JP2012059291A - Input device and control method of input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device which can receive a user intended operation input but can avoid a user non-intended operation input without reducing the advantage of a touch panel including an input section and a display section.SOLUTION: An input device 10 includes: a display section 32 for displaying an input object; an input section 34 for receiving pressing input to the input object; a load detection section 40 for detecting a pressing load to the input section 34; and a control section 20 for controlling to receive the pressing input when a pressing load detected by the load detection section 40 meets a load criterion. The control section 20 controls to make a load criterion for receiving the pressing input to the input object displayed by an interruption higher than a load criterion for receiving the pressing input to the input object.

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to an input device having a touch panel.

  For example, in a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, various input devices have been developed depending on the function and use of each terminal when a user operates the terminal. In many cases, an input operation is performed when a user directly presses a mechanical key or button or the like provided in advance on the surface of the mobile terminal body with a finger or the like.

  A mechanical key (such as a numeric keypad) of an input device in such a terminal is usually arranged in advance according to the main use of the terminal. The physical layout cannot be changed later.

  By the way, recently, a variety of functions have been incorporated into small portable terminals, as some mobile phones have digital cameras and music playback functions. Schedule management and address book with a single terminal such as a mobile phone that has many auxiliary functions in addition to the main use of the terminal, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) Some have multiple main uses. In such a terminal, if the key arrangement is fixed, depending on the function used, it may be extremely inconvenient at the time of operation input.

  In order to eliminate such inconvenience at the time of operation input, an input device including a touch panel configured by placing a transparent input unit on a front surface of a liquid crystal display screen constituting the display unit is disclosed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). Generally, an input device having such a touch panel is configured such that when an operation key or button displayed as an image is pressed on a display screen of the touch panel, an input unit corresponding to the position receives the input. .

  The foldable mobile phone described in Patent Document 1 can arbitrarily display the key layout on the display screen of the touch panel, accept user operation input, and can configure a free key layout. is there. Therefore, this mobile phone can provide extremely good operability by freely changing the key arrangement in accordance with the function each time the function of the terminal is switched. For example, when using a digital camera function mounted on a mobile phone, an operation input for a digital camera can be displayed on the touch panel to accept an operation input. On the other hand, when inputting characters such as e-mail using this mobile phone, a keyboard such as a personal computer (PC) can be displayed on the touch panel to accept the input. As described above, by providing the touch panel, one input device can be optimized for each of a plurality of functions to receive an operation input.

  An input device having a touch panel accepts input by an input method in which a user directly touches (touches) an image (such as a key or button) displayed on a display unit with a fingertip or the like. The operation can be performed. That is, the user performs an operation by directly touching a key or a button displayed on the screen with a fingertip or the like according to the guidance displayed on the screen of the touch panel. For this reason, the user can operate the terminal very easily by an intuitive operation according to the guidance displayed on the screen, and as a result, an effect of reducing erroneous operations can be expected.

  As described above, using a mobile terminal equipped with a touch panel, not only a normal mobile phone call and an operation input when creating an e-mail, but also viewing of content distributed through the Internet and browsing the web (browsing) ) Operation input can also be performed. Moreover, the input device having such a touch panel is disposed in, for example, an ATM (automatic depositing and paying machine) such as a bank or a ticket vending machine such as a station, and is used on a daily basis other than a portable terminal. . Further, in a store such as a fast food restaurant, when an employee processes a customer order, a business is performed using a terminal device including an input device having a touch panel as described above. By using a touch panel as the input device, mechanical operation buttons or keys such as a keyboard other than the touch panel are no longer essential elements. Therefore, since the area for placing mechanical operation buttons and the like on the terminal device main body is small, the terminal device itself can be reduced in size as a whole, and the location of the terminal device in various stores and stations can be reduced. The degree of freedom can also be increased.

  Further, if a touch panel is used as the input device, it is necessary to configure a display unit for displaying various information and an input unit for receiving a user's operation input as separate functional units, as in the conventional configuration of a device. Rather, the information display unit and the input unit can be configured on one screen. Therefore, for example, an arrangement of a keyboard key can be displayed on the touch panel to accept a user input, and the input result can be displayed near the keyboard on the touch panel. In this way, the user can confirm the input operation and the input result by the input operation on one screen.

  As described above, the touch panel has such an input device because of the merit that the input unit and the display unit can be configured on the same screen and the operation input can be performed intuitively. Various terminal devices are on an increasing trend.

  However, in an input device having a touch panel, there is also a peculiar problem that occurs because the input unit and the display unit are configured on the same screen to accept intuitive operation inputs. That is, if the timing at which the terminal receives an operation input from the touch panel and the timing at which the user actually performs an operation input on the touch panel are deviated, an input operation unintended by the user may be received.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9 (A), a numeric keypad for operation input is displayed on the touch panel 300 by the e-mail creation function of the mobile phone, and a user input is accepted, and the input result is displayed in a display area above the touch panel 300. Consider the display case. FIG. 9A shows a state when the user touches (presses input) the numeric keypad of the touch panel 300 to input the characters “I'm heading now” in the display area. At this point, since the user is still in the process of creating an e-mail text, the user continues to input by touching the numeric keypad of the touch panel 300. A method of inputting characters such as e-mail one character at a time by using a numeric keypad of a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone to transition kana characters corresponding to each key according to the number of times the key is input is conventionally known. This is a known technique as a “multi-tap input method” and will not be described.

  When the mobile phone receives a call from the outside by the call function while accepting the input of e-mail characters in this way, the touch panel 300 of the mobile phone is shown in FIG. A display like this appears. In this way, information that is important for immediacy, such as incoming calls or emails, is displayed on the screen that is currently in use even if other functions such as the email creation function are being used. It is common to interrupt and display. In the state shown in FIG. 9A, the display on the touch panel 300 changes to the incoming call screen shown in FIG. 9B at the moment when the user tries to touch the touch panel 300 to input the next character of the e-mail. In such a case, it can be fully considered. In such a case, it is conceivable that the user touches the place where the user was trying to touch as it is.

  For example, during the e-mail creation shown in FIG. 9A, when the user changes to the incoming call screen of FIG. 9B when the user tries to touch the “6 (has)” key portion of the touch panel 300, The user touches the “cut” portion of the touch panel 300 in FIG. Therefore, for example, even if the incoming call is from a partner who needs to talk, the mobile phone user unintentionally disconnects the incoming call.

  In addition, during the creation of the e-mail shown in FIG. 9A, when the user changes to the incoming call screen of FIG. 9B when the user tries to touch the “4 (Ta row)” key portion of the touch panel 300, The user touches the “call” portion on the touch panel 300 in FIG. Therefore, for example, even if the incoming call is from a party who does not wish to make a call, the user of the mobile phone unintentionally connects the incoming call.

  Such an example can occur not only when a call is received but also when an e-mail is received. For example, when another e-mail is received while creating a new e-mail, the screen that accepts the input of whether or not to display the received e-mail at the moment when the user tries to perform an operation input intended to input the next character It may be suddenly changed. In such a case, the user unintentionally performs an operation of opening and displaying the received electronic mail, which may cause unnecessary spam mail (unsolicited mail) to be opened.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 9C, a pop-up advertisement as shown in FIG. 9D is displayed on the touch panel while browsing a website on the Internet using the web browser function of the mobile phone. It may be displayed by interrupting 300. In this web browser, the user can jump to the corresponding page or site by touching (pressing input) the underlined character portion. In such a case, in FIG. 9C, for example, the moment when the user tries to touch the “transfer guidance” portion displayed on the touch panel 300, the pop-up advertisement shown in FIG. 9D may be displayed. . In this case, the user unintentionally touches the pop-up advertisement.

  In recent years, so-called phishing scams that prompt access to other fake sites by vicious pop-up displays or advertisements have been reported. Therefore, it may be disadvantageous for the user to perform an operation input that the user does not intend for such a pop-up display.

  When operating a personal computer (PC), unlike a portable terminal, objects such as small keys and buttons displayed on a relatively large display screen (monitor) are input using an input device such as a mouse. Operation input. In such a case, the ratio of the area where objects such as keys and buttons or pop-up advertisements are displayed is relatively small with respect to the entire display screen. For this reason, even if an object such as a key or a button or a popup display is suddenly displayed on the screen, it is considered that the probability that the user overlaps the object originally intended for input is low.

  However, in the case of a portable terminal, if importance is attached to portability, the size of the display screen is limited, and a touch panel with a size that is usually not large is not mounted. Also, objects such as keys and buttons displayed on the touch panel cannot be made too small in consideration of operability. Therefore, the problem that the object that is suddenly interrupted and displayed on the touch panel as described above overlaps with the object that the user intends to input is particularly noticeable in the case of a portable terminal.

  As an apparatus that can avoid such a risk of accepting an input that is not intended by the user, an input device that can switch between enabling / disabling operation using the touch panel has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). . This Patent Document 2 discloses an input device 100 including a touch panel 310 in which an input unit 340 is superimposed on the front surface of a display unit 320 as shown in FIG.

JP 2006-31224 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-076925

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the input device 100 described in Patent Document 2 includes an area of an operation valid switch unit 400 that validates an operation input in a part of the input unit 340. The operation valid switch unit 400 receives a user operation input that switches between valid / invalid of the operation input to the input unit 340. The input device 100 validates the input from the input unit 340 when the operation valid switch unit 400 is in the on state, and invalidates the input from the input unit 340 when the operation valid switch unit 400 is in the off state. Further, this Patent Document 2 also discloses an input device 100 in which an operation effective switch unit 400 is provided at a location different from the input unit 340, as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the input device 100 described in Patent Document 2 can invalidate the operation input to the input unit 340 of the touch panel 310 based on the operation of the operation valid switch unit 400 by the user. Therefore, when the user does not intend to perform an operation input using the touch panel 310, the input unit 340 is invalidated to avoid an erroneous operation unintended by the user.

  However, the input device 100 described in Patent Document 2 sets whether to enable or disable input to the touch panel in advance based on the user's intention. For this reason, as described above (as shown in FIG. 9), it is not possible to completely cope with an incoming call such as a telephone or a pop-up advertisement that is suddenly interrupted and displayed on the screen.

  That is, in the input device described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to invalidate input to the touch panel in advance in order not to touch an incoming call or a pop-up advertisement. Therefore, as in the case where an e-mail text is being created, an incoming call such as a telephone call or a pop-up advertisement that is suddenly interrupted and displayed on the touch panel while the user is inputting using the touch panel cannot be dealt with.

  Also, if the input to the touch panel is previously disabled, a sudden incoming call or pop-up advertisement will not be touched. However, in this case, since normal operation input is also impossible, the user cannot connect an incoming call or touch a pop-up display based on his / her intention. When responding to an incoming call or pop-up display that is interrupted, first, an operation input for enabling input to the touch panel (that is, an operation input for canceling invalidation) must be performed separately. This is inconvenient when the user is willing to respond to an incoming call.

  The main feature of the touch panel is that a free user interface can be configured by arbitrarily arranging (displaying) objects such as keys and buttons to provide high operability. However, providing a switch that enables or disables input to the entire touch panel separately from keys and buttons that accept operation input to the touch panel and requiring the user to perform operations reduces the advantages of the easy and convenient touch panel. There is also a risk of doing.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention made in view of such circumstances is to accept an operation input intended by the user and avoid an operation input not intended by the user without diminishing the advantages of the touch panel including the input unit and the display unit. It is to provide an input device that can be used.

The invention of the input device according to claim 1 that achieves the above object is as follows:
A display unit for displaying an input object;
An input unit that receives a pressing input to the input object displayed on the display unit;
A load detection unit for detecting a pressing load on the input unit;
A control unit that controls to accept the pressing input when the pressing load detected by the load detecting unit satisfies a load standard, and
The control unit is configured to increase a load reference for receiving a press input to the input object displayed by interruption on the display unit, rather than a load reference for receiving a press input to the input object displayed on the display unit. It is characterized by controlling to.

  According to the present invention, the load reference for receiving the pressure input to the input object displayed by the interruption is set higher than the load standard for receiving the pressure input to the normal (non-interrupt) input object. Therefore, at the time of operation input to a normal (non-interrupt) input object, the user can input by a normal pressing input based on the user's intention. On the other hand, when an operation is input to an input object that is suddenly interrupted, the input is not accepted unless the pressing input is a pressing load that satisfies a load standard higher than the normal load standard. Therefore, an operation input not intended by the user due to a normal pressing input to the input object that is suddenly interrupted and displayed can be avoided. In addition, when the user intentionally performs an operation input on the input object displayed by interruption, the user's intention is obtained by performing a pressure input with a pressure load that satisfies a load standard higher than the normal load standard. The operation input of the street can be performed. When an input intended by the user is performed, an input based on the user's intention can be performed by performing an input based on a load standard higher than a normal input.

1 is an external perspective view of a mobile phone including an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the internal structure of the mobile telephone which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the example of the mounting structure of the touch panel of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 2, a load detection part, and a vibration part. It is a graph which represents roughly the example of the time change of the load (pressing force) which a load detection part detects when a user presses the input part of a touch panel. It is a flowchart explaining the process and operation | movement by this Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the highlight display and pressing display by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the display part based on the process by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display of the display part based on the process by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a display part based on the process of the mobile telephone by a prior art. It is an external appearance front view which shows schematic structure of the input device by a prior art.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, a mobile phone will be described as an example of a mobile terminal including the input device of the present invention. However, a mobile terminal to which the input device of the present invention can be applied is not limited to a mobile phone, and can be applied to any mobile terminal having a touch panel such as a PDA. The present invention is not limited to a portable terminal having a touch panel, and can be applied to any input terminal having a touch panel such as a bank ATM or a ticket machine at a station as described above.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a mobile phone 10 including an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cellular phone 10 is configured by drawing various information and shapes such as keys and buttons on a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic EL display as shown in a partially cutaway manner on the front surface of the terminal body. A display unit 32 for displaying is provided. Further, on the front surface of the display unit 32, an input unit 34 composed of a matrix switch or the like that accepts input by a user's finger or stylus pen is disposed. In the present embodiment, the touch panel 30 includes the display unit 32 and the input unit 34. The cellular phone 10 further includes an audio input unit 70 configured by a microphone, an audio output unit 80 configured by a speaker, and a key input unit 90 configured by at least one mechanical key.

  In addition, the mobile phone 10 may include a short-distance wireless communication unit such as a digital camera function unit, a one-segment broadcasting tuner, an infrared communication function unit, and various interfaces, depending on the required functions. The details and description are omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 10 includes a control unit 20, a touch panel 30, a load detection unit 40, a vibration unit 50, a storage unit 60, a voice input unit 70, a voice output unit 80, and a key. And an input unit 90. The control unit 20 controls and manages the entire mobile terminal 10 including each functional block of the mobile terminal 10. As described above, the touch panel 30 is configured by arranging the input unit 34 that receives input from the user so as to overlap the front surface of the display unit 32. With such a configuration, the touch panel 30 receives an operation input from the user and displays various information such as an input result in accordance with each application program (hereinafter abbreviated as “application”).

  The input unit 34 of the touch panel 30 outputs a signal corresponding to the position where the input by the contact is detected by detecting the input by the contact (press) of the user's fingertip or stylus. The touch panel 30 is configured using a known device such as a resistance film method or a capacitance method. In addition to performing display corresponding to each application, the display unit 32 draws and displays a user interface including various keys and buttons that accept user operation input to the input unit 34 in a predetermined display area. Hereinafter, in order to accept the user's operation input to the input unit 34 of the touch panel 30 as described above, images such as various keys, buttons, and pop-up advertisements displayed on the display unit 32 are referred to as “input objects”.

  The load detection unit 40 detects a pressing load on the touch panel 30 (or the input unit 34), and is configured using, for example, a strain gauge sensor. The vibration unit 50 vibrates the touch panel 30 and is configured using, for example, a piezoelectric element or an ultrasonic vibrator. The structural relationship between the load detection unit 40 and the vibration unit 50 and the touch panel 30 will be described later.

  The storage unit 60 stores various applications and various input information, and also functions as a work memory. The storage unit 60 also stores a plurality of templates including various input objects used according to each application.

  The voice input unit 70 converts a user voice or the like into an input signal and transmits the input signal to the control unit 20. The sound output unit 80 converts the sound signal transmitted from the control unit 20 into sound and outputs the sound. The key input unit 90 transmits a corresponding signal to the control unit 10 in response to an operation input by the user. The use and function of various keys constituting the key input unit 90 are defined according to the application to be used.

  In addition, the mobile phone 10 further provides functions as a normal mobile phone such as an antenna and a wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving various information such as voice calls and e-mail data to and from the base station via the Internet or wireless communication. It also has various functional parts necessary for this. However, since these are not particularly different from those of known techniques, description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the structural relationship between the above-described load detection unit 40 and vibration unit 50 and the touch panel 30 will be described.

  3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mounting structure of the touch panel 30, the load detection unit 40, and the vibration unit 50 of the mobile phone 10 illustrated in FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a main part, and FIG. 3B is a plan view of the main part.

  A display unit 32 that displays various input objects on the touch panel 30 is housed and held in the housing 12. An input unit 34 is held on the display unit 32 via an insulator 36 made of an elastic member. In the input device according to the present embodiment, the display unit 32 and the input unit 34 are rectangular in plan view. In FIG. 3, the touch panel 30 is illustrated as a square shape, but may be rectangular according to the specifications of the mobile terminal on which the touch panel 30 is mounted. In addition, the input device holds the input unit 34 on the display unit 32 via insulators 36 arranged at four corners that are out of the display area A of the display unit 32 indicated by phantom lines in FIG. .

  Further, the housing 12 is provided with an upper cover 14 so as to cover the surface area of the input section 34 that is out of the display area of the display section 32, and is made of an elastic member between the upper cover 14 and the input section 34. An insulator 16 is provided.

  The input unit 34 has, for example, a transparent film on the front surface, that is, a surface that accepts operation input, and glass on the back surface. When the operation surface is pressed, a small amount of the transparent film on the surface corresponds to the pressing force. Use a structure that bends (distorts).

  Furthermore, the input device according to the present embodiment detects a pressing load (pressing force) applied to the input unit 34 in the vicinity of each side covered with the upper cover 14 on the transparent film on the surface of the input unit 34. Each strain gauge sensor is provided by bonding or the like. In addition, on the glass surface on the back surface of the input unit 34, a piezoelectric element or an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating the input unit 34 is provided in the vicinity of two opposing sides by bonding or the like. That is, in the input device shown in FIG. 3, the load detection unit 40 shown in FIG. 2 is configured using four strain gauge sensors, and the vibration unit 50 is configured using two vibrators. In FIG. 3B, illustration of the casing 12, the upper cover 14, and the insulator 16 shown in FIG. 3A is omitted.

  The input device according to the present embodiment monitors the input detected by the input unit 34 and the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 40 in the control unit 20. The control unit 20 is a predetermined input when the pressure input detected by the input unit 34 is an input to the input object displayed on the display unit 32 and the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 40 receives the input. When the above criteria are satisfied, the input is accepted as a regular input. Hereinafter, such “reference for accepting input” is simply referred to as “load reference”. When the input load standard is satisfied, the control unit 20 causes the vibration unit 50 to vibrate and vibrates the pressing object such as the user's finger or the stylus pen pressing the input unit 34. Control to tell. In addition, the load detection part 40 detects a load from the average value of the output of four strain gauge sensors, for example. The vibrating unit 50 drives, for example, two ultrasonic transducers in phase. Due to the vibration of the vibration unit 50 that occurs when the load standard is satisfied, the user can recognize that the press input made by the user is properly received.

  Next, an outline of processing when an input object interrupt occurs according to the present embodiment will be described. Here, the “interrupt” of the input object is based on the operation of a certain application, while displaying the input object and accepting the user's input, other input based on the activation of another application, etc. This means that the object is displayed on the same screen. The occurrence of such an interrupt is assumed, for example, when another application starts, or when a request to display an input object further occurs at the position of the input object based on the already running application. There is. In performing this process, first, a load reference for determining that an input has been made to the input unit 34 for performing a normal operation input on the input object displayed on the display unit 32 before the occurrence of an interrupt is set in advance. To do. Hereinafter, this load standard will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a graph schematically illustrating an example of a temporal change in pressing load (pressing force) detected by the load detecting unit 40 when the user performs an operation input by an operation of pressing the input unit 34 of the touch panel 30. . Generally, when the user performs an operation (press input) of pressing the input unit 34 of the touch panel 30, the pressing force applied to the input unit 34 until the time when the user can determine that the input has been received after touching the input unit 34. (That is, an operation of pushing the input unit 34 is performed). Further, the user reduces the pressing force on the input unit 34 from the time when it is determined that the input has been accepted (that is, performs an operation of releasing a finger or the like from the input unit 34). Therefore, the load detected by the load detection unit 40 increases from the left to the right as time elapses as the time elapses, and decreases from the middle to the right as shown by the curve shown in FIG.

  As a premise of performing processing when an input object interrupt occurs, first, a load reference value P1 is set based on a normal pressing force when the user performs a normal operation input to the display unit 32. Based on this setting, when the load detection unit 40 detects a pressing load exceeding P1 (A1) as a normal pressing force when the user performs a normal operation input, the control unit 20 displays on the display unit 32. It is determined that the displayed input object is pressed. In addition, when the load detecting unit 40 detects a pressing load that interrupts P1 (A2) with respect to the input object that has been pressed (after A1), the control unit 20 performs an operation input to the input object that is being pressed. Is determined to be completed (confirmed).

  The load reference value P1 is set not only before the occurrence of the input object interruption, but also as a load reference value related to a normal operation input to the input unit 34 (that is, other than when the input object interruption occurs). Is preferred. In this way, by setting the load reference value P1, it is possible to prevent the user from deciding as an input only by lightly touching the input unit 34, thereby avoiding an input unintended by the user. it can.

  In addition, by setting the load reference value P1 in this way, when performing continuous hitting input in which the same position (the same input object) is continuously pressed a plurality of times on the input unit 34, the user performs one input. It is possible to input repeatedly without releasing the finger from the input unit 34 every time. That is, even if the user's finger is still touching the input unit 34, the user adjusts the strength of the finger pressing force so that the pressing force is continuously increased or decreased with respect to the load reference value P1. By performing the input, the input unit 34 can recognize the input as a continuous hit input. Since such an input method requires less strokes for moving the finger for the user, the user can input quickly and easily with fewer movements by becoming familiar with the input method.

  Next, in the present embodiment, the load reference value P2 is set based on a pressing force larger than a normal pressing force when the user performs a normal operation input to the input unit 34. In the present embodiment, a pressure exceeding the load reference value P2 set in this way is accepted as an input related to a process when an input object interrupt occurs. Control is performed when the load detection unit 40 detects a pressing load exceeding P2 (B1) larger than the normal pressing force (P1) when the user performs normal operation input on the interrupted input object. The unit 20 determines that the input object has been pressed. In addition, when the load detection unit 40 detects a pressing load that interrupts P2 (B2) with respect to the pressed input object (after B1), the control unit 20 performs an operation input to the input object being pressed. Is determined to be completed (confirmed). That is, the control unit 20 increases the load reference for receiving the pressure input for the input object displayed by the interruption on the display unit 32 than the load standard for receiving the pressure input for the input object displayed on the display unit 32. To control.

  Therefore, even if the user presses the input object displayed by interruption with a normal pressing force (not reaching P2) when performing a normal operation input, the input input is displayed by interruption. Is not accepted as an input to a business object. Only when the user presses with a pressing force exceeding P2 that is larger than the normal pressing force (P1) when performing a normal operation input, this pressing input is accepted as an input to the interrupted input object. .

  In the above description, as an example, a mode in which the load standard value is regarded as the “pressing load threshold value”, and when the load standard value is exceeded, it is determined that “the load standard is satisfied” is described. . Hereinafter, the case where the determination is made based on such an aspect will be described. However, the aspect that can be determined as “the load standard is satisfied” is not limited to this, and it can be assumed that a number of aspects are included. For example, it can be determined that “the load standard is satisfied” when the pressing load due to the user's pressing input to the input object reaches the load reference value. In addition, when the pressing load indicating the value of the load reference is detected by the load detection unit 40, it can be determined that “the load reference is satisfied”.

  Next, operations and processing when an input object interrupt occurs according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation and processing when an input object interrupt occurs in the input device according to this embodiment. Hereinafter, a case in which a new e-mail creation application is started, a character input object is displayed on the display unit 32, and another input object is interrupted and displayed while a user input to the input unit 34 is being accepted. explain.

  As described above, when the interruption display of the input object occurs, for example, when an incoming call or an e-mail is received, an application for informing the user of the reception is activated. The case where it does is assumed. When an application is started based on an input by the user's own intention, it is not regarded as an interrupt display of an input object. Further, if the application of the web browser is being activated, it is assumed that a request for displaying an input request form, pop-up display, or pop-up advertisement interrupts the application. Note that operations and processes related to normal operation input other than the process when an input object interrupt occurs are the same as those in the prior art, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  When the processing when an input object interrupt occurs according to the present embodiment starts, first, the control unit 20 interrupts and displays the input object on the display unit 32 of the touch panel 30 (step S11). Next, the control unit 20 determines whether or not an input by the user's fingertip or stylus (hereinafter abbreviated as “user input”) to the input unit 34 of the touch panel 30 has been detected (step S12).

  When input by the user to the input unit 34 is detected in step S12, the control unit 20 in the display unit 32 corresponding to the position of the input unit 34 that has received the input based on the input from the input unit 34. The position is determined (step S13). Furthermore, based on the determination result, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the position of the display unit 32 corresponding to the position where the input is detected is a position corresponding to the input object that has been interrupted. When the input position is a position corresponding to the input object interrupted and displayed (Yes in step S13), the control unit 20 highlights the input object (step S14).

  The highlight display in step S14 is highlighting performed to make the user recognize that the user's fingertip or the like is touching the input object. For example, when a user input to a numeric key input object as shown in FIG. 6A is detected, the control unit 20 highlights the input object as shown in FIG. To change. Thereby, the user can visually recognize that the input of his / her fingertip touching the input unit 34 is properly detected. This highlight display only indicates that the user's fingertip or the like is touching the input unit 34, and at this point, it is recognized that the input is still accepted (that is, the key is pressed). Not.

  Next, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the pressure load value P detected by the load detection unit 40 exceeds the load reference value P2 (step S15). If an input exceeding the load reference value P2 is not input to the interrupted input object, the input object is not processed as being accepted. Therefore, in step S15, when the pressing load P having a value exceeding the load reference value P2 is not detected by the load detection unit 40, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the input by the user to the input unit 34 has been released. (Step S16).

  If the input is not canceled in step S16 (that is, the user has not removed the fingertip or the like from the input unit 34), the control unit 20 returns to step S15 and the value P of the pressing load detected by the load detection unit 40. To monitor. When the input by the user to the input unit 34 is canceled in step S16, the input object touched by the user is treated as being not input, and the highlight display is canceled (step S17). This process ends.

  The cancellation of the highlight display in step S17 is a display for indicating to the user that the input of the user's fingertip or the like touching the input unit 34 at the position corresponding to the input object is not detected. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the control unit 20 shows the highlighted display of the input object that is highlighted on the display unit 32 when the user input is detected, as shown in FIG. Return to the display. Thereby, the user can visually recognize that his / her fingertip or the like touching the input unit 34 is separated from the input unit 34.

  On the other hand, when the pressing load P exceeding the load reference value P2 is detected by the load detection unit 40 in step S15, the control unit 20 notifies the user that the pressing load P has exceeded the load reference value P2. Therefore, the vibration unit 50 is vibrated (step S18). In this case, the vibration generated by the vibration unit 50 may be the same vibration regardless of the type of input, but the user can identify that the pressing load P has exceeded the load reference value P2. It is preferable that the vibration has a mode different from other vibrations.

  Further, in step S18, the control unit 20 changes the display of the display unit 32 so as to indicate that the input object whose input is detected is pressed. That is, for example, the highlighted input object as shown in FIG. 6B is displayed as shown in FIG. 6C to indicate that the input object is pressed. . Thereby, the user can visually recognize that the pressing input by his / her fingertip or the like touching the input unit 34 is appropriately received as the pressing input with respect to the input object.

  After step S18, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the pressing force input by the user to the input unit 34 has decreased, and the pressing load P detected by the load detection unit 40 has become equal to or less than the load reference value P2. (Step S19). In step S19, when the pressing load P is equal to or less than the load reference value P2, the control unit 20 has confirmed the operation input for the interrupted input object while receiving the input. (Step S20). That is, in the input process according to the present embodiment, when compared with a mechanical key, when the key is pressed, the acceptance of the key input is not yet confirmed, and the key is not pressed until the key is released. Confirm acceptance of input.

  Further, in step S20, the control unit 20 returns the display of the display unit 32 to the highlight display so as to indicate that the pressing of the input object whose input has been detected is released. That is, for example, the display indicating that the input object shown in FIG. 6C is pressed is returned to the highlighted display of the input object as shown in FIG. 6B. Thereby, the user can visually recognize that the pressing input to the input object is confirmed as an input and that the pressing force pressing the input object is relaxed appropriately.

  After step S20, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the input by the user to the input unit 34 has been canceled (step S21). If the input is not canceled in step S21 (that is, the user has not removed the fingertip or the like from the input unit 34), the control unit 20 continues to monitor the pressing load P detected by the load detection unit 40. If the input by the user to the input unit 34 is canceled in step S21, the process proceeds to step S17 described above to cancel the highlight display, and this process ends.

  As described above, after the operation input of the pressing load exceeding P2 is confirmed for the interrupted input object, all the other input objects including the input object also exceed P1. The input by the pressing load is accepted. That is, it is preferable that the processing according to the present embodiment is processing for an input object that is first interrupt-displayed when there is no input object that is interrupt-displayed. This is sufficient to avoid unintended input by the user. In addition, by doing so, once the input to the input object to be interrupted is confirmed once by the user's intentionally pressing input of a strong pressing load (exceeding P2), the light pressing force as usual is used. Input operation can be continued.

  On the other hand, when the input position is not a position corresponding to the input object interrupted and displayed in step S13, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S22 and highlights the input object. The case of shifting from step S13 to step S22 is a case where an input by the user is detected for the input object, but the input object is not interrupted. The highlight display of the input object performed in this case is also performed in the same manner as described in step S14.

  Next, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the pressure load value P detected by the load detection unit 40 exceeds the load reference value P1 (step S23). For an input object that is not an interrupted input object, the input is accepted if an input exceeding a load reference value P1 smaller than P2 is made, as in the case of performing a normal operation input. Process as. Therefore, when the pressing load P with a value exceeding the load reference value P1 is not detected by the load detection unit 40 in step S23, it is determined whether or not the input by the user to the input unit 34 has been released (step S24).

  If the input is not canceled in step S24 (that is, the user has not removed the fingertip or the like from the input unit 34), the control unit 20 returns to step S23 and the value P of the pressing load detected by the load detection unit 40. To monitor. If the input by the user to the input unit 34 is canceled in step S24, the input object touched by the user is treated as not input, and the highlight display is canceled (step S17). This process ends.

  On the other hand, when the pressing load P exceeding the load reference value P1 is detected by the load detection unit 40 in step S23, the control unit 20 notifies the user that the pressing load P has exceeded the load reference value P1. Therefore, the vibration unit 50 is vibrated (step S25). In this case as well, the vibration generated by the vibration unit 50 may be the same vibration regardless of the type of input, but the user can identify that the pressing load P has exceeded the load reference value P1. In this case, it is preferable that the vibration has a specific mode.

  Further, in step S25, the control unit 20 changes the display of the display unit 32 to indicate that the input object whose input has been detected has been pressed. That is, for example, the highlighted input object as shown in FIG. 6B is displayed as shown in FIG. 6C to indicate that the input object is pressed. . Thereby, the user can visually recognize that the pressing input by his / her fingertip or the like touching the input unit 34 is appropriately received as the pressing input with respect to the input object.

  After step S25, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the pressing force input by the user to the input unit 34 has decreased, and the pressing load P detected by the load detection unit 40 has become equal to or less than the load reference value P1. (Step S26). In step S26, when the pressing load P becomes equal to or less than the load reference value P1, the control unit 20 accepts that the operation input for the input object that is currently accepting the input is confirmed (step S27). ).

  Further, in step S27, the control unit 20 returns the display of the display unit 32 to the highlight display so as to indicate that the pressing of the input object whose input is detected is released. That is, for example, the display indicating that the input object as shown in FIG. 6C is pressed is returned to the highlighted input object display as shown in FIG. 6B. . Thereby, the user can visually recognize that the pressing input to the input object is confirmed as an input and that the pressing force pressing the input object is relaxed appropriately.

  After step S27, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the input by the user to the input unit 34 has been canceled (step S21). If the input is not canceled in step S21 (that is, the user has not removed the fingertip or the like from the input unit 34), the control unit 20 continues to monitor the pressing load P detected by the load detection unit 40. If the input by the user to the input unit 34 is canceled in step S21, the process proceeds to step S17 described above to cancel the highlight display, and this process ends.

  An operation according to the above processing will be specifically described with reference to a typical embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, a case is assumed where a new e-mail creation application is started, a character input object is displayed on the display unit 32 of the touch panel 30, and a user input to the input unit 34 is received. To do. Such normal operation input such as e-mail character input is performed with a pressing load exceeding a load reference value P1 of 1 N (Newton), for example, based on a normal pressing force by which the user performs normal operation input. .

  In this way, it is assumed that a call is received while character input is being accepted by the new e-mail creation application. When a call is received, an application for making a telephone call is activated, and “call” and “disconnect” input objects as shown in FIG. In order for the input to the input object interrupted to be displayed in this way to be accepted effectively, the user has to set a load standard value, for example, 3N, which is larger than the normal pressing force (P1) when performing normal operation input. It is necessary to perform an operation input with a pressing load exceeding P2 (B1).

  Therefore, even if the user makes an input to the input unit 34 without noticing the suddenly changed incoming call screen while inputting the characters of the e-mail, the user can unintentionally use the “call” or “disconnect” key. Inputs made to the service will not be accepted. In addition, when the user notices a sudden incoming call incoming screen while inputting e-mail characters, even if the user makes an input to the input unit 34 in time to change the operation, the key is not intended. Input is not accepted.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, only the first pressing input for the input object interrupted and displayed on the display unit 32 is set to a load that is larger (heavy) than the pressing load based on the normal operation input. An input with a pressing load that is larger (heavy) than a normal operation input is an input different from various input modes (for example, long press, double press such as double click, etc.) assumed as a normal input method. . Therefore, input in various input modes assumed as a normal input method is not accepted for an input object that is displayed as an interrupt. Will not be accepted. That is, an input due to an erroneous operation not intended by the user is avoided.

  Furthermore, if the user recognizes that the screen has changed to the incoming call screen during the input of e-mail characters, the user presses a pressure slightly stronger than the normal pressing force for normal operation input. Make an operation input intentionally with pressure. As a result, the press input to the “call” or “disconnect” key is effectively accepted as intended.

  When an input object is interrupted and displayed by the processing of the present embodiment, a display that suggests to the user that input to the input object needs to be input with a stronger pressing force than during normal operation input. It is preferred to do so. For example, like the input object for the “call” and “disconnect” keys shown in FIG. 7B, it is displayed on the display unit 32 in a color different from the input object for the other keys and displayed as an interrupt. It can be emphasized that the object is an input object. Further, when such an interrupt display input object is displayed on the display unit 32, it is displayed together with characters such as “Please touch the key strongly” as shown in FIG. Also good.

  Another embodiment will be described. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, a case is assumed in which a web browser application is started, an Internet website is displayed on the display unit 32 of the touch panel 30, and a user input to the input unit 34 is received. . In the screen shown in FIG. 8A, the underlined character string (link) is an input object, and the user jumps to another page (site) by pressing each input object. it can. Such a normal operation input such as an input for pressing the jump destination link is performed by a pressing load exceeding a load reference value P1 of 1 N, for example, based on a normal pressing force by which the user performs a normal operation input. .

  In this way, it is assumed that there is a request to display a pop-up advertisement for this application while the web browser application is pressing and inputting the link. When the request for displaying the pop-up advertisement is processed, an input object for the pop-up advertisement as shown in FIG. In order for the input to the input object interrupted to be displayed in this way to be accepted effectively, the user has to set a load standard value, for example, 3N, which is larger than the normal pressing force (P1) when performing normal operation input. It is necessary to perform an operation input with a pressing load exceeding P2 (B1).

  Therefore, even if the user makes an input to the input unit 34 without noticing that the pop-up advertisement is suddenly displayed while trying to press the jump destination link, the user unintentionally performs the pop-up advertisement. Input will not be accepted. In addition, the user noticed that the pop-up advertisement was suddenly displayed while trying to press the link, but even if the user made an input to the input unit 34 in time to change the operation, the pop-up was unintentionally popped up. Input made to ads is not accepted.

  Further, when the user recognizes that the pop-up advertisement is displayed, the user intentionally performs the operation input with a slightly stronger pressing force than the normal pressing force when performing the normal operation input. . Thereby, the input to the pop-up advertisement is effectively accepted as intended.

  It should be noted that, when an input object such as a pop-up advertisement is interrupted and displayed by the processing of the present embodiment, it is necessary for the user to input an input to the input object with a stronger pressing force than during normal operation input. It is preferable to perform the display suggested in the above. For example, like the input object for the pop-up advertisement shown in FIG. 8B, the input object is displayed on the display unit 32 in a color different from the input object for the other keys and is interrupted. Can be emphasized. Further, when such an input object for interrupt display is displayed on the display unit 32, for example, it is displayed together with characters such as “Please touch the display strongly” as shown in FIG. Also good.

  As shown in FIG. 8B or 8C, there may be a case where a plurality of input objects are mixed because other input objects are interrupted and displayed where the input objects were originally displayed. . Even in such a case, the normal operation input can be performed with the normal pressing force exceeding P1 for the input object originally displayed by the processing of the present embodiment. On the other hand, an input object that is interrupted and displayed later is not regarded as an input unless the pressing force exceeds P2, which is larger than a normal operation input. Therefore, even when a plurality of input objects are mixed, the input of the input object originally displayed and the input object displayed by interruption can be distinguished from each other.

  In addition, this invention is not limited only to embodiment mentioned above, Many change or deformation | transformation is possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that the load reference values P1 and P2 are set in advance. However, it is desirable that the user can appropriately change or adjust as necessary. In this way, if the user feels uncomfortable about the setting of the pressing load during the operation, the setting can be appropriately corrected later.

  In the processing according to the above-described embodiment, when the load reference value exceeds P1 or P2, it is not yet determined as an input, and after the load reference value exceeds P1 or P2, it becomes P1 or P2 or less, respectively. It is determined that the operation input has been confirmed. However, these processes may be simplified, and the process may be performed as input immediately when the load reference value reaches or exceeds P1 or P2.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the pressing load input by the user exceeds P1 or P2, the vibration unit 40 is vibrated so that the user can recognize that. However, it is not an essential requirement to generate vibration in such a case, and in addition to vibration, a specific sound can be generated from the audio output unit 80, for example. Moreover, you may show that the pressing load of the input by a user exceeded P1 or P2 by changing the color and display mode of the object for input which has received the said input on the display part 32. FIG.

  Further, in addition to those described in the above embodiment, for example, the vibration unit 40 may be vibrated in step S20 or step S27 to indicate that the process for the user input is being performed appropriately.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mobile phone 20 Control part 30 Touch panel 32 Display part 34 Input part 40 Load detection part 50 Vibration part 60 Memory | storage part 70 Voice input part 80 Voice output part 90 Key input part

The present invention relates to an input device and an input device control method , and more particularly to an input device having a touch panel and an input device control method .

Accordingly, an object of the present invention made in view of such circumstances is to accept an operation input intended by the user and avoid an operation input not intended by the user without diminishing the advantages of the touch panel including the input unit and the display unit. It is an object to provide an input device and a method for controlling the input device .

The invention of the input device according to claim 1 that achieves the above object is as follows:
A display for displaying objects ;
An input unit for detecting pressure on the object displayed on the display unit;
A control unit that controls the process associated with the object displayed by interruption on the display unit to be performed based on a strong press rather than the process associated with the object displayed on the display unit; ,
Input device with a
The invention of the control method of the input device according to claim 2 that achieves the above-mentioned object is as follows:
A display for displaying objects;
An input unit comprising: an input unit that detects pressure on an object displayed on the display unit;
The processing associated with the object displayed by interruption on the display unit is controlled to be performed based on a strong press, rather than the processing associated with the object displayed on the display unit. .

Next, an outline of processing when an input object interrupt occurs according to the present embodiment will be described . In performing this process, first, a load reference for determining that an input has been made to the input unit 34 for performing a normal operation input on the input object displayed on the display unit 32 before the occurrence of an interrupt is set in advance. To do. Hereinafter, this load standard will be described.

Claims (1)

A display unit for displaying an input object;
An input unit that receives a pressing input to the input object displayed on the display unit;
A load detection unit for detecting a pressing load on the input unit;
A control unit that controls to accept the pressing input when the pressing load detected by the load detecting unit satisfies a load standard, and
The control unit is configured to increase a load reference for receiving a press input to the input object displayed by interruption on the display unit, rather than a load reference for receiving a press input to the input object displayed on the display unit. An input device characterized by being controlled.

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