IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,983,671
Granted Patent B2
US 9,983,671 · App. 14/948,576 · Granted May 29, 2018

Electronic device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,983,671
App. No.
14/948,576
Granted
May 29, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device 100 according to one embodiment includes: a panel 101 ; vibrators 102 that vibrates the panel 101 ; and a vibration controller 109 that controls the vibrators 102 so that when positions of the panel 101 are simultaneously touched by the user, a vibration at a first touch position of the touch positions is greater than a vibration of a second touch position of the touch positions. The vibrators 102 include a first and a second vibrator 102 . Where a distance between first touch position and the first vibrator 102 is equal to a distance between second touch position and the first vibrator 102 , a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel 101 between the first vibrator 102 and the first touch position is different from a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel 101 between the first vibrator 102 and the second touch position.

Claims (81)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a panel touched by a user;

a plurality of vibrators that vibrate the panel; and

a vibration controller that controls the plurality of vibrators so that when a plurality of positions of the panel are simultaneously touched by the user, a vibration at a first touch position of the plurality of touch positions is greater than a vibration of a second touch position of the plurality of touch positions, wherein:

the plurality of vibrators include a first and a second vibrator; and

where a distance between the first touch position and the first vibrator is equal to a distance between the second touch position and the first vibrator,

a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the first vibrator and the first touch position is different from a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the first vibrator and the second touch position,

wherein the electronic device further comprises a casing that supports the panel, and

the panel is secured to the casing in an asymmetric manner with respect to a center of the panel.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein:

where a distance between the first touch position and the second vibrator is equal to a distance between the second touch position and the second vibrator,

a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the second vibrator and the first touch position is different from a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the second vibrator and the second touch position.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the panel is secured to the casing in an asymmetric manner with respect to an axis that passes through a center of the panel and that is parallel to a planar direction of the panel.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the panel has an asymmetric planar shape with respect to a center of the panel.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the panel has an asymmetric planar shape with respect to an axis that passes through a center of the panel and that is parallel to a planar direction of the panel.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the panel has a thickness asymmetric with respect to a center of the panel.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the panel has a thickness asymmetric with respect to an axis that passes through a center of the panel and that is vertical to a planar direction of the panel.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second vibrators are arranged in a symmetric manner with respect to a center of the panel.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second vibrators are arranged in a symmetric manner with respect to an axis that passes through a center of the panel and that is parallel to a planar direction of the panel.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a panel touched by a user;

a plurality of vibrators that vibrate the panel; and

a vibration controller that controls the plurality of vibrators so that when a plurality of positions of the panel are simultaneously touched by the user, a vibration at a first touch position of the plurality of touch positions is greater than a vibration of a second touch position of the plurality of touch positions, wherein:

the plurality of vibrators include a first and a second vibrator; and

where a distance between the first touch position and the first vibrator is equal to a distance between the second touch position and the first vibrator,

a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the first vibrator and the first touch position is different from a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the first vibrator and the second touch position,

wherein the electronic device further comprises a casing that supports the panel,

the panel is supported on the casing with a securing member interposed therebetween; and

a shape of the securing member is asymmetric with respect to a center of the panel.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the panel is supported on the casing with a securing member interposed therebetween; and

the shape of the securing member is asymmetric with respect to an axis that passes through a center of the panel and that is parallel to a planar direction of the panel.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a panel touched by a user;

a plurality of vibrators that vibrate the panel; and

a vibration controller that controls the plurality of vibrators so that when a plurality of positions of the panel are simultaneously touched by the user, a vibration at a first touch position of the plurality of touch positions is greater than a vibration of a second touch position of the plurality of touch positions, wherein:

the plurality of vibrators include a first and a second vibrator; and

where a distance between the first touch position and the first vibrator is equal to a distance between the second touch position and the first vibrator,

a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the first vibrator and the first touch position is different from a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the first vibrator and the second touch position,

wherein the electronic device further comprises a casing that supports the panel,

the panel is supported on the casing with a securing member interposed therebetween; and

hardness of the securing member is varied in an asymmetric manner with respect to a center of the panel.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12 , wherein the panel is supported on the casing with a securing member interposed therebetween; and

hardness of the securing member is varied in an asymmetric manner with respect to an axis that passes through a center of the panel and that is parallel to a planar direction of the panel.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a panel touched by a user;

a plurality of vibrators that vibrate the panel; and

a vibration controller that controls the plurality of vibrators so that when a plurality of positions of the panel are simultaneously touched by the user, a vibration at a first touch position of the plurality of touch positions is greater than a vibration of a second touch position of the plurality of touch positions, wherein:

the plurality of vibrators include a first and a second vibrator; and

where a distance between the first touch position and the first vibrator is equal to a distance between the first touch position and the second vibrator,

a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the first vibrator and the first touch position is different from a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the second vibrator and the first touch position,

wherein the electronic device further comprises a casing that supports the panel, and

the panel is secured to the casing in an asymmetric manner with respect to a center of the panel.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14 , wherein the panel is secured to the casing in an asymmetric manner with respect to an axis that passes through a center of the panel and that is parallel to a planar direction of the panel.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a panel touched by a user;

a plurality of vibrators that vibrate the panel; and

a vibration controller that controls the plurality of vibrators so that when a plurality of positions of the panel are simultaneously touched by the user, a vibration at a first touch position of the plurality of touch positions is greater than a vibration of a second touch position of the plurality of touch positions, wherein:

the plurality of vibrators include a first and a second vibrator; and

where a distance between the first touch position and the first vibrator is equal to a distance between the first touch position and the second vibrator,

a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the first vibrator and the first touch position is different from a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the second vibrator and the first touch position,

wherein the electronic device further comprises a casing that supports the panel,

the panel is supported on the casing with a securing member interposed therebetween; and

a shape of the securing member is asymmetric with respect to a center of the panel.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16 , wherein the panel is supported on the casing with a securing member interposed therebetween; and

the shape of the securing member is asymmetric with respect to an axis that passes through a center of the panel and that is parallel to a planar direction of the panel.

18. The electronic device according to claim 16 , wherein:

where a distance between the second touch position and the first vibrator is equal to a distance between the second touch position and the second vibrator,

a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the first vibrator and the second touch position is different from a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the second vibrator and the second touch position.

19. An electronic device comprising:

a panel touched by a user;

a plurality of vibrators that vibrate the panel; and

a vibration controller that controls the plurality of vibrators so that when a plurality of positions of the panel are simultaneously touched by the user, a vibration at a first touch position of the plurality of touch positions is greater than a vibration of a second touch position of the plurality of touch positions, wherein:

the plurality of vibrators include a first and a second vibrator; and

where a distance between the first touch position and the first vibrator is equal to a distance between the first touch position and the second vibrator,

a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the first vibrator and the first touch position is different from a transfer characteristic of vibration of the panel between the second vibrator and the first touch position,

wherein the electronic device further comprises a casing that supports the panel,

the panel is supported on the casing with a securing member interposed therebetween; and

hardness of the securing member is varied in an asymmetric manner with respect to a center of the panel.

20. The electronic device according to claim 19 , wherein the panel is supported on the casing with a securing member interposed therebetween; and

hardness of the securing member is varied in an asymmetric manner with respect to an axis that passes through a center of the panel and that is parallel to a planar direction of the panel.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066703/0209 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2015
From: ADACHI, YUSUKE; HIROSE, YOSHIFUMI
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 037253/0522 →