JP2019166878A - Touch pad and operation system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a touch pad and operation system, capable of suppressing degradation in operability.SOLUTION: A touch pad 1 is constituted to determine an operation direction, for example, on the basis of a region of a starting point 92 and a region of an end point 93 at which a tracing point is detected, of an upper region 21 to a right region 24 specified by an operation surface 20 exposed from a spoke part of a steering 7 and substantially constituted by providing a control section 4 for adjusting the upper region 21 to the right region 24 to a shape corresponding to a grasp position of a ring part 70 of the steering 7 and determining an operation direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch pad and an operation system.

  As a conventional technique, there is known an input device that is disposed on a steering wheel and has a touch surface divided into four recognition areas, that is, an upper area, a lower area, a left area, and a right area (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  This input device consists of a downward swipe from the upper area to the lower area of the touch surface, an upward swipe from the lower area to the upper area, a right swipe from the left area to the right area, and a right area to the left area. Either a left swipe towards can be detected.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-35136

  However, with conventional input devices, for example, depending on the position at which the steering wheel is gripped, the trajectory of the operation may not be intended, and the intention of swiping downward is to swipe from the upper area to the right area or from the upper area It may be misrecognized as a swipe of a partial area, and the operability may be reduced.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a touch pad and an operation system that can suppress a decrease in operability.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, an operation direction is determined based on a start point region and an end point region in which a tracing operation is detected among a plurality of regions defined on an operation surface exposed on a spoke portion of a steering wheel. Provided is a touchpad including a determination unit configured to determine a direction of operation by adjusting a plurality of regions in a shape corresponding to a gripping position of a steering ring.

  In another aspect of the present invention, a gripping position detection unit that detects a gripping position of the steering ring part, a detection unit that detects a tracing operation performed on the operation surface exposed to the spoke part of the steering, and a control surface The operation direction is determined based on the start point area and the end point area where the tracing operation is detected, and the operation is performed by adjusting the plurality of areas to the shape corresponding to the gripping position. An operation system including a touch pad having a determination unit that determines a direction is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in operability.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a steering equipped with an example of a touch pad according to the embodiment, and FIG. 1B is an example of a block diagram of the touch pad. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a region defined in the touch pad according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2B is an example of a block diagram of an operation system including the touch pad. FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a tracing operation performed when the gripping position is the reference position with respect to the touch pad according to the embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between an operation locus and a region. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a tracing operation performed when the gripping position is above the reference position with respect to the touch pad according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a plurality of regions. FIG. 4C shows an example of a trajectory when a plurality of regions are adjusted. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a tracing operation performed when the gripping position is below the reference position with respect to the touch pad according to the embodiment, and FIG. An example of the locus when the region is not adjusted is shown, and FIG. 5C shows an example of the locus when a plurality of regions are adjusted. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the touch pad according to the embodiment.

(Summary of embodiment)
The touch pad according to the embodiment determines an operation direction based on a start point region and an end point region where a tracing operation is detected among a plurality of regions defined on an operation surface exposed to a spoke portion of a steering wheel. It is configured as described above, and includes a determination unit that adjusts a plurality of regions in a shape corresponding to the gripping position of the steering ring unit and determines an operation direction.

  Since this touch pad adjusts the shape of a plurality of areas according to the gripping position, the operation intended by the operator can be easily determined and the operability is reduced compared to the case where the plurality of areas are fixed and determined. Can be suppressed.

[Embodiment]
(Outline of touchpad 1)
FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a steering equipped with an example of a touch pad according to the embodiment, and FIG. 1B is an example of a block diagram of the touch pad. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a region defined in the touch pad according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2B is an example of a block diagram of an operation system including the touch pad. Note that, in each drawing according to the embodiment described below, the ratio between figures may be different from the actual ratio. In FIG. 1B and FIG. 2B, the flow of main signals and information is indicated by arrows.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the touch pad 1 detects a stroking operation among a plurality of regions defined on the operation surface 20 exposed at the spoke portion of the steering 7. As a determination unit configured to determine the operation direction based on the start point region and the end point region, and to determine the operation direction by adjusting a plurality of regions to a shape corresponding to the gripping position of the ring unit 70 of the steering wheel 7 The control unit 4 is generally configured.

  As an example, the touch pad 1 according to the present embodiment is disposed in a right spoke portion 72a and a left spoke portion 72b of the steering wheel 7, as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the spoke part 72a and the spoke part 72b are connected to the ring part 70 together with the spoke part 72c. Below, the touchpad 1 arrange | positioned at the spoke part 72a of the right side is mainly demonstrated.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the touch pad 1 includes an upper region 21, a lower region 22, a left region 23, and a right region 24 as a plurality of regions around the central region 25. . The upper region 21 to the right region 24 are defined with, for example, virtual straight lines 20a and 20b that connect opposite corners of the operation surface 20 as boundaries. The straight line 20 a and the straight line 20 b are straight lines passing through the center P ₁ of the operation surface 20. The central region 25 has a similar shape to the operation surface 20 so that the shape is not changed by adjustment.

  The method for defining the plurality of areas is not limited to this. For example, the plurality of regions may be defined such that the boundary is not the straight line 20a and the straight line 20b but is orthogonal to the side of the central region 25, that is, the region is rectangular.

  The control unit 4 may adjust the shape so that the area for each of the plurality of regions does not change before and after the adjustment.

  The touch pad 1 is configured to be able to give instructions such as movement of a cursor displayed on a display unit of an electronic device mounted on a vehicle, selection of an icon displayed, determination, dragging, and dropping, for example. Yes. Therefore, the touch pad 1 constitutes a part of the operation system 8 as an example, as shown in FIG.

  As an example, the operation system 8 includes a left and right touchpad 1, a vehicle LAN (Local Area Network) 80, a vehicle control unit 81, and a grip sensor as a grip position detection unit, as shown in FIG. 82 and a display device 83 are schematically configured.

  The vehicle LAN 80 enables communication using standards such as CAN (Controller Area Network) and LIN (Local Interconnect Network) as an example. The vehicle control unit 81 is a microcomputer including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and controls the vehicle LAN 80 and the like. The display device 83 is disposed on, for example, a center console and functions as a display unit of an electronic device. The display device 83 may be, for example, a display device or a head-up display that displays an image of instruments arranged on an instrument panel or the like.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the grip sensor 82 includes detection electrodes 82 a to 82 j that detect the grip position of the steering wheel 7. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the detection electrodes 82 a to 82 e are sequentially arranged from the lower side to the upper side of the ring part 70. The detection electrodes 82f to 82j are arranged in order from the bottom to the top of the left side of the ring portion 70, for example, as shown in FIG. The arrangement and number of detection electrodes are not limited to this.

Gripping the sensor 82 detects, for example, the grip position on the basis of the electrostatic capacitance generated between the operator's hand 9 and the detecting electrode, to produce a grip position information S ₂ is detected information of the gripping positions . The gripping sensor 82, for example, and outputs the generated grip position information S _2, the touch pad 1 of the right and left via the vehicle LAN 80.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the vehicle control unit 81 acquires the operation information S ₃ from the right touchpad 1 and the operation information S ₄ from the left touchpad 1 via the vehicle LAN 80. . The vehicle control unit 81, for example, generates display information _{S 5} based on at least one of operation information _{S 3} and the operation information _{S 4,} and outputs to the display unit 83 via the vehicle LAN 80. Display device 83, for example, performs display in accordance with an operation based on the display information S _5.

(Configuration of the detection unit 2 of the touch pad 1)
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the touch pad 1 includes a detection unit 2 that detects a tracing operation performed on the operation surface 20 exposed on the spoke portion 72 a and the spoke portion 72 b of the steering 7, and a control unit 4. Are generally configured. Note that the detection unit, control unit, and operation surface of the left and right touchpads 1 are described as detection unit 2, control unit 4, and operation surface 20.

  The detection unit 2 is configured as, for example, a capacitive touch sensor that detects a change in capacitance based on contact of a finger with the operation surface 20. As the detection unit 2, for example, a touch sensor such as a resistive film type, an infrared type, or a SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) type configured to detect a tracing operation can be used.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the detection unit 2 periodically scans the operation surface 20 to read out the capacitance, and generates detection information S ₁ that is capacitance information for one cycle. And output to the control unit 4.

(Configuration of control unit 4)
FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a tracing operation performed when the gripping position is the reference position with respect to the touch pad according to the embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between an operation locus and a region. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a tracing operation performed when the gripping position is above the reference position with respect to the touch pad according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a plurality of regions. FIG. 4C shows an example of a trajectory when a plurality of regions are adjusted. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a tracing operation performed when the gripping position is below the reference position with respect to the touch pad according to the embodiment, and FIG. An example of the locus when the region is not adjusted is shown, and FIG. 5C shows an example of the locus when a plurality of regions are adjusted.

  The control unit 4 is, for example, a microcomputer that includes a CPU that performs operations, processes, and the like on acquired data in accordance with stored programs, and a RAM and ROM that are semiconductor memories. In this ROM, for example, a program for operating the control unit 4 and a threshold value 40 are stored. For example, the RAM is used as a storage area for temporarily storing calculation results and the like.

  When determining the operation direction of the tracing operation, the control unit 4 is configured to determine the operation direction based on the start point region and the end point region where the operation is detected as described above. For example, when the menu displayed on the display device 83 is scrolled, the operation direction is determined by the start point and the end point. Therefore, the determination is easy.

When the control unit 4 of the right touchpad 1 is operated on the operation surface 20 located on the right side of the steering 7 and the gripping position is above the reference position 7a, a plurality of regions are counterclockwise as viewed from the operator. (Upper region 21 to right region 24) are rotated, and when the gripping position is below the reference position 7a, a plurality of regions (upper region 21 to right region 24) are rotated clockwise as viewed from the operator. Adjust the shape. The right control unit 4, for example, outputs the operation information S ₃ generated based on the determined operation direction.

Further, the control unit 4 of the left touch pad 1 is operated on the operation surface 20 located on the left side of the steering 7, and when the gripping position is above the reference position 7a, a plurality of areas are clockwise when viewed from the operator. When (the upper region 21 to the right region 24) is rotated and the gripping position is below the reference position 7a, a plurality of regions (the upper region 21 to the right region 24) are rotated counterclockwise as viewed from the operator. To adjust the shape. The control unit 4 of the left side, for example, outputs the operation information S ₄ generated based on the determined operation direction.

  Hereinafter, a case where an operation is performed on the operation surface 20 of the touch pad 1 located on the right side of the steering wheel 7 will be described with reference to the drawings.

When the gripping position is the reference position 7a FIGS. 3A and 3B show an example in which the operator traces the operation surface 20 from the top to the bottom while the gripping position is the reference position 7a. . The reference position 7a is, for example, a position near the connecting portion between the ring portion 70 and the spoke portion 72a as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), in other words, a horizontal position of the steering wheel 7. It is a gripping position close to. When the reference position 7a is gripped, gripping is mainly detected at the detection electrodes 82b to 82d. When the operator operates with the left hand, gripping is mainly detected at the detection electrodes 82g to 82i.

  The trajectory 91 of the tracing operation performed while holding the steering wheel 7 is close to an arc centered around the base of the operating finger 90 (thumb). Therefore, when the operator performs a tracing operation from the top to the bottom while holding the reference position 7a, for example, the locus 91 is close to the vertical direction of the paper surface of FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c). The start point 92 of 91 is located in the upper region 21 and the end point 93 is easily detected in the lower region 22. When the start point 92 is the upper region 21 and the end point 93 is the lower region 22, the control unit 4 determines that the direction of the tracing operation is from top to bottom. The trajectory 91 when the tracing operation is performed from the bottom to the top is the same as the trajectory when the tracing operation is performed from the top to the bottom.

  In addition, the left and right direction tracing operation is, for example, an operation that intersects the trajectory 91 shown in FIG. 3C substantially perpendicularly, and is easily determined as the left and right direction tracing operation.

When the gripping position is above the reference position 7a For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c), the control unit 4 is viewed from the operator when the gripping position is above the reference position 7a. A plurality of regions (upper region 21 to right region 24) are rotated counterclockwise. The control unit 4 of the left touch pad 1 rotates a plurality of regions (upper region 21 to right region 24) clockwise when viewed from the operator when the gripping position is above the reference position 7a.

  The upper side of the reference position 7 a in the right touch pad 1 is, for example, a position above the connection portion between the ring part 70 and the spoke part 72 a, in other words, a gripping position above the horizontal position of the steering 7. When the upper side from the reference position 7a is gripped, gripping is mainly detected at the detection electrodes 82c to 82e.

  In addition, the upper side of the reference position 7 a in the left touch pad 1 is, for example, a position above the connection portion between the ring part 70 and the spoke part 72 b, in other words, a gripping position above the horizontal position of the steering 7. When the upper side of the reference position 7a is gripped, gripping is mainly detected at the detection electrodes 82h to 82j.

  When the operator performs a tracing operation from the top to the bottom while holding the upper side from the reference position 7a, for example, a locus tilted to the lower right with respect to the paper surface of FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c). 91. The trajectory 91 when the tracing operation is performed from the bottom to the top is the same as the trajectory when the tracing operation is performed from the top to the bottom.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the locus 91 is easily detected in the right region 24 although the start point 92 is located in the upper region 21. In this case, the operation direction intended by the operator may be recognized as a different operation direction or may not be recognized even though the operation direction is from top to bottom.

The control unit 4, if the gripping position on the basis of the grip position information S ₂ is determined to be above the reference position 7a, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), a predetermined counterclockwise angle θ ₁ rotation. The center of this rotation is the center P ₁ of the operation surface 20. As an example, this angle is 0 ° <θ ₁ <90 °, and more preferably 0 ° <θ ₁ <45 °.

This angle θ ₁ is determined by experiment or simulation, for example. As an example, the angle θ ₁ may be defined as _a function of the angle θ _a created by the rotation center P ₂ of the steering wheel 7, the reference position 7 a, and the gripping position, as shown in FIG. 4A. good. As another modification, the angle θ ₁ may be determined as a function of the gripping position, for example.

When the gripping position is below the reference position 7a As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c), for example, the control unit 4 receives the information from the operator when the gripping position is below the reference position 7a. A plurality of regions (upper region 21 to right region 24) are rotated clockwise as viewed. The control unit 4 of the left touch pad 1 rotates a plurality of regions (upper region 21 to right region 24) counterclockwise when viewed from the operator when the gripping position is above the reference position 7a.

  The lower side of the reference position 7a in the right touch pad 1 is, for example, a position below the connection portion between the ring part 70 and the spoke part 72a, in other words, a gripping position below the horizontal position of the steering wheel 7. When the lower side of the reference position 7a is gripped, gripping is mainly detected at the detection electrodes 82a to 82c.

  Further, the lower side of the reference position 7a in the left touch pad 1 is, for example, a position below the connecting portion between the ring part 70 and the spoke part 72b, in other words, a gripping position below the horizontal position of the steering wheel 7. When the lower side of the reference position 7a is gripped, gripping is mainly detected at the detection electrode 82f to the detection electrode 82h.

  When the operator performs a tracing operation from the bottom to the top while holding the lower side from the reference position 7a, for example, a trajectory tilted to the upper right with respect to the paper surface of FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c). 91. The trajectory 91 when the tracing operation is performed from the bottom to the top is the same as the trajectory when the tracing operation is performed from the top to the bottom.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the locus 91 is easily detected in the right region 24 although the start point 92 is located in the lower region 22. In this case, the operation direction intended by the operator may be recognized as a different operation direction or may not be recognized even though the operation direction is from the bottom to the top.

The control unit 4, if the gripping position on the basis of the grip position information S ₂ is determined to be lower than the reference position 7a, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), predetermined clockwise Turn the angle θ ₂ times. The center of this rotation is the center P ₁ of the operation surface 20. As an example, this angle is 0 ° <θ ₂ <90 °, and more preferably 0 ° <θ ₂ <45 °.

This angle θ ₂ is determined by experiment or simulation, for example. As an example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the angle θ ₂ may be determined as a function of the angle θ _b created by the rotation center P ₂ of the steering wheel 7, the reference position 7a, and the gripping position. good. As another modification, the angle θ ₂ may be determined as a function of the grip position, for example.

Note that the angle θ ₁ when the gripping position is on the upper side and the angle θ ₂ when the gripping position is on the lower side are equal as an example, but are not limited thereto. The angle θ ₁ and the angle θ ₂ may differ depending on, for example, the shapes of the ring portion 70, the spoke portion 72a, and the spoke portion 72b of the steering 7.

  Below, an example of operation | movement of the right touchpad 1 of this Embodiment is demonstrated according to the flowchart of FIG.

(Operation)
Control unit 4 of the touch pad 1, "Yes" is established in step 1, that is, when the operation is detected (Step1: Yes), determines the gripping position on the basis of the grip sensor 82 to the gripping position information _{S 2} acquired (Step 2). The grip position information S _2, for example, is output from the periodically grip sensor 82.

When the gripping position is the reference position 7a (Step 3: Yes), the control unit 4 determines the operation direction without adjusting the upper region 21 to the right region 24 (Step 4). The control unit 4, operation based on the determined operation direction information S _{3 (if} the left touch pad 1, the operation information S ₄₎ generates and outputs a (Step5).

  Here, in step 3, when the gripping position is other than the reference position 7a (Step 3: No), the control unit 4 adjusts the upper region 21 to the right region 24 based on the gripping position (Step 6). Proceed with the process.

(Effect of embodiment)
The touch pad 1 according to the present embodiment can suppress a decrease in operability. Specifically, when the operator operates the touch pad 1 while holding the steering wheel 7, the operation becomes a thumb operation, and thus the operation locus varies depending on the holding position. Since the touch pad 1 adjusts the shape of the upper region 21 to the right region 24 according to the gripping position detected by the grip sensor 82, the operator's intention is compared with the case where the determination is made with these regions fixed. It is easy to determine the performed operation, and a decrease in operability can be suppressed.

  Since the touch pad 1 can adjust the upper region 21 to the right region 24 by rotating the straight line 20a and the straight line 20b that define the boundary, the adjustment is easier than in the case where this configuration is not adopted. Become.

  Here, as another embodiment, the touch pad 1 detects a gripping position detection unit that detects a gripping position of the ring unit 70 of the steering 7 and an operation performed on the operation surface 20 exposed on the spoke part of the steering 7. The operation direction is determined based on the region of the start point 92 and the region of the end point 93 in which the operation is detected among the plurality of regions defined on the unit 2 and the operation surface 20, and according to the gripping position. And a determination unit that adjusts a plurality of regions in the shape and determines the operation direction.

  As another embodiment, the operation system 8 includes a gripping position detection unit that detects the gripping position of the ring unit 70 of the steering 7 and a detection unit that detects an operation performed on the operation surface 20 exposed on the spoke part of the steering 7. 2 and a plurality of regions defined on the operation surface 20 are configured to determine the operation direction based on the region of the start point 92 and the region of the end point 93 where the operation is detected, and a shape corresponding to the gripping position And a touch pad 1 having a determination unit that determines a direction of operation by adjusting a plurality of regions.

  As mentioned above, although some embodiment and modification of this invention were demonstrated, these embodiment and modification are only examples, and do not limit the invention based on a claim. These novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments and modifications are necessarily essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention. Further, these embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Touchpad, 2 ... Detection part, 4 ... Control part, 7 ... Steering, 7a ... Reference position, 8 ... Operation system, 9 ... Hand, 20 ... Operation surface, 20a, 20b ... Straight line, 21-24 ... Upper region ˜Right area, 25... Central area, 40... Threshold, 70 .Ring, 72 a to 72 c .Spoke, 80 .Vehicle LAN, 81 .Vehicle control, 82. 83 ... Display device, 90 ... Operating finger, 91 ... Track, 92 ... Start point, 93 ... End point,

Claims (4)

  The steering ring is configured to determine an operation direction based on a start point region and an end point region in which a tracing operation is detected among a plurality of regions defined on an operation surface exposed on a spoke portion of the steering, and the steering ring A touchpad including a determination unit that determines the operation direction by adjusting the plurality of regions in a shape corresponding to a gripping position of the unit. When the operation is performed on the operation surface located on the right side of the steering and the gripping position is above the reference position, the determination unit rotates the plurality of regions counterclockwise as viewed from the operator, When the gripping position is below the reference position, adjust the shape by rotating the plurality of regions clockwise as viewed from the operator,
When the operation is performed on the operation surface located on the left side of the steering and the gripping position is above the reference position, the plurality of regions are rotated clockwise as viewed from the operator, and the gripping position is the reference position In the case of the lower side, the shape is adjusted by rotating the plurality of regions counterclockwise as viewed from the operator.
The touchpad according to claim 1. The determination unit adjusts the shape so that the area for each of the plurality of regions does not change before and after adjustment.
The touchpad according to claim 1 or 2. A gripping position detector for detecting the gripping position of the steering ring;
A detection unit for detecting a tracing operation performed on the operation surface exposed to the spoke portion of the steering wheel, and a start point region and an end point region where the tracing operation is detected among a plurality of regions defined on the operation surface. A touch pad having a determination unit configured to determine an operation direction based on the gripping position and determining the operation direction by adjusting the plurality of regions to a shape according to the gripping position;
Operation system equipped with.

Images