Input device, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Abstract

An input device includes: a contact detector configured to detect at least a size of contact area by detecting a physical contact with a control input section; a pressure detector configured to detect a pressure applied by the physical contact; and a controller configured to output signals in response to detection outputs from the contact detector and the pressure detector. The controller outputs a first signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected under a state of contact in which a contact detection result indicates that the detected contact area is equal to or smaller than a predetermined contact area, and outputs a second signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected under a state of contact in which the contact detection result indicates that the detected contact area is greater than the predetermined contact area.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An information processing method comprising:
 an input step; and   a processing step including performing processing in response to a signal obtained by the input step;   wherein the input step includes:   a contact detection step including detecting a size of a contact area by detecting a physical contact with a control input section;   a pressure detection step including detecting a pressure applied by the physical contact;   an area determination step including comparing the size of the contact area with a size of a predetermined contact area threshold; and   a control step including outputting signals in response to detection of outputs produced by the area determination step and the pressure detection step;   wherein the control step executes:   a first processing by a first signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detection step when the result of the comparison indicates the size of the contact area is equal to or smaller than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold, and   a second processing by a second signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detection step when the result of the comparison indicates the size of the contact area is greater than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold.   
     
     
       2. The information processing method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 detecting a physical contact with the control input section further comprises detecting a position of a physical contact with the control input section.   
     
     
       3. The information processing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the control step further comprises outputting the first or second signal when the detected pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure threshold. 
     
     
       4. The information processing method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying function information about one or more functions assigned to the control input section; and   reflecting the contact detection result from the contact detection step in the function information displayed;   wherein the control input section outputs the first or second signal if the control input section is pressed while the contact detection result is being reflected in the function information displayed.   
     
     
       5. A storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to execute an information processing method, the information processing method comprises an input step; and
 a processing step including performing processing in response to a signal obtained by the input step;   wherein the input step includes:   a contact detection step including detecting a size of a contact area by detecting a physical contact with a control input section;   a pressure detection step including detecting a pressure applied by the physical contact;   an area determination step including comparing the size of the contact area with a size of a predetermined contact area threshold; and   a control step including outputting signals in response to detection of outputs produced by the area determination step and the pressure detection step;   wherein the control step executes:   a first processing by a first signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detection step when the result of the comparison indicates the size of the contact area is equal to or smaller than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold, and   a second processing by a second signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detection step when the result of the comparison indicates the size of the contact area is greater than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold.   
     
     
       6. An input device comprising:
 a contact detector configured to detect a size of a contact area by detecting a physical contact with a control input section;   a pressure detector configured to detect a pressure applied by the physical contact;   an area determinator configured to compare the size of the contact area with a size of a predetermined contact area threshold; and   a controller configured to output signals in response to detection of outputs from the area determinator and the pressure detector;   wherein the controller is configured to output:   a first signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detector when the result of the comparison indicates that the size of the contact area is equal to or smaller than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold,   a second signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detector when the result of the comparison indicates that the size of the contact area is greater than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold.   
     
     
       7. An information processing apparatus comprising:
 a circuitry configured to
 detect a size of a contact area of an operation body on a touch sensitive surface, 
 compare the size of the contact area with a size of a predetermined contact area threshold, and 
 control display of a display content displayed on a display screen, in response to an operation of the operation body input through the touch sensitive surface, 
   wherein the circuitry is configured to control zooming display of the display content based on the result of the comparison of the size of the contact area and a pressing force of the operation on the touch sensitive surface, and   wherein the circuitry is further configured to selectively control between executing opposite functions in response to the same pressing force of the operation being input by the same operation body at a same contact position, wherein a selected one of either a function of zoom in on the display content by a zoom amount correlated with a magnitude of the pressing force or a function of zoom out on the display content by a zoom amount correlated with the magnitude of the pressing force is executed based on whether the size of the contact area of the operation body exceeds the size of the predetermined contact area threshold.   
     
     
       8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the circuitry is further configured to set a value associated with the zooming display according to an intensity of the pressing force. 
     
     
       9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the display of the display content is zoomed out in correlation with an increase of the pressing force. 
     
     
       10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the circuitry executes a process for the zooming display based on the pressing force being determined to be higher than a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the circuitry executes a process for the zooming display based on an information regarding a contact condition of the operation body in relation to the touch sensitive surface, which is determined based on output of a touch sensor provided in relation to the touch sensitive surface, and information regarding the pressing force. 
     
     
       12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:
 a touch sensor; and   a pressing force sensor configured to sense the pressing force of the operation on the touch sensitive surface.   
     
     
       13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the circuitry is further configured to initiate a scrolling of display of the display content based on output of the touch sensor. 
     
     
       14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the touch sensor is provided separately from the pressing force sensor. 
     
     
       15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor or a resistive sensor. 
     
     
       16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the pressing force sensor comprises a piezoelectric element, a pressure-resistance transducer, or an electric-resistance transducer. 
     
     
       17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the display content comprises an image of a map. 
     
     
       18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the display content comprises a touch operable control button. 
     
     
       19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the circuitry is further configured to initiate a scrolling of display of the display content, based on a movement of the operation body while the operation body is contacting the touch sensitive surface. 
     
     
       20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the touch sensitive surface is provided on the display screen. 
     
     
       21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a communication circuitry. 
     
     
       22. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a tuner circuitry. 
     
     
       23. An information processing method comprising:
 detecting a size of a contact area of an operation body on a touch sensitive surface;   comparing the size of the contact area with a size of a predetermined contact area threshold;   controlling display of a display content displayed on a display screen, in response to an operation of the operation body input through the touch sensitive surface; and   controlling zooming display of the display content based on the result of the comparison of the size of the contact area and a pressing force of the operation on the touch sensitive surface,   wherein the controlling zooming display comprises a selective controlling between executing opposite functions in response to the same pressing force of the operation being input by the same operation body at a same contact position, wherein a selected one of either a function of zoom in on the display content by a zoom amount correlated with a magnitude of the pressing force or a function of zoom out on the display content by a zoom amount correlated with the magnitude of the pressing force is executed based on whether the size of the contact area of the operation body exceeds the size of the predetermined contact area threshold.   
     
     
       24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a program, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to execute a method, the method comprising:
 detecting a size of a contact area of an operation body on a touch sensitive surface;   comparing the size of the contact area with a size of a predetermined contact area threshold;   controlling display of a display content displayed on a display screen, in response to an operation of the operation body input through the touch sensitive surface; and   controlling zooming display of the display content based on the result of the comparison of the size of the contact area and a pressing force of the operation on the touch sensitive surface,   wherein the controlling zooming display comprises a selective controlling between executing opposite functions in response to the same pressing force of the operation being input by the same operation body at a same contact position, wherein a selected one of either a function of zoom in on the display content by a zoom amount correlated with a magnitude of the pressing force or a function of zoom out on the display content by a zoom amount correlated with the magnitude of the pressing force is executed based on whether the size of the contact area of the operation body exceeds the size of the predetermined contact area threshold.   
     
     
       25. An information processing method comprising:
 an input step; and   a processing step including performing processing in response to a signal obtained by the input step,   wherein the input step includes:   a contact detection step including detecting a size of a contact area by detecting a physical contact, made by an operation body, with a control input section;   a pressure detection step including detecting a pressure applied by the physical contact made by the operation body;   an area determination step including comparing the size of the contact area with a size of a predetermined contact area threshold; and   a control step including outputting signals in response to detection of outputs produced by the area determination step and the pressure detection step,   wherein the control step is configured to selectively control between executing opposite functions in response to a same pressing force of the detected pressure being detected at a same contact position of the physical contact made by the same operation body, and executes:
 a first processing by a first signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detection step when the result of the comparison indicates the size of the contact area is equal to or smaller than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold; and 
 a second processing by a second signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detection step when the result of the comparison indicates the size of the contact area is greater than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold, 
 wherein the first processing and the second processing are opposite functions and correspond to respective ones of a function of zoom in on a display content by a zoom amount correlated with a magnitude of the pressing force and a function of zoom out on the display content by a zoom amount correlated with the magnitude of the pressing force, and a selected one of either the first processing or the second processing is selected to be executed based on whether the size of the contact area of the operation body exceeds the size of the predetermined contact area threshold. 
   
     
     
       26. The information processing method according to claim 25, wherein detecting a physical contact with the control input section further comprises detecting a position of a physical contact with the control input section. 
     
     
       27. The information processing method according to claim 25, wherein the control step further comprises outputting the first or second signal when the detected pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure threshold. 
     
     
       28. The information processing method according to claim 25, further comprising:
 displaying function information about one or more functions assigned to the control input section; and   reflecting the contact detection result from the contact detection step in the function information displayed,   wherein the control input section outputs the first or second signal if the control input section is pressed while the contact detection result is being reflected in the function information displayed.   
     
     
       29. A storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to execute an information processing method, the information processing method comprising:
 an input step; and   a processing step including performing processing in response to a signal obtained by the input step,   wherein the input step includes:
 a contact detection step including detecting a size of a contact area by detecting a physical contact, made by an operation body, with a control input section; 
 a pressure detection step including detecting a pressure applied by the physical contact made by the operation body; 
 an area determination step including comparing the size of the contact area with a size of a predetermined contact area threshold; and 
 a control step including outputting signals in response to detection of outputs produced by the area determination step and the pressure detection step, 
   wherein the control step is configured to selectively control between executing opposite functions in response to a same pressing force of the detected pressure being detected at a same contact position of the physical contact made by the same operation body, and executes:
 a first processing by a first signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detection step when the result of the comparison indicates the size of the contact area is equal to or smaller than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold; and 
 a second processing by a second signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detection step when the result of the comparison indicates the size of the contact area is greater than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold, 
 wherein the first processing and the second processing are opposite functions and correspond to respective ones of a function of zoom in on a display content by a zoom amount correlated with a magnitude of the pressing force and a function of zoom out on the display content by a zoom amount correlated with the magnitude of the pressing force, and a selected one of either the first processing or the second processing is selected to be executed based on whether the size of the contact area of the operation body exceeds the size of the predetermined contact area threshold. 
   
     
     
       30. An input device comprising:
 a contact detector configured to detect a size of a contact area by detecting a physical contact, made by an operation body, with a control input section;   a pressure detector configured to detect a pressure applied by the physical contact made by the operation body;   an area determinator configured to compare the size of the contact area with a size of a predetermined contact area threshold; and   a controller configured to output signals in response to detection of outputs from the area determinator and the pressure detector,   wherein the controller is configured to output:
 a first signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detector when the result of the comparison indicates that the size of the contact area is equal to or smaller than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold; and 
 a second signal carrying a value which varies in response to the pressure detected by the pressure detector when the result of the comparison indicates that the size of the contact area is greater than the size of the predetermined contact area threshold, and 
   wherein the controller is further configured to selectively control between executing opposite functions in response to the same pressure applied by the same operation body at a same contact position, wherein a selected one of either a function of zoom in on a display content by a zoom amount correlated with a magnitude of the pressure or a function of zoom out on the display content by a zoom amount correlated with the magnitude of the pressure is executed based on whether the size of the contact area exceeds the size of the predetermined contact area threshold.