JPH02108116A - Input trouble detecting method for touch panel device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect input trouble on a device side and to shorten a trouble recovery time by performing input detection when input operation is not performed. CONSTITUTION:When the input operation is not performed, a transmission sensor 2 is driven and reception sensors 3 and 4 are put in operation to enter a reception state. Therefore, when a sent electromagnetic wave for sound wave is cut off, the reception sensors 3 and 4 detect the cutoff coordinates similarly to input operation. Consequently, the detected cutoff coordinates are displayed on the screen 1 of a visual display device and the input trouble can be detected on the device side. Further, the cutoff coordinates which are displayed are checked to grasp the contents of the input trouble.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an input failure detection method for a touch panel device that allows input by simply touching the touch panel with a finger or the like.

[Prior Art] An information device called a transparent touch panel, in which information is input by touching the screen of a visual display device that displays operation items and input items with a finger or the like, is already known (
For example, Nikkei Electronics, p213-223 (
1984, 7, 2) or Nikkei Electronics, p12
2-126 (+981.6.8)). Types of touch detection methods include a resistive film method that uses a resistive film as a touch sensor, a capacitive method that uses a transparent conductive film, an acoustic method that uses a sound wave transmitter/receiver, a photoelectric method that uses a light emitting diode or photodiode, etc. There are four methods.

Of the latter two methods, the configuration of a photoelectric touch panel is shown in FIG. 2, which causes input failures especially if dust or the like adheres to the display screen of the visual display device.

Note that the term "touch panel" refers to a touch-type input device including a touch sensor.

1 is a visual display device that displays operation items and input items on its display screen. A light emitting unit 2 is arranged in an L-shape on the X-axis and Y-axis around the display screen, and this light-emitting unit 2 includes a large number of X-axis optical elements arranged along the X-axis direction and a large number of X-axis optical elements arranged along the Y-axis direction. A large number of Y-axis element optical elements are arranged. The X-axis receiving end part 3 has the same number of light receiving elements at positions opposite the X-axis optical elements of the L-shaped light emitting unit 2 across the screen, and similarly has the same number of light-receiving elements at positions opposite the Y-axis optical elements across the screen. Y-axis bearing tips 4 each having a light-receiving element are disposed.

Individual addresses are assigned to these elements. Reference numeral 5 denotes a touch sensor control section, which controls the control line connected to the light emitting section 2 by specifying an address, and
In order to detect the input coordinate position touched by a finger or the like, the output from each light receiving element is detected.

Detection of the input coordinate position of the touch sensor is performed as follows. When the light emitting elements constituting the light emitting section 2 are sequentially flashed at high speed one by one, a matrix-like optical path is formed on the display screen.

When a certain point on the display screen is touched with a finger, a pen, or the like, the matrix-shaped optical path at the touched point is blocked.

Therefore, the X-bearing tip 3, which is on the extension of the blocked optical path,
Since light is no longer detected by each light receiving element of the Y-axis bearing end portion 4, reading the intersection position of the shielded X-Y coordinates becomes the input coordinate position.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, the above-mentioned photoelectric type touch panel can sometimes receive input even though the display screen is not touched with a finger or the like, or conversely, cannot be manually input even though the display screen is touched with a finger or the like. There was an input failure. This is a phenomenon that occurs when the optical path is blocked by foreign matter such as dirt or dust on the optical path of the touch sensor or on the sensor, or when the sensor itself is malfunctioning.

However, conventional touch panel devices have been unable to detect such manual failures on the device side. As a result, information may be entered incorrectly or may not be entered without being noticed. Furthermore, even if the user noticed the input failure, it was not immediately clear where the input failure occurred, and it often took a considerable amount of time to recover.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional technology by making it possible to detect input failures on the device side, prevent erroneous input of information, and significantly shorten recovery time in the event of a failure. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting manual failure of a touch panel device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The input failure detection method for a touch panel device of the present invention detects when an electromagnetic wave or a sound wave emitted by driving a transmission sensor during an input operation is blocked by a finger or the like touching the touch panel. In a touch panel device that detects cut-off coordinates with a receiving sensor and inputs manual information for the operation item or input item displayed on the screen of the visual display device corresponding to the coordinates, during non-human operation such as when turning on the power, Drives the transmitting sensor and operates the receiving sensor to enable reception;
When electromagnetic waves or sound waves emitted by the transmission sensor are blocked, the receiving sensor detects the blocking coordinates, and the blocking coordinates are displayed on the screen of the visual display device.

Note that the touch panel according to the present invention may be the screen of the visual display device itself, one that is integrally attached to the screen of the visual display device, or even one that is separate from the screen of the visual display device. .

[During an action input operation, if you touch the touch panel with your finger, the cutoff coordinates will be detected by that touch. Therefore, if input detection is performed during non-input operation, and cutoff coordinates are detected, this may indicate that there is foreign matter such as dust on the panel or sensor, or that the sensor is malfunctioning. It means either.

The present invention has been made based on such knowledge, and during non-human operation, the transmitting sensor is driven and the receiving sensor is activated to enable reception. When the electromagnetic waves or sound waves emitted from this are blocked, the blocking coordinates are detected by the reception sensor in the same way as during input operation.

By displaying the cutoff coordinates detected in this manner on the screen of the visual display device, it is possible to detect an input failure on the device side. Furthermore, by checking the displayed cutoff coordinates, it is possible to understand the details of the input failure.

[Example] The present invention will be explained in detail below.

FIG. 1 is a professional diagram showing the configuration of a photoelectric touch panel for carrying out the method of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a visual display device such as a CRT or LCD (liquid crystal display), which displays operation items and input items for a one-sided menu on its display screen. A light emitting section 2 serving as a transmitting sensor is arranged in an L-shape on the X-axis and Y-axis around the display screen, and this light emitting section 2 includes a large number of X-axis element optical elements Xa1. Xa2...Xam, and a large number of Y-axis optical elements Yal, Ya2... arranged along the Y-axis direction
...Yan. X-axis element Xa l of the L-shaped light emitting section 2.

The X-axis bearing tip 3 as a receiving sensor has the same number of light-receiving elements Xi, X2... The same number of light receiving elements Yl, Y2 are placed on the opposite side across the screen from the original light elements Yal, Ya2...Yan.
. . . Y-bearing tip portions 4 as receiving sensors having Yn are respectively disposed. Individual addresses are assigned to these elements. Reference numeral 5 denotes a touch sensor control section which, in response to control commands from the CPU 7, specifies an address and controls the control lines connected to the light emitting section 2 to form a matrix-like optical path, and also detects the output from each light receiving element. Send to CPU7. The CPU 7, which receives the output from the touch sensor control section 5, determines which light emitting element emits light and which light receiving element among the X-axis bearing tip 3 and the Y-axis bearing tip 4 located on the opposite side detects the light. The input coordinate position is detected. Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT display control section, which controls the display contents displayed on the screen of the CRT 1 in response to display control commands from the CPU 7.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing various functions of the CPU 7. When the device is powered on and the touch sensor is activated,
As an initial process, the procedure shown in this flowchart is followed to detect a blockage of the optical path due to dust or the like, detect an abnormality in the sensor, and display the abnormality result on the display screen of the CRTI.

First, variables stored in the memory within the CPU 7 are initialized (301). Variable A indicates the presence or absence of a defective part of the touch panel; "1" indicates presence, and "0" indicates absence. There are also two sets of variables Xxi, Yyl and Xx2. Y
y2 is the X-axis and Y-axis coordinates indicating the position where the optical path of the touch sensor is blocked, respectively. These variables A and Xxl
, Yyl, Xx2. The initial setting of Yy2 is all set to rOJ.

Next, the CPU 7 sends an operation command to the touch sensor control section 5 to activate the touch sensor, and according to the address command, the light emitting elements Xa l to Xam, Ya of the light emitting section 2 are activated.
1 to Yan are made to blink one by one at high speed, and this is repeated. At the same time, the X bearing tip 3. The presence or absence of light reception in synchronization with the address command by the light receiving elements X1 to Xm and Yl to Yn of the Y-axis bearing end portion 4 is detected (input detection) (302).

Here, if all the light receiving elements detect light reception, exit from this flowchart as there is no touch panel abnormality (3
08). On the other hand, if there is no manual detection of any one of the light receiving elements of the X-axis bearing tip 3 or the Y-axis bearing tip 4, it is determined that there is an input failure and the process proceeds to step (303). Here, it is determined whether the variable A is "0" or not, and if it is rOJ, it is assumed that the input failure phenomenon is the first time. Or read Yi and memorize it (30
4). After storing these coordinates Xi and Yi, the CPU 7 activates a timer to prevent temporal erroneous detection.
305), wait for a certain period of time set in the timer to elapse (306), set the variable that recognizes the touch panel malfunction for the first time to A = 1 (307), and proceed to the previous input detection step (302). ).

In step (302), the light receiving unit 3.4 from the light emitting unit 2 is
If all the light-receiving elements detect light reception, the previous detection result is a temporary false detection.
The touch panel determines that there is no abnormality and exits from this flowchart in the same manner as described above (308). However, at this point,
If an abnormality is detected again, it will be determined from the value of the previously set variable A that this failure detection is the second input failure phenomenon (303), and this time a failure has occurred in the second set of memories Xx2 and Yj2. The coordinates xj, yj are read and stored (309). And these coordinates xj, yj
After storing, the CPU 7 stores each memory XXI, XX2 and Y.
The memory contents are read from yl and Yj2, and the X coordinates and Y coordinates of each set are compared (31
0). If the two do not match, it is assumed that it is a temporary false detection and the first step of this flowchart (301)
Return to On the other hand, if they match, the CPU 7 determines that an input failure has definitely occurred and transfers the memory Xx2. By checking the values Xj and Yj of the X coordinate and Y coordinate stored in Yy2 (311) (312), display data is sent to the CRT display control 6, and the display screen of the CRTI is divided into the following three types. Displays faults above. Note that when checking the values of the X and Y coordinates, here, the second set of x3. I am checking the value of y3, but of course it is 1
It may be the values of Xi and Yi of the set.

If Xj = 0 in step (311), that is, the X-axis bearing tip 3 does not detect any abnormality, it is determined that only the Y-axis sensor is malfunctioning or there is dust attached to the Y-axis sensor surface, and the Yj coordinate of the failure is determined. is displayed on the CRT (313). If Yj=0 in step (312), that is, no abnormality is detected in the Y-axis bearing tip 4, it is determined that only the X-axis sensor is malfunctioning or that dust has adhered to the X-axis sensor surface, and the faulty xj
The coordinates are displayed on the display screen of the CRTI (314).

Furthermore, if both xj and yj are not "0", that is, if both the X-bearing tip 3 and the Y-bearing tip 4 detect an abnormality, then
Y-axis sensor x3. It is determined that there is an abnormality in the Yj coordinates at the same time, and the CRT indicates that an optical path blockage has occurred at the intersection of the corresponding coordinates, or that an abnormality has occurred in the sensor at the corresponding coordinates.
Display on the display screen of l. After these abnormalities are displayed, the process returns to the beginning of this flowchart and repeats the above-described series of steps until the failure is recovered.

FIG. 4 shows a timing chart of an example of input detection in step (302). FIG. 4(A) shows the light emitting elements Yal, Ya2...Xam-1,
It shows a drive signal for sequentially blinking Xam at high speed, where "1" means light emission and rOJ means light off. Also, the fourth
In the figure (b), each light receiving element Yl, Y2, . . . , Xm = 1. It shows the output signal of Xm, where "1" means that light is received, and rOJ means that no light is received. In the illustrated example, although the Y-axis optical element Ya3 and the X-axis optical element Xam-1 are driven,
Y-axis light receiving element Y3 and X-axis light receiving element X corresponding to these
Neither m-1 detects light reception. Therefore, the coordinate Xm
-1, Y3, there is a foreign object blocking the optical path, or there is dust attached to both the sensors at the coordinates Xm-1 and Y3.

Further, the above step (313) is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

An example of failure display on a CRT that is sorted by (314) and (315) is shown. FIG. 5 shows an example of a fault display in step (315) which is processed when an abnormality is detected on both the X-axis and the Y-axis.
, and a bright line 9 parallel to the X-axis passing through Yj on the display screen of the CRTl, and in the margin of the screen, for example, write the words "fault" and "There is an abnormality in the display sensor or optical path. Please clean it. ” is displayed. As shown in the illustrated example, if the input obstruction is the attachment of a foreign substance A on the screen that blocks the optical path, the foreign substance can be removed very easily since the attachment point is indicated by the intersection of two bright lines. Obstacles can be removed. Furthermore, if the input failure is a sensor abnormality, the light emitting element or light receiving element located at the end of the bright line may be examined, and if foreign matter is attached to the sensor, the foreign matter may be removed. If the abnormality display continues even after removal, it can be determined that the sensor itself is malfunctioning, and appropriate measures can be taken immediately.

FIG. 6 shows steps (313) or (314) that are processed when either the X-axis sensor or the Y-axis sensor is abnormal.
) is shown below. Since both are common, we will explain this using an example of a Y-axis sensor abnormality. However, the Y-axis sensor located at both ends of the screen lO on a line parallel to the X-axis passing through the coordinate y3 indicates the Y-axis sensor located there. At the same time, for example, the words ``failure'' and the text ``There is an abnormality in the flashing part sensor. Please clean the sensor part.'' are displayed on the screen. According to this, a quick response can be taken based on the displayed instructions.

As described above, according to this embodiment, input detection is performed when the power is turned on, so that erroneous input due to dust on the display screen or touch sensor abnormality can be prevented prior to manual operation. This is particularly advantageous for visual display devices such as CRTs, which require high voltages and tend to attract dust due to static electricity. Furthermore, since the fault location is displayed on the screen of the CRT in such a way that it can be identified, it becomes extremely easy to remove the fault. In particular, in the case of a sensor failure, the location of the failed sensor is clearly indicated, so restoration work such as sensor replacement can be carried out in a short time. In addition, as shown in Figure 3, input detection is performed twice at different times by operating a timer, and input failures are recognized only after confirming that the coordinates match the first and second times. Since false detection is prevented in multiple ways, the reliability of failure detection is high. In the above embodiment, the non-human operation is exemplified when the RI power is turned on, but the invention is not limited to this, and in short, when there is no input from the touch sensor, such as before the touch sensor is used or when the touch sensor is not used. It is always good to perform manual detection.

In addition, although the case where light is used as the electromagnetic wave emitted from the touch sensor is shown as an example, it is theoretically possible to use microwaves, etc., and even sound waves, especially ultrasonic waves, can be used in the same way. The present invention can be applied as long as the structure is such that the emitted sound waves are not received on the opposite side, rather than receiving and stopping the reflected waves on the opposite side.

In addition, the touch panel is not only the display screen of a visual display device as described above, but also a touch panel that is separate from the display screen and attached to the display screen, or a touch panel that is completely separate from the display screen. It's okay.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, since input detection is performed during non-input operations, input failures can be detected on the device side. Furthermore, since the location of the failure is displayed on the display screen, the time required to recover from the failure can be significantly shortened. As a result, it is possible to improve the reliability and maintainability of the device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a touch panel for carrying out the method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conventional touch panel, FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining various functions of the CPU shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. is an input detection timing chart, Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of what is displayed on the CRT display screen when both the X and Y axis sensors become abnormal, and Figure 6 is when the Y axis sensor becomes abnormal. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display on a display screen of a CRT. In the figure, l is a CRT display screen as a touch panel, 2
is a light emitting section as a transmitting sensor, and 3 and 4 are light receiving sections as receiving sensors.

Claims (1)

[Claims] When an electromagnetic wave or a sound wave emitted by the transmission sensor drive is interrupted by a finger touching the touch panel during an input operation, the reception sensor detects the coordinates of the interruption, and the visual field corresponding to the coordinates is detected. In a touch panel device that inputs input information for operation items or input items displayed on the screen of a display device, when no input operation is performed, the transmitting sensor is driven and the receiving sensor is activated to enable reception, and the transmitting sensor is driven to enable reception. An input failure detection method for a touch panel device, characterized in that when emitted electromagnetic waves or sound waves are interrupted, a reception sensor detects the interruption coordinates, and the interruption coordinates are displayed on the screen of a visual display device.