Touch input device, control method and program for touch input device

Abstract

The touch input device (1) includes a plurality of transmitting electrodes, a plurality of receiving electrodes, a capacitance detection unit (12) that detects capacitance generated between the transmitting electrodes and the receiving electrodes using a mutual capacitance detection method, a touch panel control unit (13) that includes a touch operation detection unit (14) that detects a decrease in the capacitance detected by the capacitance detection unit (12) from an initial value as a touch operation, and a noise detection unit (15) that detects an increase in the capacitance detected by the capacitance detection unit from the initial value as noise, and a touch information processing unit (16) that performs processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit (14) detects a touch operation, and the touch information processing unit (16) disables at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise detected by the noise detection unit (15) exceeds a first judgment value. (Representative diagram) Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to touch input devices and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] There are various touch detection methods for touch panels used in touch input devices, and among them, capacitive touch panels are widely adopted. However, because capacitive touch panels detect touch by the change in capacitance when the touch panel is touched, they are susceptible to noise, for example, from the power supply environment. Therefore, there is a risk of malfunction in environments where they are affected by noise.

[0003] To address this issue, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that detects noise on a touch panel, determines whether the panel is electrically stable based on the detected noise, and if it is determined to be electrically unstable, prevents malfunction by not transmitting a signal corresponding to the touch operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-228053 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The electrostatic capacitance method includes two types of electrostatic capacitance detection methods: mutual capacitance and self-capacitance. Patent Document 1 describes a technology adopted in self-capacitance touch panels that detects an increase in electrostatic capacitance between an electrode and ground as a touch operation. On the other hand, the mutual capacitance method is a detection method that detects a decrease in electrostatic capacitance between a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode as a touch operation, and it is difficult to apply the technology of Patent Document 1 to mutual capacitance touch panels. Therefore, there is a demand for technology that can prevent malfunctions when noise occurs in mutual capacitance touch panels.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to provide a mutual capacitance type touch input device and the like that can prevent malfunctions when noise occurs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A touch input device according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of transmitting electrodes, a plurality of receiving electrodes, a capacitance detection unit that detects capacitance generated between the transmitting electrodes and the receiving electrodes using a mutual capacitance detection method, and a touch operation detection unit that detects a decrease from an initial value of the capacitance detected by the capacitance detection unit as a touch operation. ,of Is of a touch panel control unit including a noise detection unit that detects a touch operation; and a touch information processing unit that performs processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit detects a touch operation, The touch panel control unit changes the detection frequency at which the capacitance detection unit detects capacitance when the noise detected by the noise detection unit exceeds a second determination value that is equal to or less than the first determination value, and the touch information processing unit disables at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise detected after the noise detection unit changes the detection frequency exceeds the first determination value. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The touch input device and the like of the present disclosure can prevent malfunctions when noise occurs in a mutual capacitance system. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a touch input device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a capacitance detection method of a touch input device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a touch input device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of switching the touch operation disabled state of the touch input device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a frequency hopping operation of the touch input device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation for disabling a touch operation of the touch input device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation for canceling the invalidation of touch operations of the touch input device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation of a touch operation reception process of the touch input device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the touch input device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a frequency hopping operation of the touch input device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a touch input device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a touch input device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, in which the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0011] Embodiment 1 There are various detection methods for touch panels used in touch input devices, but among them, capacitive touch panels that detect touch by a change in capacitance when the touch panel is touched are widely used. The touch panel used in the touch input device of this embodiment is a touch panel that uses a mutual capacitance detection method, which is one of such capacitive methods. The mutual capacitance method will be described later in the description of the capacitance detection unit 12.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the touch input device 1 includes a touch panel unit 11, a touch information processing unit 17, a notification unit 18, and a communication unit 19.

[0013] The touch panel unit 11 includes a capacitance detection unit 12, a storage unit 13, a touch panel control unit 14, and a plurality of transmission electrodes and a plurality of reception electrodes (not shown). The touch panel unit 11 corresponds to the touch panel of a touch input device, and receives touch operations by the capacitance detection unit 12 and the touch panel control unit 14 functioning with respect to the plurality of transmission electrodes and the plurality of reception electrodes. The touch panel unit 11 is an example of a touch panel unit according to the present disclosure.

[0014] The capacitance detection unit 12 detects the capacitance generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode using a mutual capacitance detection method. A mutual capacitance touch panel has multiple transmitting electrodes and multiple receiving electrodes and detects changes in the capacitance generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode. More specifically, in a mutual capacitance touch panel, as shown in FIG. 2(a), when a signal such as a square wave or a sine wave is input to the transmitting electrode, an electric field is generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode. Next, as shown in FIG. 2(b), when a conductive object, such as a finger, is brought close, part of the electric field generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode is absorbed by the finger, thereby reducing the electric field received by the receiving electrode. As a result, the amplitude of the signal output by the receiving electrode becomes smaller than in the case of FIG. 2(a). That is, the signal output by the receiving electrode in each of FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) can be acquired, and changes in the capacitance generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode can be detected based on the acquired signals. The capacitance detection unit 12 detects the signal output by the receiving electrode using this mutual capacitance detection method as the capacitance generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode. Hereinafter, the capacitance generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode will be simply referred to as capacitance. Furthermore, the capacitance detection unit 12 stores the detected capacitance value in the storage unit 13. Furthermore, the capacitance detection unit 12 stores coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit 15 detects a touch operation in the storage unit 13. The coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit 15 detects a touch operation will be described later in the explanation of the touch operation detection unit 15. The capacitance detection unit 12 is an example of a capacitance detection unit that detects the capacitance generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode using a mutual capacitance detection method.

[0015] The storage unit 13 stores the capacitance value detected by the capacitance detection unit 12. The storage unit 13 also stores coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit 15 detects a touch operation. The storage unit 13 also stores a first determination value, a second determination value, and a detection frequency set by the user. The first determination value, the second determination value, and the detection frequency will be described later in the description of the touch panel control unit 14.

[0016] The touch panel control unit 14 includes a touch operation detection unit 15 and a noise detection unit 16. The touch panel control unit 14 also references the capacitance value detected by the capacitance detection unit 12 from the storage unit 13 and calculates the change in capacitance from its initial value. The initial value refers to a value acquired immediately after the touch input device 1 is started and initialized. That is, the touch panel control unit 14 acquires the initial capacitance value stored in the storage unit 13 from the capacitance detection unit 12 immediately after the touch input device 1 is started and initialized, and thereafter compares the acquired initial value with the capacitance value acquired each time to calculate the change in capacitance. The touch operation detection unit 15 uses the change in capacitance calculated by the touch panel control unit 14 to detect a touch operation, and the noise detection unit 16 uses the change in capacitance to detect noise. Furthermore, when coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit 15 detects a touch operation is stored in the storage unit 13, the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the touch information processing unit 17 that the coordinate data has been stored in the storage unit 13. Furthermore, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds a first judgment value, the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the touch information processing unit 17 and the notification unit 18 that the noise has exceeded the first judgment value. Furthermore, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 falls below the first judgment value, the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the touch information processing unit 17 and the notification unit 18 that the noise has fallen below the first judgment value. Furthermore, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds a second judgment value, which is a judgment value smaller than the first judgment value, the touch panel control unit 14 changes the detection frequency used by the capacitance detection unit 12 to detect capacitance. Hereinafter, changing the detection frequency used by the capacitance detection unit 12 to detect capacitance will be referred to as frequency hopping. When frequency hopping is performed at a detection frequency that avoids the noise frequency band, for example, the capacitance detection unit 12 inputs a signal to the transmission electrode at a detection frequency that avoids the noise frequency band. At the same time, the touch panel control unit 14 reacquires the capacitance immediately after frequency hopping as the initial value, thereby suppressing an increase in the reacquired capacitance from the initial value, and suppressing noise detected by the noise detection unit 16.The first determination value, the second determination value, and the detection frequency are set in advance by the user, and multiple detection frequencies can be set.Touch panel control unit 14 is an example of a touch panel control unit according to the present disclosure.

[0017] The touch operation detection unit 15 detects a decrease from the initial value of the capacitance calculated by the touch panel control unit 14 as a touch operation. That is, the touch operation detection unit 15 monitors the change from the initial value of the capacitance calculated by the touch panel control unit 14, and detects a decrease in the capacitance from the initial value as a touch operation when the capacitance decreases from the initial value. The touch operation detection unit 15 also stores coordinate data when the touch operation is detected in the storage unit 13. Here, the coordinate data when the touch operation is detected is coordinate data within the surface of the touch panel unit 11 when the touch operation detection unit 15 detects the touch operation. The touch operation detection unit 15 is an example of a touch operation detection unit that detects a decrease from the initial value of the capacitance detected by the capacitance detection unit as a touch operation.

[0018] The noise detection unit 16 detects an increase from the initial value of the capacitance calculated by the touch panel control unit 14 as noise, among changes from the initial value. That is, the noise detection unit 16 monitors changes from the initial value of the capacitance calculated by the touch panel control unit 14, and detects an increase in the capacitance from the initial value as noise. Here, noise in this embodiment includes, for example, electrical noise from the power supply environment, as well as water, oil, dust, etc. The noise detection unit 16 is an example of a noise detection unit that detects an increase from the initial value of the capacitance detected by the capacitance change detection unit as noise.

[0019] The touch information processing unit 17 performs processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit 15 detects a touch operation. More specifically, first, when the touch information processing unit 17 receives a notification from the touch panel control unit 14 that the coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit 15 detects a touch operation has been stored in the memory unit 13 (hereinafter referred to as a coordinate data storage notification), the touch information processing unit 17 reads the coordinate data. Next, the touch information processing unit 17 identifies a process associated with the read coordinate data and executes the process corresponding to the coordinate data. For example, assume that an "emergency stop" sign is displayed on the surface of the touch panel unit 11, which stops all external devices connected to the touch input device 1. In this case, when a user touches the "emergency stop" sign, the touch information processing unit 17 performs processing corresponding to the "emergency stop" that the user touched, i.e., a process to stop all external devices connected to the touch input device 1. Furthermore, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds a first determination value, the touch information processing unit 17 disables the process corresponding to the coordinate data. More specifically, when the touch information processing unit 17 receives a notification from the touch panel control unit 14 that the noise has exceeded the first determination value, the touch information processing unit 17 does not read the coordinate data or perform processing corresponding to the coordinate data, even if it receives a coordinate data storage notification from the touch panel control unit 14. Until it receives a notification from the touch panel control unit 14 that the noise has fallen below the first determination value, the touch information processing unit 17 maintains a state in which it does not read the coordinate data or perform processing corresponding to the coordinate data, even if it receives a coordinate data storage notification from the touch panel control unit 14 (hereinafter referred to as a touch operation disabled state). For example, even if the user touches the display indicating the above-mentioned "emergency stop" in the touch operation disabled state, the touch information processing unit 17 does not perform processing corresponding to the "emergency stop" touched by the user, i.e., processing to stop all external devices connected to the touch input device 1. Furthermore, if the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 falls below the first determination value after disabling the processing corresponding to the coordinate data, the touch information processing unit 17 resumes processing corresponding to the coordinate data at the time the touch operation detection unit 15 detected the touch operation.More specifically, when touch information processing section 17 receives a notification from touch panel control section 14 that the noise has fallen below the first determination value, it cancels the touch disabled state, and when it receives a coordinate data storage notification from touch panel control section 14, it returns to a state in which it reads the coordinate data and executes processing corresponding to the coordinate data. Touch information processing section 17 is an example of a touch information processing section according to the present disclosure.

[0020] When the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds the first judgment value, the notification unit 18 notifies the user of information corresponding to the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 (hereinafter referred to as information corresponding to the noise). More specifically, when the notification unit 18 receives a notification from the touch panel control unit 14 that the noise has exceeded the first judgment value, the notification unit 18 notifies the user of the information corresponding to the noise. Furthermore, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 falls below the first judgment value, the notification unit 18 cancels the notification to the user of the information corresponding to the noise. More specifically, when the notification unit 18 receives a notification from the touch panel control unit 14 that the noise has fallen below the first judgment value, the notification unit 18 cancels the notification to the user of the information corresponding to the noise. Here, the information corresponding to the noise includes at least that the noise has exceeded the first judgment value, but may also include, for example, a specific noise value, a response to be taken, and the like. Furthermore, the notification to the user may be performed in any manner as long as the user can recognize the information corresponding to the noise. For example, the information corresponding to the noise may be displayed on a display unit (not shown), or may be connected to an external device such as a personal computer and displayed on the external device using an engineering tool. Alternatively, for example, the housing of the touch input device 1 may be provided with a light-emitting unit such as an LED, and the light-emitting unit may flash for a certain period of time to notify the user of the information corresponding to the noise. Furthermore, the information corresponding to the noise may be notified to the user by generating a sound from an external device such as a sound generating unit (not shown) or a speaker connected to the touch input device 1. The notification of the information corresponding to the noise to the user may be canceled by a user operation, such as by providing a "Close" indicator on the surface of the touch panel unit 11 to perform a process of canceling the notification of the information corresponding to the noise to the user, and the user touching the "Close" indicator. The notification unit 18 is an example of a notification unit according to the present disclosure.

[0021] The communication unit 19 communicates with devices connected to the touch input device 1. For example, the touch input device 1 connects to an external device such as a computer, such as a personal computer, via the communication unit 18, and exchanges various types of data with the external device using an engineering tool. Also, for example, the touch input device 1 connects to an external device, such as a computer or a speaker, via the communication unit 18, and notifies the user of information corresponding to noise by the notification unit 18 described above.

[0022] The touch input device 1 may be connected to a control device for controlling industrial equipment used in production processes in a factory or the like. The industrial equipment is, for example, an industrial robot or a conveying device. The control device is, for example, a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). The control device is an example of an external device connected to the touch input device 1.

[0023] In this case, the control device controls the operation of the industrial equipment based on the touch operation of the touch input device 1 by the user. Noise is likely to occur in a space such as a factory where multiple industrial equipment is installed. As a result, erroneous detection of a touch operation is likely to occur. If erroneous detection of a touch operation occurs, the control device may malfunction, causing the industrial equipment to operate in an unexpected manner. This may result in damage to products or the industrial equipment, resulting in significant damage. The touch input device 1 according to this embodiment prevents malfunction when noise occurs, as will be described later. As a result, even when the touch input device 1 is connected to the control device of the industrial equipment, erroneous operation of the control device is prevented, preventing damage.

[0024] An example of the hardware configuration of the touch input device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The touch input device 1 includes a non-volatile memory 1001, a volatile memory 1002, a communication interface 1003, and a processor 1004, which are connected to each other via a bus 1000.

[0025] The nonvolatile memory 1001 includes, for example, a read only memory (ROM), and stores programs executed by the processor 1004.

[0026] The volatile memory 1002 includes, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). The volatile memory 1002 stores a program that the processor 1004 has loaded from the non-volatile memory 1001. The volatile memory 1002 also functions as a working memory when the processor 1004 executes the program.

[0027] The communication interface 1003 includes, for example, an I / O (Input / Output) interface, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port, and a serial port. The touch input device 1 communicates with external devices such as a computer via the communication interface 1003, exchanges data with various devices, and notifies the user via the notification unit 18 described above. The communication interface 1003 functions as the communication unit 19.

[0028] The processor 1004 includes, for example, a CPU and an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The processor 1004 stores a program from the non-volatile memory 1001 to the volatile memory 1002 and executes the program stored in the volatile memory 1002, thereby realizing each function and performing each operation. Each operation will be described later in the explanation of the operation of the touch input device 1.

[0029] Next, the operation of the touch input device 1 configured as above will be described. In the touch input device 1, the touch operation invalid state switching operation and touch operation reception processing, which will be described later, are performed in parallel. The touch operation invalid state switching operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. Here, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the touch operation invalid state switching operation of the touch input device 1. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a specific operation of "frequency hopping" (step S13) among the touch operation invalid state switching operations of the touch input device 1 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific operation of "touch operation invalidation" (step S15) among the touch operation invalid state switching operations of the touch input device 1 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a specific operation of "touch operation invalidation release" (step S17) among the touch operation invalid state switching operations of the touch input device 1 shown in FIG. 4.

[0030] 4, when the touch input device 1 is started and initialization is performed, the touch panel control unit 14 acquires the initial value of capacitance stored in the storage unit 13 from the capacitance detection unit 12 immediately after the initialization is performed (step S11). Thereafter, the touch panel control unit 14 first compares the capacitance value acquired each time with the acquired initial value to calculate a change in capacitance. Next, of the calculated changes in capacitance from the initial value, the touch operation detection unit 15 detects a decrease from the initial value as a touch operation, and the noise detection unit 16 detects an increase from the initial value as noise.

[0031] In step S11, the touch panel control unit 14 acquires the initial capacitance value stored in the memory unit 13 from the capacitance detection unit 12 immediately after initialization is performed, and then the noise detection unit 16 determines whether the noise has exceeded the second determination value (step S12).

[0032] If the noise detection unit 16 does not determine that the noise exceeds the second determination value (step S12: No), the noise detection unit 16 repeats the operation of step S12.

[0033] If the noise detection unit 16 determines that the noise exceeds the second determination value (step S12: Yes), the touch panel control unit 14 performs a frequency hopping operation (step S13). That is, if the result of step S12 is affirmative, the operations from step S131 to step S132 shown in Fig. 5 are performed. Hereinafter, a specific frequency hopping operation of the touch panel control unit 14 after the result of step S12 is affirmative will be described with reference to Fig. 5.

[0034] In frequency hopping, first, the touch panel control unit 14 changes the detection frequency when detecting a change in capacitance (step S131). Note that the detection frequency is referenced from the storage unit 13.

[0035] After the touch panel control unit 14 changes the detection frequency for detecting a change in capacitance in step S131, the touch panel control unit 14 reacquires the initial value of the capacitance (step S132). Note that the initial value in this case is different from the initial value acquired in step S11 and is the initial value of the capacitance stored in the storage unit 13 from the capacitance detection unit 12 immediately after the detection frequency for detecting a change in capacitance is changed in step S132. Thereafter, the capacitance detection unit 12 first detects the capacitance at the detection frequency changed in step S131. Next, the touch panel control unit 14 calculates the change in capacitance using the initial value reacquired in step S132. By changing the detection frequency and reacquiring the initial value in this way, in steps S14 and S16 to be performed subsequently, the noise detection unit 16 will determine noise in a detection environment different from that in step S12, which has already been performed.

[0036] Returning to FIG. 4, after the frequency hopping operation is completed in step S13, the noise detection unit 16 determines whether or not the noise has exceeded a first determination value (step S14).

[0037] If the noise detection unit 16 does not determine that the noise exceeds the first determination value (step S14: No), the noise detection unit 16 repeats the operation of step S14.

[0038] If the noise detection unit 16 determines that the noise exceeds the first determination value (step S14: Yes), the touch panel control unit 14 performs an operation to disable the touch operation (step S15). That is, if the result in step S14 is affirmative, the operations from step S151 to step S153 shown in Fig. 6 are performed. Hereinafter, a specific operation of the touch panel control unit 14 to disable the touch operation after the result in step S14 is affirmative will be described with reference to Fig. 6.

[0039] To disable the touch operation, first, the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the touch information processing unit 17 and the notification unit 18 that the noise has exceeded the first determination value (step S151).

[0040] After touch panel control unit 14 notifies touch information processing unit 17 and notification unit 18 that the noise has exceeded the first determination value in step S151, notification unit 18 notifies the user of first information (step S152). In this case, the first information is that the noise has exceeded the first determination value.

[0041] After the notification unit 18 notifies the user of the first information in step S152, the touch information processing unit 17 disables touch operations (step S153).

[0042] Returning to FIG. 4, after the operation of disabling the touch operation is completed in step S15, the noise detection unit 16 determines whether the noise has fallen below the first determination value (step S16).

[0043] If the noise detection unit 16 does not determine that the noise is below the first determination value (step S16: No), the noise detection unit 16 repeats the operation of step S16.

[0044] If the noise detection unit 16 determines that the noise has fallen below the first determination value (step S16: Yes), the touch panel control unit 14 performs an operation to cancel the invalidity of the touch operation (step S17). That is, if the result of step S16 is affirmative, the operations from step S171 to step S173 shown in Fig. 7 are performed. Hereinafter, a specific operation of the touch panel control unit 14 to cancel the invalidity of the touch operation after the result of step S16 is affirmative will be described with reference to Fig. 7.

[0045] To cancel the touch operation invalidation, first, touch panel control unit 14 notifies touch information processing unit 17 and notification unit 18 that the noise has fallen below the first determination value (step S171).

[0046] After touch panel control unit 14 notifies touch information processing unit 17 and notification unit 18 that the noise has fallen below the first determination value in step S171, notification unit 18 stops notifying the user of the first information (step S172).

[0047] After the notification unit 18 stops notifying the user of the first information in step S172, the touch information processing unit 17 cancels the touch operation disabled state (step S173).

[0048] 4, after the operation of canceling the touch operation disable state is completed in step S17, the touch input device 1 completes the operation of switching to the touch operation disabled state. After the operation of switching to the touch operation disabled state is completed, if the touch input device 1 is restarted and initialization is performed, it resumes operation from step S11, and if operation is to be continued without restarting, it resumes operation from step S12.

[0049] If the user has set multiple detection frequencies to be used during frequency hopping in advance, the touch information processing unit 17 invalidates the processing corresponding to the coordinate data if the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds the first determination value even after changing to one of the multiple set detection frequencies. That is, if the user has set multiple detection frequencies in advance, the touch information processing unit 17 first returns to step S13 without proceeding to step S15 if there is an unused detection frequency among the multiple set detection frequencies after the determination in step S14 is affirmative. Next, the touch information processing unit 17 again changes the detection frequency to an unused detection frequency in step S131 and then performs steps S132 and S14. The touch information processing unit 17 repeats this operation until all of the multiple set detection frequencies have been used.

[0050] Next, the operation of the touch operation reception process of the touch input device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Here, Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the touch operation reception process of the touch input device 1.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 8, the touch operation detection unit 15 determines whether or not a touch operation has been detected (step S21).

[0052] If the touch operation detection unit 15 determines that a touch operation has not been detected (step S21: No), the touch operation detection unit 15 repeats the operation of step S21.

[0053] If the touch operation detection unit 15 determines that a touch operation has been detected (step S21: Yes), the capacitance detection unit 12 stores the coordinate data (hereinafter simply referred to as coordinate data) at the time when the touch operation detection unit 15 detected the touch operation in the memory unit 13 (step S22).

[0054] After the capacitance detection unit 12 stores the coordinate data in the storage unit 13 in step S22, the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the touch information processing unit 17 that the coordinate data has been stored (step S23).

[0055] After the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the touch information processing unit 17 that the coordinate data has been stored in step S23, the touch information processing unit 17 determines whether or not the touch operation is invalid (step S24).

[0056] If the touch information processing section 17 does not determine that the touch operation is invalid (step S24: No), the touch information processing section 17 reads out the coordinate data (step S25).

[0057] After the touch information processing unit 17 reads out the coordinate data in step S25, the touch information processing unit 17 performs processing corresponding to the read out coordinate data (step S26).

[0058] After the touch information processing section 17 has performed the processing corresponding to the read coordinate data in step S26, the touch information processing section 17 ends the operation of the touch input device 1 for the touch operation reception processing.

[0059] If the touch information processing unit 17 determines that the touch operation is disabled (step S24: Yes), the touch information processing unit 17 terminates the operation of the touch operation reception process of the touch input device 1 because the state is such that reading of coordinate data and processing corresponding to the coordinate data are not performed.

[0060] As described above, in the touch input device 1 according to the present embodiment, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds the first determination value, the touch information processing unit 17 disables the processing corresponding to the coordinate data. This prevents the noise generated when noise occurs from being mistakenly detected as a touch operation, and provides the effect of preventing malfunctions when noise occurs.

[0061] In the present embodiment, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds the first determination value, the touch information processing unit 17 disables the processing corresponding to the coordinate data. However, it is also possible to disable only the processing related to the operation of an external device connected to the touch input device 1, without disabling the other processing among the processing corresponding to the coordinate data. That is, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds the first determination value, the touch information processing unit 17 may disable at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data. For example, suppose that, in addition to the aforementioned display indicating "emergency stop," the surface of the touch panel unit 11 includes a "display setting" that performs processing for setting the screen display of the touch input device 1 and a "device value display" that performs processing for displaying device values ​​of external devices connected to the touch input device 1. Since "emergency stop" is a display that performs processing related to the operation of external devices connected to the touch input device 1, when the user touches the display indicating "emergency stop" in the touch operation disabled state, the touch information processing unit 17 does not perform processing corresponding to the "emergency stop" touched by the user, i.e., processing for stopping all external devices connected to the touch input device 1. On the other hand, "Display Settings" is a display that performs processing related to the touch input device 1, but is not a display that performs processing related to the operation of an external device connected to the touch input device 1. Therefore, even if the user touches a display indicating "Display Settings" in a state where touch operation is disabled, the touch information processing unit 17 does not disable processing corresponding to the "Display Settings" that the user touched, i.e., performs processing for screen settings of the touch input device 1. Similarly, "Device Value Display" is a display that performs processing related to an external device connected to the touch input device 1, but is a display that performs processing related to the display of device values, but is not a display that performs processing related to operation. Therefore, even if the user touches a display indicating "Device Value Display" in a state where touch operation is disabled, the touch information processing unit 17 does not disable processing corresponding to the "Device Value Display" that the user touched, i.e., performs processing to display the device values ​​of an external device connected to the touch input device 1.In this way, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds the first judgment value, the touch information processing unit 17 disables at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data, thereby achieving the effect of being able to disable only the processing that needs to be disabled, while allowing the processing that does not need to be disabled to continue.

[0062] Furthermore, in the touch input device 1 according to this embodiment, first, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds a second judgment value, which is a judgment value smaller than the first judgment value, the touch panel control unit 14 changes the detection frequency used by the capacitance detection unit 12 to detect capacitance. Next, when the noise detected after the noise detection unit 16 changes the detection frequency exceeds the first judgment value, the touch information processing unit 17 invalidates the processing corresponding to the coordinate data. Therefore, even in an environment where noise is present, the detected noise can be suppressed by changing the detection frequency to one that avoids the frequency band of the noise. This eliminates the need to immediately invalidate the touch operation, and provides the effect of allowing detection of the touch operation to continue.

[0063] In the present embodiment, the second judgment value is a judgment value smaller than the first judgment value, but the second judgment value may be the same as the first judgment value. That is, the second judgment value may be a judgment value equal to or smaller than the first judgment value. However, even when the second judgment value is the same as the first judgment value, the noise detection unit 16 determines whether or not the noise has exceeded the first judgment value after determining whether or not the noise has exceeded the second judgment value, just as in the case when the second judgment value is a judgment value smaller than the first judgment value.

[0064] Here, as described above, if the user has set multiple detection frequencies in advance, even after changing to any of the multiple set detection frequencies, if the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds the first determination value, the touch information processing unit 17 invalidates the processing corresponding to the coordinate data. This increases the opportunities for noise suppression by changing the detection frequency, and has the effect of further reducing the opportunities for immediately invalidating a touch operation.

[0065] Furthermore, in the touch input device 1 according to the present embodiment, if the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 falls below the first determination value after the processing corresponding to the coordinate data has been disabled, the touch information processing unit 17 resumes the processing corresponding to the coordinate data. Therefore, when the noise environment becomes such that it has almost no effect on the detection of touch operations, the disabling of touch operations can be cancelled, which has the effect of eliminating the need to unnecessarily disable touch operations.

[0066] Furthermore, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds the first judgment value, the notification unit 18 notifies the user of information corresponding to the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16. This makes it possible to notify the user that the environment is at a level where noise can affect touch operations. This has the effect of prompting the user to reconsider the installation environment of devices including the touch input device, and making the user aware of the possibility of malfunction of the touch input device.

[0067] Furthermore, if the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 falls below the first determination value after the touch information processing unit 17 disables the processing corresponding to the coordinate data, the notification unit 18 stops notifying the user of the information corresponding to the noise. Therefore, when the noise environment becomes so noisy that it has little effect on the detection of touch operations, there is no need to notify the user that the environment is at a level where noise will affect touch operations, which has the effect of eliminating the need to notify the user unnecessarily. In addition, by not notifying the user, there is also the effect of allowing the user to recognize that the environment is no longer at a level where noise will affect touch operations.

[0068] When frequency hopping is performed, the determination of whether to invalidate a touch operation may be made based on whether the distribution of capacitance changes within the surface of touch panel unit 11 is uniform. That is, when frequency hopping is performed, capacitance detection unit 12 first detects capacitance across the entire surface of touch panel unit 11. Next, touch panel control unit 14 calculates capacitance changes across the entire surface based on the in-plane distribution of capacitance acquired from capacitance detection unit 12. Next, noise detection unit 16 refers to the in-plane distribution of capacitance changes calculated by touch panel control unit 14 and determines whether to invalidate a touch operation based on whether the in-plane distribution of capacitance changes is uniform. In this way, noise is determined within the surface, which has the effect of more accurately determining whether the noise is at a level that will affect touch operations.

[0069] Embodiment 2

[0070] The touch input device according to embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 in that even when the noise detected by noise detection unit 16 exceeds the second judgment value, notification unit 18 notifies the user of information corresponding to the noise. The touch input device according to embodiment 2 also differs from embodiment 1 in that even when the noise detected by noise detection unit 16 falls below the second judgment value, notification unit 18 stops notifying the user of the information corresponding to the noise. The rest is the same as embodiment 1. Hereinafter, differences from embodiment 1 will be described, but descriptions of similarities to embodiment 1 will be omitted.

[0071] The touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment differs from the touch input device 1 according to the first embodiment only in part of the operation of switching the touch operation invalid state of the touch input device 1 and part of the operation of frequency hopping of the touch input device 1. Therefore, the specific operation of switching the touch operation invalid state of the touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Also, the specific operation of frequency hopping of the touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. The rest of the operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore the description will be omitted.

[0072] In the touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds the second determination value, the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the notification unit 18 that the noise has exceeded the second determination value. Also, in the touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 falls below the second determination value, the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the notification unit 18 that the noise has fallen below the second determination value.

[0073] In the touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment, the notification unit 18 notifies the user of information corresponding to noise and cancels the notification. The information corresponding to noise is defined as "the noise has exceeded a first judgment value" as first information and "the noise has exceeded a second judgment value" as second information. The notification unit 18 notifies the user of at least one of the first information and the second information corresponding to noise detected by the noise detection unit 16. More specifically, first, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 18 exceeds the second judgment value, the notification unit 18 notifies the user of the second information. That is, when the notification unit 18 receives a notification from the touch panel control unit 14 that the noise has exceeded the second judgment value, the notification unit 18 notifies the user of the second information. Next, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 exceeds the first judgment value after the notification unit 18 notifies the user of the second information, the notification unit 18 notifies the user of the first information. That is, when the notification unit 18 receives a notification from the touch panel control unit 14 that the noise has exceeded the first determination value after the notification unit 18 has notified the user of the second information, the notification unit 18 notifies the user of the first information. Next, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 falls below the first determination value after the touch information processing unit 17 has disabled the processing corresponding to the coordinate data, the notification unit 18 cancels the notification of the first information to the user. That is, when the notification unit 18 receives a notification from the touch panel control unit 14 that the noise has fallen below the first determination value after the touch information processing unit 17 has disabled the processing corresponding to the coordinate data, the notification unit 18 cancels the notification of the first information to the user. Next, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 falls below the second determination value after the notification unit 18 has stopped the notification of the first information to the user, the notification unit 18 cancels the notification of the second information to the user. That is, if the notification unit 18 receives a notification from the touch panel control unit 14 that the noise has fallen below the second judgment value after the notification unit 18 has stopped notifying the user of the first information, the notification unit 18 stops notifying the user of the second information.

[0074] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of switching the touch operation invalid state of the touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment. This differs from FIG. 4, which is a flowchart showing the operation of switching the touch operation invalid state of the touch input device 1 according to the first embodiment, in that steps S17', S17'', and S17''' are added. Also, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a specific operation of "frequency hopping" (step S13) among the operation of switching the touch invalid state of the touch input device 1 shown in FIG. 9. This differs from FIG. 5, which is a flowchart showing the operation of "frequency hopping" of the touch input device 1 according to the first embodiment, in that steps S131' and S131'' are added. The other steps are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0075] In the touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment, in frequency hopping, first, the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the notification unit 18 that the noise has exceeded the second judgment value (step S131').

[0076] After the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the notification unit 18 that the noise has exceeded the second determination value in step S131′, the notification unit 18 notifies the user of the second information (step S131″).

[0077] After the notifying unit 18 notifies the user of the second information in step S131'', the process proceeds to step S131, and the subsequent frequency hopping operation is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0078] Furthermore, in the touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment, after the operation of canceling the invalidity of the touch operation is completed in step S17, the noise detection section 16 determines whether or not the noise has fallen below the second determination value (step S17').

[0079] If the noise detection section 16 does not determine that the noise is below the second determination value (step S17': No), the touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment ends the operation of switching to the touch operation invalid state.

[0080] If the noise detection unit 16 determines that the noise has fallen below the second determination value (step S17': Yes), the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the notification unit 18 that the noise has fallen below the second determination value (step S17'').

[0081] After the touch panel control unit 14 notifies the notification unit 18 that the noise has fallen below the second determination value in step S17'', the notification unit 18 stops notifying the user of the second information (step S17'').

[0082] After the notification unit 18 stops notifying the user of the second information in step S17''', the touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment ends the operation of switching to the touch operation disabled state.

[0083] The touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the notification unit 18 notifies the user of the second information and cancels the notification. Therefore, the touch input device 1 according to the second embodiment also achieves all of the effects achieved by the touch input device 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0084] Furthermore, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit 18 exceeds the second determination value, the notification unit 18 notifies the user of the second information. This has the effect of notifying the user that the noise environment requires caution before the noise level reaches a level that affects touch operations, thereby urging the user to be careful about noise.

[0085] Furthermore, if the noise detected by the noise detection unit 16 falls below the first determination value after the touch information processing unit 17 disables the processing corresponding to the coordinate data, the notification unit 18 cancels the notification of the second information to the user. Therefore, when the noise environment is no longer at a level that the user does not need to pay attention to, there is no need to notify the user that the noise environment requires the user's attention, which has the effect of eliminating the need to notify the user unnecessarily. In addition, by no longer notifying the user, there is also the effect of allowing the user to recognize that the noise environment is no longer at a level that requires attention.

[0086] Embodiment 3 The touch input device according to embodiment 3 differs from embodiment 1 in that it further includes a parameter change unit 31 that changes a parameter related to any one of the capacitance detection unit 12, the touch operation detection unit 15, and the noise detection unit 16 through a user operation. The rest is the same as embodiment 1. Hereinafter, differences from embodiment 1 will be described, but descriptions of similarities with embodiment 1 will be omitted.

[0087] The touch input device 1 according to the third embodiment differs from the touch input device 1 according to the first embodiment only in part of the functional configuration of the touch input device 1. Therefore, an example of the functional configuration of the touch input device 1 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 11, the touch input device 1 according to the third embodiment includes a touch panel unit 11, a touch information processing unit 17, a notification unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a parameter change unit 31.

[0089] In the touch input device 1 according to the third embodiment, the parameter change unit 31 changes a parameter related to any one of the capacitance detection unit 12, the touch operation detection unit 15, and the noise detection unit 16 in response to a user operation. The parameter related to the capacitance detection unit 12 is, for example, a "detection frequency" related to the capacitance detection unit 12 detecting capacitance. The parameter related to the noise detection unit 16 detecting noise is, for example, a threshold value such as a "first judgment value" or a "second judgment value" used by the noise detection unit 16 to detect noise. The parameter related to the touch operation detection unit 15 is, for example, a "detection sensitivity" related to the touch operation detection unit 15 detecting a touch operation. The "detection sensitivity" refers to the sensitivity of the touch operation detection unit 15 when detecting a touch operation and the sensitivity of the noise detection unit 16 when detecting noise. In other words, the "detection sensitivity" is also a parameter related to the noise detection unit 16 detecting noise. For example, if the "detection sensitivity" is set to "high sensitivity," touch operations are more likely to be detected, but noise is also more likely to be detected, leading to noise being mistaken for a touch operation. Conversely, for example, if the "detection sensitivity" is set to "low sensitivity," noise detection becomes difficult, reducing the likelihood of falsely detecting noise as a touch operation, while also reducing the likelihood of touch operations being detected. As described above, the "detection sensitivity" may be set to "standard," "high sensitivity," or "low sensitivity." Alternatively, a threshold value may be set and the "detection sensitivity" may be adjusted based on the threshold value. Note that the parameters are not limited to those described above. The parameter change unit 31 can change any parameter related to the capacitance detection unit 12, the touch operation detection unit 15, or the noise detection unit 16 through user operation. Examples of parameters include those related to the number of touch points or the number of detections, or those related to thresholds other than the "first judgment value" or the "second judgment value." The parameters may be changed directly from the touch input device 1 or may be changed using an engineering tool connected to an external device such as a personal computer. The parameter change unit 31 is an example of a parameter change unit according to the present disclosure.

[0090] In the touch input device 1 according to the third embodiment, the capacitance detection unit 12 detects capacitance using the parameters changed by the parameter change unit 31. For example, when the parameter of "detection frequency" is changed by the parameter change unit 31, the capacitance detection unit 12 detects capacitance using the changed detection frequency.

[0091] In the touch input device 1 according to the third embodiment, the touch operation detection unit 15 detects a touch operation using the parameters changed by the parameter change unit 31. For example, when the parameter of "detection sensitivity" is changed by the parameter change unit 31, the touch operation detection unit 15 detects a touch operation using the changed detection sensitivity.

[0092] In the touch input device 1 according to the third embodiment, the noise detection unit 16 detects noise using the parameters changed by the parameter change unit 31. For example, when the parameter of the "first determination value" is changed by the parameter change unit 31, the noise detection unit 16 detects noise using the changed first determination value.

[0093] The touch input device 1 according to the third embodiment is no different from the first embodiment except that it further includes a parameter change unit 31 that changes, by user operation, a parameter related to any one of the capacitance detection unit 12, the touch operation detection unit 15, and the noise detection unit 16. Therefore, the touch input device 1 according to the third embodiment also achieves all of the effects achieved by the touch input device 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0094] Furthermore, the parameter change unit 31 can change parameters related to any of the capacitance detection unit 12, the touch operation detection unit 15, and the noise detection unit 16 through a user operation. This allows the user to change the parameters according to the noise environment, thereby providing the effect of being able to respond to various noise environments. Note that, in addition to being changed by a user operation as described above, the parameter change unit 31 may also change the parameters automatically when the noise exceeds one of the judgment values. For example, when the noise exceeds a first judgment value, the parameter change unit 31 may repeatedly change, for example, the detection frequency until the detected noise falls below the first judgment value. In this way, the parameter change unit 31 automatically changes the parameters according to the noise situation, thereby providing the effect of saving the user the trouble of changing the parameters.

[0095] Furthermore, the parameters include detection sensitivity, which is the sensitivity when the touch operation detection unit 15 detects a touch operation and when the noise detection unit 16 detects noise. Therefore, even in a noisy environment that is difficult to address simply by adjusting the detection frequency or the first judgment value, adjusting the detection sensitivity increases the likelihood of being able to address the problem. For example, consider a noisy environment where the noise exceeds the first judgment value, making the touch operation invalid. Even in such a case, by simultaneously lowering the detection sensitivity within the range in which the touch operation is detected, it is possible to minimize the impact of the detected noise while maintaining detection of the touch operation. As a result, it is more likely that the touch operation does not need to be invalidated, even in such a noisy environment.

[0096] Furthermore, similar to the first embodiment, when notification unit 18 receives notification from touch panel control unit 14 that the noise has exceeded the first judgment value, it notifies the user of information corresponding to the noise, but the information corresponding to the noise may include information urging the user to change a parameter. Furthermore, as in the second embodiment, even when notification unit 18 receives notification from touch panel control unit 14 that the noise has exceeded the second judgment value, the information corresponding to the noise may include information urging the user to change a parameter. This provides the effect of allowing the user to know the timing when to change a parameter.

[0097] Embodiment 4 The touch input device according to embodiment 4 differs from embodiment 1 in that the touch panel control unit 14 is physically separated from the touch panel unit 11'. Other aspects are the same as embodiment 1. Hereinafter, differences from embodiment 1 will be explained, but explanations of similarities with embodiment 1 will be omitted.

[0098] The touch input device 1 according to the fourth embodiment differs from the touch input device 1 according to the first embodiment only in part of the functional configuration of the touch input device 1. Therefore, an example of the functional configuration of the touch input device 1 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0099] 12, the touch input device 1 according to the fourth embodiment includes a touch panel unit 11′, a touch panel control unit 14, a touch information processing unit 17, a notification unit 18, and a communication unit 19. This means that the touch panel control unit 14 is physically separated from the touch panel unit 11. In other words, the touch input device 1 according to the fourth embodiment includes the touch panel control unit 14 provided in the touch panel unit 11 of the touch input device 1 according to the first embodiment, separate from the touch panel unit 11′.

[0100] In the touch input device 1 according to the fourth embodiment, the touch panel section 11' includes a capacitance detection section 12, a storage section 13, and a plurality of transmission electrodes and a plurality of reception electrodes (not shown).

[0101] In the touch input device 1 according to the fourth embodiment, there is no change from the first embodiment except that the touch panel control unit 14 is physically separated from the touch panel unit 11'. Therefore, the touch input device 1 according to the fourth embodiment also achieves all of the effects achieved by the touch input device 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0102] Furthermore, the touch panel control unit 14 is physically separated from the touch panel unit 11′. That is, in the touch input device 1 according to the first embodiment, the touch panel control unit 14 is built into the touch panel unit 11, but in the touch input device 1 according to the fourth embodiment, the touch panel control unit 14 is provided separately from the touch panel unit 11′. In this way, providing the touch panel control unit 14 separately from the touch panel unit 11′ is convenient for customizing the touch input device 1. For example, consider a case where the touch panel unit 11 according to any one of the first to third embodiments is procured from an external manufacturer and the touch panel unit 11 is incorporated into the touch input device 1. For example, if the touch panel control unit 14 is originally built into the touch panel unit 11, the manufacturer that purchases the touch panel unit 11 and manufactures the touch input device 1 may not be able to freely customize the program executed by the touch panel control unit 14 if the touch panel control unit 14 originally built into the touch panel unit 11 is a black box. In contrast, in the case of the touch input device 1 according to the fourth embodiment, the touch panel unit 11' does not incorporate the touch panel control unit 14, but the touch panel control unit 14 is provided externally to the touch panel unit 11'. Therefore, even if the touch panel unit 11' is incorporated into the touch input device 1, the control of the touch panel unit 11' is performed by the externally provided touch panel control unit 14, and therefore the manufacturer of the device can freely customize the program executed by the touch panel control unit 14 without depending on the touch panel unit 11'. Therefore, instead of manufacturing the touch panel unit 11' in-house, the manufacturer can procure the touch panel unit 11' from an external manufacturer and incorporate it into the touch input device 1, which has the effect of expanding the range of customization of the touch input device 1.

[0103] The present disclosure allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of equivalent disclosures are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 1 touch input device, 11, 11' touch panel unit, 12 electrostatic capacitance detection unit, 13 storage unit, 14 touch panel control unit, 15 touch operation detection unit, 16 noise detection unit, 17 touch information processing unit, 18 notification unit, 19 communication unit, 31 parameter change unit, 1000 bus, 1001 non-volatile memory, 1002 volatile memory, 1003 communication interface, 1004 processor

Claims

1. a plurality of transmitting electrodes; a plurality of receiving electrodes; a capacitance detection unit that detects capacitance generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode by a mutual capacitance detection method; a touch panel control unit including a touch operation detection unit that detects a decrease in the capacitance detected by the capacitance detection unit from an initial value as a touch operation, and a noise detection unit that detects noise; a touch information processing unit that performs processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit detects a touch operation; Equipped with the touch panel control unit changes a detection frequency when the capacitance detection unit detects the capacitance when the noise detected by the noise detection unit exceeds a second determination value that is a determination value equal to or less than a first determination value; The touch input device is characterized in that the touch information processing unit disables at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise detected after the noise detection unit changes the detection frequency exceeds the first judgment value.

2. A plurality of detection frequencies are set in advance, 2. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch information processing unit disables at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise detected by the noise detection unit exceeds the first judgment value even after changing to any of the plurality of set detection frequencies.

3. 3. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch information processing unit resumes the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise detected by the noise detection unit falls below the first determination value after disabling at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data.

4. 3. The touch input device according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit exceeds the first determination value, notifies a user of information corresponding to the noise detected by the noise detection unit.

5. a notification unit that notifies a user of first information and second information corresponding to the noise detected by the noise detection unit, 3. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein when the noise detected by the noise detection unit exceeds the second determination value, the notification unit notifies the user of the second information, and when the noise detected by the noise detection unit exceeds the first determination value after the notification unit notifies the user of the second information, the notification unit notifies the user of the first information.

6. 5. The touch input device according to claim 4, wherein, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit falls below the first determination value after the touch information processing unit disables at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data, the notification unit cancels notification to the user of the information corresponding to the noise.

7. 6. The touch input device according to claim 5, wherein if the noise detected by the noise detection unit falls below the first determination value after the touch information processing unit disables at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data, the notification unit cancels the notification of the first information to the user, and if the noise detected by the noise detection unit falls below the second determination value after the notification unit cancels the notification of the first information to the user.

8. a parameter change unit that changes a parameter related to at least one of the capacitance detection unit, the touch operation detection unit, and the noise detection unit in response to a user operation; the capacitance detection unit detects the capacitance using the parameters changed by the parameter change unit; the touch operation detection unit detects the touch operation using the parameter changed by the parameter change unit; 3. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the noise detection unit detects the noise using the parameters changed by the parameter change unit.

9. The touch input device according to claim 8 , wherein the parameters further include detection sensitivity, which is sensitivity when the touch operation detection unit detects the touch operation and when the noise detection unit detects the noise.

10. 3. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel control unit is physically separated from a touch panel unit including the transmitting electrodes, the receiving electrodes, and the capacitance detection unit.

11. a first step of detecting a decrease from an initial value of capacitance occurring between a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode as a touch operation; a second step of detecting noise; a third step of performing processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation is detected; a fourth step of changing a detection frequency when detecting the capacitance when the noise exceeds a second determination value that is a determination value equal to or less than the first determination value; a fifth step of invalidating at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise detected after changing the detection frequency exceeds the first determination value; 1. A control method for a touch input device, comprising:

12. On the computer, a first step of detecting a decrease from an initial value of capacitance occurring between a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode as a touch operation; a second step of detecting noise; a third step of performing processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation is detected; a fourth step of changing a detection frequency when detecting the capacitance when the noise exceeds a second determination value that is a determination value equal to or less than the first determination value; a fifth step of invalidating at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise detected after changing the detection frequency exceeds the first determination value; A program for a touch input device, characterized by causing the program to execute the following:

13. a plurality of transmitting electrodes; a plurality of receiving electrodes; a capacitance detection unit that detects capacitance generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode by a mutual capacitance detection method; a touch panel control unit including a touch operation detection unit that detects a decrease in the capacitance detected by the capacitance detection unit from an initial value as a touch operation, and a noise detection unit that detects noise; a touch information processing unit that performs processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit detects a touch operation; Equipped with The touch information processing unit disables at least a portion of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise detected by the noise detection unit exceeds a first determination value, and resumes the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise detected by the noise detection unit falls below the first determination value after disabling at least a portion of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data.

14. a first step of detecting a decrease from an initial value of capacitance occurring between a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode as a touch operation; a second step of detecting noise; a third step of performing processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation is detected; a fourth step of invalidating at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise exceeds a first determination value; a fifth step of resuming the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise falls below the first determination value after at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data is invalidated; 1. A control method for a touch input device, comprising:

15. On the computer, a first step of detecting a decrease from an initial value of capacitance occurring between a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode as a touch operation; a second step of detecting noise; a third step of performing processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation is detected; a fourth step of invalidating at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise exceeds a first determination value; a fifth step of resuming the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise falls below the first determination value after at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data is invalidated; A program for a touch input device, characterized by causing the program to execute the following:

16. a plurality of transmitting electrodes; a plurality of receiving electrodes; a capacitance detection unit that detects capacitance generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode by a mutual capacitance detection method; a touch panel control unit including a touch operation detection unit that detects a decrease in the capacitance detected by the capacitance detection unit from an initial value as a touch operation, and a noise detection unit that detects noise; a touch information processing unit that performs processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit detects a touch operation; a notification unit that notifies a user of information corresponding to the noise detected by the noise detection unit when the noise detected by the noise detection unit exceeds a first determination value; Equipped with The touch input device is characterized in that, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit exceeds the first determination value, the touch information processing unit disables at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data.

17. a first step of detecting a decrease from an initial value of capacitance occurring between a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode as a touch operation; a second step of detecting noise; a third step of performing processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation is detected; a fourth step of invalidating at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise exceeds a first determination value; a fifth step of notifying a user of information corresponding to the noise when the noise exceeds a first determination value; 1. A control method for a touch input device, comprising:

18. On the computer, a first step of detecting a decrease from an initial value of capacitance occurring between a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode as a touch operation; a second step of detecting noise; a third step of performing processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation is detected; a fourth step of invalidating at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise exceeds a first determination value; a fifth step of notifying a user of information corresponding to the noise when the noise exceeds a first determination value; A program for a touch input device, characterized by causing the program to execute the following:

19. a plurality of transmitting electrodes; a plurality of receiving electrodes; a capacitance detection unit that detects capacitance generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode by a mutual capacitance detection method; a touch panel control unit including a touch operation detection unit that detects a decrease in the capacitance detected by the capacitance detection unit from an initial value as a touch operation, and a noise detection unit that detects noise; a touch information processing unit that performs processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit detects a touch operation; a parameter change unit that changes a parameter related to at least one of the capacitance detection unit, the touch operation detection unit, and the noise detection unit in response to a user operation; Equipped with the touch information processing unit, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit exceeds a first determination value, invalidates at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data; the capacitance detection unit detects the capacitance using the parameters changed by the parameter change unit; the touch operation detection unit detects the touch operation using the parameter changed by the parameter change unit; The touch input device, wherein the noise detection unit detects the noise using the parameters changed by the parameter change unit.

20. a first step of detecting capacitance occurring between a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode by a mutual capacitance detection method; a second step of detecting a decrease from an initial value of capacitance occurring between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode as a touch operation; a third step of detecting noise; a fourth step of performing processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation is detected; a fifth step of invalidating at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise exceeds a first determination value; a sixth step of changing a parameter related to at least one of the first step, the second step, and the third step by a user operation; 1. A control method for a touch input device, comprising:

21. On the computer, a first step of detecting capacitance occurring between a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode by a mutual capacitance detection method; a second step of detecting a decrease from an initial value of capacitance occurring between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode as a touch operation; a third step of detecting noise; a fourth step of performing processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation is detected; a fifth step of invalidating at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data when the noise exceeds a first determination value; a sixth step of changing a parameter related to at least one of the first step, the second step, and the third step by a user operation; A program for a touch input device, characterized by causing the program to execute the following:

22. a plurality of transmitting electrodes; a plurality of receiving electrodes; a capacitance detection unit that detects capacitance generated between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode by a mutual capacitance detection method; a touch panel control unit including a touch operation detection unit that detects a decrease in the capacitance detected by the capacitance detection unit from an initial value as a touch operation, and a noise detection unit that detects noise; a touch information processing unit that performs processing corresponding to coordinate data when the touch operation detection unit detects a touch operation; Equipped with the touch information processing unit, when the noise detected by the noise detection unit exceeds a first determination value, invalidates at least a part of the processing corresponding to the coordinate data; The touch input device, wherein the touch panel control unit is physically separated from a touch panel unit including the transmitting electrodes, the receiving electrodes, and the capacitance detection unit.

Images