Abstract:
An information input device, which displays button images showing a plurality of buttons on a display unit, detects an indication position by a position coordinate detection unit installed in the display unit, and thereby inputs information corresponding to the button which is indicated, includes, an enlargement display unit configured to generate a first enlargement image, which includes an indicated first button among the plurality of buttons, where the vicinity of the first button is enlarged as a display region, and to display the generated first enlargement image on the display unit; a determination unit configured to determine whether an indication region which is indicated in the first enlargement image is included in a first region which is movable in the first enlargement image, or in a second region which instructs the changing of the display region.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an information input device and an information input method. 
         [0003]    2. Related art 
         [0004]    A touch panel has been used as an input device in various kinds of input processing devices, whereby the touch panel performs processing related to a button displayed at a touched position by the touching of a display screen with a finger. In recent years, along with the functions of the information processing devices becoming more diversified and complicated, when various settings are performed on a single screen, the respective buttons displayed on the touch panel are reduced in size and gaps between the adjacent buttons are decreased, whereby pressing of the wrong button by a user frequently occurs. 
         [0005]    In order to prevent the pressing of the wrong button, as disclosed in JP-A-2008-65504 which is an example of a related art, a touch panel control device is proposed which displays an enlargement of selectable buttons which are positioned in the vicinity of a button pressed by a user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    However, in the above information processing device, while surrounding buttons included in a predetermined range from the pressed button are enlarged and displayed, other buttons excluded from the display range are not displayed and thus cannot be selected. 
         [0007]    An advantage of some aspects of the invention can be realized by the following embodiment or applications. 
       Application 1 
       [0008]    An information input device according to this application of the invention, which displays button images showing a plurality of buttons on a display unit, detects an indication position by a position coordinate detection unit installed in the display unit, and thereby inputs information corresponding to the button which is indicated, includes, an enlargement display unit configured to generate a first enlargement image, which includes an indicated first button among the plurality of buttons, where the vicinity of the first button is enlarged as a display region, and to display the generated first enlargement image on the display unit; a determination unit configured to determine whether an indication region which is indicated in the first enlargement image is included in a first region which is movable in the first enlargement image, or in a second region which instructs the changing of the display region; a decision unit configured to decide a movement direction of the display region based on a position of the indication region included in the second region; and an input processing unit configured to input information based on the button where an indication for the indication region has been terminated, wherein the enlargement display unit generates a second enlargement image where the display region is moved in a movement direction decided by the decision unit, when the determination unit determines the indication region is included in the second region, and displays the generated second enlargement image on the display unit. 
         [0009]    According to this configuration, the information input device generates the first enlargement image, which includes an indicated first button in the button images displayed on the display unit, where the vicinity of the first button is enlarged as a display region, and displays the generated first enlargement image on the display unit. 
         [0000]    Here, when the indication region is terminated, the information input device determines that information corresponding to the button according to the indication region has been input, and performs the associated processing. On the other hand, when it is determined that the indication region is included in the second region which instructs the changing of the display region, it generates the second enlargement image where the display region is moved in a movement direction decided based on a position where the indication region included in the second region is positioned in the second region, and displays the generated second enlargement image on the display unit. Therefore, when a button desired by a user is not included in the first enlargement image where the vicinity of one button image indicated by the user is enlarged, in order to display the second enlargement image where the display region is moved in a movement direction based on a position indicated by the user indicating the second region, the user enables the enlargement image including the desired button to be displayed on the display unit by properly indicating the second region. Consequently, the user can select the desired button by indicating and releasing the desired button, and can input information based on the desired button. 
       Application 2 
       [0010]    In the information input device according to the above application, it is preferable that the decision unit decides the movement direction, based on either a direction from a central position of the first enlargement image to a position of the indication region, a direction from a position where the first button is indicated to a position of the indication region, or a direction predefined according to a position of the indication region. 
         [0011]    According to this configuration, the movement direction of the display region can be decided by a direction desired by a user. 
       Application 3 
       [0012]    In the information input device according to the above application, when the indication of the indication region is terminated, the enlargement display unit preferably continues to display the first enlargement image or the second enlargement image displayed on the display unit so that an indication or an indication termination is possible, and when there is no indication or indication termination for a predetermined time, it preferably displays the button image on the display unit. 
         [0013]    According to this configuration, information can be continuously input in the first enlargement image or in the second enlargement image, and further, when information is not input for a predetermined time, the display can be returned to the button image. 
       Application 4 
       [0014]    In the information input device according to the above application, the enlargement display unit may display a region indicating the first button in the button images so that the region is constituted by the indication region indicating a central portion of the first button in the first enlargement image. 
       Application 5 
       [0015]    An information input method according to this application of the invention, which displays button images showing a plurality of buttons on a display unit, detects an indication position by a position coordinate detection unit installed in the display unit, and thereby inputs information corresponding to the button which is indicated, includes generating a first enlargement image, which includes an indicated first button in the plurality of buttons, where the vicinity of the first button is enlarged as a display region, and to display the generated first enlargement image on the display unit; determining whether an indication region which is indicated in the first enlargement image is included in a first region which is movable in the first enlargement image, or in a second region which instructs the changing of the display region; deciding a movement direction of the display region based on a position of the indication region included in the second region; generating a second enlargement image where the display region is moved in a movement direction decided at the deciding step, when it is determined that the indication region is included in the second region at the determining step, and displaying the generated second enlargement image on the display unit; and inputting information based on the button where an indication for the indication region has been terminated. 
         [0016]    According to this method, the information input method generates the first enlargement image, which includes an indicated first button in the button images displayed on the display unit, where the vicinity of the first button is enlarged as a display region, and displays the generated first enlargement image on the display unit. Here, when the indication region is terminated, the information input method determines that information corresponding to the button according to the indication region has been input, and performs the associated processing. On the other hand, when it is determined that the indication region is included in the second region which instructs the changing of the display region, it generates the second enlargement image where the display region is moved in a movement direction decided based on a position where the indication region included in the second region is positioned in the second region, and displays the generated second enlargement image on the display unit. Therefore, when a button desired by a user is not included in the first enlargement image where the vicinity of one button image indicated by the user is enlarged, in order to display the second enlargement image where the display region is moved in a movement direction based on a position indicated by the user indicating the second region, the user enables the enlargement image including the desired button to be displayed on the display unit by properly indicating the second region. Consequently, the user can select the desired button by indicating and releasing the desired button, and can input information based on the desired button. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an information input device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information input device according to the embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a structure of a touch panel input device. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an initial screen. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C are diagrams illustrating a shift of an enlargement key input screen which accompanies a movement of a touch region. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing in the information input device according to the embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    An information input device will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
       Embodiment 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an information input device  5 . This information input device  5  includes a display unit  12 , a position coordinate detection unit  13 , an information input unit  20 , a touch region determination unit  25 , an input processing unit  30 , a display direction decision unit  35 , an enlargement display determination unit  40 , and a surrounding key enlargement display unit  50 . In addition, the surrounding key enlargement display unit  50  has an enlargement region decision unit  52  and an enlargement image generation unit  54 . The display unit  12  and the position coordinate detection unit  13  constitute a touch panel input device  11 . Each function of the functional units is implemented by cooperation of software and hardware described later. In this embodiment, the information input device  5  is installed in an operation panel of an information processing device such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile device, an automated teller machine (ATM), a portable digital assistance (PDA), and so forth, and provides a user with an interface function where the user indicates by pressing (touching) with a finger and thereby the indication is input corresponding to the touch position. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information input device  5 . 
         [0000]    Hardware for the information input device  5  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  80 , a storage unit  85 , an LCD controller  90 , a touch panel controller  95 , and the touch panel input device  11  having a touch panel  15  and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)  14 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a structure of the touch panel input device  11 . As is commonly known, the touch panel  15 , which has a predetermined position relation and is transparent, is disposed on a surface of the LCD  14  which displays images. On a surface of the touch panel  15 , a plurality of X-axis electrode lines  16  are provided in parallel in the transverse direction, and a plurality of Y-axis electrode lines  17  are provided in parallel in the longitudinal direction. In the X-axis electrode lines  16  and the Y-axis electrode lines  17 , a drop in voltage is generated by a touch of a finger, and which position in the touch panel  15  is touched by the finger is detected based on the positions of the X-axis electrode lines  16  and the Y-axis electrode lines  17  where the drop in voltage is generated. For example, when a drop in voltage is generated at three X-axis electrode lines  16  and Y-axis electrode lines  17 , an intersecting point of the electrode lines in each central portion is designated as a touch position. 
         [0027]    The touch panel in this embodiment is an example of the position coordinate detection unit  13 , and is not limited to the above-described matrix switch type, but it may adopt various types including a resistive type, a surface elastic wave type, an infrared type, an electromagnetically induced wave type, a capacitive type and the like. In addition, the indication method is not limited a finger, but indication may also be made using a stylus pen. 
         [0028]    As described above, the information input device  5  is a device for a user to input information via the touch panel  15 . In this embodiment, the LCD controller  90  displays the user interface screen (UI screen) of the information input unit  20  and the like on the LCD  14 , depending on commands of the CPU  80 . The LCD  14  is an example of the display unit  12 , and there are no limitations to a display type or a display medium. 
         [0000]    Also, a user touches a desired region in the UI screen displayed on the LCD  14  with a finger, and the touch panel controller  95  thereby calculates a coordinate of the touch position on the surface of the touch panel  15 . The calculated position coordinate is input to the CPU  80 , and the CPU  80  executes a function corresponding to the position coordinate. 
         [0029]    The functional units of the information input device  5  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 1 . The information input unit  20  is an input unit for a user to input information, and, in this embodiment, an initial key input screen  100  as shown in  FIG. 4  is initially displayed on the display region of the touch panel input device  11 . A plurality of character input keys  140  are arranged in the initial key input screen  100 . These character input keys  140  are buttons for a user to input characters. In this embodiment, the character input keys  140  correspond to the alphabet and special symbols, and each key is formed so as to be associated with a character or a symbol represented thereon. In  FIG. 4 , a touch region  130 , which indicates a position touched by a user, represents that a character input key (first button)  140 N corresponding to the character “N” in the character input keys  140  has been touched for selection. The information input unit  20  obtains information regarding a position of the touch region  130  from the position coordinate detection unit  13 , and sends the obtained information to the touch region determination unit  25 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 1  again, the touch region determination unit  25  determines a region touched by a user, based on the information regarding the position of the touch region  130  sent from the information input unit  20 . In this embodiment, the touch region determination unit  25  determines whether the touch region  130  of the user lies in a designation region  125  or a movement region  120  ( FIG. 5A ), and also determines a termination of the touch region (also, referred to as “a touch termination” for short) when the user moves his/her finger away from the touch panel. Here, the designation region  125  (first region) is a movable region for selecting character input keys  140  desired by the user. Also, the movement region  120  (second region) is a region for instructing a changing direction so as to change the character input keys  140  enlarged and displayed on the screen. In this embodiment, the initial key input screen  100  shows the entire designation region  125 , but is not limited thereto. 
         [0031]    The touch region determination unit  25  sends a driving instruction to either the input processing unit  30 , the display direction decision unit  35  or the enlargement display determination unit  40 , based on the determined result. In other words, the touch region determination unit  25  sends a driving instruction to the enlargement display determination unit  40  when the touch region  130  is determined to lie in the designation region. In addition, the touch region determination unit  25  sends a driving instruction to the display direction decision unit  35  when the touch region  130  is determined to lie in the movement region. Also, the touch region determination unit  25  sends a driving instruction to the input processing unit  30  when touch termination is determined. 
         [0032]    The enlargement display determination unit  40  instructs the surrounding key enlargement display unit  50  to display an enlargement of the character input keys  140  when the screen displayed on the display unit  12  is the initial key input screen  100 . 
         [0033]    The surrounding key enlargement display unit  50  generates an enlargement image for the character input keys  140  based on an instruction for an enlargement of the display sent from the enlargement display determination unit  40  and the display direction decision unit  35 , and displays the generated enlargement image on the display unit  12 . In this case, an enlargement magnification at the time of generating the enlargement image may be set by a user in advance. 
         [0034]    The enlargement region decision unit  52  decides a region of the character input keys  140  which will be displayed as an enlargement, according to an arrangement of the character input keys  140  in the initial key input screen  100 . Here, when the instruction for an enlargement of the display is sent from the enlargement display determination unit  40 , the enlargement region decision unit  52  decides an enlargement region, as shown in  FIG. 5A , in order that the display is such that a central position of the touch region  130  in the initial key input screen  100  and a central position of the enlarged “N” character input key  140 N approximately coincide with each other. Information regarding the enlargement region decided by the enlargement region decision unit  52  is sent to the enlargement image generation unit  54 . 
         [0035]    Based on the information regarding the enlargement region sent from the enlargement region decision unit  52 , the enlargement image generation unit  54  generates an enlargement image for the character input keys  140 , and displays the enlargement key input screen  110  containing the generated enlargement image on the display unit  12 . As a result, the character input keys  140  in the enlargement key input screen  110  continues the same arrangement relation of the initial key input screen  100  and is displayed without rearrangement. Thereby, a user can easily moves to a desired character input key  140  without changing the touch position, in the state where the user is touching the same character input key  140  in the initial key input screen  100  and in the enlargement key input screen  110 . 
         [0036]    In this embodiment, the designation region  125  is formed in the central region of the enlargement key input screen  110 , and the movement region  120  is formed with a belt shape along the periphery thereof. However, a form of the movement region  120 , a position where it is formed, and its appearance are not limited to the aspect according to this embodiment, and, for example, the movement region may be formed at four corners of the enlargement key input screen  110 . Also, the movement region  120  may become visible or not visible according to a position of the touch region  130 , for example, it becomes visible when the touch region  130  approaches the movement region  120 . In the case of being visible, the movement region may be translucent. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5B  shows a case where the position of the touch region  130  is moved from the state shown in  FIG. 5A  into the designation region  125 . In this case, although the touch region  130  is moved, the enlargement image of the character input keys  140  in the enlargement key input screen  110  is not changed. 
         [0038]    The display direction decision unit  35  decides a display direction of the character input keys  140  in the enlargement key input screen  110 , in response to the driving instruction sent from the touch region determination unit  25 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 5C , when the touch region  130  is moved to the bottom left where the movement region  120  is positioned, the display direction decision unit  35  decides a display direction so that the character input keys  140  which are positioned in the bottom left portion are displayed in the central region of the enlargement key input screen  110  from the arrangement state of the character input key image generation mechanism  140  in  FIG. 5A . In this case, the display direction may be a direction where the touch region  130  is moved from the center of the enlargement key input screen  110 , or a direction determined by both a position of the touch region  130  in the designation region  125  and a position of the touch region  130  moved into the movement region  120 . Also, the display direction may be decided by a position of the touch region  130  moved into the movement region  120 . Information regarding the display direction decided by the display direction decision unit  35  is sent to the surrounding key enlargement display unit  50 . 
         [0039]    Here, the enlargement region decision unit  52  in the surrounding key enlargement display unit  50  decides an enlargement region based on the information regarding the display direction sent from the display direction decision unit  35 . In this case, in order for the display direction to indicate the bottom left, the enlargement region is decided so that the character input key  140 R corresponding to the character “R” is positioned in the central region of the enlargement key input screen  110 . In addition, based on the information regarding the enlargement region sent from the enlargement region decision unit  52 , the enlargement image generation unit  54  generates the enlargement image for the character input keys  140  which will be included in the enlargement region. The enlargement key input screen  110  including the generated enlargement image is displayed on the display unit  12  as shown in  FIG. 5C . 
         [0040]    When the touch region  130  lies in the movement region  120 , the driving instruction sent from the touch region determination unit  25  to the display direction decision unit  35  may be sent continuously. In this case, the character input keys  140  displayed in the enlargement key input screen  110  are changed so as to be continuously moved to the top right. In addition, when the touch region  130  lies in the movement region  120 , the driving instruction sent from the touch region determination unit  25  to the display direction decision unit  35  may be sent only once. In this case, the character input keys  140  displayed in the enlargement key input screen  110  are changed only once. Further, in this case, the character input keys  140  may be changed again by maintaining the touch region  130  in the movement region  120  for a further period of predetermined time. 
         [0041]    The input processing unit  30  performs processing according to the touch termination by a user, depending on the driving instruction sent from the touch region determination unit  25 . For example, in  FIG. 5A , when a finger, which touched on the character input key  140 N corresponding to the character “N,” is moved away from the display region of the touch panel input device  11 , the input processing unit  30  determines that the key, which was touched by the finger immediately before the finger is in a no contact state with the display region, is selected. Thus, the input processing unit  30  determines that the character “N” is selected by the user, and sends a signal corresponding to the character “N” to the CPU  80 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 5C , this is the same for the case where the touch region  130  indicates the movement region  120 , and when the finger, which touched on the character input key  140 R corresponding to the character “R,” is moved away from the display region of the touch panel input device  11 , the input processing unit  30  determines that the character “R” is selected by the user, and sends a signal corresponding to the character “R” to the CPU  80 . 
         [0042]    In this embodiment, when a single character is selected by a user, the screen displayed on the display unit  12  does not change for a predetermined time. In this state, when the user touches the character input keys  140  with his/her finger again, and thereafter releases the finger therefrom (terminates the touch), the input processing unit  30  determines that a character corresponding to the character input key  140  which was touched by the user is subsequently selected, and performs the associated processing. On the other hand, when the character input keys  140  are not touched for a predetermined time, the input processing unit  30  may return the screen displayed on the display unit  12  to the initial key input screen  100 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a flow of information input processing in the information input device  5 . When the information input device  5  initiates processing, the CPU  80  initially displays the initial key input screen  100 , which is an initial screen, on the display region of the touch panel input device  11  (step S 200 ). 
         [0044]    Subsequently, the CPU  80  determines whether or not keys on the display screen have been touched by a user (step S 205 ), and when none of the keys are touched (No at step S 205 ), it repeats this step. 
         [0000]    On the other hand, when it is determined that a key has been touched (Yes at step S 205 ), the CPU  80  decides an enlargement region which is centered on the touched region (step S 210 ). 
         [0045]    The CPU  80  generates an enlargement image for the decided enlargement region (step S 215 ), and displays the generated enlargement image on the display region of the touch panel input device  11 , as the enlargement key input screen  110  (step S 220 ) (first enlargement display step). 
         [0046]    Thereafter, the CPU  80  determines whether or not a touch on the display screen has been terminated (step S 225 ). When it is determined that the touch on the display screen has not been terminated at this step, that is, there is touching in progress (No at step S 225 ), the CPU  80  determines whether or not the movement region  120  has been touched (step S 230 ) (determination step). 
         [0047]    At this step, when it is determined that the movement region  120  has not been touched but the designation region  125  has been touched (No at step S 230 ), the flow returns to the step (step S 225 ) where it is determined whether or not the screen touch has been terminated. 
         [0048]    On the other hand, when it is determined that the movement region  120  has been touched (Yes at step S 230 ), the CPU  80  decides an enlargement region according to a touched position in the movement region  120  (step S 235 ) (decision step), and enters the step (step S 215 ) where an enlargement image for an enlargement region is generated (second enlargement display step). 
         [0049]    Further, at step S 225 , when it is determined that the touch on the display screen has been terminated (Yes at step S 225 ), the CPU  80  obtains information regarding the character input key  140  according to the position where the touch has been terminated (step S 250 ), and decides that the obtained information is input data (step S 255 ) (input processing step). 
         [0050]    Next, the CPU  80  determines whether or not a touch was performed within a predetermined time (step S 260 ). 
         [0000]    At this step, when the touch was performed by a user within the predetermined time (Yes at step S 260 ), the flow returns to the step (step S 230 ) where it is determined whether or not the movement region  120  has been touched. 
         [0051]    On the other hand, when the touch has not been performed within the predetermined time (No at step S 260 ), the CPU  80  checks whether or not there is an ending instruction (step S 265 ). At this step, when there is the ending instruction (Yes at step S 265 ), a chain of processing ends, and when there is no ending instruction (No at step S 265 ), the flow returns to the step (step S 200 ) where the initial screen is displayed. 
         [0052]    According to the embodiment described above, a user touches desired character input keys  140  in the initial key input screen  100 , and thereby the enlargement key input screen  110  is displayed where surrounding character input keys  140  including the touched character input key  140  are enlarged. In addition, the user touches the movement region  120  in the enlargement key input screen  110 , whereby the character input keys  140  displayed according to the touch position of the movement region  120  are decided, and thus the enlargement key input screen  110  including the decided character input keys  140  is displayed. In this way, it is possible to enlarge and display the character input keys  140  arranged in a direction desired by a user, in the character input key  140  in the initial key input screen  100 , and therefore the user can accurately input information via the touch panel input device  11 .