JP7239390B2 - CAUSE DETERMINATION DEVICE, CAUSE DETERMINATION SERVER AND CAUSE DETERMINATION METHOD - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus, server and method for determining the cause of malfunction of a display.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a production site such as a factory, a display having a touch panel for inputting operations and presenting information is provided in a control device of a machine.
With such a touch panel, it is desirable to accurately recognize a user's touch operation. For this reason, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a method of detecting an unintended input to a touch panel and inspecting the touch panel for an abnormality when software is activated when the power is turned on.

JP 2009-176162 A

However, there are various causes of touch operation detection failures, such as deterioration of the touch panel itself, poor contact of signal cables, system malfunctions, etc., and it has been difficult to identify the cause in the field. Therefore, when a problem occurs, the entire display unit is usually replaced regardless of whether the parts are good or bad.
Therefore, it is desired to be able to easily identify the cause of the problem on site and eliminate the problem with a minimum of countermeasures.

A cause determination apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, in order to determine the cause of a defect in a resistive touch panel, includes: an acquisition unit that acquires detection data including a touch detection position on the touch panel according to the inspection touch operation; and a feature that compares the detection data with normal data expected by the inspection touch operation. and an output unit configured to output a determination result of the determination unit.

A cause determination server, which is one aspect of the present disclosure, is a server that includes the cause determination device and is connected to a plurality of touch panels for communication, wherein the instruction unit performs the inspection touch operation on each of the plurality of touch panels. In response to the instruction, and the acquisition unit acquiring the detection data from each of the touch panels, the output unit outputs the determination result by the determination unit to the touch panel.

A cause determination method, which is one aspect of the present disclosure, includes an instruction step of instructing a user to perform an inspection touch operation that specifies the presence or absence of a touch or a touch position on the touch panel, in order to determine the cause of a defect in a resistive touch panel. , an acquiring step of acquiring detection data including a touch detection position on the touch panel according to the testing touch operation; and comparing the detection data with normal data expected by the testing touch operation. Based on this, the computer executes a determination step of determining the cause of the defect and an output step of outputting the determination result of the determination step.

According to one aspect, it is possible to easily identify the cause of a problem related to detection of a touch operation on the touch panel.

It is a figure which shows the functional structure of the cause determination apparatus in one Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen display example for instructing touch operations for inspection on a plurality of points by the cause determination device according to one embodiment. It is a figure which shows the calculation method of the coordinate which touched the resistive touch panel in one Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method of identifying a possible scratch area on a touch panel in one embodiment; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state when a foreign object is touched in the vicinity of the foreign object adhered under the protective sheet of the touch panel according to the embodiment. It is a figure explaining the shift|offset|difference of the detection position by the foreign material which adhered to the touch panel in one Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen display example for instructing a slide operation as an inspection touch operation by the cause determination device according to one embodiment. It is a figure which shows the mode of the detection position shift|offset|difference by the foreign material accompanying slide operation in one Embodiment. It is the 1st flow chart which shows the cause judging method in one embodiment. It is the 2nd flowchart which shows the cause determination method in one Embodiment.

An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The cause determination device of the present embodiment determines the cause of a problem related to detection of a touch operation on a resistive touch panel.
Various position detection methods such as a resistive film method, a capacitance method, and an ultrasonic method are known for touch panels. For example, resistive touch panels have a long history and have been widely used because of their low cost. A resistive touch panel has two conductive films facing each other. When the touch panel is pressed, the conductive films come into contact with each other and become conductive, and the position coordinates are detected based on the applied voltage and the detected voltage at this time. be done.

Causes of problems associated with detection of touch operations in resistive touch panels are roughly classified as follows.
・Foreign matter adheres to the touch panel or its protective sheet ・Poor contact of the signal cable of the touch panel ・Scratches on the touch panel ・Deterioration of the touch panel ・System malfunction By instructing the user to perform a touch operation and analyzing the detection data at this time using an algorithm described later, the causes of these problems are isolated, and information on the causes and countermeasures is output.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a cause determination device 1 according to this embodiment.
In the cause determination device 1, the display itself including the touch panel may be functionally expanded by an application, or may be built in the display as a module such as an IC chip. Alternatively, the cause determination device 1 may be an information processing device such as a server device or a personal computer connected for communication with a touch panel.
The cause determination device 1 includes a control unit 10 and a storage unit 20, and may further include various input/output and communication devices.

The control unit 10 is a part that controls the entire cause determination device 1, and implements various functions in the present embodiment by reading and executing software (cause determination program) stored in the storage unit 20. . The control unit 10 may be a CPU.
The control unit 10 also includes an instruction unit 11 , an acquisition unit 12 , a determination unit 13 and an output unit 14 .

The storage unit 20 is a storage area for various programs and various data for causing the hardware group to function as the cause determination device 1, and may be a ROM, RAM, flash memory, hard disk drive (HDD), or the like.

The instruction unit 11 instructs the user to perform an inspection touch operation specifying whether or not the touch panel is touched or the touch position, in order to determine the cause of failure in the resistive touch panel.
Specifically, for example, the instruction unit 11 instructs, as the touch operation for inspection, not to touch in order to confirm the detection state during no operation, and touches at a plurality of points in order to confirm a defective area or the like. and instruct a slide operation to check the entire touch panel.

The acquisition unit 12 acquires detection data including a touch detection position on the touch panel in accordance with a touch operation for inspection performed by the user as instructed by the instruction unit 11 .

The determination unit 13 compares the detection data acquired by the acquisition unit 12 with the normal data expected from the touch operation for inspection, and based on the difference in the presence or absence of touch or the difference in position, determines the cause of failure by an analysis method described later. judge.

The output unit 14 outputs the result of determination by the determination unit 13 .
In addition, when a location or area of a foreign object, a flaw, or the like as the cause of the defect is estimated, the output unit 14 may output this estimated location or area.

Next, analysis methods 1 to 3 for determining the cause of malfunction of the touch panel based on the touch operation for inspection will be described. The cause determination device 1 determines the above-described cause of failure by combining these analysis methods.

[Analysis method 1]
The instruction unit 11 instructs not to touch as the test touch operation.
The determination unit 13 determines the cause of failure based on the detection data acquired by the acquisition unit 12 in a predetermined time after the test touch operation is instructed, in a state in which there is no operation by the user.

Specifically, when the acquisition unit 12 acquires detection data indicating that a touch has been made, the determination unit 13 determines whether there is a foreign object under the protective sheet of the touch panel or that the touch panel has deteriorated.
In this case, the output unit 14 causes the screen of the display to display the position where the touch input is detected, that is, the abnormality detection portion. In addition, the output unit 14 may display, for example, "Check for foreign matter. If there is foreign matter, please remove it by reattaching a protective sheet or the like. If there is no foreign matter, the touch panel may have deteriorated. Please replace it."

[Analysis method 2]
The instruction unit 11 instructs to touch a plurality of points in order to confirm the defective area.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a screen display example for instructing touch operations for inspection at a plurality of points by the cause determination device 1 according to the present embodiment.
In this example, the instruction unit 11 displays an instruction image (for example, "+" in the drawing) at positions corresponding to the plurality of points on the screen of the display device in order to instruct the user to touch a plurality of points. Let
Note that the number and positions of the plurality of points may be set as appropriate.

The determination unit 13 determines the cause of the defect based on the distribution of the difference between the detection data acquired by the acquisition unit 12 according to the user's operation on each of these points and the normal data.
Specifically, the determination unit 13 determines the cause of the defect according to the following conditions A to C.

(A) When no touch is detected on any of the multiple points:
If a touch is not detected on any of the plurality of points, the determination unit 13 determines that there is a contact failure of the signal cable of the touch panel, a system operation failure, or deterioration of the touch panel.
In this case, the output unit 14 outputs, for example, "Check the operation according to the following procedure. (1) Check if the cable terminal of the touch panel is dirty. After removing the dirt, reinsert the cable. (2) If the problem persists, restart the system.(3) If the problem persists after restarting, replace the touch panel." may

(B) When the positional difference between detected data and normal data is greater than or equal to a predetermined value at all points:
The determination unit 13 calculates the difference between the position indicated by the detection data and the position indicated by the normal data, and if the position difference between the detection data and the normal data is equal to or greater than a predetermined value at all of the plurality of points, the touch panel has a scratch. Otherwise, it is determined that there is a contact failure in the signal cable of the touch panel, or that the touch panel has deteriorated.
Further, the determination unit 13 identifies a possible scratch area based on the direction on the touch panel indicated by the calculated difference. Then, the output unit 14 outputs the specified area.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method of calculating the coordinates of a touch on the resistive touch panel according to this embodiment.
Assuming that the resistance distribution of the conductive film is uniform, the y-coordinate is the ratio of the applied voltage _Vd to the detected voltage _Vx determined according to the resistance _R1y in the positive direction and the resistance _R2y in the negative direction from the touch position. Therefore, for the maximum value h,
y=( _Vx / _Vd )*h, _Vx =( _R2y /( _R1y + _R2y ))* _Vd
is calculated as
For simplicity of explanation, the contact resistance between the conductive films at the touch position is ignored here.

Similarly, the x-coordinate is determined with respect to the maximum value w by the ratio of the applied voltage _Vd and the detected voltage _Vy determined according to the resistance _R1x in the positive direction and the resistance _R2x in the negative direction from the touch position. hand,
y=( _Vy / _Vd )×w, _Vy =( _R2x /( _R1x + _R2x ))× _Vd
is calculated as

Here, when a scratch occurs on the touch panel, the resistance at the scratched portion increases. Therefore, when the resistance _R1y increases due to a scratch, the detected voltage _Vx decreases, so the calculated y-coordinate moves in the negative direction, and when the resistance _R2y increases, the detected voltage _Vx increases. y-coordinates are moved in the positive direction. Similarly, when the resistance _R1x increases due to a scratch, the detected voltage _Vy decreases, so the calculated x-coordinate moves in the negative direction, and when the resistance _R2x increases, the detected voltage _Vy increases. The calculated x-coordinate moves in the positive direction.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a method of specifying a possible scratch area on the touch panel according to the present embodiment.
For example, when the y-coordinate of the detection position shifts in the positive direction and the x-coordinate shifts in the positive direction with respect to the designated point P, the resistances _R2y and _R2x in FIG. is considered to be increasing.
Also, when the y-coordinate of the detection position deviates in the negative direction and the x-coordinate in the positive direction with respect to the specified point Q, the resistances _R1y and _R2x in FIG. is considered to be increasing.

Therefore, from the detection data for the specified points P and Q, it is determined that the flaw is generated in the area A and the area B.
In this way, the determination unit 13 similarly specifies a possible flaw area for each designated point, and specifies the possible flaw area based on the AND condition of all the areas.

The output unit 14 may display an area that may be damaged, and then present a handling procedure such as, for example, "Visually check for any damage."
Furthermore, the output unit 14 may receive a selection input as to whether or not there is actually a scratch, and if there is a scratch, present a coping procedure such as "Please replace the touch panel." Also, if there is no scratch, the output unit 14 may say, for example, "Please check if the cable terminal of the touch panel is dirty. After removing the dirt, reinsert the cable. Problem resolved." If not, the touch panel may have deteriorated. Please replace the touch panel." may be presented.

(C) When the positional difference between detected data and normal data is greater than or equal to a predetermined value only at some points:
The determination unit 13 calculates the difference between the position indicated by the detection data and the position indicated by the normal data. It is determined that there is a foreign object under the protective sheet or that the touch panel has deteriorated.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state when the vicinity of a foreign substance is touched when the foreign substance is adhered under the protective sheet of the touch panel according to the present embodiment.
Depending on the positional relationship between the touched position and the foreign matter, the foreign matter may press the touch panel by being pushed by the protective sheet when the vicinity of the foreign matter is touched. In this case, the touch panel is touched at two points, the position actually touched and the position of the foreign object. As a result, in the case of a touch panel that does not support multi-touch, the detection position shifts from the actual touch position toward the foreign object.

6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining displacement of the detection position due to a foreign substance adhering to the touch panel according to the present embodiment.
In the case of a one-point touch, the coordinate of the touch position is calculated based on the ratio of the resistance (R ₁ +R _1x ) to the resistance (R ₁ +R _2x ) in the case of the x-coordinate, for example.

On the other hand, in the case of two-point touches (touch 1 and touch 2), the x-coordinate is determined by the ratio of the resistance (R ₁ +R _1x ) to the resistance (R ₁ +R _2x +R _3x ) if there is only touch 1. However, the addition of touch 2 causes resistances _R2 and _R3 to form a parallel resistance. Then, the resistance on the side of touch 2 is smaller than in the case of only touch 1, so the detection position shifts in the direction of touch 2 from the position of touch 1. FIG.

For example, when the pressing forces of two touches are the same, that is, when the contact resistances are the same (R ₁ =R ₂ ), the detection position is the middle point between the two points. Also, when the pressing force of touch 2 is smaller than that of touch 1, R ₁ <R ₂ and the detection position is between the midpoint and the input position of touch 1 .
Therefore, if the touch 2 is an input by a foreign object, the detection position shifts in the direction of the foreign object from the position actually touched by the finger.

The output unit 14 receives the result that it is determined that there is a foreign substance under the protective sheet or that the touch panel has deteriorated. Please remove it. If there is no foreign matter, the touch panel may have deteriorated. Please replace the touch panel."
Here, it is difficult to distinguish whether the cause of the defect is the foreign matter or the deterioration only from the touch operation on limited points. Therefore, the cause determination device 1 may output the determination result after confirming the entire touch panel in detail by executing the following analysis method 3 .

[Analysis method 3]
The instruction unit 11 instructs a slide operation to check the entire touch panel.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen display example for instructing a slide operation as a test touch operation by the cause determination device 1 according to the present embodiment.
In this example, the instruction unit 11 displays a lattice pattern on the screen of the display device, and sequentially changes the display color of each lattice as indicated by the arrow, thereby performing a slide operation to follow the changed color lattice. Instruct the user.

Note that the size of the grid, the speed of movement of the color-changing grid, and the like may be set as appropriate. Further, the method of instructing the slide operation is not limited to this, and for example, by actually displaying the illustrated arrow for explanation, the slide operation along the arrow may be instructed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing how the detected position shifts due to a foreign object that accompanies the sliding operation according to the present embodiment.
When a slide operation is performed near a foreign object, a path closer to the side where the foreign object is attached than the actual slide operation path is detected. Note that when the object is slid over the foreign object, there is no deviation in the path of the detection position, but forward or backward deviation on the path is detected.

If the positional difference between the detected data and the normal data is greater than or equal to a predetermined value at any point along the path of the slide operation, the determination unit 13 determines that there is a foreign object under the protective sheet, and the touch is not detected. If the touch panel is degraded, it is determined that the touch panel has deteriorated.
Specifically, the presence of foreign matter may be determined based on the deviation of the detection position in units of grids. For example, when a touch is detected on a grid different from the discolored grid, it is estimated that a foreign object is attached in the direction of this detection position.

When a deviation of the detection position is detected, the output unit 14 outputs, for example, "Check for foreign matter. If there is foreign matter, remove it by replacing the protective sheet. There is a possibility of deterioration. Please replace the touch panel." may be presented.
Further, when the touch by sliding is not detected, the output unit 14 may present a coping procedure such as, for example, "The touch panel may be deteriorated. Please replace the touch panel."

9 and 10 are flowcharts showing the cause determination method according to this embodiment.
In this flow, the cause of the defect is efficiently determined by combining the analysis methods 1 to 3 described above.

In step S<b>1 , the instruction unit 11 displays a screen for analysis and instructs the user not to perform a touch operation in order to carry out the analysis method 1 .

In step S2, the acquisition unit 12 acquires detection data from the touch panel.
In step S3, the determination unit 13 determines whether or not a touch input has been detected. If the determination is YES, the process moves to step S4, and if the determination is NO, the process moves to step S5.

In step S4, the output unit 14 displays the position where the touch input is detected as an abnormal portion. In addition, the output unit 14 instructs, as a coping method, to remove any foreign matter from the display portion, or to replace the touch panel if there is no such foreign matter.

In step S5, the instruction unit 11 displays a plurality of points on the screen as marks of touch positions and instructs to touch each point once in order to perform the analysis method 2. FIG.

In step S6, the determination unit 13 calculates, for each of the plurality of points, the difference between the displayed coordinates of the plurality of points (normal data) and the coordinates of the touch input obtained from the detection data acquired by the acquisition unit 12. .

In step S7, the determination unit 13 determines whether or not a touch input has been detected. If the determination is YES, the process moves to step S9, and if the determination is NO, the process moves to step S8.

In step S8, the output unit 14, as a countermeasure, removes dirt on the cable terminal if there is any dirt, restarts the system if the problem is not resolved, or replaces the touch panel if the restart does not resolve the problem. Instruct that

In step S<b>9 , the determination unit 13 determines whether or not the coordinates of all of the plurality of points deviate by a predetermined amount or more between the detected data and the normal data. If the determination is YES, the process moves to step S10, and if the determination is NO, the process moves to step S14.

In step S<b>10 , the output unit 14 displays an area estimated to have a scratch on the touch panel by the determination unit 13 based on the direction of coordinate shift, and instructs confirmation of the scratch as a countermeasure.

In step S11, the output unit 14 avoids the area displayed in step S10 and displays a selection switch of "damaged" or "no damage" on another place on the screen, and the selection input is "damaged". Determine whether or not If the determination is YES, the process moves to step S12, and if the determination is NO, the process moves to step S13.

In step S12, the output unit 14 instructs replacement of the touch panel as a coping method.

In step S<b>13 , the output unit 14 instructs, as a countermeasure, to remove the dirt on the cable terminal, and to replace the touch panel if the problem persists.

In step S14, the instruction unit 11 displays a lattice pattern on the screen in order to carry out the analysis method 3, and instructs a slide operation by displaying "Please trace the lattice to be specified."

In step S<b>15 , the determination unit 13 determines whether or not there is an area where no touch is detected at any position on the specified grid. If the determination is YES, the process moves to step S16, and if the determination is NO, the process moves to step S17.

In step S16, the output unit 14 instructs to replace the touch panel as a coping method.

In step S<b>17 , the determination unit 13 determines whether or not there is a shift in the detection position, that is, there is a portion where the touch is detected on a grid different from the designated grid. If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S18, and if the determination is NO, the process ends.

In step S<b>18 , the output unit 14 displays positions where touch inputs are detected on different grids as abnormal portions. In addition, the output unit 14 instructs, as a coping method, to remove any foreign matter from the display portion, or to replace the touch panel if there is no such foreign matter.

In this way, the cause determination device 1 isolates the cause of the touch panel failure and instructs the user on how to deal with it, through a series of inspection touch operations and analysis based on the detected data.

According to this embodiment, for example, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In order to determine the cause of failure in a resistive touch panel, the cause determination device 1 includes an instruction unit 11 that instructs a user to perform an inspection touch operation that specifies the presence or absence of a touch on the touch panel or a touch position on the touch panel; An acquisition unit 12 that acquires detection data including a touch detection position on the touch panel in response to a touch operation for inspection, and a cause of failure based on characteristics in which the detection data is compared with normal data expected by the touch operation for inspection. and an output unit 14 for outputting the determination result of the determination unit 13 .

As a result, the cause determination device 1 instructs the user to perform an inspection touch operation for analyzing the cause of the failure related to the detection of the touch operation at the site where the touch panel is used, and compares the obtained detection data with the normal data. Based on the result, the cause of the failure can be easily identified. Therefore, since the problem can be dealt with by replacing only the minimum number of parts, the recovery time of the machine can be shortened. In addition, depending on the cause, it is possible to eliminate the problem without stopping the machine.

(2) In the cause determination device 1 described in (1), the instruction unit 11 instructs not to touch as the touch operation for inspection, and the determination unit 13 obtains detection data indicating touch. 12, it may be determined that there is a foreign object under the protective sheet or that the touch panel has deteriorated.

As a result, the cause determination device 1 identifies the problem that voltage is detected even though there is no touch input, and easily determines that the cause is foreign matter under the protective sheet or deterioration of the touch panel. I can judge.

(3) In the cause determination device 1 described in (2), the output unit 14 may output the detected position.

As a result, the cause determination device 1 can present the user with a location where foreign matter may be attached, and the user can easily deal with the problem.

(4) In the cause determination device 1 described in (1), the instruction unit 11 instructs touches at a plurality of points as the test touch operation, and the determination unit 13 determines detection data and normal data for each of the plurality of points. The cause of the failure may be determined based on the distribution of the difference in .

As a result, the cause determination device 1 can acquire the distribution of deviations in detection positions by comparing the detection data for touches at a plurality of points with normal data, and identify the cause of failure from the characteristics of this distribution.

(5) In the cause determination device 1 described in (4), the determination unit 13 detects a contact failure of the cable, a malfunction of the system, or a touch panel when touch is not detected on any of the plurality of points. Deterioration may be determined.

As a result, since the cause determination device 1 does not detect any touch on any point, it is considered that the detection function is not operating. can be easily determined.

(6) In the cause determination device 1 described in (4), the determination unit 13 determines whether the touch panel is scratched or the cable is in contact when the difference between the detected data and the normal data is greater than or equal to a predetermined value at all of the plurality of points. It may be determined that the touch panel is defective or that the touch panel has deteriorated.

As a result, the cause determination device 1 detects that the detection position is shifted over the entire touch panel, so that the detection voltage is considered to be abnormal. can be easily determined.

(7) In the cause determination device 1 described in (6), the determination unit 13 identifies a possible scratch area based on the direction on the touch panel indicated by the difference, and the output unit 14 outputs the identified area. may be output.

As a result, the cause determination device 1 can specify a possible scratch area and present it to the user based on the characteristics of the direction in which the detection position is shifted due to the scratch, so that the user can easily deal with the problem.

(8) In the cause determination device 1 described in (4), the determination unit 13 puts a It may be determined that there is a foreign object or that the touch panel has deteriorated.

As a result, the cause determination device 1 identifies that there is an abnormality in this location because the detection position is shifted only at a specific location, and the cause is foreign matter under the protective sheet or deterioration of the touch panel. can be easily determined.

(9) In the cause determination device 1 described in (1), the instruction unit 11 instructs a slide operation on the touch panel as the inspection touch operation, and the determination unit 13 causes If the difference between the detected data and the normal data is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it may be determined that there is a foreign object under the protective sheet, and if no touch is detected, it may be determined that the touch panel has deteriorated.

As a result, the cause determination device 1 can find deviations in the detection position or non-detection points over the entire touch panel by the slide operation, and can easily determine that the cause is foreign matter under the protective sheet or deterioration of the touch panel. can be determined.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Moreover, the effects described in the present embodiment are merely enumerations of the most suitable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the present embodiment.

In the analysis method 3 of the present embodiment, the cause determination device 1 determines adhesion of a foreign substance or deterioration of the touch panel in accordance with the deviation of the position where the touch is detected with respect to the slide operation or the fact that the touch is not detected. However, the analysis method is not limited to this.
For example, in FIG. 8, it is assumed that when a foreign object is slid, the path of the detection position does not deviate, but there is a possibility that the touch may not be detected (the path may be interrupted) depending on how the object is traced. Therefore, for example, the determining unit 13 counts the number of grids where no touch is detected, and determines that the touch panel has deteriorated when there is no touch input on a predetermined number of grids or more, and only a small number of grids are touched. If there is no input, it may be determined that a foreign object is the cause.

In the present embodiment, the cause determination device 1 has been described on the assumption that it is provided for each touch panel, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the cause determination device 1 may be configured as a cause determination server connected for communication with a plurality of touch panels. In this case, the instruction unit 11 instructs each of the plurality of touch panels to perform an inspection touch operation, and in response to the acquisition unit 12 acquiring detection data from each of the touch panels, the output unit 14 outputs Output the judgment result to the corresponding touch panel. The cause determination server may be a virtual server, and the cause determination method of this embodiment may be provided as a cloud service.

The cause determination method by the cause determination device 1 is realized by software. When realized by software, the programs that make up this software are installed on the computer. These programs may be recorded on removable media and distributed to users, or may be distributed by being downloaded to users' computers via a network.

Reference Signs List 1 cause determination device 10 control unit 11 instruction unit 12 acquisition unit 13 determination unit 14 output unit 20 storage unit

Claims (11)

an instruction unit that instructs a user to perform an inspection touch operation that designates the presence or absence of a touch on the touch panel or a touch position on the touch panel in order to determine the cause of a defect in the resistive touch panel;
an acquisition unit that acquires detection data including a touch detection position on the touch panel in response to the inspection touch operation;
a determination unit that determines the cause of the defect based on characteristics obtained by comparing the detected data with normal data expected from the inspection touch operation;
A cause determination device, comprising: an output unit that outputs a determination result by the determination unit. The instruction unit instructs not to touch as the inspection touch operation,
2. The cause determination device according to claim 1, wherein when the acquisition unit acquires detection data indicating that a touch has been made, the determination unit determines whether there is a foreign object under the protective sheet or that the touch panel has deteriorated. . The cause determination device according to claim 2, wherein the output unit outputs the detected position. The instruction unit instructs a plurality of touches as the inspection touch operation,
2. The cause determination device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the cause of the defect based on a distribution of differences between the detected data and the normal data for each of the plurality of points. 5. The cause determination device according to claim 4, wherein the determination unit determines that there is a contact failure of a cable, a malfunction of the system, or deterioration of the touch panel when a touch is not detected on any of the plurality of points. . wherein, when the difference between the detected data and the normal data is equal to or greater than a predetermined value at all of the plurality of points, the determination unit determines that the touch panel has a scratch, a cable contact failure, or the touch panel has deteriorated. Item 5. The cause determination device according to item 4. The determination unit identifies a possible scratch area based on the direction of the touch panel indicated by the difference,
The cause determination device according to claim 6, wherein the output unit outputs the identified region. The determination unit determines whether there is a foreign object under the protective sheet or that the touch panel has deteriorated when a difference between the detected data and the normal data is greater than or equal to a predetermined value only at some of the plurality of points. The cause determination device according to claim 4. The instruction unit instructs a slide operation on the touch panel as the inspection touch operation,
The determining unit determines that a foreign object is present under the protective sheet when a difference between the detected data and the normal data is greater than or equal to a predetermined value at any point along the path of the slide operation, and the touch is detected. 2. The cause determining device according to claim 1, wherein if the touch panel is not detected, it is determined that the touch panel has deteriorated. A cause determination server comprising the cause determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and connected for communication with a plurality of the touch panels,
The instruction unit instructs each of the plurality of touch panels to perform the inspection touch operation,
A cause determination server in which the output unit outputs the determination result by the determination unit to the touch panel in response to the acquisition unit acquiring the detection data from each of the touch panels. an instruction step of instructing a user to perform an inspection touch operation designating the presence or absence of a touch or a touch position on the touch panel in order to determine the cause of a defect in the resistive touch panel;
an acquisition step of acquiring detection data including a touch detection position on the touch panel in response to the test touch operation;
a determination step of determining the cause of the defect based on characteristics obtained by comparing the detected data with normal data expected from the inspection touch operation;
and an output step of outputting the determination result of the determination step, and a cause determination method executed by a computer.

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