Patent ID: 8730159
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An input device to be contacted and operated by a contact portion of a human body for operating a machine in connection therewith, the device comprising: a detection section configured to be contacted by the contact portion of the human body, the detection section comprising a contact surface atop a plate element, and force detection sensors provided at locations beneath the plate that register forces applied to the contact surface in a first direction (X) along a plane of the contact surface, a second direction (Y) transverse to the first direction along a plane of the contact surface, and a third direction (Z) into the plane of the contact surface, such that a force applied to the contact surface is registered in three dimensions and output as detection data; a timer management control unit that generates a timing for recording the detection data at a time interval, and outputs the timing as timing data; and an input information specifying unit that creates time-series data of the detection data based on the detection data and the timing data and compares the time-series data with stored data in a database, the stored data comprising a plurality of predetermined time-series data corresponding to forces applied to the contact surface by the contact portion in contact with the contact surface when trailing operations are performed by a first part of a human body operably sliding upon an area of a surface of another a second portion of the human body that is in the vicinity of connected to the contact portion in contact with the contact surface, such that when the time series data of the detection data resulting from a trailing operation, performed in the vicinity of the contact portion in contact with the contact surface upon the area of the surface of the second portion of the human body while the contact portion of the human body is in contact with the contact surface, corresponds to a predetermined time-series data stored in the database and associated with an input operation of the machine, the input information specifying unit outputs the input operation as input information specifying data for operating the machine.