Patent Application
20110102335
The present invention relates to an input device including a touch panel, an input method, a program, and a storage medium.
There are conventionally input devices having a display with a touch panel. Some of such input devices can display a UI screen on the display so as to allow a user to perform various operations by touching the UI screen. UI stands for “User Interface”. That is, the UI screen is a screen that the user touches directly or with an object to give an instruction for executing necessary process via the touch panel. This kind of input device is exemplified by an electronic music device. The electronic music device is a device that displays a keyboard, strings, or the like on the touch panel, and produces a sound to play music in response to a touch on them by the user with his/her finger.
An example of a technique that displays a keyboard of an electronic piano on the display is disclosed in Patent Literature 1.
The technique of Patent Literature 1 is to adjust the size of the entire keyboard in response to a press of a size adjusting button (an enlargement key or a reduction key). This causes the size of the entire keyboard to be adjusted to be appropriate for a size of a hand.
However, the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1 enlarges or reduces the entire keyboard. As such, it is difficult to adjust the size of the keyboard at one time so as to be optimal for the user's finger width or hand size. Therefore, the user often has to repeat minor adjustments, with his/her hand put on the keyboard, by pressing the adjusting button several times. Moreover, since this technique is intended for the electronic piano, it cannot be applied to other music devices.
There are other electronic music devices that produce a sound in response to a touch with a finger on the touch panel. For example, Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique in which a musical score is displayed on a display and a sound corresponding to an area of the musical score touched by the user is produced. Specifically, the sound is produced in accordance with a musical note touched with the finger.
However, as described above, the technique of Patent Literature 2 is to produce a sound which corresponds to the area of the musical score that is pressed. As such, a musical performance by use of an actual musical instrument is not intended. Further, Patent Literature 2 does not mention adjusting the size of an input image.
Thus, no electronic music device is known in which a part, which is used for playing music or operating the electronic music device (hereinafter referred to as an “input image”), is displayed on the UI screen and can be adjusted by a single setting to have such a size that the user can comfortably play music.
Not only in the electronic music devices but also in other input devices provided with a touch panel, no technique is known that can adjust the size of the input image by a single setting so as to be appropriate for the finger width of the user. For example, no technique is known that can adjust the size of keys of on-screen keyboard in such a way that has been described above.
Patent Literature 1
Japanese Patent Application Publication Tokukai No. 2000-10563 A (Publication Date: Jan. 14, 2000)
Patent Literature 2
Japanese Patent Application Publication Tokukai No. 2007-34115 A (Publication Date: Feb. 8, 2007)
As described above, the conventional input device including the touch panel is (i) the one that has to repeat minor adjustments of the input image so as to be appropriate for the finger width and the hand size of the user or (ii) the one that serves exclusively as a particular music device.
The present invention is achieved in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device, an input method, a program, and a storage medium that can adjust the input image by a single setting so as to have an optimal size that is appropriate for the finger width and the hand size of the user.
(Input Device)
In order to attain the above object, an input device of the present invention, which includes a display and a touch panel provided to the display, includes: image generation means for generating respective images of, among a plurality of fingers pressing on the touch panel, a first finger and an image of a second finger adjacent to the first finger; and display process means for displaying on the display a plurality of input images corresponding to a distance between two images generated by the image generation means and respective sizes of the two images.
According to the above configuration, the input device includes a display and a touch panel provided to the display.
The present input device also includes image generation means for generating respective images of, among a plurality of fingers, a first finger and a second finger adjacent to the first finger. In a case where the first finger is a forefinger, the second finger is, e.g., a middle finger. With this configuration, it is possible to separately generate images of fingers pressing on the touch panel. That is, in the aforementioned case, the input device generates an image of the forefinger and an image of the middle finger, respectively.
The present input device further includes display process means for displaying on the display a plurality of input images corresponding to a distance between two images generated by the image generation means and respective sizes of the two images. The distance between the two images here means, for example, a distance between the forefinger and the middle finger. The respective sizes of the two images mean, for example, transverse widths of the respective fingers. With this configuration, the input device displays on the display the input images corresponding to the distance between the forefinger and the middle finger and the transverse widths of the respective fingers, for example.
As described above, the present input device displays on the display the input images corresponding to the sizes of the user's fingers and the distance between the fingers. That is, the present input device can display the input images that have been adjusted to be appropriate for the size of the user's hand. The user performs an input operation via the touch panel by directly touching the input images.
An example of such an input device is an electronic musical instrument. For example, an electronic piano produces sounds in response to user's pressing on the input images represented as keys. In the present input device, the input images, which are represented as the keys, are displayed in positions where the user puts his/her fingers naturally. This prevents a possibility that the user happens to perform an input operation by erroneously touching other input images. In other words, this produces an effect of avoiding an erroneous operation. In a case where the present input device is realized as an electronic piano, the keys are provided in positions where the user puts his/her hand naturally. This allows the user to comfortably play music without pressing two keys by mistake.
Furthermore, the present input device can display, as a result of a single setting, the input images corresponding to the sizes of the user's fingers and the distance between the fingers. With this configuration, the user does not have to repeat minor adjustments with his/her hand put on the input image as in the conventional techniques. Therefore, an effect is produced that the setting can be made easily.
(Calculation of Width)
It is preferable that the input device of the present invention further includes: width calculating means for calculating out a given width of the plurality of input images based on the distance and the sizes, and the display process means displays the plurality of input images each having the width calculated out by the width calculating means.
According to the above configuration, the present input device further includes width calculating means for calculating a given width based on the aforementioned distance and sizes. Further, the display process means displays the plurality of input images each having the given width calculated out by the width calculating means. With this configuration, it is possible to simultaneously display the plurality of input images that have been adjusted to have equal widths.
(Calculation of Longitudinal Width and Transverse Width)
In the input device of the present invention, it is preferable that the width calculating means calculates out, based on the distance and the sizes, longitudinal widths and transverse widths of the plurality of input images, respectively, and the display process means displays the plurality of input images respectively having the longitudinal widths and the transverse widths calculated out by the width calculating means.
According to the above configuration, the present input device calculates, based on the distance and the sizes, the longitudinal widths and the transverse widths of the plurality of input images. Further, the display process means displays the plurality of input images respectively having the longitudinal widths and the transverse widths calculated out by the width calculating means. With this configuration, it is possible to display a plurality of input images adjusted to have equal longitudinal widths and equal transverse widths.
(Calculation of Distance)
It is preferable that the input device of the present invention further includes: distance calculating means for calculating out, based on the distance and the sizes, a distance between adjacent input images among the plurality of input images, and the display process means displays the plurality of input images so as to space the input images apart from each other at the distance calculated out by the distance calculating means.
According to the above configuration, the present input device further includes distance calculating means for calculating out, based on the distance and the sizes, a distance between adjacent input images among the plurality of input images. Further, the display process means displays the plurality of input images so as to space the input images apart from each other at the distance calculated out by the distance calculating means. With this configuration, it is possible to display the plurality of input images that are arranged evenly spaced apart.
(Photo Detecting Touch Panel)
Further, in the input device of the present invention, it is preferable that the touch panel be a photo detecting touch panel.
(Input Method)
An input method, which is executed by an input device which includes a display and a touch panel provided to the display, includes the steps of: generating respective images of, among a plurality of fingers pressing on the touch panel, a first finger and a second finger adjacent to the first finger; and displaying on the display a plurality of input images corresponding to a distance between two images generated by the image generation means and respective sizes of the two images.
(Program and Storage Medium)
The input device according to the present invention may be realized by a computer. In that case, a program causing a computer to function as each of the foregoing means to realize the input device in the computer and a computer readable storage medium in which the program is stored fall within the scope of the present invention.
As described above, in the present input device, the input images are arranged in the positions where the user puts his/her hand naturally. This prevents a possibility that the user happens to perform an input operation by erroneously touching other input images. In other words, this produces an effect of avoiding an erroneous operation. Furthermore, the present input device can display, as a result of a single setting, the input images corresponding to the sizes of the user's fingers and the distance between the fingers. With this configuration, the user does not have to repeat minor adjustments of the input images. Therefore, an effect is produced that the setting can be made easily.
The following describes an embodiment of an input device according to the present invention with reference to
(Configuration of Input Device 1)
To begin with, described is a configuration of a main part of an input device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to
(Configuration of Display Unit 2)
Referring to
The backlight system 21 adjusts image display brightness of the touch panel 3. The touch panel 3 of the present embodiment is a multi-point detection touch panel. An internal configuration of the touch panel 3 is not particularly limited. However, the touch panel 3 is preferably a photo detecting touch panel. Further, the touch panel 3 may include an optical sensor, or may have other multi-point detection configuration. It is not particularly specified here. Steps performed in the touch panel 3 will be described later.
In the input device 1, the touch panel 3 may be built in the display unit 2, as described above. Alternatively, the touch panel 3 may be provided on the display unit 2.
The input device 1 may also include a plurality of display units 2. For example, the input device 1 may be a double-screened personal digital assistant including two display units 2 respectively provided with touch panels 3.
(Another Configuration Example of Display Unit 2)
Next, another configuration example of the display unit 2 is described with reference to
The following description discusses the present embodiment with reference to an example of a multi-point detection touch panel illustrated in
(Example of Electronic Keyed Instrument)
First, the following describes a case where the input device 1 according to the present invention is realized as an electronic keyed instrument, with reference to
(Configuration of Electronic Keyed Instrument)
With reference to
In
(Steps in Input Device 1 as Electronic Keyed Instrument)
As shown in
In step S1, the UI screen as depicted in (a) of
Then, the display section 2 displays a screen in accordance with the display signal.
The input device 1 recognizes a press of the button 70 by the user as a command for a size adjustment of the keys 72 (step S2), thereby displaying a setting screen 73 for the size adjustment in the display unit 2 (step S3), as depicted in (b) of
(Generation of Finger Images)
Subsequently, the input device 1 generates images of the respective fingers based on the input operation by the user's hand 74 put on the setting screen 73 depicted in (b) of
Here, with reference to
As shown in
The finger image generation section 6 generates images of the respective fingers based on the input signal (step S14). The finger images generated here are images 75 depicted in (c) of
Note that the finger image generation section 6 may generate at least an image of a first finger and an image of a second finger which is adjacent to the first finger, among a plurality of fingers that press on the touch panel 30. If, for example, the first finger is a forefinger, then the second finger is, for example, a middle finger. The finger image generation section 6 supplies the images to the finger image selection section 7 (step S15).
(Finding of Widths of Finger Images and Distance Between Finger Images)
After step S4, the input device 1 finds, based on the images 75, widths of the finger images and a distance between the finger images (step S5).
The following explains details of processes carried out in step S5 with reference to
As shown in
The finger image selection section 7 then supplies the images 76 and 77 to the finger image width finding section 8 and the inter-finger image distance finding section 10 (step S17).
Now, steps in the finger image width finding section 8 and the inter-finger image distance finding section 10 are explained with reference to
(Calculation of Input Image Width)
After step S5, the input image width calculating section 9 calculates out a width of an input image based on the supplied widths 80 and 81 and the supplied distance 82 (step S6). Here, the input image is represented as the key 72 depicted in (e) of
The input image width calculating section 9 supplies, to the display process section 4, data indicative of the width of the key 72 thus calculated out (step S7). The display process section 4 supplies, to the display unit 2, a signal of the input image adjusted to have the width corresponding to the supplied data. The touch panel 3 in the display unit 2 displays an input image based on the input signal (step S8).
Thus, a keyboard as depicted in (e) of
(Example of On-Screen Keyboard)
Referring now to
In the following, a detailed explanation is omitted with respect to the steps that are common to those in the aforementioned embodiment where the input device 1 is realized as the foregoing electronic keyed instrument.
Here, the input image in
(Configuration of On-Screen Keyboard)
With reference to
In
(Steps in Input Device 1 as On-Screen Keyboard)
As shown in
In step S1, the UI screen as depicted in (a) of
(Generation of Finger Images)
Subsequently, the input device 1 generates images of the respective fingers based on the input operation by the user's hand 93 put on the setting screen 92 depicted in (b) of
The finger images generated in step S4 are images 94 shown in (c) of
(Finding of Widths of Finger Images and Distances Between Finger Images)
After step S4, the input device 1 finds, based on the images 94, widths of the finger images and distances between the finger images (step S5).
The following explains details of processes carried out in step S5 with reference to
As shown in
The finger image selection section 7 then supplies the images 95 and 96 to the finger image width finding section 8 and the inter-finger image distance finding section 10 (step S17).
Now, steps in the finger image width finding section 8 and the inter-finger image distance finding section 10 are explained with reference to
(Calculation of Input Image Width)
After step S5, the input image width calculating section 9 calculates out a width of an input image based on the supplied widths 100, 101, 103, and 104 and the supplied distances 102 and 105 (step S6). Here, the input image is represented as the key 91 depicted in (e) of
The input image width calculating section 9 supplies, to the display process section 4, data indicative of the longitudinal width and the transverse width of the key 91 thus calculated out (step S7). The display process section 4 supplies, to the display unit 2, a signal of the input image adjusted in size in consideration of the longitudinal width and the transverse width thus inputted. The touch panel 3 in the display unit 2 displays an input image based on the input signal (step S8).
In this way, the key 91 as depicted in (e) of
Thus, a keyboard as depicted in (e) of
(Example of Electronic Stringed Instrument)
Referring now to
In the following, a detailed explanation is omitted with respect to the steps that are common to those in the case where the input device 1 is realized as the foregoing electronic keyed instrument and on-screen keyboard.
(Configuration of Electronic Stringed Instrument)
With reference to
In
(Steps in Input Device 1 as Electronic Stringed Instrument)
As shown in
In step S31, the UI screen as depicted in (a) of
(Generation of Finger Images)
Subsequently, the input device 1 generates images of the respective fingers based on the input operation by the user's hand 124 put on the setting screen 123 depicted in (b) of
The finger images generated in step S34 are images 125 shown in (c) of
(Finding of Widths of Finger Images and distance Between Finger Images)
After step S34, the input device 1 finds, based on the images 125, widths of the finger images and a distance between the finger images (step S35).
The following explains details of processes carried out in step S35 with reference to
As shown in
The finger image selection section 7 then supplies the images 126 and 127 to the finger image width finding section 8 and the inter-finger image distance finding section 10 (step S17).
Nov, steps in the finger image width finding section 8 and the inter-finger image distance finding section 10 are explained with further reference to FIG. 13.
(Calculation of Input Image Width)
After step S35, the inter-input image distance calculating section 11 finds a distance between the input images based on the supplied widths 130 and 131 and the supplied distance 132. Here, the input image is represented as the string 122 depicted in (e) of
The inter-input image distance calculating section supplies data indicative of the distance to be provided between the strings 122 thus found to the display process section 4 (step S37). The display process section 4 supplies a signal of the input image, in which the supplied distance is provided, to the display unit 2. The touch panel 3 in the display unit 2 displays an input image based on the input signal (step S38).
Thus, the strings 122 as depicted in (e) of
(Single-Point Input)
The present invention can be realized also in a configuration which includes a single-point detection touch panel that has been described with reference to
In step S10 of
The other steps that are followed by this step and the steps that follow this step are the same as those in the case where the multi-point detection touch panel is used, and the same effects are produced.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. Those skilled in the art may vary the present invention in many ways without departing from the claims. That is, a new embodiment may be provided from a combination of technical means arbitrarily altered within the scope of claims.
(Program and Storage Medium)
Finally, the blocks included in the input device 1 may be realized by way of hardware or software as executed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as follows:
The input device 1 includes a CPU and memory devices (storage media). The CPU executes instructions in programs realizing the functions. The storage devices include a ROM (Read Only Memory) which contains programs, a RAM (Random Access Memory) to which the programs are loaded in an executable form, and a memory containing the programs and various data. With this configuration, the objective of the present invention can also be achieved by a predetermined storage medium.
The storage medium may record program code (executable program, intermediate code program, or source program) of the program for the input device 1 in a computer readable manner. The program is software realizing the aforementioned functions. The storage medium is provided to the input device 1. The input device 1 (or CPU, MPU) that serves as a computer may retrieve and execute the program code contained in the provided storage medium.
The storage medium that provides the input device 1 with the program code is not limited to the storage medium of a specific configuration or kind. The storage medium may be, for example, a tape, such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape; a magnetic disk, such as a floppy (Registered Trademark) disk or a hard disk, or an optical disk, such as CD-ROM/MO/MD/DVD/CD-R; a card, such as an IC card (memory card) or an optical card; or a semiconductor memory, such as a mask ROM/EPROM/EEPROM/flash ROM.
The object of the present invention can also be achieved by arranging the input device 1 to be connectable to a communications network. In that case, the aforementioned program code is delivered to the input device 1 over the communications network. The communication network may be able to deliver the program codes to the input device 1, and is not limited to the communications network of a particular kind or form. The communications network may be, for example, the Internet, an intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communications network, virtual dedicated network (virtual private network), telephone line network, mobile communications network, or satellite communications network.
The transfer medium which makes up the communications network may be any medium that can transfer the program code, and is not limited to a transfer medium of a particular configuration or kind. The transfer medium may be, for example, wired line, such as IEEE 1394, USB (Universal Serial Bus), electric power line, cable TV line, telephone line, or ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line); or wireless, such as infrared radiation (IrDA, remote control), Bluetooth (Registered Trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile telephone network, satellite line, or terrestrial digital network. The present invention can also be realized in the mode of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which data signal the program code is embodied electronically.
The present invention is widely available as an input device including a touch panel. For example, the present invention can be realized as an input device mounted on an electronic music device such as an electronic piano and an electronic guitar, a mobile telephone terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a PMP (portable media player).
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-144570 | Jun 2008 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2009/057798 | 4/17/2009 | WO | 00 | 12/22/2010 |
