JP2000181632A - Touch input device for video equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch input device capable of executing various functions of a video equipment with a simple operation that is touching a screen with a finger. SOLUTION: In this device, plural sets of light emitting elements X1 to X5 and Y1 to Y5 and light receiving elements x1 to x5 and y1 to y5 are arranged facing each other at outer peripheral parts 3a to 3d of a screen 3 for displaying an image. The device is provided with a touch input processing means 13 which outputs a signal showing the position of the intersection P when any of the intersection P positions of beams which appear on the screen 3 in a matrix shape by the light emission of each element X1 to X5 and Y1 to Y5 is shielded, a display means which displays the signs S of various operation keys that execute functions of a video equipment 1 on the screen 3 in accordance with an optional intersection position among beam intersections P on the screen 3, and a control means 4 which recognizes the sign S of an operation key corresponding to a position signal when the position signal is transmitted from the means 13 and controls the execution of the function allocated to the operation key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video device such as a television or a television integrated video tape recorder,
The present invention relates to a touch input device of a video device that can function a video device having a small inch screen with a simple input operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a television (TV) or a television-integrated video cassette recorder (TV-integrated VC) is widely used.
Video equipment such as R) has a key input unit on the front panel and a remote controller (remote controller). The key input unit and the remote control are provided with a plurality of operation keys for executing various functions of the AV device, and when any one of the operation keys is pressed, the function assigned to the operation key is executed. It is possible. This type of operation key basically consists of a fixed contact and a movable contact,
A spring body for return is provided on the movable contact side. When an operation unit on the movable contact side is pressed, the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact, an operation signal is transmitted, and control relating to video display and sound emission is performed. By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional operation key, since the movable contact is biased by the pressing force by the spring body, it is necessary to perform the pressing operation with the fingertip against the spring force, and the operability is not good. In addition, due to the use of mechanical contacts, there has been a problem in that, due to long-term use, contact failures have occurred between the contacts, preventing the output of operation signals, and the inability of the movable contacts to advance and retreat, preventing input operations. There was also.

In view of such a problem, there has been proposed an electronic tuning device which can switch channels only by touching a finger (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-144929). This device comprises a first means for generating a signal by sensing an operation by a finger, and a second means for switching a channel by a signal from the first means. The first means includes a light-emitting diode that constantly emits infrared light toward the front, and a photosensor that receives infrared light. In this electronic tuning apparatus, when a user puts out a finger, infrared light from the light emitting diode is reflected by the finger and received by a corresponding photo sensor. Then, the channel is switched by a photosensor signal output in response to the light reception.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional electronic tuning apparatus has an advantage that a pressing operation is not required since the channel can be switched by reflecting infrared rays directed forward by a finger. However, since it is limited to the channel switching operation like an electronic tuning device, there is a problem that it cannot be used as an operation key or the like for executing various functions of the video equipment. In addition, since it is not assumed that the above-described channel switching method using infrared rays is adopted for a TV or a TV-integrated VCR having a screen for displaying an image, a pressing operation method provided on a front panel of a TV or the like is used. Various function keys could not be omitted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a touch input device for a video device capable of executing various functions of the video device by a simple operation of touching a screen with a finger. The purpose is.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a light emitting element and a light receiving element are provided on an outer peripheral portion of a screen for displaying an image by opposing the light emitting element and the light receiving element. A touch input processing means for arranging a set, when any of the light-emitting elements emit light in the form of a matrix on the screen at an intersection of light beams, and outputting a signal indicating the intersection, A display means for displaying signs of various operation keys for executing the functions of the video equipment on the screen corresponding to an arbitrary intersection position among the intersections of the light rays on the screen, and a position signal from the touch input processing means is transmitted. And control means for recognizing the sign of the operation key corresponding to the position signal and executing a function assigned to the operation key.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the video equipment is a television and a television integrated video tape recorder. Further, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the screen is a liquid crystal screen of a liquid crystal display device. The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that a display switching key for sequentially switching the sign of the operation key and displaying the sign on the screen is provided on a front panel near the screen.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an electric block diagram showing a touch input device of a video device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration of the touch input device, and FIG. 3 is a video device provided with the touch input device. It is a front view which shows the screen of FIG. The touch input device of this video device
Applied to the TV-integrated VCR 1, the outer peripheral portions 3 a to 3 d on the screen 3 of the CRT 2 of the TV-integrated VCR 1
Are provided with touch switch element groups X, x and Y, y, and the sign of the operation switch is displayed on the screen 3 so that various functions can be input. TV integrated VCR1
The screen 3 has a small size of 9 inches or 14 inches, and has a cassette insertion opening 5 formed in a front panel 4 at a lower side of the screen 3 as shown in FIG.

A plug jack 6, an earphone jack 7, a power switch 8 and the like are provided below the cassette insertion slot 5, and an OSD switch 9 is provided near the screen 3.
Is provided. The OSD switch 9 sequentially switches the sign S of the operation key displayed on the screen 3, and the control unit 14 via the signal conversion unit 10 together with the power switch 8.
It is connected to the. Each time the OSD switch 9 is pressed, a switching signal is output to the control unit 14, and a sign of an operation key for executing various functions such as menu items, broadcasting of a television program, and reproduction and recording of a video cassette recorder is displayed on the screen 3. S are sequentially displayed. As shown in FIG. 2, the touch switch element group includes five sets of light emitting diodes X1 to X5 and Y1 to Y5, and phototransistors x1 to x5 and y1 to y5. Are arranged vertically and horizontally at equal intervals inside the outer peripheral edge of the screen 3 so that they face each other. That is, the light emitting diodes X in the row
1 to X5, row of phototransistors x1 to x5,
The column phototransistors y1 to y5 are arranged so as to face the column phototransistors Y1 to Y5, respectively.

The light emitting diodes X1 to X5, Y
In each of 1 to Y5, the anode is connected to the voltage supply circuit via the resistor r, and the cathode is connected to the ground. These light-emitting diodes X1 to X5 and Y1 to Y5 emit infrared light toward the phototransistors x1 to x5 and y1 to y5 when energized. Due to this light emission, light rays appear in a matrix on the screen 3 as shown in FIG.
A point of intersection P occurs. On the other hand, each phototransistor x
The collectors 1 to x5 and y1 to y5 are connected to a voltage supply circuit via a resistor r, and the emitters are connected to the ground. Further, each of the phototransistors x1 to x5, y1 to
The collector side of y5 is connected to each terminal of the touch switch processing circuit 13 composed of an IC.

The touch switch processing circuit 13 has a plurality of terminals and is bidirectionally connected to a CPU constituting the control unit 14. Each terminal is numbered, such that terminal number 1 is a phototransistor x1, terminal number 2 is a phototransistor x2, terminal number 6 is a phototransistor y1 and terminal number 7 is a phototransistor y2. Are connected in numerical order.
As a result, the terminal numbers 1 and 6, the terminal numbers 2 and 7, the terminal numbers 3 and 8, the terminal numbers 4 and 9, and the terminal numbers 5 and 10 are paired. The x-side and y-side phototransistors connected to the terminals constitute one touch switch.
When the matrix light beams on the screen 3 are shielded, no signal is input to the touch switch processing circuit 13 from any of the x-side phototransistor and the paired y-side phototransistor. The circuit 13 sends an H-level signal to the control unit 14 as a position signal based on the terminal number.

The control unit 14 is a microcomputer comprising a CPU, a ROM and a RAM, and is controlled in one direction or in accordance with the functions of the signal conversion unit 10, the memory 11, the OSD controller 12, the touch switch processing circuit 13, and the like. Connected bidirectionally. The memory 11 stores character data for displaying characters, the sign S of operation switches, and the like on the screen 3 of the television, and is a matrix composed of touch switch element groups X, x, Y, and y. Character data is stored corresponding to data indicating the position of each intersection P of the light beam. In this example,
Information such as characters and symbols relating to the contents of menu items, character information such as channel (Ch), volume (VOL) and image quality (PICTURE) relating to the video of a broadcast program, and rewinding, reproducing, and fast-forwarding the functions of the video tape recorder. Sign information such as, pause and stop,
In addition, display information of operation keys for executing functions generally provided in a conventional operation panel or remote control such as setting, change, adjustment, and program reservation related to television and video is stored. In addition, the OSD controller 12 controls the TV screen 3
And a signal processing for displaying a sign S of an operation switch or the like, and receives data of the memory 11 based on a control signal from the control unit 14 to sequentially display various information on the screen 3. .

The control unit 14 controls the operation of the entire TV-integrated VCR 1 and, when the power switch 8 of the television is turned on, reads data from the memory 11 and sends a control signal to the OSD controller 12. After the transmission and the display of the menu on the screen 3, when the position signal is transmitted from the touch switch processing circuit 13, the sign S of the operation key corresponding to the position signal is recognized.
The control for executing the function assigned to the operation key is performed. At this time, signal processing according to the type of the operation key is performed. For example, as shown in FIG.
When the position signals corresponding to S1 and S2 are continuously transmitted, a selection signal is transmitted to the tuner to control the channel to be sequentially switched to the up or down side. Also,
The same applies to the volume. When the position signals corresponding to the signs S3 and S4 of the operation keys are successively transmitted, the control for increasing and decreasing the volume is performed. The sign S
5 is a rewind key, S6 is a play key, S7 is a fast forward key,
S8 indicates a pause key, and S9 indicates a stop key.

Next, the operation of the touch input device of the video device will be described. First, when the operator presses the power key 8, the control unit 14 shifts to the display mode and displays the menu and the explanation of the operation method on the screen 3. When the user presses the OSD switch 9 according to the displayed content, the control unit 14 operates the memory 1 based on the operation signal.
1 is read out from the OSD controller 1 and sent to the OSD controller 12. The OSD controller 12 includes a control unit 14
In accordance with the instruction from, the sign S1 of each key such as rewind, playback, fast forward, pause and stop is displayed on the screen 3 together with the channel (Ch) and volume (VOL) as shown in FIG.
To S9 are displayed.

Here, when the user touches the finger on the sign S1 on the down side of Ch, the light emitting diodes Y1 and X
Since the intersection point P1 of the infrared light with the light beam 4 is shielded, no infrared light enters the phototransistors y1 and x4. Then, the position signal of the intersection P1 is sent from the touch switch processing circuit 13 to the control unit 14. This control unit 14
Receives the position signal, determines the sign S1 displayed on the screen 3, recognizes that it is a channel down command, and shifts to the channel switching mode. At this time, the control unit 14 performs control to switch the channel to the down side, but continues the operation of sequentially switching to the down side only during the time when the position signal is transmitted. Then, when the position signal is no longer transmitted, the video of the broadcast program of the channel is displayed on the screen 3 and the sound is emitted from the speaker. If it is desired to record a broadcast program while such a program is being broadcast, the OSD switch 9 is pressed to display a recording signature on the screen 3. Although not shown, this sign is displayed on screen 3 together with other signs related to program reservation.
Is displayed, the sign of the recording key may be touched on this screen 3 display.

Thus, the mode shifts to the recording mode and the broadcast program is recorded on the video tape. Then, when the recording is to be ended, the sign S9 of the stop key is displayed on the screen 3 and the recording can be ended at that time by touching the sign S9. Thereafter, when the user wants to play back the recorded video for viewing or to play back the recorded video on another video tape, the user presses the OSD switch 9 as described above to display various screens as shown in FIG. The sign S is displayed. Here, when the user touches the reproduction sign S6 with a finger, the intersection P of the infrared rays between the light emitting diodes Y2 and X5.
2 is shielded, so that no infrared light enters the phototransistors y2 and x5. Along with this, the controller 14 determines the sign S6 based on the position signal of the intersection P2, recognizes that it is a reproduction command, and shifts to the reproduction mode. As a result, the playback system of the video tape recorder operates, a playback image is displayed on the screen 3, and sound is emitted from the speaker. Thus, the touch input device is
By touching any of the signs S of the various operation keys displayed on the screen 3 with a finger, a desired function can be executed, so that the input operation is simplified.

In the above embodiment, an example of application to a television-integrated video tape recorder has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a television having less functions. It can be widely applied to various AV devices provided. Also, the touch input device of a video device has been described as an example in which a light receiving / emitting element is arranged on an outer peripheral portion of a screen of a video device or an AV device such as a television provided with a CRT. The same function as described above can be executed even if the light emitting and receiving elements are arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the screen.

[0017]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the signs of various operation keys for executing the functions of the video equipment are displayed on the screen, and one of the signs is manually operated. By touching, the function assigned to the operation key is executed, so that the operation key provided on the front panel or the like of the video device can be eliminated as in the related art. The structure is simple and the production is easy. Also, since there is no operation key for pressing from the front panel, there is no unevenness on the front panel, and there is an effect that the aesthetic appearance of the whole video equipment is improved. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the video device is a television and a television integrated video tape recorder, and a pressing operation key provided on a front panel for executing various functions of the video device is omitted. In addition, there is an advantage that the input operation can be easily performed only by touching the screen with a finger, and a television or the like having an excellent appearance can be provided because the front panel has no irregularities. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the screen is the liquid crystal screen of the liquid crystal display device, the input operation of the video equipment provided with the liquid crystal screen is simplified, and the aesthetic appearance of the video equipment is remarkably improved. There are advantages.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the display switch key for sequentially switching the sign of the operation key and displaying the sign on the screen is provided on the front panel near the screen. There is an advantage that functions can be selectively displayed and easily executed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electrical block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a touch input device of a video device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing light rays that appear in a matrix in a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged on an outer peripheral portion of a screen of a video device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing signs of various operation keys displayed on a screen of the television integrated video tape recorder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Video equipment (TV integrated VCR) 3 Screen 3a-3d Outer part 12 Display means 13 Touch input processing means 14 Control means P Intersection S Sign X1-X5 Light-emitting element Y1-Y5 Light-emitting element x1-x5 Light-receiving element y1-y5 Light-receiving element

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of sets of light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements are arranged on an outer peripheral portion of a screen for displaying an image so that light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements are opposed to each other. A touch input processing means for outputting a signal indicating the position of the intersection when any one of the positions is shielded from light, and a function of a video device on the screen corresponding to any of the intersections of light rays on the screen. Display means for displaying the sign of various operation keys for executing the operation, and when a position signal is sent from the touch input processing means, the sign of the operation key corresponding to the position signal is recognized and assigned to the operation key. And a control unit for performing control for executing the specified function. 2. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the video device is a television and a television-integrated video tape recorder. 3. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the screen is a liquid crystal screen of a liquid crystal display device. 4. The image according to claim 1, wherein a display switching key for sequentially switching the sign of the operation key and displaying the sign on the screen is provided on a front panel near the screen. Device touch input device.