Touch panel apparatus and electronic apparatus providing tactile feedback to an operator

A touch panel apparatus including:

• a display that displays a select-execute function key accepting selection and execution of a plurality of functions;
• a touch panel that is disposed on a display face of the display and accepts an operation performed by a user through the select-execute function key;
• a pressing force detector that detects a pressing force applied to the touch panel in response to the operation performed by the user through the select-execute function key;
• a vibration driver that vibrates the touch panel;
• and
• a controller that changes a function to be selected by the operation of the select-execute function key according to the pressing force detected by the pressing force detector and a plurality of preset thresholds to which the plurality of functions is assigned, and that executes the function when a redetermined amount of time elapses, during which the pressing force corresponding to the function is maintained within a range by the user,
• wherein, in a case in which the pressing force detected by the pressing force detector exceeds a maximum of the plurality of preset thresholds, the controller cancels execution of the plurality of functions.

An electronic apparatus comprising a touch panel apparatus including:

• a display that displays a select-execute function key accepting selection and execution of a plurality of functions;
• a touch panel that is disposed on a display face of the display and accepts an operation performed by a user through the select-execute function key;
• a detector of pressing force that detects a pressing force applied to the touch panel in response to the operation performed by the user through the select-execute function key;
• a vibration driver that vibrates the touch panel;
• and
• a controller that changes a function to be selected by the operation of the select-execute function key according to the pressing force detected by the detector and a plurality of preset thresholds to which the plurality of functions is assigned,
• wherein the controller causes:
• the touch panel to vibrate in a first vibration pattern by controlling the vibration driver every time the function is changed;
• the function to be executed when a predetermined amount of time elapses, during which the pressing force corresponding to the function is maintained within a range by the user;
• and
• the touch panel to vibrate in a second vibration pattern that is different from the first vibration pattern by controlling the vibration driver when the function is executed.

An electronic apparatus comprising a touch panel apparatus including:

• a display that displays a select-execute function key accepting selection and execution of a plurality of functions;
• a touch panel that is disposed on a display face of the display and accepts an operation performed by a user through the select-execute function key;
• a detector of pressing force that detects a pressing force applied to the touch panel in response to the operation performed by the user through the select-execute function key;
• a vibration driver that vibrates the touch panel;
• and
• a controller that changes a function to be selected by the operation of the select-execute function key according to the pressing force detected by the detector and a plurality of preset thresholds to which the plurality of functions is assigned, and that executes the function when a predetermined amount of time elapses, during which the pressing force corresponding to the function is maintained within a range by the user,
• wherein, in a case in which the pressing force detected by the detector exceeds a maximum of the plurality of preset thresholds, the controller cancels execution of the plurality of functions.