Patent Publication Number: US-2012038569-A1

Title: Input device, input method for input device and computer readable medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-181197, filed on Aug. 13, 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Embodiments described herein relate to an input device, an input method for the input device and a computer readable medium. 
     2. Related Art 
     A touch panel type display input device (hereinafter referred to as “touch panel” simply) has been recently provided as one form of a display and input device of a computer. The touch panel has a display device, and an input device which detects a direct operation (such as a pressing operation, a touching operation, an approaching operation etc.) on a display region of the display device. Contents of the operation detected by the input device are associated with contents displayed by the display device, so that the contents of the operation are processed as a predetermined input operation. For example, a subject performing operation on the display region is an exclusive device (such as a touch pen, etc.), a human finger, or the like. 
     There has been provided also a touch panel in which an input operation on predetermined coordinates detected by an input device of the touch panel is associated with a specific control command so that the input operation is diversified (see e.g. JP-A-05-046315). 
     The related-art touch panel however may often hardly perform an input operation on an outer circumference of the display region or the vicinity of the outer circumference. 
     For example, in a touch panel having a rectangular display region, when a user intends to perform an input operation (touch) on an input operation target (such as an icon, a button, etc.) disposed closely to the outer circumference (four apexes, four sides, etc.) of the display region, the user may touch the outside of the display region out of input detection area of the touch panel by mistake. In this case, the user has to perform the input operation correctly again because the mistaken input operation cannot be accepted. In this manner, in the related-art touch panel, it is difficult to operate an input operation target disposed in the outer circumference of the display region or the vicinity of the outer circumference. Such a problem may occur not only in the rectangular display region but also in any shape display region. 
     SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments perform an input operation well on an outer circumference of a display region or the vicinity of the outer circumference. 
     According to one or more illustrative aspects of the present invention, there is provided an input device that includes: a display configured to display information on a screen; a detector configured to detect a user input operation in a detectable region of the detector and acquire position coordinates of the user input operation, wherein the detectable region is larger than a display region of the display, and the display region is included in the detectable region; and a controller configured to transform the position coordinates of the user input operation. When the detector detects the user input operation in the detectable region other than the display region and acquires position coordinates of the user input operation, the controller transforms the position coordinates into position coordinates corresponding to a certain position in the display region. When the detector detects the user input operation in the display region and acquires position coordinates of the user input operation, the controller sets the acquired position coordinates as position coordinates of the user input operation without transforming the acquired position coordinates. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the drawings and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the main configuration of a portable terminal having an input device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a view showing an example of external appearance of the portable terminal; 
         FIG. 3  is a view showing the relation between the size of a display region of a display and the size of a detection region of a detector; 
         FIG. 4  is a view showing an example of the display region divided into compartments by a width of  m  in an X direction and by a width of  n  in a Y direction; 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing an example of division of the detection region; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart to explain XY coordinate transformation processing performed by a CPU based on XY coordinates provided from the detector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be now described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated example. 
       FIG. 1  shows the main configuration of a portable terminal  1  including an input device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows an example of external appearance of the portable terminal  1 . 
     The portable terminal  1  includes a CPU  11 , an RAM  12 , an ROM  13 , a power supply unit  14 , a scanner  15 , a key input unit  16 , an audio output unit  17 , a communication unit  18 , and a touch panel  19 . These respective elements are connected to one another by a bus  20 . 
     The CPU  11  works with a program stored in the ROM  13  to control the operation of the portable terminal  1  in accordance with a program, data, etc. expanded on the RAM  12 . 
     The RAM  12  stores data expanded by the CPU  11 , data temporarily generated by the expansion processing. 
     The ROM  13  stores a program or data read out by the CPU  11 , for example. 
     The power supply unit  14  supplies electric power to the respective elements of the portable terminal  1 . The portable terminal  1  has a rechargeable secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery. The power supply unit  14  supplies electric power stored in the secondary battery to the respective elements. The power supply unit  14  may be configured to charge the secondary battery or an external power supply may be connected to the power supply unit  14 . 
     The scanner  15  scans a readout target and generates readout data based on a change of an electric signal obtained by the scanning For example, the scanner  15  is a barcode scanner. However, another reading device may be used as the scanner  15 . 
     The key input unit  16  is an input device having keys (buttons) to which input contents are allocated individually. A user can perform any input by selecting a key to be operated in accordance with input contents allocated to each key. 
     The audio output unit  17  outputs audio in accordance with contents of processing performed by the CPU  11 . The audio to be outputted may be audio based on audio data stored in the ROM  13  in advance or may be audio based on audio data inputted from the outside through the communication unit  18 , etc. 
     The communication unit  18  communicates with an external device. The communication unit  18  has a communication device such as a network interface card (NIC) which performs data transmission with the external device through a line. Although data transmission is performed by the communication unit  18  without regard to wire/wireless and protocols and other connection formats (such as standards, etc.) for the wire/wireless, the communication unit  18  can communicate with the external device by wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication. 
     The touch panel  19  includes a display  21  and a detector  22 . 
     The display  21  is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display, which displays information on a screen in accordance with contents of processing performed by the CPU  11 . The display  21  is configured to display information on a screen. Another display device than the exemplified display devices may be used as the display  21 . Although this exemplary embodiment shows the case where the display  21  has a rectangular display region surrounded by sides along either of two directions (e.g. an X direction and a Y direction shown in  FIG. 2 , etc.) meeting each other at right angles, the shape of the display region of the display  21  is not limited thereto but can be designed arbitrarily. 
     The detector  22  detects an input operation (such as a pressing operation, a touching operation, an approaching operation, etc.) on the display region displayed on a screen by the display  21 . For example, the detector  22  is configured to cover the display region of the display  21 , and detects the position of an operation (touching or approaching operation) applied on the touch panel  19  by one of various methods such as a resistive film method, an ultrasonic surface acoustic wave method, a capacitance method, etc. For outputting a result of detection of an operating position, for example, the detector  22  outputs a result of detection of the operating position as position information in predetermined coordinates. In this exemplary embodiment, the detector  22  outputs a result of detection of the operating position as XY coordinates determined based on the X and Y directions. The method used by the detector  22  for detecting the operating position is only one instance, and the method may be suitably changed to another method capable of detecting the contents of the operation applied on the display region of the display  21 . 
     The CPU  11  recognizes the contents of the input operation applied on the touch panel  19  based on correspondence between the contents of the operation detected by the detector  22  and the contents displayed on the display  21 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the relation between the size of the display region of the display  21  and the size of the detection region of the detector  22 . 
     As described above, the touch panel  19  is formed so that an input operation on the display region of the display  21  is detected by the detector  22 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the detection region where the operating position is detected by the detector  22  is larger than the display region where the screen is displayed by the display  21 . That is, the detector  22  is configured to detect coordinates of an input operation at least on the outside of the display region of the display  21 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the CPU  11  examines correspondence between the display region of the display  21  and the detection region of the detector  22  based on XY coordinates using one (e.g. lower left apex O shown in  FIG. 3 ) of apexes of a rectangle forming the outer circumference of the display region of the display  21 , as a reference point (origin). 
     In  FIG. 3  and the following description, let (0, 0) be XY coordinates of the apex O and (A, B) be XY coordinates of an apex which is located on the outer circumference of the display region of the display  21  so as to be opposite to the apex O. Then, (A, 0) and (0, B) are XY coordinates of two apexes which are located on the outer circumference of the display region of the display  21  so as to be adjacent to the apex O and the apex opposite to the apex O, respectively. Incidentally, the detector  22  has a rectangular display region surrounded by sides along either of two directions (e.g. X and Y directions) meeting each other at right angles in the same manner as the display region of the display  21 . Each X-direction side of four sides which form the outer circumference of the detection region of the detector  22  is 2α longer than each X-direction side of the display region of the display  21 . Each Y-direction side of four sides which form the outer circumference of the detection region of the detector  22  is 2β longer than each Y-direction side of the display region of the display  21 . The display region of the display  21  is located in the center of the detection region of the detector  22  with respect to the X and Y directions. That is, XY coordinates of apexes of the detection region of the detector  22  relative to the XY coordinates (0, 0) of the apex O of the display region of the display  21  are (−α, −β), (A+α, −β), (−α, B+β) and (A+α, B+β) respectively. In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , coordinates of the nearest apex of the detection region to the apex O are (−α, −β), coordinates of the neatest apex of the detection region to the apex with the XY coordinates (A, 0) are (A+α, −β), coordinates of the nearest apex of the detection region to the apex with the XY coordinates (0, B) are (−α, B+β), and coordinates of the nearest apex of the detection region to the apex located on the outer circumference of the display region of the display  21  so as to be opposite to the apex O are (A+α, B+β). 
     A process of examining correspondence between the display region of the display  21  and the detection region of the detector  22  based on the operating position detected by the detector  22  will be now described. 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of the display region of the display  21  divided into compartments by a width of  m  in the X direction and by a width of  n  in the Y direction. In  FIG. 4 ,  m  and  n  are predetermined numerical values based on XY coordinates. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the CPU  11  provides predetermined small compartments in the display region of the display  21 . For example, a short cut icon or the like for a program can be provided in each small compartment on the display screen. Although  FIG. 4  shows small compartments obtained by dividing the display region of the display  21  by the width of  m  in the X direction and by the width of  n  in the Y direction, the size of each small compartment and the number of small compartments can be set arbitrarily. In addition,  m  and  n  may have the same value or may have different values. 
       FIG. 5  shows an example of division of the detection region. 
     The CPU  11  manages the detection region of the detector  22  by dividing the detection region of the detector  22  into plural regions. In the following description, the regions into which the CPU  11  divides the detection region of the detector  22  are referred to as “split regions”. The split regions are distinguished based on positions relative to the display region of the display  21 . In other words, the CPU  11  divides the detection region based on positions relative to the display region of the display  21 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the detection region is divided into nine split regions based on four sides connecting adjacent apexes of four points with XY coordinates (0, 0), (A, 0), (0, B) and (A, B) corresponding to apexes of the display region of the display  21  so as to correspond to the outer circumference of the display region and lines obtained by extending the four sides to the detection region of the detector  22 . 
     In the following description, as shown in  FIG. 5 , in the XY coordinates, a split region in a range of (−α, −β) to (0, 0) is regarded as split region  31 , a split region in a range of (A, −β) to (A+α, 0) is regarded as split region  32 , a split region in a range of (A, B) to (A+α, B+β) is regarded as split region  33 , a split region in a range of (−αa, B) to ( 0 , B+β) is regarded as split region  34 , a split region in a range of (0, −β) to (A, 0) is regarded as split region  35 , a split region in a range of (A, 0) to (A+α, B) is regarded as split region  36 , a split region in a range of (0, B) to (A, B+β) is regarded as split region  37 , a split region in a range of (−α, 0) to (0, B) is regarded as split region  38 , and a split region corresponding to the detection region except the split regions  31  to  38 , that is, a split region corresponding to the inside of the display region of the display  21  is regarded as split region  39 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart to explain XY coordinate transformation processing performed by the CPU  11  based on XY coordinates outputted from the detector  22 . 
     The CPU  11  determines a split region on which an input operation is performed, based on XY coordinates outputted from the detector  22 . When the split region on which the input operation is performed is another split region than the split region  39 , the CPU  11  transforms the X coordinate, the Y coordinate or the XY coordinates. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, when an input operation on the touch panel  19  is first detected by the detector  22  (step S 1 ), XY coordinates of a result of the detection are outputted from the detector  22  (step S 2 ). Let (x, y) be the XY coordinates outputted by processing in the step S 2 . The CPU  11  determines whether the X coordinate value (x) in the input XY coordinates satisfies −α≦x≦0 or not (step S 3 ). 
     When it is concluded in the step S 3  that the X coordinate value (x) satisfies −α≦x≦0 (step S 3 : YES), the CPU  11  determines whether the Y coordinate value (y) in the XY coordinates outputted from the detector  22  satisfies −β≦y≦0 or not (step S 4 ). 
     When it is concluded in the step S 4  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies −β≦y≦0 (step S 4 : YES), the CPU  11  transforms the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (m/2, n/2) (step S 5 ). 
     The case where it is concluded in the step S 4  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies −β≦y≦0 (step S 4 : YES) means the case where the input operation is performed on the split region  31 . In this case, the CPU  11  performs processing in the step S 5  to transform the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (m/2, n/2) so that the input operation performed on the split region  31  is regarded as an input operation performed on a small compartment in the display region (small compartment  41  shown in  FIG. 5 ) which is the nearest to the XY coordinates (0,0) of the apex O and adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region. 
     On the other hand, when it is concluded in the step S 4  that the Y coordinate value (y) does not satisfy −β≦y≦0 (step S 4 : NO), the CPU  11  determines whether the Y coordinate value (y) in the XY coordinates outputted from the detector  22  satisfies B≦y≦B+β or not (step S 6 ). 
     When it is concluded in the step S 6  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies B≦y≦B+β (step S 6 : YES), the CPU  11  transforms the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (m/2, B−n/2) (step S 7 ). 
     The case where it is concluded in the step S 6  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies B≦y≦B+β (step S 6 : YES) means the case where the input operation is performed on the split region  34 . In this case, the CPU  11  performs processing in the step S 7  to transform the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (m/2, B−n/2) so that the input operation performed on the split region  34  is regarded as an input operation performed on a small compartment in the display region (small compartment  42  shown in  FIG. 5 ) which is the nearest to the XY coordinates (0, B) and adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region. 
     On the other hand, when it is concluded in the step S 6  that the Y coordinate value (y) does not satisfy B≦y≦B+β (step S 6 : NO), the CPU  11  transforms the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (m/2, y) (step S 8 ). 
     The case where it is concluded in the step S 6  that the Y coordinate value (y) does not satisfy B≦y≦B+β (step S 6 : NO) means the case where the input operation is performed on the split region  38 . In this case, the CPU  11  performs processing in the step S 8  to transform the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (m/2, y) so that the input operation performed on the split region  38  is regarded as an input operation performed on a small compartment which is the nearest to (x, y) in small compartments provided in the display region so as to be arranged along a side connecting the XY coordinates (0, 0) and (0, B) and which is adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region. 
     When it is concluded in the step S 3  that the X coordinate value (x) does not satisfy −α≦x≦0 (step S 3 : NO), the CPU  11  determines whether the X coordinate value (x) satisfies 0&lt;x&lt;A or not (step S 9 ). 
     When it is concluded in the step S 9  that the X coordinate value (x) satisfies 0&lt;x&lt;A (step S 9 : YES), the CPU  11  determines whether the Y coordinate value (y) in the XY coordinates outputted from the detector  22  satisfies −β≦y≦0 or not (step S 10 ). 
     When it is concluded in the step S 10  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies −β≦y≦0 (step S 10 : YES), the CPU  11  transforms the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (x, n/2) (step S 11 ). 
     The case where it is concluded in the step S 10  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies −β≦y≦0 (step S 10 : YES) means the case where the input operation is performed on the split region  35 . In this case, the CPU  11  performs processing in the step S 11  to transform the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (x, n/2) so that the input operation performed on the split region  35  is regarded as an input operation performed on a small compartment which is the nearest to (x, y) in small compartments provided in the display region so as to be arranged along a side connecting the XY coordinates (0, 0) and (A, 0) and which is adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region. 
     On the other hand, when it is concluded in the step S 10  that the Y coordinate value (y) does not satisfy −β≦y≦0 (step S 10 : NO), the CPU  11  determines whether the Y coordinate value (y) in the XY coordinates outputted from the detector  22  satisfies B≦y≦B+β or not (step S 12 ). 
     When it is concluded in the step S 12  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies B≦y≦B+β (step S 12 : YES), the CPU  11  transforms the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (x, B−n/2) (step S 13 ). 
     The case where it is concluded in the step S 12  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies B≦y≦B+β (step S 12 : YES) means the case where the input operation is performed on the split region  37 . In this case, the CPU  11  performs processing in the step S 13  to transform the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (x, B−n/2) so that the input operation performed on the split region  37  is regarded as an input operation performed on a small compartment which is the nearest to (x, y) in small compartments provided in the display region so as to be arranged along a side connecting the XY coordinates (0, B) and (A, B) and which is adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region. 
     On the other hand, when it is concluded in the step S 12  that the Y coordinate value (y) does not satisfy B≦y≦B+β (step S 12 : NO), the CPU  11  transforms the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (x, y) (step S 14 ). 
     The case where it is concluded in the step S 12  that the Y coordinate value (y) does not satisfy B≦y≦B+β (step S 12 : NO) means the case where the input operation is performed on the split region  39 , that is, the inside of the display region of the display  21 . In this case, the CPU  11  directly uses the XY coordinates outputted from the detector  22 . 
     When it is concluded in the step S 9  that the X coordinate value (x) does not satisfy 0&lt;x&lt;A (step S 9 : NO), the CPU  11  determines whether the Y coordinate value (y) in the XY coordinates outputted from the detector  22  satisfies −β≦y≦0 or not (step S 15 ). 
     When it is concluded in the step S 15  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies −β≦y≦0 (step S 15 : YES), the CPU  11  transforms the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (A−m/2, n/2) (step S 16 ). 
     The case where it is concluded in the step S 15  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies −β≦y≦0 (step S 15 : YES) means the case where the input operation is performed on the split region  32 . In this case, the CPU  11  performs processing in the step S 16  to transform the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (A−m/2, n/2) so that the input operation performed on the split region  32  is regarded as an input operation performed on a small compartment in the display region (small compartment  43  shown in  FIG. 5 ) which is the nearest to the XY coordinates (A, 0) and which is adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region. 
     On the other hand, when it is concluded in the step S 15  that the Y coordinate value (y) does not satisfy −β≦y≦0 (step S 15 : NO), the CPU  11  determines whether the Y coordinate value (y) in the XY coordinates outputted from the detector  22  satisfies B≦y≦B+β or not (step S 17 ). 
     When it is concluded in the step S 17  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies B≦y≦B+β (step S 17 : YES), the CPU  11  transforms the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (A−m/2, B−n/2) (step S 18 ). 
     The case where it is concluded in the step S 17  that the Y coordinate value (y) satisfies B≦y≦B+β (step S 17 : YES) means the case where the input operation is performed on the split region  33 . In this case, the CPU  11  performs processing in the step S 18  to transform the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (A−m/2, B−n/2) so that the input operation performed on the split region  33  is regarded as an input operation performed on a small compartment in the display region (small compartment  44  shown in  FIG. 5 ) which is the nearest to the XY coordinates (A, B) and which is adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region. 
     On the other hand, when it is concluded in the step S 17  that the Y coordinate value (y) does not satisfy B≦y≦B+β (step S 17 : NO), the CPU  11  transforms the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (A−m/2, y) (step S 19 ). 
     The case where it is concluded in the step S 17  that the Y coordinate value (y) does not satisfy B≦y≦B+β (step S 17 : NO) means the case where the input operation is performed on the split region  38 . In this case, the CPU  11  performs processing in the step S 19  to transform the coordinates subjected to the input operation into (A−m/2, y) so that the input operation performed on the split region  38  is regarded as an input operation performed on a small compartment which is the nearest to (x, y) in small compartments provided in the display region so as to be arranged along a side connecting the XY coordinates (A, 0) and (A, B) and which is adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region. 
     After processing in any one of the steps S 5 , S 7 , S 8 , S 11 , S 13 , S 14 , S 16 , S 18  and S 19 , the CPU  11  outputs the determined XY coordinates (step S 20 ). 
     In this manner, when an input operation on the outside of the display region of the display  21  is detected, the CPU  11  performs coordinate transformation processing for regarding the input operation as an input operation on the inside of the display region. On this occasion, when the coordinates of the input operation on the outside of the display region is detected by the detector, the CPU  11  functions as a controller which transforms the coordinates of the input operation on the outside of the display region into the coordinates of the inside of the display region. 
     As described above, in the portable terminal  1 , when coordinates of an input operation on the outside of the display region of the display  21  of the touch panel  19  is detected, the CPU  11  transforms the coordinates of the input operation into coordinates of the inside of the display region. 
     Consequently, even if the user performs an input operation on the outside of the display region by mistake when the user wants to perform an input operation for an input operation target in the display region disposed closely to the outer circumference of the display region, the input operation is automatically regarded as an input operation in the display region. Accordingly, it is possible to solve the problem that it may be difficult to perform an input operation on the outer circumference of the display region or the vicinity of the outer circumference in a touch panel according to the background art, so that it is possible to perform an input operation well on the outer circumference of the display region or the vicinity of the outer circumference. 
     Moreover, the CPU  11  divides the display region of the display  21  into small compartments by a width of  m  in the X direction and by a width of  n  in the Y direction, and transforms the coordinates of the input operation on the outside of the display region into coordinates of a small compartment which is inside the display region and which is adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region, based on the size of each small compartment. 
     Consequently, even if the user performs an input operation on the outside of the display region by mistake because of displacement of the position of the input operation when the user wants to perform an input operation on a small compartment adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region, the input operation is automatically regarded as an input operation on a small compartment adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region. Accordingly, the user can perform an input operation well on a small compartment adjacent to the outer circumference of the display region. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It is aimed, therefore, to cover in the appended claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Although the exemplary embodiment has been described in the case where the detector  22  is provided so that an input operation on the outside of the outer circumference of the display region can be detected in addition to detection of an input operation in a range corresponding to the display region of the display  21 , a display region inside detector for detecting an input operation in a range corresponding to the display region of the display  21  and a display region outside detector for detecting an input operation on the outside of the outer circumference of the display region may be provided separately. 
     Although the exemplary embodiment has been described in the case where the display region is divided into small compartments by a width of  m  in the X direction and by a width of  n  in the Y direction, the size of each small compartment may be selected in use in accordance with the contents of the display screen. In this case, for example, combination of values of  m  and  n  for determining the size of each small compartment may be stored in advance in a storage device such as an ROM so that the CPU  11  can use  m  and  n  for the small compartment corresponding to the display contents in accordance with one of various kinds of display screens. 
     Although the exemplary embodiment has been described in the case where when an operation on the outside of the display region is performed, control is made so that the position of the input operation is regarded as a position corrected inward from the outer circumference of the display region by halves (m/2, n/2) of widths for division of the display region into small compartments, this is only one instance and other values may be used. For example, the degree of correction based on  m  and  n  may be changed to m/3 and n/3 or the position of the input operation may be corrected inward by predetermined coordinate values from the outer circumference. 
     Alternatively, the display region need not be divided equally into small compartments. For example, when a scroll bar is displayed along a side of the outer circumference of the display region, small compartments corresponding to the configuration (e.g. width, etc.) of the scroll bar may be provided for a portion of the display region where the scroll bar is displayed, while small compartments corresponding to the display contents may be provided for the other portion of the display region than the portion where the scroll bar is displayed. Alternatively, sizes of small compartments may be set suitably in accordance with sizes of icons, various kinds of buttons, etc. displayed in the small compartments respectively. 
     The invention can be applied not only to the portable terminal but also to any apparatus such as a desktop computer having a touch panel 
     The coordinate transformation processing performed by the input device described in the exemplary embodiment, that is, the flow chart of the coordinate transformation processing shown in  FIG. 6  may be stored as a computer-executable program in a recording medium such as a memory card (e.g. an ROM card, an RAM card, etc.), a magnetic disk (e.g. a floppy disk, a hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (e.g. a CD-ROM, a DVD, etc.), a semiconductor memory etc. The computer (CPU  11 ) of the input device reads the program recorded on the recording medium into the RAM  12  and the operation thereof is controlled by the read program to thereby achieve the function of the coordinate transformation processing described in the exemplary embodiment.