JP2014016859A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device capable of performing normal input such that even when tips of a finger and a long nail touch a touch panel at the same time, the input device detects each of the tips and performs determination processing.SOLUTION: An input device 1 includes: a screen display unit 4 that displays a plurality of input buttons on a screen; and a touch panel unit 3 that is provided so as to cover the screen display unit 4. When contact with the touch panel unit 3 is detected, the input device 1 determines a detection area including a detected position, and determines that an input button displayed on the screen display unit 4 is depressed. When contact at a plurality of positions on the touch panel unit 3 is detected, according to a distance L between centers of detection areas T, the input device 1 determines that an input button corresponding to any one of the detection areas T is depressed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device configured with a touch panel for allowing a user to input information.

  A variety of input devices having touch panels for allowing a user to input information are provided. Recently, there are portable electronic devices (tablets, mobile phones, electronic dictionaries, etc.) that are portable and automatic transaction devices installed in financial institutions, including car navigation devices. In particular, a touch panel of an automatic transaction apparatus is larger than a portable electronic device. Therefore, when the user presses the key on the touch panel with a finger and an accessory or the like worn on the sleeve of the clothes or the wrist touches the touch panel, it is determined that a plurality of keys are pressed and input is invalidated. In order to solve such a problem, there is an automatic transaction apparatus that can normally input even when a sleeve of clothes is touched (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-262509 A

  However, the above-described technique has the following problems. In recent years, a touch panel may be operated by a user who has long fingernails or a user who wears false nails. In the case of an automatic transaction apparatus, “payment”, “payment”, “balance inquiry”, “transfer” keys, etc. are displayed side by side on the transaction selection screen. In such a case, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, even when a sleeve of clothes is touched, it can be processed normally.

  However, when a user with a long nail operates, it is determined that a plurality of keys are pressed, and the input may be invalidated. In particular, optical touch panels used in recent years have high resolution, and it has become possible to detect a gap between a finger and a finger and a gap between a fingertip and a long nail. For example, even when the “payment” key is intended to be pressed, the tip of the long nail touches another transaction selection key provided on the upper stage of the “payment” key. In this case, the automatic transaction apparatus determines that it is treated as a two-point input and does not accept a transaction selection. Therefore, there is a problem that the user feels annoyed that the user presses the tip of the long nail so that the tip of the long nail does not touch, presses only with the tip of the long nail, or presses on another part, and the service is lowered.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an input device that can normally input by detecting and processing the fingertips and the long-nail tips touching the touch panel at the same time.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a screen display unit that displays a plurality of input buttons on a screen and a touch panel unit provided so as to cover the screen display unit, and the touch to the touch panel unit is An input device that, when detected, determines that the input button displayed on the screen display unit has been pressed by determining a detection region including the detected position, and the touch panel unit includes a plurality of touch panels When the detection area is detected and the distance between the centers of the detection areas is within a predetermined first threshold, the input button corresponding to the detection area closer to the user among the plurality of detection areas A control unit for determining that is pressed.

  According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, when an optical touch panel is input, even if there is a user's unintentional pressing that the tip of the long nail touches in addition to the pressing by the fingertip, it is normally input without being invalidated. There is an effect.

It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the automatic transaction apparatus regarding 1st Embodiment. It is a system configuration figure of an automatic transaction device about a 1st embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the automatic transaction apparatus regarding 1st Embodiment, and a user's standing position relationship. It is explanatory drawing which shows the key pressing state regarding 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the pressing state used as two-point input regarding 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation history information regarding 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other key pressing state regarding 1st Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, the automatic transaction apparatus 1 will be described as an example of the input device. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the automatic transaction apparatus according to the first embodiment. The automatic transaction apparatus 1 is installed in a store of a financial institution such as a bank or a store such as a convenience store, and automatically performs a financial transaction by a user operation. The automatic transaction apparatus 1 includes an operation display unit 2, a receipt printer 5, a card reader 6, a passbook entry unit 7, a banknote deposit / withdrawal unit 8, a coin deposit / withdrawal unit 9, a journal recording unit 10, a camera 11, a speaker 12, and a control unit. 13 and a storage unit 14.

  The operation display unit 2 is provided on the front surface of the automatic transaction apparatus 1 and is configured by a combination of a touch panel unit 3 including an optical touch panel and a screen display unit 4 having a display screen such as an LCD. The screen display unit 4 displays illustrations and characters for operation guidance of transactions, a plurality of input buttons for input, and the like. On the other hand, the touch panel unit 3 is provided so as to cover the screen display unit 4 and has a switch function. As a result, a key press from the user is accepted.

  The receipt printer 5 issues a transaction statement slip on which transaction details are printed. The transaction statement slip is a piece of paper on which information relating to a financial transaction performed by a user such as deposit, withdrawal, balance inquiry, transfer, or transfer is printed. The card reader 6 has a function of reading the above information from a cash card or a transfer card in which user information such as a code issued by a financial institution, a user account number, and a name is stored. The card insertion / return port provided on the front side of the card reader 6 (in the case of the automatic transaction apparatus 21 shown in FIG. 3B described later, the card insertion / return port 26) allows insertion and return of cash cards and transfer cards. Done. Note that the above-described cash card and transfer card are provided with a magnetic stripe in which information such as the user's name and account number is recorded. Recently, the member for storing the above-described information may be an IC (integrated circuit) embedded in the card base.

  The passbook entry unit 7 has a function of printing on the passbook. Here, the passbook is a booklet-like medium issued by a financial institution to a user, and records financial transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, transfers and transfers. The passbook entry unit 7 includes a passbook insertion / return port into which the passbook is inserted. In the passbook insertion / return port, there are a transport mechanism for transporting the passbook, a print head for printing transaction records on the passbook, and a magnetic head for reading, overwriting, erasing, etc. of information stored in the magnetic stripe of the passbook and IC. Is disposed.

  The banknote deposit / withdrawal unit 8 authenticates and counts the banknotes deposited by the user and stores them in a denomination storage (not shown). Moreover, the banknote paid to a user is taken out from a money type storage. The banknote deposit / withdrawal unit 8 includes a banknote deposit / withdrawal slot (in the case of the automatic transaction apparatus 21 shown in FIG. 3B described later), a banknote deposit / withdrawal slot for receiving a banknote inserted by a user. And it functions as a banknote outlet for delivering banknotes to the user.

  The coin deposit / withdrawal unit 9 authenticates and counts coins deposited by the user, conveys them, and stores them in a denomination storage (not shown). Moreover, the coin paid to the user is paid out from the denomination storage. The coin deposit / withdrawal section 9 includes a coin deposit / withdrawal slot (a coin deposit / withdrawal section 29 in the case of the automatic transaction apparatus 21 shown in FIG. 3B described later), and a coin deposit / withdrawal slot for receiving the coins inserted by the user. And it functions as a coin outlet for handing over coins to users.

  When the user executes a financial transaction using the automatic transaction apparatus 1, the journal recording unit 10 records the transaction serial number, transaction item, date and time, and store or machine number. The journal recording unit 10 includes a print output to a paper medium and an electronic record to an electronic medium as a recording format. The camera 11 mainly captures a hand image of the user who operates the screen with the upper body part as a standing image of the user. One frame (frame) of the photographed image can be recorded in the journal recording unit 10 described above in association with the transaction record. It is also possible to recognize the presence of the user from the imaging of the camera 11 and whether the user is operating with the right hand or the left hand.

  The speaker 12 for voice guidance is controlled by the control unit 13, and in addition to the screen guidance of the screen display unit 4, the voice guidance speaker 12 further assists by voice. The storage unit 14 stores a transaction processing program executed by the control unit 13, a processing result by the control unit 13, and the like.

  The control unit 13 is connected to the Web server 16 and the communication line 17 via an interface unit (not shown). The Web server 16 has a storage device 160. The storage device 160 stores transaction information such as screens and documents. The Web server 16 can transmit the transaction information to the control unit 13 via the communication line 17 in response to a request from the control unit 13. The Web server 16 can also search and edit the stored transaction information and output the result. Further, the Web server 16 is connected to a host computer 19 by a dedicated line 18. The storage device 190 of the host computer 19 stores various information such as the user's address, name, account number, personal identification number, and account balance information.

  Here, the touch panel unit 3 will be described. The touch panel unit 3 is an optical type, and a light emitting diode (LED) that emits infrared rays that cannot be seen with the naked eye and a phototransistor are arranged in pairs, and a plurality of optical axes are formed in a mesh (matrix). For example, light emitting diode columns are arranged on the upper end side and the left end side, and phototransistor columns are arranged on the lower end side and the right end side. The display screen is scanned by sequentially turning on and off the light emitting diodes (light sources), and when the optical axis is shielded by a finger or the like, one of the locations is calculated as a detection coordinate. In this calculation operation, the control unit 13 processes raw shading axis data. Some devices provided as touch panel devices are controlled by a control unit such as a CPU based on a program (software) stored in a memory or the like configured inside the touch panel.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the standing position relationship between the automatic transaction apparatus and the user according to the first embodiment. Fig.3 (a) shows the case where the automatic transaction apparatus 1 and the user H are seen from upper direction. The user H stands on the front side of the operation display unit 2 provided substantially horizontally. As shown in the drawing, when the user H operates with the right hand, the wrist is positioned in the lower right direction with respect to the operation display unit 2, and the fingertip extends in the upper left direction from the wrist position. In other words, when starting from the human body (torso) side, the arm and the hand protrude to the operation display unit 2 side. Thus, when the operation display part 2 is arrange | positioned substantially horizontal, it is assumed that a part of nail | claw, a fingertip, and the sleeve (including the bracelet etc. which are mounted | worn on the wrist) of clothes are touched.

  FIG. 3B shows an example of the automatic transaction apparatus 21 in which the operation display unit 22 is arranged in a substantially vertical state. This automatic transaction apparatus 21 is a space-saving bill deposit / withdrawal machine installed in a convenience store or the like. The automatic transaction apparatus 21 includes an operation display unit 22, a card insertion / return port 26, a banknote deposit / withdrawal unit 28, and a coin deposit / withdrawal unit 29. In the case of this automatic transaction apparatus 21, the wrist is positioned below the operation display unit 22, and the fingertip extends upward from the wrist position. In other words, when starting from the human body (torso) side, the arm and the hand protrude from the lower side to the operation display unit 22 side. When the operation display unit 22 is arranged in a substantially vertical state as described above, it is unlikely that a part of the sleeve or the bracelet will be touched due to the bending angle of the elbow (joint), but the tip of the long nail can be touched. Sexuality increases. In the following description, it is assumed that the wrist of the user H is located on the lower end side of the touch panel unit 3.

  Next, the case where the tip of a fingertip and a long-nail touches the touch panel unit 3 will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a key press state according to the first embodiment. In the figure, the solid lines described in a mesh shape in the X and Y directions mean “optical axis” and are not visible.

  FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of a fingertip when a user H who has long nails (including artificial nails for decoration purposes, etc.) touches the touch panel unit 3. As shown in the figure, the fingertip F and the long nail tip N are located on the touch panel unit 3. 4B shows a case where the optical axis is shielded by the fingertip F and the long nail tip N. FIG. As shown in the figure, the X-axis is a case where five optical axes (x4 to x8) indicated by arrows are shielded from light and the Y-axis is indicated by six (y3, y6 to y10) indicated by arrows. The area formed by the intersection of the intersection of the X axis and the Y axis that are shielded from light is hereinafter referred to as a detection area. In the Y axis, there are two optical axes (y4, y5) that are not shielded. In the same figure, T1 shows the detection area | region of the tip N of a long nail. T2 indicates the detection area of the fingertip F. N1 indicates the center position of the detection area T1 of the long nail tip N. F1 indicates the center position of the detection area T2 of the fingertip F.

  Further, the touch panel unit 3 may determine that, for example, the number of light shielding axes is 10 or more on either the X axis or the Y axis. In that case, the control unit 13 determines that an abnormal contact detection has occurred, and notifies the error by invalidating the pressing, but detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a pressed state that is a two-point input according to the first embodiment. Two-point input is a case where an input button is placed on any of the corresponding detection areas. In the case of only one, the determination process is not performed as a two-point input. FIG. 5A shows a case where the fingertip F and the long nail tip N touch the touch panel unit 3. FIG. 5B shows an example of a state in which when the user presses the touch panel unit 3 with the fingertip F, the sleeve W of the wrist-side clothes also touches the touch panel unit 3. In the figure, T3 indicates a detection region of the sleeve W.

  Next, the operation of detecting multiple point coordinates in the touch panel unit 3 will be described. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic transaction apparatus according to the first embodiment. First, the control unit 13 causes the operation display unit 2 to display an input screen related to the transaction, starts scanning on the display screen, and waits for an input operation by the user H. That is, the presence or absence of contact (button depression) on the touch panel unit 3 is monitored. When a button press is detected, the press information is held for a certain period of time.

  S101: When the light shielding is detected, the control unit 13 determines whether there are a plurality of detected detection areas T. For example, when the long nail tip N and the fingertip F touch the touch panel unit 3 as shown in FIG. 4B, the detection region T1 of the long nail tip N and the detection region T2 of the fingertip F There will be two detection areas. When there are a plurality of detection areas T, the process proceeds to the next step 102. If there are not a plurality of detection areas T, the process proceeds to step 112.

  S102: When there are a plurality of detection areas T, the control unit 13 determines whether or not the input screen is a “specific screen”. Here, the specific screen is a transaction screen that may be disadvantageous to the user if processing is executed against the intention of the user, such as a transaction confirmation screen displayed when confirming the transaction. . Specifically, the payment amount confirmation screen, the payment amount confirmation screen, the transfer transaction (transfer destination) confirmation screen, the PIN number input screen, and the like are not determined according to the transaction item. These specific screens are determined and set in advance by a system provider or an operator of the automatic transaction apparatus 1. When the screen having a plurality of detection areas is not the specific screen, the control unit 13 proceeds to step 103. If it is a specific screen, the process proceeds to step 112.

  S103: When there are a plurality of detection areas, the control unit 13 calculates the center-to-center distance L of each detection area T. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, the detection area T2 of the fingertip F is a quadrilateral with five X-axis directions (x4 to x8) and five Y-axis directions (y6 to y10), and the long nail tip N In the detection region T1, the X-axis direction has five (x4 to x8) and one Y-axis direction (y3) quadrangle. The center positions F1 and N1 of these squares are calculated from the light shielding coordinate positions, and the center distance L1 is obtained. Similarly, in the case shown in FIG. 5B, a center-to-center distance L2 between the detection area T2 of the fingertip F and the detection area T3 of the sleeve W is obtained.

  The distance from the tip N to the fingertip F to the sleeve W of these long nails can be calculated ergonomically. In the present embodiment, the distance L between the centers of one optical axis or more (approximately 2 to 4 mm or more) to less than 40 mm is the threshold value for the distance from the long nail tip N to the fingertip F (hereinafter referred to as the first threshold value). To do. Further, the distance L from the center to 40 mm to 200 mm is set as a threshold for the distance from the fingertip F to the sleeve W (hereinafter referred to as a second threshold). This considers how to bend the hand during a touch operation. This is because, for example, there is a possibility of contact with the base of the thumb or when the finger is rolled inward as shown in FIG. The first and second threshold values are set in consideration of these factors. Note that the length from the fingertip to the wrist is approximately 180 to 190 mm.

  The next step is switched by the center distance L. That is, when the center distance L is within the first threshold, the control unit 13 proceeds to step 104. If the center distance L is outside the first threshold, the control unit 13 proceeds to step 105.

  S104: Since the center-to-center distance L is within the first threshold, it can be determined that the long nail tip N and the fingertip F are in contact with the touch panel unit 3. Therefore, the control unit 13 determines that the key is pressed closer to the user H, that is, the key pressed corresponding to the detection area T2 of the fingertip F.

  S105: The control unit 13 determines whether the center-to-center distance L is within the second threshold. If it is within the second threshold, the process proceeds to step 106. In addition, the control part 13 transfers to step 107, when it is outside a 2nd threshold value.

  S106: It can be determined that the fingertip F and the sleeve W are in contact with the touch panel unit 3. Accordingly, the control unit 13 determines that the key press corresponding to the detection area T2 of the fingertip F is a key press far from the user H.

  S107: The control unit 13 inquires about the past operation history of the same user (account number, etc.) information. First, the control unit 13 transmits a user (account number etc.) information inquiry instruction to the Web server 16 via the communication line 17. The Web server 16 that has received the inquiry searches the user operation history in the storage device 160.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing operation history information related to the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, for each account number, a transaction date, a transaction item, a transaction screen, a push button name, and the like are recorded. For example, in the “Payment” transaction dated May 1, 2012, it is recorded that a 10,000 yen withdrawal operation has been performed, and the “1” button → “10,000” button → “Yen” button on the amount input screen → It is recorded that the “Confirm” button is pressed in order and the “Issued” button is pressed on the statement slip issue selection screen. It is also recorded that a “payment” transaction was made on May 10 of the same year.

  S <b> 108: The control unit 13 receives past transaction history information from the Web server 16. When past transaction history information exists, for example, transaction history information for the last 10 transactions is received and stored in the storage unit 14. Subsequently, the control unit 13 searches the transaction history information in the same transaction as the input operation on the current operation screen. If it exists, the process proceeds to the next step 109.

  S109: The control unit 13 determines whether the transaction history information stored in the storage unit 14 includes the same “operation history” as the input operation on the current operation screen a predetermined number of times or more (for example, two or more times). Search for. If it is determined that it exists more than once, the process proceeds to the next step 110.

  S110: The control unit 13 determines whether the center coordinates of the detection area of the input button frequently pressed and the center coordinates of the current detection area match or are within an allowable range in the same transaction in the past transaction history information. Compare Needless to say, the screen layout in the past is the same as the current operation screen without any subsequent changes.

  S111: The control unit 13 determines that an input button having a high pressing frequency in the same transaction in the past is a pressed position. As a result, it can be specified as an input button that the user would have pressed. Therefore, there is an effect that the re-input operation can be made unnecessary.

  S112: The automatic determination process is not executed in the case where the detection area is single in step 101 and the specific screen in step 102. Further, when there is no past operation history information in step 108, when the same operation history in step 109 is equal to or less than a predetermined number of times (for example, once), and further in step 110, the center coordinates and the detection area of the detection area in the transaction history The automatic determination process is not executed even when the center coordinates of the two do not match.

  In the example described above, the fingertip F is parallel to the Y axis as shown in FIG. In this case, the detection area T2 of the fingertip F and the detection area T1 of the long nail tip N have the same optical axis in the Y-axis direction. Here, it is assumed that the fingertip F is inclined in the case of a companion user or a wheelchair user. It is also assumed that the fingertip F may be parallel to the X axis.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another key pressing state related to the first embodiment. FIG. 7A shows a case where the fingertip F is slanted and the sleeve W comes into contact. The detection area To2 by the fingertip F and the detection area To3 by the sleeve W are portions where the user H is directly touching. In the case of the optical touch panel, since the area where the optical axis is blocked becomes the detection area, the areas of the first detection area V1 and the second detection area V2 are also determined as “touch”. In this case, the control unit 13 excludes the first detection region V1 and the second detection region V2 from the determination target from the analysis of the imaging of the camera 11. That is, even if four detection areas To2, To3, V1, and V2 as shown in FIG. 7A are detected, the detection areas V1 and V2 in which no hand or sleeve is present on the operation display unit 2 are ignored. It may be controlled to.

  FIG. 7B shows a case where the finger is turned sideways. In this case, as in step 104, it is not possible to determine “distant side” and “near side” from the user. In this case, the control unit 13 determines based on the size of the area of the detection region T1 or T2. That is, the larger area of the detection region T1 or T2 may be determined as the “fingertip”.

  In Step 103 and Step 104 in the first embodiment, the center distance L between the plurality of detection regions T is calculated, and it is determined whether the center distance L is within the first threshold and the second threshold. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the areas of the plurality of detection regions T may be calculated and these areas may be compared. That is, the area of the detection region T is obtained by multiplying the number of shielded optical axes by the optical axis pitch (value). The optical axis pitch is not a physical light emitting diode or phototransistor mounting pitch, but a resolution (for example, 1/2 of the mounting pitch). And since the area of the detection area | region T1 of the tip N of a long nail is smaller than the area of the detection area | region T2 of the fingertip F, these can be made into determination conditions.

  In the first embodiment, the automatic transaction apparatus has been described as an example of the input device, but it goes without saying that it can also be used for a portable personal computer such as a tablet PC, a mobile phone, an electronic dictionary, and an electronic compass. . In particular, in a touch panel as a portable electronic device, the password input screen is small in size, has a large number of display characters, and the number of password characters is indefinite (for example, 6 to 18 characters), so that the present invention is useful. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic transaction apparatus 2 Operation display part 3 Touch panel part 4 Screen display part 13 Control part 14 Memory | storage part 16 Web server 160 Memory | storage device T1 Long-nail tip N detection area T2 Fingertip F detection area T3 Sleeve W detection area

Claims (10)

A screen display for displaying a plurality of input buttons on the screen;
A touch panel provided to cover the screen display unit is arranged,
An input device for determining that an input button displayed on the screen display unit has been pressed by determining a detection region including a detected position when contact with the touch panel unit is detected. ,
When the touch panel unit detects a plurality of detection areas and the distance between the centers of the detection areas is within a predetermined first threshold, the detection area closer to the user among the plurality of detection areas An input device comprising: a control unit that determines that the input button corresponding to the button is pressed.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold is a value calculated from a distance between a fingertip and a long nail tip.   When the distance between the centers of the detection areas is within a second threshold value that is larger than the first threshold value, the control unit sets the detection area far from the user among the plurality of detection areas. The input device according to claim 2, wherein it is determined that the corresponding input button is pressed.   The input device according to claim 3, wherein the second threshold value is a value calculated from a distance between a fingertip and a long sleeve. A storage device for recording the operation history information of the input button related to the user;
When the distance between the centers of the detection areas is outside a predetermined threshold, the control unit reads the input button operation history information from the storage device, and operates the input buttons corresponding to one of the detection areas. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein if there is history information, it is determined that the input button has been pressed.   6. The input device according to claim 5, wherein if the operation history of the input button is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times, it is determined that the input button has been pressed.   If the operation history of the input button is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times, and the center coordinates of the history detection area coincide with the center coordinates of the current detection area in the same transaction, it is determined that the input button has been pressed. The input device according to claim 5.   When the touch panel unit detects a plurality of detection areas, whether to determine that an input button corresponding to one of the detection areas is pressed is set for each transaction screen. The input device according to claim 1, wherein:   When the touch panel unit detects a plurality of detection areas and the transaction screen is a specific screen, the control unit has pressed an input button corresponding to one of the detection areas. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the determination is not performed. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the specific screen is a transaction screen that may be disadvantageous to a user when processing is executed against a user's intention.

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