Sign In to Follow Application
View All Documents & Correspondence

Touch Panel Device

Abstract: A touch panel device is provided with: a touch panel (20) for changing a state of an area in which a touch operation is performed on an operation surface (21); a pressure sensor unit (30) for outputting a pressure detection signal according to a pressing force (Fp) applied to the operation surface (21); and a control unit (100) for calculating coordinates of the touch operation on the operation surface (21) on the basis of the state of the touch panel (20). In the case where a first touch operation is performed, the control unit (100) determines that first operation information corresponding to the first touch operation is valid. In the case where the pressing value (Fp) of the pressing force indicated by the pressure detection signal is larger than a predetermined threshold pressing force (ThF) at a time when a second touch operation is performed, the control unit (100) determines that second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation is valid. In the case where the pressing value (Fp) is equal to or smaller than the threshold pressing force (ThF) at a time when the second touch operation is performed, the control unit (100) determines that the second operation information is invalid.

Get Free WhatsApp Updates!
Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence

Patent Information

Application #
Filing Date
06 July 2020
Publication Number
36/2020
Publication Type
INA
Invention Field
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Status
Email
cnaveen@knspartners.com
Parent Application
Patent Number
Legal Status
Grant Date
2024-11-26
Renewal Date

Applicants

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
7-3, Marunouchi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 1008310

Inventors

1. TANEKO Jun
c/o Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, 7-3, Marunouchi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 1008310
2. KISARA Daisuke
c/o Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, 7-3, Marunouchi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 1008310

Specification

1. A touch panel device comprising:
a touch panel that has an operation surface and changes a state of a region on the operation surface in which a touch operation is performed;
a pressure sensor unit to output a pressure detection signal corresponding to a pressing force applied to the operation surface; and
a controller to calculate coordinates of the touch operation on the operation surface based on the state of the touch panel, wherein
the touch operation includes a first touch operation using an operation component displayed on the operation surface and a second touch operation using an operation component displayed on the operation surface,
in a case that the first touch operation is performed, the controller judges that first operation information corresponding to the first touch operation is valid,
in a case that the second touch operation is performed, when a press value of the pressing force indicated by the pressure detection signal is greater than a predetermined threshold pressing force, the controller judges that second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation is valid, and
in a case that the second touch operation is performed, when the press value is less than or equal to the threshold pressing force, the controller judges that the second operation information is invalid.
2. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein
the operation component includes a slide bar,
the slide bar includes a bar part, a lengthwise direction of which corresponds to an input value, and a slider that moves along the bar part,

the bar part includes a first-stage part and a second-stage part, and
when the slider is pressed with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force at a position of a boundary value between the first-stage part and the second-stage part, the controller judges that the second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation is valid.
3. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein
the operation component includes a slide bar,
the slide bar includes a bar part, a lengthwise direction of which corresponds to an input value, and a slider that moves along the bar part,
the bar part includes a first-stage part and a second-stage part,
the first-stage part and the second-stage part are arranged at different positions in a direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction, and
when the second touch operation of pressing the slider with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force at a position of a boundary value between the first-stage part and the second-stage part and sliding the slider in the direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction is performed, the controller judges that the second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation is valid.
4. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein
the operation component includes a slide bar,
the slide bar includes a bar part, a lengthwise direction of which corresponds to an input value, and a slider that moves along the bar part,
the bar part includes a first-stage part and a second-stage part,
the operation component further includes a fixed region arranged around a position of a boundary value between the first-

stage part and the second-stage part, and
when the second touch operation is performed by pressing the slider with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force while touching the fixed region, the controller judges that the second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation is valid.
5. The touch panel device according to any one of claims 2 to
4, wherein the controller has a locked state of disabling an
operation on the slide bar and an unlocked state of permitting the
operation on the slide bar.
6. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein
the operation component includes a numerical input
component,
the numerical input component includes a first increment button for increasing an input value by the first touch operation, a first decrement button for decreasing the input value by the first touch operation, a second increment button for increasing the input value by the second touch operation, and a second decrement button for decreasing the input value by the second touch operation, and
when the second touch operation is performed by pressing the second increment button or the second decrement button with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force, the controller judges that the second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation is valid.
7. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein
the operation component includes a numerical input
component,
the numerical input component includes a first increment button for increasing an input value by the first touch operation, a first decrement button for decreasing the input value by the first touch operation, a second increment button for increasing

the input value by the second touch operation, and a second decrement button for decreasing the input value by the second touch operation,
the controller displays the second increment button when the first touch operation is performed by pressing the first increment button with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force and displays the second decrement button when the first touch operation is performed by pressing the first decrement button with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force, and
when the second touch operation is performed by pressing the second increment button or the second decrement button with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force, the controller judges that the second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation is valid.
8. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein
the operation component includes a numerical input component,
the numerical input component includes a first increment button for increasing an input value by the first touch operation, a first decrement button for decreasing the input value by the first touch operation, a second increment button for increasing the input value by the second touch operation, and a second decrement button for decreasing the input value by the second touch operation,
the controller displays the second increment button when the first touch operation is performed by pressing the first increment button with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force and displays the second decrement button when the first touch operation is performed by pressing the first decrement button with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force, and
the controller judges that the second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation as a swipe operation

is valid when a swipe operation heading from the first increment button to the second increment button or a swipe operation heading from the first decrement button to the second decrement button is performed with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force.
9. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein
the operation component includes a dial button on which a rotation operation is performed, and
when the second touch operation is performed by rotating the dial button while the dial button is pressed with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force, the controller judges that the second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation is valid.
10. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein
the operation component includes a valve on which a rotation operation is performed with a plurality of fingers,
the valve has an initial position,
an operation of rotating the valve a certain number of times from the initial position is the second touch operation and an operation of rotating after the rotation of the certain number of times is the first touch operation, and
when the second touch operation is performed by rotating the valve while pressing the valve with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force, the controller judges that the second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation is valid.
11. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein
the operation component includes a lever that switches
between a first position and a second position, and
when the second touch operation is performed by sliding the lever while pressing the lever with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force or when an

operation of sliding the lever while pressing the lever with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force is performed a predetermined specific number of times, the controller judges that the second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation is valid.
12. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein
the operation component includes a breaker switch that
switches between an ON state and an OFF state, and
when the second touch operation is performed by sliding the breaker switch from the OFF state to the ON state while pressing the breaker switch with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force or when an operation of sliding the breaker switch from the OFF state to the ON state while pressing the breaker switch with a pressing force at a press value greater than the threshold pressing force is performed a predetermined specific number of times, the controller judges that the second operation information corresponding to the second touch operation is valid.
13. The touch panel device according to claim 12, wherein an
operation of sliding from the ON state to the OFF state is the
first touch operation.
14. The touch panel device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein
the operation component further includes a cover that
surrounds the breaker switch and slides between a closed position and an open position, and
the controller permits an operation on the breaker switch only when the cover is at the open position.

Documents

Application Documents

# Name Date
1 202047028739.pdf 2020-07-06
2 202047028739-TRANSLATIOIN OF PRIOIRTY DOCUMENTS ETC. [06-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-06
3 202047028739-STATEMENT OF UNDERTAKING (FORM 3) [06-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-06
4 202047028739-REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION (FORM-18) [06-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-06
5 202047028739-PROOF OF RIGHT [06-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-06
6 202047028739-POWER OF AUTHORITY [06-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-06
7 202047028739-FORM 18 [06-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-06
8 202047028739-FORM 1 [06-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-06
9 202047028739-DRAWINGS [06-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-06
10 202047028739-DECLARATION OF INVENTORSHIP (FORM 5) [06-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-06
11 202047028739-COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [06-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-06
12 202047028739-MARKED COPIES OF AMENDEMENTS [16-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-16
13 202047028739-FORM 13 [16-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-16
14 202047028739-AMMENDED DOCUMENTS [16-07-2020(online)].pdf 2020-07-16
15 202047028739-FORM 3 [01-06-2021(online)].pdf 2021-06-01
16 202047028739-FER.pdf 2021-11-10
17 202047028739-PETITION UNDER RULE 137 [10-05-2022(online)].pdf 2022-05-10
18 202047028739-PETITION UNDER RULE 137 [10-05-2022(online)]-1.pdf 2022-05-10
19 202047028739-FORM 3 [10-05-2022(online)].pdf 2022-05-10
20 202047028739-FER_SER_REPLY [10-05-2022(online)].pdf 2022-05-10
21 202047028739-PatentCertificate26-11-2024.pdf 2024-11-26
22 202047028739-IntimationOfGrant26-11-2024.pdf 2024-11-26

Search Strategy

1 SearchHistoryE_12-08-2021.pdf

ERegister / Renewals

3rd: 07 Jan 2025

From 31/01/2020 - To 31/01/2021

4th: 07 Jan 2025

From 31/01/2021 - To 31/01/2022

5th: 07 Jan 2025

From 31/01/2022 - To 31/01/2023

6th: 07 Jan 2025

From 31/01/2023 - To 31/01/2024

7th: 07 Jan 2025

From 31/01/2024 - To 31/01/2025

8th: 07 Jan 2025

From 31/01/2025 - To 31/01/2026