JPH0444965B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention Technical Field The present invention relates to an image information display device, and in particular, displays function key information indicating the functions of an information output device on a screen, and displays the function key information via a touch sensor provided on the screen. The present invention relates to an image information display device that performs input.

BACKGROUND ART A conventional device of this type is shown in FIG. In the figure, information output device (source)
For example, a TV (television) tuner is used as the source, and a system controller 1 is provided to control this source. Display controller 2 controlled by this system controller 1
is function key information indicating the function of the source; in this example, the source is a TV tuner, so CH.UP (channel up) for changing the channel, VOL.UP and DOWN key information for adjusting the volume, etc. It generates display data, combines it with video data supplied from the TV tuner, and supplies it to the CRT display 3, which is an image information display means. As a result, the display 3 displays TV broadcast images, function key information, channel number information, and the like. The configuration of the screen at this time is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2.

In the screen shown in Figure 2, channel number "6"
and function key information "CH.UP", "VOL.UP" and "VOL.DOWN" are displayed respectively. Of course, as mentioned above, it is assumed that TV broadcast images are also displayed on the background at the same time. Here, the screen is divided into, for example, nine equal parts, and each division includes, for example, 1-a, 1-b, 1-c, 2-a, ...3-
Each category corresponds to one key input key.

A touch sensor 4 made of, for example, a transparent electrode is provided on the screen of the CRT display 3, and input of function key information displayed on the screen of the CRT display 3 is performed via the touch sensor 4. That is, when a desired section on the screen is touched with a finger on the screen displayed as shown in FIG. 2, the touch sensor 4 on the screen detects this. Then, the detection output of the touch sensor 4 is converted by the key input circuit 5 into a key code corresponding to the category and is supplied to the system controller 1.

For example, when you touch section 1-a with your finger, a key code as a command corresponding to "CH, UP" is sent to the system controller 1, so the controller 1 uses the TV tuner as a command output device to select 1CH, UP, and so on. It controls the channel up and at the same time controls the display controller 2 to output display information corresponding to the channel. As a result, on the CRT display 3,
The new channel's video and its channel number information will be displayed along with the function key information.

If various information were constantly displayed along with TV broadcast images, it would be difficult to see the screen, so in order to make it easier to see the TV image as the main image, the system controller 1 uses the touch sensor 4 for 8 seconds, for example, from the time the channel is changed. If no key information is input via the controller 2, the display controller 2 is controlled to erase the display of various information. Even when various information disappears from the screen, inputting function key information via the touch sensor 4 is still valid, and by touching a desired section on the screen with your finger, you can perform the operation corresponding to that section. It is done.

In the conventional image information display device configured in this way, the display of function key information is erased if no key information is input via the touch sensor 4 for 8 seconds from the time the channel is changed. However, when operating the system again, the position and type of the function key information to be operated on the screen cannot be determined, making it extremely difficult to operate and increasing the number of operational errors.

Summary of the Invention The present invention has been made to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional ones as described above, and is to easily input function key information when the function key information is not displayed on the screen. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image information display device that can dramatically improve operability by making it possible to call up information.

An image information display device according to the present invention includes a command output device, an image display means for displaying at least function key information corresponding to the command output of the command output device, and a touch sensor provided on the screen of the image display means. and a controller that controls the display of function key information, and if the function key information is not input via the touch sensor for a predetermined period of time, the controller erases the display of the function key information and displays the function during that time. The system is configured such that the input of key information is disabled, the function key information is displayed again in response to the subsequent operation of the touch sensor, and thereafter the input of function key information via the touch sensor is enabled.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, including a TV tuner, an AM/FM tuner, and a CD tuner.
Four sources, a (compact disk) player and a navigation (NAVI) device, are used as information output devices, and four sources correspond to each of these sources.
Controllers 10-13 are provided.
Note that the navigation device is used by being installed in a car, and provides road map information and the like to the vehicle occupant in order to make driving the vehicle easier.

In addition to the four controllers 10 to 13, as in FIG. 1, there is a display controller 15 that controls image information displayed on the screen of the CRT display 14, and a touch sensor 16 provided on the screen of the CRT display 14 for detection. A key input circuit 17 to which an output is supplied is provided, and these circuits are connected to a system controller 18 via a bus line 19, through which display information, control information, key input information, etc. are transmitted. It will be done. Note that as the touch sensor 16, in addition to a transparent electrode, an infrared sensor or the like may be used. Further, a selection switch device 20 for selecting one of a plurality of sources is provided, and the system controller 1
8 controls on/off of each controller 10 to 13 according to the source selection information from the selection switch device 20.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the screen when selecting a TV tuner, for example. On the screen,
Along with the TV broadcast image, function key information, channel number information, etc. are displayed. On the screen shown in Figure 4, the channel number "6" and function key information "CH.UP", "AUTO PRESET", "Audio multiplex",
"VOL.UP" and "VOL.DOWN" are displayed respectively. Here, the screen is divided into, for example, 16 equal parts, and each division includes, for example, 1-a, 1-
They are named b, 1-c, 2-a, . . . 4-c, and each category corresponds to one key input key. Then, the key input circuit 17 is given a key code corresponding to the coordinates of the screen.

Next, the operation of the image information display device according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, taking as an example the time when a TV tuner is selected.

First, when information regarding the TV tuner is displayed on the screen of the CRT display 14 as shown in FIG. This is detected, and the detection output is converted into a key code by the key input circuit 17 and supplied to the system controller 18.
The system controller 18 determines that key information has been input (step 1), and sets a timer of, for example, 8 seconds (step 2). Next, it is determined whether various information is currently displayed on the screen (step 3),
If it is determined that the key information is displayed, the key information entered earlier is determined in steps 4a to 4d.
After the determination is made, processing according to the determination result is performed in steps 5a to 5d, and then the process returns to step 1.

As mentioned above, when section 1-a on the screen is selected, the key code corresponding to "CH.UP" is sent to the system controller 18, so the controller 18 channels up the TV tuner by 1CH. At the same time, the display controller 15 is controlled to output display information corresponding to the channel. As a result, the video of the new channel and its channel number information are displayed on the screen of the CRT display 14 together with the function key information.

If it is determined in step 1 that no key information has been input, the process proceeds to step 6, where it is determined whether or not the 8-second timer has timed up, and if the time has not expired, the process returns to step 1 again. If it is determined in step 6 that the time has expired, various information displays on the screen are erased (step 7).

When various information on the screen disappears and only the TV broadcast image is displayed, if you touch the screen with your finger, the touch sensor 16 detects this, and similarly to the above operation, the detection output is sent to the keypad. The input circuit 17 converts it into a key code and supplies it to the system controller 18 as a command. The system controller 18 first determines that key information has been input regardless of the touch position on the screen (step 1), and sets a timer of, for example, 8 seconds (step 2). Subsequently, if it is determined in step 3 that various information is not currently displayed on the screen, the process moves to step 8 to display various information on the screen, and then returns to step 1. If the key information is input again, the process moves to steps 4a to 4d via steps 2 and 3, and processing according to the determination result is performed in steps 5a to 5d.

That is, after displaying the function key information on the screen once, the system controller 18 erases the display of the function key information if the key information is not inputted via the touch sensor 16 for 8 seconds.
The function key information is displayed again in response to the subsequent operation of the touch sensor 16, and subsequent input of function key information via the touch sensor 16 is made valid.

Similarly, in the case of other modes, processing is performed in each determination step and processing step in accordance with the function key information corresponding to each mode. TV source
When switching from Chuyuna to another source,
This can be easily done using the selection switch device 20.

In the above embodiment, the system controller 18 manages a certain period of time, for example 8 seconds, but it can also be managed by the display controller 15. It is also possible to change the management method to manage the passage of time.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the display controller 1
5. In addition to the system controller 18, controllers 10 to 13 are provided for each source, and communication is established between these controllers via a bus line 19.
These plurality of controllers may be collectively controlled by one controller, and in that case, the bus line 19 can be made unnecessary.

Furthermore, depending on the source content, it may not be necessary to erase all the function key information displayed on the screen; in that case, you can touch the position on the screen where there is no key function display with your finger. It is also possible to configure the system to add new displays.

In the above embodiment, the sources include a TV tuner, AM/FM tuner, CD player, and
Although a NAVI device is used, the present invention is not limited to these, and it is also possible to use audio equipment, video equipment, information equipment, etc., such as a cassette deck, a video deck, or a captain system. In addition, when a navigation device is used as in the above embodiment, the image information display device according to the present invention is mounted on a car, and in that case, the display section is mounted on the instrument panel in front of the driver. Preferably, it is located within or near the plate.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the image information display device of the present invention, after erasing the display of function key information on the screen of a CRT display, function key information can be displayed very easily by simply touching the screen. is displayed again, and key input via the touch sensor is disabled when function key information is not displayed.This prevents malfunctions caused by accidentally touching the screen, and also prevents function key information from being displayed. selection can be made reliably, and operability can be dramatically improved. In addition, by preventing unnecessary display of function keys, interference with the display of the main image by function key display can be suppressed to a minimum, which is preferable. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional example, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a screen in a conventional device, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen configuration in a device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of the apparatus of the present invention. Explanation of symbols of main parts, 1, 18... system controller, 2, 15... display controller,
3,14...CRT display, 4,16...
Touch sensor, 5, 17...key input circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Image information generation means for generating image information, a command output device, image display means for displaying function key information corresponding to the image information and command output of the command output device, and the function keys of the image display means. The controller includes a plurality of touch sensors provided at positions on the screen corresponding to information display positions, and a controller that controls the display of the function key information, and the controller controls the operation of the function keys via the touch sensors. If there is no input for a predetermined period of time, the display of the function key information is erased, the input of the function key information during that period is invalidated, and the controller waits for the subsequent operation of any one of the touch sensors and responds to this. The image information display device is characterized in that the function key information is displayed again through the touch sensor, and thereafter input of the function key information via the touch sensor is enabled.