Touch panel input device

Abstract

To provide a touch panel input device for switching to an appropriate input mode according to the number of persons present in the periphery.SOLUTION: A touch panel input device 10 includes a touch surface 11, an input detection unit 12 configured to detect an input to the touch surface 11 by an input operation object, a detection unit 13 configured to detect a person (user U) present within a predetermined range around the touch surface 11, a determination unit configured to determine the number of persons present within the predetermined range based on a detection result of the detection unit 13, and an input mode setting unit configured to set an input mode of the input detection unit 12 to a predetermined input mode based on the number of persons.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a touch panel input device having a touch surface. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, touch panel devices accept input from human fingers and pens (touch pens). Therefore, when inputting using a pen, a part of the hand holding the pen may unintentionally touch the touch panel, resulting in erroneous input. Therefore, a method for preventing malfunctions caused by hand contact has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-209291 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A conventional touch sensor device includes a touch panel having multiple capacitances, an input detection unit that distinguishes between pen input on the touch panel using a pen and manual input using a hand, an input mode switching unit that switches the input mode from normal input mode to pen input mode in response to the detection of pen input, and a validity determination unit that, in the pen input mode, validates pen input and invalidates manual input.

[0005] The touch sensor device described above uses the distribution of capacitance values ​​to distinguish between inputs made by a pen and by hand, which has the problem of being limited to capacitive touch panels. Therefore, there is a need for an input discrimination method that can be applied to touch panels of different types.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a touch panel input device that switches to an appropriate input mode depending on the number of people present in the vicinity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The touch panel input device according to the present disclosure is characterized by comprising a touch surface, an input detection unit that detects input by an input operation object onto the touch surface, a detection unit that detects people present within a predetermined range around the touch surface, a determination unit that determines the number of people present within the predetermined range based on the detection result of the detection unit, and an input mode setting unit that sets the input mode of the input detection unit to a predetermined input mode based on the number of people.

[0008] In the touch panel input device according to the present disclosure, the input modes include a pen input mode in which the input detection unit detects only input when the input object is a pen, and a general input mode in which the input detection unit detects input when the input object is a pen or a human finger, and the input mode setting unit may be configured to switch between the pen input mode and the general input mode based on the number of people.

[0009] In the touch panel input device according to the present disclosure, the input mode setting unit may be configured to compare the number of pens in an input-ready state with the number of people, and if it determines that the number of people is equal to or less than the number of pens in an input-ready state, set the input mode to the pen input mode, and if it determines that the number of people is greater than the number of pens in an input-ready state, set the input mode to the general input mode.

[0010] The touch panel input device according to the present disclosure may include a communication unit that communicates with a pen present within a predetermined range around the touch surface, and the input mode setting unit may be configured to determine that the pen communicating with the communication unit is in a state where it can input.

[0011] In the touch panel input device according to the present disclosure, the input mode setting unit may set the input mode to the predetermined input mode before detecting an input by the input operation object.

[0012] In the touch panel input device according to the present disclosure, the detection unit may include an imaging unit that images the area within the predetermined range, and the determination unit may determine the number of people based on the image captured by the imaging unit.

[0013] In the touch panel input device according to the present disclosure, the detection unit may include an infrared sensor that detects a person present within the predetermined range. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to switch to an appropriate input mode depending on the number of people present in the vicinity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic overview diagram illustrating a touch panel input device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a touch panel input device. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when setting an input mode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, a touch panel input device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a touch panel input device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] A touch panel input device 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a touch surface 11, an input detection unit 12 that detects an input made to the touch surface 11 by an input object, and a detection unit 13 that detects a person (user U) present within a predetermined range around the touch surface 11. Specifically, the touch panel input device 10 is a large touch display such as an electronic whiteboard, and is intended to be used not only by one user U but also by multiple users U present in the vicinity. For ease of explanation below, when distinguishing between users U, they may be referred to as a first user U1 to a third user U3. Although FIG. 1 shows three users U, the number of users U who use the touch panel input device 10 is not limited.

[0019] In this embodiment, a general touch panel input method may be applied, and may be appropriately selected from, for example, a pressure-sensitive method, a capacitance method, an electromagnetic induction method, etc. The input detection unit 12 may have a sensor or the like corresponding to the selected input method, and may accept input from a human finger or a pen 20.

[0020] The detection unit 13 is, for example, an imaging unit (camera) or an infrared sensor. When the detection unit 13 is an imaging unit, the person can be identified by analyzing an image captured by the imaging unit. When the detection unit 13 is an infrared sensor, the person can be identified based on the size and movement of the detected object. The positions and number of the detection units 13 can be set appropriately based on the shape and size of the touch panel input device 10.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the touch panel input device.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the touch panel input device 10 includes a touch surface 11, an input detection unit 12, a detection unit 13, a determination unit 14, an input mode setting unit 15, and a communication unit 16.

[0023] The determination unit 14 determines the number of people (users U) present within a predetermined range based on the detection result of the detection unit 13. For ease of explanation below, the number of users U within a predetermined range determined by the determination unit 14 may be abbreviated as the determined number of people.

[0024] The input mode setting unit 15 sets an input mode depending on the number of people to be determined. The input modes include a pen input mode that detects only input when the input object is the pen 20, and a general input mode that detects input when the input object is the pen 20 or a human finger. The processing flow for setting the input mode will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

[0025] The communication unit 16 communicates with a pen 20 located in the vicinity of the touch panel input device 10. The pen 20 in this embodiment is a digitizer pen, and includes an input sensor 21 and a pen communication unit 22. The pen 20 detects the writing pressure, tilt, and contact position on the touch surface 11 using the input sensor 21, and transmits various information to the communication unit 16 via the pen communication unit 22. The pen 20 may also transmit information such as power on / off and an individual identification number to the touch panel input device 10. The input mode setting unit 15 refers to the received information about the pen 20 with which it has communicated and determines that it is in a state where input is possible. By communicating with the pen 20 in this way, it is possible to determine that the operation input object is the pen 20.

[0026] In the pen input mode described above, only input from a pen 20 that is in an input-enabled state (an input-enabled pen) is accepted. Even if an object such as a human finger comes into contact with the touch surface 11, this is not accepted as input to the touch surface 11. On the other hand, in the general input mode, input from an input-enabled pen is accepted, as well as input from a human finger or the like.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing a processing flow when setting an input mode.

[0028] The input mode may be set as appropriate, for example, periodically as time passes, or when the number of nearby users U or pens 20 changes.

[0029] In step S11, the determination unit 14 and the input mode setting unit 15 detect the number of pens 20 (input-permitted pens) and the number of determined users.

[0030] In step S12, the input mode setting unit 15 compares the determined number of people with the number of input-permitted pens to determine whether the determined number of people is equal to or less than the number of input-permitted pens. As a result, if the determined number of people is equal to or less than the number of input-permitted pens (step S12: Yes), the process proceeds to step S13. On the other hand, if the determined number of people is not equal to or less than the number of input-permitted pens (step S12: No), the process proceeds to step S14.

[0031] In step S13, the input mode setting unit 15 sets the pen input mode, and the process ends.

[0032] In step S14, the input mode setting unit 15 sets the general input mode, and the process ends.

[0033] Next, the determination result will be explained using the case shown in Fig. 1 as an example. In the case shown in Fig. 1, the first user U1 and the second user U2 are carrying the pen 20, and the third user U3 is not carrying the pen 20. Therefore, the number of determined users is three, and the number of input-permitted pens is two, which is greater than the number of input-permitted pens, so the general input mode is set. If the third user U3 does not exist, the number of determined users will be the same as the number of input-permitted pens, so the pen input mode is set.

[0034] In this embodiment, an appropriate input mode can be switched to depending on the number of people in the vicinity. Also, an appropriate input mode can be selected by comparing the number of pens with the number of people. Then, by switching the input mode, it is possible to select either a pen input mode with high response performance or a general input mode that accepts simultaneous writing by multiple people, including those without pens.

[0035] The input mode setting unit 15 may set the input mode before detecting an input from an input operation object. In this way, by setting the input mode before detecting an input, input to the touch surface 11 can be accepted smoothly.

[0036] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be limiting. Therefore, the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be interpreted solely by the above-described embodiments, but should be defined based on the claims. Furthermore, all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims are included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 10 Touch panel input device 11 Touch Surface 12 Input detection section 13 Detection unit 14 Judgment section 15 Input mode setting section 16 Communications Department 20 pens 21 Input Sensor 22 Pen Communication Department

Claims

1. The touch surface and an input detection unit that detects an input made by an input operation object onto the touch surface; a detection unit that detects a person present within a predetermined range around the touch surface; a determination unit that determines the number of people present within the predetermined range based on the detection result of the detection unit; an input mode setting unit that sets the input mode of the input detection unit to a predetermined input mode based on the number of people. A touch panel input device characterized by:

2. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, The input mode is: a pen input mode in which the input detection unit detects only inputs made when the input operation object is a pen; a general input mode in which the input detection unit detects an input when the input operation object is a pen or a human finger, The input mode setting unit switches between the pen input mode and the general input mode based on the number of people. A touch panel input device characterized by:

3. The touch panel input device according to claim 2, the input mode setting unit compares the number of pens in an input-enabled state with the number of people; When it is determined that the number of people is equal to or less than the number of pens in an input-enabled state, the input mode is set to the pen input mode; When it is determined that the number of people is greater than the number of pens in an input-enabled state, the input mode is set to the general input mode. A touch panel input device characterized by:

4. The touch panel input device according to claim 3, a communication unit that communicates with a pen that is present within a predetermined range around the touch surface; The input mode setting unit determines that the pen communicating with the communication unit is in an input-enabled state. A touch panel input device characterized by:

5. The touch panel input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The input mode setting unit sets the input mode to the predetermined input mode before detecting an input by the input operation object. A touch panel input device characterized by:

6. 5. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, the detection unit includes an imaging unit that images the area within the predetermined range, The determination unit determines the number of people based on the image captured by the imaging unit. A touch panel input device characterized by:

7. The touch panel input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The detection unit includes an infrared sensor that detects a person present within the predetermined range. A touch panel input device characterized by:

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