Touch panel inputting device

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a touch panel input device in which a touch panel is arranged on a display screen and input is performed by pressing a range of the touch panel corresponding to the operation buttons displayed on the screen, and in particular, a touch panel corresponding to the operation buttons displayed on the screen. The present invention relates to a touch panel input device capable of changing the input acceptance range of.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Touch panel input devices used in OA equipment, AV equipment, in-vehicle equipment, etc. have a touch panel arranged on the screen of the display device, display multiple operation buttons on the screen, and the range on the touch panel corresponding to each operation button. The operation is input by pressing. The user operates the device by pressing the operation button displayed on the screen.

【0003】

In such a touch panel input device, for example, there is a resistance film type touch panel. The resistance film type touch panel is an analog touch panel having resistance films provided on the upper and lower layers, and a voltage corresponding to the contact position of the upper and lower layers when pressed. Data is extracted, the pressing position is specified from the voltage data of the X-axis and Y-axis and output to the control unit, and the control unit accepts the operation corresponding to the pressed position and performs a predetermined operation. ing. In the conventional touch panel input device, the size of the operation buttons displayed on the display screen and the size of the acceptance range corresponding to the operation buttons of the touch panel arranged on the display screen are predetermined sizes with respect to the operation buttons. Correspondingly set.

【0004】

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the operation buttons displayed on the screen and the input acceptance range of the touch panel. The input acceptance range is set on the touch panel corresponding to the operation button display, but the acceptance range is set smaller than the button display as shown in Fig. 9 (a), and the button display is set as shown in Fig. 9 (b). Some have the same size as the acceptance range, and some have a larger acceptance range than the button display, as shown in Fig. 9 (c). In any case, the user sees the button display and presses on the desired operation button to perform the input operation.

【0005】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

By the way, some input devices for in-vehicle devices also use a touch panel. In the in-vehicle device, there are items to be operated while the vehicle is stopped and items to be operated while the vehicle is running. When the vehicle is operated while the vehicle is stopped, the user pays close attention to the operation buttons displayed on the screen. Therefore, it is possible to easily press the range corresponding to the desired button, but when the vehicle operates the device while driving, especially when trying to operate the device while driving, the screen is watched. However, it is difficult to press the button, and it may be pushed outside the acceptance range. That is, when the vehicle is running, the button is often pushed outside the acceptance range as compared with when the vehicle is stopped, and the operability may be felt to be poor. Therefore, if a larger reception range than the button display is set, the input acceptance probability will increase even while driving. However, if the button acceptance range is simply increased compared to the button display, the button display will be displayed when the vehicle is stopped. Since the input is accepted when the position other than is pressed, there is a problem that the user feels uncomfortable.

【0006】

Further, when a resistance film type touch panel is used as the touch panel, the detected pressing position is detected deviating from the actual pressing position depending on the temperature characteristics of the resistance film in a low temperature or high temperature environment. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, there is a difference between the operation button display and the actual input acceptance range, and there is a case where the input is not accepted even though the button display is pressed.

【0007】

Also, when pressing a button displayed on the screen, depending on the positional relationship between the screen and the operator, the display position of the button display to be pressed in the panel, and the presence or absence of adjacent button display, the vicinity of the center of the button display Experiments by the present inventor have shown that each button tends to shift in a certain direction, not necessarily when the button is pressed. For example, if two buttons are displayed side by side on the screen, when you try to press one of the buttons, you tend to press a position that is offset in the direction opposite to the direction in which the other button is displayed. I know there is. Also, for example, when pressing the operation button on the screen installed on the center console in the car from the driver's seat (right seat), it was found that there is a tendency to press the position shifted to the upper left from the center of the button. There is. For this reason, even if the operator intends to press the desired button, he / she may press outside the input acceptance range, and the input may not be accepted.

【0008】

From the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel input device having good operability by changing the input acceptance range of the touch panel corresponding to the buttons displayed on the screen according to the running / stopping of the vehicle.

【0009】

Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel input device having good operability by changing the input acceptance range of the touch panel corresponding to the buttons displayed on the screen according to the ambient temperature.

【0010】

Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel input device in which the center of the input acceptance range of the touch panel with respect to the button display is set to be different from the center of the button display according to the positional relationship between the screen and the operator.

【0011】

[Means for solving problems]

According to the present invention, according to the present invention, in a touch panel input device in which a touch panel is arranged on a screen and input is performed by pressing a range corresponding to the operation buttons displayed on the screen, the operation buttons displayed on the screen are used. This is achieved by a touch panel input device provided with an input acceptance range changing means for changing the input acceptance range of the corresponding touch panel. That is, with the above configuration, the input acceptance range of the touch panel for the operation buttons displayed on the screen can be changed, and the input acceptance rate can be increased.

【0012】

Further, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is further provided with a vehicle travel detection means which is mounted on a vehicle and detects whether the vehicle is traveling or stopped, and the input acceptance range changing means detects the vehicle travel detection means. This is achieved by a touch panel input device that changes the input acceptance range of the touch panel according to the result. That is, with the above configuration, the input acceptance range can be set to the same range as the operation button display while the vehicle is stopped, and the input acceptance range can be made larger than the operation button display while the vehicle is running. It is possible to increase the acceptance rate of the input and eliminate the discomfort caused by accepting the input of the press other than the button display range when the vehicle is stopped.

【0013】

Further, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is that the touch panel is a resistive touch panel, includes temperature detecting means for detecting the ambient temperature, and the input receiving range changing means responds to the detection result of the temperature detecting means. This is achieved by a touch panel input device that changes the input acceptance range of the touch panel. That is, with the above configuration, the input acceptance range of the touch panel for the operation buttons displayed on the screen can be changed according to the ambient temperature, and even if the pressure detection position of the touch panel shifts due to the temperature change, Inputs for desired operation buttons can be accepted.

【0014】

Further, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, in a touch panel input device in which a touch panel is arranged on a screen and input is performed by pressing a range corresponding to the operation buttons displayed on the screen, the center of the operation button display on the screen. Achieved by a touch panel input device provided with an input acceptance range setting means for setting an input acceptance range wider than the operation button display range while making the center of the input acceptance range of the touch panel corresponding to the operation button different. To. That is, with the above configuration, the center of the input acceptance range of the touch panel corresponding to the operation buttons displayed on the screen can be set to be different from the center of the button display, and the operator's button can be set for each operation button. The input acceptance range can be set according to the tendency of the pressing position to deviate from the display.

【0015】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(a) First Example FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the touch panel input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The first embodiment is an example in which the touch panel input device of the present invention is applied as an operation unit of a device mounted on a vehicle. In FIG. 1, 11 is a touch panel, 12 is a display unit such as an LCD, 13 is a touch panel control unit, 14 is a control unit, and 15 is a vehicle travel detection unit.

【0016】

The touch film 11 is a resistance film type touch film, in which a pair of transparent resistance films having a resistance value of linear characteristics are superposed via a spacer, and electrodes are applied to both ends of one of the resistance films (upper transparent resistance film) in the X coordinate axis direction. The upper transparent resistance film and the lower transparent resistance film do not come into contact with each other when the resistance film surface is not pressed by providing electrodes at both ends of the other resistance film (lower transparent resistance film) in the Y coordinate axis direction. When pressed, the upper transparent resistance film and the lower transparent resistance film are configured to come into contact with each other at the pressing point at this time, and the voltage corresponding to the X-axis coordinate and the Y-axis coordinate is output to the touch panel control unit 13. It has become like.

【0017】

The touch panel control unit 13 has a function of specifying a two-dimensional coordinate position (X coordinate, Y coordinate) of a pressing point on the touch panel by the X-axis and Y-axis voltages input from the touch panel 11.

【0018】

The vehicle travel detection unit 15 detects whether the vehicle is stopped or traveling. For example, it detects whether the vehicle is stopped or traveling by an on / off signal of the parking brake, or a vehicle speed pulse signal. It detects whether the vehicle is stopped or running.

【0019】

The control unit 14 displays an operation button on the display unit 12 according to an instruction from another device, or determines which operation button is pressed based on the pressing coordinates input from the touch panel control unit 13, and presses the button. The control signal corresponding to the button is output to other devices. Further, the control unit 14 stores the input reception range for each of the two operation buttons, that is, when the vehicle is stopped and when the vehicle is running, in a memory (not shown), and the detection from the vehicle travel detection unit 15 Depending on the result, the acceptance range on the touch panel corresponding to the operation buttons displayed on the display unit 12 is set.

【0020】

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation buttons displayed on the screen and the acceptance range on the touch panel in the first embodiment. In the figure, the input acceptance range of one operation button is shown. When the vehicle is stopped, the range that overlaps with the button display is the input acceptance range for the button as shown in Fig. 2 (a), and when the vehicle is running, the range larger than the button display range is the range as shown in Fig. 2 (b). It is the input acceptance range for the button.

【0021】

The control unit 14 sets an input acceptance range for the operation buttons displayed on the screen according to the detection result of the vehicle travel detection unit 15, and the pressing coordinates input from the touch panel control unit 13 are within the button input acceptance range. If it is within the acceptance range, it accepts the input and outputs the control signal corresponding to the button to other devices.

【0022】

As described above, in the touch panel input device used for the equipment mounted on the vehicle, the acceptance range corresponding to the operation buttons displayed on the screen can be changed according to the stop and running of the vehicle.

【0023】

In the description of the first embodiment, the acceptance range while the vehicle is stopped is defined as the range overlapping the button display, and the acceptance range while the vehicle is running is defined as a range larger than the button display. The range may be smaller than the display, and the acceptance range while the vehicle is running may be a range that overlaps with the button display.

【0024】

(b) Second Example FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the touch panel input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 11 is a touch panel, 12 is a display unit such as an LCD, 13 is a touch panel control unit, 16 is a control unit, and 17 is a temperature detection unit. The touch panel 11, the display unit 12, and the touch panel control unit 13 are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

【0025】

The temperature detection unit 17 detects the ambient temperature and outputs it to the control unit 16. The control unit 16 displays an operation button on the display unit 12 according to an instruction from another device, determines which operation button is pressed based on the pressing coordinates input from the touch panel control unit 13, and presses the pressed button. The control signal corresponding to the above is output to other devices. Further, the control unit 16 stores in advance a plurality of settings of the acceptance range for the button display according to the ambient temperature. For example, the input acceptance range according to the ambient temperature is divided into a temperature range of less than 15 degrees for low temperature, 15 degrees or more and less than 40 degrees for normal temperature, and 40 degrees or more for high temperature, and input is performed for two cases: normal temperature, low temperature or high temperature. The acceptance range is stored, and the input acceptance range for each button is set according to the detection result of the temperature detection unit 17.

【0026】

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an input acceptance range of the touch panel for the operation buttons displayed on the screen in the second embodiment. In the figure, the acceptance range of one operation button is shown. In the second embodiment, it is assumed that the control unit 16 stores the setting of the reception range for the two cases of normal temperature, low temperature, and high temperature. At room temperature, as shown in Fig. 4 (a), the range that overlaps with the button display is the input acceptance range for that button, and at low or high temperatures, as shown in Fig. 4 (b), the deviation of the pressing coordinate detection due to temperature is taken into consideration. The range larger than the button display range is the acceptance range for the button.

【0027】

The control unit 16 determines whether the pressing coordinates input from the touch panel control unit 13 are within the button reception range, accepts the input if it is within the reception range, and outputs a control signal corresponding to the button to another device. Output to etc.

【0028】

By doing so, the acceptance range for the operation button display can be changed according to the ambient temperature. In particular, the button display can be placed within the input acceptance range even in a high temperature or low temperature environment, and the button input acceptance rate can be increased.

【0029】

In the description of the second embodiment, the input acceptance range with respect to the ambient temperature has been described as two types, but the input acceptance range may be set finely with respect to the ambient temperature.

【0030】

(c) Third Example FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the touch panel input device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 11 is a touch panel, 12 is a display unit such as an LCD, 13 is a touch panel control unit, and 18 is a control unit. The touch panel 11, the display unit 12, and the touch panel control unit 13 are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

【0031】

The control unit 18 stores the input acceptance range of the touch panel for the operation button display in a memory (not shown). The touch panel input device of the third embodiment sets the input acceptance range so that the center of the button display and the center of the input acceptance range are different. If it is known in advance that the button pressing position tends to deviate from the center of the button display, the center of the acceptance range is set to the direction that tends to deviate from the center position of the button display, and the range including the button display is defined as the acceptance range. To do. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the screen of the touch panel input device is arranged at the lower left of the operator's head, the pressing position of the operator with respect to each operation button on the screen is from the center of the operation button display to the upper left. I know that I tend to be one. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the results of measuring the variation in the pressing position with respect to the button display. In this case, the center of the input acceptance range of the touch panel for each operation button is set to a position different from the center of the button display in the upper left direction, and the range larger than the operation button display is set as the input acceptance range.

【0032】

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an acceptance range for the operation button display of the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the acceptance range is the range including the button display centered on a position different from the center of the button display indicated by the thick line. In this example, the pressing position tends to shift from the center of the button display toward the upper left, which is a setting example. Further, since the tendency of the pressing position to deviate from the center of the button display differs depending on the position of the button display on the screen and the positional relationship between the screen and the operator, it is preferable to set the acceptance range for each button. If it is known in advance that the touch panel input device is installed in the lower left of the operator, for example, input acceptance is performed in a range including the operation button display centered on a position shifted to the upper left from the center of each operation button display. Set to the range, and set the input acceptance range centered on the position shifted in the direction without the adjacent button with respect to the operation button with the adjacent button display.

【0033】

By doing so, the center of the input acceptance range can be set to a position different from the center of the button display for each button display, and the input acceptance range can be set. In other words, if it is known that the actual pressing position with respect to the button display tends to deviate from the center of the button display, the center of the acceptance range is set in the deviating direction, and the range including the button display is set as the input acceptance range. It is possible to increase the probability of accepting an input operation for a user's desired button.

【0034】

In the above embodiment, the shape of the operation button display and the input reception range for the operation button has been described as a rectangle, but these shapes may be circular, elliptical, or the like.

【0035】

Although the present invention has been described above by way of examples, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention described in the claims, and the present invention does not exclude these.

【0036】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the input acceptance range for the button display is set to a larger range than when the vehicle is stopped while the vehicle is running, the button input is accepted even if the operation is performed without gazing at the screen while the vehicle is running. You can increase the rate. That is, even if the outside of the button display is pressed while the vehicle is stopped, the input is not accepted, and while the vehicle is running, the input can be accepted even if the pressing position deviates slightly from the button display. Improves sex.

【0037】

Further, according to the present invention, since the input acceptance range for the button display is changed according to the ambient temperature, the input acceptance is surely performed even if the pressing position detection result of the touch panel deviates from the actual pressing position due to the temperature. It can be done and the operability is improved.

【0038】

Further, according to the present invention, when the tendency of the pressing position to deviate from the button display is known in advance, the input is accepted with a position different from the center of the button display in a direction different from the center of the button display and a range larger than that of the button display. Since the range is set, even if the pressing position deviates slightly from the button display due to the positional relationship between the screen and the operator or the button display position on the screen, the input intended by the user can be reliably accepted. It can be done and operability is improved.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a block diagram of the main part of the touch panel input device of 1st Example.

[Figure 2]

It is explanatory drawing of operation button display and input acceptance range in 1st Example.

[Fig. 3]

It is a main part block diagram of the touch panel input device of 2nd Example.

[Fig. 4]

It is explanatory drawing of operation button display and input acceptance range in 2nd Example.

[Fig. 5]

It is a block diagram of the main part of the touch panel input device of the 3rd Example.

[Fig. 6]

It is explanatory drawing of the positional relationship between a touch panel and an operator.

[Fig. 7]

It is a figure which shows the tendency of the actual pressing position with respect to a button display.

[Fig. 8]

It is explanatory drawing of the acceptance range with respect to the operation button display of 3rd Example.

[Fig. 9]

It is explanatory drawing of the input acceptance range with respect to the conventional operation button display.

[Fig. 10]

It is a figure explaining the deviation of a button display and an input acceptance range by temperature.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Touch panel 12 Display 13 Touch panel control unit 14,16,18 Control unit 15 Vehicle running detector 17 Temperature detector