# US 10,871,892 B2 · Input device

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- Number: US 10,871,892 B2
- Document ID: US10871892B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/455,003
- Filed: 2019-06-27
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-01-28
- Assignees: KYOCERA Corporation
- Applicants: KYOCERA Corporation
- Inventors: Megumi Kuwabara; Junichi Ujii
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871892B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
- G06F 3/048: Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- G06F 2203/04105: Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An input device is disclosed. An input device comprises a display unit, an input unit, a load detection unit and a control unit. The display unit is configured to display an object of a folder with a hierarchical structure. The load detection unit is configured to detect a pressing load with respect to the input unit corresponding to the location of the object of the folder that is displayed on the display unit. The control unit opens and closes folders based on a change in the pressing load.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An input device, comprising:
a display configured to display a first object;
a load detector configured to detect a pressing load applied to the input device; and
a controller, wherein
in response to a sequence of the pressing load satisfying a first predetermined load for a predetermined period of time and falling below the first predetermined load, and the sequence being repeated a number of times without the pressing load being released, the controller determines that a number of successive normal touch operations has been conducted and displays a series of objects, each being different from the first object, a number of the objects corresponding to the number of times of repetition of the sequence, such that only one object from among the series of objects is displayed in response to the pressing load satisfying the first predetermined load; and
in response to the pressing load satisfying a second predetermined load, which is greater than the first predetermined load, for the predetermined period of time, the controller determines that a pressing touch operation, having more pressing force than the normal touch operation, has been conducted and displays a screen on which none of the series of objects is displayed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The input device according to claim 1, wherein
the period of time is a predetermined period of time for the load detector to determine that an input is received.

### Claim 3

A method of controlling an input device, the method comprising;
displaying a first object;
detecting a pressing load applied to the input device;
in response to a sequence of the pressing load satisfying a first predetermined load for a predetermined period of time and falling below the first predetermined load, and the sequence being repeated a number of times without the pressing load being released, the controller determines that a number of successive normal touch operations has been conducted and displays a series of objects, each being different from the first object, a number of the objects corresponding to the number of times of repetition of the sequence, such that only one object from among the series of objects is displayed in response to the pressing load satisfying the first predetermined load; and
in response to the pressing load satisfying a second predetermined load, which is greater than the first predetermined load, for the predetermined period of time, the controller determines that a pressing touch operation, having more pressing force than the normal touch operation, has been conducted and, upon the pressing load being released, displays a screen on which none of the series of objects is displayed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of controlling an input device according to claim 3, wherein
the period of time is a predetermined period of time for the load detector to determine that an input is received.