JP2007058426A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device capable of easily selecting desired items even when a plurality of items are displayed at an image display device. <P>SOLUTION: This input device judges the type of a screen displayed at an image display device (especially, the relative positional relation and number of a plurality of items on the screen), and changes the resolution of a touch panel on a predetermined processing program according to the discriminated type of the screen. For example, when a 50 note screen where a plurality of items are arrayed like a matrix is displayed at the image display device, a changing means changes the resolution of a touch panel 16 to a value desired based on the relative positional relation and number of the plurality of items arranged on the 50 note screen. Thus, it is possible to classify the plurality of detection regions arranged like a matrix corresponding to the relative positional relation and number of the plurality of items on the touch panel 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to an input device used as a controller for a navigation system or the like mounted on an automobile.

  For example, what is provided with the image display apparatus (display apparatus) with a touch panel like the navigation system mounted in a motor vehicle is known.

  In some cases, an input device incorporating a touch panel is configured separately from the image display device, and the input device is disposed in a place where the input device can be easily operated (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The input device disclosed in the patent document is configured to be able to select a selection item (display switch) displayed on the screen of the image display device by operating a touch panel.

  Such an input device can be operated intuitively like an image display device integrated with a touch panel, and has the same operation method as a so-called “trackpad” applied to a notebook personal computer. It is a highly remote control device.

However, in the input device as described above, since the area of the touch panel is smaller than the area of the display screen of the image display device, for example, when a 50 sound screen in which a large number of selection items are arranged is displayed on the image display device. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to make a fine adjustment for selecting a desired item.
JP 2001-325072 A

  In view of the above fact, an object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can easily select a desired item even when a plurality of items are displayed on an image display device.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the input device of the invention according to claim 1 displays a plurality of items for reading guidance information by appropriately changing the position and number, and when the items are specified, An input device provided with an image display device that displays guidance information corresponding to an item, and provided with a touch panel for specifying the item, the relative of the plurality of items displayed on the image display device A change means for changing the resolution of the touch panel according to the positional relationship and the number is provided.

  In the input device according to claim 1, when a plurality of items for reading guide information is displayed on the image display device, the changing means can change the resolution of the touch panel according to the relative positional relationship and the number of the plurality of items. To change. As a result, a plurality of detection areas corresponding to the relative positional relationship and the number of the plurality of items are classified on the touch panel, so that the touch operation position on the touch panel is selected from among the plurality of items displayed on the image display device. Either one corresponds to the pinpoint. Thereby, a desired item can be easily specified by a touch operation on the touch panel. When an item is specified, the image display device displays guidance information corresponding to the item.

  Thus, in the input device according to the first aspect, a desired item can be easily selected even when a plurality of items are displayed on the image display device.

  An input device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the input device according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of items are arranged in a matrix.

  In the input device according to claim 2, a plurality of items arranged in a matrix are displayed on the image display device, and the changing means corresponds to the relative positional relationship and the number of the plurality of items arranged in the matrix. Change the resolution of the touch panel. As a result, a plurality of detection areas arranged in a matrix are classified on the touch panel in accordance with the relative positional relationship and the number of items. Therefore, for example, it is effective when a 50-sound screen in which 50-sound items are arranged in a matrix is displayed on the image display device, and the operability is excellent.

  An input device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the input device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the changing means detects each of the touch panels classified according to the respective items by changing the resolution. It is characterized in that only a part of the area is active.

  In the input device according to the third aspect, the changing means activates only a part (for example, the central portion) of each detection area of the touch panel classified according to each item of the image display device by changing the resolution. Therefore, in a detection area adjacent to the touch panel, a portion that does not detect a touch operation can be provided between each activated portion, so that erroneous input due to finger shake can be prevented.

  As described above, in the input device of the present invention, a desired item can be easily selected even when a plurality of items are displayed on the image display device.

  FIG. 10 shows an overall configuration of a display system 10 for a vehicle configured by applying a touch tracer 14 as an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The display system 10 performs operations of auxiliary equipment attached to a vehicle such as an air conditioner, an audio, and a navigation system, and mainly includes a display device 12 and a touch tracer 14 as image display devices.

  The display device 12 is arranged at the center of the instrument panel that can be easily seen by the driver and passengers. Various display information (air conditioner, audio operation status, navigation system menu screen, map screen, And 50 sound screens), and predetermined guide information (screen) is displayed according to operation input information from the touch tracer 14.

  The touch tracer 14 can be disposed in a place where the driver can easily operate, for example, an armrest of a driver's seat door, a center console, or the like. Operates incidental equipment. The touch tracer 14 can also be operated by holding it in the hand.

  As shown in the front view of the touch tracer in FIG. 9, the touch tracer 14 has a touch panel 16 disposed at the center, and a selection button 18 for selecting various modes and the like is disposed at a position around the touch panel 16. . As these selection buttons 18, a current location button 18A, a return button 18B, a detail button 18C, a wide area button 18D, an NV / TV (navigation, television switching) button 18E, and a power button 18F are provided.

  The touch panel 16 is formed in a similar shape to the image display unit of the display device 12, and the area thereof is sufficiently smaller than the area of the image display unit of the display device 12. The touch panel 16 incorporates a capacitance type position detection sensor in the present embodiment. This position detection sensor has two transparent films provided with a transparent conductive film such as so-called “ITO (Indium Tin Oxide)” and reads the position from the change in electrical resistance at the position where the touch panel 16 is touched with a finger, or touches it with a finger. When this happens, the distance between the stacked transparent conductive films will change, so it will be detected as the capacitance of the human body is combined when the position is read as a change in capacitance or when it is touched with a finger. And reading the position. The touch panel 16 (position detection sensor) has a predetermined resolution (for example, 200 dpi).

  Further, an operation determination switch 22 is arranged on the back side of the touch panel 16, and the operation determination switch 22 is turned on by pressing each touch panel 16 after touching a desired position on the touch panel 16. It has become.

  On the other hand, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the display system 10. In the display system 10, a touch panel 16 and an operation determination switch 22 provided in the touch tracer 14 are connected to a touch tracer controller 44 (change means). The touch tracer controller 44 further includes an air conditioner, an audio, a navigation system, and the like. A control unit 46 for controlling incidental equipment and the display device 12 are connected. Although not shown, the touch tracer controller 44 is also connected to a switch (not shown) corresponding to the plurality of selection buttons 18 described above.

  The touch tracer controller 44 is configured by a microcomputer including peripheral devices such as a CPU 48, a ROM 50, and a RAM 52, and calculates position coordinates of a touch operation on the touch panel 16 based on a signal input from the touch panel 16.

  The touch tracer controller 44 converts the calculated position coordinates touched with the finger into position coordinates corresponding to the display on the display apparatus 12 and outputs the position coordinates to the display apparatus 12. The display device 12 displays the position on the screen that is touched with a finger on the screen based on the position coordinates output from the touch tracer controller 44. The position display on the screen is displayed by reversing the color of any of a plurality of items (display switches) displayed on the screen.

  Further, when the operation determination switch 22 is pressed while an item is selected on the touch panel 16, a signal of the operation determination switch 22 is output to the touch tracer controller 44, and the touch tracer controller 44 selects the display device 12. A signal for displaying the item is output to the control unit 46 (the selected item is specified).

  The control unit 46 outputs information for switching to a screen (guidance information) according to the identified item to the display device 12, and the screen (guidance information) of the item selected as the screen displayed on the display device 12. Switch to.

  Here, in the touch tracer 14 according to the present embodiment, the touch tracer controller 44 stores in the ROM 50 in accordance with the relative positional relationship and the number of items (display switches) on the screen displayed on the display device 12. The resolution of the touch panel 16 is changed on the stored predetermined processing program.

  Specifically, for example, when the menu screen 60 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display device 12, the touch tracer controller 44 sets the resolution of the touch panel 16 on the menu screen 60 on a predetermined processing program. Is changed to a value (for example, 5 to 20 dpi) derived based on the relative positional relationship and the number of items displayed on the screen.

  That is, in the present embodiment, on the menu screen 60, the six items 60A that can be selected and input by the touch operation of the touch panel 16 are arranged in a matrix of 3 rows and 2 columns. The resolution of the touch panel 16 is changed to 3 × 2 dpi on the processing program. For this reason, on the touch panel 16, six detection areas corresponding to the relative positional relationship and the number of the six items on the menu screen 60 are classified (see FIG. 6). In FIG. 6, for convenience of explanation, the touch panel 16 is divided into a matrix of 3 rows and 2 columns with a solid line corresponding to the resolution of the touch panel 16 changed in the processing program.

  Thereby, the touch operation position on the touch panel 16 and the six items 60A on the menu screen 60 correspond one-to-one. That is, for example, when the detection area on the touch panel 16 to which the sign “MEI” is given in FIG. 6 is touched, the touch tracer controller 44 displays the “place name search” item on the menu screen 60 shown in FIG. A signal for reversing the color of 60A is output to the display device 12. Further, for example, when the detection area on the touch panel 16 to which the sign of “ROU” is given in FIG. 6 is touched, the touch tracer controller 44 displays the item “route information” on the menu screen 60 shown in FIG. A signal for reversing the color of 60A is output to the display device 12. In FIG. 6, the detection areas on the touch panel 16 to which “ZEN”, “MEMO”, “SOU”, and “TEN” are assigned are “National map”, “Memory spot”, This corresponds to the items 60A of “travel locus” and “location registration”.

  On the other hand, for example, when the 50 sound screen 70 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display device 12, the touch tracer controller 44 sets the resolution of the touch panel 16 on the 50 sound screen 70 on a predetermined processing program. It changes to the value (for example, 30-100 dpi) derived | led-out based on the relative positional relationship and the number of the some item arrange | positioned by.

  That is, in the present embodiment, on the 50 sound screen 70, a 50 sound item 70A, a correction item 70B, 70C and a search item 70D that can be selected and input by a touch operation on the touch panel 16 are displayed. The 50-sound item 70A is arranged in a matrix of 5 rows and 11 columns, and below it, three correction items 70B and 70C and three search items 70D are arranged side by side (a plurality of switches are arranged). , Roughly arranged in a matrix of 6 rows and 11 columns). For this reason, the touch tracer controller 44 changes the resolution of the touch panel 16 to 6 × 11 dpi on the processing program. For this reason, a plurality (66 in the present embodiment) of detection areas corresponding to the relative positional relationship and the number of items on the 50 sound screen 70 are classified on the touch panel 16 (see FIG. 4). . In FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, the touch panel 16 is divided into a matrix of 6 rows and 11 columns with a solid line corresponding to the resolution of the touch panel 16 changed in the processing program.

  Thereby, the touch operation position on the touch panel 16 and the plurality of items on the 50 sound screen 70 correspond to each other almost one-to-one. That is, for example, when the detection area on the touch panel 16 to which the sign “A” is assigned in FIG. 6 is touched, the touch tracer controller 44 displays the “A” item on the 50 sound screen 70 shown in FIG. A signal for reversing the color of 70A is output to the display device 12. For example, when the detection area on the touch panel 16 indicated by “TI” in FIG. 6 is touched, the touch tracer controller 44 selects the “Chi” item 70A on the 50 sound screen 70 shown in FIG. A signal for color inversion is output to the display device 12. Furthermore, for example, when the detection area on the touch panel 16 indicated by “RE” in FIG. 6 is touched, the touch tracer controller 44 sets the “Re” item 70A on the 50 sound screen 70 shown in FIG. A signal for color inversion is output to the display device 12.

  However, the correction items 70B and 70C correspond to each of the four detection areas to which the symbols “SHU1” and “SHU2” in FIG. 4 are assigned, respectively. In FIG. 4, the three detection areas to which the symbol “KEN” is assigned are provided.

  Further, for example, when the map screen 80 as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display device 12, the touch tracer controller 44 sets the resolution of the touch panel 16 to the maximum value (of the touch panel 16 on the predetermined processing program). (Refer to FIG. 2. For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 2, the touch panel 16 is divided into a matrix with dotted lines for the sake of explanation. ).

  In the display system 10 according to the present embodiment, the screen can be scrolled when the map screen 80 is displayed on the display device 12. That is, for example, a direction in which scrolling is selected by touching an arrow displayed on the map screen 80 with the touch tracer 14, and the map screen 80 is scrolled by pressing the touch panel 16. It has become.

  The display system 10 having the above configuration is configured such that the power is turned on when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on, and the touch panel 16 provided in the touch tracer 14 is turned on to enter a detection standby state.

  Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the display system 10 configured as described above, when the power is turned on and a screen is displayed on the display device 12, the touch tracer controller 44 performs "resolution change control" according to a predetermined processing program. That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1, the touch tracer controller 44 determines the type of screen displayed on the display device 12 (particularly, the relative positional relationship and the number of items on the screen) (FIG. 1). Step 100), the resolution of the touch panel 16 is changed on a predetermined processing program in accordance with the determined type of screen.

  For example, when the menu screen 60 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display device 12, the touch tracer controller 44 determines the resolution of the touch panel 16 on the predetermined processing program and displays the six screens displayed on the menu screen 60. The value is derived based on the relative positional relationship and the number of the item 60A (in this embodiment, 3 × 2 dpi) (shift from step 100 to step 102). As a result, the six detection areas corresponding to the relative positional relationship and the number of the six items 60A displayed on the menu screen 60 are classified on the touch panel 16 (see FIG. 6).

  In this state, for example, when the “MEI” detection area on the touch panel 16 illustrated in FIG. 6 is touched, the touch tracer controller 44 performs a touch operation on the touch panel 16 based on a signal input from the touch panel 16. The position is calculated, and the calculated position coordinates are converted into position coordinates corresponding to the display on the display device 12 and output to the display device 12. In this case, in the display device 12, the “place name search” item 60 </ b> A on the menu screen 60 is color-inverted.

  When the “place name search” item 60 </ b> A is color-reversed in this way, when the touch determination operation is performed for each touch panel 16 and the operation determination switch 22 is turned on, a signal of the operation determination switch 22 is output to the touch tracer controller 44. At the same time, the touch tracer controller 44 outputs a signal for displaying the guidance information corresponding to the “place name search” item 60 </ b> A on the display device 12 to the controller 46. The control unit 46 outputs information for switching to the guidance information (in this embodiment, the 50 sound screen 70) corresponding to the item 60A of “place name search” to the display device 12, thereby displaying the information on the display device 12. 5 is displayed.

  When the 50 sound screen 70 is displayed on the display device 12, the touch tracer controller 44 sets the resolution of the touch panel 16 on the predetermined processing program to the relative positional relationship and the number of the plurality of switches displayed on the 50 sound screen 70. The value derived based on this (in this embodiment, 6 × 11 dpi) is changed (shift from step 100 in FIG. 1 to step 104). Thereby, on the touch panel 16, 66 detection areas corresponding to the relative positional relationship and the number of items displayed on the 50 sound screen 70 are classified (see FIG. 4).

  In this state, for example, when the detection area “TI” on the touch panel 16 illustrated in FIG. 4 is touched, the touch tracer controller 44 performs a touch operation on the touch panel 16 based on a signal input from the touch panel 16. The position is calculated, and the calculated position coordinates are converted into position coordinates corresponding to the display on the display device 12 and output to the display device 12. In this case, in the display device 12, the “Chi” item 70A on the 50 sound screen 70 is color-inverted.

  In this manner, when the “70” item 70 </ b> A is color-reversed and the touch determination operation is performed for each touch panel 16 and the operation determination switch 22 is turned on, a signal of the operation determination switch 22 is output to the touch tracer controller 44. In addition, the touch tracer controller 44 outputs a signal for displaying guidance information (here, characters) corresponding to the “Chi” item 70 </ b> A on the display device 12 to the control unit 46. The control unit 46 outputs information for displaying the character “Chi” on the first display unit 70E and the second display unit 70F of the 50-sound screen 70 to the display device 12, and thereby the 50-sound screen 70 is displayed. The characters “Chi” are displayed on the first display portion 70E and the second display portion 70F (the state shown in FIG. 5).

  On the other hand, when the current location button 18 </ b> A of the touch tracer 14 is pressed, a map screen 80 is displayed on the display device 12. When the map screen 80 is displayed on the display device 12 in this way, the touch tracer controller 44 maximizes the resolution of the touch panel 16 on a predetermined processing program (from Step 100 to Step 106 in FIG. FIG. 2).

  Here, in the touch tracer 14 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as described above, the touch tracer controller 44 has the 50 sound screen 70 in which a plurality of items 70A, 70B, 70C, 70D and the like are arranged on the display device 12. When displayed, the resolution of the touch panel 16 is changed on the processing program based on the relative positional relationship and the number of the plurality of items. Accordingly, the touch operation position on the touch panel 16 corresponds to any one of a plurality of items 70A, 70B, 70C, and 70D displayed on the 50 sound screen 70 of the display device 12, and thus is selected. You can pinpoint the item you want to pinpoint. This also reduces erroneous input due to finger shake.

  Thus, in the touch tracer 14 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a desired item can be easily selected even when a plurality of items are displayed on the display device 12.

  Moreover, in the display system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as described above, the touch tracer controller 44 performs processing when the map screen 80 that can be scrolled by the touch operation of the touch panel 16 is displayed on the display device 12. The resolution of the touch panel 16 is maximized on the program. Therefore, when the touch panel 16 is touched, the display of the position coordinates displayed on the map screen 80 of the display device 12 moves smoothly, so that the map screen 80 can be smoothly scrolled. Further, a position to be selected on the map screen 80 can be selected with high accuracy by a touch operation on the touch panel 16.

  In the touch tracer 12 according to the above-described embodiment, when the menu screen 60 is displayed on the display device 12, the touch tracer controller 44 changes the resolution of the touch panel 16 as described above to change the resolution of the touch panel 16. Are classified into six detection areas corresponding to the relationship and number of the rows and columns of the six items 60A displayed on the menu screen 60. In this state, the touch tracer controller 44 further performs the operation shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, only a part of the detection areas of the touch panel 16 (in this case, the central part) may be active (area where a touch operation can be detected) (in FIG. 11, the filled area is active). Is shown as a region). With such a configuration, in the detection areas adjacent to each other on the touch panel 16, a portion where the touch operation is not detected between the activated portions (the filled portions in FIG. 11) (the white portions in FIG. 11). Therefore, erroneous input due to finger shake can be more suitably prevented. This also applies to the case where the 50 sound screen 70 is displayed on the display device 12.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the menu screen 60, the 50 sound screen 70, and the map screen 80 are displayed on the display device 12 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of the display device 12 may be used. It can also be applied when the guide information is displayed.

It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of the resolution change control which the change means of the input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention performs. It is the figure which showed the touch panel of the input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and imagined the state which the change means made the resolution of the touch panel into the maximum value on the processing program. It is a figure which shows the map screen displayed on the image display apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 shows a touch panel of the input device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram in which the changing means changes the resolution on the processing program in accordance with the relative positional relationship and the number of a plurality of items of a 50 sound screen. . It is a figure which shows the 50 sound screen displayed on the image display apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which showed the touch panel of the input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and imagined the state in which the change means changed the resolution on the processing program according to the relative positional relationship and the number of several items of a menu screen. It is a figure which shows the menu screen displayed on the image display apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the structure of the input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the display system comprised by applying the input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the touch panel of the input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and imagined the state where only a part of each detection area classified by the change of resolution was activated.

Explanation of symbols

10 Display System 12 Display Device (Image Display Device)
14 Touch tracer (input device)
16 Touch Panel 44 Touch Tracer Controller (Change means)

Claims (3)

A plurality of items for reading guidance information are displayed by changing the position and number as appropriate, and provided when attached to an image display device that displays guidance information corresponding to the item when the item is specified, An input device including a touch panel for specifying the item,
A changing means for changing the resolution of the touch panel in accordance with the relative positional relationship and the number of the plurality of items displayed on the image display device;
An input device characterized by that.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of items are arranged in a matrix.   The said change means makes only a part of each detection area | region of the said touchscreen classified according to each said item by the change of the said resolution active, The Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Input device.

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