JP5852514B2 - Touch sensor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch sensor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a touch sensor system has been proposed that includes a touch sensor disposed in an easily operable place such as a center console of a vehicle and a display disposed in an easily visible place such as a center cluster panel (for example, Patent Document 1). The user touches (touches) the operation surface (touch pad) of the touch sensor to select one function item from a plurality of function items displayed on the display, and to display a desired screen or to accompany the vehicle. Activate equipment. Since the operation surface can be easily operated while visually recognizing the display, the convenience of the vehicle is improved.

JP 2006-209684 A

  By the way, touch sensors are employed in various products such as portable terminals. In recent years, for example, there has been a case in which a tracing operation (flicking operation) in which a touchpad is traced or removed in a certain direction is associated with a specific function. The specific function is, for example, scrolling in the direction of tracing the screen displayed on the display. On the other hand, there is also a touch sensor that associates, for example, an operation for expanding or narrowing the interval between two fingers, a so-called pinch operation, and an enlargement / reduction of a screen displayed on a display, so-called scale adjustment. There is also a touch sensor in which a specific function is associated with both the tracing operation and the pinch operation.

  In the case of a touch sensor that supports both the stroking operation and the pinch operation, for example, it is determined based on the number of fingers touching the touch pad whether the operation is a stroking operation or a pinch operation. That is, when the number of fingers to be operated is two, it is determined as a pinch operation, and when the number of fingers to be operated is other than two, for example, one, it is determined as a tracing operation. Thus, since the function is controlled based on the number of fingers touching the touch pad, it is difficult for the user to use the touch sensor.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a touch sensor capable of determining an operation type regardless of the number of fingers to be touched.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is generated by a detection unit that detects a plurality of touch positions with respect to its own operation surface and generates a position signal indicating the touch positions, and the detection unit. A determination unit that determines whether the operation is a tracing operation or a pinch operation based on the position signal, and the determination unit changes a position per unit time of at least one touch position when at least two touch signals are generated. The gist is to determine whether the operation is a stroking operation or a pinch operation through a comparison between the amount and a distance change amount per unit time between two touch positions including the at least one touch position.

  According to this configuration, the touch sensor can determine whether it is a tracing operation or a pinch operation regardless of the number of fingers touching the touch tracer.

  In the present invention, it is possible to provide a touch sensor that can determine an operation type regardless of the number of fingers touched.

The perspective view of the compartment equipped with a touch sensor system. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of a touch sensor system. The figure which shows the transition of a touch position when pinch operation is carried out. The figure which shows the transition of a touch position when a tracing operation is carried out.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the touch sensor of the present invention is embodied in a touch sensor system will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle is provided with a touch sensor system 10 for inputting information necessary for various devices such as an air conditioner, a car navigation system, and an audio device to perform control. As shown in FIG. 2, the touch sensor system 10 includes a display 11, a touch tracer 12, and a control circuit 13. The display 11 displays selection items and the like. The touch tracer 12 includes an operation surface 12a such as a touch pad, and generates a touch signal indicating coordinates (X, Y) (touch position) where the operation surface 12a is touched. Note that the touch tracer 12 generates touch signals for the number of touched fingers. The control circuit 13 controls display on the display 11. The touch tracer 12 and the control circuit 13 constitute a touch sensor.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the display 11 is fitted in the center of the dashboard. The touch tracer 12 is provided on the near side of the display 11 in the dashboard. The touch tracer 12 is exposed in the vehicle interior so that the operation surface 12a can be touched with a finger. A push switch (not shown) is provided below the touch tracer 12 (a lower portion in the paper surface direction). The push switch generates a push signal when the operation surface 12a is pressed. The touch tracer 12 and the push switch are each connected to the control circuit 13. Note that the control circuit 13 periodically tries to acquire a touch signal.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit 13 is connected to control circuits (not shown) of various devices including the above-described car navigation control circuit. The control circuit 13 acquires information indicating the control state of the various devices from the control circuit of the various devices, and switches the display screen displayed on the display 11 according to the acquired information. When the touch position is included in the display range of the selection item displayed on the display 11, the control circuit 13 indicates to the user which selection item is selected, for example, by changing the color of the selection item. Inform. When the push signal is input, the control circuit 13 determines that the selection of the selection item including the touch position has been confirmed. Then, the control circuit 13 generates a signal indicating the selection item for which selection has been confirmed. A control circuit of a device that requires the signal switches control of the device based on the signal.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit 13 includes a specific operation determination unit 14. The specific operation determination unit 14 determines whether a specific operation, here, a tracing operation or a pinch operation has been performed on the touch tracer 12 based on the touch signal input from the touch tracer 12. Here, the tracing operation refers to an operation of tracing the operation surface 12a in a certain direction. The pinch operation is an operation for widening or narrowing the interval between two fingers while touching the operation surface 12a. The control circuit 13 generates a tracing signal when the specific operation determining unit 14 determines that the tracing operation has been performed, and generates a pinching signal when the specific operation determining unit 14 determines that the tracing operation has been performed. For example, the control circuit of the car navigation system generates a scroll signal indicating that the map displayed on the display 11 is scrolled based on the tracing signal. Moreover, the control circuit of the car navigation system generates a scale change signal indicating that the scale of the map displayed on the display 11 is changed based on the pinch signal. The control circuit 13 scrolls the map displayed on the display 11 based on the scroll signal, and changes the scale of the map displayed on the display 11 based on the scale change signal. The car navigation control circuit generates a map scroll signal and a scale change signal only when a map is displayed on the display 11.

  Next, a method for determining the tracing operation and the pinch operation in the specific operation determining unit 14 will be described. In the case of a pinch operation, the specific operation determination unit 14 determines whether the operation is a tracing operation or a pinch operation based on the fact that the amount of change in the interval between two fingers is always greater than the amount of movement of one finger.

When the operation surface 12a of the touch tracer 12 is operated with two fingers, the control circuit 13 periodically acquires a touch signal. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the specific operation determination unit 14 includes the first and second past touch positions K1 (X ₁₁ , Y ₁₁ ) and K2 (X ₂₁ , Y ₂₁ ) acquired last time in the control circuit 13. ) And the first and second current touch positions G1 (X ₁₂ , Y ₁₂ ) and G2 (X ₂₂ , Y ₂₂ ) acquired this time, which of the tracing operation and the pinching operation has been performed? Determine whether.

  First, the specific operation determination unit 14 obtains a change amount A between the first past touch position K1 and the first current touch position G1. The change amount A indicates the movement amount of the finger (for example, the finger touched first), and can be calculated by the following (Equation 1).

Next, the specific operation determination unit 14 determines the past and present from the distance BK between the first and second past touch positions K1 and K2 and the distance BG between the first and second current touch positions G1 and G2. The amount of change C in the distance between two fingers is calculated. The distances BK and BG and the change amount C can be calculated by the following (Expression 2) to (Expression 4).

Then, the specific operation determination unit 14 compares the amount of change A with the amount of change C. The specific operation determination unit 14 determines that the operation is a pinch operation when the change amount C is greater than or equal to the change amount A (C ≧ A). This is because, as shown in FIG. 3, the touch positions of the two fingers are shifted in directions almost opposite to each other. FIG. 3 shows the change of the touch position at the time of pinch-out, but the same applies to the case of pinch-in. The specific operation determination unit 14 determines that the drag operation is performed when the change amount C is less than the change amount A (C <A). This is because, as shown in FIG. 4, the touch positions of the two fingers are shifted in substantially the same direction. As described above, the specific operation determination unit 14 can determine the tracing operation and the pinch operation even when the touch tracer 12 is operated with two fingers.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The specific operation determination unit 14 is provided in the control circuit 13. The specific operation determination unit 14 changes the amount of change A between the past and the present at one touch position based on the periodically acquired touch signal, and the change in the distance between the two touch positions between the past and the present. Based on the comparison with the amount C, it can be determined whether the operation is a tracing operation or a pinch operation. As a result, the control circuit 13 can generate a tracing signal when the touch tracer 12 is dragged and generates a pinch signal when the touch tracer 12 is pinched, regardless of the number of fingers touching the touch tracer 12. it can. That is, the restriction on the number of fingers in the touch operation is relaxed.

  (2) Regardless of the number of fingers touching the touch tracer 12, the control circuit 13 can scroll the map when detecting a tracing operation, and can change the scale of the map when detecting a pinch operation. .

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, the first past touch position K1 and the first current touch position G1 are used for calculating the change amount A. However, the second past touch position K2 and the second current touch position G2 are used. You may calculate using. Even when configured in this manner, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the control circuit 13 performs only display control on the display 11, but may also serve as various control circuits including car navigation control. For example, when the control circuit 13 also serves as a car navigation control circuit, the control circuit 13 scrolls the map displayed on the display 11 when detecting the tracing operation without generating the tracing signal and the pinch signal, and performs the pinch operation. When detecting the map, the scale of the map may be changed. For example, the scale of the map may be changed when a tracing operation is detected, or the map may be scrolled when a pinch operation is detected. For example, when the control circuit 13 also serves as an audio control circuit, audio selection may be performed when a tracing operation is detected, and audio volume may be adjusted when a pinch operation is detected. Thus, a specific function should be exhibited for a specific operation.

  In the above embodiment, the case where there are two fingers operating the touch tracer 12 has been described, but the same applies to the case where there are three or more fingers operating the touch tracer 12. Here, a case where there are three fingers operating the touch tracer 12 will be described as a representative. Assuming that the three touch positions are P, Q, and R, the control circuit 13 determines that the movement distance of P between the past and the present, the movement distance of Q, the movement distance of R, the amount of change in the distance between PQ, and between QR 6 parameters of the distance change amount and the distance change amount between the RPs can be acquired. For example, the specific operation determination unit 14 determines that the operation is a pinch operation when the amount of change in the distance between PQs or between QRs or between RPs is equal to or greater than any of P, Q, and R, and does not satisfy this. In this case, it is determined as a scroll operation. Thus, even if it is a case where it comprises, the effect similar to the said embodiment can be acquired. When there are three or more fingers to be operated, it may be determined whether the operation is a tracing operation or a pinch operation based on the touch positions of the two fingers.

  In the above embodiment, a palm rest may be disposed on the front side of the touch tracer 12. If comprised in this way, when operating the touch tracer 12, since a hand and an arm can be put on a palm rest, it is easy to perform a tracing operation and a pinch operation.

  In the above embodiment, the display range of the selection item including the touch position is notified by changing the color of the display range. However, the display range may be notified by other methods. For example, when the selection item including the touch position moves, the operation surface 12a of the touch tracer 12 is vibrated, and the vibration is transmitted to the finger to notify the user. Even when configured in this manner, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, when the touch tracer 12 (operation surface 12a) is pressed, the selected selection item is input (confirmed), but the input method is not limited to this. For example, input may be performed by releasing (releasing) touch to the touch tracer 12, tapping, double tapping, an operation of an enter switch provided separately from the touch tracer 12, or the like. Even when configured in this manner, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the operation surface 12a may be electrostatic or pressure sensitive.
In the above embodiment, the touch sensor system 10 mounted on the vehicle has been described. However, the touch sensor system 10 may be applied to other devices. For example, the present invention may be applied to a system that unlocks or locks a door for a house. Further, the touch sensor formed by the touch tracer 12 and the control circuit 13 may also be applied to one that unlocks or locks a door for a house. Even when configured in this manner, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  -The touch sensor of the said embodiment may be applied to a portable terminal etc.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Touch sensor system, 11 ... Display, 12 ... Touch tracer (detection part), 12a ... Operation surface, 13 ... Control circuit, 14 ... Specific operation judgment part.

Claims (1)

A detection unit that detects a plurality of touch positions on the operation surface and generates a position signal indicating the touch positions; a determination unit that determines whether a tracing operation or a pinch operation is performed based on the position signal generated by the detection unit; With
When the determination unit generates at least two touch signals, the position change amount per unit time of at least one touch position and the distance per unit time between the two touch positions including the at least one touch position A touch sensor that determines whether it is a tracing operation or a pinch operation through comparison with the amount of change.