# US 10,481,701 B2 · Operation input device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,701 B2 - Document ID: US10481701B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/608,233 - Filed: 2017-05-30 - Published: 2017-09-14 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-26 - Assignees: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hideki Kawamura; Nobuhito Tsubaki; Fumiya Isono; Takafumi Inoue; Takashi Kihara; Jun Endo; Masato Saito - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481701B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt} - A44C 5/0053: {Flexible straps} - G06F 3/02: Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials - H01H 3/02: Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch - H01H 13/04: Cases; Covers - H03K 17/964: {Piezoelectric touch switches} - H01H 2203/0085: Layered switches integrated into garment, clothes or textile - H01H 2300/016: Application timepiece - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - A44C: PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract An operation input device having an exterior portion that includes a band portion extending in a belt shape and having flexibility and a housing; and a control unit (23) that is housed in the exterior portion and performs input processing based on a detection signal indicating detection of a predetermined operation. The operation input device is provided with a deformation detection unit that outputs a detection signal associated with a deformation of the band portion or a deformation of the housing to the control unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An operation input device comprising: an exterior portion that includes a housing and a band portion extending in a belt shape; a control unit housed in the exterior portion and programmed to perform processing based on a detection signal; and a deformation detection unit disposed in one of the band portion and the housing, the deformation detection unit outputting the detection signal associated with a deformation of the band portion or a deformation of the housing to the control unit, wherein the exterior portion includes a body portion that is more rigid than the band portion and which houses the control unit, and the band portion includes: a first part adjacent to a first edge of the body portion in an extending direction of the band portion, and a second part adjacent to a second edge of the body portion in the extending direction of the band portion, and the deformation detection unit is attached to the first part of the band portion, wherein the deformation detection unit is a first deformation detection unit, and the operation input device further comprises a second deformation detection unit attached to the second part of the band portion, wherein the first deformation detection unit senses a first form of deformation of the band portion, and the second deformation detection unit senses the first form of deformation, and the operation input device further comprises a third deformation detection unit in the first part of the band portion, wherein the third deformation detection unit senses a second form of deformation of the band portion different from the first form of deformation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein the deformation detection unit is disposed in the band portion and the detection signal output to the control unit is based on a directionality of the deformation of the band portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein the deformation detection unit includes a piezoelectric film configured to deform in a stretching or contracting direction due to deformation of the band portion so as to generate a charge, and the piezoelectric film is disposed and wired so as to sense a bending deformation of the band portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The operation input device according to claim 3, wherein the piezoelectric film extends in a direction away from the body portion, and has a length larger than 5 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The operation input device according to claim 4, wherein the length of the piezoelectric film is from 7 mm to 31 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The operation input device according to claim 4, wherein the length of the piezoelectric film is from 15 mm to 25 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein the deformation detection unit includes a piezoelectric film that configured to deform in a stretching or contracting direction due to deformation of the band portion so as to generate a charge, and the piezoelectric film is disposed and wired so as to sense a twisting deformation around a lengthwise axis of the band portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein the deformation detection unit is disposed in both of the housing and the band portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a bottom face and a side face, and the deformation detection unit is provided on the side face. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The operation input device according to claim 1, further comprising: an acceleration sensor that detects whether or not the operation input device is in motion, wherein the control unit is constructed to turn on the acceleration sensor based on output of the deformation detection unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The operation input device according to claim 1, further comprising: an acceleration sensor that detects whether or not the operation input device is in motion, wherein the control unit is constructed to turn on the deformation detection unit based on output of the acceleration sensor. ### Claim 12 An operation input device comprising: an exterior portion that includes a housing and a band portion extending in a belt shape; a control unit housed in the exterior portion and programmed to perform processing based on a detection signal; and a deformation detection unit disposed in one of the band portion and the housing, the deformation detection unit outputting the detection signal associated with a deformation of the band portion or a deformation of the housing to the control unit, wherein the exterior portion includes a body portion that is more rigid than the band portion and which houses the control unit, and the band portion includes: a first part adjacent to a first edge of the body portion in an extending direction of the band portion, and a second part adjacent to a second edge of the body portion in the extending direction of the band portion, and the deformation detection unit is attached to the first part of the band portion, and wherein the deformation detection unit is a first deformation detection unit, and the operation input device further comprises a second deformation detection unit attached to the second part of the band portion; and the operation input device further comprises: a third deformation detection unit in the first part of the band portion, wherein the first deformation detection unit senses a first form of deformation of the band portion, and the third deformation detection unit senses a second form of deformation of the band portion different from the first form of deformation.