JP3330239B2 - Screen touch input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a screen touch type input device for inputting operation information by detecting a touch on a switch displayed on a screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle is equipped with a large number of auxiliary devices, such as a radio, an audio system, and an air conditioner, which are not directly related to the running of the vehicle, and the number of these auxiliary devices is further increasing. Among such auxiliary devices, there is a navigation device, and vehicles equipped with the navigation device are increasing.

[0003] This navigation device displays a current location on a map and assists driving, and when a destination is input, a route to that location is displayed to provide route guidance in many cases.

In such a navigation device, a display is required for displaying a map, and various operations are required for inputting a destination. Vehicles are limited in space, and cannot provide dedicated switches according to required operations. Normally, the surface of a display is used as a touch switch panel and the display on the display is used as a switch. It should be noted that the operation switches of the air conditioner and the audio also use the display, and the dedicated switch is often omitted.

Here, there are various types of touch switch panels, such as a capacitance type and an optical type. In the case of a normal touch switch panel, a touch is detected slightly above the actual display surface of the display. become. For example, in the case of the capacitance type, the deformation of the film provided on the surface of the display is used, and in the case of the optical type, the shielding of the light beam running on the display surface is detected. The actual detection area is above the surface of the display. Therefore, there is a problem that a difference occurs between the switch displayed on the display and the actual detection position.

Particularly in the case of the optical type, an acrylic plate for protecting the screen and an LCF (light control film) for controlling light distribution from the screen are provided between the switch display on the screen and the light beam for detection, and the thickness thereof is provided. Since the interval between the switch display and the reaction point is widened by the minute, the above problem is more remarkable.

The display provided in the vehicle cannot be arranged in front of the driver's seat, but is located between the front passenger seat and the passenger seat. Then, the driver's line of sight must be oblique to the display. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, there is a difference between the switch display on the display and the reaction point of the touch immediately above (displayed with diagonal lines), and there has been a problem that the driver's touch cannot be correctly detected.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 62-121641 discloses that the display position of the switch (the entire screen display) is shifted in accordance with the position of the operator, and the display switch and the reaction area caused by the shift in the line of sight of the operator. It is shown that the deviation is eliminated. In particular, in the device of this publication, a seat detection switch is provided on the driver's seat and the passenger's seat, and the display position of the switch is moved by specifying the detection state of the seat switch.
That is, when only the driver is present, the display is shifted to the left, and when both are present, the display is positioned at the center as it is.

[0009]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional example, since the display itself is merely shifted, sufficient improvement cannot be made. For example, when the driver brings his / her face to the front of the display and operates the driver, there is a problem that a sufficient reaction cannot be obtained due to a display shift.

[0010] In particular, touch detection of the touch switch panel is performed for a large number of scattered reaction points, but the reaction points cannot be arranged so densely, the display switches are relatively small, and a plurality of switches are required. Is displayed, the number of reaction points corresponding to the switches may be considerably reduced. That is, as shown in FIG. 11 (A), when the reaction point and the shape of the display of the switch match, the influence of the line of sight is relatively small. However, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1 (B), the display of the switch may deviate from the reaction point. In this example, the switches a and b have the same size, but there are two reaction points corresponding to the switch a and four reaction points corresponding to the switch b. In such a case, when the line of sight of the switch a is oblique, the fingertip of the operator is likely to operate a reaction point that does not correspond to the switch a, and a sufficient reaction cannot be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a screen touch input device capable of sufficiently improving operability.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an apparatus for inputting information by detecting touches on a number of reaction points located above a screen, comprising switch display means for displaying switches on the screen. Reaction area setting means for setting a reaction area of a reaction point determined to be touched on the displayed switch, wherein the reaction area setting means is expanded in the operator's line of sight including the switch display area. Characterized by setting a reaction region.

The reaction area setting means may change the size of the reaction area in the line of sight of the adjacent switch based on the distance between the adjacent switch and the adjacent switch in the direction of the operator's line of sight. Features.

Further, the present invention is a device mounted on a vehicle, which detects a touch on a large number of reaction points located above a screen and inputs information, and is a constant operation switch which can be constantly operated on the screen. To a switch display means for simultaneously displaying a stop operation switch whose operation is prohibited during traveling, and a switch including a display area of the switch and displaying a reaction point in an area enlarged in the line of sight of the operator. A reaction area setting means for setting a reaction area of a reaction point determined as a touch of the vehicle, and travel detection means for detecting a travel state of the vehicle. When the operation switch is displayed, the reaction area setting means sets the expansion amount of the reaction area corresponding to the constant operation switch during traveling to be larger than when the vehicle is stopped. To.

Further, the present invention is a device mounted on a vehicle, which detects a touch on a number of reaction points located above a screen and inputs information, and is a constantly operating switch which can always be operated on the screen. A switch display means for simultaneously displaying a stop operation switch whose operation is prohibited during running; a reaction area setting means for setting a reaction area of a reaction point for determining that the displayed switch is touched; And a travel detecting means for detecting a state. When the stop operation switch is displayed adjacent to the constant operation switch, the reaction area corresponding to the constant operation switch during traveling is determined by the stop operation switch side. It is characterized in that it expands to.

[0016]

As described above, according to the screen touch type input device of the present invention, the reaction area corresponding to the display switch is enlarged in consideration of the operator's line of sight. Therefore, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of the switch operation when the display is operated obliquely while maintaining the operability when viewed from the front.

Further, by determining the enlargement amount in consideration of the interval between the display of the adjacent switches, it is possible to sufficiently enlarge the reaction area in the direction of the line of sight within a range where no malfunction occurs.

In the screen display of the vehicle, some switches cannot be operated during traveling. Therefore, when such a switch is adjacent to the switch, the recognition area of the switch operation can be improved by enlarging the reaction area in consideration of this.

Further, even when the direction of the line of sight is not taken into consideration, the reaction area is expanded when a switch that cannot be operated during traveling is adjacent. Also in this case, the recognition rate of the switch operation can be improved.

If the stop operation switch is always located on the side of the line of sight with respect to the operation switch, the reaction area is consequently enlarged in the direction of the line of sight.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the embodiment. The display / touch panel 10 is an LC
D display 10a and an optical touch panel 10b provided on this surface. The display 10a is connected to the display EC via the driver 20.
It is connected to U22. The display ECU 22
A predetermined voltage is applied to the display 10a via the driver 20.
Is applied to the liquid crystal at a desired portion to perform display. The display ECU 22 is also connected to the touch panel 10b, and detects a touch on reaction points arranged in a matrix in the display ECU 22.

The display ECU 22 has a main EC
U30 is connected, and in response to a signal from the main ECU 30, the display ECU 22
0a is determined. In this example, the main ECU
30 is an RG for display on the display 10a
The B signal is transmitted, and the display ECU 22 controls the voltage output of the driver 20 in response to the signal to perform a desired color display. On the other hand, the on / off information (touch information) of each reaction point on the touch panel 10b is directly sent to the main ECU 3
0, and the main ECU 30
On / off of the display switch is detected from the display of a and the on / off information of the reaction point.

The main ECU 30 receives a radio wave from a satellite and detects an absolute position of the vehicle, a GPS (global positioning system) device 32, a CD device 34 for reproducing an optical disk for storing map information, A vehicle speed sensor 36 for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle, a geomagnetic sensor 38 for detecting the azimuth of the vehicle, a parking switch 40 for detecting a stopped state of the vehicle, and the like are connected.

Thus, the main ECU 30 sets the GP
Absolute position and vehicle speed sensor 36 detected by S device 32
The current position is determined based on the movement amount and the like obtained from the geomagnetic sensor 38, the display content of the display 10 a is determined from the map and the like obtained from the CD device 34, and a display signal is sent to the display ECU 20. When an operation switch is displayed, the relationship between the display switch and the reaction point of the touch panel 10b is determined. A TV tuner is connected to the display ECU 22, and the display 10a can display a TV, and can operate an air conditioner using the display / touch panel 10.

Here, the touch panel 10b of the present embodiment
Is an optical type, and as shown in FIG.
It has a light-emitting element array and a light-receiving element array that are arranged to face each other around 0a. That is, a plurality of infrared LEDs (light emitting diodes) 12 are arranged on the right and lower sides in the figure, and a plurality of phototransistors 14 are arranged on the left and upper sides in the figure. Therefore, if the infrared light emitted from the light emitting diode 12 is received by the opposing phototransistor 14 and the display 10a is touched by the fingertip, the light beam is blocked by the fingertip and the position of the phototransistor 14 that cannot receive the light is moved to the position of the fingertip. The dimensional coordinates are specified.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, a matrix of a corresponding number of reaction points is formed by the light emitting diodes 12 and the phototransistors 14. In the example of FIG. 3, 13 × 13 = 169 reaction points are formed.

Then, the main ECU 30 sets a reaction area of the switch corresponding to the shape of the switch displayed on the display 10a, and turns on or off the corresponding switch by detecting a touch at a reaction point of the reaction area. decide.

Regarding the detection of the on / off state of the switch,
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this example, first, the position immediately above the display of the switch is set as the reaction area as it is, and the reaction area is enlarged in the determination.

First, in the display state of the switch, when the touch panel 10b is touched (S11), the number (1 to 169) of the touched reaction point is displayed on the display ECU.
20 and detected by the main ECU 30 (S12).

Next, the main ECU 30 determines whether there is any meaningless reaction point (S13). If there is no meaningful reaction point, it is determined that the switch corresponding to the meaningful reaction point has been operated (S14).
As described above, a meaningless reaction point of one line is always placed between two adjacent switches.
In the absence of meaningless reaction points, the reaction points corresponding to the two switches are not usually touched. If such a state occurs, for example, by operating with two fingers, this may be regarded as an abnormal switch operation and no switch operation.

On the other hand, if there is a meaningless reaction point, it is determined whether there is a reaction point in the reaction area corresponding to the switch (S15). If there is no reaction point, it is determined that the switch of the reaction area located at the reaction point (left side) which is one number smaller than the touched meaningless reaction point is touched (S16). Here, the left side is selected because it is presumed that the operator is the driver and is in the right seat, and if it is known that the left seat has priority, the reaction point of one more number is selected. The switch on the right side may be determined.
Also, at the leftmost reaction point, the next smaller number is the rightmost one, so this processing is not performed and is invalidated. In a normal operation, the number of switches located on the left side of the meaningless reaction point is often one. However, when there are two or more switches, the determination may be made based on the number of reaction points corresponding to each switch.

If the corresponding switch has a certain reaction point, the number of the reaction points is compared with the number of meaningless reaction points (S17). If the number of reaction points corresponding to the corresponding switch is larger than the number of reaction points, it is determined that the switch corresponding to the reaction point has been operated (S18).

If the number of meaningless reaction points is larger in S17, the relationship between the meaningless reaction points and the reaction area corresponding to the switch is determined (S19). That is, when the meaningless reaction point is located below the reaction area corresponding to the switch, it is assumed that the switch immediately above the meaningless reaction point has been operated (S20), and the meaningless reaction point is determined. Is located above the reaction area corresponding to the switch, it is assumed that the switch immediately below the meaningless reaction point has been operated (S21), and the meaningless reaction point corresponds to the reaction area corresponding to the switch. To the right of
It is assumed that the switch to the left of the meaningless reaction point has been operated (S22), and if the meaningless reaction point is located to the left of the reaction area corresponding to the switch, the meaningless reaction point is deactivated. It is assumed that the right switch has been operated (S23). Note that the determination of the positional relationship in S19 may be obtained from a map or by mathematical processing.

In this way, a touch at a meaningless reaction point can be regarded as a touch at a reaction point close to this. In the above flowchart, the area immediately above the switch display is initially set as the reaction area, and the reaction area is changed only when a touch at a predetermined meaningless reaction point is detected. However, the main ECU 30 may know the position of the display switch, and may enlarge and set the reaction area in advance. Then, in the determination after setting the enlarged reaction area, when it is detected that a meaningless reaction point is touched, the reaction area may be further enlarged by the procedure of FIG. 4 described above.

Here, in the case of a vehicle, the driver is usually the operator. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the driver should be regarded as the operator. In this case, it is also effective to expand the reaction region only in a specific direction without expanding the reaction region to the entire periphery, as in the above flowchart. In this case, the reaction area may be allocated in accordance with the displayed switch, for example, as shown in FIGS.

When the line of sight comes from the lower right with respect to the switch design displayed on the display 10a, as shown in FIG. 5, the reaction area including right above and below the display switch is enlarged. It is set, and the touch of the reaction point in the reaction area is determined as the operation of the switch. Due to the expansion of the reaction area, the difference between the reaction point and the display of the switch design when viewed from the direction of the operator is eliminated, and effective switch operation can be detected. Further, since the reaction area is merely enlarged, even when the operator brings his / her face to the front of the screen and operates, the detection can be performed correctly.

When the interval between the display switches is relatively wide as shown in FIG. 6, the reaction area which is enlarged in accordance with this interval is widened. This is because the possibility of erroneous detection due to the enlargement of the reaction region is low. By determining the amount of enlargement of the reaction area according to the interval between the display switches, more effective switch operation detection can be performed.

Further, switches that cannot be operated during driving are also displayed on the navigation screen and the like. That is,
The destination setting and the like depend on the destination type (for example, department store,
A destination can be set by inputting a golf course, a station, or the like), an address, a telephone number, or the like. However, such an operation is relatively complicated, and is performed while watching the display. In view of this, such a switch is displayed in a thin display while the vehicle is running, and cannot be operated. For example, when this switch is operated, "You cannot operate while driving. Please stop and use."
Message is displayed and the operation is disabled. Therefore, it is unlikely that a switch that cannot be operated is operated on such a screen.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the reaction area is further expanded to a reaction area adjacent to a switch which cannot be operated during traveling. As a result, more effective detection of the switch operation can be achieved.

That is, when adjacent switches are operable, it is necessary to set at least one reaction point between the two switches to a meaningless one that does not belong to the two switches, thereby preventing erroneous determination. If an adjacent switch is inoperable, by assigning all reaction points between the switches to the reaction area of the operable switch, the recognition rate of the operation of the switch can be increased.

The operation during traveling will be described with reference to FIG. For example, when the setting of the destination is selected during traveling and the screen of the destination is displayed, the switch which cannot be used is toned down (S31). That is, as shown in FIG. 9, a telephone number switch for setting a destination from a telephone number, an address switch for setting a destination from an address,
A switch for the facility name that sets the destination from the facility name, a memory point switch that sets the destination from the memory points stored in advance, and the previous departure point switch are toned down and only the home switch is not toned down (In the figure, only the home switch is indicated by oblique lines). This is because the home switch can set the destination simply by touching the home switch, so that the operation is simple, and there is no problem even if the home switch is operated while traveling. Then, the range of the reaction point corresponding to the usable switch is expanded (S32).

Here, the detection during running may be performed by detecting that the vehicle speed is 0, or in the case of an automatic vehicle, the parking switch 40 detects that the shift lever is in the parking position. Alternatively, it may be detected that the vehicle is stopped by detecting that the side brake is on. The process in FIG. 8 is a routine that is called by interruption when it is detected that the vehicle is running.

Further, in the above embodiment, the display itself is assumed to be fixed. However, the angle of some displays can be adjusted. That is, some screens can be turned to the driver's seat or the passenger's seat. With such a display, whether the operator is a driver or an assistant can be detected from the installation angle of the display. Therefore, a position detection device for the display (normal rotation is performed around the central axis, so it is sufficient to detect this rotation) is provided, and based on the detection result, the operator is specified and the reaction area is enlarged. The direction can also be determined.

Note that the method of estimating the operator's line of sight is not limited to the above-described display angle adjustment, and similar effects can be obtained with other methods. For example, a method is considered in which a “passenger seat operation” key is displayed, and when the key is touched, it is determined that the operator's line of sight is in the passenger seat direction.

[0045]

As described above, according to the screen touch type input device of the present invention, the reaction area corresponding to the display switch is enlarged in consideration of the operator's line of sight. Therefore, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of the switch operation when the display is operated obliquely while maintaining the operability when viewed from the front.

Further, by determining the enlargement amount in consideration of the interval between the display of the adjacent switches, it is possible to sufficiently enlarge the reaction area in the direction of the line of sight within a range where no malfunction occurs.

On the screen display of the vehicle, there are some switches that cannot be operated during traveling. Therefore, when such a switch is adjacent to the switch, the recognition area of the switch operation can be improved by enlarging the reaction area in consideration of this.

The enlargement of the reaction area when a switch that cannot be operated during traveling is adjacent is also effective even when the line of sight is not considered.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a touch panel.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement of reaction points on a touch panel.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an enlarged example of a normal reaction region.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an enlarged example of a reaction area in consideration of a switch interval.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of expanding a reaction area when the use of an adjacent switch is prohibited.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of processing when there is a use prohibition switch.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen display example when there is a use prohibition switch.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between a viewing direction and a reaction point.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between a display of a switch and a reaction point.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 display / touch panel 10a display 10b touch panel 20 driver 22 display ECU 30 main ECU 32 GPS device 34 CD device 36 vehicle speed sensor 38 geomagnetic sensor 40 parking switch

Continuation of the front page Examiner Masaharu Kubota (56) References JP-A-6-161659 (JP, A) JP-A-3-116193 (JP, A) JP-A-61-44034 (JP, A) JP-A-4 -372013 (JP, A) JP-A-6-314167 (JP, A) JP-A-3-50240 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/00 G06F 3/03-3/033 B60R 16/02 G01C 21/00 G08G 1/0969 G09B 29/10

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device which is mounted on a vehicle and detects touches on a number of reaction points located above a screen and inputs information, comprising: a constantly operating switch constantly operable on a screen; Is a switch display means for simultaneously displaying a stop operation switch for which operation is prohibited, and a touch on the displayed switch including a reaction point in an area expanded in the operator's line of sight including a switch display area. A reaction area setting means for setting a reaction area of a reaction point to be operated, and travel detection means for detecting a traveling state of the vehicle, and a stop operation switch is displayed in a line of sight of the operator adjacent to the always-on operation switch. If the vehicle is stopped,
A touch-screen input device in which the reaction area setting means sets an enlargement amount of a reaction area corresponding to the constant operation switch at the time of traveling as compared to when the vehicle is stopped , while leaving a display of an operation switch. 2. A device which is mounted on a vehicle and detects touches on a number of reaction points located above a screen and inputs information, comprising: a constantly operating switch constantly operable on a screen; Is a switch display means for simultaneously displaying a stop operation switch whose operation is prohibited, a reaction area setting means for setting a reaction area of a reaction point determined to be touching the displayed switch, and detecting a running state of the vehicle. And a traveling detection means, wherein when the stationary operation switch is displayed adjacent to the constant operation switch, the stationary operation switch is displayed.
Is a screen touch type input device that enlarges a reaction area corresponding to the constant operation switch at the time of traveling to the operation switch at the time of stopping while leaving . 3. A device odor according to claim 1 or 2
The stop operation switch, during traveling,
Screen touch-type input device that displays toned down.