Input operation system

• US 20070262970A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Yuji, Oki, Tetsuya, Matsumoto, Yuuji, Ito, Toshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,164,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An input operation system for use in a vehicle has a protruding marking on a surface of a touch panel, and displays a composite image generated by superposing an outline of user'"'"'s finger on a switch operation screen. The composite image of the switch operation screen is backed by an image of the protruding marking on the surface of the touch panel, and the user'"'"'s finger receives a tactile feedback from the protruding marking on the surface of the touch panel to cause sensations of an intuitive positioning in the switch operation screen for controlling a menu item that is displayed on a display unit for an input operation of vehicular devices.

Claims

1. An input operation system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a touch panel that senses a touching finger of a user;

an imaging unit that images the touch panel;

an outline extraction unit that extracts an outline image of the touching finger of the user based on an image of the touch panel;

an image generation unit that generates a composite image by superposing the outline image of the touching finger extracted by the outline extraction unit on a switch operation screen; and

a display control unit that displays the composite image generated by the image generation unit on a display panel,

wherein the touch panel has a touch sensitive surface having a protrusion disposed thereon, and

the image generation unit generates the composite image by superposing the outline image of the touching finger on the switch operation screen that is backed by an image of the protrusion.

2. An input operation system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a touch panel that senses a touching finger of a user;

an imaging unit that images the touch panel;

an outline extraction unit that extracts an outline image of the touching finger of the user based on an image of the touch panel;

an image generation unit that generates a composite image by superposing the outline image of the touching finger extracted by the outline extraction unit on a switch operation screen;

a display control unit that displays the composite image generated by the image generation unit representation on a display panel;

an operation detection unit that detects whether the touching finger of the user is in an in-contact condition or an out-of-contact condition with a vehicular device that controls vehicular equipment; and

a lamp control unit that lights a lamp for lighting the touch panel with a predetermined brightness after a first lapse time from a detection of the out-of-contact condition of the touching finger with the vehicular device.

3. The input operation system of claim 2 further comprising:

a panel control detection unit that detects whether the user is in an in-contact condition or an out-of-contact condition with the touch panel by the touching finger of the user,

wherein the lamp control unit increases the brightness of the lamp when a second lapse time has passed after lighting the lamp with the predetermined brightness without detection of the in-contact condition of the touching finger of the user with the touch panel by the panel control detection unit.

4. The input operation system of claim 3,

wherein the lamp control unit extinguishes the lamp when a third lapse time has passed after lighting the lamp with the predetermined brightness without a detection of the in-contact condition of the touching finger with the touch panel by the panel control detection unit, and

the third lapse time is longer than the second lapse time.

5. The input operation system of claim 3,

wherein the lamp control unit changes the brightness of the lamp to the predetermined brightness when the in-contact condition of the touching finger is detected by the panel control detection unit after increasing the brightness of the lamp.

6. The input operation system of claim 3,

wherein the lamp control unit extinguishes the lamp when both of a first condition and a second condition is detected,

the first condition is defined as detection of the out-of-contact condition of the touching finger of the user with the touch panel by the panel control detection unit after detection of the in-contact condition of the touching finger of the user with the touch panel by the panel control detection unit, and

the second condition is defined as a detection of the in-contact condition of the touching finger with the vehicular device by the operation detection unit.