Detection system

Abstract

The present invention provides a detectable detection system that allows for the visual recognition of the distance from the detected object to a determination surface that determines the position of the detected object in space, and the amount of indentation the detected object has passed through the determination surface. [Solution] The detection device comprises a detection device having a plurality of sensor electrodes provided in a detection area and a detection circuit for detecting the capacitance of the plurality of sensor electrodes, a display device having a display area superimposed on the detection area, and a control device for controlling the detection device and the display device. The detection device calculates the spatial coordinates of the object to be detected, and the control device controls the display device to display a cursor at the position where the calculated spatial coordinates of the object to be detected are projected onto the display area.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , ,

[0005] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a detection system.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, a detection system in which a detection device capable of detecting an external proximity object, so-called a touch panel, is mounted or integrated on a display device such as a liquid crystal display device has been known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the hover operation in the detection system described in Patent Document 1, when tapping a button or writing characters or a picture, the user may not be able to recognize how high from the detection surface the tap is made or how high characters or a picture can be written in the space on the detection surface.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide a detection system in which the degree of operation in space can be visually recognized.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A detection device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a detection device having a plurality of sensor electrodes provided in a detection area and a detection circuit for detecting the capacitance of the plurality of sensor electrodes; a display device having a display area superimposed on the detection area; and a control device for controlling the detection device and the display device, wherein the detection device calculates the spatial coordinates of a detected object, and the control device controls the display device to display a cursor at a position where the calculated spatial coordinates of the detected object are projected onto the display area. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a plan view showing the schematic configuration of the detection device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the general cross-sectional configuration of a detection system to which the detection device according to Embodiment 1 is applied. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the detection circuit of the detection device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the control device for the detection device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5A] Figure 5A is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the position of the object to be detected in the space within the detection area and each sensor electrode. [Figure 5B] Figure 5B is a schematic diagram showing the spatial coordinates of the detected object in the space within the detection area. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the changes in the cursor. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the position of the judgment surface when the size of the object being manipulated is small. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the position of the judgment surface when the size of the object being manipulated is large. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the size of the object being manipulated and the distance from the detection surface to the judgment surface. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for displaying a cursor in the detection device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a subflowchart showing an example of the cursor creation process shown in Figure 10. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a subflowchart showing an example of the process for determining the type or size of the cursor shown in Figure 11. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating how to determine the cursor size when the distance from the cursor display start surface to the judgment surface is long. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating how to determine the cursor size when the distance from the cursor display start surface to the judgment surface is short. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for determining the cursor size when the distance from the cursor display start surface to the determination surface is long, showing an example different from Figure 13. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for determining the cursor size when the distance from the cursor display start surface to the determination surface is short, showing an example different from Figure 14. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. Furthermore, the components described below include those that are easily conceivable by those skilled in the art, and those that are substantially the same. Moreover, the components described below can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, the disclosure is merely an example, and any modifications that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art while maintaining the spirit of the invention are naturally included within the scope of the present invention. In addition, the drawings may schematically represent the width, thickness, shape, etc., of each part compared to the actual embodiment in order to clarify the explanation, but these are merely examples and do not limit the interpretation of the present invention. Furthermore, in this specification and in each drawing, elements similar to those described above in previously shown drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations may be omitted as appropriate.

[0009] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a detection device according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the detection device 1 includes a sensor unit 10 and a detection unit 20.

[0010] The sensor unit 10 includes a sensor substrate 11, a plurality of sensor electrodes 12 provided in a detection region AA of the sensor substrate 11, and wirings 37 extending from the plurality of sensor electrodes 12. The detection unit 20 includes a control substrate 21, a detection circuit 22, a processing circuit 23, a power supply circuit 24, and an interface circuit 25.

[0011] The detection region AA of the sensor substrate 11 is a region where a plurality of sensor electrodes 12 arranged in a matrix in the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy are provided. In FIG. 1, a configuration in which M (5 in FIG. 1) sensor electrodes 12 are arranged in the first direction Dx and N (4 in FIG. 1) sensor electrodes 12 are arranged in the second direction Dy is illustrated. The sensor substrate 11 is, for example, a glass substrate or a flexible printed circuit (FPC) having translucency.

[0012] In the present disclosure, the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy are orthogonal in the detection region AA of the sensor substrate 11. Also, in the present disclosure, a direction orthogonal to the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy is defined as the third direction Dz.

[0013] In the example shown in FIG. 1, an example in which 5×4 (=20) sensor electrodes 12 are provided with 5 sensor electrodes 12 arranged in the first direction Dx and 4 sensor electrodes 12 arranged in the second direction Dy is shown, but the number of sensor electrodes 12 provided in the detection region AA of the sensor substrate 11 is not limited to this.

[0014] The control substrate 21 is electrically connected to the sensor substrate 11 via a wiring substrate 31. The wiring substrate 31 is, for example, a flexible printed circuit. Each sensor electrode 12 of the sensor unit 10 is connected to the detection circuit 22 of the detection unit 20 via the wiring substrate 31.

[0015] The control board 21 is provided with a detection circuit 22, a processing circuit 23, a power supply circuit 24, and an interface circuit 25. The control board 21 is, for example, a rigid board.

[0016] The detection circuit 22 generates detection values ​​for each sensor electrode 12 based on the detection signals for each sensor electrode 12 output from the sensor board 11. The detection circuit 22 is, for example, an analog front-end (AFE) IC.

[0017] The processing circuit 23 generates spatial coordinates indicating the position of the object to be detected (e.g., the operator's fingers) on the detection area AA, based on the detection values ​​of each sensor electrode 12 output from the detection circuit 22. The processing circuit 23 may be a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or it may be an MCU (Micro Control Unit). The processing circuit 23 has memory 23M.

[0018] Memory 23M stores criteria for determining whether the object to be detected 17 in the processing circuit 23 is present in the detection area, as well as threshold values ​​that serve as criteria for determining whether user input operations are detected.

[0019] The power supply circuit 24 is a circuit that supplies power to the detection circuit 22 and the processing circuit 23.

[0020] The interface circuit 25 is, for example, a USB controller IC, and is a circuit that controls communication between the processing circuit 23 and the host controller (not shown) of the control device HD, which will be described later, and the detection system.

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the general cross-sectional configuration of a detection system to which the detection device according to Embodiment 1 is applied. Figure 2 shows the II-II' cross-section of Figure 1. The detection system 100 includes a detection device 1 and a display device 200. The display device 200 is positioned opposite the sensor unit 10 of the detection device 1 via an air gap AG. The sensor unit 10 of the detection device 1 is positioned such that, in a plan view, the detection area AA of the sensor unit 10 and the display area DA of the display device 200 overlap in the third direction Dz.

[0022] The sensor unit 10 comprises a sensor substrate 11, sensor electrodes 12, a shield 14, and a front plate 15. The sensor substrate 11 is a light-transmitting substrate such as glass or resin. Multiple sensor electrodes 12 are formed on the sensor substrate 11, and the sensor electrodes 12 are covered with a protective layer OC, thereby flattening the surface and protecting the sensor electrodes 12. The protective layer OC is a light-transmitting resin, such as acrylic resin. The protective layer OC may be an organic resin, an inorganic resin, or a laminate of an organic resin and an inorganic resin.

[0023] The front panel 15 is a protective panel that protects the front of the detection device. If the front panel 15 is a glass substrate, it is also called a cover glass. In a third direction Dz perpendicular to the surface of the front panel 15, the front panel 15 is laminated with the sensor substrate 11. The sensor substrate 11 is fixed to the front panel 15 via an adhesive layer AT. The adhesive layer AT is a light-transmitting adhesive called OCA (Optical Clear Adhesive). The adhesive layer AT may also be a light-transmitting film with double-sided adhesive properties.

[0024] The sensor unit 10 is stacked in the following order from the display device 200 side: shield 14, sensor substrate 11, and front panel 15.

[0025] The shield 14 is a light-transmitting conductive material such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide), or IGO (Indium Gallium Oxide). The shield 14 is provided on the second surface of the sensor substrate 11 on the display device 200 side.

[0026] The sensor electrode 12 is provided on the first surface of the sensor substrate 11, opposite to the second surface. Hereafter, the surface of the front plate 15, which is provided on the uppermost layer, will also be referred to as the "detection surface S".

[0027] The display device 200 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display device 200 may also be, for example, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display or an inorganic light-emitting diode (micro-LED, mini-LED).

[0028] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the detection circuit of the detection device 1 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 3, the detection unit 40 includes a detection timing control circuit 41, a signal detection unit 42, an A / D conversion unit 43, a signal processing unit 44, a coordinate extraction unit 45, and a determination processing unit 46. In this disclosure, the detection timing control circuit 41, the signal detection unit 42, and the A / D conversion unit 43 are included in the detection circuit 22. The signal processing unit 44, the coordinate extraction unit 45, and the determination processing unit 46 are included in the processing circuit 23.

[0029] The detection timing control circuit 41 controls the detection operation timing in the signal detection unit 42 and the A / D conversion unit 43.

[0030] The signal detection unit 42 generates an output value GV(n) for each sensor electrode 12 based on the detection signal Det(n) (where n is a natural number from 1 to N, and N is the number of sensor electrodes in the detection area AA) output from the sensor substrate 11.

[0031] The A / D conversion unit 43 samples the output value GV(n) from the signal detection unit 42 and converts it into a discrete detected value Raw(n).

[0032] The signal processing unit 44 performs predetermined signal processing on the detected value Raw(n) for each sensor electrode 12 and calculates the signal value S(n) for each sensor electrode 12.

[0033] The coordinate extraction unit 45 extracts the spatial coordinates of the location where the detected object Fg exists, based on the signal value S(n) for each sensor electrode 12 output from the signal processing unit 44.

[0034] The determination processing unit 46 determines, based on the spatial coordinates R(Rx, Ry, Rz) calculated by the coordinate extraction unit 45, whether the object to be detected Fg has moved beyond the detection start surface SFA or the determination surface H, which will be described later in Figure 6, and is approaching the detection surface S.

[0035] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the control device for the detection device according to Embodiment 1.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4, the detection system 100 includes an external control device HD connected to the detection unit 20. The control device HD controls the detection device 1 and the display device 200.

[0037] The control device HD includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory, and by executing a program using these hardware resources, it can realize various functions such as a setting input processing unit 50, a cursor display processing unit 51, a user application processing unit 52, and a detection information processing unit 53. The control device HD further has an input interface 54 and a display interface 55.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4, signals between the detection circuit 22 and the processing circuit 23 are transmitted via a clock-synchronous interface called SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface). However, the serial interface used to transmit signals between the detection circuit 22 and the processing circuit 23 is not limited to SPI.

[0039] Furthermore, signals between the processing circuit 23 and the control device HD are transmitted via a serial interface, which is USB. Specifically, signals between the control circuit 60 and the processing unit 110 are transmitted via the signal lines of the USB cable. Note that the serial interface for transmitting signals between the processing circuit 23 and the control device HD is not limited to USB.

[0040] The detection unit 20 transmits coordinate data to the driver IC. The detection information processing unit 53 supplies a video signal to the display device 200 and drives the display device 200.

[0041] The setting input processing unit 50 receives the judgment surface H set by the user. The setting input processing unit 50 transmits the position information of the set judgment surface H to the cursor display processing unit 51. The cursor display processing unit 51 transmits the position information of the judgment surface H to the detection information processing unit 53.

[0042] The cursor display processing unit 51 outputs the display of cursor Cs to the display device 200 via the display interface 55. The detection device 1 calculates the spatial coordinates R of the object to be detected Fg. The control device HD controls the display device 200 to display cursor Cs at the position where the calculated spatial coordinates R of the object to be detected Fg are projected onto the display area DA.

[0043] The detection information processing unit 53 transmits the coordinate information of the detected object Fg to the cursor display processing unit 51 via the input interface 54.

[0044] The user application processing unit 52 is a processing unit that executes functions requested by the user. In this disclosure, the target of operation BT, which is assigned as the target of input operations for executing the functions requested by the user, is described as an example. The user application processing unit 52 stores the position information of the set judgment surface H in memory as an input operation to the target of operation BT. The user application processing unit 52 transmits the position information of the judgment surface H and the size information of the target of operation BT read from memory to the cursor display processing unit 51. Here, the target of operation BT is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for receiving operations from the user regarding various processes of the display device 200, and is displayed in the display area DA of the display device 200, with the display of the target of operation BT superimposed on the detection area AA.

[0045] The cursor display processing unit 51 transmits the position information of the determination surface H or the size information of the target object BT to the detection information processing unit 53. The detection information processing unit 53 transmits the position information of the determination surface H or the size information of the target object BT to the cursor display processing unit 51 and the user application processing unit 52 via the input interface 54.

[0046] The user application processing unit 52 outputs the application display screen to the display device 200 via the display interface 55.

[0047] Figure 5A is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the position of the object to be detected in the space on the detection area and each sensor electrode. As shown in Figure 5A, each sensor electrode 12 in the detection area AA generates capacitance corresponding to the distance D(n) between the object to be detected Fg in the space on the detection area AA and each sensor electrode 12, and a signal value S(n) corresponding to that capacitance is obtained.

[0048] Figure 5B is a schematic diagram showing the spatial coordinates of the detected object in the space on the detection region. The processing circuit 23 uses the generated signal values ​​S(n) from each sensor electrode 12 to extract the spatial coordinates R(Rx,Ry,Rz) that indicate the position of the detected object Fg in the space on the detection region AA shown in Figure 5B.

[0049] The processing circuit 23 uses the generated signal values ​​S(n) from each sensor electrode 12 to extract spatial coordinates R(Rx,Ry,Rz) that indicate the position of the detected object Fg in the space on the detection region AA shown in Figure 5B.

[0050] Figures 5A and 5B show examples where the object to be detected, Fg, is located in the space above the detection region AA.

[0051] In this disclosure, the spatial coordinates R(Rx, Ry, Rz) include a first data Rx indicating the position in a first direction Dx on the detection region AA, a second data Ry indicating the position in a second direction Dy on the detection region AA, and a third data Rz indicating the position in a third direction Dz orthogonal to the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy.

[0052] Furthermore, in this disclosure, the spatial coordinates R(Rx, Ry, Rz) indicate the position of the object to be detected Fg in the space on the detection surface S, with the surface of the front plate 15 being the detection surface S.

[0053] As described above, the detection device 1 according to this disclosure detects the capacitance generated in each sensor electrode 12 and detects the spatial coordinates of the position where the object to be detected Fg is located on the detection area AA.

[0054] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the change in the cursor. As shown in Figure 6, the detection surface S has a cursor Cs, a detection start surface SFA, and a determination surface H.

[0055] The cursor Cs is a graphic that is displayed on the detection surface S and indicates the input position on the detection surface S, changing in the height direction from the detected object Fg to the detection surface S.

[0056] The detection start surface SFA is set to a predetermined height from the detection surface S at which the object to be detected Fg becomes detectable. When the object to be detected Fg moves beyond the detection start surface SFA and approaches the detection surface S, the display device 200 displays the cursor Cs on the detection surface S. The detection start surface SFA is set to a predetermined position higher than the judgment surface H. The upper limit of the position of the detection start surface SFA is within a range that does not exceed the upper limit of the sensor sensitivity.

[0057] Furthermore, the control device HD changes the size of the cursor Cs according to the distance from the detection surface S to the object Fg to be detected.

[0058] The judgment surface H is the surface where the object to be detected Fg is at a user-defined height from the detection surface S. The control device HD processes the operation of the object to be detected Fg moving closer to the detection surface S beyond the judgment surface H as input to the detection device 1. The judgment surface H is set between the detection surface S and the detection start surface SFA. The height of the judgment surface H is determined according to the size of the object to be operated on BT. The judgment surface, which is closer to the detection surface than the detection start surface, is set at a distance from the detection surface.

[0059] The height of the judgment surface H is adjusted by the setting input processing unit 50. Alternatively, the height of the judgment surface H may be adjusted automatically by the user application processing unit 52 after acquiring data such as the size of the target BT.

[0060] If the object to be detected Fg is located further away from the detection surface S than the detection start surface SFA, the cursor Cs will not be displayed on the detection surface S.

[0061] The display format of the cursor Cs changes with respect to the height of the front plate 15 when the object to be detected Fg is located between the detection start surface SFA and the judgment surface H. The cursor Cs becomes smaller as the distance from the detection surface S to the object to be detected Fg decreases. The size of the cursor Cs is determined by the distance from the detection surface S to the object to be detected Fg.

[0062] The display mode of the cursor Cs changes with respect to the height of the front plate 15 when the object to be detected Fg is located between the judgment surface H and the detection surface S. When the object to be detected Fg is located between the judgment surface H and the detection surface S, the cursor Cs becomes larger as the distance from the detection surface S to the object to be detected Fg decreases. The size of the cursor Cs is determined by the distance from the detection surface S to the object to be detected Fg.

[0063] The display form of the cursor Cs is at least one of the following: size, shape, color, and brightness. In this disclosure, the display form of the cursor Cs when the detected object Fg is between the determination surface H and the detection start surface SFA is, for example, a dotted circle. Also, the display form of the cursor Cs when the detected object Fg is between the determination surface H and the detection surface S is, for example, a black-filled circle.

[0064] When the detected object Fg crosses the determination surface H and approaches the detection surface S, the control device HD changes the display mode of the cursor Cs so that it is different from the display mode of the cursor Cs before the detected object Fg crossed the determination surface H.

[0065] This allows the user to visually recognize the distance from the detected object Fg to the detection surface H. Furthermore, as the detected object Fg approaches the detection surface S from the detection surface H, the size of the cursor Cs changes, allowing the user to visually recognize the amount of pressure the detected object Fg has applied beyond the detection surface H.

[0066] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the position of the judgment surface when the size of the object being manipulated is small. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the position of the judgment surface when the size of the object being manipulated is large. Figure 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the size of the object being manipulated and the distance from the detection surface to the judgment surface.

[0067] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the detection device 1 has the target object BT on the detection area AA, and the height of the determination surface H changes according to the size of the target object BT. The control device HD changes the distance from the detection surface S to which the determination surface H is set according to the size of the target object BT displayed by the display device 200 in the display area DA. In this disclosure, the target object BT is projected in a matrix shape onto the detection surface S.

[0068] The control device HD adjusts the distance from the detection surface S to which the determination surface H is set, such that the larger the size of the target object BT displayed in the display area DA of the display device 200, the smaller the distance from the determination surface H to the detection start surface SF. As shown in Figure 7, when the size of the target object BT is small, the distance from the detection surface S to the determination surface H is set to D1. In this case, if the distance from the detection surface S to the determination surface H is large, it is difficult to align the position of the object to be detected Fg in the first direction Dx with the target object BT, so the determination surface H is set to a position closer to the detection surface S.

[0069] As shown in Figure 8, when the size of the object to be operated on (BT) is large, the distance from the detection surface S to the judgment surface H is set to D2. In this case, even if the distance from the detection surface S to the judgment surface H is large, the position of the object to be detected Fg in the first direction Dx can be aligned with the object to be operated on (BT), so the judgment surface H is set to a position far from the detection surface S.

[0070] As shown in Figure 9, the distance from the detection surface to the judgment surface increases as the size of the target BT increases, within a certain range of the target BT's size. In other words, the height of the judgment surface H can be varied in accordance with the size of the target BT. Note that the change in the height of the judgment surface H does not necessarily have to be linear with respect to the size of the target BT.

[0071] This allows the user to recognize that the position of the judgment surface H differs depending on the size of the object being manipulated (BT).

[0072] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for displaying a cursor in the detection device according to Embodiment 1. Figure 11 is a subflowchart showing an example of the cursor creation process shown in Figure 10. Figure 12 is a subflowchart showing an example of the process for determining the type or size of the cursor shown in Figure 11.

[0073] As shown in Figure 10, in step S101, the coordinate extraction unit 45 transmits the calculated coordinate data to the control device HD. The cursor display processing unit 51 determines the height of the determination surface H based on the coordinate data.

[0074] In step S102, the cursor display processing unit 51 performs the cursor creation process for the cursor Cs. Details of the cursor creation process for the cursor Cs are explained in Figure 11.

[0075] In step S103, the cursor display processing unit 51 displays the cursor Cs on the detection surface S. The cursor Cs is displayed simultaneously with the application screen.

[0076] As shown in Figure 11, in step S201, the determination processing unit 46 determines whether the object to be detected Fg is present on the detection start surface SFA.

[0077] In step S202, if the determination processing unit 46 determines that the object to be detected Fg is on the detection start surface SFA, the cursor display processing unit 51 performs the process of determining the display form of the cursor Cs (step S201: YES). Details of the process of determining the display form of the cursor Cs are explained in Figure 12.

[0078] In step S202, if the determination processing unit 46 determines that the object to be detected Fg is not present on the detection start surface SFA, the cursor display processing unit 51 does not perform the process of determining the display form of the cursor Cs (step S201: No). In this case, the cursor Cs is not displayed on the detection surface S.

[0079] Next, as shown in Figure 12, in step S301, the determination processing unit 46 determines whether the object to be detected Fg is present on the determination surface H.

[0080] In step S302, if the determination processing unit 46 determines that the object to be detected Fg is not present on the determination surface H (step S301: No), the cursor display processing unit 51 displays a dotted circular cursor Cs on the detection surface S.

[0081] Furthermore, in step S302, as the detected object Fg approaches the determination surface H with respect to the third direction Dz, the size of the third data Rz decreases. Simultaneously, the cursor display processing unit 51 displays the cursor Cs at a smaller size.

[0082] Next, in step S303, if the determination processing unit 46 determines that the object to be detected Fg is present on the determination surface H (step S301: YES), the cursor display processing unit 51 displays a black, circular cursor Cs on the detection surface S.

[0083] Furthermore, in step S303, as the detected object Fg approaches the detection surface S with respect to the third direction Dz, the size of the third data Rz decreases. Simultaneously, the cursor display processing unit 51 displays the cursor Cs at a larger size.

[0084] Next, we will explain how to determine the size of the cursor Cs. Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating how to determine the cursor size when the distance from the detection surface to the cursor display start surface is long. Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating how to determine the cursor size when the distance from the detection surface to the cursor display start surface is short.

[0085] The control device HD controls the cursor Cs so that, for a detected object Fg from the determination surface H to the detection start surface SF, the cursor Cs decreases as the distance from the detection surface S to the detected object Fg decreases. Furthermore, the control device HD controls the cursor Cs so that, for a detected object Fg from the determination surface H to the detection surface S, the cursor Cs increases as the distance from the detection surface S to the detected object Fg decreases.

[0086] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the size of the cursor Cs is determined by the distance from the detection surface H to the object to be detected Fg, and is calculated according to the following equation 1. Note that when the object to be detected Fg is on the detection surface H, the size of the cursor Cs is the same regardless of whether the distance Lab from the detection surface H to the detection start surface SFA is large or small.

[0087]

number

[0088] The distance Lx is defined with positive in the direction from the determination surface H toward the detection start surface SFA, and negative in the direction from the determination surface H toward the detection surface S. In this disclosure, when the size of the cursor Cs is positive, the cursor Cs is displayed as a dotted circle. When the size of the cursor Cs is negative, the cursor Cs is displayed as a solid black circle.

[0089] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, when the distance Lx changes from L1 (=Lab) to L2 (the distance from the detection surface H to the detected object Fg when the detected object Fg is located close to the detection surface H), the absolute value of the distance Lx decreases, and therefore, according to Equation 1, the size of the cursor Cs decreases. Also, when the distance from the detection start surface SFA to the detection surface H is short, the size of the cursor Cs when the detected object Fg is on the detection start surface SFA is smaller than when the distance from the detection start surface SFA to the detection surface H is long.

[0090] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, when the distance Lx changes from L2 to L3 (the distance from the detection surface H to the detected object Fg when the detected object Fg is located beyond the detection surface H), the absolute value of the distance Lx increases, and therefore, according to Equation 1, the size of the cursor Cs increases.

[0091] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14, when the distance from the detection start surface SFA to the judgment surface H is short, the change in the size of the cursor Cs from the judgment surface H to the detection surface S of the detected object Fg is larger compared to when the distance from the detection start surface SFA to the judgment surface H is long.

[0092] (Modified version of Embodiment 1) Figure 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for determining the cursor size when the distance from the cursor display start surface to the determination surface is long, showing an example different from Figure 13. Figure 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for determining the cursor size when the distance from the cursor display start surface to the determination surface is short, showing an example different from Figure 14. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those described in the embodiments described above, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0093] In the detection system 1A of a modified embodiment of Embodiment 1, the control device HD controls the cursor Cs to decrease as the distance from the detection surface S to the detected object Fg decreases, relative to the distance from the determination surface H to the detection start surface SFA. The rate of change in the size of the cursor Cs is determined by the ratio of the distance from the determination surface H to the detected object Fg to the distance from the determination surface H to the detection start surface SFA.

[0094] As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the size of the cursor Cs is determined by the ratio of the distance Lab from the detection start surface SFA to the judgment surface H, and is calculated according to the following equation 2. Note that when the object to be detected Fg is present on both the detection start surface SFA and the judgment surface H, the size of the cursor Cs is the same regardless of whether the distance Lab from the detection start surface SFA to the judgment surface H is long or short.

[0095]

number

[0096] As shown in Figure 15, when the distance from the detection start surface SFA to the judgment surface H is long, when the distance Lx changes from L1 to L2, the distance Lab from the detection start surface SFA to the judgment surface H is large, so according to equation 2, the amount of change in the size of the cursor Cs per unit distance becomes small.

[0097] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 16, when the distance from the detection start surface SFA to the judgment surface H is short, compared to when the distance Lx changes from L1 to L2, the distance Lab from the detection start surface SFA to the judgment surface H is small, so according to Equation 2, the amount of change in the size of the cursor Cs per unit distance is large.

[0098] While preferred embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, this disclosure is not limited to such embodiments. The content disclosed in the embodiments is merely an example, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. Any modifications made without departing from the spirit of this disclosure will naturally fall within the technical scope of this disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0099] 1. Detection device 10 Sensor section 12. Sensor electrode 22 Detection circuit 200 Display device AA detection area Cs cursor DA display area Fg Detected Object HD control unit SFA detection start surface H Judgment surface R spatial coordinates S detection surface

Claims

1. Multiple sensor electrodes are provided in the detection area, A detection device having a detection circuit for detecting the capacitance of the plurality of sensor electrodes, A display device having a display area superimposed on the detection area, A control device that controls the detection device and the display device, Equipped with, The detection device calculates the spatial coordinates of the object to be detected, The control device controls the display device so that the calculated spatial coordinates of the detected object are projected onto the display area to display a cursor. Detection system.

2. The surface on which the sensor electrode is provided is used as the detection surface. When the object to be detected approaches the detection surface, exceeding a detection start surface at a predetermined height from the detection surface, the display device displays the cursor on the detection surface. The detection system according to claim 1.

3. The control device changes the size of the cursor according to the distance from the detection surface to the object to be detected. The detection system according to claim 2.

4. The smaller the distance from the detection surface to the object to be detected, the smaller the cursor becomes. The detection system according to claim 3.

5. The cursor becomes larger as the distance from the detection surface to the object to be detected decreases. The detection system according to claim 3.

6. The size of the cursor is determined by the distance from the detection surface to the object to be detected. The detection system according to claim 4 or 5.

7. A determination surface that is closer to the detection surface than the detection start surface is set at a distance from the detection surface. The control device is When the object to be detected crosses the determination surface and approaches the detection surface, the display mode of the cursor is changed to be different from the display mode of the cursor before the object to be detected crossed the determination surface. The detection system according to claim 2.

8. The display form of the cursor is at least one of the following: size, shape, color, and brightness. The detection system according to claim 7.

9. The control device is The display device changes the distance from the detection surface to which the determination surface is set, according to the size of the object to be operated on that is displayed in the display area. The detection system according to claim 8.

10. The control device is The distance from the detection surface to which the determination surface is set is changed such that the larger the size of the object to be operated on that the display device displays in the display area, the smaller the distance from the determination surface to the detection start surface. The detection system according to claim 7.

11. A determination surface that is closer to the detection surface than the detection start surface is set at a distance from the detection surface. The control device is With respect to the object to be detected from the determination surface to the detection start surface, the cursor is controlled to become smaller as the distance from the detection surface to the object to be detected decreases. With respect to the object to be detected from the determination surface to the detection surface, the cursor is controlled to increase in size as the distance from the detection surface to the object to be detected decreases. The detection system according to claim 2.

12. A determination surface that is closer to the detection surface than the detection start surface is set at a distance from the detection surface. The control device controls the cursor to decrease as the distance from the detection surface to the detected object decreases, with respect to the object to be detected from the determination surface to the detection start surface. The rate of change in the size of the cursor is determined by the ratio of the distance from the determination surface to the detected object to the distance from the determination surface to the detection start surface. The detection system according to claim 2.

Images