JP5932953B2 - Information processing apparatus, control method therefor, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a control method thereof for preventing erroneous operation on a touch panel.

  In recent years, digital devices having a touch panel in a display unit and capable of intuitive operation have appeared. In such a device, a device that executes a function assigned to a button icon by an operation called tap on a button icon placed on a display screen constituted by a touch panel is generally used. The tap on the button icon is an operation of releasing after touching (contacting) the button icon. When the button icon is released, the operation is confirmed and the function is executed.

  In addition, digital devices equipped with touch panels are becoming smaller in size due to the merit of reducing the number of physical operation member parts by mounting touch panels, while the size of the touch panel is increased for the purpose of improving visibility. Progressing. As described above, when the ratio of the area of the touch panel to the size of the device main body increases, a hand holding the device main body may unintentionally touch the touch panel surface, which may cause an erroneous operation.

  Thus, the following have been proposed as countermeasures against erroneous operation and malfunction of the touch panel.

  In Patent Document 1, an operation prohibition area is provided on the touch panel, and when touched there, the icon is erased or an error input is displayed to allow the user to recognize an incorrect situation and to make an incorrect setting. And a method for preventing misoperation or the like in advance.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a method in which if the same position is touched continuously for a predetermined time, an element for detecting the touch at that position is regarded as a failure, and the touch input at that position is invalidated thereafter. ing.

JP 2009-009424 A JP-A-5-298027

  However, in the method of Patent Document 1, since an operation prohibition area is provided, it becomes impossible to arrange a touch operation member such as a button icon operable in the area. That is, the area on the touch panel cannot be used effectively, and the layout of the touch operation members is restricted.

  Further, the method of Patent Document 2 is regarded as a failure and invalidated even when the user actually touches the same position continuously for a predetermined time or more despite the fact that the touch position detection element is normal. . Since the touch at that position is invalidated thereafter, a touch operation member such as a button icon cannot be disposed at that position thereafter. That is, similarly to Patent Document 1, the area on the touch panel cannot be effectively used, and the layout of the touch operation members is restricted.

  An object of this invention is to provide the information processing apparatus which reduces the possibility of a user's misidentification when a function is not activated by touching up.

In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus of the present invention includes a touch detection unit that detects a touch on a display unit,
Clocking means for clocking the duration of a touch on a specific display item assigned a function, displayed on the display means;
Control means for controlling to execute a function assigned to the specific display item in response to a touch operation on the specific display item;
In response to the start of touching the specific display item displayed in the first display mode on the display unit, the display mode of the specific display item is changed to the second display mode, and the time measuring unit measures the time. And controlling to change the display form of the specific display item being touched to the first display form in response to the continuation time of touching the specific display item having reached a predetermined time. ,
The display mode of the second display item is changed from the first display mode to the second display mode in response to the start of touch on the second display item that is displayed on the display unit and is different from the specific display item. If the touch on the second display item continues even if the touch duration on the second display item reaches the predetermined time, the second display item have a display control means for controlling not to change the display mode from the second display mode,
The control means detects that the touch is released while being touched and displayed in the second display mode in any of the specific display item and the second display item. Control that the function assigned to the touched display item is executed, and the touch is released while the specific display item is touched and displayed in the first display mode. If detected, the function assigned to the specific display item is not executed .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the possibility of a user's misidentification when a function is not activated by touching up can be reduced.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of a digital camera 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a digital camera 100. FIG. This is an example of how to hold the digital camera 100. It is a flowchart which shows the example of imaging | photography mode processing. 4 is a display example of a photographing standby screen displayed on the display unit 28. It is a flowchart of a process when SW1 is operated. (A) A display example of warning 1 displayed on the display unit 28. (B) A display example of warning 2 displayed on the display unit 28. (A) It is a figure explaining the detection of the single touch position in a resistive film type touch panel. (B) It is a figure explaining the detection of the single touch position in a resistive film type touch panel. (C) It is a figure explaining the detection of the several touch position in a resistive film type touch panel.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an external view of a digital camera as an example of an information processing apparatus of the present invention. The display unit 28 is a display unit that displays images and various types of information. In addition, a touch panel as a kind of an operation unit 70 described later is disposed on the surface of the display unit 28 and can detect contact with the display unit 28 (touch detection means). The shutter button 61 is an operation unit for giving a shooting instruction (shutter operation member). The operation unit 70 is an operation unit including operation members such as various switches, buttons, and panels that receive various operations from the user. The controller wheel 73 included in the operation unit 70 is an operation member that can be rotated. A zoom operation unit 71 included in the operation unit 70 is an operation unit for performing optical zoom and electronic zoom in the shooting mode, and performing electronic zoom and switching of the number of displayed images in the reproduction mode. The connector 112 is a connector between the connection cable and the digital camera 100. Reference numeral 72 denotes a power switch that switches between power on and power off. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium slot 201 is a slot for storing the recording medium 200. The recording medium 200 stored in the recording medium slot 201 can communicate with the digital camera 100. A lid 203 is a lid of the recording medium slot 201.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 103 denotes a photographing lens including a focus lens, 101 denotes a shutter having a diaphragm function, and 22 denotes an imaging unit including a CCD, a CMOS element, or the like that converts an optical image into an electrical signal. Reference numeral 23 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The A / D converter 23 is used to convert an analog signal output from the imaging unit 22 into a digital signal. A barrier 102 covers the imaging unit including the imaging lens 103 of the digital camera 100 to prevent the imaging system including the imaging lens 103, the shutter 101, and the imaging unit 22 from becoming dirty or damaged.

  An image processing unit 24 performs resize processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 23 or the data from the memory control unit 15. In the image processing unit 24, predetermined arithmetic processing is performed using the captured image data, and the system control circuit 50 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the obtained arithmetic result. Thereby, AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing of the TTL (through-the-lens) method are performed. The image processing unit 24 further performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result.

  Output data from the A / D converter 23 is directly written into the memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or via the memory control unit 15. The memory 32 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 22 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 23 and image data to be displayed on the display unit 28. The memory 32 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images, a moving image and sound for a predetermined time.

  The memory 32 also serves as an image display memory (video memory). A D / A converter 13 converts image display data stored in the memory 32 into an analog signal and supplies the analog signal to the display unit 28. Thus, the display image data written in the memory 32 is displayed on the display unit 28 via the D / A converter 13. The display unit 28 performs display according to the analog signal from the D / A converter 13 on a display such as an LCD.

  The nonvolatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, and for example, an EEPROM or the like is used. The nonvolatile memory 56 stores constants, programs, and the like for operating the system control circuit 50. Here, the program is a program for executing various flowcharts described later in the present embodiment.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control unit that controls the entire digital camera 100. By executing the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 described above, each process of the present embodiment to be described later is realized. A system memory 52 is a RAM. In the system memory 52, constants and variables for operating the system control circuit 50, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like are expanded. The system control unit also performs display control by controlling the memory 32, the D / A converter 13, the display unit 28, and the like.

  The first shutter switch 62, the second shutter switch 64, and the operation unit 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control circuit 50.

  The first shutter switch 62 (SW1) is turned on when the shutter button 61 provided in the digital camera 100 is being operated, so-called half-press (shooting preparation instruction), and generates a first shutter switch signal. In response to the first shutter switch signal, operations such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing are started.

  The second shutter switch 64 (SW2) is turned on when the operation of the shutter button 61 is completed, so-called full press (shooting instruction), and a second shutter switch signal is generated. In response to the second shutter switch signal, the system control circuit 50 starts a series of shooting processing operations from reading a signal from the imaging unit 22 to writing image data on the recording medium 200.

  The mode change switch 60 is an operation unit included in the operation unit 70, and switches the operation mode of the system control circuit 50 to one of a shooting mode, a reproduction mode, and the like. The shooting mode includes the following plurality of modes. An auto shooting mode in which various parameters of the camera are automatically determined by a program incorporated in the digital camera 100 based on the measured exposure value. Manual mode that allows users to freely change various camera parameters. A scene mode in which a combination of shutter speed, aperture value, flash firing status, sensitivity setting, etc., suitable for the shooting scene is set automatically. The scene mode includes the following modes. Portrait mode, night view mode, landscape mode, night & snap mode, kids & pet mode, fresh green & autumn leaves mode, party mode, snow mode, beach mode, fireworks mode, aquarium mode, underwater mode, etc.

  Each operation member of the operation unit 70 is appropriately assigned a function for each scene by selecting and operating various function icons displayed on the display unit 28, and functions as various function buttons. Examples of the function buttons include an end button, a return button, an image advance button, a jump button, a narrowing button, and an attribute change button. For example, when a menu button is pressed, various setting menu screens are displayed on the display unit 28. The user can make various settings intuitively by using the menu screen displayed on the display unit 28 and the four-way buttons and the SET buttons which are physical buttons.

  The controller wheel 73 is a rotatable operation member included in the operation unit 70, and is used when a selection item is instructed together with a direction button. When the controller wheel 73 is rotated, an electrical pulse signal is generated according to the operation amount, and the system control circuit 50 controls each part of the digital camera 100 based on this pulse signal. From this pulse signal, it is possible to determine the angle at which the controller wheel 73 is rotated, how many rotations, and the like. The controller wheel 73 may be any operation member that can detect a rotation operation. For example, a dial operation member that generates a pulse signal by rotating the controller wheel 73 in accordance with a user's rotation operation may be used. Further, an operation member made of a touch sensor may be used to detect the rotation operation of the user's finger on the controller wheel 73 without rotating the controller wheel 73 itself (so-called touch wheel).

  A power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is attached, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. Further, the power supply control unit 80 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control circuit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 200 for a necessary period.

  A power supply unit 30 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like. Reference numeral 18 denotes an interface with a recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card, and includes a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk.

  As one of the operation units 70, a touch panel capable of detecting contact with the display unit 28 is provided. The system control circuit 50 can detect the following operations on the touch panel. Touching the touch panel with a finger or a pen (hereinafter referred to as touchdown). The touch panel is touched with a finger or a pen (hereinafter referred to as touch-on). The touch panel is moved while being touched with a finger or a pen (hereinafter referred to as a move). The finger or pen that was touching the touch panel is released (hereinafter referred to as touch-up). A state where nothing is touched on the touch panel (hereinafter referred to as touch-off). These operations and the position coordinates where the finger or pen touches the touch panel are notified to the system control circuit 50 through the internal bus 111, and the system control circuit 50 performs any operation on the touch panel based on the notified information. Determine if it was done. Regarding the move, the moving direction of the finger or pen moving on the touch panel can also be determined for each vertical component / horizontal component on the touch panel based on the change of the position coordinates. It is also assumed that a stroke is drawn when touch-up is performed on the touch panel through a certain move from touch-down. The operation of drawing a stroke quickly is called a flick. A flick is an operation of quickly moving a certain distance while touching a finger on the touch panel and then releasing it, in other words, an operation of quickly tracing a finger on the touch panel. If it is detected that the moving is performed at a predetermined speed or more over a predetermined distance, and a touch-up is detected as it is, it can be determined that a flick has been performed. In addition, when it is detected that the movement is performed at a predetermined distance or more and less than a predetermined speed, it is determined that the drag has been performed.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In this embodiment, when touch-on has been detected in a button icon area on the touch panel for a predetermined time or longer, an example is described in which control is performed so as not to activate (execute) the function of the touched button icon even if touched up. . Such control is performed because it is assumed that the user does not intend to operate the button icon when the touch-on is detected on the button icon for a predetermined time or more.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which the digital camera 100 is held with one hand. When shooting in the shooting mode, in order to operate the shutter button 61 and the zoom operation unit 71 with the user's right hand (dominant hand) index finger 301, the right hand index finger 301 is placed near the shutter button 61 and the zoom operation unit 71. It is often held as shown in FIG. In that case, the thumb 302 of the right hand may be naturally placed on the display unit 28 that is a touch panel. This is not because the user intentionally touches the display unit 28 to operate the touch panel. At this time, if a button icon is arranged at a position where the thumb 302 is in contact with the touch panel, even if the user does not intend to operate the button icon, the function of the button icon is performed when the thumb 302 is released. It will be triggered. That is, there is a possibility of malfunction. Therefore, in this embodiment, when a touch-on for a predetermined time or more is detected at the position of the button icon, it is assumed that the user touches and holds the touch panel unintentionally as shown in FIG. Even if there is a touch-up, the button icon function is not activated.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the system control circuit 50 in the photographing mode. Each process in this flowchart is realized by the system control circuit 50 expanding and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 in the system memory 52.

  When the digital camera is activated in the shooting mode or is activated in another mode such as a playback mode, when the mode is switched to the shooting mode by operating the mode switch 60 included in the operation unit 70, the process of FIG. 4 is started. To do.

  In S401, first, a shooting standby screen is displayed. FIG. 5 shows a display example of the shooting standby screen displayed on the display unit 28. On the display unit 28, a through image 500 that is an image captured in real time by the imaging unit 22 is displayed. Button icons 501 to 503 are button icons for activating various functions when tapped, and represent setting contents related to the current imaging of the digital camera 100. A button icon 501 is a mode switching button, and the setting can be changed from a plurality of shooting modes to a desired shooting mode by tapping. In the example of FIG. 5, the portrait mode (one of the scene modes) among the plurality of shooting modes is set. A button icon 502 is a flash setting button, and the setting of the flash can be switched by tapping. Further, the example of FIG. 4 indicates that the flash emission prohibition is currently set. A button icon 503 is an exposure correction button, and exposure correction can be performed by tapping. In the example of FIG. 4, the exposure correction is currently set to ± 0. An icon 504 is an icon representing the current posture of the digital camera. An icon 505 is an icon representing the current remaining battery level. The icon 506 is an icon indicating how many still images can be recorded on the recording medium 200 with the current settings. The icon 507 is an icon representing the current setting of the number of recorded pixels and the current setting of the compression rate.

  When the shooting standby next screen is displayed in S401, it is determined in S402 whether or not the button icon 501 is touched. When the finger is touched down at the position of the button icon 501 or when the finger touched at another position is moved and is in a touch-on state at the position of the button icon 501, the button icon 501 is touched. Is determined. If it is determined that the button icon 501 is touched, the process proceeds to S408, and if it is determined that the button icon 501 is not touched, the process proceeds to S403.

  In S403, it is determined whether or not the button icon 502 is touched. When the finger is touched down at the position of the button icon 502, or the finger touched at another position is moved and the touch-on state is reached at the position of the button icon 502, the button icon 502 is touched. Is determined. If it is determined that the button icon 502 is touched, the process proceeds to S404. If it is determined that the button icon 502 is not touched, the process proceeds to S436.

  In S <b> 404, it is determined whether or not the touch position has moved (moved) outside the area of the button icon 502. If it determines with having moved, it will progress to S436, and if it determines with having not moved, it will progress to S405. In S405, it is determined whether or not SW1 is turned on. If it is determined that SW1 is turned on, the process proceeds to S601 in FIG. The process of FIG. 6 will be described later. If it is determined that SW1 is not turned on, the process proceeds to S406.

  In S406, it is determined whether or not there is a touch-up from the button icon 502. If it is determined that there is a touch-up from the button icon 502, the process proceeds to S407, and if it is determined that there is no touch-up, the process returns to S404.

  In S407, the function assigned to the button icon 502 is executed. In the example of FIG. 5, since flash setting switching is assigned to the button icon 502, control is performed to execute flash setting switching. When the function of the button icon 502 is executed, the process proceeds to S436.

  On the other hand, in S408, since a touch on the button icon 501 is detected, a timer for counting the period during which the button icon 501 is touched is started.

  In S409, it is determined whether or not the touch position has moved (moved) outside the area of the button icon 501. If it determines with having moved, it will progress to S410, will stop the timer started by S408, will clear, and will return to the process of S402. If it determines with not moving, it will progress to S411.

  In S411, it is determined whether or not the timer started in S408 has reached a predetermined time. This is a determination as to whether or not the touch on the button icon 501 has continued for a predetermined time. The predetermined time is a time for determining whether or not the user intends to tap the button icon 501 (an operation to touch up immediately after touching down), and is about 300 msec as an example. If it is determined that the predetermined time has been reached, the process proceeds to S416, and if it is determined that the predetermined time has not been reached, the process proceeds to S412.

  In S412, it is determined whether or not SW1 is turned on. If it is determined that SW1 is turned on, the process proceeds to S601 in FIG. The process of FIG. 6 will be described later. If it is determined that SW1 is not turned on, the process proceeds to S413.

  In S413, it is determined whether or not there has been a touch-up (touch-up detection means). Here, the case where there is a touch-up is a case where touch-up is performed from the button icon 501 within a predetermined time after the start of contact with the button icon 501. If it is determined that there is a touch-up, the process proceeds to S414. If it is determined that there is no touch-up, the process returns to S409.

  In S414, the timer started in S408 is stopped and cleared, and the function assigned to the button icon 501 is executed in S415. In the example of FIG. 5, since switching of the shooting mode is assigned to the button icon 501, a function for changing the setting from a plurality of shooting modes to a desired shooting mode is executed. When the function assigned to the button icon 501 is executed, the process proceeds to S436.

  On the other hand, in S416, the timer started in step S408 is stopped and cleared. In subsequent S417, since the duration of the touch on the button icon 501 has reached a predetermined time, it is assumed that the user has no intention to perform a tap operation on the button icon 501, and warning 1 (first warning display) is displayed.

  FIG. 7A shows a display example of warning 1. FIG. 7A shows a state around the upper right of the display unit 28 when the digital camera 100 displaying the shooting standby screen of FIG. 5 is held as described in FIG. Since the user's thumb has unintentionally touched the button icon 501 and it is determined in S411 that the button icon 501 is in the touch-on state after a predetermined time, a warning 1 (701) is displayed. Warning 1 (701) indicates that the button icon 501 is continuously touched, and indicates that the function of the button icon 501 does not activate even when the finger is released from this state, as will be described later. Yes. Thus, when the function is not activated by touching up, it is possible to prevent the user from misidentifying that it is due to the failure of the apparatus. Note that when the touch to the button icon 501 is detected in S402, the display form of the button icon 501 is changed to a button-down display indicating that the button icon 501 is pressed, and the button is down at the timing when warning 1 is displayed. The display may be canceled. If it is determined in S411 that the button icon 501 is in the touch-on state after a predetermined time, the warning icon 1 is not displayed and the button icon 501 is only returned to the original display form even if the button down display is canceled. It may be. It is possible to indicate to the user that the function of the button icon 501 is not activated even if the button-down display is only released or the finger is released from this state.

  Subsequent to step S417 in FIG. 4, in S418, it is determined whether or not SW1 is turned on. If it is determined that SW1 is turned on, the process proceeds to S419, where the warning 1 is deleted (the display of the warning 1 is terminated), and then the process proceeds to S601 in FIG. The process of FIG. 6 will be described later. If it is determined that SW1 is not turned on, the process proceeds to S420.

  In S420, it is determined whether or not there is an operation on an operation unit other than the touch panel included in the operation unit 70, such as a physical button. If it is determined that there is an operation on the operation unit other than the touch panel, the process proceeds to S421, and if it is determined that there is no operation on the operation unit other than the touch panel, the process proceeds to S423. In S421, warning 1 is deleted (display of warning 1 ends). Subsequently, in S422, processing according to the operation of the operation unit determined to have been operated in S420 is executed. That is, if another operation member is operated while the button icon 501 is still touched, the operation on the other operation member is given priority, and the warning 1 that is a warning regarding the button icon 501 is deleted. When the process of S422 is completed, the process returns to S402.

  In S423, it is determined whether another position is touched by another finger or the like while the button icon 501 is touched (multi-point touch determination unit). Details of this determination will be described later with reference to FIG. If it is determined that another position is touched, the process proceeds to S426, and if it is determined that another position is not touched, the process proceeds to S424.

  In S424, it is determined whether or not the touch position has moved (moved) outside the area of the button icon 501. If it determines with having moved, it will progress to S435, and if it determines with having not moved, it will progress to S425.

  In S425, it is determined whether or not there has been a touch-up (touch-up detection means). If there is a touch-up, the process proceeds to S435, and if there is no touch-up, the process returns to S418. Here, the case where there is a touch-up is a case where touch-up is detected from the button icon 501 after detecting touch-on on the button icon 501 for a predetermined time or more. In this case, if it is determined that there is a touch-up, the function assigned to the button icon 501 is not executed. That is, when a predetermined time elapses while the button icon 501 is touched, the button icon 501 is temporarily invalidated, and even if the button icon 501 is touched up, the function assigned to the button icon 501 (switching of the shooting mode) is performed. Do not execute.

  On the other hand, in S426, warning 2 (second warning display) is displayed in addition to warning 1. A display example of warning 2 is shown in FIG. FIG. 7B shows a state where the digital camera 100 displaying the shooting standby screen of FIG. 5 is held as described in FIG. 3 and another position on the touch panel is touched by another finger. Show. In this case, the user may be trying to operate the touch panel with another finger without noticing that the button icon 501 has been touched with the thumb of the right hand. However, since the touch on the button icon 501 is detected first, the system control circuit 50 cannot accept an operation with a touch by another finger. Therefore, as in warning 2 (702), it is displayed that an operation with another finger is impossible. As a touch operation other than the operation on the button icon 501, in addition to the tap on the button icons 502 to 503, for example, there is a touch AF. Touch AF is a function that adjusts the focus according to the touched subject by touching an arbitrary subject in the through image 500 displayed on the display unit 28. Since this touch AF cannot be performed while the button icon 501 is touched, the warning 2 (702) in FIG. 7B indicates that the touch AF cannot be performed. It is assumed that warning 2 (702) is superimposed and displayed in addition to the display state in which warning 1 (701) is superimposed and displayed on the photographing standby screen of FIG. That is, although not shown in FIG. 7B, it is assumed that icons 504 to 507 and a black belt on the side are also displayed.

  Subsequent to step S426 in FIG. 4, in S427, it is determined whether or not SW1 is turned on. If it is determined that SW1 is turned on, the process proceeds to S428, where the warning 1 and the warning 2 are deleted (the display of the warning 1 and the warning 2 is terminated), and then the process proceeds to S601 in FIG. The process of FIG. 6 will be described later. If it is determined that SW1 is not turned on, the process proceeds to S429. In S429, it is determined whether or not there is an operation on an operation unit other than the touch panel included in the operation unit 70, such as a physical button. If it is determined that there is an operation on the operation unit other than the touch panel, the process proceeds to S430, and if it is determined that there is no operation on the operation unit other than the touch panel, the process proceeds to S432. In S430, warning 1 and warning 2 are deleted (display of warning 1 and warning 2 ends). Subsequently, in S431, processing corresponding to the operation of the operation unit determined to be operated in S429 is executed. When the process of S431 is completed, the process returns to S402. In S432, it is determined whether or not a touch at another position determined to be touched in S423 has been touched up. If it is determined that the touch-up is not performed, the process returns to S427. If it is determined that the touch-up is performed, the process proceeds to S433.

  In S433, only the warning 2 display is deleted while the warning 1 display is maintained. In S434, it is determined whether or not the button icon 501 is continuously touched on. If it is determined that the button icon 501 is still touched, the process returns to S418, and if it is determined that the button icon 501 is not touched, the process proceeds to S434. The case of not being touched is a case where the touch on the button icon 501 moves out of the area of the button icon 501 or a touch-up is performed while another position is touched by another finger or the like. is there. However, in this case as well as the touch-up in S425, since the touch-on to the button icon 501 has continued for a predetermined time or longer, the button icon 501 is temporarily disabled and the function of the button icon 501 is not executed.

  In step S435, warning 1 is deleted.

  In step S436, it is determined whether SW1 is turned on. If it is determined that SW1 is turned on, the process proceeds to S601 in FIG. The process of FIG. 6 will be described later. If it is determined that SW1 is not turned on, the process proceeds to S437. In S437, it is determined whether or not another operation has been performed. The other operations include operations on an operation unit other than the touch panel in the operation unit 70 and operations other than the button icon 501 and the button icon 502 (for example, an operation on the button icon 503 and the touch AF described above). If it is determined that there is another operation, the process proceeds to S438, a process corresponding to the other operation is executed, and the process proceeds to S439. If it is determined that there is no other operation, the process proceeds to S439 as it is.

  In S439, it is determined whether or not there has been a photographing mode end operation. The shooting mode end operation is an operation of switching to a mode other than the shooting mode (for example, a playback mode) by operating the mode switch 60, an operation of turning off the power by operating the power switch 72, or the like. If it is determined that there is no end operation, the process returns to S402, and if it is determined that there is an end operation, the shooting mode process is ended.

  FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of processing when SW1 is turned on during the shooting mode processing described above with reference to FIG. Each process in this flowchart is realized by the system control circuit 50 expanding and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 in the system memory 52.

  In S601, the button icons 501 to 503 and the icons 504 to 507 are deleted in FIG. In S602, shooting preparation operations such as AF and AE are executed. When focused here, the focused frame is displayed superimposed on the through image 500. In S603, it is determined whether SW2 is turned on. If SW2 is turned on, the process proceeds to S605, and if SW2 is not turned on, the process proceeds to S604. In S604, it is determined whether or not SW1 remains on. If SW1 remains on, the process returns to S603, and if SW1 does not remain on, the process proceeds to S607 to display a shooting standby screen. This process is the same as the process described above in S401 of FIG. 4, and the button icons 501 to 503 and the icons 504 to 507 deleted in S601 are displayed again. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S603 that SW2 is on, in step S605, image capturing processing (exposure shooting) including exposure and image processing is performed. In step S <b> 606, the image file generated by the actual shooting is recorded on the recording medium 200. In step S607, a shooting standby screen is displayed, and the process returns to step S402 in FIG.

  With reference to FIG. 8, a method for determining whether or not another position or the like has been touched with another finger or the like while the button icon 501 is being touched in S423 (multi-point touch determination unit) in FIG. 4 will be described.

  In a device capable of multipoint detection, such as a capacitance method, as a touch panel device method, the touch position (first touch position) on the button icon 501 in S423 in FIG. (Second touch position) can be detected at the same time. Therefore, it is not necessary to devise in particular. When a touchdown is detected at another position simultaneously with the touch position on the button icon 501, it is assumed that another position is touched by another finger or the like while the button icon 501 is still touched. judge.

  On the other hand, as a touch panel device system, a resistive film system touch panel that cannot detect multiple points and can detect only a single touch position is widely used. In this case, as described below, it is determined whether another position other than the area of the button icon 501 is touched with another finger or the like while the button icon 501 is being touched.

  First, detection of a touch position on a resistive film type touch panel will be described. In the resistive film type touch panel, when the touched position is only one point as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the resistance values of the X axis and the Y axis set on the display unit 28 are detected, The touched position is specified. In FIG. 7A, for the point 801 that is the touch position, the resistance values of the X axis and the Y axis are detected, the X coordinate and the Y coordinate on the display unit 28 are acquired, and the touched position is specified. The Similarly in FIG. 7B, the X coordinate and the Y coordinate on the display unit 28 are acquired for the point 802 which is the touch position, and the touched position is specified.

  However, in the case of the resistance film method, when a plurality of points are touched at the same time, only the midpoints of the plurality of points touched on both the X axis and the Y axis are detected. For example, as shown in FIG. 7C, if the points 804 and 805 on the display unit 28 are touched at the same time, only one point 806 and the middle point 806 of the points 805 are detected. Therefore, a plurality of touch positions cannot be detected simultaneously. However, if two points are touched at the same time, the middle point is detected, so that the first point is touched, and after the touch position is acquired, the second point remains touched. Whether or not is touched can be determined.

  The determination method of S423 in FIG. 4 will be described. In FIG. 8, the area of the button icon 501 is the area 803, the center point of the display unit 28 is the center point 808, and the area on the upper right side of the center point 808 of the display unit 28 is the upper right area 807 (the X coordinate is right above the center point, It is assumed that the Y coordinate is a region above the center point). In this case, the midpoint between one point included in the region 803 and one arbitrary point with respect to another region falls within the upper right region 807 in most cases. Conversely, a point that does not fit in the region 807 can be regarded as not a midpoint between one point included in the region 803 and one arbitrary point with another region. Therefore, in S423 of the present application, when a touch position within the area 807 is detected without detecting a touch-up from a state in which one point in the area 803 is detected as a touch position, It is determined that another position is touched by the finger or the like. For example, in the example of FIG. 8C, when the point 806 is detected without detecting the touch-up after the point 804 is detected, a point 805 that is point-symmetric with the point 804 around the point 806 is It can be inferred that the user touched the point 804 at the same time. Therefore, a warning 2 assigned to the position of the point 805 and indicating that touch AF is impossible is displayed. By the above method, it is detected that a plurality of positions are touched at the same time even in the touch panel using the resistive film method.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when a specific area (button icon 501) on the touch panel is continuously touched for a predetermined time, the function assigned to the area is temporarily invalidated and touched. Even if it is up, the function of that area is not activated. This invalid state is temporary, and as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the function can be executed by touching again after touch-up and touch-up within a predetermined time. By doing in this way, function invocation when a user touches the touch panel unintentionally can be suppressed, and erroneous operation can be reduced. In addition, since the invalid state is a temporary state until the touch-up is performed, when the function assigned to the button icon 501 is to be executed, the button icon 501 may be simply tapped again, and the invalid state is changed. No special operation is required to cancel. That is, an erroneous operation can be prevented without impairing operability. Furthermore, since the button icon with reduced possibility of erroneous operation can be arranged like the above-described button icon 501 even at a location on the touch panel where the user easily touches unconsciously, the layout of the touch operation member on the touch panel This restriction can be relaxed.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the button icon 501 (specific area) is the only button icon that is temporarily disabled when the touch is continued for a predetermined time or longer, and other button icons (other areas) such as the button icon 502 are touch-on. Regardless of the duration of The button icon 501 is a button icon that is closest to the apex closest to the shutter button 61 in the display unit 28 (upper right apex of the display unit 28). In an imaging apparatus including a shutter button, the holding method described with reference to FIG. 3 is often used. Therefore, the apex closest to the shutter button 61 in the display unit 28 is likely to be touched by mistake. Conversely, it is unlikely that the display unit 28 touches a position far from the apex near the shutter button 61 by mistake, and if the touch is detected at a position far from the shutter button 61, the user intentionally performed it. There is a high possibility of being. Accordingly, the button icon that is invalidated by continuing touch for a predetermined time or longer is only the button icon that is closest to the shutter button 61 from the apex closest to the shutter button 61 in the display unit 28, so that the user's unconscious touch and intention can be achieved. Accurate touch is accurately identified.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the button icon that is temporarily disabled when the touch is continued for a predetermined time or more is only the button icon 501, but is not limited thereto, and is disabled when the touch continues for a predetermined time or longer. The button icon need not be one. That is, some or all of the plurality of button icons may be used as the button icons that are invalidated when the touch continues for a predetermined time or longer. For example, as in the example shown in FIG. 3, when the Y coordinate of the display unit 28 is close to the shutter button 61, even if it is below the display unit 28, the user touches it with the belly of the right thumb. There is a possibility. Therefore, a plurality of button icons whose Y coordinate distance from the shutter button 61 is close may be invalidated by continuing the touch for a predetermined time or longer. Further, a plurality of button icons may be invalidated with different touch durations depending on the positions where they are arranged. In this case, taking into account the difference depending on the position of the possibility of accidental touching, the touch duration (threshold value) until the function activation at the time of touch-up is invalidated as the distance is closer according to the distance from the shutter button. ) May be shortened.

  For example, let us consider a case where the button icon 502 is temporarily invalidated if it is continuously touched for a certain period of time. In this case, when it is determined in S403 in FIG. 4 that the button icon 502 (second area) is touched (determined as Yes), a timer is started, and the duration of time that the button icon 502 is in the touch-on state is counted (first). 2 timing means). Then, the continuation time that the button icon 502 is in the touch-on state is equal to or longer than a second time longer than the touch continuation time (predetermined time in S411) until the function activation of the button icon 501 (specific area) is invalidated. It is determined whether or not. When a touch-up from the button icon 502 is detected in S406, if the touch duration time of the button icon 502 measured by the timer has not reached the second time, the touch button is assigned to the button icon 502. Perform the function. On the other hand, when a touch-up from the button icon 502 is detected in S406, if the touch duration of the button icon 502 counted by the timer has reached the second time, the button icon 502 is assigned. Do not perform the function. The reason why the second time is longer than the predetermined time in S411 is that the button icon 502 (second area) is closest to the shutter button 61 in the display unit 28 compared to the button icon 501 (specific area). This is because it is far from the vertex (upper right vertex of the display unit 28). In this way, it is considered that the closer to the shutter button 62, the higher the possibility of touching accidentally, and the shorter the distance from the shutter button, the shorter the touch duration until the function activation at the time of touch-up is invalidated. . As a result, as the distance from the shutter button is shorter, the function is not executed unless the user performs a more specific intentional operation, and an erroneous operation can be prevented.

  In addition, as a possibility of an erroneous operation, even when the digital camera 100 is carried around in a bag or when the display unit 28 where the touch panel is arranged is placed face down, some object may be touched without the user's intention. There is a possibility of touching. The present invention is also effective in preventing such an erroneous operation due to an unintended touch. It is predicted that the touch in such a case is continued for a certain period. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation due to an unintended touch by temporarily invalidating the touch that continues for a predetermined time as in the present invention. In this case, since the position of the button icon on the display unit 28 is not related to the possibility of an erroneous operation, it is preferable to temporarily invalidate all the button icons if the touch continues for a certain period of time.

  Further, although the shooting mode processing has been described with reference to FIG. 4, unlike the shooting mode in the playback mode, the button icon arranged at the same position as the button icon 501 or at least partially overlapped area is related to the duration of the touch. It may be effective. This is because, unlike the shooting mode, the playback mode is unlikely to hold the shutter button as shown in FIG. Therefore, in the playback mode, a button icon that is invalidated by continuing touch for a predetermined time or longer is not provided. Alternatively, in the playback mode, in consideration of how to hold the digital camera 100 in the playback mode, a button icon that is invalidated by continuing touch for a predetermined time or more is arranged at a position different from the shooting mode.

  In addition, the digital camera 100 may include an attitude detection sensor. The posture detection sensor is a sensor that can detect the posture of the digital camera 100 with respect to the direction of gravity, such as an acceleration sensor or a vertical / horizontal detection sensor. When the posture detection sensor detects that the digital camera 100 is in the horizontal direction (first posture), it is highly likely that the digital camera 100 is held as described above with reference to FIG. However, when the posture detection sensor detects that the digital camera is in the vertical orientation (second posture), the digital camera 100 is held vertically and is held differently from the above-described FIG. Probability is high. In that case, there is a high possibility that a position different from the case of FIG. Therefore, when the posture detection sensor detects that the digital camera 100 is in the portrait orientation, if the button icon at a position different from the case in which the orientation of the digital camera 100 is detected is kept touching for a predetermined time or longer, the digital camera 100 is temporarily touched. Preferably, the button icon is invalid. For example, when the posture detection sensor detects that the camera is in landscape orientation, as described with reference to FIG. 4, the button icon 501 is temporarily disabled when the button icon 501 is continuously touched for a predetermined time or more, and the other button icons Is valid regardless of the duration of touch-on. On the other hand, when the posture detection sensor detects that the screen is in the vertical orientation, the button icon other than the button icon 501, for example, the button icon 503 is temporarily invalidated when touched for a predetermined time or longer. The button icons other than the button icon 503 (including the button icon 501) are valid regardless of the touch-on duration. By doing so, it is possible to prevent erroneous operations more reliably according to the attitude of the apparatus.

  The touch panel method to which the present invention can be applied may be any method as long as the touch operation to the display unit can be detected. In addition to the resistance film method and the capacitance method described above, The present invention can also be applied to an elastic wave method, an infrared method, an electromagnetic induction method, and the like.

  The above-described embodiment is related to the imaging device, but the present invention is not limited to the imaging device as long as it controls a display device equipped with a touch panel. For example, the present invention can be applied to any device equipped with a touch panel, such as a mobile phone equipped with a touch panel, a PDA, a music player, an image viewer, a game machine, a printing device, and a car navigation system. When the present invention is applied to a device other than an imaging device, it is preferable to invalidate a plurality of button icons at different touch durations depending on the position where each device is held and the usage scene. .

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. A part of the above-described embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  Note that the above-described control may be performed by a single piece of hardware, or the entire apparatus may be controlled by a plurality of pieces of hardware sharing the processing.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program code. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

Claims (17)

Touch detection means for detecting a touch on the display means;
Clocking means for clocking the duration of a touch on a specific display item assigned a function, displayed on the display means;
Control means for controlling to execute a function assigned to the specific display item in response to a touch operation on the specific display item;
In response to the start of touching the specific display item displayed in the first display mode on the display unit, the display mode of the specific display item is changed to the second display mode, and the time measuring unit measures the time. And controlling to change the display form of the specific display item being touched to the first display form in response to the continuation time of touching the specific display item having reached a predetermined time. ,
The display mode of the second display item is changed from the first display mode to the second display mode in response to the start of touch on the second display item that is displayed on the display unit and is different from the specific display item. If the touch on the second display item continues even if the touch duration on the second display item reaches the predetermined time, the second display item have a display control means for controlling not to change the display mode from the second display mode,
The control means detects that the touch is released while being touched and displayed in the second display mode in any of the specific display item and the second display item. Control that the function assigned to the touched display item is executed, and the touch is released while the specific display item is touched and displayed in the first display mode. If detected, the function assigned to the specific display item is not executed .   When the control means detects that the touch is released from the state in which the touch to the specific display item has been detected, and the duration time counted by the time measuring means has not reached the predetermined time, When the function assigned to the specific display item is executed and it is detected that the touch is released from the state in which the touch to the specific display item is detected, the duration timed by the time measuring means is measured. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the predetermined time has been reached, control is performed so that a function assigned to the specific display item is not executed.   When the control unit detects that the touch is released from the state in which the touch detection unit has detected the touch on the second display item, the control unit detects the touch of the second display item. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so that the function assigned to the second display item is executed even if the duration has reached the predetermined time. 4.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function assigned to the specific display item is a function related to imaging by an imaging unit included in the information processing apparatus.   The display control means controls to display a first warning on the display means when the duration of the touch on the specific display item timed by the time measuring means reaches a predetermined time. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first warning is a warning indicating that the specific display item is touched. The information processing apparatus further includes multipoint touch determination means for determining whether an area other than the specific display item is touched simultaneously with the specific display item,
In the state where the display control unit further displays the first warning, when the multi-point touch determination unit determines that an area other than the specific display item is touched simultaneously with the specific display item, The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second warning is controlled to be displayed on the display unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second warning is a warning indicating that an operation by the touch is impossible. The touch detection means can detect only a single touch position on the display means,
The multipoint touch determination unit detects a touch within a predetermined range on the display unit without detecting that the touch is released from a state in which a touch to the specific display item is detected. In this case, the information processing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a position other than the specific display item is determined to be touched simultaneously with the specific display item.   The second warning indicates that a function assigned to a position that is point-symmetric to the position of the touch detected by the specific display item about the position of the touch within the predetermined range cannot be executed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information processing apparatus represents a warning. A second time measuring means for measuring a duration of a touch on a second display item different from the specific display item on the display means;
When the control means detects that the touch is released from the state in which the touch to the second display item is detected by the touch detection means, the duration time measured by the second time measuring means is determined. If the second time longer than the predetermined time has not been reached, the function assigned to the second display item is executed,
When it is detected that the touch is released from the state in which the touch to the second display item is detected by the touch detection unit, the duration time measured by the second time measurement unit is the second time. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the number of the display items has been reached, control is performed so as not to execute the function assigned to the second display item.   The information processing apparatus further includes a shutter operation member for accepting an imaging instruction by the imaging unit from a user, and the specific display item is a position closest to the apex closest to the shutter operation member in the display unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a button icon displayed on the screen.   The information processing apparatus further includes a shutter operation member for accepting an imaging instruction by the imaging unit from a user, and the specific display item is a vertex closest to the shutter operation member among the display units. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the information processing apparatus is a button icon displayed at a position closer to the second display item.   It further comprises posture detection means for detecting the posture of the information processing apparatus, and handles different display items on the display means as the specific display item according to the posture detected by the posture detection means. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13. A touch detection step of detecting a touch on the display means;
A time measuring step for measuring a duration of a touch on a specific display item assigned a function, displayed on the display means;
The display mode of the specific display item is changed to the second display mode in response to the start of the touch on the specific display item displayed in the first display mode on the display means, and the time is measured by the timing step. The display mode of the specific display item being touched is changed to the first display mode in response to the continuation time of the touch on the specific display item being reached a predetermined time, and the display means The display mode of the second display item is changed from the first display mode to the second display mode in response to the start of a touch on the second display item that is different from the specific display item. The second display item is controlled as long as the touch on the second display item continues even when the duration of the touch on the second display item reaches the predetermined time. A display control step that does not change the display mode from the second display mode,
In any of the specific display item and the second display item, the touch is performed when it is detected that the touch is released while being touched and displayed in the second display mode. Control to execute the function assigned to the displayed item, and when it is detected that the specific display item is touched and the touch is released while being displayed in the first display mode, A control step that does not execute the function assigned to the specific display item;
A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising:   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the information processing apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 14.   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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