Abstract: An input device includes an operating surface at which touch operations relating to changing a display form of a display object are performed, a contact sensor configured to detect touch operations as to the operating surface, a pressure sensor configured to detect pressing operations as to the operating surface, a tactile feedback presentation element configured to present tactile feedback corresponding to operations detected by the touch sensor, and a tactile feedback controller configured to control the tactile feedback presented by the tactile feedback presentation element. In a case where an operation detected by the touch sensor is a specified operation specified beforehand out of the contact operations relating to changing the display form, the tactile feedback controller causes the tactile feedback presentation element to present tactile feedback corresponding to that specified operation.

Abstract: A detectable region having a large area is provided in an input panel below a surface panel. An input operation region is provided in part of the detectable region, and the position and the area of the input operation region can be changed within the detectable region. An input processing apparatus is provided with a responding force generator, and the responding force generator is set to different operation states between when a digit touches the input operation region and when a digit touches a non-operation region that is around the input operation region.

Abstract: When positions of three or more fingers are specified in a sensor unit, it is determined in a determination unit whether a non-fingertip is included in a group consisting of three or more fingers based on a relative position relationship among the three or more fingers. Also, when it is determined that the non-fingertip is included in the group consisting of the three or more fingers, an operation of one true fingertip included in the group consisting of the three or more fingers is identified by an operation identification unit.

Abstract: There is provided an electrostatic input device including a plurality of electrodes, and receiving an input operation according to electrostatic capacitances generated between the plurality of electrodes and an object when the object comes close to a detection surface, the device including a variation detection unit configured to detect variations in the electrostatic capacitances, a determination unit configured to determine whether the object coming close to the detection surface is the fingertip or the palm on the basis of the variations detected by the variation detection unit, and a control unit configured to inhibit reception of an input operation on the detection surface for a predetermined period of time in a case where the determination unit determines that the object coming close to the detection surface is the palm.

Abstract: An operation surface includes a pressing operation area and a sliding operation area. When a single operation body is detected in the pressing operation area by an operation position detection unit, an operation process is not performed if a first sliding movement amount of the operation body is equal to or less than a first threshold, and the operation process is performed if the first sliding movement amount is greater than the first threshold. When there is a plurality of operation bodies and at least one of them is detected in the pressing operation area, the operation process is not performed if a second sliding movement amount of the operation body is equal to or less than a second threshold, and the operation process is performed if the second sliding movement amount is greater than the second threshold. At this time, the second threshold is greater than the first threshold.

Abstract: When positions of three or more fingers are specified in a sensor unit, it is determined in a determination unit whether a non-fingertip is included in a group consisting of three or more fingers based on a relative position relationship among the three or more fingers. Also, when it is determined that the non-fingertip is included in the group consisting of the three or more fingers, an operation of one true fingertip included in the group consisting of the three or more fingers is identified by an operation identification unit.

Abstract: In a case where a touch position is a peripheral portion, when spatial characteristics which correspond to an area and a length of a touch region exceed a first condition corresponding to a predetermined area and length, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a palm. When the spatial characteristics do not exceed the first condition, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a finger. In a case where a touch position is a central portion, when the spatial characteristics exceed a second condition corresponding to an area and a length that are larger than those of the first condition, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a palm. When the spatial characteristics do not exceed the second condition, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a finger.

Abstract: A control unit, has a palm rejection function to determine whether a contact region of an object, calculated by detecting electric variance due to the object in proximity of an operating face, is from an fingertip or from a palm. The control unit determines that in a case where the difference between an area of the a first proximity region calculated at a first sensitivity and an area of a second proximity region calculated at a second sensitivity higher than the first sensitivity is large, the contact region is from a palm, and at in a case where the difference is small, the contact region is from a fingertip.

Abstract: A control unit configured to recognize a touch operation on an operating screen by an object, based on a contact position of the object detected based on electric variance output according to a proximity state of the object as to the operating face, and validate or invalidate the touch operation based on a keyboard operation state. When there has been a touch operation during keyboard operations or within a predetermined amount of time after keyboard operations, the control unit sets a region where there has been a touch operation to a touch operation invalid region, and sets a region where there has been no touch operation to a touch operation valid region.

Abstract: A touch pad includes detection means for outputting a variable with respect to an operation surface, and control means for recognizing an operation finger candidate. In a case of one operation finger candidate, when a touch area exceeds a first threshold value, the control means determines the operation finger candidate to be an operation valid target finger. When a touch area does not exceed the first threshold value, the control means determines the operation finger candidate to be an operation invalid target finger. In a case of plural operation finger candidates, when a touch area exceeds a second threshold value indicating an area smaller than the first threshold value, the control means determines the operation finger candidate to be an operation valid target finger. When a touch area does not exceed the second threshold value, the control means determines the operation finger candidate to be an operation invalid target finger.

Abstract: An input device includes a touch pad which is rotatably supported and has an upper surface as an input operation surface, a switch element located on a lower side of the touch pad, and a control unit configured to perform a continued-ON state control during an operation of an operation body (finger, etc.) moving on the input operation surface and pressing the input operation surface downwardly to cause the switch element to be in an ON state, the continued-ON state control maintaining the ON state even if the ON state of the switch element is released while the operation of the operation body continues on or in a vicinity of the input operation surface.

Abstract: When it is sensed that a finger is touched to a movable pad and a detection switch is switched on, time that the finger is touched to the sensing surface (Condition (1)), distance in which the finger is moved on the sensing surface (Condition (2)), speed that the finger is moved on the sensing surface (Condition (3)), and acceleration obtained when the finger is moved on the sensing surface (Condition (4)) are referred thereto. When any one of the conditions is satisfied, it is determined to be a pressing operation which is not intended by an operator.

Abstract: In a case where a touch position is a peripheral portion, when spatial characteristics which correspond to an area and a length of a touch region exceed a first condition corresponding to a predetermined area and length, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a palm. When the spatial characteristics do not exceed the first condition, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a finger. In a case where a touch position is a central portion, when the spatial characteristics exceed a second condition corresponding to an area and a length that are larger than those of the first condition, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a palm. When the spatial characteristics do not exceed the second condition, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a finger.

Abstract: A touch pad includes detection means for outputting a variable with respect to an operation surface, and control means for recognizing an operation finger candidate. In a case of one operation finger candidate, when a touch area exceeds a first threshold value, the control means determines the operation finger candidate to be an operation valid target finger. When a touch area does not exceed the first threshold value, the control means determines the operation finger candidate to be an operation invalid target finger. In a case of plural operation finger candidates, when a touch area exceeds a second threshold value indicating an area smaller than the first threshold value, the control means determines the operation finger candidate to be an operation valid target finger. When a touch area does not exceed the second threshold value, the control means determines the operation finger candidate to be an operation invalid target finger.

Abstract: An input device includes an input operation surface that includes one or more specific regions, can be operated by an indicator, and is provided separately from a display screen; a detection unit that detects an operation position of the indicator; a region creating unit that creates a discrimination region while using the operation position as a base point when it is detected that the operation position of the indicator is positioned in the specific region; and a discrimination unit that uses a fact that a moving direction of the indicator from the base point, when the indicator moves within the discrimination region, is positioned on at least a line, which traverses the specific region substantially in parallel or obliquely, as conditions that allow a predetermined function to be performed on the display screen. When the discrimination unit discriminates that the conditions are satisfied, a performance signal is output.

Abstract: An operation surface includes a pressing operation area and a sliding operation area. When a single operation body is detected in the pressing operation area by an operation position detection unit, an operation process is not performed if a first sliding movement amount of the operation body is equal to or less than a first threshold, and the operation process is performed if the first sliding movement amount is greater than the first threshold. When there is a plurality of operation bodies and at least one of them is detected in the pressing operation area, the operation process is not performed if a second sliding movement amount of the operation body is equal to or less than a second threshold, and the operation process is performed if the second sliding movement amount is greater than the second threshold. At this time, the second threshold is greater than the first threshold.

Abstract: An input device includes a touch pad which is rotatably supported and has an upper surface as an input operation surface, a switch element located on a lower side of the touch pad, and a control unit configured to be able to perform control such that during an operation of an operation body (finger, etc.) being moved on the input operation surface while the input operation surface is pressed downwardly by the operation body to cause the switch element to be in an ON state, the ON state is continued even if the ON state is released in a state the operation of the operation body on the input operation surface is kept.

Abstract: When it is sensed that a finger is touched to a movable pad and a detection switch is switched on, time that the finger is touched to the sensing surface (Condition (1)), distance in which the finger is moved on the sensing surface (Condition (2)), speed that the finger is moved on the sensing surface (Condition (3)), and acceleration obtained when the finger is moved on the sensing surface (Condition (4)) are referred thereto. When any one of the conditions is satisfied, it is determined to be a pressing operation which is not intended by an operator.

Abstract: A touch pad device has an operating surface configured to receive contact activity, such as contact by a finger or stylus. A detection circuit detects the contact activity and communicates a detection signal to a data processing unit. The data processing unit associates the contact activity with either a first operation or a second operation. The first operation may be a tap and the second operation may be a touch.

Abstract: An electroconductive paste is provided containing from about 5% to 18% by weight of an organic vehicle comprising a solvent and a binder, from about 80% to 93% by weight of an electroconductive metal powder in a spherical or granular shape and with a particle diameter in the range of about 0.1 to 50 &mgr;m, and from about 2% to 10% by weight of a resin powder with a particle diameter in the range of about 0.1 to 50 &mgr;m which is insoluble in the solvent and has a low level of water absorption. When this paste is used for forming via hole conductors to be converted to external electrode terminals, there is no problem of shape deformation of the via hole conductors. Furthermore, it is possible to restrict crack generation on the sintered electroconductive metal and to restrict breakage of the ceramic areas in the vicinity of the via hole conductors.