Input device, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an input device configured to output a signal carrying a value (or controlled variable) which varies in response to input operations performed by a finger or the like contacting and pressing a control panel. The present invention also relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a storage medium that stores a program, which use this input device.

#2. Description of Related Art

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an input device in an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIGS. 2A and 2B are a schematic sectional view and a plan view both showing an example of input operation involving pressing by a fingertip, in an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIGS. 3A and 3B are a schematic sectional view and a plan view both showing an example of input operation involving pressing by a finger pad, in an embodiment of the present invention;

#Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an input device in an embodiment of the present invention. An input device 1 includes, as shown in FIG. 1, a contact sensor section 2, pressure sensor sections 3, and a control section 4 for outputting a control signal in response to detected outputs from the contact sensor section 2 and the pressure sensor sections 3. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the contact sensor section 2 may include a touch sensor, a touch pad, or a touch panel, and correspond to the contact detection means of, e.g., capacitive, resistive type, for detecting physical contact of a finger or the like or with a surface (control input surface). However, in the present embodiment, the structure of the contact detection means may not be limited to such types and may be other type of the contact detection means as long as such contact detection means can detect a contact area over which a user touches with his/her finger or the like. The contact sensor section 2 used for the input device 1 of this embodiment also has, as described later, a function of detecting contact position at which the user touches with the finger. The pressure sensor sections 3, which serves as means for detecting a physical contact pressure, detect a force (pressing force) applied thereto when the user presses the control input surface with the finger or the like. It is also called a pressure-sensitive sensor, or a pressure detecting element, and may include, e.g., a piezoelectric element, a pressure/electric-resistance transducer.

#In the example of FIG. 1, the surface of a plate-shaped contact sensor section 2 serves as a control panel of the input device 1, and the pressure sensor sections 3 are disposed at, e.g., four corners of the underside of the contact sensor section 2, to support the plate-shaped contact sensor section 2. In this case, when the user touches and presses the surface of the contact sensor section 2, which serves as the control panel of the input device 1, with a finger or the like, a pressing force is applied to the pressure sensor sections 3 via the contact sensor section 2, whereby the pressing force through the finger or the like is detected by the pressure sensor sections 3. It should be noted that the input device 1 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1, but may include an example in which the plate-shaped contact sensor section is supported at, e.g., its four corners by spacers or the like, to allow a strain gauge or the like to be stuck to the underside of the contact sensor section to form a pressure sensor section. In this example, deformations of the plate-shaped contact sensor section by the finger or the like pressing the contact sensor section are detected by the strain gauge or the like, whereby a pressing force is detected.