pressed area Ar1 that satisfies the first area standard (that is, after P1) in step S11 of FIG. 3, the area change rate calculation unit 22 performs the predetermined period of time. The rate of change for each is calculated. In the vicinity of the time point Ps at which the pressing force input by the operator is to be maintained, the change rate of the pressed area in the predetermined period calculated by the area change rate calculation unit 22 is the change in the pressed area in the immediately preceding predetermined period. Compared to the rate, it decreases rapidly.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, in step S14, the control unit 20 changes the pressing area change rate in the first predetermined period calculated by the area change rate calculation unit 22 and the second immediately before the first predetermined period. The change rate of the pressed area calculated by the area change rate calculation unit 22 in the predetermined period is compared. As a result of this comparison, the control unit 20 determines, as the pressing area Ars, the pressing area when the rate of change in the first predetermined period has decreased by a predetermined value or more compared to the second predetermined period. That is, in the present embodiment, in FIG. 4, the slope of the tangent line of the curve in a predetermined period after the time point P1 is greatly reduced beyond a predetermined value compared to the slope of the tangent line of the curve in the immediately preceding predetermined period. The pressing area at the time point Ps is determined as the pressing area Ars.

  In this embodiment, when the “predetermined value” is set to a very small value, the point is treated as Ps even though the operator does not intend to maintain the pressing force for input. The pressing area at that time is determined as the pressing area Ars. Therefore, the “predetermined value” has a certain size and is not set to a very small value.

As described above, also in the present embodiment, in order to appropriately determine the pressing area Ars at the time point Ps where the operator is assumed to maintain the input pressing force, the first and second embodiments described above are performed. The same effect as the form can be obtained.
(Fourth embodiment)
Next, an input device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. In the first to third embodiments described above, as shown in FIG. 4, after the area detection unit 40 detects the pressing area Ar1 that satisfies the first area standard (after P1), the operator presses the pressing force. Based on the pressing area Ars at the time point Ps to maintain the pressure, the pressing area for receiving the second-stage input was set. In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, after the time point Ps, the pressing area at the time point Ps ′ at which the pressing force is increased again from the state where the operator tried to maintain the pressing force to input. Based on Ars ′, a second area reference Ar2 ′ that accepts the second-stage input is set. About another point, it can implement in substantially the same way as 1st-3rd embodiment. The input device according to the present embodiment can be implemented with the same configuration as the input device 10 described in the first to third embodiments, and the operation of the control unit 20 (and the area change rate calculation unit 22) is different. Is. Therefore, the same descriptions as those of the above-described embodiments are omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, after the operator recognizes that the first-stage input has been accepted at the time P1, even if the input pressing force is maintained from the time Ps, the subsequent pressing area is It can be fluctuated. This is for maintaining the pressing force in a so-called “half-pressed” state with respect to the input device 10, and even if the operator intends to maintain a certain pressing force, the pressing force is actually reduced. May gradually escape.

  In the graph of the pressing area shown in FIG. 5A, the operator intends to maintain the input pressing force from the point of Ps, but the pressing force gradually escapes and is detected by the area detecting unit 40. It shows a state where the pressing area to be gradually reduced. In FIG. 5A, the operator maintains the input pressing force at the time point Ps and recognizes that the first-stage input has been received, and then increases to the time point Ps ′ at which the pressing force is increased again (operation The reduced pressing area (unintentionally by the person) is shown as “variation width”.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, after the operator recognizes that the input of the first stage has been accepted at the time point P1, even if the input pressure is maintained from the time point Ps, It is conceivable that the area gradually increases. This is because even if the operator intends to maintain a certain pressing force, the pressing force may actually gradually increase unintentionally.

  In the graph of the pressing area shown in FIG. 5B, the operator intends to maintain the input pressing force from the point of Ps, but the pressing force gradually increases, and the area detection unit 40 detects the pressing force. It shows that the pressing area to be gradually increased. In FIG. 5B, the operator maintains the input pressing force at the time point Ps and recognizes that the first-stage input has been received, and then increases to the time point Ps ′ at which the pressing force is increased again (operation). The increased pressing area (unintentionally by the person) is shown as “variation width”.

  As described above, when the pressing force of the operator gradually decreases (or increases) unintentionally, it is considered that the operator has a consciousness of maintaining his / her pressing force constant. Therefore, in such a case, if the second area reference that accepts the second stage input is set based on the pressing area Ars at the time point Ps at which the pressing force is maintained, the second area reference is Contrary to the operator's expectation, it may be felt heavy (or light).

  That is, for example, if the second area reference for accepting the second-stage input is set based on the pressing area Ars at the time Ps in FIG. 5A, the operator's pressing force is actually slightly reduced thereafter. Therefore, the pressing area that satisfies the second area standard is felt heavy for the operator. On the other hand, when the second area reference for accepting the second stage input is set based on the pressing area Ars at the time point Ps in FIG. 5B, the operator's pressing force is actually slightly increased thereafter. For the operator, the pressing area that satisfies the second area criterion is felt light. Alternatively, in this case, the gradually increasing pressing force reaches the second area reference set based on the pressing area Ars, and the second-stage input is accepted against the operator's intention. There is also a fear.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second is based not on the pressing area Ars at the time point Ps at which the operator starts to maintain the pressing force but on the pressing area Ars ′ at the time point Ps ′ at which the operator increases the pressing force again. A second area reference Ar2 ′ that accepts stage input is set.

  In the input device 10 according to the fourth embodiment, the area change rate calculation unit 22 calculates the temporal change rate of the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40. Therefore, after the area detecting unit 40 detects the pressing area Ar1 that satisfies the first area standard, the control unit 20 maintains the pressing area based on the pressing area change rate calculated by the area changing rate calculating unit 22. After the start time point Ps, the time point Ps ′ at which the increase of the pressing area is started is determined.

  In other words, the control unit 20 temporarily decreases (Ps) below the first predetermined value at the time when the pressing area change rate calculated by the area change rate calculating unit 22 is Ps, and then increases beyond the second predetermined value. The second area reference Ars2 ′ is set based on the pressing area Ars ′ at (Ps ′). Here, the above-mentioned “first predetermined value” is based on the same technical idea as the “predetermined value” described in the first embodiment when the rate of change of the pressing area decreases below the predetermined value. Set. Further, the “second predetermined value” is set to, for example, Ps˜ shown in FIG. 5B so that the operator can appropriately determine the time point Ps ′ at which the pressing area is suddenly changed by increasing the pressing force again. An appropriate value that can be clearly distinguished from the rate of change when the pressing area gradually increases as in Ps ′ is set.

  Next, input acceptance processing by the input device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of input reception processing by the input device 10 according to the present embodiment. The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is obtained by newly inserting step S21 between step S14 and step S15 in the flowchart of FIG. 3 described in the first to third embodiments. That is, in step S14, when the pressing area Ars at the time point Ps at which the operator is to maintain the pressing force to be input is determined, the control unit 20 next determines whether or not the pressing area Ars ′ has been determined. (Step S21).

  In step S21, when the pressing area Ars' is not determined, the process waits. On the other hand, when the pressing area Ars' is determined in step S21, the control unit 20 continues the processing from step 15 onward. That is, when the pressing area Ars ′ is determined in step S21, the control unit 20 uses the second area reference Ar2 that receives the input of the second stage, which is obtained by adding the value of the predetermined addition width to the pressing area Ars ′. 'Is set (step S15). The subsequent processing is the same as that described in the flowchart of FIG.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the second area reference Ar2 ′ that accepts the second-stage input is set based on the pressing area Ars ′ at the time point Ps ′ at which the pressing force is increased again. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5A, for example, even when the operator gradually decreases the pressing force unintentionally from the point of Ps at which the pressing force starts to be maintained, the pressing force is increased again. The original added width is added to the pressing area Ars ′ at the time point of Ps ′ that is started, and the result is used as the second area reference Ar2 ′. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), even if the operator gradually increases the pressing force unintentionally from the point of Ps at which the pressing force starts to be maintained, the increase in the pressing force is started again. The original added width is added to the pressed area Ars ′ at the time of Ps ′ to be the second area reference Ar2 ′. Therefore, in either of these cases, the second area that accepts the input of the second stage based on the pressing force that has actually fluctuated even though the operator intends to maintain from the point of Ps. A reference Ar2 ′ is set. Therefore, even when the pressing force of the operator fluctuates unintentionally, the second area criterion for accepting the second stage input feels heavy (or light) against the operator's prediction. This makes it possible to perform operations without feeling uncomfortable.
(Fifth embodiment)
Next, an input device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention will be described. The input device according to the fifth embodiment can be implemented by the same configuration as the input device 10 described in the fourth embodiment, and the operation of the control unit 20 (and the area change rate calculation unit 22) is different. is there. Therefore, the same description as that of the fourth embodiment described above is omitted as appropriate.

  As in the fourth embodiment described above, the fifth embodiment of the present invention receives the second-stage input based on the pressing area Ars ′ at the time point Ps ′ at which the operator increases the pressing force again. An area reference Ar2 ′ of 2 is set. In the fifth embodiment, the method of determining the pressing area Ars ′ in the above-described fourth embodiment is changed. Here, in changing the method of determining the pressing area Ars ′ in the present embodiment, the same manner as that of changing the method of determining the pressing area Ars in the first embodiment in the second embodiment described above. It is done by the method.

  In the input device 10 according to the fifth embodiment, the area change rate calculation unit 22 calculates the time change rate of the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40 as in the fourth embodiment. . In the fifth embodiment, the area change rate calculation unit 22 further changes the average change in the pressed area from when the area detecting unit 40 detects the pressed area until the pressed area that satisfies the first area criterion is detected. Calculate the rate. That is, the area change rate calculation unit 22 increases the pressing force input by the operator from the time point P0 when the area detection unit 40 detects the pressing area Ar0 due to the pressing input by the operator in FIG. The average change rate of the pressed area up to the point P1 when the area standard Ar1 is reached is calculated. The above processing is performed in step S11 in FIG.

  After that, since the notification information in step S12 in FIG. 6 is generated, the operator can recognize that the first-stage input receiving process in step S13 is performed, and therefore tries to maintain the pressing force for inputting (that is, Suppresses increase in pressing force).

  In the fifth embodiment, after the area detection unit 40 detects the pressed area Ar1 that satisfies the first area standard (that is, after P1), the area change rate calculation unit 22 changes the change rate for a predetermined period. Is calculated. The “predetermined period” appropriately defines a period such as an interval of 0.1 second, which is suitable for the area change rate calculation unit 22 to calculate the temporal change rate of the pressing force. In the vicinity of the time point Ps at which the pressing force input by the operator is to be maintained, the change rate of the pressed area in the predetermined period calculated by the area change rate calculation unit 22 is the pressure from the time point P0 to the time point P1. Compared with the average change rate of the area, it decreases rapidly once.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, in step S14, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the change rate of the pressed area in the predetermined period calculated by the area change rate calculation unit 22 has decreased to a first predetermined value or less. Determine. That is, in the present embodiment, in step S14, the time point Ps at which the slope of the graph after the time point P1 shown in FIG. 5 is greatly reduced to the first predetermined value or less is determined. Here, the “first predetermined value” when the rate of change of the pressing area decreases below the first predetermined value is based on the same technical idea as the “predetermined value” described in the first embodiment. Thus, for example, a small value close to zero is set so that the operator can specify the time point Ps at which the pressing force is maintained by suppressing an increase in the input pressing force.

  When the time point Ps at which the pressing area Ars is detected is determined in step S14, the control unit 20 sets the pressing area Ars ′ at the time point Ps ′ at which the rate of change of the predetermined period calculated by the area change rate calculating unit 40 increases thereafter. Determine (step S21). In this embodiment, when determining the time point Ps ′, the control unit 20 compares the change rate of the pressed area in the predetermined period described above with the above-described average change rate calculated by the area change rate calculation unit 22. To do. As a result of this comparison, the control unit 20 determines the pressing area when the difference between the change rate of the pressing area in the predetermined period and the average change rate is within the second predetermined value as the pressing area Ars ′. To do. That is, in the present embodiment, in FIG. 5, the slope of the tangent line of the curve in a predetermined period after the time point Ps increases, and compared with the average slope of the graph from the time point P0 to the time point P1. The pressing area at the time point Ps ′ when the difference is within the second predetermined value is determined as the pressing area Ars ′. That is, the slope of the tangent line of the curve in a predetermined period after the time point Ps is increased, and the pressing area at the time point Ps ′ at which the average inclination of the graph from the time point P0 to the time point P1 becomes almost the same as, for example, Determined as area Ars ′.

  In the present embodiment, the “second predetermined value” is, for example, a small value close to zero, and the average change rate of the pressed area from the time point P0 to the time point P1 and a predetermined value after the time point Ps. A time point at which the rate of change in the period becomes almost the same can be determined as Ps ′.

As described above, also in the present embodiment, in order to appropriately determine the pressing area Ars ′ at the time point Ps ′ where the operator is assumed to maintain the input pressing force, the fourth embodiment described above is used. The same effect can be obtained.
(Sixth embodiment)
Next, an input device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention will be described. The input device according to the sixth embodiment can be implemented by the same configuration as the input device 10 described in the fourth and fifth embodiments, and the operation of the control unit 20 (and the area change rate calculation unit 22) is the same. Is different. Accordingly, the same description as in the fourth and fifth embodiments described above will be omitted as appropriate. In the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the operator again applies the pressing force, as in the fourth and fifth embodiments described above. Based on the pressing area Ars ′ at the point of time Ps ′ to be increased, a second area reference P2 ′ that accepts the input of the second stage is set. Also in the sixth embodiment, the method of determining the pressing area Ars ′ in the above-described fourth embodiment is changed. Here, in changing the method of determining the pressing area Ars ′ in the present embodiment, the same manner as in the method of determining the pressing area Ars in the first embodiment in the third embodiment described above. It is done by the method.

  In the input device 10 according to the sixth embodiment, the area change rate calculation unit 22 calculates the temporal change rate of the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40 for each predetermined period. Similar to the “predetermined period” described in the third embodiment, this “predetermined period” detects the change in comparison with the immediately preceding predetermined period when the pressing area by the operator's input changes greatly. For example, a period such as an interval of 0.2 seconds is appropriately defined.

  In the sixth embodiment, after the area detection unit 40 detects the pressed area Ar1 that satisfies the first area standard (that is, after P1) in step S11 of FIG. 6, the area change rate calculation unit 22 performs the predetermined period of time. The rate of change for each is calculated. In the vicinity of the time point Ps at which the pressing force input by the operator is to be maintained, the change rate of the pressed area in the predetermined period calculated by the area change rate calculation unit 22 is the change in the pressed area in the immediately preceding predetermined period. Compared to the rate, it decreases rapidly once.

  Therefore, also in the present embodiment, as in the fifth embodiment, in step S14, the control unit 20 indicates that the change rate of the pressed area in the predetermined period calculated by the area change rate calculation unit 22 is the first rate. It is determined whether or not the value has decreased to a predetermined value or less. That is, in step S14, a time point Ps at which the slope of the graph after the time point P1 shown in FIG. 5 significantly decreases to a first predetermined value or less is determined. Here, as in the fifth embodiment, the “first predetermined value” is set to a small value close to zero, for example, and the operator suppresses an increase in the input pressing force and maintains the pressing force. It is possible to specify the point Ps of the current time.

  When the time point Ps at which the pressing area Ars is detected is determined in step S14, the control unit 20 determines the change rate of the pressing area in the first predetermined period calculated by the area change rate calculation unit 22, and the first predetermined value. The change rate of the pressing area in the second predetermined period immediately before the period is compared. As a result of this comparison, the control unit 20 determines, as the pressing area Ars ′, the pressing area when the rate of change in the first predetermined period has increased by a second predetermined value or more compared to the second predetermined period ( Step S21). That is, in the present embodiment, in FIG. 5, the slope of the tangent line of the curve in a predetermined period after the time point P1 exceeds the second predetermined value as compared with the slope of the tangent line of the curve in the predetermined period immediately before that. The pressing area at the time point Ps ′ that greatly increases is determined as the pressing area Ars ′.

  Note that if the “second predetermined value” in this embodiment is set to a very small value, the time is treated as Ps ′ due to a slight change in the pressure area, and the pressure area at that time is the pressure. It is determined as the area Ars ′. In this case, the second area reference P2 'for accepting the second-stage input is arbitrarily set although the operator intends to maintain the pressing force for the input. Therefore, the “second predetermined value” has a certain size and is not set to a very small value.

As described above, also in the present embodiment, in order to appropriately determine the pressing area Ars ′ at the time point Ps ′ where the operator is assumed to maintain the input pressing force, the fourth and fifth described above are performed. The same effect as the embodiment can be obtained.
(Seventh embodiment)
Next, an input device according to a seventh embodiment of the invention will be described. The input device according to the seventh embodiment can be implemented by the same configuration as the input device 10 described in the fourth to sixth embodiments, and the operation of the control unit 20 (and the area change rate calculation unit 22) is performed. Is different. Therefore, the same descriptions as those of the fourth to sixth embodiments are omitted as appropriate.

  In the fourth to sixth embodiments described above, even when the operator gradually decreases the pressing force unintentionally from the time point Ps at which the maintenance of the pressing force is started, the increase of the pressing force is started again. The second area reference Ar2 ′ was set by adding the original added width to the pressed area Ars ′ at the time of Ps ′. However, if the operator has unintentionally weakened the pressing force from the point of Ps at which the pressing force is maintained, the original added width is added to the pressing area Ars ′ at this point Ps ′. If an area reference Ar2 ′ of 2 is set, the area reference Ar2 ′ also has a very small value. Thus, after the first input is accepted, if the second area reference Ar2 ′ for accepting the second input has a value of the press area that is too low, the pressing force that the operator inputs is delicate. There is a possibility that the second input is unintentionally accepted due to blurring or the like.

  Therefore, in the seventh embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, when the pressing area Ars ′ at the time of Ps ′ where the increase of the pressing force is started is too small, an operation is added to the original addition width. The enlarged one is defined as a second area reference Ar2 ″. Specifically, when the pressing area Ar2 ′ obtained by adding a predetermined additional width to the pressing area Ars ′ at the time of Ps ′ falls below the first area reference Ar1, the control unit 20 determines that the additional width is the first. In this case, a value obtained by increasing the addition width so as to exceed the area standard Ar1 is defined as a second area standard Ar2 ″.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the operator has considerably weakened the pressing force after the first input is received, the operator may have a slight fluctuation in the pressing force that is input. Thus, the second input is not received unintentionally. In the seventh embodiment, if the pressing area has decreased too much after the time point Ps, it may be no longer appropriate to treat it as “half-pressing”. For such a case, once the first stage input is made and the pressed area becomes a small value such as near zero, the first stage input once accepted is reset. It is desirable to set a lower limit threshold value.

  The input device that receives input in a plurality of stages according to the pressing area of the pressing input by the operator as described above can assume various other uses besides the shutter of the camera. For example, such an input device can be used as a switch for adjusting the amount of hot water supply or water supply in a water heater or a water heater. That is, if such an input device is used as a hot water supply button or a water supply button, the amount of hot water or water supplied can be adjusted according to the pressing area where the operator presses the button. Therefore, a small amount of hot water or water is supplied for an input with a light pressing force, and the supply of hot water or water can be increased for an input with an increased pressing force.

  In addition, it is also conceivable to assign various operations such as adjusting the amount of light of the light or adjusting the power of the motor according to the pressing area against the input device.

  Further, for example, an input device that accepts a plurality of steps of input according to the pressed area can be applied to a button of an input device such as a mouse. In this case, an operation corresponding to a single click may be assigned to the “half press” of the button, and an operation corresponding to a double click may be assigned to the “full press”.

  In this way, an input device that accepts input in a plurality of stages according to the pressing area, particularly when performing a process of adjusting the amount of something according to the pressing force, or a stepwise process according to the pressing force. It is suitable for use as an input device when assigning.

  In addition, this invention is not limited only to each embodiment mentioned above, Many changes or deformation | transformation are possible. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, when the input at each stage is accepted, the vibration unit 50 vibrates to notify the operator of the notification information. However, the notification information is not necessarily vibration, and can be information in any form as long as the information allows the operator to recognize that the input is normally received by the input device 10.

  Therefore, the input device according to the present invention includes a notification information generation unit, and the notification information generation unit generates notification information using at least one of sound, vibration, and display, so that input is normally received. Make the operator aware of this. Specifically, the control unit 20 controls the notification information generation unit to generate the notification information when the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40 satisfies the first area standard. The same applies to the notification information when the second area criterion is satisfied. In addition to the vibration unit 50, the notification information generation unit outputs a predetermined sound or the like from the audio output unit 70, or displays a display that can be visually recognized on a display unit such as the display unit 32 or another display. Thus, notification information can be notified to the operator. As described above, if the notification information when the first-stage input is received and the notification information when the second-stage input is received have different vibrations, the operator changes the input stage. It can be easily distinguished.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the first area reference P1 that receives the input of the first stage has been described assuming that it is a predetermined fixed value. However, the first area reference P1 is also variable. You can also In this case, for example, the control unit 20 accumulates, in the storage unit 60, a history of the pressed area when the operator performs a daily pressing input to the area detecting unit 40, and based on the history of the pressed area. Thus, it is conceivable to set the first area reference P1 that receives the input of the first stage. In addition, it is desirable that the value of the first area reference P1 is not only set in advance, but also can be changed or adjusted by the operator as needed. In this way, if the operator feels uncomfortable about the setting of the first area reference P1 during the operation, the setting can be appropriately changed on the spot so that a natural operation can be performed.

  In the above description, the mode of determining that “the area standard is satisfied” is described when the area standard value is regarded as the “pressed area threshold value” and the area standard value is reached. However, the aspect that can be determined as “satisfying the area criterion” is not limited to this, and it can be assumed that various aspects are included. For example, it can be determined that “the area criterion is satisfied” when the pressing area by the operator's pressing input to the input device 10 exceeds the value of the area criterion. Further, when the pressed area indicating the value of the area reference is detected by the area detection unit 40, it can be determined that “the area reference is satisfied”.

  In the above description, for example, the meaning of the technical idea of the expression such as the predetermined value “above” or “predetermined value“ below ”is not necessarily a strict meaning. The meaning of the case where the value is included or not included is included. For example, the predetermined value “greater than or equal to” can be implied not only when the increasing value reaches the predetermined value but also when the predetermined value is exceeded. In addition, for example, the predetermined value “below” may imply not only when the decreasing value reaches the predetermined value, but also when the value decreases below the predetermined value, that is, when the value decreases below the predetermined value.

  As described above, in this embodiment, every time the first-stage input is received (every time), the second area reference P2 that receives the second-stage input is newly set. That is, before accepting a new first-stage input, when the pressed area detected by the area detection unit 40 satisfies the second area criterion P2 for accepting the second-stage input, Accept input. Accordingly, since the setting of the second area reference P2 that has received the second-stage input during the previous operation is not maintained, even if the operator applies a pressing force all at once, the second area reference P2 is not retained. There is no erroneous operation (operation not intended by the operator) in which a stage input is accepted.

  In this embodiment, the pressing area is used as a reference for receiving input at each stage. However, the object of the present invention can be achieved using the surface charge generated when pressing input as a reference. Only the reference for accepting input at each stage is changed to surface charge, and can be implemented by the same configuration as the input device 10 described in each embodiment. The surface charge is generated when the operator's fingertip and the touch panel 30 are close to each other or in contact (pressed), and has a feature that increases as the contact area increases. For this reason, even when the fingertip of the operator and the touch panel 30 are close to each other, surface charges are generated, so that it is possible to deal with non-contact cases and it is possible to deal with various devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Input device 20 Control part 22 Area change rate calculation part 30 Touch panel 32 Display part 34 Input part 40 Area detection part 50 Vibrating part 60 Storage part

Claims (2)

An input device that accepts multiple stages of input according to the pressing area,
An area detector for detecting the pressed area;
Each time the area detection unit detects a first pressing area that satisfies a first area criterion that receives a first- stage input, a second pressing larger than the first pressing area that receives a second-stage input. A controller that controls to set a second area criterion for the area;
An input device comprising: An input method using an input device that accepts a plurality of stages of input according to the pressing area,
An area detecting step for detecting a pressing area;
In the area detecting step, each time a first pressing area that satisfies a first area criterion for receiving a first-stage input is detected, a second larger than the first pressing area that receives a second-stage input is detected . Controlling to set a second area criterion for the pressed area ;
An input method comprising:

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