JP2017084103A - Input device, information processing apparatus, input method, computer program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a touch from being enabled when a user touches an icon unintentionally.SOLUTION: An input device includes: a display device having a liquid crystal module 154 for displaying a first icon and a second icon near the first icon, and a touch panel module 152 for detecting a touch position of a user; and an information processing apparatus 100 comprising a CPU 101. The CPU 101 determines whether the first or second icon has been touched by a user from the touch position. When the first icon is touched twice or more, an invalidation period is determined from a period after touching the first icon to touching the icon again. A touch on the second icon is disabled until the invalidation period passes after touching the first icon.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device and an information processing device provided with a touch panel.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, input devices and information processing devices that include a display unit such as a liquid crystal module with a touch panel are known. Hereinafter, an example of the information processing apparatus will be described. In such an information processing apparatus, a plurality of icons that can be selected by the user are displayed on the display unit.
When the user touches the icon displayed on the display unit, the information processing apparatus acquires the position information of the touched touch panel. It is determined from the position information whether an icon has been selected.

When a user touches an icon, the user may accidentally touch not only the target icon but also an icon adjacent to the target icon. In this case, the information processing apparatus may determine that an icon that is not intended to be touched by the user has been touched and execute a function associated with the icon.
Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing apparatus that, after identifying an icon touched by a user, invalidates that another icon adjacent to the identified icon has been touched for a predetermined time. Has been.

JP 2004-86790 A

In the information processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to prevent a user's erroneous operation to some extent. However, the user may touch an icon in the vicinity of the touch target icon beyond a predetermined time, for example, by sliding a finger.
In this case, in Patent Document 1, it is determined that the icon has been touched after a predetermined time has elapsed since the user's unintended icon was touched.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent the touch from being validated when the user touches the icon unintentionally.

The input device according to the present invention detects a touch panel, display control means for displaying a first icon and a second icon near the first icon on the touch panel, and a touch position of the user on the touch panel. Position detection means, and control means for determining whether the first icon or the second icon is touched by the user from the touch position.
In addition, when the first icon is touched twice or more, the control unit obtains an invalidation period from a period until the first icon is touched again after being touched, and the first icon is touched The touch of the second icon is invalidated until the invalidation period elapses after being performed.

In the present invention, the touch of the second icon in the vicinity of the first icon is invalidated according to the period from when the first icon is touched to when it is touched again.
Therefore, when the user touches the icon unintentionally, it is possible to prevent the touch from being validated.

The functional block diagram of an information processing apparatus and a display apparatus. Explanatory drawing of two adjacent icons. The flowchart showing the invalidation process of icon touch. Explanatory drawing of two adjacent icons. The flowchart showing the invalidation process of icon touch. Explanatory drawing of two adjacent icons. The flowchart showing the change process of an icon effective area.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, each embodiment does not limit the invention which concerns on a claim, and all the combinations of the characteristics demonstrated by embodiment are not necessarily essential for the solution means of invention.

[First embodiment]
With reference to FIG. 1, an example of a hardware configuration for controlling each software of the information processing apparatus 100 will be described. The information processing apparatus 100 is connected to a display device 150, a scanner 108 that reads an image, and a printer 107 that prints an image. In addition, another PC or server is connected to the information processing apparatus 100 through the network 140 and the public line 141.

  The information processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 that controls various processes executed by the information processing apparatus 100. For example, the CPU 101 performs image processing of image data to be printed and network control, and also controls print processing by issuing a print instruction to the printer 107 described above. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 102 is used as a system work memory for the CPU 101 to operate, and is also used as an image memory for temporarily storing image data.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus 100 can input and output information with other PCs and servers connected to the network via the network interface 106 under the control of the CPU 101. Similarly, the information processing apparatus 100 can input / output information to / from another PC or server connected to the public line through the modem 109 under the control of the CPU 101. For example, the information processing apparatus 100 receives print data from a client PC.

  The RAM 102 functions as a main memory or work area for the CPU 101. The RAM 102 stores setting information in the information processing apparatus 100, a job log when each process is performed, an operation log, and the like. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 is a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program. The HDD 105 is a hard disk drive and stores system software, applications, and image data.

  An operation unit I / F (Interface) 104 transmits and receives image data between the information processing apparatus 100 and the display apparatus 150. Information input from the display device 150 by the user is transmitted to the CPU 101 of the information processing apparatus 100 through the operation unit I / F 104. An SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) 113 is a non-volatile storage medium that can operate at high speed. The timer 114 has a timer function for measuring time from a designated time point, and can perform a plurality of measurements at the same time. Measurement start / end / read is performed by the CPU 101. The image bus I / F 116 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 115 and an image bus 117 that transfers image data at high speed, and converts the data structure. The image bus 117 is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394.

  The following devices are arranged on the image bus 117. A RIP (Raster image processor) unit 118 is a raster image processor, and develops PDL (page description language) data into a bitmap image. The device I / F 119 connects the printer 107 and the scanner 108 to the information processing apparatus 100 and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The scanner image processing unit 120 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. The printer image processing unit 121 performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on the print output image data. The encryption processing unit 122 performs encryption processing of input data including image data. The decryption processing unit 123 performs decryption processing of the encrypted data.

  Next, an example of a hardware configuration for controlling each software of the display device 150 will be described. The display device 150 transmits and receives data to be displayed on the liquid crystal module 154 to and from the information processing device 100 through the bus 161. Further, it communicates with the CPU 101 of the information processing apparatus 100 through the serial bus 160. The liquid crystal module 154 displays one or more icons. In this embodiment, all objects that a user operates through a GUI (Graphical User Interface) are referred to as icons.

  The control unit 151 performs display control of the liquid crystal module 154 and overall control of the display device 150 as a whole. A ROM (not shown) that stores a program for operating the control unit 151 is mounted in the control unit 151. The touch panel module 152 serving as a position detection unit that detects a user's touch position is disposed on the surface of the liquid crystal module 154 and notifies the control unit 151 of position information of a location touched by the user via the touch panel communication bus 156. The touch panel module 152 includes a touch panel device and a touch panel device controller (not shown). As the touch panel device, an arbitrary type such as a resistive film type, a capacitance type, an optical type such as an infrared ray can be adopted. The user touches the icon by touching or depressing the touch panel. In order to simplify the description, in this specification, touching or pressing down on the touch panel for selecting an icon or enabling a function associated with the icon is collectively referred to as “touch”.

  The conversion unit 153 is a module that receives image data from the operation unit I / F 104 of the information processing apparatus 100 via the bus 161 and converts the image data into a data format that can be interpreted by the liquid crystal module 154. For example, the conversion unit 153 receives data of a standard such as DisplayPort or HDMI (registered trademark) from the information processing apparatus, and converts the data into an LVDS or CMOS level signal format that can be interpreted by the liquid crystal module. The liquid crystal module 154 is a module including an LCD and a backlight module, receives data from the conversion unit 153, and displays image data at a predetermined timing. Accordingly, the liquid crystal module 154 functions as a display screen, and icons, various information, and the like are displayed on the display screen.

  In the first embodiment, the control unit 151 and the conversion unit 153 are provided in the display device. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the control unit 151 and the conversion unit 153 may be provided in the information processing apparatus 100. In addition, the display device 150 and the information processing device 100 may be integrated as an input device. Further, the display device 150 and the information processing device 100 can be made separate and the information processing device 100 can be connected to the display device 150.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of two adjacent icons displayed on the liquid crystal module 154. The icon A as the first icon is displayed in the left area 201 of the liquid crystal module 154, and the icon B as the second icon is displayed in the vicinity of the icon A. In this embodiment, the icon B is displayed in the right area 202 adjacent to the icon A.

When the user touches the icon A, a finger may slide, and the icon B that is an adjacent icon may be touched unintentionally. In particular, when the icon A is continuously touched, the icon B may be touched unintentionally.
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart showing processing for invalidating the touch of the icon B in such a case. In the following flowchart, each process is executed by the CPU 101 unless otherwise specified. In the following description, the timer 114 starts counting when the icon A is touched, and outputs the current count as the current count when the icon A is released from touching and touched again. Thereafter, the timer 114 restarts counting from zero.

  The CPU 101 determines whether or not the icon A displayed on the liquid crystal module 154 is touched through the touch panel module 152 (S301). When it is determined that the icon A is touched (S301: Y), the CPU 101 sets an invalidation period for the icon B (S302). The invalidation period of the icon B is a period (DT: DisableTime) in which the touch is not activated even if the icon B is touched after the icon A is selected by touch. Hereinafter, the invalidation period is referred to as DT. The calculation method will be described later. Thereafter, the CPU 101 sets the value of the timer 114 in the information processing apparatus to “0”, starts counting (S303), and executes S301 again.

  When the icon A is not touched (S301: N), the CPU 101 determines whether or not the icon B displayed on the liquid crystal module 154 is touched by the user (S310). This determination is made based on the detection result of the user's finger on the touch panel module 152. When it is determined that the icon B is not touched (S310: N), the CPU 101 determines whether an end instruction is input from the user (S314). If an end instruction is input (S314: Y), the process ends. If the end instruction has not been input (S314: N), S301 is executed again.

  When it is determined that the icon B is touched (S310: Y), the CPU 101 determines whether or not the current count value of the timer 114 is equal to or greater than the DT set in step 302 (S311). Thereby, the CPU 101 determines whether or not it is valid to touch the icon B.

  If it is determined in step 311 that the count value is greater than or equal to DT (S311: Y), the icon B has been touched after the invalid period has passed. Therefore, the CPU 101 determines that the touch of the icon B is valid, and executes the function assigned to the icon B (S312). Thereafter, the CPU 101 executes S301 again. When the count value is less than the current DT (S311: N), the CPU 101 determines that the touch of the icon B is invalid (S313) and does not execute the function assigned to the icon B. Thereafter, the CPU 101 executes S301 again.

As described above, even if the user touches the icon B unintentionally when the user touches the icon A, the touch of the icon B can be invalidated.
Next, a method for determining DT that is the invalidation time of the icon B in S302 will be described. When the icon A is touched for the first time after the information processing apparatus 101 is turned on, the CPU 101 sets a predetermined period T1 as DT. Thus, even if it is detected through the touch screen that the icon B has been touched until the period T <b> 1 elapses after the icon A is first touched, the input is invalidated. Therefore, if the invalidation period when the icon A is touched for the first, second, third,... DT (1), DT (2), DT (3),. The period T1 is used.

  As the invalidation period, the period T1 can be used as a fixed value regardless of how many times the icon A is touched. In this case, even when the icon A is touched for the second time or later, it is determined whether or not the touch of the icon B is invalidated depending on whether or not the icon B is touched within the fixed period T1.

  However, since the interval at which the icon is touched varies greatly depending on the user, it is desirable to set the invalidation period individually for each user. For this reason, in the first embodiment, the interval at which the user touches the icon again after touching the icon is measured with a timer, and the invalidation period is obtained from the measurement result. In this embodiment, the fixed value T1 is used only when the icon A is touched for the first time, and after the second time, the invalidation period is determined based on the period when the user actually touched the icon A. .

Specifically, when the icon A is touched twice or more, T1 is not used to determine the invalidation period DT (2), and the count value TC of the timer 114 when the icon A is touched for the second time is used. Invalidation period. The count value TC represents a period from when the icon A is first touched to when it is touched for the second time.
Accordingly, the invalidation period DT (1) when the icon A is touched for the first time, and the invalidation period DT (2) when the icon A is touched for the second time is expressed as follows.
DT (1) = T1
DT (2) = TC

When the icon A is touched after the third time, the average value of the period when the icon A is actually touched by the user is set as the invalidation period. In the calculation of the invalidation period in this case, the predetermined value T1 used when the icon A is first touched is not used. Therefore, the invalidation period DT (n + 1) when the icon A is touched n + 1 times (n ≧ 2) is obtained as follows using the count value TC.
DT (n + 1) = {n × DT (n) + TC} / (n + 1) (I)
In this way, when the icon A is touched n times, the invalidation period DT (n + 1) is obtained using the average period from when the icon A is actually touched to when it is touched again.

  In the above-described example, the average value of the count value TC is used in the calculation of the invalidation period after the second time, without using the initial value T1 of the invalidation period. Thereby, after the second time, the invalidation period can be obtained from the period from when the user actually touches the icon A to the next touch without using a fixed value common to the user. Therefore, the invalidation period can be obtained corresponding to each user.

Note that DT (n) can be simply set to an average value of DT (1) to DT (n-1). In this case, the invalidation period can be obtained by a simpler method compared to the above-described formula (I). The initial value T1 of the invalidation period is also used in the second and subsequent invalidation period calculations.
As described above, in the first embodiment, even if the icon B is touched by mistake when the icon A is continuously touched by the user, the function assigned to the icon B is prevented from being executed. Can do.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of two adjacent icons displayed on the liquid crystal module 154 in this embodiment. The icon A is displayed in the left area 401 of the liquid crystal module 154, and the icon B is displayed in the right area 402 adjacent to the icon A. In the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not to invalidate the touch of the icon B depending on which area in the icon A is touched. In particular, in the second embodiment, the icon A is divided into a left area 403 that is separated from the icon B and a right area 404 that is close to the icon B, and the determination is made according to which area is touched. I do.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing icon touch invalidation processing in the second embodiment. The CPU 101 determines whether or not the icon A displayed on the liquid crystal module 154 is touched through the touch panel module 152 (S501). When it is determined that the icon A is touched (S501: Y), the CPU 101 determines whether or not the area 403 in the icon A is touched (S502). If it is determined that the left area 403 is not touched (S502: N), it means that the right area 404 is touched. Therefore, the icon B adjacent to the area 404 of the icon A may be touched against the user's will. Accordingly, the CPU 101 sets an invalidation period for the icon B (S505). Thereafter, the CPU 101 sets the value of the timer 114 in the information processing apparatus to “0”, starts counting (S506), and executes S501 again.

The invalidation period in S505 is set as follows, similarly to S302 in FIG.
DT (1) = T1
DT (2) = TC
DT (n + 1) = {n × DT (n) + TC} / (n + 1)
However, n ≧ 2

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the area 403 is touched (S502: Y), the CPU 101 stops the counter function of the timer 114 in the information processing apparatus 100 (S503). Thereafter, the CPU 101 resets the value of DT to the initial value (S504), and executes S501 again. If it is determined in S501 that the icon A is not touched (S501: N), the CPU 101 determines whether or not the icon B displayed on the liquid crystal module 154 is touched by the user (S510). ). This determination is made based on the detection result of the user's finger in the touch panel module 152. When it is determined that the icon B is not touched (S510: N), the CPU 101 determines whether an end instruction is input from the user (S514). If an end instruction is input (S514: Y), the process ends. If the end instruction has not been input (S514: N), S501 is executed again.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the icon B is touched (S510: Y), the CPU 101 determines whether the count value of the current timer 114 set in step 502 is greater than or equal to DT or is a counter stop. (S511). Thereby, the CPU 101 determines whether or not it is valid to touch the icon B.

  When it is determined that DT is equal to or greater than the count value, the icon B is touched after the invalid period has elapsed and the icon B is not invalidated. If the counter is stopped, it means that the area 403 is touched in S502, and in this case, the icon B is not invalidated. Therefore, when the count value is DT or more or the counter is stopped (S511: Y), the CPU 101 determines that the touch of the icon B is valid, and executes the function assigned to the icon B (S512). Thereafter, the CPU 101 executes S501 again.

If the determination result in S511 is N (S511: N), the counter is not stopped and the count value is less than DT. Therefore, the CPU 101 determines that the touch of the icon B is invalid (S513) and does not execute the function assigned to the icon B. Thereafter, the CPU 101 executes S501 again.
As described above, in the second embodiment, even when the user touches the icon B unintentionally when the user touches the icon A, the touch of the icon B can be invalidated.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of two adjacent icons displayed on the liquid crystal module 154 in this embodiment. The icon A is displayed in the left area 601 of the liquid crystal module 154, and the icon B is displayed in the right area 602 adjacent to the icon A. In the present embodiment, it is possible to determine whether or not to invalidate the touch of the icon B depending on which area in the icon B is touched. In particular, in the third embodiment, the icon B is divided into a left region 603 and a right region 604, and the determination is made according to which region is touched.

    FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a change process of an area (hereinafter referred to as an effective area) where it is determined that the touch of an icon is effective in the second embodiment. The CPU 101 determines whether or not the icon A displayed on the liquid crystal module 154 is touched through the touch panel module 152 (S701). When it is determined that the icon A is not touched (S701: N), the CPU 101 executes Step S701 again.

When it is determined in step 701 that the icon A is touched (S701: Y), the CPU 101 changes the effective area of the icon B.
In this embodiment, the effective area of the icon B is the entire icon B in the initial state. The CPU 101 changes the effective area from the entire area of the icon B to an area 604 corresponding to about 3/4 on the right side of the icon B (S702). At this time, even if the user touches an area 603 that is not included in the effective area of the icon B, the touch is not activated and the function of the icon B is not activated until step S705 described later. In this embodiment, the area 603 corresponds to about ¼ on the left side of the icon B.

  Next, the CPU 101 sets the value of the timer 114 in the information processing apparatus to “0” and starts counting (S703). The CPU 101 compares the value of the timer 114 with the value of T2, which is a predetermined time during which the function is not activated even when touched, and determines whether or not the value of the timer 114 exceeds T2 (S704).

  If the value of the timer 114 does not exceed T2 (S704: N), S704 is executed again. When the value of the timer 114 exceeds T2 (S704: Y), the CPU 101 returns the touch effective area of the icon B to the initial area of the icon B, that is, the entire area (S705). Thereafter, the CPU 101 executes S701 again.

  As described above, the touch effective area of the icon B is changed for a predetermined period after the icon A is touched. Therefore, even if the area close to the icon A in the icon B is accidentally touched when the icon A is touched, the touch is not validated. In this embodiment, the effective area of the icon B is limited to a partial area of the icon B. More specifically, the effective area of the icon B is limited to a 3/4 area of the icon B located away from the icon A. Therefore, an erroneous operation can be prevented by changing the icon B so that the effective area is separated from the icon A.

  This area change process is used in combination with a process for determining whether or not the icon B is touched. Specifically, whether or not the icon B is touched is determined by the effective area changing process described in the third embodiment. Then, whether or not to invalidate the touch when the icon B is touched is determined separately in the determination process of whether or not the icon B is touched. Therefore, the third embodiment can be used in combination with the icon touch invalidation processing in the first and second embodiments.

  Further, the information processing apparatus described in each embodiment can be applied to various apparatuses such as a personal computer, a PDA (Personal Data Assistance), and a mobile phone terminal. Further, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus having a printing function and a function for generating image data by reading an image on a document such as a printer, a scanner, a FAX, a copying machine, and a multifunction machine having these functions. The present invention can also be applied to devices such as cameras, video cameras, and other image viewers.

  Control of various processes such as the process of invalidating touch described in the present embodiment can be performed by installing a process control program (computer program) in a computer. Further, a storage medium in which a processing control program is recorded so as to be executable by a computer is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  Furthermore, the embodiment described above is for explaining the present invention more specifically, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples. Various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention, and for example, a part of the above-described embodiments may be appropriately combined.

Claims (12)

A touch panel;
Display control means for displaying a first icon and a second icon near the first icon on the touch panel;
Position detecting means for detecting a touch position of the user on the touch panel;
Control means for determining whether or not the first icon or the second icon has been touched by the user from the touch position;
When the first icon is touched twice or more, the control means obtains an invalidation period from a period until the first icon is touched again after being touched, and the first icon is touched Until the invalidation period elapses, the touch of the second icon is invalidated,
Input device. The apparatus further comprises a measuring unit for a period from when the first icon is touched to when it is touched again.
The input device according to claim 1. The control means invalidates the touch of the second icon for a predetermined period T1 when the first icon is touched for the first time.
The input device according to claim 1. When the first icon is touched for the second time or later, the control means sets the average period from the touch of the first icon to the touch again as the invalidation period,
The input device according to claim 1. The area of the touch panel where the first icon is displayed includes a first area spaced from the second icon and a second area close to the second icon,
When the second area is touched, the control means invalidates the touch of the second icon until the invalidation period elapses.
The input device according to claim 1. The control means does not invalidate the touch of the second icon when the first area is touched.
The input device according to claim 5. The area of the touch panel where the second icon is displayed includes a third area close to the first icon and a fourth area spaced from the first icon.
When the third area is touched, the control means invalidates the touch of the second icon until the invalidation period elapses.
The input device according to claim 1. The control means does not invalidate the touch of the second icon when the fourth area is touched.
The input device according to claim 7. An information processing apparatus that can be connected to a touch panel,
Display control means for displaying a first icon and a second icon near the first icon on the touch panel;
Position detecting means for detecting a touch position of the user on the touch panel;
Control means for determining whether or not the first icon or the second icon is touched by the user from the touch position;
When the first icon is touched twice or more, the control means obtains an invalidation period from a period until the first icon is touched again after being touched, and the first icon is touched Until the invalidation period elapses, the touch of the second icon is invalidated,
Information processing device. A method executed by an input device equipped with a touch panel,
Displaying a first icon and a second icon in the vicinity of the first icon on the touch panel;
Detecting the touch position of the user on the touch panel;
Determining whether the first icon or the second icon is touched by the user from the touch position;
When the first icon is touched twice or more, an invalidation period is obtained from a period after the first icon is touched until it is touched again, and the invalidation period after the first icon is touched Until the time elapses, the touch of the second icon is invalidated,
input method. A computer having a touch panel,
Display control means for displaying a first icon and a second icon in the vicinity of the first icon on the touch panel;
Position detecting means for detecting a touch position of the user on the touch panel;
It is determined whether or not the first icon or the second icon is touched by the user from the touch position, and when the first icon is touched twice or more, the touch is performed again after the first icon is touched. A control unit that obtains an invalidation period from a period until the first icon is touched and invalidates the touch of the second icon until the invalidation period elapses after the first icon is touched;
Computer program to function as.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 11.

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