JP2018097820A - Touch panel system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a touch panel system configured to detect a touch position on a touch panel which receives an input by a finger and a pen, while reducing costs, with appropriate accuracy.SOLUTION: A method includes: a first detection step of driving a signal line (X) to detect capacitance at an intersection of the signal line (X) and a signal line (Y), from the signal line (Y); and a second detection step of driving the signal line (Y) to detect the capacitance from the signal line (X). In a pen input area, touch detection is performed in the first detection step. In a finger input area, touch detection is performed in the first and second detection steps.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel system including a touch panel capable of detecting a touch position by an indicator such as a finger and a pen.

  Recent display devices include a touch panel that can be input with an indicator such as a finger and a pen. As the touch panel, a capacitance method that detects a change in capacitance on the touch surface of the touch panel with a pen held by a human body (for example, a finger) is often used.

  In Patent Document 1, a first linear element array formed between M drive lines and one sense line, and a line formed between M drive lines and another sense line are formed. For each of the second linear element arrays, M drive lines are driven in parallel based on M code sequences of orthogonal length N, and N elements from the first linear element array And an output step of outputting N outputs from the second linear element array, and a first linear element corresponding to a specific drive line based on the inner product operation of the former output and the code sequence An estimation step of estimating a value of the linear element of the column and estimating a value of the linear element of the second linear element column corresponding to the specific drive line based on the inner product operation of the latter output and the code sequence A linear element array value estimation method characterized by: That. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, for example, a live line is driven in parallel with a linear signal, and a signal is read from the sense line. And by the estimation in the estimation process, it is easy to detect multi-touch by detecting the capacitance distribution on the touch panel by unidirectional drive and sense, that is, without changing the positional relationship between drive line and sense line It is intended to be performed.

  The amount of change in capacitance caused by touching the touch surface is greatly different between the finger and the pen. A technique for discriminating between a touch operation with a finger and a touch operation with a pen using the difference in the amount of change has been developed. Patent Document 2 includes a panel body in which electrodes are arranged in a grid, a sensitivity calculation unit that calculates sensitivity based on a change amount according to a touch operation of an output signal from the electrode, and a sensitivity calculation unit. A touch position detection unit that detects a touch position based on the acquired sensitivity, and an indicator determination unit that determines whether an indicator that performs a touch operation based on the sensitivity acquired by the sensitivity calculation unit is a pen or a finger; The pointing object determination unit performs sensitivity correction processing for correcting the sensitivity acquired by the sensitivity calculation unit according to the touch position acquired by the touch position detection unit, and instructs based on the sensitivity acquired by the sensitivity correction processing. A touch panel device characterized by discriminating an object is described. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, for example, sensitivity correction is performed based on a position from an electrode serving as a reference for detecting capacitance, and a case where the sensitivity acquired by the sensitivity correction processing is greater than a certain threshold is determined as a finger, On the other hand, when the sensitivity is smaller than the threshold value, the pen is determined.

  When the touch panel is increased in size, when touching the touch surface of the touch panel with a pen and a finger, a touched state in which the back of the hand is in contact with the touch surface may occur. And in the area | region where the back of a hand and a touch surface contact, noise may generate | occur | produce in a sense line direction. At this time, noise is superimposed on a signal indicating the original designated position.

  In Patent Document 3, a plurality of first signal lines provided in parallel with each other along the detection surface, a plurality of second signal lines provided in parallel with each other along the detection surface and intersecting the first signal line, A touch panel comprising: a drive unit that is driven by applying a first drive signal to the first signal line in the first drive mode, and is driven by applying a second drive signal to the second signal line in the second drive mode; Based on the first sense signal appearing on the second signal line in the drive mode, a first capacitance signal indicating an in-plane distribution of the capacitance formed by the first signal line and the second signal line is generated, and in the second drive mode, the first capacitance signal is generated. A sense signal processing unit that generates a second capacitance signal indicating an in-plane distribution of capacitance formed by the first signal line and the second signal line based on a second sense signal appearing on one signal line; and a first drive mode; A drive sense switching unit for switching between the second drive mode and a first capacitor; No. and by comparing the second capacitance signal, the touch panel system characterized in that it comprises the indicator position detecting unit for detecting the position of the pointer that is in contact with or close to the detection surface is described.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 3, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the touch panel system includes a touch panel 10, a drive unit 211, a sense signal processing unit 212, a drive sense switching unit 213 including a connection switching unit 231, A pointer position detection unit 214 and an operation control unit 216 are provided.

  The drive sense switching unit 213 includes, among the signal lines included in the touch panel 10, a signal line extending in the X direction as a drive line (a signal line connected to the drive unit 211 via the connection switching unit 231) and a sense line (the connection switching unit 231. The signal line extending in the Y direction is the other of the drive line and the sense line. Thereafter, the connection switching unit 231 switches between the drive line and the sense line. The operation control unit 216 controls the above operation.

  The indicator position detection unit 214 compares the two capacitance distributions acquired before and after switching, and detects the touch position based on the capacitance distribution that is less affected by noise. Specifically, the indicator position detection unit 214 sets a detection point having the same capacitance as the touch position in both of the capacitance distributions acquired before and after switching.

  In Patent Document 4, a detection unit is combined by processing a state signal and a drive unit that drives a plurality of state signal generation units that generate a state signal indicating a proximity state of an indicator to an assigned detection region. Based on the position of the indicator calculated on the detection surface and the position of the indicator calculated by the position calculation unit, the effective area set in the detection surface is updated to move the indicator. A state signal generation unit that includes a region setting unit that sets a new effective region having a size corresponding to the speed, and in which the drive unit is included in the effective region in which at least a part of the assigned detection region is actually set A first operation for selectively generating a state signal and a position calculation unit including a state signal generation unit included in an effective region in which at least a part of the assigned detection region is currently set Generated by No. The touch panel controller, wherein the second operation of processing selectively, in that at least one is performed is described. In the technique described in Patent Document 4, for example, based on the detected indicator position, the position of the indicator is continuously detected with an area having a size corresponding to the moving speed of the indicator as an effective area of the touch panel.

  In recent years, the size of display devices has increased, and the size of touch panels provided on display screens has increased accordingly. As the size of the touch panel increases, the number of drive lines and sense lines included in the touch panel increases. Furthermore, with the progress of high definition of touch position detection, the number of drive lines and sense lines is increasing. For example, there is an increase in usage forms such as touching the details of the touch surface by making the support portion that touches the touch surface of the pen finer, and reading the locus where the indicator touches the touch surface when expressing characters and pictures. It's getting on.

  Normally, a touch panel controller corresponding to the number of drive lines and sense lines is used for the touch panel. However, as the number of drive lines and sense lines increases, the number of operational amplifiers mounted on the touch panel controller increases. The cost of the device including

  Furthermore, since the problem that power consumption and processing time increase occurs, a device for solving the problem has been devised. In Patent Document 5, in a touch sensor panel that performs position input by touching a predetermined area, a plurality of drive lines arranged in one direction and a plurality of sense lines arranged in the other direction intersect each other. Then, the electrode size of at least one of the one-direction drive line electrode and the other-direction sense line electrode disposed between the adjacent intersections is switched between at least two large and small electrode sizes. A touch sensor panel configured so as to be possible is described. In the technique of Patent Document 5, for example, large and small sensor electrodes are prepared and switched to reduce power consumption and related devices while maintaining touch position detection accuracy.

  Patent Document 6 discloses a first mode in which the touch panel controller performs a normal scan in which all detection points are detected on the touch detection surface of the touch panel, and a detection point line unit for the touch detection surface of the touch panel. A semiconductor device is described that employs a second mode in which a low power scan is performed with the remaining lines drawn every other line for a plurality of lines as detection targets. In the technology described in Patent Document 6, for example, in a standby state of touch input, detection is performed by so-called “thinning”, in which the number of sense lines that the touch panel controller receives signals is reduced from the number of sense lines provided in the touch panel. Reduce power consumption by reducing the target. In the technique described in Patent Document 6, spatial thinning is performed dynamically in the second mode. Therefore, the relationship between the number of driving and sensing channels of the controller and the number of terminals of the touch panel is 1: 1. Since the first mode and the second mode are used together, in order to connect a touch panel having a large number of terminals, a controller having a corresponding channel (the same number or more) is required.

  In Patent Document 7, in a projected capacitive touch panel including a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in a direction orthogonal to the first electrodes, one first electrode is provided. A touch panel is described, which has a plurality of sub-electrodes connected to a terminal, while the second electrode has a plurality of sub-electrodes connected to one terminal. In the technique described in Patent Document 7, for example, several sense lines are collectively operated in order to easily increase the size while suppressing an increase in the number of detection terminals.

Patent No. 4927216 (Registered February 17, 2012) Patent No. 4,897,983 (registered on January 6, 2012) Patent No. 5250135 (registered on April 19, 2013) Patent No. 5222385 (registered on March 15, 2013) Patent No. 5711429 (registered on March 13, 2015) JP2015-170139 (released on September 28, 2015) JP 2010-39515 (released February 18, 2010)

  In a conventional touch panel, it is mainstream to simply touch the touch surface. In recent touch panels, it is becoming mainstream to continuously touch the touch surface in order to draw lines, characters, pictures, and the like with an indicator.

  In the above case, in order to draw a line, a character, a picture, and the like by the indicator, the touch input is continuously detected on the touch surface, and the locus is input. In particular, when the touch surface is touched with a pen, the change in capacitance generated by the pen is small, and it takes time to detect the touch position. In some cases, a touch can be detected only in one of the capacitance distributions acquired before and after switching between the drive line and the sense line. For this reason, as in Patent Document 3, when a detection point having the same capacitance is set as the touch position in both of the capacitance distributions acquired before and after switching, drawing with a pen may be interrupted.

  Further, the conventional touch panel has been required to have uniform detection accuracy over the entire touch surface. However, as the size of the touch panel increases, the number of drive lines and sense lines increases, the number of touch panel controllers increases, the circuit scale of the touch panel system increases, and the touch panel system is increasing in cost.

  An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to detect a touch position with appropriate accuracy in a touch panel while suppressing cost.

  In order to solve the above problems, a touch panel system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a touch panel including a plurality of first signal lines and a plurality of second signal lines intersecting the plurality of first signal lines. A first detection step of detecting the electrostatic capacitance in the first signal line and the second signal line from the second signal line by driving the first signal line; And a second detection step of detecting the capacitance from the first signal line by driving the second signal line, and the touch panel includes a first input for pen input. An area and a second area for finger input, wherein the detection unit performs touch detection in the first area using the first detection step, and the first detection in the second area. Both the process and the second detection process Performing a touch detection using.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is an effect that a touch position can be detected with appropriate accuracy while suppressing cost.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the touchscreen system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the noise which arises in the sense line of a touch panel when a finger | toe contacts the touch panel of the touch panel system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the noise which arises in the sense line of a touch panel when a pen contacts the touch panel of the touch panel system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the division | segmentation drive of the touch panel of the touch panel system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the division | segmentation drive of the touchscreen of the touchscreen system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the division | segmentation drive of the touchscreen of the touchscreen system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the touchscreen system which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the touchscreen system which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example which changed the operation | movement of the multiplexer in the touchscreen system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the comparative example of the touchscreen system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the touchscreen system which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the touchscreen system which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the touchscreen system which concerns on Embodiment 8 of this invention. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the touchscreen system which concerns on Embodiment 9 of this invention. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the touchscreen system which concerns on Embodiment 10 of this invention. It is a figure which shows a prior art.

Embodiment 1
(Configuration of touch panel system 2)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a touch panel system 2 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The touch panel system 2 includes a touch panel 10 and a touch panel controller 1.

  The touch panel 10 includes a plurality of signal lines X (first signal lines) extending in parallel X directions and a plurality of signal lines Y (second signal lines) extending in parallel Y directions.

  The signal line X and the signal line Y are generally orthogonal. The touch panel 10 is a capacitive touch panel. The touch panel controller 1 includes a drive unit 11, a sense signal processing unit 12, a drive sense switching unit 13, a pointer position detection unit (detection unit) 14, and a control unit 16.

  The drive unit 11 gives a voltage signal to the signal line X or Y via the drive sense switching unit 13. Hereinafter, applying a voltage signal is referred to as driving. The sense signal processing unit 12 receives a voltage signal from the signal line X or Y via the drive sense switching unit 13, and processes the received voltage signal so as to be a signal suitable for detection of the touch position. The indicator position detection unit 14 receives a signal suitable for detection of the touch position from the sense signal processing unit 12, and detects a touch position by an indicator such as a finger and a pen. The control unit 16 controls the operations of the drive unit 11, the sense signal processing unit 12, the drive sense switching unit 13, and the indicator position detection unit 14.

(Principle of touch position detection)
In the capacitive touch panel, a minute capacitance exists between the drive line and the sense line. When the drive line is driven, the electric potential corresponding to the drive signal and the electric charge corresponding to the capacitance are output from the sense line. Using this, the value of the capacitance can be estimated from the drive signal and the signal read by the sense line.

  When a grounded indicator such as a human body touches or approaches the touch panel, the generated charge flows in the ground direction, and the signal read by the sense line becomes small. By detecting this signal change, touch detection is realized.

  As is clear from the above, in the touch panel 10, two types of signal lines arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal need to have one drive line and the other a sense line.

(Noise in touch position detection)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating noise generated in the sense line of the touch panel 10 when a finger touches the touch panel 10 of the touch panel system 2 illustrated in FIG. 1.

  In FIG. 2A, X (S) indicates that the signal line X is a sense line. Y (D) indicates that the signal line Y is a drive line. As shown in FIG. 2A, the noise affects the X direction in which the sense line extends. For this reason, unless the drive line and the sense line are switched, noise is detected in the X direction from the contact point between the touch panel 10 and the finger. In particular, a touch panel that can detect the contact position of both a finger and a pen has a high ability (detection accuracy) to detect a change amount of a relatively small signal corresponding to the pen. Therefore, the noise shown in FIG. Prominently detect. Therefore, such a touch panel can easily calculate the contact coordinates between the touch panel 10 and the finger in one dimension in the Y direction, but cannot clearly calculate in the X direction.

  In FIG. 2B, X (D) indicates that the signal line X is a drive line. Y (S) indicates that the signal line Y is a sense line. In FIG. 2B, the drive line and the sense line are switched with respect to the configuration shown in FIG. Then, since the direction in which the sense line extends changes from the X direction to the Y direction, noise is detected in the Y direction from the contact point between the touch panel 10 and the finger.

  When the logical change of the value in FIG. 2 (a) and the value in FIG. 2 (b) is taken for the amount of change in the signal (AND operation is performed), detection that is not noise is detected from the detection result including noise. Only the amount of change in the signal at the intersection of the drive line and the sense line representing the result can be extracted.

  In this manner, the sense line and the drive line are exchanged for each frame, AND of the detection results of the two frames is taken, and the touch position is detected based on the result is called an AND method. The frame represents a period during which the detection of the touch position is completed on the entire touch surface of the touch panel 10.

(Operation of touch panel system 2)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating noise generated in the sense line of the touch panel 10 when the pen touches the touch panel 10 of the touch panel system 2 illustrated in FIG. 1.

  The meanings of X (S), Y (D), X (D), and Y (S) in FIG. 3 are the same as those in FIG. Unlike a finger, a pen is hardly touched in the sense line direction even if the pen touches the touch panel 10. However, the amount of signal change caused by the pen is less than for example a finger. For this reason, it is relatively easy to detect the touch position of the pen, but since the amount of change in the signal by the pen itself is small, the position of the pen may be lost. When the touch panel system 2 uses the AND method, it simply fails to detect the touch position just by overlooking the position of the pen in one frame. For this reason, the touch panel system 2 performs touch position detection without switching between the sense line and the drive line for each frame. This method is called an OR method.

  Hereinafter, the touch panel system 2 that performs the AND method and the OR method in one touch panel 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating split driving of the touch panel 10 of the touch panel system 2 illustrated in FIG. 1.

  As shown by a straight line in FIG. 4A, the touch panel 10 includes a plurality of signal lines X and a plurality of signal lines Y. As described above, the signal line X means a signal line extending in the X direction. The signal line Y means a signal line extending in the Y direction. The drive sense switching unit 13 illustrated in FIG. 1 switches the connection state so that each of the signal lines X and Y is connected to either the drive unit 11 or the sense signal processing unit 12.

  The touch surface of the touch panel 10 is divided into four areas A to D. In FIG. 4B, the rows described as “A to D” correspond to the regions A to D, respectively. The columns labeled X and Y correspond to the X and Y directions, respectively.

  The element described as “S” indicates that the signal line extending in the direction of the column including the element in the region of the row including the element is connected to the sense signal processing unit 12, that is, the sense line. means. The element described as “D” means that the signal line extending in the direction of the column including the element in the region of the row including the element is connected to the drive unit 11, that is, the drive line. .

  In the first frame, in all the areas A to D, the signal line X is the drive line “D” and the signal line Y is the sense line “S”. On the other hand, in the second frame, in the region A (second region), the signal line X is the sense line “S” and the signal line Y is the drive line “D”. Thus, the drive line and the sense line are reversed in the first frame and the second frame. Thereby, in the area A, an AND method suitable for detecting the touch position of the finger can be realized.

  In the region D (first region), the signal line X remains the drive line “D” and the signal line Y remains the sense line “S” in the first and second frames. At this time, in the region D, an OR method suitable for detecting the touch position of the pen can be realized.

  Here, in the region B, in the second frame, the signal lines X and Y are both sense lines “S”. In the region C, the signal lines X and Y are both drive lines “D” in the second frame. Therefore, in the second frame, the touch positions cannot be detected in the regions B and C.

  However, in the period after the second frame, the touch panel 10 repeats the same operation as the first frame and the second frame one after another. Therefore, in the odd-numbered frame, one of the signal lines X and Y becomes the drive line “D” and the other becomes the sense line “S”. That is, in regions B and C, the touch position can be detected in the odd-numbered frame.

  At this time, the frame rate, which is a cycle for detecting the touch position, is compared with the case where one of the signal lines X and Y becomes the drive line “D” and the other becomes the sense line “S” in all frames. Half. Therefore, the touch panel controller 1 can be reduced in power consumption since the processing for detecting the touch position is half.

  As described above, in the touch panel system 2 including the touch panel 10 including the plurality of signal lines X and the plurality of signal lines Y intersecting the plurality of signal lines X, the electrostatic capacitances in the signal lines X and the signal lines Y are as follows. The indicator position for performing touch detection using the first detection step of detecting the signal line X by driving the signal line X and the second detection step of detecting the signal line X by driving the signal line Y The touch panel 10 includes a pen input area D and a finger input area A, and the pointer position detection section 14 uses the first detection step in the area D. In the area A, touch detection is performed using both the first detection process and the second detection process.

  In touch detection using both the first detection process and the second detection process in the region A, an AND operation of the detection result in the first detection process and the detection result in the second detection process is used.

(Effect of this embodiment)
As described above, in the area A, an AND method suitable for detecting the touch position of the finger can be realized. In the region D, an OR method suitable for detecting the touch position of the pen can be realized. The touch panel system 2 according to the present embodiment realizes a user interface including a pen input area and a finger input area (such as a bank ATM including a pen sign and an account number and password input by a finger). It is suitable for.

  For example, when a right-handed user signs with a pen, it is difficult to sign the left area of the touch panel on the left hand side of the user. However, the touch panel system 2 can provide a user interface suitable for a right-handed person by performing the divided drive shown in FIG. Thus, the user of the touch panel system 2 can use the touch panel 10 more easily.

[Embodiment 2]
(Operation of touch panel system 2)
In the following, for convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating divided driving of the touch panel 10 of the touch panel system 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the divided drive of the present embodiment, “S” and “D” in the Y direction of the second frame are opposite to the divided drive of the first embodiment.

(Effect of this embodiment)
As described above, in the region B, an AND method suitable for detecting a finger touch position can be realized. In the area C, an OR method suitable for detecting the touch position of the pen can be realized. The touch panel system 2 according to the present embodiment realizes a user interface including a pen input area and a finger input area (such as a bank ATM including a pen sign and an account number and password input by a finger). It is suitable for.

  For example, when a left-handed user signs with a pen, it is difficult to sign the right region of the touch panel on the user's right hand side. However, by changing the operation of the touch panel system 2 from the divided drive shown in FIG. 4B to the divided drive shown in FIG. 5, the touch panel system 2 can provide a user interface suitable for a left-handed person. Thus, the user of the touch panel system 2 can use the touch panel 10 more easily.

[Embodiment 3]
(Operation of touch panel system 2)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating divided driving of the touch panel 10 of the touch panel system 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the divided drive of this embodiment, the number of divided touch surfaces of the touch panel 10 is different from that of the first and second embodiments.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the touch surface of the touch panel 10 is divided into six regions A to F. In FIG. 6B, the rows described as “A to F” correspond to the regions A to F, respectively. In the first frame, in all of the areas A to F, the signal line X is the drive line “D” and the signal line Y is the sense line “S”. On the other hand, in the second frame, in the areas A and C, the signal line X is the sense line “S” and the signal line Y is the drive line “D”. Thus, the drive line and the sense line are reversed in the first frame and the second frame. Thereby, in the areas A and C, an AND method suitable for detecting the touch position of the finger can be realized.

  In the region E, the signal line X remains the drive line “D” and the signal line Y remains the sense line “S” in the first frame and the second frame. At this time, in the region D, an OR method suitable for detecting the touch position of the pen can be realized.

  Here, in the region B, in the second frame, the signal lines X and Y are both sense lines “S”. In the regions D and F, the signal lines X and Y are both drive lines “D” in the second frame. Therefore, in the second frame, the touch cannot be detected in the regions B, D, and F.

  However, in the period after the second frame, the touch panel 10 repeats the same operation as the first frame and the second frame one after another. Therefore, in the odd-numbered frame, one of the signal lines X and Y becomes the drive line “D” and the other becomes the sense line “S”. That is, in the regions B, D, and F, the touch position can be detected in the odd-numbered frame.

  At this time, the frame rate, which is a cycle for detecting the touch position, is compared with the case where one of the signal lines X and Y becomes the drive line “D” and the other becomes the sense line “S” in all frames. Half. At this time, the processing for detecting the touch position in the touch panel controller 1 can be halved, so that power consumption can be suppressed.

(Effect of this embodiment)
As described above, the number of areas on the touch surface of the touch panel 10 and the vertical and horizontal sizes can be changed. Note that the size of the region may not be the same as the size of other regions.

  Thereby, for example, in the divided drive shown in FIG. 6, two areas A and C can be secured as input areas suitable for finger touch position detection. At this time, the user of the touch panel system 2 can use a user interface with a higher degree of freedom such that the input area by the finger is not only one place.

  In the example of the present embodiment, there are two regions suitable for the finger of the touch panel 10, but the number of divisions in the X and Y directions of the touch panel 10, the drive line “D” and the sense line “ By changing the assignment of “S”, for example, another pattern in which the number of areas suitable for the finger of the touch panel 10 is changed can be realized.

[Embodiment 4]
(Configuration of touch panel system 2)
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of the touch panel system 2 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the connection state between the touch panel 10 and the drive sense switching unit 13 is different from the above-described embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the total number of signal lines X and Y of the touch panel 10 is larger than the number of terminals of the drive sense switching unit 13.

  For this reason, the number of signal lines X and Y through which the drive sense switching unit 13 receives signals is reduced from the total number of signal lines X and Y included in the touch panel 10. Hereinafter, reducing the number of signal lines X and Y on which the drive sense switching unit 13 receives signals to be less than the total number of signal lines X and Y included in the touch panel 10 is referred to as “thinning”.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the touch panel 10 is divided into a pen input area, a finger input area, and other areas. The pen input area is an area in which the touch panel 10 operates in an OR method suitable for the above-described pen touch position detection. The finger input area is an area in which the touch panel 10 operates in an AND method suitable for the above-described finger touch position detection.

In the present embodiment, the touch panel 10 includes the following signal lines.
-13 signal lines X passing through the pen input area-12 signal lines Y passing through the pen input area-24 signal lines X passing through the finger input area-Signal lines Y passing through the finger input area: In FIG. 7, signal lines X and Y that pass through the pen input area of the touch panel 10 are indicated by broken lines. The signal lines X and Y that pass through the finger input area of the touch panel 10 are indicated by solid lines. As shown by broken lines in FIG. 7, eight of the 24 signal lines X passing through the finger input area are connected to the drive sense switching unit 13. Further, eight of the 24 signal lines Y that pass through the finger input area are connected to the drive sense switching unit 13. That is, the signal lines X and Y that pass through the finger input area are connected to the drive sense switching unit 13 every three lines.

(Operation of touch panel system 2)
In the finger input area, the sense line and the drive line are switched for each frame, as in the area A in the divided drive shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the pen input area, the sense line and the drive line are not switched for each frame, similarly to the area D in the divided drive shown in FIG. The drive sense switching unit 13 performs the switching by dividing the signal lines into a group of signal lines X and Y that pass through the finger input area and a group of signal lines X and Y that pass through the pen input area.

  As described above, in the touch panel system 2, the finger input area corresponding to the area A has a larger interval between the signal lines X or the signal lines Y to be driven than the pen input area corresponding to the area D. The interval between the signal lines X or the signal lines Y to be detected for capacitance is large.

(Effect of this embodiment)
As described above, the touch panel system 2 detects a large amount of detection compared to a pen while maintaining detection accuracy suitable for finger touch position detection even if the signal lines X and Y passing through the finger input area are thinned out. The touch position of the target finger can be sufficiently detected.

  On the other hand, the signal lines X and Y that pass through the pen input area are not thinned out. The touch panel system 2 can detect the touch position of the pen, which is a detection object smaller than the finger, with detection accuracy suitable for detecting the touch position of the pen.

  In the application executed in the touch panel system 2 that operates as shown in FIGS. 12 to 15 described later, the pen input area in the present embodiment is used as an area for sign input, and the finger input area is displayed as a menu button. Can be an area for. Since all the signal lines of the touch panel are driven in the pen input area, the touch position by the pen can be detected in detail and at high speed. In the finger input area, for example, by setting a large button to be touched by the finger, the touch position by the finger can be sufficiently detected.

  In this embodiment, thinning is performed statically. For example, when there is a touch panel prepared for general use, even if the number of channels of the touch panel is larger than the number of terminals provided in the controller, it is necessary to use a connection flexible cable, connection board pattern, etc. Bundle and thin out according to the accuracy. Accordingly, a touch panel having a larger number of terminals can be connected to a controller having a smaller number of terminals, and there is no need to separately procure a controller having a larger number of terminals.

[Embodiment 5]
(Configuration of touch panel system 2)
In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of the touch panel system 2 will be described in more detail than the above-described embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the touch panel system 2 according to the present embodiment.

  The touch panel 10 includes 40 signal lines X and 60 signal lines Y. The drive sense switching unit 13 includes a multiplexer (first connection switching unit) 13X and a multiplexer (second connection switching unit) 13Y. The sense signal processing unit 12 includes an amplification circuit (amplification unit) 121, a signal selection unit 122, and an A / D conversion circuit 123. The indicator position detection unit 14 includes a decoding processing unit 141 and a touch position detection unit 142.

<Drive sense switching unit 13>
The multiplexer 13X has one end connected to the touch panel 10 and the other end connected to the amplifier circuit 121. In the example of the present embodiment, the signal lines X are connected between the multiplexer 13X and the touch panel 10 one by one. That is, the multiplexer 13X is connected to the amplifier circuit 121 by thinning the signal line X uniformly.

  The multiplexer 13 </ b> Y has one end connected to the touch panel 10 and the other end connected to the drive unit 11. In the example of this embodiment, the signal line Y is connected between the multiplexer 13Y and the touch panel 10 one by one. That is, the multiplexer 13Y is connected to the drive unit 11 by thinning the signal line Y uniformly.

<Sense signal processing unit 12>
The amplifier circuit 121 amplifies the signal received from the signal line X via the multiplexer 13X and transmits the amplified signal to the signal selection unit 122. The signal selection unit 122 selects a significant signal representing a touch on the touch panel 10 from the signals received from the amplifier circuit 121 and transmits the selected signal to the A / D conversion circuit 123. The A / D conversion circuit 123 converts the analog signal received from the signal selection unit 122 into a digital signal and transmits the digital signal to the decoding processing unit 141.

<Indicator position detection unit 14>
The decoding processing unit 141 decodes the digital signal received from the A / D conversion circuit 123 as a signal representing the capacitance distribution on the touch surface of the touch panel 10 and transmits the signal to the touch position detection unit 142. The touch position detection unit 142 detects the touch position based on a signal representing the capacitance distribution received from the decoding processing unit 141.

(Operation of touch panel system 2)
In the example shown in FIG. 8, the multiplexers 13X and 13Y thin out the signal lines X and Y uniformly. The operation of the touch panel system 2 in the present embodiment is not limited to that form. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example in which the operations of multiplexers 13X and 13Y are changed in touch panel system 2 shown in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9, the multiplexers 13X and 13Y do not thin out the signal lines X and Y uniformly. The touch surface of the touch panel 10 is divided into regions I to IV. The signal lines thinned out by the multiplexers 13X and 13Y are concentrated on the signal lines that pass through a partial area of the touch surface of the touch panel 10. Specifically, the signal lines thinned out by the multiplexer 13X are concentrated on the signal lines passing through the regions II and III. Also. The signal lines thinned out by the multiplexer 13Y are concentrated on the signal lines passing through the regions II and IV.

  The multiplexer 13X connects 15 of the 40 signal lines X that pass through the regions I and IV to the amplifier circuit 121 without being thinned out. Also, the multiplexer 13X thins out 25 of the 40 signal lines X that pass through the regions II and III every 4 lines, that is, connects 5 of the 25 lines to the amplifier circuit 121. Yes. In this manner, the multiplexer 13X connects 20 of the 40 signal lines X to the amplifier circuit 121.

  The multiplexer 13Y connects 20 of the 60 signal lines Y that pass through the regions I and III to the drive unit 11 without being thinned out. Also, the multiplexer 13Y thins out 40 of the 60 signal lines Y passing through the regions II and IV every 3 lines, that is, 10 out of 40 lines are connected to the drive unit 11. Yes. In this way, the multiplexer 13Y connects 30 of the 60 signal lines Y to the drive unit 11.

  In the touch panel 10, in the region I, between the 15 signal lines X connected to the amplifier circuit 121 via the multiplexer 13X and the 20 signal lines Y connected to the drive unit 11 via the multiplexer 13Y. In addition, detection points for the touch position are formed. The signal lines X are arranged in the Y direction. The signal lines Y are arranged in the X direction. Therefore, in region I, 20 × 15 matrix detection points are formed.

  In the area II, the touch panel 10 includes five signal lines X connected to the amplifier circuit 121 via the multiplexer 13X and ten signal lines Y connected to the driving unit 11 via the multiplexer 13Y. In between, the detection point of a touch position is formed. Therefore, in the region II, 10 × 5 matrix detection points are formed.

  As described above, since more detection points are formed in region I than in region II, detailed touch position detection is possible. However, in the region II, at least one of the multiplexers 13X and 13Y can switch the signal lines to be connected to the touch panel 10 in a time-division manner, thereby increasing the substantial detection points. Regions III and IV are regions where the touch position is not detected.

  As described above, in the touch panel system 2, among the signal lines X, the multiplexer 13 </ b> X that changes the target signal line for detecting capacitance in a time division manner, and among the signal lines Y, the target signal line to be driven is A multiplexer 13Y that is changed by division and an amplifier circuit 121 that amplifies a signal acquired from the multiplexer 13X are provided.

  In the touch panel system 2, the multiplexer 13 </ b> X detects the signal line X to be detected so that the signal line X passing through the region I is detected without being thinned out and the signal line X passing through the region II is detected by thinning out. The multiplexer 13Y drives the signal line Y to be driven so that the signal line Y passing through the region I is driven without being thinned and the signal line Y passing through the region II is driven by being thinned out. Is changed in time division.

(Effect of this embodiment)
In the touch panel system 2 shown in FIG. 8, all signal lines X of the touch panel 10 can be driven by changing the connection of the multiplexers 13X and 13Y in a time division manner. In addition, signals can be read from all signal lines Y of the touch panel 10. Accordingly, the number of amplifier elements (for example, operational amplifiers) can be reduced by reducing the number of signal lines connected to the amplifier circuit while maintaining the detection accuracy of the touch position.

  Further, the touch panel system 2 shown in FIG. 9 can deal with an application that accepts an input with a pen in the region I and accepts an input with a finger in the region IV. Further, continuous touches (for example, pen and finger trajectories) can be detected in the region I, and discontinuous touches (for example, selection buttons) can be detected in the region II.

(Comparative example)
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a touch panel system 2a which is a comparative example of the touch panel system 2 shown in FIG.

  The touch panel system 2a includes a touch panel 10 and a touch panel controller 1a. The touch panel 10 includes 20 signal lines X and 30 signal lines Y. The touch panel controller 1a is different from the touch panel controller 1 in that the touch panel controller 1a does not include the multiplexers 13X and 13Y. The signal line X is connected to the amplifier circuit 121. The signal line Y is connected to the drive unit 11.

  When the number of signal lines of the touch panel 10 of the touch panel system 2a increases as the touch panel 10 of the touch panel system 2, the number of signal lines X connected to the amplifier circuit 121 and the number of signal lines Y connected to the drive unit 11 also increase. Therefore, in the touch panel system 2a, the number of amplification elements of the amplification circuit 121 and the number of drive elements of the drive unit 11 are increased as compared with the touch panel system 2.

[Embodiment 6]
(Configuration of touch panel system 2)
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a touch panel system 2b according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that the touch panel system 2b further includes a pen area driving unit 11b and a pen area sense signal processing unit 12b.

  In the present embodiment, the signal line X passing through the pen input area is connected to the pen area sense signal processing unit 12b without passing through the drive sense switching unit 13, and the signal line Y passing through the pen input area is driven. It differs from the above-mentioned embodiment in that it is connected to the pen area driving unit 11b without going through the sense switching unit 13.

(Operation of touch panel system 2b)
The pen area driving unit 11b gives a voltage signal to the signal line Y that passes through the pen input area. The pen area sense signal processing unit 12b receives a voltage signal from the signal line X, and processes the received voltage signal so as to be a signal suitable for touch position detection. The indicator position detection unit 14 receives a signal suitable for touch position detection from the pen area sense signal processing unit 12b, and detects the touch position by the pen. The control unit 16 controls the operations of the pen area driving unit 11b and the pen area sense signal processing unit 12b.

(Effect of this embodiment)
As described above, the drive sense switching unit 13 may be connected to a signal line that passes through at least the finger input region among the signal lines included in the touch panel 10. Note that the touch panel system 2b can also execute an application described later.

  A pen input area and a finger input area are designated by a display application, and only a display other than the input area is displayed. In the finger input area, drive sense switching is performed to detect the touch position, but in the pen input area, the touch position is detected without performing drive sense switching.

[Embodiment 7]
(Operation of touch panel system 2)
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the touch panel system 2 according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

  In the touch panel system 2, an application that operates as an online shopping screen using a communication terminal such as a tablet is executed.

  The touch surface of the touch panel 10 is divided into two parts in the X direction and two parts in the Y direction. On the touch panel 10, the lower right area of the touch surface is displayed as a field for accepting selection by a finger (selection field by an indicator), and the upper left area of the touch surface is an area for receiving input by a pen (trajectory by an indicator) Input field), and the upper right area and lower left area of the touch surface are only displayed without accepting input by the indicator.

  A user of the touch panel system 2 registers ordering information such as an ordering party and a settlement method from a plurality of menus in advance, and registers an authentication sign with a predetermined touch pen. The touch pen can detect the writing pressure in multiple stages (for example, 1024 stages). The touch panel system 2 can recognize the writing style of the user who performs signing by referring to the writing pressure of the touch pen. Thereby, the touch panel system 2 can prevent unauthorized use such as impersonation of the user.

  After registering the ordering information, the user can place an order for goods and services using an application executed as shown in FIG. A plurality of buttons representing menus are arranged on the lower right side of the touch surface. The user can display an overview of the menu in the lower left area by selecting the button and dragging leftward. The lower left area only displays information and does not accept touch input. By double-clicking a button with an indicator, a detailed menu, buttons for ordering, and the like are displayed on the touch surface.

  Since the lower right area where the menu is displayed occupies a large area on the touch surface, the back of the hand may come into contact with the lower right area if the person is right-handed. For this reason, in order to avoid noise generated when the back of the hand touches the touch surface, the drive line and the sense line are switched in the lower right region, and the touch position is detected by the AND method.

  In the upper right area, the current order amount and notes for order confirmation are displayed. The upper right area only displays information and does not accept touch input. A sign field is displayed in the upper left area. The order is completed when the user describes the sign registered in the sign field with a predetermined touch pen and presses the order button.

  In the sign field, it is preferable that the line width and blurring according to the writing pressure applied to the touch surface by the user with the touch pen can be displayed faithfully. For that purpose, it is preferable that the indicator position detection unit 14 of the touch panel controller 1 of the touch panel system 2 can detect the touch position and the writing pressure at high speed. Therefore, the drive line and the sense line are not switched in the upper left region. In addition, the indicator position detection unit 14 detects the touch position once, and while the pen is moving, confirms in detail whether or not the touch has actually occurred around the detected touch position, thereby touching. The position can be detected at high speed.

  As described above, the touch panel system 2 includes the display unit that is disposed so as to overlap the touch surface formed by the signal line X and the signal line Y. The display unit displays the upper left area as a sign field and the lower right area as a menu selection screen when executing an application that operates as an online shopping screen.

(Effect of this embodiment)
As described above, when the user signs in the sign field that is the pen input area, the user's writing can be recognized, so that unauthorized use such as impersonation of the user can be prevented. In addition, when the user selects a menu with a finger on the menu selection screen that is a finger input area, it is possible to avoid noise caused by the back of the hand touching the touch surface.

[Embodiment 8]
(Operation of touch panel system 2)
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the touch panel system 2 according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

  In the touch panel system 2, an application that operates as a transfer screen of an ATM terminal installed in a bank or the like is executed. The present embodiment is different from the seventh embodiment in that the area for accepting input with a pen and the area for accepting input with a finger are interchanged on the touch surface.

  The touch surface of the touch panel 10 is divided into two parts in the X direction and two parts in the Y direction. On the touch panel 10, the upper left area is displayed as a field for accepting selection by a finger (selection field by an indicator), and the lower right area is displayed as a field for accepting an input by a pen (trajectory input field by an indicator) The upper right area and the lower left area are only displayed without receiving input.

  In the upper left area, a plurality of buttons for inputting numbers such as a monetary amount and an account number, which are assumed to be input with a finger, are arranged. The user performs input by touching the button with a finger. The content input by the user is displayed in the lower left area. A description of the transfer method is displayed in the upper right area. Thereby, according to the description displayed on the upper right side area, the user can input necessary items by touching the button and can designate the transfer.

  The lower right area is a communication field that accepts input with a pen. The user can write a message by handwriting in the lower right area. Thereby, the touch panel system 2 can use the message for confirmation of the transfer person at the transfer destination.

  As described above, the touch panel system 2 includes the display unit that is disposed so as to overlap the touch surface formed by the signal line X and the signal line Y. Further, when executing an application that operates as a transfer screen of the ATM terminal, the display unit displays the lower right region as a communication column and displays the upper left region as a number selection screen.

(Effect of this embodiment)
As described above, the user can write a message by hand in the communication field that is a pen input area. Further, the user can designate a transfer by inputting necessary items such as an amount and an account number with a finger on a number input screen which is a finger input area.

[Embodiment 9]
(Operation of touch panel system 2)
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the touch panel system 2 according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

  In the touch panel system 2, an application that operates as a screen of an educational terminal used in an educational field or the like is executed. In the present embodiment, the side on the touch surface that displays an area that accepts input with a pen and the side that displays an area that accepts input with a finger are the same as in the seventh embodiment.

  The touch surface of the touch panel 10 is divided into two parts in the X direction and two parts in the Y direction. On the touch panel 10, the lower right region is displayed as a column for accepting selection with a finger (selection column with an indicator), and the upper left region is displayed as a column for accepting input with a pen (trajectory input column with an indicator). The upper right area and the lower left area are only displayed without receiving input.

  The upper left area is a note column. In the note column, the user can take notes of lecture contents with a pen and attach notes provided to create notes. In the upper right area, information from the instructor is displayed. In the lower left area, the usage method of the terminal is displayed. In the lower right area, a plurality of buttons for receiving input by a finger are arranged. The user can perform operations such as saving the created notes, sending questions, and submitting assignments according to the explanation displayed in the lower left area.

  As described above, the touch panel system 2 includes the display unit that is disposed so as to overlap the touch surface formed by the signal line X and the signal line Y. Further, when executing an application that operates as a screen of the educational terminal, the display unit displays the upper left area as a note column and displays the lower right area as an operation screen related to a note.

(Effect of this embodiment)
As described above, the user can create a note by taking notes of the lecture contents with the pen in the pen input area. In addition, the user can perform an operation related to the created note with the finger in the finger input area.

[Embodiment 10]
(Operation of touch panel system 2)
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the touch panel system 2 according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

  In the touch panel system 2, an application that operates as a screen of a POS (point of sale) self-checkout terminal installed in a supermarket or the like is executed. The present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that the touch panel system 2 further includes an input device 21, a cash slot 22, and a receipt issuing device 23.

  The touch surface of the touch panel 10 is divided into two parts in the X direction and two parts in the Y direction. On the touch panel 10, the upper left area is displayed as a field for accepting selection by a finger (selection field by an indicator), and the lower right area is displayed as a field for accepting an input by a pen (trajectory input field by an indicator) The upper right area and the lower left area are only displayed without receiving input.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 15, in the touch panel system 2 that operates as a self-checkout terminal, the touch panel 10 displays a screen asking the user for payment after reading the user's purchased product. The touch panel system 2 may include an input device 21 for reading information to be displayed in at least one of the divided areas on the touch surface of the touch panel 10.

  In the upper left area, a plurality of buttons for selecting a payment method are displayed. When the user touches any of the plurality of buttons, a settlement operation instruction for the user is displayed in the lower left area. For example, when the user touches a button described as “cash”, the usage amount to be inserted by the user is displayed in the lower left area. If the user completes the insertion of the cash of the usage amount displayed in the lower left area into the cash insertion slot 22, a change that is the cash of the amount obtained by subtracting the usage amount from the amount of cash inserted into the cash insertion slot 22, and the usage amount A receipt describing the amount of cash inserted into the cash insertion slot 22 and the amount of change is issued from the receipt issuing device 23, and the settlement is completed. The touch panel system 2 may include a cash inlet 22 for receiving cash (article) corresponding to each amount (information) displayed in at least one of the divided areas on the touch surface of the touch panel 10. Further, the touch panel system 2 may include a receipt issuing device 23 for issuing a receipt describing each amount corresponding to the amount displayed in at least one of the divided areas on the touch surface of the touch panel 10.

  Further, for example, when the user touches a button described as “card”, a message for requesting the user to sign with the pen attached to the touch panel 10 is displayed in the lower left area. When the user signs with the pen in the lower right area, the withdrawal from the account is completed. A commercial advertisement is displayed in the upper right area. Thereby, the store of the product which is the owner of the touch panel system 2 can advertise the product.

  As described above, the touch panel system 2 includes the display unit that is disposed so as to overlap the touch surface formed by the signal line X and the signal line Y. In addition, when executing an application that operates as a screen of the POS self-checkout terminal, the display unit displays the lower right region as a sign field and displays the upper left region as a payment method selection screen.

(Effect of this embodiment)
As described above, when the user signs in the pen input area, the user's writing can be recognized, so that unauthorized use such as impersonation of the user can be prevented. Further, the user can select a payment method with a finger in the pen input area.

[Example of software implementation]
The control block of the touch panel controller 1 may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be realized by software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

  In the latter case, the touch panel controller 1 includes a CPU that executes instructions of a program that is software that realizes each function, a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which the program and various data are recorded so as to be readable by a computer (or CPU), or A storage device (these are referred to as “recording media”), a RAM (Random Access Memory) that expands the program, and the like are provided. And the objective of this invention is achieved when a computer (or CPU) reads the said program from the said recording medium and runs it. As the recording medium, a “non-temporary tangible medium” such as a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. The program may be supplied to the computer via an arbitrary transmission medium (such as a communication network or a broadcast wave) that can transmit the program. Note that one embodiment of the present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave, in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

[Summary]
A touch panel system according to an aspect 1 of the present invention includes a touch panel (10) including a plurality of first signal lines (X) and a plurality of second signal lines (Y) intersecting the plurality of first signal lines. A touch panel system (2), wherein a first detection step of detecting the electrostatic capacitance in the first signal line and the second signal line from the second signal line by driving the first signal line; A detection unit (indicator position detection unit) that performs touch detection using the second detection step of detecting the capacitance from the first signal line by driving the second signal line. The touch panel includes a first area (D) for pen input and a second area (A) for finger input, and the detection unit performs the first detection step in the first area. Is used to perform touch detection, and in the second region, the first detection is performed. Performing touch detection using both step and the second detection step.

  According to the above configuration, since the signal line to be driven and the signal line to be detected for capacitance are not switched in the first area for pen input, the touch position of the pen having a small capacitance Can be reliably detected. In addition, in the second region for finger input, the touch position of a finger with a lot of noise can be detected accurately by switching between a signal line to be driven and a signal line to be detected for capacitance. it can. According to the above, it is possible to detect the touch position with appropriate accuracy in the touch panel while suppressing the cost.

  The touch panel system according to aspect 2 of the present invention is the touch panel system according to aspect 1, in which the detection unit detects the distribution of capacitance detected in the second region using the first detection step, and the second detection step. Touch detection may be performed with reference to the result of an AND operation with the electrostatic capacitance distribution detected by using.

  According to the above configuration, in the second region for finger input, the signal line to be driven and the signal line to be detected for capacitance are switched, and the capacitance distribution is ANDed. Accordingly, it is possible to detect the touch position of a finger with a lot of noise with higher accuracy.

  The touch panel system according to Aspect 3 of the present invention is the touch panel system according to Aspects 1 and 2, in which the second region is driven more than the first region than the first signal line interval or the second signal line. The interval may be large, and the interval between the first signal lines or the interval between the second signal lines may be large.

  According to the above configuration, even if the interval between the first signal line or the second signal line passing through the second region for finger input is large, the detection accuracy suitable for detecting the touch position of the finger is maintained, In comparison, it is possible to sufficiently detect the touch position of a finger that is a large detection target. In addition, the first signal line or the second signal line passing through the first area for pen input has a detection accuracy suitable for detecting the touch position of the pen, and the touch position of the pen, which is a detection target smaller than the finger. Can be detected.

  The touch panel system according to aspect 4 of the present invention is the touch panel system according to aspects 1 to 3, in which the first connection switching unit (multiplexer) that changes, in a time-division manner, the target signal line for detecting the capacitance among the first signal lines. 13X), a second connection switching unit (multiplexer 13Y) that changes a signal line to be driven among the second signal lines in a time division manner, and an amplification unit that amplifies the signal acquired from the first connection switching unit (Amplifier circuit 121).

  According to said structure, all the 2nd signal lines can be driven and a signal can also be read from all the 1st signal lines. Thereby, the number of amplifying elements can be reduced by reducing the number of signal lines connected to the amplifying unit while maintaining the detection accuracy of the touch position.

  The touch panel system according to aspect 5 of the present invention is the touch panel system according to aspect 4, in which the first connection switching unit detects the first signal line passing through the first area without being thinned, and passes through the second area. The first signal line to be detected is changed in a time-sharing manner so that the first signal line to be detected is thinned, and the second connection line is changed so that the second signal line passing through the first region is The second signal line to be driven may be changed in a time division manner so that the second signal line that is driven without being thinned out and driven through the second region is thinned out.

  According to the above configuration, since more detection points are formed in the first region than in the second region, detailed touch position detection is possible.

  A touch panel system according to an aspect 6 of the present invention further includes a display unit arranged to overlap with a touch surface formed by the first signal line and the second signal line in the above aspects 1 to 5. May be.

  The touch panel system according to Aspect 7 of the present invention is the touch panel system according to Aspect 6, in which, when the display unit executes an application, the first area is displayed as a column for locus input by an indicator, and the second area is indicated. You may display as a column of selection by the body.

  According to the configuration described above, since the user's writing can be recognized when performing the trajectory input, unauthorized use such as impersonation of the user can be prevented. Further, when making a selection, it is possible to avoid noise generated by the back of the hand touching the touch surface.

  In the touch panel system according to aspect 8 of the present invention, in the above aspect 7, the locus input by the indicator may be input by a pen.

  In the touch panel system according to aspect 9 of the present invention, in the above aspects 7 and 8, the selection by the indicator may be selection by a finger.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, a new technical feature can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment.

1 Touch Panel Controller 2 Touch Panel System 10 Touch Panel (Display Unit)
14 Pointer position detector (detector)
A area (second area)
D region (first region)
X signal line (first signal line)
Y signal line (second signal line)
121 Amplifier circuit (amplifier)
13X multiplexer (first connection switching unit)
13Y multiplexer (second connection switching unit)

Claims (9)

A touch panel system including a touch panel including a plurality of first signal lines and a plurality of second signal lines intersecting with the plurality of first signal lines,
A first detection step of detecting the electrostatic capacitance in the first signal line and the second signal line from the second signal line by driving the first signal line;
A second detection step of detecting the capacitance from the first signal line by driving the second signal line;
Equipped with a detection unit that performs touch detection using
The touch panel includes a first area for pen input and a second area for finger input.
The detection unit is
In the first region, touch detection is performed using the first detection step,
In the second region, touch detection is performed using both the first detection step and the second detection step.
A touch panel system characterized by this. The detection unit is a result of an AND operation between a distribution of capacitance detected using the first detection step and a distribution of capacitance detected using the second detection step in the second region. Touch detection with reference to
The touch panel system according to claim 1. The second area is more than the first area.
The interval between the first signal lines or the second signal lines to be driven is large,
The interval of the first signal lines or the interval of the second signal lines of the target for detecting the capacitance is large.
The touch panel system according to claim 1 or 2. A first connection switching unit that changes, in a time-division manner, a target signal line for detecting the capacitance among the first signal lines;
A second connection switching unit that changes a signal line to be driven among the second signal lines in a time-sharing manner;
An amplifying unit for amplifying the signal acquired from the first connection switching unit;
The touch panel system according to claim 1, further comprising: The first connection switching unit detects so that the first signal line passing through the first region is detected without being thinned, and the first signal line passing through the second region is detected by being thinned out. Change the target first signal line in time division,
The second connection switching unit is driven so that the second signal line passing through the first region is driven without being thinned, and the second signal line passing through the second region is driven by being thinned out. Change the target second signal line in time division,
The touch panel system according to claim 4. A display unit arranged to overlap a touch surface formed by the first signal line and the second signal line;
The touch panel system according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel system is a touch panel. The display section
When running the application,
Display the first area as a field for trajectory input by an indicator,
Displaying the second region as a column for selection by an indicator;
The touch panel system according to claim 6. The locus input by the indicator is an input by a pen.
The touch panel system according to claim 7. The selection by the indicator is selection by a finger.
The touch panel system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein

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