# US 9,001,069 B2 · Technique for executing a combined operation in response to a single press and release of a sensor unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,001,069 B2 - Document ID: US9001069B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/210,546 - Filed: 2014-03-14 - Published: 2014-09-25 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2003-06-16 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Koichi Goto; Mikiko Sakurai; Akio Yoshioka; Tatsushi Nashida - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9001069B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - H04N 21/41265: {having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device (unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204)} - H04N 21/42204: {User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor (constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205)} - H04N 21/42209: {for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic programme guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel} - H04N 21/42224: {Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control} - H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)} - H04N 21/47: End-user applications - H04N 21/4782: Web browsing {, e.g. WebTV} - H04N 21/482: End-user interface for programme selection - H04N 21/485: End-user interface for client configuration - G06F 2203/0339: Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys - H04N 5/74: Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor - H04N 21/42222: {Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A touch panel is constructed by a display/sensor unit which is slightly larger than a display screen of an LCD and a sensor unit which is projected to the outside from one side, for example, from one side on the right. A finger of the user is touched to a selection item such as desired button, icon, or the like on the display/sensor unit and vertically moved on the sensor unit. A selection display constructed by a plurality of buttons is displayed along the side of the display screen by the LCD. A button beside the finger is highlighted. When the finger is released, the highlighted button is selected. If there are no buttons adjacent to the finger, the button is not highlighted. Even if the finger is released, the state is not changed. When finger is moved to the display/sensor unit, the selection display disappears. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An input method using a sensor unit, in which the sensor unit is located to an outside of one side of a display screen, an instruction according to a touching position of a finger or a touch pen onto said sensor unit is given, and a controller generates a control signal on the basis of said instruction, comprising the steps of: displaying a selection display, comprising a plurality of selection menu items, on said display screen; highlighting one of said selection menu items in a position of a same height as that of the finger or the touch pen when the finger or the touch pen is vertically moved while keeping a state where the finger or the touch pen is touched onto the sensor unit; and automatically selecting said highlighted selection menu item upon lifting the finger or the touch pen, from constant contact with said sensor unit, in the position of the same height as that of the position of the highlighted selection item, wherein a single press and release contact operation of the finger or the touch pen with the sensor unit executes a combined operation (a) to highlight the selection, menu item and (b) to select the selection menu item on the selection display. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The input method according to claim 1, wherein by operating a predetermined button on the display screen, an instruction corresponding to said button is generated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The input method according to claim 1, wherein said selection display is finished when the linger or the touch pen is moved from said sensor unit to said display screen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The input method according to claim 1, wherein said selection display is a menu display. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The input method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of cancelling display of the selection display when the finger or the touch pen is slid along said sensor unit and moves off said sensor unit onto said display screen. ### Claim 6 An input method using a sensor unit, in which the sensor unit is located to an outside of one side of a display screen, an instruction according to a touching position of a finger or a touch pen onto said sensor unit is given, and a controller generates a control signal on the basis of said instruction, comprising the steps of: highlighting one of plural selection menu items on a selection display in a position of a same height as that of the finger or the touch pen when the finger or the touch pen is vertically moved white keeping a state where the finger or the touch pen is touched onto the sensor unit; and automatically selecting said highlighted selection menu item upon lifting the finger or the touch pen, from constant contact with said sensor unit, in the position of the same height as that of the position of the highlighted selection menu item, wherein a single press and slide operation of the finger or the touch pen with the sensor unit executes a combined operation (a) to highlight the selection menu item and (b) to cancel display of the selection display. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The input method according to claim 6, wherein by operating a predetermined button on the display screen, an instruction corresponding to said button is generated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The input method according to claim 6, wherein said selection display is finished when the finger or the touch pen is moved from said sensor unit to said display screen. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The input method according to claim 6, wherein said selection display is a menu display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The input method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of cancelling display of the selection display when the finger or the touch pen is slid along said sensor unit and moves off said sensor unit onto said display screen. ### Claim 11 An input method using a sensor unit, in which the sensor unit is located to an outside of one side of a display screen, an instruction according to a touching position of a finger or a touch pen onto said sensor unit is given, and a controller generates a control signal on the basis of said instruction, comprising the steps of: displaying a selection display, comprising a plurality of selection menu items on said display screen after the finger or the touch pen initially touches said sensor unit; highlighting said selection menu items in a position of a same height as that of the finger or the touch pen when the finger or the touch pen is vertically moved while keeping a state where the finger or the touch pen is touched onto the sensor unit; and automatically selecting said highlighted selection menu item upon lifting the finger or the touch pen, from constant contact with said sensor unit after being vertically slid along said sensor unit, in the position of the same height as that of the position of the highlighted selection menu item, wherein a single press, slide and release contact operation of the finger or the touch pen with the sensor unit executes a combined operation (a) to highlight a selection menu item and (b) to select a desired selection menu item on the selection display. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The input method according to claim 11, wherein by operating a predetermined button on the display screen, an instruction corresponding to said button is generated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The input method according to claim 11, wherein said selection display is finished when the finger or the touch pen is moved from said sensor unit to said display screen. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The input method according to claim 11, wherein Said selection display is a menu display. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The input method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of cancelling display of the selection display when the finger or the touch pen is slid along said sensor unit and moves off said sensor unit onto said display screen. ### Claim 16 An input method using a sensor unit, in which the sensor unit is located to an outside of one side of a display screen, an instruction according to a touching position of a finger or a touch pen into said sensor unit is given, and a controller generates a control signal on the basis of said instruction, comprising the steps of: highlighting selection menu items on a selection display in a position of a same height as that of the finger or the touch pen when the finger or the touch pen is vertically moved while keeping a state where the finger or the touch pen is touched onto the sensor unit; and automatically selecting said highlighted selection menu item upon lifting the finger or the touch pen, from constant contact with said sensor unit after being vertically slid along said sensor unit, in the position of the same height as that of the position of the highlighted selection menu item, wherein a single press, slide and release contact operation of the finger or the touch pen with the sensor unit executes a combined operation (a) to highlight a selection menu item and (b) to select a desired selection menu item on the selection display or to cancel display of the selection display. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The input method according to claim 16, wherein by operating a predetermined button on the display screen, an instruction corresponding to said button is generated. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The input method according to claim 16, wherein said selection display is finished when the finger or the touch pen is moved from said sensor unit to said display screen. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The input method according to claim 16, wherein said selection display is a menu display. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The input method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of cancelling display of the selection display when the finger or the touch pen is slid, along said sensor unit and moves off said sensor unit onto said display screen.