Abstract: An operation device includes a movable part having an operating surface on which a contact operation is performed by an living body, a vibration exciter attached to the movable part at a position other than the operating surface, and configured to excite the movable part in a first direction along the operating surface, and in a second direction intersecting the operating surface, a base part, and an elastic support, provided between the movable part and the base part, and configured to elastically support the movable part with respect to the base part. The movable part provides a tactile sensation to the living body making the contact operation when excited in the first direction by the vibration exciter, and generates a sound from the operating surface when excited in the second direction by the vibration exciter.

Abstract: An input device includes an operation panel member with an operation surface; a support member contacting a side face of the operation panel member to support the operation panel member, the side face being perpendicular to the operation surface of the operation panel member; and an actuator configured to vibrate the support member in a direction parallel to the operation surface. The support member contacts the operation panel member only at the side face, and the operation panel member vibrates in a direction parallel to the operation surface by transmission of a vibration of the support member from the side face to the operation panel member.

Abstract: An operation device includes a movable part having an operating surface on which a contact operation is performed by an living body, a vibration exciter attached to the movable part at a position other than the operating surface, and configured to excite the movable part in a first direction along the operating surface, and in a second direction intersecting the operating surface, a base part, and an elastic support, provided between the movable part and the base part, and configured to elastically support the movable part with respect to the base part. The movable part provides a tactile sensation to the living body making the contact operation when excited in the first direction by the vibration exciter, and generates a sound from the operating surface when excited in the second direction by the vibration exciter.

Abstract: An input device according to an embodiment includes a first sensor electrode disposed on a substrate, a second sensor electrode which faces the first sensor electrode and which is capacitively coupled to the first sensor electrode, and a detection circuit which detects approach of an operation body to the second sensor electrode based on an electrostatic capacitance of the first sensor electrode.

Abstract: An input device includes an operation panel member with an operation surface; a support member contacting a side face of the operation panel member to support the operation panel member, the side face being perpendicular to the operation surface of the operation panel member; and an actuator configured to vibrate the support member in a direction parallel to the operation surface. The support member contacts the operation panel member only at the side face, and the operation panel member vibrates in a direction parallel to the operation surface by transmission of a vibration of the support member from the side face to the operation panel member.

Abstract: A data configuration process is repeatedly performed at least twice, and a sum of a value obtained by multiplying a difference between a first temporary value (PAjt=1) of element data obtained by the first data configuration process and a second temporary value (PAjt=2) of the element data obtained by the second data configuration process by a predetermined proportionality coefficient ? and the first temporary value (PAjt=1) is calculated for each of M sections A1 to AM as values approximated to a convergence value of the element data. By this, the number of times the data configuration process is repeatedly performed is considerably reduced when compared with a case where a convergence value of element data is obtained by repeatedly performing the data configuration process a number of times.

Abstract: A capacitance detection device includes a first voltage output circuit configured to output a first alternating current voltage supplied to a shield electrode provided proximate to a detection electrode, a second voltage output circuit configured to output a second alternating current voltage whose frequency and phase are the same as that of the first alternating current voltage and whose amplitude is less than that of the first alternating current voltage, and a current output circuit configured to output a driving current Is to the detection electrode so that the difference between the voltage of the detection electrode and the second alternating current voltage becomes smaller, and output a detection signal corresponding to the driving current. The second voltage output circuit outputs a second alternating current voltage whose amplitude is adjusted so that the driving current in the absence of the object proximate to the detection electrode.

Abstract: An input device includes a sensor that detects a degree of proximity of an object in each of one or more detection regions on an operation surface, generates one or more sets of detection data corresponding to the detection result for each of the detection regions, and thereby generates N sets of the detection data in total; and an element data generator that generates, based on the N sets of the detection data, M (M is a natural number greater than N) sets of element data indicating degrees of proximity of the object in M sections that virtually divide the operation surface. The element data generator is configured to repeat a data generation process at least two times.

Abstract: An input device according to an embodiment includes a first sensor electrode disposed on a substrate, a second sensor electrode which faces the first sensor electrode and which is capacitively coupled to the first sensor electrode, and a detection circuit which detects approach of an operation body to the second sensor electrode based on an electrostatic capacitance of the first sensor electrode.

Abstract: A data configuration process is repeatedly performed at least twice, and a sum of a value obtained by multiplying a difference between a first temporary value (PAjt=1) of element data obtained by the first data configuration process and a second temporary value (PAjt=2) of the element data obtained by the second data configuration process by a predetermined proportionality coefficient ? and the first temporary value (PAjt=1) is calculated for each of M sections A1 to AM as values approximated to a convergence value of the element data. By this, the number of times the data configuration process is repeatedly performed is considerably reduced when compared with a case where a convergence value of element data is obtained by repeatedly performing the data configuration process a number of times.

Abstract: A capacitance detection device includes a first voltage output circuit configured to output a first alternating current voltage supplied to a shield electrode provided proximate to a detection electrode, a second voltage output circuit configured to output a second alternating current voltage whose frequency and phase are the same as that of the first alternating current voltage and whose amplitude is less than that of the first alternating current voltage, and a current output circuit configured to output a driving current Is to the detection electrode so that the difference between the voltage of the detection electrode and the second alternating current voltage becomes smaller, and output a detection signal corresponding to the driving current. The second voltage output circuit outputs a second alternating current voltage whose amplitude is adjusted so that the driving current in the absence of the object proximate to the detection electrode.

Abstract: Provided is a sine wave multiplication device of simple configuration, broad input signal level range, and minimal fluctuation in characteristics due to temperature. A signal component that corresponds to a product of an input signal Si and the third harmonic wave of a first square wave W1 included in an output signal Su1; and a signal component that corresponds to a product of the input signal Si and the fifth harmonic wave of the first square wave W1 is canceled by: a signal component that corresponds to a product of the input signal Si and the fundamental wave of a second square wave W2 included in an output signal Su2; and a signal component that corresponds to a product of the input signal Si and the fundamental wave of a second square wave W3 included in an output signal Su3.

Abstract: An input device includes a sensor that detects a degree of proximity of an object in each of one or more detection regions on an operation surface, generates one or more sets of detection data corresponding to the detection result for each of the detection regions, and thereby generates N sets of the detection data in total; and an element data generator that generates, based on the N sets of the detection data, M (M is a natural number greater than N) sets of element data indicating degrees of proximity of the object in M sections that virtually divide the operation surface. The element data generator is configured to repeat a data generation process at least two times.

Abstract: An input apparatus includes a sensor section configured to include a plurality of detection units, and to control positive and negative polarities of a detection signal at each detection position, a control unit configured to generate a group of combined detection signals in which polarity patterns are different from each other, and a signal reproduction unit configured to reproduce signal levels of a group of detection signals on the basis of a group of combined detection signals and a group of polarity patterns, in which at least some of the plurality of detection units differ in the number of detection positions, and the control unit selects the group of polarity patterns according to the number of detection positions so that the number of positive polarities and the number of negative polarities included in each of the polarity patterns are similar to each other.

Abstract: Provided is a sine wave multiplication device of simple configuration, broad input signal level range, and minimal fluctuation in characteristics due to temperature. A signal component that corresponds to a product of an input signal Si and the third harmonic wave of a first square wave W1 included in an output signal Su1; and a signal component that corresponds to a product of the input signal Si and the fifth harmonic wave of the first square wave W1 is canceled by: a signal component that corresponds to a product of the input signal Si and the fundamental wave of a second square wave W2 included in an output signal Su2; and a signal component that corresponds to a product of the input signal Si and the fundamental wave of a second square wave W3 included in an output signal Su3.

Abstract: Threshold values smaller than degrees of proximity of an object indicated by detection data at peak positions are set based on detection data of the peak positions at which a degree of proximity of the object is higher than that of surrounding detection positions. An evaluation value according to an area of a region on a detection surface occupied by a group of detection positions, including the peak positions, in which degrees of proximity of the object indicated by detection data are higher than the threshold values, is calculated, and it is determined whether the object in proximity to the peak position is a finger or a palm based on the evaluation value.

Abstract: A driving signal is applied to a plurality of driving electrodes using the driving matrix illustrated in FIG. 5A obtained by removing a row in which a sum of codes is greatest and a column having a transposition relationship with the row in a Hadamard matrix. Distribution of capacitance in intersection portions between a sensing electrode and a plurality of driving electrodes can be obtained using an inverse matrix of the driving matrix illustrated in FIG. 5B. Further, when decoding is performed using an extended matrix obtained by replacing “0” with “?1” in FIG. 5B, it is possible to average noise and to improve an S/N ratio.

Abstract: An input apparatus includes a sensor section configured to include a plurality of detection units, and to control positive and negative polarities of a detection signal at each detection position, a control unit configured to generate a group of combined detection signals in which polarity patterns are different from each other, and a signal reproduction unit configured to reproduce signal levels of a group of detection signals on the basis of a group of combined detection signals and a group of polarity patterns, in which at least some of the plurality of detection units differ in the number of detection positions, and the control unit selects the group of polarity patterns according to the number of detection positions so that the number of positive polarities and the number of negative polarities included in each of the polarity patterns are similar to each other.

Abstract: Threshold values smaller than degrees of proximity of an object indicated by detection data at peak positions are set based on detection data of the peak positions at which a degree of proximity of the object is higher than that of surrounding detection positions. An evaluation value according to an area of a region on a detection surface occupied by a group of detection positions, including the peak positions, in which degrees of proximity of the object indicated by detection data are higher than the threshold values, is calculated, and it is determined whether the object in proximity to the peak position is a finger or a palm based on the evaluation value.

Abstract: A driving signal is applied to a plurality of driving electrodes using the driving matrix illustrated in FIG. 5A obtained by removing a row in which a sum of codes is greatest and a column having a transposition relationship with the row in a Hadamard matrix. Distribution of capacitance in intersection portions between a sensing electrode and a plurality of driving electrodes can be obtained using an inverse matrix of the driving matrix illustrated in FIG. 5B. Further, when decoding is performed using an extended matrix obtained by replacing “0” with “?1” in FIG. 5B, it is possible to average noise and to improve an S/N ratio.