IP Library Granted Patent US 9,170,670
Granted Patent B2
US 9,170,670 · App. 14/234,491 · Granted Oct 27, 2015

Portable electronic device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,170,670
App. No.
14/234,491
Granted
Oct 27, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable electronic device includes a touch panel and a vibration unit. The touch panel being capable of detecting at least a distance between a pointer and the touch panel when the pointer is not in contact with the touch panel. The vibration unit vibrates when the distance between the pointer and the touch panel is not larger than a first distance and then reaches a second distance or more.

Claims (20)

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch panel; and

a vibration unit;

wherein the touch panel is capable of detecting at least a distance between a pointer and the touch panel when the pointer is not in contact with the touch panel;

wherein the vibration unit vibrates when the distance between the pointer and the touch panel is not larger than a first distance and then reaches a second distance or more and a time for which the distance is the second distance or more does not exceed a predetermined time; and

wherein the vibration unit does not vibrate when the time for which the distance is the second distance or more exceeds the predetermined time.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an acceleration sensor which detects acceleration of a body of the portable electronic device;

wherein the vibration unit vibrates when an output of the acceleration sensor is not smaller than predetermined acceleration and when the time for which the distance is the second distance or more does not exceed the predetermined time; and

wherein the vibration unit does not vibrate when the output of the acceleration sensor is smaller than the predetermined acceleration or when the time for which the distance is the second distance or more exceeds the predetermined time.

3. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch panel; and

a vibration unit;

wherein the touch panel is capable of detecting at least a distance between a pointer and the touch panel when the pointer is not in contact with the touch panel;

wherein the vibration unit performs vibration based on a first vibration pattern when the distance between the pointer and the touch panel is not larger than a first distance and then reaches a second distance or more and when the time for which the distance is the second distance or more does not exceed the predetermined time; and

wherein the vibration unit performs vibration based on a second vibration pattern different from the first vibration pattern when the time for which the distance is the second distance or more exceeds the predetermined time.

4. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration unit includes at least one of a vibrator, a piezoelectric actuator and a vibration actuator.

5. The portable electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein the vibration unit includes at least one of a vibrator, a piezoelectric actuator and a vibration actuator.

6. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first distance is equal to the second distance.

7. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first distance is smaller than the second distance.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 033033/0163 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2014
From: KANO, HIDEKAZU; SATOU, MITSURU
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032400/0272 →