JP2009075778A - Input device, input acceptance processing method and input acceptance processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device for improving key selection probability and suppressing erroneous detection by properly changing the detection region of a key according to the result input to a touch panel by a user. <P>SOLUTION: When a key displayed on a screen is selected by a user, an input device stores difference information between the reference coordinates of the display region of the selected key and coordinates input by the user, and changes the detection region of the key displayed on the screen based on the difference information to decide a new detection region. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an input device, an input reception processing method, and an input reception processing program that detect input to a key displayed on a screen and input operation information.

For example, a touch panel input device is known as an input device for inputting operation information using a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The touch panel input device is an area on the touch panel corresponding to the display area of the key by installing the touch panel on a display device (for example, Liquid Crystal Display, hereinafter referred to as LCD) that displays keys for instructing operations. An operation instruction is given by touching with a finger or the like.

Normally, as shown in FIG. 13A, the display area of the key on the LCD and the detection area on the touch panel for detecting that the key is selected (hereinafter referred to as the detection area) are substantially the same. ing. Therefore, if a part of the key display area is touched, it is detected that the key is touched. However, the position where the user touches the key is at the center of the key display area or at the end of the key display area, and changes depending on the situation. Changes. (Invalid input refers to input that has been determined that no key has been selected as a result of failure to touch the key detection area.)

  As a first situation in which invalid input is likely to occur, a situation in which the user cannot stand in front of the touch panel input device and operates the screen of the touch panel input device from an oblique direction can be considered. For example, in a situation where the user operates while viewing the screen from the right side, there is a tendency to touch the right side of the center of the display area of the targeted key.

  As a second situation, a situation where a key displayed on the edge of the screen of the touch panel input device is touched can be considered. Usually, since there is a step between the touch panel portion of the touch panel input device and the outer casing portion, the user avoids the step and is closer to the center of the screen than the center of the target key display area. There is a tendency to touch.

  As a third situation, a situation in which a user with a certain bag uses the touch panel can be considered. Usually, characters explaining the function of the key are often displayed in the key display area, and touching the character while reading it will place the end of the key display area so as not to hide it with your fingertips. Will touch. For a user who touches in this way, for example, it is conceivable to always touch the right side of the center of the display area of the target key.

  In the first to third situations, the touch position tends to deviate from the center of the key display area. Therefore, the touch position deviates from the key display area even if the hand slightly fluctuates. Input is likely to be invalid. When the input is invalid, the user has to input the same key again, and there is a problem that a great stress is felt.

  Therefore, techniques for solving the above problems have been proposed. According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, the user's gaze direction is estimated, and the key detection area is expanded in the gaze direction. Therefore, even when a position slightly deviated from the key display area is touched, it is detected that the key on the side far from the user is touched, so the probability that the key aimed by the user is selected by input ( (Hereinafter referred to as key selectivity).

  According to the technique described in Patent Document 2, when there is an area that does not correspond to any key detection area (hereinafter referred to as an invalid detection area) around the key display area, the invalidity detection area is used. The key detection area is expanded more than the key display area. Therefore, even when a position slightly deviated from the key display area is touched, a key adjacent to the touched position is detected as being touched, so that the key selectivity can be improved.

JP-A-8-95708 JP 2005-284379 A

  However, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, when the cause of deteriorating the key selectivity is the user's line-of-sight direction as in the first situation, the key selectivity can be improved. In the second and third situations, the key selectivity cannot be improved. When a plurality of keys are displayed on the same screen, an invalid detection area is generally installed between detection areas corresponding to the keys. The invalid detection area is installed mainly for the purpose of preventing the user from detecting that a key different from the target key is selected (hereinafter referred to as false detection). Decreasing the distance between adjacent key detection areas causes the probability of erroneous detection to occur (hereinafter referred to as erroneous detection). Therefore, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1 that estimates the user's line-of-sight direction and uniformly extends the detection area, there is a problem that the misdetection property is deteriorated while the key selectivity is improved.

  Similarly, the technique described in Patent Document 2 has a problem that the key detection area is expanded before a user input is performed in advance, so that the key selectivity is improved while the false detection performance is deteriorated.

  An object of the present invention is, for example, in a touch panel input device in which an LCD and a touch panel are integrated, by appropriately changing the key detection area in accordance with the input result of the user's touch panel, improvement in key selectivity and false detection An object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can simultaneously suppress the deterioration of sex.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) Display means for displaying a screen including at least one key, input accepting means for accepting input of coordinates on the screen, and selection of the key when input is accepted by the input accepting means A detection area for detecting that the key has been detected and the coordinates of the input, and determining whether or not a key is selected; and determining that the key has been selected by the key selection determining means. Based on the difference storage means for storing difference information, which is the difference between the reference coordinates of the display area of the selected key and the input coordinates, in the storage unit, and the difference information stored in the storage unit An input device comprising: detection area changing means for changing a detection area of the key displayed by the display means to be a new detection area.

  (2) The input according to (1), wherein the difference storage unit stores the difference information in the storage unit only when the key determined to be selected by the key selection determination unit is a specific key. apparatus.

  (3) When the difference information is stored in the storage unit, the detection area changing unit corresponds to the barycentric point of the detection area of the key selected by the input corresponding to the difference information and the difference information. The input device according to (1) or (2), wherein the detection area is changed so as to coincide with the coordinates of the input to be performed, and is set as a new detection area.

  (4) When a plurality of the difference information is stored in the storage unit, the detection area changing unit calculates an average value of the difference information, changes the detection area based on the average value, The input device according to (1) or (2), wherein the detection area is set.

  (5) The difference storage unit associates the difference information with the key and stores the difference information in the storage unit, and the detection area change unit corresponds to each key among the difference information stored in the storage unit. The input device according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the detection area of each key is changed based on the difference information to be used as a new detection area.

  (6) It further has user identification means for identifying a user who uses the input device, and the difference storage means stores the difference information in the storage unit in association with the user identified by the user identification means. When the user is identified by the user identifying means, the detection area changing means is based on difference information corresponding to the user identified by the user identifying means among the difference information stored in the storage unit. The input device according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the key detection area displayed by the display unit is changed to be a new detection area.

  (7) It further includes angle adjustment means capable of changing the screen displayed by the display means to at least two or more angles, and when the angle of the screen is changed by the angle adjustment means, the storage unit The input device according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the difference information stored in is initialized.

  (8) It further includes angle adjustment means that can change the screen displayed by the display means to at least two or more angles, and the difference storage means is an angle of the screen when it is determined that the key is selected. And the difference information stored in the storage unit corresponds to the angle of the screen currently set by the angle adjustment unit among the difference information stored in the storage unit. The input device according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the detection area is changed to be a new detection area based on the difference information.

  (9) The input according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the detection area changing unit does not change the size of the detection area but changes only the position of the detection area to be a new detection area. apparatus.

  (10) An input receiving step for receiving an input of coordinates on a screen on which at least one or more keys are displayed, and a detection area for detecting that the key is selected when the input is received A key selection determination step for comparing the coordinates of the input to determine whether or not a key is selected, and when it is determined in the key selection determination step that a key has been selected, A difference storing step for storing difference information that is a difference between the reference coordinates of the display area and the input coordinates, and a detection area of the key displayed on the screen based on the difference information stored in the difference storing step. An input reception processing method comprising: a detection area changing step for changing to a new detection area.

  (11) An input receiving step for receiving an input of coordinates on a screen on which at least one or more keys are displayed, and a detection area for detecting that the key is selected when the input is received A key selection determination step for comparing the coordinates of the input to determine whether or not a key is selected; and when the key selection determination step determines that a key has been selected, the selected key A difference storage step for storing difference information that is a difference between the reference coordinates of the display area of the display area and the coordinates of the input, and a detection area of the key displayed on the screen based on the difference information stored by the difference storage step An input reception processing program for causing a computer to execute a detection area changing step for changing the detection area to be a new detection area.

  According to the invention described in (1) above, the difference (hereinafter referred to as difference information) between the reference coordinates of the display area of the key selected by the user and the coordinates actually touched with the key (hereinafter referred to as input coordinates). ) And the detection area can be changed based on the difference information. Therefore, as in Patent Document 1, based on a specific state of the user such as the line-of-sight direction, the direction in which the user's input deviates is estimated, and the detection area is not changed, but the input actually performed by the user Based on this, since the detection area is changed, the key selectivity can be improved regardless of any of the first to third situations where invalid input is likely to occur.

According to the invention described in (2) above, a key for storing difference information (hereinafter referred to as a difference storage key) is determined from the keys displayed on the screen, and the difference information is stored only when the key is selected. The detection area can be changed using the difference information. For example, when the order in which keys are selected is determined to some extent when operating the input device, a key that is likely to be selected first is used as a difference storage key, so that the initial stage of the operation The detection area can be changed based on the difference information of the input only. Therefore, key selectivity can be improved at the initial stage of operation. In addition, since the input after the operation has progressed to some extent is not considered in the change of the detection area, the relationship between the key display area and the detection area can be prevented from changing during the operation, and a series of operations can be performed. It is possible to provide uniformity in the operation feeling experienced by the user.
In addition, for example, by selecting a key having a high frequency of selection as a difference storage key, the detection area can be changed using difference information corresponding to only the input of the key having a high frequency of selection. It is also possible to optimize the key selectivity of frequently used keys.

  According to the invention described in (3) above, the detection area can be changed so that the barycentric point of the detection area of the key selected by the input already made coincides with the input coordinates of the input. The distance and direction in which the touch position deviates from the center of the key display area is considered to have the same tendency between the input that has already been made and the input that will be made in the future. Therefore, by changing the detection area as described above, it is possible to increase the possibility that future input can be detected near the center of gravity of the detection area, so that the detection area can be touched even if the hand is slightly moved. Thus, the key selectivity can be effectively improved.

  According to the invention described in (4) above, when there are a plurality of difference information, an average value of the difference information can be calculated, and the detection area can be changed based on the average value. By changing the detection area based on a plurality of difference information, the tendency of the user's touch position with respect to the center of the key display area can be more accurately reflected in the change of the detection area. It can be effectively improved.

  According to the invention described in (5) above, the difference information is stored in association with the key, and when the detection area of a certain key is changed, the detection area is changed using the difference information corresponding to the key. Can do. Therefore, the situation where invalid input is likely to occur depends on the display state of each key such as the position and size of the key as in the second situation, and the touch position is from the center of the display area of the key. Even when the distance and direction of deviating are different for each key, the key selectivity of each key can be effectively improved.

  In addition, since the difference information stored when another key is selected is not taken into account, the detection error caused by changing the detection area based on information that is not related to the improvement of the key selectivity of each key. Deterioration can be prevented.

  According to the invention described in (6) above, when the difference information is stored in association with the user and the detection area is changed, the detection area is detected using the difference information corresponding to the user currently using the input device. Therefore, even when a plurality of users use the same input device in turn, the key selectivity of each user can be effectively improved. In addition, when changing the detection area, the difference information due to the input of a user other than the user who is currently using the input device is not taken into consideration, so it is related to the improvement of the key selectivity of the user who currently uses the input device. It is possible to prevent deterioration of misdetection caused by changing the detection area based on low information.

  According to the invention described in (7) above, in the input device that can be used by adjusting the screen angle, when the screen angle of the input device is changed, the difference information stored before the change can be initialized. Therefore, it is possible to prevent deterioration of misdetection caused by changing the detection area in consideration of the difference information by the input made before changing the screen angle. This is because the user's line-of-sight direction with respect to the screen and the direction of touching the touch panel are different before and after changing the screen angle, and the distance and direction in which the touch position deviates from the center of the key display area is likely to differ. is there.

  According to the invention described in (8) above, in the input device that can be used by adjusting the screen angle, the difference information is stored in association with the screen angle, and when the detection area is changed, the current screen angle is supported. Since the detection area can be changed using the difference information, the key selectivity at each screen angle can be effectively improved. Also, when changing the detection area, the difference information of the input made at a screen angle other than the current screen angle is not considered, so the detection area is based on information that is less relevant to improving the key selectivity of the current screen angle. It is possible to prevent the deterioration of misdetection caused by making the change.

  According to the invention described in (9) above, since the position of the detection area can be changed based on the difference information, the key selectivity can be improved. Further, since the size of the detection area is not changed and the invalid detection area is not reduced, it is possible to prevent the detection error from deteriorating.

  According to the invention described in (10), the difference between the reference coordinates of the display area of the key selected by the user and the input coordinates can be stored, and the detection area can be changed based on the difference information. Therefore, as in Patent Document 1, based on a specific state of the user such as the line-of-sight direction, the direction in which the user's input deviates is estimated, and the detection area is not changed, but the input actually performed by the user Based on this, since the detection area is changed, the key selectivity can be improved regardless of any of the first to third situations where invalid input is likely to occur.

  According to the invention described in (11), an input receiving step for receiving an input of coordinates on a screen on which at least one or more keys are displayed, and the key is selected when the input is received. In the key selection determination step for determining whether or not a key is selected by comparing the detection area for detecting the coordinates and the coordinates of the input, it is determined that the key is selected in the key selection determination step. A difference storing step for storing difference information that is a difference between the reference coordinates of the display area of the selected key and the input coordinates, and the screen based on the difference information stored by the difference storing step. It is possible to cause the computer to execute a detection area changing step for changing the detection area of the key displayed on the screen to make a new detection area.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a Multi Function Peripheral (hereinafter referred to as MFP) provided with a touch panel input device, which is one embodiment of the input device of the present invention. The MFP is an image forming apparatus having functions such as copying, scanning, faxing, and network printing, and mainly includes a scanner unit 101 and a printer unit 102. The touch panel input device 103 is installed on the upper surface of the MFP. A scanner unit 101 converts a document transport unit 113 that transports a document, a scanner optical unit 104 that propagates light that has read the document, and light transmitted from the scanner optical unit 104 into an electrical signal (analog signal), and further converts it into a digital signal. An analog processing unit 105 for conversion, an input image processing unit 106 that performs image processing of a digital signal sent from the analog processing unit 105, an image storage unit 107 that stores image data sent from the input image processing unit 106, and the like. The printer unit 102 includes an output image processing unit 108 that performs image processing on image data sent from the image storage unit 107, a semiconductor laser unit 109 that outputs a laser beam in accordance with a signal sent from the output image processing unit 108, and a semiconductor laser unit. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum by the laser beam sent from 109 is developed with toner, and the toner image is transferred onto the paper to form an image, and the paper is stored. The paper cassette unit 111 and the paper discharge unit 112 for discharging paper are configured.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the touch panel input device 103. The touch panel input device 103 receives an operation setting value setting and an operation start instruction for the MFP. The touch panel input device 103 includes a start key 201 for instructing an operation start, a stop key 202 for instructing an operation stop, a reset key 203 for initializing operation settings, and a function selection for selecting a function. It comprises a key 204, a numeric keypad 205 for inputting numerical values, hard keys such as a clear key 206 for clearing the input numerical values, and an LCD 207. For example, a resistance conversion type touch panel 309 is attached to the surface of the LCD 207.

  FIG. 3 is a control system block diagram of the touch panel input device 103. The panel processing control unit 301 is a CPU and is connected to the display unit 302, the input receiving unit 303, the storage unit 304, and the main body control unit 305, and controls the entire touch panel input device 103. The panel processing control unit 301 reads the operation program and the initial setting value from the storage unit 304, receives a signal from the input reception unit 303, transmits / receives information to / from the main body control unit 305, and controls display on the display unit 302. I do. In addition, information such as a set value that has been set is written to the storage unit 304, and information is read from the storage unit 304 as necessary. A display unit 302 displays an operation mode and setting values, an LCD 207, a VRAM 306 that stores image data to be displayed on the LCD 207, an LCD controller 307 for controlling the LCD 207, an LCD backlight 308 that illuminates the LCD 207, and the state of the MFP. For the LED 208 and so on. The input receiving unit 303 includes a touch panel 309 installed on the LCD 207, hard keys 310 such as a start key 201 and a stop key 202, and the like. A storage unit 304 is a ROM 311 that stores an operation program of the panel processing control unit 301, a work area when executing the process, a RAM 312 that temporarily stores information used in the process, a setting value, and the like. HDD (hard disk drive) 313 and the like.

  4 to 6 and FIGS. 8 to 10 are flowcharts for explaining the processing contents of the embodiment of the present invention. The panel processing control unit 301 reads a program stored in the ROM 311 and performs processing described in each flowchart based on the program. Before describing each flowchart, an overview of the entire process will be described.

  If the difference storage key for storing the difference information is determined in advance from the keys displayed on the screen, and the key selected by the user input is the difference storage key (YES in step S601 in FIG. 10). Hereinafter, the step is omitted, and is described as S601), and the deviation (difference information) of the input coordinates from the reference coordinates of the display area of the selection key is stored (S602 in FIG. 10). When the input to the touch panel 309 is performed again, the detection area change amount is calculated using the stored difference information (S503 in FIG. 9), and the detection area is changed (S504 in FIG. 9). . Then, using the detection area after the change, it is determined to which key the input is displayed on the screen (S505 in FIG. 9). If the input is to select a difference storage key, the difference information of the input is newly stored (S602 in FIG. 10). When the screen displayed on the LCD changes to a different screen, the stored difference information is initialized (S304 in FIG. 6).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the panel processing control unit 301. The processing will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when power is turned on, initialization is performed (S101), and a timer built in the panel processing control unit 301 is started (S102). The timer time setting is stored in the ROM 311 in advance, and is set in the panel processing control unit 301 at the initial setting of S101. Subsequently, a display control process for controlling the display unit 302 is performed (S103). Details of the process of S103 will be described later. Subsequently, an input control process for controlling the input receiving unit 303 is performed (S104). Details of the processing of S104 will be described later. Subsequently, processing other than the display control processing and input control processing is performed (S105). Then, it is determined whether or not the timer started in S102 has expired (S106). If the timer has not expired (NO in S106), the process waits, and if the timer has expired (YES in S106). ) Returns to S102, and the processing from S102 to S106 is repeated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a subroutine process of the display control process in S103 of the flowchart described in FIG. In the processing of this flowchart, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction for changing the display of the LED 208 and the LCD 207 from the main body control unit 305, and when there is an instruction, the display is changed based on the instruction. This will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, it is determined whether an instruction to change lighting of the LED 208 is issued from the main body control unit 305 (S201). The LED lighting change instruction is transmitted from the main body control unit 305 to the panel processing control unit 301 in order to notify the change condition of the LED 208 lighting state when the state of the MFP changes and the display of the LED 208 should be changed. . When the LED 208 lighting change instruction is issued (YES in S201), the LED 208 lighting changing process is performed (S202). In the LED lighting change process, a lighting control signal is output to the LED 208 based on the lighting change instruction received from the main body control unit 305. As a result, the lighting color of the LED 208 changes, or the lighting / extinguishing state of the LED 208 is switched. On the other hand, if the LED 208 lighting change instruction has not been issued (NO in S201), the process of S202 is not performed, and the process proceeds to S203.

  Subsequently, in S203, it is determined whether an instruction to change the display on the LCD 207 is issued from the main body control unit 305. An instruction to change the display on the LCD 207 is transmitted from the main body control unit 305 to the panel processing control unit 301 to inform the change condition of the display state of the LCD 207 when the state of the MFP changes and the display on the LCD 207 should be changed. The If a display change instruction for the LCD 207 has been issued (YES in S203), a display change process for the LCD 207 is performed (S204), the subroutine ends, and the routine returns to the routine shown in FIG. Details of the processing of S204 will be described later. On the other hand, if the display change instruction has not been issued (NO in S203), the process of S204 is not performed, the subroutine ends, and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the subroutine process of the LCD display change process in S204 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The processing of this flowchart is processing that is performed when a display change instruction for the LCD 207 is issued from the main body control unit 305, and receives image information and detection area information displayed on the LCD 207 from the main body control unit 305, and displays the screen. When there is a transition, the initialization process of the difference information stored in the RAM 312 is performed. This will be described below with reference to a flowchart.

  First, image information on a screen to be displayed on the LCD 207 is received from the main body control unit 305 and written in the VRAM 306 (S301). Then, detection area information for detecting that a key displayed on the screen is selected and information for specifying a difference storage key are received from the main body control unit 305 (S302). The detection area received in S302 is referred to as a reference detection area in the sense of a detection area that has not been changed by a change process described later. The panel processing control unit 301 writes information for specifying the difference storage key and reference detection area information in the RAM 312. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the display change instruction received this time has changed to a screen different from the screen that was displayed before the display change instruction was received (S303). If the screen has changed to a different screen (YES in S303) ), The difference information stored in the RAM 312 is initialized (S304), the subroutine processing ends, and the routine returns to the routine shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the screen does not change to a different screen (NO in S303), the process of S304 is not performed, the subroutine process ends, and the process returns to the routine illustrated in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining detection area information. The position on the touch panel 309 is expressed by coordinates of 0 to 255 in the horizontal direction (X direction) and 0 to 255 in the vertical direction (Y direction). Therefore, the key detection area is designated using the coordinate values on the touch panel 309. When the shape of the detection area is rectangular, the detection area can be specified by specifying the coordinates of two points on the diagonal line of the detection area. FIG. 7 shows an example in which the detection area is designated by the coordinates of the upper left end point and the lower right end point. The detection area changing process described later is performed by changing a coordinate value for designating the detection area. Although FIG. 7 illustrates the case where the shape of the detection area is rectangular, the shape of the detection area may be, for example, a circle or a triangle, and is not particularly limited.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a subroutine process of the input control process in S104 of the flowchart described in FIG. In the process of this flowchart, it is determined whether or not there is an input to the hard key 310 and the touch panel 309, and when there is an input, a corresponding input process is performed. This will be described below with reference to a flowchart.

  First, it is determined whether or not there is an input from the hard key 310 (S401). If there is an input from the hard key 310 (YES in S401), a hard key input process is performed (S402), and the subroutine is executed. End and return to the routine described in FIG. In the hard key input process of S402, information specifying the selected hard key 310 is transmitted from the panel process control unit 301 to the main body control unit 305. On the other hand, when the hard key 310 is not input (NO in S401), it is determined whether or not the input from the touch panel 309 is performed (S403). If there is an input from the touch panel 309 (YES in S403), touch panel input processing is performed (S404), the subroutine ends, and the routine returns to the routine shown in FIG. Details of the processing of S404 will be described later. On the other hand, if there is no input from the touch panel 309 (NO in S403), the process of S404 is not performed, the subroutine ends, and the process returns to the routine shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a subroutine process of the touch panel input process in S404 of the flowchart described in FIG. In the process of this flowchart, it is determined whether or not difference information is stored. Only when the difference information is stored, the detection area change amount is calculated using the difference information and the detection area is changed. Then, it is determined whether or not the input coordinates are included in the key detection area displayed on the screen. If the input coordinates are included in any key detection area, an effective input process is performed. This will be described below with reference to a flowchart.

  First, the X and Y coordinates of the position input from the touch panel 309 are read (S501). The coordinates are called input coordinates. Then, it is determined whether or not difference information is stored on the RAM 312 (S502). If it is stored (YES in S502), a change amount for changing the detection area is calculated (S503). Details of the detection area change amount calculation method will be described later. Subsequently, the detection areas of all the keys displayed on the LCD 207 are changed according to the change amount calculated in S503 (S504). On the other hand, if the difference information is not stored on the RAM 312 (NO in S502), the processing of S503 and S504, that is, the processing of changing the detection area is not performed, and the process proceeds to the following processing.

  Subsequently, the process proceeds to a loop process performed for each key displayed on the LCD 207, and it is determined whether or not the input coordinates are included in the detection area (S505). The process of S505 is repeated for each key, and when it is determined that the input coordinates are not included in the detection areas of all the keys displayed on the LCD 207 (NO in S505), the “LCD display key loop” ends. The subroutine ends and returns to the routine shown in FIG. If it is determined that the input coordinates are included in the detection area of any key displayed on the LCD 207 (YES in S505), an effective input process is performed (S506), and the subroutine is terminated, and the processing shown in FIG. Return to the routine. Details of the processing of S506 will be described later.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the subroutine process of the effective input process in S506 of the flowchart shown in FIG. In the processing of this flowchart, it is determined whether or not the key (hereinafter referred to as the selection key) for which the input coordinate is determined to be included in the detection area in S505 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. Difference information is stored on the RAM 312 only when the key is a storage key. Then, information for specifying the selection key is transmitted to the main body control unit 305. This will be described below with reference to a flowchart.

  First, it is determined whether or not the selection key is a difference storage key (S601). Information for specifying the difference storage key is received from the main body control unit 305 and stored in the RAM 312 in S302 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 6, and can be determined by comparing the information with the selection key. If it is determined that the selection key is a difference storage key (YES in S601), the difference between the reference coordinates of the key display area and the input coordinates is calculated and stored in the RAM 312 as difference information (S602). Details of the difference calculation method will be described later. On the other hand, when it is determined that the selection key is not the difference storage key (NO in S601), the process of S602 is not performed. Subsequently, in S603, information for specifying the selection key is transmitted to the main body control unit 305, the subroutine is terminated, and the routine returns to the routine shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing a difference information calculation method performed in step S602 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 11, the inside of the solid line frame indicates the key display area, the inside of the broken line frame indicates the reference detection area, PTs (Xs, Ys) indicates the barycentric coordinates that are the reference coordinates of the key display area, and PT1 ( X1, Y1) and PT2 (X2, Y2) indicate the input coordinates made for the key. The difference information is composed of an X-axis difference value (ΔX) that is a difference value in the X-axis direction and a Y-axis difference value (ΔY) that is a difference value in the Y-axis direction, and the difference information when input is made to the coordinates of PT1. Is calculated from the reference coordinates PTs (Xs, Ys) of the key display area and the input coordinates PT1 (X1, Y1) by the following equation.
ΔX1 = X1-Xs
ΔY1 = Y1-Ys
Similarly, the difference information when an input is made to the coordinates of PT2 is also calculated by the following equation.
ΔX2 = X2-Xs
ΔY2 = Y2−Ys
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the detection area change amount calculation process in step S503 and the detection area change process in step S504 in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 12, the inside of the solid line frame indicates the display area of the key, the inside of the broken line frame indicates the reference detection area, the inside of the alternate long and short dash line frame indicates the detection area after the change, and PTs (Xs, Ys) indicates the key. The barycentric coordinates, which are the reference coordinates of the display area, are shown, and PT1 (X1, Y1) and PT2 (X2, Y2) show the input coordinates made for the key.

  FIG. 12A is an explanatory diagram in the case where only the difference information corresponding to the input to the PT 1 is stored in the RAM 312. In the detection area change amount calculation process of S503, the X-axis difference value (ΔX1) of the difference information corresponding to the input to PT1 is set as the X-axis change amount (ΔXr) that is the change amount in the X-axis direction of the detection area. The Y-axis difference value (ΔY1) is defined as a Y-axis change amount (ΔYr) that is a change amount in the Y-axis direction of the detection region. In the detection area changing process in S504, the detection area is shifted by the X-axis change amount (ΔXr) in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis change amount (ΔYr) in the Y-axis direction. As a result, the detection area is changed so that PT1 becomes the center of gravity of the detection area.

  FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram when two pieces of difference information corresponding to inputs to PT1 and PT2 are stored in the RAM 312. In the detection area change amount calculation process of S503, the average of the X-axis difference value (ΔX1) of the difference information corresponding to the input to PT1 and the X-axis difference value (ΔX2) of the difference information corresponding to the input to PT2 The value is the X-axis change amount (ΔXr), and the average value of the Y-axis difference value (ΔY1) of the difference information corresponding to the input to PT1 and the Y-axis difference value (ΔY2) of the difference information corresponding to the input to PT2 is The Y-axis change amount (ΔYr) is used. In the detection area changing process of S504, the detection area is shifted by the X-axis change amount (ΔXr) in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis change amount (ΔYr) in the Y-axis direction. As a result, the detection area is changed so that the average coordinate of the coordinates of PT1 and PT2 becomes the center of gravity of the detection area.

  FIG. 13A shows an actual input example with respect to the touch panel input device 103, and what kind of processing is performed in this embodiment when this input is made will be described below. In FIG. 13, the inside of the solid line frame indicates the key display area, the inside of the broken line frame indicates the detection area, the halftone dot indicates the invalid detection area, the black dot indicates the coordinates actually input by the user, The number of indicates the order of input.

  First, when the power is turned on, the main routine of FIG. 4 is started, the processing of S101 and S102 is performed, and the process proceeds to the subroutine shown in FIG. 5 in S103. In S203, it is determined that there is an instruction to change the display state of the LCD 207, and the process proceeds to YES. Then, the process proceeds to the subroutine shown in FIG. 6 in S204, receives the image information of the screen of FIG. 13A from the main body control unit 305 in S301, writes it to the VRAM 306, and writes from the main body control unit 305 in FIG. The reference detection area of the screen and the information of the difference storage key are received. In this example, the difference storage key on the screen of FIG. 13A is KEY00. Since there is no screen transition, the process proceeds to NO in S303, the subroutine shown in FIG. 6 ends, and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. 4 via FIG. Next, the process proceeds to the subroutine shown in FIG. 8 in S104. Since no input has been made yet, the subroutine shown in FIG. 8 is terminated without any processing, and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. Other processing is performed in S105, the timer waits in S106, and when the timer expires, the process returns to S102. Then, the processing from S102 to S106 is repeated until the user inputs.

  Next, a case where an input is made at the position of point 1 on the screen shown in FIG. In S104 of the flowchart described in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to a subroutine illustrated in FIG. 8. Since there is an input to the touch panel 309, the process proceeds to YES in S403, and in S404, the process proceeds to the subroutine illustrated in FIG. In step S501, input coordinates are read. In step S502, the difference information is not stored in the RAM 312. Therefore, the process proceeds to NO, the detection area is not changed, and the point 1 is not included in any key detection area. 9 is not performed, the subroutine shown in FIG. 9 ends, and the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 4 via FIG.

  Next, a case where an input is made at the position of point 2 on the screen shown in FIG. In S104 of the flowchart described in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to a subroutine illustrated in FIG. 8. Since there is an input to the touch panel 309, the process proceeds to YES in S403, and in S404, the process proceeds to the subroutine illustrated in FIG. The input coordinates are read in S501, and the difference information is not stored in the RAM 312 in S502. The process proceeds to NO, the detection area is not changed, and the point 2 is within the detection area of KEY01, so the process proceeds to YES in S505, and S506. Then, the process proceeds to the subroutine shown in FIG. Since KEY01 is not a difference storage key, the process proceeds to NO in S601, and information indicating that there is an input to KEY01 is transmitted to the main body control unit 305 in S603, and the subroutine shown in FIG. Through step 8, the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

  In response to the input to KEY01, a display change instruction is transmitted from the main body control unit 305 to change the display on the LCD 207. Then, the process proceeds to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 in S103. Since an LCD display change instruction has been issued, the process proceeds to YES in S203, and the process proceeds to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 in S204. In step S <b> 301, the screen image to be displayed on the LCD 207 is received from the main body control unit 305 and written in the VRAM 306. In this example, it is assumed that there is no transition to a different screen due to the input to KEY01. In S302, the reference detection area information and the difference storage key information are received. Since there is no screen transition, the process proceeds to NO in S303, the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 ends, and the process returns to the main routine in FIG. 4 through FIG.

  Next, a case where an input is made at the position of point 3 on the screen shown in FIG. In S104 of the flowchart described in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to a subroutine illustrated in FIG. 8. Since there is an input to the touch panel 309, the process proceeds to YES in S403, and in S404, the process proceeds to the subroutine illustrated in FIG. In step S501, the input coordinates are read. In step S502, the difference information is not stored in the RAM 312, so the process proceeds to NO. The detection area is not changed, and the point 3 is within the detection area of KEY00. Then, the process proceeds to the subroutine shown in FIG. Since KEY00 is a difference storage key, the process proceeds to YES in S601, and the difference information of the input of point 3 is stored in S602. In step S603, information indicating that there is an input to KEY00 is transmitted to the main body control unit 305. The subroutine shown in FIG. 10 is terminated, and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. 4 via FIGS.

  In response to the input to KEY00, a display change instruction is transmitted from the main body control unit 305 to change the display on the LCD 207. In this example, there is no transition to a different screen depending on the input to KEY00. Shall.

  Next, a case where an input is made at the position of the point 4 shown in FIG. In S104 of the flowchart described in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to a subroutine illustrated in FIG. 8. Since there is an input to the touch panel 309, the process proceeds to YES in S403, and in S404, the process proceeds to the subroutine illustrated in FIG. Since the input coordinates are read in S501 and the difference information is stored in the RAM 312, the process proceeds to YES in S502, and the change amount of the detection area is calculated in S503. Since the RAM 312 stores only one difference information corresponding to the input of the point 3, the X-axis difference value and the Y-axis difference value at the time of the input of the point 3 are respectively the X-axis change amount and the Y-axis change amount. It becomes. In step S504, detection area change processing is performed. FIG. 13B shows the detection area after the change. The detection areas of all the keys displayed on the screen are shifted to the upper right so as to correct the deviation of the input coordinates of the point 3 with respect to the reference coordinates of the display area of KEY00.

  Returning to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, since the point 4 is in the detection area after the change of KEY00, the process proceeds to YES in S505, and moves to the subroutine shown in FIG. 10 in S506. Since KEY00 is a difference storage key, the process proceeds to YES in S601, and the difference information of the input of point 4 is stored in S602. In step S603, information indicating that there is an input to KEY00 is transmitted to the main body control unit 305. The subroutine shown in FIG. 10 is terminated, and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. 4 via FIGS.

  The case where the next input is made after the input to point 4 will be briefly described below. In step S503 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 9, the detection area change amount is calculated from the difference information corresponding to the input of point 3 and point 4, and the detection area is changed in step S504. FIG. 13C shows the detection area after the change. The detection area is shifted to the upper right so as to correct the deviation of the input coordinates of points 3 and 4 with respect to the reference coordinates of the display area of KEY00.

  In the above, the case where only KEY00 among the keys displayed on the screen of FIG. 13A is used as the difference storage key is illustrated, but the number of difference storage keys is not limited to one per screen, and a plurality of keys on the screen are displayed. The key can also be a difference storage key. For example, KEY00 and KEY01 can be used as a difference storage key on the screen of FIG. Further, there may be a screen having no difference storage key.

  Further, in the above, the case where the same screen is always displayed without changing to a different screen after the key displayed on the screen of FIG. 13A is selected is exemplified. In 103, after a certain key is selected, the screen often changes to a different screen for detailed setting of the function assigned to the key. Therefore, the processing contents when the points 1 to 3 are input on the screen 13 (a) and the screen is changed to the screen shown in FIG. 14 (a) by the input to the point 3 will be described below.

  When input to point 3 is performed, the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. 4 through the processes of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 in the same manner as the process at the time of input to point 3. The process proceeds to the subroutine of FIG. 5 in S103, proceeds to YES in S203, and proceeds to the subroutine of FIG. 6 in S204. The image information of the screen of FIG. 14A is received from the main body control unit 305 in S301 and written to the VRAM 306, and the reference detection area of the screen of FIG. 14A and the difference storage key information from the main body control unit 305 in S302. Receive. In this example, the difference storage key is KEY20. Since there is a screen transition due to the current LCD display change process, the process proceeds to YES in S303, and the difference information stored in the RAM 312 is initialized in S304. Thus, the subroutine shown in FIG. 6 is completed, and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. 4 via FIG.

  When there is a new input on the screen of FIG. 14A after the transition, the difference information of the input on the screen of FIG. 13A is initialized, so the screen of FIG. As long as there is no input to KEY20, the detection area of the screen in FIG. 14A is not changed, and the determination in S505 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 is performed using the reference detection area.

  (Modification 1) FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first modification of the embodiment. In the first embodiment, the LCD display changing process shown in FIG. 6 is replaced with the process shown in FIG. 15 in the first modified example. The difference between the processes in FIGS. 6 and 15 is that the process in FIG. 15 does not have processes corresponding to S303 and S304 in the flowchart shown in FIG. According to the processing of FIG. 15, in the above input example, after the points 1 to 3 are input on the screen of FIG. 13A, the input to the point 3 causes the screen illustrated in FIG. When there is a transition and there is a new input on the screen of FIG. 14 (a), the detection area used in the determination of S505 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 for the input is as shown in FIG. 14 (b). The reference detection area is changed. This is because there is no processing for initializing difference information when there is a screen transition in the processing of FIG. 15, and thus the difference storage key is displayed on the screen of FIG. 13A even after transition to the screen of FIG. 14. The difference information corresponding to the input of the point 3 set to KEY00 is not initialized, and a change is made so as to correct the shift between the input coordinate of the point 3 and the reference coordinate of the display area of the KEY00 in S503 of the flowchart shown in FIG. This is because the amount is calculated.

  According to the form in which the difference information on the previous screen is initialized at the time of the screen transition described in FIG. 6, when the key arrangement on the screen before and after the transition is completely different, the misdetection on the screen after the transition is deteriorated. There is an effect to prevent. For example, when a screen that displays a small number of large keys transitions to a screen that displays a large number of small keys, the screen detection area after transition is changed based on the difference information of the screen before transition. There is a possibility that the detection area after the key change overlaps with the display area of the adjacent key, and the misdetection property deteriorates. According to the embodiment described in FIG. 6, it is possible to prevent deterioration in misdetection due to the cause.

  On the other hand, in the form shown in FIG. 15 in which the difference information on the previous screen is not initialized at the time of the screen transition, the key selection on the screen after the transition is performed when the key arrangements on the screen before and after the transition are similar. Has the effect of improving the performance. If the key layout on the screen before and after the transition is approximate, the distance and direction in which the input coordinates deviate from the reference coordinates of the key display area targeted by the user approximate the screen before the transition and the screen after the transition. This is because there is a high possibility.

  (Modification 2) FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second modification of the embodiment. In the embodiment, the second modification is obtained by replacing the LCD display change process described in FIG. 6 with the process described in FIG. 16. In the processing of FIG. 16, it is determined whether or not the key arrangements of the screens before and after the transition are approximated, and only when the approximation is not approximated, the difference information on the RAM 312 is initialized.

  In this modification, it is determined whether or not there has been a transition to a different screen in S803, and if it is determined that a transition has occurred (YES in S803), the key arrangement on the screen before and after the transition is approximated in S804. It is determined whether or not. If it is determined that they are not approximate (NO in S804), the difference information stored in the RAM 312 is initialized in S805. If it is determined in S803 that there is no screen transition (NO) and if it is determined in S804 that the key arrangement on the screen before and after the transition is approximate (YES), the difference information in the RAM 312 is initialized. Is not done. Thus, the subroutine processing is completed, and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. 4 via FIG.

  Whether the key arrangement on the screen before and after the transition is approximate is determined based on, for example, the number of keys displayed on the screen before and after the transition and the size of the displayed key.

  According to this modification, the key arrangement on the screen before and after the transition is similar to the effect of preventing the deterioration of misdetection by initializing the difference information when the key arrangement on the screen before and after the transition is not approximate. In this case, it is possible to achieve both the effects of improving the key selectivity by maintaining the difference information.

  (Modification 3) FIGS. 17 and 18 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the third modification of the embodiment. In the embodiment, the touch panel input process shown in FIG. 9 and the valid input process shown in FIG. 10 are replaced with the processes shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, respectively, as a third modification. In the embodiment, difference information is stored only when a difference storage key is selected, and a change amount common to all keys displayed on the screen is calculated using the difference information at the time of subsequent input. Change the detection area. However, in this modification, even if the key selected by the user is any key, the difference information is stored in association with the key, and at the time of subsequent input, using the difference information corresponding to each key, The change amount is calculated for each key individually, and the detection area is changed. Hereinafter, the operation of the changes from the above embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  First, if it is determined in S403 in FIG. 8 that there is an input to the touch panel 309 (YES), the process proceeds to a subroutine shown in FIG. 17 in S404. In step S901, the X coordinate and the Y coordinate are read, and the following loop processing is performed for each key displayed on the LCD 207. In S902, the RAM 312 is referenced to determine whether or not the difference information corresponding to the processing target key is stored. If it is determined that there is difference information (YES in S902), the change amount of the detection area is calculated. (S903), and the detection area is changed (S904). In step S905, it is determined whether the input coordinates are included in the detection area of the processing target key. The processes of S903 and S904 are the same as the processes of S503 and S504 in the above-described embodiment, respectively, and a description thereof is omitted.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S902 that there is no difference information corresponding to the processing target key (NO), the processing of S903 and S904 is not performed, that is, the detection area is not changed, and the input coordinates are processed in S905. It is determined whether or not it is included in the key detection area. The processing in steps S902 to S905 is repeated for each key, and when it is determined that the input coordinates are not included in the detection areas of all the keys displayed on the LCD 207 (NO in S905), an “LCD display key loop” is displayed. At the same time, the subroutine ends and returns to the routine shown in FIG. If it is determined in S905 that the input coordinates are within the detection area of any key displayed on the LCD 207 (YES), valid input processing is performed in S906, the subroutine ends, and the process shown in FIG. Return to the routine. Details of the processing of S906 will be described later.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a subroutine process of the valid input process in S906 of the flowchart described in FIG. In the process of this flowchart, the difference information of the selection key is stored in association with each key, and information for specifying the selection key is transmitted to the main body control unit 305. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to a flowchart.

  First, in S1001, the difference between the reference coordinate and the input coordinate of the display area of the selection key is calculated and written in the area for storing the difference information of the selection key secured on the RAM 312. The difference calculation process is the same as S602 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that an area for storing the difference information of all keys displayed on the screen in association with each key is secured on the RAM 312 in advance. In step S1002, information for specifying the selection key is transmitted to the main body control unit 305, and the subroutine ends and returns to the routine illustrated in FIG.

  (Modification 4) The input device of the MFP is equipped with a function (hereinafter referred to as a user authentication function) that identifies a user by inputting an ID code and a password and allows only a registered user to be used. There is something that is.

  Each user who uses the input device has different height, finger size, heel, etc. Even if the same key is aimed at, the deviation between the reference coordinates of the display area of the key and the input coordinates is different for each user. Are often different. On the other hand, if the same user is used, the difference between the reference coordinates and the input coordinates of the display area of the key when the same key is aimed at is often the same. Therefore, in this modification, the difference information is stored in association with the user identified by the user authentication function, and the detection area when the user uses is used by using the difference information stored when the user inputs. change. In this modification, an area for storing the difference information in association with the user is secured on the RAM 312 and the difference information is stored in the area on the RAM 312 corresponding to the user identified by the user authentication function in S602 of FIG. Write. Further, in S502 and S503 of FIG. 9, the difference information of the area on the RAM 312 corresponding to the user identified by the user authentication function is referred to.

  When the user authentication function is turned off, the processing of the above embodiment is performed. When the user authentication function is turned on, this modification is automatically performed by turning the user authentication function on and off. May be switched.

  The method for identifying the user by the user authentication function is not limited to the method of inputting the ID code and the password, but any method such as a method of using an IC card or a method of using biological information such as a fingerprint or a vein can be used. Well, it should be considered not restrictive.

  (Modification 5) Some touch panel input devices 103 of MFP are equipped with a function (screen angle adjustment function) for adjusting the angle of the display screen. 19A and 19B are diagrams for explaining the function. FIG. 19A illustrates a state where the touch panel input device is viewed from the front, and FIG. 19B illustrates a state where the touch panel input device is viewed from the side. The angle of the display screen can be changed in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure. When the screen angle is changed, there is a possibility that the degree and direction of deviation between the reference coordinates of the key display area targeted by the user and the input coordinates are different before and after the screen angle is changed. For example, before changing the angle, the display screen was viewed from the right hand direction, so the input coordinates were shifted to the right with respect to the reference coordinates of the key display area. In this case, the input may be shifted to the left with respect to the reference coordinates of the key display area. Therefore, in this modification, when the screen angle is changed by the screen angle adjustment function, a process for initializing the difference information on the RAM 312 stored before the screen angle is changed is performed. FIG. 20 is a flowchart of the subroutine processing of other processing in S105 of the main routine shown in FIG.

  First, it is determined in S1101 whether or not the angle of the display screen has been changed. If the angle has been changed (YES in S1101), the difference information on the RAM 312 is initialized in S1102. On the other hand, if it is determined in S1101 that the angle of the display screen has not been changed (NO), the process of S1102 is not performed. Thus, the subroutine processing ends, and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. This modification eliminates the influence of the input difference information made before the display screen angle change on the detection area change process after the display screen angle change, thus improving the key selectivity after changing the display screen angle. And deterioration of misdetection can be prevented.

  (Modification 6) In this modification, in the touch panel input device 103 having the screen angle adjustment function, the difference information of the input made at each screen angle is stored in association with the screen angle, and the input of a certain screen angle is determined. The detection area to be used is changed using difference information corresponding to the input made at the screen angle. In this modification, an area for storing the difference information in association with the screen angle is secured on the RAM 312 and the difference is stored in the area on the RAM corresponding to the screen angle at the time of input in S602 of FIG. Write information. Further, in S502 and S503 of FIG. 9, the difference information of the area on the RAM 312 corresponding to the screen angle at the time of input is referred to. To store the difference information in association with the screen angle is to divide the entire range of the angle adjustment width indicated by the arrow in the explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 19 into an appropriate number of steps, and store the difference information in association with each step. Means to remember.

(Modification 7) In the embodiment, in the detection area change amount calculation process in S503 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, when there are a plurality of pieces of difference information, the average value of the difference information is used as the change amount. However, a calculation process can be performed on the average value of the difference information, and the calculation result can be used as a change amount. For example, a result obtained by multiplying the average value by a coefficient may be used as the detection area change amount.
Further, the maximum value or the minimum value of the difference information can be used as the change amount.

(Modification 8) In the above embodiment, in the detection area change process in S504 shown in FIG. 9, the detection area is changed by shifting the detection area by the change amount calculated in S503. However, it is also possible to change the detection area by enlarging the detection area by the change amount calculated in S503.
According to this modification, the detection area after the change always includes the reference detection area. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent invalid input even if a part of the display area of the key is touched after the detection area is changed, and thus the key selectivity can be improved.

  (Modification 9) In the embodiment, the difference information is stored in the RAM 312. The RAM 312 is a volatile storage device. When the power of the touch panel input device 103 is turned off, the stored information is lost. Therefore, after the power is turned on again, it is detected using the difference information stored before the power is turned off. The area cannot be changed. Therefore, before turning off the power of the touch panel input device, the difference information is stored in the HDD 313 which is a non-volatile storage device, the difference information is read from the HDD 313 after the power is turned on again, and based on the difference information before the power is turned off. The detection area can be changed. The non-volatile storage device is not limited to the HDD, but may be a general non-volatile storage device such as NVRAM, and should not be considered to be restrictive.

  As mentioned above, although the modification was demonstrated individually independently, you may implement combining these two or more modifications.

  In the above description, the key is expressed as a button for setting the function of the MFP. However, it should be considered that the key includes everything used for displaying options in the GUI such as an icon and a character display. It is.

  In the embodiment, the touch panel input device is used for the MFP, but may be used for other information devices. Moreover, although the example of the touch panel input device has been described in the embodiment, a form in which a key on the screen is selected with a pointing device such as a mouse may be used. The disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an MFP that is one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel 103. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of an operation panel 103. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the panel processing unit 301. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of display control processing (step S103) in FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the subroutine of the LCD display change process (step S504) of FIG. It is a figure explaining detection area information. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of input control processing (step S104) in FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of touch panel input processing (step S404) in FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of valid input processing (step S506) of FIG. It is a figure explaining the calculation method of difference information. It is a figure explaining the calculation process of the change amount of a detection area, and the change process of a detection area. It is a figure explaining the change result of the detection area in an actual input example. It is a figure explaining the change result of the detection area at the time of a screen transition. 7 is a flowchart showing a first modification of the subroutine of the LCD display change process of FIG. 6. It is the flowchart which showed the 2nd modification of the subroutine of the LCD display change process of FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the modification of the subroutine of the touchscreen input process of FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the modification of the subroutine of the effective input process of FIG. It is a figure explaining the screen angle adjustment function of an input device. It is the flowchart which showed the subroutine of the other process (step S105) of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Scanner part 102 Printer part 103 Touch panel input device 104 Scanner optical part 105 Analog processing part 106 Input image processing part 107 Image storage part 108 Output image processing part 109 Semiconductor laser part 110 Imaging part 111 Paper feed cassette part 112 Discharge part 113 Manuscript Transport unit 201 Start key 202 Stop key 203 Reset key 204 Function selection key 205 Numeric keypad 206 Clear key 207 LCD
208 LED
301 Panel Processing Control Unit 302 Display Unit 303 Input Accepting Unit 304 Storage Unit 305 Main Unit Control Unit 306 VRAM
307 LCD controller 308 LCD backlight 309 Touch panel 310 Hard key 311 ROM
312 RAM
313 HDD

Claims (11)

Display means for displaying a screen including at least one or more keys;
Input accepting means for accepting input of coordinates on the screen;
Key selection for determining whether or not a key is selected by comparing a detection area for detecting that the key has been selected with the coordinates of the input when an input is received by the input receiving means Discrimination means;
Difference storage means for storing, in the storage unit, difference information that is a difference between the reference coordinates of the display area of the selected key and the input coordinates when the key selection determination means determines that a key has been selected. When,
An input device comprising detection area changing means for changing a detection area of the key displayed by the display means based on the difference information stored in the storage section to be a new detection area.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the difference storage unit stores the difference information in the storage unit only when the key determined to be selected by the key selection determination unit is a specific key. The reference coordinates of the display area of the key are the coordinates of the barycentric point of the display area,
When the difference information is stored in the storage unit, the detection area changing unit is configured to input a barycentric point of a detection area of a key selected by an input corresponding to the difference information and an input corresponding to the difference information. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the detection area is changed so as to coincide with the coordinates, thereby forming a new detection area.   When a plurality of the difference information is stored in the storage unit, the detection area changing unit calculates an average value of the difference information, changes the detection area based on the average value, and sets a new detection area. The input device according to claim 1 or 2. The difference storage means stores the difference information in the storage unit in association with the key,
The detection area changing unit changes a detection area of each key based on difference information corresponding to each key among the difference information stored in the storage unit, and sets the detection area as a new detection area. The input device according to any one of the above. A user identification means for identifying a user who uses the input device;
The difference storage means stores the difference information in the storage unit in association with the user identified by the user identification means,
When the user is identified by the user identification unit, the detection area changing unit is configured to display the display based on difference information corresponding to the user identified by the user identification unit among the difference information stored in the storage unit. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the key detection area displayed by the means is changed to be a new detection area. An angle adjusting means capable of changing the screen displayed by the display means to at least two or more angles;
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the difference information stored in the storage unit is initialized when the angle of the screen is changed by the angle adjusting unit. An angle adjusting means capable of changing the screen displayed by the display means to at least two or more angles;
The difference storage means stores the difference information in the storage unit in association with the angle of the screen when it is determined that the key is selected,
The detection area changing means changes the detection area based on the difference information corresponding to the angle of the screen currently set by the angle adjustment means from among the difference information stored in the storage unit, and creates a new detection area. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the detection area changing unit does not change the size of the detection area but changes only the position of the detection area to form a new detection area. An input receiving step for receiving input of coordinates on the screen on which at least one or more keys are displayed;
A key selection determination step for comparing the detection area for detecting that the key is selected with the coordinates of the input when the input is received, and determining whether or not the key is selected;
A difference storage step for storing difference information, which is a difference between the reference coordinates of the display area of the selected key and the coordinates of the input when it is determined that the key is selected in the key selection determining step;
An input reception processing method comprising: a detection area changing step of changing a detection area of a key displayed on the screen based on the difference information stored in the difference storage step to be a new detection area. An input receiving step for receiving input of coordinates on the screen on which at least one or more keys are displayed;
A key selection determining step for comparing the detection area for detecting that the key is selected with the coordinates of the input when the input is received, and determining whether or not the key is selected; ,
A difference storage step for storing difference information, which is a difference between the reference coordinates of the display area of the selected key and the coordinates of the input when it is determined that the key is selected in the key selection determining step;
An input reception processing program for causing a computer to execute a detection area changing step of changing a detection area of a key displayed on the screen based on the difference information stored in the difference storage step to be a new detection area.

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