Display unit with touch panel, method of controlling the same, and computer products

• US 7,730,400 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Ke; Simon
• Application Number:
  US10/436,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20040027397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,576 Days
• Field of Search: 715/863, 715701-702, 399/185
• US Class Current: 715/701
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

A display unit includes a touch point locus detector that detects a locus of a touch point on the touch panel, and a suspended touch detector that detects that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period while the locus is detected. The display unit also includes a graphics identifying section that identifies a graphics indicated by the locus when the suspended touch is detected, and a graphics display section that displays the locus on a display screen, erases the displayed locus after the graphics identification is finished, and displays a graphics obtained through the identification on the display screen.

Claims

1. A display unit with a touch panel, which displays a graphics drawn using the touch panel, the display unit comprising:

a touch point locus detecting unit that detects a locus of continuous movement of a touch point that indicates a position of a touch made by an object on the touch panel;

a graphics identifying unit that identifies a graphics of the locus detected by the touch point locus detecting unit;

a graphics display unit that displays the locus detected by the touch point locus detecting unit on a display screen, erases the displayed locus after the graphics identifying unit ends the identification of the graphics, and displays the graphics obtained as a result of the identification on the display screen; and

a suspended touch detecting unit that detects that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release during detection of the locus by the touch point locus detecting unit, wherein

the graphics display unit displays again the displayed locus that has been erased once when the suspended touch detection unit detects that the touch is suspended and then a dragging operation is performed on the touch panel without detouching from the touch panel after the displayed locus has been erased; and

the graphics identifying unit identifies the graphics of the locus detected by the touch point locus detecting unit, when the suspended touch detecting unit detects that the touch is suspended.

2. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein

the graphics identifying unit determines a result of identification of a graphics after the touch point locus detecting unit detects touch release, and

the graphics display unit displays the graphics obtained after the determination on the display screen.

3. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein

the graphics identifying unit detects a change in a direction of a locus detected by the touch point locus detecting unit, and identifies a graphics indicated by the locus based on the detected change in the direction.

4. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein

when a change in the direction by at least a predetermined value is not detected during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as a straight line.

5. The display unit according to claim 4, wherein

the touch point locus detecting unit detects a locus of the touch point on an X-Y coordinate system, and when identifying the graphics as a straight line,

the graphics identifying unit identifies the straight line as a vertical line when a change of the X coordinate of the touch point is within a predetermined range, and identifies the straight line as a horizontal line when a change of the Y coordinate of the touch point is within a predetermined range, either of the changes being found during a period from when the locus detection is started until touch is released.

6. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein

when a change in the direction by at least a predetermined value is detected once during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as an arrow.

7. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein

when a change in the direction by at least a predetermined value is detected twice during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as a triangle.

8. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein

when a change in the direction by at least a predetermined value is detected three times during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as a rectangle.

9. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein

when a change in the direction is continuously detected during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as a circle.

10. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein

when a change in the direction is continuously detected during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, and also when either a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of X coordinates respectively on the locus or a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of Y coordinates respectively on the locus is at least two times as large as the other difference, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as an oval.

11. The display unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage unit that stores therein the locus detected by the touch point locus detecting unit even after the detected locus is erased, wherein the locus to be displayed again is the locus stored in the storage unit.

12. A display unit with a touch panel, which displays a graphics drawn using the touch panel, the display unit comprising:

a touch point locus detecting unit that detects a locus of continuous movement of a touch point that indicates a position of a touch made by an object on the touch panel;

a graphics identifying unit that identifies a graphics of the locus detected by the touch point locus detecting unit;

a graphics display unit that displays the locus detected by the touch point locus detecting unit on a display screen, erases the displayed locus and displays the graphics obtained as a result of the identification on the display screen when the graphics identifying unit has identified the graphics, and erases the displayed locus when the graphics identifying unit has failed to identify the graphics; and

a suspended touch detecting unit that detects that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release during detection of the locus by the touch point locus detecting unit,

wherein the graphics display unit displays again the displayed locus that has been erased once when the suspended touch detection unit detects that the touch is suspended and then a drag operation is performed on the touch panel without detouching from the touch panel after the displayed locus has been erased; and

the graphics identifying unit identifies the graphics of the locus detected by the touch point locus detecting unit, when the suspended touch detecting unit detects that the touch is suspended.

13. The display unit according to claim 12, wherein

the graphics identifying unit determines a result of identification of a graphics after the touch point locus detecting unit detects touch release, and

the graphics display unit displays the graphics obtained after the determination on the display screen.

14. The display unit according to claim 12, wherein

the graphics identifying unit detects a change in a direction of a locus detected by the touch point locus detecting unit, and identifies a graphics indicated by the locus based on the detected change in the direction.

15. The display unit according to claim 14, wherein

when a change in the direction by at least a predetermined value is not detected during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as a straight line.

16. The display unit according to claim 15, wherein

the touch point locus detecting unit detects a locus of the touch point on an X-Y coordinate system, and when identifying the graphics as a straight line,

the graphics identifying unit identifies the straight line as a vertical line when a change of the X coordinate of the touch point is within a predetermined range, and identifies the straight line as a horizontal line when a change of the Y coordinate of the touch point is within a predetermined range, either of the changes being found during a period from when the locus detection is started until touch is released.

17. The display unit according to claim 14, wherein

when a change in the direction by at least a predetermined value is detected once during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as an arrow.

18. The display unit according to claim 14, wherein

when a change in the direction by at least a predetermined value is detected twice during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as a triangle.

19. The display unit according to claim 14, wherein

when a change in the direction by at least a predetermined value is detected three times during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as a rectangle.

20. The display unit according to claim 14, wherein

when a change in the direction is detected continuously during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as a circle.

21. The display unit according to claim 14, wherein

when a change in the direction is detected continuously during a period from when locus detection is started by the touch point locus detecting unit until the touch is released, and also when either a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of X coordinates respectively on the locus or a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of Y coordinates respectively on the locus is at least two times as large as the other difference, the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics indicated by the detected locus as an oval.

22. The display unit of claim 12, further comprising:

a storage unit that stores therein the locus detected by the touch point locus detecting unit even after the detected locus is erased, wherein the locus to be displayed again is the locus stored in the storage unit.

23. The display unit of claim 12, further comprising:

a suspended touch detecting unit that detects that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release during detection of the locus by the touch point locus detecting unit,

wherein the graphics identifying unit identifies a graphics of the locus detected by the touch point locus detecting unit, when the suspended touch detecting unit detects that the touch is suspended.

24. A method of controlling a display unit with a touch panel, which displays a graphics drawn using the touch panel, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display screen, a locus of continuous movement of a touch point that indicates a position of a touch made by an object on the touch panel;

identifying a graphics indicated by a locus of the touch point;

erasing the displayed locus after the graphics has been identified at the step of identifying the graphics, and displaying the graphics obtained as a result of the identification, on the display screen;

detecting that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release during detection of the locus; and

displaying again the displayed locus that has been erased once when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended and then a dragging operation is performed on the touch panel without detouching from the touch panel after the erasing step has been performed, wherein the identifying step includes identifying the graphics of the locus when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein

the erasing includes displaying again the locus displayed at the displaying when a drag operation is performed over the touch panel after the displayed locus is erased.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein

the identifying includes detecting a change in the direction of the locus, and identifying a graphics indicated by the locus based on the detected change of the direction.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

detecting that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release while the touch point locus is displayed,

wherein the identifying step identifies the graphics indicated by a locus of the touch point, when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

storing in a storage unit the displayed locus even after the displayed locus is erased, wherein the locus to be displayed again is the locus stored in the storage unit.

29. A method of controlling a display unit with a touch panel, which displays a graphics drawn using the touch panel, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display screen, a locus of continuous movement of a touch point that indicates a position of a touch made by an object on the touch panel;

identifying a graphics indicated by a locus of the touch point;

erasing the displayed locus after the graphics has been identified at the step of identifying the graphics and displaying the graphics obtained as a result of the identification on the display screen, and erasing the displayed locus when graphics identification is failed; and

detecting that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release during detection of the locus,

wherein the erasing includes displaying again the displayed locus when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended and then a drag operation is performed over the touch panel without detouching from the touch panel after the displayed locus is erased, wherein the identifying step includes identifying the graphics of the locus when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein

the identifying includes detecting a change in the direction of the locus, and identifying a graphics indicated by the locus based on the detected change of the direction.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

detecting that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release while the touch point locus is displayed,

wherein the identifying step identifies the graphics indicated by a locus of the touch point, when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

storing in a storage unit the displayed locus even after the displayed locus is erased, wherein the locus to be displayed again is the locus stored in the storage unit.

33. A computer-readable medium having encoded thereon a program for allowing a computer to execute a method of controlling a display unit with a touch panel that displays a graphics drawn using the touch panel, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display screen, a locus of continuous movement of a touch point that indicates a position of a touch made by an object on the touch panel;

identifying a graphics indicated by a locus of the touch point;

erasing the displayed locus after the graphics has been identified at the step of identifying the graphics, and displaying the graphics obtained as a result of the identification, on the display screen;

detecting that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release during detection of the locus; and

displaying again the displayed locus that has been erased once when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended and then a dragging operation is performed on the touch panel without detouching from the touch panel after the erasing step has been performed, wherein the identifying step includes identifying the graphics of the locus when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended.

34. The medium of claim 33, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release while the touch point locus is displayed,

wherein the identifying step identifies the graphics indicated by a locus of the touch point, when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, the method further comprising:

storing in a storage unit the displayed locus even after the displayed locus is erased, wherein the locus to be displayed again is the locus stored in the storage unit.

36. A computer-readable medium having encoded thereon a program for allowing a computer to execute a method of controlling a display unit with a touch panel that displays a graphics drawn using the touch panel, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display screen, a locus of continuous movement of a touch point that indicates a position of a touch made by an object on the touch panel;

identifying a graphics indicated by a locus of the touch point; and

erasing the displayed locus after the graphics has been identified at the step of identifying the graphics and displaying the graphics obtained as a result of the identification on the display screen, and erasing the displayed locus when graphics identification is failed; and

detecting that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release during detection of the locus,

wherein the erasing includes displaying again the displayed locus that has been erased once when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended and then a drag operation is performed over the touch panel without detouching from the touch panel after the displayed locus is erased, wherein the identifying step includes identifying the graphics of the locus when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended.

37. The medium of claim 36, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release while the touch point locus is displayed,

wherein the step of identifying a graphics indicated by a locus of the touch point, when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, the method further comprising:

displaying in a storage unit the displayed locus even after the displayed locus is erased, wherein the locus to be displayed again is the locus stored in the storage unit.

39. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a handwriting unit that receives coordinate information based on an input of handwriting;

a graphic identifying unit that identifies a graphic based on a locus formed by the coordinate information;

a display unit that displays a refined graphic corresponding to the graphic identified by the graphic identifying unit, and replaces the locus with the refined graphic; and

a suspended touch detecting unit that detects that a touch is suspended when a touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release, wherein

the display unit displays the locus that has been replaced when the suspended touch detection unit detects that the touch is suspended and then a dragging operation is performed without detouching after the displayed locus has been replaced, and the graphics identifying unit identifies the graphic based on the locus formed by the coordinate information, when the suspended touch detecting unit detects that the touch is suspended.

40. The information processing apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

a storage unit that stores therein the locus formed by the coordinate information even after the locus has been replaced, wherein the locus to be displayed again is the locus stored in the storage unit.

41. An information processing method, comprising:

receiving coordinate information based on an input of handwriting;

identifying a graphic based on a locus formed by the coordinate information;

displaying a refined graphic corresponding to the graphic identified by the graphic identifying unit, and replacing the locus with the refined graphic;

detecting that a touch is suspended when a touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release; and

displaying the locus that has been replaced when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended and then a dragging operation is performed without detouching after the replacing step has been performed, wherein the identifying step includes identifying the graphic based on the locus when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

storing in a storage unit the locus formed by the coordinate information even after the locus has been replaced, wherein the locus to be displayed again is the locus stored in the storage unit.

43. A computer-readable medium having encoded thereon a program for allowing a computer to execute a method, the method comprising:

receiving coordinate information based on an input of handwriting;

identifying a graphic based on a locus formed by the coordinate information;

displaying a refined graphic corresponding to the graphic identified by the graphic identifying unit, and replacing the locus with the refined graphic;

detecting that a touch is suspended when a touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period without touch release; and

displaying the locus that has been replaced when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended and then a dragging operation is performed without detouching after the replacing step has been performed, wherein the identifying step includes identifying the graphic based on the locus when the detecting step detects that the touch is suspended.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

storing in a storage unit the locus formed by the coordinate information even after the locus has been replaced, wherein the locus to be displayed again is the locus stored in the storage unit.