US 2003/0214526 A1Published application

Force applying device

AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.

InventorsHidetaka Numata, Mikio Onodera

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Abstract

A force applying device includes an operating unit for moving a cursor on a two-dimensional plane surface, actuators for applying forces to the operating unit in accordance with the movement of the operating unit, and a controlling unit for controlling the actuators. When the cursor is on a first area on the two-dimensional plane surface, a predetermined first force is applied to the operating unit. When the cursor is on a second area, a second force, which is different from the first force, is applied to the operating unit. The second force is stored in the first memory 10a, and the second area that provides the second force is disposed on the two-dimensional plane surface.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A force applying device comprising:

an operating unit for moving a cursor on a two-dimensional X-Y plane surface of a display;
at least one actuator for applying a force to the operating unit in accordance with the movement of the operating unit;
and
a controlling unit for controlling the at least one actuator,
wherein the two-dimensional plane surface has a first area and at least one second area;
wherein, when the cursor is on the first area, the at least one actuator applies a predetermined first force to the operating unit;
wherein, when the cursor is on the at least one second area, the at least one actuator applies a second force, which is different from the first force, to the operating unit;
wherein the second force defines a predetermined unit force pattern and is stored in a first memory;
and
wherein the at least one second area where the second force is provided is disposed on the two-dimensional plane surface.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.