JP5747772B2 - Electronic device including touch panel, and arrangement method for arranging region for accepting specific operation on operation surface of touch panel - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device including a touch panel.

  In recent years, many electronic devices including a touch panel are distributed. According to such an electronic device, software buttons and the like can be freely arranged on the touch panel, and operability can be improved. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes that a button on a screen of a digital camera equipped with a touch panel is customized using an application installed on a PC. By such customization, the shape and arrangement of buttons and the like can be adjusted according to the user's preference, and the operability can be further improved.

JP 2006-293678 A

  However, if buttons and the like are arranged indiscriminately by such customization, the user may not be able to grasp the arrangement of the buttons and the like, and there is a possibility that usability may deteriorate and an erroneous operation may occur.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and aims at arrange | positioning the area | region for accepting each operation on a touch panel in an electronic device provided with a touch panel, preventing the deterioration of usability and generation | occurrence | production of a misoperation. .

An electronic device according to an aspect of the present invention is configured to receive a user operation via an operation surface of a touch panel and execute various processes in accordance with the operation.
In this electronic device, an operation invalid area where the user's operation is invalid, and an area where the operation is valid, and a plurality of operation effective areas where the background can be visually recognized through the area are formed. When the attached sheet is attached to the electronic device so as to cover all or part of the operation surface, detection is performed to detect an operation region that is an area on the operation surface on which the operation effective area formed on the sheet is disposed. Means. In addition, setting means is provided for setting the operation area detected by the detection means as an area for receiving a specific operation.

  According to such a configuration, when a sheet on which a plurality of operation effective areas are formed is attached to the touch panel, a specific operation is received in each operation area on the operation surface on which the operation effective area is arranged. One of the buttons is arranged.

  Therefore, the buttons are not arranged on the operation surface of the touch panel indiscriminately, and the buttons are arranged on the operation surface in an easy-to-understand manner for the user, thereby preventing deterioration in usability and occurrence of erroneous operations. Meanwhile, an area for receiving each operation can be arranged on the touch panel.

In the above configuration, the sheet may be formed with at least one of a concave portion or a convex portion for identifying each operation effective area.
According to such a configuration, when a sheet is attached to the electronic device, the user can grasp which position on the operation surface and what buttons are arranged just by touching the sheet, and visually recognize the screen. It is possible to operate the touch panel without doing so.

In the above configuration, the operation effective area provided in the seat may be configured as an opening.
According to such a configuration, the user can determine the operation area simply by touching the sheet, and the usability of the electronic device can be improved.

There are various types of touch panels such as a capacitive type and a resistive film type, but when a capacitive type touch panel is used, the touch panel may have the following configuration.
That is, in the above configuration, the touch panel is configured as a capacitive touch panel, and the operation invalid area of the sheet is configured to prevent electrostatic coupling in an area on the operation surface where the operation invalid area is arranged. May be.

  In this way, when the above-described sheet is attached, the operation to the area where the operation invalid area is arranged on the operation surface is not detected by the electronic device, and the processing load of the electronic device is reduced. Can be made.

  The above-described sheet may be attached to the electronic device in a state of covering the entire operation surface of the touch panel, or may be attached in a state of covering a part of the operation surface. When attached in a covered state, the operation area may be detected as follows.

That is, in the above-described configuration, the electronic device further includes a receiving unit that receives an operation for determining an attachment area, which is an area on the operation surface covered by a sheet attached to the electronic device, from the user via the operation surface. The detecting means may detect the operation area as an area on the attachment area determined by the operation received through the receiving means.

  According to such a configuration, in the area other than the attachment area, various information can be displayed as in the conventional case, buttons and the like can be freely arranged, and usability can be improved.

Further, the electronic device may detect the operation area as follows.
In other words, in the above configuration, there are a plurality of types of sheets having different shapes or arrangements of the operation effective areas. Further, the electronic device indicates, for each sheet type, in which part of the area on the operation surface covered by the sheet the operation effective area of the sheet is arranged when the sheet is attached. It further comprises storage means for storing type-specific operation area information and determination means for determining the type of sheet to be attached. Then, the detection means detects an operation area for the attached sheet based on the determination result by the determination means and the type-specific operation area information stored in the storage means.

According to such a configuration, the operation area can be accurately detected according to the type of the attached sheet.
Specifically, the type of the attached sheet may be determined as follows.

In other words, in the above configuration, the sheet is provided with an IC tag that transmits identification information assigned to the type of the sheet, and the discrimination means is identified from the IC tag provided on the sheet attached to the electronic device. Information may be read and the type of the sheet may be determined based on the identification information.

By doing so, the operation area can be accurately detected without bothering the user.
In the above configuration, the sheet is configured in the same manner as the operation effective area, and when the sheet is attached, the reference area is arranged at a position on the operation surface that is uniquely determined according to the type of the sheet. The determining unit may receive an operation on the reference area of the sheet performed after the sheet is attached to the electronic apparatus, and determine the type of the sheet based on the operation.

In the above configuration, the determination unit may receive an operation of selecting a sheet type from the user via the operation surface, and may determine the type of sheet attached to the electronic apparatus based on the operation.

  By doing so, it is possible to determine the type of sheet to be attached with a simpler configuration, and it is possible to accurately detect the operation region while suppressing the cost of the sheet and the electronic device.

Furthermore, in the above configuration, when the sheet is attached to the sheet, the operation area detection that indicates in which part of the area on the operation surface covered by the sheet the operation effective area of the sheet is arranged An IC tag for transmitting information may be provided. The detection unit may read operation area detection information from an IC tag provided on a sheet attached to the electronic apparatus, and detect an operation area for the sheet based on the operation area detection information.

By doing so, the operation area can be accurately detected without bothering the user.
In addition, when the operation area is detected using the type-specific operation area information stored in the storage unit as in the electronic device described above, a type of sheet that does not correspond to the type-specific operation area information is attached. In other words, variations in the number, size, arrangement, etc. of the operation areas are limited.

Therefore, in the above configuration, the sheet is formed in a rectangular shape, and a plurality of rectangular operation effective areas having the same shape are formed, and each operation effective area is arranged in rows and columns parallel to the sides forming the outer edge of the sheet. They may be arranged in a matrix . In addition, each row is arranged with a certain distance between another row or a side parallel to the row, and each column is arranged in another adjacent column or column. You may distribute | arrange with the fixed space | interval opened between the parallel sides .

Then, when the sheet is attached, the detection means may detect all the operation areas based on the operation on the operation area forming at least one row and the operation area forming at least one column .

  According to such a configuration, as long as the conditions regarding the shape and arrangement of the operation effective areas are satisfied, the number, size, arrangement, and the like of the operation effective areas in the sheet attached to the electronic apparatus can be freely set. For this reason, variations such as the number, size, and arrangement of the operation areas can be increased, and the operation areas can be set more appropriately according to the function of the electronic device and the user's preference.

  In addition, it is not necessary to provide a configuration for automatically discriminating the sheet type in the sheet or the electronic device, or to store the operation area information for each type in the electronic device, thereby reducing the cost of the electronic device or the sheet. be able to.

When the operation area is detected using the type-specific operation area information stored in the storage unit as in the above-described electronic device, it may be a predetermined attachment area on the operation surface or a user It is assumed that the seat is attached so as to cover the attachment area selected by (1). However, if the user manually attaches the sheet, the position of the attached sheet may deviate from these attachment areas. In such a case, the operation actually formed by attaching the sheet An error occurs between the area and the detected operation area.

On the other hand, in the above configuration , each operation region may be detected based on an operation on the operation region actually formed by attaching the sheet. For this reason, each operation area can be detected in consideration of a shift generated during attachment, and each operation area can be detected more accurately.

  In addition, as a method for detecting each operation area, for example, the user performs an operation of pressing the four corners of each operation area, detects the positions of the four corners of each operation area based on the operation, and connects the four corner positions. Can be considered as an operation region. In addition, a method is conceivable in which the user performs an operation of tracing the outer edge of each operation region, and detects each operation region by detecting a trajectory by the operation.

In addition to these, the following methods can be considered.
That is, in the above configuration, when the seat is attached , the detection means grasps the approximate position of each operation area based on the operation of touching all the operation areas once, and sets the position of any operation area. The length of each side of the operation area may be measured based on an operation touching the four corners, and all the operation areas may be detected based on the approximate position and the length of each side.

Further, in the above configuration, the operation area arranged along the outer edge of the sheet is defined as the outer edge operation area, and a path passing through these outer edge operation areas along the side adjacent to the outer edge in the outer edge operation area is defined as the outer edge path. Further, an area on the operation surface where the operation invalid area formed on the attached sheet is arranged may be set as the operation invalid area. Then, when the seat is attached, the detection unit may detect the operation invalid area based on an operation that makes a round along the outer edge path, and may detect the operation area based on the detected operation invalid area.

By doing so, it is possible to reduce the user's operation required for detecting each operation area, and to reduce the burden on the user .

That is, in the arrangement method according to one aspect of the present invention, in an electronic device that receives a user's operation via the operation surface of the touch panel and executes various processes according to the operation, the user's specific operation is performed on the operation surface. Arrange each area to accept .

  This arrangement method is a sheet in which an operation invalid area where a user's operation is invalid and an area where the operation is valid, and a plurality of operation effective areas which can be visually recognized behind the area are formed. Has a detection procedure for detecting an operation area that is an area on the operation surface on which the operation effective area formed on the sheet is arranged when attached to the electronic device in a state of covering all or part of the operation surface. . In addition, there is a setting procedure for setting the operation area detected by the detection procedure as an area for receiving a specific operation.

  In this way, by applying the arrangement method, in an electronic device including a touch panel, it is possible to arrange an area for accepting each operation on the touch panel while preventing usability deterioration and occurrence of erroneous operation.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic device and an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that various buttons are displayed corresponding to the operation area | region, and explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a sheet | seat is affixed on the lower half of the operation surface, and various buttons are displayed corresponding to the operation area | region. . It is a flowchart about a manual setting process. It is explanatory drawing which shows a user's operation required in the case of manual detection of the operation area | region. 10 is a flowchart for manual alignment processing 1; It is explanatory drawing which shows the user's operation required in the case of manual operation area | region detection, and explanatory drawing which shows the locus | trajectory of the contact surface of the operation surface and user which arises by this operation. 10 is a flowchart for manual alignment processing 2; 5 is a flowchart for automatic setting processing and a flowchart for operation setting processing 1; It is the flowchart about the operation setting process 2, and the flowchart about a partial sheet sticking process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[Description of configuration]
First, the configuration of the electronic device of this embodiment will be described. This electronic device is configured as, for example, a portable device such as a smartphone, a printer, a scanner, a FAX, or the like, and includes a touch panel.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the electronic device 10 includes a well-known CPU 11, RAM 12, and ROM 13, and the electronic device 10 performs overall control when the CPU 11 is operated by a program stored in the RAM 12 or ROM 13. Is done.

  The electronic device 10 further includes a storage unit 14 composed of a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, a display unit 15 that displays various types of information, and a capacitance type device arranged so as to cover the display unit 15. A touch panel 16 and a reading unit 17 that reads information from an IC tag are provided.

  In the electronic device 10, buttons and the like corresponding to various operations are displayed on the display unit 15, and various operations are performed by the user touching an area on the operation surface of the touch panel 16 corresponding to the display position of the buttons and the like. Accepted.

  On the operation surface of the touch panel 16, a sheet on which an operation invalid area where the user's operation is invalid and an operation valid area where the operation is valid can be pasted.

This sheet may be affixed so as to cover the entire operation surface, or may be affixed so as to cover a pasting permission area defined in a part of the operation surface. In addition, a protrusion, a level | step difference, etc. may be formed along the outer edge of a sticking permission area | region, and the sticking of the sheet | seat to a sticking permission area | region may be made easy. In addition, the user may be able to select an area where the sheet is pasted. In such a case, a plurality of pasting permission areas are provided on the operation surface, and the pasting permission area can be selected. In addition, a protrusion, a step, or the like may be formed along the outer edge of each pasting permission region.

  In the present embodiment, the sheet is rectangular and the operation invalid area is formed in a lattice shape. In addition, a portion surrounded by the operation invalid area is an operation effective area, and each operation effective area is a rectangle having the same shape and has transparency, and from a row and a column parallel to the side forming the outer edge of the sheet. Are arranged in a matrix.

  Each row is arranged with a certain distance between another adjacent row or a side that forms the outer edge of the sheet parallel to the row, and each column is another adjacent column. Alternatively, they are arranged with a certain gap between them and the side forming the outer edge of the sheet parallel to the row.

  In FIG. 1 (b) to (d), three types of A to C sheets 20 to 22 are described as an example of this sheet. In the A to C sheets 20 to 22, each operation effective area 20b, 21b and 22b are arranged in a 3 × 3, 3 × 4, and 4 × 5 matrix. Note that the rows in the longitudinal direction of the sheets in the operation effective area are rows, the rows in the short direction are columns, the longitudinal direction is the horizontal direction, and the short direction is the vertical direction.

  The operation invalid area is configured not to cause electrostatic coupling on the touch panel 16 even when touched by the user while the area is in contact with the operation surface, and the A to C sheets 20 to 22 are formed on the operation surface. When pasted, the operation of touching the operation surface through the area is invalidated.

  Specifically, the operation invalid area may be configured as a film made of an insulating material such as insulating plastic, insulating rubber, or silicon, or may be configured as a cloth or a woolen fabric made of glass fiber or the like. May be. Needless to say, the operation invalid area has a thickness that can prevent the occurrence of electrostatic coupling in the touch panel 16 when the user touches the operation surface through the area. .

  On the other hand, the operation effective area is configured such that when the user touches the area in contact with the operation surface, the touch panel 16 is electrostatically coupled, and the A to C sheets 20 to 22 are attached to the operation surface. When the operation is performed, the operation of touching the operation surface through the area becomes effective.

  Specifically, the operation effective area may be configured as, for example, a transparent film (conductive PET film or the like) made of a conductive material, or may be formed as an opening.

  Each operation effective area is formed with a concave portion or a convex portion (not shown) for identifying the area. In addition, unevenness for identifying the area may be formed. Further, when the operation effective area is formed as an opening, the same unevenness may be formed so as to surround each operation effective area or adjacent to the lower part of each operation effective area. .

Although details will be described later, in the electronic device 10, when a sheet is attached to the operation surface, an area on the operation surface where each operation effective area is arranged is detected as the operation region.
When the A to C sheets 20 to 22 are attached, the operation areas are detected by different methods, and the B sheet 21 is provided with an IC tag 21c that outputs information used for detection of the operation areas. ing. In addition, the C sheet 22 is configured so that an operation that touches the operation surface via the area is effective in the same manner as the operation effective area, and an operation to the area is used for detection of the operation area. Is provided.

[Description of operation]
First, an outline of the operation of the electronic device 10 will be described.
In the electronic device 10, processing for detecting an operation area is performed when a sheet is attached to the operation surface of the touch panel 16. The display unit 15 displays a button for receiving a specific operation behind each detected operation area, and each operation area receives an operation corresponding to the button displayed behind the operation area. Set as an area.

2A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a sheet covering the entire operation surface 100 is pasted and various buttons are displayed on the display unit 15 behind the operation areas 101 to 106. FIG.
FIG. 2B illustrates an explanatory diagram showing a state where a sheet covering the pasting area 120 occupying the lower half of the operation surface 100 is pasted. This explanatory diagram shows that various buttons are displayed behind the plurality of operation areas formed in the pasting area 120 on the display unit 15. On the other hand, behind the display area 110 (area not covered by the sheet) occupying the upper half of the operation surface 100, an image is displayed on the display unit 15 in the same manner as before the sheet is pasted. It shows that various operations are accepted.

Next, a method for detecting each operation region formed by pasting a sheet will be described.
(1) Manual setting process First, a manual setting process for detecting each operation area based on an operation touching an operation area formed by pasting a sheet covering the entire operation surface will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. To do. Note that this process is applicable when any of the A to C sheets 20 to 22 is pasted, and is executed when an operation for manually setting the operation area is received.

In S205, the CPU 11 of the electronic apparatus 10 waits for the completion of the pasting of the sheet on the operation surface, and when a predetermined waiting time elapses, the process proceeds to S210.
In S210, the CPU 11 executes a manual alignment process for detecting each operation area based on an operation in which the user touches the operation area. When the process is completed, the process proceeds to S215.

  In S <b> 215, the CPU 11 displays buttons and the like for receiving a specific operation behind each operation area on the display unit 15, and sets each operation area as an area for receiving an operation corresponding to the button and the like displayed behind the operation area. A display process such as a button to be set is performed, and this process is terminated.

(1-1) Manual Positioning Process 1 Next, the manual position aligning process 1 which is an example of the above-described manual position aligning process called from the manual setting process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the manual alignment process 1, an operation of pressing each operation area once by the user (see FIG. 4A) and an operation of pressing down four corners of any one operation area (see FIG. 4B). And the operation area is detected based on this.

  When each operation area is pressed once, it is desirable to press each operation area in a predetermined order instead of pressing them randomly. Specifically, for example, it is conceivable that each row is selected in order from the upper side, and each operation area forming the selected row is pressed in order from left to right toward the operation surface 100.

The manual alignment process 1 will be described below.
In S305, the CPU 11 of the electronic device 10 instructs the user to press each operation area once in the order described above via a speaker (not shown) or the like, and the process proceeds to S310.

In S310 and S315, the CPU 11 accepts pressing of one of the operation areas from the user, detects and stores coordinates indicating the pressed position, and shifts the processing to S320.
In S320, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the pressed operation area is an operation area located at the lower right corner based on the detected coordinates. If the determination is affirmative (S320: Yes), the process proceeds to S325. To migrate. In addition, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of this process. If the determination is affirmative (S320: Yes), the process proceeds to S325. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in any of these determinations (S320: No), the process proceeds to S310.

In S325, the CPU 11 sets each detected pressing position as an approximate position in each operation area, and proceeds to S330.
In S330, the CPU 11 specifies the approximate position of one of the operation areas located at the corners, defines a rectangular area centered on the position on the operation surface, and displays it at the four corners of the area. By displaying the mark, it is instructed to press the four corners of the operation area, and the process proceeds to S335. The rectangular area may have the same shape as that of the smallest operation effective area among the operation effective areas formed on the sheet assumed to be pasted.

  In S335 and S340, the CPU 11 accepts pressing of the operation surface four times, and detects and stores coordinates indicating the pressed position. Then, the length of each side of the operation area is calculated from the coordinates to identify the shape of the operation area (S345), and the process proceeds to S350.

  In S350, the CPU 11 detects each operation area based on the approximate position of each operation area and the shape of the operation area. Specifically, the number of rows and columns of the matrix formed by each operation area is counted from the approximate position of each operation area, and the shape virtually identified in the pasting area on the operation surface covered with the sheet Are arranged in a matrix of the number of rows and the number of columns.

  In this matrix, each row has a certain interval between another adjacent row or the side forming the outer edge of the pasting area parallel to the row, and each column has another adjacent row. A certain interval is opened between the row or the side forming the outer edge of the sheet parallel to the row.

Each operation area is detected by regarding each operation area virtually arranged as an area in contact with an operation effective area formed on the pasted sheet.
In subsequent S355, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the operation area has been successfully detected by determining whether or not each detected operation area includes the approximate position of any one of the operation areas. . When an affirmative determination is obtained (S355: Yes), the process proceeds to S360, and when a negative determination is obtained (S355: No), the process proceeds to S370.

In S360, the CPU 11 notifies the completion of detection of the operation area via the display unit 15 and the like, stores each operation area in the storage unit 14 (S365), and ends this process.
On the other hand, in S370, the CPU 11 instructs to redo the detection of each operation area via the display unit 15 and the like, and ends this process.

(1-2) Manual Positioning Process 2 Next, the manual position aligning process 2 which is an example of the above-described manual position aligning process called from the manual setting process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the manual alignment process 2, the electronic device 10 passes through each outer edge operation region along a side adjacent to the outer edge in the outer edge path (the outer edge operation region which is an operation region arranged along the outer edge of the pasting region). An operation of tracing the route) is received from the user (see FIG. 6A).

  When this operation is performed, only the operation that passes through the outer edge operation region is detected in the electronic device 10, and therefore, the locus of the contact point between the user and the operation surface is illustrated in FIG. 6B. Trajectories 150a to 150j in the explanatory diagram are detected. As shown in this explanatory diagram, from the trajectories 150a to 150j, it is possible to detect an operation invalid area that is an area on the operation surface where a grid-like operation invalid area is arranged, and the operation area is based on the operation invalid area. Detected.

This manual alignment process 2 will be described below.
In S405, the CPU 11 of the electronic device 10 instructs the user to perform an operation of tracing the outer edge path through a speaker or the like (not shown), accepts the operation, and periodically contacts the user with the operation surface. Is detected (S410), and the process proceeds to S415.

In S415, the CPU 11 generates a locus of contact by connecting only two adjacent contacts (having a distance less than a predetermined value) detected in succession, and the process proceeds to S420.
In S420, the CPU 11 determines that the inner operation area (not adjacent to the outer edge of the sheet) is based on the non-detection section (the section connecting the adjacent end portions of the two paths arranged along the outer edge of the sheet) that forms a break in the trajectory. Operation region) is detected, and the process proceeds to S425.

  Specifically, two non-detection sections located at positions facing each other across the sheet are specified, and for each set of two non-operation sections, there is virtually no intersection connecting the end portions of these two non-detection sections. Two lines are formed on the operation surface. The area sandwiched between the two ends is set as the operation invalid area, and the area surrounded by the operation invalid area is set as the inner operation area.

  In S425, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the detected shift of the inner operation area is within an allowable range. Specifically, for example, whether or not the deviation is within an allowable range may be determined based on how much each side of the inner operation region is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction or the vertical direction of the operation surface.

  When it is determined that the deviation of the inner operation area is within the allowable range (S425: Yes), the CPU 11 proceeds to S430, and when it is determined that the deviation is outside the allowable range. (S425: No), the process proceeds to S435.

  In S430, the CPU 11 calculates the width of any operation invalid area extending in the vertical direction, virtually generates a band-shaped vertical operation invalid area having the width, and any operation invalid extending in the horizontal direction. The width of the area is calculated, and a strip-like lateral operation invalid area having the width is virtually generated.

  Further, the CPU 11 virtually arranges two vertical operation invalid areas along each side in the vertical direction of the sheet pasting area and sets two horizontal operation invalid areas in the horizontal direction of the pasting area. An area that is arranged along each side and is surrounded by vertical and horizontal operation invalid areas and other invalid operation areas is defined as an outer operation area.

  Then, the CPU 11 sets the inner and outer operation areas as operation areas formed on the operation surface by pasting sheets, stores them in the storage unit 14, and completes the detection of the operation areas via the display unit 15 and the like. That is notified, and this process is complete | finished.

On the other hand, in S435, the CPU 11 instructs to redo the detection of each operation area via the display unit 15 or the like, and ends this process.
(2) Automatic Setting Processing Next, automatic setting processing for detecting an operation area formed by the B sheet 21 covering the entire operation surface will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The B sheet 21 is classified into a plurality of types (also referred to as area types) according to the number, shape, size, arrangement position, and the like of the operation effective area. The IC tag 21c has identification information indicating the area type of the B sheet 21, or the size of the B sheet 21, the number, shape and size of the operation effective areas, the arrangement position of each operation effective area on the sheet, and the like. Operation area detection information indicating is stored.

  In the automatic setting process, the operation area is automatically detected based on the identification information or the operation area detection information. This process is executed when an operation to paste a sheet is received.

  In S505 and S510, when the CPU 11 of the electronic apparatus 10 accepts an operation for selecting the pasting of the B sheet 21 via the touch panel 16, the CPU 11 instructs the pasting of the B sheet 21 via the display unit 15, and the process is performed in S515. To migrate.

  In S515, the CPU 11 causes the reading unit 17 to read identification information or operation region detection information from the IC tag 21c provided on the B sheet 21 attached to the operation surface. When the identification information is read, the area type of the B sheet 21 is determined based on the identification information.

In subsequent S520, the CPU 11 detects the operation region based on the area type of the B sheet 21 or the operation region detection information.
Specifically, in the storage unit 14, for each area type of the B sheet 21, when the B sheet 21 is affixed, by type indicating which part of the pasting area the operation effective area is arranged When the operation area information is stored and the identification information is read, the CPU 11 refers to the type-specific operation area information. Then, based on the type-specific operation area information and the area type of the B sheet 21, an operation area generated by pasting the B sheet 21 is detected.

On the other hand, when the operation area detection information is read, the CPU 11 detects an operation area generated by pasting the B sheet 21 based on the operation area detection information.
In subsequent S525, the CPU 11 performs a button display process and the process ends.

(3) Operation Setting Process 1 Next, an operation setting process 1 for detecting an operation area formed by the C sheet 22 covering the entire operation surface will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Similarly to the B sheet 21, the C sheet 22 also has a plurality of area types. Further, the position of the reference area 22c in each type of C sheet 22 is adjusted so that when the C sheet 22 is affixed, it is arranged at a position on the affixing area that is uniquely determined according to the area type. ing. The reference area 22c may be provided on the operation effective area or may be provided at a position surrounded by the operation invalid area.

  In the operation setting process 1, the operation area is detected based on an operation of pressing the reference area 22 c of the C sheet 22 pasted on the touch panel 16. This process is executed when an operation to paste a sheet is received.

In steps S <b> 605 to S <b> 615, when the CPU 11 of the electronic apparatus 10 receives an operation for selecting pasting of the C sheet 22 via the touch panel 16, the C sheet 2 is displayed via the display unit 15.
2 is instructed and the reference area 22c is pressed, and the process proceeds to S620.

  In S620, the CPU 11 accepts pressing of the reference area 22c after the C sheet 22 is pasted on the operation surface of the touch panel 16, detects the coordinates of the pressing position, and determines the area type of the C sheet 22 based on the coordinates. To do.

In subsequent S625, the CPU 11 detects the operation area based on the area type of the C sheet 22 and the type-specific operation area information corresponding to the C sheet 22 stored in the storage unit 14.
In subsequent S630, the CPU 11 performs a button display process and the process ends.

(4) Operation setting process 2 Next, when the A to C sheets 20 to 22 configured as partial sheets covering a part of the operation surface are pasted, an operation for detecting an operation region based on a user operation The setting process 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The A sheet 20 also has a plurality of area types in the same manner as the B and C sheets 21 and 22, and the operation setting process 2 accepts selection of the sheet area type from the user, and the operation area is determined based on this. Detected. Also, this process is executed when an operation to paste a partial sheet is received.

  In S705, the CPU 11 of the electronic device 10 receives an operation for selecting the area type for the partial sheet to be pasted via the touch panel 16, determines the area type of the partial sheet based on the operation, and shifts the processing to S710. To do.

In S710, the CPU 11 instructs the pasting of the selected partial sheet via the display unit 15, and in the subsequent S715, instructs the operation of designating the pasting area of the partial sheet.
Specifically, for example, when a partial sheet is pasted on any of a plurality of pasting permitted areas defined on the operation surface, the partial sheet can be visually recognized in any pasting permitted area. As described above, a button for selecting a paste permission area may be displayed at a plurality of locations on the screen of the display unit 15 and an instruction to press the button may be given. Further, for example, a display for instructing an operation of tracing the boundary between the display area not covered by the sheet and the pasting area of the partial sheet may be performed at a plurality of locations on the screen of the display unit 15.

In subsequent S720, the CPU 11 receives an operation for selecting the pasting area of the partial sheet via the touch panel 16, detects the pasting area based on the operation, and shifts the processing to S725.
In S725, the CPU 11 detects the operation region generated by pasting the partial sheet based on the area type of the partial sheet, the pasting region, and the type-specific operation region information stored in the storage unit 14, and S730. The process is transferred to.

In S730, the CPU 11 performs a button display process and ends the process.
(5) Partial Sheet Pasting Process Next, a partial sheet pasting process for detecting an operation area formed by pasting a partial sheet will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the partial sheet may be configured as any of A to C sheets 20 to 22, and this processing is executed when an instruction to paste the sheet is received.

  In S805, the CPU 11 of the electronic device 10 accepts that the partial sheet is pasted via the touch panel 16, and in subsequent S810, the partial sheet pasting area (upper, lower, right, left, etc. on the operation surface) is displayed. The selection is accepted, and the process proceeds to S815.

  In S815, the CPU 11 instructs the pasting of the partial sheet to the selected pasting area via the display unit 15, and in the subsequent S820, a display area that is an area on the operation surface not covered with the partial sheet is displayed. Indicates the operation to be specified. At this time, for example, an operation of tracing the boundary between the display area and the pasting area or an operation of pressing an end or corner of the boundary may be instructed.

In S825, the CPU 11 detects an operation for designating a display area, detects a pasting area based on the operation, and shifts the process to S830.
In S830, the CPU 11 detects the operation area formed on the pasting area.

Specifically, for example, the manual alignment processes 1 and 2 may be executed corresponding to the pasting area.
Further, when the partial sheet is configured as the B sheet 21, the operation area may be detected by executing the automatic setting processes S515 and S520 by regarding the pasting area as the entire operation surface.

  If the partial sheet is configured as the C sheet 22, the pressing of the reference area 22 c is accepted as in the operation setting process 1, and the area of the C sheet 22 is determined by the positional relationship between the pressing position and the pasting area. The type may be determined. Then, the operation area may be detected based on the area type, the placement position of the pasting area, and the type-specific operation area information corresponding to the C sheet 22 stored in the storage unit 14.

  Further, as in the operation setting process 2, the selection of the area type of the partial sheet is accepted via the display area of the operation surface, and based on the arrangement position of the pasting area, the selected area type, and the type-specific operation area information. An operation area may be detected.

In the subsequent S835, the CPU 11 performs a button display process and the process ends.
[effect]
According to the electronic device 10 of the present embodiment, when the A to C sheets 20 to 22 are attached to the operation surface of the touch panel 16, various buttons are provided in the operation area where the operation effective area on which the sheet is formed is arranged. Etc. are arranged.

  For this reason, the buttons are not arranged on the operation surface indiscriminately, and the buttons are arranged on the operation surface in a manner that is easy for the user to understand. An area for accepting each operation can be arranged.

  Further, since the A to C sheets 20 to 22 are provided with irregularities for identifying each operation area, the user can grasp which position and the like on the operation surface are arranged simply by touching the sheet. It is possible to operate the touch panel without visually recognizing the screen.

  In addition, since each button is fixedly arranged in each operation area, it is possible to write a note about each button using a sticky note or a sticker, and appropriately select a sheet material. It is also possible to write a memo directly on the sheet.

[Other Embodiments]
(1) In the A to C sheets 20 to 22 of the present embodiment, the operation effective areas are arranged in a matrix. In addition, each row is arranged with a certain distance between another adjacent row or a side that forms the outer edge of the sheet parallel to the row, and each column is another adjacent column. Alternatively, they are arranged with a certain gap between them and the side forming the outer edge of the sheet parallel to the row.

However, the shape and arrangement mode of the operation effective area are not limited to this, and even in such a case, the automatic setting process or the operation can be performed by setting the orientation of the sheet with respect to the operation surface in advance. The operation area can be detected by the setting processes 1 and 2 and the partial sheet pasting process, and the same effect can be obtained.

  Further, in the A to C sheets 20 to 22 of the present embodiment, each operation effective area is formed in a rectangle having the same shape. However, some operation effective areas may have different shapes from other operation effective areas. good. Even in such a case, the operation area can be detected by the automatic setting process, the operation setting processes 1 and 2, and the partial sheet pasting process.

  When such a sheet is pasted, the electronic device 10 presses the corner of the operation area corresponding to the operation effective area having a different shape after executing S305 to S350 of the manual alignment process 1. The user may be instructed to perform an operation or to trace the outer edge of the operation area. Then, the operation may be received from the user and the operation area may be detected based on the operation, and all the operation areas can be detected by such a method.

  (2) The operation invalid area of the sheet according to the present embodiment is made of an insulating material or the like, and the operation to the touch panel 16 through the area is invalidated. The operation on the touch panel 16 may be effective. Moreover, although this touch panel 16 is comprised as an electrostatic capacitance system, you may be comprised as another system.

  Even in such a case, according to the manual alignment process 1, the automatic setting process, the operation setting processes 1 and 2, and the partial sheet pasting process, the operation area can be detected, and the same effect can be obtained. Can be obtained.

  (3) Although the electronic device 10 of the present embodiment includes the reading unit 17 that reads information from the IC tag, the electronic device 10 may not include the reading unit 17. Even in such a case, according to the manual alignment processes 1 and 2, the operation setting processes 1 and 2, and the partial sheet pasting process, the operation area can be detected, and the same effect can be obtained. it can.

  (4) Moreover, in this embodiment, although a sheet | seat is affixed on the operation surface of the touch panel 16, it is not restricted to this, For example, using the fastener etc. which were provided in the electronic device 10 along the outer edge of the operation surface The sheet may be attached to the electronic device 10 with the operation surface covered. Even in such a case, the same effect can be obtained.

  (5) Also, in the operation setting process 1, in place of the operation for the reference area 22c of the C sheet 22 pasted on the operation surface, an operation for selecting the area type before the C sheet 22 is pasted is accepted, and the operation The area type of the pasted C sheet 22 may be determined based on the above. Even in such a case, it is possible to determine the area type of the C sheet 22 and also to detect the operation area by determining the area type even when the A and B sheets 20 and 21 are pasted. it can.

  (6) Moreover, although the unevenness | corrugation for identifying each operation effective area is formed in AC sheet 20-22 of this embodiment, this unevenness | corrugation does not need to be formed. Even in such a case, the buttons and the like are not arranged on the operation surface indiscriminately, so an area for accepting each operation on the operation surface while preventing deterioration in usability and occurrence of an erroneous operation. Can be arranged.

[Correspondence with Claims]
The correspondence between the terms used in the description of the above embodiment and the terms used in the description of the claims is shown.

The storage unit 14 of the electronic device 10 corresponds to a storage unit, the pasting area corresponds to an attachment area, and the sheet type corresponds to an area type.
Further, S215 of manual setting processing corresponds to setting means and setting procedure, S350 of manual alignment processing 1 corresponds to detection means and detection procedure, and S420 and S430 of manual alignment processing 2 correspond to detection means and detection procedure. It corresponds to.

  In addition, S515 in the automatic setting process corresponds to the determination means, S515 and S520 correspond to the detection means and detection procedure, S525 corresponds to the setting means and setting procedure, S620 in the operation setting process 1 corresponds to the determination means, and S625 corresponds to the detection means. In the detection procedure, S630 corresponds to setting means and a setting procedure.

  Further, S705 of the operation setting process 2 corresponds to the determination means, S720 corresponds to the reception means, S725 corresponds to the detection means and detection procedure, S730 corresponds to the setting means and setting procedure, and S825 of the partial sheet pasting process corresponds to the reception means. S830 corresponds to the detection means and detection procedure, and S835 corresponds to the setting means and setting procedure.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic device, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... RAM, 13 ... ROM, 14 ... Memory | storage part, 15 ... Display part, 16 ... Touch panel, 17 ... Reading part, 20 ... A sheet | seat, 20a ... Operation effective area, 20b ... Operation Invalid area, 21 ... B sheet, 21a ... operation effective area, 21b ... operation invalid area, 21c ... IC tag, 22 ... C sheet, 22a ... operation valid area, 22b ... operation invalid area, 22c ... reference area.

Claims (10)

An electronic device that accepts a user operation via an operation surface of a touch panel and executes various processes in accordance with the operation,
A sheet in which an operation invalid area in which a user operation is invalid and a plurality of operation valid areas in which the operation is valid and the back of the area can be visually recognized through the area are formed on the operation surface. Detecting means for detecting an operation area that is an area on the operation surface on which the effective operation area formed on the sheet is disposed when attached to the electronic device in a state of covering all or a part of
Setting means for setting the operation area detected by the detection means as an area for receiving a specific operation;
Bei to give a,
When the sheet is attached to the sheet, operation area detection information indicating where the operation effective area of the sheet is arranged in an area on the operation surface covered by the sheet is transmitted. IC tag to be provided,
The detection means reads the operation region detection information from the IC tag provided on the sheet attached to the electronic device, and detects the operation region of the sheet based on the operation region detection information;
An electronic device characterized by the above. An electronic device that accepts a user operation via an operation surface of a touch panel and executes various processes in accordance with the operation,
A sheet in which an operation invalid area in which a user operation is invalid and a plurality of operation valid areas in which the operation is valid and the back of the area can be visually recognized through the area are formed on the operation surface. Detecting means for detecting an operation area that is an area on the operation surface on which the effective operation area formed on the sheet is disposed when attached to the electronic device in a state of covering all or a part of
Setting means for setting the operation area detected by the detection means as an area for receiving a specific operation;
Bei to give a,
The sheet is formed in a rectangular shape, and a plurality of rectangular operation effective areas having the same shape are formed, and each of the operation effective areas is a matrix composed of rows and columns parallel to the sides forming the outer edge of the sheet. Are arranged in a shape,
Furthermore, each row is arranged with a certain distance between another row adjacent to the side or the side parallel to the row, and each column is another adjacent column or column. Is arranged with a certain gap between the side parallel to the side,
The detection means detects all the operation areas based on operations on the operation area forming at least one row and the operation area forming at least one column when the sheet is attached;
An electronic device characterized by the above. The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein when the sheet is attached, the detection unit grasps an approximate position of each of the operation areas based on an operation of touching each of the operation areas once. , Measuring the length of each side of the operation area based on an operation touching the four corners of any of the operation areas, and all the operations based on the approximate position and the length of each side. Detecting areas,
An electronic device characterized by the above. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The sheet is formed with at least one of a concave portion or a convex portion for identifying each operation effective area,
An electronic device characterized by the above. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The operation effective area provided in the seat is configured as an opening;
An electronic device characterized by the above. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The touch panel is configured as a capacitive touch panel,
The operation invalid area of the sheet is configured to prevent electrostatic coupling in a region on the operation surface where the operation invalid area is arranged,
An electronic device characterized by the above. The electronic device according to claim 6 , which refers to claim 2 .
The operation area arranged along the outer edge is defined as an outer edge operation area, and a path passing through the outer edge operation area along a side adjacent to the outer edge in the outer edge operation area is defined as an outer edge path. An area on the operation surface where the operation invalid area formed on the sheet is arranged is an operation invalid area,
When the seat is attached, the detection means detects the operation invalid area based on an operation that traces around the outer edge path, and detects the operation area based on the detected operation invalid area.
An electronic device characterized by the above. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
Via the operation surface, further comprising a receiving means for receiving an operation for determining an attachment area, which is an area on the operation surface covered by the sheet attached to the electronic device, from the user;
The detecting means detects the operation area as an area on the attachment area determined by an operation received through the receiving means;
An electronic device characterized by the above. In an electronic device that accepts a user operation via an operation surface of a touch panel and executes various processes in accordance with the operation, an arrangement method is provided in which each region for accepting a user specific operation is disposed on the operation surface. And
A sheet in which an operation invalid area in which a user operation is invalid and a plurality of operation valid areas in which the operation is valid and the back of the area can be visually recognized through the area are formed on the operation surface. A detection procedure for detecting an operation area that is an area on the operation surface on which the operation effective area formed on the sheet is disposed, when attached to the electronic device in a state of covering all or a part of
A setting procedure for setting the operation area detected by the detection procedure as an area for receiving a specific operation;
Bei to give a,
When the sheet is attached to the sheet, operation area detection information indicating where the operation effective area of the sheet is arranged in an area on the operation surface covered by the sheet is transmitted. IC tag to be provided,
In the detection procedure, the operation area detection information is read from the IC tag provided on the sheet attached to the electronic device, and the operation area of the sheet is detected based on the operation area detection information.
An arrangement method characterized by. In an electronic device that accepts a user operation via an operation surface of a touch panel and executes various processes in accordance with the operation, an arrangement method is provided in which each region for accepting a user specific operation is disposed on the operation surface. And
A sheet in which an operation invalid area in which a user operation is invalid and a plurality of operation valid areas in which the operation is valid and the back of the area can be visually recognized through the area are formed on the operation surface. A detection procedure for detecting an operation area that is an area on the operation surface on which the operation effective area formed on the sheet is disposed, when attached to the electronic device in a state of covering all or a part of
A setting procedure for setting the operation area detected by the detection procedure as an area for receiving a specific operation;
Bei to give a,
The sheet is formed in a rectangular shape, and a plurality of rectangular operation effective areas having the same shape are formed, and each of the operation effective areas is a matrix composed of rows and columns parallel to the sides forming the outer edge of the sheet. Are arranged in a shape,
Furthermore, each row is arranged with a certain distance between another row adjacent to the side or the side parallel to the row, and each column is another adjacent column or column. Is arranged with a certain gap between the side parallel to the side,
In the detection procedure, when the sheet is attached, detecting all the operation areas based on operations on the operation area forming at least one row and the operation area forming at least one column;
An arrangement method characterized by.