Abstract:
An input operation apparatus includes: an operating unit capable of performing a tilt operation and a depression operation; a detecting unit that detects a tilt direction and depression of the operating unit; and a control unit that manages a plurality of modes, each mode including a plurality of select items, and controls input change or input confirmation according to an input operation made by the operating unit. The control unit processes an operation of the operation unit in a tilt direction equivalently with the depression operation in a predetermined mode.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2011/079683, filed on Dec. 21, 2011 which claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-287238, filed on Dec. 24, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an input operation apparatus and an input operation control method. More particularly, the present invention relates to an input operation apparatus and an input operation control method in which, when a user presses a position shifted from a correct position more or less, the press is not considered to be an input error, and user&#39;s unintended operation errors are reduced as much as possible to improve the operability. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A vehicle onboard device is known as a car audio system device mounted on an automobile, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-159016. 
         [0006]    A radio tuner or a CD driver is incorporated in a vehicle onboard device, and a user can enjoy radio broadcasting or music. Moreover, the vehicle onboard device is provided with a USB terminal or Bluetooth (registered trademark), and can be connected with a portable digital music player such as iPod (registered trademark) using the USB terminal, or a cellular telephone through Bluetooth (registered trademark). 
         [0007]    Incidentally, in such a multi-functional vehicle onboard device, components such as various operation keys and an LCD display device need to be mounted on an operation panel whose area is limited. Therefore, such a vehicle onboard device adopts an operating unit that can perform many types of input operation at positions to be pressed. 
         [0008]    For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , an operation key  111 , an up button  112  and a down button  113 , and a display unit  114  are disposed on an operation panel  110  of a vehicle onboard device  100 . 
         [0009]    A tilt operation and a depression operation can be performed on the operation key  111 . As for the tilting operation using the operation key  111 , the right end and the left end can be independently pressed. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , when the right end is pressed, the operation key  111  is slightly tilted to the right side. By pressing the operation key  111  to the right, key allocations are set in such a way that a select cursor  200  moves to the right, the set level is changed to increase, a track is skipped, or a track is fast-forwarded. 
         [0010]    Moreover, as for the depression operation using the operation key  111 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , when the center of the operation key  111  is pressed, the operation key  111  is pressed down straight. 
         [0011]    By pressing down the operation key  111 , an input confirmation as Enter is allocated. 
         [0012]    As the operation buttons, various operation keys are disposed as necessary. 
         [0013]    For example, separate button keys (not illustrated) to select various menus for iPod (registered trademark), a telephone, a radio tuner, and the like may be provided. 
         [0014]    Here, the up button  112  and the down button  113  are provided to instruct up movement and down movement, respectively. 
         [0015]    By pressing the up button  112 , key allocations are set in such a way that the cursor  200  is moved upward, the set level is changed to increase, or a menu is moved to a higher-order layer. 
         [0016]    By pressing the down button  113 , key allocations are set in such a way that the cursor  200  is moved downward, the set level is changed to reduce, or a menu is moved to a lower-order layer. 
         [0017]    The operation of the vehicle onboard device  100  will be described with reference to the drawings. 
         [0018]    In  FIG. 6 , four select items are displayed on the display unit  114 . 
         [0019]    When the operation key  111  is pressed to the right in this state, the cursor  200  is moved to the right. Furthermore, when the up button  112  is pressed as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the cursor  200  is moved upward. When the operation key  111  is then pressed down as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a selection is confirmed, and a lower-order setting screen appears. 
         [0020]    Here, bass output adjustment (Bass Boost) in audio settings is exemplified. 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , when the up button  112  is pressed, the level of a bass booster rises. 
         [0022]    Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , key allocations are set in such a way that the operation key  111  also can change the level, in which the operation key  111  is pressed to the right to raise the level and pressed to the left to lower the level. 
         [0023]    The operation key  111  is pressed down when the bass booster is at a desired level ( FIG. 11 ), and then input is confirmed. Here, after the input is confirmed, the menu is returned to the higher-order layer. 
         [0024]    As described above, the user can perform various inputs for settings, using the operation key  111  and the up button  112  and the down button  113 . Particularly, since the operation key  111  serves roles of pressing to the right and the left and an enter with a single member, the operation key  111  contributes to improving the space efficiency of the operation panel  110 . 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    It is an object of the present invention to at least partially solve the problems in the conventional technology. 
         [0026]    According to an aspect of the present invention an input operation apparatus includes: an operating unit capable of performing a tilt operation and a depression operation; a detecting unit that detects a tilt direction and depression of the operating unit; and a control unit that manages a plurality of modes, each mode including a plurality of select items, and controls input change or input confirmation according to an input operation made by the operating unit, and the control unit processes an operation of the operation unit in a tilt direction equivalently with the depression operation in a predetermined mode. 
         [0027]    The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart when designing key allocations; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of exemplary setting adjustment screens for sound effects; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of exemplary screens to select an audio preset; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of the appearance of a vehicle onboard device; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of a state a user is operating the vehicle onboard device; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of a state a user is operating the vehicle onboard device; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of a state a user is operating the vehicle onboard device; 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a diagram of a state a user is operating the vehicle onboard device; 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is a diagram of a state a user is operating the vehicle onboard device; 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of a state a user is operating the vehicle onboard device; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  is a diagram of a state a user is operating the vehicle onboard device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and reference signs designated to components in the drawing. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0041]    A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
         [0042]    The first embodiment will be described as a vehicle onboard device  100  including a rotatable control knob  400  is taken as an example. 
         [0043]    The appearance diagram of the first embodiment is the same as the one illustrated in  FIG. 12 , and the control knob  400  and a display unit  114  are disposed on an operation panel  110 . Namely, the control knob  400  can be rotated to the right and the left for rotation operation, can be pressed upward and downward and pressed to the right and the left for tilt operation, and can be pressed down, which can perform seven types (seven commands) of input operation in total. 
         [0044]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of the first embodiment. 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 1 , the operation of the control knob  400  is detected at a detecting unit  120 , and the operation is inputted to a control unit  150  via an input interface  130 . 
         [0046]    The detecting unit  120  includes a rotation detecting unit  121  that detects rotating the control knob  400 , a tilt detecting unit  122  that detects tilting the control knob  400  in four directions (in up, down, right, and left directions), and a depression detecting unit  123  that detects depression of the control knob  400 . 
         [0047]    These detecting units  121 ,  122 , and  123  can be realized by using various encoders and switches. 
         [0048]    Moreover, a radio tuner  141 , a CD driver  142 , and a Bluetooth (registered trademark) device (a wireless communicating unit)  143  are incorporated in the vehicle onboard device  100 . In addition to these devices, an iPod (registered trademark)  501  can be connected to the control unit  150  via the input interface  130 . Communications with a cellular telephone  502  can be established with Bluetooth (registered trademark) device  143 , for example. 
         [0049]    A RAM  151  and a ROM  152  that store various settings are additionally provided on the control unit  150 , and the control unit  150  controls the overall operation of the vehicle onboard device. Various programs set on the RAM  151  and the ROM  152  are read into the control unit  150 , so that the screen status of the display unit  114  and the operation for the operation of the control knob  400 , for example, are controlled. The detail will be described later. 
         [0050]    Furthermore, the display unit  114  and a speaker  170  are connected to the control unit  150  via an output interface  160 . 
         [0051]    Since the first embodiment has features on key allocations to the operation of the control knob  400 , the design of key allocations will be described with reference to a flowchart in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0052]    Here, since the first embodiment takes the vehicle onboard device  100  as an example for description, the designer of the vehicle onboard device  100  can design key allocations mainly on screen statuses in which functions depending on the vehicle onboard device itself are selected by a user. In the case where the vehicle onboard device  100  is connected to various sources (a portable music player and a cellular telephone) for operation, the key allocations of the control knob  400  basically take over the designs of sources. 
         [0053]    For example, in the case of the iPod (registered trademark)  501  as well known, in selecting menus, rotation operation move listed items upward and downward, an up press moves a folder to a higher-order folder, and a center button confirms a selection or moves a layer to a lower-order layer. Moreover, in reproducing music, operation is determined, for example, in which rotation operation adjust a volume, a down press reproduces or pauses music, a left press and a right press skip music (a long press fast-forwards and fast-rewinds music), and the center button displays a time bar. 
         [0054]    In such key allocations, the user easily operates the vehicle onboard device  100  with fewer operation errors when allocations are set similar to the allocations of sources, so that the key allocations of sources are not changed by the designer of the vehicle onboard device  100  in principle except for special exceptions. 
         [0055]    On the other hand, for functions depending on the vehicle onboard device itself, there are audio adjustment and function settings (a current time setting, a repeat setting for CD tunes, hands-on/hands-free for a cellular telephone, device registration or deletion of an externally connected device, and so on). These do not depend on sources, and are settings and adjustments only for the vehicle onboard device  100 . Therefore, the designer designs key allocations in such a way that the user easily operates the device and is not to prone to make operation errors as much as possible in the audio adjustment mode and the function setting mode. 
         [0056]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart when designing key allocations. 
         [0057]    First, in ST 100 , modes are created. Namely, modes necessary for the operation settings of the vehicle onboard device  100  are created including the audio adjustment mode and the function setting mode. 
         [0058]    Subsequently, display screens to be displayed on the display unit  114  in the modes are generated (ST 101 ). 
         [0059]    For example, in the case of the audio adjustment mode, a setting adjustment screen for sound effects is generated as illustrated in  FIG. 3  as a screen  30 . 
         [0060]    Here, in the operation of the generated display screen, it is determined whether there are functions individually allocated to tilt operation (ST 102 ). 
         [0061]    For example, in the case of the screen  30 , three select items are disposed on the display unit  114  in the vertical direction. Therefore, such functions can be allocated that the cursor  200  is moved upward and downward for an up press and a down press (ST 102 : YES). 
         [0062]    Subsequently, in this case, it is determined whether the same thing as on tilt operation is also applicable to rotation operation (ST 103 ). 
         [0063]    For example, in the screen status in which it is desired to move the cursor  200  upward and downward as illustrated in the screen  30 , the same thing can be performed on rotating the control knob  400  (ST 103 : YES). 
         [0064]    Namely, in the case where the control knob  400  is rotated to the right (rotated clockwise), the cursor  200  can be moved downward, and in the case where the control knob  400  is rotated to the left (rotated counterclockwise), the cursor  200  can be moved upward. 
         [0065]    As described above, in the case where functions allocated to tilt operation can also be implemented in rotation operation (ST 103 : YES), keys are allocated to rotation operation, and a key equivalent to a depression operation is allocated to tilt operation (ST 104 ). 
         [0066]    In the screen status in the screen  30 , moving the cursor  200  is allocated only to rotation operation, and an enter key the same as a depression operation is allocated to tilt operation. 
         [0067]    Moreover, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 3  as a screen  32 , Level would be raised or lowered on the display unit  114 . 
         [0068]    In this case, although raising and lowering the level may be allocated to an up press and a down press (ST 102 : YES), raising and lowering the level may also be allocated to rotation operation (ST 103 : YES). Namely, in the case where the control knob  400  is rotated to the right (rotated clockwise), the level can be raised, and in the case where the control knob  400  is rotated to the left (rotated counterclockwise), the level can be lowered. Therefore, in the screen status in the screen  32 , raising and lowering the level are allocated only to rotation operation, and an enter key the same as a depression operation is allocated to tilt operation. 
         [0069]    Moreover, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 4  as a screen  41 , although moving the cursor  200  to the right and the left can be allocated to a right press and a left press in the case where a selection is made from two select items arranged side by side (ST 102 : YES), moving the cursor  200  to the right and the left can also be performed by rotation operation (ST 103 : YES). Namely, in the case where the control knob  400  is rotated to the right (rotated clockwise), the cursor  200  may be moved to the right, and in the case where the control knob  400  is rotated to the left (rotated counterclockwise), the cursor  200  may be moved to the left. Therefore, in the screen status in the screen  41 , moving the cursor  200  is allocated only to rotation operation, and an enter key the same as a depression operation is allocated to tilt operation. 
         [0070]    It is noted that as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , also in the case where four select items are displayed on the display unit  114 , when the cursor  200  is circulated and moved by rotation operation, it is unnecessary to allocate tilt operation to moving the cursor. Also in this case, an enter key the same as a depression operation can be allocated to tilt operation. 
         [0071]    As described above, when tilt operation is set to an enter key the same as a depression operation, an enter (selection confirmation) is made as the user intends to do so, and operation errors caused by a shift of a pressed position can be eliminated, even though the user intends to make an enter but makes a right press or an up press. 
         [0072]    Such key allocations are designed, and key allocations are sequentially performed on all the display screens of all the modes (ST 106  to ST 109 ). 
         [0073]    It is noted that in ST 102 , if there are originally no functions individually allocated to tilt operation (ST 102 : NO), also in this case, a key equivalent to a depression operation is allocated to tilt operation (ST 104 ). 
         [0074]    Heretofore, when there are no functions individually allocated to tilt operation, no keys are allocated, and tilt operation is processed as no effect. 
         [0075]    In this case, in the case where the user intends to make an enter but makes a right press or an up press, input cannot be confirmed as the user intends to do so, and the user has to again make a press. 
         [0076]    In contrast, as in the first embodiment, when a key equivalent to a depression operation is allocated to tilt operation, an enter is made (a selection is confirmed) as the user intends to do so, even though a pressed position is shifted. 
         [0077]    Moreover, in ST 103 , in the case where any alternatives cannot be made by rotation operation (ST 103 : NO), naturally, keys are individually allocated to tilt operation (ST 105 ). 
         [0078]    It is noted that when keys are individually allocated to tilt operation in ST 105 , keys may not always allocated to all of four directions. 
         [0079]    For example, there may be a case where there are functions to be allocated to a right press, a left press, and a down press but there is no function to be allocated to an up press. 
         [0080]    In this case, when there is no function to be allocated, no key is allocated to an up press operation, and the operation is processed as no effect. 
         [0081]    As described above, key allocations are designed on the modes and the screen statuses of the vehicle onboard device. 
         [0082]    Next, the operation in the case where key allocations are designed as described above will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0083]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of illustrating the screen status of the audio adjustment mode. 
         [0084]    On the screen  30 , three select items are displayed in three rows on the display unit  114  in the vertical direction. 
         [0085]    The user rotates the control knob  400  to move the cursor  200 . For example, in the case where Bass Boost on the second row is to be selected as on a screen  31 , the control knob  400  is rotated to the left. 
         [0086]    When the user presses down the control knob  400  as the cursor  200  potions Bass Boost, the screen is moved to the lower-order layer of Bass Boost as on the screen  32 , and a Bass Boost level select screen appears. 
         [0087]    At this time, even though the user&#39;s finger presses a shifted position to make an up press or a right press, the press is similarly processed as a depression operation, and the screen is turned to the Bass Boost level select screen (the screen  32 ) as the user intends to do so. 
         [0088]    The control knob  400  is then rotated to raise or lower the level. For example, as illustrated on a screen  33 , when the user presses down the control knob  400  at a desired level, the level is confirmed, and the screen is returned to the higher-order layer as the screen  31 . 
         [0089]    Also on the screen  31 , even though the user&#39;s finger presses a shifted position, the press is similarly processed as a depression operation, so that no operation errors occur. 
         [0090]    Similarly,  FIG. 4  is screens to select an audio preset. 
         [0091]    On a screen  40 , two elect items are displayed in two rows on the display unit  114  in the vertical direction. 
         [0092]    The user rotates the control knob  400  to select memory on the second row. When the user presses down the control knob  400  as the cursor  200  points memory, the screen is moved to the lower-order layer of memory as on a screen  41 . 
         [0093]    The user rotates the control knob  400  to select “Yes” or “No”. The user presses down the control knob  400 , a selection is confirmed, and the screen is returned to the screen of the higher-order layer. 
         [0094]    Also in this case, even though the user&#39;s finger presses a shifted position to make an up press or a right press, the press is similarly processed as a depression operation, and a selection is confirmed as the user intends to do so. 
         [0095]    According to the first embodiment as described above, the following effect is exerted. 
         [0000]    (1) Tilt operation is processed the same as a depression operation, so that tilt operation is processed as a depression operation as the user intends to do so, even though the user intends to make a press down but makes a right press or a up press. Therefore, operation errors caused by a shift of a pressed position are reduced, and the operability is improved.
 
(2) In the first embodiment, keys are allocated to rotation operation as much as possible for processes that can be performed by rotation operation, and keys are allocated to tilt operation in such a way that tilt operation is processed the same as a depression operation as much as possible. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce operation errors made by the user as little as possible, and it is possible to further improve the operability.
 
       First Exemplary Modification 
       [0096]    In the first embodiment, the case is exemplified where the vehicle onboard device includes a rotatable control knob. However, the present invention can also be applicable to the case of a control knob that is not rotatable. 
         [0097]    For example, a knob for rotation operation may be separately provided on the operation panel in addition to the operation key that can be tilted and pressed down. 
         [0098]    Alternatively, as described in  FIG. 5 , operation buttons such as the up button  112  and the down button  113  may be provided, in addition to the operation key  111  that can be tilted and pressed down. 
         [0099]    In this case, “rotation operation” in the first embodiment may be appropriately replaced with “operation made by the up button  112  and the down button  113 ”. 
         [0100]    It is noted that the present invention is not limited to the first embodiment and the exemplary modification, and can be appropriately modified within the scope not deviating from the teachings of the present invention. 
         [0101]    In the first embodiment, the vehicle onboard device is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to the vehicle onboard device. It is without saying that the present invention is applicable to various input operation apparatuses. 
         [0102]    Key allocations to the operation of the operating unit are appropriately designed depending on actual necessities. For example, in the first embodiment, depression of the operating unit is set to an enter key. However, it is without saying that keys are allocated according to other necessities. 
         [0103]    In the description above, the case is exemplified where the present invention is applied in the screen status in which functions depending on the vehicle onboard device itself are selected by the user. However, in addition to this, keys are allocated in such a way that the key allocations of a source are changed. 
         [0104]    This is because it is likely to increase operation errors in the case where the control knob of the input operation apparatus (the vehicle onboard device) is small, so that the key allocations of a source may be changed on purpose in some cases. 
         [0105]    For an input operation control program that executes key allocations, such a configuration may be possible in which the input operation control program is installed on the input operation apparatus (the vehicle onboard device) through a communication unit such as the Internet or a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and a memory card and a CPU (the control unit) is operated by the installed program. 
         [0106]    In installing the input operation control program, a memory card, a CD-ROM, or the like may be directly inserted into the input operation apparatus (the vehicle onboard device), or a device that reads these storage media may be externally connected. Moreover, the program may be supplied via communications by connecting a LAN cable, a telephone line, or the like, or the program is supplied in a wireless manner. 
         [0107]    Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.