JPH06161661A - Touch pannel input device capable of plural simultaneous inputs and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make possible simultaneous inputting in multiple switches in a touch pannel input device. CONSTITUTION:The touch pannel input device where transparent touch pannel 1 including the plural matrix-shape switches which are two-dimentionally arranged is arranged on a picture display equipment is provided with a means for recognizing input data and coordinate data, the means for judging that data is free data at the time of no input in coordinate data, the means for converting coordinate data into projection data, the means for judging the propriety of division by projection data, the means for generating division coordinate data, the means for obtaining the depressing point coordinate of the switch and the means for deciding the depressing/quitting of the switch so as to execute recording by information of the newly depressed switch and information of the precedingly depressed switch.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a data display device for a control panel.
The image display device (4) such as (4) relates to a touch panel input device in which a matrix type transparent touch panel is arranged on the display screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Meters, numerical indicators, and various switch groups for instructing and controlling at all times or in an emergency are used for centralized control of factory or plant processes and physical distribution. In recent years, in order to perform finer management and control, a data display for a control panel with a touch panel that can give instructions by touch operation on a display screen is widely used. In the past, two switches were simultaneously input, but the switches were regarded as a simple set of coordinate data, and the data of the pressed switch was simply compared with the coordinate data registered in advance, and they matched. When the data exists, the switch is determined to be ON.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In this conventional method,
If you accidentally touch the adjacent switch at the same time, the intention of 1 switch input is interpreted as 2 switch input or multiple switch input, and it is processed incorrectly or processed as an error. It was difficult to use or could not be used for serious purposes. Particularly in a touch panel, the boundary between the adjacent switch is not clearly defined physically, and since there is no play in the stroke unlike a normal keyboard, erroneous contact with an adjacent switch is very likely to occur.

As an application for simultaneous input of two or more switches,
For example, there are the following cases. Example 1. If the emergency stop switch is accidentally touched, the line will be stopped and it may cause a great deal of damage.However, in case of data input in which such incorrect input may cause serious results, some protection is required. Function required, use simultaneous switch input.

Example 2. The data display for the operation panel with the touch panel is used for various purposes.
Is used when there is a need to change the processing contents for events A and B depending on whether each event occurs independently or simultaneously. To give a specific example, when two products A and B that make the same product are sampled and inspected continuously for products that flow continuously, if both A and B are normal, no processing is performed. If only B is abnormal, instruct to inspect line A. If only B is abnormal, instruct to inspect line B. If both A and B are abnormal at the same time, instruct to start inspection of raw materials. , Etc. can be considered, but if A and B can be pressed at the same time, it can be easily performed.

Example 3. The cursor may be moved diagonally. In the past, it had to be moved up and down and left and right in combination, which was extremely difficult to use. After all, it is desired to simultaneously press the switches A and B. In order to use it for the above purposes, it must be possible to input at the same time stably. As described above, the conventional method of directly recognizing the pressed switch cannot provide the above-mentioned serious function, and even in other simple applications, if this is judged to be an error, the operation is not performed. There was a problem of difficulty.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] As described above, some measures must be taken for a touch panel which is liable to be erroneously touched. The present invention suppresses erroneous contact by using the following means. Means (12) (15) (3) for storing the data input from the transparent touch panel arranged on the display (4) as coordinate data and creating projection data from the coordinate data.
1) (33) (61) (63) (81) (83) A means for detecting the presence or absence of a division point of the group of the projection data and judging the possibility of division (13) (16) (32) (3
4) (62) (64) (82) (84) When it is possible to divide, coordinate data is divided to create divided coordinate data (14) (17) (68) (69) Coordinate data group Means for determining the push point coordinates of the switch based on the switch coordinate data (18) (35) (65) (85) A means (20) (37) for judging how many switches have been pushed based on the result of the possibility of division. ) (67) (87) A means (40) (70) is used to determine whether the switch is pressed or not based on the information on the newly pressed switch and the information on the previously pressed switch, and to record it.

[0008]

Operation: When the touch panel (1) is pressed, the switch detection unit (3) of the touch panel interface detects the switch input, and the microprocessor (referred to as MPU (5)) takes in the data of all the switches. Touch panel (1)
The coordinate data is stored as coordinate data, and the coordinate data is projected on the X axis and the Y axis to obtain projection data.
Whether or not the coordinate data can be divided is determined by detecting the presence / absence of a division point in the data group of the projection data and the coordinates of the division point. If it is possible, the coordinate data is divided and divided coordinate data is created. If it is impossible, it is determined that one switch is pressed.

When it is possible to divide, the projection data is obtained again from the divided coordinate data, and it is judged whether further division is possible based on the projection data. When it is impossible to divide again, it is judged that two switches are pressed simultaneously. If the data can be subdivided and the simultaneous pressing of up to two switches is allowed, it is determined that this data is invalid.

When 3 or more switches are allowed, the divided coordinate data is further divided to obtain new divided coordinate data. With respect to the divided coordinate data, projection data is obtained, and it is determined whether further division is possible. If not possible, it is determined that the three switches are simultaneously pressed. 3 if it is divisible
When the simultaneous pressing of the switches is allowed, it is determined that this data is invalid. After that, the same procedure is repeated to identify multiple simultaneous inputs. The pressed point coordinates of the identified switch are calculated. Further, it is determined whether each switch is on, off, or unchanged by the push-release determination, and is recorded together with the push-point coordinates of the switch, and the identification processing of the simultaneous input of multiple switches is completed. The recording result is referred to and processed in the main routine.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the switch coordinates are not recognized as they are as in the conventional method, but the data are treated as a group, and the calculated central coordinates of the projection data formed by the group are recognized as the switch. Therefore, by appropriately selecting the size of the switch, it is possible to significantly suppress the occurrence of malfunction due to contact with a switch in the vicinity, as described later,
The above-mentioned important functions can be added. As shown in FIG. 12, the square switches SW and S each having a size of 8 squares on one side.
The case where W1s are arranged close to each other will be described in an easy-to-understand manner. Each switch is a group of small switches with one side being one size. To simplify the explanation, each switch SW, SW
Ignore the distance between 1. In FIG. 12, BD is the touch switch area of the switch SW, AR is the maximum area that can be pressed as the switch SW when the present invention is used, as will be described later, and CT0 is the center of the switch SW. CT is a point coordinate, and CT represents the maximum area of the push point coordinate that can be recognized as the switch SW. Considering the case where the central switch SW is pressed, in the conventional method, the SW boundary BD
I had to press exactly inside. According to the present invention, assuming that the area where the switch is pressed is the area of a square corresponding to one switch, by setting the limit of the pressed point coordinates from CT0 to CT, the area that can be recognized as [switch SW pressed] is the smallest. It can be set from BD to maximum AR. When the push point coordinate limit is allowed up to the maximum AR, accidental touching near half the size of the switch is also allowed,
As it has the same effect as the stroke play on the keyboard, it can greatly reduce the occurrence of touch mistakes.
Now you can use it with peace of mind.

[0012]

First Embodiment One embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, the touch panel (1) is in the form of a transparent sheet and is arranged on the display screen of the display unit (4) so that the X axis and the Y axis are 8 × 6.
It has a switch group composed of. When any one of the switches is pressed, the switch detection unit (3) transmits an interrupt signal to the microprocessor (5). The microprocessor (5) receives this and jumps to the interrupt processing routine. In the interrupt processing routine, it is called a parallel input / output interface [PIO (2)] for the X axis. ] Open collector output port of X using timer interrupt
The axis is scanned line by line, and each time the Y-axis output connected to the input port of PIO (2) is taken in, the data at each intersection is obtained. Since each line on the X-axis is an open collector output, the line is pulled to almost zero potential when it is active by scanning, and it is inactive and becomes high impedance when not being scanned.

On the other hand, each line on the Y-axis has a pull-up resistor.
Since it is pulled up in (7), the output of the Y-axis line is "1" when it is not pressed or when the intersection with the inactive X-axis line that is not scanned is pressed.
Then, when the switch at the intersection with the active X-axis line is pressed during scanning, it becomes "0". In this way, X
By scanning all the lines of the axis and reading the Y-axis line each time, the data of all the intersections of the negative logic are obtained with respect to the switch ON. (The hardware itself has been used in the past.) In this embodiment, the data of all the intersections are stored, the scan number is the X address, and the bit order of the Y-axis output data of the matrix is Y. The axis address is used and the push-off at each intersection is "0", "1".
It is recognized as the coordinate data used as the data. After scanning all X-axes and taking in data, the process proceeds to the flow described below.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show the flow when the simultaneous input of up to two switches is permitted. In FIG. 2, the coordinate data acquisition unit (10) is a unit for acquiring and storing data of all switches through the above hardware. Empty data judgment unit
If there is no coordinate data in (11), it is determined that the switch has not been pressed, and the switch-free recording section (19)
Fly to. 5 to 7 show an example in which two points (21) and (22) of the switch are pressed, an example of projection of the X-axis and Y-axis, and a switch (21).
The division coordinates of (22) are shown. If the blank data determination unit (11) determines that there is data, it jumps to the X-axis projection data creation unit (12) and projects the coordinate data onto the X-axis as shown in FIG.
Obtain the axial projection data (23).

The X-axis division availability determination unit (13) determines whether or not there are a plurality of groups of the projection data (23) and division is possible.
When the positive judgment is used for the judgment of division, in the projection data (23), "1" to "0" are the end of the first data group.
Find the change point of and then start the second data group
This is done by finding the transition point from "0" to "1". The division point is set to the change point from "0" to "1". If the division is possible, the division point (indicated by the line AA in FIG. 5) is found as described above, and the division coordinate data creating unit (14) is moved to. The divided coordinate data creation unit (14) divides the coordinate data along the line AA, leaves the left data shown in FIG. 6, and clears the right data, and the right coordinate shown in FIG. The data is left, and the data on the left is divided into the divided coordinate data.

In the operation example shown in FIG. 5, the X axis can be divided. If the X axis cannot be divided, Y
The axis projection data creation unit (15) obtains Y axis projection data (24) shown in FIG. 5 from the coordinate data. Then, in the Y-axis split availability determination unit (16) and the Y-axis split coordinate data creation unit (17), determination of split availability is made in the same manner as in the case of the X-axis, and the split point if possible. Detect and create divided data. If there is data on both the X-axis and the Y-axis and it cannot be divided, it is judged that only one switch is input, and the push point coordinate calculation unit (18) determines the center of the data group consisting of multiple coordinates. Set the push point coordinates. Information of one switch and the coordinates of the push point is recorded by the one switch push recording unit (20), and the process proceeds to the next step, the push / pull determination unit (40) in FIG. If it is determined that the division is possible on either the X-axis or the Y-axis, FIG.
Then, the process proceeds to the 2-division determining unit (30).

In FIG. 3, it is confirmed whether the two divided coordinate data shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be redivided as follows. The projection data creation and the split availability determination are the same routines as the X-axis projection data creation unit (12) and the X-axis split availability determination unit (13), respectively, and only the input data is different. First, in the X-axis projection data creation unit (31) for the first divisional coordinate data, projection data is obtained for the X-axis, and the X-axis division possibility determination unit (32) determines whether the projection data can be subdivided. Is judged at.

If the X-axis division availability determination unit (32) determines that division is possible, it means that three or more switches have been pressed, so it is determined that the current coordinate data is incorrect, Without executing the processing, the program of the present invention is exited through the flow (38) and the process returns to the main routine. The same applies when it is determined that division is possible on the Y axis described later. If the X-axis split availability determination unit (32) cannot split the image, the same process is performed for the Y-axis. If the Y-axis cannot be divided, it is determined that the first divided coordinate data cannot be divided for both the X-axis and Y-axis projection data, that is, it is a single switch, and the push point coordinate calculation unit (35) At this point, the switch coordinates of the first divided coordinate data are determined.

The end determination unit (36) determines whether or not the above re-division check has been completed for all the divided coordinate data.
Since the second divided coordinate data has not been completed yet, the flow (39) is followed and the same determination as in the case of the first divided coordinate data is made for the second divided coordinate data. When it is judged that the two divided coordinate data cannot be re-divided, it is judged that the two switches have been pressed, the result is left in the two-switch press recording unit (37), and the next press-release determination unit. Move on to (40).

In FIG. 4, the switch number change comparing unit (41) compares the number of switches pressed last time with the number of switches pressed this time. For simplification of explanation, those with a switch pressed are turned on and those without a switch are turned off.
Express. When the number of ON switches increases this time, the ON confirmation section
Come to (42). The ON confirmation unit (42) determines whether or not there is a switch that was previously turned ON. This time the ON switch is O
When it is FF, the switch turned on this time is judged to be newly turned on by the ON switch determination unit (44) and recorded as the current ON coordinate. If there is a switch that was turned on last time, and the number has increased this time (when the maximum of 2 switches is turned on at the same time, it is limited to 1 switch to 2 switches ON), go to the ON switch determination unit (43). In this case, in the present embodiment, of the two newly turned on switches, the one farther from the previously turned on switch is determined to be correct and recorded as the current on coordinate.

In the switch number change comparing unit (41), when the ON switch is decreased, the program is turned OFF (4).
Move on to 5). The OFF confirmation part (45) is OFF this time
To see if. If it is OFF, in the OFF switch determination unit (47), all the switches that were turned ON last time are OF.
Recorded as F. If the number of ON switches this time is less than this time and it is not zero, that is, if 2 switches ON to 1 switch ON, the program is OFF.
Move to the switch determination section (46). In this case, in this embodiment,
Of the switches that were turned on last time, the one that is farther from the switch that was turned on this time is turned off. After passing through each of the determination units and the determination unit, the program moves to the previous data update unit (48).

If there is no change in the number of ON switches in the switch number change comparison unit (41), the previous data update unit is unprocessed.
Go to (48). The previous data update unit (48) rewrites the previous data with the current data to prepare for the next step. The above completes the entire sequence in the case where the simultaneous input of two switches according to the present invention is allowed. After that, the program returns to the main routine with a return instruction, and the switch processing section of the main routine refers to the record of the switch,
Perform processing that corresponds to the change in the switch.

[0023]

Second Embodiment Next, an embodiment in the case where the simultaneous input of three switches is allowed will be described. The basic operation of each part is
There is no difference from the first embodiment when the simultaneous input of two switches is allowed. In FIG. 8, the whole is outlined, and the same division confirmation unit (9) as in the first embodiment and the two division determination unit (3) in the first embodiment are used.
X) divided coordinate data creation unit (68), Y
The multi-division confirming unit (60) shown in FIG. 9 only with the addition of the axis-division coordinate data creating unit (69) and the 2-switch recording unit (37) of the 2-division determining unit (30) of the first embodiment are 3-switch recording. The multi-division judging section (80) shown in FIG. 10 and the push-separation judging section (70) shown in FIG. 11 are replaced by the section (87).

The operation when three switches are turned on at the same time is the same as in the first embodiment from the start to the division confirmation section (9), the projection data can be divided and divided into two division coordinate data. Come to the split confirmation unit (60). Multi-division confirmation section
(60) has an X-axis divided coordinate data creation unit (68) and a Y-axis divided coordinate data creation unit (69) added to the portion that was determined to be invalid by the two-division determination unit (30) of the first embodiment. Therefore, when three switches are simultaneously input, either the X-axis split availability determination unit (62) or the Y-axis split availability determination unit (64) determines that splitting is possible, and splits the X-axis or Y-axis. The coordinate data creating unit (68) or (69) creates three pieces of divided coordinate data, and the multi-division judging unit (80) of FIG. 10 is almost the same as the two-division judging unit (30) of the first embodiment.

Three pieces of divided coordinate data are input, but 3
With simultaneous switch input, the X-axis and Y-axis split availability determination unit (8
Since it is not judged to be subdivision in 2) and (84), go to the push point coordinate calculation section (85), go to the 3 switch push recording section (87),
Then, the process proceeds to the push / pull determination unit (70) in FIG. The push / pull determination unit (70) compares each switch that has been determined to be ON this time with the previous state, and compares the switch that was previously ON with this state, using the corresponding switch change comparator (71). Recognize the changes in. When the corresponding switch change comparator (71) determines that it is ON, it is recorded in the ON switch recording unit (72), and when it is determined to be OFF, it is recorded in the OFF switch recording unit (73). After being recorded and if there was no change,
By the corresponding switch previous data update unit (75), the current data is stored as the previous data, and in preparation for the next time, all the processes of the present invention are completed, the main routine is returned, and the recording result is referred to in the main routine. Processing appropriate to the state of each switch is performed.

If four or more switches are turned on at the same time,
0 division division determination unit (80) X-axis or Y-axis division availability determination unit (8
In (2) or (84), it is determined that the division is possible and the invalid flow (88) is flowed, and no processing is performed. When only two switches are turned on at the same time, re-division is possible in either the X-axis division availability determination unit (62) or the Y-axis division availability determination unit (64) of the multi-division confirmation unit (60) in FIG. Without being judged, the switch coordinate is calculated by the push point coordinate calculation unit (65), the switch is recognized as two switches, the result is recorded by the two switch recording unit (67), and the flow goes to the push / pull determination unit (70). When only one switch is turned on, it is exactly the same as in the first embodiment and is processed in the division confirmation section (9). It goes without saying that simultaneous input of multiple switches such as 4 switches and 5 switches can be easily processed by only increasing the multi-division confirming section (60) in FIG.

The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope. The configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the present input device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a division confirmation unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a two-division determining unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a push / pull determination unit.

FIG. 5 is an example of coordinate data of 2-switch input.

6 is a first X-axis division coordinate diagram of the coordinate data of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a second X-axis division coordinate diagram of the coordinate data of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a software block diagram in the case of 3-switch input.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a multi-division confirming unit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a multi-division determining unit.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a push / pull determination unit when there are multiple inputs.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an effect of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Touch panel (9) Division confirmation section (12) X-axis projection data creation section (13) X-axis division availability determination section (18) Push point coordinate calculation section (30) Two-division determination section (40) Push-off determination section (60) Multi-division confirmation unit (80) Multi-division determination unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transparent touch panel (1) including a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged matrix-shaped switches is arranged on an image display (4) to enable simultaneous input of a plurality of input data. In the touch panel input device for storing as the coordinate data, means for creating projection data from the coordinate data (12) (15) (31) (33) (61) (63) (81) (83) Means to detect the presence or absence of division points in the group of data and judge the possibility of division (13) (16) (32) (34) (62) (64) (82) (84) A means for dividing the data to create divided coordinate data (14) (17) (68) (69), a means for obtaining the push point coordinates of the switch from the switch coordinate data consisting of the coordinate data group (18) (35)
(65) (85), a means for judging and recording how many switches have been pressed based on the result of whether or not division is possible (20) (37) (67) (87), information on the newly pressed switch, and the last time A means (40) (7) for determining whether or not the switch has been pressed based on the information about the pressed switch.
A touch panel input device capable of simultaneously inputting a plurality of remote switches by including 0). 2. A transparent touch panel (1) including a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged matrix-shaped switches is arranged on an image display (4) so that a plurality of simultaneous inputs can be made, and the inputted data can be coordinate data. In the touch panel input device that stores the data, projection data is created by projecting the coordinate data on the X-axis and the Y-axis (12), (15), and whether there is a division point in the data group of the projection data and the division point. Detect the coordinates and judge whether the coordinate data can be divided (13) (16) .If it is possible, divide the coordinate data to create divided coordinate data (14) (17). Calculate the point coordinates (18) and record that one switch is pressed.
(20) If the division is possible, the projection data is obtained again from the divided coordinate data (31) (33) or (61) (63), and it is judged whether the division is possible (32) (34). ) Or (62) (64), if the subdivision is not possible, calculate the push point coordinates (35) or (65),
If it is recorded that two switches are pressed simultaneously (37) or (67) and redivision is possible and simultaneous pressing of up to 2 switches is allowed, it is judged that this data is invalid and 3 If more than the switch is allowed, the divided coordinate data is further divided, new divided coordinate data is created (68) (69), projection data is obtained for the divided coordinate data (81) (83),
Further, it is judged whether it is possible to divide (82) (84), and when it is not possible to divide, the push point coordinates are calculated (85) and it is recorded that 3 switches are pressed simultaneously (87). A method to identify multiple remote switches that were input at the same time by determining that this data is invalid if even simultaneous pressing is allowed.