Patent ID: 7800590
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An input apparatus that outputs coordinate values of an operation surface that the user has pressed as an input operation, deforms the operation surface, and causes the user to feel a force sense as a feedback with the deformed operation surface, comprising: a deformation mechanism portion that uses a piezoelectric actuator composed of a piezoelectric bi-morph device and that deforms the operation surface; a press force detection portion that detects whether the operation surface has been pressed; and a control portion that controls said deformation mechanism portion to start driving the piezoelectric actuator to gradually deform the operation surface in one direction and then to deform the operation surface in a reverse direction so that the period for which the operation surface is deformed in one direction is sufficiently larger than the period for which the operation surface is deformed in the reverse direction when said press force detection portion detects that the operation surface has been pressed.