JPH08249118A - Touch panel device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Purpose] To provide a touch panel device that can perform a smooth input operation from the touch panel and a control method thereof, and to provide an information processing device in which the touch panel device and the main body device are separately configured, (EN) A touch panel device that can perform reference data processing that defines the effective range of a touch panel as much as possible on the touch panel device side, and a control method thereof. [Structure] Touch panel device 3 having touch panel 2
Is a control method of a touch panel that generates data corresponding to the first pressed point unless the touch panel surface is restored to the non-pressed state even when another point is pressed while the arbitrary pressed point of the touch panel 2 is in the pressed state. It has the means to realize it. Further, in the information processing device 1 having the configuration of the touch panel device 3 and the main body device 4, the non-volatile memory 10 of the touch panel device 3 stores reference data that defines the effective range of the touch panel 2 and specifies the pressed position of the touch panel 3. Realize the control method.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a touch panel device and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a touch panel device applicable as an input device of various information processing systems and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A character or symbol input device is known which generates a code corresponding to a predetermined character or symbol by touching a part of the panel surface with a finger or pushing with a stick.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are plan views for explaining an example of a panel used in a conventional touch panel device. FIG. 3 (a) shows the top plate, and FIG. 3 (b) shows the bottom plate, which are superposed. Both plates are made of a synthetic resin material, for example, a polyester film, and a resistance film is formed on each of the surfaces of the plates facing each other. Further, the upper plate is formed with electrodes electrically connected to the resistance film at the left and right edges in the figure, and the lower plate is similarly provided with the resistors at the vertically opposite edges in the figure. An electrode is formed that electrically connects to the membrane. Each of the electrodes plays a role of a power supply voltage applying electrode (Va, Va) or a detection signal output electrode (So, So) depending on a case of specifying a coordinate position in the X direction and a case of specifying a coordinate position in the Y direction. Play the role of. The resistive film is formed of a transparent resistive film made of ITO (indium oxide), and the touch panel is LC
Space saving is often achieved by overlapping with a display device such as D. In addition, when the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate are overlapped, each electrode is configured by disposing an insulating member in a necessary portion so as to be electrically independent.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection when detecting the pressed state of the surface of the touch panel. In the figure, in the figure of the upper plate, a voltage is applied from the power sources E, E to the left and right electrodes 100, 100, and the electrode 1 on one side of the lower plate is
01 is connected to the ground via the resistor 102.
The other negative terminal of the power supplies E, E is connected to the ground. In this state, when one point (for example, point A) on the touch panel is pressed, the point A on the top plate and the corresponding point on the bottom plate and the resistor 102 are pressed.
A current flows therethrough, and a voltage appears on the pressed state detection signal line 103. This voltage can be A / D converted according to a conventional method, and the converted value can be read out by the CPU and judged, whereby the pressed state of the touch panel can be recognized.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection when detecting the position (X coordinate) of the pressed point on the surface of the touch panel in the X direction. In the figure, a voltage is applied from the power source E to the electrode 100 on the right side of the figure of the upper plate, and the electrode 1 on the left side is
00 is connected to the ground. Further, the electrode of the lower plate is in a floating state without being connected to any place. As described above, since the resistive film is formed on the top plate, when the point A on the touch panel is pressed, the resistance Rx is applied to the point A.
A voltage corresponding to (resistance between point A and ground) appears. A resistance film is formed on the lower plate as well as the upper plate,
When the point A is pressed, the resistance film of the upper surface plate and the resistance film of the lower surface plate at the point A are connected, so that the voltage corresponding to the resistance Rx also appears in the lower surface plate. This voltage is taken out from between one of the two electrodes 101, 101 of the lower surface plate and the ground, is A / D converted, and the converted value is CP.
The position in the X direction can be detected by reading with U and making a judgment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection when detecting the position (Y coordinate) of the pressed point on the surface of the touch panel in the Y direction. In the figure, a voltage is applied from the power source E to the upper electrode 101 in the lower plate and the lower electrode 1
01 is connected to the ground. Further, the electrode of the upper plate is in a floating state without being connected to any place. Since the resistance film is formed on the lower plate as described above, when the point A on the touch panel is pressed, a voltage corresponding to the resistance Ry (the resistance between the point A and the ground) appears at the point A. . A resistance film is formed on the upper plate as well as the lower plate, and the point A
When is pressed, the resistance film of the lower surface plate body and the resistance film of the upper surface plate body at point A are connected, so that the voltage corresponding to the resistance Ry also appears in the upper surface plate body. This voltage is taken out from between one of the two electrodes 100, 100 of the upper surface plate and the ground, is A / D converted, and the converted value is read out by the CPU to determine the position in the Y direction. Can be detected.

The pressed state of the surface of the touch panel, the X
The switching of the power supply, the selection of the detection signal output electrode, etc. accompanying the measurement of the position in the direction and the position in the Y direction are not manually performed one by one, but a switch circuit or the like is provided in advance and the above circuit configuration is set before the measurement. A control signal is sent from the CPU to a required control circuit so that the above can be realized quickly.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional information processing apparatus equipped with a touch panel device having a touch panel. In the figure, the information processing device is configured by a touch panel device 110 having a touch panel and a main body device 120 of the information processing device.

The touch panel device 110 includes a display device with a touch panel 111 in which a touch panel formed of a transparent resistance film and a display device are combined, and a detection signal of the touch panel is input to the state detection control unit 112. The output of the state detection control unit 112 is input to the touch panel controller 113, and the touch panel controller 113 can exchange data with the data transmitting / receiving unit 114. The touch panel controller 113 is a CP different from the CPU 121 described later.
Equipped with U.

On the other hand, the main body device 120 has a CPU 121, and the CPU 121 is configured to be able to exchange data with the display control unit 122, the data transmission / reception unit 123, and the auxiliary storage control unit 124. In the auxiliary storage control unit 124, the CPU 121 has an auxiliary storage device 125.
It is responsible for the control so that data can be written in or read from the auxiliary storage device 125. The display control unit 122 is connected to the display device 111 via a connector and a cable (not shown) and controls the display of information on the display device 111. The data transmitting / receiving unit 123 is also connected to the data transmitting / receiving unit 114 via a connector and a cable (not shown), and is configured to be able to exchange data regarding the touch panel with the data transmitting / receiving unit 114. There is.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the control procedure of the conventional touch panel. In the figure, the control program is the RO in the touch panel controller 113.
Written to M. First, when the execution of this routine is started, it is determined whether or not the surface of the touch panel is pressed (step S1). When no voltage appears on the pressed state detection signal line 103, the process returns to the entrance of step S1 to execute step S1 in a loop state. When it is determined that a voltage appears on the pressed state detection signal line 103 and the surface of the touch panel is pressed, step S2
Then, the position in the X direction and the position in the Y direction are detected. Then, the acquired data (point data) of the position in the X direction and the position in the Y direction is transmitted to the main body device 120 via the data transmitting / receiving unit 114 (step S3). Next, the process proceeds to step S4, and after waiting time of 10 ms to 20 ms here, the process returns to step S1.

The conventional touch panel has been used under the control as described above. By the way, in order to determine a range (hereinafter, referred to as an effective range) in which the operation of the touch panel is surely guaranteed, the method described below has been conventionally adopted.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an information processing apparatus shown for explaining a conventional method for defining the effective range of the touch panel. This block diagram is the same as the block diagram shown in FIG. 7 except that black circle marks are shown by adding symbols A and B to the touch panel. In the figure, the data of the positions of points A and B are stored in the auxiliary storage device 125 in the following procedure. [Procedure 1]: The CPU 121 of the main body device 120 transmits a valid range designation data storage command for the point A to the touch panel controller 113 via the data transmission / reception unit 123 and the data transmission / reception unit 114. [Procedure 2]: The CPU 121 of the main body device 120 moves the point A to the position to be pressed through the display control unit 122.
For example, the "+" symbol is displayed. [Procedure 3]: Next, the operator presses the point A on the touch panel, that is, the part corresponding to the displayed "+" symbol. [Procedure 4]: The touch panel controller 113 takes in the digital data determined by the state detection control unit 112 from the state detection control unit 112 as position data for the point A. [Procedure 5]: The touch panel controller 113 uses the position data as the effective range designation data via the data transmission / reception unit 123 and the data transmission / reception unit 114.
21 and the CPU 121 causes the auxiliary storage control unit 12
The effective range designation data for the point A is stored in the auxiliary storage device 125 via 4.

Also for the point B, the processing is carried out according to the procedure 1 to the procedure 5, and the effective range designation data for the point B is stored in the auxiliary storage device 125.

[0015]

Conventionally, the effective range designation data of the touch panel is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1 of the main unit 120.
However, once the auxiliary storage device 125 fails and the effective range designation data cannot be read, the touch panel device 110 is stored.
There is a problem in that it is impossible to operate the system, even though it does not have any problems.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a touch panel device and a control method thereof that can solve such a problem. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a touch panel for explaining a phenomenon when a plurality of points on the surface of the touch panel are simultaneously pressed. The upper plate and the lower plate have the same structure as that shown in FIG. In the figure, the pressing point P
Considering the case where 1, P2, P3, and P3 occur at the same time, in this case, due to the structure of the touch panel, the pressing point P1,
It is known to detect the position of the center of gravity of a polygon formed by connecting P2, P3, and P3, and it has been confirmed experimentally. Therefore, there is a problem that the correct code intended by the operator cannot be input.

In view of these problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a touch panel device and a control method thereof that can perform a smooth input operation while avoiding the inconvenience of incorrect input from the touch panel. .

[0018]

The present invention relates to a touch panel device having a touch panel, in which, after an arbitrary point on the touch panel is pressed, another point is pressed in the pressed state. Even if the touch panel surface is not restored to the non-pressed state, a touch panel control method for controlling to generate data corresponding to the first pressed point and a touch panel device including means for realizing this control method are configured.

Further, the present invention is an information processing device comprising a touch panel device having a touch panel and a main body device, wherein the touch panel device has a non-volatile memory, and the non-volatile memory defines an effective range of the touch panel. Stores reference data, reads reference data that defines the effective range of the touch panel from the non-volatile memory when an arbitrary point of the touch panel is pressed to specify the position, and refers to the pressed position of the touch panel. A touch panel control method for controlling so as to specify a touch panel and a touch panel device including means for realizing the control method are configured.

[0020]

Operation: After an arbitrary point on the touch panel is pressed, even if another point is pressed while the pressed point is still in the pressed state, the point that is first pressed unless the touch panel surface is restored to the non-pressed state. Since it is controlled to generate the data corresponding to, the erroneous data is not output from the touch panel device.

In an information processing apparatus in which the touch panel device and the main body device are separately configured, the reference data for defining the effective range of the touch panel is stored in the nonvolatile memory provided in the touch panel device, not in the storage device on the main body device side. Since it is stored, even if the storage device of the main unit fails and cannot be read out, regardless of that, the reference data that defines the effective range of the touch panel is read from the nonvolatile memory and the effective range of the touch panel is read. Can be determined.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing apparatus including a touch panel device to which the touch panel device control method of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, an information processing device 1 includes a touch panel device 3 having a touch panel 2.
And the main body device 4 of the information processing device 1.

The touch panel device 3 includes a display device 6 with a touch panel, which is a combination of the touch panel 2 formed of a transparent resistance film and the display device 5, and the detection signal of the touch panel 2 is input to the state detection control section 7. The output of the state detection control unit 7 is input to the touch panel controller 8, and the touch panel controller 8 can exchange data with the data transmitting / receiving unit 9. Further, the touch panel controller 8 can write data in the non-volatile memory 10 and read data from the non-volatile memory 10. The touch panel controller 8 has a CPU different from the CPU 11 described later.

On the other hand, the main body device 4 has a CPU 11, and the CPU 11 is configured to be able to exchange data with the display control unit 12, the data transmission / reception unit 13 and the auxiliary storage control unit 14. Further, the auxiliary storage control unit 14 controls the CPU 11 so that the CPU 11 can write data in the auxiliary storage device 15 and read data from the auxiliary storage device 15. The display controller 12 is connected to the display device 5 via a connector and a cable (not shown).
Control the display of information to. Further, the data transmission / reception unit 13 is also connected to the data transmission / reception unit 9 via a connector and a cable (not shown), and is configured to exchange data relating to the touch panel with the data transmission / reception unit 9. .

In the touch panel device 3 of the information processing apparatus 1 having the above-mentioned configuration, the points A and B serving as reference data for defining the effective range of the touch panel.
The data of the position is stored in the non-volatile memory 10 by the following procedure. [Procedure 1]: The CPU 11 of the main body device 4 transmits an effective range designation data storage command for the point A to the touch panel controller 8 via the data transmission / reception unit 13 and the data transmission / reception unit 9. [Procedure 2]: The CPU 11 of the main body device 4 has the display control unit 12
To the position where the point A should be pressed via,
Display the "+" sign. [Procedure 3]: Next, the operator presses the point A of the touch panel 2, that is, the portion corresponding to the displayed "+" symbol. [Procedure 4]: The touch panel controller 8 fetches the digital data determined by the state detection control unit 7 from the state detection control unit 7 as position data for the point A. [Procedure 5]: The touch panel controller 8 stores the effective range designation data for the point A in the nonvolatile memory 10 using the position data as the effective range designation data. [Procedure 6]: The touch panel controller 8 sends a response command, which means that the effective range designation data of the point A has been stored in the nonvolatile memory 10, via the data transmission / reception unit 13 and the data transmission / reception unit 9. CP
Send to U11.

Also for the point B, the processing is performed according to the procedure 1 to the procedure 6 and the effective range designation data for the point B is stored in the nonvolatile memory 10.
As described above, the effective range designation data stored in the non-volatile memory 10 is read when the arbitrary surface of the touch panel is pressed and the touch panel controller 8 specifies its position, and the effective range reference data is read. Referenced as data.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of control for realizing the control method of the touch panel device according to the present invention. In the figure, the control program is written in the ROM in the touch panel controller 8. First, when the execution of this routine is started, it is determined whether or not the surface of the touch panel is pressed (step S10). If the surface of the touch panel is not pressed, step S10
And the step S10 is executed in a loop state. If it is determined that the surface of the touch panel has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S11, where the position in the X direction and the position in the Y direction are detected. Next, the acquired data (point data) of the X-direction position and the Y-direction position is transmitted to the main body device 4 via the data transmitting / receiving unit 9 (step S12). Next, in step S13, it is determined whether or not the pressed state of the surface of the touch panel is released. When the pressed state of the touch panel surface has not been released, the process returns to step S12, and the same data as the data first transmitted to the main body device 4 is transmitted to the main body device 4. When it is determined in step S13 that the pressed state of the touch panel surface has been released, the process returns to step S10 and the above-described processing is repeated. In step S12, the acquired position in the X direction and the Y position are acquired.
Although the position data in the direction is transmitted to the main body device 4 via the data transmission / reception unit 9, a necessary device such as a character generator is provided in the touch panel device, and the character of the character defined as the touch point of the touch panel is set. The code may be transmitted to the main body device 4 via the data transmitting / receiving unit 9.

[0028]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the reference data defining the effective range of the touch panel is not stored in the auxiliary storage device of the main body device but is stored in the non-volatile memory in the touch panel device. As a result, even if the auxiliary storage device of the main unit fails, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the system cannot be operated.

Further, once the touch panel surface is in the depressed state, the touch panel device is controlled to output the same data as the original data as many times as possible until the state is released. A smooth input operation can be performed while avoiding the inconvenience of erroneous input.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing apparatus including a touch panel device to which a touch panel device control method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of control for realizing the control method of the touch panel device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example of a panel used in a conventional touch panel device.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an electrical connection when detecting the pressed state of the surface of the touch panel.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing an electrical connection when detecting a position in the X direction of a pressed point on the surface of the touch panel.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an electrical connection when detecting a position in the Y direction of a pressed point on the surface of the touch panel.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional information processing apparatus including a touch panel device having a touch panel.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of a conventional touch panel.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus shown for explaining a conventional method of determining an effective range of a touch panel.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a touch panel for explaining a phenomenon when a plurality of points on the surface of the touch panel are simultaneously pressed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information processing device 2 Touch panel 3 Touch panel device 4 Main body device 5 Display device 6 Display device 7 State detection control unit 8 Touch panel controller 9 Data transmission / reception unit 10 Nonvolatile memory 11 CPU 12 Display control unit 13 Data transmission / reception unit 14 Auxiliary storage control unit 15 Auxiliary storage

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a touch panel device having a touch panel, even when an arbitrary point on the touch panel is pressed and then another point is pressed in the pressed state,
A control method for a touch panel that controls to generate data corresponding to the first pressed point unless the touch panel surface is restored to the non-pressed state. 2. In a touch panel device having a touch panel, even when an arbitrary point on the touch panel is pressed and then another point is pressed in the pressed state,
A touch panel device comprising a control means for controlling to generate data corresponding to a first pressed point unless the touch panel surface is restored to a non-pressed state. 3. An information processing apparatus comprising a touch panel device having a touch panel and a main body device, wherein the touch panel device has a non-volatile memory, and the non-volatile memory stores reference data defining an effective range of the touch panel. Then, when an arbitrary point on the touch panel is pressed and the position thereof is specified, reference data that defines the effective range of the touch panel is read out from the non-volatile memory and referenced to specify the pressed position of the touch panel. Touch panel control method to control. 4. An information processing device comprising a touch panel device having a touch panel and a main body device, wherein the touch panel device has a non-volatile memory, and the non-volatile memory stores reference data defining an effective range of the touch panel. Then, when an arbitrary point on the touch panel is pressed and the position thereof is specified, reference data that defines the effective range of the touch panel is read out from the non-volatile memory and referenced to specify the pressed position of the touch panel. A touch panel device including control means for controlling.