JP2011197848A - Touch-panel input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a practical touch-panel input device practically using a touch-panel allowing multipoint detection.SOLUTION: The touch-panel input device performs input of different functions in response to a first-point touch and a second-point touch onto a touch-panel display screen including display and touch-panel functions. The touch-panel input device associates and inputs the first-point touch and the second-point touch when a time interval to second-point touch detection from first-point touch detection is within a prescribed time, and performs input as first-point touch operation when it is longer than the prescribed time. For example, a consonant is designated by the first-point touch, a vowel is designated by the second-point touch, and a character is input by a combination of both sides. A second-point touch position is dragged to a first-point touch position to execute input. A touch reference position of the consonant of the character and a touch reference position of the vowel of the character are disposed in side portions of the touch-panel display screen, and ten-key pad display is disposed in a central portion of the touch-panel display screen.

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel input device.

Various proposals have been made regarding touch panel input devices. For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 propose analog resistance film type touch panels capable of detecting two touch positions.
JP 2009-146191 A JP 2010-26641 A

  However, there are various problems that need to be specifically examined in the use of touch panels, and practical studies are still insufficient for touch panels that can detect multiple points.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a practical touch panel input device utilizing a touch panel capable of detecting multiple points.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention includes a touch panel, a detection unit that detects a two-point simultaneous touch state on the touch panel, and an input control unit that performs different inputs according to the timing of the two-point touch of the detection unit. A touch panel input device is provided. As a result, confusion of the two-point touch operation can be prevented and input with a simple operation feeling can be made possible.

  According to a specific feature of the present invention, the input control unit inputs different functions in response to the first point touch and the second point touch in the two point touch detected by the detection unit. Accordingly, different input can be continuously performed by the second point touch subsequent to the first point touch, and different input can be continuously performed by continuous touch of different fingers such as the thumb and the index finger.

  According to another specific feature of the present invention, the input control unit varies the input in response to a time interval from the first point touch detection to the second point touch detection in the two point touch detected by the detection unit. This makes it possible to perform a desired input without confusion due to a natural difference in touch feeling. For example, if there is a predetermined time interval between the first point touch detection and the second point touch detection, input that responds to the second point touch is prohibited to prevent accidental input due to the two point touch. can do.

  Also, for example, if the time interval from the first point touch detection to the second point touch detection is within a predetermined time, the first point touch and the second point touch are input in association with each other, and this is performed intentionally. Thus, it is possible to appropriately identify the two-point touch and perform a desired input. Furthermore, for example, if an input as a one-point touch operation is executed when a time interval between the first point touch detection and the second point touch detection is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the one-point operation is performed with a natural operation feeling. Input and 2-point operation input can be used properly.

  According to another feature of the present invention, a touch panel, a detection unit that detects a two-point simultaneous touch state on the touch panel, and a combination of the first point touch position and the second point touch position in the two point touch detected by the detection unit A touch panel input device having an input control unit for performing input is provided. This enables input based on a combination of a plurality of elements.

According to a specific feature, the touch panel is configured as a touch panel display screen having a display and a touch panel function, and a display control unit that displays a reference position of the touch on the touch panel display screen is provided. As a result, the combination candidates are displayed appropriately and selected by two-point touch.

  According to the other specific feature of the present invention, the input control unit is configured to respond to a relative position change between the specific first point touch position and the specific second point touch position in the two-point touch detected by the detection unit. Make a predetermined input. As a result, it is possible to specify a combination by two-point touch and execute an input by the specified combination with a simple operation. According to a more specific feature, the input control unit performs a predetermined input by dragging the specific second point touch position to the specific first point touch position in the two-point touch detected by the detection unit. Thereby, the input by the designation | designated combination by two-point touch is performed in the form which is easy to understand sensuously. A specific example of such input is character input by a combination of character consonant elements and vowel elements.

  According to another feature of the present invention, a touch panel display screen having a display and a touch panel function, and a display control unit that arranges a touch reference position of a consonant of a character and a touch reference position of a vowel of a character on a side portion of the touch panel display screen There is provided a touch panel input device comprising: a detection unit that detects a touch state on the touch panel display screen; and an input control unit that performs character input in response to touch detection by the detection unit. As a result, it is possible to input characters by combining fewer elements than direct specification of characters, and the center portion of the touch panel display screen can be used effectively.

  According to the specific feature of the present invention, the display control unit arranges the numeric keypad display at the center portion of the touch panel display screen. In this way, the touch reference position of the consonant of the character and the touch reference position of the vowel of the character are arranged in the side part of the touch panel display screen, and the numeric keypad is arranged in the central part of the touch panel display screen, thereby limiting the touch panel Various and easy input is possible using the display screen.

  According to a more specific feature, the detection unit performs numeric input by detecting a one-point touch state on the numeric keypad display on the touch panel display screen. In this way, by specifying the combination of the consonant and vowel of the character by two-point touch, by placing the touch reference position on the side part of the touch panel display screen and by specifying the number by one-point touch on the numeric keypad display, Various inputs can be performed easily. Moreover, regarding the proper use of such one-point touch and two-point touch, the various features of the present invention described above can be used together as necessary.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a practical touch panel input device using a touch panel capable of detecting multiple points.

It is a block diagram which shows Example 1 of the touchscreen input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a display screen diagram when menu selection is performed when a menu selection operation is performed with the left hand from the driver's seat side of the right-hand drive vehicle in the resistive touch panel display unit of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a display screen diagram when a menu selection operation is performed with the right hand from the passenger seat side of the right-hand drive vehicle in the resistive touch panel display unit of FIG. 1. It is a display screen figure in the case of performing destination input operation in the resistive film type touch panel display part of FIG. It is a screen figure explaining the difference between left-hand operation and right-hand operation in the case of carrying out map enlargement / reduction operation during traveling on the resistive touch panel display unit of FIG. It is a screen figure which shows operation which expands the rectangular area | region decided by the absolute position of two points from the state of FIG. 5 (B) to the resistive film type touch panel display part. FIG. 7 is a screen diagram illustrating an operation of reducing the map to a wide area side with a predetermined reduction rate centered on a desired point when there is a history of the map being enlarged through the progress of FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a screen diagram when a map enlargement operation is performed from the state of FIG. 5A regardless of where the absolute positions of the two points are; FIG. 6 is a screen diagram when a map reduction operation is performed from the state of FIG. 5A regardless of where the absolute positions of the two points are. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the control part in Example 1 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of step S10 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of step S16 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of step S24 of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows Example 2 of the touchscreen input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a screen diagram illustrating a subject image displayed on a resistive film type touch panel display unit of Example 2. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the control part in Example 2 of FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing Example 1 of the touch panel input device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The first embodiment constitutes a vehicle navigation system device (hereinafter referred to as a car navigation device) 2, which has a control unit 4 composed of a computer for controlling the entire device, and the car navigation device according to the operation of the operation unit 6 by the driver. 2 is controlled. The function of the control unit 4 is executed by software stored in the storage unit 8. The storage unit 8 also temporarily stores various data necessary for controlling the car navigation device 2. Further, the control unit 4 controls the display of the resistive touch panel display unit 12 via the display driver 10, displays a GUI display necessary for the operation of the operation unit 6, and displays a control result.

  The resistive touch panel display unit 12 is a display unit and a touch panel input device, and is a GUI operation unit that performs an input operation by directly touching the display. In addition, the resistive touch panel display unit 12 is connected to the control unit 4 by four output lines (in FIG. 1, shown as a single line indicating the information transmission direction for simplicity) that outputs the touch position information of the top, bottom, left, and right. The controller 4 is connected, and the four-wire output is analyzed to detect the two touch positions and their movement. Details of the input by detecting the touch position of these two points will be described later.

  The GPS unit 18 obtains latitude, longitude, and altitude information, which are absolute position information of the vehicle on which the car navigation device 2 is mounted, from the satellite and the nearest broadcasting station based on the GPS system and sends the information to the control unit 4. The control unit 4 processes the absolute position information from the GPS unit 14 and displays the position of the vehicle on the map provided by the map storage unit 16 on the resistive touch panel display unit 12.

  The car navigation device 2 includes a wireless communication unit 18 and an input / output unit 20 via a cable in order to communicate with the outside wirelessly in order to update map information stored in the map storage unit 16. The wireless communication unit may be a normal telephone line or a dedicated short-range wireless communication unit. In addition to obtaining map information, these wireless communication unit 18 and input / output unit 20 may communicate with the outside to obtain such information when a function upgrade or maintenance data is generated for a car navigation system or a GPS system. it can. The operation information input to the control unit 4 can be performed by voice from the microphone 19 in addition to the operation from the operation unit 6 or the resistive touch panel display unit 12. In addition to the display on the resistive touch panel display unit 12, information output to the driver or the like can be performed by voice through the speaker 21.

  2 to 9 are display screen diagrams for explaining various functions related to display and two-point touch detection in the resistive touch panel display unit (hereinafter, abbreviated as “display unit”) 12 of FIG. . In the car navigation system, the display unit 12 is usually arranged near the center of the vehicle, but the driver or passenger in the passenger seat uses the touch panel on the display unit 12 as an example of a right-hand drive vehicle. How to perform various GUI operations will be described.

  First, FIG. 2 shows a case where a GUI operation for selecting a menu is performed by touching a menu displayed on the display unit 12. FIG. 2 shows a case where the driver is operating. In this case, the operating hand is the left hand 22. To touch two points, using either the thumb or any other finger (for example, the middle finger) is the most flexible in various operations, but the driver sitting in the driver's seat naturally holds the left hand 22 When placed on the display portion 12, the fingertip of the thumb is positioned lower than the fingertips of the other fingers as shown in FIG. Therefore, the line connecting the touch position 26 of any other finger (for example, the middle finger, which will be described below by taking the middle finger as an example) is usually downwardly to the right.

  When the control unit 4 detects that two lower right points are in the simultaneous touch state based on the information from the display unit 12, the control unit 4 instructs the display driver 10 to display the left-hand menu layout as shown in FIG. Display. Specifically, in the left-hand menu layout, the destination menu 28, the audio menu 30, and the air conditioner menu 32 where a touch other than the thumb of the left hand 22 is scheduled are arranged on the upper left side of the display unit 12, and the touch of the thumb The decision area 34 scheduled for is arranged near the lower right side of the display unit 12. When the control unit 4 instructs the left hand menu display, the absolute position of the thumb touch position 24 and the middle finger touch position 26 may be anywhere, and the line connecting the two points in the simultaneous touch state is relatively lower right. Only that is the determination information.

  Next, menu selection in such a left-hand layout will be described. For example, when it is determined that the middle finger is touched on one of the menus (for example, the destination menu 28) and the thumb is touched on the decision area 34 at the same time, the absolute positions of the thumb touch position 24 and the middle finger touch position 26 are detected. In response to this, the destination menu 28 and the decision area 34 in which a touch is detected are displayed in a thick frame as shown in FIG. In this state, it is also possible to select another menu by shifting the touch position of the middle finger while continuing to touch the determination area 34 of the thumb, and in response to this, a thick frame display is displayed from the destination menu 28 as an audio. Move to menu 30 or air conditioner menu 32. Such menu selection can be moved by moving the left hand 22 up and down as indicated by the white arrow 36. The determination area 34 is set to be long in the vertical direction so that the touch state is maintained even when the thumb moves in parallel up and down as indicated by the white arrow 38 by the parallel movement of the left hand 22.

  Note that the menu selection is not limited to the case where the left hand 22 is translated up and down as described above, and any two-point touch can be performed according to the natural movement of the left hand. Examples of other hand movements will be described later. In addition, it is not always necessary to move the hand while maintaining the two-point touch state as described above, and once the finger is completely removed from the display unit 12, the middle finger and the thumb are then touched for a new selection. You may go. Further, it is not necessary to touch the two points completely at the same time. First, one of the menus may be touched with the middle finger and the decision area 34 may be touched with the thumb. Conversely, the decision area 34 may be first touched with the thumb and then touched on any of the menus with the middle finger as a fulcrum. In the menu selection screen after the left-hand layout is displayed as shown in FIG. 2, the menu and the decision area are thickened in response to any of the menus and the decision area 34 unless two simultaneous touch states are detected. There is no change to the frame display.

  In order to confirm the menu selection, for example, in the state where the destination menu 28 and the decision menu 34 are displayed in a thick frame as shown in FIG. Slide your thumb toward the middle finger as shown. The decision area 34 is dragged toward the destination menu 24 by the movement of the thumb. For example, when the two are overlapped with each other, the selection of the destination menu 28 is confirmed. When the left hand 22 is released from the display unit 12, as shown in FIG. 2B, the display color of the destination menu 28 for which the selection has been confirmed changes, indicating that the menu selection has been confirmed.

  FIG. 3 is a display screen diagram when the display unit 12 is operated from the passenger seat side of the right-hand drive vehicle. In this case, the operating hand is the right hand 42. When the passenger sitting in the passenger seat naturally places the right hand 42 on the display unit 12, the fingertip of the thumb of the right hand 42 is lower than the fingertips of the other fingers as shown in FIG. Therefore, the line connecting the touch position 44 of the thumb and the touch position 46 of the middle finger is usually left-down.

  In this case, when the control unit 4 detects that two points on the lower left are in the simultaneous touch state based on the information from the display unit 12, the control unit 4 instructs the display driver 10 to display the right-hand menu layout as shown in FIG. This is displayed on the unit 12. More specifically, in the right-hand menu layout, the destination menu 48, the audio menu 50, and the air conditioner menu 52 are arranged near the upper right of the display unit 12, and the decision area 54 where a thumb touch is scheduled is displayed on the display unit. 12 is arranged on the lower left side. In this way, the layout when operating with the right hand from the left side of the display unit 12 in FIG. 3 is symmetrical to the case of operating with the left hand from the right side of the display unit 12 as shown in FIG. There is no confusion. As in the case of determining the left-hand layout, at the stage where the control unit 4 instructs the right-hand menu display, only the fact that the line connecting the two points in the simultaneous touch state is relatively lower left is the determination information. .

  Next, menu selection in the right-hand layout in FIG. 3 will be described. Since it is basically the same as the right-hand layout shown in FIG. For example, if it is determined that the middle finger is touched on one of the menus (for example, the audio menu 50) and the thumb is touched on the decision area 54 at the same time, the thumb touch position 44 and the middle finger touch position are determined as in FIG. The absolute position 46 is detected, and in response to this, the audio menu 50 and the decision area 54 in which a touch is detected are displayed in a thick frame as shown in FIG. In the following, FIG. 3 shows an example of a two-point touch by a different hand movement from that in FIG. 2, but the two-point touch by a natural hand movement is possible without being limited to FIG. 2 and FIG. Needless to say.

  In FIG. 3, by touching the thumb determination area 34 as a fulcrum, the right hand 42 is rotated as shown by a white arrow 56 to shift the touch position of the middle finger, and another menu can be selected. . Further, the thumb does not necessarily have to be fixed, and may naturally move in the decision area 54. In response to the movement of the touch position of the middle finger, the thick frame display moves from the audio menu 50 to the destination menu 48 or the air conditioner menu 52.

  Note that such a menu selection change does not necessarily have to be performed while maintaining the two-point touch state as described above, and once the finger is completely removed from the display unit 12, and then the middle finger and the new finger are selected for a new selection. The thumb touch may be performed as in the case of FIG. Similarly to the case of FIG. 2A, it is not necessary to touch two points completely at the same time. Even in the right-hand layout as shown in FIG. 3, on the menu selection screen after this layout is displayed, unless a simultaneous touch state of any of the menus and the decision area 54 is detected, the menu is reacted accordingly. This is because the decision area does not change to a thick frame display.

  The menu selection is confirmed in the same manner as in FIG. 3A, for example, when the audio menu 50 and the decision menu 54 are displayed in a thick frame as shown in FIG. If the user continues to slide the thumb toward the middle finger as indicated by the black arrow 58 and drags the decision area 54 toward the audio menu 50, the selection of the audio menu 50 is finalized when the two overlap. Then, when the right hand 42 is released from the display unit 12, the display color of the audio menu 50 whose selection has been confirmed changes as shown in FIG. 3B, indicating that the menu selection has been confirmed.

  Note that the control unit 4 does not display the left-hand layout of FIG. 2 when the vehicle is traveling even when the right-down two-point simultaneous touch state is detected, The menu change operation is prohibited ”is notified to the driver by display on the display unit 12 or announcement of the speaker 21. This is to prevent accidents caused by the operation of the driver while traveling. Note that when the control unit 4 detects a two-point simultaneous touch state with a lower left, the left-hand layout of FIG. 3 is displayed whether the vehicle is stopped or traveling, You can ask the passenger in the passenger seat to change the menu. Here, when the layout for the right hand is displayed, it is not impossible to make a two-point touch to the lower right due to the unnatural posture of the driver's right or left hand, but the driver is Thoroughly notify the user in advance in order to avoid taking them.

  FIG. 4 shows a display screen diagram for destination input that is automatically displayed when the selection of the destination menu is determined as shown in FIG. FIG. 4A shows a left-hand layout, which is displayed by detecting that the line connecting the two touched points is relatively lower right as in FIG. 2A. In FIG. 4, two relative positions of the touch position 60 of the thumb and the touch position 62 of a finger other than the thumb (for example, the index finger in FIG. 4) are detected.

  In the left-hand layout of the display screen for destination input shown in FIG. 4A, each line other than “A” of “Akasata Hamawara” where a touch other than the thumb of the left hand 22 is scheduled is indicated. K ”,“ S ”,“ T ”,“ N ”,“ H ”,“ M ”,“ Y ”,“ R ”,“ W ”consonant button group 64 (for simplicity, only“ K ”is representative. Numbering) is arranged in the vicinity of the upper end of the screen of the display unit 12 and “a”, “i”, “u”, “e”, A group of “o” vowel buttons 66 (for simplicity, only “a” is numbered as a representative) is arranged near the right end of the screen of the display unit 12.

  Next, input of kana characters in the left-hand layout as described above will be described. For example, if it is determined that the index finger is touched on one of the consonant button groups 64 (for example, “T”) and the thumb is touched on one of the vowel button groups 66 (for example, “u”), the thumb touches. The absolute position of the position 60 and the touch position 62 of the index finger is detected, and in response to this, the consonant button “T” and the vowel button “u” whose touch is detected are displayed in a thick frame as shown in FIG. . These combinations mean the Roman letter “Tu”, that is, the kana “tsu”. In this way, any combination of consonants and vowels can be specified by two-point touch of any one of the consonant buttons with a finger other than the thumb and the vowel button with the thumb. The pseudonym of the “A” line can be designated by touching the blank button 68 with a finger other than the thumb and two-point touching with a vowel button with the thumb. Furthermore, “n” can be designated by touching the blank button 68 with a finger other than the thumb and two-point touch of the “n” button 70 with the thumb.

  Note that the above input does not allow you to input muddy sounds, semi-turbid sounds, repellent sounds, prompt sounds, stuttering, etc., but the destination input is not a new input, it is information for searching place names etc. originally registered on the map. As the number of generated character strings increases, the corresponding portion is automatically corrected to muddy sound, semi-turbid sound, repelling sound, sounding sound, and roaring sound by inferring from the arrangement by software. If the number of consonant buttons such as “G”, “P”, and “Ky” is increased on the display unit, it is also possible to directly input a muddy sound, a semi-turbid sound, a repellent sound, a prompt sound, and a stuttering sound.

  In the kana input, it is not necessary to touch the two points completely at the same time. First, the forefinger first touches either the consonant button group 64 or the blank button 68, and then the vowel button group 66 or the “n” button 70 with the thumb. Either of these may be touched or vice versa. In order to confirm the input of the kana specified by the combination of two points, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the “T” button of the consonant button group 64 and the “u” button of the vowel button group 66 are bold. In the displayed state, the thumb is slid toward the index finger as indicated by the black arrow 72 while touching the index finger and thumb. By the movement of the thumb, the “u” button of the vowel button group 66 is dragged from the decision area 34 of the consonant button group 64 toward the destination menu 24. Determine. Then, the kana whose input has been newly confirmed is displayed in capital letters after the confirmed character in the input window 74 as “T”. By dragging the vowel button to the consonant button as described above, the operation for confirming the kana becomes an operation according to the romanized writing of the kana, and there is little discomfort. This is suitable for Japanese Romaji input, but is also suitable for inputting Korean characters with a similar consonant and vowel combination character structure. In the case of a Hangul character, the addition of the patch is continued by inputting the basic structure of the character and then combining the combination of the patch button and the consonant button arranged in the row of vowel buttons like the “n” button 70 or 80 in FIG. Input by specifying the additional.

  In the destination input destination input display screen of FIG. 4, a numeric keypad 76 for inputting numbers is further displayed near the center of the screen of the display unit 12. Such an arrangement of the numeric key buttons 76 arranges the consonant button group 64 in the vicinity of the upper end of the screen of the display unit 12 and arranges the vowel button group 66 in the vicinity of the right end of the screen of the display unit 12 to secure an empty space in the center of the screen. This is possible. Numeric input using the numeric key buttons 76 is performed by one-point touch in which one of the numeric key buttons is touched as usual. In this case, in order to avoid confusion with the first touch of the two-point touch at an arbitrary position in the left-hand layout determination, wait for a predetermined time (for example, one second) after the ten-point touch of the numeric keypad is detected, After confirming that the second point is not touched continuously, confirm the number input. Conversely, when performing a two-point touch, the user is required to perform the second point touch within a predetermined time after the first point touch, although it is not necessary to be simultaneous. Become. In this way, identification of one-point touch or two-point touch is performed by setting the predetermined time.

  FIG. 4B shows a right-hand layout for a destination input, and it is detected that a line connecting two touched points is relatively leftward as in FIG. 3A. Is displayed. In the right-hand layout shown in FIG. 4B, the consonant button group 64 and the blank button 68 that are expected to be touched except for the thumb of the right hand 42 are located near the upper end of the screen of the display unit 12 in the same manner as in FIG. Be placed. At this time, for convenience of operation, the layout is shifted slightly to the right as shown in FIG. However, the consonant arrangement order itself is the same as in FIG. 4A to avoid confusion. If there is a margin for the layout, the consonant button group 64 and the blank button 68 may be completely the same for the left-hand layout in FIG. 4A and the right-hand layout in FIG. 4B.

  On the other hand, in the layout for the right hand in FIG. 4B, the vowel button group 78 and the “n” button 80 that are expected to touch the thumb of the right hand 42 are different from the layout for the left hand in FIG. The display unit 12 is arranged near the left end of the screen. However, the arrangement of the buttons in the vertical direction is the same as that in FIG. 4A to avoid confusion. In the layout for the right hand, such a layout allows the kana to be input with the natural posture of the right hand in the same manner as in FIG. The specification of kana by the combination of consonant buttons and vowel buttons in the right-hand layout of FIG. 4B and the confirmation of kana input by dragging the vowel buttons are the same as in the left-hand layout of FIG. To do. However, the input window 82 is shifted to the left of the screen in FIG. The arrangement of the numeric key buttons 76 in the right-hand layout in FIG. 4B is the same as that in the left-hand layout in FIG.

  When a desired destination is displayed in the input window 78 or 82 as a result of the destination input shown in FIG. 4, when the input window 78 or 82 is touched, a map including the vehicle position is displayed on the display unit 12, and navigation is started. The In the same way as in FIG. 2, the control unit 4 does not display the left-hand layout in FIG. 4A when the vehicle is traveling even when the two-point simultaneous touching state of lower right is detected. Instead, the driver is informed by the display on the display unit 12 or the announcement of the speaker 21 that the menu change operation is prohibited by the driver while driving.

  FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 are screen views illustrating a map enlargement / reduction operation in a state where a map 86 including the position 84 of the host vehicle is displayed on the display unit 12 and navigation is performed. First, FIG. 5 is a screen diagram for explaining the difference between the left hand operation and the right hand operation during traveling. As described above, in the case of a right-hand drive vehicle, the left hand operation is performed by the driver, and the right hand operation is performed by the passenger in the passenger seat. Due to this difference, the present invention is configured so that the right-hand operation and the left-hand operation are different from each other to prevent danger by not placing a burden on the driver, and an operation that more reflects the intention can be performed from the passenger in the passenger seat. It is configured as follows.

  In FIG. 5A, it is detected that the line connecting the two points of the thumb touch position 88 and the index finger touch position 90 is relatively right-down, and as a result, the left-hand operation is recognized. To do. In this case, since the subsequent processing is performed using only the relative position as information regardless of where the absolute position of the two points is, only the natural touch of the left hand is required without requiring an accurate touch position from the driver. Processing is performed based on this. On the other hand, in FIG. 5B, it is detected that the line connecting the two points of the thumb touch position 92 and the index finger touch position 94 is relatively left-down, and as a result, the right-hand operation is performed. Recognize that there is. In this case, the absolute position of the two points of the thumb touch position 92 and the index finger touch position 94 is detected, and a rectangular region 96 having a diagonal line connecting the two points is recognized, and the subsequent processing is performed. The amount increases. For this recognition, in the case of a right-hand operation by the passenger, an accurate two-point touch is expected.

  FIG. 6 is a screen diagram showing an operation for enlarging the area to the display unit 12 when the rectangular area 96 is recognized on the map 86 as shown in FIG. To enlarge the rectangular area 96, as shown in FIG. 6A, the thumb and index finger are slid away from each touch position 92 and 94 as indicated by black arrows 98 and 100, and then The right hand 42 is moved away from the display unit 12. The control unit 4 recognizes this movement as an enlargement operation, and enlarges the map portion in the rectangular area 96 in FIG. 6A to the full display unit 12 as in the map 102 in FIG. Thus, in the right-hand operation while traveling, a desired portion of the displayed map can be cut out and enlarged to the full display unit 12.

  FIG. 7 is a screen diagram showing an operation of reducing the map to a wide area side at a predetermined reduction rate centering on a desired point when there is a history of the map being enlarged through the process of FIG. That is, the reduction operation is performed when there is a history of operations performed with the right hand before that. In FIG. 7A, the center position 106 of the reduced map is determined by detecting the touch point 104 of the index finger of the right hand 42. In this case, since it is a one-point touch, it waits for a predetermined time (for example, one second) in order to distinguish it from the first point touch of the two-point touch. When the right hand 42 is released from the display unit 12 after the center position 106 is determined, the reduced map 108 is displayed so that the center position 106 is at the center of the map as shown in FIG. At this time, the reduction rate is reduced at a predetermined rate every time one-point touch is performed. Therefore, when further reduction is desired, one-point touch with the index finger is repeated. It is optional to change the center point of the enlargement in the middle of these operations.

  6 and 7 are described as a right-hand operation when a left-pointing two-point touch is detected. However, when the vehicle is stopped, a right-down two-point touch is detected. A rectangular area as shown in FIG. 5B is set. This is because, when not driving, the driver may request an accurate operation without danger, and the driver stops the vehicle so that the desired area on the map is enlarged and the desired one point is obtained. The map at the center can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the line connecting the two points of the thumb touch position 88 and the index finger touch position 90 is relatively right, regardless of where the absolute positions of the two points are. FIG. 11 is a screen diagram when a map enlargement operation is performed in the case of detecting only that it is falling. To enlarge the map in this state, as shown in FIG. 8A, the thumb and index finger are slid away from each touch position 88 and 90 as indicated by white arrows 110 and 112, and then the left hand 22 is separated from the display unit 12. The control unit 4 recognizes this movement as an enlargement operation, and displays the map 114 enlarged at a predetermined magnification while fixing the center of the map as shown in FIG. 8B. In this way, in the left-hand operation while traveling, only the enlargement operation is detected without specifying the map position, and the map center is fixed and enlarged. Further, since there is no designation of an enlargement rate, the map is enlarged at a predetermined rate every time an enlargement operation is detected. Therefore, when further enlargement is desired, the separation operation of the two-point touch position is repeated.

  In FIG. 9, the line connecting the two points of the thumb touch position 88 and the index finger touch position 90 is relatively right, regardless of where the absolute positions of the two points are, as shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a screen diagram when a map reduction operation is performed contrary to FIG. 8 in the case of detecting only a downward movement. In order to reduce the map 114 in this state, the thumb and index finger are slid toward each other as indicated by white arrows 120 and 122 from the respective touch positions 116 and 118 as shown in FIG. The left hand 22 is moved away from the display unit 12. The control unit 4 recognizes this movement as a reduction operation, and displays a map 124 that is reduced at a predetermined magnification while fixing the center of the map as shown in FIG. 9B. In this way, in the left-hand operation while traveling, the reduction is performed in the case of the reduction operation. There is no designation for the reduction rate, and the map is reduced at a predetermined rate each time a reduction operation is detected. Accordingly, when further reduction is desired, the approaching operation at the two-point touch position is repeated.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the control unit 4 in the first embodiment of FIG. The flow starts when the input / output unit 20 informs that the vehicle engine (or “motor” in the case of an electric vehicle, hereinafter “engine”) is turned on, and the flow of the map to be displayed in step S2 starts. An initial scale is set. This initial scale may be stored and used when the engine was previously turned off, or may be adopted at a predetermined scale each time the engine is turned on. Next, GPS information indicating the vehicle position from the GPS unit 14 is acquired from the GPS unit 14 in step SS4, and the map centering on the vehicle position is displayed on the display unit 12 at the magnification set in step S2 in step S6. Is done.

Next, in step S8, it is checked whether an operation for obtaining menu display has been performed by the operation unit 6. When it is detected in step S8 that the menu display operation has been performed, the process proceeds to the menu selection process in step S10. This is a process for executing the operation described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the details of which will be described later. When the menu processing is completed, in step S12, it is checked whether the menu selection has been confirmed. If so, the process proceeds to step S14 to check whether the destination input menu has been selected. If the selection of the destination input menu is confirmed, the destination input process of step S16 is executed, and the process proceeds to the map display of step S18 based on the result. Details of the destination input process will be described later.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the destination input menu is not selected, the process proceeds to step S20, where other menu processing such as audio processing or air conditioning processing is performed, and the process proceeds to map display in step S18. If the confirmation of menu selection is not confirmed in step S12, the process immediately shifts to the map display in step S18.

When a map is displayed in step S18, it is checked in step S22 whether or not a touch on the map has been detected. If no menu display operation is detected in step S8, the map display in step S6 is continued and the process proceeds to map touch detection in step S22. When a map touch is detected in step S22, the map touch process in step S24 is started. Details thereof will be described later. When the map touch process is completed, the process proceeds to step S26. On the other hand, when no map touch is detected in step S22, the process directly proceeds to step S26. In step S26, it is checked whether or not the engine has been turned off. If engine off is not detected, the process returns to step S4. Hereinafter, unless engine off is detected in step S26, step S2 to step S26 are repeated. When each operation is not detected, the map information is continuously updated while the GPS information acquired in step S4 is updated. When each operation is performed, it corresponds to it. On the other hand, when engine-off is detected in step S26, the flow ends.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing details of the menu selection process in step S10 of FIG. 10. When the flow starts, it is first checked in step S32 whether the vehicle is a right-hand drive vehicle. If the vehicle is not a right-hand drive vehicle, in step S34, “right” and “left” in the following processing are reversed to “left” and “right”, respectively, and a reading process is performed, and the process proceeds to step S36. On the other hand, if it is confirmed that the vehicle is a right-hand drive vehicle, the process directly proceeds to step S36. These left and right reversing processes are required when the car navigation device 2 is installed in the vehicle. Information on whether the vehicle is a right-hand drive vehicle or a left-hand drive vehicle is obtained from the vehicle by the wireless communication unit 18 or the input / output unit 20. Acquired by exchanging information. The decision on whether to perform left-right reverse reading is the same after the car navigation device 2 is once installed in the vehicle, but it is a portable one that the car navigation device 2 can take out, and then the right-hand drive car also has a left-hand drive. If there is a possibility of being brought into a car, it is meaningful to automatically avoid accidents caused by confusion in processing.

  Step S16 and subsequent steps show processing for the case of a right-hand drive vehicle when left / right reverse reading in step S34 is not performed. First, in step S36, a right-hand layout is displayed and counting for a predetermined time is started. In step S38, it is checked whether a predetermined time has elapsed after the right-hand layout display. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, it is checked in step S40 whether a two-point simultaneous touch state is detected. When the two-point simultaneous touch state is detected, the process proceeds to step 42, and it is checked whether or not the two detected points are lowered to the right. Then, if it is detected that the point is two points to the lower right, it is considered that the driver has performed a left-hand operation, and the process proceeds to step S44 to check whether the vehicle is traveling. If it is confirmed that the vehicle is not traveling, the process proceeds to step S46, where the left hand layout display is performed instead of the right hand layout display, and the driver can perform the left hand operation, and the process proceeds to step S48.

  On the other hand, if it is detected in step S44 that the vehicle is traveling, the process proceeds to step S50, the driver is informed that the menu selection operation is prohibited during traveling, the right-hand layout is displayed in step S52, and the process proceeds to step S48. Transition. Step S52 is for displaying a right-hand layout instead of the left-hand layout when the left-hand layout is displayed, and when the right-hand layout is displayed from the beginning. No right-hand layout display is continued. If it is not detected that the two points detected in step 42 are right-down, it corresponds to detection of two points left-down, which means that the right-hand operation is performed by a passenger in the passenger seat. Therefore, the right-hand layout display is performed in step S54, and the process proceeds to step S48. Note that step S54 is also for performing right hand layout display when step S54 is reached when left hand layout display is being performed, and in step S54 when the right hand layout is displayed from the beginning. The right hand layout is continued and the process proceeds to step S48.

  In step S48, as shown in FIG. 2 (A) or FIG. 3 (A), it is checked whether a touch on one of the menu and the decision area 34 has been detected, and if there is a detection, the step is performed based on the detection information. In S56, the two points are updated and stored, and the area corresponding to the two points is displayed in a thick frame. If there is no change in the memory of the two detected points without change in the touch position, the same information is overwritten and updated, and the area displayed in a thick frame is not changed. Then, the process proceeds to step S58, the predetermined time count started in step S36 is reset, the time count is started again, and the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, it is checked whether an approach drag to the menu of the decision area 34 or 54 as shown by the black arrow 40 in FIG. 2A or the black arrow 58 in FIG. When the approach drag is detected, the process proceeds to step S62, the menu selection is confirmed, and the flow ends. If the passage of the predetermined time is detected in step S38, the flow is immediately terminated. On the other hand, when the approach drag is not detected in step S60, the process returns to step S38. Hereinafter, unless the approach drag is detected in step S60 or the elapse of the predetermined time is not detected in step S38, steps S38 to S60 are repeated. Corresponds to changes in driving and stopping situations and touch changes to menus. Note that when the two-point simultaneous touch state is not detected in step S40, or when the two-point touch between one of the menus and the determination area is not detected in step S54, the process returns to step S38.

  In the flow of FIG. 11, the menu selection is confirmed when the approach drag is detected in step S60. Even if two points are touched accidentally, the menu selection is not confirmed immediately, and another one-step confirmation operation is performed. Means safety measures. However, when priority is given to simplifying the operation over such safety measures, step S58 and step S60 are omitted, and a two-point touch between one of the menus and the decision area is detected in step S48, and step S54 is performed. After proceeding from step S56 to step S56, the process may proceed to step S62 immediately to confirm the menu selection. In such a configuration, when a touch on one of the menu and the decision area 34 is detected in FIG. 2A or FIG. 3A and the touched area changes like a thick frame. The menu selection is confirmed with.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of the destination input process in step S16 of FIG. 10. When the flow starts, the left / right reverse process is first performed in step S72. This is the same as step S32 and step S34 in FIG. When the left / right reverse processing in step S72 ends, the flow proceeds to step S74 and thereafter. In the same manner as in FIG. 11, in step S74 and subsequent steps, processing for the case of a right-hand drive vehicle when left-right reverse reading is not performed in the left-right reverse processing is shown.

  First, in step S76, a right-hand layout is displayed and a predetermined time is started. Then, after displaying the right hand layout in step S76, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, it is checked in step S78 whether or not a one-point touch is detected. When a one-point touch state is detected, the process proceeds to step 80 to check whether a predetermined identification time has elapsed. This identification time is based on the premise that two-point touches are not performed at exactly the same time, and is the one-point touch when the one-point touch detected in step S78 is intended for two-point touch, or is intended. This is to identify whether the touch is one point. If it is not detected in step S80 that the identification time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S82 to check whether or not a two-point simultaneous touch state is detected. If this detection is not possible, the process returns to step S80, and thereafter, steps S80 and S82 are repeated unless the identification time elapses or a two-point simultaneous touch state is detected.

  When the two-point simultaneous touch state is detected in step S82, the left / right layout switching process in step S84 is started. This process is the same process as step S42 to step S46 and step S50 to step S54 in FIG. 11, and is for switching the right hand layout and the left hand layout and prohibiting the left hand layout during traveling. Then, when the left and right layout switching process in step S84 is completed, the process proceeds to step S86.

  In step S86, as shown in FIG. 4, whether a touch on one of the consonant button group 64 or the blank button 68 and one of the vowel button group 66 (or 78) or the “n” button 70 (or 80) has been detected. If there is a detection, the two points are updated and stored in step S88 based on the detection information, and the area corresponding to the two points is displayed in a thick frame, and the process proceeds to step S90. Similar to the flow of FIG. 11, the same information is overwritten and updated, and the area displayed in a thick frame does not change if there is no change in the memory of the two detected points without change in the touch position.

  In step S90, an approach drag to the consonant button (or blank button) of the vowel button (or “N” button) as shown by the black arrow 72 in FIG. 4A or the black arrow 82 in FIG. 4B is performed. Check if it was broken. When the approach drag is detected, the process proceeds to step S92, where the input of one character of kana characters is confirmed and stored, and the process proceeds to step S94. On the other hand, when the elapse of the identification time is detected in the step, it is considered that the touch is one point, and the process proceeds to step S96, and it is checked whether this is a touch on one of the numeric keys 76 in FIG. If it is a numeric keypad touch, the process proceeds to step S98, the numeric input is confirmed, and the process proceeds to step S94. As described above, for the numeric input, the numeric input for one character is determined only by one point touch and the identification time.

  In step S94, the count is reset for a predetermined time, the count is started again, and the process proceeds to step S100. Since the predetermined time reset start here is meaningful for the next character input operation, it can be set to a time suitable for character input waiting different from the predetermined time started in step S74. If it is not detected in step S96 that the touch is on one of the numeric keys, the touch is regarded as meaningless one-point touch, and no input is confirmed and the process immediately proceeds to step S100.

  In step S100, it is checked whether the destination can be estimated from the stored kana character string including the one character newly determined and stored in step S92. If the number of characters is small and cannot be estimated, the process returns to step S76 in order to allow further characters to be input. Further, when a one-point touch is not detected at step S78, or when a touch on one of the consonant button group and one of the vowel button group is not detected at step S86, or within a predetermined time at step S90. Even when the vowel button drag cannot be detected, the process returns to step S76. Thereafter, unless it is determined in step S100 that the destination can be estimated or the elapse of a predetermined time is detected in step S76, step S76 to step S100 are repeated to enable new character input and travel. It responds to changes in the situation of stop and right hand / left hand layout.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S100 that the destination can be estimated, the process proceeds to step S102, where the destination is estimated based on the input character string, and the flow ends. Note that when the passage of the predetermined time is detected in step S76, the flow is immediately terminated. In the flow of FIG. 12, the kana input is confirmed by detecting the approaching drag in step S90, as in the case of FIG. This means a safety measure with a one-step confirmation operation. However, when priority is given to simplifying the operation over such safety measures, step S90 is omitted as in the case of FIG. 11, and one of the consonant button group and one of the vowel button group and the like are omitted in step S86. If two two-point touches are detected, the process may immediately proceed to step S92 to confirm the kana input. In the case of such a configuration, in FIG. 4, when a two-point touch such as one of consonant buttons and one of vowel buttons is detected and the touched area changes like a thick frame, the menu selection is performed. Determine.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing details of the map touch process in step S24 of FIG. 10. When the flow starts, the left / right reverse process is first performed in step S112. This is the same as step S32 and step S34 in FIG. 11 as in step S72 in FIG. When the left / right reverse processing in step S112 ends, the flow proceeds to step S114 and the subsequent steps. Similarly to FIGS. 11 and 12, in step S <b> 114 and subsequent steps, processing for the case of a right-hand drive vehicle when left / right reverse reading is not performed in the left / right reverse processing is shown.

  First, in step S114, it is checked whether a two-point simultaneous touch state is detected within a predetermined time after the map touch is detected in step S22 of FIG. When the two-point simultaneous touch state is detected, the process proceeds to step 116, and it is checked whether the two detected points are lowered to the right. Then, if it is detected that the point is two points to the lower right, it is considered that the driver has performed a left hand operation, and the process proceeds to step S118 to check whether the vehicle is traveling. When it is detected that the vehicle is traveling, the process proceeds to step S120.

  Steps S120 to S126 correspond to the operations in FIGS. First, in step S120, it is checked whether or not dragging is performed so that the two points relatively approach within a predetermined time after the two-point simultaneous touch state is detected in step S114. If an approach drag is detected, the process proceeds to step S122, the center of the displayed map is fixed, the map is reduced at a predetermined ratio, and the process proceeds to step S124. This corresponds to the operation of FIG. On the other hand, when the approach drag within the predetermined time cannot be detected in step S120, the process directly proceeds to step S124.

  In step S124, it is checked whether or not a drag that relatively separates the two points has been performed within a predetermined time after the two-point simultaneous touch state is detected in step S114. When the separation drag is detected, the process proceeds to step S126, the center of the displayed map is fixed, the map is enlarged at a predetermined ratio, and the flow is ended. This corresponds to the operation of FIG. On the other hand, if the separation drag within the predetermined time cannot be detected in step S124, the flow is immediately terminated. In this case, the map scale does not change. In FIG. 13, the positions of steps S120 and S122 may be replaced with the positions of steps S124 and S126.

  On the other hand, when the two points that are descending to the right are not detected in step S116, it means that the two detected points are descending to the left. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S128, and the absolute position of the detected two points is determined. Remember. This corresponds to the state of operation in FIG. Next, in step S130, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has passed. If no progress has been detected, the process proceeds to step S132, and it is checked whether or not a drag that relatively separates the two detected points has been performed. If no separation drag is detected, the process returns to step S130, and thereafter, steps S130 and S132 are repeated to wait for a drag between two points within a predetermined time. When a drag between two points is detected in step S132, the process proceeds to step S134, the map in the area determined and stored in step S128 is enlarged to the full display unit 12, and the flow ends. This corresponds to the state of operation in FIG. On the other hand, when the elapse of the predetermined time is detected in step S130, the flow is immediately terminated. In this case, the map is not enlarged.

  Further, in step S114, when the two-point simultaneous touch state within a predetermined time after the map touch is detected in step S22 of FIG. 10, it means that the one-point touch is detected in step S22 of FIG. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S136. In step S136, it is checked whether or not there is a history of enlargement of the map in the area determined at the two-point touch position immediately before the map touch is detected in step S22 of FIG. If there is such a history, the process proceeds to step S138, the map is reduced at a predetermined ratio around the touch position detected in step S22 of FIG. 10, and the flow is terminated. This corresponds to the operation of FIG. On the other hand, if no enlargement history is detected in step S136, the flow is immediately terminated. In this case, the map is not enlarged

  The various features shown in the first embodiment are not limited to the specific implementation, but can be utilized in various implementations as long as the disclosed advantages can be enjoyed. For example, in the first embodiment, the switching between the right-hand layout and the left-hand layout is associated with detection of whether or not the vehicle is traveling, which allows the driver to perform a certain operation with relatively little danger even while traveling. , Passengers in the passenger seat can perform operations that require complex ancestors and accuracy even while driving, and can be operated more flexibly than when operating in a uniform manner It is useful in that. Further, in the first embodiment, whether the operation is performed by the driver or the passenger is determined based on whether two lower right points or two left lower points are detected. This is useful in that it does not require any other means for discriminating between passengers and passengers. However, if it is important to prevent accidents caused by the driver operating the right-hand layout in an unreasonable posture, an infrared detector that distinguishes between the driver and passenger is provided separately. You may attack to switch between layout and left-hand layout. In addition, when priority is given to simplifying the configuration and preventing accidents due to car navigation operations, it is configured to prohibit complex operations while driving regardless of whether the layout is for the right hand or the left hand. May be. In any of the above cases, switching between the right hand layout and the left hand layout in accordance with the hand structure is useful for facilitating the two-point operation by hand.

  Moreover, although the said Example 1 showed implementation in a car navigation system, some of the various disclosed features are not restricted to implementation in a car navigation system, and can be implemented in various devices as long as they can enjoy the disclosed advantages. For example, it can be widely used in a touch panel display unit in a digital still camera and a digital movie camera, and a touch panel display unit in a mobile device such as a mobile phone. Furthermore, some of various features such as switching between the two-point touch operation with the right hand and the two-point touch operation with the left hand disclosed above can also be used in a touch panel having no display function.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing Example 2 of the touch panel input device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment constitutes a digital camera 202, has a control unit 204 that is a computer that controls the entire apparatus, and controls the digital camera 202 in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 206 by the digital camera operator. The function of the control unit 204 is executed by software stored in the storage unit 208. The storage unit 208 also temporarily stores various data necessary for controlling the digital camera 202. Further, the control unit 204 controls the display of the resistive touch panel display unit 212 via the display driver 210, displays a GUI necessary for the operation of the operation unit 206 and displays a control result.

  The resistive touch panel display unit 212 is a display unit and a touch panel input device, and is a GUI operation unit that performs an input operation by directly touching the display. Further, the configuration of the resistive touch panel display unit 212 is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the control unit 204 analyzes the output of the four lines of the resistive touch panel display unit 212 to obtain two points. It is possible to detect the touch position and its movement.

  In the second embodiment, parts that can be understood by applying the description of the first embodiment to the first embodiment are given the numbers of the 200 series in which the numbers of the tenth place and the first place are common, and the explanation is omitted in principle. The configuration will be described. First, in the shooting mode, the digital camera 202 converts an optical increase formed by the focus-adjustable optical system 252 into an electronic image by the imaging unit 254, and performs image processing including compression by the image processing unit 256 of the control unit 204. And store it in the image storage unit 258. The image storage unit 258 is configured as an image memory built in the digital camera 202 or a memory card that can be attached to and detached from the digital camera 202.

  In the above photographing mode, the image captured by the imaging unit 254 is displayed on the resistive touch panel display unit 212 by the display driver 210. That is, in such an imaging mode, the resistive touch panel display unit 212 functions as a finder screen that displays a subject image for determining an imaging composition. At this time, by touching a desired portion of the subject image displayed on the resistive touch panel display unit 212 with, for example, a thumb, the touch position is stored, and the focus mechanism 260 automatically focuses the subject portion corresponding to the stored position. Is done. The focus adjustment determination for autofocus is performed by the control unit 204 based on information from the image processing unit 256. The exposure control unit 262 controls exposure by controlling the aperture of the optical system 252 and the exposure time and gain of the imaging unit 254 based on the subject portion corresponding to the stored touch position. Determination of exposure control is also performed by the control unit 204 based on information from the image processing unit.

Note that once the thumb is released from the resistive touch panel display unit 212, the storage of the touch position is canceled and the next touched position is newly stored. By storing the first touched position as long as the touch continues as described above, the touch position is inadvertently changed from a desired position by the finger being displaced on the resistive touch panel display unit 212 when the touch is continued. Can be prevented. Then, for example, when an arbitrary position on the resistive touch panel display unit 212 is touched with the index finger while the touch is continued, shutter release is performed, and photographing is completed.

  The image stored in the image storage 258 by the shooting mode can be reproduced and displayed on the resistive touch panel display unit 212 by setting the reproduction mode. Such a reproduced image can be enlarged or reduced, and the operation described in the first embodiment can be applied mutatis mutandis.

  Here, when a little supplement is made to the configuration of FIG. 14 that is not described above, first, the information of the GPS unit 214 is stored in the image storage unit together with the image as shooting location information. The speaker 221 is used for operation guidance of the digital camera 202. Further, the input / output unit 220 and the wireless communication unit 218 can be used when an image stored in the image storage unit 258 is transmitted to the outside of the digital camera 202.

  FIG. 15 is a screen diagram showing a subject image displayed on the resistive touch panel display unit 212 in the photographing mode of the digital camera 202 shown in the second embodiment. FIG. 15A shows a state where a desired position of the resistive touch panel display unit 212 is touched with the thumb of the right hand 264, and a touch position display 266 is performed in response to this touch. The touch position display indicates a touched position and indicates that the touch position is stored. The touch position display 266 does not move even if the position of the thumb is shifted in such a one-point touch state with the thumb. Further, when the thumb is released from the resistive touch panel display unit 212, the touch position storage is canceled and the touch position display 266 disappears, so that the storage position can be set by a new touch.

  In determining the composition before shooting, the subject image displayed on the resistive touch panel display unit 212 also moves when the digital camera 202 is shaken. At this time, if both the image and the stored touch position move together, the reference is lost and it becomes difficult to specify the desired position of the image. However, by temporarily storing the first touch position as described above, Even if the image moves, the touch position and the desired position of the original image can be easily matched to each other by moving the digital camera 202.

  FIG. 15B shows a state in which an arbitrary position 268 of the resistive touch panel display unit 212 is touched while continuing to touch the thumb of the right hand 264, and the control unit 204 is in such a two-point touch state. If it is determined that the shutter release operation has been performed, the image information of the imaging unit 254 in that state is processed by the image processing unit 256 and stored in the image storage unit 258.

  In the second embodiment, since the shutter release button position is an arbitrary position on the resistive touch panel display unit 212, it is possible to concentrate on determining the composition and simplify the operation. However, the configuration in which the shutter release is performed by touching the second point is not limited to this. For example, the shutter button may be displayed at a position that is easy to operate, such as a position 268 in FIG. Such shutter button position display is performed at the same time as the first touch position 266 is stored. According to such a configuration, the shutter release cannot be performed by the second point touch at an arbitrary position, but on the other hand, the shutter release is erroneously performed by inadvertently touching other than the displayed shutter button position. Can be prevented. The second embodiment may be configured such that such a shutter release button display mode can be selected by a custom setting of the user of the digital camera 202.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the operation of the control unit 204 in the second embodiment of FIG. When the power on operation of the digital camera 202 is performed, the flow starts. In step S142, the digital camera is started up. In step S144, the shooting mode is set as an initial state, and the process proceeds to step S146. In step S146, it is checked whether the reproduction mode setting manual operation has been performed. If there is no operation, the process proceeds to step S148.

  In step S148, it is checked whether a one-point touch is detected. When the one-point touch state is detected, the process proceeds to step 148, and the position where the touch is detected is stored. On the other hand, when a one-point touch is not detected in step S148, the process proceeds to step S146, and thereafter, steps S146 and S148 are repeated to wait for a one-point touch detection unless a playback mode setting operation is performed. When the detected position is stored in step S150, the process proceeds to step S152 to display the stored position. This display corresponds to the touch position display 266 in FIG.

  In step S154, the control unit 204 instructs the focus mechanism 260 based on the information of the image processing unit 256 for the subject imaged at the storage position to drive the optical system 252, and the contrast of this part is maximized. Adjust the focus. As a result, the subject in the portion of the touch position display 266 in FIG. 15A is brought into focus. In step S156 after the focus instruction, the control unit 204 issues an instruction to the exposure control unit 262 based on the information of the image processing unit 256 with respect to the subject imaged at the storage position, and the exposure of the aperture of the optical system 252 and the exposure of the imaging unit 254. Control the time. As a result, exposure control is performed so that the subject in the portion of the touch position display 266 in FIG.

  Next, in step S158, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the one-point touch was detected in step S148. The predetermined time is, for example, about 2 seconds, and is set as a time for waiting for a shutter release by the second point touch detection after the subject portion of interest is determined by the first point touch. As will be described later, when the second point touch is not detected within the predetermined time, the storage of the first point touch is cancelled.

  If it is determined in step S158 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S160 to check whether the one-point touch has been released. If the one-point touch release is not detected, the process proceeds to step S162 to check whether the two-point simultaneous touch state has occurred as a result of continuing the first point touch and touching the second point. When the two-point simultaneous touch state is detected, the process proceeds to step S164, shutter release is performed, and the process proceeds to the imaging process in step S166. On the other hand, if the two-point simultaneous touch state is not detected in step S162, the process returns to step S158, and then the second point touch is repeated by repeating steps S158 to S162 unless a predetermined time elapses or the one-point touch is released. Wait for.

  The imaging process in step 166 is a process of performing image compression by the image processing unit and storing the compressed image in the image storage unit 258. In the imaging process, images to be stored in parallel are displayed as still images on the resistive touch panel display unit 212 for a predetermined time. When the imaging process of step S166 is completed, the process proceeds to step S168, and it is checked whether or not the digital camera 202 is turned off. When the power-off operation is detected, the flow ends.

  On the other hand, when the elapse of a predetermined time is detected in step 158, or when one-point touch release is detected in step S160, the process proceeds to step S170, and the memory of one-point touch is canceled, and in FIG. ) Cancels the touch position display 266 position display as shown in FIG. With such functions of step S170 and step S172, determination of a new first point touch position can be entered.

  On the other hand, when a reproduction mode setting operation is detected in step S146, the process proceeds to step S174, and reproduction mode processing is performed. In the playback mode processing, full-screen playback by sending images in a predetermined order starting from the latest image, image selection by thumbnail images, slide show display, and the like are possible. In the playback mode process, the process periodically proceeds to step S176 to check whether or not there is a shooting mode setting operation. If there is no operation, the process returns to step S174 to continue the playback mode. If a shooting mode setting operation is detected in step S176, the shooting mode is set in step S178, and the process proceeds to step S168.

  As described above, the flow ends when the power-off operation is detected in step S168, but if the power-off operation is not detected, the process returns to step S146. Thereafter, unless a power-off operation is detected in step S168, steps S146 to S168 are repeated, basically corresponding to various operations in the shooting mode, as well as operations for switching to the playback mode and returning to the shooting mode as appropriate. To do.

As apparent from the flow of FIG. 16 described above, in the second embodiment, the function of identifying whether the detected touch is the first point or the second point and responding to each is changed. As a specific example, the screen position designation function responds by the first point touch, and the shutter release function responds by the second point touch. However, this feature of the present invention is not limited to the use of the screen position designation function and the shutter release function, and the first point touch and the second point touch detection can be assigned to various different functions.

  In the flow of FIG. 16, if the digital camera 202 is shaken after the first point touch position is stored, the image displayed at the stored touch position portion on the screen is also moved. Accordingly, the subject portion that is subject to focus adjustment and exposure adjustment also changes. Therefore, by adjusting the desired subject to the touch position display 266 of FIG. 15A by shaking the digital camera 202, focus adjustment and exposure adjustment can be performed on the subject portion. On the other hand, the focus lock and the exposure adjustment lock mode are also possible in the second embodiment. When such a lock mode is selected, the touch position is stored and the touch position 266 is displayed and the image is captured at the time of the touch position storage. Image data of the corresponding subject portion of the unit 254 is also stored, and focus adjustment and exposure adjustment are performed based on the stored image data. Therefore, in such a lock mode, even if the digital camera 202 is shaken after the first point touch, it is possible to maintain the focus adjustment and exposure adjustment state for the subject portion that was at the touch position at the time of the first point touch.

  The case where the lock mode is performed will be described with reference to FIG. 16. A step for checking whether or not the lock mode is set is inserted between steps S152 and S154. After the step of storing the image data of the corresponding part, the process proceeds to step S154. Therefore, in this case, step S154 and step S156 are performed based on the subject part data stored as described above, not the subject part data corresponding to the stored touch position acquired from the imaging unit 254 in real time. Become. When the process proceeds to step S170 in the lock mode, the storage of the subject image data is canceled after step S172, and the process proceeds to step S168.

The present invention can be applied to, for example, a touch panel input device in a car navigation device or a digital camera.

12, 212 Touch panel 4, 204 Detection unit 4, 204 Input control unit 12, 212 Touch panel display screen 4, 10, 204, 210 Display control unit 64 Character consonant 66 Character vowel 76 Numeric keypad display

Claims (18)

  A touch panel input device comprising: a touch panel; a detection unit that detects a two-point simultaneous touch state on the touch panel; and an input control unit that performs different input in accordance with the timing of the two-point touch of the detection unit.   The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein the input control unit performs input of different functions in response to the first point touch and the second point touch in the two point touch detected by the detection unit.   The input control unit makes the input different in response to a time interval from the first point touch detection to the second point touch detection in the two point touch detected by the detection unit. Touch panel input device.   The input control unit prohibits an input in response to the second point touch when a time interval from the first point touch detection to the second point touch detection in the two point touch detected by the detection unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined time. The touch panel input device according to claim 3.   The input control unit associates the first point touch with the second point touch when the time interval from the first point touch detection to the second point touch detection in the two point touch detected by the detection unit is within a predetermined time. The touch panel input device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the input is performed.   The input control unit executes an input as a one-point touch operation when a time interval from the first point touch detection to the second point touch detection in the two point touch detected by the detection unit is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. The touch panel input device according to claim 3.   The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the input control unit performs input by a combination of a first point touch position and a second point touch position in a two-point touch detected by the detection unit. Input device.   The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel is configured as a touch panel display screen having a display and a touch panel function.   A touch panel, a detection unit that detects a two-point simultaneous touch state on the touch panel, and an input control unit that performs input by a combination of a first point touch position and a second point touch position in a two-point touch detected by the detection unit; A touch panel input device comprising:   The touch panel input device according to claim 9, wherein the touch panel is configured as a touch panel display screen having a display and a touch panel function, and further includes a display control unit that displays a reference position of the touch on the touch panel display screen.   The said input control part performs a predetermined input according to the relative position change of the specific 1st point touch position and the specific 2nd point touch position in the 2 point touch which the said detection part detects. 10. The touch panel input device according to 10.   The said input control part performs a predetermined input by dragging a specific 2nd point touch position to the specific 1st point touch position in the 2 point | piece touch which the said detection part detects, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The touch panel input device described.   The specific first point touch position is a position corresponding to a consonant of a character, the specific second point touch position is a vowel constituting a character, and the predetermined input is a character specified by the consonant and the vowel. The touch panel input device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the touch panel input device is an input.   The said display control part arrange | positions the touch reference position of the said consonant and the touch reference position of the said vowel in the side part of the said touchscreen display screen, and arrange | positions a numeric keypad display in the center part of the said touchscreen display screen. 13 touch panel input device.   A touch panel display screen having a display and a touch panel function; a display control unit that arranges a touch reference position of a consonant of a character and a touch reference position of a vowel of a character at a side portion of the touch panel display screen; and touching the touch panel display screen A touch panel input device comprising: a detection unit that detects a state; and an input control unit that performs character input in response to touch detection by the detection unit.   The touch panel input device according to claim 15, wherein the detection unit detects a two-point simultaneous touch state on the touch panel display screen.   17. The touch panel input device according to claim 15, wherein the display control unit arranges a numeric keypad display at a central portion of the touch panel display screen.   The touch panel input device according to claim 17, wherein the detection unit performs numeric input by detecting a one-point touch state on the numeric keypad display on the touch panel display screen.