JP2010036731A - Vehicular operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular operating device capable of reliably preventing any improper operation to a pressing operation unit provided in the vicinity of a touch operating face. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular operating device 1 with a touch operation unit 12 and a pressing operation unit 11 arranged close to each other in a cabin has a camera 12b for detecting a hand for executing the touch operation of the touch operation unit 12. A control unit 100 invalidates the pressing operation even if the pressing operation is executed to the pressing operation unit 11 when the hand is detected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle operating device.

JP 2000-6687 A JP 2007-198574 A JP 2000-106069 A

  In recent years, as an operation device (Patent Document 1), an operation device that remotely operates a device such as a prompter method has been developed. Such an operation input device is provided with a remote operation unit at the operator's hand separately from a display device that displays an operation screen (main screen), and further, photographs and extracts a hand that operates the remote operation unit, The obtained hand image and manual operation are reflected on the operation screen (main screen) of the display device, and display control is performed as if the operation screen is directly touch-operated. Among such operation devices, those provided in the vehicle are provided at the hand of the user seated on the seat in order to increase the operability. The remote operation unit is often configured to include a touch operation type (contact operation type) operation panel having a touch operation surface.

  When the operation panel as described above is provided in the vehicle compartment, there is a high possibility that various operation units are also arranged around the operation panel. In particular, when the operation unit is a pressing operation unit that detects a predetermined pressing displacement such as a push switch or a seesaw switch, a hand that should have been extended to the operation panel to perform a touch operation is mistakenly applied to the pressing operation unit. Touching it could cause incorrect operation. In particular, comparing the pressing operation to the pressing operation unit with the touch operation, although there is a difference in whether or not the operation knob is displaced due to the operation, the operation direction is the same direction, so other operation units are in the vicinity. There has been a problem that an erroneous operation is more likely to occur than in the case of being arranged.

  The subject of this invention is providing the operating device for vehicles which can prevent erroneous operation to the press operation part provided in the periphery of the touch operation surface reliably.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

In order to solve the above-described problems, a vehicle operating device according to the present invention includes:
A touch operation unit having an operation panel whose main surface is a touch operation surface arranged in a manner exposed in the passenger compartment;
Touch operation hand detecting means for detecting a hand that is in close proximity to the operation panel to perform touch operation on the touch operation surface;
A pressing operation unit disposed close to the touch operation surface;
A pressing operation disabling unit that disables the pressing operation when a pressing operation is performed on the pressing operation unit in a state in which a hand that is in close proximity to the touch operation surface is detected;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the configuration of the present invention described above, when a hand facing the touch operation surface is detected, the operation to the pressing operation unit arranged in proximity to the hand is invalidated. As a result, in a situation where the operator in the passenger compartment is likely to have an intention to touch the touch operation surface, the operation to the press operation unit is invalidated, so that an erroneous operation to the press operation unit is prevented. It can be surely prevented.

  In the present invention, the positional relationship between the pressing operation unit and the operation panel is determined so that an operator's hand when pressing the pressing operation unit is close to the touch operation surface by the touch operation hand detecting unit. It is possible to satisfy the relationship of non-detection. According to this configuration, when the operator's hand in the vehicle interior tries to operate the pressing operation unit, the hand is detected as a touch operation hand, and the operation performed on the pressing operation unit is erroneously invalidated. Will not be lost.

  Further, in this case, the pressing operation unit and the touch operation surface are provided in a position that can be operated by the user seated on the seat in the vehicle interior, and the pressing operation unit is more than the touch operation surface for the user. It is desirable that the operation burden be placed at a small position. When the pressing operation unit is located at a position where the operation burden is greater than that of the touch operation surface, in some cases, it is assumed that the pressing operation unit can only be operated in an unreasonable form that is not detected as an operation on the touch operation surface. Therefore, in the configuration in which the pressing operation unit has a smaller operation load than the touch operation surface, the operator's hand when pressing the pressing operation unit is not detected as a hand that is close to and faces the touch operation surface. There exists an advantage which is easy to set it as such a structure. More specifically, the pressing operation unit is arranged at a position closer to the shoulder position of the user than the touch operation surface, more specifically, a position closer to the backrest portion of the seat on which the user is seated. Advantages can be obtained more easily.

  The pressing operation unit and the touch operation surface of the present invention can be provided at a position that can be operated by at least a user seated in a driver seat among seats in a vehicle interior. Since the driver sitting in the driver's seat concentrates on driving while driving the vehicle, there is a higher possibility of unintentional pressing operation on the pressing operation part around the touch operation surface. It works effectively.

  In the present invention, the touch operation hand detecting means may be a photographing means for photographing a hand that is in close proximity to the touch operation surface. Since the approach of the hand is determined based on the captured image, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of an object that has simply approached the touch operation surface. For example, it is possible to distinguish and recognize a hand from another approaching object by determining to detect the hand on the condition of finger detection. In particular, when a finger is detected, it is more effective because the operator's intention to operate the touch operation surface clearly appears.

  The operation panel of the present invention can be disposed so as to cover the opening of a recess provided in the vehicle, and the photographing means in this case is disposed in the recess on the back side of the operation panel. The surface side of the operation panel can be photographed only through the operation panel. The wider the photographing range of the photographing means, the easier it is to photograph and detect the operator's hand approaching the operation panel, but there is a possibility that even a hand without an intention to operate the operation panel is photographed and detected. When the photographing means is arranged in the concave portion as in the above configuration, the photographing range includes the inner peripheral wall portion constituting the concave portion, and the photographing region on the operation panel surface side included in the photographing range. Since it is limited to a region that can be seen from the operation panel made of a transparent member disposed in the opening of the recess and other regions are not photographed, it is suitable for photographing only the hand that operates the operation panel.

  By the way, according to the present invention, the display screen is provided at a position different from the operation panel and the pressing operation unit in the passenger compartment, and the screen can be visually recognized by a user seated on a seat capable of operating the operation panel and the pressing operation unit. And a display device capable of displaying an operation image on the display screen. The touch operation unit in this case can be configured as an operation unit that can remotely input an operation image displayed on the screen of the display device based on the touch operation on the operation panel. The operation unit can be configured as an operation unit capable of performing an operation input related to display contents displayed on the screen of the display device based on the pressing operation. According to this configuration, an operation image (such as an operation icon) displayed on a display device provided at a position where visibility is further increased can be operated using the operation unit located at hand as a remote operation unit. For example, when the operator is a driver, if the display screen of the display device is positioned on the front side of the vehicle, the visibility is high, and the remote touch operation while visually recognizing it is easy to perform smoothly.

  In this case, in order to further improve the operability, the pointing position on the touch operation surface of the hand that is in close proximity to the touch operation surface is specified on the basis of the image captured by the imaging unit, and the specification is performed. It is possible to provide hand image display means for displaying a position indicating image at the screen position of the display device corresponding to the indicated position. Since the hand operating the touch operation surface of the touch operation unit constituting the remote operation unit is displayed on the display screen, the remote position instruction operation is facilitated.

  In addition, the pressing operation unit and the operation panel in the present invention can be a remote operation unit fixedly arranged at a position where the vehicle occupant can operate in a state where the vehicle occupant is seated on the backrest. Can be fixedly arranged at a position closer to a predetermined seat than a separately provided main operation unit.

  In addition, the display device according to the present invention may be disposed on the front side of the vehicle relative to the vehicle occupant so that the screen can be seen by at least the vehicle occupant seated in the driver's seat of the vehicle. Further, when the main operation unit is provided, a touch panel (display surface contact type operation unit) provided on the screen of the display device can be provided as the main operation unit, and the remote operation unit can be provided. The pressing operation portion and the operation panel can be provided between the seat portion of the driver seat and the seat portion of the passenger seat.

  Note that the pressing operation unit and the operation panel in the present invention can be used as an operation unit of an in-vehicle electronic device, for example, an air conditioner operation unit, an audio operation unit, a navigation operation unit, a power window operation unit, and a seat position adjustment operation unit. Of these, one or more of them can be used together.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle operating device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle operating device of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the remote operation unit 10 and the display device 20 are connected to the control unit 100.

  The display device 20 can display an operation image such as a touch operation switch image (operation icon) on the display screen. The display device 20 according to the present embodiment is a color display device disposed on the front side of the vehicle with respect to the seats 2D and 2P so that the screen can be viewed from both vehicle occupants seated in the driver's seat 2D and the passenger seat 2P. Any of a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic EL display, and the like may be used.

  The remote operation unit 10 is an auxiliary operation unit for remotely performing an operation input on the operation image displayed on the display device described above, and includes a touch operation unit 12 and a pressing operation unit 11. Has been. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the remote operation unit 10 here is configured so that a user seated in the driver's seat 2D and the passenger seat 2P can operate while sitting, It is provided in the center console CB located between the seat portion of the passenger seat 2P. More specifically, the remote control unit 10 is provided in and fixedly arranged at a position closer to the passenger of the seat than the display device 20. More specifically, the center console CB is provided in a region on the vehicle front side of a region sandwiched between the seat portion of the driver's seat 2D and the seat portion of the passenger seat 2P.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the remote control unit 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a mounting table 14 having a curved shape for placing a hand to be operated. Is designed to fit the curved shape. And the touch operation part 12 (touch operation surface 12a1) and the press operation part 11 are arrange | positioned in the vehicle front side position where the finger | toe of the hand placed on the mounting base part 14 will be located. More specifically, the pressing operation unit 11 is disposed on the vehicle rear side with respect to the touch operation unit 12. For this reason, the touch operation unit 12 (touch operation surface 12a1) is located farther from the shoulder position of the person to be operated (here, the driver and the passenger on the passenger seat) than the press operation unit 11, and the press operation unit 11 The position is easier to operate. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, a recess 13 is formed in a region on the vehicle rear side adjacent to the pressing operation unit 13 on the vehicle rear side so that the operation to the pressing operation unit 11 is easy.

  The touch operation unit 12 includes an operation panel 12a arranged such that a main surface 12a1 serving as a touch operation surface faces upward in the vehicle interior, detects an operation position by a touch operation performed on the touch operation surface 12a, and A touch operation input signal reflecting the operation position is output. The control unit 100 that receives the touch operation input signal functions as a control execution unit that executes the corresponding control based on the received touch operation input signal. The touch operation unit 12 in the present embodiment can be configured as a resistive film type touch switch (touch sensor), for example.

  The pressing operation unit 11 is a switch such as a push switch or a seesaw switch that is disposed close to the operation panel 12a and outputs a pressing operation input signal when it is detected that the operation knob has caused a predetermined displacement by the pressing operation. . The control unit 100 that receives the pressing operation input signal functions as a control execution unit that executes the corresponding control based on the received pressing operation input signal. Here, two push switches 11 are provided.

  The drive unit 30 is a drive unit to be controlled based on operations from the touch operation unit 12 and the press operation unit 11. Such a target can be a device function of various in-vehicle electronic devices such as a navigation function. In addition to the navigation function, various drive units that perform a vehicle air conditioning function, a power window function, an audio function, and the like can be used.

  The control unit 100 is configured around a well-known microcomputer including a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, I / O (Input / Output) (not shown) and a bus line connecting these components. Various controls are performed based on a program stored in a storage unit such as the storage device 40. In addition, data can be taken in from outside such as another ECU via the LAN I / F and the in-vehicle LAN.

  By the way, in the present invention, an operation hand detecting unit (touch operation hand detecting means) 12b for detecting a hand operating the touch operation unit 12 is provided. The operation hand detection unit 12b detects a hand that is close to and faces the touch operation surface 12a1, and here, as shown in FIG. 6, a light source 12c that emits light in a predetermined wavelength band, and an operation And a camera (approaching object photographing means) 12b for photographing the front surface 12a1 side from the back surface 12a2 side of the operation panel 12a so as to include the panel 12a in the photographing range. Note that the operation panel 12a has translucency so that irradiation light from the light source 12c is transmitted from the back surface 12a2 side to the front surface 12a1 side so that the camera 12b can perform photographing. Image data captured by the camera is input to the control unit 100, and the presence of a hand is determined based on analysis processing performed by the image analysis unit 100a.

  Then, in the control unit 100, processing for preventing an erroneous operation on the pressing operation unit is performed based on the presence determination result of the hand that is in close proximity to the touch operation surface 12a1. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the erroneous operation prevention process, and is executed in such a manner that the CPU executes a predetermined program stored in the ROM of the control unit 100 or the external storage device 40. The control unit 100 functions as a pressing operation invalidating unit by executing the display process of the position instruction image.

  In S <b> 1, the control unit 100 determines the presence of a hand that operates the touch operation unit 12. This determination is performed based on whether the image analysis unit 100a of the control unit 100 receives the captured image data from the camera 12b and analyzes the image, and whether the captured image includes a hand image. . The camera 12b always shoots an approaching object (for example, an operator's hand such as a driver) H that approaches the touch operation surface (front surface) 12a1 side from the back surface 12a2 side of the operation panel 12a via the operation panel 12a. Therefore, the captured image is always input to the image processing unit 100a of the control unit 100. If there is an approaching object H that is in close proximity to the touch operation surface 12a1, a captured image 150 including the approaching object H is naturally input to the image processing unit 18a. The input photographed image 150 is analyzed by a known image analysis method in the image processing unit 18a, and the approaching object image 150H is extracted based on the difference in color and brightness. Here, binarization processing is performed based on the luminance of the captured image, and an image area exceeding a predetermined level is detected as the approaching object image 150H. Then, the shape of the extracted approaching object image 150H is compared with the hand shape pattern, and it is determined whether or not the image 150H is an image of a human hand. For example, when the shape of the approaching object image 150H includes a substantially linear stick-shaped finger image pattern having an axial line longer than a predetermined length, it is determined that the image is a hand image. The determination result is output to the control unit 100.

  If it is determined in S1 that there is a hand operating the touch operation unit 12, the process proceeds to S2, and the control unit 100 invalidates the pressing operation to the pressing operation unit 11 (press operation unit invalidation mode). ) Is set. Thereby, even when the pressing operation unit 11 has a pressing operation, at least control corresponding to the pressing operation is prohibited and is not performed. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no hand operating the touch operation unit 12, the process proceeds to S3, and the control unit 100 cancels the press operation unit invalidation mode, and normally performs a press operation on the press operation unit 11. Set the mode to be activated as usual (normal mode). Thereby, when there is a pressing operation on the pressing operation unit 11, control corresponding to the pressing operation is performed as usual.

  As a method of invalidating the pressing operation, for example, a pressing operation input signal input to the control unit 100 is not input to the control unit 100 or a pressing operation input signal is input to the control unit 100 by a switch circuit or the like. There is a simple method such that the corresponding control signal is not output even if it is performed. As another method, an operation lock mechanism may be provided so that a predetermined displacement does not occur in the pressing operation unit 11. In S2, such a switching operation and a locking operation are executed to execute the pressing operation unit invalidation mode. On the other hand, in S3, a normal operation mode is restored by executing a switching operation and an unlocking operation for releasing it.

  Hereinafter, other characteristic portions in the present embodiment will be described.

First, the display device 20 of the present embodiment will be described.
The display device 20 of the present embodiment includes a touch panel 22 that is a display surface contact type operation unit arranged on a display screen, and switches 21 arranged around the display screen. Yes.

  The touch panel 22 is mounted on the screen of the display device 20 and is configured to have a transparent operation panel arranged such that a main surface 22a1 exposed in the vehicle interior serves as a touch operation surface. The touch operation unit 22a1 detects the operation position by the touch operation performed and outputs a touch operation input signal reflecting the operation position to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 that receives the touch operation input signal functions as a control execution unit that executes the corresponding control based on the received touch operation input signal. The remote operation unit 10 is configured as an auxiliary operation unit capable of performing an operation in place of the operation units 22 and 21 as a main operation unit. It is arranged at a position closer to.

  On the other hand, a unique correspondence between the two-dimensional display coordinate system defined on the display screen of the display device 20 and the two-dimensional operation coordinate system defined on the touch operation surface 22a1 of the touch panel 22 is determined in advance. When the other in-plane position corresponding to one in-plane position can be uniquely specified, and there is a touch operation on the touch operation surface 22a1, the touch operation is performed based on the corresponding relationship. An operation input to the position coordinates on the display screen of the display device 20 corresponding to the position coordinates for which is performed is accepted. Similarly, a unique correspondence between the two-dimensional display coordinate system defined on the display screen of the display device 20 and the two-dimensional operation coordinate system defined on the touch operation surface 12a1 of the remote operation unit 10 is determined in advance. The other in-plane position corresponding to the one in-plane position can be uniquely specified, and the touch operation surface 12a1 of the remote operation unit 10 is similar to the touch operation surface 22a1 of the touch panel 22. Touch operation input is possible.

  When a touch operation is performed on any one of these touch operation surfaces 12a1 and 22a1, the control unit 100 specifies the position coordinates on the touch operation surfaces 12a1 and 22a1 on which the touch operation is performed, and further, the specified position coordinates The position coordinates on the display screen of the display device 20 corresponding to the above are specified, and then a control signal for executing the control content corresponding to the specified position coordinates is output. Therefore, when an operation image (operation icon or the like) 160I is displayed on the display screen of the display device 20, if a touch operation is performed on the touch operation surface 22a1 at a position corresponding to the operation image 160I, the operation image 160I is displayed. An operation input corresponding to is accepted by the control unit 100. The touch operation input signal received by the control unit 100 in response to the touch operation on the touch operation surfaces 12a1 and 22a1 includes operation position information reflecting the touch position on the touch operation surfaces 12a1 and 22a1, and this is used. The received control unit 100 specifies a touch position based on the operation position information, and further executes control content corresponding to the touch position.

  Note that operation image data for displaying the operation image 160I is stored in a storage unit such as the ROM of the control unit 100 or the external storage device 40, and is used for overlapping display or composite display of the operation image 160I. . On the other hand, the storage unit of the control unit 100 is also implemented by operation input to each of them (touch input to the area on the corresponding touch operation surface 12a1, 22a1) in a form associated with each operation image 160I. The control content is also stored. When the control unit 100 displays the image 160 in which the switch image 160I is superimposed on the main image (background image) 160B displayed on the display screen, the touch operation surfaces 12a1 and 22a1 are displayed at the display position of the switch image 160I. An operation input reception range (operation input position) is set in the corresponding area (operation input position setting means).

  Next, the position instruction image displayed on the screen in the display device 20 of the present embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, when an operation is performed on the touch operation unit 12 constituting the remote operation unit 10, the position indication image is displayed at the screen position of the display device 20 where the hand is pointing. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for displaying the position indication image, and is executed in such a manner that the CPU executes a predetermined program stored in the ROM of the control unit 100 or the external storage device 40. The control unit 100 functions as a position instruction image display unit by executing the display process of the position instruction image.

  First, in S21, the control unit 100 determines whether or not there is a hand operating the touch operation unit 12 based on the captured image captured by the camera 12b, and whether or not the image of the operator's hand has been acquired. Judgment from. This is the same processing as S1 in FIG. If it is determined that a hand image is present, the process proceeds to S22, and if it is not determined, the process ends.

  In S22, the control unit 100 displays the position indication image 160H on the background image 160B (160B1, 160B2) displayed on the display device 20 based on the hand image that is determined to exist, or displays it in a composite manner. . The position indication image is an image displayed at a screen position corresponding to at least the position indicated by the finger in the hand image 150H extracted from the captured image 150 by the camera 12b. Here, based on the hand image 150H binarized and extracted as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10B, as the position instruction image 160H, the hand image 150H as shown in FIG. An image in which the outline (outer shape) is displayed is displayed in a state where the background image 160B can be viewed in a semi-transparent state. The process ends when S22 ends. This process is repeatedly performed at a predetermined cycle after the end, and when a hand / finger facing the operation panel 12a moves, a position instruction image (processed image) displayed on the display screen of the display device 20 in accordance with the movement. The display position of 160H also moves.

  Note that the position instruction image 160H does not necessarily reflect the captured hand shape / finger-shaped contour, and may be an image that indicates at least the position indicated by the finger of the captured hand. The symbol image may be used. In addition, there is no problem if the hand image (or finger image) 150H photographed by the camera 12b is displayed as it is without being processed (superimposed display or composite display) as the position instruction image 160H, but the position overlapping image is displayed. In view of the fact that a part of the main image 160B that should be displayed on the screen becomes invisible, it is more desirable to perform processing (for example, translucent synthesis) that makes the operation easier.

  Next, the remote control unit 10 of this embodiment will be described.

  The touch operation unit 12 of the remote operation unit 10 is arranged so that the operation panel 12a covers an opening 12h of a recess provided in the vehicle interior. The camera 12b is arranged in a recessed space on the back surface 12a2 side of the operation panel 12a, and can be configured so that the front surface 12a1 side of the operation panel 12a can be photographed only through the operation panel 12a. The wider the shooting range by the camera 12b, the easier it is to shoot and detect the operator's hand approaching the operation panel. On the contrary, there is a possibility of shooting and detecting even a hand when the operator does not intend to operate the operation panel. Thus, the shooting range can be effectively limited by disposing the camera 12b in the recess as described above. That is, with such a configuration, the shooting range of the camera 12b includes the wall portions 12f and 12e that form the recesses. As a result, the main shooting area of the camera 12b can be seen through the operation panel. The region, that is, the region facing the main surface 12a1 of the operation panel 12a can be made.

  Further, in the remote operation unit 10 of the present embodiment, the touch operation unit 12 (touch operation surface 12a1) has a shoulder position of the operation target person (here, the driver and the passenger on the front passenger seat) than the press operation unit 11. Since the operation target person is operating the pressing operation unit 11, the operating hand is not photographed by the camera 12 b.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the touch operation unit 12 of the remote operation unit 10 according to the present embodiment, an operation panel 12a is fitted into the opening 12h of a hollow casing 12P having an opening 12h facing the vehicle in the vehicle interior. The surface 12a1 is a touch operation surface (remote touch operation surface). A cylindrical peripheral wall portion 12e is provided rearward from the outer edge of the housing opening peripheral portion 12f that forms the opening 12h, and a rear end portion thereof is fixed to the circuit board 12k. The housing 12P is fixedly arranged at a predetermined position of the center console CB in the vehicle interior, and a camera 12b and a light source 12c are arranged inside.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6, the light source 12c irradiates light in such a manner that the operation panel 12a is transmitted from the back surface 12a2 to the front surface 12a1. Light (irradiation light) from the light source 12c passes outside from the touch operation surface 12a1 unless there is an approaching object (such as a hand) positioned so as to cover the touch operation surface 12a1, When there is an approaching object H that is approaching the touch operation surface 12a1, it is reflected by the approaching object H and part of the light (reflected light) returns to the back surface 12a2 side, and the camera 12b. To be captured.

  The camera 12b captures the reflected object reflected from the approaching object H by the light emitted from the light source 12c, and photographs the approaching object H from the back surface 12a2 side of the operation panel 12a. It is fixed on the vehicle body side to shoot the shooting range. Further, the camera 12b here images the reflection surface of the reflection member 12r, and each is arranged so that the image (reflection image) displayed on the reflection surface includes the imaging range. When there is no reflecting member 12r, the photographing range is directly photographed by the camera 12b. Therefore, it is necessary to perform left-right reversal processing on the photographed image.

  In addition, the light source 12c of this embodiment is an infrared light source. More specifically, it is an LED located on the rear side of the operation panel 12a. On the other hand, the camera 12b of the present embodiment is an infrared camera suitable for shooting in a dark place (including an infrared filter (not shown) that shuts out visible light, and performs shooting through this). Photographing is performed in such a manner that the camera 12b captures the reflected light reflected by the approaching object H from the light (infrared rays) emitted from the light source 12c. The camera 12b here is fixedly arranged on a substrate fixed to the vehicle body side. Moreover, the operation panel 12a of this embodiment is comprised with the material which has translucency only with respect to the light of the light source 12c, and cannot visually recognize the inside of the housing | casing 12P from the outside.

  In the present embodiment, the camera 12b serving as an imaging unit functions as an approaching object imaging unit that captures an approaching object that approaches the surface 12a1 of the operation panel 12a, and the approaching object includes a hand. Therefore, it can be said that it functions as a hand image photographing means for photographing an image of the hand.

  9 and 10 are diagrams for explaining photographing of the hand H facing the surface 12a1 of the operation panel 12a. (A) of each figure has shown the state (finger state) of the hand which opposes the operation panel 12a and its surface 12a1, and (b) of each figure shows the hand (finger) of the state of (a). Is an image 150 captured by the camera 12b, and is an image captured using the entire operation panel 12a as a capturing area. However, the video 150 of (b) in this embodiment is a binarized version of the video after shooting. In (b), reference numeral 150H is an area where the approaching object H is reflected, and reference numeral 150B is an area where nothing is reflected. The region denoted by reference numeral 150B is originally a region where the operation panel 12a is reflected, but is not reflected because the operation panel 12a has translucency with respect to the light from the light source 12c. Even so, it is not strange that the background (the ceiling surface of the vehicle in the present embodiment) is reflected through the operation panel 12a, but the image cannot be captured sufficiently from the infrared reflected light. Or some of the reflected infrared light was captured, but it was made identical to the background by the binarization process.

  (C) of FIG.9 and FIG.10 is an example of the screen display in the display apparatus 20 when the image | video 150 of (b) is image | photographed. In the display screen shown in FIG. 9C, a 50-sound input screen is displayed as the main image 160B1. On the other hand, the display screen shown in FIG. 10C displays a map screen (map operation image) displayed on the navigation device as the main image 160B2.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this, and the knowledge of those skilled in the art can be used without departing from the spirit of the claims. Various modifications based on this are possible. Hereinafter, an embodiment different from the above embodiment will be described. In addition, about a common structure, description is abbreviate | omitted by using the same code | symbol.

  In the above embodiment, the touch panel 22 and other switches 21 provided in the display device 20 are not essential components of the present invention. For this reason, the display device 20 according to the present invention is not limited to the one arranged in the center console CB as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and is installed above the lower edge of the windshield FG, for example. Also good. Specifically, a head-up display (HUD) for displaying the above-described images and data on the windshield FG of the vehicle, a meter display device located behind the steering wheel 6 on the vehicle front side, and the like can also be exemplified. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the remote operation unit 10 is provided with the resistive touch panel 12a as a touch operation unit. However, other types of touch panels may be used. For example, an operation panel 12a that detects the position of a touch operation by performing image processing on a photographed image photographed by photographing means such as the camera 12b may be employed instead of the touch panel. Specifically, the operation panel 12a is a translucent panel whose surface 12a1 forms a touch operation surface, and a wavelength predetermined for an approaching object that approaches the operation panel 12a from the touch operation surface 12a1 side. A light source 12c for irradiating the band light through the operation panel 12a is provided. Then, the camera 12b serving as a photographing unit captures the approaching object from the back surface 12a2 side of the operation panel 12a1 in such a manner that at least the light emitted from the light source 12c is reflected by the approaching object. Means. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 100 specifies a light reflection area 171 </ b> H that specifies a light reflection area 171 </ b> H whose reflected light intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold intensity on an image 170 </ b> H photographed by the camera 12 b. In addition to functioning as a means, the position of the specified light reflection region 171H is specified, and it is also configured to function as an input receiving means for receiving a touch input corresponding to the position. Note that the image 170H is not subjected to the binarization process like the image 150 described above, and is an image as it is taken, and has various luminance level differences in the entire area. Since the region where the hand is in contact with the operation panel 12a has a significantly higher reflected light intensity than other regions, it is possible to determine whether or not the operation panel 12a has been operated, and further identify the operated position. can do.

  According to this configuration, when a light reflection area 171H exceeding a predetermined threshold intensity is specified in a captured image of the camera 12b, it is determined that a touch operation input has been made in the specified area, and the input is accepted. That is, the captured image of the camera 12b is not only used for detection of the operating hand and display of the position instruction image, as in the above-described embodiment, but also the presence / absence determination of the light reflection region 171H and the light reflection. This configuration is also used for specifying the position (operation position) of the area 171H. In this case, it is also possible to accept a touch operation input to the light reflection region 171H only when the area of the specified light reflection region 171H exceeds a predetermined threshold area.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the press operation part 11 is made into the operation part which can be operated from a driver's seat and a passenger seat, it can also be set to the operation part which can be operated from another seat, An operation unit that can be operated only from one of the passenger seats may be used.

  Moreover, the control part 100 in the said embodiment can be combined with the control circuit of a vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus, for example. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the in-vehicle navigation device. As shown in FIG. 12, the navigation device 50 includes a position detector 57 that detects the current position of the vehicle, and an operation unit 51 (11, 12, 21, and so on) for inputting various instructions from an operator such as a driver. 22), a map data input device 55 for inputting map data and the like from an external recording medium in which map data and various types of information are recorded, and a display device 52 for performing various displays such as a map display screen and a TV (Television) screen. A voice input / output device 53 for outputting various guide voices and the like and inputting voices of operators such as drivers, and a hard disk storage device 54 for storing various data such as vehicle information A vehicle I / F (Interface) unit 56 for transmitting and receiving vehicle information and a control circuit 59 connected to these 51 to 57 are provided.

  The position detector 57 is a known device including a GPS receiver, a gyroscope, a distance sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor. The map data input device 55 includes various kinds of data including road data as network data, map data such as so-called map matching data for improving the accuracy of position identification, mark data indicating facilities, guidance image and voice data, and the like. A device for inputting data.

  The voice input / output device 53 can output facility guides and various guidance voices input from the map data input device 55, and read-out voices of information acquired from other in-vehicle devices via the I / F 56. The voice input / output device 53 includes a microphone (not shown) and a well-known voice recognition unit, and can input the voice of an operator such as a driver to the control circuit 59 as a command or the like.

  The control circuit 59 is configured around a well-known microcomputer including a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, I / O (Input / Output) (not shown) and a bus line connecting these components. Based on the program stored in the storage unit, the current position of the vehicle is calculated as a set of coordinates and traveling direction based on each detection signal from the position detector 57, and the vicinity of the current position read via the map data input device 55 A map display process for displaying on the display unit 15 a main image (including moving images and still images) 200B as a main image (including moving images and still images) 200B, a map in a range designated by operation inputs of various operation input units 51 (including 53), etc. Based on the point data stored in the map data input device 14, the destination facility is selected according to the operation input of the operation input unit 51 (including 53), etc. The route guidance process, such as the optimal route to put et al destination performs route calculation to automatically seek a route guidance. A technique such as the Dijkstra method is known as a technique for automatically setting an optimum route in this way.

  In addition, the control circuit 59 can perform the processing of FIG. 8 by the CPU executing a predetermined program stored in a storage unit such as a ROM. As a result, both the operation image (operation icon) 160I and the position indication image 160H based on the approaching object image 150H photographed by the camera 12b are set as sub images, and the main image 200B (for example, a map) that forms the background of these sub images. It is also possible to display the image superimposed on the operation image.

  The operation input unit 51 includes a touch operation unit 12 and a press operation unit 11 that form the remote operation unit 10 similar to the embodiment (FIG. 1) already described. Further, the control circuit 59 can function in the same manner as the control unit 100 of the embodiment (FIG. 1) already described, and performs the same processing as in FIG. Give. The display device 52 here is also the same as the display device 20 of the above-described embodiment (FIG. 1), and the operation input unit 51 includes the touch panel 22 and the peripheral switch 21. That is, the vehicle operating device of the present invention is applicable as an operating device of the navigation device 50 as an example. Therefore, the operating device 1 of FIG. 1 can also be applied as an operating device of a navigation device.

  Note that the control content executed in accordance with the pressing operation of the pressing operation unit 11 can be accepted as a control content regardless of the screen state of the display device 20. For example, in any screen state, the control content can be forcibly switched to a predetermined display screen. When the vehicle operation device 1 of the present invention is applied as the operation device of the navigation device 50, for example, the display screen of the display device 20 is switched to a map screen in which the current position of the vehicle is fixed at a predetermined position. And an operation unit (menu button) for displaying a menu screen.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the operating device for vehicles which is one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is an exterior view of a vehicle interior of the vehicle on which the vehicle operation device of FIG. 1 is mounted. Schematic which shows an example of the operation state of the operating device for vehicles of FIG. The schematic perspective view which shows the remote control part in the operating device for vehicles of FIG. The enlarged view which expands and shows the remote control part of FIG. The schematic sectional drawing which shows the touch operation part in the remote control part of FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow of the misoperation prevention process of this invention. The flowchart which shows the flow of a position instruction | indication image display process. The 1st figure explaining imaging | photography of the hand which opposes an operation panel. The 2nd figure explaining imaging | photography of the hand which opposes an operation panel. An example of the picked-up image which can pinpoint the position where touch operation was made to the operation panel. The block diagram which shows the structure which applied the operating device for vehicles which is one Embodiment of this invention as an operating device of a vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle operation apparatus 100 Control part 10 Remote operation part 11 Press operation part 12 Touch operation part 12a Operation panel 12b Camera (photographing means)
12c Light source 20 Display device (display means)
21 Peripheral switch 22a Touch panel

Claims (8)

A touch operation unit having an operation panel whose main surface is a touch operation surface arranged in a manner exposed in the passenger compartment;
Touch operation hand detecting means for detecting a hand that is in close proximity to the operation panel to perform touch operation on the touch operation surface;
A pressing operation unit disposed close to the touch operation surface;
A pressing operation disabling unit that disables the pressing operation when a pressing operation is performed on the pressing operation unit in a state in which a hand that is in close proximity to the touch operation surface is detected;
A vehicle operating device comprising:   The positional relationship between the pressing operation unit and the operation panel is that the operator's hand when pressing the pressing operation unit is not detected as a hand that is in close proximity to the touch operation surface by the touch operation hand detecting unit. The vehicular operating device according to claim 1, which satisfies the following relationship.   The pressing operation unit and the touch operation surface are provided at a position that can be operated by a user seated on a seat in the vehicle interior, and the pressing operation unit has a smaller operation burden on the user than the touch operation surface. The operating device for vehicles according to claim 2 arranged at a position.   The vehicle operation device according to claim 3, wherein the pressing operation unit and the touch operation surface are at positions that can be operated by at least a user seated in a driver's seat among seats in a passenger compartment.   The vehicular operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the touch operation hand detecting unit is an image capturing unit that captures an image of a hand that is close to and faces the touch operation surface. The operation panel is arranged so as to cover an opening of a recess provided in the vehicle,
The vehicle operation according to claim 5, wherein the photographing unit is disposed in the concave portion on the back surface side of the operation panel and can photograph the front side of the operation panel only through the operation panel. apparatus. In the passenger compartment, the display screen is provided at a position different from the operation panel and the pressing operation unit, and is arranged so that the screen can be viewed from the user seated on a seat capable of operating the operation panel and the pressing operation unit. A display device capable of displaying an operation image on the display screen;
The touch operation unit is an operation unit capable of remotely inputting an operation to an operation image displayed on the screen of the display device based on the touch operation on the operation panel.
The said press operation part is made into the operation part in which the operation input relevant to the display content displayed on the screen in the said display apparatus is possible based on the said press operation. The operation apparatus for vehicles as described. Comprising the requirements of claim 5;
Based on the photographed image by the photographing means, an instruction position on the touch operation surface of the hand that is close to and opposes the touch operation surface is specified, and a screen position of the display device corresponding to the specified instruction position is specified. The vehicle operation device according to claim 7, further comprising hand image display means for displaying a position indication image.

Images