Control input device with vibrating function

A vibration-function-equipped control input system comprising:

• a display panel operable to display a control screen;
• a touch panel disposed on the display panel, an area of the touch panel defining a control key, the control key being displayed on the control screen in the area of the touch panel defining the control key and configured to adjust a setting of a control object controlled by the control key when the at least a portion of the area of the touch panel defining the control key is pressed;
• a pressure-position detector operable to detect a position of the touch panel pressed;
• a position comparing section operable to determine if the pressed position of the touch panel is within a same area as the area of the touch panel defining the control key;
• a vibration section operable to generate vibration to apply to the touch panel;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the display panel, the touch panel, the pressure-position detector, the position comparing section, and the vibration section, wherein
• the controller directs the vibration section to generate a vibration for confirming a key entry when the position comparing section determines that the pressed position of the touch panel is within the area of the touch panel defining the control key;
• and
• when the position comparing section determines that the pressed position of the touch panel is within the area of the touch panel defining the control key, a timer starts measuring a time elapsed during which the pressed position of the touch panel (1) remains within the area of the touch panel defining the control key and (2) has been continuously pressed, and
• the controller further directs the vibration section to generate a first vibration pattern at the area of the touch panel defining the control key when the time elapsed that the pressed position of the touch panel remains within the area of the touch panel defining the control key and has been continuously pressed reaches a predetermined time to confirm the entry of long key press, and subsequently directs the vibration section to generate a second vibration pattern at the area of the touch panel defining the control key when a setting of a gradually varying value of the control object controlled by the continued pressing of at least a portion of the area of the touch panel defining the control key has passed a predetermined reference point.

A vibration-function-equipped control input system comprising:

• a display panel operable to display a control screen;
• a touch panel disposed on the display panel, an area of the touch panel dedicated to a control key, the control key being displayed on the control screen and configured to adjust a setting of a control object controlled by pressing at least a portion of the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key;
• a pressure-position detector operable to detect a position of the touch panel pressed;
• a position comparing section operable to determine if the pressed position of the touch panel is within a same area of the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key;
• a vibration section operable to generate vibration to apply to the touch panel;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the display panel, the touch panel, the pressure-position detector, the position comparing section, and the vibration section, wherein
• when the position comparing section determines that the pressed position of the touch panel is within the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key, a timer starts measuring a time elapsed during which the pressed position of the touch panel (1) remains within the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key and (2) has been continuously pressed, and
• the controller directs the vibration section to generate a first vibration pattern at the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key when the time elapsed during which the pressed position of the touch panel (a) remains within the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key and (b) has been continuously pressed reaches a predetermined time to confirm entry of a long key press, and subsequently directs the vibration section to generate a second vibration pattern at the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key when a setting of the control object controlled by pressing at least a portion of the area of the touch panel dedicated to the control key has reached a predefined value.