JP2016051288A - Vehicle input interface - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle input interface configured to prevent an operation error which is not intended by an operator.SOLUTION: A vehicle input interface includes: a touch pad having an air detection area where a hand or a finger of an operator can be detected in the air; and a display control apparatus for controlling an image to be displayed on a display device, on the basis of an input on the touch pad. The touch pad estimates a degree of closeness to the hand or finger of the operator, a position of the hand or finger, and a touch of the hand or finger. The display control apparatus determines whether the hand or finger has performed a specific motion on the touch pad, and operates the image to be displayed on the display device, in response to the motion of the hand or finger, even if the hand or finger is not in touch with the touch pad, when a determination is made that the specific motion has been performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an input interface for a vehicle having an aerial detectable region capable of detecting an operator's hand or finger in the air.

  2. Description of the Related Art An input interface for a vehicle having an aerial detectable region that can detect an operator's hand or finger in the air is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-118857 A

  Although input to an in-vehicle device by the movement of a hand or finger detected in the air is convenient, there is a concern that it may cause an erroneous operation. In order to suppress erroneous operations, it has been studied to limit the area where the aerial operation can be performed to a narrow area, but there is a problem that the convenience of the aerial operation cannot be fully enjoyed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle input interface that can suppress the induction of an erroneous operation without significantly impairing the convenience of the aerial operation.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an input interface for a vehicle for operating an image displayed on a display device arranged in a vehicle compartment, and the operator's hand or finger is placed in the air. And a display control device that controls an image displayed on the display device based on an input to the touch pad, and the touch pad is operated by the operator. It is equipped with a calculation device that estimates the degree of proximity to the hand or finger, the position of the hand or finger, and the presence or absence of contact with the hand or finger, and the display control device determines whether the hand or finger has performed a specific operation on the touchpad. If it is determined that a specific action has been performed, the image displayed on the display device can be manipulated according to the movement of the hand or finger even when the hand or finger is not in contact with the touch pad. The features.

  As a result, the screen control according to the movement of the operator's hand or finger detected in the air is not performed until the display control device determines that the hand or finger has performed a specific action, thereby preventing an erroneous operation unintended by the operator. it can.

  The “specific operation” determined by the display control device may be “the hand or finger stays in the aerial detectable region for a predetermined time or longer” as in the invention described in claim 2, or claim 3. The shape of the hand or finger may be estimated by an arithmetic device as in the invention of, and “the hand or finger may have a predetermined shape” may be used, or when any one of these operations is detected, the “ It may be considered that a “specific operation” has been performed.

  Further, as in the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the hand or finger is performing a specific action, the display control apparatus causes the display device to display the degree of completion of the specific action. May be. Thereby, the operator can confirm the progress degree of the specific operation for canceling the aerial operation by the display device, and can assist the operator to get used to the execution of the specific operation.

  Further, as in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the display control device may generate sound from a sound source arranged in the passenger compartment when it is determined that the specific operation is completed.

It is the figure which showed arrangement | positioning in the vehicle interior of the input interface for vehicles in the Example of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating in detail about a touchpad. It is sectional drawing which showed the range of the air detection detectable area | region of a touchpad. It is the flowchart which showed the control which the arithmetic unit of a touchpad performs. It is the flowchart which showed the control which a display control apparatus performs based on the signal output from the arithmetic unit of a touchpad. It is the figure which showed the example of a display of the display apparatus in each mode and specific operation detection.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol to the component corresponding in each real form. When only a part of the configuration in each embodiment is described, the configuration of the other embodiment described above can be applied to other portions of the configuration. Moreover, not only the combination of the structures specified in the description of each embodiment, but also the combination of a plurality of embodiments can be partially combined even if they are not explicitly shown unless there is a problem with the combination.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a vehicle input interface 10 in a passenger compartment according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle input interface 10 in this embodiment is for operating an image displayed on the display device 20, and includes a vehicle touch pad 30 and a display control device 40.

  The display device 20 is a multi-function display disposed substantially at the center of the instrument panel 50 of the vehicle. The display device 20 is an operation screen of a vehicle air conditioner, radio, navigation device, audio, etc. (not shown), a rear camera image, and a plurality of cameras. It is also a general-purpose display device that displays an around view or the like based on a composite image.

  The vehicle touch pad 30 includes an arithmetic device 80, and the arithmetic device 80 reads a signal related to electrostatic capacitance from the electrostatic capacitance sensor panel 70 disposed below the design panel 60 shown in FIG. 2. According to a predetermined rule described later, the proximity degree of the operator's hand or finger, the position of the hand or finger, and the presence / absence of contact with the hand or finger are estimated, and a two-dimensional coordinate signal or a three-dimensional coordinate signal is generated and displayed. A signal is output to the control device 40.

  The display control device 40 switches various operation screens based on the two-dimensional signal and the three-dimensional signal from the arithmetic device 80 of the vehicular touchpad 30 and causes the display device 20 to display an image for inputting each function. Is.

  Further, the display control device 40 is connected to a sound source 90 such as a speaker arranged directly or indirectly in the vehicle interior so that a notification sound can be generated from the sound source by a signal from the display control device 40. It is configured.

  The vehicle touchpad 30 of this example is disposed in the vicinity of an armrest (not shown) between the driver seat and the passenger seat, and the design panel 60 is such that the palm of the driver is positioned exactly when the driver puts his arm on the armrest. Are arranged to be. The arithmetic device 80 and the display control device 40 are disposed inside the instrument panel 50 that is not visible from the passenger compartment.

  The display device 20, the vehicle touch pad 30, the display control device 40, and the speaker 90 may be connected in any manner, may be connected via an in-vehicle network communication cable, or may be an individual cable. It may be connected or may be connected by wireless communication.

  Next, the touch pad 30 in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the touch pad 30 in the present embodiment. The design panel 60 is disposed on the surface of the housing where the capacitance sensor panel 70 is disposed. On the design panel 60, an operation detectable area 100 capable of detecting the approach, proximity, contact and position coordinates of an operating body such as an operator's hand or finger, and a decision input area for receiving an input by contact or pressing. 110 is color-coded to be easily understood by the driver.

  In this embodiment, the input to the decision input area 110 is detected using the capacitance sensor panel 70. However, any method for detecting the presence or absence of the decision input may be used. A switch may be provided separately, or a determination input may be made based on the fact that the surface of the design panel 60 is double-tapped with an operator's finger in the operation detectable area 110.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the range of the aerial detectable region where the approach, proximity, and contact of the operating body in the touch pad 30 shown in FIG. 2 can be detected. The computing device 80 of the touch pad 30 in this embodiment estimates the movement and shape of the operator's hand or finger within the aerial detectable region based on the electric charge stored in the capacitance sensor panel 70. The detection means capable of detecting contact and proximity in the present invention is not limited to a capacitance sensor, and may be realized by combining, for example, a pressure-sensitive sensor and an imaging device such as an infrared camera.

  Specifically, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the proximity of the operating body and the design panel 60, the degree of proximity, the position of the operating body with respect to the design panel 60, and the presence or absence of contact between the operating body and the design panel 60 are estimated.

  First, in step S10, the electric charge stored in the capacitance sensor panel 70 is measured, and the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S11, the position estimated that the operating body is closest to the design panel 60 and the distance from the design panel 60 are estimated, and the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S <b> 12, it is determined from the distance between the operating tool and the design panel 60 whether or not the operating tool (that is, the operator's hand or finger) is in contact with the design panel 60. When step S12 is affirmation determination, it progresses to step S13.

  In step S <b> 13, a two-dimensional coordinate signal indicating a coordinate point on the design panel at a position where the operating body and the design panel 60 are in contact is output to the display control device 40.

  On the other hand, when step S12 is negative determination, it progresses to step S14 and outputs the three-dimensional coordinate signal which shows the position of the operation body on the design panel 60 to the display control apparatus 40. FIG.

  Next, control performed by the display control device 40 based on a signal output from the arithmetic device 80 of the touch pad 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S20, it is determined whether a two-dimensional coordinate signal is received from the arithmetic device 80 of the touch pad 30. When step S20 is affirmation determination, it progresses to step S21.

  In step S21, it is assumed that a touch input operation has been performed on the touch pad 30, and the display content of the display device 20 is set to the individual function setting mode shown on the right side of FIG. 6, and the individual function setting screen is set based on the two-dimensional coordinate signal. The cursor 130 displayed in 120 is operated to select one of the icons 140 displayed.

  On the other hand, when step S20 is negative determination, it progresses to step S22 and it is determined whether the three-dimensional signal is received from the arithmetic unit 80. If step S22 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S23.

  In step S23, it is determined whether or not a three-dimensional signal is continuously received from the arithmetic unit 80 for a predetermined time (for example, 1 second). If step S23 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S24, assuming that the operator intends to input to the touch pad 30 by an aerial operation, the display content of the display device 20 is set to the function selection mode shown in the center of FIG. In this function selection mode, names 150 representing the respective functions are arranged on the left and right at the top of the screen, and an operation screen 160 corresponding to the currently selected function is displayed at the approximate center of the screen. The currently selected operation screen 160 in this embodiment is a reduced display of the individual function setting screen 120. In this function selection mode, when the operating tool is moved close to the touch pad 30 and is moved away from the touch pad 30 in the left-right direction of the vehicle, the currently selected operation screen 160 matches the movement of the operating tool. Scroll left and right. The name 150 at the top of the screen is also highlighted 170 indicating the name corresponding to the selected function.

  On the other hand, when step S23 is negative determination, it progresses to step S25. In step S <b> 25, it is determined whether at least one of the shape and movement of the operating tool corresponds to a “specific operation” stored in advance in a storage device (not shown) included in the display control device 40. When step S23 is affirmation determination, it progresses to step S24 mentioned above. Moreover, when this step S23 is negative determination, it returns to step S20.

  Here, the “specific operation” will be described in more detail. For example, (1) the operator places his / her hand or finger on the touchpad 30 in a specific shape, and (2) the operator places his / her hand or finger on the touchpad 30 in a predetermined path. Moving, (3) the operator may leave the hand or finger on the touch pad 30 for a predetermined time or more. The display control device 40 makes an affirmative determination in step S25 when at least one or any combination of the specific operations is performed. The “specific operation” may be any as long as it is predetermined, and the operator may register an arbitrary operation as the “specific operation” in advance.

  With the configuration described above, the screen control according to the movement of the operator's hand or finger detected in the air is not performed until the display control device determines that the hand or finger has performed a specific action. Incorrect operation can be suppressed.

  The display screen of the display device 20 shown on the left in FIG. 6 is an image that the display control device 40 displays on the display device 20 while the specific operation is being detected in step S25. A white circle 180 and a black arc 190 shown on the left display screen in FIG. 6 indicate the degree of completion of the specific operation on the display device when the hand or finger is performing the specific operation. For example, when an operation “create a peace sign with a finger and move it like drawing a circle” is predetermined as a “specific operation”, the peace sign mark 200 displayed on the left display screen in FIG. The arc 180 allows the operator to remember what the specific action was, and the black arc 190 can visually understand the degree of completion of the specific operation. For this reason, it is possible to assist the operator to get used to performing a specific operation. Further, when a specific operation is completed or is being completed, a sound may be generated from the sound source 90 arranged in the passenger compartment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Input interface for vehicles, 20 ... Display apparatus, 30 ... Touchpad for vehicles, 40 ... Display control apparatus, 50 ... Instrument panel, 60 ... Design panel, 70. ..Capacitance sensor panel, 80 ... arithmetic unit, 90 ... sound source, 100 ... operation detection detectable area, 110 ... decision input area, 120 ... individual function setting screen, 130 ... Cursor, 140... Icon, 150... Function name, 160... Currently selected operation screen, 170.

Claims (5)

An input interface for a vehicle for operating an image displayed on a display device arranged in a vehicle interior,
A touchpad with an air-detectable area capable of detecting an operator's hand or finger in the air;
A display control device that controls an image displayed on the display device based on an input to the touchpad;
The touchpad includes a computing device that estimates the degree of proximity to an operator's hand or finger, the position of the hand or finger, and the presence or absence of contact with the hand or finger,
The display control device determines whether or not the hand or finger has performed a specific operation on the touch pad, and when determining that the specific operation has been performed, the hand or finger contacts the touch pad. An input interface for a vehicle, wherein an image displayed on the display device is operated in accordance with a movement of the hand or a finger even in a state in which the input is not performed.   The vehicle input interface according to claim 1, wherein the specific operation performed by the hand or the finger is to stay in the aerial detectable region for a predetermined time or more. Estimating the shape of the hand or finger present in the aerial detectable region by the arithmetic unit,
The vehicle input interface according to claim 1, wherein the display control device determines that the specific operation has been performed when the shape of the hand or finger is a predetermined shape.   4. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein when the hand or the finger is performing the specific operation, the display control device causes the display device to display a degree of completion of the specific operation. The input interface for vehicles as described in any one.   5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the display control device generates a sound from a sound source arranged in the vehicle interior when it is determined that the specific operation is completed. Input interface.