JP2008195141A - Operation supporting device and method for on-vehicle equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem wherein operability is bad since an operator has to frequently move his eyes between a display and an operation object when operating on-vehicle equipment by a touch panel. <P>SOLUTION: A selection instruction for selecting any one from a plurality of operation objects mounted on a vehicle is received. When the selection instruction is received, a plurality of icons for operating the operation object are displayed on a display region of a touch panel display mounted on the vehicle. When the selected operation object is operated, information for showing whether or not the operation object is required to be visually observed and confirmed is acquired. When the selected operation object is one which is required to be visually observed and confirmed, a non-sensitive region in which touch operations can not be received is set between the icons. The touch operation for the display region except the non-sensitive region is received. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation support apparatus and an operation support method for in-vehicle devices.

Conventionally, the number of switches for operating the in-vehicle devices has increased as the functions and functions of the in-vehicle devices are increased. For this reason, there is a problem that the user is troublesome in finding a desired switch or mistakenly pressing the switch. Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a touch panel display installed on a door on the driver's seat side is used as a common operating device for operating various in-vehicle devices such as seats and mirrors.
JP 2005-153684 A

  By the way, in-vehicle equipment, it may be sufficient to operate while looking at the screen of the display, but there are things that need to be operated while checking the adjustment, for example, looking at the operation object itself, such as a door mirror . In the latter case, if the content displayed on the display is detailed or the buttons are close to each other as in the conventional case, the operator can check the position of the desired button and confirm the operation target itself. There is a problem that the line of sight must be frequently moved between the object and the object to be operated, which is inconvenient. Further, there is a possibility that a button that is not intended by the operator is erroneously operated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a technique capable of easily operating an in-vehicle device.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a selection instruction for selecting any one of a plurality of operation objects mounted on a vehicle is received, and the operation object is operated when the selection instruction is received. Multiple icons are displayed on the touch panel display, and when operating the selected operation target, information indicating whether it is necessary to visually check the operation target is acquired, and the selected operation target needs to be visually checked A configuration is adopted in which an insensitive area that does not accept a touch operation is set between icons when it is an operation target.

  Mechanical switches can grasp the position of each switch from the unevenness of the switch when operated by groping, but it is difficult to grasp the position of each switch (icon) by groping with a configuration using a touch panel. . When the above configuration is adopted, if you have to operate while looking at the object to be operated instead of the display, a dead area is provided between icons, so you can grasp the position of each icon. It is possible to suppress erroneous operations when performing blind operations.

  The selection instruction receiving means only needs to be able to receive a selection instruction for selecting one of the operation objects from a plurality of operation objects mounted on the vehicle, and various configurations can be employed. It may be received by a touch operation on the touch panel display, may be received by voice, or may be received by another input mechanism. The operation target refers to various devices mounted on the vehicle itself, specific parts of the devices, and operation items related to the devices. For example, air conditioner (temperature / wind direction adjustment), audio system (volume adjustment), mirror (angle / position adjustment), seat (angle / position / heater adjustment), steering (angle / position adjustment), glass (condensation prevention) Function on / off, window open / close).

  The visual confirmation information acquisition unit may adopt various configurations as long as it can acquire information indicating whether or not the operation target is an operation target that requires visual confirmation. For example, whether or not visual confirmation is necessary for each operation target is set in advance and stored in a storage medium, and is referred to. The operation target that requires visual confirmation is an operation that changes the position and angle of the object to be operated, and the operation result of the operation is an operation target that is mainly confirmed visually by the operator. For example, a door mirror, a fender mirror (angle / position adjustment), and a seat other than the seat on which the operator is seated (angle / position adjustment of each part). An operation target that does not require visual confirmation refers to an operation target whose operation result of the operation target is confirmed by the operator mainly by a sense other than vision. For example, an air conditioner (temperature / wind direction adjustment), an audio system (volume adjustment), a seat on which an operator is seated (angle / position / heater adjustment), and the like.

  In the present invention, the area setting means may not set the insensitive area between the icons when the selected operation object does not require visual confirmation. When visual confirmation of the operation target is unnecessary, it is natural to operate while looking at the display. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dead area in consideration of operation without looking at the display. That is, even in the same icon arrangement, the setting of the insensitive area differs depending on information that does not require visual confirmation. The insensitive area may be provided even when the operation target does not require visual confirmation, but is set to a position other than the position set at least when visual confirmation is necessary.

  In the present invention, the display control means assigns M (M is an integer of 2 or more) icons indicating operations related to the operation target to each of the M divided regions obtained by virtually dividing the display region into M. The area setting unit may display an area including at least a part of a boundary line of the divided area as the insensitive area. That is, an icon is arranged in each of M divided areas obtained by dividing the entire screen of the touch panel display into M areas, an area including at least a part of the boundary line is set as a dead area, and a touch operation on a display area other than the dead area Since the area for receiving the touch operation is large compared to the configuration for receiving the touch operation for only the icon, the ease of the blind operation is improved. In addition, the operator can grasp the boundary between the divided areas based on the insensitive area set as described above.

  In the present invention, the display control means displays at least one set of icons for performing conflicting operations related to the operation target at symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the display area, and the area setting means is selected. When the operation target is an operation target that requires visual confirmation, a dead area may be set at the center of the display area. As an example of the blind operation process, before touching the detection surface of the touch panel, a process of touching the edge of the touch panel display and touching the detection surface with the edge as a reference may be considered. When the operator recognizes that he / she has touched one side of the edge (for example, the left side) and moved the finger from the left side to the right direction to reach the center insensitive area, the subsequent insensitive area (to perform a conflicting operation) It can be operated based on the memory of the position of the pair of icons).

  In the present invention, the touch operation receiving means may set the operation amount of the operation target corresponding to the received touch operation to be smaller as the position is closer to the dead area among the display areas other than the dead area. The closer to the dead area, the smaller the operation amount of the operation target. Therefore, the operator can recognize that his / her finger is approaching the dead area direction while viewing the operation target. That is, the position of the finger on the screen can be recognized without looking at the screen. The operation amount corresponding to the received touch operation refers to the operation amount per touch operation when touching in several times, for example, and the operation amount per unit time when touching for a long time. Point to.

  Note that, as in the present invention, a selection instruction for selecting any one of a plurality of operation objects mounted on a vehicle is received, and when the selection instruction is received, a plurality of instructions for operating the operation object are received. An icon is displayed in a display area of a touch panel display mounted on the vehicle, and information indicating whether or not the operation target needs to be visually confirmed when operating the selected operation target is acquired and the selection is performed. The method of setting a dead area that does not accept a touch operation between the icons and accepting a touch operation to the display area other than the dead area when the operation target that has been performed is an operation target that requires visual confirmation. It is also applicable as a program or method for performing the above. Further, the operation support and method as described above may be realized as a single device or may be realized by using parts shared with each part provided in the vehicle, and includes various aspects. . Further, some changes may be made as appropriate, such as a part of software and a part of hardware. Furthermore, the invention is also established as a program for controlling the operation support apparatus and a recording medium for recording the program. Of course, the software recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future.

Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
(1) Configuration of operation support device:
(2) Operation support processing:
(3) Other embodiments:

(1) Configuration of operation support device:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an operation support apparatus 11 for an in-vehicle device according to the present invention. The operation support apparatus 11 in the present embodiment includes a touch panel display 40 and a navigation apparatus 10.

  The touch panel display 40 is a display device having a function of accepting an instruction operation by a finger touch on the screen. In the present embodiment, the touch panel display 40 is installed in the center of the instrument panel. The touch panel display 40 and the navigation device 10 are electrically connected through an interface (not shown) and can exchange data with each other.

  The navigation device 10 includes a control unit 20 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like and a storage medium 30, and the control unit 20 can execute various programs stored in the storage medium 30 and the ROM. In this embodiment, the operation support program 21 can be implemented as one of the programs.

  The selection instruction receiving unit 21a is a module that receives a selection instruction for selecting one of the operation objects from a plurality of operation objects mounted on the vehicle. In the present embodiment, it is accepted by a predetermined touch operation on the touch panel display 40. The operation target refers to various devices mounted on the vehicle itself, specific parts of the devices, and operation items related to the devices. For example, air conditioner (temperature / wind direction adjustment), audio system (volume adjustment), mirror (angle / position adjustment), seat (angle / position / heater adjustment), steering (angle / position adjustment), glass (condensation prevention) Function on / off, window open / close). Note that the selection instruction accepting unit 21a is not limited to the touch panel display 40, and may accept the selection operation by voice or other input mechanism.

  The display control unit 21b is a module that displays various menu screens and a plurality of icons for operating the in-vehicle device to be operated in the display area of the touch panel display 40. Of course, characters and symbols can be displayed in addition to icons. The drawing data for that purpose is stored in advance in the ROM or the storage medium 30.

  The visual confirmation information acquisition unit 21 c is a module that acquires, from the storage medium 30, visual confirmation information 30 a that indicates whether or not the operation target needs to be viewed when operating the operation target with the touch panel display 40. The visual confirmation information 30 a in which whether or not visual confirmation is necessary for each operation target is set in advance in the storage medium 30. The operation target that requires visual confirmation is an operation that changes the position and angle of the object to be operated, and the operation result of the operation is an operation target that is mainly confirmed visually by the operator. For example, a door mirror, a fender mirror (angle / position adjustment), and a seat other than the seat on which the operator is seated (angle / position adjustment of each part). An operation target that does not require visual confirmation refers to an operation target whose operation result of the operation target is confirmed by the operator mainly by a sense other than vision. For example, an air conditioner (temperature / wind direction adjustment), an audio system (volume adjustment), a seat on which an operator is seated (angle / position / heater adjustment), and the like.

  The area setting unit 21d is a module that sets a dead area in the display area of the touch panel display 40 based on the visual confirmation information 30a. When the selected operation target does not require visual confirmation, no dead area is set between the icons. The dead area will be described later.

The touch operation reception unit 21e acquires information indicating the touch position of the finger detected by the touch panel display 40, information indicating the touch position, and contents displayed on the touch panel display 40 at that time by the display control unit 21b, This is a module that accepts a touch operation based on information indicating the insensitive area set at that time by the area setting unit 21d. When the insensitive area is touched, the touch operation reception unit 21e invalidates the touch operation. When a display area other than the insensitive area is touched, the touch operation is validated and an operation corresponding to the touch position is performed on the operation target.
The configuration of the operation support apparatus 11 has been described above.

(2) Operation support processing:
Next, an operation support process performed by the operation support apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment in the above configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation support processing in this embodiment. This process is activated when the selection instruction receiving unit 21a receives a selection instruction for selecting one of the operation objects from a plurality of operation objects mounted on the vehicle. Specifically, in the state where the driving position setting screen 400 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the touch panel display 40, the right door mirror is selected as the operation target (the R icon 454 is touched). This will be described below.

  By the way, when it is necessary to operate while confirming the adjustment degree, that is, while visually checking the operation target like a door mirror, the details displayed on the display or the icons are displayed like the driving position setting screen 400. When the operator is approaching, the operator must frequently move his / her line of sight between the display and the object to be operated in order to confirm the position of the desired button and the object to be operated. In addition, there is a possibility of erroneous operation of a button that is not intended by the operator.

  Therefore, first, the display control unit 21b displays a simple operation screen on the touch panel display 40 (step S100). Specifically, for example, a simple operation screen 500 shown in FIG. 4A is displayed. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the simple operation screen 500 includes icons (two sets for performing opposite operations) that indicate four directions of up, down, left, and right at symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the display area of the touch panel display 40. Icons) 555a, 555b, 555c, and 555d are arranged. Also, the four icons are arranged in each of the four divided areas obtained by virtually dividing the display area into four.

  In the simplified operation screen, an icon indicating an exceptional operation different from the upper, lower, left, and right icons in one of the divided areas (for example, an “OK” icon for enabling the setting or for returning to the previous screen) Or other symbols may be displayed.

Next, the visual confirmation information acquisition unit 21c acquires the visual confirmation information 30a from the storage medium 30 (step S105).
Next, the region setting unit 21d determines whether or not the selected operation target needs to be visually confirmed based on the visual confirmation information 30a (step S110), and sets the insensitive region when visual confirmation is necessary (step S110). S115).

  The dead area is set at the center of the display area as shown in FIG. 4C, for example. As an example of the blind operation process, before touching the detection surface of the touch panel, a process of touching the edge of the touch panel display and touching the detection surface with the edge as a reference may be considered. When the operator recognizes that he / she has touched one side of the edge (for example, the left side) and moved the finger from the left side to the right direction to reach the center insensitive area, the subsequent insensitive area (to perform a conflicting operation) It can be operated based on the memory of the position of the pair of icons).

Further, the insensitive area may be set to an area including a boundary line of each divided area as shown in FIG. 4D, for example.
As shown in FIG. 4C and FIG. 4D, icons are arranged in each of M divided areas obtained by dividing the entire screen by M (M is an integer of 2 or more), and an area including at least a part of the boundary line is defined as a dead area. In the configuration in which the touch operation for the display region other than the insensitive region is set and the touch operation for only the icon is received, the area of the region for receiving the touch operation is large, and thus the ease of the blind operation is improved. In addition, the operator can grasp the boundary between the divided areas based on the insensitive area set as described above.

  4C and 4D, each divided region is in contact with the edge of touch panel display 40 (the outer periphery of the display region). When the operator goes through the above-described blind operation process, if at least a part of the divided area is in contact with the edge of the display area, one of the divided areas (non-sensitive area) is not moved without largely moving the finger from the edge. Can be touched.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the touch operation reception unit 21e sets the operation amount of the operation target corresponding to the received touch operation to be smaller as the position is closer to the dead area among the display areas other than the dead area. The closer to the dead area, the smaller the operation amount of the operation target. Therefore, the operator can recognize that his / her finger is approaching the dead area direction while viewing the operation target. That is, the position of the finger on the screen can be recognized without looking at the screen. The operation amount corresponding to the received touch operation refers to the operation amount per touch operation when touching in several times, for example, and the operation amount per unit time when touching for a long time. Point to.

  Heretofore, an example in which an operation target that requires visual confirmation has been selected has been described. Next, a case where an operation target that does not require visual confirmation is selected will be described. For example, it is assumed that the airflow direction adjustment of the air conditioner is set in the visual confirmation information 30a as an operation that does not require visual confirmation. It is assumed that the air direction of the air conditioner can be adjusted vertically and horizontally. When the air conditioner wind direction adjustment is selected when the operation support process is activated, the screen 500 (FIG. 4A) is displayed in the display area in the same manner as the door mirror adjustment described above. In this case, it is determined in step S110 that visual confirmation is not necessary, and the insensitive area is not set (FIG. 4B). When visual confirmation of the operation target is unnecessary, it is natural to operate while looking at the display. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dead area in consideration of operation without looking at the display. That is, even in the same icon arrangement, the setting of the insensitive area differs depending on information that does not require visual confirmation. The insensitive area may be provided even when the operation target does not require visual confirmation, but is set to a position other than the position set at least when visual confirmation is necessary.

  The operation support process and the insensitive area setting example have been described above. Mechanical switches can grasp the position of each switch from the unevenness of the switch when operated by groping, but it is difficult to grasp the position of each switch (icon) by groping with a configuration using a touch panel. . However, according to this operation support device 11, when it is necessary to operate while looking at the object to be operated instead of the display, the insensitive area is provided between the icons. Thus, it is possible to suppress erroneous operation when performing a blind operation.

(3) Other embodiments:
The above embodiment is an example for carrying out the present invention. When the selected operation target is an operation target that requires visual confirmation, a non-sensitive area that does not accept a touch operation is set between the icons, As long as a touch operation on the display area is accepted, various other embodiments can be adopted.

  For example, when it is desired to slide the entire sheet back and forth, a simple operation screen 600 shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the touch panel display 40. When the operation target is the driver's seat (when the operator is seated in the driver's seat), the position of the seat is determined by experience, so the user can operate while looking at the screen instead of looking at the seat. It is natural to do. In that case, as shown to FIG. 5B, a dead area does not need to be set. When the operation target is a passenger seat or a rear seat, the operator cannot grasp the movement of the seat in the front-rear direction unless the seat itself is visually observed. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 5C, a region including the boundary line is set as a dead region. The insensitive area may be set so as to partially overlap the icon.

Further, as another example of setting the area including the boundary line of the divided area as the insensitive area, when the ten-key matrix is displayed by dividing the entire screen into 12 areas as shown in FIG. May be set.
In addition, when at least two sets of icons for performing conflicting operations are displayed at symmetrical positions with reference to the center of the display area as shown in FIG. 4A, a dead area is set as shown in FIG. 6B. Also good. That is, a dead area may be set in addition to the center of the display area.

  In addition, a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating whether or not the vehicle is traveling may be provided, and the region setting unit may set the insensitive region when the vehicle is traveling.

It is a block diagram of an operation assistance apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an operation assistance process. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen for selecting the operation target. (4A) is a diagram showing a simple operation screen, and (4B), (4C), and (4D) are diagrams for explaining icon arrangement and a set position of a dead area. (5A) is a diagram showing a simple operation screen, and (5B) and (5C) are diagrams for explaining the arrangement of icons and the set position of a dead area. (6A) and (6B) are diagrams showing examples of icon arrangement and insensitive area setting positions according to another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  10: Navigation device, 11: Operation support device, 20: Control unit, 21: Operation support program, 21a: Selection instruction receiving unit, 21b: Display control unit, 21c: Visual confirmation information acquisition unit, 21d: Area setting unit, 21e : Touch operation acceptance unit, 30: Storage medium, 30a: Visual confirmation information, 40: Touch panel display, 400: Driving position setting screen, 500: Simple operation screen, 600: Simple operation screen.

Claims (6)

A touch panel display mounted on the vehicle;
A selection instruction receiving means for receiving a selection instruction for selecting one of the operation objects from the plurality of operation objects mounted on the vehicle;
Display control means for displaying a plurality of icons for operating the operation target in a display area of the touch panel display when receiving the selection instruction;
Visual confirmation information acquisition means for acquiring information indicating whether or not the operation target needs to be visually confirmed when operating the selected operation target;
When the selected operation object is an operation object that requires visual confirmation, an area setting unit that sets a dead area that does not accept a touch operation between the icons;
Touch operation accepting means for accepting a touch operation on the display area other than the insensitive area;
An operation support apparatus comprising: The area setting means does not set a dead area between the icons when the selected operation object does not require visual confirmation.
The operation support apparatus according to claim 1. The display control means displays M (M is an integer of 2 or more) icons indicating operations related to the operation target in each of the M divided areas obtained by virtually dividing the display area into M. Let
The area setting means sets an area including at least a part of a boundary line of the divided area as the insensitive area.
The operation support apparatus according to claim 1. The display control means displays at least one set of icons for performing conflicting operations related to the operation target at symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the display area,
The area setting means sets the insensitive area at the center of the display area when the selected operation object is an operation object that requires visual confirmation.
The operation support apparatus according to claim 1. The touch operation accepting unit sets the operation amount of the operation target corresponding to the accepted touch operation to be smaller as the position is closer to the dead area in the display area other than the dead area.
The operation assistance apparatus in any one of Claims 1-4. A selection instruction receiving step for receiving a selection instruction for selecting one of the operation objects from a plurality of operation objects mounted on the vehicle;
A display control step of displaying a plurality of icons for operating the operation target on a display area of a touch panel display mounted on the vehicle when the selection instruction is received;
A visual confirmation information acquisition step of acquiring information indicating whether or not it is necessary to visually confirm the operation target when operating the selected operation target;
When the selected operation object is an operation object that requires visual confirmation, an area setting step for setting a dead area that does not accept a touch operation between the icons;
A touch operation accepting step for accepting a touch operation on the display area other than the insensitive area;
Operation support method including

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