JPH09134253A - Touch panel device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect a state where plural points are depressed on a touch panel by detecting the resistance value of every terminal of the touch panel. SOLUTION: A microcontroller 10 compares the data on the resistance value of every terminal of an analog touch panel 11 which are collected at present with the reference value data on every terminal of the panel 11 put on reference position table for every center coordinate of every area to calculate the difference between both data. Then the microcontroller 10 compares the calculated difference with its threshold level to decide whether the difference is included in its allowable range. The reference value data on every terminal of the panel 11 collected at present are equal to the reference value data on every terminal of the panel 11 put on the reference position table collected in an initialization mode for every center coordinate of every area and the difference between both data is included in the allowable range as long as an operator operates a single point on the panel 11 for every center coordinate of every area. If the difference of both data is not included in the allowable range, the depression of plural points are decided on the panel 11. Then the position coordinates of the pushed points are decided as the wrong detection coordinates, and a second input request, far example, is shown on a display pane 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an analog touch panel device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A display / operation panel using an analog touch panel device is used not only for copying machines and facsimiles,
It is used in various devices. Among them, an analog touch panel device that detects the coordinate position of the pressed position by applying a DC voltage across the resistive film to detect the potential of the pressed position on the resistive film is Since it has the advantage that the resolution of coordinate detection can be increased, it is also used for AD series basic machine operation panels and the like. Further, in the analog touch panel device for copy operation, means for avoiding erroneous operation (pressing a plurality of points) on the touch panel is provided mainly by the design of the screen, such as the configuration of the operation screen and the allocation of switch functions.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-364512, a touch panel formed by laminating two transparent resistance films at right angles with a spacer is used as a voltage with coordinates of a point pressed by applying a voltage. In the touch panel coordinate detection device for detecting, the difference voltage between the coordinate voltage output from the pressed touch panel and the ground voltage of the touch panel is used as the input voltage of the A / D converter, and the applied voltage and the ground voltage of the touch panel are used. The differential voltage of A /
A touch panel coordinate detection device is described, which is input as a reference voltage of a D converter and detects the coordinates of a pressed point on the touch panel.

[0004]

In the above analog touch panel device, when the operator simultaneously or substantially simultaneously presses a plurality of points on the touch panel, position information different from the pressed position is output. When the above two points are pressed, the position information of the middle point is output, and as a result, an operation contrary to the operator's intention may be recognized. In the past analog touch panel devices, for example, analog touch panel devices for copy operation, means for avoiding erroneous operations have been taken mainly by the design of the screen, such as the configuration of the operation screen and the allocation of switch functions. It does not detect the state of pressing multiple points and could not be a fundamental countermeasure.

In view of such a situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a touch panel device capable of detecting a plurality of touched states of the touch panel and improving operability.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a first resistance film having a predetermined resistance value in a first direction between a pair of terminals, and a first resistance film. A touch panel in which a second resistance film having a predetermined resistance value in a second direction is superposed between the pair of terminals; a switching means for switching a supply signal and a monitor signal to each terminal of the touch panel; A detection unit that detects a signal from each terminal of the touch panel, a coordinate detection unit that detects a pressed point coordinate on the touch panel from a detection signal from the detection unit, and a display unit that displays information necessary for operation. The touch panel device has a resistance value detecting means for detecting a resistance value between terminals of the touch panel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel device according to the first aspect, the effective operation surface on the touch panel is divided into a plurality of areas, and each terminal of the touch panel when the center of each area is depressed. It has a function of holding the reference value of the resistance value between them.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel device according to the second aspect, when the touch panel is pressed, a resistance value between the terminals of the touch panel is detected, and a plurality of points are pressed from the resistance value and the reference value. It is provided with a means for detecting.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel device according to the second aspect, there is provided means for arbitrarily setting a threshold level for determining a plurality of points pressed from the difference between the resistance value and the reference value. Be prepared.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel device according to the second aspect, there is provided a means for arbitrarily setting the set number of the areas.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel device according to the second aspect, means for setting the center coordinates of each area according to the display screen of the display means is provided.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention described in claims 1 to 3. This embodiment example is an example of an analog touch panel device. In this embodiment, a touch panel control unit 10 including a microcontroller is used as a part of an operation / display panel in various devices such as a copying machine and a facsimile, and the operation / display panel is serially connected to a control unit of the main body of the device. And a parallel communication line. In this embodiment, no matter where on the touch-sensitive surface of the touch panel 11 is touched by a human finger or the like, the touch is detected.

The analog touch panel 11 is constructed by laminating two resistance films 12 and 13 in a direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction, and laminating them. The resistance film 12 is opposed to the X direction.
A pair of X electrodes 12a and 12b are provided at both ends in the X direction toward the Y direction and have a predetermined resistance value between the X electrodes 12a and 12b. The resistance film 13 has a pair of Y electrodes 13a and 13b facing each other in the Y direction (direction perpendicular to the X direction) provided at both ends in the Y direction toward the X direction.
It has a predetermined resistance value between b. X electrodes 12a, 12b
Terminals X1 and X2, respectively, are provided on the Y electrode 13
Terminals Y1 and Y2 are provided on a and 13b, respectively.
The analog touch panel 11 is placed on a display panel 14 formed of a liquid crystal element (LCD) module that displays information necessary for operation so as to be overlapped.

The LCD controller 15 as display control means controls the screen of the display panel 14 and switches SWa.
To SWh are terminals X1 to Y2 of the analog touch panel 11.
And a terminal X of the resistance films 12 and 13 is formed by a switching means including a switch for switching a supply signal and a monitoring signal to
A line for applying a supply signal between terminals 1 and X2, between terminals Y1 and Y2, between terminals X1 and X2 of resistive films 12 and 13, and terminal Y
The line for detecting the monitoring signal from 1 and Y2 is switched.

The switch SWa applies a power supply voltage of +5 V to the terminal X1 of the analog touch panel 11 when turned on, and the switch SWb connects the terminal X2 of the analog touch panel 11 to ground when turned on. When the switch SWc is turned on, the power supply voltage of + 5V is applied to the terminal Y of the analog touch panel 11.
1 and the switch SWd connects the terminal Y2 of the analog touch panel 11 to the ground when turned on.

The switch SWe applies a power supply voltage of +5 V to the terminal X1 of the analog touch panel 11 via the resistor Rx1 when turned on, and the switch SWf applies a power supply voltage of +5 V to the terminal Y1 of the analog touch panel 11 via the resistor Ry when turned on. Apply. Switch SWg is + 5V when ON
Is applied to the terminal X2 of the analog touch panel 11 via the resistor Rx2, and the switch SWh connects the terminal Y1 of the analog touch panel 11 to the ground when turned on.

The sense amplifiers 16 to 19 constitute detection means for detecting the signals from the terminals X1, X2, Y2, Y1 of the analog touch panel 11, and the terminals X1, X2, Y2, Y1 of the analog touch panel 11 are respectively arranged. It is connected to ground via a resistor 20. Multiplexer (MUX) 21, analog / digital converter (A / D)
22, an analog touch panel (T /
P) The controller 23 is realized by a microcontroller, and the detection circuit 24 is an independent detection circuit that compares the output signal of the sense amplifier 16 with a comparison level to detect that the analog touch panel 11 is pressed.

The output signals of the sense amplifiers 16 to 19 are selected by the multiplexer 21 and converted into digital signals by the analog / digital converter 22, and the output signal of the analog / digital converter 22 and the output signal of the detection circuit 24 are T /. It is input to the P controller 23. The LCD controller 15 and the T / P controller 23 are controlled by the main controller 25, and the switches SWa to SWh are used.
Are controlled by the T / P controller 23. The T / P controller 23 detects from the output signal of the detection circuit 24 whether or not the analog touch panel 11 is pressed, and controls the switches SWa to SWh to control the analog touch panel 1.
The pressed position coordinates of the analog touch panel 11 are calculated from the output signal of the analog / digital converter 22 by switching the supply signal and the monitor signal to the terminals X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 of No. 1. Here, the coordinates have two axes, the X direction and the Y direction, which are orthogonal to each other, as coordinate axes.

Next, the basic operation of this embodiment will be described. In the sequence at the time of initializing the device (immediately after reset), the T / P controller 23 (microcontroller) turns on the switches SWa and SWb and keeps the switches SWc to SWh off as shown in FIG. A DC voltage of +5 V is applied to the X-side resistance film 12.

The equivalent circuit at this time is as shown in FIG. 6, and the potentials of the terminals X1 and X2 are determined by the resistance value of the resistance film 12 and the DC resistance components of the switches SWa and SWb. In this state, the microcontroller switches the input voltage from the sense amplifiers 16 and 17 by the multiplexer 21 and inputs the voltage to the analog / digital converter 22,
Data of the respective potentials of the terminals X1 and X2 are collected from the analog / digital converter 22 as initial data VX1 and VX2.

Next, the microcontroller turns on the switches SWc and SWd to turn on the switches SWa and SWb.
By turning off SWe to SWh, a DC voltage of + 5V is applied to the Y-side resistance film 13. Then, the microcontroller uses the multiplexer 21 to make the sense amplifier 1
The input voltage from 8 and 19 is switched and input to the analog / digital converter 22.
From the terminals Y1 and Y2 to the initial data VY
1, collected as VY2.

Next, the coordinate detecting operation of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the microcontroller turns on only the switch SWc, and switches SWa, S
Wb and SWd to SWh are turned off. When the operator presses an arbitrary point on the analog touch panel 11 in this state, a voltage of about 5 V is generated on the output side of the sense amplifier 16, and the detection circuit 24 compares the output voltage of the sense amplifier 16 with a comparison level (Comp level). ) To detect that the analog touch panel 11 has been pressed by the operator and notify the microcontroller.

The microcontroller detects that the analog touch panel 11 is pressed by the operator.
When notified by the output signal of 4, the coordinate detection sequence is performed. This sequence of coordinate detection is known, and the microcontroller first sets the switches SWa and SWb.
Is turned on to turn off the switches SWc to SWh, and a DC voltage of +5 V is applied to the X-side resistance film 12. In this state, the microcontroller inputs the input voltage from the sense amplifier 18 to the analog / digital converter 22 by the multiplexer 21, and the analog / digital converter 22
Collect data from.

Next, the microcontroller turns on the switches SWc and SWd to turn on the switches SWa and SWb,
SWe to SWh are turned off. In this state, the microcontroller inputs the input voltage from the sense amplifier 17 to the analog / digital converter 22 by the multiplexer 21 and collects the data from the analog / digital converter 22.

At the time of initialization of the device, the micro controller, as shown in FIG. 4, collects the reference data, and the respective terminals X corresponding to the pressing points of the analog touch panel 11 are collected.
The resistance value between 1, X2, Y1 and Y2 is measured. That is, the microcontroller first displays the display panel (LC
D) The pressed point which is the reference point on the analog touch panel 11 is displayed on the screen 14 by x or the like, and the sequence of position data collection shown in FIG. 3 described above is executed.

Next, the microcontroller turns on the switches SWe and SWh to turn on the switches SWa to SWd,
By turning off SWf and SWg, a DC voltage of 5V is applied between the terminals X1 and Y1 of the analog touch panel 11 via the resistor Rx1. Then, the microcontroller uses the multiplexer 21 to sense the amplifier 16,
The input voltage from 19 is switched and input to the analog / digital converter 22, and the terminals X1 and Y of the analog touch panel 11 are selected from the data from the analog / digital converter 22.
The voltage between 1 and the resistance R which is known in advance as this voltage
The resistance value between the terminals X1 and Y1 of the analog touch panel 11 is calculated from the DC resistance of x1 and the switches SWe and SWh.

Next, the microcontroller turns on the switches SWe and SWd to turn on the switches SWa to SWc,
By turning off SWf to SWh, a DC voltage of +5 V is applied between the terminals X1 and Y2 of the analog touch panel 11 via the resistor Rx1. Then, the microcontroller uses the multiplexer 21 to make the sense amplifier 1
The input voltage from 6 and 18 is switched and input to the analog / digital converter 22.
From the data from the terminal X of the analog touch panel 11
The voltage between 1 and Y2 is obtained, and this voltage and the DC resistance of the resistor Rx1 and the switches SWe and SWd, which are known in advance,
From the DC voltage of 5V to the terminal X of the analog touch panel 11
The resistance value between 1 and Y2 is calculated.

Next, the microcontroller turns on the switches SWh and SWg and turns off the switches SWa to SWf, thereby applying a DC voltage of +5 V between the terminals X2 and Y1 of the analog touch panel 11 via the resistor Rx2. To do. Then, the microcontroller switches the input voltage from the sense amplifiers 17 and 19 by the multiplexer 21 and inputs the voltage to the analog / digital converter 22, and the data from the analog / digital converter 22 is used to connect between the terminals X2 and Y1 of the analog touch panel 11. Is calculated, and the resistance value between the terminals X2 and Y1 of the analog touch panel 11 is calculated from this voltage and the DC resistance of the resistor Rx2 and the switches SWh and SWg, which are known in advance, and the DC voltage of 5V.

Further, the microcontroller turns on the switches SWd and SWg to turn on the switches SWa to SW.
By turning off c, SWe, SWf, and SWh,
+ 5V between terminals X2 and Y2 of analog touch panel 11
Is applied via the resistor Rx2. Then, the microcontroller switches the input voltage from the sense amplifiers 17 and 18 by the multiplexer 21 and inputs the voltage to the analog / digital converter 22, and the analog touch panel 11 based on the data from the analog / digital converter 22.
The voltage across the terminals X2 and Y2 of the analog touch panel 11 is calculated from this voltage and the DC resistance of the resistor Rx2 and the switches SWd and SWg, which are known in advance, and the DC voltage of 5V.
The resistance value between the terminals X2 and Y2 of is calculated.

The microcontroller stores the resistance value data between the terminals of the analog touch panel 11 obtained as described above in the reference position table composed of a memory as resistance value data of the reference position. The microcontroller is
As described above, the pressed point which is the reference point on the analog touch panel 11 is displayed on the display panel (LCD) 14 by x or the like to execute the sequence of position data collection. Area and the center coordinates of each area are sequentially switched and displayed as x on the display panel (LCD) 14 as a reference point on the analog touch panel 11 and the sequence of position data collection is performed for each area. The resistance value data between the terminals of the analog touch panel 11 is obtained for each central coordinate of each area by executing the central coordinate of each area, and the resistance value data for each central coordinate (reference position) of each area is stored in the reference position table. To store as. In this case, a plurality of reference position tables are provided corresponding to the center coordinates of each area, and the resistance value data between the terminals of the analog touch panel 11 with respect to the center coordinates (reference position) of each area are stored in the plurality of reference position tables, respectively. You may do it.

Next, the sequence for detecting the state of pressing a plurality of points during the normal operation of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the microcontroller executes the sequence of position data collection as shown in FIG. 3 described above to detect the position coordinates of the pressed point on the analog touch panel 11, and executes the sequence as shown in FIG. Then, the data of the resistance value between the terminals of the analog touch panel 11 is collected.

Then, the microcontroller collects the resistance value data between the terminals of the analog touch panel 11 and the resistance value data (reference value) between the terminals of the analog touch panel 11 on the above-mentioned reference position table for each area. Calculate the difference by comparing for each center coordinate (reference position) of
This difference is compared with a threshold level for determining the state of pressing a plurality of points, and it is determined whether the difference is within an allowable range.

At this time, if the operator's operation is a one-point operation of the analog touch panel 11 for each center coordinate (reference position) of each area, the data of the resistance value between the terminals of the touch panel 11 just collected, and the initial value. The resistance value data (reference value) between the terminals of the analog touch panel 11 on the reference position table collected at the time of conversion is the center coordinates (reference position) of each area.
Each becomes equivalent and their difference falls within the allowable range. Therefore, when the difference is within the allowable range, the microcontroller determines that the operation by the operator is one-point depression of the analog touch panel 11, and the depression on the analog touch panel 11 detected in the sequence of the current position data collection. The position coordinates of points are adopted.

Further, if the difference is not within the allowable range, the microcontroller operates the operator by pressing a plurality of points on the analog touch panel 11 (simultaneously pressing a plurality of points or overlapping them partially in time). The position coordinates of the pressed point on the analog touch panel 11 detected in the sequence of position data collection are the coordinates erroneously detected by the operator's pressed state of the multiple points on the analog touch panel 11. A process for making a determination and preventing the detection of the false coordinates, for example, a re-input request is displayed on the display panel (LCD) 14.

As described above, this embodiment example is defined by claim 1.
1 is an example embodiment of the described invention, wherein a set of terminals X1, X
The first resistance film 12 having a predetermined resistance value in the X direction as the first direction between the two, and the predetermined resistance value in the Y direction as the second direction between the pair of terminals Y1 and Y2. Second with
Touch panel 1 in which the resistive film 13 of FIG.
1 and each terminal X1, X2, Y of this touch panel 11
1, switches SWa to SWh as switching means for switching supply signals and monitoring signals to Y2, and sense amplifiers 16 to 19 as detection means for detecting signals from the terminals X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 of the touch panel 11, From the detection signals from the detection means 16 to 19, the touch panel 1
1. Each terminal of the touch panel 11 in a touch panel device having a microcontroller 10 as coordinate detection means for detecting the coordinates of the pressed point on 1 and a display panel (LCD) 14 as display means for displaying information necessary for operation. Since the microcontroller 10 as the resistance value detecting means for detecting the resistance value between X1, X2, Y1 and Y2 is provided, data collection for creating the reference position table used for detecting the multiple-point press of the touch panel is performed. Therefore, it is possible to detect a plurality of touches on the touch panel and improve the operability.

Further, this embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2, and in the touch panel device according to claim 1, the effective operation surface on the touch panel 11 is divided into a plurality of areas, and Since the reference position table is provided as a function of holding the reference value of the resistance value among the terminals X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 of the touch panel 11 when the center of the area is pressed, the touch panel is initialized by a predetermined procedure during initialization. It is possible to collect the reference values of the resistance values among the 11 terminals X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 and store them in the reference position table.

Further, this embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 3, and in the touch panel device according to claim 2, when the touch panel 11 is pressed, each terminal X1, X2, Y1, of the touch panel 11 is pressed. Since the microcontroller 10 is provided as a means for detecting the resistance value between Y2 and detecting the multi-point press from the resistance value and the reference value, erroneous coordinate detection and malfunction due to the multi-point press of the touch panel are prevented. can do.

An example of an embodiment of the invention described in claim 4 is the threshold value for determining the above-mentioned plural point depressions in the embodiment of the invention described in claims 1 to 3.
Threshold level setting means for arbitrarily setting the level is added, and the threshold level, which is a criterion for pressing a plurality of points, is adjusted to the unique characteristics of the analog touch panel 11 or required analog touch panel coordinate position detection. The value can be set according to the resolution. Therefore, it is possible to determine the pressing of a plurality of points in accordance with the characteristics of the analog touch panel and the layout of the operation screen, and the operability and reliability are improved.

An embodiment of the invention described in claim 5 is the embodiment of the invention described in claims 1 to 3, further comprising area number setting means for arbitrarily setting the set number of the areas. Yes, the number of data sets in the reference position table is requested by arbitrarily setting the set number of regions (a plurality of regions dividing the effective operation surface on the analog touch panel 11) on which the reference value is set by the region number setting means. It is possible to save memory by setting the number according to the analog touch panel coordinate position detection resolution. Therefore, the size of the reference position table can be saved according to the purpose of the operation / display panel and the screen.

According to an embodiment of the invention described in claim 6, in the embodiment of the invention described in claims 1 to 3, the center coordinates of each of the regions correspond to a display screen of a display panel 14 as a display means. Means for setting the display panel 14
Display screen (switch layout on display panel 14)
It is configured to set a plurality of reference position tables associated with the above, and the above determination criterion can be set to an optimum criterion for each display screen of the display panel 14, and the display screen of the display panel 14 can be switched. The reference position table can be switched according to Therefore, an optimum reference position table can be created according to the purpose of the operation / display panel and the screen, and operability and reliability are improved.

[0041]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, between the pair of terminals, the first resistance film having a predetermined resistance value in the first direction and between the pair of terminals are provided. And a touch panel provided with a second resistance film having a predetermined resistance value in the second direction in an overlapping manner, switching means for switching a supply signal and a monitor signal to each terminal of this touch panel, and from each terminal of the touch panel. In the touch panel device, a detection unit that detects the signal of, a coordinate detection unit that detects the pressed point coordinates on the touch panel from the detection signal from the detection unit, and a display unit that displays information necessary for operation, Since the resistance value detecting means for detecting the resistance value between the terminals of the touch panel is provided, the data collection for creating the reference position table used for detecting the plurality of touches on the touch panel is performed. Bets can be, it is possible to proceed to improve the operability becomes possible to detect a plurality of points pressing the touch panel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel device according to the first aspect, the effective operation surface on the touch panel is divided into a plurality of areas, and the touch panel of the touch panel when the center of each area is pressed down. Since it has a function to hold the reference value of the resistance value between each terminal, it is possible to collect the reference value of the resistance value between each terminal of the touch panel and store it in the reference position table according to a predetermined procedure at initialization. it can.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the touch panel device according to the second aspect, the resistance value between the terminals of the touch panel is detected when the touch panel is pressed, and a plurality of points are detected from the resistance value and the reference value. Since the means for detecting the depression is provided, it is possible to prevent erroneous coordinate detection and malfunction due to depression of a plurality of points on the touch panel.

According to the invention described in claim 4, in the touch panel device according to claim 2, a threshold level for judging the depression of a plurality of points from the difference between the resistance value and the reference value is arbitrarily set. With the means,
It is possible to determine whether or not multiple points are pressed according to the characteristics of the touch panel and the layout of the operation screen.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the touch panel device according to the second aspect is provided with means for arbitrarily setting the set number of the areas. Therefore, the reference can be set according to the purpose and screen of the touch panel and the display means. The size of the position table can be saved.

According to the invention of claim 6, in the touch panel device according to claim 2, means for setting the center coordinates of each area according to the display screen of the display means is provided. It is possible to create an optimum reference position table according to the purpose and screen of.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention described in claims 1 to 3.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an initialization data collection sequence of the embodiment example.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a position data collection sequence of the embodiment example.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a reference data collection sequence according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a determination sequence of the embodiment example.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a part of an equivalent circuit in a specific state of the embodiment example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Microcontroller 11 Touch Panel 12, 13 Resistive Film 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b Electrode X1, X2, Y1, Y2 Terminal 14 Display Panel 16-19 Sense Amplifier 20, Rx1, Rx2, Ry Resistor 24 Detection Circuit SWa-SWh Switch

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first resistance film having a predetermined resistance value in a first direction between a pair of terminals, and a second resistance film having a predetermined resistance value in a second direction between a pair of terminals. A touch panel in which the resistive films of are stacked and provided, and switching means for switching a supply signal and a monitor signal to each terminal of the touch panel,
Detection means for detecting a signal from each terminal of the touch panel, coordinate detection means for detecting a pressed point coordinate on the touch panel from a detection signal from the detection means, and display means for displaying information necessary for operation. A touch panel device having a resistance value detecting means for detecting a resistance value between terminals of the touch panel. 2. The touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein an effective operation surface on the touch panel is divided into a plurality of areas, and a resistance value between terminals of the touch panel when the center of each area is pressed. A touch panel device having a function of holding a value. 3. The touch panel device according to claim 2, further comprising means for detecting a resistance value between terminals of the touch panel when the touch panel is pressed and detecting a plurality of points pressed based on the resistance value and the reference value. A touch panel device characterized by the above. 4. The touch panel device according to claim 2, further comprising means for arbitrarily setting a threshold level for determining whether or not a plurality of points are pressed based on a difference between the resistance value and the reference value. Touch panel device. 5. The touch panel device according to claim 2, further comprising means for arbitrarily setting the set number of the areas. 6. The touch panel device according to claim 2, further comprising means for setting center coordinates of each area according to a display screen of the display means.