JP2006302126A - Touch panel input device and operation input decision method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide "a touch panel input device and an operation input decision method" allowing the same processing as the case that an operation button is successively pushed even when a finger or the like pushing the operation button displayed on a screen of a display is released from the screen. <P>SOLUTION: When changing from a state that the finger of a user touches a touch panel 7 and performs operation by the operation button displayed on the screen of a display panel 6 to a state that the finger of the user is close to the touch panel 7, contents of the operation while the finger of the user is touched on the touch panel 7 are continued. Thereby, even when the finger of the is released from the touch panel 7, the operation of the touch panel 7 can be continued in a pseudo manner, so that the user can easily perform long-push of the operation button. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel input device and an operation input determination method, and more particularly to a touch panel input device and an operation input determination method for performing an information input operation on an electronic device or the like.

  Conventionally, a panel-like input operation unit has been provided on the surface of a liquid crystal display, and when a user touches an operation button displayed on the display screen, an operation signal corresponding to the position of the operation button is output to an electronic device or the like. A touch panel input device that performs an input operation to an electronic device is known. Here, as a touch panel input device, those using a resistive film method, an optical method, a capacitance method, or the like are known.

Further, a touch panel input device is known in which the operation content varies depending on the time for which the user touches the operation button displayed on the screen of the display (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The input device described in Patent Literature 1 determines that the user presses the operation button for a short time when the time when the user touches the operation button is shorter than the predetermined time, and the time when the user touches the operation button is equal to or longer than the predetermined time. Is determined to be a long press, and the processing content of the electronic device varies depending on the type of operation.
JP 2001-306229 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when a user tries to press and hold an operation button displayed on the display screen, the finger pressing the operation button for some reason before the predetermined time elapses. There was a case where the user could get away from the screen and could not make a long press. Here, the reason why the finger or the like pressing the operation button is separated from the screen is that when the touch panel input device is installed in a car or the like, the touch panel input device or the user is shaken by the vibration of the car. It is.

  The present invention is made to solve such a problem, even when a finger or the like pressing an operation button displayed on the display screen of the touch panel input device has been removed from the screen, It is an object of the present invention to be able to perform the same processing as when a long press on an operation button is performed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, the touch panel is operated by detecting whether an operation item displayed on the display screen of the touch panel input device is touched by a user's finger or the like by an operation detection unit. Operation information indicating that the user's finger is in proximity to the touch panel is detected by the object detection unit, and the user touches the touch panel from the state where the user's finger touches the touch panel. When the finger or the like changes to a close state, the output of operation information is continued.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, even when the finger of a user who has operated an operation item displayed on the display screen of the touch panel input device has moved away from the touch panel, If the finger or the like is close, the close finger or the like is detected, and the output of the operation information is continued. As a result, even when a touch panel input device is installed in an automobile or the like where there is a lot of vibration that causes a finger to move away from the touch panel, the output of operation information can be continued. It is possible to easily press and hold the displayed operation item.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the touch panel input device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the touch panel 7 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 1, the touch panel input device according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 1, a display unit 2, a state storage unit 3, and an object detection unit 4. The control unit 1 includes a display control unit 5, a state determination unit 11, an operation control unit 12, a timer unit 13, and an operation information control unit 14. The display unit 2 includes a display panel 6, a touch panel 7, and an operation detection unit 8. The object detection unit 4 includes a receiving device 9 and a transmitting device 10.

  The control unit 1 controls the overall processing of the touch panel input device. The display control unit 5 constituting the control unit 1 displays an operation menu including a plurality of operation items (operation buttons), various content images used as an application of an electronic device to which the touch panel input device of the present embodiment is applied, and the like. Generate and control the display on the display panel 6. Further, the display panel 6 constituting the display unit 2 displays an operation menu generated by the display control unit 5 and various content images.

  The touch panel 7 receives a user operation on an operation item in an operation menu displayed on the display panel 6. In the touch panel input device according to the present embodiment, for example, a resistive film type touch panel 7 is used. Further, the operation detection unit 8 outputs coordinate data indicating the contact position on the touch panel 7 to the state determination unit 11 when an arbitrary position on the touch panel 7 is touched by the user. This coordinate data is output when the user's finger or the like is touching the touch panel 7, but is not output when the touch is not touching, and therefore corresponds to the operation information in the scope of claims indicating the presence or absence of touch.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the resistive touch panel 7 has a structure in which an electrode plate 7a on the front surface side and an electrode plate 7b on the back surface (liquid crystal surface) side are bonded with a spacer 7c interposed therebetween. . Further, the electrode plate 7a on the surface side is provided with electrodes 7d in the vicinity of the edges of the long sides. Further, the electrode plate 7b on the back side is provided with electrodes 7e in the vicinity of the edge of the short side. The electrode plate 7a on the front side is formed of a soft material so that a point touched by the user (hereinafter referred to as a pressing point) can move. In addition, a resistance film 7f is provided on the back surface of the electrode plate 7a on the front surface side, and a resistance film 7g is provided on the surface of the electrode plate 7b on the back surface side.

  Here, when a certain point on the touch panel 7 is pressed, the pressing point of the electrode plate 7a on the surface side is moved, so that the resistance film 7f and the resistance film 7g come into contact with each other. At this time, the touch panel 7 applies a voltage to the electrode of one electrode plate, and acquires and outputs the voltage at the pressing point by the electrode of the other electrode plate. The operation detection unit 8 detects the coordinate position based on the voltage input from the touch panel 7.

  The coordinates of the X axis corresponding to the horizontal axis of the touch panel 7 and the Y axis corresponding to the vertical axis of the touch panel 7 are detected by applying voltage to the electrodes 7d and 7e in a time division manner. That is, first, a voltage is applied to the electrode plate 7b on the back surface side, and the operation detection unit 8 detects the voltage value as the X coordinate of the pressing point from the electrode plate 7a on the front surface side. Thereafter, a voltage is applied to the electrode plate 7a on the front surface side, and the operation detection unit 8 detects a voltage value as a Y coordinate of the pressing point from the electrode plate 7b on the back surface side. Note that such X coordinate and Y coordinate detection processing is performed in a very short time compared to the operation of pressing the touch panel 7.

  Specifically, first, the switch SW1 is turned off and the switch SW2 is turned on. As a result, a predetermined voltage V is applied to the electrode plate 7b on the back side (the potential difference between the electrodes 7e and 7e is V). At this time, the voltage divided according to the X coordinate of the pressing point of the electrode plate 7a on the back surface side is transmitted to the electrode plate 7a on the front surface side through the resistance film 7f of the electrode plate 7a on the front surface side. The operation detection unit 8 acquires the X coordinate by converting this voltage with an A / D conversion unit (not shown).

  Next, the switch SW1 is turned on and the switch SW2 is turned off. As a result, a predetermined voltage V is applied to the electrode plate 7a on the surface side (the potential difference between the electrodes 7d and 7d is V). At this time, the voltage divided according to the Y coordinate of the pressing point of the front surface side electrode plate 7a is transmitted to the back surface side electrode plate 7b through the resistance film 7g of the back surface side electrode plate 7b. The operation detection unit 8 acquires the Y coordinate by converting this voltage by an A / D conversion unit (not shown). In this way, the operation detection unit 8 acquires the pressed point on the touch panel 7 as the X coordinate and the Y coordinate, and outputs them as coordinate data to the state determination unit 11.

  The electrode plate 7a on the front surface side of the touch panel 7 also functions as an antenna of the object detection unit 4 described later. That is, by setting a state in which no voltage is applied to the electrode plate 7a on the front surface side and the electrode plate 7b on the back surface side (a state in which the switch SW1 and the switch SW2 are turned off), the electrode plate 7a on the front surface side It can function as an antenna. By repeatedly performing the operation of turning on the switch SW1 (switch SW2 is off), turning on the switch SW2 (switch SW1 is off), and turning off the switch SW1 and the switch SW2, the touch panel 7 can change the coordinates of the touched position. While always detecting, it functions also as an antenna of the object detection part 4.

  The object detection unit 4 detects the proximity of the user's finger or the like to the touch panel 7. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the transmission device 10 is attached to a chair 16 or the like on which the user 15 sits. The transmission device 10 transmits a weak signal having a predetermined frequency to the user 15.

  The receiving device 9 receives the weak signal transmitted from the transmitting device 10 and flowing through the body of the user 15 by the electrode plate 7 a on the surface side of the touch panel 7. That is, when the finger of the user 15 comes close to the touch panel 7, the surface-side electrode plate 7 a can receive a weak signal of a predetermined frequency transmitted from the transmission device 10 via the user 15. The weak signal received by the electrode plate 7a on the front side is stored in the input buffer 9a, demodulated by the demodulator 9b, and output to the state determination unit 11 as a proximity signal.

  The state determination unit 11 inputs the coordinate data output from the operation detection unit 8 and the proximity signal output from the reception device 9. Then, the state determination unit 11 outputs the coordinate data input from the operation detection unit 8 to the operation information control unit 14. Further, the state determination unit 11 determines the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 based on the presence / absence of input of coordinate data from the operation detection unit 8 and the presence / absence of input of a proximity signal from the receiving device 9.

  Here, the state determination unit 11 determines that it is the first state in which the finger of the user 15 is touching the touch panel 7 when the coordinate data is being input from the operation detection unit 8. When the user 15 is touching the touch panel 7, the proximity signal is simultaneously input from the receiving device 9 to the state determination unit 11. Further, when the proximity signal is input from the receiving device 9 to the state determination unit 11 and the coordinate data is not input from the operation detection unit 8 to the state determination unit 11, the state determination unit 11 determines that the finger 15 of the user 15 is close to the touch panel 7 (not touching the touch panel 7). Further, when the proximity signal is not input from the receiving device 9 to the state determination unit 11 and the coordinate data is not input from the operation detection unit 8 to the state determination unit 11, the state determination unit 11 determines that the finger 15 of the user 15 is in the third state away from the touch panel 7. The state determination unit 11 stores state data indicating which state is the first state to the third state in the state storage unit 3. Here, when the state data indicating the first state is stored in the state storage unit 3, the state data includes coordinate data.

  In addition, the state determination unit 11 determines whether the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 has changed. Specifically, while determining the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 based on the presence / absence of input of coordinate data from the operation detection unit 8 and the presence / absence of input of a proximity signal from the receiving device 9, The state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 based on the state data stored in the state storage unit 3 is compared. When the state determination unit 11 determines that the two are different, the state determination unit 11 determines that the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 has changed. In this case, state data representing the changed state is updated and stored in the state storage unit 3. By repeatedly performing such an operation, the state storage unit 3 always stores state data indicating the latest state such as the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7.

  The state determination unit 11 also determines which state from the first state to the third state has changed to which state when determining a change in the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7. Then, the determination result is output to the operation information control unit 14.

  Further, the operation information control unit 14 controls the output of the coordinate data input from the state determination unit 11 according to the determination result by the state determination unit 11. That is, while the state determination unit 11 determines that the state is the first state, the coordinate data input from the operation detection unit 8 via the state determination unit 11 is continuously output to the operation control unit 12. Further, when the state determination unit 11 determines that the state has changed from the first state to the second state, the coordinate data is acquired from the state data stored in the state storage unit 3, and then the state changes. The coordinate data is continuously output to the operation control unit 12 until the operation control unit 12 continues.

  The operation control unit 12 inputs coordinate data from the operation information control unit 14 and outputs an operation signal for controlling the electronic device so as to perform processing corresponding to the operation button corresponding to the input coordinate data. At this time, the operation control unit 12 outputs different operation signals according to the elapsed time during which coordinate data is continuously input. If the elapsed time during which coordinate data is continuously input is less than a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds), the operation control unit 12 outputs an operation signal when the operation button is pressed for a short time. On the other hand, when the elapsed time during which coordinate data is continuously input is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the operation control unit 12 outputs an operation signal when the operation button is pressed for a long time. The timer unit 13 measures the elapsed time that the operation control unit 12 has input the coordinate data from the operation information control unit 14.

  Next, the operation of the touch panel input device according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the touch panel input device and the operation input determination method according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, first, the state determination unit 11 checks whether or not the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 has changed (step S1). If state determination unit 11 determines that the state has not changed (NO in step S1), state determination unit 11 repeats the process in step S1.

  On the other hand, when the state determination unit 11 determines that the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 has changed (YES in step S1), the state determination unit 11 determines that the changed state is the second state. (Step S2). If state determination unit 11 determines that the state is not the second state (NO in step S2), state determination unit 11 checks whether the state after the change is the first state (step S3).

  When the state determination unit 11 determines that the changed state is the first state (YES in step S3), the operation information control unit 14 displays the determination result by the state determination unit 11 as a result. In response, the coordinate data of the position touched by the finger of the user 15 is output to the operation control unit 12 (step S6). On the other hand, when state determination unit 11 determines that the changed state is not the first state (NO in step S3), state operation information control unit 14 receives the result of determination by state determination unit 11. Thus, it is determined that the finger of the user 15 is moving away from the touch panel 7, and the coordinate data is not output to the operation control unit 12 (step S5).

  When the state determination unit 11 determines that the changed state is the second state (YES in step S2), the state determination unit 11 stores the state data stored in the state storage unit 3. Is read. Then, it is checked from the state data whether or not the state immediately before the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 is the first state (step S4). If the state determination unit 11 determines that the state is not the first state (NO in step S4), the state has changed from the third state to the second state. In this case, the operation information control unit 14 determines that the finger or the like of the user 15 is not yet touched on the touch panel 7, and does not output the coordinate data to the operation control unit 12 (step S5).

  On the other hand, when the state determination unit 11 determines that the state after the change is the first state (YES in step S4), the operation information control unit 14 continues to touch the touch panel 7 with the finger of the user 15 or the like. The coordinate data read from the state storage unit 3 is output to the operation control unit 12 assuming that it is touched (step S6). And after the process of step S5 or step S6 is performed, the state determination part 11 memorize | stores states, such as a user's 15 finger | toe with respect to the touch panel 7, in the state memory | storage part 3 as state data (step S7).

  When the process of step S7 ends, the process returns to step S1, and the processes of step S1 to step S7 are repeated. Here, when returning to step S1, until the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 changes (until YES in step S1), the state or coordinate data to be output to the operation control unit 12 is operated. The state of not outputting to the control unit 12 is continued. The operation control unit 12 inputs coordinate data from the operation information control unit 14, and controls the electronic device to perform processing according to the operation button corresponding to the input coordinate data and the elapsed time during which the coordinate data is input. An operation signal is output.

  As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, it is detected whether or not the finger of the user 15 is close to the touch panel 7, and if the finger of the user 15 is close to the touch panel 7, the state determination unit 11 In this case, the operation information control unit 14 continues the previous state stored in the state storage unit 3. As a result, even when the finger of the user 15 is separated from the touch panel 7, if the finger of the user 15 is close to the touch panel 7, the close finger is detected and the operation is continued. Is considered to be. Therefore, even when a touch panel input device is installed in a car with a lot of vibrations, even if a finger or the like is slightly separated from the touch panel 7, the state in which the touch panel 7 is operated can be continued in a pseudo manner. Therefore, the user 15 can easily press and hold the operation button displayed on the display panel 6 of the touch panel input device.

  In the above-described embodiment, the presence / absence of the coordinate data output is determined by referring to the state storage unit 3 only at the moment when the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 changes to the second state, and the details of the determination Is continued until the next state change, but is not limited to this. For example, the presence / absence of output of coordinate data may always be determined with reference to the state storage unit 3. Specifically, the operation as shown in FIG. 5 is performed. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a modification of the operation and operation input determination method of the touch panel input device according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 5, first, the state determination unit 11 checks whether the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 has changed (step S11). If state determination unit 11 determines that the state has not changed (NO in step S11), the process jumps to step S14. On the other hand, when the state determination unit 11 determines that the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 has changed (YES in step S11), the state determination unit 11 determines that the state after the change is the second state. It is checked whether or not (step S12).

  If state determining unit 11 determines that the state after the change is the second state (YES in step S12), the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, when the state determination unit 11 determines that the changed state is not the second state (NO in step S12), the state determination unit 11 stores state data indicating the state in the state storage unit 3 (Step S13). Then, the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S <b> 14, the state determination unit 11 reads the state data stored in the state storage unit 3. Then, it is checked whether or not the state of the finger of the user 15 with respect to the touch panel 7 is the first state based on the state data. When the state determination unit 11 determines that the state is not the first state (that is, the third state) (NO in step S14), the operation information control unit 14 sends the coordinate data to the operation control unit 12. No output is made (step S15). On the other hand, when the state determination unit 11 determines that the state is the first state based on the state data stored in the state storage unit 3 (YES in step S14), the operation information control unit 14 3 is output to the operation control unit 12 (step S16). And after the process of step S15 or step S16 is performed, it returns to the process of step S11 and repeats the process of step S11-step S16.

  In the above-described embodiment, the reception device 9 and the transmission device 10 that transmit and receive a weak signal with the user 15 interposed are used as the object detection unit 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a sensor such as an infrared sensor may be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, an infrared sensor is comprised by the some infrared rays light emission part 19a and the some infrared rays light reception part 19b. The plurality of infrared light emitters 19a are provided along at least one side (two orthogonal sides in the example of FIG. 6) of the display housing 17 to which the touch panel 7 is attached. Further, the plurality of infrared light receiving units 19b are provided at positions facing the plurality of infrared light emitting units 19a along the side facing the side where the plurality of infrared light emitting units 19a are provided.

  The four sides of the display housing 17 form a frame 18 that holds the display panel 6 and the touch panel 7. As shown in FIG. 6A, the frame 18 has a certain depth, and the display panel 6 and the touch panel 7 are held on the bottom side thereof. On the other hand, the plurality of infrared light emitting portions 19 a and infrared light receiving portions 19 b are embedded in the front end side of the frame 18. The distance from the surface of the touch panel 7 to the infrared sensor is, for example, about 10 mm. When the infrared rays emitted from the plurality of infrared light emitting units 19a are blocked by the finger of the user 15 or the like, the infrared rays do not reach the plurality of infrared light receiving units 19b. It is detected and it is determined that the touch panel 7 is in proximity.

  In addition, although the example which uses what consists of the combination of the infrared rays light emission part 19a and the infrared rays light-receiving part 19b was demonstrated here as a structure of an infrared sensor, it is not limited to this example. For example, the finger of the user 15 can be detected using only the infrared light receiving unit 19b. A human body with temperature emits a small amount of infrared rays with a wavelength distribution according to the temperature. Accordingly, the proximity of the finger of the user 15 can be detected by detecting the infrared light change that occurs when the user 15 brings the finger close to the touch panel 7 with the infrared light receiving unit 19b. The infrared light receiving unit 19b used in this case may be a thermal infrared sensor with a wide wavelength band or a quantum infrared sensor with high detection sensitivity.

  Moreover, you may use the thermal sensor which detects the thermal radiation from the user's 15 finger | toe etc. instead of an infrared sensor. That is, the proximity of the user 15 such as the finger can be detected by detecting a temperature change that occurs when the user 15 brings the finger or the like close to the touch panel 7. Specifically, when a temperature sensor near the touch panel 7 is detected by a thermal sensor provided in the vicinity of the touch panel 7, it is determined that the finger of the user 15 is close to the touch panel 7.

  In the above-described embodiment, the user 15 operates the touch panel 7 with a finger, but is not limited to this. For example, the touch panel 7 may be operated with another part of the body of the user 15, or the touch panel 7 may be operated with a pen or the like formed of a material capable of transmitting a weak signal. In the case where the object detection unit 4 is configured by an infrared sensor, the user 15 operates the touch panel 7 with another part of the user 15 body or a pen formed of a material capable of blocking infrared rays. May be. When the object detection unit 4 is configured by a thermal sensor, the user 14 may operate the touch panel 7 using another part of the user's 14 body or a member that generates heat.

  Moreover, although embodiment mentioned above demonstrated the example which uses coordinate data as operation information, it is not limited to this. If the operation control unit 12 is provided with a memory for storing coordinate data, it is not necessary to continue outputting coordinate data from the operation information control unit 14 to the operation control unit 12. Therefore, the operation information may be information indicating whether the touch panel 7 is touched. In this case, it is only necessary to store the state data in the state storage unit 3, and it is not necessary to store the coordinate data.

  In addition, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of actualization in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

  The present invention is useful for a touch panel input device that performs long press input by pressing an operation item for a predetermined time or more.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the touchscreen input device by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the touchscreen of the touchscreen input device by this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the object detection part of the touchscreen input device by this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the touchscreen input device by this embodiment, and the operation input determination method. It is a flowchart which shows the modification of the operation | movement of the touchscreen input device by this embodiment, and the operation input determination method. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of the object detection part of the touchscreen input device by this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 Display unit 3 State memory | storage part 4 Object detection part 5 Display control part 6 Display panel 7 Touch panel 8 Operation detection part 9 Receiving device 10 Transmitting apparatus 11 State determination part 12 Operation control part 13 Timekeeping part 14 Operation information control part

Claims (7)

A touch panel for accepting operations on operation items displayed on the display panel;
An operation detection unit for detecting an operation action on the touch panel;
An object detection unit for detecting the proximity of the object to the touch panel;
Based on the detection result by the operation detection unit and the detection result by the object detection unit, a first state in which an operation action on the touch panel is detected, a second state in which only an object proximity action to the touch panel is detected, A state determination unit that determines which of the first state and the third state is not any of the second state;
Operation information indicating that the touch panel is operated in the first state is output, and output of the operation information is continued when the first state is changed to the second state. An operation information control unit for controlling
Touch panel input device equipped with. A touch panel for accepting operations on operation items displayed on the display panel;
An operation detection unit for detecting an operation action on the touch panel;
An object detection unit for detecting the proximity of the object to the touch panel;
Based on the detection result by the operation detection unit and the detection result by the object detection unit, a first state in which an operation action on the touch panel is detected, a second state in which only an object proximity action to the touch panel is detected, A state determination unit that determines which of the first state and the third state is not any of the second state;
A state storage unit that stores state data representing the first state and the third state according to a determination result by the state determination unit;
An operation information control unit that controls to output operation information indicating that the touch panel is being operated while state data representing the first state is stored in the state storage unit;
Touch panel input device equipped with. A time measuring unit that measures the time during which the operation information control unit outputs the operation information;
An operation control unit that outputs an operation signal different between a case where the time measured by the time measuring unit is less than a predetermined time and a case where the time measured by the time measuring unit is a predetermined time or more,
The touch panel input device according to claim 1, further comprising: The object detection unit includes a transmission device that transmits a signal to the object and a reception device that receives the signal via the object when the object approaches the touch panel,
The touch panel input according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the state determination unit determines that the state is the second state when the receiving device receives the signal. apparatus. The object detection unit includes an infrared sensor provided in the vicinity of the touch panel,
4. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein the state determination unit determines that the state is the second state when the infrared sensor detects an object. 5. . An operation input determination method using a touch panel input device including a touch panel that accepts an operation by an object for an operation item displayed on a display panel,
The state of the object with respect to the touch panel is a first state in which an operation action on the touch panel is detected, a second state in which only an approaching action of the object with respect to the touch panel is detected, the first state, and the second state A first step of examining in the state determination unit whether or not the state has changed from any one of the third states to any other state;
Whether or not the state of the object with respect to the touch panel has changed from the first state to the second state when it is determined in the first step that the state of the object with respect to the touch panel has changed. A second step of checking by the state determination unit;
In the second step, when it is determined that the state of the object with respect to the touch panel has changed from the first state to the second state, the touch panel is operated in the first state. A third step of controlling to continue the output of the operation information that has been output as information indicating that;
An operation input determination method characterized by comprising: An operation input determination method using a touch panel input device including a touch panel that accepts an operation by an object for an operation item displayed on a display panel,
The state of the object with respect to the touch panel is a first state in which an operation action on the touch panel is detected, a second state in which only an approaching action of the object with respect to the touch panel is detected, the first state, and the second state A first step of examining in the state determination unit whether or not the state has changed from any one of the third states to any other state;
A second step of storing in the state storage unit state data representing the state when the determination result by the state determination unit is the first state and the third state in the first step;
A third step of controlling the operation information indicating that the touch panel is operated to be output from the operation information control unit while the state data indicating the first state is stored in the state storage unit;
An operation input determination method characterized by comprising:

Images