Screen operating device for a vehicle

• US 7,292,228 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Fujioka, Yasuhiro, Kunimatsu, Yoshimasa, Nagasaka, Chikao
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro; Leonid
• Application Number:
  US10/433,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,162 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/168, 345/55
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A screen operating device having good operability is obtained. When a push switch is pressed via a sheet switch within a predetermined time from a finger touching the sheet switch, a click signal is received within a predetermined time from receipt of a touch signal. After receipt of this touch signal, if a click signal is received within a predetermined time, buttons other than a predetermined selection button 32 are not displayed on a screen of a monitor device 26, and processing corresponding to a label displayed on the selection button 32 is carried out. In this way, a specific processing, such as a processing having a high frequency of use or the like, can be carried out rapidly.

Claims

1. A screen operating device for a vehicle comprising:

a case provided within a vehicle cabin, and provided as a separate body from an outputting means which displays an image;

position detecting means having, at a reverse surface of a sheet-shaped operation surface which is provided at the case in a state in which an obverse of the operation surface is exposed from the case and whose obverse is a flat surface or a curved surface, a plurality of first line terminals disposed parallel to one another and a plurality of second line terminals disposed parallel to one another along a direction orthogonal to the plurality of first line terminals in a state of being separated from the plurality of first line terminals in a direction of thickness of the operation surface, and when the operation surface is pressed, the position detecting means outputs a position detection signal corresponding to a pressed region on the press surface only when the operating surface is positively depressed a distance necessary to create contact between one of the plurality of first line terminals and one of the plurality of second line terminals;

pressing force detecting means provided within the case at a side of the second line terminals opposite the operation surface, and in a state in which one of the plurality of first line terminals contacts one of the plurality of second line terminals due to a pressing force with respect to the operation surface, when the pressing force is a predetermined value or more, and results in said operation surface being pushed a greater distance in a thickness direction than said distance necessary to output a position detection signal, a continuous state arises, and the pressing force detecting means outputs a pressing force detection signal which is different than the position detection signal; and

control means provided as a separate body from the outputting means and the case, and displaying an image at the outputting means, and switching or maintaining the image displayed at the outputting means on the basis of a detection signal corresponding to at least one of a presence/absence of the operating body on the operation surface, a position of the operating body on the operating surface, and a locus of movement on the operation surface, among the position detection signal and the pressing force detection signal,

wherein said control means carries out a specific processing other than the outputting of a predetermined screen upon the sequential receipt of a position detection signal followed by the receipt of a pressing force signal in less than a predetermined time.

2. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein

when a pressing force detection signal is not outputted after said predetermined time has elapsed from the outputting of a position detection signal, a predetermined screen is outputted to the outputting means.

3. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein

when the position detection signal is outputted continuously after said predetermined time has elapsed from output of the position detection signal, the control means outputs a predetermined screen to the outputting means.

4. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein

when the control means displays, at the outputting means, a first screen based on a specific function and one or a plurality of function switching portions belonging to another function which is different than the specific function, and the position of the operating body on the operation surface based on the position detection signal corresponds to the function switching portion, the control means displays at the outputting means a second screen based on the other function to which said function switching portion belongs.

5. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 4, wherein, in a state in which the control means displays the second screen on the outputting means, when the position detection signal is not outputted, the control means displays the first screen on the outputting means.

6. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 4, wherein, in a displayed state of the second screen, the control means displays on or a plurality of selection portions belonging to the other function, and in a state immediately after switching to the second screen, the control means sets the selection portion, which is at a position corresponding to the function switching portion which was selected during display of the first screen immediately before display of the second screen, in a selected state.

7. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 6, wherein the control means displays, at the function switching portion, processing contents at the time of selecting the selection portion which is set in the selected state immediately after the second screen switching.

8. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 4, wherein, in a displayed state of the second screen, the control means displays one or a plurality of selection portions belonging to the other function, and in a state immediately after switching to the second screen, the control means sets the selection portion, which is at a position corresponding to the function switching portion which was selected during display of the first screen immediately before display of the second screen, in a selected state.

9. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the control means displays, at the function switching portion, processing contents at the time of selecting the selection portion which set in the selected state immediately after the second screen switching.

10. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein

the control means displays data at respective predetermined positions in a display region of the outputting means, and, on the basis of the position detection signal, the control means computes a moving direction of the operating body moving on the operation surface, and the control means moves all of or a portion of the data in a direction substantially opposite to the moving direction, and displays, at the outputting means, data of an outer side of the display region in a direction corresponding to the moving direction.

11. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 10, wherein

on the basis of the position detection signal which changes, the control means computes a staying time of the operating body at a least one point of a movement starting point of the operating body on the operating surface, one or plural intermediate points during movement, and a movement ending point, or a moving time from at least one of the points to another one point, and

the control means executes movement of the data when the computed staying time or moving time is less than a predetermined value.

12. The screen operating device for a vehicle of a claim 11, wherein

on the basis of a predetermined detection signal which the detecting means outputs other than the position detection signal which changes, the control means moves all of or a portion of the data at a speed which is different than a moving speed of the data based on the position detection signal which changes.

13. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 12, wherein

on the basis of the position detection signal which changes, the control means computes a staying time of the operating body at least one point of a movement starting point of the operating body on the operating surface, one or plural intermediate points during movement, and a movement ending point, or a moving time from at least one of the points to another one point, and

sets a moving speed of the data on the basis of the computed staying time or moving time.

14. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein

the control means executes movement of the data when the position detection signal, in a case in which the position detecting means detects the operating body whose movement on the operation surface has ended and which is positioned on the operating surface, is outputted a predetermined time after the position detection signal.

15. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 10, wherein

the control means executes movement of the data when the position detection signal, in a case in which the position detecting means detects the operating body whose movement on the operating surface has ended and which is positioned on the operation surface, is not outputted immediately after the position detection signal which changes is outputted.

16. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 10, wherein

on the basis of the position detection signal which changes, the control means computes a staying time of the operating body at least one point of a movement starting point of the operating body on the operation surface, one or plural intermediate points during movement, and a movement ending point, or a moving time from at least one of the points to another one point, and

sets a moving speed of the data on the basis of the computed staying time or moving time.

17. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 16, wherein

the control means executes movement of the data when the position detection signal, in a case in which the position detecting means detects the operating body whose movement on the operation surface has ended and which is positioned on the operation surface, is not outputted immediately after the position detection signal which changes is outputted.

18. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 10, wherein

on the basis of a predetermined detection signal which the detecting means outputs other than the position detection signal which changes, the control means moves all of or a portion of the data at a speed which is different than a moving speed of the data based on the position detection signal which changes.

19. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 18, wherein

on the basis of the position detection signal which changes, the control means computes a staying time of the operating body at least one point of a movement starting point of the operating body on the operation surface, one or plural intermediate points during movement, and a movement ending point, or a moving time from at least one of the points to another one point, and

sets a moving speed of the data on the basis of the computed staying time or moving time.

20. The screen operating device for a vehicle of claim 19, wherein

the control means executes movement of the data when the position detection signal, in a case in which the position detecting means detects the operating body whose movement on the operation surface has ended and which is positioned on the operation surface, is not outputted immediately after the position detection signal which changes is outputted.

21. A screen operating device for a vehicle comprising:

a case provided within a vehicle cabin, and provided as a separate body from an outputting means which displays an image;

position detecting means having, at a reverse surface of a sheet-shaped operation surface which is provided at the case in a state in which an obverse of the operation surface is exposed from the case and whose obverse is a flat surface or a curved surface, a plurality of first line terminals disposed parallel to one another and a plurality of second line terminals disposed parallel to one another along a direction orthogonal to the plurality of first line terminals in a state of being separated from the plurality of first line terminals in a direction of thickness of the operation surface, and when the operation surface is pressed, the position detecting means outputs a position detection signal corresponding to a pressed region on the press surface only when the operating surface is positively depressed a distance necessary to create contact between one of the plurality of first line terminals and one of the plurality of second line terminals;

pressing force detecting means provided within the case at a side of the second line terminals opposite the operation surface, and in a state in which one of the plurality of first line terminals contacts one of the plurality of second line terminals due to a pressing force with respect to the operation surface, when the pressing force is a predetermined value or more that is greater than a pressing force required for the position detecting means to output a position detection signal, a continuous state arises, and the pressing force detecting means outputs a pressing force detection signal which is different than the position detection signal; and

control means provided as a separate body from the outputting means and the case, and displaying an image at the outputting means, and switching or maintaining the image displayed at the outputting means on the basis of a detection signal corresponding to at least one of a presence/absence of the operating body on the operation surface, a position of the operating body on the operating surface, and a locus of movement on the operation surface, among the position detection signal and the pressing force detection signal,

wherein said control means carries out a specific processing other than the outputting of a predetermined screen upon the sequential receipt of a position detection signal followed by the receipt of a pressing force signal in less than a predetermined time.