Touch Panel-Type Operation Panel and Control Method Therefor

• US 20160077654A1
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ishii, Yoshihiko, Kamoshida, Ryota, Ishikawa, Tadaaki, KATONO, Kenichi, Arita, Setsuo, Kanada, Masaki
• Application Number:
  US14/784,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20160077654A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36168 Touchscreen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

To eliminate or reduce stress for an operator who operates an operation panel. A touch panel-type operation panel includes a display with touch panel including an image display surface for displaying an operation part and a control device. The display with touch panel detects approach of an operation finger to the operation part and the position of the operation part and outputs signals of the detected approach of the operation finger and the detected position. The control device predicts and analyzes, in response to an input of the signals of the approach of the operation finger and the position, a state of a control target by operation corresponding to the operation part with reference to state data of the control target, determines appropriateness of the predicted and analyzed operation, and outputs a result of the determination.

Claims

1. A touch panel-type operation panel comprising:

a display with touch panel including an image display surface for displaying an operation part, the display with touch panel detecting approach of an operation finger to the operation part and a position of the operation part and outputting signals of the detected approach and the detected position; and

a control device that predicts and analyzes, in response to an input of the signals of the approach of the operation finger and the position, a state of a control target by operation corresponding to the operation part with reference to state data of the control target, determines appropriateness of the predicted and analyzed operation, and outputs a result of the determination.

2. The touch panel-type operation panel according to claim 1, wherein

the display with touch panel includes a first detection surface for detecting that the operation finger comes into contact with the image display surface and a second detection surface for detecting the approach of the operation finger to the operation part and the position of the operation part,

the signals of the approach and the position are approach of the operation finger to the operation part and a position of the operation part detected on the second detection surface, and

when the result of the determination of appropriateness of the operation is appropriate, the control device outputs a control signal corresponding to the operation to the control target in response to the detection of the operation finger on the first detection surface.

3. The touch panel-type operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the control device prepares alternative operation corresponding to the operation in advance, executes, in parallel to the prediction analysis of the state of the control target by the operation, a prediction analysis of the state of the control target by the alternative operation, and, when appropriateness of the predicted and analyzed alternative operation is determined as inappropriate, outputs a determination result of the appropriateness of the predicted and analyzed alternative operation.

4. The touch panel-type operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the control device is connected to an environment sensor set in a vicinity of the control target, distinguishes, on the basis of a signal from the environment sensor, an event of the control target that has high emergency and for which a processing procedure is clear, and outputs a control signal corresponding to a distinction result to the control target.

5. A control method of a control device of a touch panel-type operation panel to which a display with touch panel is connected,

the display with touch panel including an image display surface on which an operation part is displayed,

the control method comprising:

detecting approach of an operation finger to the operation part and a position of the operation part;

outputting signals of the detected approach and the detected position;

predicting and analyzing, in response to an input of the signals of the approach of the operation finger and the position, a state of a control target by operation corresponding to the operation part with reference to state data of the control target;

determining appropriateness of the predicted and analyzed operation; and

outputting a result of the determination.

6. The control method according to claim 5, wherein

the display with touch panel includes a first detection surface for detecting that the operation finger comes into contact with the image display surface and a second detection surface for detecting the approach of the operation finger to the operation part and the position of the operation part,

the display with touch panel detects, on the second detection surface, approach of the operation finger to the operation part and a position of the operation part and detects the operation finger on the first detection surface, and

when the result of the determination of appropriateness of the operation is appropriate, the control device outputs a control signal corresponding to the operation to the control target in response to the detection of the operation finger on the first detection surface.

7. The control method according to claim 5, wherein the control device prepares alternative operation corresponding to the operation in advance, executes, in parallel to the prediction analysis of the state of the control target by the operation, a prediction analysis of the state of the control target by the alternative operation, and, when appropriateness of the predicted and analyzed alternative operation is determined as inappropriate, outputs a determination result of the appropriateness of the predicted and analyzed alternative operation.

8. The control method according to claim 5, wherein the control device is connected to an environment sensor set in a vicinity of the control target, distinguishes, on the basis of a signal from the environment sensor, an event of the control target that has high emergency and for which a processing procedure is clear, and outputs a control signal corresponding to a distinction result to the control target.