JP5849597B2 - Vehicle control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle operating device using an electrostatic sensor.

  Conventionally, a vehicular operating device using a capacitive touch pad is known as this type of device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-103022 A

  By the way, in a general capacitive touch pad used in a notebook PC (Personal Computer) or the like, the coordinates of the contact point of the finger are obtained, and on the display, the operation item is displayed based on the change of the coordinates. The pointer for selection is moved. The operation item determination operation is realized by a press switch provided separately from the touch pad. Therefore, generally, the finger operated by the touch pad and the finger operated by the pressure switch are different fingers (for example, the finger operated by the touch pad is an index finger and the finger operated by the pressure switch is a thumb). The person cooperates with these fingers to select and determine a desired operation item.

  On the other hand, a configuration is conceivable in which a pressing force on the operation surface of the touch pad is detected, and an operation item determination operation can be performed by a pressing operation of pressing down the touch pad operation surface. According to such a configuration, the operator touches the operation surface of the touch pad with a finger, selects a desired operation item, and when the desired selection is made, the operator directly touches the operation surface of the touch pad with the finger. By depressing, the operation item is determined. When performing this type of operation, the operator generally touches with a fingertip when performing a selection operation, but when performing a pressing operation, a pressing force is required. Tends to push the touchpad operation surface. Note that the tendency to perform a selection operation with a fingertip is particularly remarkable when selection operation items are densely arranged. This is because touching the operation surface of the touchpad with a fingertip has a smaller contact area (a state close to point contact) and makes it easier to select a desired selection item.

  However, when the selection operation is selected with the fingertip, if the fingerpad is pressed against the operation surface of the touchpad at that position and the pressing operation is performed, the coordinates detected by the touchpad are shifted by the distance between the fingertip and the belly There is a case. When such a deviation occurs, there is a possibility that the selected operation item may be changed during the determination operation. This is particularly noticeable when the operation items are densely arranged.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle operation device that can appropriately prevent an unintended change of a selected operation item when shifting from a selection operation to a determination operation on the operation surface of a touch operation unit. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a touch operation unit including a two-dimensional operation surface;
An electrostatic sensor provided in the touch operation unit;
A pressing pressure detecting means provided in the touch operation unit for detecting a pressure or a load applied to the touch operation unit;
A control device,
The controller is
Contact point coordinate detecting means for detecting a two-dimensional coordinate of a finger contact point in the operation surface based on an output of the electrostatic sensor;
An operation item selection means for selecting one operation item among a plurality of operation items based on the two-dimensional coordinates detected by the contact point coordinate detection means;
Determining operation detecting means for detecting the determining operation of the selected operation item when the output of the pressing pressure detecting means exceeds a predetermined first threshold;
The operation item selection means changes the two-dimensional coordinates detected by the contact point coordinate detection means while the output of the pressing pressure detection means exceeds a predetermined second threshold greater than zero but does not exceed the first threshold. When the direction is a predetermined direction, there is provided a vehicular operating device that suppresses a change in selection of an operation item with respect to a change in a detection result of the contact point coordinate detection means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when changing from selection operation to determination operation by the operation surface of a touch operation part, the operation apparatus for vehicles which can prevent the unintended change of the selected operation item appropriately is obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a vehicle operating device 1 according to an embodiment (Embodiment 1) of the present invention. 1 is a top view schematically showing a touch pad 10. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross-section of a main part of the touch pad 10. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation menu displayed on the display 20. It is a figure which shows typically the comparison of the contact state of the finger | toe in the case of selection operation, and the contact state of the finger | toe in the case of determination operation. It is a figure which shows typically the aspect from which the selection state of an operation item changes when performing determination operation. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the selection item change suppression process which may be performed by the control part 16 of the present Example 1. It is a flowchart which shows another example of the selection item change suppression process which may be performed by the control part 16 of the present Example 1. 6 is a diagram illustrating a definition example of a two-dimensional coordinate axis on an operation surface of a coordinate detection unit 12; It is a flowchart which shows another example of the selection item change suppression process which may be performed by the control part 16 of the present Example 1. It is a system diagram which shows the principal part structure of the operating device 2 for vehicles by one Example (Example 2) of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows another example of the selection item change suppression process which may be performed by the control part 16 of the present Example 2. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of finger misalignment directions when the operator is a passenger side passenger.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a main configuration of a vehicle operating device 1 according to one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view schematically showing the touch pad 10. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross-section of the main part of the touch pad 10. FIG. 2 schematically shows a hand for operating the touch pad 10, but is not shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation menu displayed on the display 20.

  The vehicle operation device 1 includes a touch pad 10, a display control unit 30, and a display 20.

  The touch pad 10 is provided at an appropriate place in the vehicle interior. The touch pad 10 is preferably disposed at a position that is easy for the driver to operate (a position where the hand reaches out while maintaining the driving posture). The touch pad 10 may be disposed, for example, on the console box or around it. The touch pad 10 includes a coordinate detection unit 12, a pressing pressure detection unit 14, a control unit 16, and a memory 18.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the coordinate detection unit 12 includes a two-dimensional substantially flat touch operation surface. The coordinate detection unit 12 includes an electrostatic sensor, and a detection signal thereof is sent to the control unit 16. The coordinate detection unit 12 is configured by, for example, an electrostatic pad. The electrostatic pad has, for example, a structure in which an electrode (electrostatic sensor) extends linearly with an insulator sandwiched between the X direction and the Y direction on a plane. When a person's finger approaches these electrodes with an insulator panel in between, a capacitor having the electrode and the finger as an electrode plate is formed, and the amount of charge (and the associated capacitance) of the electrode changes. In this case, an electrode detection signal (a signal indicating the amount of change in the charge accumulated in the electrode) may be sent to the control unit 16.

  The pressing pressure detection unit 14 detects a pressure or a load applied to the touch pad 10 (typically, an electrostatic pad constituting the coordinate detection unit 12). That is, the pressing pressure detection unit 14 detects a pressing operation (decision operation) on the touch pad 10. The pressing pressure detection unit 14 is configured by, for example, a pressure sensor. The pressing pressure detection unit 14 may be disposed at any location as long as a load in the pressing direction applied to the operation surface of the coordinate detection unit 12 is transmitted. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the pressure sensor constituting the pressing pressure detection unit 14 is installed below the center of the coordinate detection unit 12, but the lower surface 70 of the member that supports the coordinate detection unit 12, etc. May be arranged. Moreover, the pressure sensor which comprises the pressing pressure detection part 14 may be provided in the position disperse | distributed by two or more.

  The control unit 16 and the memory 18 are configured by a microcomputer, for example.

  Based on the output (detection signal) from the coordinate detection unit 12, the control unit 16 is a coordinate signal representing the coordinate position in the operation surface, that is, the coordinate representing the coordinate position (the position of the operation finger) touched by the operator. Generate a signal. When the coordinate detection unit 12 is composed of an electrostatic pad, charge is stored in the capacitor composed of the electrode and the operation finger as described above, and the amount of change in charge at each electrode differs depending on the position of the operation finger. The position of the operation finger can be specified based on the detection signal from each electrode. Specifically, the control unit 16 generates a coordinate signal based on the maximum position of the output from the coordinate detection unit 12 when the output from the coordinate detection unit 12 exceeds a predetermined reference value. The predetermined reference value is, for example, a value related to the amount of change in the charge accumulated on the electrode. For example, the control unit 16 determines that the selection operation is performed by the operator when the change amount of the charge accumulated in the electrode (maximum charge change amount) exceeds a reference value, and determines the coordinate signal (for example, the charge amount). Coordinate signal representing a two-dimensional position where the amount of change is maximum), and when the amount of change in the charge accumulated on the electrode does not exceed the reference value, it is determined that the selection operation is not performed by the operator, and the coordinate signal Is not generated. Note that the reference value may be stored in the memory 18. The generated coordinate signal is transmitted to the display control unit 30.

  The control unit 16 generates a determination signal based on the output from the pressing pressure detection unit 14 (detection signal representing pressure or load). For example, when the output (pressing pressure) from the pressing pressure detection unit 14 exceeds a predetermined threshold Pn (hereinafter referred to as “first threshold Pn”), the determination operation by the operator is detected and a determination signal is generated. . The generated determination signal is transmitted to the display control unit 30. When a plurality of pressure sensors constituting the pressing pressure detection unit 14 are provided, the control unit 16 generates a determination signal when the output from any one of the pressure sensors exceeds the first threshold value Pn. May be. In this case, a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors are not provided for the purpose of detecting the pressed position on the touch pad 10 (typically, the electrostatic pad constituting the coordinate detection unit 12), but on the touch pad 10. It may be provided for the purpose of detecting only whether or not there has been a pressing operation. Therefore, the determination signal is a signal that represents only that the determination operation has been detected, and may be a signal that does not include other information such as the position of the pressing operation.

  The control unit 16 communicates with the display control unit 30 and transmits various information (such as a coordinate signal, a determination signal, and a message output request) to the display control unit 30. A part or all of the functions of the control unit 16 may be realized by the coordinate detection unit 12.

  The display 20 may be an arbitrary display device such as a liquid crystal display or a HUD (head-up display). The display 20 is disposed at an appropriate position (for example, an instrument panel) in the vehicle interior. The display 20 may be a touch panel display or a type of display that cannot be touched. On the display 20, an operation menu (see FIG. 4) representing the operation content that can be operated with the touch pad 10 is displayed. In addition, when the operation menu is not displayed in the background of the operation menu or when the operation menu is not displayed, a map display, a TV, a video of the peripheral monitoring camera, or the like may be displayed.

  The operation menu may be displayed on the entire screen as shown in FIG. 4 or may be displayed on a part of the screen. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation menu includes two or more operation items that can be operated with the touch pad 10. The operation menu may include other information display units (for example, a part for displaying travel information such as TV, audio, outside air temperature, fuel consumption, entertainment information, etc.).

  The operation items constitute virtual operation buttons. The operation item (operation button) may relate to an arbitrary type (function). That is, the content that can be operated with the touchpad 10 may be arbitrary. For example, the operation items may include an operation item for displaying (calling) a screen (menu screen) or a map screen (for example, current location display screen) for performing various settings of the navigation device on the display 20. The operation items may include an operation item for performing various settings of the air conditioner and an operation item for displaying the screen on the display 20. The operation items may include operation items for performing various settings of audio and TV (volume adjustment, etc.) and operation items for displaying the screen on the display 20. The operation item may be an operation item (icon, launcher) for starting an arbitrary application. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the operation menu is for performing various settings of the air conditioner with the touch pad 10.

  The operation item is changed from the normal display to the selection display or from the selection display to the normal display based on the coordinate signal from the touch pad 10 under the control of the display control unit 30 described later. . In the example shown in FIG. 4, a pointer 80 that can be moved by an operation on the touch pad 10 is shown on the display 20. The pointer 80 is in a state where, for example, the blower air volume “LO” is selected, and therefore, the operation item “LO” is selected and displayed. The movement mode of the pointer 80 may be arbitrary as long as it is based on a coordinate signal from the touch pad 10 (for example, including a change in the coordinate signal when the finger is moved). For example, the position of the pointer 80 may correspond to the coordinates of the coordinate signal on a one-to-one basis, or the position of the movement destination of the pointer 80 may be changed in the coordinate signal change mode (indicator such as a normal notebook PC). The movement mode may be determined by the above movement mode. That is, an absolute synchronization mode in which the coordinate system of the screen of the display 20 absolutely corresponds to the coordinate system of the operation surface of the touch pad 10 may be used, or the coordinate system of the screen of the display 20 may be the touch pad 10. A relative synchronization mode relatively corresponding to the coordinate system of the operation surface may be used. In addition, the pointer 80 is not necessarily required, and the operation item to be selected and displayed may change based on the coordinate signal from the touch pad 10. At this time, the operation item to be selected and displayed may be determined in such a manner that the pulling force acts on the operation item close to the coordinates of the coordinate signal.

  The display control unit 30 is configured by a microcomputer, for example, and may be embodied as an ECU. The connection mode between the display control unit 30 and the touch pad 10 is arbitrary, and may be wired, wireless, or a combination thereof, or may be a direct connection or an indirect connection. In addition, part or all of the functions of the display control unit 30 may be realized by the control unit 16 of the touchpad 10 or a control unit (not shown) in the display 20, or conversely, the control unit of the touchpad 10 Part or all of the 16 functions may be realized by the display control unit 30.

  The display control unit 30 is input with vehicle speed information indicating the vehicle speed and power supply information regarding the power supply state (IG, ACC) of the vehicle.

  A mechanical switch 40 is connected to the display control unit 30 as an optional configuration. The mechanical switch 40 includes a selection switch 41 and a determination switch 42. In the illustrated example, the selection switch 41 includes switches for instructing up / down / left / right. The mechanical switch 40 may be a steering switch provided on a steering wheel, for example.

  The display control unit 30 assists operations on the touch pad 10 by synchronizing the display 20 and the touch pad 10 as a main function. Specifically, the display control unit 30 displays an operation menu (see FIG. 4) on the display 20, and selects and determines various operation items based on signals (coordinate signals and determination signals) from the touch pad 10. Process. That is, as described above, the display control unit 30 selects and displays any one operation item in the operation menu based on the coordinate signal from the touch pad 10 (that is, responds to “selection operation”). In the initial state, any one operation item may be selected and displayed by default, or any operation item may be non-selected and displayed. The selection display is optional as long as the operator can recognize that the operation item is selected. For example, the brightness and color of the operation item to be selected and displayed can be changed to other operations. It may be realized by being different from the item, or the outer frame of the operation item may be highlighted (see FIG. 6). Further, based on the determination signal from the touch pad 10, the display control unit 30 realizes the operation content of the operation item selected and displayed at that time (that is, responds to the “decision operation”). This operation content depends on the operation item, but involves screen transition such as a change of the operation menu, start of an application, transmission of a control signal to an operation target device (for example, an air conditioner), and the like. It may be. Further, when the determination operation is detected, the display of the determined operation item may be appropriately changed in order to notify the user that the “decision operation” has been detected.

  According to the touchpad 10 of the present embodiment, the operator performs a selection operation by moving the operation finger within the operation surface while touching the operation surface of the coordinate detection unit 12 with the operation finger (for example, the index finger) while looking at the display 20. And a desired operation item can be selected. Then, when a desired operation item is selected and displayed, the determination operation can be performed by pressing the coordinate detection unit 12 with the operation finger at the place. In other words, the determination operation can be performed by pressing the coordinate detection unit 12 at the contact position where the desired selection has been made.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a finger contact state during the selection operation and a finger contact state during the determination operation. FIG. 5 (A) is a diagram illustrating a finger contact during the selection operation. A state is shown, (B) shows the contact state of the finger in determination operation. 5, the touch pad 10 is shown in a cross-sectional view along the AA cross section of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an aspect in which the selection state of the operation item changes when performing the determination operation, and is a diagram schematically illustrating a screen of the display 20. In FIG. 6, unlike FIG. 4, only two operation items are simply shown by a square outline. In FIG. 6, the selection display is realized by highlighting the outer frame of the selected operation item.

  In the selection operation, as shown in FIG. 5A, the operator touches the coordinate detection unit 12 of the touchpad 10 with a fingertip. Although this is a general tendency, the fingertip has a smaller contact area, and precise position designation is easy. On the other hand, in the determination operation, as shown in FIG. 5A, the operator presses the coordinate detection unit 12 of the touch pad 10 downward with the belly portion of the finger. This is because when the pressing operation is performed, a force F to be pressed downward is required for the coordinate detection unit 12, but when the force F is applied, the belly portion of the finger hits the coordinate detection unit 12. Therefore, when the operator selects and displays a desired operation item (see FIG. 6A), when the operator performs a determination operation by pressing the coordinate detection unit 12 with the operating finger at that location, During the determination operation, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the coordinates of the contact point of the finger are shifted (see the shift amount Δ), and the selected operation item is changed. In some cases (see FIG. 6B). That is, there are cases where the coordinate signal changes by the shift amount Δ during the determination operation, and the selected operation item changes accordingly.

  Therefore, the control unit 16 according to the present embodiment performs a selection item change suppression process that suppresses a change in selection of the operation item with respect to a change in the coordinate signal caused by the determination operation. Hereinafter, this selection item change suppression process will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the selection item change suppression process that may be executed by the control unit 16 of the present embodiment. The processing routine shown in FIG. 7 may be executed at predetermined intervals, for example, when the ignition switch is on.

  In step 700, it is determined whether or not a coordinate signal is generated (whether or not a selection operation is being performed). That is, it is determined whether or not there is an output greater than the reference value from the coordinate detector 12. If a coordinate signal is generated in step 700, the process proceeds to step 702. Otherwise, that is, if a coordinate signal is not generated (a selection operation is not detected), the selection operation is waited.

  In step 702, the pressing pressure P detected by the pressing pressure detection unit 14 is determined. When the pressing pressure P is 0, the process returns to step 700 and waits for a selection operation. This is because it can be determined that the operation has been completed once. During the selection operation, basically, the pressing pressure P is slightly larger than zero.

  When the pressing pressure P exceeds a predetermined threshold value P0 (hereinafter referred to as “second threshold value P0”), the process proceeds to step 710. The second threshold value P0 is a threshold value for determining whether or not the determination operation is in progress (the process until the determination signal is generated). The second threshold value P0 is set to a value larger than 0 but smaller than the first threshold value Pn. For example, the second threshold value P0 may be set larger than the maximum value of the pressing pressure that can be generated by a normal selection operation, and may be adapted by a test or the like.

  When the pressing pressure P exceeds the first threshold value Pn, the process proceeds to step 704. As described above, the first threshold Pn is a threshold at which a determination operation is detected, and is larger than the second threshold P0 as described above. Accordingly, while the pressing pressure P is greater than the second threshold value P0 but does not exceed the first threshold value Pn, the process proceeds to step 710, and while the pressing pressure P is greater than zero but does not exceed the second threshold value P0. The process proceeds to step 708.

  In step 704, a decision operation is detected and a decision signal is generated. The determination signal is transmitted to the display control unit 30 as described above. As described above, when receiving the determination signal, the display control unit 30 realizes the operation content of the operation item that is selected and displayed (selected) at that time (that is, responds to the “determination operation”). Note that when the determination operation is detected, the update of the coordinate signal (coordinate position) may be canceled as in the case of the determination operation described later.

  In step 708, it is determined that the selection operation is being performed, and the coordinate signal (coordinate position) is updated. For example, a new coordinate signal is generated based on the latest output from the coordinate detection unit 12. In this case, a new coordinate signal is transmitted to the display control unit 30. The display control unit 30 changes the selection of the operation item as necessary based on the received coordinate signal. When the process of step 708 is completed, the process returns to step 702.

  In step 710, it is determined that the determination operation is in progress, and the update of the coordinate signal (coordinate position) is cancelled. For example, a new coordinate signal based on the latest output from the coordinate detection unit 12 is not generated. In this case, the latest coordinate signal held at the present time (that is, a coordinate signal that is not updated) may be transmitted to the display control unit 30. Therefore, in the display control unit 30, the coordinate signal does not change, and the selection of the operation item is not changed. Alternatively, a new coordinate signal is generated based on the latest output from the coordinate detection unit 12, but the generated new coordinate signal may not be transmitted to the display control unit 30. In any case, if it is determined that the determination operation is in progress, the update of the coordinate signal is canceled, so that the problem described with reference to FIGS. This prevents the problem that the coordinates of the contact point are shifted and the selected operation item can change. When the process of step 710 ends, the process returns to step 702. In this case, for example, when the pressing pressure P exceeds the first threshold value Pn in the next processing cycle, a determination signal is generated, and the function of the operation item selected without being changed during the determination operation is realized. Is done.

  According to the processing shown in FIG. 7, when the pressing pressure P is larger than that during the selection operation but not so high that the determination operation is detected, it is determined that the determination operation is in progress, and the coordinate signal (coordinate position) ) Update is canceled. Thereby, it can prevent appropriately that the coordinate of the contact point of a finger | toe will shift | deviate in the case of determination operation, and the selected operation item may change. In the middle of the determination operation, the pressing pressure P tends to increase from the start of pressing (at the start of determination operation) until the determination operation is detected. Therefore, when the pressing pressure P is larger than that during the selection operation but is not so large that the determination operation is detected, and the pressing pressure P tends to increase, it is determined that the determination operation is in progress. The update of the coordinate signal (coordinate position) may be canceled. In this case, if the pressing pressure P does not tend to increase, the process proceeds to step 708 to update the coordinate signal (coordinate position).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the selection item change suppression process that may be executed by the control unit 16 of the present embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a definition example of a two-dimensional coordinate axis on the operation surface of the coordinate detection unit 12. In FIG. 9, the coordinate detection unit 12 of the touch pad 10 is shown in a top view. Here, as a premise, as shown in FIG. 9, the horizontal direction of the operation surface (touch pad surface) of the coordinate detection unit 12 is the x axis, the vertical direction is the y axis, and the left front side is the origin. Note that the origin side (− side) of the y-axis is the operator side (for example, a driver or a passenger on the passenger seat).

  The processing routine shown in FIG. 8 may be executed at predetermined intervals when, for example, the ignition switch is on. The processing in steps 800, 802, 804, 808, and 810 shown in FIG. 8 may be the same as steps 700, 702, 704, 708, and 710 shown in FIG.

  In step 802, if the pressing pressure P exceeds the second threshold value P0, the process proceeds to step 806.

  In step 806, based on the latest output from the coordinate detection unit 12, the change direction of the coordinate position of the finger contact point is determined. For example, based on the latest output from the coordinate detection unit 12, the coordinate position (x (i), y (i)) of the contact point of the finger in the current cycle is calculated, and this coordinate position (x (i), y (I)) is compared with the coordinate position (x (k), y (k)) of the period at the start of pressing. The cycle at the start of pressing is a cycle in which the pressing pressure P first exceeds the second threshold value P0. At this time, if the change in the y direction is negative (that is, if y (i) −y (k) <0), the process proceeds to step 810. As described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the shift direction of the coordinates of the finger contact point that may occur during the determination operation is the direction from the fingertip toward the belly of the finger, that is, the operator side. This is because the direction is toward. On the other hand, if the change in the y direction is 0 or more, the process proceeds to step 808.

  In step 806, the change direction of the coordinate position of the finger contact point is determined based on the relationship between the coordinate position of the finger contact point in the current cycle and the coordinate position of the cycle at the start of pressing. This is because the distance from the fingertip to the abdomen of the finger is short in the first place, and it is advantageous from the viewpoint of accuracy to determine the change direction between two time points where the change amount is as large as possible. However, the coordinate positions at any two points in time while the pressing pressure P exceeds the second threshold value P0 may be compared.

  As described above, according to the processing shown in FIG. 8, since the shift direction of the coordinates of the finger contact point that may occur during the determination operation is taken into account, the change in the coordinate position that occurs during the determination operation (coordinates that are not intended by the operator) It is possible to accurately discriminate between a change in position) and a change in coordinate position that may occur due to other factors (for example, a change in coordinate position during a selection operation performed with a relatively large contact force). Accordingly, it is possible to accurately prevent the coordinate of the contact point of the finger from being shifted during the determination operation and the selected operation item can be changed.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the selection item change suppression process that may be executed by the control unit 16 of the present embodiment. The processes in steps 1000, 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, and 1010 shown in FIG. 8 may be the same as steps 800, 802, 804, 806, 808, and 810 shown in FIG. .

  In step 1006, when the change direction of the coordinate position of the finger contact point is the negative direction of the y axis, the process proceeds to step 1009, and when the change direction of the coordinate position of the finger contact point is the positive direction of the y axis, Proceed to step 1008.

  In step 1009, it is determined whether or not the amount of change in the coordinate position of the finger contact point is greater than a predetermined amount. The predetermined amount may correspond to the maximum value of a possible range of the deviation amount of the coordinates of the finger contact point that may occur during the determination operation. This depends on the length of the operator's finger, but the distance from the fingertip to the abdomen of the finger is absolutely small and the individual difference is not so large, so an average value or the like may be used. . The amount of change in the coordinate position of the finger contact point is the coordinate position (x (i), y (i)) of the finger contact point in the current cycle and the coordinate position (x (k), y of the cycle at the start of pressing). (K)) may be calculated. If the change amount of the coordinate position of the finger contact point is larger than the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step 1008. This is because it can be determined that the coordinate position is not changed due to a shift in the coordinates of the contact point of the finger that may occur during the determination operation. On the other hand, if the change amount of the coordinate position of the contact point of the finger is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step 1009.

  As described above, according to the processing shown in FIG. 10, since the shift amount of the coordinates of the finger contact point that may occur during the determination operation is taken into account, the change in the coordinate position that occurs during the determination operation (coordinates that are not intended by the operator) It is possible to accurately discriminate between a change in position) and a change in coordinate position that may occur due to other factors. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately prevent the coordinate of the contact point of the finger from being shifted during the determination operation and the selected operation item can be changed.

  In the process shown in FIG. 10, the change direction of the coordinate position is determined together with the change amount of the coordinate position from the viewpoint of improving accuracy, but the determination of the change direction of the coordinate position (determination in step 1006) is omitted. May be.

  FIG. 11 is a system diagram showing the main configuration of the vehicle operating device 2 according to one embodiment (second embodiment) of the present invention. The vehicle operation device 2 of the second embodiment is mainly different from the vehicle operation device 1 of the first embodiment described above in that the operator determination device 50 is provided.

  The operator determination device 50 determines whether the operator of the touch pad 10 is a driver or a passenger on the passenger seat side. There are various types of determination methods, and any appropriate method may be used. For example, the operator discriminating device 50 may discriminate the operator based on, for example, the image recognition result of the image from the vehicle interior camera, and the presence / absence of the output of the proximity sensor provided on both the left and right sides of the touch pad 10 The operator may be determined based on the above. Further, the state of the driver's hand (the separation of the hand from the steering wheel) may be detected based on a touch sensor provided on the steering wheel, and the operator may be determined based on the detection result. An operator discrimination result by the operator discrimination device 50 is transmitted to the control unit 16 of the touch pad 10. Note that the operator determination device 50 may be connected to the control unit 16 of the touchpad 10 via the display control unit 30, and in this case, the operator determination result by the operator determination device 50 is the display control unit 30. Is transmitted to the control unit 16 of the touchpad 10.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the selection item change suppression process that may be executed by the control unit 16 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of finger misalignment directions when the operator is a passenger side passenger. Here, as a premise, as shown in FIG. 9, the horizontal direction of the operation surface (touch pad surface) of the coordinate detection unit 12 is the x axis, the vertical direction is the y axis, and the left front side is the origin. Note that the origin side of the y-axis is the operator side (for example, a driver or a passenger on the passenger seat). When the touch pad 10 is arranged on the console box in a right-hand drive vehicle, the + direction of the x axis is the driver side.

  The processing routine shown in FIG. 12 may be executed at predetermined intervals, for example, when the ignition switch is on. The processes in steps 1200, 1202, 1204, 1208, and 1210 shown in FIG. 12 may be the same as steps 700, 702, 704, 708, and 710 shown in FIG.

  In step 1201, the operator discrimination result is received from the operator discrimination device 50. In step 1202, if the pressing pressure P exceeds the second threshold value P0, the process proceeds to step 1206.

  In step 1206, based on the latest output from the coordinate detection unit 12, it is determined whether or not the change direction of the coordinate position of the finger contact point is a direction toward the operator. The direction of change in the coordinate position of the finger contact point is determined from the coordinate position (x (k), y (k)) of the period at the start of pressing from the coordinate position (x (k), y (k)) at the start of pressing, as described in step 806 of FIG. It may be calculated as a vector (x (i) -x (k), y (i) -y (k)) up to the coordinate position (x (i), y (i)) of the contact point. Whether or not the change direction of the coordinate position of the finger contact point is toward the operator is determined based on the determination result of the operator obtained in step 1201. Specifically, assuming that the touchpad 10 is disposed on the console box with a right-hand drive vehicle, if it is determined that the operator is a driver, the change in the x direction is positive and the y direction is positive. When the change in the negative is negative (that is, when x (i) −x (k)> 0 and y (i) −y (k) <0), the change direction of the coordinate position of the finger contact point is It may be determined that the direction is toward the operator. If it is determined that the operator is a passenger in the passenger seat, the change in the x direction is negative and the change in the y direction is negative (ie, x (i) −x (k) <0, In addition, when y (i) −y (k) <0), the change direction of the coordinate position of the contact point of the finger may be determined to be a direction toward the operator.

  In this step 1206, when the change direction of the coordinate position of the finger contact point is the direction toward the operator, the process proceeds to step 1210, and the change direction of the coordinate position of the finger contact point is the direction toward the operator. If not, go to Step 1208. This is because the direction of deviation of the coordinates of the finger contact point that can occur during the determination operation is the direction from the fingertip toward the belly of the finger, which is the direction toward the operator (more precisely, the extension of the finger). This is because it corresponds to the direction toward the operator along the direction to perform. For example, when the operator is a passenger on the passenger seat side, as shown in FIG. 13A, the direction toward the operator is a negative direction for both the x-axis and the y-axis. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the change direction of the coordinate position of the contact point of the finger is, for example, a direction away from the operator side (when both the x-axis and the y-axis are positive directions), the determination is made. It is determined that there is no deviation in the coordinates of the finger contact point that may occur during the operation (in this case, the process proceeds to step 1208).

  In this step 1206, the change direction of the coordinate position of the finger contact point is determined based on the relationship between the coordinate position of the finger contact point in the current cycle and the coordinate position of the cycle at the start of pressing. This is because the distance from the fingertip to the abdomen of the finger is short in the first place, and it is advantageous from the viewpoint of accuracy to determine the change direction between two time points where the change amount is as large as possible. However, the coordinate positions at any two points in time while the pressing pressure P exceeds the second threshold value P0 may be compared.

  As described above, according to the processing shown in FIG. 12, the shift direction of the coordinate of the finger contact point that may occur during the determination operation is considered in relation to the position of the operator (direction in which the operator's hand is presented). Therefore, it is possible to accurately discriminate between a change in coordinate position that occurs during the determination operation (a change in coordinate position that is not intended by the operator) and a change in coordinate position that may occur due to other factors. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately prevent the coordinate of the contact point of the finger from being shifted during the determination operation and the selected operation item can be changed.

  Note that the process of step 1206 shown in FIG. 12 may be adopted as the process of step 1006 shown in FIG. That is, also in the process shown in FIG. 12, the amount of change in the coordinate position of the finger contact point may be taken into consideration.

  Here, the above-described first and second embodiments are suitable when the operation items are densely arranged (particularly when the operation items are densely arranged in a direction corresponding to the y-axis direction). This is the problem described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 (that is, the problem that the coordinate of the finger contact point is shifted during the determination operation, and the selected operation item can be changed). This is because it is likely to occur when operation items are densely arranged. In this regard, for example, on the operation surface of the touch pad 10, an interval less than the distance from the fingertip to the abdomen of the finger corresponds to the interval between operation items. In this case, for example, an interval of 5 mm to 10 mm on the operation surface of the touch pad 10 may correspond to an interval between selected operation items.

  In the above-described embodiment, the “control device” in the claims is realized by the cooperation of the control unit 16 and the display control unit 30. As described above, the division of functions between the control unit 16 and the display control unit 30 is arbitrary, and part or all of one function may be realized by the other. When all of one function is realized by the other, naturally, communication between the two becomes unnecessary. Further, the functions of the control unit 16 and the display control unit 30 may be realized in cooperation with three or more control units.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Can be added.

  For example, instead of the pressure sensor, another load sensor may be used as the pressing pressure detection unit 14.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Vehicle operation apparatus 10 Touchpad 12 Coordinate detection part 14 Pressing pressure detection part 16 Control part 18 Memory 20 Display 30 Display control part 40 Mechanical switch 41 Selection switch 42 Determination switch 50 Operator discrimination device 80 Pointer

Claims (4)

A touch operation unit having a two-dimensional operation surface;
An electrostatic sensor provided in the touch operation unit;
A pressing pressure detecting means provided in the touch operation unit for detecting a pressure or a load applied to the touch operation unit;
A control device,
The controller is
Contact point coordinate detecting means for detecting a two-dimensional coordinate of a finger contact point in the operation surface based on an output of the electrostatic sensor;
An operation item selection means for selecting one operation item among a plurality of operation items based on the two-dimensional coordinates detected by the contact point coordinate detection means;
Determining operation detecting means for detecting the determining operation of the selected operation item when the output of the pressing pressure detecting means exceeds a predetermined first threshold;
The operation item selection means changes the two-dimensional coordinates detected by the contact point coordinate detection means while the output of the pressing pressure detection means exceeds a predetermined second threshold greater than zero but does not exceed the first threshold. When the direction is a predetermined direction, a change in the selection of an operation item is suppressed with respect to a change in a detection result of the contact point coordinate detection unit. A touch operation unit having a two-dimensional operation surface;
An electrostatic sensor provided in the touch operation unit;
A pressing pressure detecting means provided in the touch operation unit for detecting a pressure or a load applied to the touch operation unit;
A control device,
The control device includes:
Contact point coordinate detecting means for detecting a two-dimensional coordinate of a finger contact point in the operation surface based on an output of the electrostatic sensor;
An operation item selection means for selecting one operation item among a plurality of operation items based on the two-dimensional coordinates detected by the contact point coordinate detection means;
Determining operation detecting means for detecting the determining operation of the selected operation item when the output of the pressing pressure detecting means exceeds a predetermined first threshold;
The operation item selection means changes the two-dimensional coordinates detected by the contact point coordinate detection means while the output of the pressing pressure detection means exceeds a predetermined second threshold greater than zero but does not exceed the first threshold. direction is the predetermined direction, and, when the variation of the two-dimensional coordinates detected by the touch point coordinate detecting means is less than a predetermined value, to suppress the change of the selection of the operation item, car dual operating device. With reference to the operator when viewing the operation surface in a direction perpendicular to the operation surface, when the horizontal direction of the operation surface is the x axis, the vertical direction is the y axis, and the left front side is the origin, The vehicle operating device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the predetermined direction is a direction from the back side to the near side of the operation surface on the y-axis. The operation item selection means is one operation item corresponding to a two-dimensional coordinate detected by the contact point coordinate detection means from a plurality of operation items associated with different two-dimensional coordinates in the operation surface. The vehicle operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the vehicle operating device is selected.

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