JPH064213A - Touch panel type operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To linearly vary an operational variable even in a touch panel, to obtain superior detection position precision for a touch position, to improve the operability and to miniaturize a device. CONSTITUTION:This touch panel type operation device is equipped with a 1st analog resistance sheet 6 arranged on a panel surface, an X-directional electrode line group wherein electrode lines 9a-9d which are wired in an X direction and at touch positions are in contact with 1st analog resistance sheet 6, a 2nd analog resistance sheet 2 arranged on the panel surface, a Y-directional electrode line group wherein electrode lines 5a-5d which are wired in a Y direction and at touch positions are in contact with the 2nd analog resistance sheet 2, a selective circuit 10 which fetches potentials out of the electrode lines of the respective electrode groups, and a position detecting means 12 which determines X and Y coordinates of a touch position from the respective led-out potentials and finds the absolute position of the touch position from the found electrode lines.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a touch panel type operating device which can be used as an operating device for an apparatus which requires linear adjustment of an operation amount such as gain adjustment of an input image in an image processing apparatus and stage movement in a microscope. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image processing apparatus for displaying an observation image of a microscope, various operations such as gain adjustment are performed according to an input image in order to obtain an optimum image. For example, when changing the gain or offset of an input image, a numerical value is input from a touch panel or a keyboard, or the numerical value is changed by a shift operation using a cursor button.

Further, in the above-mentioned image processing apparatus for a microscope, when a region of interest on the sample is moved to the center of the visual field, the stage on which the sample is placed is moved. In the conventional image processing apparatus, the stage is moved by using a cursor button provided on the keyboard or a joystick, a trackball or the like provided separately.

By the way, an image processing apparatus may employ a method of linearly changing the gain of an input image while observing the displayed image to determine the optimum gain. In such a case, if the gain or offset of the input image is changed by touch panel, numeric input from the keyboard, or cursor buttons, the gain cannot be changed linearly, and the operability is poor and the optimum image is obtained. It will take a long time to obtain.

In addition, fine movement and quick movement are required to move the microscope stage, but since the minimum movement amount is fixed by the operation using the cursor button, it is difficult to realize such operation. is there. On the other hand, if a joystick or a trackball is used, operability can be improved, but it is necessary to separate fine movement and coarse movement. That is,
It is necessary to move the stage stepwise during fine movement, and to smoothly accelerate and decelerate the stage during coarse movement.

[0006]

As described above, the conventional operation device used for gain adjustment and movement of the microscope stage in the image processing device is not suitable for linearly changing the operation amount. If the property is improved, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to distinguish between step movement and acceleration / deceleration movement.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to perform a linear variable operation of an operation amount even though it is a touch panel, is excellent in touch position detection position accuracy, and is improved in operability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a touch panel type operation device that can be downsized.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a touch panel type operating device of the present invention includes a first analog resistance sheet which is arranged on a panel surface and has a potential gradient inclined in the X direction. , A plurality of electrode lines that are respectively wired on the panel surface in the X direction at predetermined intervals and to which a predetermined voltage is applied, and when the panel surface is touched, the touched position is provided. A group of X-direction electrode lines whose electrode wires are in contact with the first analog resistance sheet, a second analog resistance sheet which is arranged on the panel surface and has a potential gradient inclined in the Y direction, and the panel. When the panel surface is touched, the touched position is formed by a plurality of electrode wires that are wired in the Y direction at predetermined intervals on the surface and are applied with a predetermined voltage. Selective to selectively take out the potential appearing at the Y-direction electrode line group in which the electrode line contacts the second analog resistance sheet and at one end of each electrode line of the X-direction electrode line group and the Y-direction electrode line group. Based on the circuit and each potential extracted from the selection circuit, each electrode line of the X-direction electrode line group and the Y-direction electrode line group corresponding to the touch position is obtained, and a touch is made from the obtained potential of each electrode line. Position X, Y
Position detecting means for determining coordinates and for obtaining the absolute position of the touch position from the obtained electrode lines is provided.

[0009]

In the touch panel type operation device of the present invention, when a certain position on the panel surface is touched, X is touched at the touched position.
The corresponding electrode wire of the direction electrode wire group is in contact with the first analog resistance sheet, and the corresponding electrode wire of the Y direction electrode wire group is the second.
Touch the analog resistance sheet of. Since the first and second analog resistance sheets each have a uniform resistance and a potential gradient that is inclined in the X direction and the Y direction are formed, one end of each electrode line in contact with each other at the touch position may have a touch position. Corresponding potentials appear, and the respective potentials are taken out by the selection circuit. Then, the X and Y coordinates of the touch position are obtained based on the respective potentials extracted by the position detecting means, and the absolute position of the touch position is obtained from the electrode line position.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a touch panel type operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the touch panel type operation device of this embodiment, a Y-direction analog resistance sheet 2 having a uniform resistance value is arranged as a second analog resistance sheet on the panel surface of the flat type display panel 1. The Y-direction analog resistance sheet 2 is provided with a power supply side electrode 3 to which a voltage Vcc is applied on one side in the Y direction and a ground side electrode 4 provided on the other side in the Y direction. These electrodes 3, 4
As a result, a potential gradient that is inclined in the Y direction is formed on the Y-direction analog resistance sheet 2.

On one surface of the Y-direction analog resistance sheet 2, a plurality of electrode wires 5a to 5d forming a Y-direction electrode wire group are formed.
Are wired in the Y direction at intervals of about 10 mm. Each of the electrode lines 5a to 5d is connected to a power source via resistors Ra to Rd having a resistance value sufficiently larger than the resistance value of the Y-direction analog resistance sheet 2, and a voltage Vcc is applied.

An X-direction analog resistance sheet 6 is provided as a first analog resistance sheet so as to overlap the Y-direction analog resistance sheet 2 and the Y-direction electrode wire group. The X-direction analog resistance sheet 6 is provided with a power supply side electrode 7 to which a voltage Vcc is applied on one side in the X direction and a ground side electrode 8 provided on the other side in the X direction. The electrodes 7 and 8 form a potential gradient that is inclined in the X direction.

On one surface of the X-direction analog resistance sheet 6, a plurality of electrode lines 9a to 9a forming an X-direction electrode line group.
d is wired in the X direction at intervals of about 10 mm. The voltage Vcc is applied to each of the electrode lines 9a to 9d via the resistors Ra to Rd having a resistance value sufficiently larger than the resistance value of the X-direction analog resistance sheet 6, similarly to the Y-direction electrode line group. .

One end of each electrode wire of the X-direction electrode wire group and the Y-direction electrode wire group is connected to a switch circuit 10 as a selection circuit. This switch circuit 10 switches the connection with one end of each electrode line in order and takes in the potential appearing at one end of each electrode line.

The electric potential taken in by the switch circuit 10 is A /
The D converter 11 converts the data into digital data and the calculation unit 12
Is input to. The calculation unit 12 operates based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, detects a touch position on the panel surface of the flat display panel 1, and converts the detected movement amount of the touch position into an operation amount that linearly varies. It has a function to output.

The display contents of the flat type display panel 1 are controlled by the display controller 13. For example,
As shown in FIG. 3A, buttons 1 to 4 to which different operation modes are assigned are displayed. A display operation regarding the button 3 will be illustrated. The display control unit 13 uses the button 3
If a touch input is made, the frame 14 showing the variable range is displayed as shown in FIG. 7B, and if the button has an offset value at the time of selection, if the offset value is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the display position of the frame is changed according to the offset amount. Further, in the case of a stage movement operation, as shown in FIG. 3D, a square frame 15 centered on the button 3 is displayed to accept operation inputs in all directions. Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

First, when the position of the button 3 is touched while the pattern of FIG. 3 (a) is displayed, the touched position is detected based on the detection principle described later. Then, the display control unit 13 displays the frame 14 'shown in FIG.
Since the frame 14 'shows a variable range as described above, the spectroscope uses the finger or another object within the range of the frame 14' to adjust the gain, move the image, move the stage, etc. Perform the operation.

FIG. 4 shows an example of position detection in the X direction. When the point T of the flat display panel 1 is pressed (touched) with the finger H, the X-direction analog resistance sheet 6 and the electrode wire 9b come into contact with each other at the touched position. The potential gradient described above is formed on the X-direction analog resistance sheet 6, and the voltage Vcc is applied to the electrode line 9b. Therefore, the potential divided by the sheet resistance value Ra from the touch position T to the ground side electrode 8 and the sheet resistance value Rb to the power source side electrode 7 is applied to the contact point b which is the switch circuit side end of the electrode wire 9b. appear.

Similarly, at the touch position T, the Y-direction analog resistance sheet 2 and the corresponding electrode wire of the Y-direction electrode wire group come into contact with each other, and the touch position T is attached to the end portion of the electrode wire on the switch circuit side.
A potential divided by the sheet resistance value from the electrode 4 to the ground side electrode 4 and the sheet resistance value from the power source side electrode 3 appears.

On the other hand, in the switch circuit 10, the ends of the respective electrode lines forming the X-direction electrode line group and the Y-direction electrode line group are scanned at a predetermined cycle. The potential appearing at the end of each electrode line is sequentially selected and taken in by the switch circuit 10, converted into 8-bit digital data by the A / D converter 11, and then input to the arithmetic unit 12.

The calculation unit 12 detects the touch position according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is,
The potential Vout of each electrode line 9a to 9d of the X-direction electrode line group is compared with the voltage Vcc applied to each electrode line 9a to 9d. At the touch position T, the potential Vcc appears except for the electrode line 9b which is in contact with the X-direction analog resistance sheet 6. Therefore, the electrode line showing a potential other than Vcc becomes the X-direction position of the touch position, and the X-direction position Tx of the touch position T is calculated from the potential of the electrode line.

Here, the potential of the electrode wire is the A / D converter 11
Since it is converted into 8-bit digital data by, the X-direction position of the touch position can be detected with 8-bit resolution.

Next, the electrode wires 5a to 5 of the Y-direction electrode wire group
The potential Vout of d is compared with the voltage Vcc applied to each of the electrode lines 5a to 5d, an electrode line showing a potential other than Vcc is detected, and the Y-direction position Ty of the touch position T is calculated from the potential. .

The coordinates (Tx, Ty) of the touch position T obtained as described above are saved, and the number of each electrode wire of the X-direction electrode wire group and the Y-direction electrode wire group at the touch position T is set to X. Save as absolute position in direction and Y direction. The accuracy of detection of this absolute position is as follows:
Even if the surface resistance is non-uniform due to non-uniformity or deterioration of the surface of the, it is not so greatly affected. Therefore, the error does not exceed the interval between the electrode lines of the X-direction electrode line group and the Y-direction electrode line group.

Next, when the touch position T is slid, for example, in the X direction, the resistances Ra and Rb due to the X-direction analog resistance sheet 6 are continuously changed, and accordingly, the resistance components appearing on the electrode line 9b. The pressure changes linearly. The change in the potential appearing on the electrode line 9b according to the slide of the touch position T is calculated by the calculation unit 12 for each scan cycle of the switch circuit 10.
Captured and stored as a touch position. Then, the movement amount of the touch position is detected by comparing the current touch position and the previous touch position. Further, as the amount of movement at this time, the absolute position is also detected from the distance between the electrode wires of the Y-direction electrode wire group.

When the touch position moves across the electrode lines 5a to 5d of the Y-direction electrode line group, the touch position moves continuously on the electrode lines 9a to 9d of the X-direction electrode line group. In the case where the X-direction electrode wire group is moved so as to cross the electrode wires 9a to 9d, the opposite is true. Therefore, the movement of the touch position is always continuously detected by the Y-direction electrode line group or the X-direction electrode line group.

The amount of movement of the touch position, which is detected accurately in this way and changes linearly, is converted into an operation amount. For example, if the image displayed on the image processing apparatus is moved by the operation amount obtained by converting the movement amount of the finger H, the movement of the image can be extremely accurately followed by the movement of the finger.
Further, in the case of stage operation, by giving the operation amount to the stage drive unit, the stage can be moved according to the position of the finger H, and the sample can be easily moved while observing the observation image of the microscope. You can

Further, in FIG. 4, point T (electrode line 9b),
When the point U (electrode line 9d) is touched at the same time, the switch circuit 10 scans the potential of each electrode line, so that the electrode line 9b, which is in contact with the analog resistance sheet 6 at the touch positions T, U, The resistance partial pressure appearing on the electrode wire 9d is detected at the contacts b and d. Then, by inputting to the calculation unit 12, the positions of the touch positions T and U in the X direction are respectively detected. The positions of the touch positions T and U in the Y direction are similarly detected by scanning the electrode lines of the Y direction electrode line group. Point T
When the (electrode line 9b) and the point V (electrode line 9b) are touched at the same time, both points are on the electrode line 9b, so X
Although the position in the X direction cannot be determined simply by scanning each electrode line of the direction electrode line group, it is possible to know that two points are touched by scanning each electrode line of the Y direction electrode line group. .

As described above, according to this embodiment, the touch panel can be provided with a keyboard-like function and a function such as a joystick for linearly varying the operation amount. Therefore, the operability can be improved, and the device can be downsized and the cost can be reduced.

Since the position in each direction is detected with high resolution from the potential appearing on the electrode wire at the touch position and the absolute position of the touch position is detected from the number of the electrode wire, the detection position accuracy is high. It also improves and solves the problem of analog resistance sheet calibration. Furthermore, even if two or more points are touched at the same time, the respective touched positions can be detected, so that the operation panel can be operated with both hands, and the operability is improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, the display contents of the flat type display panel 1 are provided with various display patterns according to the purpose of use, and a touch position detecting function is provided. It can be used in combination.

[0033]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform linear variable operation of the operation amount even though it is a touch panel, is excellent in the detection position accuracy of the touch position, and is improved in operability and small in size. It is possible to provide a touch panel type operation device that can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a touch panel type operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a touch position detection operation of the touch panel type operation device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display pattern in the touch panel type operation device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a touch position detection principle.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Flat display panel, 2 ... Y direction analog resistance sheet, 5a-5d, 9a-9d ... Electrode wire, 6 ... X direction analog resistance sheet, 10 ... Switch circuit, 11 ... A / D
Converter, 12 ... Calculation unit, 13 ... Display control unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A touch panel type operation device for detecting a touch position on a panel surface and converting the amount of movement of the touch position into an operation amount, wherein a potential gradient formed on the panel surface and inclined in the X direction is formed. The first analog resistance sheet and a plurality of electrode lines that are respectively wired on the panel surface in the X direction at predetermined intervals and to which a predetermined voltage is applied, and the panel surface is touched. When the electrode lines at the touch position are in contact with the first analog resistance sheet, the electrode lines in the X direction are arranged on the panel surface, and the potential gradient inclined in the Y direction is formed. 2. The analog resistance sheet of 2 and a plurality of electrode wires which are respectively wired on the panel surface in the Y direction with a predetermined gap therebetween and to which a predetermined voltage is applied respectively, and the panel surface is The Y-direction electrode wire group in which the electrode wire at the touch position contacts the second analog resistance sheet when touched, and one end of each electrode wire of the X-direction electrode wire group and the Y-direction electrode wire group. A selection circuit that selectively extracts the potential that appears, and each electrode line of the X-direction electrode line group and the Y-direction electrode line group that corresponds to the touch position based on each potential that is extracted from the selection circuit, and Position detecting means for determining the X and Y coordinates of the touch position from the obtained potentials of the electrode lines and for obtaining the absolute position of the touch position from the obtained electrode lines,
A touch panel type operation device comprising: