Input assistance device and input system
An input assistance device has a rotation support body having a central axis, an attachment mechanism that removably attaches the rotation support body to the panel surface of a sensor panel so that the central axis is along a direction perpendicular to the panel surface, and a rotational part supported by the rotation support body so as to be rotatable around the central axis. At least the side surface of the rotational part is formed from a conductive material. Conductive areas electrically connected to the side surface are allocated in part of a surface of the rotational part, the surface facing the panel surface.
1. An input assistance device for an input device including a sensor panel having a panel surface, the input assistance device comprising:
a rotation support body having a central axis;
an attachment mechanism that removably attaches the rotation support body to the panel surface so that the central axis is perpendicular to the panel surface; and
a rotational part rotatably supported by the rotation support body so as to rotate around the central axis, the rotational part including:
a side surface formed of a conductive material; and
a bottom surface facing the panel surface, the bottom surface having at least one conductive area electrically connected to the side surface,
wherein the attachment mechanism is a suction cup disposed on the bottom surface of the rotation support body, the suction cup adhering to the panel surface when the rotation support body is pressed against the panel surface along a direction of the central axis.
2. An input system comprising:
the input assistance device according to claim 1 ; and
the input device including the sensor panel having the panel surface, an input operation being performed according to a manipulation on the sensor panel.
3. The input system according to claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one conductive area includes a plurality of conductive areas provided along a circumference of a circle centered on the central axis; and
the input device further includes:
a position calculation unit that calculates positions of the plurality of conductive areas on the panel surface according to a result of detection by the sensor panel, and
a central position calculation unit that calculates a position of the central axis according to a result of calculation by the position calculation unit.
4. The input system according to claim 3 , wherein the input device further includes an image processing unit that changes an image to be displayed, according to the position of the central axis calculated by the central position calculation unit.
5. The input system according to claim 3 , wherein the input assistance device is formed of a transparent material.
6. An input assistance device for an input device including a sensor panel having a panel surface, the input assistance device comprising:
a rotation support body having a central axis, the rotation support body operating as a pressing manipulation body;
an attachment mechanism that removably attaches the rotation support body to the panel surface so that the central axis is perpendicular to the panel surface;
a rotational part rotatably supported by the rotation support body so as to rotate around the central axis, the rotational part including:
a side surface formed of a conductive material; and
a bottom surface facing the panel surface, the bottom surface having at least one conductive area electrically connected to the side surface; and
an elastic member that provides an elastic force biasing the rotation support body away from the panel surface,
wherein the rotation support body includes:
a manipulation part having a front surface formed of a conductive material; and
an axial part extending from the manipulation part along the central axis, the axial part providing conductivity from the front surface of the manipulation part to a bottom end of the axial part,
wherein when the manipulation part is not being manipulated, the elastic force of the elastic member separates the bottom end of the axial part from the panel surface by a predetermined distance, and when the manipulation part is pressed toward the panel surface along the central axis, a distance between the bottom end of the axial part and the panel surface becomes shorter than the predetermined distance such that the bottom end of the axial part comes close to the panel surface or comes into contact with the panel surface,
and wherein the attachment mechanism is a suction cup provided at the bottom end of the axial part, the suction cup adhering to the panel surface when the pressing manipulation body is pressed against the panel surface along the direction of the central axis.
7. An input system comprising:
the input assistance device according to claim 6 ; and
the input device including the sensor panel having the panel surface, an input operation being performed according to a manipulation on the sensor panel.
8. The input system according to claim 7 , wherein:
the at least one conductive area includes a plurality of conductive areas provided along a circumference of a circle centered on the central axis; and
the input device further includes:
a position calculation unit that calculates positions of the plurality of conductive areas on the panel surface according to a result of detection by the sensor panel, and
a central position calculation unit that calculates a position of the central axis according to a result of calculation by the position calculation unit.
9. The input system according to claim 8 , wherein the input device further includes an image processing unit that changes an image to be displayed, according to the position of the central axis calculated by the central position calculation unit.
10. The input system according to claim 8 , wherein the input assistance device is formed of a transparent material.
11. An input assistance device for an input device including a sensor panel having a panel surface, the input assistance device comprising:
a rotation support body having a central axis;
an attachment mechanism that removably attaches the rotation support body to the panel surface so that the central axis is perpendicular to the panel surface;
a rotational part rotatably supported by the rotation support body so as to rotate around the central axis, the rotational part including:
a side surface formed of a conductive material; and
a bottom surface facing the panel surface, the bottom surface having at least one conductive area electrically connected to the side surface,
wherein the rotation support body is a bearing circular ring, and the attachment mechanism includes:
a support member attached to the panel surface;
a base member movably supported on the support member; and
a fixing part for fixing and releasing the bearing circular ring to and from the base member,
and wherein the rotational part includes:
a rotational manipulation part rotatable around the central axis, the rotational part having a side surface formed of a conductive material;
a joining axial part extending from the rotational manipulation part along the central axis, the joining axial part being rotatably supported by the bearing circular ring; and
a rotational bottom part provided at an end of the joining axial part, the rotational bottom part having a bottom surface facing the panel surface, the bottom surface having at least one conductive area electrically connected to the side surface of the rotational manipulation part.
12. An input system comprising:
the input assistance device according to claim 11 ; and
the input device including the sensor panel having the panel surface, an input operation being performed according to a manipulation on the sensor panel.
13. The input system according to claim 12 , wherein:
the at least one conductive area includes a plurality of conductive areas provided along a circumference of a circle centered on the central axis; and
the input device further includes:
a position calculation unit that calculates positions of the plurality of conductive areas on the panel surface according to a result of detection by the sensor panel, and
a central position calculation unit that calculates a position of the central axis according to a result of calculation by the position calculation unit.
14. The input system according to claim 13 , wherein the input device further includes an image processing unit that changes an image to be displayed, according to the position of the central axis calculated by the central position calculation unit.
15. The input system according to claim 13 , wherein the input assistance device is formed of a transparent material.