Operation detection device

Abstract

To provide an operation detection device capable of accurately detecting a tracing operation even when an abnormality occurs in a sensor unit.SOLUTION: An operation detection device 3 detects a tracing operation in which a user traces an operation surface 2 using a part of their body, on the basis of sensor signals Sk output from a plurality of sensor units 6 provided on the operation surface 2, and operates a device 4 in a state corresponding to the tracing operation. For example, the device 4 is a display 4a including a display unit 11 which performs a display operation responsive to the tracing operation. A determination unit 13 determines whether any abnormality is present in the plurality of sensor units 6. An invalidation unit 14 invalidates those that are related to a tracing operation with a sensor unit 6 that has been determined to be abnormal by the determination unit 13 among the sensor units 6 in which no abnormality has occurred.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation detection device that detects tracing operations on an operation surface.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a steering operation detection device including a plurality of detection electrodes for detecting tracing operations is well known. This steering operation detection device is disposed on the spoke portion of a steering wheel. In the case of this steering operation detection device, for example, a tracing operation with an arc-shaped locus or a tracing operation with a linear locus is detected using a plurality of detection electrodes arranged on the spoke portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when an abnormality occurs in a certain detection electrode among a plurality of detection electrodes, a state where normal detection electrodes and the abnormal detection electrode are mixed occurs. In such a state, a part of the detection area of the tracing operation becomes missing, so there is a possibility that the tracing operation by the user cannot be detected correctly.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The operation detection device that solves the above problems detects a tracing operation in which a part of the body traces an operation surface based on sensor signals output from a plurality of sensor units provided on the operation surface, and operates a device in a state corresponding to the tracing operation. The device includes a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of an abnormality for the plurality of sensor units, and a disabling unit that disables, among the sensor units in which no abnormality has occurred, those that are related to the tracing operation and are determined to be abnormal by the determination unit.

[0006] Note that, as a definition, "disabling" includes processing to make a normal sensor unit inoperative, processing to adjust the sensitivity of the sensor unit so that a tracing operation cannot be detected, processing to adjust the output of the sensor unit to a level or degree at which a tracing operation cannot be detected, and the like.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] Even when an abnormality occurs in the sensor unit, the present invention can accurately detect a tracing operation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. (User Interface Device 1) As shown in FIG. 1, the user interface device 1 includes an operation detection device 3 that detects a user operation on the operation surface 2. The user interface device 1 operates the device 4 in a state according to the tracing operation. The device 4 is, for example, a display 4a that executes a display according to the tracing operation. The display 4a is switched to a display according to the operation result detected by the operation detection device 3.

[0010] The user interface device 1 is a touch pad type that remotely operates the display of the display 4a by an operation surface 2 arranged at a remote position. The user interface device 1 is a touch operation type that switches the display of the display 4a by bringing the detection target 5 into contact with or close to the operation surface 2. The detection target 5 is, for example, a user's finger.

[0011] The user interface device 1 is used, for example, in a vehicle. In the case of in-vehicle use, the user interface device 1 is, for example, a steering switch in which the operation surface 2 is provided on the steering wheel. The display 4a may be, for example, a multi-information display provided on the instrument panel, or a display for a car navigation system.

[0012] (Operation Detection Device 3) As shown in FIG. 1, the operation detection device 3 includes a plurality of sensor units 6 whose outputs change according to a user operation on the operation surface 2, and a detection control unit 7 that detects a user operation on the operation surface 2 based on the sensor signal Sk of the sensor unit 6. The sensor unit 6 changes its physical properties, for example, based on the contact or approach of the detection target 5 to the operation surface 2. The sensor unit 6 is, for example, an electrode 8 whose capacitance changes according to the contact or approach of the detection target 5. The user operation is an operation of bringing a part of the human body into contact with or close to the operation surface 2. When the sensor unit 6 is the electrode 8, the sensor signal Sk is the capacitance generated in the electrode 8.

[0013] The detection control unit 7 is composed of various devices such as an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and a memory, for example. The detection control unit 7 is connected to the display 4a and the plurality of sensor units 6. The detection control unit 7 detects a user operation on the operation surface 2 based on the sensor signal Sk input from the plurality of sensor units 6. The detection control unit 7 outputs a control command Sr based on the detection result of the user operation to the display 4a, thereby causing the display 4a to execute a display switch.

[0014] (Display 4a) As shown in FIG. 1, the display 4a includes a display control unit 10 that controls the operation of the display 4a, and a display unit 11 whose display is switched by the display control unit 10. The display control unit 10 controls the display of the display unit 11 based on the control command Sr input from the detection control unit 7. The display unit 11 may be a monochrome display or a color display. The display unit 11 may be a liquid crystal screen or an organic EL screen.

[0015] (Arrangement of sensor units 6) As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor unit 6 is arranged, for example, on the back surface of the operation surface 2 in the planar direction (X-Y axis plane direction). The sensor unit 6 in this example is provided in a total of nine by being arranged in three in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction in FIG. 2) and three in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction in FIG. 2). The plurality of sensor units 6 may all have the same shape, or may be a combination including at least one sensor unit 6 having a different shape.

[0016] The sensor unit 6 includes a first sensor unit 6a located on the left side in the uppermost figure, a second sensor unit 6b located in the center in the uppermost figure, and a third sensor unit 6c located on the right side in the uppermost figure. The sensor unit 6 includes a fourth sensor unit 6d located on the left side in the middle figure, a fifth sensor unit 6e located in the center in the middle figure, and a sixth sensor unit 6f located on the right side in the middle figure. The sensor unit 6 includes a seventh sensor unit 6g located on the left side in the lowermost figure, an eighth sensor unit 6h located in the center in the lowermost figure, and a ninth sensor unit 6i located on the right side in the lowermost figure.

[0017] (Tracing operation on the operation surface 2) As shown in FIG. 3, the user operation on the operation surface 2 is a "tracing operation" of tracing the operation surface 2 with a part of the human body (for example, a finger, etc.). The tracing operation includes, for example, a "horizontal tracing operation" of tracing the operation surface 2 with a finger in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction in the figure) and a "vertical tracing operation" of tracing the operation surface 2 with a finger in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction in the figure). Thus, the tracing operation has a defined tracing operation direction K in a predetermined direction on the operation surface 2. Although not shown, the tracing operation may include, for example, a "diagonal tracing operation" of tracing the operation surface 2 with a finger in the diagonal direction.

[0018] The tracing operation with respect to the operation surface 2 is, for example, a scroll operation of the display unit 11 of the display 4a. That is, the display 4a scrolls the screen display of the display unit 11 according to the direction of the tracing operation with respect to the operation surface 2. For example, when the operation surface 2 is horizontally traced, the display content of the display 4a scrolls horizontally and switches. Also, when the operation surface 2 is vertically traced, the display content of the display 4a scrolls vertically and switches.

[0019] (Principle of tracing operation detection) As shown in FIG. 1, the detection control unit 7 includes an operation detection unit 12 that detects a tracing operation based on the sensor signals Sk of the plurality of sensor units 6. The operation detection unit 12 is provided in the detection control unit 7. The operation detection unit 12 calculates the center of gravity G (see FIG. 4) of the contact surface R (see FIG. 4) with which the user has contacted the operation surface 2 based on the sensor signals Sk input from the plurality of sensor units 6, and detects the movement of the center of gravity G as a tracing operation.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4(a), in this example, the operation detection unit 12 calculates the center of gravity G of the touch position of the finger with respect to the operation surface 2 in the detection of the tracing operation. Specifically, the operation detection unit 12 calculates the center of gravity G on the contact surface R where the user touches the operation surface 2. The center of gravity G is calculated using the sensor signals Sk output from the plurality of sensor units 6. In this example, the operation detection unit 12 detects the touch position by obtaining the center of gravity G from the capacitance of each electrode 8.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4(b), the operation detection unit 12 detects the movement locus of the touch position as the tracing operation direction K. In the case of this example, the tracing operation direction K is detected from the movement locus of the center of gravity G. For example, when the operation surface 2 is horizontally traced, the operation detection unit 12 acquires the movement locus of the center of gravity G in the X-axis direction of the paper surface detected by the horizontal tracing operation as the operation amount of the horizontal tracing operation direction K. When the operation amount of this horizontal tracing operation becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the operation detection unit 12 outputs a horizontal scroll execution request to the display 4a as a control command Sr. Based on the input horizontal scroll execution request, the display 4a scrolls the screen of the display unit 11 one step in the direction of the horizontal tracing operation.

[0022] Note that the detection of the vertical tracing operation in the tracing operation direction K is basically the same as that in the case where the tracing direction is horizontal, except that the tracing direction is different. Therefore, the details of the detection of the vertical tracing operation are omitted.

[0023] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, when the tracing operation direction K is diagonal, the tracing operation direction K is divided into a horizontal component (X-axis component) and a vertical component (Y-axis component). The operation detection unit 12 detects a horizontal tracing operation or a vertical tracing operation from the horizontal component and the vertical component after the component separation. That is, when the operation amount of the horizontal component tracing operation is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the operation detection unit 12 horizontally scrolls the screen display of the display 4a. Also, when the operation amount of the vertical component tracing operation is equal to or greater than a predetermined position, the operation detection unit 12 vertically scrolls the screen display of the display 4a.

[0024] (Countermeasures against Abnormalities of the Sensor Unit 6) As shown in FIG. 1, the operation detection device 3 includes a determination unit 13 that determines the presence or absence of abnormalities for a plurality of sensor units 6. The determination unit 13 is provided in the detection control unit 7, for example. The determination unit 13 determines which of the plurality of sensor units 6 has an abnormality by a known method, for example. The determination unit 13 may execute an abnormality determination when the operation detection device 3 is activated, or may periodically execute an abnormality determination at a predetermined timing during the activation of the operation detection device 3.

[0025] The operation detection device 3 includes a disabling unit 14 that disables the sensor unit 6 related to the sensor unit 6 determined to be abnormal by the determination unit 13. The disabling unit 14 is provided, for example, in the detection control unit 7. The disabling unit 14 disables the sensor units 6 located in the same column as the sensor unit 6 determined to be abnormal in the tracing operation direction K. Thus, it is preferable that the disabling unit 14 disables all the sensor units 6 arranged in the column in the tracing operation direction K. Disabling includes, for example, a process of making a normal sensor unit 6 inoperative. That is, disabling includes a process of turning off the power of the sensor unit 6 or shifting to a state where the sensor signal Sk is not output, even if the sensor unit 6 is operating normally.

[0026] Next, the operation of the operation detection device 3 of the present embodiment will be described. In this example, it is assumed that the tracing operation performed on the operation surface 2 is a "horizontal tracing operation". That is, it is assumed that the tracing operation in a predetermined direction with respect to the operation surface 2 is a "horizontal tracing operation". Thus, the operation surface 2 performs a horizontal tracing operation, and the operation detection device 3 detects the "horizontal tracing operation".

[0027] (Tracing detection when the sensor unit 6 is not disabled) As shown in FIG. 6(a), it is assumed that an abnormality has occurred in the first sensor unit 6a among the plurality of sensor units 6 (illustrated with a "×" mark). And it is assumed that a horizontal tracing operation has been executed from the touch state where the contact surface R extends over the four regions of the first sensor unit 6a, the second sensor unit 6b, the fourth sensor unit 6d, and the fifth sensor unit 6e. In addition, at the initial stage of the tracing operation in this case, the first sensor unit 6a and the fourth sensor unit 6d have a larger finger contact margin than the second sensor unit 6b and the fifth sensor unit 6e.

[0028] Here, an example where the first sensor unit 6a is abnormal is given. Also, the finger contact margin for the sensor unit 6 is larger for the fourth sensor unit 6d than for the second sensor unit 6b and the fifth sensor unit 6e. As a result, the capacitance detected by the fourth sensor unit 6d becomes larger than the capacitances detected by the second sensor unit 6b and the fifth sensor unit 6e respectively. Therefore, the center of gravity G is calculated with a value within the region of the fourth sensor unit 6d.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 6(b), when the finger is traced horizontally, assume that the contact margin of the finger with the second sensor unit 6b is larger than the contact margin of the finger with the fourth sensor unit 6d. In this case, since the capacitance of the second sensor unit 6b increases, the center of gravity G is calculated as a value within the region of the second sensor unit 6b. Therefore, although the finger is actually traced horizontally, it is detected as a diagonal tracing operation in the calculation. Thus, although the tracing operation is actually performed over a long horizontal distance La, it is calculated as a tracing operation over a short distance Lb in the calculation.

[0030] (Tracing detection when the sensor unit 6 is disabled) As shown in FIG. 7(a), assume that an abnormality has occurred in the first sensor unit 6a among the plurality of sensor units 6. The abnormality in the first sensor unit 6a is detected by the determination unit 13 by a known method. When the determination unit 13 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the first sensor unit 6a, it notifies the disabling unit 14 to that effect.

[0031] When the disabling unit 14 receives a notification from the determination unit 13 that an abnormality has occurred in the first sensor unit 6a, it disables the other sensor units 6 related to the tracing operation of the first sensor unit 6a. For example, when the tracing operation detection target is a "horizontal tracing operation", the other sensor units 6 arranged horizontally with respect to the first sensor unit 6a are disabled. In the case of this example, the second sensor unit 6b and the third sensor unit 6c located in the same column horizontally as the first sensor unit 6a are disabled (illustrated by the "× mark" in the broken line).

[0032] In this way, when an abnormality occurs in the first sensor unit 6a, since the first sensor unit 6a is located in the first column in the vertical direction in the figure, the sensor group in the first column from the top is disabled. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the first sensor unit 6a, the second sensor unit 6b and the third sensor unit 6c are disabled because they are located in the same column as the first sensor unit 6a even if no abnormality has occurred. Thus, on the operation surface 2, the regions of the fourth sensor unit 6d to the ninth sensor unit 6i function as the effective surface for touch operations.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 7(b), assume that when the sensor group in the first column is invalidated, a finger is traced horizontally from a state where it greatly touches the fourth sensor unit 6d to a state where it greatly touches the fifth sensor unit 6e. Here, since the first sensor unit 6a and the second sensor unit 6b are not used, the touch position is detected only by the fourth sensor unit 6d and the fifth sensor unit 6e. In the initial state of the horizontal tracing operation (the state of the dashed line in FIG. 7(b)), the capacitance of the fourth sensor unit 6d is larger than that of the fifth sensor unit 6e. Therefore, the center of gravity G is calculated at a position within the region of the fourth sensor unit 6d.

[0034] Also, in the state where the tracing operation is performed (the state of the solid line in FIG. 7(b)), the capacitance of the fifth sensor unit 6e becomes larger than the capacitance of the fourth sensor unit 6d. Therefore, the center of gravity G is calculated at a position within the region of the fifth sensor unit 6e. Further, since the tracing operation is detected by the fourth sensor unit 6d and the fifth sensor unit 6e arranged in the same column, the movement locus of the center of gravity G takes a locus in the direction along the tracing operation, that is, a locus moving horizontally. For this reason, the operation amount of the actual tracing operation and the operation distance of the arithmetic tracing operation are detected as equivalent values (in this example, "La"). Therefore, even when a tracing operation is performed on the operation surface 2 when an abnormality occurs in the first sensor unit 6a, it is possible to accurately detect the tracing operation.

[0035] (Examples of Other Invalidations) As shown in FIG. 8(a), assume that an abnormality has occurred in the eighth sensor unit 6h among the plurality of sensor units 6. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the invalidation unit 14 invalidates the seventh sensor unit 6g and the ninth sensor unit 6i located in the same column as the eighth sensor unit 6h. In this way, when an abnormality occurs in the eighth sensor unit 6h, the invalidation unit 14 invalidates the sensor group located in the third column in the vertical direction in the figure. Therefore, on the operation surface 2, the regions of the first sensor unit 6a to the sixth sensor unit 6f function as the effective surfaces for touch operations.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 9(a), assume that an abnormality has occurred in the sixth sensor unit 6f among the plurality of sensor units 6. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the invalidation unit 14 invalidates the fourth sensor unit 6d and the fifth sensor unit 6e that are located in the same column as the sixth sensor unit 6f. In this way, when an abnormality occurs in the sixth sensor unit 6f, the invalidation unit 14 invalidates the sensor group located in the second row in the vertical direction in the figure. Therefore, on the operation surface 2, two regions, namely, the region of the first sensor unit 6a to the third sensor unit 6c and the region of the seventh sensor unit 6g to the ninth sensor unit 6i, function as effective surfaces for touch operations.

[0037] (Effects of the Embodiment) According to the configuration of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The operation detection device 3 detects a tracing operation in which a part of the body traces the operation surface 2 based on the sensor signals Sk output from the plurality of sensor units 6 provided on the operation surface 2, and operates the device 4 in a state corresponding to the tracing operation. The determination unit 13 provided in the operation detection device 3 determines the presence or absence of an abnormality for the plurality of sensor units 6. The invalidation unit 14 provided in the operation detection device 3 invalidates those of the sensor units 6 in which no abnormality has occurred and that are in a tracing operation relationship with the sensor unit 6 determined to be abnormal by the determination unit 13.

[0038] According to this configuration, in the plurality of sensor units 6 of the operation detection device 3, when an abnormality occurs in a certain sensor unit 6, other sensor units 6 that are in a tracing operation relationship with the sensor unit 6 in which the abnormality has occurred are invalidated. For this reason, instead of a state in which the sensor unit 6 in which an abnormality has occurred and the normal sensor units 6 are scattered with respect to the direction of the tracing operation, the tracing operation can be detected by the normal sensor units 6 regularly arranged along the direction of the tracing operation. Therefore, even when an abnormality occurs in the sensor unit 6, the tracing operation can be accurately detected.

[0039] (2) The tracing operation has a defined tracing operation direction K in a predefined direction on the operation surface 2. The disabling unit 14 disables the sensor units 6 that are located in the same column as the sensor unit 6 determined to be abnormal in the tracing operation direction K. According to this configuration, a group of sensor units 6 arranged in the direction of the tracing operation is disabled for the sensor unit 6 in which an abnormality has occurred. Therefore, when the original shape of the detection surface by the plurality of sensor units 6 is rectangular as an example, it is possible to maintain the shape of the detection surface formed by the remaining sensor units 6 as rectangular even after the sensor units 6 are disabled. In this way, the detection surface formed by the remaining sensor units 6 does not have a distorted shape. Thus, it further contributes to improving the detection accuracy of the tracing operation.

[0040] (3) The operation detection unit 12 provided in the operation detection device 3 calculates the centroid G of the contact surface R where the user has contacted the operation surface 2 based on the sensor signals Sk input from the plurality of sensor units 6, and detects the movement of the centroid G as a tracing operation. According to this configuration, the touch position and the tracing operation on the operation surface 2 can be detected by a simple method of obtaining the centroid G of the user's touch operation on the contact surface R.

[0041] (4) The sensor unit 6 is an electrode 8 whose capacitance changes in response to a user operation on the operation surface 2. The determination unit 13 determines the presence or absence of an abnormality in the electrode 8. According to this configuration, the tracing operation on the operation surface 2 can be detected by the change in the capacitance of the electrode 8. Also, even if an abnormality occurs in a certain electrode 8 among the plurality of electrodes 8, the other electrodes 8 related to the tracing operation with that electrode 8 can be disabled, so that the tracing operation intended by the user can be accurately detected.

[0042] (5) The device 4 is a display 4a having a display unit 11 that performs a display corresponding to the tracing operation. According to this configuration, when the user performs a tracing operation on the operation surface 2, the display of the display unit 11 of the display 4a can be switched to a state along with the user's intention.

[0043] (6) The display unit 11 displays a screen that is scrolled in response to a tracing operation on the operation surface 2. According to this configuration, since the tracing operation on the operation surface 2 is accurately detected, the scroll display of the display unit 11 can be accurately switched according to the user's intention.

[0044] (Other embodiments) Note that this embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modification examples can be implemented in combination with each other as long as they do not technically conflict.

[0045] · As shown in FIG. 10, the sensor unit 6 to be invalidated is not limited to those located in the same column as the sensor unit 6 determined to be abnormal in the tracing operation direction K. For example, based on the sensor unit 6 determined to be abnormal, the sensor unit 6 may be invalidated so as to thin out the sensor unit 6. In this way, the sensor unit 6 may be invalidated according to a predetermined regularity.

[0046] · Which sensor unit 6 to invalidate for the sensor unit 6 determined to be abnormal may be appropriately changed according to the specifications. For example, instead of invalidating all the sensor units 6 in the same column, the way of invalidation may be changed, such as invalidating only the surrounding sensor units 6.

[0047] · When the tracing operation directions predefined on the operation surface 2 are both "horizontal tracing operation" and "vertical tracing operation", for the sensor unit 6 that has become abnormal, both the other sensor units 6 located in the same column in the horizontal direction and the other sensor units 6 located in the same column in the vertical direction may be invalidated.

[0048] · The display switching of the display unit 11 for the tracing operation on the operation surface 2 is not limited to the screen scroll operation. For example, it may be the movement of the cursor displayed on the screen or the selection switching of the icons displayed on the screen.

[0049] · The determination of the touch position is not limited to the method of obtaining the centroid G and setting it as the touch position, and a method using parameters other than the centroid G may be adopted. ·The tracing operation is not limited to a linear operation. For example, it may be a curved operation.

[0050] ·The arrangement pattern of the sensor units 6 is not limited to a pattern in which the sensor units 6 of the same shape are arranged in a grid vertically and horizontally. For example, it may be a pattern in which one sensor unit 6 such as a circle, an ellipse, or a rhombus is arranged in the center, and a plurality of sensor units 6 of different shapes are arranged so as to surround it.

[0051] ·The sensor unit 6 is not limited to the electrode 8. For example, it may be another sensor such as a pressure sensor. ·The operation surface 2 is not limited to being arranged on the steering wheel. For example, it may be arranged on the center console or the center cluster inside the vehicle.

[0052] ·The invalidation is not limited to a process of deactivating a normal sensor unit 6. The invalidation may be, for example, a process of adjusting the sensitivity of the sensor unit 6 so that a tracing operation cannot be detected. Specifically, by setting the sensitivity of the sensor unit 6 high, it may be shifted to a state where a touch operation cannot be detected. Also, the invalidation may be, for example, a process of adjusting the output of the sensor unit 6 to a level or degree at which a tracing operation cannot be detected. Specifically, by attaching the output of the sensor unit 6 to the peak or the bottom so that a normal value is not output from the sensor unit 6, the sensor unit 6 may be made unusable.

[0053] ·The period of invalidation may be during power-on or a limit time may be set. ·The operation detection device 3 may be configured not to include the display 4a, for example. That is, the operation target of the operation detection device 3 is not limited to the display 4a. For example, without the display on the display 4a, the device 4 may be directly operated based on the detection of the tracing operation by the operation detection device 3.

[0054] ·When the operation detection device 3 is a capacitance type, it is not limited to the self-capacitance method. For example, the mutual-capacitance method may be adopted. ·The operation detection device 3 may be used not only for vehicles but also for other devices and apparatuses.

[0055] ·The expression "at least one" used in the present disclosure means "one or more" of the desired options. As an example, the expression "at least one" used in the present disclosure means "only one option" or "both of the two options" if the number of options is two. As another example, the expression "at least one" used in the present disclosure means "only one option" or "any combination of two or more options" if the number of options is three or more.

[0056] ·The operation detection unit 12, the determination unit 13, and the inactivation unit 14 may be configured by [1] one or more processors that operate according to a computer program (software), or [2] a combination of such a processor and one or more dedicated hardware circuits such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that executes at least some of various processes. The processor includes a CPU and memories such as a RAM and a ROM, and the memories store program codes or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute processes. The memory (computer-readable medium) includes any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or dedicated computer. Alternatively, instead of the computer including the above processor, a processing circuit configured by one or more dedicated hardware circuits that execute all of various processes may be used.

[0057] ·The operation detection unit 12, the determination unit 13, and the inactivation unit 14 may be configured from independent processors, or a part of the functions may be constructed from a shared processor. Thus, the operation detection unit 12, the determination unit 13, and the inactivation unit 14 are not limited to independent functional blocks, and may be configured from one functional block, or may be configured from functional blocks with some shared parts.

[0058] ·Although the present disclosure has been described in accordance with the embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and structures. The present disclosure also includes various modifications and variations within the equivalent scope. In addition, various combinations and forms, and further other combinations and forms including only one element, more than one element, or less than one element thereof, are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

[0059] Next, the technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodiments and modification examples will be described. (A) An operation detection device that traces an operation surface with a part of the body, detects the tracing operation based on sensor signals output from a plurality of sensor units provided on the operation surface, and outputs the detection result of the tracing operation to a display, thereby causing the display unit of the display to display according to the tracing operation. The operation detection device includes a determination unit that determines whether there is an abnormality in the plurality of sensor units, and an invalidation unit that invalidates a sensor unit among the sensor units in which no abnormality has occurred and that is related to the tracing operation and has been determined to be abnormal by the determination unit.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0060] 2... Operation surface, 3... Operation detection device, 4... Equipment, 4a... Display, 6... Sensor unit, 8... Electrode, 11... Display unit, 12... Operation detection unit, 13... Determination unit, 14... Invalidation unit, Sk... Sensor signal, K... Tracing operation direction, R... Contact surface, G... Center of gravity.

Claims

1. An operation detection device that detects a tracing operation of tracing an operation surface with a part of a body based on a sensor signal output from a plurality of sensor units provided on the operation surface, and operates a device in a state corresponding to the tracing operation, A determination unit that determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the plurality of sensor units; and a disabling unit that disables, among the sensor units not experiencing an abnormality, a sensor unit that is in a relationship of a tracing operation with the sensor unit determined to be abnormal by the determination unit.

2. the tracing operation has a prescribed tracing operation direction that is a predetermined direction on the operation surface; The operation detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the disabling unit disables the sensor units located in the same row as the sensor unit determined to be abnormal in the tracing operation direction.

3. 2. The operation detection device according to claim 1, further comprising an operation detection unit that calculates a center of gravity of a contact surface that a user touches on the operation surface based on sensor signals input from the plurality of sensor units, and detects movement of the center of gravity as the tracing operation.

4. the sensor unit is an electrode whose capacitance changes in response to a user operation on the operation surface, The operation detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the electrode.

5. The operation detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is a display having a display unit that displays a display according to a tracing operation.

6. The operation detection device according to claim 5 , wherein the display unit displays a screen that is scrolled in response to a tracing operation on the operation surface.

Images