(12) United States Patent
`Shinozaki et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`Sep. 6, 2016
`
`USOO9436376B2
`
`(54) LOAD REQUIRED TO CANCEL AN INPUT
`ON A TOUCH SENSOR IS ADJUSTED WHEN
`THE SLIDE OF A TOUCH OBJECTS
`DETECTED
`(75) Inventors: Takayuki Shinozaki, Kanagawa (JP);
`Makoto Tomizu, Kanagawa (JP)
`(73) Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation, Kyoto (JP)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 182 days.
`(21) Appl. No.:
`13/635,829
`(22) PCT Filed:
`Feb. 24, 2011
`(86). PCT No.:
`PCT/UP2011/001077
`S 371 (c)(1),
`Sep. 18, 2012
`(2), (4) Date:
`(87) PCT Pub. No.: WO2011/114630
`PCT Pub. Date: Sep. 22, 2011
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2013 FOO16056A1
`Jan. 17, 2013
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`(30)
`
`(65)
`
`Mar. 18, 2010 (JP) ................................. 2010-062971
`
`(2006.01)
`(2013.01)
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`G06F 3/04
`G06F 3/0486
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ........... G06F 3/0486 (2013.01); G06F 3/0414
`(2013.01); G06F 3/0416 (2013.01)
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`None
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2/2002 Robotham et al. ........... 345,863
`2002fOO15064 A1
`2/2004 Hoshino et al. ...
`... 345,173
`2004/0021643 A1
`2010/0057235 A1* 3/2010 Wang et al. .................... TOO.94
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`CN
`JP
`JP
`
`1845043 A 10, 2006
`2000-2001.47 A
`T 2000
`2004070492 A * 3, 2004
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`An Office Action; "Decision of Rejection,” issued by the Japanese
`Patent Office on Nov. 12, 2013, which corresponds to Japanese
`Patent Application No. 2012-505475 and is related to U.S. Appl.
`No. 13/635,829; with English concise explanation.
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner — Ilana Spar
`Assistant Examiner — Kirk Hermann
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Studebaker & Brackett PC
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`An electronic device for receiving an input based on a
`pressure load that reduces a risk of ending a drag operation
`despite a user's intention is provided.
`The electronic device includes a touch sensor configured to
`detect a touch by a touch object, a load detection unit
`configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face of the
`touch sensor, and a control unit configured to enter or cancel
`an input receiving state for receiving an input based on the
`pressure load detected by the load detection unit. The control
`unit, in the input receiving state, controls to make a standard
`load for canceling the input receiving state when a slide of
`the touch object touching the touch face is detected and a
`standard load for canceling the input receiving state when
`the slide of the touch object touching the touch face is not
`detected different from each other.
`4 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`. TOUCH TO OBJECT IS DETECTED AND
`RESSURELOAD SATSFIES INPUT
`RECEWING STANDARD OAFA
`Yes
`
`S101
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE INPUT AND
`SELECT OBECT
`
`S02
`
`No.
`
`PRESSVRELOADSATISFIES XP
`CANCELSG STANDARD LOAD FR:
`Y8S
`
`DETECTSLIDER
`
`CANE INPUT CANELING
`STANDARD LOAD (Fr - Fr's
`
`SiO5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PRESSURELOACOES NOT
`SATISFY CHARGED IUT CANGELI
`STANDARD LOAD FR'?
`
`O
`
`S108
`
`(ANCELSPUT RECEPT)08
`AND ORFCEEC
`
`
`
`DETECT SLIDE Yes
`
`ChE INPUT ANELIN3
`
`sitor-S110
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 1 of 18
`
`

`

`US 9,436,376 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`7/2005
`2005-196810 A
`2, 2006
`2006-039.745. A
`2006-311224 A 11 2006
`200708011O A * 3, 2007
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-505475 and is related to U.S.
`Appl. No. 13/635,829; with Concise Explanation.
`International Search Report; PCT/JP2011/001077; Apr. 12, 2011.
`An Office Action: “Notification of the First Office Action,” issued by
`the State Intellectual Property Office of China on Sep. 25, 2014.
`which corresponds to Chinese Patent Application No.
`2011800 14549.0 and is related to U.S. Appl. No. 13/635,829; with
`English translation.
`
`An Office Action: “Notice of Reasons for Rejection,” issued by the
`Japanese Patent Office on Aug. 13, 2013, which corresponds to
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 2 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 6, 2016
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`A/G /
`
`15
`
`CONTROL UNIT
`
`
`
`11 a
`
`
`
`11
`
`t
`
`LOAD DETECTION
`UNIT
`
`12
`
`DISPLAY UNIT
`
`MEMORY UNIT
`
`14
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 3 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 6, 2016
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`A/G 2
`
`S101
`
`TOUCH TO OBJECT IS DETECTED AND
`PRESSURE LOAD SATSFES INPUT
`RECEIVING STANDARD LOAD FA
`
`
`
`Yes
`
`RECEIVE INPUT AND
`
`
`
`S102
`
`No MPRESSURE LOAD SATSFIES INPUT
`CANCELING STANDARD LOAD FR
`
`DETECT SLIDE?
`
`Yes
`
`CHANGE INPUT CANCELING
`STANDARD LOAD (Fr -> Fr')
`
`S105
`
`
`
`
`
`GA)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DRAG OPERATION
`
`PRESSURE LOAD DOES NOT
`SATISFY CHANGED INPUT CANCELN
`STANDARD LOAD FR 2
`Yes
`
`
`
`S108
`
`CANCEL INPUT RECEPTION
`AND DROP OBJECT
`
`DETECT SLIDE?
`
`No
`
`CHANGE INPUT CANCELING
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 4 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 6, 2016
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 5 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 6, 2016
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`A/G 4
`
`O
`
`13
`
`(a)
`
`F
`
`11 a
`
`11
`
`
`
`(b)
`
`(c)
`
`13
`
`13
`
`11 a
`
`11
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 6 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 6, 2016
`
`Sheet 5 Of 9
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`TOUCH TO OBJECT IS DETECTED AND
`PRESSURE LOAD SATSFES INPUT
`RECEIVING STANDARD LOAD FA
`
`Yes
`
`RECEIVE INPUT AND
`
`GA)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`No MPRESSURE LOAD SATSFIES INPUT
`CANCELING STANDARD LOAD FR
`
`DETECT SLIDE?
`
`Yes
`
`CALCULATE SLIDING SPEED
`
`CHANGE INPUT CANCELING
`STANDARD LOAD BASED ON
`SLIDING SPEED (Fr - Fr” )
`
`DRAG OPERATION
`
`PRESSURE LOAD DOES NOT
`ATSFY CHANGED INPUT CANCELN
`STANDARD LOAD FR' '
`)
`Yes
`
`
`
`S108
`
`CANCEL INPUT RECEPTION
`AND DROP OBJECT
`
`A/G 5
`
`S101
`
`S102
`
`DETECT SLIDE?
`
`No
`
`CHANGE INPUT CANCELING
`STANDARD LOAD (Fr" -> Fr)
`
`S205
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 7 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 6, 2016
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`ONIGITS I HVIS
`
`
`
`
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 8 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 6, 2016
`
`Sheet 7 Of 9
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`TOUCH TO OBJECT IS DETECTED AND
`PRESSURE LOAD SATSFES INPUT
`RECEIVING STANDARD LOAD FA
`
`Yes
`
`RECEIVE INPUT AND
`
`GA)
`
`A/G 7
`
`S101
`
`S102
`
`No MPRESSURE LOAD SATSFIES INPUT
`CANCELING STANDARD LOAD FR
`
`
`
`DETECT SLIDE?
`
`Yes
`
`CHANGE INPUT CANCELNG
`STANDARD LOAD (Fr -> Fr')
`
`S105
`
`DRAG OPERATION
`
`PRESSURE LOAD DOES NOT
`SATISFY CHANGED INPUT CANCELN
`STANDARD LOAD FR 2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S108
`
`CANCEL INPUT RECEPTION
`AND DROP OBJECT
`
`DETECT SLIDE?
`
`No
`
`No / DETECTED PRESSURE LOAD
`SATISFES NEW STANDARD?
`Yes
`
`S301
`
`CHANGE INPUT CANCELING
`STANDARD LOAD (Fr' - Fr)
`
`S110
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 9 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 6, 2016
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 10 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 6, 2016
`
`Sheet 9 Of 9
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 11 of 18
`
`

`

`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`1.
`LOAD REQUIRED TO CANCEL AN INPUT
`ON A TOUCH SENSOR IS ADJUSTED WHEN
`THE SLIDE OF A TOUCH OBJECTS
`DETECTED
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application claims priority to and the benefit of
`Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-62971 filed on Mar.
`18, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated
`herein by reference.
`
`10
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`15
`
`The present invention relates to an electronic device, and
`more specifically, to an electronic device for performing a
`drag operation.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`Input apparatuses of mobile terminals such as mobile
`phones, for example, used by users to operate the terminals
`have been developed in a variety of manners according to
`functions and usages of each of the terminals. In many cases,
`the input apparatus is configured to allow the user to perform
`an operation input by directly pressing down a mechanical
`key or button disposed on a face of a body of the mobile
`terminal.
`Such mechanical keys (for example, a numerical keypad)
`of the input apparatus of the terminal are normally prelimi
`narily arranged based on a main usage of the terminal.
`Accordingly, such original arrangement of the mechanical
`keys may generally not be changed.
`Incidentally, a variety of functions are incorporated in
`Small mobile terminals, such as functions for a digital
`camera and a music player. For example, recent mobile
`terminals such as mobile phones have numerous Supplemen
`tary functions incorporated therein in addition to a main
`function, and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant: mobile
`information terminal) have a plurality of main usages Such
`as Schedule management, an address book and the like. With
`the keys of Such terminals fixedly arranged, the user may
`feel significantly inconvenient in using some functions.
`45
`In order to solve such inconvenience in operation input,
`there is disclosed an input apparatus having a touch panel
`constituted by using a transparent input unit arranged on top
`of a liquid crystal display constituting a display unit (for
`example, see Patent Document 1). The input apparatus
`having Such a touch panel generally displays graphical
`images of operation keys and buttons (hereinafter, referred
`to as an “object') for the input operation on a display Screen
`of the touch panel. When the user presses the object dis
`played on the display Screen, the input unit receives an input
`at a corresponding position on the touch panel.
`Since the input apparatus having the touch panel receives
`an input in the form of a user's direct contact (touch) to the
`object displayed on the display unit, the user may perform
`the input operation highly intuitively. That is, the user
`operates the input apparatus at the fingertip and the like by
`directly touching the object displayed on the display screen,
`following a guide displayed on the display screen of the
`touch panel. Accordingly, the user may operate the terminal
`extremely easily by an intuitive operation following the
`navigation displayed on the display screen, which offers an
`effect to reduce erroneous operations as a result.
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`As described above, since the touch panel increases a
`freedom of configuration of the input unit and allows the
`user to perform the operation input fairly instinctively,
`terminal apparatuses having the input apparatus with the
`touch panel have become more popular.
`Incidentally, in order to further improve operability of the
`touch panel, there is Suggested an input apparatus that has a
`load detection unit for detecting a pressure of a pressing
`operation to the touch panel and may receive an input based
`on the pressure load of an input by the user (for example, see
`Patent Document 2). This input apparatus may control not to
`receive the input unless the pressure on the touch panel is
`equal to or over a certain value. This input apparatus,
`accordingly, may prevent the erroneous operation to receive
`the input when the user lightly touches the touch panel
`inadvertently.
`
`RELATED ART DOCUMENTS
`
`Patent Documents
`
`Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006
`311224
`Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006
`O39745
`
`SUMMARY OF INVENTION
`
`Technical Problem
`
`The following is an assumed operation as the drag opera
`tion to change a display position of the object by the input
`apparatus for receiving the input based on the pressure
`applied by the user.
`First, the input apparatus sets a standard load (referred to
`as an "input receiving standard load”) for receiving the input
`and another standard load (referred to as an "input canceling
`standard load”) for canceling the input. Then, when the
`pressure load detection unit detects the pressure load satis
`fying (exceeding) the input receiving standard load, the
`input apparatus receives the input. When the load detection
`unit, after the input is received, detects the pressure load not
`satisfying (“equal to’ or “below) the input canceling stan
`dard load, the input apparatus cancels the received input.
`In the drag operation to change the display position of the
`object, when a finger or a stylus pen performing the input
`operation slides on the touch panel while the pressure load
`of the input operation (touch) to the object displayed on the
`display unit is satisfying the input receiving standard load,
`the drag operation starts in response to such slide. Thereby,
`the object is displayed at the position on the display unit
`corresponding to the sliding finger or the like. Then, when
`the pressure load of the input operation (touch) to the object
`stops satisfying the input canceling standard load, the object
`being dragged is dropped. That is, when the load detection
`unit detects the pressure load not satisfying the input can
`celing standard load, the object being dragged is displayed
`at the position on the display unit touched by the touch
`object such as the finger or the like. Thereby, the drag
`operation ends.
`In the drag operation of the input apparatus for receiving
`the input based on the pressure applied by the user, since
`whether to start or end dragging the object is determined
`based on the pressure load detected by the load detection
`unit, there is a risk that the drag operation is ended despite
`the user's intention. That is, when the display position of the
`object is moved in the drag operation, the object being
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 12 of 18
`
`

`

`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`4
`Effect of the Invention
`
`3
`dragged may be dropped at an unintended position. For
`example, in order to start dragging, the user needs to slide
`the finger or the like applying the pressure on the object.
`That is, the user needs to apply a force in a horizontal
`direction in addition to a force in the vertical direction,
`which has been applied on the object before the user slides
`the finger or the like. Accordingly, even when the pressure
`(Scalar quantity) on the input apparatus by the user is the
`same before and after the user starts sliding, a vector of the
`pressure on the input apparatus is changed between before
`and after the slide. After start of the slide, therefore, the
`pressure in the vertical direction decreases as the pressure in
`the horizontal direction increases. When the pressure in the
`vertical direction decreases as described above, the pressure
`load detected by the load detection unit does not satisfy the
`input canceling standard load, whereby the object may be
`dropped unintentionally.
`During the slide, similarly, when the pressure in the
`horizontal direction is increased for the purpose of increas
`ing a sliding speed, the pressure load in the vertical direction
`decreases unintentionally, whereby the object may be
`dropped unintentionally as a result.
`Accordingly, an object of the present invention in con
`sideration of Such conditions is to provide an electronic
`device that reduces the risk of ending the drag operation
`despite the users intention.
`
`Solution to Problem
`
`According to the electronic device of the present inven
`tion, a risk of ending a drag operation despite a user's
`intention is reduced.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an
`electronic device according to a first embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a drag operation of the
`electronic device according to the first embodiment;
`FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a change in a pressure load
`detected by a load detection unit of the electronic device
`according to the first embodiment;
`FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c are diagrams illustrating states in a
`sliding operation of the electronic device according to the
`first embodiment;
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the drag operation of the
`electronic device according to a second embodiment;
`FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating the change in the pressure
`load detected by the load detection unit of the electronic
`device according to the second embodiment;
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the drag operation of the
`electronic device according to a third embodiment;
`FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating the change in the pressure
`load detected by the load detection unit of the electronic
`device according to the third embodiment; and
`FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating the change in the pressure
`load detected by the load detection unit of the electronic
`device according to a fourth embodiment.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
`
`Embodiments of the present invention will be described
`with reference to the accompanying drawings.
`
`First Embodiment
`
`In order to solve the above problems, an electronic device
`according to a first aspect of the present invention includes:
`a touch sensor configured to detect a touch by a touch
`object;
`a load detection unit configured to detect a pressure load
`on a touch face of the touch sensor, and
`a control unit configured to control to enter or cancel an
`input receiving State for receiving an input based on the
`pressure load detected by the load detection unit, wherein
`the control unit, in the input receiving state, controls to
`make a standard load for canceling the input receiving State
`when a slide of the touch object touching the touch face is
`detected and a standard load for canceling the input receiv
`ing state when the slide of the touch object touching the
`touch face is not detected different from each other.
`A second aspect of the present invention is the electronic
`device according to the first aspect, wherein
`the control unit calculates a sliding speed of the touch
`object touching the touch face and controls to set the
`standard load for canceling the input receiving state when
`the slide is detected, based on the sliding speed.
`A third aspect of the present invention is the electronic
`device according to the first or second aspect, wherein
`the control unit, when setting a new standard load for
`canceling the input receiving state in the input receiving
`state, if the pressure load detected by the load detection unit
`does not satisfy the new standard load for canceling the input
`receiving state, controls not to set the new standard load.
`A fourth aspect of the present invention is the electronic
`device according to the first or second aspect, wherein
`the control unit, when setting the new standard load for
`canceling the input receiving state in the input receiving
`state, if the pressure load detected by the load detection unit
`does not satisfy a standard, made by adjusting the new
`standard load for canceling the input receiving state in a
`predetermined manner, controls not to set the new standard
`load.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an
`electronic device 10 according to a first embodiment of the
`present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the electronic
`device 10 includes a touch sensor 11, a load detection unit
`12, a display unit 13, a memory unit 14 and a control unit 15
`for controlling overall operations.
`The touch sensor 11 detects a touch to a touch face 11a by
`a touch object such as a finger or a stylus pen (hereinafter,
`referred to simply as a “touch object’) and may include a
`known type. Such as a resistive film type, a capacitive type,
`an optical type and the like and is disposed on the display
`unit 13. A physical touch by the touch object is not necessary
`for the touch sensor 11 to detect the touch. For example,
`when the touch sensor 11 is of the optical type, the touch
`sensor 11 detects a position where an infrared ray or the like
`on the touch sensor 11 is blocked by the touch object.
`Accordingly, the touch object does not need physically touch
`the touch sensor 11. The load detection unit 12 detects a
`pressure load of a pressing input and detects, for example,
`the pressure load on the touch face 11a of the touch sensor
`11. The load detection unit 12 is configured by using
`elements such as, for example, a strain gauge sensor or a
`piezoelectric element that reacts to a load.
`The display unit 13 displays an input object (icon) and
`may be configured by using, for example, a liquid crystal
`display panel, an organic EL display panel or the like. The
`touch by the touch object to the input object such as an
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 13 of 18
`
`

`

`5
`operation key or a button displayed on the display unit 13
`(hereinafter, referred to simply as the “object') is detected
`by the control unit 15 based on position information output
`from the touch sensor 11. When a predetermined operation
`is performed to the input object, the control unit 15 starts an
`operation and activates an application corresponding to the
`input object.
`The memory unit 14 Stores various applications and a
`variety of input information, as well as functioning as a work
`memory. The memory unit 14 temporarily stores the pres
`sure load on the touch face 11a detected by the load
`detection unit 12 for an operation of the control unit 15.
`The control unit 15 may be constituted by using, for
`example, a CPU and the like and performs a drag operation
`based on position information from the touch sensor 11 and
`information about the pressure load from the load detection
`unit 12.
`Next, the drag operation of the electronic device 10
`according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2
`is a flowchart illustrating the drag operation of the electronic
`device 10 according to the present embodiment for moving
`a display position of the object on the display unit 13.
`First, the control unit 15 detects the touch to the object
`displayed on the display unit 13 by using the touch sensor 11
`and determines whether the pressure load detected by the
`load detection unit 12 satisfies a standard load Fa for
`receiving the input (hereinafter, referred to as an “input
`receiving standard load”) (step S101). When the control unit
`15 determines that the pressure load detected by the load
`detection unit 12 satisfies the input receiving standard load
`Fa, the control unit 15 enters an input receiving state for
`receiving an input based on the touch of the touch object
`detected by the touch sensor 11. When the control unit 15
`determines that the touch sensor 11 is detecting the touch at
`a position corresponding to the object displayed on the
`display unit 13 and the pressure load detected by the load
`detection unit 12 satisfies the input receiving standard load
`Fa, the control unit 15 selects the object (step S102).
`After step S102, the control unit 15 determines whether
`the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12
`satisfies a standard load Fr for canceling the input (herein
`after, referred to as an "input canceling standard load”),
`which is lower than the input receiving standard load Fa
`(step S103). When the control unit 15 determines that the
`pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12 satisfies
`the input canceling standard load Fr., the control unit 15
`proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, when the control
`unit 15 determines that the pressure load detected by the load
`detection unit 12 does not satisfy the input canceling stan
`dard load Fr, the control unit 15 proceeds to step S108,
`which will be described below.
`At step S104, the control unit 15 determines whether the
`touch object Such as the finger or the like touching the
`selected object is sliding. That is, the control unit 15
`determines whether a touch position of the touch object
`detected by the touch sensor 11 is moving. When the control
`unit 15 determines that the touch object touching the
`selected object is moving, the control unit 15 controls to set
`an input canceling standard load Fr different from the input
`canceling standard load Fr (step S105). The input canceling
`standard load Fr different from the input canceling standard
`load Fr is referred to as a changed input canceling standard
`load Fr. The changed input canceling standard load Fr' is set
`for the purpose of, when the touch object touching the
`selected object is sliding and the control unit 15 is executing
`the drag operation of the object, preventing from canceling
`the input receiving state as the load detection unit 12 detects
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`6
`the pressure load that does not satisfy the input canceling
`standard load Fr due to a change in a pressure unintended by
`a user. In order to prevent cancel of the input receiving state,
`the control unit 15 may set the changed input canceling
`standard load Fr' to be lower than the original input cancel
`ing standard load Fr.
`After step S105, the control unit 15 executes the drag
`operation and controls such that the selected object dis
`played on the display unit 13 is moved and displayed at a
`position on the display unit 13 corresponding to a sliding
`position (touching position) of the touch object on the touch
`face 11a of the touch sensor 11 (step S106). On the other
`hand, when the control unit 105 determines at step S104 that
`the touch object touching the selected object is not sliding,
`the control unit 15 returns to step S103.
`After step S106, the control unit 15 determines whether
`the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12 does
`not satisfy the changed input canceling standard load Fr
`(step S107). When the control unit 15 determines that the
`pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12 does not
`satisfy the changed input canceling standard load Fr', the
`control unit 15 cancels the input receiving state and drops
`the selected object at the position on the display unit 13
`corresponding to the touching position of the touch object on
`the touch face 11a of the touch sensor 11 (that is, the control
`unit 15 determines the position of the selected object) (step
`S108). When this process at step S108 is finished, the
`operation ends.
`On the other hand, when the control unit 105 determines
`at step S107 that the pressure load detected by the load
`detection unit 12 satisfies the changed input canceling
`standard load Fr', the control unit 15 determines whether the
`touch object Such as the finger or the like touching the
`selected object is sliding (step S109). When the control unit
`105 determines at step S109 that the touch object touching
`the selected object is not sliding, the control unit 15 controls
`to restore the changed input canceling standard load Fr to
`the original input canceling standard load Fr (step S110).
`After finishing the process at step S110, the control unit 15
`returns to step S103. On the other hand, when the control
`unit 105 determines at step S109 that the touch object such
`as the finger or the like touching the selected object is
`sliding, the control unit 15 returns to step S106 and contin
`ues the operation.
`In the above, the (input receiving or input canceling)
`standard load is described to be satisfied. Here, “when the
`standard load is satisfied’ may be, by using a value of the
`standard load as a “threshold of the pressure load', for
`example, “when the pressure load detected by the load
`detection unit 12 reaches the value of the standard load’.
`However, a condition to determine that “the standard load is
`satisfied' is not limited thereto but may be “when the
`pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12 exceeds
`the value of the standard load' or “when load detection unit
`12 detects the pressure load equal to or over the value of the
`standard load’.
`In the above, also, the (input receiving or input canceling)
`standard load is described to be not satisfied. Here, “when
`the standard load is not satisfied’ may be, by using the value
`of the standard load as the “threshold of the pressure load’.
`for example, “when the pressure load detected by the load
`detection unit 12 is equal to or smaller than the value of the
`standard load’. However, a condition to determine that “the
`standard load is not satisfied' is not limited thereto but may
`be “when the pressure load detected by the load detection
`unit 12 falls under the value of the standard load’.
`
`APPL-1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 14 of 18
`
`

`

`7
`FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a change in the pressure load
`detected by the load detection unit 12 of the electronic
`device 10 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, an
`X-axis represents an elapse and a Y-axis represents the
`pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12. In FIG.
`3, also, an original time point (0) represents a time point
`when the user touches the touch face 11a of the touch sensor
`11, at which the pressure load is 0.
`As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the user touches the object
`displayed on the display unit 13 and applies the pressure on
`the touch face 11a, the pressure load detected by the load
`detection unit 12 increases with time. At a time point t1
`when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12
`reaches (satisfies) the input receiving standard load Fa, the
`control unit 15 enters the input receiving state. Thereby, the
`input to the object is received and the object is selected.
`When the control unit 15 is not in the input receiving state
`(that is, when the input receiving State is canceled Such that
`the input is not received), touch of the object displayed on
`the display unit 13 by the user is not received as the input
`and the object is not selected. After the object is selected,
`when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12
`satisfies the input canceling standard load Fr and the user
`slides the touch object Such as the finger or the like touching
`the object (at a time point t2), the control unit 15 controls to
`set the changed input canceling standard load Fr' different
`from the input canceling standard load Fr. Also, the control
`unit 15 executes the drag operation to control such that the
`selected object displayed on the display unit 13 is moved and
`displayed at the position on the display unit 13 correspond
`ing to the sliding (touching) position of the touch object on
`the touch face 11a of the touch sensor 11.
`After starting the drag operation as described above, the
`control unit 15 sets the changed input canceling standard
`load Fr to prevent cancellation of the input receiving state.
`Therefore, when the pressure load detected by the load
`detection unit 12 stops satisfying (falls under) the input
`canceling standard load Fr at a time point t3 illustrated in
`FIG. 3 due to decrease in the pressure despite the user's
`intention, the input receiving state is not canceled. Accord
`ing to the electronic device of the present invention, there
`fore, the object undergoing the drag operation is not dropped
`at a position unintended by the user.
`Then, when the user stops sliding the touch object touch
`ing the object at a time point tak, the control unit 15 controls
`to restore the changed input canceling standard load Fr' to
`the input cancel standard load Fr.
`FIG. 4 illustrates diagrams of states in the sliding opera
`tion of the electronic device 10 according to the first
`embodiment. Periods (a), (b) and (c) in FIG. 3 corresponds
`to states in FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, respectively.
`FIG. 4a illustrates a state that a touch object F such as the
`finger or the like is touching an object O displayed on the
`display unit 13. When the user increases the pressure after
`touching the object O, the object O is selected. The state in
`FIG. 4a corresponds to the period (a) (from the time point
`0 to t2) in FIG. 3.
`Next, FIG. 4b illustrates a state that the touch object F
`Such as the finger or the like is sliding on the touch face 11a
`of the touch sensor 11. The control unit 15 controls to start
`the drag operation in response to a slide of the touch object
`F such as the finger or the like. At this time, the control unit
`15 controls such that, in accordance with the sliding opera
`tion by the user, the selected object O displayed on the
`display unit 13 is moved and displayed at the position on the
`display unit 13 corresponding to the sliding (touching)
`position of the touch object F on the touch face 11a of the
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`US 9,436,376 B2
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`8
`touch sensor 11. The state in FIG. 4b corresponds to the
`period (b) (from the time point t2 to ta) in FIG. 3.
`FIG. 4c illustrates a state that the sliding operation is
`stopped. The state in FIG. 4c corresponds to the period (b)
`(after the time point 4) in FIG. 3.
`According to the present embodiment, as described
`above, a new input canceling stand