JP2015138309A - Touch panel type portable terminal, control method therefor, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an operator to safely operate a touch panel type portable terminal in a stable state while holding it with both hands by reducing the necessity of an operation to release one hand without complicating a configuration.SOLUTION: A touch panel type portable terminal (tablet PC 1) configured to perform a display and input operation by using a touch panel 10 includes: a drag operation detection part 40 for detecting a drag operation to trace a touch panel 10 in a predetermined direction in the neighborhood of a screen end while pressing the finger of an operator against the touch panel 10; and a display control part 44 for, when the drag operation is detected, displaying a list region 50 of user choices at the screen end of the touch panel 10, and for performing the notification of the information of the user choice selected in the list region 50.

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel portable terminal, a control method thereof, and a computer program, and in particular, reduces the need for an operation of releasing one hand on a tablet personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a tablet PC) having a larger screen than a smartphone. The present invention relates to a touch panel type portable terminal, a control method thereof, and a computer program that can be safely operated in a stable state while being held in a mobile phone.

  When using a tablet PC with a larger screen than a smartphone as a computer for controlling the measuring machine, “operation while holding with one hand”, which increases the risk of operation mistakes and dropping, is a barrier. A typical operation of the tablet PC is a touch panel operation called a tap corresponding to a mouse click operation.

  In the case of a tablet PC 1 with a large display (touch panel 10 in the figure) as shown in FIG. 1, the most stable way to hold it with both hands 2 and 6 is to select a folder or file as shown in FIG. Any one of the icons 16 in the window displaying a list of folders and files must be tapped with the index finger 3 of the right hand 2, for example, as shown in FIG. In this example, the operation is difficult unless the right hand 2) is released.

  In a tablet PC with a large display (touch panel), it is difficult to hold for a long time with one hand, and even when performing a tap operation, the touch panel is unstablely fixed, and an operation error is likely to occur. In addition, when held with one hand, the risk of dropping the tablet PC always increases.

  Since operations on folders and files are frequently performed when selecting measurement data or viewing print results, if these operations can be performed without removing your hands from the tablet PC, stability will increase and operation errors will be reduced. Not only can the risk of dropping the tablet PC be reduced.

  Although it is not possible to operate with both hands as in the present invention, the operability when touch input with the other hand while holding a portable terminal with a small screen size with one hand is not possible. As a technique to enhance, Patent Document 1 detects the position where the (parent) finger is in contact with the touch panel when holding the mobile terminal with one hand, and changes the position of the user interface to a position close to the contact position. It is described to display.

  Similarly to Patent Document 1, Patent Documents 2 and 3 also describe techniques for facilitating operations performed while being held with one hand.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 4, a three-dimensional distance sensor that outputs a three-dimensional position from a shift due to parallax of images obtained from left and right imaging elements is provided in a portable terminal in order to facilitate an input operation with both hands. It is described that the operation target is moved and displayed at a position where it can be easily operated on the portable terminal by using the three-dimensional position information of the face and hand obtained from the three-dimensional distance sensor.

JP 2013-125471 A JP 2002-73249 A JP 2010-79442 A JP 2012-155480 A

  However, when the user interface is displayed near the thumb with the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is easy to operate when the back of the mobile terminal is supported by the other four fingers and the thumb can be moved freely. It is assumed that the mobile terminal has a small screen size. Similarly, Patent Documents 2 and 3 do not enable operation with both hands as in the present invention. Further, Patent Document 4 has a problem that it is necessary to provide a three-dimensional distance sensor, and the configuration is complicated and the cost is increased.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, reduces the need for releasing one hand without complicating the configuration, and keeps the touch panel portable terminal in a stable state with both hands. The task is to enable safe operation.

  The present invention relates to a touch panel type portable terminal configured to perform display and input operations using a touch panel, and to detect a drag operation that traces a predetermined direction near the screen edge while pressing an operator's finger against the touch panel. An operation detection unit; and a display control unit for displaying a list of user options on the screen edge of the touch panel when the drag operation is detected, and notifying information on the user options selected in the list area; By solving, the above-mentioned problem is solved.

  Here, the user options can be displayed as index labels in the list area.

  Further, the list area can be displayed on the screen edge opposite to the direction traced with the finger.

  In addition, when the number of user options to be displayed is larger than the display limit number of the list area, it is possible to perform a scroll operation with a finger.

  When the list area is displayed, the user can return to the original display state where the list area is not displayed by tapping with a finger at a place other than the list area or by not operating for a certain period of time. .

  In addition, the touch panel type portable terminal can be connected to a measuring apparatus so as to be able to communicate.

  The present invention also provides a control method for a touch panel type portable terminal that performs display and input operations using a touch panel, and drags in a predetermined direction near the edge of the screen while pressing an operator's finger against the touch panel. When an operation is detected and a drag operation is detected, a list area of user options is displayed on the edge of the screen of the touch panel, and information on the user options selected in the list area is notified. It has been solved.

The present invention also provides a computer program for controlling a touch panel portable terminal configured to perform display and input operations using a touch panel.
A process of detecting a drag operation in the predetermined direction near the edge of the screen while pressing the operator's finger against the touch panel;
When the drag operation is detected, a process for displaying a list area of user options on the screen edge of the touch panel;
The problem is similarly solved by executing a process for notifying information on the user option selected in the list area.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the need for releasing one hand, and to perform a user option selection operation such as a folder or a file in a stable state while holding the touch panel portable terminal with both hands. The following effects can be expected.

(1) Improved usability The touch panel user interface according to the present invention enables selection of user options such as folders and files without releasing hands, and the user can continuously hold the tablet PC with both hands. Can be executed naturally. From these, stability can be improved and the convenience of the tablet PC can be improved.

(2) Improvement of safety By reducing the number of operations that need to release both hands holding the tablet PC, it is possible to reduce accidents such as dropping the tablet PC.

Front view showing a state in which a tablet PC is held with both hands for explaining a conventional problem Similarly, a front view showing a state in which icons of folders and files are listed in the window Similarly, a front view showing a state where the icon is selected by tapping the index finger Front view of an embodiment of the present invention Block diagram showing the same hardware configuration Block diagram showing functional configuration The front view which shows the state which displayed the list area | region in the 1st Example of this invention at the screen lower end by drag operation to the screen upward direction Similarly, a front view showing a state where a scroll bar for scrolling the list area at the bottom of the screen is displayed. Similarly, a front view showing a state where the list area at the bottom of the screen is scrolled A flow chart showing an example of the processing procedure The front view which shows the state which displayed the list area | region on the upper side by drag operation to the screen downward direction in 2nd Example of this invention. The front view which shows the state which displayed the list area | region on the right side by the drag operation to the screen left direction in 3rd Example of this invention. The front view which shows the state which displayed the list area | region on the left side by the drag operation to the screen right direction in 4th Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by the content described in the following embodiment and an Example. In addition, the constituent elements in the embodiments and examples described below include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those in the so-called equivalent range. Furthermore, the constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments and examples described below may be appropriately combined or may be appropriately selected and used.

  In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a tablet PC 1 whose outer shape is substantially rectangular as illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a so-called frame portion surrounding the touch panel 10 is narrow, and most of the front surface is occupied by the touch panel 10.

  Although not shown, various interfaces and mechanism elements such as a power switch, a volume operation unit, a camera lens window, a ventilation unit for audio output by a speaker, a connector, and a jack are provided on the outer surface of the tablet PC 1. Is arranged.

  The tablet PC 1 is connected to a measuring device 100 such as an image measuring device wirelessly or by wire, and is used for inputting a measurement instruction, displaying a measurement result, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the tablet PC 1 includes a communication circuit 22, a storage 24, a control circuit 30, and other components not shown in addition to the touch panel 10 described above. The communication circuit 22 is used for wireless communication and wired communication between the tablet PC 1 and an external device. The storage 24 is a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and is used for storing and temporarily storing various data. The control circuit 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 32 as a computer for executing a control program and various applications, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 34 as a work area for program execution, and a non-volatile storage for storing setting values for control. A memory 36 is provided.

  A functional configuration related to display and selection operation control in the tablet PC 1 is shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the touch panel 10 of the tablet PC 1 includes a touch input device 12 and a display 14, and the control circuit 30 includes a drag operation detection unit 40, a tap operation detection unit 42, a display control unit 44, and an operation control unit. 46. These components are realized by the CPU 32 of the control circuit 30 executing a control program.

  The drag operation detection unit 40 detects a drag operation that traces in a predetermined direction near the screen edge while pressing the operator's thumb, for example, against the touch panel 10. Note that the drag operation is not limited to the thumb, but may be dragged with another finger.

  The tap operation detection unit 42 detects that one of the options including the icon 16 has been tapped.

  The display control unit 44 controls display according to the drag operation detected by the drag operation detection unit 40 and the tap operation detected by the tap operation detection unit 42.

  The operation control unit 46 controls the operation of the tablet PC 1 according to options including the icon 16 selected by the tap operation.

  Hereinafter, display and control in the tablet PC 1 will be described with specific examples of display and selection operations.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7A, the thumb 4 (or 7) of the right hand 2 (or left hand 6) is placed on the screen while the tablet PC 1 is held by both hands 2 and 6. By tracing (referred to as thumb dragging), the list area 50 is displayed at the lower end of the screen as illustrated in FIG. 7B. In the list area 50, index labels 52 of folders and files are displayed.

  Here, when the number of folders or files to be displayed is larger than the display limit number of the list area 50, for example, a scroll bar 54 is displayed below the list area 50 so as to be scrollable as illustrated in FIG. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the list area 50 may be scrolled by dragging with the thumb 7 of the left hand 6, for example.

  In addition, when the list area 50 is displayed, a place other than the list area 50 is tapped with the thumb 4 or 7 or is not operated for a certain period of time, so that the list area 50 is not displayed. You can go back.

  Hereinafter, an example of a specific processing procedure of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step 100, it is determined whether or not a drag operation in a predetermined direction (here, the screen upward direction) as illustrated in FIG. When the determination result is positive, the process proceeds to step 110, and the list area 50 is displayed at the lower end of the screen as illustrated in FIG.

  Next, the process proceeds to step 120, where it is determined whether one of the index labels 52 displayed in the list area 50 has been tapped. If the determination result is positive, the process proceeds to step 130, where it is determined whether or not a list display is necessary in preparation for a case where the tapped option further includes a plurality of options (such as a folder). judge. If the determination result is positive, the process returns to step 110 and the processes of steps 110 to 130 are repeated.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in step 130 is negative, the process proceeds to step 140 to notify the OS or application of the tapped option information. That is, since the user interface is used by the OS or application, information on options (for example, file information and menu information) selected by the user (operator) is finally returned.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in step 120 is NO, the process proceeds to step 150 to determine whether or not a scroll operation as illustrated in FIG. 9 has been performed. If the determination result is positive, the process proceeds to step 160, and the display in the list area 50 is scrolled left and right so that the index label 52 that is not displayed can be displayed.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in step 150 is NO, the process proceeds to step 170, and it is determined whether the no-operation state has continued for a predetermined time or a place other than the list area 50 has been tapped. If the determination result is positive, the process proceeds to step 180 where the list area 50 is hidden and the process is terminated.

  If the determination result in step 170 is NO, or after step 160 ends, the process returns to step 120.

  FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment in which a drag operation in the downward direction on the screen is detected, and FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment in which a drag operation in the left direction on the screen is detected. FIG. 13 shows a fourth embodiment in which an operation is detected. Since the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

  According to the said embodiment, there exist the following effects.

(I) Internet browser In addition to bookmarks and histories of Internet browsers, hyperlinks in Web pages currently need to be released with one hand. If a bookmark or a history list is displayed in the list area 50 displayed by the drag operation, it is possible to ease browsing of the operator. Further, the list area 50 is displayed by the drag operation, and at the same time, a number such as a circle number 1 and a circle number 2 is displayed on the hyperlink in the Web page, and an icon displaying each number is displayed in the list area 50. If it can be selected, it is possible to select a hyperlink tap with a finger. It is also possible to display a hyperlink of a corresponding number by automatically scrolling a Web page at the same time as displaying an icon that is not displayed by a scroll operation.

(Ii) Browsing a document When entering a document, there is a case where a device such as a software keyboard can be input without releasing both hands. However, when browsing a plurality of documents, a tap operation for performing a folder operation or a file operation to select another file is required.
For example, if a list of files in the current folder can be displayed and selected in the list area 50 on the right side displayed by the drag operation, and a folder icon that can change the current folder is displayed in the list area 50 on the left side, Users can switch between documents without browsing their hands.

(Iii) Desktop operation The desktop displays differently for each OS, but any OS desktop needs to be scrolled and tapped with a finger.
If the icons on the desktop are displayed in the list area 50 displayed by the drag operation, the target application can be activated without releasing the hand.
In addition, mail reception notifications and message displays from applications are usually displayed in the center of the screen, but the OS or application automatically displays the list area 50 and displays this information, so It is possible to respond as it is without releasing it.

(Iv) Other applications By displaying the application menu in the list area 50, the number of operations that can be performed without releasing the hand is greatly increased. Furthermore, since the application displays unique options in the list area 50, there is a possibility that all operations can be performed without releasing the hand. If such applications increase, it will greatly contribute to the spread of tablet PCs.

  In addition, in the said embodiment, although the case where this invention was connected to the measuring apparatus was illustrated, the touchscreen type portable terminal which concerns on this invention is not limited to such illustration, Generally the portable terminal containing touchscreen type PC The same applies.

  The present invention is effective not only for the industry but also for general users.

(I) Expansion of users When a child or elderly person with low holding power operates, it becomes very unstable by holding one hand, and the risk of dropping the tablet PC or the like increases, but according to the present invention, It will be possible to provide tablet PCs and other devices that can be used by a wide range of users, which have been improved in safety and tend to be avoided by children and elderly people with small grip strength.

(II) Expansion of usage scenes such as tablet PCs In the following usage scenes in which the advantages of a large screen cannot be utilized due to the difficulty of holding one hand, expansion of usage in a wide range of ages can be expected.
-Announcement by holding a tablet PC etc. in elementary school, etc. Reference to encyclopedias and observation records by PCs, etc. Survey of authors and works of exhibits by tablet PCs in museums, etc. Map information and sightseeing spot confirmation (using GPS etc.) by tablet PCs etc. (In this case, since it is difficult for an adult to hold one hand, it is important in terms of safety to reduce the frequency of holding one hand.)
etc

1 ... Tablet PC
2, 6 ... hand 4, 7 ... thumb 10 ... touch panel 16 ... icon 22 ... communication circuit 24 ... storage 30 ... control circuit 32 ... CPU
34 ... RAM
36 ... Nonvolatile memory 40 ... Drag operation detection unit 42 ... Tap operation detection unit 44 ... Display control unit 46 ... Operation control unit 50 ... List area 52 ... Index label 54 ... Scroll bar 100 ... Measuring device

Claims (8)

In a touch panel type mobile terminal adapted to perform display and input operations using a touch panel,
A drag operation detection unit that detects a drag operation in the predetermined direction near the edge of the screen while pressing the operator's finger against the touch panel;
When the drag operation is detected, a display area for displaying a list of user options on the screen edge of the touch panel and notifying information on the user options selected in the list area;
A touch panel type portable terminal comprising:   The touch panel type mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the user option is displayed as an index label in the list area.   The touch panel mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the list area is displayed on a screen end opposite to a direction traced with a finger.   4. The touch panel mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein when the number of user options to be displayed is larger than a display limit number of the list area, a scroll operation is possible with a finger. .   When the list area is displayed, the display area is returned to the original display state where the list area is not displayed by performing a tap operation with a finger at a place other than the list area or by not performing an operation for a predetermined time or longer. The touch panel type portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The touch panel portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the touch panel portable terminal is connected to a measuring device in a communicable manner. In a control method of a touch panel portable terminal configured to perform display and input operations using a touch panel,
While dragging the operator's finger against the touch panel, detect a drag operation in the specified direction near the edge of the screen,
When the drag operation is detected, a list area of user options is displayed on the screen edge of the touch panel,
A control method of a touch panel type portable terminal, characterized by notifying information on user options selected in the list area. In a computer program for controlling a touch panel portable terminal configured to perform display and input operations using a touch panel,
A process of detecting a drag operation in the predetermined direction near the edge of the screen while pressing the operator's finger against the touch panel;
When the drag operation is detected, a process for displaying a list area of user options on the screen edge of the touch panel;
A computer program for executing a process of notifying information on a user option selected in the list area.