OPERATION INPUT DEVICE

• US 20090021491A1
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Kawamura, Katsuaki
• Application Number:
  US12/279,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20090021491A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• 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

In an operation input device enabling multi-screen display, screen display functions are not prevented with each other, and smooth operation input becomes possible, respectively. The operation input device includes a multi-screen display device such as a liquid crystal display device enabling two-screen display on a right-left or up-down side. In addition, a touch panel is provided in a display area of the multi-screen display device. Moreover, a proximity sensor unit is provided around the touch panel. The proximity sensor unit may be formed by plural proximity sensors. The proximity sensor detects fingers of a user approaching the touch panel for operation input, a touch pen and an approach direction of other operation input object. The control unit limits operation input from a direction different from the detected direction.

Claims

1. An operation input device comprising:

a multi-screen display device which displays different images in different right-left or up-down directions;

a touch panel which is provided on the multi-screen display device;

a proximity sensor unit which is provided around the touch panel and which detects an approach direction of an operation input object approaching the touch panel for operation input; and

a control unit which limits operation input to the touch panel from a direction different form a detected approach direction.

2. The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit makes operation input from a direction different from the detected approach direction invalid.

3. The operation input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an icon display unit which displays an icon showing an operation input position on the touch panel on the multi-screen display device,

wherein, when the proximity sensor unit detects the approach direction of the operation input object approaching the touch panel, the icon display unit deletes an icon included in an image displayed in a direction different from the detected approach direction.

4. The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein, while the proximity sensor unit detects that the operation input object approaches the touch panel even after the operation input to the touch panel by the operation input object ends, the control unit continues to limit the operation input.