JP2008030646A - Touch panel device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch panel device capable of preventing a misoperation by automatically lowering sensitivity when there is a risk for making a surface wet. <P>SOLUTION: During a first predetermined time after an engine starts, it is monitored whether it is raining or not (S2), and within the first predetermined time after the engine starts, when it is detected that it is raining, the sensitivity of a touch panel is set lower than a normal sensitivity. Within the first predetermined time after the engine starts, when it is not detected that it is raining, it is continuously monitored whether it is raining or not, and an opening/closing condition of the door and the window is monitored (S3, S4). When it is detected that it is raining, and that the door or the window is opened or closed, the sensitivity of the touch panel is set lower than a normal sensitivity (S6). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel device, and is useful, for example, for a device using a capacitance type or a field effect type touch panel.

  The instrument panel of the vehicle is provided with switches for operating an air conditioner (air conditioner), audio, and the like, and a plurality of switches having different functions are arranged for each vehicle type.

  As such a switch, a mechanical switch for connecting / disconnecting a contact by a mechanical operation and operating on / off of a corresponding function is used. A mechanical switch requires a switch body, contacts, board, etc. as its structure, which requires a certain thickness (depth), and there is a limit to reducing the cost of the switch alone. It was. Further, since it is necessary to arrange a plurality of switches having different functions for each vehicle type, the procedure for assembling becomes complicated and the assembling cost is high. In addition, a push stroke is required for the operation of the mechanical switch. However, there is a demand for a product with better operability and good merchantability (design).

  In order to improve the above problems, use of a touch panel is being considered in place of the mechanical switch. In the touch panel, a plurality of switches can be integrally formed on the panel surface, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced, the procedure for assembling is reduced, and the assembling cost can be reduced. In addition, a pushing stroke at the time of operation is unnecessary, and it is possible to turn on / off the corresponding function by touching, and it is possible to improve operability. Examples of the touch panel include a capacitance type and a field effect type. Capacitance type and field effect type touch panels can be made thinner than conventional mechanical switches and have a high degree of freedom in the shape of the panel itself.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-245606

  As described above, the capacitance type and field effect type touch panels can be reduced in thickness, have a high degree of freedom in shape, and can reduce costs. However, when a capacitive type or field effect type touch panel is operated with a wet hand or the like and water droplets or the like adheres across the touch switches of the touch panel, the touch switches are turned on. The touch switch that has been operated may not return from the ON state to the OFF state, or the touch switch that has not been operated may be turned ON, causing malfunction.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel device that can automatically reduce the sensitivity and prevent malfunction when there is a risk of the surface becoming wet.

A touch panel device according to a first invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is as follows.
A capacitive-type or field-effect type touch panel disposed on the instrument panel of the vehicle;
A rain detection means for detecting whether or not it is raining, and an open / close detection means for detecting opening and closing of doors and windows, and a control means for changing the sensitivity of the touch panel,
The control means includes
The rain detection means monitors whether or not it is raining for a first predetermined time after the engine is started,
When it is detected that the rain detection means is in a rain state within a first predetermined time after the engine is started, the determination threshold value for determining whether the touch panel is on or off is raised from a normal determination threshold value. Set the touch panel sensitivity lower than the normal sensitivity,
If the rain detection means does not detect that it is in a rain state within a first predetermined time after the engine is started, the rain detection means continues to monitor whether it is in a rain state, as well as doors and windows. The open / close state of the monitor is monitored by the open / close detection means,
When the rain detection means detects that it is in a rain state and the opening / closing detection means detects that the door or window has been opened / closed, by raising the determination threshold above the normal determination threshold, Set the sensitivity of the touch panel lower than the normal sensitivity,
If the rain detection means does not detect that it is in a rainy state, or if the opening / closing detection means does not detect that the door and window have been opened or closed, the determination threshold is set to a normal determination threshold. By setting to, the sensitivity of the touch panel is set to a normal sensitivity.

A touch panel device according to a second invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is as follows.
In the touch panel device according to the first aspect,
The control means includes
Furthermore, it monitors the air conditioner that removes the humidity inside the car,
After setting the sensitivity of the touch panel lower than the normal sensitivity, and further monitoring the open / close state of the door and window by the open / close detection means, and monitoring the operating time of the air conditioner,
When the opening / closing detection means detects that a door or window has been opened or closed, or when the operation time of the air conditioner is less than a second predetermined time, the determination threshold value is raised above the normal determination threshold value. By setting the sensitivity of the touch panel lower than the normal sensitivity,
When the opening / closing detection means does not detect that the door and window have been opened and closed and the operation time of the air conditioner is equal to or longer than a second predetermined time, the determination threshold is set to a normal determination threshold. Thus, the sensitivity of the touch panel is set to a normal sensitivity.

A touch panel device according to a third aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is as follows.
In the touch panel device according to the first or second invention,
The rain detection means is either a wiper switch or a rain sensor,
The open / close detection means is a door switch and a power window switch.

  According to the touch panel device according to the present invention, the rain detection means, the open / close detection means, grasp the rain state, the open / close state of the door and the window, in the operation under high humidity, or the situation where the attachment of raindrops is expected, Since the determination threshold is automatically raised above the normal determination threshold and the sensitivity of the touch panel is made lower than the normal sensitivity, an erroneous operation can be prevented and the on / off operation can be performed normally.

  If it can be determined that the humidity in the vehicle has decreased by monitoring the operating time of the air conditioner, the determination threshold is automatically set to the normal determination threshold, and the sensitivity of the touch panel is returned to the normal sensitivity. Therefore, the on / off operation can be performed comfortably.

  Hereinafter, the touch panel device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an instrument panel on which a touch panel is arranged, and FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a layout example of touch switches in the touch panel, and FIGS. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a touch switch of a touch panel. 3 is a block diagram of the touch panel device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the touch panel device according to the present invention.

  The touch panel 1 of the touch panel device according to the present invention is of a capacitance type (or field effect type) and is mounted on an instrument panel 2 of a vehicle as shown in FIG.

  As an example, the touch panel 1 includes a plurality of touch switches 5a and 5b having a layout as shown in FIG. Specifically, it has a plurality of touch switches 5a for operating audio and a plurality of touch switches 5b for operating air conditioners, which are formed on an integrated panel. As shown in FIG. 2B or 2C, these touch switches 5a and 5b have a switch portion formed in a concave shape or a convex shape, and are touch switches when touched by hand. Can be understood.

  The capacitance type (or field effect type) touch panel 1 has a high degree of freedom in its shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, a CD or MD insertion hole 6 is formed, or a touch switch is formed. It is possible to arrange not only 5a and 5b but also electronic components 7 such as a variable resistor such as a volume or a rotary switch.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the touch panel 1 having the above configuration includes a vehicle integrated control ECU (Electronics Control Unit) 14 that monitors a wiper switch or rain sensor 11, a door switch 12, a power window switch 13, an air conditioning switch, and the like. In response to the control signal from the touch panel ECU 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the touch panel ECU 15 may be provided independently. However, the touch panel ECU 15 may be omitted by providing the vehicle integrated control ECU 14 itself with the function of the touch panel ECU 15. With such a configuration, an operation under high humidity and a risk of getting wet on the surface are predicted in advance, and malfunctions are prevented by lowering the sensitivity of the touch panel 1.

  Next, a procedure for preventing malfunction of the touch switches 5a and 5b of the touch panel 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the ignition (IG) is turned on and the engine is started. Thereafter, it is monitored whether the wiper is turned on or the rain sensor is turned on within a first predetermined time (for example, within 3 minutes) (steps S1 and S2). Here, it is determined whether it was raining when boarding. If the wiper or rain sensor is ON, the process proceeds to step S6. If the wiper or rain sensor is OFF, the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S2, if the wiper or the rain sensor is OFF, that is, if it is not raining when getting on, whether the wiper is turned ON or the rain sensor is turned ON even after the first predetermined time. Is monitored (step S3). Here, it is determined whether or not it has rained while riding. If the wiper or rain sensor is ON, the process proceeds to step S4. If the wiper or rain sensor is OFF, the process proceeds to step S5.

  If the wiper or rain sensor is ON in Step 3 above, that is, if it rains while riding, there is a further opening or closing of a door (especially the front seat door) or a window (especially the front seat). It is monitored whether the (window) has been opened or closed (step S4). If the door is opened or closed or the window is opened or closed, the process proceeds to step S6. If not, the process proceeds to step S5.

  If the wiper or the rain sensor is OFF in Step 3 above, or if the door is not opened and closed or the window is not opened or closed in Step S4, it is not raining or it is raining. Since it is determined that there is no opening and closing of the door and window, and there is no possibility of operation with high humidity or wet hands, the determination threshold for determining whether the touch panel 1 is turned on / off is normal (for example, when the weather is fine, under low humidity) The sensitivity of the touch panel 1 is set to the normal sensitivity (step S5). Then, by returning to step S3 and repeating the determinations of steps S3 and S4, if it is raining and there is a high possibility of operation with high humidity or wet hands, it is possible to proceed to step S6 described later. I have to.

  When the wiper or the rain sensor is ON in Step 2 above, or when the door is opened or closed or the window is opened or closed in Step S4, the door is opened or closed while it is raining, It is determined that there is a possibility of operation with high humidity or wet hands, and in order to prevent malfunction, the sensitivity of the touch panel 1 is set to be higher than the normal sensitivity by setting the determination threshold higher than the normal determination threshold in advance. It is lowered (step S6). When the sensitivity of the touch panel 1 is lowered, a reliable ON operation can be performed by touching the touch switches 5a and 5b over a wide area.

  In addition, when raindrops adhere to the surface of the touch panel 1, specifically, one or more touch switches 5a and 5b are in an ON state for a predetermined time (for example, 1 second), or a plurality of touch switches If the touch switches 5a and 5b are turned on at the same time, or if the minute discharge of the specific touch switches 5a and 5b is larger than the minute discharge of the other touch switches 5a and 5b, it is determined that the raindrops are attached and is constant. You may make it transfer to the erroneous operation prevention mode which does not receive an input during time (for example, about 30 minutes).

  Thereafter, in a state where the sensitivity of the touch panel 1 is lower than the normal sensitivity, it is further monitored whether the door is opened or closed or whether the window is opened or closed (step S7). If the door has been opened or closed or the window has been opened or closed, the process returns to step S6, and if there is none, the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S7, when the door is not opened and closed and the window is not opened and closed, it is further monitored whether or not the air conditioner has been operated for a second predetermined time (for example, about 30 minutes) (step S8). If the air conditioner has been operated for the second predetermined time or longer, the process returns to step S3. If not, the process returns to step S6.

  That is, if the door is opened or closed in step S7, or if the air conditioner is not operated for the second predetermined time or more in step S8, the door is opened and closed in the raining condition. Alternatively, the sensitivity of the touch panel 1 may be further reduced by judging that there is opening / closing of the window, or that the operation of the air conditioner that removes humidity is not sufficient, and that there is a possibility of operation with high humidity or wet hands, or The sensitivity is lowered (step S6).

  In step S8, when the operation of the air conditioner is performed for the second predetermined time, the process returns to step S3, and the sensitivity of the touch panel 1 is appropriately changed by repeating the determinations of steps S3 and S4. In other words, when the operation of doors, windows, air conditioners, etc. is monitored and there is no opening or closing of doors or windows, and the operation time of the air conditioner is sufficiently long, the interior of the vehicle changes from a high humidity state to a low humidity state. Therefore, the sensitivity of the touch panel 1 is returned to the normal sensitivity for a comfortable operation. In addition to the operation of the air conditioner or the like, a humidity sensor may be provided separately, and the humidity inside the vehicle may be monitored by the humidity sensor to determine the humidity state in the vehicle. If raindrops adhere to the surface of the touch panel 1, it is monitored whether the raindrops attached to the air conditioner have been operating for longer than the time that can be dried (for example, about 60 minutes), and the erroneous operation prevention mode is canceled at this time. You may make it do.

  As described above, in the touch panel device according to the present invention, the vehicle integrated control ECU 14, the touch panel ECU 15 and the like monitor the state of the rain sensor 11, the door switch 12, the power window switch 13, the air conditioner, etc. The possibility of manual operation is appropriately determined, and the sensitivity of the touch panel 1 can be automatically adjusted based on the determination, thereby preventing malfunction of the touch panel.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful for a capacitive type or field effect type touch panel mounted on a vehicle. If so, it may be mounted on another device.

It is the schematic which shows the instrument panel by which the touch panel is arrange | positioned. (A) is a perspective view which shows the example of a layout of the touch switch in a touchscreen, (b), (c) is sectional drawing of the touchswitch of a touchscreen. 1 is a block diagram of a touch panel device according to the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the touchscreen apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Touch panel 2 Instrument panel 5a, 5b Touch switch 11 Wiper switch or rain sensor (rainfall detection means)
12 Door switch (open / close detection means)
13 Power window switch (open / close detection means)
14 Vehicle integrated ECU (control means)
15 Touch panel ECU (control means)

Claims (3)

A capacitive-type or field-effect type touch panel disposed on the instrument panel of the vehicle;
A rain detection means for detecting whether or not it is raining, and an open / close detection means for detecting opening and closing of doors and windows, and a control means for changing the sensitivity of the touch panel,
The control means includes
The rain detection means monitors whether or not it is raining for a first predetermined time after the engine is started,
When it is detected that the rain detection means is in a rain state within a first predetermined time after the engine is started, the determination threshold value for determining whether the touch panel is on or off is raised from a normal determination threshold value. Set the touch panel sensitivity lower than the normal sensitivity,
If the rain detection means does not detect that it is in a rain state within a first predetermined time after the engine is started, the rain detection means continues to monitor whether it is in a rain state, as well as doors and windows. The open / close state of the monitor is monitored by the open / close detection means,
When the rain detection means detects that it is in a rain state and the opening / closing detection means detects that the door or window has been opened / closed, by raising the determination threshold above the normal determination threshold, Set the sensitivity of the touch panel lower than the normal sensitivity,
If the rain detection means does not detect that it is in a rainy state, or if the opening / closing detection means does not detect that the door and window have been opened or closed, the determination threshold is set to a normal determination threshold. By setting to, the touch panel sensitivity is set to normal sensitivity. The touch panel device according to claim 1,
The control means includes
Furthermore, it monitors the air conditioner that removes the humidity inside the car,
After setting the sensitivity of the touch panel lower than the normal sensitivity, and further monitoring the open / close state of the door and window by the open / close detection means, and monitoring the operating time of the air conditioner,
When the opening / closing detection means detects that a door or window has been opened or closed, or when the operation time of the air conditioner is less than a second predetermined time, the determination threshold value is raised above the normal determination threshold value. By setting the sensitivity of the touch panel lower than the normal sensitivity,
When the opening / closing detection means does not detect that the door and window have been opened and closed and the operation time of the air conditioner is equal to or longer than a second predetermined time, the determination threshold is set to a normal determination threshold. Accordingly, the sensitivity of the touch panel is set to a normal sensitivity. The touch panel device according to claim 1 or 2,
The rain detection means is either a wiper switch or a rain sensor,
The touch panel device, wherein the opening / closing detection means is a door switch and a power window switch.

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