Panel device and operation panel
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-13
Smart Images
Figure JP2026003158_13082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Panel device and operation panel
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a panel device that detects contact operations on the surface by a human body and an operation panel.
[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a well-known input device including a pressure-sensitive portion that senses the pressure of a detection surface being pressed by an operating body, two detection portions that detect the proximity or contact of the operating body with respect to the detection surface, and a determination portion that determines an operation state based on the outputs of the pressure-sensitive portion and the detection portions. The determination portion detects operation states such as proximity, contact, and pressing on the detection surface from combinations of detection results regarding changes in the capacitance of the pressure-sensitive portion and the two detection portions.
[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-18854
[0004] By the way, the detection portion has a fixed electrode that outputs an electrical signal including a change in capacitance between the detection portion and the operating body, and the pressure-sensitive portion has a movable electrode that is displaceable relative to the fixed electrode by the pressing of the operating body. The fixed electrode has an electrostatic electrode portion disposed adjacent to the movable electrode and an opposing electrode portion that is electrically connected to the electrostatic electrode portion and faces the movable electrode. Thus, although Patent Document 1 can detect operation states of proximity, contact, and pressing, the number of components is relatively large. Therefore, the device configuration becomes complicated, which ultimately leads to an increase in cost.
[0005] The panel device that solves the above problems includes a flexible surface layer for being operated by a contact operation including at least a touch operation and a pressing operation using a human body, an elastic member disposed inside the surface layer, a detection portion that detects a contact operation on the surface layer, a conductive member that changes the output of the detection portion according to the distance from the detection portion, and a determination portion that determines a contact operation on the surface layer based on the detection value of the detection portion. The determination portion uses a first threshold value capable of detecting a change in the detection value based only on a touch operation on the surface layer without changing the distance between the detection portion and the conductive member to determine a touch operation on the surface layer, and uses a second threshold value capable of detecting a change in the detection value based on a change in the distance between the detection portion and the conductive member due to a pressing operation on the surface layer to determine a pressing operation on the surface layer.
[0006] An operation panel that solves the above problem comprises a flexible surface layer for operation by contact operations including at least touch and pressing operations using the human body, an elastic member disposed inside the surface layer, a detection unit for detecting contact operations to the surface layer, and a conductive member that changes the output of the detection unit according to the distance to the detection unit. The detected value of the detection unit is output to a determination unit for determining contact operations to the surface layer. The determination unit determines touch operations to the surface layer using a first threshold that can detect changes in the detected value based solely on touch operations to the surface layer without changing the distance between the detection unit and the conductive member, and determines pressing operations to the surface layer using a second threshold that can detect changes in the detected value based on changes in the distance between the detection unit and the conductive member due to pressing operations to the surface layer.
[0007] This disclosure enables the detection of touch and press operations with a simple configuration.
[0008] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a panel device according to one embodiment. This is a configuration diagram of the panel device. (a) is a diagram showing the state when the operation panel is pressed, and (b) is a diagram showing the state of the operation panel after the pressing operation. This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a capacitive touch sensor. This is a waveform diagram showing the change in the detected value of the detection unit in response to the amount of operation on the operation panel. (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the capacitance generated by the human body during touch operation, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the capacitance generated by the human body and conductive material during pressing operation.
[0009] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. (Overview of Panel Device 1) As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 2 is equipped with a panel device 1 for operating equipment provided in the vehicle 2. The panel device 1 has an operation panel 3 as its interface. Thus, the operation panel 3 is operated by a user's physical contact. The operation panel 3 is located, for example, on the center console 4 inside the vehicle. Preferably, the operation panel 3 is an assembly that can be handled independently.
[0010] The control panel 1 has a plurality of operating units 6 on the surface layer 5 of the control panel 3. The plurality of operating units 6 are assigned according to their respective operating functions. The operating functions may be assigned, for example, to different devices, or to detailed functions within the same device. A display body 7 is provided on the surface of the control panel 3, i.e., the surface layer 5, for each operating unit 6. Examples of devices that can be operated by the plurality of operating units 6 include air conditioners, audio devices, and display devices.
[0011] The display element 7 is formed on the surface of the surface layer 5, for example, by printing. The display element 7 has a design that allows for intuitive recognition of the operating functions assigned to the operating unit 6. Examples of the display element 7 include symbols, marks, numbers, letters, characters, and combinations of two or more of these. The display element 7 is not limited to printed material; for example, it may be a projection that is displayed on the surface layer 5 by light from a light source.
[0012] Contact operations with respect to the control panel 3 (specifically, the surface layer 5) include, for example, touch operations that touch the surface of the surface layer 5 and pressing operations that crush the surface layer 5. In this example, a touch operation is an operation that simply touches the surface layer 5 with a finger or the like, that is, an operation that does not deeply crush the surface layer 5. A touch operation is not limited to a state in which the human body is in full contact with the surface of the surface layer 5, but also includes, for example, the state immediately before the human body comes into contact with the surface layer 5. A pressing operation is, for example, an operation that deeply crushes the surface layer 5 with a finger or the like.
[0013] (Structure of Panel Device 1) As shown in Figure 2, the panel device 1 includes a detection unit 9 that detects contact operations with respect to the surface layer 5, and a conductive member 10 that changes the output of the detection unit 9. The conductive member 10 changes the output of the detection unit 9 according to the distance between the detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10. The detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10 are arranged in the order of detection unit 9 and conductive member 10 from the side closer to the surface layer 5. Thus, in the panel device 1 of this example, the detection unit 9 is positioned between the surface layer 5 and the conductive member 10. In this example, the surface layer 5 and the detection unit 9 are positioned with a predetermined distance between them, and the detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10 are also positioned with a predetermined distance between them.
[0014] The panel device 1 includes an elastic member 11 that uses elastic force to return the pressed surface layer 5 to its original initial state. The elastic member 11 has a first elastic member 12 positioned between the surface layer 5 and the detection unit 9, and a second elastic member 13 positioned between the detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10. The detection unit 9, the conductive member 10, and the elastic member 11 are housed in a housing portion 15 recessed in the base material 14. The surface layer 5 is fixed to the base material 14, for example, by having its periphery attached to the edge of the housing portion 15 of the base material 14 with an adhesive material or the like.
[0015] (Surface layer 5) As shown in Figure 2, the surface layer 5 is formed in the form of a thin sheet. The surface layer 5 may be made of nylon, for example, or a material woven with fibers. Examples of the surface layer 5 include a flexible surface material or a film that has a certain degree of rigidity but is bendable. Examples of films include a decorative film on which the display body 7 is printed. Thus, the surface layer 5 only needs to be made of a flexible material. The portion of the surface layer 5 on which the display body 7 is printed, or the area around it, is the operating section 6.
[0016] (Elastic Member 11) As shown in Figures 2, 3(a), and 3(b), the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13 are formed in a substantially plate shape having a predetermined elastic force. The elastic member 11 functions as a cushioning material that absorbs the load applied to the finger or the like when the operating part 6 of the surface layer 5 is pressed by the finger or the like (see Figure 3(a)). The elastic member 11 also has the function of returning the surface layer 5 to its original initial position after the finger or the like is released from the operating part 6 of the surface layer 5 (see Figure 3(b)). Examples of materials for the elastic member 11 include silicone and urethane.
[0017] (Detection Unit 9) As shown in Figure 4, the detection unit 9 is a sheet-shaped capacitive touch sensor 19 in which electrodes 17 whose capacitance changes in response to a contact operation with the surface layer 5 are formed on a sheet substrate 18. Thus, the detection unit 9 in this example is a sensor that detects a contact operation with the surface layer 5 using a human body by changing the capacitance of the electrodes 17. For example, multiple electrodes 17 (five in this example) are provided on the sheet substrate 18 and are positioned corresponding to the operation unit 6 (display unit 7) of the surface layer 5. Preferably, the detection unit 9 is a member that is flexible so as to bend in response to the deformation of the elastic member 11.
[0018] (Conductive Member 10) As shown in Figure 2, the conductive member 10 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape. The conductive member 10 is placed on the back surface of the elastic member 11 (in this example, the second elastic member 13). In this example, the conductive member 10 is placed between the elastic member 11 and the base material 14. The conductive member 10 is made of, for example, an iron plate.
[0019] (Electrical configuration of panel device 1) As shown in Figure 2, the panel device 1 includes a control device 21 that controls the panel device 1. The control device 21 includes, for example, a processor that processes data and instructions, and a memory that stores a program for detecting contact operations on the operation panel 3. The processor is composed of, for example, a CPU, MPU, GPU, ASIC, etc. The memory is composed of, for example, ROM, RAM, storage, etc. The control device 21 is electrically connected to the detection unit 9 and receives a detected value Dk from the detection unit 9. If the detection unit 9 is a capacitive touch sensor 19, the detected value Dk is, for example, the capacitance detected by the electrode 17.
[0020] The panel device 1 includes a determination unit 22 that determines whether a contact operation has occurred with respect to the surface layer 5 based on the detection value Dk of the detection unit 9. The determination unit 22 is provided, for example, in the control device 21. Based on the detection value Dk of the detection unit 9, the determination unit 22 determines whether a touch operation or a pressing operation has occurred as a contact operation with respect to the surface layer 5. If there are multiple operation units 6, the determination unit 22 determines whether an operation has occurred with respect to each operation unit 6 for each output of the electrode 17 corresponding to each operation unit 6.
[0021] Figure 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the position of the contact operation with respect to the surface layer 5 and the detected value Dk of the detection unit 9. In Figure 5, the vertical axis of the graph shows the count value of a counter that increases or decreases in accordance with the change in the detected value Dk of the detection unit 9 (in this example, the change in the capacitance of the electrode 17). However, any index that represents the detected value Dk (in this example, the capacitance value) may be used instead of the count value.
[0022] To determine whether a contact operation has occurred with respect to the surface layer 5, a first threshold K1 for determining a touch operation and a second threshold K2 (> first threshold K1) for determining a pressing operation are set. The first threshold K1 is set to a value that can detect changes in the detected value Dk based solely on touch operations on the surface layer 5 without changing the distance between the detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10. The second threshold K2 is set to a value that can detect changes in the detected value Dk based on changes in the distance between the detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10 due to a pressing operation on the surface layer 5.
[0023] (Operation of the Embodiment) Next, the operation of the panel device 1 and the operation panel 3 of this embodiment will be described. When the human body is not in contact with the surface layer 5 (when the amount of contact operation shown in Figure 5 is "0"), parasitic capacitance is generated in the electrode 17. Therefore, before the hand approaches the surface layer 5, the detected value Dk is a value corresponding to the parasitic capacitance.
[0024] (When the control panel 3 is operated with bare hands) As shown in Figure 6(a), when a hand is brought close to the surface layer 5, a capacitance "C1" is generated between the hand and the electrode 17. This capacitance "C1" changes depending on the distance between the hand and the surface layer 5. Specifically, this capacitance "C1" changes to a larger value as the hand gets closer to the surface layer 5.
[0025] As shown in Figure 5, when a hand approaches the surface layer 5, the detected value Dk detected by the electrode 17 increases based on the change in capacitance "C1". When the surface layer 5 is touched by the hand and the amount of operation on the operation panel 3 reaches the touch operation position, the detected value Dk reaches the first threshold K1. The determination unit 22 determines that a touch operation has been performed when the detected value Dk is equal to or greater than the first threshold K1. If the determination unit 22 determines that a touch operation has been performed, it outputs a notification indicating that a touch operation has been performed to other ECUs that require this notification.
[0026] When a touch operation is detected, the panel device 1 performs an action such as lighting up a light source (not shown) located inside the substrate 14 of the panel device 1. The light emitted from this light source is used, for example, to illuminate the display element 7 on the surface layer 5 from the back. As a result, the display element 7 lights up, improving its visibility. In this case, since the light emitted from the light source needs to reach the surface layer 5, it is preferable that the detection unit 9 (capacitive sensor 19) is made of a light-transmitting material, i.e., a transparent electrode.
[0027] As shown in Figure 6(b), when the hand that has touched the surface layer 5 is further pressed to perform a pressing operation on the surface layer 5, the elastic member 11 elastically deforms and the detection unit 9 (capacitive sensor 19) bends, causing the electrode 17 of the detection unit 9 to approach the conductive member 10. As a result, a capacitance "C2" is generated between the conductive member 10 and the electrode 17, with a value corresponding to the distance between the conductive member 10 and the electrode 17. This capacitance "C2" changes to a larger value as the electrode 17 approaches the conductive member 10.
[0028] As shown in Figure 5, when the surface layer 5 is pressed by hand, the capacitance detected by the electrode 17 is a value corresponding to the capacitance "C1" generated between the hand and the electrode 17 and the capacitance "C2" generated between the conductive member 10 and the electrode 17. As the amount of pressure applied increases, the combined value of "C1" and "C2" changes with a steep slope. In other words, the detected value Dk detected by the electrode 17 increases rapidly as the amount of pressure applied increases.
[0029] When the amount of movement applied to the control panel 3 reaches the pressed position, the detected value Dk reaches the second threshold K2. The determination unit 22 determines that a pressed operation has been performed when the detected value Dk is equal to or greater than the second threshold K2. If the determination unit 22 determines that a pressed operation has been performed, it outputs a notification indicating that a pressed operation has occurred to other ECUs that require this notification. Thus, it is detected that the control unit 6 has been pressed, that is, that the control unit 6 has been turned ON.
[0030] The dashed line in Figure 5 shows the waveform of the detected value Dk in the case of a conventional structure without the conductive member 10. As can be seen from this dashed line, when the conductive member 10 is absent, the increase in the detected value Dk after pressing the operation panel 3 becomes gradual. For this reason, the second threshold K2 used to determine a pressing operation becomes "K2'", which is not significantly different from the first threshold K1 used to determine a touch operation. This makes it difficult to distinguish between touch operations and pressing operations. Therefore, it becomes difficult to differentiate between touch operations and pressing operations.
[0031] On the other hand, in this example, since the control panel 3 is provided with a conductive member 10, it is possible to make the change in the detected value Dk after a pressing operation a change in value that increases sharply. This makes it possible to set the second threshold K2 for detecting a pressing operation far away from the first threshold K1 for detecting a touch operation. Therefore, it becomes possible to clearly distinguish between touch operations and pressing operations, making it easier to differentiate between them.
[0032] (When operating the control panel 3 while wearing gloves) As shown by the dashed line in Figure 5, when touching the control panel 3 while wearing gloves, the detected value Dk of the electrode 17 decreases slightly due to the influence of the gloves. Therefore, when touching the surface layer 5 with a gloved hand, the first threshold K1 is not exceeded at the moment of contact with the surface layer 5, so the touch operation is not detected at this point. However, if the surface layer 5 is pressed down slightly after the touch operation, the detected value Dk becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold K1, so the fact that a touch operation has been performed is detected even when wearing gloves.
[0033] Furthermore, when the control panel 3 is pressed while wearing gloves, the detected value Dk of the electrode 17 increases at the same rate as when the control panel 3 is pressed with bare hands. However, because gloves are worn, the detected value Dk is relatively lower, so at the time when pressing is detected in bare-handed operation, the detected value Dk has not yet reached the second threshold K2. However, if the surface 5 is pressed a little further from this point, the detected value Dk will rise to or above the second threshold K2, so it is detected that pressing has occurred even when wearing gloves.
[0034] As a result, even when wearing gloves, it is possible to determine whether a touch operation or a press operation has been performed using the same logic as when operating the control panel 3 with bare hands. Therefore, even when wearing gloves, it is possible to operate the control panel 3 with a touch and press feel that is not significantly different from when using bare hands.
[0035] (Effects of the Embodiment) The panel device 1 and operation panel 3 of this embodiment provide the following effects.
[0036] (1) The panel device 1 is a device that operates a flexible surface layer 5, on which an elastic member 11 is arranged inside, by contact operations including at least touch operations and pressing operations using the human body. The panel device 1 includes a detection unit 9 that detects contact operations to the surface layer 5, a conductive member 10 that changes the output of the detection unit 9 according to the distance from the detection unit 9, and a determination unit 22 that determines the contact operation to the surface layer 5 based on the detection value Dk of the detection unit 9. The determination unit 22 determines the touch operation to the surface layer 5 using a first threshold K1 that can detect changes in the detection value Dk based only on touch operations to the surface layer 5 without changing the distance between the detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10, and determines the pressing operation to the surface layer 5 using a second threshold K2 that can detect changes in the detection value Dk based on changes in the distance between the detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10 due to pressing operations to the surface layer 5.
[0037] In this configuration, during a touch operation, the detection unit 9 outputs a detection value Dk corresponding to the distance of the human body performing the touch operation. When a pressing operation is performed, the distance between the detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10 decreases as the elastic member 11 deforms due to the pressing. As a result, during a pressing operation, the detection unit 9 outputs a detection value Dk corresponding to the distance between the detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10. The determination unit 22 determines whether it is a touch operation or a pressing operation by comparing the detection value Dk of the detection unit 9 with a first threshold K1 and a second threshold K2. In this way, since both touch and pressing operations can be detected with only one detection unit 9, the number of parts can be kept to a minimum. Therefore, touch and pressing operations can be detected with a simple configuration.
[0038] (2) The detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10 are arranged in the order of detection unit 9 and conductive member 10 from the side closest to the surface layer 5. With this configuration, when the surface layer 5 is touched by a human body, the touch operation is detected based on the comparison result between the detection value Dk of the detection unit 9, which is displaced only by the influence of the human body, and the first threshold K1. Furthermore, when the surface layer 5 is pressed by a human body, the pressed detection unit 9 approaches the conductive member 10, so the output of the detection unit 9 is displaced not only by the influence of the human body but also by the influence of the conductive member 10. For this reason, when the surface layer 5 is pressed by a human body, the pressing operation is detected based on the comparison result between the detection value Dk of the detection unit 9, which is displaced by the influence of both the human body and the conductive member 10, and the second threshold K2. As described above, it is possible to set a clear difference in the change of the detection value Dk between touch operation and pressing operation. Thus, touch operation and pressing operation can be detected with high accuracy.
[0039] (3) The elastic member 11 has a first elastic member 12 positioned between the surface layer 5 and the detection unit 9, and a second elastic member 13 positioned between the detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10. With this configuration, the elastic member 11 is divided into the first elastic member 12 and the second elastic member 13, and the detection unit 9 is positioned between them. Therefore, even if the elastic member 11 becomes thicker according to the required elastic force, it is possible to position the detection unit 9 close to the surface layer 5. Thus, when a human body touches the surface layer 5, the operation can be detected without fail by the detection unit 9.
[0040] (4) The surface layer 5 has a plurality of operation units 6 assigned to each operation function. The determination unit 22 detects the operation for each of the plurality of operation units 6 based on the detection value Dk of the detection unit 9. With this configuration, since a plurality of operation units 6 are provided on the surface layer 5 and their operations are detected, multiple operation functions can be assigned to one device.
[0041] (5) The detection unit 9 is a sheet-shaped capacitive touch sensor 19 in which electrodes 17 whose capacitance changes in response to a contact operation with the surface layer 5 are formed on a sheet substrate 18. With this configuration, since the detection unit 9 is a general capacitive sensor, it further contributes to simplifying the device configuration.
[0042] (Other Embodiments) This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.
[0043] The panel device 1 may be capable of detecting proximity operations, such as bringing a hand close to the surface 5, in addition to touch and press operations. In this case, for example, a threshold value lower than the first threshold K1 for touch operation detection is set as the threshold for determining proximity operations. When the capacitance becomes equal to or greater than this threshold, it is determined that a proximity operation has occurred. With this configuration, not only touch and press operations but also proximity operations can be detected.
[0044] ・The detection unit 9 may be a member bonded to the elastic member 11. ・The detection unit 9 may be formed by printing on the surface layer 5 or the elastic member 11. ・The detection unit 9 may be disposed between the elastic member 11 (second elastic member 13) and the base material 14.
[0045] ・The detection unit 9 is not limited to the capacitive touch sensor 19, and may be, for example, a copper foil or an iron plate. ・The detection unit 9 and the conductive member 10 may be arranged by exchanging them. ・The conductive member 10 may be, for example, an iron plate or a carbon plate material.
[0046] ・The conductive member 10 is not limited to the flat plate shape, and may be, for example, a frame shape that covers the periphery of the elastic member 11. ・The conductive member 10 may be disposed on the back surface of the surface layer 5, and the detection unit 9 may be disposed in the lowermost layer.
[0047] ・The conductive member 10is not limited to a conductor, and may be an electrode (electrostatic electrode). In this case, a structure in which the elastic member 11 is sandwiched between two electrodes may be used. ・The elastic member 11 is not limited to the two-layer structure, and may be only one layer.
[0048] The determination unit 22 is not limited to determining a touch operation or a pressing operation on the surface layer 5 in units of each electrode 17. For example, a touch operation or a pressing operation may be determined by comprehensively looking at the outputs of a plurality of electrodes 17.
[0049] - The panel device 1 (operation panel 3) is not limited to being located on the center console 4 of the vehicle 2, but may also be located on the meter, steering wheel, door, etc. - The determination unit 22 may be composed of [1] one or more processors that operate according to a computer program (software), or [2] a combination of such processors and one or more dedicated hardware circuits such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) that perform at least some of the various processes. The processor includes a CPU and memory such as RAM and ROM, and the memory stores program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute the processes. The memory (computer-readable medium) includes any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or dedicated computer. Alternatively, instead of a computer including the above-mentioned processor, a processing circuit composed of one or more dedicated hardware circuits that perform all of the various processes may be used.
[0050] This disclosure is described in accordance with the embodiments, but is not limited to the structures of these embodiments and includes various modifications and variations within the equivalence range. Furthermore, this disclosure includes various combinations and forms, as well as combinations and forms of one, more, or fewer of these elements.
[0051] Next, the technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodiments and modified examples will be described. (Note 1) A panel device comprising: a flexible surface layer for being operated by contact operations including at least touch operations and pressing operations using a human body; an elastic member disposed inside the surface layer; a sensor for detecting contact operations to the surface layer; a conductive member configured to change the output of the detection unit according to the distance to the sensor; one or more processors; and a non-temporary memory executable by the processor and storing instructions for causing the processor to perform a determination process for contact operations to the surface layer based on the detected value of the detection unit, wherein the determination process includes: determining a touch operation to the surface layer using a first threshold capable of detecting a change in the detected value based only on touch operations to the surface layer without changing the distance between the detection unit and the conductive member, and the detected value of the detection unit; and determining a pressing operation to the surface layer using a second threshold capable of detecting a change in the detected value based on a change in the distance between the detection unit and the conductive member due to a pressing operation to the surface layer and the detected value of the detection unit.
Claims
1. A panel device comprising: a flexible surface layer for operation by contact operations including at least touch and press operations using the human body; an elastic member disposed inside the surface layer; a detection unit for detecting contact operations to the surface layer; a conductive member for changing the output of the detection unit according to the distance to the detection unit; and a determination unit for determining contact operations to the surface layer based on the detected value of the detection unit, wherein the determination unit determines touch operations to the surface layer using a first threshold capable of detecting changes in the detected value based solely on touch operations to the surface layer without changing the distance between the detection unit and the conductive member, and determines press operations to the surface layer using a second threshold capable of detecting changes in the detected value based on changes in the distance between the detection unit and the conductive member due to press operations to the surface layer.
2. The panel device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit and the conductive member are arranged in the order of the detection unit and the conductive member from the side closest to the surface layer.
3. The panel device according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member comprises a first elastic member disposed between the surface layer and the detection unit, and a second elastic member disposed between the detection unit and the conductive member.
4. The panel device according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer has a plurality of operating units assigned to each operating function, and the determination unit detects an operation for each of the plurality of operating units based on the detected value of the detection unit.
5. The panel device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is a sheet-shaped capacitive touch sensor in which electrodes whose capacitance changes in response to a contact operation with the surface layer are formed on a sheet substrate.
6. An operation panel comprising: a flexible surface layer for operation by contact operations including at least touch and press operations using the human body; an elastic member disposed inside the surface layer; a detection unit for detecting contact operations to the surface layer; and a conductive member for changing the output of the detection unit according to the distance to the detection unit, wherein the detected value of the detection unit is output to a determination unit for determining contact operations to the surface layer, and the determination unit determines touch operations to the surface layer using a first threshold capable of detecting changes in the detected value based solely on touch operations to the surface layer without changing the distance between the detection unit and the conductive member, and determines press operations to the surface layer using a second threshold capable of detecting changes in the detected value based on changes in the distance between the detection unit and the conductive member due to press operations to the surface layer.