Touch sensor device

Abstract

To provide a touch sensor device in which the optimum parameter adjusted to characteristics of a user can be automatically set in a touch panel.SOLUTION: A touch sensor device 1 includes: a touch sensor 11; a touch operation detection unit 121a for detecting a touch operation on a user of the touch sensor 11; an operation determination unit 121b for determining the touch operation of the user detected by the touch operation detection unit 121a as a valid operation or an invalid operation on the basis of a predetermined detection sensitivity; a characteristic detection unit 125 for detecting a user characteristic that is a characteristic of a user; and a detection sensitivity adjusting unit 121c for adjusting a detection sensitivity according to the user characteristic detected by the characteristic detection unit 125.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a touch sensitive device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes changing an input permitted area on a touch panel surface based on position data input by touch. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-63289 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When using a capacitive touch panel, there is a problem that the touch panel may respond slowly when operated by a person with dry skin. To address this problem, the task of setting optimal parameters based on the user's actual operation was somewhat tedious.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a touch sensor device capable of automatically setting optimal parameters in accordance with the characteristics of a user on a touch panel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The touch sensor device of the present disclosure includes a touch sensor, a touch operation detection unit that detects a user's touch operation on the touch sensor, an operation determination unit that determines the user's touch operation detected by the touch operation detection unit as a valid operation or an invalid operation based on a predetermined detection sensitivity, a characteristic detection unit that detects user characteristics that are characteristics of the user, and a detection sensitivity adjustment unit that adjusts the detection sensitivity in accordance with the user characteristics detected by the characteristic detection unit. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, optimal parameters tailored to the characteristics of the user can be automatically set on the touch panel. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a touch panel device 10 including a touch sensor device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a touch sensor device 1. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a change in a detection signal V0 of a touch sensor 11 included in the touch sensor device 1 and a sampling value SV0. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a detection sensitivity adjustment process performed by the touch sensor device 1. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a touch operation determination process performed by the touch sensor device 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and will not be described repeatedly.

[0010] (1) Overall Configuration of Touch Panel Device 10 Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a touch panel device 10 including a touch sensor device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the touch sensor device 1. Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between a change in a detection signal V0 of a touch sensor 11 included in the touch sensor device 1 and a sampling value SV0.

[0011] 1, a touch panel device 10 includes a touch sensor device 1, a display device 2, and a main control device 3. The touch sensor device 1 has a touch sensor 11 and a touch detection device 12. The display device 2 has a display panel 21 and a display control device 22. The touch detection device 12, the display control device 22, and the main control device 3 can exchange data with each other through a signal transmission medium 9 such as a bus.

[0012] The main control device 3 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 3a, a random access memory (RAM) 3b, and a secondary storage device 3c.

[0013] The CPU 3a executes various computer programs stored in advance in the secondary storage device 3c, thereby executing various data processing and controlling the touch sensor device 1 and the display device 2.

[0014] The RAM 3b is a computer-readable volatile storage device that temporarily stores computer programs executed by the CPU 3a and data to be processed.

[0015] The secondary storage device 3c is a computer-readable non-volatile storage device, such as a flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM / registered trademark / notes omitted in the following occurrences), or a hard disk drive.

[0016] The display panel 21 is a device capable of displaying an image. The display panel 21 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL (Organic Electro Luminescence) panel. The liquid crystal display panel includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight.

[0017] The display control device 22 drives the display panel 21. The display control device 22 controls the display panel 21 so that the display panel 21 displays images, characters, and the like. The display control device 22 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 22a, a RAM 22b, and a secondary storage device 22c.

[0018] The RAM 22b and the secondary storage device 22c of the display control device 22 are similar to the RAM 3b and the secondary storage device 3c of the main control device 3. The display control device 22 may be provided with another processor such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) instead of the MPU 22a.

[0019] (2) Configuration of touch sensor device 1 The touch sensor 11 of the touch sensor device 1 is a sensor that detects touch operations at multiple coordinate positions on the display panel 21. The touch sensor 11 detects the degree of contact by an instruction unit at the multiple coordinate positions. Note that this instruction unit is a user's finger, a stylus pen held by the user, or the like.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the touch sensor 11 includes a plurality of transparent electrodes 111, a transparent protective cover 112, a driving circuit 113, and the like.

[0021] The multiple electrodes 111 are arranged at multiple coordinate positions on the back surface of the protective cover 112. The protective cover 112 is superimposed on the display panel 21. Therefore, the multiple electrodes 111 are arranged at multiple coordinate positions on the front surface of the display panel 21.

[0022] The driving circuit 113 supplies a driving signal to the plurality of electrodes 111. The plurality of electrodes 111 to which the driving signal is supplied output a detection signal V0 that indicates the degree of contact of the indicator with respect to each coordinate position on the protective cover 112.

[0023] The touch detection device 12 includes an MPU 121 , a RAM 122 , a secondary storage device 123 , a sampling circuit 124 , and a characteristic detection unit 125 .

[0024] The MPU 121 executes various computer programs pre-stored in the secondary storage device 123. In this way, the MPU 121 executes a process for detecting a valid touch operation on the touch sensor 11.

[0025] The RAM 122 is a computer-readable volatile storage device that temporarily stores computer programs executed by the MPU 121 and data to be processed.

[0026] The secondary storage device 123 is a computer-readable non-volatile storage device, and may be, for example, a flash memory or an EEPROM.

[0027] The sampling circuit 124 sequentially outputs a plurality of sampling values ​​SV0 by sampling the detection signal V0 of the touch sensor 11 at a predetermined sampling frequency. Fig. 3 shows the relationship between the detection signal V0 and the sampling value SV0.

[0028] The sampling circuit 124 is a so-called AD (Analog / Digital) conversion circuit. That is, the sampling value SV0 is a digital data value.

[0029] The MPU 121 detects a valid touch operation on the touch sensor 11 by comparing a sampling value SV0 of the detection signal V0 with a preset threshold value SL0 (see FIG. 3). In the following description, a valid touch operation is referred to as a "valid operation", and an invalid touch operation is referred to as an "invalid operation".

[0030] Furthermore, the MPU 121 outputs data of the coordinate position where the valid operation was detected to the display control device 22 and the main control device 3.

[0031] The display control device 22 is capable of executing touch drawing processing. The touch drawing processing is processing for displaying, on the display panel 21, a trajectory image that represents a trajectory of coordinate positions where a valid operation is detected on the display panel 21. The touch panel device 10 including such a display control device 22 may be referred to as an electronic whiteboard.

[0032] In the touch sensor device 1, the MPU 121 executes a detection sensitivity adjustment process (see FIG. 4) described later. This allows the touch sensor device 1 to appropriately set the detection sensitivity of the touch sensor 11 according to the characteristics of the user, and to prevent erroneous detection and missed detection of a touch operation.

[0033] The MPU 121 executes a computer program stored in advance in the secondary storage device 123, thereby operating as a touch operation detection unit 121a, an operation determination unit 121b, and a detection sensitivity adjustment unit 121c.

[0034] The touch operation detection unit 121a and the operation determination unit 121b execute a touch operation determination process (see FIG. 5). Specifically, the touch operation detection unit 121a detects a touch operation by the user on the touch sensor 11. The operation determination unit 121b determines the touch operation by the user detected by the touch operation detection unit 121a as a valid operation or an invalid operation based on a predetermined detection sensitivity.

[0035] The characteristic detection unit 125 detects a user characteristic, which is a characteristic of the user. The detection sensitivity adjustment unit 121c adjusts the detection sensitivity according to the user characteristic detected by the characteristic detection unit 125.

[0036] Therefore, optimal parameters suited to the characteristics of the user can be automatically set in the touch panel, and as a result, even if the user is using the touch sensor device 1 for the first time, a comfortable touch operation can be achieved.

[0037] A judgment criterion corresponding to the detection sensitivity is set in the operation judgment unit 121b. Specifically, this judgment criterion corresponds to the threshold value SL0 shown in FIG. 3. When the intensity of the detection signal detected by the touch operation detection unit 121a is equal to or greater than the judgment criterion, the operation judgment unit 121b judges the touch operation of the user to be a valid operation. That is, when the sampling value SV0 of the detection signal V0 is equal to or greater than the threshold value SL0, the operation judgment unit 121b judges the touch operation of the user to be a valid operation. Therefore, the detection sensitivity can be changed by changing the threshold value SL0 according to the user characteristics. As a result, a comfortable touch operation according to the user characteristics is realized.

[0038] The touch sensor 11 is specifically a capacitance type sensor. This is because the sensor is particularly susceptible to the effects of differences in user characteristics. Optimal parameters are set according to the detected user characteristics, and as a result, a comfortable touch operation is achieved in the touch sensor device 1. More specifically, the capacitance type sensor is a surface type capacitance type sensor. However, the touch sensor 11 may also be a resistive film type sensor.

[0039] Incidentally, the detection signal V0 of the touch sensor 11 changes at different levels depending on the characteristics of the user. Here, the characteristics of the user include, but are not limited to, for example, gender, age, body temperature, and the amount of moisture or sebum in the skin (degree of dryness of the skin). Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, the detection signal V0 of the touch sensor 11 also fluctuates due to stationary base noise, regardless of the presence or absence of an operation by the user.

[0040] Therefore, in the touch sensor device 1, in order to prevent erroneous detection and missed detection of a touch operation on the touch sensor 11, the detection sensitivity of the touch sensor 11 needs to be appropriately set in accordance with the characteristics of the user. For this purpose, the touch detection device 12 includes a characteristic detection unit 125 .

[0041] Before the touch operation determination process is executed, the detection sensitivity adjustment unit 121c executes a detection sensitivity adjustment process for setting a threshold value SL0 used for detecting a valid operation. The detection sensitivity adjustment unit 121c may adjust not only the detection sensitivity but also other parameters related to the touch sensor operation.

[0042] The user characteristics detected by the characteristic detection unit 125 include, for example, at least one of the user's gender, age, body temperature, skin moisture amount, and sebum amount. Therefore, at least one of the user's gender, age, body temperature, skin moisture amount, and sebum amount can be detected before a touch operation, and the detection sensitivity and other parameters of the touch sensor 11 suitable for that user can be set in advance. As a result, a comfortable touch operation in the touch sensor device 1 is realized.

[0043] As a user ages, the amount of moisture and sebum in the skin tends to be insufficient, which may slow down the detection by the touch sensor 11. Therefore, when the characteristic detection unit 125 detects the user's age, the detection sensitivity adjustment unit 121c may adjust the detection sensitivity so that the detection sensitivity increases as the user ages. Therefore, by increasing the detection sensitivity, it is possible to compensate for the slowdown in detection caused by the lack of moisture and sebum in the skin. As a result, a comfortable touch operation can be achieved with the touch sensor device 1, even if the user is older.

[0044] Furthermore, regardless of age or sex, when the moisture content of the skin is insufficient, the detection by the touch sensor 11 may become slow. Therefore, when the moisture content of the skin is detected, the detection sensitivity adjuster 121c may adjust the detection sensitivity so that the detection sensitivity becomes higher as the moisture content decreases. Therefore, the slow detection caused by the lack of moisture content of the skin can be compensated for by increasing the detection sensitivity. As a result, even when the moisture content of the skin is low, a comfortable touch operation is realized with the touch sensor device 1.

[0045] The characteristic detection unit 125 may be, for example, an imaging device. Specifically, by using an infrared camera, the user's body temperature and ambient temperature information can be detected. By analyzing the image of the user's face and body captured by a visible light camera, the user's age, gender, and the like can be detected. These cameras may be combined. In addition, by using a highly accurate AI (Artificial Intelligence) camera, more detailed information about the user can be detected. For example, by adding other information to the age and gender, the moisture content and sebum content of the user's skin, which have a large effect on touch operation, can be estimated. Therefore, the characteristics of the user can be detected before the touch operation, and the detection sensitivity and other parameters of the touch sensor 11 suitable for the user can be set in advance. As a result, a comfortable touch operation in the touch sensor device 1 is realized.

[0046] Other examples of the characteristic detection unit 125 include an infrared sensor. For example, by using a human presence sensor that detects the presence or absence of a human body by infrared rays, it becomes possible to determine whether the user is an adult or a child based on a certain degree of height. Therefore, the settings for touch panel operation can be changed in advance for adults or children. For example, since children have small palms, the threshold value for palm touch operation (for example, a parameter corresponding to the size of the hand) can also be changed in advance. As a result, it is possible to realize comfortable touch operation in the touch sensor device 1 while preventing erroneous operation.

[0047] It is preferable that the characteristic detection unit 125 is disposed at a position and in a direction that allows the user to be reliably detected when the user performs a touch operation. For example, when the touch panel device 10 is an electronic whiteboard, the characteristic detection unit 125 may be disposed so as to look down from near the center of the upper part of the touch panel device 10. When the touch panel device 10 is a smartphone or a tablet, an in-camera that captures an image in the forward direction may be used as the characteristic detection unit 125.

[0048] (3) Detection sensitivity adjustment process and touch operation determination process by the touch sensor device 1 Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a detection sensitivity adjustment process performed by the touch sensor device 1. Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a touch operation determination process performed by the touch sensor device 1.

[0049] When a user attempts to perform a touch operation on the touch sensor device 1, the characteristic detection unit 125 detects the presence or approach of the user. In this manner, when the characteristic detection unit 125 detects the user, the detection sensitivity adjustment process shown in Fig. 4 is started prior to the touch operation determination process shown in Fig. 5.

[0050] In step S41, the characteristic detection unit 125 detects a user characteristic that is a characteristic of the user, and the process proceeds to the next step S42.

[0051] In step S42, the detection sensitivity adjustment unit 121c adjusts the detection sensitivity according to the detected user characteristics. The detection sensitivity adjustment unit 121c may also adjust parameters other than the detection sensitivity. In this way, optimal parameters suited to the user characteristics are set in the touch sensor device 1.

[0052] The detection sensitivity adjustment process is not limited to being executed only when the characteristic detection unit 125 first detects the presence or approach of a user. For example, while the user continues to perform a touch operation on the touch sensor device 1, the detection sensitivity adjustment process may be executed at regular time intervals. Alternatively, the detection sensitivity adjustment process may be executed when a possibility of erroneous recognition of a touch operation is expected, such as when one operation is unnaturally repeated. However, the execution of the detection sensitivity adjustment process is not limited to such timing.

[0053] When a touch operation is performed on the touch sensor device 1 whose detection sensitivity and the like have been appropriately adjusted in this manner in accordance with the user characteristics, the touch operation determination process shown in FIG. 5 is started.

[0054] In step S51, the touch operation detection unit 121a detects a touch operation on the touch sensor 11 by the user, and the process proceeds to the next step S52.

[0055] In step S52, the operation determining unit 121b determines the detected touch operation by the user as a valid operation or an invalid operation based on a predetermined detection sensitivity.

[0056] Since the detection sensitivity adjustment process shown in FIG. 4 is executed in advance, a comfortable touch operation on the touch sensor device 1 is realized for various users, and erroneous detection and missed detection of a touch operation can be prevented.

[0057] The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from its spirit or main features. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted as being limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and is not limited to the text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications and changes within the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0058] The present disclosure can be used for touch sensor devices and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Touch sensor device 10. Touch panel device 11 Touch Sensor 111 Electrode 112 Protective cover 113 Drive circuit 12 Touch detection device 121 MPU 121a Touch operation detection unit 121b Operation judgment section 121c Detection sensitivity adjustment section 122 RAM 123 Secondary storage device 124 Sampling Circuit 125 Characteristics detection unit 2 Display device 21 Display Panel 22 Display control device 3. Main Control Unit 9 Signal Transmission Media

Claims

1. A touch sensor and a touch operation detection unit that detects a touch operation by a user on the touch sensor; an operation determination unit that determines whether the touch operation of the user detected by the touch operation detection unit is a valid operation or an invalid operation based on a predetermined detection sensitivity; A characteristic detection unit for detecting a user characteristic which is a characteristic of the user; a detection sensitivity adjustment unit that adjusts the detection sensitivity in response to the user characteristic detected by the characteristic detection unit; A touch sensor device comprising:

2. A judgment criterion corresponding to the detection sensitivity is set, The touch sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the operation determination section determines the touch operation of the user as the valid operation when the intensity of the detection signal detected by the touch operation detection section is equal to or greater than the determination criterion.

3. The touch sensor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the touch sensor is a capacitive sensor.

4. The touch sensor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user characteristics include at least one of the user's gender, age, body temperature, skin moisture content, and skin sebum content.

5. The touch sensor device according to claim 4 , wherein the detection sensitivity adjustment unit adjusts the detection sensitivity so that the detection sensitivity is higher as the user is older.

6. The touch sensor device according to claim 4 , wherein the detection sensitivity adjuster adjusts the detection sensitivity so that the detection sensitivity is increased as the amount of moisture decreases.

7. The touch sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristic detection unit is an imaging device.

8. The touch sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristic detection unit is an infrared sensor.

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