Patent Application
20170305453
The present invention relates to an input device and an input method for the input device, which are used in, for example, a vehicle.
An input device has been used for operating vehicle functions including an on-vehicle audio. Since such an input device is often provided between a driver's seat and a front passenger's seat, the input device might sometimes require a driver to change his or her posture from his or her driving posture for operation.
To solve this problem, an input device disposed on a rim (circular part) of a steering wheel for operating vehicle functions has been proposed (for example, Patent Literatures 1 and 2). This helps a driver to operate the vehicle functions while holding the steering wheel for driving.
PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-87566
PTL 2: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-79052
An input device according to the present invention includes an operation part, an operation commencement trigger part, and a detection circuit. The operation part includes a slider of an electrostatic capacity type. The operation commencement trigger part is provided at a predetermined location on the slider. The operation commencement trigger part is provided to commence a first operation including a flick operation on the slider. Upon detecting that the operation commencement trigger part has been touched, the detection circuit enables detection of the first operation on the slider. In addition, the present invention relates to an input method for an input device including an operation part including a slider of an electrostatic capacity type and an operation commencement trigger part provided at a predetermined location on the slider. The input method includes A) detecting whether the operation commencement trigger part has been touched, and B) enabling detection of a first operation on the slider when a fact that the operation commencement trigger part has been touched is detected. With the input device and the input method according to the present invention, even when a driver performs an input operation while holding a steering wheel, an erroneous input can be reduced.
Prior to describing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, problems in a conventional configuration will now be described.
In Patent Literature 1, a ring-shaped input area, and an exclusive area adjacent to the input area are provided on a rim (circular part) of a steering wheel. When a driver has touched the exclusive area, the input area is deactivated against any inputs. However, while the driver is turning the steering wheel, the driver is likely to unintentionally touch the input area, which could result in an erroneous input.
In Patent Literature 2, a matrix-shaped touch sensor is provided on a rim (circular part) of a steering wheel. With a movement of a tip of a finger or thumb in an arc shape, which is estimated based on any detected gripping location, a driver is able to touch-input an operation without visual confirmation. However, in an input device disclosed in Patent Literature 2, a location within the touch sensor, at which the driver has first touched with a tip of his or her finger or thumb, is regarded as a start location of the above described input on the touch sensor. Such a start location has not sometimes been intended by the driver, which could result in an erroneous input.
A configuration for solving such problems will now be described hereinafter.
The vehicle shown in
Steering wheel 10 of the vehicle includes a ring-shaped part (rim). When steering wheel 10 is turned, a travel direction of the vehicle is adjusted. As shown in
As shown in
When steering wheel 10 is placed at a neutral position as shown in
On-vehicle device 30 is, for example, an audio device. In this exemplary embodiment, with on-vehicle device 30, the audio device is operated in accordance with an input operation on touch sensor 20. In an example shown in
In accordance with a control of controller 32, audio player 31 selects and plays an audio signal to cause external loudspeaker 33 to sound. Audio player 31 plays an audio signal selected, in accordance with a control of controller 32, from a plurality of audio signals stored in, for example, an optical disc or a semiconductor memory. In addition, audio player 31 plays an audio signal of a radio station selected, in accordance with a control of controller 32, from radio stations, for example. Controller 32 controls audio player 31 in accordance with an input operation on touch sensor 20.
Seat 40 shown in
An input device according to this exemplary embodiment is not limited to input device 100 shown in
As shown in
Input device 100A may activate touch sensor 20 when grip sensor 60 has detected a fact in which driver 50 has gripped steering wheel 10.
Next, a configuration of touch sensor 20 will now be described.
Touch sensor 20 includes, for example, as shown in
In this exemplary embodiment, touch sensor 20A includes, for example, as shown in
Detection circuit 22 is electrically coupled to each of a plurality of elements, switch 203, and switch 204 to detect a respective electrostatic capacitance. In this exemplary embodiment, detection circuit 22 detects electrostatic capacitances of the plurality of elements, switch 203, and switch 204 while performing a scan in a single direction in a time division manner. In other words, detection circuit 22 detects in a time division manner electrostatic capacitances or change values of elements, which is generated when a driver touches with his or her finger or thumb the elements of slider 201. Therefore, detection circuit 22 can detect an operation (first operation) including a flick operation and a slide operation on slider 201.
Note that touch sensor 20A may include touch sensor area 21 only, and may not include detection circuit 22. In addition, each of slider 201, switch 203, and switch 204 may include a function of detection circuit 22. Alternatively, slider 201, switch 203, and switch 204 respectively are elements provided in touch sensor area 21 for detecting electrostatic capacitances, and detection circuit 22 may otherwise be provided separately.
Slider 201 is provided in touch sensor 20A, as shown in FIG. GB, to detect a flick operation or a slide operation (first operation). More specifically, slider 201 is disposed at a predetermined location on the circular part when steering wheel 10 is placed at the neutral position. Slider 201 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction toward which the circular part turns. With this arrangement, slider 201 detects a first operation performed by driver 50 with his or her thumb. The substantially perpendicular direction is defined to a perpendicular direction in a range, where driver 50 can easily perform the first operation with his or her thumb having an average length when driver 50 is about to perform a first operation on slider 201.
Upon detecting that home location identification part 202 has been touched, detection circuit 22 enables detection of a first operation on slider 201.
In addition, slider 201 includes a plurality of elements each for detecting an electrostatic capacitance. The plurality of elements is disposed side by side, as shown in
Home location identification part 202 is an example of an operation commencement trigger part, and is provided at a predetermined location on slider 201. The predetermined location on slider 201 is a center position of slider 201 in a direction toward which driver 50 moves his or her finger or thumb, which is a width direction of slider 201 shown in
Therefore, on slider 201, the elements are disposed in an area of which lengths are approximately identical in the width direction from home location identification part 202. As a result, when a flick operation is performed in either direction from home location identification part 202, an equivalent input can be detected.
In addition, at a location of home location identification part 202 disposed on touch sensor 20A, at least one of an uneven part, an illumination part, and a different tactile part from other parts of touch sensor 20A may advantageously be provided. Specifically, the uneven part can be configured by providing a protrusion at the location of home location identification part 202 disposed on touch sensor 20A. The illumination part can be configured by disposing a chip LED at the location of home location identification part 202 disposed on touch sensor 20A. The different tactile part can be configured by altering a material at the location of home location identification part 202 disposed on touch sensor 20A to a softer or harder material than a material used in other parts of touch sensor 20A. Therefore, driver 50 can promptly recognize home location identification part 202 with his or her eye or a tip of his or her finger or thumb.
In addition, cover 11 for covering touch sensor 20A may further be provided. Although cover 11 is omitted in
Two or more of the above-described uneven part, illumination part, and different tactile part may simultaneously be provided. In this case, driver 50 can more easily identify home location identification part 202.
In addition, home location identification part 202 includes, among the plurality of elements configuring slider 201, at least one element belonging to an area including the predetermined location of slider 201, for example, the center position of slider 201 in the width direction. Home location identification part 202 is provided at a center of slider 201 in the width direction when slider 201 is attached in a direction substantially perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the circular part of steering wheel 10. Therefore, when an electrostatic capacitance equal to or greater than a threshold is detected in at least one element, detection circuit 22 can detect a fact in which driver 50 has touched home location identification part 202 with a tip of his or her finger or thumb, based on a location of the element that shows the value. Alternatively, detection circuit 22 may detect a fact in which home location identification part 202 has been touched when an electrostatic capacitance equal to or greater than a threshold for a predetermined period of time or longer is detected in an element located on home location identification part 202.
Each of switches 203 and 204 accepts an operation (second operation) including a tap operation. Switches 203 and 204 include electrostatic capacity-type touch sensors, respectively, disposed at predetermined locations away from an operation commencement trigger part (home location identification part 202) in the circumferential direction of the circular part of steering wheel 10. Therefore, switches 203 and 204 respectively can accept an input operation (second operation) such as a touch input and a tap input. Switches 203 and 204 are provided, for example, as shown in
Cover 11 made of urethane or leather served as a surface of steering wheel 10 covers switches 203 and 204. On the surface of cover 11 at the respective locations of switch 203 and switch 204, similar to home location identification part 202, at least one of an uneven part, an illumination part, and a different tactile part is provided. Therefore, driver 50 can promptly recognize touch switch 203 and switch 204 visually or in tactile impression.
Switches 203 and 204 may be used for switching a sound source for audio player 31 in
Next, an operation of slider 201 will be described hereinafter.
In
Area B shows that slide or flick operations are repeated on slider 201 by a finger or thumb in a direction toward finger (thumb) detection location +X. In other words, in area B, driver 50 has repeated slide or flick operations with his or her finger or thumb on the plurality of elements of slider 201 shown in
As described above, when home location identification part 202 is touched and an operation (first operation) is commenced on slider 201, repeated slide or flick operations performed after that are determined as a consecutive operation. At this time, in the consecutive first operation, each operation may not start from home location identification part 202. In other words, unless home location identification part 202 is touched, no consecutive first operation will be identified. Therefore, touch sensor 20A suppresses erroneous inputs by driver 50 and allows driver 50 to smoothly commence and continue a touch-input operation without seeing the input device.
Area C shows that a single slide or flick operation has been performed on slider 201 toward direction −X with a finger or thumb. Therefore, in the configuration shown in
Area D shows that no operation is performed on slider 201. In other words, area D shows that neither a finger nor a thumb has been touched on any of the plurality of elements in slider 201. Therefore, in the configuration shown in
To end or cancel an operation on slider 201, driver 50 may follow a procedure described below. 1) Operate a part or parts other than slider 201, 2) operate nothing for a predetermined period of time, or 3) simultaneously touch a plurality of detection locations, among detection locations of each of switch 203, switch 204, and a plurality of elements included in slider 201.
The procedure will now specifically be described below.
1) When a part or parts other than slider 201 is operated
After detection circuit 22 has enabled detection of a first operation on slider 201, and upon detection circuit 22 detects a second operation on switch 203 or switch 204, detection circuit 22 determines that the first operation on slider 201 has finished.
Therefore, for example, while the above described consecutive and repeated first operation is performed, when switch 203 or 204 is pressed as another operation, detection circuit 22 processes that the first operation has finished or been canceled. Another operation is not limited to pressing switch 203 or 204 during a first operation, but may be an operation including touching home location identification part 202, or wholly placing a hand of driver 50 over slider 201.
In a case when, while switch 203 or 204 is pressed, the above described first operation is performed on slider 201, it may also be processed in a similar or identical manner. In other words, when a first operation is performed, an operation of pressing switch 203 or 204 is processed as that the operation has finished or being canceled.
2) When no operation is performed for a predetermined period of time
When detection circuit 22 detects electrostatic capacitances smaller than a threshold from all of the plurality of elements configuring slider 201 for a first predetermined period of time or longer, detection circuit 22 performs a process as that a first operation on slider 201 has finished. A first predetermined period of time is used for determining that the first operation has finished, and is referred to as a period of time during which a state continues, where an electrostatic capacitance is smaller than a threshold, such that detection circuit 22 determines that a first operation is not performed. The first predetermined period of time is stored beforehand in detection circuit 22.
3) When a plurality of elements is simultaneously touched
When detection circuit 22 approximately simultaneously detects electrostatic capacitances equal to or greater than a threshold from at least a predetermined number of elements in the plurality of elements configuring slider 201 for a second predetermined period of time, detection circuit 22 performs a process as that a first operation has finished. A second predetermined period of time is used for determining that the first operation has finished, and is referred to as a period of time during which a state continues, where an electrostatic capacitance is greater than a threshold such that detection circuit 22 determines that a first operation is performed on a predetermined number of elements. The second predetermined period of time is stored beforehand in detection circuit 22.
Next, a case when detection circuit 22 processes an operation as an invalid operation to avoid erroneous inputs will be described hereinafter.
When detection circuit 22 detects that a plurality of elements on slider 201 exceeding the number of elements that can be touched by a finger or thumb has approximately simultaneously been touched, detection circuit 22 may process the operation on slider 201 as an invalid operation. Therefore, an erroneous input on slider 201 can be reduced.
In this exemplary embodiment, for many detection parts including a plurality of elements, switch 203, and switch 204, detection circuit 22 switches internal switches at a high speed in a range from 1 millisecond to 10 milliseconds to sequentially detect electrostatic capacitances from the plurality of elements. Therefore, detection circuit 22 can detect that, for example, a plurality of elements has approximately simultaneously been touched.
A process for invalidating an operation is not limited to the above described process, but may include other processes. Another aspect of a process for invalidating an operation will be described.
Since touch sensor 20A is configured of an electrostatic capacity type, detection circuit 22 can detect a hand, finger, or thumb directly that not only when it touches slider 201, but also when it is close to an area around slider 201. Therefore, even if a hand, finger, or thumb partially floats above a plurality of detection locations, by comparing electrostatic capacitances obtained through elements and a threshold, detection circuit 22 can detect whether a whole area is gripped, or only a tip of a finger or thumb is touched.
For example, as shown in
When detection circuit 22 detects that a plurality of elements is approximately simultaneously touched as described above, input device 100 or 100A may determine that steering wheel 10 is partially gripped.
For example, input device 100A with grip sensor 60 disposed on steering wheel 10 may use grip sensor 60 to perform a process for invalidating an operation.
For example, grip sensor 60 is divided into four parts and disposed on the circular part of steering wheel 10. Therefore, when steering wheel 10 is gripped, grip sensor 60 can identify a location at which steering wheel 10 is gripped.
When driving a vehicle, driver 50 normally grips steering wheel 10, as shown in
If a speed or a distance of a slide or flick operation with a finger or thumb from home location identification part 202 is equal to or smaller than a certain threshold, input devices 100, 100A may perform an operation invalidating process to invalidate the slide or flick operation on slider 201.
As shown in
As described above, grip sensor 60 can detect a first location at which steering wheel 10 is gripped. This can be achieved because the larger an area of hand 52 covering grip sensor 60, the greater an output, while the more a first location of hand 52 is away from grip sensor 60, the smaller an area of hand 52 covering grip sensor 60 and thus the smaller an output. Therefore, when a thumb of hand 52 lies at a second location covering slider 201 as shown in
Accordingly, there's an interrelationship between the first location and the second location. The interrelationship between the first location and the second location is stored in detection circuit 22 beforehand. Therefore, based on the first location, the second location can be estimated. When the second location estimated through the interrelationship based on the first location identified by grip sensor 60 is a location at which slider 201 is disposed, detection circuit 22 enables detection of a first operation on slider 201.
This configuration can prevent an unintentional, erroneous operation on switch 203 or switch 204 provided on slider 201 from being detected.
Details will be described below.
When driver 50 grips steering wheel 10, for example, as shown in
In this case, in this exemplary process, detection circuit 22 preferentially detects an input operation probably touched with the thumb tip. In other words, detection circuit 22 uses the above described interrelationship to validate the input operation probably touched with the thumb tip, and to invalidate an input operation probably touched with portions including the palm and other than the thumb tip. As described above, by using grip sensor 60, a location of a palm can roughly be identified. Therefore, input device 100A can discriminate a tip of a finger or thumb and another portion including a palm to identify a location of the tip of the finger or thumb. As a result, this exemplary process can be achieved.
When an operation invalidating process described in this exemplary process is to be performed, and when, for example, switch 203 and switch 204 are away from each other, and switch 203 is to be operated with a tip of a finger or thumb, a configuration is assumed, where the plurality of elements and switch 204 are covered with a palm. At this time, detection circuit 22 determines that the tip of the finger or thumb touches switch 203, while the palm covers the plurality of elements and switch 204. Based on this determination, a process is performed where the tip of the finger or thumb and the palm are discriminated, and an operation performed with the tip of the finger or thumb is prioritized. Detection circuit 22 detects a touch with the tip of the finger or thumb preferentially, and disables detection of another touch with the palm. Therefore, even though touches on the plurality of elements and switch 204 lying on an area from the palm to the near location of the tip of the finger or thumb have been detected, detection circuit 22 can discriminate the tip of the finger or thumb and the palm, and perform a process for prioritizing an operation performed by the tip of the finger or thumb.
In addition, in this exemplary process, as an operation invalidating process to prioritize a process for detecting a touch with a tip of a finger or thumb, when touches on the plurality of elements and switch 204 have been detected, detection circuit 22 determines that touch sensor 20A has been gripped. Without invalidating all input operations on touch sensor 20A, detection circuit 22 then validates only an input operation performed on switch 203 with the tip of the finger or thumb. Furthermore, to use touch sensor 20A to perform a grip detection, detection circuit 22 determines whether a plurality of elements that is not lie on the area from the palm to the tip of the finger or thumb has approximately simultaneously been gripped.
For example, it is assumed a case where driver 50 searches switch 203 with his or her finger or thumb in order to perform a touch input on switch 203 without seeing the input device after driver 50 has touched home location identification part 202.
In this case, a speed or an amount of a flick or slide operation on slider 201 with a tip of a finger or thumb of driver 50 from home location identification part 202 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold. If the value of a speed or a distance of a flick or slide operation is equal to the predetermined threshold or less, it is determined that the operation is unintentional. This threshold is determined by actually measuring beforehand a movement of a tip of a finger or thumb, and is stored in detection circuit 22. When a speed or an amount of a flick or slide operation is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, and then a touch on switch 203 is detected, detection circuit 22 processes the touch such that switch 203 has been operated. In other words, when a speed or an amount of a slide operation from home location identification part 202 is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, and then a touch on switch 203 is detected, detection circuit 22 invalidates an operation on slider 201, and validates the operation on switch 203. Therefore, even with a configuration where gaps between slider 201 and each of switches 203 and 204 are smaller, an erroneous input can be reduced.
Next, an input method for input device 100A will be described with reference to
In
Specifically, touch sensor 20A is activated with either method shown in
On the other hand, with the method shown in
In this exemplary embodiment, input device 100A enables detection of a first operation on slider 201 and detection of a second operation on switches 203 and 204 to activate touch sensor 20A.
Next, in
In S11, when input device 100A determines that a finger or thumb is not consecutively touching the element configuring home location identification part 202 for the certain period of time (No in S11), input device 100A determines whether or not a finger or thumb is consecutively touching switch 203 or 204 for a certain period of time (S12).
In S12, when input device 100A determines that a finger or thumb is not consecutively touching switch 203 or 204 for the certain period of time (No in S12), it can be determined that no input operation has been performed on touch sensor 20A. Therefore, input device 100A performs no process (S13), and ends this input process.
On the other hand, in S12, when input device 100A determines that a finger or thumb is consecutively touching switch 203 or 204 for the certain period of time (Yes in S12), input device 100A performs a switching process (S14), and then ends the process.
Specifically, the switching process is processed as shown in
On the other hand, when input device 100A determines that a touch on switches 203 and 204 is performed at a single location (Yes in S141), input device 100A determines whether or not there is an operation such as a tap input on switch 203 or 204 (5142). When input device 100A determines that a tap input is operated (Yes in S142), input device 100A determines the operation on switch 203 or 204 (S144). When input device 100A does not determine that a tap input is operated (No in S142), input device 100A returns to the operation of S142 to wait until input device 100A determines that a tap input is operated.
In addition, in
In S15, when input device 100A determines that a finger or thumb does not simultaneously touch home location identification part 202 and the plurality of elements forming the range wider than a width of a finger or thumb (No in S15), input device 100A operates as described below. That is, input device 100A determines whether or not a tip of a finger or thumb touches switch 203 via home location identification part 202 (S16) by stretching the finger or thumb after input device 100A has validated an input operation when the finger or thumb has touched home location identification part 202.
When input device 100A does not determine that the finger or thumb has touched switch 203 via home location identification part 202 (No in S16) after the finger or thumb has touched home location identification part 202, input device 100A performs a sliding process (S17), and then ends the process.
The sliding process will be specifically described with reference to
On the other hand, in S171, when input device 100A determines that the finger or thumb has moved from home location identification part 202 to the element of slider 201 (Yes in S171), input device 100A performs a process as described below. First, input device 100A determines whether or not the finger or thumb has been moved on slider 201 (S173). Specifically, input device 100A determines whether or not a movement of the finger or thumb on slider 201 satisfies a threshold determined based on a predetermined speed or a predetermined distance.
When input device 100A determines that the finger or thumb has been moved on slider 201 (Yes in S173), input device 100A obtains a coordinate of slider 201 onto which the finger or thumb has moved, outputs a result to, for example, controller 32 (S174), and allows the process to proceed to S175. On the other hand, when input device 100A determines that the finger or thumb has not been moved on slider 201 (No in S173), input device 100A causes the process to proceed to 5175.
Next, input device 100A determines whether or not the finger or thumb has been removed from slider 201. If the finger or thumb has not been removed from slider 201 (No in S175), input device 100A causes the process to proceed to S176. On the other hand, when input device 100A determines that the finger or thumb has been removed from slider 201 (Yes in S175), input device 100A determines that an operation with the finger or thumb has been determined, and allows the process to proceed to S177.
In S176, input device 100A determines whether or not a certain period of time has passed while the finger or thumbs is not removed from slider 201 and remains touched. The certain period of time is, as described in S172, a period of time, such as one second counted from when input device 100A has started to execute the processes of the flowchart shown in
In S177, input device 100A determines the coordinate of slider 201 obtained in S174, or determines that a flick operation is performed once, and outputs a result to, for example, controller 32. Input device 100A then determines whether or not a certain period of time has passed (S178). The certain period of time is, as described in S172, a period of time, such as one second counted from when input device 100A has started to execute the processes of the flowchart shown in
In S15 in
With the input device and the input method according to this exemplary embodiment described above, an erroneous input can be reduced even when a driver performs an input while holding a steering wheel.
Specifically, the input device according to this exemplary embodiment includes a touch sensor provided at a predetermined location of a circular part (rim) of the steering wheel. Furthermore, this touch sensor is provided with a home location identification part (operation commencement trigger part) served as a start point of a first operation, such as a flick operation and a slide operation. Around this home location identification part, a slider capable of detecting a flick operation, and a switch capable of detecting a tap input are provided. With the input device according to this exemplary embodiment configured as described above, input operations including a slide operation, a flick operation, and a tap operation can be achieved.
In addition, in order to , consecutively repeat flick operations or slide operations after an input operation has been validated, a driver is not required to start an input operation from the home location identification part.
Therefore, an erroneous input can be reduced, and the driver can smoothly touch-input an operation without seeing the input device.
In the above described exemplary embodiment, touch sensor 20A is disposed, in other words, slider 201, switch 203, and switch 204 are disposed at the predetermined location(s) (location(s), facing driver 50, of the circular part of steering wheel 10) shown in
In other words, slider 201B includes the plurality of elements each for detecting an electrostatic capacitance. The plurality of elements included in slider 201B is disposed in a direction substantially perpendicular to axis 10a extending in a circumference direction of the circular part of steering wheel 10, as well as disposed inside the circular part. Specifically, as shown in
When driver 50 turns steering wheel 10, driver 50 may apply a larger force to steering wheel 10 with his or her hand, or driver 50 may quickly turn steering wheel 10.
In this case, when uneven parts or different tactile parts are provided on home location identification part 202 and switch 203, driver 50 might feel uncomfortable when he or she turns steering wheel 10. In this exemplary modification, slider 201B, home location identification part 202B, switch 203B, and switch 204B are provided inside the circular part of steering wheel 10. Therefore, while turning steering wheel 10, driver 50 is less likely to touch any or all of the slider, home location identification part, and switches, thus driver 50 can easily turn steering wheel 10.
In
In the above described exemplary embodiment, as shown in
More specifically, slider 201C includes the plurality of elements each for detecting an electrostatic capacitance, and home location identification part 202 is provided at the center of slider 201C in the width direction. In this case, the plurality of elements is disposed side by side in the directions each substantially perpendicular to the direction toward which the circular part of steering wheel 10 turns so as to each expand in the fan shape around home location identification part 202.
The fan shape may not be limited to the shape where the plurality of elements expands in both left and right directions from home location identification part 202, but may be a fan shape where the plurality of elements expands in either the directions only. In addition, a central angle of the fan shape may be set as desired to a maximum of 90° when the direction perpendicular to the axis of the circular part is specified to 0°. This angle is set and determined depending on a location of touch sensor 20C disposed on the circular part and the size of steering wheel 10 so that driver 50 is easily able to perform various operations with a tip of his or her finger or thumb. In a case where a switch is provided on touch sensor 20C, the switch is disposed at a location with which slider 201C having fan shapes is not interfered.
Therefore, since a degree of freedom in angle within which driver 50 is able to move his or her finger or thumb from home location identification part 202 on the circular part increases, driver 50 is able to smoothly move his or her finger or thumb to perform an operation on slider 201C. In addition, an individual difference in a direction toward which driver 50 slides his or her finger or thumb can be compensated.
In the above described exemplary embodiment, touch sensor 20A is provided at the predetermined location, which is a right side of steering wheel 10, when viewed from a driver. However, touch sensor 20A may be provided at another location. Touch sensor 20A may be provided on a left side of steering wheel 10, or touch sensors 20A may be provided on the left and right sides of steering wheel 10. When touch sensors 20A are provided on the left and right sides, touch sensors 20A on the left and right sides may be combined to configure an operation, such as a flick operation.
The input device and the input method for the input device according to the present invention have been described based on the exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. Various modifications to this exemplary embodiment, and various forms configured by combining the components in different exemplary embodiments, which can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirits of the present invention, are included in the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is applicable to vehicles provided with a ring-shaped steering wheel, and, in particular, an input device and an input method for the input device provided in a vehicle such as a car.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-234568 | Nov 2014 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2015/003276 | 6/30/2015 | WO | 00 |
