IP Library Granted Patent US 11,592,922
Granted Patent B2
US 11,592,922 · App. 17/028,394 · Granted Feb 28, 2023

Input device and sound output system

Inventors: Jun Nakai (Kanagawa, JP); Takashi Okohira (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
G06F3/0414G06F3/016G06F3/0416G06F3/16H04R3/04H04R2430/01
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,592,922
App. No.
17/028,394
Granted
Feb 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An input device includes: a touch device configured to receive a user operation; an actuator configured to apply a vibration corresponding to a drive voltage to the touch device; and a processor. The processor is configured to: apply a first voltage to the actuator to vibrate the touch device with a first vibration in response to a touch-down during a touch operation, the touch-down in which a pressing force of a predetermined value or more is detected from start of touch to the touch device; and apply a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the actuator to vibrate the touch device with a second vibration in response to a touch release during the touch operation, the touch release in which a pressing force of a value lower than the predetermined value after the touch-down is detected.

Claims (49)

1. An input device comprising:

a touch device configured to receive a user operation;

an actuator configured to apply a vibration corresponding to a drive voltage to the touch device; and

a processor configured to:

apply a first voltage as the drive voltage to the actuator to vibrate the touch device with a first vibration in response to a touch-down during a touch operation, the touch-down in which a pressing force of a predetermined value or more is detected from a start of touch to the touch device; and

apply a second voltage as the drive voltage, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage, to the actuator to vibrate the touch device with a second vibration in response to a touch release during the touch operation, the touch release in which a pressing force of a value lower than the predetermined value after the touch-down is detected,

wherein the processor sets the first voltage to be higher than a threshold voltage and sets the second voltage to be equal to or lower than the threshold voltage in a case where the threshold voltage is a maximum value of the drive voltage that does not affect a noise level of an audio signal in a sound output device configured to reproduce and output the audio signal when the touch operation is made and is not made to the touch device.

2. The input device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor generates sound effects together with the first vibration and the second vibration.

3. The input device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the processor makes a volume of a second sound effect generated during the second vibration larger than a volume of a first sound effect generated during the first vibration.

4. The input device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor generates the first vibration for a predetermined time in response to the touch-down during the touch operation, then continuously generates the second vibration, and stops the second vibration after a predetermined time has elapsed from the touch release during the touch operation.

5. The input device according to claim 4 ,

wherein the processor generates a first sound effect together with the first vibration in response to the touch-down, and generates a second sound effect together with the second vibration in response to the touch release.

6. A sound output system comprising:

an input device comprising a touch device configured to receive a user operation, an actuator configured to apply a vibration corresponding to a drive voltage to the touch device, and a processor configured to control driving of the actuator;

a receiver configured to receive a radio signal and acquire a reception signal of the radio signal; and

a sound output device configured to reproduce and output an audio signal based on the radio signal,

wherein the processor is configured to:

apply a first voltage as the drive voltage to the actuator to vibrate the touch device with a first vibration in response to a touch-down during a touch operation, the touch-down in which a pressing force of a predetermined value or more is detected from a start of touch to the touch device;

apply a second voltage as the drive voltage, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage to the actuator to vibrate the touch device with a second vibration in response to a touch release during the touch operation, the touch release in which a pressing force of a value lower than the predetermined value after the touch-down is detected, and

perform a mute processing on the audio signal when the first vibration is generated.

7. The sound output system according to claim 6 ,

wherein the processor sets the first voltage to be higher than a threshold voltage and sets the second voltage to be equal to or lower than the threshold voltage in a case where the threshold voltage is a maximum value of the drive voltage that does not affect a noise level of the audio signal of the sound output device when the touch operation is made and is not made to the touch device.

8. The sound output system according to claim 6 ,

wherein the processor generates sound effects together with the first vibration and the second vibration.

9. The sound output system according to claim 8 ,

wherein the processor makes a volume of a second sound effect generated during the second vibration larger than a volume of a first sound effect generated during the first vibration.

10. The sound output system according to claim 6 ,

wherein the processor generates the first vibration for a predetermined time in response to the touch-down during the touch operation, then continuously generates the second vibration, and stops the second vibration after a predetermined time has elapsed from the touch release during the touch operation.

11. The sound output system according to claim 10 ,

wherein the processor generates a first sound effect together with the first vibration in response to the touch-down, and generates a second sound effect together with the second vibration in response to the touch release.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for controlling a system, the system comprising a touch device configured to receive a user operation and an actuator configured to apply a vibration corresponding to a drive voltage to the touch device, the program, when executed by a processor, causing the system to perform operations, the operations comprising:

applying a first voltage as the drive voltage to the actuator to vibrate the touch device with a first vibration in response to a touch-down during a touch operation, the touch-down in which a pressing force of a predetermined value or more is detected from a start of touch to the touch device;

applying a second voltage as the drive voltage, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage, to the actuator to vibrate the touch device with a second vibration in response to a touch release during the touch operation, the touch release in which a pressing force of a value lower than the predetermined value after the touch-down is detected; and

setting the first voltage to be higher than a threshold voltage and setting the second voltage to be equal to or lower than the threshold voltage in a case where the threshold voltage is a maximum value of the drive voltage that does not affect a noise level of an audio signal in a sound output device configured to reproduce and output the audio signal when the touch operation is made and is not made to the touch device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:

generating sound effects together with the first vibration and the second vibration.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:

making a volume of a second sound effect generated during the second vibration larger than a volume of a first sound effect generated during the first vibration.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein the operations further comprise:

generating the first vibration for a predetermined time in response to the touch-down during the touch operation, then continuously generating the second vibration, and stopping the second vibration after a predetermined time has elapsed from the touch release during the touch operation.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a first sound effect together with the first vibration in response to the touch-down, and generating a second sound effect together with the second vibration in response to the touch release.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 12 ,

wherein the system further comprises a receiver configured to receive a radio signal and acquire a reception signal of the radio signal and the sound output device configured to reproduce and output the audio signal based on the radio signal,

wherein the operations further comprise:

performing a mute processing on the audio signal when the first vibration is generated.

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 066703/0252 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2021
From: NAKAI, JUN; OKOHIRA, TAKASHI
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 055040/0465 →