Approach detection system and information processing system

Abstract

To provide "an approach detection system and an information processing system" that detect a detection object approaching the display surface of a display within a detection range which is as wide as possible, while suppressing misdetection on the detection object.SOLUTION: When a steering wheel contact sensor 4 detects a user gripping a passenger's seat-side part of a steering wheel 91, a range excluding a region nearby the steering wheel 91 from a standard detection range 200 is set as a detection range 200 for detecting a detection object approaching (a). When a shift lever contact sensor 5 detects the user gripping a knob 92 of a shift lever, a range excluding a region nearby the knob 92 of the shift lever from the standard detection range 200 is set as the detection range 200 for detecting the detection object approaching.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for detecting a detection object, such as a user's hand or finger, approaching a display surface of a display. [Background technology]

[0002] As a technology for detecting an object approaching the display surface of a display, such as a user's hand or finger, a detection system is known in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged along the lower edge of a display located between the driver's seat and the passenger seat on the dashboard of a vehicle, which sequentially emit infrared light toward the upper front of the display, and a plurality of photodiodes arranged along the lower edge of the display detect the reflected infrared light from the object, and detect the horizontal (left-right) position of the object approaching the display surface of the display from the distribution of the intensity of the reflected light detected when each LED is turned on (for example, Patent Document 1). Here, in this detection system, the detection range of the object is narrowed toward the display surface side of the display as it approaches the driver's seat so as not to detect the approach of the object in response to the driver's operation of other devices such as the steering wheel.

[0003] In addition, known technologies related to the present application include a technology that uses a capacitance or other sensor provided in the steering wheel to detect whether the user is gripping the left or right side of the steering wheel (for example, Patent Document 2), and a technology that uses a capacitance or other contact sensor provided in the knob of a shift lever to detect when the user is touching the knob (for example, Patent Document 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-117189 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2022-134603 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2016-61383 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Due to the fact that displays installed in automobiles are becoming larger, if the detection range for the detectable object is set so as not to detect the approach of the detectable object in response to the driver's operation of other equipment such as the steering wheel, as described above, a large area will be created near the steering wheel, for example, in which the detectable object cannot be detected, even though it is in the area in front of the display surface.

[0006] For this reason, when a user brings a hand or finger close to the display surface of the display to perform an operation, the proximity may not be detected or may be detected late. Therefore, the present invention has an objective of detecting a detectable object in as wide a detection range as possible, while preventing the approach of the detectable object from being detected in response to the driver's operation of other equipment, in an approach detection device that detects a detectable object approaching the display surface of a display. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an approach detection system for detecting the approach of a detectable object to a display surface of a display disposed between the driver's seat and the passenger seat in the left-right direction of the vehicle, the system being provided with an approach detection means having a variable detection range for detecting the detectable object within a detection range in front of the display surface of the display, a contact estimation means for estimating whether or not the user in the driver's seat is in contact with a predetermined part of a device provided in the vehicle, and a detection range setting means for setting the detection range in which the approach detection means detects the detectable object. Here, the detection range setting means sets the detection range to a standard range that is a range including the area near the predetermined part in front of the display surface when the contact estimation means is in a predetermined situation where it is estimated that the user is not in contact with the predetermined part, and sets the detection range to a vicinity exclusion range that is a range excluding the area near the predetermined part from the standard range when the contact estimation means estimates that the user is in contact with the predetermined part.

[0008] Here, in this approach detection system, the predetermined portion of the device installed in the vehicle may be a portion of the steering wheel of the vehicle on the passenger seat side when the steering wheel is straightened. Alternatively, the predetermined portion of the vehicle-mounted device may be a portion of the steering wheel of the vehicle that is located on the passenger seat side in the current rotation state of the steering wheel. Alternatively, the predetermined part of the device installed in the automobile may be the knob of a shift lever of the automobile. Alternatively, the predetermined portion of the device provided in the automobile may be the knob of a passenger-side lever, which is the lever located on the passenger's side out of a wiper lever and a winker lever. Furthermore, the above-described approach detection system may be configured such that, when the detection range setting means sets the nearby exclusion range as the detection range and an estimation is made that there is no contact with the specified part of the contact estimation means, the detection range setting means maintains the setting of the nearby exclusion range as the detection range for a specified period of time from the occurrence of the estimation.

[0009] Furthermore, in the above approach detection system, the approach detection means may be provided with a plurality of infrared light sources that are arranged outside the display surface of the display in a row along the left-right direction of the display surface and emit infrared light that passes in front of the display surface, one or more photodetectors arranged outside the display surface, a detection operation execution means that executes a detection operation for each of the infrared light sources in sequence, causing the photodetector to detect the intensity of reflected light of infrared light emitted by the infrared light source, and an approach detection means that detects the approach of the detectable object to the display surface using the intensity of reflected light of infrared light emitted by each of the infrared light sources detected by each of the photodetectors in the detection operation, and calculates the left-right position of the approaching detectable object on the display surface from the distribution of the intensity.

[0010] Furthermore, in the above approach detection system, the approach detection means may be provided with a plurality of infrared light sources arranged outside the display surface of the display along the left-right direction of the display surface, emitting infrared light that passes in front of the display surface, one or more photodetectors arranged outside the display surface, and approach detection means that detects the approach of the object to be detected to the display surface with a set sensitivity using the intensity of reflected light of the infrared light emitted by each of the infrared light sources detected by the photodetector, and the detection range setting means may set the detection range by changing the combination of irradiation intensities of each of the plurality of infrared light sources. Alternatively, in the above approach detection system, the approach detection means may be provided with a plurality of infrared light sources arranged outside the display surface of the display along the left-right direction of the display surface, the infrared light sources emitting infrared light that passes in front of the display surface, a plurality of photodetectors arranged outside the display surface along the left-right direction of the display surface, and an approach detection means that detects the approach of the object to be detected to the display surface with a set sensitivity using the intensity of reflected light of the infrared light emitted by each of the infrared light sources detected by the photodetectors, and the detection range setting means may set the detection range by changing the sensitivity characteristics of the approach detection means for each of the intensities of reflected light detected by the plurality of photodetectors.

[0011] Alternatively, in the above approach detection system, the approach detection means may include a plurality of infrared light sources arranged outside the display surface of the display in a row along the left-right direction of the display surface, the infrared light sources emitting infrared light that passes in front of the display surface, one or more photodetectors arranged outside the display surface, a detection operation execution means for executing a detection operation in sequence for each of the infrared light sources, causing the photodetector to detect the intensity of reflected light of infrared light emitted by the infrared light source, and an estimation means for estimating the approach of the detectable object to the display surface using the intensity of reflected light of infrared light emitted by each of the infrared light sources detected by each of the photodetectors in the detection operation, and estimating the left-right position of the approaching detectable object on the display surface from the distribution of the intensity. However, when the maximum value or the total value of the intensity of the reflected light of the infrared light detected by the photodetector does not exceed a threshold value, the approach detection means disables the estimation of the approach of the detectable object by the estimation means and does not detect the detectable object, and when the threshold value is exceeded, the estimation of the approach of the detectable object by the estimation means is enabled and the detectable object is detected. Also, the detection range setting means sets the detection range by changing the threshold value in accordance with the left-right position estimated by the position estimation means.

[0012] The present invention also provides an information processing system including the above-mentioned approach detection system, the display, and a data processing device that uses the display for display output. In this information processing system, when the approach detection system detects an object approaching the display surface, it notifies the data processing device of the approach of the object, and the data processing device performs a predetermined process in response to the notification of the approach of the object.

[0013] With the approach detection system and information processing system described above, during a period when it is expected that there will be no false detections of the approach of the user's hands or fingers to the display surface due to the user not holding a specific part of the vehicle-mounted equipment, such as the passenger side (display side) of the steering wheel, the knob of the shift lever, or the passenger side lever, in response to operation by the user's hands, the detection range can be made wide to eliminate missed detections or delayed detections of the approach of the user's hands or fingers to the display surface; and during a period when the user is holding a specific part of such vehicle-mounted equipment and there is a possibility of false detections of the approach of the user's hands or fingers to the display surface in response to operation by the holding hand, the detection range can be narrowed to suppress the occurrence of such false detections. Effect of the Invention

[0014] As described above, according to the present invention, in an approach detection device that detects a detectable object approaching the display surface of a display, it is possible to detect the detectable object in as wide a detection range as possible while preventing the approach of the detectable object from being detected in response to other equipment or the driver's operation of other equipment. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of displays according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement of approach detection sensors according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 5 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of the approach detection sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a flowchart showing a detection range setting process according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting a detection range according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting a detection range according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8]FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting a detection range according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an information processing system according to this embodiment. The information processing system is a system installed in an automobile, and includes a data processing device 1 that executes a car navigation application, a media player application, etc., a display 2 with a touch panel that the data processing device 1 uses for displaying images and inputting coordinates, an approach detection device 3, a steering contact sensor 4, a shift lever contact sensor 5, and other peripheral devices 6 used by the data processing device 1.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the display 2 is in the form of a display unit 10 integrated with the approach detection device 3, and is disposed on the dashboard of the automobile between the driver's seat and the passenger seat with the display surface facing rearward. In addition, the steering contact sensor 4 is, for example, a capacitance type sensor provided within the steering wheel 91, and detects whether or not the user is gripping the left portion of the steering wheel 91 when the steering wheel is straightened, and whether or not the user is gripping the right portion of the steering wheel 91 when the steering wheel is straightened.

[0018] The shift lever contact sensor 5 is, for example, a capacitance type sensor provided inside the knob 92 of the shift lever, and detects whether or not the knob 92 of the shift lever is being gripped by the user. Returning to Figure 1, the approach detection device 3 detects the horizontal coordinates of a detectable object, such as a user's hand or finger, approaching the display surface of the display 2, and notifies the data processing device 1 of this detected position. The data processing device 1 then performs processing according to the notified detected position. The approach detection device 3 includes an approach detection sensor 31 and an approach detection controller 32 . The approach detection sensor 31 includes four infrared LEDs, LED1, LED2, LED3, and LED4, and two photodiodes, PD1 and PD2, that detect infrared light. The approach detection controller 32 also includes a drive unit 321 that drives LED1, LED2, LED3, and LED4 to emit light, a detection unit 322 that converts the current signals output by PD1 and PD2 into intensity signals representing the intensity of infrared light incident on PD1 and PD2 and outputs the signals, and a detection control unit 323 that controls the operation of the drive unit 321 and the detection unit 322, and calculates the horizontal coordinates of a detectable object approaching the display surface of the display 2 from the intensity of infrared light represented by the intensity signal converted by the detection unit 322, and notifies the data processing device 1 of the detection position.

[0019] Next, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, LED1, LED2, LED3, and LED4 are arranged in that order from left to right at a position slightly below the bottom edge of the display 2. In addition, PD1 is positioned halfway between LED1 and LED2 and converts the reflected infrared light that is incident on it into a current signal, and PD2 is positioned halfway between LED3 and LED4 and converts the reflected infrared light that is incident on it into a current signal and outputs it. The arrows in Figures 3a and 3b indicate the central axes of the directivity angles of LED1, LED2, LED3, and LED4, and LED1, LED2, LED3, and LED4 irradiate infrared light obliquely toward the upper front of display 2. Next, the detection control section 323 of the approach detection controller 32 controls the operations of the drive section 321 and the detection section 322 so that the cycle shown in FIG. 4 is repeated. Here, each cycle includes a period during which the driver 321 causes only LED1 to emit light and the detector 322 outputs an intensity signal L1 representing the intensity of infrared light incident on PD1, a period during which the driver 321 causes only LED2 to emit light and the detector 322 outputs an intensity signal L2 representing the intensity of infrared light incident on PD1, a period during which the driver 321 causes only LED3 to emit light and the detector 322 outputs an intensity signal L3 representing the intensity of infrared light incident on PD2, and a period during which the driver 321 causes only LED4 to emit light and the detector 322 outputs an intensity signal L4 representing the intensity of infrared light incident on PD2.

[0020] Then, the detection control unit 323 determines the horizontal coordinate X, which is determined as the center of gravity of the intensity distribution of the intensity signals L1, L2, L3, and L4 detected by the detection unit 322, using Equation 1, where x1 is the horizontal coordinate of LED1, x2 is the horizontal coordinate of LED2, x3 is the horizontal coordinate of LED3, and x4 is the horizontal coordinate of LED4.

[0021] Formula 1: X=(X1×L1+X2×L2+X3×L3+X4×L4) / (L1+L2+L3+L4) Then, the detection control unit 323 notifies the data processing device 1 of the obtained horizontal coordinate X as the detected position. Hereinafter, a detection range setting process performed by the detection control unit 323 of the approach detection controller 32 of the approach detection device 3 for setting a detection range within which the approach detection device 3 detects a detection target will be described. FIG. 5 shows the procedure for this detection range setting process. As shown in the figure, in this process, the detection control unit 323 first checks whether the steering contact sensor 4 has detected the user's gripping the passenger side (display side) of the left or right part of the steering wheel 91 when it is straight (the left part in the case of a right-hand drive vehicle, and the right part in the case of a left-hand drive vehicle) (step 502).

[0022] If gripping of the passenger side portion of the steering wheel 91 is not detected, the controller 5 further checks whether the shift lever contact sensor 5 detects the user gripping the knob 92 of the shift lever (step 504). Then, if the user's grip on the shift lever knob 92 is not detected, the detection range is set to the standard range (step 506), and the process returns to the process from step 502. However, in step 506, if the detection range has already been set to the standard range, the process is skipped and the process returns to the process from step 502.

[0023] The specific operation for setting the detection range will be described later. FIG. 6a shows the standard range set for the detection range 200 in step 506. As shown in the figure, the standard range when viewed in the vertical direction is a range that covers from the display surface of the display 2 to near the steering wheel 91 and the knob 92 of the shift lever. Note that the detection range 200 when viewed in the left-right direction or the front-rear direction is determined according to the size of the detection range 200 when viewed in the vertical direction.

[0024] When the standard range is set as the detection range 200, the detection range 200 extends to close to the steering wheel 91 and the shift lever 92, so that the approach detection device 3 can quickly detect the approach of the driver, i.e., the user, when he or she brings his or her hand or finger close to the display surface of the display 2 to perform an operation on the display 2, as shown in FIG. 6b.

[0025] On the other hand, since the detection range 200 extends close to the steering wheel 91 and the shift lever 92, when the user grips the passenger side (display side) of the steering wheel 91 to operate the steering wheel 91 as shown in FIG. 6c, or grips the knob 92 of the shift lever to operate the shift lever as shown in FIG. 6d, the approach detection device 3 will erroneously detect the approach of the object to be detected to the display surface of the display 2, even though these operations are not operations on the display 2.

[0026] 5, if it is determined in step 502 that gripping of the portion of steering wheel 91 on the passenger seat side has been detected, then detection range 200 is set to the steering wheel vicinity exclusion range (step 508). Then, the process returns to step 502. However, in step 508, if detection range 200 has already been set to the steering wheel vicinity exclusion range, the process is skipped and the process returns to step 502.

[0027] FIG. 7A shows the steering wheel vicinity exclusion range set in the detection range 200 in step 508. In FIG. As shown in the figure, the vicinity-of-the-handle exclusion range is obtained by excluding the area near the steering wheel 91 from the standard range shown in FIG. 6a when viewed in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the detection range 200 is set to a near-steering wheel exclusion range, erroneous detection of an approach of a detectable object to the display surface of the display 2 in response to operation of the steering wheel 91 by the user's hand holding the passenger side (display side) of the steering wheel 91 is prevented.

[0028] In addition, the hand that holds the passenger side of the steering wheel 91 and the hand that operates the display surface of the display 2 are the same passenger side hand, and when the user is holding the passenger side of the steering wheel 91, the hand and fingers do not approach from the area excluded from the standard range in the exclusion range near the steering wheel, so there is no interference with accepting operations on the display surface of the display 2.

[0029] 5, if it is determined in step 504 that the user's grip on the knob 92 of the shift lever has been detected, the detection range 200 is set to the shift lever vicinity exclusion range (step 510). Then, the process returns to step 502. However, in step 510, if the detection range 200 has already been set to the shift lever vicinity exclusion range, the process is skipped and the process returns to step 502.

[0030] It should be noted that the passenger side of the steering wheel 91 and the knob 92 of the shift lever are grasped by the user with the same hand, and therefore, the user does not grasp both at the same time. FIG. 7B shows the shift lever vicinity exclusion range that is set in the detection range 200 in step 510. In FIG. As shown in the figure, the exclusion range near the shift lever is obtained by excluding the area near the knob 92 of the shift lever from the standard range shown in FIG. 6a when viewed in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the detection range 200 is set to an exclusion range near the shift lever, erroneous detection of an object approaching the display surface of the display 2 when the user operates the shift lever with his or her hand holding the knob 92 of the shift lever is prevented. The detection range setting process performed by the detection control has been described above. Here, step 506 of the above detection range setting process may be a process of setting detection range 200 to the standard range when a state in which neither the user's grip on the passenger side of steering wheel 91 nor the user's grip on shift lever knob 92 is detected for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 10 ms) when detection range 200 is not set to the standard range, and returning to step 502 without changing detection range 200 when the state is not detected. However, as described above, in step 506, if detection range 200 is already set to the standard range, the process is skipped and the process returns to step 502 as is.

[0031] Next, a specific operation for setting the detection range 200 will be described. When setting the detection range 200 in steps 506, 508, and 510, the detection control unit 323 determines the irradiation intensities I1, I2, I3, and I4 of LED1, LED2, LED3, and LED4 corresponding to the detection range level to be set (standard range / range excluded near the steering wheel / range excluded near the shift lever) and sets them in the drive unit 321. Thereafter, the drive unit 321 drives LED1 to emit light at the irradiation intensity I1 set by the detection control unit 323, drives LED2 to emit light at the irradiation intensity I2 set by the detection control unit 323, drives LED3 to emit light at the irradiation intensity I3 set by the detection control unit 323, and drives LED4 to emit light at the irradiation intensity I4 set by the detection control unit 323.

[0032] Here, the correspondence between the set detection range 200 and the irradiation intensities I1, I2, I3, and I4 is determined in advance so that the range in which the detectable object is detected by the irradiation intensities I1, I2, I3, and I4 corresponds to the corresponding detection range 200. Therefore, if the set detection range degree is the standard range, the irradiation intensities I1, I2, I3, and I4 are set in the drive unit 321 so that the range in which the detectable object is detected is the standard detection range shown in Fig. 6a, if the set detection range degree is the handle vicinity exclusion range, the irradiation intensities I1, I2, I3, and I4 are set in the drive unit 321 so that the range in which the detectable object is detected is the handle vicinity exclusion range shown in Fig. 7a, and if the set detection range degree is the shift lever vicinity exclusion range, the irradiation intensities I1, I2, I3, and I4 are set in the drive unit 321 so that the range in which the detectable object is detected is the shift lever vicinity exclusion range shown in Fig. 7b.

[0033] Alternatively, the detection range 200 may be set by changing the sensitivity characteristics for the intensity of reflected light detected in response to the light emitted by LED1, LED2, LED3, and LED4 as follows. That is, the output value of PD1 when the drive unit 321 causes only LED1 to emit light is A1, the output value of PD1 when the drive unit 321 causes only LED2 to emit light is A2, the output value of PD2 when the drive unit 321 causes only LED3 to emit light is A3, and the output value of PD2 when the drive unit 321 causes only LED4 to emit light is A4, and the detection unit 322 is configured to output L1=W1×A1, L2=W2×A2, L3=W3×A3, and L4=W4×A4, where L1, L2, L3, and L4 are as mentioned above.

[0034] When the detection control unit 323 sets the detection range 200 in steps 506, 508, and 510, it sets W1, W2, W3, and W4 in the detection unit 322, which correspond to the detection range level to be set (standard range / range excluded near the steering wheel / range excluded near the shift lever). In this case, the correspondence between the detection range 200 to be set and W1, W2, W3, and W4 to be set in the detection unit 322 is determined in advance so that the range in which the object to be detected by W1, W2, W3, and W4 corresponds to the corresponding detection range 200. Alternatively, the detection range 200 may be set as follows. That is, the detection unit 322 is configured to output L1=A1 when A1 exceeds Tha1, and L1=0 when A1 does not exceed Tha1, to output L2=A2 when A2 exceeds Tha2, and L2=0 when A2 does not exceed Tha3, to output L3=A3 when A3 exceeds Tha3, and L3=0 when A3 does not exceed Tha3, to output L4=A4 when A4 exceeds Tha4, and to output L4=0 when A4 does not exceed Tha4.

[0035] When the detection control unit 323 sets the detection range 200 in steps 506, 508, and 510, it sets Tha1, Tha2, Tha3, and Tha4 in the detection unit 322, which correspond to the detection range level to be set (standard range / range excluded near the steering wheel / range excluded near the shift lever). In this case, the correspondence between the detection range 200 to be set and Tha1, Tha2, Tha3, and Tha4 to be set in the detection unit 322 is determined in advance so that the range in which the object to be detected by Tha1, Tha2, Tha3, and Tha4 corresponds to the corresponding detection range 200. Alternatively, the detection range 200 may be set as follows. That is, the detection control unit 323 is configured not to output the detection position when the maximum value of L1, L2, L3, and L4, or the sum of L1, L2, L3, and L4 does not exceed Thb, which is determined by Thb=F(X) using a threshold setting function F() and X obtained by Equation 1. When the detection control unit 323 sets the detection range 200 in steps 506, 508, and 510, it sets a threshold setting function F( ) corresponding to the detection range level to be set (standard range / range excluded near the steering wheel / range excluded near the shift lever). In this case as well, the correspondence between the detection range 200 to be set and the threshold setting function F() is determined in advance so that the range in which the object to be detected is detected by the threshold setting function F() corresponds to the corresponding detection range 200. The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. In the above embodiment, the detection range 200 is reduced from the standard range when it is detected that the user is gripping the passenger side of the left and right parts of the steering wheel 91 when the steering wheel is straight (the left side in a right-hand drive vehicle, and the right side in a left-hand drive vehicle) or the user is gripping the knob 92 of the shift lever. However, in a vehicle in which an operating lever 93 such as a wiper lever or a turn signal lever is located on the passenger side of the steering wheel 91 (the left side in a right-hand drive vehicle, and the right side in a left-hand drive vehicle) as shown in FIG. 8a, a sensor may be provided to detect the user's contact with the knob 92 of the operating lever 93, and when the user is contacting the knob 92 of the operating lever 93, the detection range 200 may be set so as to exclude the area near the operating lever 93, as shown in the figure.

[0036] In addition, a sensor may be provided to detect the steering angle (rotation angle) of the steering wheel 91, and based on whether the user is gripping the left or right side of the steering wheel 91 when it is straight as detected by the steering wheel contact sensor 4, and the steering wheel angle detected by the sensor, it may be determined whether the position on the steering wheel 91 that the user is currently gripping is on the passenger side of the center of the steering wheel 91 in the left-right direction of the car, and if it is on the passenger side, the detection range 200 may be set so that the area near the steering wheel 91 is excluded, as shown in Figure 8b.

[0037] According to the above-described embodiment, during a period when it is expected that there will be no false detection of the approach of the user's hand or finger to the display surface in response to operation by the user's hand because the user is not holding a specific part of the vehicle-mounted device, such as the passenger side (display side) of the steering wheel 91, the shift lever knob 92, or the passenger side operating lever 93, detection range 200 can be made wide to eliminate missed detections or delayed detections of the approach of the user's hand or finger to the display surface, and during a period when the user is holding a specific part of these vehicle-mounted devices and there is a possibility of false detection of the approach of the user's hand or finger to the display surface in response to operation by the holding hand, detection range 200 can be narrowed to suppress the occurrence of such false detection. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1...data processing device, 2...display, 3...approach detection device, 4...steering contact sensor, 5...shift lever contact sensor, 6...peripheral device, 10...display unit, 31...approach detection sensor, 32...approach detection controller, 91...steering handle, 92...knob, 93...operating lever, 200...detection range, 321...drive unit, 322...detection unit, 323...detection control unit.

Claims

1. An approach detection system that detects an approach of a detection target to a display surface of a display disposed between a driver's seat and a passenger seat in the left-right direction of an automobile, comprising: an approach detection means for detecting the object to be detected within a detection range which is a range in front of a display surface of the display and in the vicinity of the display surface, the detection range being variable; a contact estimation means for estimating whether or not a user in the driver's seat is in contact with a predetermined portion of a device installed in the vehicle; a detection range setting means for setting a detection range in which the approach detection means detects the object to be detected, The detection range setting means sets the detection range to a standard range that includes the area near the specified portion in front of the display surface when the contact estimation means is in a specified situation where it estimates that the specified portion is not being contacted, and sets the detection range to a vicinity exclusion range that excludes the area near the specified portion from the standard range when the contact estimation means estimates that the specified portion is being contacted.

2. 2. The approach detection system of claim 1, The approach detection system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined portion of the device installed in the vehicle is a portion of the steering wheel of the vehicle on the passenger side when the steering wheel is straightened.

3. 2. The approach detection system of claim 1, The approach detection system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined portion of the device installed in the vehicle is a portion of the steering wheel of the vehicle that is located on the passenger seat side in a current rotation state of the steering wheel.

4. 2. The approach detection system of claim 1, 11. The approach detection system according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined part of the device installed in the vehicle is a knob of a shift lever of the vehicle.

5. 2. The approach detection system of claim 1, The approach detection system is characterized in that the predetermined portion of the device installed in the automobile is a knob of a passenger-side lever, which is one of a wiper lever and a winker lever that is located on the passenger's side.

6. 2. The approach detection system of claim 1, The approach detection system is characterized in that, when the detection range setting means sets the nearby exclusion range as the detection range, if the contact estimation means estimates that the specified part is not being touched, the detection range setting means maintains the setting of the nearby exclusion range as the detection range for a specified period of time from the occurrence of the estimation.

7. 7. The approach detection system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, The approach detection means includes: A plurality of infrared light sources that are arranged on the outside of a display surface of the display along a left-right direction of the display surface and emit infrared light that passes in front of the display surface; one or more photodetectors disposed outside the display surface; a detection operation execution means for executing a detection operation for causing the light detector to detect an intensity of reflected light of infrared light emitted from each of the infrared light sources in sequence; an approach detection system characterized by having an approach detection means that detects the approach of the detectable object to the display surface using the intensity of reflected light of infrared light emitted by each of the infrared light sources detected by each of the photodetectors during the detection operation, and calculates the left-right position of the approaching detectable object on the display surface from the distribution of the intensity.

8. 7. The approach detection system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, The approach detection means includes: A plurality of infrared light sources that are arranged on the outside of a display surface of the display along a left-right direction of the display surface and emit infrared light that passes in front of the display surface; one or more photodetectors disposed outside the display surface; a proximity detection means for detecting the approach of the object to be detected to the display surface at a set sensitivity using the intensity of the reflected light of the infrared light emitted by each of the infrared light sources detected by the photodetector, The approach detection system according to claim 1, wherein the detection range setting means sets the detection range by changing a combination of irradiation intensities of the plurality of infrared light sources.

9. 7. The approach detection system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, The approach detection means includes: A plurality of infrared light sources that are arranged on the outside of a display surface of the display along a left-right direction of the display surface and emit infrared light that passes in front of the display surface; A plurality of photodetectors arranged on the outer side of the display surface along a left-right direction of the display surface; a proximity detection means for detecting the approach of the object to be detected to the display surface at a set sensitivity using the intensity of the reflected light of the infrared light emitted by each of the infrared light sources detected by the photodetector, The approach detection system according to claim 1, wherein the detection range setting means sets the detection range by changing the sensitivity characteristics of the approach detection means with respect to each of the intensities of reflected light detected by the plurality of photodetectors.

10. 7. The approach detection system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, The approach detection means includes: A plurality of infrared light sources that are arranged on the outside of a display surface of the display along a left-right direction of the display surface and emit infrared light that passes in front of the display surface; one or more photodetectors disposed outside the display surface; a detection operation execution means for executing a detection operation for causing the light detector to detect an intensity of reflected light of infrared light emitted from each of the infrared light sources in sequence; an estimation means for estimating the approach of the object to the display surface by using the intensity of the reflected light of the infrared light emitted by each of the infrared light sources detected by each of the photodetectors in the detection operation, and estimating the left-right position of the approaching object on the display surface from the distribution of the intensity; the approach detection means, when a maximum value or a total value of the intensity of the reflected light of the infrared light detected by the photodetector does not exceed a threshold value, disables the estimation of the approach of the detectable object by the estimation means and does not detect the detectable object, and when the threshold value is exceeded, enables the estimation of the approach of the detectable object by the estimation means and detects the detectable object; The approach detection system according to claim 1, wherein the detection range setting means sets the detection range by changing the threshold value in accordance with the left-right position estimated by the position estimation means.

11. 7. An information processing system comprising the approach detection system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, the display, and a data processing device that uses the display for display output, the approach detection system notifies the data processing device of the approach of the detection object when detecting the detection object approaching the display surface; The information processing system is characterized in that the data processing device performs a predetermined process in response to a notification of the approach of a detection target.

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