JP2018124698A - Operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation device capable of suppressing variation in determination for push operations which are performed by operation forces in the same range at different places of an operational surface.SOLUTION: An operation device 1 includes: a touch pad 2 for detecting operations performed on an operational surface 20; a load detection part 4 for detecting loads F applied to the operational surface 20; and a control part 6. The control part defines a plurality of areas of the operational surface 20, on the basis of a reference point and a plurality of measurement points that are preset on the operational surface 20, to determine an area including a detection point P where an operation is detected, and corrects a determination threshold Th for determining the push operations for the operational surface 20 on the basis of: a first output value and a second output value when a reference load is applied to the reference point and the measurement points for defining the determined area; and a first distance from the reference point to the measurement point and a second distance from the reference point to the detection point P.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an operating device.

  As a conventional technique, a touch operation unit including an operation surface, a pressing pressure detection unit that is provided in the touch operation unit and detects a pressure or a load applied to the touch operation unit, and an output of the pressing pressure detection unit is a predetermined threshold value. There is known a vehicle operation device that includes a control device that detects a determination operation when the value exceeds the limit (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The control device for the vehicle operating device sets the threshold value higher when the vehicle is traveling than when the vehicle is stopped.

JP 2013-117900 A

  However, in the conventional vehicular operating device, even if the operator performs the push operation on the operation surface in the same manner, there is a possibility that the load detected depending on the location is different and the push operation is not determined.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an operating device capable of suppressing variations in determination with respect to a push operation performed with the same operating force at different locations on the operating surface.

  One aspect of the present invention includes a detection unit that detects an operation performed on the operation surface, a load detection unit that detects a load applied to the operation surface, a reference point predetermined on the operation surface, and a plurality of measurement points. Based on the operation surface, a plurality of regions are defined, a region including the detection point where the operation is detected is determined, and a reference load is applied to the reference point and the measurement point that define the determined region. Determination to determine a push operation on the operation surface based on the first output value and the second output value, the first distance from the reference point to the measurement point, and the second distance from the reference point to the detection point. An operation device is provided that includes a determination unit that corrects a threshold value.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a variation in determination with respect to a push operation performed with the same level of operation force at different locations on the operation surface.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the inside of a vehicle in which the operating device according to the embodiment is mounted, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the operating device. Yes, FIG. 1C shows an example of a block diagram of the operating device. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a region set on the operation surface of the operating device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2B is an example of correction of a load threshold value. It is a graph for demonstrating. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the controller device according to the embodiment.

(Summary of embodiment)
The operation device according to the embodiment includes a detection unit that detects an operation performed on the operation surface, a load detection unit that detects a load applied to the operation surface, a reference point predetermined on the operation surface, and a plurality of measurements. A plurality of regions are defined on the operation surface based on the points, and a region including the detection point where the operation is detected is determined, and a reference load is added to the reference point and the measurement point that define the determined region. The push operation on the operation surface is determined based on the first output value and the second output value at the time, the first distance from the reference point to the measurement point, and the second distance from the reference point to the detection point. And a determination unit that corrects the determination threshold value.

  Since this operation device corrects the determination threshold value using the output value with respect to the reference load added to a different position on the operation surface, compared with the case where this configuration is not adopted, the operation device has the same degree at a different place on the operation surface. Variation in determination with respect to a push operation performed by an operation force can be suppressed.

[Embodiment]
(Overview of operation device 1)
FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the inside of a vehicle in which the operating device according to the embodiment is mounted, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the operating device. Yes, FIG. 1C shows an example of a block diagram of the operating device. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a region set on the operation surface of the operating device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2B is an example of correction of a load threshold value. It is a graph for demonstrating. In FIG. 2A, the horizontal axis is the x axis and the vertical axis is the y axis with the center of the operation surface 20 as the origin. In FIG. 2B, the horizontal axis is the distance D from the reference point 200, and the vertical axis is the output value V output from the load detection unit 4. Note that, in each drawing according to the embodiment described below, the ratio between figures may be different from the actual ratio. In FIG. 1C, the flow of main information is indicated by arrows.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the operating device 1 is disposed on a floor console 80 between a driver seat and a passenger seat of the vehicle 8. The operation device 1 is configured to be able to operate, for example, a cursor displayed on a display unit of an electronic device mounted on the vehicle 8. The display device 85 disposed on the center console 81 functions as the display unit.

  For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 2A, the operation device 1 includes a touch pad 2 as a detection unit that detects an operation performed on the operation surface 20 and a load applied to the operation surface 20. Based on the load detection unit 4 for detecting F, a reference point 200 predetermined on the operation surface 20 and a plurality of measurement points (measurement point 21 to measurement point 28), a plurality of regions (first areas) with respect to the operation surface 20. The region 31 to the eighth region 38) are defined to determine a region including the detection point P where the operation is detected, and a reference load is applied to the reference point 200 and the measurement point that define the determined region. Push on the operation surface 20 based on the first and second output values, the first distance from the reference point 200 to the measurement point, and the second distance from the reference point 200 to the detection point P Control as a determination unit for correcting the determination threshold Th for determining an operation It is schematically configured to include a part 6.

  As an example, the number of measurement points in the present embodiment is eight (measurement point 21 to measurement point 28), but is not limited thereto, and may be more. Moreover, the output value output from the load detection part 4 is the voltage V as an example. Therefore, the load threshold Th is set as a voltage value as an example. When the load detection unit 4 uses the load value (N) converted from the voltage V as an output value, the load threshold Th is set as the load value (N). As an example, the push operation is performed as a determination operation for an item selected with a cursor or the like.

  The operation surface 20 of the touch pad 2 has, for example, a square shape as shown in FIG. 2A, but is not limited to this, and has a rectangular shape, rounded corners, The sides or the whole may be curved. The reference point 200 described above is a center point of the operation surface 20 as shown in FIG. For example, the measurement points are points on the side 201 to the side 204 of the operation surface 20 as indicated by a circle in FIG.

  The region is, for example, a region (first region 31 to eighth region 38) surrounded by a dotted line and the side of the operation surface 20 in FIG. This area is defined as many as the number of measurement points. The first region 31 to the eighth region 38 are defined so as to be line-symmetric with respect to a straight line connecting the reference point 200 and the measurement point, for example, as shown in FIG.

(Configuration of touchpad 2)
The touch pad 2 detects a position on the touched operation surface 20 by, for example, touching the operation surface 20 with a part of the operator's body (for example, an operation finger) or a dedicated pen. For example, the operator can operate the connected electronic device by operating the operation surface 20. As the touch pad 2, for example, a touch pad of a resistance film method, an infrared method, a capacitance method, or the like can be used. In addition, the touch pad 2 may detect the contact position of the detection target from, for example, a distance image obtained by imaging the operation surface 20. The touch pad 2 of the present embodiment is, for example, a capacitive touch pad.

  The touch pad 12 includes a plurality of drive electrodes and a plurality of detection electrodes that intersect with each other while maintaining insulation below the operation surface 20. The touch pad 2 scans all combinations of the plurality of drive electrodes and the plurality of detection electrodes, reads the capacitance for each combination, and detects the detection target based on the capacitance equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The detected detection point P is calculated.

The detection point P is calculated using, for example, a weighted average. The touch pad 2 calculates the coordinates of the detection point P for each scan, and periodically outputs the detection information S ₁ that is information on the calculated coordinates to the control unit 6. The coordinates of the detection point P are, for example, coordinates in the xy coordinate system set on the operation surface 20 as shown in FIG. In the xy coordinates, the reference point 200 is the origin, the horizontal axis (the left-right direction of the vehicle 8) is the x-axis, and the vertical axis (the front-back direction of the vehicle 8) is the y-axis.

(Configuration of load detection unit 4)
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the load detection unit 4 detects a load in a direction in which the operation surface 20 is pushed in as positive, and outputs an output value V corresponding to the detected load to the control unit 6. To do. The load detection unit 4 is disposed on the back side of the touch pad 2 and in the center of the operation surface 20.

  The load detection unit 4 detects the load using, for example, a piezo-type or strain gauge-type load sensor. The load detection part 4 of this Embodiment is a strain gauge type load sensor as an example.

(Configuration of control unit 6)
The control unit 6 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs operations and processes on acquired data according to a stored program, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is a semiconductor memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. Microcomputer. In this ROM, for example, a program for operating the control unit 6 is stored. For example, the RAM is used as a storage area for temporarily storing calculation results, a corrected load threshold Th, and the like. Further, the control unit 6 has means for generating a clock signal therein, and operates based on this clock signal.

Based on the detection information S ₁ acquired from the touch pad 2 and the output value V acquired from the load detection unit 4, the control unit 6 receives operation information S ₂ that is information such as the position of the detection point P and the presence or absence of a push operation. Generate and output to connected electronic devices.

  The control unit 6 has a load threshold Th, load information 60, and region information 61. The load threshold Th is a threshold for determining a push operation performed on the operation surface 20. The control unit 6 determines that a push operation has been performed when the output value V output from the load detection unit 4 is equal to or greater than the load threshold Th. The load threshold Th is corrected according to the position of the detection point P as will be described later.

The load information 60 is information on the output value V output from the load detector 4 when a reference load is added to the reference point 200 and the measurement points 21 to 28. The output value V (first output value) output from the load detection unit 4 when the reference load is added to the reference point 200 is the output value V ₀ . The output value V (second output value) output from the load detector 4 when the reference load is applied to the measurement points 21 to 28 is the output value V ₁ to the output value V ₈ .

  The measurement points 25 to 28 are corner points of the operation surface 20 as shown in FIG. Further, the measurement point 21 is a center point of the side 201 of the operation surface 20 on the right side of the paper surface of FIG. The measurement point 22 is the center point of the side 202 of the operation surface 20 on the left side of the drawing in FIG. The x-axis is an axis that passes through the measurement point 21 and the measurement point 22.

  The measurement point 23 is the center point of the side 203 of the operation surface 20 on the upper side of the drawing in FIG. The measurement point 24 is a point at the center of the side 204 of the operation surface 20 on the lower side in FIG. The y axis is an axis that passes through the measurement point 23 and the measurement point 24.

  The control unit 6 divides the operation surface 20 into a first area 31 to an eighth area 38 based on the reference point 200 and the measurement points 21 to 28. The area information 61 is information regarding the first area 31 to the eighth area 38. The area information 61 may include area boundary information as a numerical value or a function.

The first region 31 is a region surrounded by two dotted lines passing through the reference point 200 and a side 201 where the measurement point 21 is located. Distance from the reference point 200 to the measurement point 21 is _{D 1.}

The second region 32 is a region surrounded by two dotted lines passing through the reference point 200 and a side 202 where the measurement point 22 is located. Distance from the reference point 200 to the measurement point 22 is _{D 2.}

The third region 33 is a region surrounded by two dotted lines passing through the reference point 200 and a side 203 where the measurement point 23 is located. Distance from the reference point 200 to the measurement point 23 is _{D 3.}

The fourth region 34 is a region surrounded by two dotted lines passing through the reference point 200 and a side 204 where the measurement point 24 is located. Distance from the reference point 200 to the measurement point 24 is _{D 4.}

The fifth region 35 is a region surrounded by two dotted lines passing through the reference point 200 and the side 201 and the side 203 where the measurement point 25 is located. Distance from the reference point 200 to the measurement point 25 is a _{D 5.}

The sixth region 36 is a region surrounded by two dotted lines passing through the reference point 200 and the side 202 and the side 203 where the measurement point 26 is located. Distance from the reference point 200 to the measurement point 26 is _{D 6.}

The seventh region 37 is a region surrounded by two dotted lines passing through the reference point 200 and the side 201 and the side 204 where the measurement point 27 is located. Distance from the reference point 200 to the measurement point 27 is a _{D 7.}

The eighth area 38 is an area surrounded by two dotted lines passing through the reference point 200 and the side 202 and the side 204 where the measurement point 28 is located. Distance from the reference point 200 to the measurement point 28 is a _{D 8.}

  As an example, the apex angle of the first region 31 to the fourth region 34 on the reference point 200 side is 30 °. Moreover, the angle | corner by the side of the reference point 200 of the 5th area | region 35-the 8th area | region 38 is 60 degrees as an example. The apex angle or angle on the reference point 200 side of this region may be the same angle or arbitrary.

The control unit 6 sets V ₀ as the first output value at the reference point 200, V _n as the second output value at the n th measurement point, and D sets the first distance from the reference point 200 to the n th measurement point as D 1. _n, a second distance from the reference point 200 until detection point P to correct the load threshold Th by formula (1) below as _{D t.}
Determination threshold Th = V ₀ − (V ₀ −V _n ) × (D _t / D _n ) (1)
FIG. 2B shows a straight line represented by the equation (1). As shown in equation (1), the determination threshold value Th is reduced in proportion to the distance D _t from the reference point 200 until detection point P.

For example, the control unit 6 uses the value of tan θ (= y _t / x _t ) of the angle θ formed by the x coordinate and the straight line connecting the reference point 200 and the coordinates (x _t , y _t ) of the detection point P The region where the detection point P is located is determined. Note the control unit 6 determines if the coordinate _{x t} is zero, because tanθ can not be computed, or the third region 33 or the fourth region 34 according to the coordinate _{y t.}

Specifically, the control unit 6, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), check the sign of x coordinate x _t of the detection point P, the detection point P is first quadrant or the fourth if it is positive If it is located in the quadrant, and if it is negative, the detection point P is located in the second quadrant or the third quadrant.

That control unit 6, when the x-coordinate _{x t} is positive, the third region 33 by the value of tan .theta, fifth regions 35, the first region 31, the seventh region 37 and fourth region 34 It is determined in which region the detection point P is located. In addition, when the x coordinate x _t is negative, the control unit 6 determines whether the third region 33, the sixth region 36, the second region 32, the eighth region 38, and the fourth region 34 depend on the value of tan θ. It is determined in which region the detection point P is located.

As an example, when the apex angle is 60 °, the first region 31 has a range of −0.58 <tan θ ≦ 0.58. Accordingly, the control unit 6, as an example, is positive x-coordinate _{x t} of the detection point P, when the angle θ is 22 °, since it is tan22 = 0.40, the detection point P on the basis of the area information 61 It is determined that it is located in the first region 31. Note that the boundary of the region is set to be included in one of the adjacent regions.

Since the detection point P is located in the first region 31, the control unit 6 determines the distance D ₁ (n = 1) between the reference point 200 and the measurement point 21 based on the load information 60 and the output value of the reference point 200. V ₀ (first output value) and output value V ₁ (n = 1: second output value) of the measurement point 21 are acquired, and a distance D _t from the reference point 200 to the detection point P is calculated. Next, the controller 6 obtains a corrected load threshold Th by substituting the acquired value into the above-described equation (1).

  That is, the control unit 6 divides the operation surface 20 in a polar coordinate system having the center of the operation surface 20 as the reference point 200, and performs linear correction of the determination threshold Th in the region where the detection point P exists. Therefore, the determination threshold value Th is the same in the same region if the distance Dt from the reference point 200 to the detection point P is the same, and takes the same value concentrically around the reference point 200 in the region. .

  Below, an example of operation | movement of the operating device 1 which concerns on this Embodiment is demonstrated according to the flowchart of FIG.

(Operation)
When the vehicle 8 is turned on, the control unit 6 of the controller device 1 periodically receives the detection information S ₁ from the touch pad 2 and the output value V from the load detection unit 4. When “Yes” in Step 1 is established, that is, when an operation is detected based on the detection information S ₁ (Step 1: Yes), the control unit 6 determines the coordinates (X _t ) of the detection point P based on the detection information S _1. , Y _t ) is acquired (Step 2).

Next, the control unit 6 corrects the load threshold Th (Step 3). Specifically, the control unit 6 determines a region where the detection point P is located based on the region information 61 and the coordinates (X _t , Y _t ) of the detection point P. The control unit 6, as described above, the output value V ₀ at the reference point _200, the output value V _n of the measurement points of the determined region of the n was _the distance from the reference point 200 to the measurement point D _n, the reference the distance _{D t} from the point 200 to the detection point P is substituted into equation (1) for correcting the load threshold Th.

Next, the control unit 6 compares the output value V corresponding to the detected load with the corrected load threshold Th to determine whether or not a push operation has been performed. Control unit 6, when the output value V corresponding to the detected load is corrected load threshold Th or more (Step4: Yes), generates operation information S ₂ to the push operation is performed in the detection points P And output to the connected electronic device (Step 5).

Here, in step 4, when the output value V according to the detected load is smaller than the corrected load threshold Th (Step 4: No), it is assumed that the operation finger 9 is detected at the detection point P. It generates operation information _{S 2} and outputs the connected electronic equipment (Step6).

(Effect of embodiment)
The controller device 1 according to the present embodiment can suppress variations in determination with respect to a push operation performed at the same place on the operation surface 20 with the same operation force. Specifically, the controller device 1 is based on Expression (1) using an output value V _n for a reference load added at a different position on the operation surface 20 or a distance D _t from the reference point 200 to the detection point P. The determination threshold Th is corrected. The above equation (1) is a linear equation as shown in FIG. 2 (b), and shows how the reference load is detected depending on the location. Therefore, the controller device 1 can suppress variations in the determination with respect to the push operation performed with the same level of operation force at different places on the operation surface 20 as compared with the case where this configuration is not adopted.

  Since the operating device 1 has the measurement points not only at the four corners but also at the center of the sides 201 to 204, it is possible to divide the operating surface 20 into smaller regions and correct the determination threshold Th with high accuracy. it can.

  As mentioned above, although some embodiment and modification of this invention were demonstrated, these embodiment and modification are only examples, and do not limit the invention based on a claim. These novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments and modifications are necessarily essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention. Further, these embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation apparatus, 2 ... Touch pad, 4 ... Load detection part, 6 ... Control part, 8 ... Vehicle, 9 ... Operation finger, 12 ... Touch pad, 20 ... Operation surface, 21-28 ... Measurement point, 31-38 ... 1st area-8th area, 60 ... Load information, 61 ... Area information, 80 ... Floor console, 81 ... Center console, 85 ... Display device, 200 ... Reference point, 201-204 ... Side, Th ... Load Threshold

Claims (4)

A detection unit for detecting an operation performed on the operation surface;
A load detection unit for detecting a load applied to the operation surface;
Based on a predetermined reference point and a plurality of measurement points on the operation surface, a plurality of regions are defined for the operation surface, a region including a detection point where an operation is detected is determined, and the determined region is defined A first output value and a second output value when a reference load is applied to the reference point and the measurement point, a first distance from the reference point to the measurement point, and from the reference point A determination unit that corrects a determination threshold value for determining a push operation on the operation surface based on a second distance to the detection point;
The operating device with. The determination unit is configured such that the first output value at the reference point is V ₀ , the second output value at the nth measurement point is V _n , and the first output value from the reference point to the nth measurement point is the first output value. _Let D _{n be} the distance, and D _{t be} the second distance from the reference point to the detection point.
The determination threshold value is corrected based on an expression of the determination threshold value = V ₀ − (V ₀ −V _n ) × (D _t / D _n ).
The operating device according to claim 1. The reference point is a center point of the operation surface,
The plurality of measurement points are points on a side of the operation surface.
The operating device according to claim 1 or 2. The plurality of regions are defined so that the regions are line symmetric with respect to a straight line connecting the reference point and the measurement point.
The operating device according to claim 3.

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