JP2021077258A - Operation apparatus and calculation method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an operation apparatus configured to suppress a difference in sensitivity depending on operation position, and a calculation method.SOLUTION: An operation apparatus 1 generally includes: a detection unit 4 which is protected by a panel 3 and arranged on a curved surface having a curvature in a first direction and a curvature in a second direction which crosses the first direction, these curvatures being different from each other; a dial 6 which is arranged on the panel 3 to receive user operation; a plurality of detected members (70, 71) arranged in at least the first and second directions on the side of a bottom surface 62 of the dial 6 facing the detection unit 4, where operation positions are detected by the detection unit 4 as the dial 6 is operated; and an electrostatic control unit 46 which calculates operation positions by mitigating sensitivity difference due to a difference in distance from the detected members (70, 71) to the detection unit 4 with respect to output signals output from the detection unit 4 in response to detecting the detected members (70, 71).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device and a calculation method.

As a conventional technique, a display unit having a touch panel function, an operation member that can be attached and detached on the display unit, a detection means for detecting the attachment and detachment of the operation member, and a change in capacitance that occurs in response to the operation of the operation member, (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

The operating member has a contact capacitance changing portion that comes into contact with the display portion. When the user touches the operation member, the image pickup device changes the capacitance of the capacitance changing portion at the time of contact, so that the operation position or the like can be detected by the detection means.

JP-A-2019-75637

However, in the conventional imaging device, when the detection means is arranged on a curved surface and the distance from the detection means to the capacitance changing portion at the time of contact changes according to the operation position, there is a difference in the capacitance detected depending on the operation position. Therefore, there is a problem that a sensitivity difference occurs depending on the operation position.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an operating device and a calculation method capable of suppressing a sensitivity difference depending on an operating position.

One aspect of the present invention is a detection unit that is protected by a protective member and arranged on a curved surface in which the curvature in the first direction and the curvature in the second direction intersecting the first direction are different, and arranged on the protective member. The operation unit that receives the user's operation and the bottom surface side of the operation unit that faces the detection unit are arranged at least according to the first direction and the second direction, and are operated by the detection unit in accordance with the operation on the operation unit. Sensitivity to a plurality of detected members whose positions are detected and a plurality of output signals output from the detection unit when the plurality of detected members are detected due to the difference in distance from the plurality of detected members to the detected unit. Provided is an operation device including a calculation unit for calculating an operation position by performing an operation for alleviating a difference.

According to the present invention, the difference in sensitivity depending on the operating position can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 (a) is a schematic view showing an example of an operating device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1 (b) is a line I (b) -I (b) of FIG. 1 (a). It is sectional drawing which shows an example which looked at the cut cross section from the direction of an arrow. FIG. 2A is an example of a block diagram of the operating device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is an example of a bottom view of the operating device. FIG. 3A is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the angle of the dial of the operating device according to the first embodiment and the detected capacitance, and FIG. 3B is a graph showing the operating position and the detection point. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating an example of the relationship with. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the operating device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A is an example of a cross-sectional view of the operating device of the second embodiment, and FIG. 5B is an example of a cross-sectional view of the operating device of the third embodiment.

(Summary of Embodiment)
The operating device according to the embodiment is protected by a protective member, and has a detection unit arranged on a curved surface in which the curvature in the first direction and the curvature in the second direction intersecting the first direction are different, and on the protective member. The operation unit that receives the user's operation and the bottom surface side of the operation unit that faces the detection unit are arranged according to at least the first direction and the second direction, and the detection unit is arranged according to the operation on the operation unit. Difference in distance from the plurality of detected members to the detected unit with respect to a plurality of detected members whose operating positions are detected by the method and a plurality of output signals output from the detected unit when the plurality of detected members are detected. It is roughly configured with a calculation unit that calculates an operation position by performing an operation to alleviate the sensitivity difference due to the above.

When this operating device is arranged on a curved surface, it performs an operation to suppress the sensitivity difference based on the difference in the distance to the detection unit. It can be suppressed.

[First Embodiment]
(Outline of operation device 1)
FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing an example of an operating device, and FIG. 1B shows an example of a cross section around a dial of the operating device. FIG. 2A is an example of a block diagram of the operating device, and FIG. 2B is an example of a bottom view of the operating device. FIG. 3A is a schematic view for explaining an example of the relationship between the dial operation position and the detection point, and FIG. 3B shows an example of the relationship between the angle and the detected capacitance. It is a graph. In each figure according to the embodiment described below, the ratio between the figures may differ from the actual ratio. Further, in FIG. 2A, the main signal and information flow are indicated by arrows.

The operation device 1 is arranged in the vehicle, for example. The operation device 1 is electrically connected to an air conditioner mounted on the vehicle, a navigation device, a music and video reproduction device, and a control device for controlling automatic driving and driving support of the vehicle, basic settings of the vehicle, and the like. In the present embodiment, as an example, a case where the operating device 1 is electrically connected to the air conditioner will be described.

The operation device 1 is configured to accept different input methods for a contact operation by a user and an operation using an operation unit. The contact operation includes a touch operation, a tap operation, a tracing operation, a swipe operation, and the like in which a part of the user's body or a dedicated slylas pen or the like directly contacts the surface 30 of the panel 3. In the following, a touch operation will be described as an example of the contact operation.

As shown in FIGS. 1A to 2A, the operating device 1 is protected by the panel 3 as a protective member, and has a curvature in the first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. At least the first direction and the second are on the bottom surface side of the detection unit 4 arranged on a curved surface having a different curvature, the operation unit arranged on the panel 3 and accepting the user's operation, and the operation unit facing the detection unit. A plurality of detected members whose operation positions are detected by the detection unit 4 when the operation unit is operated, and a plurality of members output from the detection unit 4 when the plurality of detected members are detected. The electrostatic control unit 46 as a calculation unit that calculates the operation position by performing an operation to alleviate the sensitivity difference due to the difference in the distances from the plurality of detected members to the detection unit 4 with respect to the output signal of It is configured.

The first direction is, for example, the X-axis shown in FIG. 1 (a). The second direction is, for example, the Y-axis shown in FIG. 1 (a). As an example, the X-axis and the Y-axis form a Cartesian coordinate system with the upper left of the paper surface of FIG. 1A as the origin. Therefore, the X-axis and the Y-axis are orthogonal to each other, that is, the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the panel 3 of the present embodiment has zero curvature in the longitudinal direction (second direction: Y-axis) like the side surface of an elongated cylinder. , The curvature in the lateral direction (first direction: X-axis) is 1 / R (R> 0). The alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1B shows the radius of curvature R of the surface 30 of the panel 3. The angle between the two alternate long and short dash lines is Δθ. Since the panel 3 has a large radius of curvature R, it is gently bent in the X-axis direction.

The operation unit of this embodiment is a dial 6 that can be rotated. The operation unit is not limited to the dial 6, and may be a slide operation device having an operation member movable in the one-dimensional direction, a Joyce Tech device having an operation lever capable of tilting in the two-dimensional direction, or the like.

The plurality of detected members include a main detected member and at least one sub-detected member. The electrostatic control unit 46 calculates a signal obtained by adding the main output signal associated with the detection of the main detected member and at least one slave output signal associated with the detection of at least one slave detected member, and the calculated added signal. The operation position is calculated based on.

The main detected member of the present embodiment is the main detected member 70. And at least one slave detection member is a slave detection member 71. As shown in FIG. 2B, the main detected member 70 and the subordinate detected member 71 are arranged at an angle of 90 ° with respect to the center of the dial 6. The main detected member 70 and the subordinate detected member 71 are a part of the conductive member 7 applied to the dial 6, but are not limited thereto, and are members having conductivity attached to the bottom surface 62 of the dial 6. Is also good. The determination of the operation position using the main output signal, the slave output signal, and the signal obtained by adding them will be described later.

The dial 6 has a cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the loci 72 formed by the operation of the dial 6 of the plurality of members to be detected have an arc shape. As shown in FIG. 1A, the dial 6 of the present embodiment freely rotates in the arrow A direction and the arrow B direction, and thus has a circular shape in which the loci 72 are connected, but the dial 6 is not limited to this. , The shape may be interrupted according to the amount of rotation.

The operation device 1 includes a display unit 5 that displays an image on the back side of the detection unit 4. The dial 6 has a transparent region 100 through which the image displayed by the display unit 5 is transmitted. Therefore, the operating device 1 displays the image of the display unit 5 via the transparent region 100 of the dial 6.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, the transparent region 100 transmits the image of the display unit 5, so that the user can visually recognize the image displayed in the center of the dial 6. The transmission region 100 of the present embodiment is formed by an opening 64 provided in the center of the dial 6. As a modification, the transmission region 100 may have a configuration in which the display unit 5 is transmitted through a transparent resin or glass.

Further, in the operation device 1, the touch panel 2 is formed by the panel 3, the detection unit 4, and the display unit 5. The touch panel 2 accepts a touch operation such as a touch operation on the surface 30 of the panel 3, and the display unit 5 displays an image. The operation device 1 includes a control unit 10 that controls the touch panel 2.

(Structure of touch panel 2)
The touch panel 2 is arranged, for example, on the center console of the vehicle. The panel 3 is formed in a plate shape using a transparent resin material such as polycarbonate or glass. The surface 30 of the panel 3 is a curved surface.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the detection unit 4 includes an electrode unit 41 having a plurality of drive electrodes 42 and a plurality of detection electrodes 43, a drive unit 44, a read unit 45, and an electrostatic control unit 46. , And a storage unit 47, and is roughly configured. The detection unit 4 may be a self-capacity method or a mutual capacity method. The detection unit 4 of the present embodiment is, for example, a mutual capacitance method.

The drive electrode 42 and the detection electrode 43 are formed as transparent electrodes such as ITO (tin-doped indium tin oxide). The drive electrode 42 and the detection electrode 43 have a shape in which a rectangular electrode portion and an electrode portion are repeatedly connected by an elongated connecting portion. The drive electrode 42 and the detection electrode 43 are arranged on the film substrate so as to intersect with each other while maintaining the insulating property. The drive electrode 42 is electrically connected to the drive unit 44. The detection electrode 43 is electrically connected to the reading unit 45.

Drive unit 44, a periodic voltage based on the driving signal S ₁ output from the electrostatic control unit 46, a plurality of drive electrodes 42 are configured to supply sequentially.

Reading unit 45, while one of the drive electrodes 42 are driven, and is configured to read the capacitance as an output signal S ₂ by switching sequentially the connection between the detection electrode 43. Reading unit 45 outputs the output signal S ₂ of each detection electrode 43 to read out the static control section 46.

The electrostatic control unit 46 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs calculations and processing on the acquired data according to a stored program, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory) that are semiconductor memories, and the like. It is a microcomputer composed of. In this ROM, for example, a program for operating the electrostatic control unit 46 is stored. The RAM is used, for example, as a storage area for temporarily storing a calculation result or the like. Further, the electrostatic control unit 46 has a means for generating a clock signal inside the electrostatic control unit 46, and operates based on the clock signal.

The electrostatic control unit 46 is electrically connected to the storage unit 47. The storage unit 47 is a semiconductor memory provided on the same substrate as the electrostatic control unit 46, but is not limited thereto. The storage unit 47 stores the electrostatic threshold value Th.

Here, the thin solid line in FIG. _3A shows the capacitance Ca read by the detection electrode 43 that detects the main detected member 70 as the dial 6 rotates. Further, the dotted line shows the _{capacitance C b} read out by the detection electrode 43 that detected the slave detection member 71 as the dial 6 rotates.

As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the capacitance C _a is the maximum value and the minimum value at 180 ° cycle. Similarly, the capacitance C _b takes a maximum value and a minimum value in a 180 ° cycle. Since the angle between the main detected member 70 and the slave detected member 71 is 90 °, the capacitance C _a and the capacitance C _b are out of phase by 90 °.

Here, the capacitance C is represented by the following equation (1) using the dielectric constant ε, the distance L from the detection electrode to the member to be detected, and the area S of the member to be detected.
C = ε × (S / L) ・ ・ ・ (1)
When the areas of the main detected member 70 and the slave detected member 71 are the same, the detected capacitance C is determined from the detection electrode to the main detected member 70 and the slave detected member 71 according to the equation (1). inversely proportional to the distance _{L 1} and the distance _{L 2.} The distance _{L 1} and the distance _{L 2,} as shown in FIG. 1 (b), when the rotation angle of the dial 6 is 0 °, the distance _{L 1} is greater than the distance _{L 2.} Since the capacitance C is inversely proportional to the distance, it becomes smaller as the distance increases.

In the present embodiment, the panel 3 has a curved surface like the side surface of a cylinder, and the main detected member 70 and the subordinate detected member 71 are arranged so as to form an angle of 90 °. _{When the capacitance C a} of the detected member 70 is the maximum value, the capacitance C _b of the slave detected member 71 is the minimum value, and when the capacitance C _a is the minimum value, the capacitance C _b is the maximum value. It becomes a value.

For example, when the number of members to be detected is singular, the capacitance C takes the maximum value and the minimum value each time the member is rotated by 90 °. Therefore, the electrostatic threshold value for detecting the member to be detected is made smaller than the minimum value. There must be.

Further, the touch panel 2 accepts a touch operation by the user's operation finger 9. Since this touch operation is an operation in which the operating finger 9 comes into contact with the surface 30 of the touch panel 2, no air gap is generated between the operating finger 9 and the surface 30. However, since an air gap is generated between the member to be detected and the surface 30 due to the rotation of the dial 6, the capacitance detected by the touch operation is more static electricity generated between the member to be detected and the detection electrode. It is larger than the electric capacity.

In order to detect the touch operation and the operation position of the dial 6 based on the capacitances of different sizes, for example, there is a method of reducing the electrostatic threshold value in accordance with the detection of the member to be detected. However, in this method, since the electrostatic threshold value is reduced, the touch operation and the detection of the member to be detected are easily affected by noise and the like.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3A, the operating device 1 arranges the main detected member 70 and at least one sub-detected member 71 to make variations in the detection sensitivity using two or more statistical values. It is possible to suppress and detect the touch operation and the operation position of the dial 6 only by the electrostatic threshold value Th. In FIG. 3A, the electrostatic threshold value Th used for detecting the touch operation and the detection of the dial operation is shown by a alternate long and short dash line. Hereinafter, the calculation of the operation position of the dial 6 will be described.

-Calculation of operation position In FIG. 3B, the first drive electrode 42a to the third drive electrode 42c and the first detection electrode 43a to the third detection electrode 43c are arranged so as to surround the locus 72. ing. _{The detection electrode 43 shall output the output signal S a} , the output signal S _b, and the output signal S _c from the left side of the paper in FIG. 3 (b). The output signal S _a , the output signal S _b, and the output signal S _c are signals indicating the capacitance.

Since the output signal S _b has the shortest distance between the member to be detected and the detection electrode 43 (distance L ₂ ), the capacitance becomes the maximum value when the member to be detected is located. Further, since the output signal S _a and the output signal S _c have the longest distance between the detected member and the detected electrode 43 (distance L ₁ ), the capacitance becomes the minimum value when the detected member is located.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the electrostatic control unit 46 adds output signals to eight detection points (detection points A _{1) according to the positions of the main detection member 70 and the slave detection member 71.} ~ Detection point A ₈ ) can be calculated. The electrostatic control unit 46 determines the operation position of the dial 6 based on the _{detection points A 1} to A _8. This operating position is determined, for example, by the moderation mechanism of the dial 6.

The operating device 1 can determine the operating position of the dial 6 at a pitch of 45 ° corresponding to eight detection points, but is not limited to this, and the number of drive electrodes 42 and detection electrodes 43 can be increased or decreased. By changing the position, it is possible to change the number of operation positions that can be detected. In the following, the calculation of the detection point A ₁ , the detection point A ₃ , the detection point A ₅ , and the detection point A ₇ will be described first.

_{The electrostatic control unit 46 has an output signal S a of} the first detection electrode 43a obtained by driving the first drive electrode 42a, _{an output signal S b} (slave output signal) of the second detection electrode 43b, and a second. _{The output signal S a} (main output signal) of the first detection electrode 43a obtained by driving the drive electrode 42b of _{2 and the output signal S b} of the second detection electrode 43b are added and electrostatically charged. Compare with the threshold Th. Static control section 46, the second driving electrode 42b and the first detection electrode 43a mainly the detection member 70 at the intersection _{B 1} is positioned, the intersection of the first driving electrode 42a and the second detection electrode 43 b B _{When the subject to be detected member 71 is located in 3, the detection point A 1} is between the first drive electrode 42a and the second drive electrode 42b, and between the first detection electrode 43a and the second detection electrode 43b. To get. Static control unit 46, when the detection point A ₁ is calculated to determine the operating position of the dial 6 to be 0 °.

The electrostatic control unit 46 sequentially drives the first drive electrode 42a and the second drive electrode 42b to obtain the output signals S _b of the two second detection electrodes 43b and the two third detection electrodes 43c. The output signal _{Sc of} is added and compared with the electrostatic threshold Th. Static control section 46, the first driving electrode 42a and the main detection member 70 at the intersection _{B 3} of the second detection electrode 43b is located, the intersection of the second driving electrode 42b and the third detection electrode 43c B _{When the subject to be detected member 71 is located in 5, the detection point A 3} is between the first drive electrode 42a and the second drive electrode 42b, and between the second detection electrode 43b and the third detection electrode 43c. To get. Static control unit 46, when the detection point A ₃ is calculated to determine the operating position of the dial 6 to be 90 °. The main output signal is the output signal S _b at the _{intersection B 3.} Secondary output signal is the output signal _{S c} of the intersection _{B 5.}

The electrostatic control unit 46 sequentially drives the second drive electrode 42b and the third drive electrode 42c to obtain the output signals S _b of the two second detection electrodes 43b and the two third detection electrodes 43c. The output signal _{Sc of} is added and compared with the electrostatic threshold Th. Static control section 46, the second driving electrode 42b and the third detection electrode 43c mainly the detection member 70 at the intersection _{B 5} of located the intersection of the third driving electrode 42c and the second detection electrode 43 b B _{When the subject to be detected member 71 is located, the detection point A 5} is between the second drive electrode 42b and the third drive electrode 42c, and between the second detection electrode 43b and the third detection electrode 43c. To get. Static control unit 46, when the detection point A ₅ is calculated to determine the operating position of the dial 6 to be 180 °. Incidentally main output signal is the output signal _{S c} of the intersection _{B 5.} The slave output signal is the output signal S _b at the _{intersection B 7.}

Static control section 46, the second driving electrode 42b and the third output signal S _a of the two first detection electrodes 43a to the driving electrodes 42c obtained by sequentially _driven, and the two second detection electrodes 43b The output signal S _{b of} is added and compared with the electrostatic threshold Th. Static control unit 46 is located the main member to be detected 70 to the intersection _{B 7} of the third driving electrode 42c and the second detection electrodes 43 b, the intersection of the second driving electrode 42b and the first detection electrode 43a B _{When the subject detection member 71 is located in No. 1, the detection point A 7} is intermediate between the second drive electrode 42b and the third drive electrode 42c, and between the first detection electrode 43a and the second detection electrode 43b. To get. _{When the detection point A 7} is calculated, the electrostatic control unit 46 determines that the operation position of the dial 6 is 270 °. The main output signal is the output signal S _b at the _{intersection B 7.} Secondary output signal is the output signal _{S a} of intersection _{B 1.}

Subsequently, the calculation of the detection point A ₂ and the detection point A ₆ will be described below.

Static control unit 46, the output of the first driving electrode 42a and the second total driving electrodes 42b obtained by sequentially driven six first output signals of the detection electrodes 43a S _{a ~} third detection electrode 43c select the primary output signal and the secondary output signal from the signal S _c, and the addition to comparing the electrostatic threshold Th. Static control section 46, the second driving electrode 42b and the first detection electrode 43a of intersection _{B 1} and the first driving electrode 42a and the intermediate _{B 2} to the main object to be detected at the intersection _{B 3} of the second detection electrode 43b and member 70 is located, the first driving electrode 42a and the second detection and the electrode 43b intersection _{B 3} of the second driving electrode 42b and the third従被detection member to an intermediate _{B 4} intersections _{B 5} of the detection electrode 43c If 71 is positioned, to obtain a detection point a ₂ on an intermediate of the first driving electrode 42a and the second driving electrode 42b second detection electrode 43b. _{When the detection point A 2} is calculated, the electrostatic control unit 46 determines that the operation position of the dial 6 is 45 °. The main output signal is the output signal S _{a at the intersection B 1} or the output signal S _b at the intersection B _3. Secondary output signal is the output signal _{S c} of the output signal _{S b,} or the intersection _{B 5} of intersection _{B 3.} Therefore, the electrostatic control unit 46 selects one of these combinations and adds the main output signal and the slave output signal.

Static control unit 46, the output of the second driving electrode 42b and the third first output signal of the detection electrodes 43a S _{a ~} third total of six of the driving electrodes 42c obtained by driving in the order of the detection electrode 43c select the primary output signal and the secondary output signal from the signal S _c, and the addition to comparing the electrostatic threshold Th. Static control unit 46, as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 3 (b), the intersection _{B 5} of the second driving electrode 42b and the third detection electrode 43c and the third driving electrode 42c second detection electrode 43b the located main member to be detected 70 in the middle _{B 6} intersections _{B 7,} the second driving electrode 42b and the intersection _{B 1} of the first detection electrode 43a third driving electrode 42c and the second detection electrode 43b When the detected member 71 is located in the middle B ₈ of the intersection point B _{7 , a detection point A 6} on the second detection electrode 43b, which is between the second drive electrode 42b and the third drive electrode 42c, is obtained. .. Static control unit 46 determines that if the detection point A ₆ is calculated, it is 225 ° the operating position of the dial 6. The main output signal is the output signal S _{c at the intersection B 5} or the output signal S _b at the intersection B _7. The slave output signal is the output signal S _{a at the intersection B 1} or the output signal S _b at the intersection B _7. Therefore, the electrostatic control unit 46 selects one of these combinations and adds the main output signal and the slave output signal.

Subsequently below, describing calculation of detection points A ₄ and the detecting point A _8.

_{The electrostatic control unit 46 of the output signals S b of} a total of six second detection electrodes 43b and the third detection electrode 43c obtained by sequentially driving the first drive electrodes 42a to the third drive electrodes 42c. select the primary output signals and secondary output signal from the output signal S _c, and the addition to comparing the electrostatic threshold Th. Static control section 46, the first driving electrode 42a and the second detection electrode 43b of the intersection _{B 3} and the second driving electrode 42b and the third detection electrode 43c mainly be detected in the middle _{B 4} intersections _{B 5} of and member 70 is positioned, the second driving electrode 42b and the third detection electrode 43c intersection _{B 5} and the third of the drive electrodes 42c and従被detecting member to an intermediate _{B 6} of intersection _{B 7} of the second detection electrode 43b If 71 is positioned, to obtain a detection point a ₄ on the second drive electrode 42b and an intermediate of the second detection electrode 43b and the third detection electrode 43c. Static control unit 46, when the detection point A ₄ is calculated to determine the operating position of the dial 6 to be 135 °. Incidentally main output signal is the output signal _{S c} of the output signal _{S b,} or the intersection _{B 5} of intersection _{B 3.} The slave output signal is the output signal S _{c at the intersection B 5} or the output signal S _b at the intersection B _7. Therefore, the electrostatic control unit 46 selects one of these combinations and adds the main output signal and the slave output signal.

_{The electrostatic control unit 46 of the output signals S a of} a total of six first detection electrodes 43a obtained by sequentially driving the first drive electrodes 42a to the third drive electrodes 42c, and the second detection electrodes 43b. The main output signal and the slave output signal are selected from the output signal S _{b, and added and compared with the electrostatic threshold Th.} Static control section 46, the third driving electrodes 42c and the main object to be detected in the middle _{B 8} of intersection _{B 1} between the intersection _{B 7} of the second detection electrode 43b second driving electrode 42b and the first detection electrode 43a and member 70 is positioned, the second driving electrode 42b and the first detection intersection _{B 1} electrode 43a and the first driving electrode 42a and the従被detecting member to an intermediate _{B 2} at the intersection _{B 3} of the second detection electrode 43b If 71 is positioned, to obtain a first detection electrode 43a and the detection point a ₈ on the second drive electrode 42b and an intermediate of the second detection electrode 43b. _{When the detection point A 8} is calculated, the electrostatic control unit 46 determines that the operation position of the dial 6 is 315 °. The main output signal is the output signal S _{b at the intersection B 7} or the output signal S _a at the intersection B _1. The slave output signal is the output signal S _{a at the intersection B 1} or the output signal S _b at the intersection B _3. Therefore, the electrostatic control unit 46 selects one of these combinations and adds the main output signal and the slave output signal.

That static control section 46, 0 ° an operation position corresponding to the detection point A _1, 45 ° an operation position corresponding to the detection point A _2, 90 ° an operation position corresponding to the detection point A _3, 135 ° an operation position corresponding to the detection point a _4, 180 ° an operation position corresponding to the detection point a _5, 225 ° an operation position corresponding to the detection point a _6, in response to detection point a ₇ operation position 270 °, and determines that the 315 ° of the operating position corresponding to the detection point _{a 8.} Static control unit 46 outputs to the control unit 10 the operating position of the dial 6 is determined as the operation position information S _3.

As a modification, the electrostatic control unit 46 calculates an average signal of the main output signal associated with the detection of the main detected member 70 and at least one slave output signal associated with the detection of at least one slave detected member 71. , The operation position may be calculated based on the calculated average signal.

The display unit 5 is a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. Display unit 5 displays an image based on the display information S ₄ that the operating device 1 is output from the connected electronic equipment.

As an example, the display screen 20 of the touch panel 2 shown in FIG. 1A displays an image 21 showing the temperature, a plurality of icons 22, and a transparent image 23 displayed in the transparent area 100 of the dial 6. ..

Image 21 shows a set temperature that increases or decreases as a result of the rotation operation of the dial 6. When the user rotates the dial 6 clockwise, that is, in the direction of arrow A, the set temperature increases. Further, when the user rotates the dial 6 counterclockwise, that is, in the direction of the arrow B, the set temperature decreases.

The icon 22 shows the function of the air conditioner. The user can select a function by touching the desired icon 22 on the panel 3. In FIG. 1A, the selected icon 22 is shaded. Then, the touch panel 2 displays the function operated by the dial 6 as a transparent image 23 in the transparent region 100.

(Configuration of dial 6)
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the dial 6 has a transmission region 100 having a circular outer shape in the center.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the dial 6 includes a main body 60 and a rotation support portion 67. The main body 60 is formed by using a resin material such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) resin, for example. As a modification, the main body 60 may be formed of a conductive member.

The dial 6 has an internal space 600 inside, and has a shape in which the side surface 63 is inclined toward the upper surface 61. The main body 60 has an opening 64 in the center of the upper surface 61. The opening 64 has a shape that narrows from the upper surface 61 toward the bottom surface 62. The display unit 5 is exposed on the bottom surface 62 of the opening 64 via the panel 3 and the detection unit 4. This exposed region is the transmission region 100.

An insertion opening 65 is provided on the bottom surface 62 of the main body 60. A rotation support portion 67 is inserted into the insertion opening 65. The insertion opening 65 is connected to the internal space 600 of the main body 60, and a fitting portion 66 is provided on the central side. The fitting portion 66 is provided as a ring-shaped groove in the internal space 600 of the main body 60.

The rotation support portion 67 is attached to the panel 3 via the double-sided tape 8. The main body 60 rotates in the direction of arrow A and the direction of arrow B while being supported by the rotation support portion 67. The double-sided tape 8 may be provided with a highly adhesive adhesive such as silicone so that the dial 6 can be easily removed. Further, the rotation support portion 67 may be attached not with the double-sided tape 8 but with an adhesive so as not to come off due to vibration of the vehicle or the like.

The rotation support portion 67 has a circular outer shape. The rotation support portion 67 has a claw portion 68 on the central side. The claw portion 68 is fitted with the fitting portion 66 of the main body 60, and the main body 60 and the rotation support portion 67 are rotatably integrated.

(Structure of Conductive Member 7)
As shown in FIG. 1B, the conductive member 7 is formed on the bottom surface 62, the side surface 63, the top surface 61, and the inner surface 64a of the opening 64. The conductive member 7 is a conductive paint applied to the dial 6. The conductive paint is, for example, a paint obtained by mixing carbon particles with an acrylic resin, a polyester resin, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

When the user comes into contact with the dial 6, a capacitance is generated between the main detected member 70 and the subordinate detected member 71 and the detection unit 4. When the dial 6 is gripped, the conductive member 7 may be provided on the side surface 63 or the like because the user's hand may come into contact with the conductive member 7 and conduct with the main detected member 70 and the slave detected member 71 on the bottom surface 62. It may be provided as a target.

The main detected member 70 and the subordinate detected member 71 may be formed as a part of the conductive member 7, or may be attached to the dial 6 by a screw, a conductive adhesive, or the like separately from the conductive member 7. You may. The main detected member 70 and the subordinate detected member 71 of the present embodiment are formed by coating as a part of the conductive member 7.

(Structure of control unit 10)
The control unit 10 is, for example, a microcomputer composed of a CPU that performs calculations and processing on the acquired data according to a stored program, a RAM and a ROM that are semiconductor memories, and the like. In this ROM, for example, a program for operating the control unit 10 is stored. The RAM is used, for example, as a storage area for temporarily storing a calculation result or the like. Further, the control unit 10 has a means for generating a clock signal inside the control unit 10, and operates based on the clock signal.

Control unit 10, when the touch operation is detected, and outputs the electronic device connected generated by the operation information S ₅ corresponding to the touch operation. The operation information S ₅ corresponding to touch operation, for example, information about the coordinates of the detected points.

The control unit 10, when the dial operation is detected, and outputs the electronic device connected generated by the operation information S ₅ corresponding to the dial operation. The operation information S ₅ corresponding to the dial operation, for example, information related to the rotation angle of the dial 6.

Hereinafter, the operation of detecting the operation position of the dial 6 of the operation device 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(motion)
The electrostatic control unit 46 of the operating device 1 periodically reads out the capacitance. Next, the electrostatic control unit 46 adds the main output signal and the slave output signal obtained by combining the drive electrode 42 and the detection electrode 43 to calculate the detection point (Step 1).

When the detection point is calculated (Step2: Yes), the electrostatic control unit 46 determines the operation position of the dial 6 based on the calculated detection point (Step3). Static control unit 46 generates an operation position information S ₃ based on the operating position to the control unit 10 (Step4), the operation ends. Control unit 10 outputs to the electronic device connected generated by the operation information S ₅ based on the acquired operation position information S _3.

Here, in step 2, if the detection point is not calculated (Step2: No), the electrostatic control unit 46 proceeds to step 1.

(Effect of the first embodiment)
The operating device 1 according to the present embodiment can suppress a sensitivity difference depending on the operating position. Specifically, _the capacitance C _a distance between the detection electrode and the detection member is disposed between the main detection member 70 and the従被detection member 71 in different positions, are detected based on the main member to be detected 70 _{And the capacitance C b} detected based on the slave detection member 71 are added to determine the operation position of the dial 6, so that the operation position of the dial 6 is stable even if the distance changes, as compared with the case where this configuration is not adopted. Capacitance can be detected and the sensitivity difference can be suppressed.

Since the operating device 1 compensates for the decrease in the detection sensitivity during the dial operation, it is not necessary to increase the detection sensitivity, and therefore, the resistance to external noise is higher than in the case of increasing the detection sensitivity.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment differs from the other embodiments in that the dial is arranged in the recess of the panel.

FIG. 5A is an example of a cross-sectional view of the operating device of the second embodiment. In the embodiments described below, parts having the same functions and configurations as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the panel 3 of the present embodiment has a recess 31 in which the installation surface 32 is a flat surface. The dial 6 is arranged on the installation surface 32. The surface 30 of the panel 3 is a curved surface as in the first embodiment. Since the detection unit 4 is curved according to the panel 3, the distances between the main detection member 70 and the slave detection member 71 and the detection electrode 43 differ depending on the operation of the dial 6.

The electrostatic control unit 46 of the present embodiment has a main output signal output from the detection electrode 43 that detects the main detection member 70 and a slave output signal output from the detection electrode 43 that detects the slave detection member 71. And are added to calculate the detection point, and the operation position of the dial 6 is determined based on the detection point.

[Third Embodiment]
The third embodiment is different from the other embodiments in that the detection unit is not curved and the surface of the panel is curved.

FIG. 5B is an example of a cross-sectional view of the operating device according to the third embodiment. In this operating device 1, the surface 30 of the panel 3 is a curved surface. Further, since the back surface 33 of the panel 3 is flat, the detection unit 4 and the display unit 5 are not curved. A main detection member 70 and the distance L ₁ to the detection electrode 43, and the従被detection member 71 and the distance L ₂ to the detection electrode 43, since it is a short distance length of the air gap is different, the capacitance Is very different.

The electrostatic control unit 46 of the present embodiment has a main output signal output from the detection electrode 43 that detects the main detection member 70 and a slave output signal output from the detection electrode 43 that detects the slave detection member 71. And are added to calculate the detection point, and the operation position of the dial 6 is determined based on the detection point.

In yet another embodiment, at least on the bottom surface side of the operation unit facing the detection unit arranged on a curved surface in which the curvature in the first direction and the curvature in the second direction intersecting the first direction are different. The detection from the plurality of detected members with respect to the plurality of output signals output from the detection unit in connection with the detection of the plurality of detected members arranged according to the first direction and the second direction. Even if it is provided as a program that executes a calculation method that calculates the operation position of the operation unit by performing an operation that alleviates the sensitivity difference due to the difference in the distance to the unit, or as a recording medium that can be read by a computer that records this program. good.

According to the operation device 1 and the calculation method of at least one embodiment described above, it is possible to suppress the sensitivity difference depending on the operation position.

The operation device 1 according to the above-described embodiment and modification is, for example, a part thereof by a program executed by a computer, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like, depending on the application. It may be realized.

Although some embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments and modifications are merely examples and do not limit the invention according to the claims. These novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, changes, etc. can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Moreover, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments and modifications are essential as 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 scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

1 ... Operating device, 2 ... Touch electrode, 3 ... Panel, 4 ... Detection unit, 5 ... Display unit, 6 ... Dial, 7 ... Conductive member, 8 ... Double-sided tape, 9 ... Operating finger, 10 ... Control unit, 20 ... Display Screen, 21 ... image, 22 ... icon, 23 ... transparent image, 30 ... front surface, 31 ... recess, 32 ... installation surface, 33 ... back surface, 41 ... electrode part, 42 ... drive electrode, 42a to 42c ... first drive Electrodes to third drive electrode, 43 ... detection electrode, 43a to 43c ... first detection electrode to third detection electrode, 44 ... drive unit, 45 ... reading unit, 46 ... electrostatic control unit, 47 ... storage unit , 60 ... Main body, 61 ... Top surface, 62 ... Bottom surface, 63 ... Side surface, 64 ... Opening, 64a ... Inner surface, 65 ... Insertion opening, 66 ... Fitting part, 67 ... Rotating support part, 68 ... Claw part, 70 ... Main Detected member, 71 ... Subordinate detected member, 72 ... Trajectory, 100 ... Transmission region, 600 ... Internal space

Claims (7)

A detection unit that is protected by a protective member and is arranged on a curved surface in which the curvature in the first direction and the curvature in the second direction intersecting the first direction are different.
An operation unit that is placed on the protective member and accepts user operations,
It is arranged on the bottom surface side of the operation unit facing the detection unit in accordance with at least the first direction and the second direction, and the operation position is detected by the detection unit as the operation with respect to the operation unit is performed. With multiple members to be detected,
An operation is performed for a plurality of output signals output from the detection unit in connection with the detection of the plurality of detected members to alleviate the sensitivity difference due to the difference in the distances from the plurality of detected members to the detection unit. A calculation unit that calculates the operation position and
An operating device equipped with. The plurality of detected members include a main detected member and at least one sub-detected member.
The calculation unit calculated a signal obtained by adding the main output signal associated with the detection of the main detected member and at least one slave output signal associated with the detection of the at least one slave detected member, and calculated the addition. Calculate the operation position based on the signal,
The operating device according to claim 1. The plurality of detected members include a main detected member and at least one sub-detected member.
The calculation unit calculates and calculates an average signal of the main output signal associated with the detection of the main detected member and at least one slave output signal associated with the detection of the at least one slave detected member, and calculates the average of the average. Calculate the operation position based on the signal,
The operating device according to claim 1. The operation unit has a cylindrical shape and has a cylindrical shape.
The plurality of members to be detected have an arcuate locus formed by the operation of the operation unit.
The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The protective member has a recess in which the installation surface is flat.
The operation unit is arranged on the installation surface.
The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The first direction and the second direction are orthogonal to each other.
The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. At least the first direction and the first direction are on the bottom surface side of the operation unit facing the detection unit arranged on a curved surface in which the curvature in the first direction and the curvature in the second direction intersecting the first direction are different. Sensitivity due to the difference in distance from the plurality of detected members to the detected unit with respect to a plurality of output signals output from the detected unit in connection with the detection of the plurality of detected members arranged in the two directions. The operation position of the operation unit is calculated by performing an operation to alleviate the difference.
Calculation method.

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