JPH0281120A - Touch input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the accurate feedback for the pointed position coordinates and the pointed fixed time point by performing the display, the report, etc., of coordinates based on the detection of 2-step approach of an operating object carried out via the light beam, the ultrasonic beam, and a conductive sheet. CONSTITUTION:A radiator 3a and receivers 3b and 3'b for ultrasonic beams, etc., are set near the display screen of a display device 1 for the information on the touch input operations. The approach of an operating object 11 to the screen is detected by the radiator 3a and receivers 3b and 3'b. Then the pointed position coordinates are displayed on the display screen via a coordinate calculation circuit 5, an index production circuit 6, etc. At the same time, the voltage induced by a transparent conductive sheet 2 set on the display screen has a sudden rise with approach of the object 11. Thus the pointed fixed time point is reported by a report sound generating circuit 9 via a contact signal output circuit 7. At the same time, the pointed fixed position coordinates are displayed in the same way. Thus both the pointed position coordinates and the pointed fixed time point can be accurately fed back to an operator. Then the easy and accurate touch input operations are carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a touch input device that detects the coordinates of a touch on an operation menu display surface.

[Conventional technology]

It is well known that a touch sensor configured to directly touch a surface on which an operation key is displayed and detect its position is effective as a means for directly inputting the operator's intention.

One example of a typical touch sensor method that has been put into practical use or has been proposed is to overlap two conductive sheets so that they do not touch each other directly, and touch the conductive sheets from the outside.
There is an electric resistance change detection type touch sensor that is formed so that only the part to which an external force is applied is conductive, and the coordinate position where the conduction is detected is detected.

Another example is to spread a beam of light in a space near a display surface, and prevent an object from touching the display surface by blocking or reflecting or scattering the light beam. There was a beam-type touch sensor configured to detect.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-mentioned example of the conventional touch sensor method, before the operator contacts the conductive sheet, the position coordinates of the contact area cannot be fed back to the operator. The drawback was that there was a great deal of anxiety due to the inability to confirm accuracy before operation.

Further, in other examples, since the time point at which the designated position coordinates are determined cannot be fed back to the operator, there is a drawback that there is great anxiety due to the uncertainty of the input time point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a touch input device that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and can clearly provide feedback on the coordinates of an instruction position and the time point at which the instruction is confirmed.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above problem, a touch input device includes an information display means having a surface for displaying information for touch input operation, and a beam of light or an ultrasonic wave directed into a space close to the display surface of the information means. When an object approaches the display surface,
a coordinate detection means for detecting that the beam is blocked, reflected or scattered, and detects the coordinates of the object; and a coordinate position detected by the coordinate detection means is displayed on an information display means at any time. An approach position display means, a light-transmissive conductive sheet film attached to the display surface of the information display means or provided between the beam and the display surface, and the intensity of the induced potential induced in the conductive sheet film is monitored at any time. contact point detection means for detecting a point in time when the induced potential intensity sharply increases while the coordinate detection means is detecting the coordinates and outputting a contact signal; Alternatively, the contact notification means notifies the operator of the point in time using visible light, and the coordinate output means outputs the position coordinates detected by the coordinate detection means when the contact point detection means outputs a contact signal. be.

[Effect]

Since the touch input device is configured as described above, when the operator brings an object close to the conductive sheet and passes a distance value at which the output of the coordinate calculation circuit begins to occur, the coordinate detection means starts operating, and the approaching position coordinates are output at any time. Since the information is displayed on the information display means, the operator can confirm the position of the part to be touched. At the same time, as the object approaches, the degree of increase in the potential induced in the conductive sheet increases, and at the point when it exceeds the distance value at which the output of the contact signal output circuit occurs, the output of the contact signal output circuit is generated, and this output causes contact notification. As the means operates, an indicator representing the point of contact is displayed on the conductive sheet, allowing the operator to clearly recognize the point in time when the operation is finalized. In this manner, the operator can perform a touch operation while confirming his/her own operation status, and can also clearly indicate when the operation has been finalized.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the contact signal output circuit 2, and FIG. be. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a display device as an information display means, and the display device 1 is a display device using, for example, a CRT or liquid crystal, and has a display surface 1-1 for displaying information for touch input operation. . Reference numeral 2 denotes a conductive sheet, and the conductive sheet 2 has optical transparency and is provided to be attached to the display surface No. 1 of the display device 1, or can be used to form a layer of light or ultrasonic beam 150, which will be explained later, and the display. This is a conductive sheet film provided between the surface 1 and the surface 1-1. 3a
is a radiator, and the object 11 (indicated by the operator's fingertip in the figure) of the radiator 3a is the display surface! The beam 15 is emitted to detect the approach of the display surface 1-1, and although not shown, it is composed of an array of LEDs and ceramic sounding elements, and is installed close to the periphery of the display surface 1-1. It is being 3b and 3b' are receivers, and the receiver 3b
, 3b' is a receiver that receives the beam 15 generated by the radiator 3a, and is a receiver for the beam 15 that is blocked or reflected/scattered by the object 11; illustration is omitted. However, it is constituted by an array of photodiodes, piezoelectric elements, etc., and is provided close to the periphery of the display surface 1-1, facing the radiator 3a, and in the vicinity thereof.

A layer of light or ultrasonic beams 15 is spread through a space close to the front surface of the display surface 1-1 of the display device 1 by a radiator 3a and a receiver 3b'e3b', and a proximity detection circuit 4 and a coordinate system, which will be described later, are arranged. Together with the calculation circuit 5, it forms a coordinate detection means.

4 is an approach detection circuit, and the approach detection circuit 4 is connected to the receiver 3.
This is an object approach detection circuit that is connected to the beams 1-b and 3b', respectively, and detects when the object 1 approaches the display surface 1-1 and blocks, reflects, or scatters the beam 15. Reference numeral 5 denotes a coordinate calculation circuit, which is connected to the approach detection circuit 4 and calculates the position coordinates on the display surface 1-1 of which the object 11 is approaching based on the output of the approach detection circuit 4. This is a coordinate calculation circuit. Reference numeral 6 denotes an index creation circuit of the approach position display means, and the index creation circuit 6 is an index creation circuit that creates an image signal constituting an index that visually feeds back the output of the coordinate calculation circuit 5 to the display surface 1-1 of the display device 1. This output is superimposed on the output from the instruction information memory 10 and displayed on the display screen No. 1, and when the contact signal output circuit 7 generates an output, a dirt signal is displayed on the display surface 1-1 of the display device 1. Create an image signal such as a flicker representing the point of contact that can be clearly distinguished from the output of the circuit 8,
As in the case of the dirt circuit 8, it is displayed on the display surface 1-1, superimposed on the output from the display information memory 10. 7 is a contact signal output circuit of the contact point detection means, and the contact signal output circuit 2 periodically monitors the induced potential change induced in the conductive sheet 2, and detects the threshold within the unit time shown in FIG. This is a circuit that outputs a contact signal when a potential increase of value 12 or more is detected, and has an input impedance (several 100 Ω).
(above), that is, a low frequency amplifier whose input terminal is close to an open state, a voltage value sampling circuit at fixed time intervals in order to detect the degree of potential rise per unit time, and a difference between the current sampling voltage and the previous sampling voltage. By a combination of a difference detection circuit that detects the difference, and a potential increase rate detection circuit that detects when the difference exceeds a certain level,
Although not shown, it can be configured. 8 is a dart circuit, and the date circuit 8 is an r-) circuit that outputs the x and y coordinates of the coordinate calculation circuit 5 of the coordinate output means to the outside when the contact signal output circuit 7 generates an output. Reference numeral 9 denotes a notification sound generation circuit of the contact notification means, and the notification sound generation circuit 9 generates a signal sound to notify the operator of the point in time when the contact signal output circuit 7 generates an output. Reference numeral 10 denotes a display information memory, and in this embodiment, the display information memory 10 is configured to generate a signal sound using a notification sound generation circuit 9, or may form a means for reporting using visible light. Accumulates information for touch operations. Reference numeral 11 denotes an object, which is approaching the conductive sheet 2 in an attempt to come into contact with it, and the above-mentioned passing fingertip is shown in the figure.

FIG. 2 explains the operation of the contact signal output circuit 7 in FIG. A noise potential) is generated, and as the object 11 approaches, the induced potential increases as the degree of coupling increases, and a sudden potential increase occurs at the point of contact. Conductive sheet 2 and object 1 on the horizontal axis
1, and the vertical axis represents the magnitude of the induced potential induced in the conductive sheet 2. 12 is a contact signal output circuit 7
16 is an induced potential change curve.

FIG. 3 is an explanation of the operation of the device, and shows the operation and output of each part in chronological order as the object 11 gradually approaches the discharge sheet 2. (A) shows the operation of the object 11;
(b) shows the operation of the coordinate calculation circuit 5, e shows the operation of the display device 1, b) shows the operation of the notification sound generation circuit 9, and (e) shows the output value of the dart circuit 8.

In (C), the horizontal axis indicates time, the vertical axis indicates the distance between the conductive sheet 2 and the object 11, 13 is the distance value at which the output of the contact signal output circuit 7 occurs, and 14 is the distance value at which the output of the coordinate calculation circuit 5 is generated. The starting distance value, 17, shows the line of change of distance of the object over time.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained using FIG.

When the operator approaches the conductive sheet 2 with a finger corresponding to the object 11 and passes through point A, that is, the intersection with the distance value 14 where the output of the coordinate calculation circuit 5 begins to occur, the operations of the approach detection circuit 4 and the coordinate calculation circuit 5 are stopped. The approach position coordinates are output as needed. Since this coordinate position is displayed on the display device 1 by the index creation circuit 6, the operator can confirm the position of the part to be touched. At the same time object 1
As the finger corresponding to point 1 approaches, the degree of increase in the potential induced in the conductive sheet 2 increases, and at the point when it crosses point B, that is, the point of intersection with the distance value 13 at which the output of the contact signal output circuit 7 is generated, the contact signal output circuit 7 output is generated. This output activates the notification sound generation circuit 9 and displays an index indicating the contact point by the index generation circuit 6 on the conductive sheet 2, so that the operator can clearly recognize the point in time when the operation is finalized. At this point, the coordinates calculated by the coordinate calculation circuit 5 are outputted to the outside via the dart circuit 8. In this way, the operator can perform a touch operation while checking his or her own operation status, and also be able to clearly indicate when the operation has been finalized.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to monitor the instruction position on the instruction surface of the display device before the operation is confirmed, and also feedback is possible at the time when the operation is confirmed, thereby (1) Even if the indicated position deviates from the operator's position, this fact can be recognized before the operation is confirmed, making it easy to correct the position.

(2) The operator can operate with peace of mind because the instructed position is always fed back to the operator before finalizing the operation.

This effect can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the contact signal output circuit 7,
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is the operation of the object 11, (b) is the operation of the coordinate calculation circuit 5, e9 is the operation of the display device 1, and (b) is the notification sound generation circuit. 9) is the output value of the f-) circuit 8. 1...Display device, 1-1...Display surface, 2.
・・Conductive sheet, 3a-radiator, 3b, 3b
'-... Receiver, 4... Approach detection circuit, 5... Coordinate calculation circuit, 6... Index creation circuit, 7... Contact signal output circuit, 8... Gate circuit, 9... - Notification sound generation circuit, 10... Display information memory, 11... Object, 12.
...Threshold value of the potential that causes the output of the touch signal output circuit 7, 13...Distance value at which the output of the touch signal output circuit 7 occurs, 14-...Distance value at which the output of the coordinate calculation circuit 5 begins to occur, 15 ... Beam, 16... Induced potential change curve,
17... Line of change in distance over time of object 11, X e
7...Coordinate output, tatami...flicker. 5: M mark calculation circuit 6: Index creation circuit 9: Notification 1 generation circuit 1o: Display information memory 15: Beam Perspective view illustrating the device configuration of an embodiment of the present invention FIG. 1 Explanation of the operation of the contact signal output circuit 7 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] An information display means having a surface for displaying information for touch input operation, and a beam of light or ultrasonic waves is spread in a space close to the display surface of the information means, and when an object approaches the display surface, the beam is emitted. coordinate detection means for detecting the coordinates of the object that has approached by detecting that the object has been blocked, reflected or scattered; and an approach position for displaying the coordinate position detected by the coordinate detection means on an information display means at any time. A display means, a light-transmitting conductive sheet film attached to a display surface of the information display means or provided between the beam and the display surface, and the intensity of the induced potential induced in the conductive sheet film is monitored at any time. contact point detection means for detecting a point in time when the induced potential intensity sharply increases while the coordinate detection means is detecting the coordinates and outputting a contact signal; A contact notification means for notifying the operator of the point in time using visible light, and a coordinate output means for outputting the position coordinates detected by the coordinate detection means when the contact point detection means outputs a contact signal. Featured touch input device