WO2013005093A1

WO2013005093A1 - Operating device and operating method

Info

Publication number: WO2013005093A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/001306
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kinya Tagawa; Yuki ANEZAKI
Original assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2011-07-04
Filing date: 2012-07-03
Publication date: 2013-01-10
Also published as: JP2013014212A

Abstract

An operating device including: an operating panel (10) that includes an operating surface extending in two dimensions; and a processing device that sets a first control parameter and a second control parameter simultaneously on the basis of a two-dimensional position of a designated point on the operating surface designated by user input such that the first control parameter is set in accordance with a first position of the designated point in a first axial direction of the operating surface and the second control parameter is set in accordance with a second position of the designated point in a second axial direction of the operating surface, wherein the first control parameter and the second control parameter are mutually independent control parameters for controlling an instrument.

Description

OPERATING DEVICE AND OPERATING METHOD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to an operating device that includes a processing device and an operating panel that includes an operating surface extending in two dimensions, and an operating method that uses the operating panel.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] A configuration provided with a switch disposed on a touch panel for adjusting an air blast amount of an air-conditioning device and a temperature setting dial for adjusting an air blast temperature of the air-conditioning device is available in the related art (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-261335 (JP 2007-261335 A), for example).

[0003] In the configuration described in JP 2007-261335 A, the air blast amount and the air blast temperature of the air-conditioning device can be set independently of each other. However, to set the air blast amount and the air blast temperature, individually provided switches must be operated respectively. It is therefore laborious to set the air blast amount and the air blast temperature. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Hence, the invention provides an operating device and an operating method with which two control parameters can be set simultaneously.

[0005] A first aspect of the invention is an operating device including: an operating panel that includes an operating surface extending in two dimensions; and a processing device that sets a first control parameter and a second control parameter simultaneously on the basis of a two-dimensional position of a designated point on the operating surface designated by user input such that the first control parameter is set in accordance with a first position of the designated point in a first axial direction of the operating surface and the second control parameter is set in accordance with a second position of the designated point in a second axial direction of the operating surface, wherein the first control parameter and the second control parameter are mutually independent control parameters for controlling an instrument.

[0006] A second aspect of the invention is an operating method using an operating panel that includes an operating surface extending in two dimensions, the operating method including setting a first control parameter and a second control parameter simultaneously on the basis of a two-dimensional position of a designated point on the operating surface designated by user input such that the first control parameter is set in accordance with a first position of the designated point in a first axial direction of the operating surface and the second control parameter is set in accordance with a second position of the designated point in a second axial direction of the operating surface, wherein the first control parameter and the second control parameter are mutually independent control parameters for controlling an instrument.

[0007] According to the configurations described above, an operating device with which two control parameters can be set simultaneously is obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement of a touch operation display 10 of a vehicle operating device 1 according to an embodiment (a first embodiment) of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a principal configuration of the vehicle operating device 1 according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an operating surface of the touch operation display 10 and a view showing an example of a method of mapping two control parameters on the operating surface;

FIGS. 4 A and 4B are plan views showing examples of operating screens output to a display surface of the touch operation display 10 and views showing examples of forms in which an information display 70 is output;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the display surface of the touch operation display 10 and a view showing an example of a form in which a background display 76 is output to the display surface;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of air blast amount/temperature setting processing realized by a processing device 30 according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of another application of the vehicle operating device 1 according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the application example of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of main processing realized by the processing device 30 according to this application example;

FIG. 10 is an illustrative view relating to the processing shown in FIG. 9 and a view showing examples of conditions of screens (screen variation) displayed on the touch operation display 10 and a presentation display 20 in relation to the processing shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement of a touch panel 11 and the presentation display 20 of a vehicle operating device 2 according to another embodiment (a second embodiment) of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a principal configuration of the vehicle operating device 2 according to the second embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of air blast amount/temperature setting processing realized by a processing device 31 according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement of a touch operation display 10 of a vehicle operating device 1 according to an embodiment (a first embodiment) of the invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a principal configuration of the vehicle operating device 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle operating device_. 1 includes a touch operation display 10 and a processing device 30.

[0012] The touch operation display 10 has both a display function and a function for detecting a touch operation performed by a user (a driver, for example). A principle by which a touch operation is detected may be a pressure sensitive principle or an electrostatic principle, as desired. Note that the touch operation includes a touch operation using a finger and a touch operation using an instrument such as a pen (a stylus).

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1 , the touch operation display 10 is disposed in a position where it can be operated easily by the user, and preferably in a position where the driver can perform an operation simply by extending his/her arm. For example, the touch operation display 10 may be disposed in a center console portion or on an instrument panel.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the processing device 30 is connected to the touch operation display 10. The connection between the processing device 30 and the touch operation display 10 may be realized either by wire or wirelessly and either directly or indirectly. The processing device 30 performs processing for generating (rendering) and outputting a display onto the touch operation display 10. The processing device 30 also performs processing for realizing various functions corresponding to various operations performed on the touch operation display 10. The processing device 30 may include a graphics board and a drawing IC, for example, in order to perform various processing for generating various displays and outputting the generated displays to the touch operation display 10. Further, the processing device 30 may include a microcomputer and a digital signal processor (DSP), for example, in order to generate and output operation signals corresponding to the various operations performed on the touch operation display 10. Note that the functions of the processing device 30 may be realized by a single specialized processing device or through cooperation between a plurality of processing devices disposed in different locations. For example, all or a part of the functions of the processing device 30 may be realized by an air-conditioning electronic control unit (ECU) or a navigation ECU. Further, all or a part of the functions of the processing device 30 may be built into the touch operation display 10.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an operating surface of the touch operation display 10 and a view showing an example of a method of mapping two control parameters on the operating surface.

[0016] In the first embodiment, the touch operation display 10 functions as an operating panel for setting an air blast amount and a temperature of an air-conditioning device. Hence, the two control parameters pertain respectively to the air blast amount (the amount of air blasted by the air-conditioning device) and the temperature (the temperature of the air blasted by the air-conditioning device). In other words, the touch operation display 10 is operated to set and adjust the air blast amount and the temperature of the air-conditioning device.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the touch operation display 10 includes an operating surface that extends in two dimensions. The air blast amount and the temperature are associated with (mapped to) respective axial directions of the operating surface such that a two-dimensional map is defined as a whole. Note, however, that an inactive site (an insensitive site) may be set on an edge portion of the operating surface. In other words, a region of the operating surface other than the edge portion may be used as an effective region.

[0018] Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the air blast amount is associated with the ordinate and the temperature is associated with the abscissa. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the air blast amount is preferably allocated to the operating surface of the touch operation display 10 so as to increase toward an upper side position and decrease toward a lower side position. Note that the air blast amount may be set in a predetermined number of stages (five stages, for example), and in this case, the operating surface of the touch operation display 10 may be divided into N equal parts in the ordinate direction so that the N stages of the air blast amount are allocated to the respective parts. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, the temperature is preferably allocated to the operating surface of the touch operation display 10 so as to increase toward a right side position and decrease toward a left side position. Note that the temperature may be set in intervals of a predetermined set width (0.5°C units, for example) within a predetermined set temperature range (16 degrees to 30 degrees, for example), and in this case, the operating surface of the touch operation display 10 may be divided into M equal parts in the abscissa direction so that temperatures of the predetermined set width are allocated to the respective parts. In a configuration where the temperature can be set in set width intervals of 0.5°C within a set temperature range of 16 degrees to 30 degrees, the number of partitions M of the operating surface is 29 (= (30-16)/0.5 + 1). Also note that different set temperature ranges may be set for a heating operation and a cooling operation.

[0019] Hence, according to the example shown in FIG. 3, the air blast amount and the temperature can be set simultaneously at a desired air blast amount and a desired temperature through a single operation. For example, when the user wishes to cool the vehicle interior immediately in the middle of summer or the like, the user can designate (set) a maximum air blast amount and a minimum temperature simultaneously by designating (touching, for example) an upper left position (a two-dimensional position) on the touch operation display 10. Further, when the user wishes to heat the vehicle interior immediately in the middle of winter or the like, the user can designate (set) the maximum air blast amount and a maximum temperature simultaneously by touching an upper right position (a two-dimensional position) on the touch operation display 10. Moreover, a large air blast amount side is set to correspond to the upper side of the operating surface of the touch operation display 10 and a high temperature side is set to correspond to the right side of the operating surface of the touch operation display 10, and since these settings align with typical human intuition, favorable operability is realized. Note, however, that the large air blast amount side may be set to correspond to the lower side of the operating surface of the touch operation display 10, and the high temperature side may be set to correspond to the left side of the operating surface of the touch operation display 10.

[0020] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the air blast amount is associated with the ordinate and the temperature is associated with the abscissa. However, these associations may be reversed. In other words, the temperature may be associated with the ordinate and the air blast amount may be associated with the abscissa. Likewise in this case, the temperature is preferably allocated so as to increase toward an upper side position and decrease toward a lower side position, and the air blast amount is preferably allocated to increase toward a right side position and decrease toward a left side position.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows only an example of a mapping method, and in FIG. 3, no particular display has been output to the operating surface of the touch operation display 10. However, an information display 70 such as that to be described below with reference to FIG. 4 and so on may be output to the operating surface of the touch operation display 10.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing examples of operating screens (air blast amount/temperature setting screens) output to a display surface of the touch operation display 10 and views showing examples of forms in which the information display 70 is output. Note that in this example, the operation function and the display function of the touch operation display 10 are integrated, and therefore the display surface of the touch operation display 10 is defined in a region corresponding to the operating surface of the touch operation display 10.

[0023] The information display 70 is output onto the display surface of the touch operation display 10 in a two-dimensional position designated in accordance with user input (i.e., two-dimensional position of a point on the operation surface designated by user input). In an example shown in FIG. 4A, an upper right position (a two-dimensional position) on the touch operation display 10 has been designated by the user, and therefore the information display 70 is output to the upper right position of the touch operation display 10 (i.e. the two-dimensional position designated by the user). Further, in an example shown in FIG. 4B, a lower left position on the touch operation display 10 has been designated by the user, and therefore the information display 70 is output to the lower left position of the touch operation display 10. The display position of the information display 70 is thus modified in accordance with the two-dimensional position designated by the user on the touch operation display 10. As a result, the user can comprehend a current setting condition on the basis of the two-dimensional position in which the information display 70 is displayed on the touch operation display 10.

[0024] Here, the information display 70 may be any desired display, but preferably represents at least one of the two control parameters (in this example, the air blast amount and the temperature) directly or indirectly. Further, the information display 70 may take the form of an icon. In the examples shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the information display 70 includes an image (to be referred to hereafter as a fan blade display) 72 representing fan blades, for example. As is evident from a comparison of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fan blade display 72 is output in a steadily larger size as the set air blast amount increases. In other words, the fan blade display 72 is output to the display surface of the touch operation display 10 in a larger size in an upper side position and a smaller size in a lower side position. As a result, the user can comprehend the air blast amount set in the output position (the ordinate direction position) of the fan blade display 72 intuitively by observing the size of the fan blade display 72 on the display surface of the touch operation display 10.

[0025] Further, in the examples shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the information display 70 includes a number display 74 representing the temperature set in accordance with the two-dimensional position designated by the user input. Hence, the number display 74 is output to the display surface of the touch operation display 10 so as to show a larger number in right side positions and a smaller number in left side positions. As a result, the user can comprehend the temperature set in the output position (the abscissa direction position) of the number display 74 intuitively by observing the number on the number display 74 on the display surface of the touch operation display 10. As is evident from a comparison of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the number display 74 may be output in a steadily larger size as the set air blast amount increases. In other words, the number display .74 may be output so as to represent the set air blast amount in addition to the set temperature.

[0026] Note that the information display 70 is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 4 A and 4B, and may be realized in many forms. For example, in the examples shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, one of the fan blade display 72 and the number display 74 may be omitted from the information display 70. Variation in the size of one or both may also be omitted. Further, in the examples shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fan blade display 72 is surrounded by a circular frame display, but the circular frame display may be omitted. Alternatively, in the examples shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fan blade display 72 may be output in a rotating form so as to represent intuitively the rotation of fan blades. More specifically, the fan blade display 72 may be output so as to rotate about a central position thereof. - In this case, a rotation speed of the fan blade display 72 may be varied to increase as the set air blast amount increases. In other words, the fan blade display 72 may be output to the display surface of the touch operation display 10 so as to rotate at a higher rotation speed in an upper side position and a lower rotation speed in a lower side position. In so doing, the user can comprehend the air blast amount set in the output position (the ordinate direction position) of the fan blade display 72 intuitively by looking at the rotation speed of the fan blade display 72 on the display surface of the touch operation display 10.

[0027] As shown schematically in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the information display 70 may be configured to move over the display surface of the touch operation display 10 in response to a drag operation performed by the user. In this case, the information display 70 is moved to a desired position of the user while varying in size and so on. Alternatively, the information display 70 may be configured to move instantaneously to a position touched by the user. Further, when the air blast amount/temperature setting screen is called up, the information display 70 may be output in a default position, a previous set position, or an optimum position (a recommended position) calculated by measuring a sensor value such as an outside air temperature or an inside air temperature.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the display surface of the touch operation display 10 and a view showing an example of a form in which a background display 76 is output to the display surface. Note that the background display 76 shown in FIG. 5 may be applied to the examples shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B (i.e. combined with the examples shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B). In other words, the background display 76 may be output as a background to an information display 70 such as those shown in FIGS. 4A arid 4B.

[0029] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the background display 76 shows color variation (gradation) corresponding to a temperature distribution on the operating surface of the touch operation display 10. For convenience, FIG. 5 is depicted in monochrome, but specifically, the background display 76 is output to the display surface of the touch operation display 10 in a gradually deeper shade of red in right side positions and a gradually deeper shade of blue in left side positions. Note that an arbitrary light color (yellow, for example) gradation is used on a boundary between the red and the blue. As a result, the user can comprehend temperatures set in respective positions (abscissa direction positions) of the display surface of the touch operation display 10 intuitively by looking at the color of the background display 76 on the display surface.

[0030] Further, the information display 70 (the fan blade display 72 and/or the number display 74) may be output so as to change color in alignment with the color variation of the background display 76. More specifically, the information display 70 may be colored on the display surface of the touch operation display 10 so as to turn a gradually deeper shade of red in right side positions and a gradually deeper shade of blue in left side positions. As a result, the user can comprehend the temperature set in the output position (the abscissa direction position) of the information display 70 intuitively by looking at the color of the information display 70 on the display surface of the touch operation display 10.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of air blast amount temperature setting processing realized by the processing device 30 according to the first embodiment. The processing routine shown in FIG. 6 is activated when, for example, the air blast amount/temperature setting screen (see FIG. 4) is called up onto the display surface of the touch operation display 10, and executed repeatedly thereafter at predetermined period intervals until the air blast amount/temperature setting screen is modified to another operating screen, a map display, or the like. Note that when the air blast amount/temperature setting screen is called up, a predetermined initial screen may be output to the touch operation display 10. In the predetermined initial screen, the information display 70 may be output together with the background display 76, and the information display 70 may be output in the aforesaid default position or the like. Alternatively, the information display 70 may appear in response to an initial operation of the user rather than being output in the initial screen. Further, the air blast amount/temperature setting screen may be called up in response to a user operation (for example, an operation to select a manual mode of the air-conditioning device).

[0032] In Step 600, a determination is made as to whether or not a predetermined two-dimensional position designation operation performed by the user on the touch operation display 10 has been detected. The predetermined two-dimensional position designation operation may be a touch operation performed on the operating surface of the touch operation display 10, a drag operation (an operation to move the information display 70) accompanying the touch operation, or a scroll operation accompanying the touch operation. When a two-dimensional position designation operation has been detected, the routine advances to Step 602, and when a two-dimensional position designation operation has not been detected, the routine returns to Step 600 in order to perform the processing of a subsequent period.

[0033] In Step 602, the information display 70 is output to (or moved over) the touch operation display 10 in accordance with the two-dimensional position detected in Step 600. In this case, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the position, shape, and so on of the information display 70 may be modified in accordance with the two-dimensional position detected in Step 600. Note that the two-dimensional position designated by the user on the touch operation display 10 may be detected in any desired manner. When the touch operation display 10 is constituted by a transparent conductive film, four terminals may be connected to the four corners of the transparent conductive film, an alternating current may be passed through the terminals, and a contact position (a two-dimensional position) on the transparent conductive film may be detected on the basis of the current flowing to the respective terminals, as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-147895 (JP 2006-147895 A), for example. Further, in a case where the two-dimensional position designation operation is a scroll operation, a position of a movement destination of the information display 70 when the information display 70 is scrolled from a current output position by a scroll amount and in a scroll direction corresponding to the scroll operation may be detected as the two-dimensional position designated by the user.

[0034] In Step 604, a determination is made as to whether or not the two-dimensional position designation operation detected in Step 600 is complete. For example, when the two-dimensional position designation operation is a single touch operation, it may be determined that the designation operation is complete when the touch operation is detected. When the two-dimensional position designation operation is a drag operation, on the other hand, it may be determined that the designation operation is complete when the drag operation is terminated (when a finger is removed from the information display 70 so as to be no longer in contact therewith). When the two-dimensional position designation operation detected in Step 600 is complete, the routine advances to Step 606, and in all other cases, the routine returns to Step 602, where the information display 70 is moved or the like in response to the continuing two-dimensional position designation operation.

[0035] In Step 606, the two control parameters (in this example, the air blast amount and the temperature) are set in accordance with current two-dimensional position of the information display 70 (i.e. the two-dimensional position designated in the designation operation detected in Step 600). At this time, the processing device 30 may set the two control parameters by referring to a two-dimensional map (a map defining a relationship between the two-dimensional position and the air blast amount and temperature) such as that described above with reference to FIG. 3 from a memory. Here, the processing device 30 may generate and output operation signals representing the two set control parameters. Setting results of the two control parameters are reflected in control of the air-conditioning device.^■ More specifically, the air-conditioning ECU controls various instruments such that the air blast amount and temperature thus set are realized. Various methods and instruments may be employed in this control, and desired instruments may be controlled using a desired method. For example, the air-conditioning ECU may control a blower motor (a fan) to realize the set air blast amount. Further, the air-conditioning ECU may control an actuator that adjusts an opening of an air mix door, a heater, a compressor, an electric water pump, or the like to realize the set temperature.

[0036] Hence, according to the processing shown in FIG. 6, when setting the air blast amount and the temperature, the user can set a desired air blast amount and a desired temperature simultaneously through a single operation simply by designating a two-dimensional position corresponding respectively to the desired air blast amount and the desired temperature on the touch operation display 10. As a result, a reduction in laboriousness and an improvement in operability can be achieved in comparison with a case where the air blast amount and the temperature are set through separate operations.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of another application of the vehicle operating device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing this application example.

[0038] The touch operation display 10 has an inbuilt display function and may therefore be used independently. Alternatively, as shown in the application example of FIG. 7, the touch operation display 10 may be used in conjunction with a presentation display 20. In this case, the presentation display 20 is disposed in a position that can be seen easily by the user, and preferably a position that can be seen by the driver without the need to vary a field of vision greatly while driving. The presentation display 20 may be disposed in a central portion of an instrument panel upper surface, for example. The presentation display 20 is constituted by a desired display device such as a liquid crystal display. The presentation display 20 need be provided only with a display function (in other words, the presentation display 20 may be a display on which touch operations cannot be performed). However, the presentation display 20 may be a display on which touch operations can be performed, similarly to the touch operation display 10. Note that a display surface of the presentation display 20 may be set to be larger than the display surface of the touch operation display 10.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 8, the processing device 30 is connected to both the touch Operation display 10 and the presentation display 20. The connection between the processing device 30 and the touch operation display 10 and presentation display 20 may be realized either by wire or wirelessly and either directly or indirectly. The processing device 30 performs processing for generating and outputting displays on both the touch operation display 10 and the presentation display 20, and processing for realizing various functions corresponding to various operations performed on the touch operation display 10. Further, all or a part of the functions of the processing device 30 may be built into the touch operation display 10 and/or the presentation display 20.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of main processing realized by the processing device 30 according to this application example. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view relating to the processing shown in FIG. 9 and a view showing examples of screens (screen variation) displayed on the touch operation display 10 and the presentation display 20 in relation to the processing shown in FIG. 9. In FIG. 10, screen conditions of the touch operation display 10 are shown on the left side of the figure and screen conditions of the presentation display 20 are shown on the right side of the figure.

[0041] The flowchart of FIG. 9 will now be described with reference to FIG. 10. The processing routine shown in FIG. 9 is activated when an ignition switch is turned ON, for example, and executed repeatedly thereafter at predetermined period intervals until the ignition switch is turned OFF.

[0042] Note that in a call-up standby condition (a selection standby condition), as shown in SI 000 of FIG. 10, a launcher selection screen is output to the touch operation display 10 to enable call-up (selection) of launcher items LA, LB, LC, LD, LE. Further, as shown in SI 002 of FIG. 10, information items IA, IB, IC_> ¾, IE corresponding respectively to the launcher items LA, LB, LC, LD, LE are output to the presentation display 20. Here, for example, the launcher item Lc is assumed to correspond to a function for setting the air blast amount and temperature of the air-conditioning device. Note that the information itemsU_> IB_> IC, ID, IE may be output to the presentation display 20 in the form of icons, and an alphabetic display indicating "air blast amount/temperature setting" may be attached to the icon corresponding to the information item Ic. Alternatively, a display representing current air blast amount and temperature settings may be output on the icon relating to the information item Ic.

[0043] In Step 900, a determination is made as to whether or not a scroll operation has been detected on the touch operation display 10. The scroll operation may be an operation for scrolling the screen on the presentation display 20, and the screen on the touch operation display 10 in accompaniment therewith, in a left-right direction. When a scroll operation has been detected on the touch operation display 10, the routine advances to Step 902, and when a scroll operation has not been detected, the routine advances to Step 904.

[0044] In Step 902, the screen on the presentation display 20 is scrolled in response to the scroll operation performed on the touch operation display 10, and the screen on the touch operation display 10 is scrolled in conjunction therewith. For example, as shown schematically by a hand movement in SI 000 of FIG. 10, when the user moves a finger from left to right on the touch operation display 10, the screen on the presentation display 20 is scrolled rightward and the screen on the touch operation display 10 is scrolled rightward in conjunction therewith. Note that the scroll amount may be modified in accordance with a movement amount and a movement speed of the finger on the touch operation display 10. When processing corresponding to the scroll operation is complete, the routine returns to Step 900 in order to perform the processing of a subsequent period. Hence, by performing a scroll operation on the touch operation display 10 while viewing the screen on the presentation display 20, which is disposed on a vehicle front side, the user can move a desired information item to a selectable position on the presentation display 20.

[0045] In Step 904, a determination is made as to whether or not an operation to select a launcher item has been detected on the touch operation display 10. The selection operation is an operation for selecting a single desired launcher item from the plurality of selectable launcher items on the touch operation display 10. The selection operation may be realized by touching the launcher item to be selected on the touch operation display 10 or by moving the launcher item to be selected on the touch operation display 10 in a downward direction of the screen while touching the desired launcher item (in other words, by a downward drag operation). The latter operation corresponds in a sensory fashion to an operation (see SI 006, SI 008 of FIG. 10) for importing (moving) a specific information item on the presentation display 20 to the touch operation display 10, to be described below. When a launcher item selection operation has been detected on the touch operation display 10, the routine advances to Step 906, and when a selection operation has not been detected, the routine returns to Step 900 in order to perform the processing of a subsequent period.

[0046] Note that the selectable launcher items on the touch operation display 10 may be any of the launcher items displayed on the touch operation display 10 at the time of the selection operation. On the screen shown in SI 000 of FIG. 10, for example, the launcher items LB, LC, LD are selectable. Alternatively, the selectable launcher items on the touch operation display 10 may be limited to the launcher item corresponding to the information item positioned directly in the center of the screen of the presentation display 20 at the time of the selection operation (the information item Ic on a screen shown in S1002 of FIG. 10). In this case, the information item positioned directly in the center of the screen of the presentation display 20 at the time of the selection operation is selected regardless of the position in which the selection operation (a downward drag operation, for example) is performed on the touch operation display 10. According to this configuration, the user can perform an operation to select a desired launcher item by looking only at the screen of the presentation display 20, i.e. without looking at the touch operation display 10. In this case, therefore, display of the launcher items on the touch operation display 10 may be omitted.

[0047] In Step 906, the information item corresponding to the launcher item selected on the touch operation display 10 is deleted from the screen on the presentation display 20 in response to the launcher item selection operation performed on the touch operation display 10. In the example shown in FIG. 10, when the launcher item Lc, for example, is selected (see SI 004), the screen on the presentation display 20 transitions from the screen shown in S I 002, which includes the information item Ic, to a screen shown in S 1006 from which the information item Ic has been deleted.

[0048] In Step 908, the selected launcher item (a corresponding application, for example) is activated on the touch operation display 10 in response to the launcher item selection operation performed on the touch operation display 10. As a result, an operation screen corresponding to the selected launcher item (i.e. the selected information item) is output to the touch operation display 10 (see SI 008 in FIG. 10). Hence, in combination with the processing of Step 906 described above, the user can be provided with a sense that the information item selected on the presentation display 20 has moved to the touch operation display 10. Accordingly, a sense of unity between the touch operation display 10 and the presentation display 20 (a sense that the touch operation display 10 and the presentation display 20 together realize a single operating device) can be heightened. For example, when the launcher item Lc is selected, an operating screen such as that shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B (the air blast amount/temperature setting screen) can be output directly to the touch operation display 10. Note that when the launcher item Lc is selected, a predetermined initial screen (an operating screen) may be output to the presentation display 20. In the predetermined initial screen on the presentation display 20, the information display 70 shown in FIG. 4 may be output together with the background display 76 shown in FIG. 5, and the information display 70 may be output in the default position or the like, as described above. Alternatively, the information display 70 may appear in response to an initial operation of the user rather than being output in the initial screen.

[0049] In Step 910, a determination is made as to whether or not a return operation has been detected on the touch operation display 10. The return operation is an operation for returning from a condition in which a desired launcher item has been selected. Specifically, the return operation may be realized by operating a "return" switch (key) (see SI 013 in FIG. 10). The "return" switch may be set in a predetermined position on the operating screen of the touch operation display 10. On the screen shown in SI 013 of FIG. 10, for example, the "return" switch is constituted by a switch printed with alphabetic characters "BACK" and set on an end (an upper right corner in the illustrated example) of the operating screen on the touch operation display 10. The "return" switch may be set initially on the operating screen output in Step 908. When a return operation has been detected on the touch operation display 10, the routine advances to Step 914, and when a return operation has not been detected, the routine advances to Step 911.

[0050] In Step 911 , processing corresponding to the selected launcher item is executed. Here, a case in which the launcher item Lc has been selected is envisaged. In this case, the air blast amount/temperature setting processing described above with reference to FIG. 6 is executed in response to a two-dimensional position designation operation (see SI 012 in FIG. 10) performed by the user. The air blast amount/temperature setting processing described with reference to FIG. 6 is terminated when a return operation performed by the user after completing the setting is detected, for example, whereupon the routine advances to Step 914.

[0051] In Step 914, the information item deleted in Step 906 is returned to the screen on the presentation display 20 in response to the return operation performed on the touch operation display 10. In other words, the screen on the presentation display 20 is returned to the condition prior to the processing of Step 906 (see S1014 in FIG. 10). Note that from the processing of Step 906 to the processing of Step 914, the screen on the presentation display 20 may be maintained in the condition following the processing of Step 906, or in other words the condition in which the selected information item has been deleted (see S 1006 in FIG. 10).

[0052] In Step 916, the screen on the touch operation display 10 is returned to the launcher selection screen (see SI 000 or SI 004 in FIG. 10) from the air blast amount/temperature setting screen (see FIGS. 4 A and 4B) in response to the return operation performed on the touch operation display 10, whereupon the routine returns to Step 900 in order to perform the processing of a subsequent period. As a result, in combination with the processing of Step 914 described above, the user can be provided with a sense that the operation screen on the touch operation display 10 has been returned to the presentation display 20, thereby heightening the sense of unity between the touch operation display 10 and the presentation display 20.

[0053] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement of a touch panel 11 and the presentation display 20 of a vehicle operating device 2 according to another embodiment (a second embodiment) of the invention. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a principal configuration of the vehicle operating device 2 according to the second embodiment.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 12, the vehicle operating device 2 includes a touch panel 11 , the presentation display 20, and a processing device 31. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that the touch panel 11 and the presentation display 20 cooperate to function as an operating panel for setting the air blast amount and the temperature of the air-conditioning device. In the second embodiment, in other words, a display function of the operating panel is realized by the presentation display 20. Accordingly, a display surface (the presentation display 20) of the operating panel is provided in a remote position. Note that the information display 70 and the background display 76 differ from the first embodiment in being output to the presentation display 20, but are identical to those described in the first embodiment in terms of the form in which they are displayed and so on. The following description focuses only on configurations that are unique to the second embodiment.

[0055] The touch panel 11 does not have a display function. As shown in FIG. 11 , the touch panel 11 is disposed in a position where it can be operated easily by the user, and preferably in a position where the driver can perform an operation simply by extending his/her arm. For example, the touch panel 11 may be disposed in the center console portion or on the instrument panel. The principle by which a touch operation is detected on the touch panel 11 may be a pressure sensitive principle or an electrostatic principle, as desired. Note that the touch operation includes a touch operation using a finger and a touch operation using an instrument such as a pen (a stylus). The touch panel 11 includes an operating surface that extends in two dimensions, similarly to the touch operation display 10 described with reference to FIG. 3. Further, the air blast amount and the temperature are associated with (mapped to) respective axial directions of the operating surface such that a two-dimensional map is defined as a whole.

[0056] The configuration and arrangement of the presentation display 20 are similar to those of the presentation display 20 described with reference to FIG. 7.

[0057] The configuration of the processing device 31 may be similar to that of the processing device 30 according to the first embodiment described above. As shown in FIG. 12, the processing device 31 is connected to the touch panel 11 and the presentation display 20. The connection between the processing device 31 and the touch panel 11 and presentation display 20 may be realized either by wire or wirelessly and either directly or indirectly. The processing device 31 performs processing for generating and outputting displays on the presentation display 20, and processing for realizing various functions corresponding to various operations performed on the touch panel 11. Further, all or a part of the functions of the processing device 31 may be built into the touch panel 11 and/or the presentation display 20.

[0058] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of air blast amount/temperature setting processing realized by the processing device 31 according to the second embodiment.

[0059] The processing routine shown in FIG. 13 is activated when, for example, the air blast amount/temperature setting screen (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) is called up onto the presentation display 20, and executed repeatedly thereafter at predetermined period intervals until the air blast amount/temperature setting screen is modified to another operating screen, a map display, or the like. Note that when the air blast/temperature setting screen is called up, a predetermined initial screen may be output to the presentation display 20. The information display 70 shown in FIG. 4 may be output together with the background display 76 shown in FIG. 5 in the predetermined initial screen on the presentation display 20, and at this time, the information display 70 may be output in the aforesaid default position or the like. Alternatively, the information display 70 may appear in response to an initial operation of the user rather than being output in the initial screen. Further, the air blast amount/temperature setting screen may be called up in response to a user operation (for example, an operation to select a manual mode of the air-conditioning device).

[0060] In Step 1300, a determination is made as to whether or not a predetermined two-dimensional position designation operation has been detected on the touch panel 11. The predetermined two-dimensional position designation operation may be a touch operation performed on the operating surface of the touch panel 11, a drag operation (an operation to move the information display 70) accompanying the touch operation, or a scroll operation accompanying the touch operation. When a two-dimensional position designation operation has been detected, the routine advances to Step 1302, and when a two-dimensional position designation operation has not been detected, the routine returns to Step 1300 in order to perform the processing of a subsequent period.

[0061] In Step 1302, the information display 70 is output to (or moved over) the presentation display 20 in accordance with the two-dimensional position detected in Step 1300. In this case, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the position, shape, and so on of the information display 70 may be modified in accordance with the two-dimensional position detected in Step 1300. Note that the two-dimensional position designated by the user on the touch panel 11 may be detected in any desired manner.

[0062] In Step 1304, a determination is made as to whether or not the two-dimensional position designation operation detected in Step 1300 is complete. When the two-dimensional position designation operation detected in Step 1300 is complete, the routine advances to Step 1306, and in all other cases, the routine returns to Step 1302, where the information display 70 is moved or the like in response to the continuing two-dimensional position designation operation.

[0063] In Step 1306, the two control parameters (in this example, the air blast amount and the temperature) are set in accordance with current two-dimensional position of the information display 70 (i.e. the two-dimensional position designated in the designation operation detected in Step 1300). At this time, the processing device 31 may set the two control parameters by referring to a two-dimensional map (a map defining the relationship between the two-dimensional position and the air blast amount and temperature) such as that described above with reference to FIG. 3 from the memory. The setting results are reflected in control of the air-conditioning device.

[0064] Hence, likewise with the processing shown in FIG. 13, when setting the air blast amount and the temperature, the user can set a desired air blast amount and a desired temperature simultaneously through a single operation simply by designating a two-dimensional position corresponding respectively to the desired air blast amount and the desired temperature on the touch panel 1 1. As a result, a reduction in laboriousness and an improvement in operability can be achieved in comparison with a case where the air blast amount and the temperature are set through separate operations. Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, an operating unit (the touch panel 11) is disposed in a position located closer to the driver while a display unit (the presentation display 20) is disposed in a position (on the vehicle front side) located further from the driver, and therefore the user can operate the touch panel 1 1 located at hand while viewing the display on the presentation display 20 located on the vehicle front side. Note that in the second embodiment, an image of the hand of the user who operates the touch panel 11 may be captured, and the hand image or a hand display based on the hand image may be superimposed onto the operating screen displayed on the presentation display 20. With this configuration, the user can comprehend the position of his/her hand on the touch panel 11 by looking at the presentation display 20, and can therefore set the air blast amount and the temperature without viewing the touch panel 11.

[0065] Embodiments of the invention were described above, but the invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions may be applied to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0066] For example, in the above embodiments, the two control parameters are the air blast amount and the temperature of the air-conditioning device. The air blast amount and the temperature of the air-conditioning device are parameters which are related to each other as the control parameters of the air-conditioning device, but which can be set independently, and are therefore suitable as an embodiment of the invention. However, the two control parameters may be any parameters that can be set independently of each other. For example, the two control parameters may be a front-rear position of a seat (a control parameter of an actuator that moves the seat backward and forward) and a seat back angle of the seat (a control parameter of an actuator that modifies the seat back angle of the seat). Further, the two control parameters may be a volume of in-vehicle audio and either a tempo (a rhythm) or a key of reproduced music. Alternatively, the two control parameters may be a volume of a TV and a brightness of a video image. The two control parameters may also be a hardness (a damping factor) of a suspension device and a vehicle height. Note that the two control parameters do not include a latitude and a longitude of a destination set on a map display of a navigation device since the latitude and longitude cannot be considered as control parameters.

[0067] Further, the two control parameters are associated with positions within the display region of the touch operation display 10 (or the touch panel 11 ; likewise hereafter) in the above embodiments, but may be associated with positions outside the display region. In this case, a scroll operation may be used to set a value associated with a position outside the display region. Further, a specific region of the operating screen of the touch operation display 10 may be enlarged in response to a press and hold operation or an operation to spread two fingers touching the screen vertically or horizontally, for example. On the operating screen shown in FIGS. 4 A and 4B, for example, the abscissa direction of the operating screen may be enlarged in response to an operation to spread two fingers touching the operating screen horizontally. In so doing, a desired value can be designated easily even when the control parameter set in the abscissa direction has a high density, for example.

[0068] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, it is possible to set only a single set of respective desired values of the air blast amount and the temperature of the air-conditioning device. In another configuration, however, it may be made possible to set variation in the respective values over time. For example, a user who wishes to increase the air blast amount at first in order to cool (or heat) the vehicle rapidly but then to reduce the air blast amount once the vehicle has been cooled (or heated) to a certain extent may be permitted to set initial desired values and steady state desired values on the touch operation display 10. In this case, two information displays 70, namely an initial information display and a steady state information display, may be displayed so that this setting can be realized by moving the respective information displays 70 to desired two-dimensional positions on the touch operation display 10 (or the presentation display 20).

[0069] Moreover, in the above embodiments, the vehicle operating device 1 was described as an example, but the invention may be realized as an operating device for another application (an operating device for household air-conditioning or industrial air-conditioning, for example).

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An operating device comprising:

an operating panel that includes an operating surface extending in two dimensions; and

a processing device that sets a first control parameter and a second control parameter simultaneously on the basis of a two-dimensional position of a designated point on the operating surface designated by user input such that the first control parameter is set in accordance with a first position of the designated point in a first axial direction of the operating surface and the second control parameter is set in accordance with a second position of the designated point in a second axial direction of the operating surface,

wherein the first control parameter and the second control parameter are mutually independent control parameters for controlling an instrument.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the instrument is an air-conditioning device installed in a vehicle;

the first control parameter is a parameter pertaining to an air blast amount of the air-conditioning device; and

the second control parameter is a parameter pertaining to an air blast temperature of the air-conditioning device.

3. The operating device according to claim 2, wherein the processing device sets the first control parameter such that the air blast amount of the air-conditioning device increases as the first position shifts toward an upper side of the operating surface, and sets the second control parameter such that the air blast temperature of the air-conditioning device increases as the second position shifts toward a right side of the operating surface.

4. The operating device according to claim 2, wherein the processing device sets the first control parameter such that the air blast amount of the air-conditioning device increases as the first position shifts toward a right side of the operating surface, and sets the second control parameter such that the air blast temperature of the air-conditioning device increases as the second position shifts toward an upper side of the operating surface.

5. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

the operating panel includes a display surface; and

the processing device outputs a predetermined information display onto the display surface of the operating panel in the two-dimensional position of the designated point.

6. The operating device according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined information display is modified in accordance with the two-dimensional position of the designated point.

7. The operating device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the predetermined information display represents at least one of the air blast amount and the air blast temperature of the air-conditioning device, set in accordance with the two-dimensional position of the designated point.

8. The operating device according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined information display includes an image representing fan blades.

9. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein the image representing fan blades is output such that a size of the image representing fan blades increases as the air blast amount of the air-conditioning device, set in accordance with the two-dimensional position of the designated point, increases.

10. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein: the image representing fan blades is output so as to rotate; and

a rotation speed of the image representing fan blades increases as the air blast amount of the air-conditioning device, set in accordance with the two-dimensional position of the designated point, increases.

11. The operating device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the image representing fan blades is output so as to change color in accordance with the two-dimensional position of the designated point.

12. The operating device according to claim 11, wherein the image representing fan blades is output in a gradually deeper shade of red as the air blast temperature of the air-conditioning device, set in accordance with the two-dimensional position of the designated point, increases, and in a gradually deeper shade of blue as the air blast temperature of the air-conditioning device decreases.

13. The operating device according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the predetermined information display includes a number display representing the air blast temperature of the air-conditioning device set in accordance with the two-dimensional position of the designated point.

14. The operating device according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein:

the processing device outputs a predetermined background display onto the display surface of the operating panel; and

the predetermined background display changes color in accordance with the second position.

15. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein:

the processing device outputs a predetermined background display onto the display surface of the operating panel; and the predetermined background display turns a gradually deeper shade of red as the second position shifts toward the right side of the operating surface and turns a gradually deeper shade of blue as the second position shifts toward a left side of the operating surface.

16. The operating device according to claim 4, wherein:

the predetermined background display turns a gradually deeper shade of red as the second position shifts toward the upper side of the operating surface and turns a gradually deeper shade of blue as the second position shifts toward a lower side of the operating surface.

17. An operating method using an operating panel that includes an operating surface extending in two dimensions, the operating method comprising

setting a first control parameter and a second control parameter simultaneously on the basis of a two-dimensional position of a designated point on the operating surface designated by user input such that the first control parameter is set in accordance with a first position of the designated point in a first axial direction of the operating surface and the second control parameter is set in accordance with a second position of the designated point in a second axial direction of the operating surface,