JP6104020B2 - Operation direction detection device and detection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation direction detection apparatus and detection method, and is particularly suitable for an apparatus that detects from which direction a user operation on a touch panel is performed.

  Conventionally, touch panels have been widely used as devices for performing operations on electronic devices. When the user touches a user interface such as a button displayed on the screen, the touch panel detects the touched position and outputs it to the outside as an operation signal. Recently, a touch panel that can detect a finger (referred to as hover detection) even in a state away from the panel surface has been provided.

  In addition, a photo sensor for detecting that the user's hand has approached the liquid crystal panel is provided in the vicinity of the liquid crystal panel, and when the photo sensor detects the approach of the user's hand, the display mode of the liquid crystal panel is changed. Has also been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In addition, in order to prevent erroneous detection of the touch position, there is a technique in which each frame is time-divided into a display period and a return line period, and a touch position on the touch panel is detected during the return line period (patent) Reference 2).

JP 2010-191288 A JP 2009-294903 A

  By the way, when a touch panel is mounted on an in-vehicle device, it is determined whether the touch operation on the touch panel is an operation from the driver's seat direction or an operation from the passenger seat direction, and the in-vehicle device is determined depending on which direction the operation is performed. There is a technology that allows different processing to be performed. For example, when an operation is performed from the direction of the driver's seat, a menu for operating the navigation device is displayed. On the other hand, when an operation is performed from the direction of the passenger's seat, a menu for operating DVD or TV is displayed.

  In order to determine the direction of the touch operation on the touch panel in this way, conventionally, infrared sensors 101 are provided on the left and right sides of the touch panel 100 as shown in FIG. . However, there is a problem that the cost increases by providing a dedicated infrared sensor or camera for determining the operation direction. Further, when an infrared sensor or a camera is used, there is a problem that the appearance of the decorative panel attached around the touch panel 100 is deteriorated and an infrared transmitting member is required.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to detect the direction of a touch operation on a touch panel while suppressing an increase in cost.

In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, the touch position on the touch panel is detected, and the touch panel electrode that is capable of hover detection of an indicator approaching the touch panel is provided in a different direction outside the touch panel electrode, A switch that switches between a plurality of auxiliary electrodes that enable hover detection of an indicator approaching the outside of the touch panel, a touch panel electrode and a plurality of auxiliary electrodes, and switches to a plurality of auxiliary electrodes when the video signal scanning period is reached A switching control unit that controls switching of the switch so as to switch to the touch panel electrode when the retrace period is reached, and the touch panel is detected after the indicator is hovered by any one of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes. When the hover is detected by the electrode, the direction of the auxiliary electrode in which direction is detected Flip and, so that identifying a direction of the operation on the touch panel.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, as a hardware configuration, an auxiliary electrode provided in any direction with respect to the touch panel can be simply added to the touch panel capable of detecting hover by adding an auxiliary electrode that is capable of detecting hover. The direction of the touch operation on the touch panel can be detected depending on whether the indicator is hovered at the electrode. Thereby, compared with the case where an infrared sensor and a camera are used, a significant cost reduction is realizable.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the operation direction detection apparatus by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the display with a touchscreen to which the operation direction detection apparatus by this embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the detection operation of the touch position by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the installation position of the auxiliary electrode board | substrate by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the switching timing of the hover detection by the touchscreen electrode of this embodiment, and the hover detection by an auxiliary electrode. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the switching control part by this embodiment, and the operation direction specific | specification part. It is a figure which shows the example of a conventional structure for detecting the operation direction with respect to a touch panel.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an operation direction detection device according to the present embodiment. In addition, in this embodiment, the operation direction detection apparatus is mounted in the vehicle equipment provided with the display with a touch panel.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the operation direction detection apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a touch panel electrode 1, two auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R, a switch 3, a switching control unit 4, a detection circuit 5, and an operation direction specifying unit 6. Has been. Among these, the switching control unit 4 and the operation direction specifying unit 5 are configured by, for example, a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the display 10 with a touch panel to which the operation direction detection device according to the present embodiment is applied. As shown in FIG. 2, the display 10 with a touch panel includes a touch panel 11, a liquid crystal display 12, and auxiliary electrode substrates 13L and 13R. The touch panel electrode 1 of FIG. 1 is provided on the touch panel 11, and the two auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R are provided on the two auxiliary electrode substrates 13L and 13R, respectively.

  The touch panel 11 of the present embodiment is a resistance film type, and the touch panel electrode 1 includes two opposing resistance films Rx and Ry as shown in FIG. When voltage E is applied to one of the two resistance films Rx and Ry, a voltage corresponding to the touched position on the touch panel 11 is generated on the second sheet. By detecting the voltage with the detection circuit 5, the touch position on the touch panel 11 can be detected.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the touch position detection operation. FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining an operation when detecting a touch position on the touch panel 11 in the X-axis direction. FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining an operation when detecting a touch position on the touch panel 11 in the Y-axis direction. In order to alternately detect the touch position in the X-axis direction and the touch position in the Y-axis direction, the switching control unit 4 controls switching of the switch 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the switch 3 includes a first switch 3a, a second switch 3b, and a third switch 3c. When the touch position in the X-axis direction on the touch panel 11 is detected, the first switch 3a and the second switch 3b are switched to the first resistance film Rx side, and the third switch 3c is switched to the second resistance. Switch to the membrane Ry side. The detection circuit 5 is connected to the third switch 3c.

  When an arbitrary position on the touch panel 11 is touched in this state, as shown in FIG. 3A, the position of the first resistive film Rx divided by the resistance values Rx1 and Rx2 and two sheets The eye resistance film Ry is short-circuited. As a result, a voltage corresponding to the resistance values Rx1 and Rx2 is generated in the second resistance film Ry. By detecting this voltage with the detection circuit 5, the touch position in the X-axis direction on the touch panel 11 can be detected.

  On the other hand, when detecting the touch position in the Y-axis direction on the touch panel 11, the first switch 3a and the second switch 3b are switched to the second resistive film Ry side, and the third switch 3c is switched to the first sheet. To the resistance film Rx side.

  When an arbitrary position on the touch panel 11 is touched in this state, as shown in FIG. 3B, resistance values Ry1 and Ry2 in the first resistance film Rx and the second resistance film Ry are obtained. The divided position is short-circuited. As a result, a voltage corresponding to the resistance values Ry1 and Ry2 is generated in the first resistance film Rx. By detecting this voltage with the detection circuit 5, the touch position in the Y-axis direction on the touch panel 11 can be detected.

  In addition to detecting the touch position on the touch panel 11 as described above, the touch panel electrode 1 of the present embodiment is capable of hover detection of an indicator such as a finger approaching the touch panel 11. When performing hover detection, the first switch 3a is not connected to either of the two resistance films Rx and Ry, and is in an OFF state in which the voltage E is not applied. The second switch 3b is switched to the second resistance film Ry side, and the third switch 3c is switched to the first resistance film Rx side. In this case, when the finger approaches the touch panel electrode 1 until it enters the first hover detection space 21 shown in FIG. 2, a voltage is generated in the resistance film Rx due to the capacitance. By detecting this voltage with the detection circuit 5, it is possible to detect the approach of a finger to the touch panel 11.

  The two auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R are provided in different directions outside the touch panel electrode 1, respectively. That is, as described above, the touch panel electrode 1 is provided on the touch panel 11, and the two auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R are provided on the two auxiliary electrode substrates 13L and 13R, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the two auxiliary electrode substrates 13 </ b> L and 13 </ b> R are provided in the left direction and the right direction of the touch panel 11, respectively. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the two auxiliary electrode substrates 13 </ b> L and 13 </ b> R are provided on the back side of the parts 41 </ b> L and 41 </ b> R on both sides of the touch panel 11 among the decorative panels attached to the center console of the vehicle. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each of the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R includes a single resistive film RL and RR. The auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R can also detect an indicator such as a finger approaching the auxiliary electrode substrates 13L and 13R by hovering. That is, the left auxiliary electrode 2L installed on the left side of the touch panel 11 detects that the finger has approached the left auxiliary electrode substrate 13L until it enters the second hover detection space 22 shown in FIG. The right auxiliary electrode 2R installed on the right side of the touch panel 11 detects that the finger has approached the right auxiliary electrode substrate 13R until it enters the third hover detection space 23 shown in FIG.

  Specifically, when hover detection is performed with the left auxiliary electrode 2L, the third switch 3c is switched to the resistance film RL side of the left auxiliary electrode 2L. The resistance film RL is in an OFF state where no voltage is applied. In this case, when the finger approaches the left auxiliary electrode substrate 13L until it enters the second hover detection space 22 shown in FIG. 2, a voltage is generated in the resistance film RL due to the capacitance. By detecting this voltage with the detection circuit 5, it is possible to detect the approach of a finger to the left auxiliary electrode substrate 13L.

  Further, when the hover detection is performed by the right auxiliary electrode 2R, the third switch 3c is switched to the resistance film RR side of the right auxiliary electrode 2R. This resistance film RR is also in an OFF state where no voltage is applied. In this case, when the finger approaches the right auxiliary electrode substrate 13R until it enters the third hover detection space 23 shown in FIG. 2, a voltage is generated in the resistance film RR due to the capacitance. By detecting this voltage with the detection circuit 5, it is possible to detect the approach of the finger to the right auxiliary electrode substrate 13R.

  As described above, the third switch 3c functions as a resistance film connected to the detection circuit 5 to switch between the resistance films Rx and Ry of the touch panel electrode 1 and the resistance films RL and RR of the two auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R. have. That is, the third switch 3c corresponds to a switch in the claims. The switching control unit 4 controls switching of the third switch 3c.

  When the finger is detected by the touch panel electrode 1 after the finger is hovered by one of the two auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R, the operation direction specifying unit 6 detects the finger by the auxiliary electrode in which direction. The direction of the operation on the touch panel 11 is specified according to whether or not. Which of the touch panel electrode 1 and the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R has detected the finger hover can be determined, for example, depending on which switch the switching control unit 4 is switching to connect the third switch 3c to. is there.

  For example, when the finger is detected in the first hover detection space 21 by the touch panel electrode 1 after the finger is detected in the second hover detection space 22 by the left auxiliary electrode 2L, the operation direction specifying unit 6 Specifies that the operation has been performed from the left side (passenger seat side) of the touch panel 11. On the other hand, when a finger is detected in the first hover detection space 21 by the touch panel electrode 1 after the finger is detected in the third hover detection space 23 by the right auxiliary electrode 2R, the operation direction specifying unit 6 specifies that the operation has been performed from the right side (driver's seat side) of the touch panel 11.

  As described above, after the direction of the operation on the touch panel 11 is specified based on the result of the hover detection by the touch panel electrode 1 and the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R, the touch position on the touch panel 11 is determined based on the normal detection operation by the touch panel electrode 1. To detect. The in-vehicle device executes processing according to the detected touch position. At this time, it is possible to change the content of the process according to the direction of the operation on the touch panel 11.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of switching timing between hover detection by the touch panel electrode 1 and hover detection by the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R. As shown in FIG. 5, the switching control unit 4 includes a third switch so as to sequentially connect the two auxiliary electrodes 2 </ b> L and 2 </ b> R when the video signal scanning period for displaying an image on the liquid crystal display 12 is reached. Switch 3c. And when it becomes a retrace period, the 3rd switch 3c is switched so that it may connect with the touch panel electrode 1 side.

  In this way, during the period in which the liquid crystal display 12 scans the video signal, the hover detection is performed by the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R outside the liquid crystal display 12. Then, at the timing when the liquid crystal display 12 is not scanned in the blanking period, the hover detection is performed by the touch panel electrode 1 directly above the liquid crystal display 12. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect the approach of the finger without being affected by noise due to the video signal.

  Although not shown in FIG. 5, after the operation direction with respect to the touch panel 11 is specified by the operation direction specifying unit 6 based on the result of hover detection by the touch panel electrode 1 and the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R, the touch position is detected. Until then, it is not necessary to switch the third switch 3c to the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R during the video signal scanning period. The third switch 3c may be always connected to the touch panel electrode 1 side, or the third switch 3c is connected to the touch panel electrode 1 side only during the blanking period and is not connected anywhere during the scanning period. You may make it be an OFF state.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the switching control unit 4 and the operation direction specifying unit 6 configured as described above. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 starts when the power of the vehicle-mounted device is turned on.

  First, the switching control unit 4 determines whether or not the video signal is being scanned (step S1). If it is determined that it is not during the scanning period, the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is during the scanning period, the switching control unit 4 switches the third switch 3c to the left auxiliary electrode 2L side (step S2). In this state, the operation direction specifying unit 6 determines whether or not a voltage is detected by the detection circuit 5 (step S3).

  Here, when the operation direction specifying unit 6 determines that the voltage is not detected by the detection circuit 5, the process proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, when the operation direction specifying unit 6 determines that the voltage is detected by the detection circuit 5, the operation direction specifying unit 6 detects the finger in the second hover detection space 22 corresponding to the left side of the touch panel 11. Is held as information (step S4).

  Thereafter, the switching control unit 4 switches the third switch 3c to the right auxiliary electrode 2R side (step S5). In this state, the operation direction specifying unit 6 determines whether or not a voltage is detected by the detection circuit 5 (step S6). Here, when the operation direction specifying unit 6 determines that the voltage is not detected by the detection circuit 5, the process transitions to step S8. On the other hand, when the operation direction specifying unit 6 determines that the voltage is detected by the detection circuit 5, the operation direction specifying unit 6 detects the finger in the third hover detection space 23 corresponding to the right side of the touch panel 11. Is held as information (step S7).

  Next, the switching control unit 4 determines whether or not it is during the blanking period (step S8). Here, when it is determined that it is not during the blanking period, the process repeats the determination in step S8. On the other hand, when it determines with it being during a retrace period, the switching control part 4 switches the 3rd switch 3c to the touch panel electrode 1 side (resistance film Rx side) (step S9). At this time, the switching control unit 4 switches the first switch 3a to the OFF state and switches the second switch 3b to the resistance film Ry side.

  In this state, the operation direction specifying unit 6 determines whether or not a voltage is detected by the detection circuit 5 (step S10). Here, when the operation direction specifying unit 6 determines that the voltage is not detected by the detection circuit 5, the process transitions to step S13. On the other hand, when the operation direction specifying unit 6 determines that the voltage is detected by the detection circuit 5, the operation direction specifying unit 6 operates the touch panel 11 based on the information held in either step S4 or step S7. Is specified (step S11).

  After detecting the operation direction with respect to the touch panel 11 by the operation direction specifying unit 6, the switching control unit 4 switches the first to third switches 3 a to 3 c so as to detect the touch position with respect to the touch panel 11 in the touch panel electrode 1 (step). S12). Thereafter, the switching control unit 4 determines whether or not the power of the vehicle-mounted device is turned off (step S13). If the power is not turned off, the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, when the power is turned off, the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 ends.

  As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R are provided on the left and right sides of the touch panel 11 including the touch panel electrode 1, and after the pointing object such as a finger is detected by the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R, the touch panel is detected. When the pointer is detected by the electrode 1, the direction of the operation on the touch panel 11 is specified according to which of the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R the pointer is detected.

  According to the present embodiment configured as described above, as a hardware configuration, the touch operation to the touch panel 11 can be performed only by adding the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R that are capable of hover detection to the touch panel 11 capable of detecting hover. The direction can be detected. The detection circuit 5 for detecting the touch position of the touch panel 11 can also be used for detecting the operation direction. Thereby, compared with the case where an infrared sensor and a camera are used, a significant cost reduction is realizable.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the auxiliary electrodes 2L and 2R are provided on the left and right sides of the touch panel 11 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, auxiliary electrodes may be provided above and below the touch panel 11.

  In the above embodiment, the resistive touch panel 11 is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a capacitive touch panel. In short, any configuration in which an auxiliary electrode capable of detecting hover is provided outside a touch panel capable of detecting hover is included in the scope of the present invention.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which applies an operation direction detection apparatus to vehicle equipment, it is applicable also to electronic devices other than vehicle equipment.

  In addition, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of actualization in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist or the main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Touch panel electrode 2L, 2R Auxiliary electrode 3c 3rd switch 4 Switching control part 5 Detection circuit 6 Operation direction specific part 11 Touch panel 13L, 13R Auxiliary electrode board

Claims (2)

While detecting the touch position with respect to the touch panel, the touch panel electrode capable of hover detection of an indicator approaching the touch panel,
A plurality of auxiliary electrodes provided in different directions on the outside of the touch panel electrode and capable of hover detection of an indicator approaching the outside of the touch panel;
After the indicator is hovered by any one of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes, when the indicator is hovered by the touch panel electrode, the indicator is hovered by the auxiliary electrode in any direction. According to the operation direction specifying unit for specifying the direction of the operation on the touch panel ,
A switch for switching between the touch panel electrode and the plurality of auxiliary electrodes;
A switching control unit that controls switching of the switch,
The switching control unit controls switching of the switch so as to switch to the plurality of auxiliary electrodes when the scanning period of the video signal is reached and to switch to the touch panel electrode when the return period is reached. Detecting operation direction. A touch panel electrode that detects a touch position on the touch panel and is capable of hover detection of an indicator approaching the touch panel and a pointer that is provided in a different direction outside the touch panel electrode and In a display device with a touch panel provided with a plurality of auxiliary electrodes that can be detected, a method for detecting a direction of an operation on the touch panel,
A first step of switching to the auxiliary electrode by a switch when the scanning period of the video signal is reached, and hovering the indicator by the auxiliary electrode;
A second step of switching to the touch panel electrode by the switch when the retrace period of the video signal is reached, and hovering the indicator by the touch panel electrode;
If the indicator is hover detected by the touch panel electrode in the second step after the indicator is hover detected by any one of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes in the first step, which And a third step of identifying the direction of the operation on the touch panel depending on whether or not the indicator is hovered by the direction auxiliary electrode.

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