WO2007105457A1

WO2007105457A1 - Operation input device and navigation device

Info

Publication number: WO2007105457A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/053384
Authority: WO
Inventors: Katsuaki Kawamura
Original assignee: Pioneer Corporation
Priority date: 2006-02-23
Filing date: 2007-02-23
Publication date: 2007-09-20

Abstract

Provided are an operation input device and a navigation device which can be operated by a person sitting at other than the driver's seat such as a passenger seat even while a vehicle is traveling. The operation input device is mounted, for example, on an on-vehicle navigation device and includes a display device and a touch panel arranged on the display device. A user touches the touch panel for performing various operation inputs. Moreover, around the touch panel, for example, a proximity sensor unit formed by a plurality of proximity sensors is provided for detecting the approach direction of the operation input object approaching the touch panel for operation input. The operation input object may be, for example, a user's finger or a touch pen for operating the touch panel. A control unit controls a display device and the touch panel and sets an input environment of the operation input for the touch panel. More specifically, while the proximity sensor unit detects approach of the operation input object, the control unit sets the input environment to a normal input environment when the detected approach direction is other than a predetermined direction and sets the input environment to a limited input environment as an operation input limited as compared to the normal input environment.

Description

Operation input device and navigation device

Technical field

The present invention relates to a display device and a device that performs operation input using a touch panel.

Background art

[0002] In a navigation device mounted on a vehicle, it is problematic in terms of safety that a driver keeps looking at a display screen for a long time or performs complicated operations while the vehicle is traveling. For this reason, the operations that the driver can perform while driving are limited to simple operations, and it is also prohibited by law to watch the display screen while driving. Therefore, in-vehicle navigation devices are designed so that operations with many operation steps such as changing or resetting the guidance route cannot be performed while the vehicle is running. In the in-vehicle navigation device, Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe examples in which functions and operations are restricted while the vehicle is running.

[0003] In recent years, a navigation device is known in which a touch panel is provided on a display device such as an attached liquid crystal display, and is configured so that operation input can be performed by touching the display screen with a touch pen. Has been. As described above, if the touch panel force cannot be input while the vehicle is running, passengers who are not involved in driving, for example, passengers riding in the passenger seat, can also perform operations. There is a problem with ヽ and ヽぅ.

[0004] Patent Document 1: JP 2005-156257 A

Patent Document 2: JP 2005-043064 A

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] The above is one example of problems to be solved by the present invention. The present invention provides an operation input device and a navigation device that enable a person who is in a passenger seat other than the driver's seat such as a passenger seat to perform operation input without any restriction even while the vehicle is running. With the goal.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, an operation input device includes a display device that displays information, a touch panel provided on the display device, and a touch panel provided around the touch panel. A proximity sensor unit that detects the approach direction of an operation input object that has approached the touch panel for input, and the input device is set by controlling the display device and the touch panel based on the detected approach direction. A control unit, and the control unit sets the input environment when the detected approach direction is a direction other than a predetermined direction while the proximity sensor unit detects the approach of the operation input object. The normal input environment is set, and when the approaching direction detected is the predetermined direction, the input environment is set to a restricted input environment in which the operation input is more restricted than the normal input environment.

[0007] The operation input device is mounted on, for example, an in-vehicle navigation device, and includes a display device and a touch panel provided on the display device. The user performs various operation inputs by touching the touch panel. In addition, a proximity sensor unit including, for example, a plurality of proximity sensors is provided around the touch panel, and detects the approach direction of the operation input object approaching the touch panel for operation input. The operation input object is, for example, a finger of a user who wants to operate the touch panel, a touch pen, or the like. The control unit controls the display device and touch panel to set the input environment for operation input to the touch panel. More specifically, the control unit normally inputs the input environment when the proximity sensor unit detects the proximity of the operation input object and the detected approach direction is a direction other than the predetermined direction. When the detected approach direction is a predetermined direction, the input environment is set to a restricted input environment in which the operation input is more restricted than the normal input environment. As a result, it is possible to limit the operation input that can always be executed for the operation input applied in a predetermined direction, and always execute the corresponding processing without limitation for the operation input made from other directions. Can do.

[0008] One aspect of the operation input device includes icon display means for displaying an icon indicating an operation input position on the touch panel on the display device, and the control unit includes the icon in the normal input environment. The operation input for all icons displayed on the display device is validated, and the operation input for a predetermined icon displayed on the display device is invalidated in the restricted input environment. In this aspect, an icon indicating the operation input position on the touch panel is displayed on the display device. That is, when the user touches the touch panel at the position of an icon, processing corresponding to the icon is executed. Where The control unit validates operation inputs for all icons displayed on the display device in the normal input environment, and invalidates operation inputs for predetermined icons displayed on the display device in the limited input environment. By doing so, the operation input is restricted.

[0009] In another aspect of the operation input device, the control unit may include an icon in which the operation input is enabled and an icon in which the operation input is disabled in the restricted input environment. Are displayed separately in different display modes. As a result, the user who is viewing the display device in the restricted input environment can instantly identify the icon for which the operation input is currently invalidated, thereby eliminating unnecessary operation input.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an in-vehicle navigation device includes the above-described operation input device, and the predetermined direction is a driver seat direction of the vehicle. As a result, it is possible to limit the operation input from the driver side while driving and to validate all the operation inputs from the passenger side power heel.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the navigation apparatus includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle is traveling and is in a power stop, and the control unit is traveling and the near While the touch sensor detects the approach of the operation input object, it sets the input environment based on the approach direction while the vehicle is stopped, and sets the input environment to the normal input environment while the vehicle is stopped. . As a result, the input environment is controlled based on the detection direction of the operation input object as described above only while the vehicle is running, and all operation inputs can be performed with the driver's side force while the vehicle is stopped. To do.

In another preferred embodiment, the control unit changes the input environment to the restricted input environment while the vehicle is running and the proximity sensor unit does not detect the approach of the operation input object. Set. As a result, when the operation input object is not approaching from any direction, the driver always recognizes that the operation input is restricted by always setting the input environment as the restricted input environment. Can do.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment, the control unit performs an operation input from the predetermined direction even when it is detected that an operation input object is approaching from a direction other than the predetermined direction. When it is detected that an object is approaching, the input environment is set as the limit input. Set the environment. As a result, if the operation inputs from the driver's seat and passenger's seat overlap, priority is given to safety.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a display device.

[Figure 3] Shows the combined directivity characteristics of proximity sensors.

[Figure 4] An example of the display screen during the input environment control process is shown.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of input environment control processing.

Explanation of symbols

[0015] 1 Navigation device

10 Main unit

12 Navigation unit

15 Control unit

20 Display device

22 Liquid crystal display

24 Touch panel

26 Proximity sensor

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following description shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a vehicle navigation apparatus. It is assumed that the following navigation device is mounted on a right-hand drive vehicle, that is, a vehicle that faces the front of the vehicle and that has a driver seat on the right side and a passenger seat on the left side. Of course, the present invention can be applied to a left-hand drive vehicle, in which case the left-right relationship between the driver's seat and the passenger seat is reversed.

[0017] [Device configuration]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the navigation device 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 roughly includes a main unit 10 and a display device 20.

[0018] The display device 20 includes a liquid crystal display device 22, a touch panel 24, and a proximity sensor 26al. ~ 26a3, 26bl ~ 26b3. Fig. 2 (a) and Fig. 2 (b) show the appearance of the display device 20. FIG. 2 (a) is a perspective view of the display device 20 as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 2 (b) is a front view of the display device 20.

The liquid crystal display device 22 has a horizontally long display screen. The right side is the driver's seat side and the left side is the passenger seat side. The observation direction when viewing the liquid crystal display device 22 from the driver's seat is indicated by the arrow in the direction Da, and the observation direction when viewing the liquid crystal display device 22 from the passenger seat is indicated by the arrow in the direction Db.

A touch panel 24 is attached on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 22 so as to cover the entire display screen of the liquid crystal display device 22. In the present invention, the contact position detection method of the touch panel 24 is not limited.

A plurality of proximity sensors 26al to 26a3 and 26bl to 26b3 are provided around the display area of the liquid crystal display device 22, that is, around the touch panel 24. In the following explanation, when it is not necessary to distinguish individual proximity sensors, the six proximity sensors are represented as “proximity sensor 26”. These proximity sensors 26al to 26a3 and 26bl to 26b3 constitute a proximity sensor section. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 2B, three proximity sensors 26al to 26a3 are provided on the right side of the liquid crystal display device 22 in the drawing, that is, on the driver's seat side. (From Da) It has a function to detect an object that operates the touch panel 24. The object that operates the touch panel 24 is, for example, a user's finger, a touch pen, or the like (hereinafter also referred to as “operation input object”). O On the other hand, the left side of the liquid crystal display device 22 in the drawing, that is, the passenger seat. Three proximity sensors 26bl to 26b3 are provided on the side, and these have a function of detecting an object that operates the touch panel 24 from the passenger seat side (that is, from the direction Db).

In the present embodiment, the proximity sensor 26 is a so-called capacitive proximity sensor. A capacitive proximity sensor is a sensor that detects that an object has approached by utilizing the fact that the capacitance between electrodes changes when an object having a dielectric constant different from that of the atmosphere approaches between a pair of electrodes. Since it is known per se, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the present invention, various types of proximity sensors such as a high-frequency oscillation type using electromagnetic induction and a magnetic type using magnets can be applied instead of the capacitance type.

[0023] Specifically, each proximity sensor 26 generates a voltage corresponding to the distance to the object when the object approaches. Output. Therefore, basically, a proximity sensor closer to an approaching object outputs a larger voltage value. Details of the detection process will be described later.

FIG. 3 (a) is a schematic diagram of the detection sensitivity directivity of the proximity sensor 26 shown in FIG. 2 (b), and is a perspective view showing the upward force of the display device 20. FIG. FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of the detection sensitivity directivity of the proximity sensor 26 when viewed from the front direction of the display device 20. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the broken line 30a indicates the directivity on the right side of the display device 20, and the broken line 30b indicates the directivity on the left side. Note that these directivity characteristics are combined characteristics of sensors that detect each direction. That is, the directivity on the right side of the display device 20 indicated by the broken line 30a is defined by the proximity sensors 26al to 26a3 shown in FIG. 2 (b), and the directivity on the left side of the display device 20 indicated by the broken line 30b is shown in FIG. ) Is specified by proximity sensors 26bl to 26b3.

Next, returning to FIG. 1, the configuration of the main unit 10 will be described. The main unit 10 includes a navigation unit 12 and a control unit 15.

The navigation unit 12 includes a GPS unit, a self-supporting sensor, a map data storage unit, and the like, generates an image signal S1 corresponding to the navigation image, and supplies the image signal S1 to the liquid crystal display device 22 in the display device 20. A navigation image is generally a map where the current position of a vehicle is displayed. Further, the navigation image displayed on the display device 20 includes an icon. This icon indicates the position of the operation input on the touch panel 24 attached to the liquid crystal display device 22 in an overlapping manner (also referred to as “operation input icon”). That is, by touching the position on the touch panel 24 corresponding to the display position of this icon, an operation input corresponding to the icon is made.

[0027] Further, the navigation unit 12 has a function of detecting a force when the vehicle is running or stopped using a GPS unit, a self-supporting sensor, or the like. When the vehicle is stopped, all the functions of the navigation unit 12 are validated and all operation inputs to the touch panel 24 are validated. Specifically, all the operation input icons displayed on the touch panel 24 are valid. This input environment is called “normal input environment”. On the other hand, the navigation unit 12 is basically a simple part of the navigation unit in order to ensure safe driving by the driver when the vehicle is running. Only the function is enabled, and other functions are disabled. Specifically, the operation input to the touch panel 24 other than the predetermined simple operation is invalidated. This input environment is referred to as a “restricted input environment” in the sense that functions and operations are more limited than in the normal input environment. For example, in a normal input environment, all operation inputs such as map enlargement / reduction, route setting, and detailed setting can be performed as operation inputs performed on the touch panel 24. On the other hand, in the restricted input environment, functions that can be completed with a single operation input such as zooming in and out of the map and other simple operations can be executed, but multiple operations such as route setting and detailed setting are possible. Functions that require input cannot be executed.

The control unit 15 comprehensively controls each element in the main unit 10. Specifically, the control unit 15 sends a control signal S8 to the navigation unit 12 in accordance with an operation input made by the user to the touch panel 24, and controls it. For example, when a user viewing a navigation image performs an operation input of the navigation unit on the touch panel 24, a control signal S6 corresponding to the operation input is supplied to the control unit 15. In response to this, the control unit 15 supplies a control signal S8 to the navigation unit 12 to control the operation of the navigation unit 12.

[0029] Further, the control unit 15 receives the output signal S7 from the plurality of proximity sensors 26, and detects the approaching direction of the operation input object approaching the touch panel 24 for the operation input. Details of this process will be described later.

Furthermore, the control unit 15 supplies a control signal S8 to the navigation unit 12 based on the approaching direction of the detected operation input object, and controls the input environment during traveling. That is, based on the approach direction of the operation input object, the input environment is selectively set to either the normal input environment or the restricted input environment.

[0031] [Control of input environment]

Hereinafter, the control of the input environment will be described in detail. As described above, the navigation unit 12 basically sets the input environment to the normal input environment while the vehicle is stopped, and sets the input environment to the restricted input environment while the vehicle is running. FIG. 4 (b) shows a display screen example of the display device 20 in a normal input environment. As shown, a plurality of icons 37a to 37d are displayed on the display screen together with a map and a current position mark of the vehicle. Where icon 3 7a corresponds to a map enlargement function, icon 37b corresponds to a map reduction function, icon 37d corresponds to a route setting function, and icon 37d corresponds to a detailed setting function. The map enlargement / reduction function is completed by a single operation input by the user (that is, the user touches the touch panel 24 once). The map enlargement and reduction functions usually change the scale of the displayed map by a certain scale. On the other hand, the route setting function and the detailed setting function are functions that require a plurality of operation inputs, and what the driver does while driving the vehicle is considered problematic from the viewpoint of safe driving.

FIG. 4 (a) shows a display screen example of the display device 20 in the restricted input environment. As shown in the figure, the same icons 37a to 37d as shown in Fig. 4 (b) are displayed on the display screen. Force Icons 37c and 37d corresponding to the route setting function and the detailed setting function with multiple operation inputs. Is displayed in a different color from the icons 37a and 37b corresponding to the map enlargement and reduction functions. That is, in a restricted input environment, icons corresponding to restricted functions are displayed in a form that can be distinguished from icons corresponding to unrestricted functions. As a result, the driver can see that the route setting function and the detailed setting function cannot be used while driving by looking at Fig. 4 (a). In addition, even if the driver actually touches the route setting icon 37c and the detailed setting icon 37d while the vehicle is traveling, the operation input is invalid and the corresponding function is not executed. In addition, as a method for distinguishing between the restricted function and the non-restricted function, the icon colors are different in the examples of FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). Other methods, such as different qualities, may be employed.

Next, control of the input environment based on the approach direction of the operation input object will be described. In the present embodiment, the control unit 15 determines whether the operation input to the touch panel 24 is from the driver's seat side or the passenger's seat side based on the output of the proximity sensor 26. When an operation input is made to the touch panel 24 from the driver side, the input environment is set to the restricted input environment in order to ensure safe driving. On the other hand, when a passenger's side force operation input is made to the touch panel 24, the input environment is set to the normal input environment. This is because the user in the passenger seat does not directly contribute to the driving of the vehicle, and it is considered that there is no problem in terms of safety. [0034] Specifically, when it is determined that the driver's seat side force is also subjected to the operation input based on the output of the proximity sensor 26, the control unit 15 performs the input environment as illustrated in FIG. 4 (a). Set to the restricted input environment. On the other hand, when it is determined that an operation input has been made by the passenger side, the control unit 15 sets the input environment to the normal input environment as illustrated in FIG. 4B. As a result, while the vehicle is running, the driver's operation is limited in terms of safety, and the passenger's passenger can operate without restriction.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the input environment control process based on the approach direction of the operation input object. This process is basically performed by the control unit 15 in the main unit 10. Further, this process is periodically repeated in a state where a navigation image is displayed on the display device 20 while the vehicle is running.

First, the control unit 15 determines whether or not the output change of the proximity sensor 26 exceeds the set value (step S 11). When the inter-electrode capacitance changes due to the proximity of the operation input object, the output voltage of the proximity sensor 26 changes accordingly. The control unit 15 monitors the output signal S7 from the proximity sensor 26, and determines that the operation input object has approached when detecting a change in the output voltage exceeding a predetermined set value. The reason for the comparison with the set value is that it excludes the proximity of objects at a distance that is not considered to be an operation input to the touch panel 24, and eliminates the influence of error factors such as temperature and humidity. This is to ensure a stable detection operation. The determination in step S11 may be determined to be Yes when the output changes of all six proximity sensors 26 exceed the set value, or the output changes of some proximity sensors 26 may have the set value. It may be judged as Yes when it exceeds.

[0037] When the output change of each proximity sensor 26 exceeds the set value (step Sl l; Yes), the control unit 15 includes the proximity sensors 26al to 26a3 arranged on the driver's seat side (direction Da side). The maximum change value is stored as Amax in the internal memory or register (step S12). Further, the control unit 15 stores the maximum change value among the proximity sensors 26bl to 26b3 arranged on the passenger seat side (direction Db side) as Bmax in an internal memory or register (step S13). Then, the control unit 15 compares the maximum change values Amax and Bmax (step S14).

[0038] When the maximum change value Amax force is greater than ¾max (step S14; Yes), the control unit 15 determines that the operation input object is also approaching the driver side force (step S15), and the display device The input environment for 20 is set to the limited input environment illustrated in FIG. 4 (a) (step S16). As a result, functions that can be input to the driver are restricted while the vehicle is running. On the other hand, if the maximum change value Amax is smaller than Bmax (step S14; No), the control unit 15 determines that the operation input object is approaching from the passenger seat side (step S17), and inputs to the display device 20. Set the environment to the normal input environment shown in Fig. 4 (b) (step S18). As a result, even when the vehicle is traveling, a user who is in the passenger seat can perform operation inputs corresponding to all functions.

[0039] Next, when an operation input is made to the touch panel 24, the control unit 15 executes a corresponding process (step S19). Next, the control unit 15 determines whether or not the operation input to the touch panel 24 is continued (step S20), and continues the corresponding processing while the operation is continued. On the other hand, when the operation input ends (step S20; No), the process ends.

[0040] Thus, in this embodiment, the approach direction of the operation input object is detected based on the output change of the proximity sensor 26, and when the approach direction is on the driver side, the function that allows operation input is limited. To do. When the approaching direction is the passenger seat side, operation input corresponding to all functions is possible.

It should be noted that the input environment control process shown in FIG. 5 is a force that is executed while the vehicle is running. The approach to the operation input object is not detected from the direction of deviation on the driver side and the passenger side.ぉヽ Basically, the input environment may be set to either the normal input environment or the restricted input environment. This is because when an operation input object approaches from any direction, an appropriate input environment is always set according to the approach direction, as shown in the processing of FIG. Therefore, if the input environment in which the approach of the operation input object is not detected is set to the normal input environment, the input environment is the normal input environment even if the approach of the operation input object from the passenger's seat side is detected. Is maintained, and the input environment is changed to the restricted input environment when the approach of the operation input object is detected from the driver's seat side. Conversely, if the input environment in which the approach of the operation input object is not detected is set to the restricted input environment, the restricted input environment is maintained even if the approach of the operation input object is detected from the driver's seat side. When the approaching object is detected, the input environment is changed to the normal input environment. However, when the input of the operation input object is not detected Setting the force environment to the restricted input environment has an advantage that the driver can always be notified by the display image that the operation input from the driver side is restricted during driving.

[0042] As described in detail above, according to the present embodiment, the navigation device is provided with a display device for displaying information, a touch panel provided on the display device, and a periphery of the touch panel. Therefore, a proximity sensor unit that detects an approach direction of an operation input object approaching the touch panel, and a control unit that sets an input environment by controlling the display device and the touch panel based on the detected approach direction. Prepare. While the proximity sensor unit detects the approach of the operation input object, the control unit sets the input environment to the normal input environment and is detected if the detected approach direction is a direction other than the predetermined direction. When the approaching direction is the predetermined direction, the input environment is set to a restricted input environment in which the operation input is more restricted than the normal input environment.

[0043] Therefore, when the operator of the display device is a driver, an operating environment that complies with the Road Traffic Law can be provided, and when the operator is on the passenger seat side, an unlimited operating environment can be provided. . As a result, detailed operations such as changing the guidance route setting can be performed from the passenger seat side even while traveling, so there is no need to stop the vehicle in the parking area on the expressway.

[Modification]

The above embodiment shows the processing when the operation input object approaches only from either the driver's side or the passenger's seat side. When approaching, priority is given to the approach of the operation input object from the driver's seat side, and the input environment may be set to the restricted input environment. In addition, even if an approach of an operation input object from the passenger seat side is detected once, an approach of an operation input object from the driver seat side is detected with a greater change in the proximity sensor output. The input environment may be set to the restricted input environment, giving priority to the proximity from the driver side.

[0044] In the input environment control process of Fig. 5, the setting values used in step S11 when detecting the proximity of the operation input object from the driver seat side and the passenger seat side are the same. It may be installed. In other words, different set values may be set so that the detection of the operation input object from the driver's seat side is performed preferentially. Industrial applicability

The present invention can be used in a navigation apparatus for a mobile object represented by a vehicle or the like.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] a display device for displaying information;

A touch panel provided on the display device;

A proximity sensor unit provided around the touch panel for detecting an approach direction of an operation input object approaching the touch panel for operation input;

A control unit configured to control the display device and the touch panel to set an input environment based on the detected approach direction!

The control unit sets the input environment as a normal input environment when the proximity sensor unit detects the approach of the operation input object and the detected approach direction is a direction other than a predetermined direction. When the detected approaching direction is the predetermined direction, the input environment is set to a limited input environment in which the operation input is more limited than the normal input environment.

[2] It comprises icon display means for displaying an icon indicating an operation input position on the touch panel on the display device,

The control unit validates the operation input for all icons displayed on the display device in the normal input environment, and invalidates the operation input for a predetermined icon displayed on the display device in the limited input environment. The operation input device according to claim 1, characterized in that:

[3] In the restricted input environment, the control unit displays an icon in which the operation input is enabled and an icon in which the operation input is disabled in different display modes. The operation input device according to claim 2.

[4] An in-vehicle navigation device,

The operation input device according to claim 1 is provided,

The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined direction is a driver seat direction of the vehicle.

[5] It has a judging means for judging whether the vehicle is running or a force stop,

The control unit sets the input environment based on the approach direction while the proximity sensor unit detects the approach of the operation input object while the vehicle is running, and stops the vehicle. inside 5. The navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the input environment is set to the normal input environment.

6. The control unit sets the input environment to the restricted input environment while the vehicle is running and the proximity sensor unit does not detect the approach of the operation input object. The navigation device according to claim 5.

[7] Even if it is detected that the operation input object is approaching from a direction other than the predetermined direction, the control unit may be approaching the operation input object from the predetermined direction. 5. The navigation device according to claim 4, wherein, if detected, the input environment is set to the restricted input environment.