JP2019010900A - Information input system and information input program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technique which facilitates an operation of a touch device on a steering operation part in a steering time.SOLUTION: An information input system comprises: an operation reception part for receiving an operation performed by a user to a touch device provided on a steering operation part which rotates according to a steering angle of a movable body; and an operation area setting part for setting an operation area where the operation performed by the user is received, on the touch device so that a relative position to the user in the steering period is constant.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an information input system and an information input program for receiving input of information using a touch device of a steering operation unit.

  A technique for receiving a driver's operation on a touch panel display of a steering operation unit is known (see Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, an operation is received at the four corners of the touch panel display so that the operation can be performed while holding the steering operation unit.

JP 2009-96210 A

However, since the positions of the four corners of the touch panel display change greatly according to the rotation of the steering operation unit, the position of the area where the touch panel display can be operated during steering changes greatly. Therefore, for example, when the driver changes the steering operation unit, there is a problem that it is difficult to know where to operate on the touch panel display.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of easily operating a touch device on a steering operation unit even during steering.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information input system according to the present invention includes an operation receiving unit that receives a user's operation on a touch device provided in a steering operation unit that rotates according to a steering angle of a moving body, and a steering period. An operation region setting unit configured to set on the touch device an operation region for receiving a user operation so that the relative position to the user is constant.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information input program according to the present invention includes an operation receiving unit that receives a user operation on a touch device provided in a steering operation unit that rotates a computer according to a steering angle of a moving body, a steering period It is made to function as an operation area setting unit that sets an operation area for receiving a user operation on the touch device so that a relative position with respect to the user is constant.

  In the above configuration, the touch device that rotates together with the steering operation unit rotates during the steering period. However, since the operation region is set so that the relative position with respect to the user is constant during the steering period, the position of the operation region can be made independent of the steering angle as viewed from the user. Since the user only has to operate the operation area whose position is kept constant, the touch device can be easily operated during steering.

It is a block diagram of an information input system. 2A to 2D are front views of the steering operation unit. It is a graph of a rotation angle. It is a flowchart of an information input process. 5A is a graph of the rotation angle, and FIG. 5B is a front view of the steering operation unit.

Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
(1) Configuration of information input system:
(2) Information input processing:
(3) Other embodiments:

(1) Configuration of information input system:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information input system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information input system 10 is a vehicle-mounted device such as a car navigation device mounted on a vehicle. The information input system 10 includes a control unit 20 and a recording medium 30. The control unit 20 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and executes an information input program 21 stored in the recording medium 30 or the ROM.

  The recording medium 30 records map information 30a and operation plan information 30b. The map information 30a includes node data, link data, and facility data. The node data mainly indicates information about the intersection. Specifically, the node data indicates the coordinates of the node corresponding to the intersection and the shape of the intersection. The link data indicates various types of information such as a section length, a speed limit, the number of lanes, and the width of the link corresponding to the road section. A road section is a unit of road divided by intersections continuous in the length direction, and nodes exist at both ends of the link. A node to which three or more links are connected corresponds to an intersection. The section length is the length of the road section, and means the travel distance when traveling on the road section.

  The link data includes shape interpolation point data. The shape interpolation point data is data indicating the coordinates of the shape interpolation point set at the center in the width direction of the road section. The control unit 20 acquires the coordinates of the node and the coordinates of the shape interpolation point, and acquires a polygonal line connecting these coordinates or an approximate curve of these coordinates as the shape of the road section.

  The driving plan information 30b is data defining a control target value for each target position that is the current location of the target vehicle. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the target vehicle speed, the target acceleration / deceleration, and the target steering angle are recorded in the driving plan information 30b as the control target values. The control target value may be recorded for each time during automatic operation. The control unit 20 controls each part of the vehicle so that the current position reaches each target position, and controls each part of the vehicle so that each control target value is realized at a timing when the current position reaches each target position. The driving plan information 30b may be modified as appropriate according to the traveling state of the vehicle. The technique for automatically driving the vehicle is not particularly limited, and a known automatic driving technique can be applied, and the control target value is not limited to that described above.

  In the present embodiment, the planned travel route is searched as the optimum route to the destination, and the operation plan information 30b for traveling on the planned travel route is created. That is, the target position indicated by the operation plan information 30b is, for example, a plurality of positions set at regular intervals on the planned travel route, and travels on the planned travel route by following the target position. can do. However, the target position indicated by the operation plan information 30b does not necessarily have to be set for the entire planned travel route, and the target position is not set in the manual operation section where the automatic operation is not performed on the planned travel route.

  Here, the manual driving section is a section where automatic driving becomes difficult for some reason, for example, a section where the road shape is complicated, a section where the accuracy of identifying the current location decreases, or a section where there are many obstacles such as pedestrians Alternatively, it may be a section where the behavior of the vehicle becomes unstable. Furthermore, the manual operation section may be set according to dynamic factors such as weather. In the manual operation section, manual operation by the driver is performed.

  The target vehicle speed is set so that the vehicle can run at a limited vehicle speed indicated by the link data of the map information 30a. Further, the target vehicle speed is set so as to gradually decelerate toward the planned stop point or to gradually accelerate from the planned stop point to the limit vehicle speed. Further, the target vehicle speed is set based on the curve shape of the road section specified based on the shape interpolation point data.

  The vehicle includes a GPS receiver 41, a vehicle speed sensor 42, a gyro sensor 43, a vehicle control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 44, a steering unit 44a, an acceleration / deceleration unit 44b, a steering operation unit 45, a touch panel display 46, and a touch sensor 47. ing. The GPS receiver 41 receives radio waves from GPS satellites and outputs a signal for calculating the position of the vehicle via an interface (not shown). The vehicle speed sensor 42 outputs a signal corresponding to the rotational speed of the wheels provided in the vehicle. The control unit 20 acquires the vehicle speed based on a signal from the vehicle speed sensor 42. The gyro sensor 43 detects angular acceleration about turning in the horizontal plane of the vehicle, and outputs a signal corresponding to the direction of the vehicle. The control unit 20 acquires the traveling direction of the vehicle based on the signal from the gyro sensor 43. The control unit 20 acquires the current location of the vehicle based on output signals from the GPS receiving unit 41, the vehicle speed sensor 42, and the gyro sensor 43.

  The vehicle control ECU 44 is a computer for controlling each controlled device of the vehicle. The controlled device includes at least a steering unit 44a and an acceleration / deceleration unit 44b. The steering unit 44a is a mechanism for controlling the direction of the wheels (steering wheels), and includes a steering gear box that operates based on the control of the vehicle control ECU 44. During the automatic operation, the steering unit 44a operates the steering gear box, so that the steering is automatically performed. The steering gear box and the steering operation unit 45 are mechanically coupled, and the steering operation unit 45 rotates so as to follow the operation of the steering gear box during automatic driving. The steering operation unit 45 is a so-called steering wheel. During manual operation, the driver can manually perform steering by gripping and rotating the steering operation unit 45 to operate the steering gear box.

  The acceleration / deceleration unit 44b includes an acceleration unit and a deceleration unit that operate based on the control of the vehicle control ECU 44. The acceleration unit is a mechanism for increasing the output of a drive source such as an engine or a motor. The speed reduction unit is a mechanism for controlling a friction brake, an engine brake, and a regenerative brake. The vehicle includes an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal (not shown), and the driver can control the acceleration / deceleration unit 44b by operating the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal.

  The vehicle control ECU 44 acquires signals indicating the control states of the steering unit 44a and the acceleration / deceleration unit 44b, and performs feedback control of the steering unit 44a and the acceleration / deceleration unit 44b based on the signals, thereby automatically according to the driving plan information 30b. Driving can be realized.

  FIG. 2A shows the steering operation unit 45 when traveling straight and during manual operation. The steering operation unit 45 includes a touch panel display 46 and a touch sensor 47. The steering operation unit 45 has an annular gripping part H that can be gripped by the driver, and is provided with a rectangular touch panel display 46 so as to be inscribed in the gripping part H. The touch panel display 46 serves as both a touch device that detects the contact position of the driver's finger and a display that displays an image under the control of the control unit 20. That is, in this embodiment, the touch device is configured by the touch panel display 46. The touch sensor 47 is also a touch device that detects the contact position of the driver's hand, and detects the grip positions TL and TR (hatching) of the driver's hand in the entire grip portion H. The upper side and the lower side of the touch panel display 46 are horizontal during straight traveling.

  The information input program 21 includes an automatic operation module 21a, an operation reception module 21b, a state determination module 21c, an operation area setting module 21d, and a display control module 21e. The operation reception module 21b, the state determination module 21c, and the operation region setting module 21d are program modules that cause the control unit 20 as a computer to function as an operation reception unit, a state determination unit, and an operation region setting unit, respectively.

  The control unit 20 creates the above-described operation plan information 30b by the function of the automatic operation module 21a, and controls the vehicle control ECU 44 according to the operation plan information 30b. That is, by the function of the automatic driving module 21a, the control unit 20 creates driving plan information 30b that defines a target position and a control target value for automatically controlling the vehicle for each target position by a known automatic driving technique. To do. And the control part 20 implement | achieves the automatic driving | operation of a vehicle by outputting the control target value prescribed | regulated to the driving plan information 30b to vehicle control ECU44 sequentially. Further, when creating the operation plan information 30b, the control unit 20 searches for an optimal planned travel route to the destination in advance by a known method such as the Dijkstra method, and sets a target position on the planned travel route. Thus, the operation plan information 30b for traveling on the planned travel route is created.

  With the function of the automatic driving module 21a, the control unit 20 starts automatic driving when the current location of the vehicle passes a start point (first target position) defined in advance in the driving plan information 30b. Similarly, the control part 20 complete | finishes an automatic driving | operation, when the end point (last target position) prescribed | regulated to the driving | operation plan information 30b is passed, and transfers to a manual driving | operation. During automatic driving, the steering of the steering unit 44a and the acceleration / deceleration of the acceleration / deceleration unit 44b are automatically controlled. The last target position is the destination of the planned travel route or the start point of the manual operation section.

  The control unit 20 receives an operation on the touch device (touch panel display 46) provided in the steering operation unit 45 by the function of the operation reception module 21b. Specifically, by the function of the operation reception module 21b, the control unit 20 acquires the address of the contact detection point where the finger touches on the touch panel display 46, and the rotation angle θ of the steering operation unit 45 from when the steering operation unit 45 travels straight ( (Clockwise is positive) is acquired from the vehicle control ECU 44. Then, the control unit 20 acquires the finger contact position in the in-vehicle space coordinate system based on the address of the finger contact detection point on the touch panel display 46 and the rotation angle θ. Furthermore, the control unit 20 acquires a finger movement vector in the in-vehicle space coordinate system based on a temporal change in the contact position of the finger in the in-vehicle space coordinate system. Hereinafter, when expressed as the finger contact position and the direction of the movement vector, it means the position and direction in the interior space coordinate system unless otherwise indicated.

  Here, the vehicle interior space coordinate system is a coordinate system independent of the rotation angle θ of the steering operation unit 45, and is a coordinate system indicating a position in the space in the vehicle. Further, it is assumed that the driver as a user exists at a certain position on the driver's seat in the vehicle interior space coordinate system. Therefore, the constant coordinate in the vehicle interior space coordinate system means that the relative position to the user is constant. The recording medium 30 records a coordinate conversion table (not shown) that defines the correspondence between the addresses of display pixels and contact detection points on the touch panel display 46 and the coordinates of the interior space coordinate system for each rotation angle θ. Has been.

  With the function of the operation reception module 21b, the control unit 20 receives an operation associated with a finger contact position or a movement vector direction in the vehicle interior space coordinate system. For example, when an upward movement vector is acquired in the operation region OR of FIG. 2A, the control unit 20 performs an operation for increasing the volume of a sound output from a speaker (not shown) or a music playback unit (not shown) plays back. An operation for feeding the music being performed may be accepted. Since the operation is accepted based on the movement vector in the in-vehicle space coordinate system, even if the steering operation unit 45 is rotated by the rotation angle θ from the straight traveling position as shown in FIG. 2B, the operation depends on the direction in which the driver moves the finger. Can accept operations. The control unit 20 accepts an operation corresponding to the direction of the movement vector in the in-vehicle space coordinate system in any of a manual driving period, an automatic driving period, a steering period, and a period outside the steering period, which will be described later.

  By the function of the state determination module 21c, the control unit 20 determines whether the vehicle as a moving body that is steered by the steering operation unit 45 is in automatic driving or manual driving. With the function of the state determination module 21c, the control unit 20 determines whether or not automatic driving is being performed with the function of the automatic driving module 21a. That is, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the steering unit 44a and the acceleration / deceleration unit 44b are automatically controlled.

  Further, the control unit 20 determines whether or not it is during the steering period by the function of the state determination module 21c. Specifically, the control unit 20 acquires a target steering angle defined in the driving plan information 30b, and determines whether or not the current time is during the steering period based on the target steering angle. The control unit 20 acquires the maximum value of the absolute value of the change angle per unit time of the target steering angle in the immediately following period, which is the period immediately after the current time, and during the steering period when the maximum value is equal to or greater than the threshold value. Judge that there is. The immediately following period may be a period in which, for example, the current time is the start, and the time that has passed a predetermined reference period (for example, 1 minute) from the current time is the end.

  FIG. 3 is a graph of the rotation angle θ of the steering operation unit 45. In the figure, the horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates the rotation angle of the steering operation unit 45. The control unit 20 derives the rotation angle θ at each target position based on the target steering angle at each target position, and further derives the arrival time of each target position based on the target vehicle speed at each target position. The rotation angle θ at each time is acquired.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the most recent period T1 from the current time t1 until the reference period M elapses, the rotation angle θ is always 0 degree, so that the control unit 20 determines that the current time t1 is in the steering period. Do not judge. Similarly, in the most recent period T2 from the current time t2 until the reference period M elapses, the rotation angle θ is always constant, so the control unit 20 does not determine that the current time t2 is in the steering period. On the other hand, in the most recent period T3 from the current time t3 until the reference period M elapses, the rotation angle θ changes, and the absolute value (absolute value of the slope) of the change angle dθ / dt of the rotation angle θ per unit time changes. The value is equal to or greater than a threshold value (for example, 2 degrees / second), and the control unit 20 determines that the current time t3 is during the steering period.

  With the function of the operation area setting module 21d, the control unit 20 enlarges the operation area for accepting an operation on the touch device (touch panel display 46) when the automatic operation is being performed than when the operation is being performed manually. 2A and 2B show the steering operation unit 45 during manual operation, and FIGS. 2C and 2D show the steering operation unit 45 during automatic operation. 2A to 2D, the operation areas OL, OR, OC, OSL, and OSR are indicated by broken line frames. The operation area OC during automatic operation shown in FIG. 2C is larger than the sum of the operation areas OL and OR during manual operation shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Further, the sum of the operation areas OC, OSL, OSR during the automatic operation shown in FIG. 2D is larger than the sum of the operation areas OL, OR during the manual operation shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Note that the control unit 20 does not accept any operation even if a contact position or a movement vector in an area other than the operation areas OL, OR, OC, OSL, and OSR is acquired by the function of the operation reception module 21b.

  When the touch panel display 46 is operated by the function of the operation region setting module 21d, the control unit 20 acquires the finger contact position and the direction of the movement vector in the vehicle interior coordinate system based on the rotation angle θ. The control unit 20 receives an operation corresponding to the direction of the contact position or the movement vector when the contact position or movement vector of the finger in the vehicle interior space coordinate system is within the operation region OL, OR, OC, OSL, OSR. Here, the operation areas OL, OR, OC, OSL, and OSR are defined in the vehicle interior space coordinate system. Therefore, the operation areas OL, OR, OC, OSL, and OSR exist at positions that are independent of the rotation angle θ of the steering operation unit 45. The operation areas OL, OR, OC, OSL, and OSR are set on the track of the touch panel display 46 that rotates together with the steering operation unit 45.

  With the function of the operation region setting module 21d, the control unit 20 sets the operation regions OL and OR based on the grip positions TL and TR of the steering operation unit 45 by the user during manual operation. Specifically, the control unit 20 detects the gripping positions TL and TR of the steering operation unit 45 by the driver and operates to the gripping positions TL and TR by the function of the operation region setting module 21d. The areas OL and OR are made to follow. Based on the function of the operation area setting module 21d, the control unit 20 acquires the grip positions TL and TR in the vehicle interior space coordinate system based on the output signal of the touch sensor 47 provided in the grip part H and the rotation angle θ. Basically, since the grip portion H is gripped with both hands, the left and right grip positions TL and TR are acquired.

  During manual operation, the control unit 20 sets the positions of the operation areas OL and OR in the in-vehicle space coordinate system so that the operation areas OL and OR are closest to the grip positions TL and TR, respectively. For example, the control unit 20 acquires an area where the touch panel display 46 exists based on the rotation angle θ in the interior space coordinate system, the entire operation areas OL and OR are within the area, and the gripping position TL, The operation areas OL, OR are set in the vehicle interior space coordinate system so that the distance between the center of gravity of TR and the center of gravity of the operation areas OL, OR becomes the shortest.

  Next, the operation areas OC, OSL, and OSR during automatic driving will be described. With the function of the operation region setting module 21d, the control unit 20 sets an operation region on the touch panel display 46 that receives a user operation so that the relative position with respect to the user during the steering period is constant. By the function of the operation area setting module 21d, the control unit 20 sets the operation area on the touch panel display 46 so that the relative position with respect to the user is constant during the automatic driving and within the steering period.

  FIG. 2C shows the operation region OC during the automatic operation and within the steering period. Due to the function of the operation area setting module 21d, the control unit 20 has an area on the track of the touch panel display 46 that rotates together with the steering operation section 45 in a permanent area that is an area where the touch panel display 46 always exists during the steering period. The operation area OC is set. In the present embodiment, the touch panel display 46 has a rectangular planar shape orthogonal to the rotation axis Z of the steering operation unit 45, and the rotation axis Z (an extension line of the rotation axis) of the steering operation unit 45 is the touch panel display 46. Pass through the geometric center of gravity of the screen.

  Here, the permanent region is a region including the rotation axis Z of the steering operation unit 45. The control unit 20 is configured to include the entire resident region U that is a region within the inscribed circle of the touch panel display 46 centering on the rotation axis Z of the steering operation unit 45 in the orthogonal plane of the rotation axis Z where the touch panel display 46 exists. The operation area OC is set in. The radius of the permanent region U is half the short side (vertical side in FIG. 2A) of the touch panel display 46.

  By the function of the operation area setting module 21d, the control unit 20 limits the operation area OC within the permanent area U within the steering period. When the change angle dθ / dt of the rotation angle θ per unit time is equal to or greater than the threshold in the near future, as in the current time t3 in FIG. 3, the control unit 20 Only the operation area OC is set.

  On the other hand, by the function of the operation area setting module 21d, the control unit 20 does not limit the operation area within the permanent area U outside the steering period. When the change angle dθ / dt of the rotation angle θ per unit time is not equal to or greater than the threshold value in the near future, as in the current times t1 and t2 in FIG. 3, the control unit 20 may The operation areas OSL and OSR are set not only in the operation area OC in U but also outside the permanent area U.

  The operation areas OSL and OSR are set as a pair on the left and right at the center of the touch panel display 46 at the rotation angle θ of 0 degree and at the position in contact with the permanent area U. Since the operation areas OSL and OSR do not exist in the permanent area U, they become areas outside the touch panel display 46 when the absolute value of the rotation angle θ of the steering operation unit 45 is larger than a certain upper limit value. That is, when the absolute value of the rotation angle θ of the steering operation unit 45 becomes larger than the upper limit value, the operation areas OSL and OSR protrude from the touch panel display 46. Therefore, the control unit 20 operates the operation region only when the absolute value of the rotation angle θ of the steering operation unit 45 is equal to or less than the upper limit value where the operation regions OSL and OSR do not protrude from the touch panel display 46 outside the steering period. Set OSL and OSR. The operation areas OC, OSL, and OSR are defined in the interior space coordinate system, and the control unit 20 specifies the area in the touch panel display 46 corresponding to the operation areas OC, OSL, and OSR based on the rotation angle θ. The operation areas OC, OSL and OSR are set in the area.

  In addition, the control unit 20 sets the operation area OC for accepting a common operation within the steering period and outside the steering period in the permanent area U by the function of the operation area setting module 21d. As shown in FIG. 2C and FIG. 2D, the same image is displayed in the operation area OC both inside and outside the steering period, and common operations (automatic driving cancellation, Emergency calls and automatic driving speed changes) can be accepted.

  Note that when the display area DC1 displayed as “automatic release” in the operation area OC is tapped, the control unit 20 receives an operation for forcibly releasing the automatic driving. In addition, when the display area DC2 displayed as “emergency notification” in the operation area OC is tapped, the control unit 20 receives an operation for issuing an emergency call by a communication unit (not shown). Further, when an upward or downward flick operation is performed on the display area DC3 in which “speed” and up and down arrows are displayed in the operation area OC, the control unit 20 corrects the target vehicle speed upward or downward. The operation to be accepted is accepted.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2D, the operation areas OSL and OSR are set only outside the steering period. Therefore, operations accepted in the operation areas OSL and OSR outside the steering period are not accepted during the steering period. The operation received in the operation areas OSL and OSR may be an operation having a lower importance than the operation received in the operation area OC in the permanent area U, and the operation during the manual operation shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. This is the same as the operation accepted in the areas OL and OR.

  By the function of the display control module 21e, the control unit 20 enlarges the display area for displaying information on the touch panel display 46 when the automatic operation is being performed, compared with the case where the manual operation is being performed. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the control unit 20 sets substantially the same areas as the operation areas OL and OR as the display areas DL and DR during manual operation. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2D, the control unit 20 sets substantially the same areas as the operation areas OSL and OSR as the display areas DSL and DSR during automatic driving and outside the steering period. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the control unit 20 forms an operation region OC in the permanent region U by combining the three display regions DC1, DC2, and DC3 during automatic operation. Thus, the display areas DC1, DC2, and DC3 are set.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the function of the display control module 21e allows the control unit 20 to accept operation directions (movement vectors) that can be received in the display areas DL and DR (operation areas OL and OR) during manual operation. Are displayed in the display areas DL and DR.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2D, the control unit 20 displays an arrow indicating an operation direction (movement vector direction) that can be accepted in the display areas DSL and DSR (operation areas OSL and OSR) during automatic operation. The information is displayed in the display areas DSL and DSR. As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, during the automatic operation, the control unit 20 displays the details of the operations that can be accepted by the tap operation in the display regions DC1 and DC2 in the operation region OC (automatic operation cancellation, Displays the letters "automatic release" and "emergency call". Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2C and FIG. 2D, the control unit 20 performs the direction of the operation that can be accepted in the display area DC3 in the operation area OC in the permanent area U (moving vector) during the automatic operation. Direction), and the characters “speed” indicating the contents of operations that can be accepted (change in automatic driving speed). When the direction of the movement vector in the display area DC3 is upward, the control unit 20 receives an operation for upwardly correcting the target vehicle speed as the control target value for automatic driving. On the other hand, when the direction of the movement vector in the display area DC3 is downward, the control unit 20 accepts an operation for correcting the target vehicle speed as a control target value for automatic driving downward.

  The control unit 20 generates image data of an image to be displayed on the display areas DL, DR, DSL, DSR, DC1, DC2, and DC3 by the function of the display control module 21e, and rotates the steering operation unit 45. The rotation is corrected based on the angle θ. That is, the control unit 20 corrects the direction of the image data so that the image in the vehicle interior space coordinate system is independent of the rotation angle θ of the steering operation unit 45. Thereby, even if the steering operation unit 45 is rotated, it is possible to make it appear that the images displayed in the display areas DL, DR, DSL, DSR, DC1, DC2, and DC3 are not rotated.

  In the present embodiment described above, the touch panel display 46 that rotates together with the steering operation unit 45 rotates during the steering period. However, since the operation area OC is set so that the relative position to the user is constant during the steering period, the position of the operation area OC can be made independent of the steering angle as viewed from the user. Since the user only has to operate the operation area OC whose position is kept constant, the touch panel display 46 can be easily operated during steering.

  In addition, since the operation area OC is set in the permanent area U where the touch panel display 46 always exists in the steering period in the area on the track of the touch panel display 46, the relative position of the operation area OC to the user is determined by the steering angle. It can be set so as to be constant regardless of. That is, it is possible to prevent the operation area OC from being set at a position outside the track of the touch device at a specific steering angle within the steering period, and the operation area OC can always be set on the touch device.

  Here, a portion of the touch panel display 46 that exists on the rotation axis Z of the steering operation unit 45 exists on the rotation axis Z of the steering operation unit 45 even if the steering angle (rotation angle θ) is changed to an angle that is small. Will continue. Therefore, by setting the operation region OC in the region including the rotation axis Z of the steering operation unit 45, the operation region is always in the region where the touch panel display 46 is present even if the steering angle changes to an angle within the steering period. OC can be set.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2D, by not limiting the operation areas OC, OSL, OSR within the permanent area U outside the steering period, the operation areas OC, OSL, OSR are widely secured in a situation where the touch panel display 46 does not rotate. can do. Therefore, various operations can be received on the touch panel display 46 outside the steering period.

  In addition, the control unit 20 sets an operation area OC for accepting a common operation within the steering period and outside the steering period in the permanent area U. As a result, the operation area OC is set in the permanent area U both within and outside the steering period, and the operations accepted in the operation area OC within the permanent area U are common. That is, at the start and end of the steering period, the operation accepted in the operation area OC in the permanent area U can be prevented from changing, and user convenience can be improved.

  On the other hand, during manual operation in which the user grips the steering operation unit 45, the user who grips the steering operation unit 45 sets the operation areas OL and OR based on the gripping positions TL and TR of the steering operation unit 45. Easy to operate operation areas OL, OR can be set.

  Further, during the automatic operation in which the necessity of gripping the steering operation unit 45 is reduced, the operation area OA can be made larger than during the manual operation, and the degree of freedom of operations that can be accepted can be increased. On the other hand, by reducing the operation areas OL and OR during manual driving where the necessity of gripping the steering operation unit 45 is high, it is possible to reduce the possibility of the driver's attention being drawn to the touch panel display 46 by reducing the operation areas OL and OR. . In particular, since the entire touch panel display 46 is set as the operation area OA during automatic driving, the degree of freedom of operations that can be accepted by the touch panel display 46 can be increased during automatic driving.

(2) Information input processing:
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the information input process. The information input process is a process that starts when the accessory power supply of the vehicle is turned on, for example. In addition, turning on the accessory power means that the power of the information input system 10 is turned on. Further, it is assumed that automatic operation has not started when the accessory power source is turned on. That is, the information input process is started during manual operation.

  First, the control unit 20 sets the display areas DL and DR and the operation areas OL and OR near the gripping positions TL and TR by the functions of the operation area setting module 21d and the display control module 21e (step S100). That is, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the control unit 20 sets the operation areas OL and OR (display areas DL and DR) in the in-vehicle space coordinate system so that the distance from the gripping positions TL and TR is the shortest. Set.

  Next, the control unit 20 monitors the display and operation by the functions of the display control module 21e and the operation reception module 21b (step S110). That is, by the function of the display control module 21e, the control unit 20 generates image data to be displayed in the display areas DL and DR, and after correcting the rotation of the image data based on the rotation angle θ of the steering operation unit 45, the touch panel display. Output to 46. Moreover, the control part 20 monitors the contact position of the finger | toe in a vehicle interior space coordinate system by the function of the operation reception module 21b. When the contact position of the finger in the operation areas OL and OR is detected, the control unit 20 acquires a movement vector of the contact position and receives an operation corresponding to the direction of the movement vector.

  When step S110 is continued for a predetermined period (for example, 1 second), the control unit 20 determines whether or not the automatic operation has been started by the function of the state determination module 21c (step S120). That is, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the state has been shifted to the state where the automatic operation is performed by the function of the automatic operation module 21a by the function of the state determination module 21c.

  When it is not determined that the automatic operation has been shifted (step S120: N), the control unit 20 returns to step S100. Thereby, during manual operation, the display areas DL and DR and the operation areas OL and OR can be sequentially updated according to the rotation angle θ.

  When it determines with having shifted to automatic driving | operation (step S120: Y), the control part 20 determines whether it is in a steering period by the function of the operation area setting module 21d and the display control module 21e (step S130). That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 20 determines that the maximum absolute value of the change angle dθ / dt of the rotation angle θ per unit time in the latest periods T1 to T3 starting from the current time t1 to t3 is the threshold value. It is determined whether it is above.

  When it is determined that it is within the steering period (step S130: Y), the control unit 20 uses the functions of the operation region setting module 21d and the display control module 21e to allow the operation region OC and the display regions DC1 to DC3 only in the permanent region U. Is set (step S140). That is, as shown in FIG. 2C, the control unit 20 limits the operation area OC within the permanent area U within the steering period.

  Next, the control unit 20 monitors display and operation by the functions of the display control module 21e and the operation reception module 21b (step S150). That is, by the function of the display control module 21e, the control unit 20 generates image data to be displayed in the display areas DC1 to DC3, corrects the rotation of the image data based on the rotation angle θ of the steering operation unit 45, and then performs a touch panel display. Output to 46. Moreover, the control part 20 monitors the contact position of the finger | toe in a vehicle interior space coordinate system by the function of the operation reception module 21b. Here, when the contact position of the tap operation is detected in the display area DC1 or the display area, DC2 in the operation area OC, the control unit 20 accepts the operation for canceling the automatic driving or the emergency call. On the other hand, when the movement of the finger contact position is detected in the display area DC3 in the operation area OC, the control unit 20 acquires the finger movement vector in the in-vehicle space coordinate system and moves it in the direction of the movement vector. Based on this, an operation for correcting the target vehicle speed upward or downward is accepted.

  On the other hand, when it is not determined that the current time is within the steering period (step S130: N), the control unit 20 causes the functions of the operation area setting module 21d and the display control module 21e to be in the normal area U and outside the normal area U. The operation areas OC, OSL, OSR and display areas DC1 to DC3, DSL, DSR are set (step S160). That is, as shown in FIG. 2D, the control unit 20 does not limit the operation area OC within the permanent area U outside the steering period.

  Next, the control unit 20 monitors the display and operation by the functions of the display control module 21e and the operation reception module 21b (step S170). That is, by the function of the display control module 21e, the control unit 20 generates image data to be displayed in the display areas DC1 to DC3, DSL, DSR, and rotationally corrects the image data based on the rotation angle θ of the steering operation unit 45. It outputs to the touch panel display 46 above. With the function of the operation reception module 21b, the control unit 20 receives an operation common to step S150 in the operation area OC in the permanent area U. When the movement of the finger contact position in the OSL and OSR outside the permanent area U is detected, the control unit 20 acquires the finger movement vector in the in-vehicle space coordinate system and corresponds to the direction of the movement vector. Accept the operation.

  When step S140 is continued for a predetermined period (for example, 1 second) in step S150 or step S170, the control unit 20 determines whether or not a transition to manual operation has been made by the function of the state determination module 21c (step S180). ). That is, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the automatic operation module 21a has shifted to a state where the automatic operation is not performed by the function of the state determination module 21c.

  If it is not determined that the operation has shifted to manual operation (step S180: N), the control unit 20 returns to step S130. Thereby, the reception and display of operation during automatic driving can be continued. On the other hand, when it determines with having shifted to manual driving | operation (step S180: Y), the control part 20 returns to step S100, and the process (step S100-S120) for implement | achieving reception and display of operation in manual driving | operation ).

(3) Other embodiments:
The above embodiment is an example for carrying out the present invention, and various other embodiments can be adopted. For example, the permanent area U may be an area that does not include the rotation axis Z of the steering operation unit. For example, the control unit 20 may acquire the range of the rotation angle θ within a limited steering period, and set the operation region in an area where the touch panel display always exists within the range of the rotation angle θ.

FIG. 5A is a graph showing the rotation angle θ in the steering period T4. In the figure, a steering period T4 in which the rotation angle θ changes within θ _min to θ _max is shown. Θ _min is 0 degree. The rotation angle θ increases from 0 degrees to θ _max in the steering period T4 and returns to 0 degrees again. FIG. 5B shows the touch panel display 146 of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the touch panel display 146 does not exist on the rotation axis Z of the steering operation unit 145. Therefore, the operation area cannot be set in the permanent area including the rotation axis Z.

The control unit 20 acquires, as the permanent region U, a region where the touch panel display 146 always exists when the rotation angle θ changes within θ _min to θ _max in the steering period T4. In FIG. 5B, the touch panel display 146 when the rotation angle θ is θ _min is indicated by a solid line, and the touch panel display 146 when the rotation angle θ is θ _max is indicated by an alternate long and short dash line. In the figure, the permanent area U, which is an area where the touch panel display 146 exists, is indicated by hatching in both cases where the rotation angle θ is θ _min and θ _max . The control unit 20 may calculate the permanent region U based on the range of the rotation angle θ in the steering period T4 and set the operation region OC in any one of the permanent regions U.

  Moreover, the control part 20 does not necessarily need to determine whether it is in a steering period based on the target steering angle of the driving plan information 30b. For example, the control unit 20 may determine whether or not it is within the steering period based on, for example, a road on which the vehicle is moving or a moving road. For example, it may be determined whether or not it is within the steering period based on the road shape such as the radius of curvature, and whether or not it is within the steering period based on the road type (distinguishment between expressway and general road). It may be determined.

  Further, the control unit 20 may acquire an actual steering angle from the vehicle control ECU 44 and determine whether or not it is within the steering period based on the steering angle. In addition, the steering period may not be a period in which the maximum absolute value of the change angle dθ / dt of the rotation angle θ per unit time is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and is a period in which the absolute value of the rotation angle θ is equal to or greater than the threshold value. There may be.

  In addition, the control unit 20 may set an operation region on the entire touch panel display 46 outside the steering period. Furthermore, the control unit 20 does not necessarily have to determine whether or not it is within the steering period. For example, the control unit 20 considers that the entire period in which the automatic driving is performed is the steering period, and sets the operation area only in the permanent area U including the rotation axis Z as illustrated in FIG. It may be set. Further, the control unit 20 considers that the entire period in which the manual operation is performed is also the steering period, and sets the operation region only in the permanent region U including the rotation axis Z as illustrated in FIG. 2C in the entire period in which the manual operation is performed. It may be set.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the operation area and the display area match is shown, but the operation area and the display area do not have to match. Further, the display area and the operation area during the automatic operation may not necessarily be larger than the display area and the operation area during the manual operation. Further, the control unit 20 may set the operation area and the display area only during the automatic operation, and may not set the operation area and the display area during the manual operation.

  The content of the operation described above is merely an example, and the content of the operation received by the control unit 20 is not particularly limited. Further, the operation received in the operation area OC in the permanent area U may not be common between the steering period and outside the steering period. Further, the content displayed by the control unit 20 is not particularly limited. In addition, the operation areas OL and OR during manual operation do not necessarily follow the grip positions TL and TR. For example, during manual operation, when one hand leaves the steering operation unit 45, the control unit 20 may fix the operation areas OL and OR. Furthermore, the control unit 20 may set an operation region that follows the gripping positions TL and TR even during automatic driving.

  Further, the touch device is not necessarily the touch panel display 46. That is, a touch device that does not display on the steering operation unit 45 may be provided. Even in this case, the range in which the finger can be moved on the steering operation unit 45 during manual driving can be limited, so that the possibility of the driver's attention being drawn to the touch device can be reduced.

  The steering operation unit may be an operation unit that is gripped and rotated by the driver for steering, and is not necessarily circular. The moving body steered by the steering operation unit is not necessarily a vehicle, and may be a ship or an aircraft. The touch device may be provided in the steering operation unit, and may be provided in any position of the steering operation unit. For example, a touch device may be provided inside a steering wheel as a steering operation unit, or the steering wheel itself may be a touch device. The operation accepting unit only needs to accept an operation on the touch device, and the type of the accepted operation (tap operation, double tap operation, drag and drop operation, flick operation) is not particularly limited.

  The steering period is a period during which steering is performed, and may be a limited period or an indefinite period. The operation region setting unit may estimate a range of change in the steering angle during a limited steering period. Then, the operation region setting unit may set an operation region on the touch device that accepts the user's operation so that the relative position to the user is constant within the change range of the steering angle. The change range of the steering angle may be estimated based on, for example, the curved shape of the planned movement path along which the moving body moves, or may be estimated based on the steering history of the moving body. Furthermore, the moving body may be automatically operated, and the change range of the steering angle may be estimated based on an operation plan for automatic operation. On the other hand, the operation region setting unit may estimate the entire angle (for example, 360 degrees) as the change range of the steering angle during the indefinite steering period. In this case, the control unit 20 may set the operation region on the touch device so that the relative position to the user is constant even when the steering angle changes by 360 degrees.

  The relative position with respect to the user means a position in a coordinate system independent of the steering angle. For example, assuming that the user gets on a certain position in the internal space of the moving body, the operation region setting unit keeps the coordinates of the operation region in the coordinate system of the internal space constant, thereby determining the relative position of the operation region to the user. Can be constant. The user is a person who operates the steering operation unit, and mainly means a driver. The operation area setting unit may acquire the user's position with a sensor such as a camera and set the operation area so that the relative position to the user is constant based on the acquired user's position.

  In addition, the operation area setting unit may set the operation area in a permanent area that is an area where the touch device always exists in the steering period among areas on the track of the touch device that rotates together with the steering operation section. . In this configuration, since the operation area is set in the permanent area where the touch device always exists in the steering period among the areas on the track of the touch device, the relative position of the operation area to the user is independent of the steering angle. Can be set to be constant. That is, the operation region can be prevented from being set at a position outside the track of the touch device at a specific steering angle within the steering period, and the operation region can always be set on the touch device. The permanent area may be an area where the touch device always exists within a limited steering period in which the change range of the steering angle can be estimated. The permanent region is a region where the touch device always exists within an indefinite steering period in which the change range of the steering angle cannot be estimated, that is, a region where the touch device always exists at all angles at which the touch device can rotate. Good.

  Specifically, the permanent area may be an area including the rotation axis of the steering operation unit. Here, the portion of the touch device that exists on the rotation axis of the steering operation unit continues to exist on the rotation axis of the steering operation unit even if the steering angle changes to a small angle. For this reason, by setting the operation region in the region including the rotation axis of the steering operation unit, the operation region can always be set in the region where the touch device exists even if the steering angle changes to an angle within the steering period. That is, even when an indefinite steering period is assumed, the operation area can always be set in the area where the touch device exists. In addition, by making the operation area into a rotationally symmetric shape with respect to the rotation axis of the steering operation section, the operation area can be prevented from changing even if the steering angle changes.

  Further, the operation area setting unit may limit the operation area within the permanent area within the steering period and may not limit the operation area within the permanent area outside the steering period. Thus, by not limiting the operation area within the permanent area outside the steering period, a wide operation area can be secured in a situation where the touch device does not rotate. Therefore, various operations can be received by the touch device outside the steering period. The steering period is a period in which the change in the steering angle is greater than a certain reference, and may be a period in which the change angle in the steering angle per unit time is equal to or greater than a certain reference, for example. In addition, the steering period may be a period in which the deviation angle from the steering angle of the steering operation unit during straight traveling is equal to or greater than a certain reference.

  In addition, the operation area setting unit may set an operation area for receiving operations common to each other in the steering period and outside the steering period in the permanent area. As a result, the operation area is set in the permanent area both within and outside the steering period, and the operations accepted in the operation area within the permanent area are common. That is, at the start and end of the steering period, the operation accepted in the operation area within the permanent area can be prevented from changing, and the user-friendliness can be improved.

  Further, the operation area setting unit sets the operation area on the touch device so that the relative position with respect to the user is constant during the automatic driving and within the steering period. The operation area may be set based on the holding position. As described above, during manual operation in which the user grips the steering operation unit, the operation region is set based on the gripping position of the steering operation unit, thereby setting an operation region that is easy for the user gripping the steering operation unit to operate. it can. Note that “automatic driving” means at least a state in which steering is automatically controlled, and may be a state in which not only steering but also acceleration / deceleration is automatically controlled. “During manual operation” means a state where at least steering is not automatically controlled, and acceleration / deceleration may be automatically controlled.

  Furthermore, as in the present invention, the method of setting the operation region so that the relative position with respect to the user in the steering period is constant can be applied as a program or a method. In addition, the system, program, and method as described above may be realized as a single device, or may be realized using components shared with each part of the vehicle, and include various aspects. It is a waste. For example, it is possible to provide a navigation system, an information input system, a method, and a program that include the above devices. Further, some changes may be made as appropriate, such as a part of software and a part of hardware. Furthermore, the invention is also established as a recording medium for a program for controlling the apparatus. Of course, the software recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Information input system, 20 ... Control part, 21 ... Information input program, 21a ... Automatic operation module, 21b ... Operation reception module, 21c ... State determination module, 21d ... Operation area setting module, 21e ... Display control module, 30 ... Recording medium, 30a ... map information, 30b ... driving plan information, 41 ... GPS receiver, 42 ... vehicle speed sensor, 43 ... gyro sensor, 44 ... vehicle control ECU, 44a ... steering part, 44b ... acceleration / deceleration part, 45 ... steering Operation part 46 ... Touch panel display 47 ... Touch sensor DC1-DC3, DL, DR, DSL, DSR ... Display area, H ... Gripping part, M ... Reference period, OA ... Operation area, OC, OL, OR, OSL , OSR ... operation area, TL, TR ... gripping position, U ... permanent area, Z ... rotation axis, θ ... rotation angle,

Claims (7)

An operation receiving unit that receives a user's operation on a touch device provided in a steering operation unit that rotates according to the steering angle of the moving body;
An operation area setting unit that sets an operation area on the touch device for receiving the user's operation so that a relative position with respect to the user in a steering period is constant;
An information input system comprising: The operation area setting unit
Of the region on the orbit of the touch device that rotates together with the steering operation unit, the operation region is set in a permanent region that is a region where the touch device always exists in the steering period.
The information input system according to claim 1. The permanent area is an area including a rotation axis of the steering operation unit.
The information input system according to claim 2. The operation area setting unit
Within the steering period, the operation area is limited to the permanent area,
Outside the steering period, the operation area is not limited to the permanent area.
The information input system according to claim 2 or claim 3. The operation area setting unit
The operation area for accepting a common operation in the steering period and outside the steering period is set in the permanent area.
The information input system according to any one of claims 2 to 4. The operation area setting unit
During the automatic driving and within the steering period, the operation area is set on the touch device so that the relative position to the user is constant,
During manual operation, the operation region is set based on a gripping position of the steering operation unit by the user.
The information input system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Computer
An operation receiving unit that receives a user's operation on a touch device provided in a steering operation unit that rotates according to the steering angle of the moving body;
An operation region setting unit that sets an operation region on the touch device for receiving the user's operation so that a relative position with respect to the user is constant during a steering period;
Information input program to function as.

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