JP6151087B2 - Touch panel system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch panel system and an electronic apparatus including the touch panel system, and more particularly to a touch panel system capable of accurately recognizing a touch operation even when a touch position detection result is lost during the touch operation. The present invention relates to an electronic device provided.

  Currently, touch panel systems are rapidly being installed in various electronic devices such as portable information devices such as smartphones and vending machines such as vending machines. The mainstream touch panel mounted on the touch panel system is a resistive film type touch panel. Recently, however, projection capacitive touch panels have become widespread for reasons such as multi-touch capability.

  As an example of such a touch panel system, Patent Document 1 discloses a command input device. This command input device includes a touch panel, contact time detection means, contact number detection means, contact interval detection means, and input command determination means. The contact time detecting means detects the time that the finger is continuously in contact with the touch panel. The contact number detection means detects the number of times the finger touches the touch panel. The contact interval detection means detects the time until the finger leaves the touch panel and makes next contact. The input command determination means determines the input command based on the detection results of the contact time detection means, the contact frequency detection means, and the contact interval detection means.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the command input device described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the command input device can input a command based on the time, the number of times, and the interval at which the finger touches the touch panel (S501 to 507). Then, the command is determined based on the input command (S508). Further, an operation is selected based on the determined command (S509), and controlled according to the operation (S510).

JP 2004-362429 A (released on December 24, 2004)

  However, the conventional touch panel system has a problem that the touch operation cannot be accurately recognized when the touch information during the touch operation is lost.

  Specifically, in a conventional touch panel system, a series of touch operations is recognized by detecting a touch position every predetermined time. Therefore, for example, when the original touch position is not detected due to noise or the like, touch operations before and after the touch position that are not detected are recognized as independent touch operations without continuity. That is, it is recognized that the touch is temporarily interrupted before and after the touch position that has not been detected, although it is necessary to recognize it as a series of touch operations. Thus, if the touch operations before and after the touch position that has not been detected are two independent touch operations, the touch operations are erroneously recognized.

  On the other hand, the command input device described in Patent Document 1 is intended to be applied as a car navigation device. That is, the command input device determines the input command based on the continuous contact time, the number of times of contact, and the contact time interval on the touch panel, so that the driver does not need to move his / her line of sight to the touch panel when inputting the command during driving. This makes it possible to input an accurate command even when the vehicle vibrates. For this reason, in the above command input device, when touch information is lost, the continuous contact time, the number of times of contact, and the contact time interval on the touch panel become shorter than actual, and the target input command is not executed. Therefore, also in the command input device, when the touch information is lost, the touch operation is erroneously recognized.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and a purpose thereof is a touch panel system that can accurately recognize a touch operation even when touch information during the touch operation is lost. Is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, a touch panel system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a touch panel and a touch position detection unit that detects a touch position on the touch panel by processing a signal from the touch panel at an arbitrary scan period. When, during a series of touch operations, after a certain touch position is detected, the period until the next touch position is detected, the first period longer than (t) is the scan period, and the When it is within a second period (T; where T> t ) that is X times the scan period (X is an arbitrary number), it is determined that the touch position detection result may be missing, and touch based on the position of the history, and a touch position prediction unit that sets a predicted coordinate or expected range of missing touch position and next touch position of the missing touch position, the touch The position predicting unit includes a continuity determining unit that compares the detected next touch position with the predicted coordinate or the predicted range and determines continuity between the certain touch position and the next touch position. It is characterized by.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that a touch operation can be accurately recognized even when touch information during the touch operation is lost.

1 is a schematic diagram of a touch panel system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the touch information estimation part in the touch panel system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the touch position estimation part in the touch panel system of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the process of the touch position estimation part in the touch panel system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the touch position estimation part in the touch panel system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the process of the touch position estimation part in the touch panel system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile telephone which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the command input device described in Patent Document 1.

Embodiment 1
(Configuration of touch panel system 1)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of a touch panel system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the touch panel system 1 includes a display device 2, a touch panel 3, a drive line drive unit 4, a touch position detection unit 5, and a host terminal 6. Below, the side which a user utilizes is demonstrated as a front surface (or upper direction).

The display device 2 has a display surface. Various icons for operation, character information corresponding to user operation instructions, and the like are displayed on the display surface. The display device 2 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic EL display, a field emission display (FED; field).
emission display). These displays are frequently used in everyday electronic devices, and a highly versatile touch panel system 1 is configured. The display device 2 may have any configuration and is not particularly limited. The display device 2 preferably employs a TFT using a so-called oxide semiconductor for its semiconductor layer as a TFT (Thin-Film Transistor). This oxide semiconductor includes, for example, an InGaZnO-based oxide semiconductor. The display device 2 that employs an InGaZnO-based oxide semiconductor can realize high-definition display and dramatic energy saving.

  The touch panel 3 inputs various operation instructions by the user touching (pressing) the surface of the touch panel 3 with an indicator such as a finger or a pen. The touch panel 3 is laminated on the front surface (upper part) of the display device 2 so as to cover the display surface. In the present embodiment, a projected capacitive touch panel is used as the touch panel 3. The capacitive touch panel 3 has the advantages of high transmittance and durability. However, the method of the touch panel 3 is not limited, and other methods may be used. For example, the method of the touch panel 3 may be a resistive film method, an electromagnetic induction method, an ultrasonic surface acoustic wave method, or an infrared scanning method.

  Specifically, the touch panel 3 includes a plurality of parallel drive lines DL provided along the display surface, and a plurality of parallel sense lines SL provided along the display surface and three-dimensionally intersecting with the drive lines DL. Capacitance is formed at the intersection of the drive line DL and the sense line SL. Both the drive line DL and the sense line SL can be formed from a transparent wiring material such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or a metal mesh. The drive line DL and the sense line SL are wired to the display device 2 (a panel body that forms a part of the display surface). In FIG. 1, the case where the drive line DL and the sense line SL are three-dimensionally crossed vertically is illustrated, but the three-dimensional crossing may be performed at an angle other than vertical.

  The drive line driving unit 4 is connected to the drive line DL, and applies a potential to the drive line DL at a constant period when the touch panel system 1 is activated. The drive line driving unit 4 drives the drive line DL to generate a state signal in the sense line SL that intersects the drive line DL three-dimensionally. The state signal is a signal indicating a touch state on the solid intersection portion on the touch panel 3 and its vicinity (hereinafter, detection region (detection region X in FIG. 1)).

  The state signal is a value corresponding to the capacitance between the drive line DL and the sense line SL, and is a signal indicating whether the detection area X on the touch panel 3 is in contact with or close to the detection area X. That is, the state signal is a signal indicating the presence or absence of contact or proximity to the detection region X, the separation distance between the detection region X and the indicator, and the like. Note that the capacitance decreases as the indicator contacts or approaches the detection region X.

  The touch position detection unit 5 processes a signal from the touch panel 3 and detects a touch position. That is, the touch position detection unit 5 detects the position of the touch that touches or approaches the display surface by processing the state signal generated on the sense line SL. The touch position detection unit 5 includes an amplification unit 51, a signal acquisition unit 52, an A / D conversion unit 53, a decoding processing unit 54, a touch position calculation unit 55, and a touch position prediction unit 56 in this order from the touch panel 3 side. Yes.

  The amplifying unit 51 amplifies the state signal generated on the sense line SL. The signal acquisition unit 52 acquires the state signal amplified by the amplification unit 51 and outputs it in a time division manner. The A / D conversion unit 53 converts the analog signal output from the signal acquisition unit 52 into a digital signal. Based on the digital signal converted by the A / D conversion unit 53, the decoding processing unit 54 obtains a change amount of the capacity distribution in the touch panel 3. The touch position calculation unit 55 calculates the touch position on the touch panel 3 based on the change amount of the capacity distribution obtained by the decoding processing unit 54, and generates touch position information indicating the position. The touch position prediction unit 56 sets the predicted coordinates or prediction range of the touch position to be detected next when touch position information may be missing during a series of touch operations, and touches before and after the missing. Determine the continuity of location information. Details of the touch position prediction unit 56 will be described later.

  The host terminal 6 controls the drive line DL that is driven by the drive line driving unit 4. Further, the host terminal 6 controls the sense line SL on which the touch position detection unit 5 processes the state signal. In the following, a case where the host terminal 6 controls both of these will be exemplified, but the host terminal 6 may control only one of them.

(Basic operation of touch panel system 1)
Next, an example of the basic operation of the touch panel system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, one trial operation in which the touch panel system 1 detects an indicator that is in contact with or close to the touch panel 3 will be described.

  First, the drive line driving unit 4 drives the drive line DL to cause the sense line SL to generate a status signal. Next, the amplification unit 51 amplifies the state signal generated on the sense line SL. Further, the signal acquisition unit 52 outputs the state signal amplified by the amplification unit 51 in a time division manner. Note that the operation of each of the drive line driving unit 4, the amplification unit 51, and the signal acquisition unit 52 is controlled by the host terminal 6. That is, the host terminal 6 controls the drive line DL to be driven and the sense line SL to process the status signal.

  Next, the A / D conversion unit 53 converts the analog signal output from the signal acquisition unit 52 into a digital signal having a predetermined number of bits. Subsequently, based on the digital signal converted by the A / D conversion unit 53, the decoding processing unit 54 obtains a change amount of the capacity distribution in the touch panel 3. For example, the decoding processing unit 54 acquires a digital signal when the touch target (indicator) does not exist on the touch panel 3 before detecting the touch, and when the touch target (indicator) does not exist on the touch panel 3. The capacity distribution of is determined in advance. The decoding processing unit 54 obtains a digital signal at the time of detection of the indicator from the A / D conversion unit 53, and obtains a capacity distribution when the indicator is present. Then, the amount of change in the capacitance distribution is obtained by comparing the capacity distribution obtained when the touch target is not present in advance with the capacity distribution obtained when the touch target is present. This change amount of the capacitance distribution is also referred to as a change amount of the capacitance caused by the touch target (indicator).

  The touch position calculation unit 55 calculates the position of the touch target on the touch panel 3 based on the change amount of the capacity distribution obtained by the decoding processing unit 54, and generates touch position information. For example, the touch position calculation unit 55 determines that there is a touch target in a portion where the amount of change in capacitance on the touch panel 3 is larger than the touch determination threshold, and Calculate the position. The touch position calculation unit 55 calculates the touch position at each time point detected at an arbitrary scan cycle.

  The touch position prediction unit 56 determines whether or not the touch position information calculated by the touch position calculation unit 55 is missing. Furthermore, when there is a possibility that the touch position information is missing, the touch position prediction unit 56 determines the touch position (touch position after missing) that will be detected next based on the history of the touch operation. Set prediction coordinates or prediction range. The touch position prediction unit 56 determines the continuity of the touch operation before and after the loss based on the predicted coordinates or the predicted range.

  An example of the touch position prediction unit 56 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the touch position prediction unit 56 in the touch panel system 1 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the touch position prediction unit 56 includes a touch history storage unit 56a and a touch position determination unit (continuity determination unit) 56b.

  The touch history storage unit 56 a stores touch information related to the touch position calculated by the touch position calculation unit 55. Specifically, the touch history storage unit 56a stores the touch position information (such as the coordinates of the touch position) together with the calculated relative time of the touch position. In the touch panel system 1, the touch history storage unit 56a also stores a moving speed (touch speed) of the touch position and a moving acceleration of the touch position, which are calculated based on the history of the touch operation. The touch history storage unit 56a calculates the movement speed of the touch position from the movement amount and movement time of the touch position, and calculates the movement acceleration from the movement speed of successive touch positions. Thus, when a series of touch operations are performed on the touch panel 3, the touch history storage unit 56a continuously stores touch information during the touch operation. Therefore, the touch history storage unit 56a stores touch information in real time.

  The touch position determination unit 56b reads the touch information stored in the touch history storage unit 56a. If noise or the like occurs during a series of touch operations, the original touch position is not detected, and touch information related to the touch position is lost. For this reason, the missing touch information is not stored in the touch history storage unit 56a. Accordingly, the touch position determination unit 56b determines whether or not the detection result (touch information) of the touch position is likely to be lost, and determines the continuity of the touch information before and after the loss when there is a possibility of loss. The touch position determination unit 56b outputs the touch information whose continuity is determined to the touch position calculation unit 55 (see FIG. 1). The touch position determination unit 56b will be described later.

  The touch panel system 1 continuously detects the indicator that is a touch target by repeating such a trial operation.

  The host terminal 6 can control each unit of the drive line driving unit 4 and the touch position detecting unit 5 with reference to touch position information output from the touch position calculating unit 55 as necessary. Further, the host terminal 6 can control a frame rate that is the number of times that the touch position detection unit 5 tries to detect a touch target per unit time (for example, 1 second). That is, in the touch panel system 1, the drive line DL that the drive line driving unit 4 should drive, the sense line SL that the touch position detection unit 5 should process the status signal, the frame rate, the detection sensitivity, and the like are controlled by the host terminal 6. , Each can be set arbitrarily.

(Process of touch position prediction unit 56)
Next, details of the touch position prediction unit 56 that is a characteristic configuration of the touch panel system 1 will be described. In the touch panel system 1, the touch position detection unit 5 recognizes the touch position at a certain point by detecting the touch position at predetermined time intervals. If noise or the like occurs during a series of touch operations, the original touch position is not detected, and touch information related to the touch position is lost. In addition, if the touch on the touch panel 3 is obstructed, such as damage to the touch panel 3 or water droplets or dust adhering to the touch panel 3, touch information on the touch position may be lost. That is, during a series of touch operations by the indicator, a state in which some touch positions are not recognized (a state in which some touch positions are not recognized even though the touch operation is performed by the indicator) may occur. . As a result, it may be recognized that the touch operation is interrupted before and after the missing touch position despite the series of touch operations. That is, there is a possibility that the touch operation cannot be recognized accurately.

  Therefore, the touch panel system 1 includes a touch position prediction unit 56 as a countermeasure for missing touch information due to noise or the like. When there is a possibility that touch information has been lost during a series of touch operations, the touch position prediction unit 56 determines the presence or absence of continuity of touch information before and after the loss.

  Hereinafter, a processing example in which the touch position prediction unit 56 determines whether there is a possibility of missing touch information and whether there is continuity of touch information before and after the loss based on FIGS. 3 and 4. explain. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the touch position prediction unit 56 in the touch panel system 1 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing processing of the touch position prediction unit 56 in the touch panel system 1 of FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the touch position detection unit 5 processes a signal from the touch panel 3 at an arbitrary scan cycle to detect a touch position (S1). Specifically, when a touch operation is performed on the touch panel 3, the touch position calculation unit 55 calculates the current touch position based on the amount of change in capacitance of the touch panel 3, and calculates the calculation result as a touch position prediction. To the unit 56 (touch history storage unit 56a).

  Next, the touch position determination unit 56b reads the touch information stored in the touch history storage unit 56a, and determines whether there is a possibility that the touch information is missing during a series of touch operations (S2). When there is a possibility that the touch information is missing, the touch position determination unit 56b predicts the missing touch position and the current touch position from the touch position history (S3). In the example of FIG. 3, the touch position determination unit 56b assumes that the touch operation is performed with a constant linear motion, and predicts the missing touch position and the current touch position. Next, the touch position determination unit 56b determines the continuity of the touch before and after the loss (S4 to S6) based on whether the prediction is successful. Specifically, the continuity of the touch is determined based on whether the currently detected current touch position is close to or within the predicted range of the current touch position.

Here, based on FIG. 4, the process (S2-S6 of FIG. 3) of the touch position determination part 56b is demonstrated in detail. In the example of FIG. 4, an example of a series of touch operations detected in the touch panel system 1 of FIG. 1 is shown. That is, in FIG. 4, the touch positions are detected in the order of touch position P _t−4 → touch position P _t−3 → touch position P _t−2 , and touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , or touch at a certain time. An example in which the position P ₃ (current touch position) is detected is shown. In the example of FIG. 3, the touch information of the touch position (touch position P _t-1 ) immediately before the current touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , touch position P ₃ ) is missing. FIG. 3 also shows the movement speed V _{t-3 of} the touch position from the touch position P _t-4 to the touch position P _t-3 and the touch position from the touch position P _t-3 to the touch position P _t-2 . The moving speed V _t-2 , the moving speed V _{t−1 of} the touch position from the touch position P _t−2 to the touch position P _t−1 , and the current touch position P _t predicted from the touch position P _t−1 . It is also described moving speed V _t of the touch position.

First, the touch position determination unit 56b reads the touch information stored in the touch history storage unit 56a every first period (t). Then, after a certain touch position is detected, the period until the next touch position is detected is longer than the first period (t) and within the second period (T; T> t). Then, it is determined that there is a possibility that the touch information (touch position detection result) is missing. In the example of FIG. 4, the touch position determination unit 56b has a scan period set as the first period (t), and twice the scan period as the second period (T). That is, the touch position determination unit 56b reads the touch information for each scan cycle (t = scan cycle), and the period (interval) from the touch information read at a certain time to the next read touch information. Confirms whether it is within twice the scan cycle (T = 2t = scan cycle × 2), and determines the possibility of missing touch information. In FIG. 4, after the touch information at the touch position P _t−2 is detected, the touch information (touch position P _t−1 ) is not detected after t seconds, and the touch position P ₁ or the touch position P ₂ after 2 t seconds. Has been detected. In this case, the touch position _{P t-2} is the period from being detected until the touch position _{P 1} or the touch position _{P 2} is detected (T1, T2) is twice the both scanning period (T1 = T2 = 2t ) And satisfies t <T1 ≦ 2t and t <T2 ≦ 2t. Therefore, the touch position determination unit 56b determines that there is a possibility that the touch information of the touch position _Pt-1 is missing (YES in S2).

When it is determined that the touch information may be missing, the touch position determination unit 56b predicts the missing touch position P _t-1 and the current touch position P _t based on the touch history (S3). In the touch panel system 1 of the present embodiment, the missing touch position P _t−1 and the current touch position P _t are predicted on the assumption that the touch operation is a uniform linear motion. Specifically, the touch position determination unit 56b touches the touch positions (touch position P _t-2 , touch position P _t-3 ) detected before the missing touch position (touch position P _t-1 ). Using the information, it is assumed that the touch position P _t−3 → the touch position P _t−2 → the touch position P _t−1 → the touch position P _t is linearly moved at a constant speed, and the missing touch position P _t−1. And the current touch position P _t is predicted. That is, assuming that the moving speed V _t−2 = the moving speed V _t−1 = the moving speed V _t , the missing touch position P _t−1 and the current touch position P _t are predicted. Furthermore, the touch position determination unit 56b may set the predicted range Pt ′ of the current touch position using the touch history. Here, as the prediction range Pt ', circle centered on the predicted current touch position P _t is set.

Touch position determination section 56b is actually detected current touch position P ₁ or the touch position P _2, by comparing the predicted current touch position Pt or estimated range Pt ', the touch of continuity judge. That is, the current touch position P ₁ or the touch position P _2, whether there from the predicted current touch position Pt to a predetermined distance, or based on the existence in the estimated range Pt ', of the touch Determine continuity.

Specifically, the touch position P ₁ as the current touch position when it is detected, the touch position P ₁ is present in the expected range Pt '(YES at S4). That is, the touch position P ₁ is present from the predicted current touch position Pt to a predetermined distance. In this case, the touch position determination unit 56b determines that the touches before and after the missing touch position P _t-1 are due to a series of touch operations (S5). That is, it is determined to be a series of touch operations in the order of touch position P _t−4 → touch position P _t−3 → touch position P _t−2 → touch position P _t−1 → touch position P ₁ . The determination result is recorded in the touch history storage unit 56a. In addition, when the touch information is not missing (NO in S2), it is similarly determined that the touch information detected continuously is due to a series of touch operations.

On the other hand, when it is detected touch position P ₂ as the current touch position, the touch position P ₂ is not in the expected range Pt '(S4 in NO). That is, the touch position P ₂ is absent from the predicted current touch position Pt to a predetermined distance. In this case, the touch position determination unit 56b determines that the touches before and after the missing touch position _Pt-1 are not due to a series of touch operations but are not continuous independent touch operations (S6). That is, the continuous touch is temporarily interrupted at the touch position P _t-2 , and the touch position P ₂ is independent from the touch from the touch position P _t-4 → touch position P _t-3 → touch position P _t-2 . Judge that it is. The determination result is recorded in the touch history storage unit 56a.

Incidentally, not detected touch position P ₁ and the touch position P ₂ described above, after detection of the touch position P _t-2, the second period (T) later, the touch position P ₃ is detected as the current touch position In some cases. In this case, the period from the touch position _{P t-2} is detected until the next touch position _{P 3} is detected (T3) is to become larger than twice the scan period (T3> T = 2t), t <T3 ≦ 2t is not satisfied. Touch position determination section 56b also in this case, continuous touching is temporarily interrupted at the touch position _{P t-2,} the touch position _{P 3,} the touch position _{P t-4} → touch position _{P t-3} → touch position _{P t} It is determined that the touch up to _-2 is independent. The determination result is recorded in the touch history storage unit 56a. In addition, in FIG. 4, when no touch information is detected after the second period (T) after the detection of the touch position P _t−2 , the touch position determination unit 56b performs a series of touches at the touch position P _t−2. It is determined that the operation has been completed.

  The touch panel system 1 repeats such processing, recognizes a series of touch operations, and determines the continuity of the touch position before and after the loss. Note that the first period (t) and the second period (T) set in the touch position determination unit 56b are not limited to the above example. A person skilled in the art can set the first period (t) and the second period (T) based on an empirical rule.

The touch position determination unit 56b may record the predicted missing touch position P _t−1 , the current touch position P _t, and the predicted range Pt ′ in the touch history storage unit 56a. Thus, the touch position P _t-1, each touch information of the current touch position P _t and the expected range Pt 'is complemented.

As described above, the touch panel system 1, the touch position detection unit 5, during a series of touch operations, after the touch position P _t-2 has been detected, the next touch position (touch position P _1, the touch position P ₂ , When the period until the touch position P ₃ ) is detected is longer than the first period (t) and within the second period (T; T> t), the detection of the touch position P _t−2 It is determined that there is a possibility that the result is missing, and a predicted coordinate (touch position Pt) of the next touch position or a range (predicted range Pt ′) where the next touch position will enter from the history of the touch position is determined. A touch position prediction unit 56 for prediction is provided, and continuity of two touches (touch position P _t-2 and touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , or touch position P ₃ ) is determined based on whether the prediction is successful.

In other words, the touch panel system 1 according to the present embodiment does not immediately end the association of the touch information when the touch position P _t-1 at a certain time point is lost during a series of touch operations, but touches at the next time point. A predicted position coordinate (touch position Pt) or a predicted range Pt ′ of the touch position Pt is set. Then, when a touch is detected in the vicinity of the touch position Pt or within the predicted range Pt ′, the touch information of the touch positions before and after the missing touch position P _t−1 is associated, and the touch operation is determined as a series of touch operations. . Then, the determination of the association of the touch information is continued after the next time point.

On the other hand, in the touch panel system 1 of the present embodiment, when a touch is detected away from the predicted coordinates (touch position Pt), or when a touch is detected outside the predicted range Pt ′, the missing touch position P _t−. It is determined that the touch is an independent touch without associating the touch information of the touch positions before and after ₁ . Thereby, unnatural association of touch information can be eliminated. Therefore, even when the touch information during the touch operation is lost, erroneous recognition of the touch operation can be prevented.

  Further, in the touch panel system 1 of the present embodiment, when a touch operation is associated only with the distance of the touch positions detected continuously, noise or the like that appears in an unnatural direction apparently from the history of the touch positions The touch-like phenomenon may be erroneously associated as a series of touch operations, and the touch operations may be erroneously recognized.

Therefore, the touch panel system of the present embodiment, the missing previous touch position history (touch history touch information stored in the storage unit 56a), the moving velocity V _t-1 and the current missing the touch position P _t-1 The touch position P _t is predicted. Thereby, misrecognition of the touch operation is eliminated, and the continuity of the touch can be accurately determined.

  As described above, the touch panel system 1 according to the present embodiment appropriately determines whether there is continuity of touch before and after the interruption when the touch is temporarily interrupted (missed) during a series of touch operations on the touch panel 3. It becomes possible to discriminate.

In the touch panel system 1 of the present embodiment, the touch position determination unit 56b includes a series of touch positions P _t-1 including the missing touch position P _t-1 when the current touch position P ₁ is within the predicted range Pt ′. Is determined to be continuous. Thereby, the continuity of the touch operation can be easily determined.

Further, in the touch panel system 1 of the present embodiment, the touch position determination section 56b, by the current touch position P ₂ and the touch position P ₃ does not exist in the estimated range Pt ', the touch position P _t-1 is missing It is determined that the touch is temporarily interrupted at the touch position _Pt-2 . Thereby, the continuity of the touch operation can be determined more accurately.

  Further, in the touch panel system 1 of the present embodiment, the touch position prediction unit 56 (touch position determination unit 56b) is based on the predicted coordinate (touch position Pt) of the next touch position based on the touch position and the moving speed of the touch position. A prediction range Pt ′ is set. Thereby, the setting process (prediction process) of the predicted coordinate (touch position Pt) or the predicted range Pt ′ can be simplified.

Although it is not essential to predict the missing touch position, when the touch position is calculated as shown in FIG. 4, the missing touch position P _t-1 is also predicted in the process of predicting the current touch position P _t. Will be. The predicted coordinates of the missing touch position may be stored in the touch history storage unit 56a as necessary to complement the touch information of the missing touch position _Pt-1 .

  In addition, when it is determined that there is a possibility that at least the detection result of the touch position is missing, the touch position prediction unit 56 may predict the touch position to be detected next. However, the touch position prediction unit 56 may always be configured to predict the next detected touch position.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the case where there is one missing touch position has been described, but the continuity of touch can be similarly determined when two or more touch positions are missing. However, since the determination accuracy is highest when there is one missing touch position, the number of missing touch positions is preferably one.

[Embodiment 2]
The following will describe another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted. In the following description, the process of the touch position prediction unit 56 that is a difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

(Other processing of the touch position prediction unit 56)
In the first embodiment, the touch position prediction unit 56 touch information of touch positions (touch position P _t-2 , touch position P _t-3 ) detected before the missing touch position (touch position P _t-1 ). utilizing, as being constant velocity linear motion and the touch position _{P t-3} → touch position _{P t-2} → touch position _{P t-1} → touch position _{P t,} missing touch position _{P t-1} and the current touched The position _Pt was predicted.

  However, the actual movement of the indicator often follows a curved trajectory as well as a simple linear trajectory.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, the touch position prediction unit 56 determines the missing touch position P _t−1 and the current touch position P _t in consideration of not only the touch position and the moving speed of the touch position but also the moving acceleration of the touch position. Predict.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of the touch position prediction unit 56 in the touch panel system 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating processing of the touch position prediction unit 56 in the touch panel system 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the touch position detection unit 5 processes a signal from the touch panel 3 at an arbitrary scan cycle to detect a touch position (S11). Specifically, when a touch operation is performed on the touch panel 3, the touch position calculation unit 55 calculates the current touch position based on the amount of change in capacitance of the touch panel 3, and calculates the calculation result as a touch position prediction. To the unit 56 (touch history storage unit 56a).

  Next, the touch position determination unit 56b reads the touch information stored in the touch history storage unit 56a, and determines whether there is a possibility that the touch information is missing during a series of touch operations (S12). When there is a possibility that the touch information is missing, the touch position determination unit 56b predicts the missing touch position and the current touch position from the touch position history (S13). In the example of FIG. 5, the touch position determination unit 56b is based on the touch position before the missing touch position, the movement speed of the touch position before the missing touch position, and the movement acceleration of the touch position before the missing touch position. The touched position and the current touch position are predicted. Next, the touch position determination unit 56b determines the continuity of the touch before and after the loss based on the prediction pass / fail (S14 to S16). Specifically, the continuity of the touch is determined based on whether the currently detected current touch position is close to or within the predicted range of the current touch position.

Here, based on FIG. 6, the process (S12-S16 of FIG. 5) of the touch position determination part 56b is demonstrated in detail. In the example of FIG. 6, as in FIG. 4, the touch positions are detected in the order of touch position P _t−4 → touch position P _t−3 → touch position P _t−2 , and at a certain time, touch position P ₁ and touch position An example in which P ₂ or touch position P ₃ (current touch position) is detected is shown. Also in the example of FIG. 6, the touch information of the touch position (touch position P _t−1 ) immediately before the current touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , touch position P ₃ ) is missing. FIG. 6 also shows the movement speed V _{t-3 of} the touch position from the touch position P _t-4 to the touch position P _t-3 and the touch position from the touch position P _t-3 to the touch position P _t-2 . The moving speed V _t-2 , the moving speed V _{t−1 of} the touch position from the touch position P _t−2 to the touch position P _t−1 , and the current touch position P _t predicted from the touch position P _t−1 . It is also described moving speed V _t of the touch position.

First, the touch position determination unit 56b reads the touch information stored in the touch history storage unit 56a every first period (t). Then, after a certain touch position is detected, the period until the next touch position is detected is longer than the first period (t) and within the second period (T; T> t). Then, it is determined that there is a possibility that the touch information (touch position detection result) is missing. In the example of FIG. 6, in the touch position determination unit 56b, the scan period is set as the first period (t), and twice the scan period is set as the second period (T). That is, the touch position determination unit 56b reads the touch information for each scan cycle (t = scan cycle), and the period (interval) from the touch information read at a certain time to the next read touch information. Confirms whether it is within twice the scan cycle (T = 2t = scan cycle × 2), and determines the possibility of missing touch information. In FIG. 6, after the touch information at the touch position P _t−2 is detected, the touch information (touch position P _t−1 ) is not detected after t seconds, and the touch position P ₁ or the touch position P ₂ after 2 t seconds. Has been detected. In this case, the touch position _{P t-2} is the period from being detected until the touch position _{P 1} or the touch position _{P 2} is detected (T1, T2) is twice the both scanning period (T1 = T2 = 2t ) And satisfies t <T1 ≦ 2t and t <T2 ≦ 2t. Therefore, the touch position determination unit 56b determines that the touch information of the touch position _Pt-1 may be missing (YES in S12).

When it is determined that the touch information may be missing, the touch position determination unit 56b predicts the missing touch position P _t-1 and the current touch position P _t based on the touch history (S13).

In the first embodiment, the touch operation is regarded as a constant velocity linear motion (movement speed V _t−2 = movement speed V _t−1 = movement speed V _t ), and the missing touch position P _t−1 and the current touch position P _t was set.

On the other hand, in the second embodiment, in order to set the missing touch position P _t-1 and the current touch position P _t , the movement acceleration of the touch position is used in addition to the movement speed of the touch position.

More specifically, in the touch panel system 1 of the present embodiment, the touch position determination section 56b is not only the moving speed V _t-2, in consideration of movement acceleration a _t-2, missing from the touch position P _t-2 predicting the moving speed _{V t-1} to the touch position _{P t-1.} That is, to calculate the movement acceleration _{a t-2} from the difference between the moving speed _{V t-2} and the moving velocity _{V t-3} (movement acceleration _{a t-2} = moving speed _{V t-2} - moving speed _{V t-3)} . Further, the moving velocity _{V t-2} and the mobile acceleration _{a t-2} and the sum, by predicting the moving speed _{V t-1} and (moving velocity _{V t-1} = moving speed _{V t-2} + movement acceleration _{a t-2} ), The missing touch position P _t−1 is set.

Similarly, the touch position determination section 56b predicts the current touch position P _t. That is, to calculate the movement acceleration _{a t-1} from the difference between the moving speed _{V t-1} and the moving speed _{V t-2} (movement acceleration _{a t-1} = moving speed _{V t-1} - moving speed _{V t-2)} . Furthermore, the movement acceleration _{a t-1} and the sum and the moving velocity _{V t-1,} by predicting the moving speed _{V t} (moving velocity _{V t} = moving speed _{V t-1} + movement acceleration _{a t-1),} the current The touch position Pt is set. Furthermore, the touch position determination unit 56b may set the predicted range Pt ′ of the current touch position using the touch history. Here, as the prediction range Pt ', circle centered on the predicted current touch position P _t is set.

Touch position determination section 56b is actually detected current touch position P ₁ or the touch position P _2, by comparing the predicted current touch position Pt or estimated range Pt ', the touch of continuity judge. That is, the current touch position P ₁ or the touch position P _2, whether there from the predicted current touch position Pt to a predetermined distance, or based on the existence in the estimated range Pt ', of the touch Determine continuity.

Specifically, the touch position _{P 1} as the current touch position when it is detected, the touch position _{P 1} is present in the expected range Pt '(YES in S14). That is, the touch position P ₁ is present from the predicted current touch position Pt to a predetermined distance. In this case, the touch position determination unit 56b determines that the touches before and after the missing touch position P _t-1 are due to a series of touch operations (S15). That is, it is determined to be a series of touch operations in the order of touch position P _t−4 → touch position P _t−3 → touch position P _t−2 → touch position P _t−1 → touch position P ₁ . The determination result is recorded in the touch history storage unit 56a. In addition, when the touch information is not missing (NO in S12), it is similarly determined that the touch information detected continuously is due to a series of touch operations.

On the other hand, when it is detected touch position _{P 2} as the current touch position, the touch position _{P 2} is not in the expected range Pt '(NO at S14). That is, the touch position P ₂ is absent from the predicted current touch position Pt to a predetermined distance. In this case, the touch position determination unit 56b determines that the touches before and after the missing touch position _Pt-1 are not due to a series of touch operations, but are independent and independent touch operations (S16). That is, the continuous touch is temporarily interrupted at the touch position P _t-2 , and the touch position P ₂ is independent from the touch from the touch position P _t-4 → touch position P _t-3 → touch position P _t-2 . Judge that it is. The determination result is recorded in the touch history storage unit 56a.

Incidentally, not detected touch position P ₁ and the touch position P ₂ described above, after detection of the touch position P _t-2, the second period (T) later, the touch position P ₃ is detected as the current touch position In some cases. In this case, the period from the touch position _{P t-2} is detected until the next touch position _{P 3} is detected (T3) is to become larger than twice the scan period (T3> T = 2t), t <T3 ≦ 2t is not satisfied. Touch position determination section 56b also in this case, continuous touching is temporarily interrupted at the touch position _{P t-2,} the touch position _{P 3,} the touch position _{P t-4} → touch position _{P t-3} → touch position _{P t} It is determined that the touch up to _-2 is independent. The determination result is recorded in the touch history storage unit 56a. In addition, in FIG. 4, when no touch information is detected after the second period (T) after the detection of the touch position P _t−2 , the touch position determination unit 56b performs a series of touches at the touch position P _t−2. It is determined that the operation has been completed.

  The touch panel system 1 repeats such processing, recognizes a series of touch operations, and determines the continuity of the touch position before and after the loss.

As described above, also in the touch panel system of the present embodiment, the touch position determination unit 56b detects the actually detected touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , touch position P ₃ ) and predicted coordinates (touch). The position Pt) or the predicted range Pt ′ is compared to determine the continuity between the touch position Pt _-2 and the detected touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , touch position P ₃ ). Therefore, the same effect as that of the touch panel system of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Furthermore, the touch panel system of the present embodiment uses the predicted coordinates (touch position Pt) or the predicted range Pt ′ as the touch position history based on the movement acceleration of the touch position in addition to the touch position and the movement speed of the touch position. Set. Thus, regardless of whether the indicator is moving along a curved locus or a linear locus, the predicted coordinates (touch position Pt) or the prediction range Pt corresponding to the movement of the indicator 'Is set to high precision. Therefore, the touch operation can be recognized more accurately in consideration of the actual movement of the indicator.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone 10 equipped with the touch panel system 1. The cellular phone (electronic device) 10 includes a CPU 71, a RAM 73, a ROM 72, a camera 74, a microphone 75, a speaker 76, an operation key 77, and the touch panel system 1. Each component is connected to each other by a data bus.

The CPU 71 controls the operation of the mobile phone 10. The CPU 71 executes a program stored in the ROM 72, for example. The operation key 77 receives an instruction input by the user of the mobile phone 10. The RAM 73 volatilely stores data generated by execution of the program by the CPU 71 or data input via the operation keys 77. The ROM 72 stores data in a nonvolatile manner.

  The ROM 72 is a ROM capable of writing and erasing, such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) and a flash memory. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the mobile phone 10 may be configured to include an interface (IF) for connecting to another electronic device by wire.

  The camera 74 captures a subject in accordance with the operation of the operation key 77 by the user. Note that the image data of the photographed subject is stored in the RAM 73 or an external memory (for example, a memory card). The microphone 75 receives an input of a user's voice. The mobile phone 10 digitizes the input voice (analog data). Then, the mobile phone 10 sends the digitized voice to a communication partner (for example, another mobile phone). The speaker 76 outputs a sound based on, for example, music data stored in the RAM 73.

  The CPU 71 controls the operation of the touch panel system 1. For example, the CPU 71 executes a program stored in the ROM 72. The RAM 73 stores data generated by the execution of the program by the CPU 71 in a volatile manner. The ROM 72 stores data in a nonvolatile manner. The touch panel system 1 displays images stored in the ROM 72 and RAM 73.

  The present invention can also be expressed as follows.

[Summary]
A touch panel system 1 according to an aspect 1 of the present invention includes a touch panel 3 and a touch position detection unit 5 that detects a touch position on the touch panel 3.
The touch position detection unit 5 detects the next touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , touch position P ₃ ) after a certain touch position (touch position P _t−2 ) is detected during a series of touch operations. ) Is detected longer than the first period (t) and within the second period (T; where T> t), the detection result of the touch position (touch position P _t−2 ). And the predicted coordinates (touch position Pt) of the next touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , touch position P ₃ ) based on the touch position history. ) Or a touch position prediction unit 56 for setting the prediction range Pt ′,
The touch position prediction unit 56 compares the detected next touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , touch position P ₃ ) with the predicted coordinate (touch position Pt) or predicted range Pt ′. Then, a continuity determination unit (touch position) that determines the continuity between the touch position (touch position P _t-2 ) and the next touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , touch position P ₃ ). It is characterized by including a determination unit 56b).

According to the above configuration, the touch position prediction unit 56 (touch position determination unit 56b) lacks the detection result of the touch position based on the detection time of the two touch positions detected in succession during the touch operation. Whether or not there is a possibility (missing touch information) is determined. Furthermore, when it is determined that there is a possibility of missing touch information, the touch position determination unit 56b detects two touch positions (touch position P _t-2 , touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ or touch position). P ₃ ) predicts a touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ or touch position P ₃ ) detected later, and sets a predicted coordinate (touch position Pt) or a prediction range Pt ′ of the touch position. To do. Then, by comparing the touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , touch position P ₃ ) actually detected later with the predicted coordinates (touch position Pt) or the predicted range Pt ′ of the touch position. The continuity of the touch between the two touch positions (touch position P _t-2 and touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ or touch position P ₃ ) is determined. Thereby, a touch position (touch position P _t-2 and touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ or touch position P ₃ ) before and after the missing touch position (touch position P _t-1 ) is a series of touch operations. Or by an independent touch operation (not a series of touch operations). Therefore, even when the detection result of the touch position is lost during the touch operation, the touch operation can be accurately recognized.

  The touch panel system 1 according to aspect 2 of the present invention is the touch panel system 1 according to aspect 1, wherein the touch position prediction unit sets a predicted coordinate or a prediction range of the next touch position based on at least the touch position and the moving speed of the touch position. It is preferable.

  According to the above configuration, the touch position prediction unit 56 sets the predicted coordinates (touch position Pt) or the predicted range Pt ′ based on at least the touch position and the moving speed of the touch position as the touch position history. Thereby, the setting process (prediction process) of the predicted coordinate (touch position Pt) or the predicted range Pt ′ can be simplified.

  In the touch panel system 1 according to the aspect 3 of the present invention, in the aspect 2, the touch position prediction unit 56 further sets a predicted coordinate or prediction range of the next touch position based on the movement acceleration of the touch position. Is more preferable.

  According to the above configuration, the touch position prediction unit 56 uses the predicted coordinates (touch position Pt) or the prediction based on the movement position acceleration in addition to the touch position and the movement speed of the touch position as the touch position history. A range Pt ′ is set. Thus, regardless of whether the indicator is moving along a curved locus or a linear locus, the predicted coordinates (touch position Pt) or the prediction range Pt corresponding to the movement of the indicator 'Is set to high precision. Therefore, the touch operation can be recognized more accurately in consideration of the actual movement of the indicator.

The touch panel system 1 according to the aspect 4 of the present invention is the touch panel system 1 according to any one of the aspects 1 to 3, wherein the continuity determination unit (touch position determination unit 56b) performs the detected next touch position (touch position P ₁ ). Is present within a predetermined distance from the predicted coordinates (touch position Pt), or is present within the predicted range Pt ′, the next touch position from the certain touch position (touch position P _t−2 ). It is preferable to determine that the touch continues to (touch position P ₁ ). When the touch is within the predicted range Pt ′, the next touch position (touch position P _t−2 ) to the next touch position ( More preferably, it is determined that the touch continues to the touch position P ₁ ).

According to the above configuration, the touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , touch position P ₃ ) that is actually detected later by the touch position determination unit 56b is predicted coordinates (touch position Pt). ) And a touch position (touch position P _t-2 and touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ or touch) before and after the missing touch position (touch position P _t-1 ). It is determined that the position P ₃ ) is due to a series of touch operations. Thereby, the continuity of the touch operation can be easily determined.

The touch panel system 1 according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the touch panel system 1 according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the continuity determination unit (touch position determination unit 56b) performs the detected next touch position (touch position P ₁ , When the touch position P ₂ and the touch position P ₃ ) are present at a distance greater than a predetermined distance from the predicted coordinates (touch position Pt) or outside the predicted range Pt ′, the certain touch position ( It is preferable to determine that the continuous touch is finished at the touch position P _t−2 ).

According to the above configuration, the touch position (touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ , touch position P ₃ ) that is actually detected later by the touch position determination unit 56b is predicted coordinates (touch position Pt). ) And a touch position (touch position P _t-2 and touch position P ₁ , touch position P ₂ or touch) before and after the missing touch position (touch position P _t-1 ). The position P ₃ ) is determined not to be due to a series of touch operations, and it is determined that a series of touches have been completed at a certain touch position (touch position P _t-2 ). Thereby, the continuity of the touch operation can be determined more accurately.

  In the touch panel system 1 according to the aspect 6 of the present invention, in any one of the above aspects 1 to 5, the touch position prediction unit 56 uses the predicted range Pt ′ as a circle centered on the predicted coordinate (touch position Pt). It is preferable to set the shape.

According to the above configuration, since the predicted range Pt ′ of the current touch position is circular, the predicted range Pt ′ of an equal range is set around the predicted coordinates (touch position P _t ) of the current touch position. The Thus, it is possible to determine the continuity of the detected in all directions around the predicted touch position P _t touch.

  In the touch panel system 1 according to the aspect 7 of the present invention, in any one of the aspects 1 to 6, the touch panel 3 may be a projected capacitive touch panel.

  According to the above configuration, since the operation principle includes a projected capacitive touch panel, a touch panel system capable of multi-touch (multi-point detection) can be provided.

  The touch panel system 1 according to an aspect 8 of the present invention may further include a display device according to any one of the above aspects 1 to 7, and the touch panel 3 may be provided on the front surface of the display device.

  According to said structure, since the touch panel 3 is provided in the front surface of the display apparatus 2, it can prevent that the noise which generate | occur | produced in the display apparatus 2 is misrecognized as a touch position.

  The touch panel system 1 according to an aspect 9 of the present invention is the touch panel system 1 according to any one of the above aspects 1 to 8, wherein the display device 2 includes a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic EL display, a field emission display, or an InGaZnO-based oxide semiconductor. An on-board display may be used.

  According to said structure, the display apparatus 2 is comprised from the various display currently used frequently by an everyday electronic device. Therefore, the highly versatile touch panel system 1 can be provided. In addition, the display device 2 that employs an InGaZnO-based oxide semiconductor can achieve high-definition display and dramatic energy saving.

  The electronic device which concerns on aspect 10 of this invention is a structure provided with the touchscreen system in any one of the said aspects 1-9.

  Therefore, it is possible to provide an electronic device that can accurately recognize a touch operation even when touch information during the touch operation is lost.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, a new technical feature can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment.

  The present invention is applied to various touch-panel electronic devices such as a TV, a personal computer, a mobile phone, a digital camera, a portable game machine, an electronic photo frame, a portable information terminal, an electronic book, a home appliance, a ticket machine, an ATM, and a car navigation system. be able to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Touch panel system 2 Display apparatus 3 Touch panel 5 Touch position detection part 10 Cellular phone (electronic device)
56 Touch position prediction unit 56a Touch history storage unit 56b Touch position determination unit (continuity determination unit)

Claims (5)

A touch panel;
A touch position detection unit that detects a touch position on the touch panel by processing a signal from the touch panel at an arbitrary scan period ;
During a series of touch operations, after a certain touch position is detected, the period until the next touch position is detected, the first period (t) greater than a said scan period, and the scan period Within the second period (T; where T> t ) that is X times (X is an arbitrary number), it is determined that the touch position detection result may be missing, and the touch position based on the history, and a touch position prediction unit that sets a predicted coordinate or expected range of missing touch position and next touch position of the missing touch position,
The touch position prediction unit includes a continuity determination unit that compares the detected next touch position with the predicted coordinate or the prediction range and determines continuity between the touch position and the next touch position. A touch panel system comprising:   The touch panel system according to claim 1, wherein the touch position prediction unit sets a predicted coordinate or a predicted range of a next touch position based on at least a touch position and a moving speed of the touch position.   The touch panel system according to claim 2, wherein the touch position prediction unit further sets a predicted coordinate or a prediction range of a next touch position based on a movement acceleration of the touch position.   When the detected next touch position is within a predetermined distance from the predicted coordinate or within the predicted range, the continuity determination unit determines whether the next touch position is the next touch position. The touch panel system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the touch is determined to be continuous.   The continuity determination unit continues at the certain touch position when the detected next touch position is present at a distance greater than a predetermined distance from the predicted coordinates, or when the detected position is outside the predicted range. The touch panel system according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel is determined to be terminated.

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