Manipulation apparatus and manipulation teaching method for manipulation apparatus

A manipulation teaching method for teaching a manipulation to a manipulation apparatus that manipulates an image portion displayed on a display screen according to an input by a manipulation body to a manipulation surface,

• the manipulation teaching method comprising:
• a detecting step that detects a movement of the manipulation body;
• an acquiring step that acquires a manipulation body distance that is from the manipulation surface to the manipulation body;
• an associating step that
• distinguishes between (i) a first movement of the manipulation body detected in a first manipulation space providing the manipulation body distance being smaller than a predetermined threshold distance and (ii) a second movement of the manipulation body detected in a second manipulation space providing the manipulation body distance being equal to or greater than the threshold distance, and
• relates the first movement in the first manipulation space and the second movement in the second manipulation space, respectively, with a first image portion and a second image portion that are displayed on the display screen, the second image portion being different from the first image portion;
• a display controlling step that changes a display form of either the first image portion or the second image portion in response to the movement of the manipulation body,
• wherein
• in the display controlling step, a visual pattern is displayed, at least, on or around the first image portion on the display screen, the visual pattern corresponding to a shape of a tactile pattern that is formed on the manipulation surface with at least one of recesses and projections;
• and
• upon the manipulation body being separated from the first manipulation space, the visual pattern is displayed on the display screen.

A manipulation apparatus to manipulate an image portion displayed on a display screen according to an input by a manipulation body to a manipulation surface,

• the manipulation apparatus comprising:
• a detection circuit, and
• a manipulation control circuit,
• the manipulation control circuit and the detection circuit being configured to
• detect a movement of the manipulation body, and
• acquire a manipulation body distance that is from the manipulation surface to the manipulation body;
• the manipulation control circuit being further configured to
• distinguish between (i) a first movement of the manipulation body detected in a first manipulation space providing the manipulation body distance being smaller than a predetermined threshold distance and (ii) a second movement of the manipulation body detected in a second manipulation space providing the manipulation body distance being equal to or greater than the threshold distance,
• associate the first movement in the first manipulation space and the second movement in the second manipulation space, respectively, with a first image portion and a second image portion that are displayed on the display screen, the second image portion being different from the first image portion, and
• change, in response to the movement of the manipulation body, a display form of either the first image portion associated with the first movement or the second image portion associated with the second movement,
• wherein:
• the manipulation surface is provided to form a tactile pattern with at least one of recesses and projections;
• the manipulation control circuit displays a visual pattern corresponding to a shape of the tactile pattern, at least, on or around the first image portion on the display screen;
• and
• the manipulation control circuit
• displays
• a pointer portion as the first image portion, the pointer portion showing a location on the display screen that corresponds to a location of the manipulation body on the manipulation surface, and
• a standby image portion formed of the visual pattern being arranged off a center of the display screen, the standby image portion having an area that is larger than the pointer portion, and
• superimposes the pointer portion on the standby image portion when the manipulation body is separated from the first manipulation space.

A manipulation apparatus to manipulate an image portion displayed on a display screen according to an input by a manipulation body to a manipulation surface,

• the manipulation apparatus comprising:
• a detection circuit, and
• a manipulation control circuit,
• the manipulation control circuit and the detection circuit being configured to
• detect a movement of the manipulation body, and
• acquire a manipulation body distance that is from the manipulation surface to the manipulation body,
• the manipulation control circuit being further configured to
• distinguish between (i) a first movement of the manipulation body detected in a first manipulation space providing the manipulation body distance being smaller than a predetermined threshold distance and (ii) a second movement of the manipulation body detected in a second manipulation space providing the manipulation body distance being equal to or greater than the threshold distance,
• associate the first movement in the first manipulation space and the second movement in the second manipulation space, respectively, with a first image portion and a second image portion that are displayed on the display screen, the second image portion being different from the first image portion, and
• change, in response to the movement of the manipulation body, a display form of either the first image portion associated with the first movement or the second image portion associated with the second movement,
• wherein:
• the manipulation surface is provided to form a tactile pattern with at least one of recesses and projections;
• the manipulation control circuit displays a visual pattern corresponding to a shape of the tactile pattern, at least, on or around the first image portion on the display screen;
• and
• the manipulation control circuit displays, on the display screen,
• a selected image portion as the first image portion selected by manipulation in the first manipulation space, and
• a background image portion formed of the visual pattern, the background image portion providing a background of the selected image portion.