Control method of touch panel device and touch panel device

Abstract

To provide a control method of a touch panel device in which operation mistakes originating in disturbance of a moving body when long-tap operating a touch panel are prevented.SOLUTION: In a control method of a touch panel device, an operation image for receiving a touch operation is displayed on a panel, and an input region for receiving the touch operation is set in the operation image. The control method of the touch panel device includes: a region enlargement processing step of enlarging the input region when detecting the touch operation onto the panel; a first determination step of determining whether or not the touch operation is within a preset touch duration time or longer; a second determination step of determining whether or not a time period from interruption of the touch operation in the first determination step until the touch operation is performed again is a preset region holding time or longer; and a touch operation processing step of executing preset operation processing after each of the determination steps. In the control method of the touch panel device, the steps are repeated until the first determination step and the second determination step satisfy prescribed determination conditions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control method for a touch panel device mounted on a moving body and the touch panel device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, touch panel devices have been widely used as devices that display images showing areas that accept input operations, such as images showing operation buttons or icon images (hereinafter collectively referred to as "operation images") on a screen, and perform processing that has been preset in the operation image when the user touches the displayed operation image.

[0003] The touch panel device can change the input contents according to the movement of a finger touching the screen, such as a slide operation and a tap operation, and these input contents are preset for each operation image. The slide operation is an operation of moving the fingertip along the contact input surface while keeping the fingertip in contact with the operation image. The tap operation is an operation of lightly tapping the contact input surface with the fingertip, and there are various types of tap operations, such as a single tap operation, a double tap operation, and a long tap operation, depending on the time of touching the operation image and the intermittent operation.

[0004] A touch panel device having such a function is mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle. The posture of a user who is an occupant of the moving body changes due to acceleration caused by the behavior of the moving body and vertical movement of the vehicle caused by unevenness of the road surface. Due to such a change in the user's posture caused by the behavior of the moving body, it may not be possible to accurately perform touch operations on the touch panel device mounted on the vehicle. A technology for eliminating operation errors caused by disturbances of the moving body is described in Patent Document 1.

[0005] Patent Document 1 describes a technology that recognizes that an operation image has been touched, not only when the detection range of the user's finger is within the outer frame of the operation image, but also when the area surrounding the operation image to be operated is touched. That is, the technology described in Patent Document 1 sets the detection range of the touch operation by the user to be slightly wider than the outer frame of the operation image. Therefore, even if the user cannot accurately touch within the outer frame of the desired operation image, the input operation to the operation image is accepted as long as there is a slight deviation. It is disclosed that this can reduce the user's touch operation errors due to disturbances of a moving object and improve the convenience of the touch panel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-94958 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In this way, in the conventional technology, the touch panel operation error can be reduced by simply expanding the detection range of the touch operation so as to include the display area of ​​each operation image. However, in the conventional technology, since the operation image is set in a predetermined position in advance, it is necessary to set the detection range so as not to interfere with the detection range of other operation images, and there is a limit to the width of the detection range that can be set. Therefore, in the conventional technology, in a touch operation process that requires touching the operation image for a predetermined time, such as a long tap operation, the detection range of the operation image is adjacent to the detection range of the other operation images, so there is a risk that a touch operation error will easily occur just by the position of the touch operation being shifted due to a disturbance of the moving body. In other words, it is not possible to reduce the complexity of a re-touch operation in which the touch position during a long tap operation by the user moves due to a disturbance of the moving body, or the touch position goes out of the detection range of the operation image during the touch operation, and the long tap operation must be performed again from scratch.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an objective of providing a control method for a touch panel device and an information processing device that reduce operational errors caused by disturbances from a moving object when performing a long tap operation on a touch panel and the complexity of the long tap operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A first aspect of the present invention is a control method for a touch panel device that displays an operation image that accepts a touch operation on a panel and sets an input area that accepts the touch operation on the operation image, the control method including an area enlargement processing step of enlarging the input area when the touch operation on the panel is detected, a first determination step of determining whether or not the touch operation on the input area is longer than a preset touch duration, and a second determination step of determining whether or not a time from when the touch operation is interrupted to when the touch operation is performed again on the input area is within a preset area retention time if the touch operation is not longer than the touch duration time in the first determination step. and a tap operation processing step of executing a long tap operation processing preset on the operation image if it is determined in the first determination step that the touch duration is equal to or longer than the area holding time, and executing a single tap operation processing preset on the operation image if it is determined in the second determination step that the touch duration is not within the area holding time, wherein the first determination step and the second determination step repeat the determination processing by the first determination step and the second determination step until either the long tap operation processing or the single tap operation processing in the tap operation processing step is executed.

[0010] A second aspect of the present invention is a control method for a touch panel device according to the first aspect, in which, simultaneously with the touch operation, the input area is displayed so that at least one of hue, lightness, and saturation is different from that of the input area before the touch operation.

[0011] A third aspect of the present invention includes an operation unit that displays an operation image that accepts a touch operation on a panel, and a control unit having an input area that accepts the touch operation on the operation image of the operation unit, wherein the control unit expands the input area when it detects the touch operation on the panel, determines whether the touch operation on the input area is longer than a preset touch duration, and if the touch operation is not longer than the touch duration, determines whether a time from when the touch operation is interrupted to when the touch operation is performed again on the input area is within a preset area holding time, and if it is determined that the touch operation is longer than the touch duration, displays the predetermined area holding time on the operation image. The touch panel device executes a set long tap operation process, and if it is determined that the touch operation is not within the area holding time, executes a single tap operation process preset in the operation image, and repeats a determination as to whether the touch operation on the input area is longer than the preset touch duration, and if the touch operation is not longer than the touch duration, a determination as to whether the time from when the touch operation is interrupted to when the touch operation is performed again on the input area is within the preset area holding time, until either the long tap operation process or the single tap operation process is executed. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce operational errors caused by disturbances from a moving object when performing a long tap operation on a touch panel, and the complication of the long tap operation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a touch panel device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing how a user operates a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view showing a state before a touch operation, and (b) is a diagram showing a state during a touch operation. [Diagram 3]5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the touch panel device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 10 is a line diagram illustrating a long tap operation process in a touch operation of the touch panel device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The present invention is directed to reducing operational errors caused by disturbances from a moving object when performing a long tap operation on a touch panel, as well as the hassle of performing the long tap operation.

[0015] Hereinafter, a control method for a touch panel device and a touch panel device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. The control method for a touch panel device enables a long tap operation on a touch panel device mounted on a vehicle, regardless of disturbances that occur when the vehicle, which is a moving body, moves. The input area in this embodiment refers to a range that can accept a touch operation by a user on an operation image displayed on the touch panel.

[0016] Further, in this embodiment, the disturbance refers to an event that generates a force other than gravity acting on an occupant of a vehicle, which is a moving body. The disturbance is, for example, a vertical vibration caused by unevenness of the road surface when the vehicle, which is a moving body, is traveling, or a centrifugal force generated on the occupant when the vehicle turns in either the left or right direction. The greater the influence of these disturbances, the more difficult it becomes for the occupant to perform an accurate touch operation. The touch panel device 2 according to this embodiment changes and controls the input area 46 of the touch panel device 2 so that the occupant can perform a touch operation, particularly a so-called long tap operation in which the user continues to touch the input area with the user's finger f for a certain period of time, accurately without being affected by the disturbance.

[0017] [Touch panel device configuration] 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a touch panel device 2. The touch panel device 2 is a device mounted on a vehicle 1, which is a moving body, for controlling touch operations by a user, and has a control unit 3 and an operation unit 4. The touch panel device 2 includes the control unit 3 and the operation unit 4 in an integrated device. Note that the vehicle 1 mounted with the touch panel device 2 may be, for example, a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine that runs on diesel or gasoline, a vehicle that runs on power supplied from an on-board battery, or may be mounted on a moving body other than a vehicle, such as an airplane or a ship.

[0018] The control unit 3 controls the operation of each functional unit of the touch panel device 2, and includes a display control unit 30, a detection range control unit 31, and an operation detection processing unit 32.

[0019] These functional units of the control unit 3 are configured by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program (software). Some or all of these functional units may be realized by hardware (circuit units) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device having a non-transient storage medium) such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transient storage medium) such as a DVD or a CD-ROM, and installed by mounting the storage medium in a drive device.

[0020] The control unit 3 has a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various programs such as control programs and application programs used in various controls, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that stores the above control programs and various data used in the application programs or the control results of the control unit 3. The control unit 3 is composed of a storage medium such as a HDD or a flash memory.

[0021] The operation unit 4 is an input / output unit for various information that displays various information and receives input information by a touch operation when a user operates the operation unit 4. The operation unit 4 includes a panel 40 and a touch sensor 41.

[0022] The panel 40 is a section that displays various information. The touch sensor 41 is provided on the display surface of the panel 40 and is a section that receives input information by a touch operation by a user. Note that the touch sensor 41 used in this embodiment is a capacitance type touch panel.

[0023] The touch panel device 2 is installed, for example, on the back side of a headrest or on the rear surface of a seat inside the vehicle 1. The touch panel device 2 functions as an input / output unit for, for example, a navigation system, an audio system, a personal assistant system, a drive recorder system, a parking assistance system, a driving control system, and various setting screens related to the vehicle that are installed in the vehicle 1.

[0024] The installation position of the touch panel device 2 is not limited to the above-mentioned position, and may be installed, for example, on a dashboard where the driver can operate it. The touch panel device 2 may be substituted with a touch panel mounted on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The control unit 3 will be described in detail below.

[0025] The display control unit 30 is a part that controls the information displayed on the panel 40. The display control unit 30 causes the panel 40 to display, for example, a screen that accepts touch operation input by the user (hereinafter referred to as a "touch operation input screen 44"). The display control unit 30 causes an operation image 42 to be displayed at a predetermined position within the touch operation input screen 44.

[0026] The detection range control unit 31 is a part that controls the input area 46 that accepts the touch operation of the user. The input area 46 here refers to an area that performs the same output processing as the output processing of the detection range 43 set in the operation image 42 that the user touches first when the user touches various operation images 42 displayed on the touch operation input screen 44. The input area 46 includes the detection range 43 provided so as to overlap with the operation image 42, and the expanded detection range 45 that is expanded and formed in a substantially similar manner to the peripheral portion of the detection range 43 on the periphery of the detection range 43. That is, the input area 46 is only within the detection range 43 until a touch operation is performed on the operation image 42, and after the touch operation is performed, it refers to the area within both the detection range 43 and the expanded detection range 45. In addition, the input area 46 is outputted with priority over the output processing of the detection range 43. That is, for the portion where the detection range 43 and the input area 46 overlap, the output processing set in the input area 46 is executed, and the output processing by the detection range 43 is not executed.

[0027] Since the input area 46 is given priority in output processing over the other detection ranges 43, it can be formed in a manner in which it partially overlaps with the other detection ranges 43 other than the detection range 43 that was touched first, in a manner in which it overlaps so as to cover the whole of the other detection ranges 43, or in a manner in which it covers the whole of the touch operation input screen 44. Note that the input area 46 is not limited to the above-mentioned manner, and can be set to any size and shape as long as the user can reliably perform a long tap operation.

[0028] In addition, the input area 46 including the detection range 43 and the expanded detection range 45 is configured to be displayed in a color different from that of the detection range 43 when the user starts a touch operation on any of the detection ranges 43. Specifically, when the user touches any of the detection ranges 43 of the operation unit 4, the input area 46 that accepts the touch operation by the user is displayed via the display control unit 30 so that at least one of the hue, brightness, and saturation is different from that of the detection range 43, and the other touch operation input screens 44 are displayed in light black. In other words, the detection range control unit 31 is configured to distinguish and recognize the active input area 46 that accepts the touch operation by the user from other inactive areas. The display of this input area 46 continues until the tap operation process by the user ends.

[0029] The operation detection processing unit 32 acquires a signal output from the touch sensor 41. The signal includes information for identifying the touched detection range 43 and time information for touching the detection range 43. The operation detection processing unit 32 identifies the touched detection range 43 and the touch duration time t of the touch operation based on the acquired information. The operation detection processing unit 32 stores information on the user's touch operation, such as the identified detection range 43, in the RAM, and outputs processing information based on the detection result to various control units (the display control unit 30 and the detection range control unit 31).

[0030] In addition, the operation detection processing unit 32 judges whether the touch operation by the user is a long tap operation according to the touch duration t during which the user touches the input area 46. This judgment is made based on whether the touch duration t is equal to or longer than a preset time (hereinafter, referred to as "time threshold T") (see FIG. 4(a)). Note that the time threshold T in this embodiment is, for example, 3 seconds. That is, when the input area 46 is touched continuously for 3 seconds or longer, the operation detection processing unit 32 judges that the touch operation by the user is a long tap operation and executes a long tap operation process that is preset for the touched operation image 42. This touch duration t is stored in the RAM of the control unit 3. Note that the various information stored in the RAM is reset at the point when the control unit 3 judges whether the touch operation by the user is a single tap operation or a long tap operation and executes the tap operation process by the touch operation. Note that the time threshold T is exemplified as 3 seconds in this embodiment, but the time threshold T is not limited to this and can be set to any time between 1 and 3 seconds.

[0031] [Change input area] Hereinafter, a specific example will be given of the process of changing the input area 46 by the detection range control unit 31. Fig. 2(a) is a schematic diagram showing an operation image 42 and an input area 46 before a user performs a touch operation on the touch panel device 2.

[0032] 2(a) shows an operation image 42 displayed on panel 40 viewed from a direction directly facing the surface (touched surface) of operation unit 4. A plurality of operation images 42 (operation images 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) are displayed on panel 40 under the control of display control unit 30. In addition, a detection range 43 (detection ranges 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) is set on touch sensor 41 according to the positions of operation images 42 (operation images 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) under the control of detection range control unit 31.

[0033] The user performs a touch operation on the operation image 42 of the operation unit 4, for example, with a finger f of the right hand. For example, when the user performs a touch operation on the operation image 42a, while the vehicle 1, which is a moving body, is not moving, the user can accurately touch the detection range 43a of the operation image 42a on the touch operation input screen 44 as shown in FIG. 2(a), and the state of the touch operation can be easily maintained.

[0034] On the other hand, Fig. 2(b) is a schematic diagram showing a state where a user performs a long tap operation on an operation image 42a on a touch operation input screen 44 when a vehicle, which is a moving body, is traveling (when an external disturbance occurs). Fig. 2(b) shows by a dashed line a state where the touch position of the user is shifted when an external disturbance occurs in which the vehicle turns rightward with respect to the traveling direction after the user performs a touch operation.

[0035] 2(b), similar to FIG. 2(a), shows the operation image 42 displayed on the panel 40 as viewed from a direction directly facing the surface (touched surface) of the operation unit 4. Under the control of the display control unit 30, operation images 42a to 42d similar to those in FIG. 2(a) are displayed on the panel 40. Under the control of the detection range control unit 31, detection ranges 43a to 43d similar to those in FIG. 2(a) are set on the touch sensor 41 in accordance with the display positions of the operation images 42. Note that in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the operation image 42 is displayed with a solid line, the detection range 43 is displayed with a broken line, and the detection range 43 is displayed slightly smaller than the operation image 42, but the operation image 42 and the detection range 43 are formed to have substantially the same area when viewed in a direction directly facing the surface (touched surface) of the operation unit 4. That is, the operation image 42 displayed on the panel 40 indicates the detection range 43 of the touch sensor 41.

[0036] The user performs a touch operation on the operation image 42a, for example, with a finger f. If a disturbance occurs that causes the vehicle 1 to turn right after the user performs the touch operation, a centrifugal force is generated in the user in the left direction opposite to the right direction that is the turning direction of the vehicle 1. As a result, the user's body in the vehicle cabin leans leftward toward the traveling direction, and the touch position of the user on the panel 40 is displaced from the initial touch operation position a to the touch operation position b on the left side. At this time, since the input area 46 is formed by the detection range 43 and the expanded detection range 45, even if the user's touch operation is displaced from the initial touch operation position a to the touch operation position b, the touch operation by the user is continuously detected, and a long tap operation can be performed without touching again. In other words, since the input area 46 is expanded in response to the user's touch operation, a long tap operation can be performed without being affected by disturbances of the vehicle 1, which is a moving body.

[0037] In the touch panel device 2 of the present embodiment, when a user performs a long tap operation, an expanded detection range 45 similar to the detection range 43 is formed on the periphery of the detection range 43 when the detection range 43 assigned to the operation image 42 of the operation unit 4 is touched, and the detection range 43 and the expanded detection range 45 are managed as an input area 46 in which the same touch operation process can be executed. This allows the touch panel device 2 to reliably execute the long tap operation of the user. A change in the input area 46 of the operation image 42a due to the user's touch operation will be described with reference to Figs. 2(a) and (b).

[0038] Before a touch operation, the detection range control unit 31 sets a detection range 43a as shown in FIG. 2(a) for each operation image 42a. When the operation detection processing unit 32 detects a touch operation by the user, the detection range control unit 31 is controlled to form an expanded detection range 45 on the periphery of the detection range 43a, and an input area 46 for inputting the touch operation by the user to the touch panel device 2 is defined as an area that combines the detection range 43a and the expanded detection range 45. At this time, the expanded detection range 45 that is formed is recorded in the RAM of the control unit 3. Information related to the expanded detection range 45 recorded in the control unit 3 is held in the operation detection processing unit 32 until processing of the touch operation by the user is completed.

[0039] [Touch panel device operation] An example of the operation of the touch panel device 2 will be described below. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the touch panel device 2 according to this embodiment. The touch panel device 2 shown in the flowchart of Fig. 3 is started up in conjunction with the power supply of the vehicle 1, which is a moving object.

[0040] The touch panel device 2 is powered on and starts up when the vehicle 1, which is a moving body, starts up. Next, the display control unit 30 of the control unit 3 performs display processing of the touch operation input screen 44 on the panel 40 of the operation unit 4. The display control unit 30 displays various operation images 42 (operation images 42a to 42d) at predetermined positions within the touch operation input screen 44.

[0041] Next, the detection range control unit 31 of the control unit 3 sets the detection range 43 (detection ranges 43a to 43d) of the touch sensor 41 so as to be superimposed on the display area of ​​the various operation images 42. The detection range 43 is set to have approximately the same area as the display area of ​​the operation images 42.

[0042] The display positions of operation images 42 (operation images 42a to 42d) on panel 40 and detection range 43 of touch sensor 41 are stored in advance in the ROM of control unit 3. Display control unit 30 displays operation image 42 on panel 40 based on information recorded in ROM. Furthermore, detection range control unit 31 sets detection range 43 so as to be superimposed on operation image 42 displayed on panel 40 based on information recorded in ROM in advance.

[0043] Next, when the operation detection processing unit 32 detects a touch operation by the user on the operation image 42 displayed on the panel 40, the operation detection processing unit 32 forms an expanded detection range 45 on the periphery of the detection range 43 via the detection range control unit 31 while recording the duration of the touch operation, and forms an input area 46 consisting of the detection range 43 and the expanded detection range 45 (area expansion step S101). The expanded detection range 45 constituting the input area 46 is substantially similar to the detection range 43, and is formed to an arbitrary size within a range that does not interfere with a long tap operation between the periphery of the detection range 43 and the touch operation input screen 44. At this time, the detection range 43 assigned to another operation image 42 becomes inactive at the time the expanded detection range 45 is formed around the detection range 43 assigned to a certain operation image 42, and even if a touch operation is performed by the user, the touch operation on the other detection range 43 is not detected by the operation detection processing unit 32 of the control unit 3, with priority given to processing of the touch operation on the detection range 43 first touched by the user and the input area 46 formed by the expanded detection range 45. For example, in Fig. 2(b), when the user performs a touch operation on the detection range 43a of the operation image 42a, an expanded detection range 45 is formed around the detection range 43a, and the detection range 43a and the expanded detection range 45 function as an input area 46, while the other detection ranges 43b, 43c, and 43d become inactive. At this time, the input area 46 is displayed on the panel 40 so that at least one of the hue, brightness, and saturation is different from that of the detection range 43, and the other parts are displayed in light ink. The operation detection processing unit 32 of the control unit 3 stores the coordinate information of the expanded detection range 45 on the touch operation input screen 44 in the RAM of the control unit 3 at the time when the expanded detection range 45 is formed.

[0044] In addition, the operation detection processing unit 32 measures the touch duration t of the user's finger f on the operation image 42 from the time the input area 46 is formed, and determines whether the touch operation is performed for a touch duration t that continues for more than a time threshold T (first determination step S102).

[0045] In the first determination step S102, if a touch operation is performed with a touch duration t that is equal to or longer than the time threshold T, a long tap operation process that is set in advance in the operation image 42 is executed at the time when the user's finger f leaves the input area 46. In this embodiment, the time threshold T is set to 3 seconds.

[0046] In the first judgment step S102, if a touch operation is performed on the input area 46 whose touch duration t is not longer than the time threshold T, processing of the touch operation by the user is transferred to the second judgment step S103 at the point when the user's finger f is separated from the input area 46.

[0047] The second judgment step S103 is a step for judging whether the time from the time when the user's finger f was removed from the input area 46 in the first judgment step S102, i.e., the time when the user's touch operation on the input area 46 was interrupted until the user's touch operation on the input area 46 was resumed again (hereinafter referred to as the "area retention time k"), is resumed within a preset time (hereinafter referred to as the "retention time threshold K").

[0048] If the area holding time k is not within the holding time threshold K in the second determination step S103, a single tap operation process set in advance is executed on the operation image 42 touched by the user in the first determination step S102.

[0049] Furthermore, in the second determination step S103, if the region holding time k is within the holding time threshold K, the processing of the user's touch operation is shifted to the first determination step S102. The processing of the user's touch operation returned to the first determination step S102 is determined to be the same as the above-mentioned first determination step S102, and if the touch duration time t is equal to or greater than the time threshold T, the touch operation by the user is determined to be a long tap operation, and if the touch duration time t is not equal to or greater than the time threshold T, the processing of the user's touch operation is shifted to the second determination step S103 again.

[0050] In this way, the processing of the touch operation by the user is formed so that the processing of the determination of the touch operation by the user is looped by providing the time threshold T and the holding time threshold K in the first determination step S102 and the second determination step S103. As a result, in the second and subsequent first determination step S102, the determination processing is executed from a state in which the input area 46 has already been enlarged, so that the enlargement processing of the input area 46 in the area enlargement step S101 is not necessary, the determination time is shortened, and the processing of the touch operation by the user can be easily shifted to the long tap operation processing.

[0051] In other words, in this embodiment, the operation processing preset in each operation image 42 (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) enables processing of a touch operation as to whether the touch operation by the user on the touch panel device 2 is a long tap operation processing or a single tap operation processing (tap processing step S104) in two cases: when the touch duration time t is equal to or longer than the time threshold T in the first judgment step S102, and when the area holding time k is not within the holding time threshold K in the second judgment step S103.

[0052] The tap processing step S104 is a step of executing a tap operation process, which is either a single tap operation process or a long tap operation process, in response to a touch operation on the operation image 42 by the user. For example, in the first determination step S102, if the touch duration time t is equal to or longer than the time threshold T, the operation detection processing unit 32 shifts its processing to a long tap operation process, and in the second determination step S103, if the area holding time k is not within the holding time threshold K, the operation detection processing unit 32 shifts its processing to a single tap operation process. In this embodiment, the time threshold T is set to 3 seconds, and the holding time threshold K is set to 1 second. However, the time threshold T and the holding time threshold K are not limited to the exemplified seconds, and are appropriately selected according to the operation status of the touch panel device 2 by the user.

[0053] Next, when it is determined in tap processing step S104 that the touch operation by the user is either a single tap operation process or a long tap operation process, the operation detection processing unit 32 cancels the display of the input area 46 by the display control unit 30 and the expanded detection range 45 by the detection range control unit 31, initializes the input area 46 that detects the user's touch operation, and ends the touch operation of the touch panel device 2.

[0054] As described above, the touch panel device 2 of this embodiment expands the input area 46 for the user's touch operation with the expanded detection range 45, so that even if a disturbance due to a moving vehicle 1 occurs during operation of the touch panel device 2, the user's finger f remains within the input area 46, allowing the user to continue the long tap operation.

[0055] Furthermore, even if the user removes the finger f from the input area 46 during a long tap operation process, the touch panel device 2 can transition to the long tap operation process again if it is within the holding time threshold K. At this time, since the input area 46 has already been enlarged, the process of enlarging the input area 46 in the touch panel device 2, i.e., the processing time for the touch detection operation by the area enlargement step S101, can be shortened, thereby reducing the inconvenience of having to perform the long tap operation again.

[0056] Furthermore, the input area 46 in this embodiment may be formed so as to gradually expand after the user starts a touch operation on the detection range 43. In other words, the expanded detection range 45 that expands from the periphery of the detection range 43 may be gradually expanded according to the duration t of the user's touch.

[0057] Also, the touch duration t in the first determination step S102 can be the cumulative time. That is, by making the touch duration t the cumulative time, the transition time to the long tap operation process can be shortened. For example, if the touch duration t in the first determination step S102 is 1 second, and if the user performs a touch operation on the input area 46 within the retention time threshold K in the second determination step S103, if a touch operation with 2 seconds remaining is performed in the second first determination step S102, the first and second touch operation times of the touch duration t will cumulatively exceed 3 seconds set as the time threshold T. This allows the touch operation by the user to be the long tap operation process. By making the touch duration t in the first determination step S102 the cumulative time, there is no need to operate the touch panel device 2 many times to execute the long tap operation process, and the touch operation of the touch panel device 2 mounted on the vehicle 1, which is a moving body, can be simplified, and the operability of the touch panel device 2 can be improved. At this time, the input area 46 is displayed so as to differ from the detection range 43 in at least one of the hue, brightness, and saturation, and the detection area of ​​the expanded detection range 45 is expanded according to the touch duration time t, so that it is possible to recognize whether the current processing state of the touch panel device 2 is in the middle of a long tap processing operation, and the touch processing by the user can be easily transitioned to a long tap processing operation.

[0058] 4(a) to 4(c) are diagrams illustrating an example of a state in which a touch operation by the touch panel device 2 according to the present embodiment is determined to be a long tap operation. FIG. 4(a) is a line diagram showing a state in which a determination process of a touch operation by a user can be a long tap operation process when the touch operation of the touch panel device 2 according to the present embodiment ends with the touch duration time t being equal to or longer than the time threshold T in the first determination step S102. FIG. 4(b) is a line diagram showing a state in which a determination process of a touch operation by a user can be a long tap operation process when the touch operation of the touch panel device 2 according to the present embodiment ends with the touch duration time t being shorter than the time threshold T in the first determination step S102, the touch operation is performed with the area holding time k being within the holding time threshold K in the second determination step S103, the determination process of the touch operation is returned to the first determination step S102 again, and the touch operation ends after the touch duration time t exceeds the time threshold T in the second first determination step S102. Fig. 4(c) is a line diagram illustrating an example of a long tap operation process performed by a user when the touch duration t is the cumulative time. Fig. 4(c) is a line diagram illustrating an example of a long tap operation process performed by a user when the touch duration t1 is less than the time threshold T in the first determination step S102, the touch operation ends, the area holding time k is within the holding time threshold K in the second determination step S103, the determination process of the touch operation performed by the user is returned to the first determination step S102 again, and in the second first determination step S102, the input area 46 is touched again for a time equal to or longer than the insufficient touch duration t2 (t2=T-t1) in the touch duration t relative to the time threshold T in the first first determination step S102, that is, for a touch duration t3 in Fig. 4(c).

[0059] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes configurations in which the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiment are mutually substituted or changed in combination, known inventions, and configurations in which the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiment are mutually substituted, etc. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but extends to the matters described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1. Detection range control system 2. Touch panel device 3. Control Unit 30 Display control unit 31 Detection range control section 32 Operation detection processing unit 4 Control section 40 Panel 41 Touch Sensor 42 Operation images 43 Detection range 44 Touch operation input screen 45 Extended Detection Range 46 Input Area K retention time threshold k-region retention time T Time Threshold t,t1,t2,t3 Touch duration t1,t2,t3 Touch duration a, b Touch operation position

Claims

1. Display an operation image on the panel that accepts touch operations, A method for controlling a touch panel device that sets an input area for receiving the touch operation on the operation image, comprising: an area enlargement processing step of enlarging the input area when the touch operation on the panel is detected; a first determination step of determining whether or not the touch operation on the input area continues for a predetermined touch duration or longer; a second determination step of determining whether or not a time from when the touch operation is interrupted to when the touch operation is performed again on the input area is within a preset area holding time, when the touch operation is not longer than the touch duration time in the first determination step; a tap operation processing step of executing a long tap operation process preset on the operation image when it is determined in the first determination step that the touch duration is equal to or longer than the touch duration, and executing a single tap operation process preset on the operation image when it is determined in the second determination step that the touch duration is not within the area holding time; having The first determination step and the second determination step include: The determination process in the first determination step and the second determination step is repeated until a tap operation process of either the long tap operation process or the single tap operation process is executed in the tap operation processing step. A method for controlling a touch panel device.

2. The method for controlling a touch panel device according to claim 1 , wherein, simultaneously with the touch operation, the input area is displayed so as to differ from the input area before the touch operation in at least one of hue, brightness, and saturation.

3. an operation unit that displays an operation image on a panel to receive a touch operation; a control unit including an input area for receiving the touch operation on the operation image of the operation unit; Equipped with The control unit is When the touch operation on the panel is detected, the input area is enlarged; determining whether or not the touch operation on the input area continues for a predetermined touch duration or longer; When the touch operation is not longer than the touch duration time, it is determined whether or not a time from when the touch operation is interrupted to when the touch operation is performed again on the input area is within a preset area holding time; When it is determined that the touch duration is equal to or longer than the touch duration, a long tap operation process preset on the operation image is executed; When it is determined that the touch operation is not performed within the area holding time, a single tap operation process preset for the operation image is executed; A determination as to whether or not the touch operation on the input area is longer than the preset touch duration time, and if the touch operation is not longer than the preset touch duration time, a determination as to whether or not a time from when the touch operation is interrupted until the touch operation on the input area is performed again is within the preset area holding time, are repeated until a tap operation process of either the long tap operation process or the single tap operation process is performed. A touch panel device comprising:

Images