JP2011159245A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a predetermined function by simple input operations on a touchpanel. <P>SOLUTION: A user touches the touchpanel 1 using a specially shaped operation object 40. The operation object 40 has a shape overstriding on a plurality of blocks 31. The touchpanel 1 detects the patten of the block 31 touched by the operation object 40. When the detected pattern of the block 31 matches a pattern which is registered beforehand and obtained by the operation object 40, a preset function is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device that performs an input operation through a touch panel.

  An input device used for an image processing device, a personal computer, a car navigation device, or the like includes a touch panel. When the user performs an input operation on the touch panel, a predetermined function is executed. For example, when the user inputs a password, security is set or canceled.

  There is also a method for executing a security function without using a password. In Patent Document 1, one or more switch areas are formed on the screen of the touch panel. When an operation of touching one switch area or an operation of simultaneously touching a plurality of switch areas is performed once or a plurality of times in a predetermined order, a predetermined function such as security is executed.

  In Patent Document 2, a plurality of objects are displayed on the screen of the touch panel. When the user touches a plurality of objects in a predetermined order, the user is authenticated.

JP 2000-322199 A JP 2008-217716 A

  As described above, when the user operates the touch panel according to a predetermined procedure, the security function is executed. Therefore, the user needs to learn the procedure. Further, the user has to operate a plurality of times, and there is a problem in operability.

  Therefore, in view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an input device capable of executing a predetermined function by a simple input operation.

  The present invention includes a touch panel that accepts an input operation by a user's touch and a control unit that executes a predetermined function in response to the input operation from the touch panel, and a special-shaped operating body owned by the user touches the touch panel. The touch panel detects a special shape of the operating body, and the control unit executes a function corresponding to the special shape of the operating body.

  A specific function is set for the operation body owned by the user. Since this operating body has a special shape, it is not confused with other operating bodies. Therefore, a preset function is automatically executed only by performing a simple input operation such as a user touching the touch panel with an operating tool.

  The touch panel detects a touch position touched by the operating tool, and the control unit executes a function corresponding to the special shape of the operating tool and the touch position. Even with the same operating tool, different functions are executed when the touch position is different. Therefore, a plurality of functions can be executed by one operating body.

  The touch panel can detect a plurality of touch positions at the same time, and the operating body has a shape straddling the plurality of touch positions of the touch panel. The control unit recognizes the special shape based on the detected touch position. When this operating tool is touched on the touch panel, a plurality of touch positions are detected. Since these touch position patterns correspond to the special shape of the operating body, it is possible to recognize the operating body having a special shape.

  The control unit executes various functions such as a simulation mode by a service person, a touch panel adjustment mode by a service person, machine lock or unlock, user authentication, and a touch panel screen cleaning mode by touching the operation body.

  According to the present invention, the user can automatically execute a function desired by the user by touching the operating body on the touch panel using a special-shaped operation. Therefore, a predetermined function can be executed by a one-touch operation such as touching the touch panel, and usability for an input operation can be improved.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copier according to an embodiment. Diagram showing the operation panel Exploded perspective view of the operation panel with touch panel The figure which shows arrangement of the resistance film of the multi touch panel The figure which shows the block of the touch panel The figure for demonstrating the coordinate detection of a touch position when a touch panel is touched The flowchart which shows the process sequence of input operation when a touch panel is touched The figure which shows a mode when the service person operates a touch panel with a jig in order to perform simulation mode The figure which shows a mode when the service person operates a touch panel with a jig in order to perform touch panel adjustment mode. The figure which shows a mode when a user operates a touch panel by an employee chapter in order to perform machine lock and unlocking The figure which shows the setting screen when registering the operation body of the user in order to perform printing The figure which shows a mode when a user operates a touch panel with an operation body in order to print The figure which shows a mode when a user operates a touch panel with the cleaning tool in order to perform screen cleaning mode.

  A copier equipped with the input device of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The copying machine includes an operation panel 2 having a touch panel 1, an operation panel control unit 3 for controlling the operation panel 2, a scanner control unit 4 for controlling a scanner, an engine control unit 5 for controlling an image forming engine, and an entire copying machine. The main control unit 6 is provided. The operation panel 2 including the touch panel 1, the operation panel control unit 3, and the main control unit 6 constitute an input device.

  2 and 3, the operation panel 2 includes a touch panel 1, a display unit 10, an operation switch 11, an LED 12, and a buzzer 13. The operation panel 2 has a structure in which the touch panel 1 is overlaid on a display unit 10 having a liquid crystal display (LCD) 14. In FIG. 3, 15 is an operation panel cabinet, 16 is an LCD folder for fixing the LCD 14, 17 is an LCD substrate, 18 is a control IC, 19 is a flexible cable, 20 is a connector, 21 is a harness, 22 is an operation unit substrate, Reference numeral 23 denotes an operation switch key.

  The operation panel control unit 3 includes a CPU 25, a ROM 26, a RAM 27, and an I / O port 28. The operation panel control unit 3 exchanges control signals with the operation panel 2. That is, the operation panel control unit 3 acquires input information from the touch panel 1 and the operation switch 11, transmits a command to the main control unit 6, receives a command from the main control unit 6, and turns on / off the LED 12. Turn off control and buzzer 13 sound control. The LCD 14 is display-controlled by the main control unit 6.

  The touch panel 1 is a multi-touch panel capable of simultaneously detecting a plurality of touch positions, and is a digital resistive film type touch panel. As shown in FIG. 4, the touch panel 1 has a transparent substrate in which a plurality of resistance films 29 are arranged in the X-axis direction and a transparent substrate in which a plurality of resistance films 30 are arranged in the Y-axis direction so as to face each other. And a known structure. Input terminals are provided at both ends of each resistance film 29 parallel to the X-axis direction, and output terminals are provided at both ends of each resistance film 30 parallel to the Y-axis direction. These terminals are connected to the control IC 18. . The control IC 18 is connected to the operation panel control unit 3 and exchanges signals.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the touch panel 1, a plurality of blocks 31 arranged in a matrix are formed by upper and lower resistance films 29 and 30 being orthogonal to each other. In each block 31, the presence or absence of a touch on the touch panel 1 is detected.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the user touches a plurality of positions in the touch panel 1. As shown in FIG. 6B, a plurality of, here, two blocks 31 are actually touched. As shown in FIG. 5C, the coordinates of a plurality of touch positions touched by the user are specified.

  The operation panel control unit 3 detects the positions of the plurality of touched blocks 31, that is, the plurality of touch positions. In this detection, the control IC 18 mounted on the touch panel 1 identifies the touched block 31 on the basis of the input to the input terminal and the output from the output terminal, and stores the touched block 31 in the register. The coordinates of the touch position to be stored are stored in the register. The operation panel control unit 3 reads the coordinates of the touch position from the register of the control IC 18 and outputs the coordinate information to the main control unit 6. Note that, for example, ten touch positions can be simultaneously detected by the control IC 18 and its sampling speed. However, a plurality of positions cannot be detected in one block 31.

  Serial communication is performed between the main control unit 6 and the operation panel control unit 3. When receiving the command from the operation panel control unit 3, the main control unit 6 determines the content of the input operation by the user based on the image displayed on the display unit 10 and the coordinates of the touch position, and according to this content Execute the function.

  The main control unit 6 includes a CPU 32, a ROM 33, a RAM 34, an I / O port 35, an image processing unit 36, and an image storage unit 37. The main control unit 6 performs serial communication with the scanner control unit 4 and receives image data read by the scanner. Further, the copying machine is communicably connected to the external device 38. Examples of the external device 38 include options such as a computer, another image processing apparatus, and a post-processing apparatus. These external devices 38 are connected via a network or directly connected to a copying machine. The main control unit 6 communicates with the external device 38 and transmits / receives image data.

  The image processing unit 36 performs image processing on the input image data. The image storage unit 37 temporarily stores image data. A storage unit such as an HDD or SSD (not shown) is provided to store image data and other information. The main control unit 6 performs serial communication with the engine control unit 5 and transmits image data to the engine control unit 5. The engine prints an image on a recording sheet.

  In the copying machine, when the user performs an input operation through the operation panel 2, the main control unit 6 executes predetermined functions such as copying, printing, scanning, and data transmission in accordance with the user's input operation. Here, in order to improve the operability for the user, a one-touch operation using an operating tool owned by the user is enabled. This operating body has a special shape. That is, when the user touches the touch panel 1 with the operation body, the touch panel 1 detects the special shape of the operation body based on the touch position touched by the operation body, and the main control unit 6 responds to the special shape of the operation body. Execute the function.

  The operating body is a tool, jig used in the copying machine, a company emblem of the company to which the user belongs, an employee ID card, an ID card, and the like, and is owned by a specific user. The operating body is formed to have irregularities, and the irregularities produce a special shape unique to the operating body. When the user touches the touch panel 1 with the operation body, the unevenness pushes down the touch panel 1. Since the operating body has a shape straddling the plurality of blocks 31, the plurality of blocks 31 are touched corresponding to the unevenness. A pattern formed by the plurality of touched blocks 31 corresponds to a special shape of the operating body. Alternatively, the operating body may be an object formed in a unique shape in a plane. When the operating tool is touched on the touch panel 31, the operating tool contacts the plurality of blocks 31. The detected pattern of the block 31 becomes a peculiar pattern according to the shape of the operating body, and this pattern corresponds to the special shape of the operating body.

  The special shape of the operating body is registered in advance. The user touches the touch panel 31 with the operation tool to be registered. The touch panel 31 detects the shape of the operating body, and the operation panel control unit 3 stores the setting information together with the shape information acquired from the touch panel 1 in the storage unit. The shape information includes the patterns of the plurality of blocks 31 that have been touched. The setting information includes user information such as a user name and a user ID, and a function executed when an operation tool is used. The setting information is input through the operation panel 2 and associated with the shape information. The main control unit 6 may perform this registration.

  The process at the time of accepting the input operation on the touch panel 1 is executed as shown in FIG. When the user touches the touch panel 1, the touch panel 1 detects the touched block 31, and the operation panel control unit 3 acquires coordinate information for the touched block 31 (S1). The operation panel control unit 3 confirms that there is no change in the input coordinate information (S2), confirms the input coordinate information, and transmits the coordinate information to the main control unit 6 (S3).

  The operation panel control unit 3 checks whether there are a plurality of touch positions (S4). When there is one touch position, the main control unit 6 executes a function corresponding to the touch position. The touch panel 1 accepts the next input operation.

  When the user touches the touch panel 1 with the operating tool, the operating tool has a shape straddling a plurality of blocks 31, so that there are a plurality of touch positions. At this time, the operation panel control unit 3 determines that the operation is an input operation using the operation body, and acquires coordinate information for the depressed plurality of blocks 31 from the touch panel 1 (S5). The operation panel control unit 3 recognizes the patterns of the plurality of blocks 31 based on the acquired shape information (S6), and confirms whether they match the registered patterns of the blocks 31 (S7). Note that the coordinates of one touch position correspond to one block 31.

  When there is no pattern of the block 31 corresponding to the registered shape information, the operation panel control unit 3 determines that it is a normal input operation and waits for a re-input operation. When there is a corresponding block 31 pattern, the operation panel control unit 3 notifies the main control unit 6 of setting information related to the shape information (S8). The main control unit 6 executes a function set based on the setting information. Instead of the operation panel control unit 3, the main control unit 6 may recognize and confirm the special shape of the operation tool.

  As described above, when a special-shaped operating tool is touched on the touch panel 1, a preset function is automatically executed. Therefore, the user can execute a desired function with a one-touch operation, and the operability is improved.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, a service person as a user holds a jig for maintenance of the copying machine. This jig is used as the operating body 40 and has a special shape. When the user touches the operation tool 40 on the touch panel 1, the touch panel 1 detects a plurality of touched blocks 31. Based on the coordinate information from the touch panel 1, the operation panel control unit 3 recognizes the pattern of the touched block 31 and confirms whether it matches the registered block 31 pattern. When there is a matching pattern, the operation panel control unit 3 determines the special shape of the operation body 40 and transmits setting information related to the operation body 40 to the main control unit 6. The main control unit 6 executes the simulation mode set according to the operating tool 40 according to the setting information.

  As another specific example, the touch panel 1 detects a touch position touched by the operating tool 40. Therefore, a function to be executed is set according to the touch position as well as the special shape of the operating body 40. As shown in FIG. 9, the operating tool 40 used by the user is the same as that shown in FIG. When the user touches the upper right corner of the touch panel 1, the simulation mode is executed. Here, when the user touches a different position on the touch panel 1 with the operating body 40, different functions are executed. At this time, the registered shape information includes the special shape of the operating tool and the touch position.

  The touch panel 1 detects that it is touched by the operating body 40 in the lower left corner. At this time, the operation panel control unit 3 recognizes the touched position of the block 31 and the touch position based on the coordinate information from the touch panel 1. Note that the pattern of the block 31 is not distinguished between the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Therefore, even if the detected pattern of the block 31 is upside down, the operation panel control unit 3 determines that the pattern is the same.

  The operation panel control unit 3 determines the special shape and the touch position of the operation body 40 and transmits setting information related thereto to the main control unit 6. The main control unit 6 executes the touch panel adjustment mode according to the setting information.

  In the touch panel adjustment mode, coordinate adjustment is performed. If the coordinate detection of the touch panel 1 is deviated, the buttons formed on the touch panel 1 cannot be correctly pressed. Coordinates may be shifted due to operating environment or power supply environment. For this reason, even if the user performs an input operation on the touch panel 1, the buttons cannot be operated correctly, so that a desired function is not executed. Even in such a case, since it is possible to directly shift to the touch panel adjustment mode by a one-touch operation, coordinate adjustment is performed by shifting the screen. Therefore, the coordinate detection of the touch panel 1 can be returned to normal. Since the position of the block 31 is mechanically fixed, the detected coordinates are not significantly shifted when the touch position of the operating body 40 is detected.

  As another specific example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the operation body 40 is an employee chapter owned by the user. This employee badge has a special star shape. The machine lock or unlock is executed by the touch by the operating body 40.

  When the user touches the operation tool 40 on the upper left corner of the touch panel 1, the operation panel control unit 3 recognizes the pattern of the touched block 31 based on the coordinate information from the touch panel 1, and the registered block 31. Check if it matches the pattern. When there is a matching pattern, the operation panel control unit 3 determines the special shape of the operation body 40 and transmits setting information related to the operation body 40 to the main control unit 6. The main control unit 6 executes the machine lock set according to the operating tool 40 according to the setting information.

  When the touch panel 1 is touched by the operation body 40 other than the employee chapter during locking, the operation panel control unit 3 detects the pattern of the touched block 31 and corresponds to the operation body 40 other than the employee chapter. Recognize. At this time, the main control unit 6 does not execute any function and causes the display unit 10 to display that it is locked.

  When the user touches the employee chapter on the lower right corner of the touch panel 1, the operation panel control unit 3 recognizes and confirms the touched block 31 pattern and touch position. The operation panel control unit 3 transmits setting information related to the operation body 40 to the main control unit 6. The main control unit 6 releases the lock. An input operation by the other operation body 40 is possible. Although the touch position is also detected here, only the pattern of the block 31 may be detected regardless of the touch position.

  As another specific example, as shown in FIG. 11, an operating body 40 whose shape can be deformed is used. On the print setting screen of the external device 38, the special shape of the operation body 40 is registered for user authentication. Two special shapes formed by deforming the operating body 40 are registered.

  The user requests printing from the external device 38 to the copying machine. When receiving a request, the main control unit 6 of the copying machine enters a print execution waiting state. As shown in FIG. 12, the operation panel 2 notifies the LED 12 that there is print data. The user goes to a place where the copying machine is located and touches the touch panel 1 with the operation body 40. The operation panel control unit 3 recognizes and confirms the patterns of the two blocks 31. The operation panel control unit 3 transmits setting information related to the operation body 40 to the main control unit 6. The main control unit 6 authenticates the user who performs printing and causes printing to be performed. The user who has requested printing can obtain the printed matter. Even if another user who does not own the operation body 40 touches with the other operation body 40, the user is not authenticated, and therefore printing cannot be performed.

  As another specific example, as shown in FIG. 13, a cleaning tool for cleaning a screen and a reading window mounted on the copying machine is used as the operation body 40. When the user touches the touch panel 1 with the operation body 40, the operation panel control unit 3 recognizes and confirms the pattern of the touched block 31. The operation panel control unit 3 transmits setting information related to the operation body 40 to the main control unit 6. The main control unit 6 executes the cleaning mode according to the setting information. While the cleaning mode is being executed, a display in the cleaning mode is performed on the screen of the operation panel 2. In addition, the main control unit 6 invalidates the input operation on the operation panel 2. That is, when the user wipes the screen with the cleaning tool, if the touch panel 1 is inadvertently touched, an unexpected operation is performed. However, the operation on the touch panel 1 and the operation switch 11 is invalidated by executing the cleaning mode.

  During the cleaning mode, the touch panel 1 detects a touch by the cleaning tool. When the area where the cleaning tool touches the touch panel 1 is detected and the touched area exceeds 90% of the screen, the operation panel control unit 3 determines that the cleaning is finished. When the operation panel control unit 3 notifies the main control unit 6 of the end of cleaning, the main control unit 6 ends the cleaning mode and enters a ready state.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. The input device of the present invention can be applied to a multifunction machine having a touch panel other than a copying machine, a personal computer, a car navigation device, an information portable terminal, and a mobile phone.

  As the touch panel, an optical sensor liquid crystal incorporating a touch panel function and a scanner function may be used. The special shape of the operating body can be directly detected by the scanner function of the touch panel.

  Different functions may be executed in accordance with the vertical and horizontal orientations of the operating tool when the touch panel is touched.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Touch panel 2 Operation panel 3 Operation panel control part 6 Main control part 10 Display part 14 LCD
31 blocks 40 operation body

Claims (8)

A touch panel that accepts an input operation by a user's touch and a control unit that executes a predetermined function in response to the input operation from the touch panel, and when a special-shaped operating body owned by the user touches the touch panel, An input device that detects a special shape of an operating body, and the control unit executes a function corresponding to the special shape of the operating body. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel detects a touch position touched by the operating body, and the control unit executes a function corresponding to the special shape of the operating body and the touch position. The touch panel can detect a plurality of touch positions at the same time, the operation body has a shape straddling the plurality of touch positions on the touch panel, and the control unit recognizes a special shape based on the detected touch positions. The input device according to claim 1 or 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes a simulation mode by a serviceman by touching the operation body. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes a touch panel adjustment mode by a service person by touching the operation body. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes machine lock or lock release by touching the operating body. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes user authentication by touching the operation body. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes a cleaning mode of the screen of the touch panel by touching the operating body.

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