JP2009294720A - On-board equipment operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-board equipment operation device freely operated by a driver while easily recognizing an operation position without viewing an operation unit. <P>SOLUTION: A touch panel 2 as the operation unit is arranged at the top of a console box 40, and has a plurality of vertically long protrusive position indexes 2a, 2a, indicating operation positions, successively provided in a lateral direction (an outline arrow direction in the figure). The driver slides a finger on the touch panel 2 to easily recognize the operation positions without viewing the touch panel 2. When the driver slides the finger laterally on the touch panel 2, for example, a function for changing an amount of the blown air of an air conditioner is changed to a function for changing the temperature of the blown air. When the driver slides the finger longitudinally while the function for changing the blown air temperature is selected, the blown air temperature is changed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device operating device for operating a device.

  For example, in an in-vehicle air conditioner, a rotary or slide type operation knob is provided on the operation panel, and depending on the operation amount and operation direction in which the operation knob is operated, for example, the blowing temperature or the blowing amount, etc. Is changed. For example, a dial switch is used as such an operation knob.

Conventionally, an optical operation input device for operating home electric appliances has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). The operation unit of the optical operation input device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a flat operation plate having translucency, a light emitting element that emits light from the back side to the front side of the operation plate, and a surface of the operation plate. And a light receiving element that receives light reflected by the finger of the touched user. The optical operation input device detects an operation position by a user's finger based on the level of the output of the light receiving element, and activates the electric device according to the detected operation position.
JP 2006-120393 A

Since the operation knob provided in the air conditioner as described above is provided so as to protrude from the operation panel, the operation knob that is easy for the driver to operate tends to have a high protrusion height from the operation panel. As a result, there is a problem that the operation knob is difficult to dissolve in the surrounding design. In addition, when the operation panel is arranged in the console box between the driver's seat and the passenger seat, the projecting height of the operation knob is limited due to the design conditions of the console box. There is a problem that the degree of freedom becomes low.
In order to solve the above problems, it is conceivable to mount an in-vehicle device operation device that does not have an operation knob on the vehicle. As an in-vehicle device operation device that does not include an operation knob, for example, an optical operation input device disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be cited.

However, in the optical operation input device of Patent Document 1, an icon indicating the operation position is drawn on the surface of the operation plate. Since there is no operation knob in the operation unit of this optical operation input device, the user cannot grasp the operation position unless he / she visually recognizes the icon drawn on the operation plate.
Therefore, when such an optical operation input device is mounted on a vehicle, it is necessary to arrange the operation unit at a position where the driver can easily see, and thus there is a problem that the arrangement position of the operation unit is limited. . If the operation unit is arranged in the console box, the console box is provided on the side of the driver's seat, so the driver must look away from the front and look at the side operation unit. As a result, there is a problem that the timing at which the driver can operate the operation unit is limited.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its main purpose is to provide a convex or concave position index in parallel on the operation unit, and function or function according to the sliding direction of the finger relative to the operation unit. By switching the selection of the device or changing the selected function or the state of the device, it is possible to easily grasp the operation position and operate freely without visually recognizing the operation unit. The object is to provide an in-vehicle device operating device.

  Another object of the present invention is to make it easier to operate by adopting a configuration in which information related to a function or device is displayed on a display unit arranged in front of a driver's seat in association with information on a position index. It is providing the vehicle equipment operation device which can do.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle device operation device that can suppress erroneous detection of a sliding operation by including an operation unit using a touch panel having a position index formed on a surface thereof. It is in.

  The in-vehicle device operation device according to the first aspect of the invention is an in-vehicle device operation for selecting any one of a plurality of functions and / or a plurality of devices and changing the selected function or the state of the device. In the apparatus, an operation unit in which a plurality of convex or concave position indicators indicating an operation position are arranged side by side, a calculation unit that calculates a direction in which a contact position with respect to the operation unit changes, and the calculation unit calculates When the direction is the parallel direction of the position indicators (or the direction intersecting the parallel direction), the switching unit that switches the selected function or device to another function or device, and the calculation unit calculates And changing means for changing the state of the selected function or device when the crossed direction is the intersecting direction (or the juxtaposed direction).

  An in-vehicle device operating device according to a second aspect of the present invention is arranged in front of a driver's seat and is switched from information indicating the juxtaposition direction of the position index, information indicating a selected function or device, or the function or device. It further comprises a display unit that displays information indicating a function or device that is possible, information indicating a state of the selected function or device, and / or information indicating a state that can be changed from the state. And

  In the in-vehicle apparatus operating device according to a third aspect of the present invention, the operation unit includes a touch panel that detects coordinates of a position where the position index is formed on a surface and is in contact with the surface. Is characterized in that the direction in which the contact position with respect to the operation unit changes is calculated based on the coordinates detected by the touch panel.

  In the first invention, in order to select any one of a plurality of types of functions of the device and / or a plurality of devices and change the selected function or the state of the device, the operation unit, the computing means , Switching means and changing means.

The operation unit is provided with a plurality of position indexes indicating operation positions. Since the position index is convex or concave, the driver can easily grasp the presence / absence of the position index, the arrangement position, and the like by sliding a finger on the operation unit. That is, the driver can easily grasp the operation position without visually recognizing the operation unit.
The position index is small because it does not require a rotation mechanism or a slide mechanism such as a rotary or slide operation knob. In addition, since it is not necessary to pick a position index, even if it is a convex position index, it is not necessary to increase the protruding height from the operation unit. Therefore, it is space saving. If it is a concave position index, it does not protrude from the operation unit, and thus it is further space-saving.

The calculating means calculates the direction in which the contact position with respect to the operation unit changes.
When the driver's fingers come into contact with the operation unit and the fingers slide with respect to the operation unit, the contact position of the fingers changes in the sliding direction. That is, the direction in which the contact position with respect to the operation unit changes (hereinafter referred to as the contact position change direction) corresponds to the sliding direction of the driver's fingers with respect to the operation unit.
When the direction calculated by the calculation means, that is, the sliding direction of the finger of the driver with respect to the operation unit is the direction in which the position index is arranged, the switching means switches the selected function or device to another function or device. Switch to. For example, when the device has a temperature change function and a wind direction change function, when the finger slides in the direction in which the position indicators are arranged, the switching means switches the selected temperature change function to the wind direction change function. .

  In addition, when the sliding direction of the driver's fingers with respect to the operation unit is a direction that intersects the direction in which the position indicators are arranged, the changing unit changes the state of the selected function or device. For example, when the temperature changing function is selected, the changing means changes the temperature.

  Alternatively, when the sliding direction of the driver's finger with respect to the operation unit is a direction that intersects the direction in which the position indicators are arranged, the switching unit switches the selected function or device to another function or device. Further, when the sliding direction of the driver's finger relative to the operation unit is the direction in which the position indicators are arranged, the changing unit changes the state of the selected function or device.

In the second invention, the display unit is arranged in front of the driver's seat. For this reason, the driver | operator can visually recognize a display part easily.
In the display unit, information indicating a selected function or device, information indicating a function or device that can be switched from the selected function or device, in association with information indicating the direction in which the position indicators are arranged, is selected. The information indicating the status of the function or device that is being displayed and / or the information indicating the status that can be changed from the status of the selected function or device is displayed.
Since the information indicating the direction in which the position indicators are arranged is displayed on the display unit, the driver should slide the operation unit by visually recognizing this information without directly viewing the operation unit. You can grasp the direction.

In addition, since information indicating the selected function or device (for example, an air conditioner) is displayed on the display unit, the driver can easily grasp whether or not the desired function or device is selected. it can.
Furthermore, since information (for example, an audio device) indicating a switchable function or device is displayed on the display unit, what function or device can the driver select by operating the operation unit? Can be easily grasped.

In addition, since information indicating the selected function or the state of the device (for example, the current set temperature of the air conditioner) is displayed on the display unit, the driver can easily determine whether or not the desired state is selected. Can grasp.
Furthermore, since information indicating a changeable state (for example, upper and lower limit values of the set temperature of the air conditioner) is displayed on the display unit, the driver selects any state by operating the operation unit. You can easily figure out what you can do.

And since these information are linked | related and displayed on a display part, a driver | operator can visually recognize a display part and can operate an operation part still more easily, without visually recognizing an operation part.
As a result, the driver can easily switch the selected function or device to a desired function or device. Alternatively, the driver can easily change the selected function or the state of the device to a desired state.

In the third invention, the operation unit is configured using a touch panel having a plurality of convex or concave position indicators formed on the surface. This touch panel is, for example, a pressure-sensitive touch panel, and detects the coordinates of a position where physical contact is made with the surface of the touch panel. For this reason, the touch panel can detect coordinates such as a position where the driver's finger first contacts the surface of the touch panel, a position where the finger moves while in contact, and / or a position where the finger is separated from the surface. it can.
The calculation means calculates the direction of change of the contact position with respect to the operation unit, that is, the sliding direction of the finger with respect to the operation unit, based on the coordinates detected by the touch panel. Therefore, the touch panel and the calculation means can detect the sliding operation by the driver.

By the way, if the in-vehicle device operation device includes an operation unit that detects a coordinate position of a finger in a non-contact manner using, for example, a light emitting element and a light receiving element, the driver's finger, can juice, etc. are placed in front of the operation unit. There is a possibility that it may be erroneously detected that it has been slid by just crossing.
However, when a touch panel that detects a contact coordinate position according to the contact of a finger is provided, erroneous detection of a sliding operation is unlikely to occur. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress malfunction of the device due to erroneous detection.

In the case of the vehicle-mounted device operating device according to the present invention, there is a convex or concave position index whose protruding height is lower than that of a conventional operating portion in which a rotary or slide type operating knob is projected. The operation units arranged side by side are easy to blend into the surrounding design. Even when the operation unit is arranged on the console box, the position of the position index is not limited because the dimension of the position index is difficult to conflict with the design conditions of the console box. Therefore, the degree of freedom in design can be improved.
In addition, since the position of the position index, that is, the operation position can be easily grasped by touching with a finger, the driver does not have to visually recognize the operation unit. As a result, the driver can freely operate the operation unit.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle device operating device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a console box in which a touch panel provided in the in-vehicle device operating device is arranged. is there.
In the figure, reference numeral 3 denotes a vehicle, and a console box 40, a driver seat 41 and a passenger seat 42 are provided in the vehicle 3 as shown in FIG. Moreover, the vehicle 3 carries the vehicle equipment operation apparatus 1 and the vehicle equipment 31-33 as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, air conditioner 31, audio device 32, and body ECU 33 are illustrated as in-vehicle devices 31-33.

The air conditioner 31 has a plurality of types of functions such as a function for adjusting the air temperature, a function for adjusting the air flow rate, and a function for changing an air outlet (not shown). The outlet is a first outlet for blowing air to the front side of the driver seat 41 and the passenger seat 42, a second outlet for blowing air to the feet of the driver seat 41 and the passenger seat 42, and A third outlet for blowing air to the inner surface side of the windshield not to be used.
The audio device 32 has a plurality of types of functions such as a function for selecting a song to be played back, a volume adjusting function, and a function for switching between CD playback and radio broadcast reception. The body ECU 33 has a plurality of types of functions such as an electric door lock opening / closing control function, a power window opening / closing control function, and an interior lamp on / off control function.

The in-vehicle device operation device 1 is an ECU for the driver of the vehicle 3 to operate each of the in-vehicle devices 31 to 33. In more detail, one of the in-vehicle devices 31 to 33 is selected, This is for selecting any one of a plurality of types of functions of the selected in-vehicle devices, and finally changing the state of the selected function. For this purpose, the in-vehicle device operation apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a ROM 11, a RAM 12, an image processing unit 13, a data memory 14, an image memory 15, a display unit 16, and the touch panel 2.
The display unit 16 is an in-vehicle display using a liquid crystal display panel, for example, and displays an image based on the image data input from the image processing unit 13. Such a display unit 16 is arranged in front of the driver seat 41 with the display screen facing the driver seat 41 side. For this reason, the display screen of the display unit 16 is easily visible to the driver.

The ROM 11 is a read-only nonvolatile memory, and stores a control program and data for the in-vehicle device operation apparatus 1.
The RAM 12 is a readable / writable volatile memory.
The control unit 10 is a control center of the in-vehicle device operation apparatus 1, and uses the RAM 12 as a work area and executes various processes according to the control program and data stored in the ROM 11. For example, the control unit 10 calculates a change direction of the contact position with respect to the touch panel 2 based on coordinate signals (described later) input from the touch panel 2, and controls the operation of the image processing unit 13 based on the calculation result. Is output to the image processing unit 13.

The data memory 14 is a read-only or readable / writable nonvolatile memory using a mask ROM, an EEPROM, or the like. The data memory 14 stores image data for causing the display unit 16 to display operation images such as operation images 162 to 164 shown in FIGS.
The image memory 15 shown in FIG. 1 is a readable / writable volatile memory using SRAM, DRAM, or the like, and temporarily stores image data.
The image processing unit 13 uses an ASIC, and performs predetermined image processing on the image data read from the data memory 14 using the image memory 15 as a work area based on the control signal input from the control unit 10. And then output to the display unit 16.

A console box 40 shown in FIG. 2 is an article storage box disposed between a driver's seat 41 and a passenger seat 42, and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the front-rear direction, but has a distal end curved in a lateral direction. It is in the shape. A horizontally long touch panel 2 is disposed at the curved front end portion of the console box 40 from the front surface of the console box 40 to the left and right side surfaces near the front end portion.
3 and 4 are a perspective view and a side view showing an external appearance of the touch panel provided in the in-vehicle device operating apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an enlarged perspective view of the console box 40 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows an enlarged side view of the distal end portion of the console box 40.

The touch panel 2 functions as an operation unit, and detects the coordinates of the position at which the touch panel 2 is in contact based on a change in pressure applied to the touch panel 2 when a finger F touches the surface of the touch panel 2.
The touch panel 2 waits until the finger F comes into contact with the surface of the touch panel 2, and while the finger F is in contact with the surface of the touch panel 2, a coordinate signal indicating the coordinates of the position where the finger F is in contact is sent to the control unit 10. Output. This coordinate signal indicates the coordinates of the position where the finger F first touches the touch panel 2, the coordinates of the position where the finger F moves while touching the touch panel 2, or the coordinates of the position where the finger F moves away from the touch panel 2. Yes.

  Such a touch panel 2 does not detect the contact coordinate position only by moving an object such as a finger F or can juice in the vicinity of the touch panel 2. That is, it is not erroneously detected that the touch panel 2 is slid even though the touch panel 2 is not slid. Therefore, the malfunction of the in-vehicle devices 31 to 33 due to the erroneous detection of the sliding operation is unlikely to occur.

On the surface of the touch panel 2, a plurality of position indicators 2a, 2a,... Indicating operation positions are formed. Each position index 2a is a vertically long ridge shape having the same shape and the same size, and is a constant distance in the horizontal direction (the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 3) along the shape of the tip of the console box 40. They are lined up apart from each other.
For this reason, the touch panel 2 has irregularities that are regularly repeated in the horizontal direction due to the formation of the position indexes 2a, 2a,. Therefore, the driver can easily grasp the juxtaposed direction and the number of the position indexes 2a, 2a,... On the touch panel 2 by sliding the finger F on the touch panel 2. As a result, the driver can easily grasp the operation position without bothering to visually recognize the touch panel 2.

  Further, the position indexes 2a, 2a,... Are not for the driver to perform a rotation operation or a slide operation. That is, it is not necessary for the driver to pick the position indicators 2a, 2a,. Therefore, the protrusion height of the position indicators 2a, 2a,... In the console box 40 can be provided sufficiently lower than the conventional rotary or slide type operation knob.

Each of FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an operation image displayed on the display screen of the display unit included in the in-vehicle device operation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Operation images such as operation images 162 to 164 are displayed on the display screen of the display unit 16.
In each of the operation images 162 to 164, icons 61 to 67 each using a vertically long protruding pattern are juxtaposed in the horizontal direction. These icons 61 to 67 indicate that the vertically long ridge-shaped position indicators 2 a, 2 a,... Are juxtaposed in the horizontal direction on the touch panel 2. That is, the overall shape of the icons 61 to 67 functions as information indicating the direction in which the position indicators 2a, 2a,.

  In addition, the number of icons 61-67 and the number of position indicators 2a, 2a,... May or may not match. In addition, the shape of the position indicators 2a, 2a,... Arranged on the touch panel 2 or simple arrows may be used as information indicating the direction in which the position indicators 2a, 2a,.

  The lengths of the icons 61 to 67 in the vertical direction are equal to each other, and the lengths in the horizontal direction (hereinafter referred to as horizontal width) are equal to each other except for one. This one has about twice the width of the other icons. That is, any one of the icons 61 to 67 is highlighted by being provided with a wider width than the others, and the other six icons are normally displayed by being provided with a narrower width. Note that icon highlighting / normal display is not limited to wide display / narrow display.

Each icon 61 to 67 includes various information using characters, symbols, and the like. This information includes information indicating the currently selected function or device, information indicating a function or device that can be switched from the currently selected function or device, and the state of the currently selected function or device (hereinafter referred to as current state). ) And / or information indicating a changeable state from the current state.
The icon 61 corresponds to a function of switching the selected in-vehicle device to another in-vehicle device. The icon 62 corresponds to the function of changing the air outlet of the air conditioner 31, and the icons 63, 64, and 65 adjust the blowing temperature for the passenger seat 42, the entire interior of the vehicle, and the driver seat 41, respectively. Corresponding to the function, the icon 66 corresponds to a function of adjusting the air flow rate of the air conditioner 31, and the icon 67 corresponds to other functions of the air conditioner 31.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the icon “Naircon” indicating the currently selected air conditioner 31 is highlighted on the narrow icon 61, and the audio that can be switched from the air conditioner 31 is displayed. Characters “Audio” and “Body” indicating the device 32 and the body ECU 33 are normally displayed. When the air conditioner 31 is switched from the air conditioner 31 to, for example, the audio device 32 by the operation of the driver, although not shown, characters indicating the audio device 32 are highlighted and characters indicating the air conditioner 31 and the body ECU 33 are normally displayed. Is done. In the present embodiment, characters indicating the in-vehicle device name are highlighted by enclosing them with a rectangle, and normally displayed by not enclosing them, but it is not limited to such a display mode.

In other words, the in-vehicle device highlighted in the icon 61 is the currently selected in-vehicle device.
When the selected in-vehicle device is switched to another in-vehicle device, the width of the icon 61 is wide although not shown.

  When the air conditioner 31 is selected with the icon 61 and when the function of adjusting the air temperature for the entire interior of the vehicle is selected, as shown in FIG. 5 (or FIG. 8, FIG. 9), the width of the icon 64 An operation image 164 wider than the others is displayed on the display unit 16. Similarly, when the function of adjusting the air temperature for the passenger seat 42 is selected, as shown in FIG. 6, an operation image 163 in which the width of the icon 63 is wider than the other is displayed on the display unit 16, and the air outlet is opened. When the function to be changed is selected, as shown in FIG. 7, an operation image 162 whose icon 62 is wider than the others is displayed on the display unit 16.

  In the operation image 164 shown in FIG. 5, the icon 64 having a wider width than the others has information indicating the currently selected function (character “TEMP” indicating a function of adjusting the air temperature for the entire vehicle interior), and this Information indicating the current state of the function (character “25” indicating 25 ° C. and a vertical bar graph) and information indicating a state that can be changed from the current state (scale indicating a range in which the temperature can be changed) are displayed. However, in the operation image 164 shown in FIG. 8 (or FIG. 9), information indicating the current state of this function is different from that in FIG. Specifically, instead of the character “25” indicating 25 ° C. and the bar graph, the character “26” indicating 26 ° C. and the bar graph (or the character “27” indicating 27 ° C. and the bar graph) are displayed.

  On the other hand, in the operation image 163 (or operation image 162) shown in FIG. 6 (or FIG. 7), since the function (or the function to change the air outlet) for adjusting the air temperature for the passenger seat 42 is selected, The narrow icon 64 displays information indicating the function that can be switched from the currently selected function (character “TEMP”) and information indicating the current state of the function (character “25”).

In the operation image 163 shown in FIG. 6, the icon 63 having a wider width than the others has information indicating the currently selected function (characters “Passenger TEMP” indicating a function of adjusting the air temperature for the passenger seat 42). Information indicating the current state of the function (character “25” and bar graph) and information indicating a changeable state from the current state (scale) are displayed.
On the other hand, in the operation image 164 (or operation image 162) shown in FIG. 5 (or FIG. 7), since the function (or the function to change the air outlet) for adjusting the blowing temperature for the entire vehicle interior is selected, the width is The narrow icon 63 displays information indicating a function that can be switched from the currently selected function (character “Passenger TEMP”) and information indicating the current state of the function (character “25”).

  In the operation image 162 shown in FIG. 7, the icon 62 having a wider width than the others has information indicating the currently selected function (character “MODE” indicating a function for changing the air outlet) and the current state of this function. (Symbol indicating that only the first air outlet is selected) and information indicating a changeable state from the current state (a symbol indicating that the first and second air outlets are selected, A symbol indicating that only two air outlets are selected and a symbol indicating that the second and third air outlets are selected are displayed side by side in the vertical direction.

  On the other hand, in the operation image 164 (or operation image 163) shown in FIG. 5 (or FIG. 6), the function of adjusting the air temperature for the entire vehicle interior (or the passenger seat 42) is selected. Includes information indicating a function that can be switched from the currently selected function (character “MODE”), information indicating the current state of this function (a symbol indicating that only the first outlet is selected), and Is displayed.

  In FIG. 5 to FIG. 9, a character “Driver TEMP” indicating a function of adjusting the air temperature for the driver's seat 41 and a character indicating 25 ° C. are displayed on the icon 65 having a narrow width. On the icon 66 having a narrow width, a windmill symbol indicating a function of adjusting the air flow rate and a symbol indicating that the air flow rate is about 75% of the maximum air flow rate are displayed. Characters “Info” and “Control” indicating other functions are displayed on the icon 67 having a narrow width. These are functions that can be switched from the currently selected function. When these functions are selected, the currently selected function is indicated by icons 65 to 67 having a wider width than the other, although not shown. Information, information indicating the current state of the function, and information indicating a changeable state from the current state are displayed.

As described above, when the air conditioner 31 is selected with the icon 61, information regarding the function of the air conditioner 31 is displayed on the icons 62 to 67. Similarly, when the audio device 32 or the body ECU 33 is selected with the icon 61, although not shown, information regarding the function of the audio device 32 or the body ECU 33 is displayed on each of the plurality of icons.
In other words, the function of the in-vehicle device highlighted on the icon 61 is displayed on an icon other than the icon 61.

  The driver slides the finger F in the lateral direction (the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 3) with respect to one position index 2a or a plurality of position indices 2a, 2a,. Let Alternatively, the driver slides in the vertical direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 4) with respect to one position index 2a.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the operation image 164 having a wide width of the icon 64 is displayed on the display unit 16, the driver touches the touch panel 2 with the finger F and slides it to the left, When the position index 2a is exceeded, on the display unit 16, the operation image 164 changes to an operation image 163 in which the width of the icon 63 is wide as shown in FIG. Further, when the next one position index 2a is exceeded, the operation image 163 changes to an operation image 162 in which the width of the icon 62 is wide as shown in FIG.
Accordingly, by following the switching of the wide icon, the driver switches from the function of adjusting the air temperature to the entire interior of the vehicle to the function of adjusting the air temperature of the passenger seat 42. It turns out that it changed to the function which changes an exit.

Conversely, when the driver wants to switch from the function of changing the air outlet to the function of adjusting the air blowing temperature for the entire interior of the vehicle, the driver F with his / her finger F in the state where the operation image 162 shown in FIG. Slide to the right. At this time, when two adjacent position indexes 2a and 2a are crossed in the right direction, the operation image 162 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 16 via the operation image 163 shown in FIG. Change to 164.
However, in the present embodiment, the operation image 162 changes to the operation image 164 through the operation image 163 on the display unit 16 even when the same position index 2a is repeatedly crossed in the right direction twice.

As shown in FIG. 5, when an operation image 164 whose icon 64 indicates 25 ° C. is displayed on the display unit 16, the driver touches the finger F with the position index 2 a of the touch panel 2 and moves upward. When sliding and tracing the position index 2a once, the operation image 164 shown in FIG. 5 is changed to an operation image 164 in which 26 ° C. is shown in the icon 64 as shown in FIG. Change. Further, when the same position index 2a is traced once more, the operation image 164 shown in FIG. 8 changes to an operation image 164 in which 27 ° C. is shown in the icon 64 as shown in FIG. At this time, the height of the bar graph displayed on the icon 64 increases.
Therefore, by following the change in the content of the wide icon, the driver is changed from 25 ° C. to 26 ° C., and the state of 27 ° C. is changed from 25 ° C. to 26 ° C. You can see that it has been changed.

  Conversely, when the driver wants to change the air temperature for the entire interior of the vehicle from 27 ° C. to 25 ° C., the driver slides the finger F downward with the operation image 164 shown in FIG. 9 displayed on the display unit 16. Let At this time, when the same position index 2a is traced twice, the operation image 164 shown in FIG. 9 changes to the operation image 164 shown in FIG. 5 through the operation image 164 shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of device operation processing executed by the in-vehicle device operation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The control unit 10 determines whether or not a coordinate signal is input from the touch panel 2 (S11), and when it is not input (NO in S11), the process of S11 is repeatedly executed.
When a coordinate signal is input from the touch panel 2 (YES in S11), since the finger F has touched the touch panel 2, the control unit 10 changes the contact position with respect to the touch panel 2 based on the coordinate signal input from the touch panel 2. That is, the sliding direction of the finger F with respect to the touch panel 2 is calculated (S12), and it is determined whether the calculated sliding direction is the horizontal direction (that is, the left direction or the right direction) or the vertical direction (that is, the upward direction or the downward direction). (S13).

Here, the calculation of the sliding direction is to obtain the difference between the vertical direction (for example, the y-axis direction) and the horizontal direction (for example, the x-axis direction) of the coordinates indicated by each of the plurality of input coordinate signals. When the difference in the vertical direction (or horizontal direction) is larger than the difference in the horizontal direction (or vertical direction), the sliding direction of the finger F is the vertical direction (or horizontal direction).
When another coordinate signal indicating an upper (or lower) coordinate than the coordinate indicated by the coordinate signal is input after one coordinate signal is input, the control unit 10 causes the finger F to slide. The moving direction is determined to be upward (or downward). Similarly, when another coordinate signal indicating a left side (or right side) coordinate is input after the one coordinate signal is input, the control unit 10 causes the finger F to slide. The moving direction is determined to be the left direction (or right direction).

  When the sliding direction calculated in S12 is the left direction (or right direction) (horizontal in S13), the control unit 10 determines whether or not the finger F that has slid on the touch panel 2 has exceeded one position index 2a. Is determined (S14). More specifically, when the sliding direction is the left direction (or right direction), after the coordinate signal of the right side (or left side) of each position index 2a is input, the left side (or right side) of the position coordinate 2a. When the coordinate signal is input, it is determined that the finger F has exceeded one position index 2a.

When the finger F exceeds one position index 2a (YES in S14), the control unit 10 reduces the width of the wide icon to the image processing unit 13, and the left side (or right side) of the icon. A control signal for widening the width of the icon adjacent to () is output (S15). As a result of the processing of S15, on the display unit 16, the display screen changes from, for example, the operation image 163 shown in FIG. 6 to the operation image 162 shown in FIG. 7 (or from the operation image 163 shown in FIG. 6 to the operation image 164 shown in FIG. To) change.
After the process of S15 is completed, the control unit 10 switches the selected function to another function (S16). As a result of the processing of S16, the function selected is changed from, for example, the function of adjusting the air temperature to the passenger seat 42 to the function of changing the air outlet (or from the function of adjusting the air temperature to the passenger seat 42, so as to To the function of adjusting the blast temperature for).

After the process of S16 is completed, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the input of the coordinate signal from the touch panel 2 is completed (S17). If the input is not completed (NO in S17), the finger F is still on the touch panel 2. Since it is in contact, the process returns to S14.
When the input of the coordinate signal from the touch panel 2 is completed (YES in S17), the finger F is separated from the touch panel 2, so the process returns to S11.
When the finger F does not exceed one position index 2a (NO in S14), the control unit 10 moves the process to S17.

  When the sliding direction calculated in S12 is upward (or downward) (vertical in S13), the control unit 10 determines whether or not the input of the coordinate signal from the touch panel 2 is completed (S18), If not finished (NO in S18), since the finger F is still in contact with the touch panel 2, the process of S18 is repeatedly executed.

  When the input of the coordinate signal from the touch panel 2 is completed (YES in S18), since the finger F is separated from the touch panel 2, the control unit 10 causes the finger F that has slid on the touch panel 2 to trace one position index 2a. It is determined whether or not (S19). More specifically, when the sliding direction is upward (or downward), after the coordinate signal of the lower part (or upper part) of each position index 2a is input, the lower part (or upper part) of this position coordinate 2a. When the coordinate signal is input, it is determined that the finger F has traced the position index 2a once.

When the finger F traces one position index 2a (YES in S19), the control unit 10 outputs a control signal for changing the content of the wide icon to the image processing unit 13 (S20). . As a result of the process of S20, on the display unit 16, the display screen changes from, for example, the operation image 164 shown in FIG. 8 to the operation image 164 shown in FIG. 9 (or from the operation image 164 shown in FIG. 8 to the operation image 164 shown in FIG. To) change.
After the process of S20 is completed, the control unit 10 switches the selected state to another state (S21). As a result of the processing of S21, the blowing temperature for the entire vehicle interior is changed from 26 ° C. to 27 ° C. (or from 26 ° C. to 25 ° C.).

After the process of S21 is completed or when the finger F does not trace one position index 2a (NO in S19), the control unit 10 returns the process to S11.
If the sliding direction calculated in S12 is neither the horizontal direction nor the vertical direction (NO in S13), the finger F has stopped at the contact position without sliding, or separated from the touch panel 2 without sliding, The control unit 10 returns the process to S11.
The control unit 10 in S12 of the device operation process as described above functions as a calculation unit, the control unit 10 in S16 functions as a switching unit, and the control unit 10 in S21 functions as a change unit.

  In the present embodiment, the state is changed when the position index 2a is traced as a whole in the vertical direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Each time the position index 2a is traced a predetermined distance in the vertical direction, the state is changed. May be changed. For example, when the position index 2a is traced upward twice as much as a predetermined distance, the temperature is increased from 25 ° C. by 2 ° C. to 27 ° C.

  In the present embodiment, the selected function or state is determined when the function or state is selected. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the function is selected and the touch panel 2 is continuously tapped twice, for example, the selected function may be confirmed. Alternatively, when a predetermined time elapses after the function is selected, the selected function may be confirmed. Alternatively, a selection confirmation switch is provided on the back side of the touch panel 2, and the selected function is confirmed when the touch panel 2 is strongly pressed and the switch part 2 is turned on while the function is selected. You may make it do. Otherwise, an enter key for confirming selection may be provided regardless of the touch panel 2.

The in-vehicle device operation apparatus 1 as described above can freely select any one of the in-vehicle devices 31 to 33 while visually confirming the display unit 16 even if the driver does not visually recognize the touch panel 2 one by one. Any one of a plurality of types of functions of the selected in-vehicle device can be freely selected, and the state of the selected function can be freely changed. As a result, the degree of freedom of timing when the driver operates the touch panel 2 is improved.
That is, if the position index 2a is exceeded by one in the horizontal direction, the function is switched, and if it is traced in the vertical direction, the state is changed, and such switching and change are displayed on the display unit 16, so that the operation method is Easy to understand sensuously.

  Further, the protruding heights of the position indices 2a, 2a,... Are not so high as to conflict with the design conditions of the console box 40, and the touch panel 2 is provided with a rotating mechanism or a sliding mechanism such as a rotary or sliding operation knob. Therefore, the touch panel 2 is space-saving, easily blends into the surrounding design, and has a high degree of design freedom.

The in-vehicle device operation apparatus 1 may be for selecting any one of a plurality of types of functions of one in-vehicle device, and any one of a plurality of in-vehicle devices each having one type of function. It may be for selecting one of them.
The touch panel 2 may be disposed at a place other than the console box 40 such as a door (not shown) near the driver seat 41 or a control panel (not shown) in front of the driver seat 41. Furthermore, it is not limited to a pressure sensitive type, For example, a capacitive type may be sufficient.

Furthermore, each position index 2a, 2a,... Of the touch panel 2 may be concave. In this case, since there is no protrusion on the surface of the touch panel 2, the touch panel 2 is further space-saving. Further, for example, the convex position index 2a and the concave position index may be alternately provided. Furthermore, the shape and size of each of the position indicators 2a, 2a,... May be different from each other.
In addition, the function is switched or the state is changed based on the continuous sliding distance or the number of intermittent sliding on the touch panel 2, not on whether the position index 2a is exceeded or whether the position index 2a is traced. You may do it.
Furthermore, the function may be switched according to the sliding operation in the vertical direction, and the state may be switched according to the sliding operation in the horizontal direction.

Furthermore, one position index 2 a may correspond to the air conditioner 31, another position index 2 a may correspond to the audio device 32, and another position index 2 a may correspond to the body ECU 33. In this case, when the position index 2a corresponding to the air conditioner 31 is crossed in the horizontal direction, the function of the air conditioner 31 is switched, and when it is traced in the vertical direction, the state of the selected function is changed. Similarly, when the position index 2a corresponding to the audio device 32 (or body ECU 33) is crossed in the horizontal direction, the function of the audio device 32 (or body ECU 33) is switched. The state is changed.
Moreover, you may provide the switch part for switching the vehicle equipment 31-33 irrespective of the touch panel 2. FIG.

  Furthermore, instead of the touch panel 2, an operation plate having translucency and having position indexes 2a, 2a,... Formed thereon, a light emitting element that emits light from the back side to the front side of the operation plate, and an operation An optical system operation unit using a light receiving element that receives light reflected by a user's finger touching the surface of the plate may be used. The in-vehicle device operation device detects a sliding operation by the finger F based on the output level of the light receiving element, and activates the in-vehicle devices 31 to 33 in accordance with the detected sliding operation.

Alternatively, an optical system using an operation plate having translucency and having the position indexes 2a, 2a,... Formed thereon and an image pickup device that is arranged on the back side of the operation plate and images the front side. The operation section may be provided. The in-vehicle device operation device detects a sliding operation with the finger F based on an image captured by the image sensor, and activates the in-vehicle devices 31 to 33 according to the detected sliding operation.
However, in the case of including an optical operation unit such as these, a technique for suppressing the inconvenience of erroneously detecting that the driver's fingers, can juice, etc. have been slid and operated when crossing the front of the operation unit It is desirable to have further elements.

  In addition, a configuration may be employed in which image data such as a car navigation image and a television image is input to the image processing unit 13 from a car navigation device and a television device (not shown) included in the vehicle 3. In such a configuration, when the image processing unit 13 does not output the image data of the operation image read from the data memory 14 to the display unit 16, the image processing unit 13 outputs any one of the image data such as a car navigation image and a television image. Output to the display unit 16. As a result, an operation image, a car navigation image, a television image, and the like are switched and displayed on the display unit 16.

Furthermore, the display screen of the display unit 16 may be divided so that both the operation image and the car navigation image or the television image are displayed on the display unit 16.
The switching of the image displayed on the display unit 16, the division of the display screen, and the like may be operable using the touch panel 2.
In the above case, one display unit 16 can be shared by the in-vehicle device operation device 1, the car navigation device, the television device, and the like.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a touch panel included in the in-vehicle device operating apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
The in-vehicle device operating device 1 according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the in-vehicle device operating device 1 according to the first embodiment, but the position indicators 2a, 2a,. Instead of these, position indicators 2b, 2b,... Are formed.

Each position index 2b is formed by arranging convex portions in the vertical direction.
In the present embodiment, when the driver touches the finger F with the position index 2b and slides in the vertical direction and exceeds one convex portion of the position index 2b, the state of the selected function is Be changed. For example, when the function of adjusting the air temperature is selected, when two convex portions of the position index 2b are exceeded in the upward direction, the temperature is increased from 25 ° C. to 2 ° C. and changed to 27 ° C.
Other parts corresponding to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The in-vehicle device operating device 1 as described above has the same effects as the in-vehicle device operating device 1 of the first embodiment.
That is, if the position index 2b is exceeded by one in the horizontal direction, the function is switched, and if the position index 2b is exceeded by one in the vertical direction, the state is changed, and such switching and change are displayed on the display unit 16. Therefore, the operation method is intuitively easy to understand.
The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not intended to include the above-described meanings, but is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims.
In addition, as long as the effect of the present invention is obtained, the in-vehicle device operating device 1 may include components that are not disclosed in the first and second embodiments.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle equipment operating device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the console box with which the touchscreen with which the vehicle equipment operation device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided is arranged. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the touchscreen with which the vehicle equipment operation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided. It is a side view which shows the external appearance of the touchscreen with which the vehicle equipment operation device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the operation image displayed on the display screen of the display part with which the vehicle equipment operation device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided. It is a schematic diagram which shows another example (switching of a function) of the operation image displayed on the display screen of the display part with which the vehicle equipment operation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided. It is a schematic diagram which shows another example (switching of a function) of the operation image displayed on the display screen of the display part with which the vehicle equipment operation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided. It is a schematic diagram which shows another example (change of a state) of the operation image displayed on the display screen of the display part with which the vehicle equipment operation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided. It is a schematic diagram which shows another example (change of a state) of the operation image displayed on the display screen of the display part with which the vehicle equipment operation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the apparatus operation process performed with the vehicle-mounted apparatus operation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the touchscreen with which the vehicle equipment operation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention is provided.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 In-vehicle apparatus operation device 10 Control part 16 Display part 2 Touch panel (operation part)
2a, 2b Position index 31 Air conditioner (equipment)
32 Audio equipment (equipment)
33 Body ECU (equipment)
41 Driver's seat

Claims (3)

In the in-vehicle device operating device for selecting any one of a plurality of types of functions and / or a plurality of devices and changing the selected function or the state of the device,
An operation unit in which a plurality of convex or concave position indicators indicating the operation position are arranged in parallel;
A calculation means for calculating a direction in which the contact position with respect to the operation unit changes;
Switching means for switching the selected function or device to another function or device when the direction calculated by the calculating device is the direction in which the position indicators are arranged side by side (or the direction intersecting the direction of juxtaposition); ,
When the direction calculated by the calculation means is the intersecting direction (or the juxtaposed direction), a change means that changes the state of the selected function or device is provided. apparatus. Information arranged in front of the driver's seat, indicating the direction in which the position indicators are arranged side by side, information indicating the selected function or device, information indicating a function or device that can be switched from the function or device is selected. The in-vehicle device operation according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit that displays information indicating a status of a function or a device being operated and / or information indicating a status changeable from the status. apparatus. The operation unit uses a touch panel that detects coordinates of a position where the position index is formed on a surface and is in contact with the surface.
The in-vehicle device operation device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit calculates a direction in which a contact position with respect to the operation unit changes based on coordinates detected by the touch panel.

Images