Patent Publication Number: US-9886117-B2

Title: Control apparatus and method for controlling operation target device in vehicle, and steering wheel

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/176,626, filed on Feb. 10, 2014, which is a Continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2012/059712, filed on Apr. 9, 2012, and claims the priority of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2011-176168, filed on Aug. 11, 2011, No. 2011-200563, filed on Sep. 14, 2011, No. 2011-201354, filed on Sep. 15, 2011, No. 2011-201356, filed on Sep. 15, 2011, No. 2011-206096, filed on Sep. 21, 2011, No. 2011-206099, filed on Sep. 21, 2011, No. 2011-206150, filed on Sep. 21, 2011, No. 2011-212025, filed on Sep. 28, 2011, No. 2012-007894, filed on Jan. 18, 2012, No. 2012-043554, filed on Feb. 29, 2012, and No. 2012-073562, filed on Mar. 28, 2012, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a control apparatus and method for controlling an operation target device, which is onboard equipment such as a navigation device or a vehicle action control device that controls actions of a vehicle such as a transmission and a direction indicator, and relates to a steering wheel suitable to operate the operation target device. 
     Operation switches located on steering wheels, for operating onboard equipment such as an installed navigation device, are widely used in vehicles (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-106353 (Patent Literature 1)). 
     The operation switches located on the steering wheel improve operability because a driver is not required to stretch the arm to operate the onboard equipment. 
     As is described in Patent Literature 1, such operation switches are generally located not on a circular portion of a steering wheel, which is a grip portion that a driver grips with the hands, but on a connection area connecting the circular portion and a center portion in which an air bag is housed. 
     Therefore, the driver is required to remove or widely slide the hands from the circular portion gripping for operating the operation switches. 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-348123 (Patent Literature 2) discloses that operation switches are located on a back surface or an inner side surface of a circular portion of a steering wheel. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to Patent Literature 2, since the operation switches are located on the circular portion, a driver can operate the operation switches without removing or widely sliding the hands from the circular portion. 
     However, the operation switches described in Patent Literature 2 which are push-button keys or recess/projection keys may have an adverse effect on the driver when operating the steering wheel. Such recesses/projections are not preferable to be located on the circular portion that the driver grips. 
     Further, an operation target device should be prevented from being unnecessarily operated with an operation unit, such as operation switches located on a circular portion, when a driver has no intention of operating the operation target device while gripping the circular portion during normal driving. 
     A first aspect of the embodiments provides a control apparatus for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle, including: a first detector configured to detect a state where a first area in a touch sensor mounted on a grip portion that a driver grips on a steering wheel is touched; a second detector configured to detect a state where a particular input operation is performed on a second area located on the upper side of the first area in the touch sensor; and a controller configured to control an operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor according to the particular input operation when the first detector detects the state where the first area is touched and the second detector detects the state where the particular input operation is performed. 
     A second aspect of the embodiments provides a method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle, including: detecting a state where a first area in a touch sensor mounted on a grip portion that a driver grips on a steering wheel is touched; detecting a particular input being performed on a second area located on the upper side of the first area in the touch sensor in the state where the first area is touched; and controlling an operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor according to the particular input operation when detecting the particular input operation being performed. 
     A first area and a second area are dynamically set on a touch sensor mounted on a grip portion that a driver grips on a steering wheel, depending on a position on the touch sensor where the driver grips, the first area is set in an area where a palm of the driver makes contact, and the second area is set on an upper side of the first area and in an area where a thumb or an index finger of the driver makes contact. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a control apparatus for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to each embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a flat partial view showing an example of a vehicle including the control apparatus for controlling an operation target device according to each embodiment. 
         FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3E  are views each showing an example of a location and range of touch sensors mounted on a steering wheel according to each embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a view showing another example of a location and range of the touch sensors mounted on the steering wheel according to each embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing an example in which the touch sensors are mounted on a deformed steering wheel. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view showing an example of regions from which sensor data is obtained while the touch sensor on the steering wheel is held. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing coordinates in a circumferential direction in the cross section of the touch sensor. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view showing a state where the touch sensor shown in  FIG. 6  is developed. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing a state where each region shown in  FIG. 8  is converted into a uniform size. 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing an example of a condition for determining that the touch sensor on the steering wheel is held. 
         FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11E  are schematic views showing examples of a particular input operation performed on the touch sensor. 
         FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D  are schematic views showing other examples of the particular input operation performed on the touch sensor. 
         FIG. 13A  to  FIG. 13D  are schematic views showing still other examples of the particular input operation performed on the touch sensor. 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart for explaining the operation in each embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic perspective view showing a constitution example for changing color when the touch sensor is operated. 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic perspective view showing a constitution example for changing a texture when the touch sensor is operated. 
         FIG. 17  is a plan view showing an embodiment of a steering wheel. 
         FIG. 18  is a view for explaining a turning angle of the steering wheel. 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing specific processing in Step S 4  in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 20  is a schematic view showing an example in which a driver holds the touch sensor during normal driving. 
         FIG. 21  is a schematic view showing an example in which a driver intends to operate an operation target device while holding the touch sensor. 
         FIG. 22  is a schematic view showing a state where an operation invalid area Ariv in  FIG. 20  is omitted. 
         FIG. 23  is a plan view showing a state where the touch sensor shown in  FIG. 6  is developed and explaining another constitution example for determining whether a driver intends to operate the operation target device. 
         FIG. 24A  to  FIG. 24C  are views each showing an example of an identical input operation performed concurrently on right and left touch sensors with right and left hands. 
         FIG. 25A  and  FIG. 25B  are views each showing an example of input operations conceived to be performed concurrently. 
         FIG. 26  is a view showing an example of predetermined input operations sequentially performed on right and left touch sensors with right and left hands. 
         FIG. 27  is a view showing an example of input operations conceived to be performed sequentially. 
         FIG. 28  is a view showing a first example of setting an operation mode according to a combination of input operations performed on right and left touch sensors with right and left hands. 
         FIG. 29  is a view showing a second example of setting an operation mode according to a combination of input operations on both right and left touch sensors with right and left hands. 
         FIG. 30A  and  FIG. 30B  are views each showing an example of dividing each area in the touch sensor by color. 
         FIG. 31A  and  FIG. 31B  are views each showing an example of providing markers at boundaries of the respective areas in the touch sensor. 
         FIG. 32  is a view showing an example of decreasing the diameter of an operation detection area in the touch sensor. 
         FIG. 33  is a view showing an example of increasing the diameter of the operation detection area in the touch sensor. 
         FIG. 34  is a view showing an example of providing recess portions at boundaries in the touch sensor. 
         FIG. 35  is a view showing an example of providing projections at boundaries in the touch sensor. 
         FIG. 36A  and  FIG. 36B  are views showing an example of changing color in the operation detection area when determining that a grip detection area of the touch sensor is held. 
         FIG. 37A  and  FIG. 37B  are views showing an example of changing a texture of the operation detection area when determining that the grip detection area of the touch sensor is held. 
         FIG. 38  is a view showing an example of a track obtained when sliding a finger in a right-left direction. 
         FIG. 39A  and  FIG. 39B  are views for explaining a track correction when sliding a finger in a right direction. 
         FIG. 40A  and  FIG. 40B  are views for explaining a track correction when sliding a finger in a downward direction. 
         FIG. 41A  to  FIG. 41D  are views for explaining an example of dragging in an oblique direction. 
         FIG. 42  is a partial perspective view for explaining a definition of dragging in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction according to an eighth embodiment. 
         FIG. 43  is a plan view for explaining a definition of dragging in each of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in a state where the touch sensor is developed according to the eighth embodiment. 
         FIG. 44  is a plan view showing a modified constitution example of a deformed steering wheel. 
         FIG. 45  is a partially enlarged plan view of  FIG. 44 . 
         FIG. 46  is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A of  FIG. 45 . 
         FIG. 47A  to  FIG. 47C  are cross-sectional views along the line B-B of  FIG. 45  and for explaining an ON/OFF switching operation by means of an ON/OFF switching mechanism. 
         FIG. 48  is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the eighth embodiment when using the deformed steering wheel shown in  FIG. 44 . 
         FIG. 49  is a schematic view showing an example of holding state recognition data showing how a driver holds the steering wheel on which the touch sensor is mounted. 
         FIG. 50  is a modified schematic view of  FIG. 49  for ease of comprehension. 
         FIG. 51  is a schematic view showing another example of the holding state recognition data showing how a driver holds the steering wheel on which the touch sensor is mounted. 
         FIG. 52  is a view showing an example of driver specification data registered in a driver database. 
         FIG. 53  is a flowchart for explaining a process when specifying a driver. 
         FIG. 54A  and  FIG. 54B  are partial perspective views each showing still another example of the holding state recognition data showing how a driver holds the steering wheel on which the touch sensor is mounted. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiment 
     Hereinafter, a control apparatus and method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to a first embodiment will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further, a steering wheel according to at least one embodiment will be explained. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , onboard equipment  100  is installed in a dashboard of a vehicle. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the onboard equipment  100  includes a controller  10 , a navigation processing unit  11 , an audio reproduction unit  12 , a television (TV) tuner  13 , a video signal processing unit  14 , a video display  15 , an audio signal processing unit  16 , a display element  17 , and a storage unit  18 . The controller  10  includes a detector  10   a.    
     The navigation processing unit  11  includes, for example, a storage unit for storing map data and a GPS antenna. The navigation processing unit  11  serves as a route guide in association with the controller  10 . 
     The audio reproduction unit  12  reproduces audio signals stored in an optical disc such as a compact disc or a semiconductor memory in accordance with the control by the controller  10 . 
     The TV tuner  13  receives TV broadcast wave signals from predetermined broadcasting stations in accordance with the control by the controller  10 . 
     Video signals output from the navigation processing unit  11  or the TV tuner  13  are input to the video signal processing unit  14  via the controller  10  and processed so as to be displayed on the video display  15  such as a liquid crystal panel. 
     Audio signals output from the navigation processing unit  11 , the audio reproduction unit  12  and the TV tuner  13  are input to the audio signal processing unit  16  and processed so as to be produced from an external speaker  20 . The audio signal processing unit  16  includes an amplifier. 
     The speaker  20  is located, for example, in the inside of a door of the vehicle. The display element  17  is, for example, alight emitting diode (LED) and turns on or turns off depending on a contact state of a touch sensor  21  described below in accordance with the control by the controller  10 . The display element  17  is located, for example, in a casing of the onboard equipment  10  so that the driver can visually recognize the display element  17 . 
     The display element  17  may be separated from the onboard equipment  100  and located adjacent to a steering wheel  200  of the vehicle. The storage unit  18  is a nonvolatile memory. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , touch sensors  21  serving as an operation unit are mounted on a circular portion  200   r  of the steering wheel  200 . The circular portion  200   r  is a grip portion that the driver grips during driving. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , the touch sensors  21  are mounted within predetermined angle ranges on both right and left sides of the circular portion  200   r . The touch sensors  21  are multi-touch sensors capable of detecting contact of plural parts. 
     The touch sensors  21  are each preferably mounted around 360 degrees of the circumference of the cross section in the radial direction of the circular portion  200   r . Here, the touch sensors  21  may cover substantially the entire circumference of the cross section of the circular portion  200   r  and are not required to be mounted completely around 360 degrees of the circumference of the cross section. 
     The driver grips part of the circular portion  200   r  on which the touch sensors  21  are mounted. In  FIG. 1 , the output from the touch sensors  21  is input into a sensor data generator  22 . When the driver touches the touch sensors  21  with the hands, a contact detection signal is input into the sensor data generator  22 . 
     The sensor data generator  22  generates, based on the input contact detection signal, sensor data including positional data showing which region in the touch sensors  22  the contact detection signal is obtained from and then supplies the data to the controller  10 . The touch sensors  21  and the sensor data generator  22  may be integrated together, or the sensor data generator  22  may be positioned inside the controller  10 . 
     The touch sensor  21  may be a projected capacitive (mutual capacitance) type touch sensor. An example of the touch sensor  21  mounted on the circular portion  200   r  may be a flexible touch panel developed by MICRO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. 
     This flexible touch panel has a constitution in which a sensor portion is made of an ultra-slim plate glass with a thickness of 0.02 to 0.05 mm, and the ultra-slim plate glass is attached to a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. 
     There is almost no possibility that the touch sensors  21  mounted on the circular portion  200   r  are obstacles to operation of the steering wheel  200  performed by the driver since the surfaces of the touch sensors  21  do not have recesses/projections that the driver can recognize with the hands or fingers. 
     As indicated by dashed lines in  FIG. 2 , the touch sensors  21  and the onboard equipment  100  may be connected via electric wires placed inside the steering wheel  200  and the dash board. 
     In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a steering angle sensor  31  detects a turning angle of the steering wheel  200 . A direction indicator sensor  32  detects a direction indicator  320  being operated. A shift lever sensor  33  detects a position where a shift lever  330  is located. 
     The respective detection signals from the steering angle sensor  31 , the direction indicator sensor  32  and the shift lever sensor  33  are supplied to the controller  10  via an in-vehicle communication unit  34 . 
     The following is an explanation of examples of a location and range of the touch sensors  21  mounted on the circular portion  200   r  of the steering wheel  200  with reference to  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3E . Note that the top, the bottom, the right and the left described below represent those of the steering wheel  200  when the driver sees the steering wheel  200  in a state where the steering wheel  200  is not turned (in a state where the vehicle goes straight). 
       FIG. 3A  is an example in which the touch sensor  21  is mounted on the entire circumference of the circular portion  200   r .  FIG. 3B  is an example in which the touch sensors  21  are separately mounted within predetermined angle ranges on both upper right and upper left sides of the circular portion  200   r , as in the case of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3C  is an example in which the touch sensor  21  is mounted within a predetermined angle range only on the upper right side of the circular portion  200   r.    
       FIG. 3D  is an example in which the touch sensors  21  are separately mounted within predetermined angle ranges on both lower right and lower left sides of the circular portion  200   r .  FIG. 3E  is an example in which the touch sensor  21  is mounted in a relatively wide angle range on the upper side of the circular portion  200   r  including the top thereof.  FIG. 3E  corresponds to an example in which the touch sensors  21  on the right and left sides shown in  FIG. 3B  are connected together. 
       FIG. 4  is an example in which the touch sensors  21  on the right and left sides in  FIG. 3B  are each divided into an upper touch sensor  21   a  and a lower touch sensor  21   b . In the example of  FIG. 4 , the upper touch sensor  21   a  detects contact of the index finger and the thumb, and the lower touch sensor  21   b  detects contact of mainly the palm, the second finger and the third finger. 
       FIG. 5  is an example in which the touch sensors  21  are mounted on a deformed steering wheel  201  not having a round shape. The touch sensors  21  are mounted on straight portions  201   s  on both right and left sides of the deformed steering wheel  201 . The driver drives while gripping the straight portions  201   s  serving as grip portions, and the touch sensors  21  detect contact of the palms and the fingers. 
     The following is how to detect contact of the palms and the fingers with the touch sensors  21  mounted on the upper right and upper left sides of the circular portion  200   r  in a state where the driver is holding the touch sensors  21 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is an example showing contact ranges of the palm and the fingers when the driver holds the touch sensor  21  on the right side in  FIG. 2 . Note that  FIG. 6  is an example, and the way of gripping the circular portion  200   r  with the hand of the driver and the size of the hand are not particularly limited. 
       FIG. 6  shows plural hatched detection regions R indicated by reference sign Tp where the contact of the palm is detected, and shows plural hatched detection regions R indicated by reference sign Tt where the contact of the thumb is detected. 
     Hereinafter, reference sign Tp is referred to as a palm contact detection portion Tp, and reference sign Tt is referred to as a thumb contact detection portion Tt. The index finger comes into contact with the rear side of the touch sensor  21 , which is the traveling direction side of the vehicle not shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the touch sensor  21  has the plural detection regions R that detect the contact of the palm and the fingers. Coordinates are assigned to the respective detection regions R of the touch sensor  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , one of the coordinates of the detection regions R at the lower end of the touch sensor  21  in the circumferential direction of the circular portion  200   r  is set to zero, and the respective coordinates of the detection regions R from the lower end to the upper end of the touch sensor  21  in the circumferential direction are sequentially set to 1, 2, . . . , 30 and 31. The respective coordinates of the touch sensor  21  in the circumferential direction of the circular portion  200   r  is defined as a Y-coordinate. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view in the radial direction of the circular portion  200   r  at a position where the touch sensor  21  is mounted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , one of the coordinates of the detection regions R, for example, on the inner diameter side in the cross section of the circular portion  200   r  is set to zero. The respective coordinates of the detection regions R in the circumferential direction in the cross section of the circular portion  200   r  are sequentially set to 1, 2, . . . , 21 and 22 in a counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 7  from the inner diameter side to the front side, from the front side to the outer diameter side, from the outer diameter side to the rear side, and from the rear side to the inner diameter side. The respective coordinates of the touch sensor  21  in the circumferential direction in the cross section is defined as an X-coordinate. 
     The sensor data generator  22  can obtain positional data showing which part in the touch sensor  21  the driver touches based on the detection regions R on the X-coordinate and the Y-coordinate from which contact detection signals are obtained. 
       FIG. 8  shows a state where the touch sensor  21  shown in  FIG. 6  is developed.  FIG. 9  schematically shows a state where each region in the touch sensor  21  shown in  FIG. 8  is converted into a uniform size. 
       FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  each show index finger contact detection portions Ti which are plural detection regions R in contact with the index finger, in addition to the palm contact detection portions Tp and the thumb contact detection portions Tt. Here, when the second finger, the third finger or the fourth finger comes into contact with the touch sensor  21 , the touch sensor  21  also detects the contact of the respective fingers. 
     Note that, in the present embodiment, the thumb or the index finger is used as a finger suitable for a particular input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  by the driver. 
     The input operation performed with the thumb or the index finger will be explained in detail below. The detector  10   a  of the controller  10  detects the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  with the thumb or the index finger based on the sensor data output from the sensor data generator  22 . 
     The detector  10   a  also detects the circular portion  200   r  (the touch sensor  21 ) being held based on the sensor data output from the sensor data generator  22 . The controller  10  controls an operation target device according to the particular input operation performed on the touch sensor  21 . 
     An example of the operation target device is the onboard equipment  100 . In particular, in accordance with the particular input operation, the controller  10  can control the navigation processing unit  11  to carry out route guiding or control the audio reproduction unit  12  to reproduce/stop audio signals or advance/reverse reproducing tracks (compositions). 
     Further, in accordance with the particular input operation, the controller  10  can control the TV tuner  13  to change receiving channels and control the amplifier of the audio signal processing unit  16  to turn the volume up or down. 
     Another example of the operation target device is a vehicle action control device that controls actions of the vehicle. In particular, the controller  10  may control a transmission, a direction indicator, an ON/OFF state of an air conditioner, or temperature setting of the air conditioner via the in-vehicle communication unit  34 . 
     When the operation target device is the vehicle action control device, the sensor data output from the sensor data generator  22  is preferably input into a control unit installed in the vehicle so as to control the vehicle action control device. The control unit that controls the operation target device may be the controller  10  in the onboard equipment  100  or may be an external control unit located outside the onboard equipment  100  installed in the vehicle. 
     According to the present embodiment, since the driver operates the operation target device with the quite thin touch sensor  21  mounted on the circular portion  200   r  that the driver holds, the driver can operate the operation target device without removing or widely sliding the hands from the circular portion  200   r.    
     Further, there is almost no possibility that the touch sensor  21  is an obstacle to operation of the steering wheel  200  performed by the driver since the surface of the touch sensor  21  does not have recesses/projections. 
     Here, the operation target device is required to be prevented from being unnecessarily operated by the driver when the driver has no intention of operating the operation target device such as during normal driving with the circular portion  200   r  held with the hands. According to the present embodiment, the following are measures to prevent unintended incorrect operation by the driver. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , a grip detection area Arg for detecting contact of the palm, an operation detection area Arv for detecting an operation input performed with the thumb or the index finger as an effective operation input, and an operation invalid area Ariv where an operation input is invalid located between the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv, are arranged in the plural detection regions R on the touch sensor  21 . 
     The palm contact detection portions Tp are located in the grip detection area Arg, and the thumb contact detection portions Tt and the index finger contact detection portions Ti are located in the operation detection area Arv. 
     Although the operation invalid area Ariv also includes the detection regions R that detect contact of the palm or fingers as in the case of the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv, the operation invalid area Ariv may be used in a manner such that the controller  10  (the detector  10   a ) or the sensor data generator  22  processes an input operation from the operation invalid area Ariv to be invalid. 
     Alternatively, the touch sensor  21  may be configured in a manner such that no detection region R is present in the operation invalid area Ariv. Such a case is substantially equivalent to the example shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     When the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r  during normal driving, the palm contact detection portions Tp are located relatively close to the thumb contact detection portions Tt and the index finger contact detection portions Ti. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the operation invalid area Ariv is provided so as to accurately distinguish a case where the driver is merely gripping the circular portion  200   r  from a case where the driver touches the touch sensor  21  intentionally to operate the operation target device. 
     When the driver intends to operate the operation target device, the driver touches the touch sensor  21  by intentionally stretching the thumb or the index finger to perform a particular input operation described below. When the particular input operation described below is performed in the operation detection area Arv, the controller  10  controls the operation target device according to the input operation. 
     In addition, incorrect operation performed on the operation target device should be prevented if the driver unintentionally touches the operation detection area Arv and the driver is not gripping the circular portion  200   r  for normal driving. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the detector  10   a  determines that the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r  when a predetermined area or greater of the palm contact detection portions Tp is detected in the grip detection area Arg. 
     The controller  10  is configured to control the operation target device when the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r  and at the same time a particular operation is performed in the operation detection area Arv. The detected area of the palm contact detection portions Tp necessary to determine that the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r  may be determined as appropriate based on statistical investigation of areas obtained in a manner such that several drivers grip the steering wheel  200  in a normal gripping manner. 
     The area of the palm contact detection portions Tp in the grip detection area Arg is merely an example of a condition for determining that the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r , and the condition for determination is not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 10  shows a cross section of the circular portion  200   r  cut in the grip detection area Arg of the touch sensor  21 . The detector  10   a  may determine that the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r  when the angle θ in the palm contact detection portions Tp in the circumferential direction in the cross section is a predetermined angle or greater. The predetermine angle is, for example, 180°. 
     As explained above, according to the present embodiment, since the controller  10  determines whether the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r  (the touch sensor  21 ) and accepts the operation input to the touch sensor  21  only when the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r , incorrect operation in a case where the driver unintentionally touches the operation detection area Arv can be avoided. 
     As a preferred constitution of the present embodiment, the operation detection area Arv is located at a predetermined distance from the grip detection area Arg. Therefore, the particular input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  intentionally by the driver can be accurately detected. Accordingly, a possibility of occurrence of incorrect operation can greatly be decreased. 
     Further, according to the present embodiment, the area of the palm contact detection portions Tp and the angle θ in the circumferential direction of the palm contact detection portions Tp in the grip detection area Arg, are used as the conditions for accurately determining whether the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r . Accordingly, incorrect operation can be prevented even if the driver unintentionally touches the operation detection area Arv when the driver is not gripping the circular portion  200   r.    
     The controller  10  turns on the display element  17  to inform the driver that the operation input is available in the operation detection area Arv when the detector  10   a  detects the driver gripping the circular portion  200   r  (the touch sensor  21 ) according to the sensor data based on the contact detection signal from the grip detection area Arg. 
     The driver can determine whether the operation target device can be operated by use of the touch sensor  21  according to the ON/OFF state of the display element  17 . The display element  17  may be located adjacent to the steering wheel. 
     Here, when the touch sensor  21  is mounted on the entire circumference of the circular portion  200   r  as shown in  FIG. 3A  or when the touch sensor  21  is mounted on a relatively wide range as shown in  FIG. 3E , a position on the touch sensor  21  that the driver holds is not particularly limited. 
     Therefore, the positions of the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv as described with reference to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  and the operation invalid area Ariv provided as necessary, are required to be dynamically determined depending on the position on the touch sensor  21  that the driver holds. 
     Thus, the controller  10  determines a region including the palm contact detection portions Tp as the grip detection area Arg when the touch sensor  21  is gripped in a state where the grip detection area Arg and other areas have not been set. A predetermined range on the Y-coordinate including the palm contact detection portions Tp may be determined as the grip detection area Arg. 
     As described above, when the detector  10   a  detects a predetermined area or greater of the plural detection regions R in the touch sensor  21  being touched by the driver, the detected area is determined as the palm contact detection portions Tp since the palm contact detection portions Tp have a predetermined area or greater. Alternatively, as explained with reference to  FIG. 10 , when the detector  10   a  detects a predetermined angle range or greater in the touch sensor  21  in the circumferential direction in the cross section of the circular portion  200   r  being touched by the driver, the detected range is determined as the palm contact detection portions Tp. 
     After setting the grip detection area Arg, the controller  10  sets a predetermined range on the Y-coordinate located above the grip detection area Arg as the operation detection area Arv. In such a case, a predetermined range on the Y-coordinate adjacent to the grip detection area Arg is set as the operation invalid area Ariv as necessary so that the operation detection area Arv is located in a manner as to be separated from the grip detection area Arg. 
     Next, examples of the particular input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  by the driver with the thumb or the index finger will be explained with reference to  FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11E ,  FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D , and  FIG. 13A  to  FIG. 13D . 
       FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11E  are schematic plan views each showing a half of the touch sensor  21  on either the front side facing the driver or the rear side. The operations shown in  FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11E  are performed with the thumb on the front side and performed with the index finger on the rear side. 
     In  FIG. 11A , D R  represents right dragging to slide the thumb or the index finger in the right direction on the touch sensor  21  (on the operation detection area Arv), and D L  represents left dragging to slide the thumb or the index finger in the left direction. D U  represents upward dragging to slide the thumb or the index finger upward, and D D  represents downward dragging to slide the thumb or the index finger downward. 
     In  FIG. 11A , a flick to flick the touch sensor  21  in each direction with the thumb or the index finger may be performed in place of the right dragging D R , the left dragging D L , the upper dragging D U  and the lower dragging D D . 
       FIG. 11B  shows tapping T to tap the touch sensor  21  with the thumb or the index finger.  FIG. 11C  shows arc dragging D C  to draw an arc on the touch sensor  21  with the thumb or the index finger. 
       FIG. 11D  shows zigzag dragging D Z  to drag on the touch sensor in a zigzag manner  21  with the thumb or the index finger.  FIG. 11E  shows symbol input dragging D S  to draw a symbol with the thumb or the index finger.  FIG. 11E  shows a state where the number “3” is drawn as a symbol. As for symbols, the numbers or alphabets that are relatively easily recognized are preferably used. 
       FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D  are schematic plan views each showing a front part  21   f  which is a half of the touch sensor  21  on the front side and a rear part  21   r  which is a half of the touch sensor  21  on the rear side when the touch sensor is developed. The front part  21   f  corresponds to the area from 1 to 11 on the X-coordinate and the rear part  21   r  corresponds to the area from 12 to 22 on the X-coordinate shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D  each show the front part  21   f  and the rear part  21   r  in a manner as to have the same area, although the front part  21   f  and the rear part  21   r  do not actually have the same area shown in the examples of  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . For reasons of convenience,  FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D  each show the rear part  21   r  not as viewed from the rear side of the circular portion  200   r  but as viewed from the front side through the front part  21   f.    
     As shown in  FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D , each combination pattern of the input operation performed on the front part  21   f  with the thumb and the input operation performed on the rear part  21   r  with the index finger may be used as the particular input operation performed on the touch sensor  21 . 
       FIG. 12A  is an example of performing right dragging D TR  to slide the thumb in the right direction on the front part  21   f  and right dragging D IR  to slide the index finger in the right direction on the rear part  21   r . The dragging of  FIG. 12A  is performed with both the thumb and the index finger from the inner circumferential side to the outer circumferential side of the circular portion  200   r . The dragging with both the thumb and the index finger in the opposite direction of  FIG. 12A  is also applicable. 
       FIG. 12B  is an example of performing left dragging D TL  to slide the thumb in the left direction on the front part  21   f  and right dragging D IR  to slide the index finger in the right direction on the rear part  21   r . The dragging of  FIG. 12B  is performed with the thumb from the outer circumferential side to the inner circumferential side of the circular portion  200   r  and with the index finger from the inner circumferential side to the outer circumferential side of the circular portion  200   r.    
       FIG. 12C  is an example of performing right dragging D TR  to slide the thumb in the right direction on the front part  21   f  and left dragging D IL  to slide the index finger in the left direction on the rear part  21   r . The dragging of  FIG. 12C  is performed with the thumb from the inner circumferential side to the outer circumferential side of the circular portion  200   r  and with the index finger from the outer circumferential side to the inner circumferential side of the circular portion  200   r.    
       FIG. 12D  is an example of performing upward dragging D TU  to slide the thumb in the upward direction on the front part  21   f  and downward dragging D ID  to slide the index finger in the downward direction on the rear part  21   r . A pattern of the dragging with the thumb in the downward direction and with the index finger in the upward direction, or a pattern of the dragging with both the thumb and the index finger in the upward direction or in the downward direction, is also applicable. 
     Although the present embodiment exemplified the several combination patterns of the input operation on the front portion  21   f  with the thumb and the input operation on the rear part  21   r  with the index finger, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and the input operation pattern may be selected as appropriate in consideration of ease of the input operation. 
     The possibility of occurrence of incorrect operation can be further decreased in a manner such that each combination pattern of the input operation with the thumb and the input operation with the index finger as shown in  FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D  is used as the particular input operation for controlling the operation target device. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B ,  FIG. 3D ,  FIG. 3E ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , in the case where the touch sensors  21  ( 21   a ,  21   b ) can be operated with both right and left hands, each combination pattern of the operations with the right and left hands may also be used as the particular input operation for controlling the operation target device. 
       FIG. 13A  to  FIG. 13D  are examples showing several combination patterns of the input operations with the right and left hands in a case where the left touch sensor  21  in  FIG. 3B  is defined as a left touch sensor  21 L and the right touch sensor  21  in  FIG. 3B  is defined as a right touch sensor  21 R. These figures are schematic plan views each corresponding to the front part  21   f  of  FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D  operated with the thumb. 
       FIG. 13A  is a combination pattern of left dragging D TL  to slide the thumb in the left direction on the left touch sensor  21 L and right dragging D TR  to slide the thumb in the right direction on the right touch sensor  21 R. 
       FIG. 13B  is a combination pattern of right dragging D TR  to slide the thumb in the right direction on the left touch sensor  21 L and left dragging D TL  to slide the thumb in the left direction on the right touch sensor  21 R. 
       FIG. 13C  is a pattern of upward dragging D TU  to slide the thumbs in the upward direction on both the left touch sensor  21 L and the right touch sensor  21 R. 
       FIG. 13D  is a pattern of downward dragging D TD  to slide the thumbs in the downward direction on both the left touch sensor  21 L and the right touch sensor  21 R. 
     The use of each combination pattern of the input operations with both right and left hands as the particular input operation for controlling the operation target device, can contribute to safety driving since the driver grips the circular portion  200   r  with both hands. Particularly, the example of  FIG. 3B  can contribute to safety driving since the touch sensors  21  are mounted on the most preferable gripped positions for both hands in the circular portion  200   r.    
     The input operation may be accepted when the right and left touch sensors  21  are held with both hands. The input operation may not be accepted when one hand is removed from the touch sensor  21 . Alternatively, the touch sensor  21  may be on standby for acceptance of the input operation when one hand is removed from the touch sensor  21 . 
     The particular input operation performed only with one hand also contributes to safety driving as long as the input operation is accepted when the right and left touch sensors  21  are held with both hands. 
     When the driver has no intention of operating the operation target device while gripping the circular portion  200   r  during normal driving, there is a relatively low possibility of unexpected occurrence of the specific combination pattern of the input operation with the thumb and the input operation with the index finger or the specific combination pattern of the input operations with the right and left hands. 
     Thus, if using only the specific combination pattern of the input operation with the thumb and the input operation with the index finger or the specific combination pattern of the input operations with the right and left hands, part of or all of the measures to prevent incorrect operation described above may be omitted. 
     Even if, of course, using only the specific combination pattern of the input operations with the right and left hands, the measures to prevent incorrect operation may also be used. 
     The storage unit  18  stores a table relating the particular input operation or each combination pattern of the particular input operations described above to a type of control performed on the operation target device. 
     The controller  10  controls the operation target device according to the table stored in the storage unit  18  depending on the operation input to the touch sensor  21 . The storage unit  18  may be located in the controller  10 . 
     With reference to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 14 , processing executed by the controller  10  in the present embodiment is explained in more detail below. In  FIG. 14 , the controller  10  obtains the sensor data output from the sensor data generator  22  in step S 1 . The controller  10  determines whether the circular portion  200   r  is gripped based on the detection output from the detector  10   a  in step S 2 . 
     When the controller determines that the circular portion  200   r  is gripped (YES), the controller  10  proceeds to step S 3 . When the controller determines that the circular portion  200   r  is not gripped (NO), the controller  10  returns to step S 1 . 
     The controller  10  determines whether the input operation is performed based on the detection output from the detector  10   a  in step S 3 . When the controller  10  determines that the input operation is performed (YES), the controller  10  proceeds to step S 4 . When the controller  10  determines that the input operation is not performed (NO), the controller  10  returns to step S 1 . 
     The controller  10  determines whether to allow the operation performed on the operation target device according to the input operation in step S 4 . When the controller  10  determines to allow the operation (YES), the controller  10  proceeds to step S 5 . When the operation is not allowable (NO), the controller  10  returns to step S 1 . 
     As explained above, the controller  10  allows the operation performed on the operation target device when the particular input operation is performed in the operation detection area Arv, and does not allow the operation performed on the operation target device when the particular input operation is performed in the operation invalid area Ariv. 
     Even when the input operation is performed in the operation detection area Arv, the controller  10  does not allow the operation performed on the operation target device if the performed input operation is not the particular input operation. The controller  10  allows the operation performed on the operation target device only when the particular input operation is performed. 
     The controller  10  fixes the operation based on the input operation in step S 5 , controls the operation target device according to the fixed operation in step S 6 , and returns to step S 1 . 
     The operations according to the present embodiment are summarized as follows. 
     The detector  10   a  (first detector) detects a state where a first area is touched in the touch sensor  21  mounted on the grip portion (the circular portion  200   r  or the straight portion  201   s ) gripped by the driver on the steering wheel  200  or  201 . An example of the first area is the grip detection area Arg. 
     The detector  10   a  (second detector) detects a state where the particular input operation is performed in a second area located on the upper side of the first area in the touch sensor  21  while the first area is touched. An example of the second area is the operation detection area Arv. 
     Since the thumb or the index finger is located above the palm during driving, the area located on the upper side of the first area may be defined as the second area. When the particular input operation is performed while the first area is touched, the operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor  21  is controlled according to the particular input operation. 
     The area located on the upper side is an area above the first area defined in a state where the driver is gripping the grip portion and the steering wheel  200  is not turned. It is preferable to determine that the first area is touched when a predetermined area or greater of the first area is touched. 
     Another aspect is as follows. 
     The detector  10   a  (first detector) detects a state where a predetermined angle range or greater in the circumferential direction in the cross section of the grip portion when the steering wheel  200  or  201  is cut in the radial direction, is touched in the first area on the touch sensor  21  mounted to cover a predetermined area of the grip portion (the circular portion  200   r  or the straight portion  201   s ) gripped by the driver on the steering wheel  200  or  201 . 
     The detector  10   a  (second detector) detects the particular input operation being performed in the second area separate from the first area in the touch sensor  21  while a predetermine angle range or greater of the first area is touched. When a predetermined angle range or greater of the first area is touched and the particular input operation is performed, the operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor  21  is controlled according to the particular input operation. 
     The second area is preferably an area located on the upper side of the first area. The area located on the upper side is an area above the first area defined in a state where the driver is gripping the grip portion and the steering wheel  200  is not turned. 
       FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16  are constitution examples for effectively informing the driver that the touch sensor  21  has been operated.  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16  are schematic views in which the touch sensor  21  is developed and converted into a rectangular shape, as in the case of  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 15  is an example in which a color change sheet  41  containing a coloring substance is placed on the lower surface of the touch sensor  21 . When a transparent conductive film is used in the touch sensor  21 , the driver can recognize, though the touch sensor  21 , the color of the color change sheet  41  placed on the lower surface of the touch sensor  21 . 
     The controller  10  changes the color of part of the color change sheet  41  corresponding to the part where the touch sensor  21  is touched so that the driver can confirm the operation performed on the touch sensor  21 . 
       FIG. 16  is an example in which a tactile feedback sheet  42  to change a sense of touch (a texture) is placed on the upper surface of the touch sensor  21 . An example of the tactile feedback sheet  42  may be a sheet called “E-sheet” developed by Senseg in Finland. 
     This sheet is used to obtain feedback of a sense of touch by electrifying a film. Even if the tactile feedback sheet  42  is placed on the upper surface of the touch sensor  21 , the touch sensor  21  can detect the contact of the fingers. 
     When the driver operates the touch sensor  21  via the tactile feedback sheet  42 , the controller  10  changes a sense of touch of the tactile feedback sheet  42  so that the driver can confirm the operation performed on the touch sensor  21 . 
     Next, a steering wheel according to at least one embodiment is explained with reference to  FIG. 17 . A steering wheel  210  according to at least one embodiment shown in  FIG. 17  is configured to output a control signal to the operation target device. 
     The elements in  FIG. 17  which are the same as those in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are indicated by the same reference numerals, and overlapping explanations thereof are not repeated. As shown in  FIG. 17 , the steering wheel  210  includes a sensor data generator  23  identical to the sensor data generator  22  of  FIG. 1  and a controller  24  identical to the controller  10  located, for example, in an area other than the circular portion  200   r . The controller  24  includes a detector  24   a  identical to the detector  10   a  and a control signal production unit  24   b.    
     In a state where the steering wheel  210  is installed in the vehicle, the control signal production unit  24   b  produces a control signal for controlling the operation target device according to the particular input operation performed on the touch sensor  21 . 
     The control signal output from the control signal production unit  24   b  is further output to an output terminal  26  via a cable  25 . The operation target device to which the output terminal is connected can be controlled by use of the control signal. Examples of the particular input operation are the same as those shown in  FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11E ,  FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D  and  FIG. 13A  to  FIG. 13D . Conditions for producing the control signal by the control signal production unit  24   b  are also the same as those described above. 
     The touch sensor  21  may be detachably mounted on the circular portion  200   r  by use of a hook-and-loop fastener. Although the circular portion  200   r  serves as the grip portion, the grip portion is not necessarily formed into a circular shape. 
     The touch sensor  21  is not required to be composed of a single sheet and may be composed of plural touch sensor pieces. The touch sensor  21  composed of the plural touch sensor pieces has the advantage of the manufacture process since each piece can be formed into a simple shape. 
     When the touch sensor  21  is composed of the plural touch sensor pieces, the touch sensor pieces are not required to exclude the presence of gaps therebetween when arranged. 
     The touch sensor  21  according to the present embodiment is mounted to cover the grip portion. It should be noted that the state of being mounted to cover the grip portion in the present embodiment includes a case where the touch sensor  21  composed of the plural touch sensor pieces is mounted to cover the grip portion while gaps are present between the touch sensor pieces. 
     In addition, the covering range of the touch panel  21  is not limited to the grip portion (the circular portion  200   r  or the straight portion  201   s ) gripped by the driver during driving and may be extended to the surface of the connecting portion between the circular portion  200   r  and the center portion in which an air bag or the like is housed. 
     The connecting portion is a portion located between the right and left hands in  FIG. 2 , and a portion where the sensor data generator  23  and the controller  24  are located in  FIG. 17 . 
     As described above, the touch sensor  21  may be extended to the surface of the connecting portion so as to arrange the operation detection area Arv in the connecting portion closer to the grip portion. The touch sensor  21  located in the region closer to the grip portion allows the driver to operate the operation target device without removing or widely sliding the hands from the grip portion during driving. 
     Accordingly, there is almost no possibility that the touch sensor  21  is an obstacle to operation of the steering wheel  200 ,  201  or  210  by the driver even if the touch sensor  21  is extended to the surface of the connecting portion. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A control apparatus and method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to a second embodiment will be explained below. Fundamental constitutions and operations in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and only different elements will be explained below. 
     In step S 4  described above, it is preferable not to allow the operation for controlling the operation target device (namely, to disable the operation) when the vehicle is in a particular condition. A turning angle of the steering wheel  200  is set in the controller  10  to determine whether to allow the operation for controlling the operation target device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , when the steering wheel  200  is not turned, the turning angle is 0°. For example, the turning angle is conceived to be in a plus range when turned in a right direction, and the turning angle is conceived to be in a minus range when turned in a left direction. The input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  is valid and allowed when the turning angle is within a range of, for example, plus or minus 30°, and the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  is invalid and not allowed when the turning angle exceeds the range of plus or minus 30°. 
     When the turning angle exceeds the range of plus or minus 30°, the vehicle is turning right or left or turning at a corner. If the operation target device is controlled in such a particular condition, a possibility of occurrence of incorrect operation greatly increases. In other words, the operation input performed in such a particular condition is more likely to be an input unintentionally made by the user, which is not preferable in view of a safety aspect. 
     According to the present embodiment, the particular condition of the vehicle disables the operation for controlling the operation target device. 
     As described above, the turning angle of the steering wheel  200  detected by the steering angle sensor  31  is input into the controller  10 . The controller  10  switches the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  between a valid state and an invalid state according to the turning angle of the steering wheel  200  detected by the steering angle sensor  31 . 
     A detection signal from the direction indicator sensor  32  is also input into the controller  10 . Therefore, the controller  10  may disable the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  when the direction indicator  320  is operated according to the detection signal from the direction indicator sensor  32 . 
     When the direction indicator  320  is operated, the steering wheel  200  can be conceived to be in the particular condition where the steering wheel  200  is being turned and the turning angle thereof is exceeding a predetermined range. Note that, although the direction indicator  320  may perform other operations in addition to the indication of a right/left turn, the operation of the direction indicator  320  in the present embodiment is to indicate the right/left turn. 
     It is not preferred to control the operation target device by performing the particular input operation on the touch sensor  21  during reversing the vehicle. This is because a possibility of occurrence of incorrect operation greatly increases, which is not preferable in view of a safety aspect. 
     Therefore, the controller  10  may also disable the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  according to a detection signal from the shift lever sensor  33  when the shift lever  330  is located in a reversing position. 
     When the turning angle of the steering wheel  200  exceeds a predetermined range, for example, the range of plus or minus 30° or when the direction indicator  320  is operated, or when the shift lever  330  is located in the reversing position, the operation for controlling the operation target device may be invalid. 
     Here, disabling the operation for controlling the operation target device may include a state where the operation for controlling the operation target device is invalid even if the particular input operation is performed, or a state where the controller  10  disables input from the sensor data generator  22  even if some sensor data is input into the controller  10 . It is only required to disable the operation for controlling the operation target device consequently. 
     A specific processing example of step S 4  shown in  FIG. 14  is explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 19 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , the controller  10  determines whether the shift lever  330  is located in the reversing position in step S 41 . 
     When the shift lever  330  is located in the reversing position (YES), the controller  10  does not allow the input operation of step S 3  in step S 45  and moves to step S 1  in  FIG. 14 . When the shift lever  330  is not located in the reversing position (NO), the controller  10  determines whether the direction indicator  320  is operated in step S 42 . 
     When the direction indicator  320  is operated (YES), the controller  10  does not allow the input operation of step S 3  in step S 45  and moves to step S 1  in  FIG. 14 . 
     When the direction indicator  320  is not operated (NO), the controller  10  determines whether the turning angle of the steering wheel  200  exceeds a predetermined range in step S 43 . 
     When the turning angle of the steering wheel  200  exceeds a predetermined range (YES), the controller  10  does not allow the input operation of step S 3  in step S 45  and moves to step S 1  in  FIG. 14 . 
     When the turning angle of the steering wheel  200  does not exceed a predetermined range (NO), the controller  10  determines whether the particular input operation is performed in the operation detection area Arv in step S 44 . 
     When no particular input operation is performed (NO), the controller  10  does not allow the input operation of step S 3  in step S 45  and moves to step S 1  in  FIG. 14 . When the controller  10  does not allow the input operation in step S 45 , the operation for controlling the operation target device is invalid. 
     When the particular input operation is performed (YES), the controller  10  allows the input operation of step S 3  in step S 46  and moves to step S 5  in  FIG. 14 . 
     Although the three steps of step S 41 , step S 42  and step S 43  are carried out in the example shown in  FIG. 19 , only one or two steps may be carried out. Note that, when the two of or all of step S 41 , step S 42  and step S 43  are carried out, the order of the steps is not particularly limited. 
     Although the present embodiment employs the shift lever  330 , the configuration of the operation unit to switch the vehicle between going forward and going backward and to change gear ratios of the transmission, is not particularly limited and may be any of a floor shift, a steering column and a paddle shift. All of them are included in the shift lever. 
     As explained above, the operation for controlling the operation target device is invalid when the vehicle is in the particular state such as a right turn, a left turn, a turn at a corner and a reverse movement, so that the input operation is not performed on the touch sensor  21  during the particular state, which contributes to an increase in safety. 
     Third Embodiment 
     A control apparatus and method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to a third embodiment will be explained below. Fundamental constitutions and operations in the third embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and only different elements will be explained below. 
     In the third embodiment, the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  with a finger is not accepted when the driver has no intention of operating the operation target device such as during normal driving with the circular portion  200   r  gripped with the hands, but the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  with a finger is accepted only when the driver intends to operate the operation target device. 
     When the driver intends to operate the particular input operation on the touch sensor  21  with the thumb or the index finger, the driver may intentionally or unconsciously change the manner of gripping the circular portion  200   r  (the touch sensor  21 ) so as to easily move the thumb or the index finger. 
       FIG. 20  shows an example of a contact state in the palm contact detection portions Tp and the thumb contact detection portions Tt when the driver grips the circular portion  200   r  during normal driving.  FIG. 20  is a schematic view in which each region in the touch sensor  21  is converted into a uniform size, as in the case of  FIG. 9 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 20 , the palm contact detection portions Tp have a relatively wide area, and the thumb contact detection portions Tt are located adjacent to the palm contact detection portions Tp. The index finger contact portions Ti are also located adjacent to the palm contact detection portions Tp although not shown in  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 21  shows an example of a contact state in the palm contact detection portions Tp and the thumb contact detection portions Tt when the driver intends to operate the operation target device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , the area of the palm contact detection portions Tp decreases compared with that in  FIG. 20 , and the thumb contact detection portions Tt are located away from the palm contact detection portions Tp. The index finger contact portions Ti are also located away from the palm contact detection portions Tp although not shown in  FIG. 21 . 
     As is apparent from the comparison of  FIG. 20  with  FIG. 21 , the area of the palm contact detection portions Tp greatly changes between the case where the driver is merely gripping the circular portion  200   r  during normal driving and the case where the driver intends to operate the operation target device by performing the particular input operation on the touch sensor  21  with the thumb or the index finger. 
     Note that the palm contact detection portions Tp may include portions with which the second finger, the third finger and the fourth finger (and also the index finger according to circumstances) come into contact. 
     The number 8 on the X-coordinate and the numbers 4 to 8 on the Y-coordinate in the palm contact detection portions Tp in  FIG. 20  are portions with which tips of the second finger, the third finger and the fourth finger are in contact. In  FIG. 21 , however, the portions with which the tips of the second finger, the third finger and the fourth finger are in contact move to the number 5 on the X-coordinate and the numbers 4 to 8 on the Y-coordinate. This represents that the positions of the tips of the second finger, the third finger and the fourth finger shift to the rear side of the circular portion  200   r.    
     The intention of operating the operation target device may be determined based on a positional change of end portions of the palm contact detection portions Tp in the circumferential direction in the cross section of the circular portion  200   r.    
     Further, the intention of operating the operation target device may be determined based on a positional change of end portions of the palm contact detection portions Tp in the circumferential direction in the cross section of the circular portion  200   r , in addition to the area change of the palm contact detection portions Tp. 
     The controller  10  determines that the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r  for normal driving when the palm contact detection portions Tp have a first area that is a predetermined area or greater as shown in  FIG. 20 , so as not to accept the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  with the finger. 
     The controller  10  determines that the driver intends to operate the operation target device when the palm contact detection portions Tp have a second area, as shown in  FIG. 21 , which is decreased by a predetermined ratio or greater compared with the area in  FIG. 20 , so as to accept the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  with the finger. 
     In the constitution example of discriminating between the state of normal driving and the state of intending to operate the operation target device according to the area change of the palm contact detection portions Tp, the operation invalid area Ariv is not necessarily provided. 
       FIG. 22  shows a state, omitting the operation invalid area Ariv, where the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv are preliminarily arranged in the touch sensor  21  or where the controller  10  arranges the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv in the touch sensor  21 . 
       FIG. 22  shows a state where the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r  for normal driving, as in the case of  FIG. 20 . The controller  10  can discriminate between the above-described two states so as to prevent incorrect operation even though the operation invalid area Ariv is not provided as shown in  FIG. 22 . 
     Alternatively, the area of the palm contact detection portions Tp shown in  FIG. 20  and the area of the palm contact detection portions Tp shown in  FIG. 21  may be preliminarily registered in the controller  10  or in the storage unit  18  so as to switch between the state where the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  is accepted and the state where the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  is not accepted. Since the area of the palm contact detection portions is, of course, not always constant, an allowable margin of difference of the area is set in advance. 
     A change in shape of the palm contact detection portions Tp may be detected instead of the area change or in addition to the area change of the palm contact detection portions Tp. 
     Further, a change of the angle θ in the circumferential direction in the cross section of the palm contact detection portions P shown in  FIG. 10  or a change of the maximum length of the palm contact detection portions Tp in the X-coordinate direction may be detected. 
     The state where the input operation is not accepted may be a state where the operation for controlling the operation target device is not accepted even if the particular input operation is performed, or may be a state where the controller  10  disables input from the sensor data generator  22  even if some sensor data is input into the controller  10 . It is only required to disable the operation for controlling the operation target device consequently. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     A control apparatus and method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment will be explained below. Fundamental constitutions and operations in the fourth embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and only different elements will be explained below. 
     A constitution example of accurately distinguishing the case where the driver is merely gripping the circular portion  200   r  from the case where the driver touches the touch sensor  21  to operate the operation target device according to the fourth embodiment is explained below with reference to  FIG. 23 . 
       FIG. 23  shows a state where the touch sensor  21  is developed in the same manner as  FIG. 8 . The operation invalid area Ariv is omitted in the constitution example shown in  FIG. 23 . When the driver is merely gripping the circular portion  200   r , the thumb contact detection portions Tt and the index finger contact detection portions Ti are conceived to be located relatively close to the palm contact detection portions Tp. 
     The thumb contact detection portions Tt and the index finger contact detection portions Ti are defined as Tt 0  and Ti 0 , respectively, in the case where the driver has no intention of operating the operation target device and the driver is merely gripping the circular portion. 
       FIG. 23  shows a case where the thumb contact detection portions Tt 0  and the index finger contact detection portions Ti 0  are detected when the driver is merely gripping the circular portion  200   r  and has no intention of operating the operation target device, and a case where the thumb contact detection portions Tt 0  and the index finger contact detection portions Ti 0  move to the thumb contact detection portions Tt and the index finger contact detection portions Ti located away from the palm contact detection portions Tp when the driver intends to operate the operation target device. 
     Although  FIG. 23  shows the case where the thumb contact detection portions Tt 0  and the thumb contact detection portions Tt have the same X-coordinate and where the index finger contact detection portions Ti 0  and the index finger contact detection portions Ti have the same X-coordinate, the respective X-coordinates are not necessarily the same. In such a case, it is only required to focus only on the movement on the Y-coordinate. 
     The controller  10  stores, as a reference distance, a distance α 1  between the end of the palm contact detection portions Tp towards the thumb contact detection portions Tt 0  and the end of the thumb contact detection portions Tt 0  towards the palm contact detection portions Tp in the state where the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r  for normal driving. The controller  10  may serve as a storage unit to store the reference distance α 1 , or the storage unit  18  may store the reference distance α 1 . 
     The distance between the end of the palm contact detection portions Tp towards the thumb contact detection portions Tt and the end of the thumb contact detection portions Tt towards the palm contact detection portions Tp in the state where the driver intends to operate the operation target device, is, for example, a distance α 2  which is longer than the distance α 1 . 
     The controller  10  determines that the driver intends to operate the operation target device when the controller  10  detects the thumb contact detection portions Tt having a predetermined distance, longer than the reference distance α 1 , from the end of the palm contact detection portions Tp towards the thumb contact detection portions Tt 0 . The controller  10  accepts the input operation performed with the thumb in this state as a valid operation detected in the thumb contact detection portions Tt. 
     Although  FIG. 23  shows only the distances α 1  and α 2  between the palm contact detection portions Tp and the thumb contact detection portions Tt 0  and Tt, a distance between the palm contact detection portions Tp and the index finger detection portions Ti 0  may be stored in a similar manner to the distances α 1  and α 2  so as to detect the index finger detection portions Ti when the driver intends to operate the operation target device. 
     Namely, in the state where the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r  but does not perform the input operation, the reference distance between the palm contact detection portions Tp in which the palm of the driver is in contact with the touch sensor  21  and the finger contact detection portions (the thumb contact detection portions Tt 0  or the index finger detection portions Ti 0 ) in which the finger (the thumb or the index finger) that performs the input operation is in contact with the touch sensor  21 , may be stored so that the input operation performed with the finger is accepted as a valid operation when the palm contact detection portions Tp and the finger contact detection portions have a predetermined distance therebetween which is longer than the reference distance. 
     The operation invalid area Ariv may be provided although not shown in  FIG. 23 . When the operation invalid area Ariv is provided, the range of the operation invalid area Ariv may be smaller than that in  FIG. 8 . 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     A control apparatus and method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to a fifth embodiment will be explained below. Fundamental constitutions and operations in the fifth embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and only different elements will be explained below. The fifth embodiment shows still another constitution example of preventing occurrence of incorrect operation. 
     In  FIG. 13A  to  FIG. 13D , the combination patterns of the input operations with both right and left hands used as the particular input operation for controlling the operation target device were shown. In order to further decrease the occurrence of incorrect operation, the controller  10  may enable the input operation when the detector  10   a  detects the same input operation being performed with both right and left hands. 
     The controller  10  may enable the input operation when detecting the same input operation being performed concurrently with both right and left hands. 
     Examples of the case where the same input operation is performed concurrently with both right and left hands are explained below with reference to  FIG. 24A  to  FIG. 24C . 
       FIG. 24A  shows a case where left dragging D TL  to slide the thumb in the left direction on the left touch sensor  21 L and right dragging D TR  to slide the thumb in the right direction on the right touch sensor  21 R are concurrently performed, as in the case of  FIG. 13A . 
       FIG. 24A  is an example of the same input operation of the dragging with both right and left thumbs on the circular portion  200   r  from the inner circumferential side to the outer circumferential side. Of course, the case where the right dragging D TR  to slide the thumb in the right direction on the left touch sensor  21 L and the right dragging D TR  to slide the thumb in the right direction on the right touch sensor  21 R are concurrently performed, or the case where the left dragging D TL  to slide the thumb in the left direction on the left touch sensor  21 L and the left dragging D TL  to slide the thumb in the left direction on the right touch sensor  21 R are concurrently performed, may also be defined as the same input operation. 
     However, the symmetrical input operation as shown in  FIG. 24A  is preferably defined as the same input operation. 
       FIG. 24B  is an example in which downward dragging D TD  to slide the thumbs in the downward direction is performed concurrently on both the left touch sensor  21 L and the right touch sensor  21 R, as in the case of  FIG. 13D . 
     The case where upward dragging D TU  to slide the thumbs in the upward direction is performed concurrently on both the left touch sensor  21 L and the right touch sensor  21 R, may also be defined as the same input operation. 
     In the case of the dragging to slide the fingers in the vertical direction, the dragging not in a symmetrical manner but in the same direction on right and left sides may be defined as the same input operation. 
     The index fingers may be used in place of the thumbs in  FIG. 24  and  FIG. 24B . 
       FIG. 24C  is an example in which tapping T to tap the touch sensor  21  with the thumbs or the index fingers is performed concurrently on both the left touch sensor  21 L and the right touch sensor  21 R. 
     The controller  10  determines that the input operation is performed concurrently on both sides in the following cases. For example, as shown in  FIG. 25A , the dragging may be conceived to be performed concurrently on both sides in a case where time TM L  from drag start timing t 1  to drag end timing t 3  performed with the left finger overlaps, for a predetermined period of time (at a predetermined rate) or more, with time TM R  from drag start timing t 2  to drag end timing t 4  performed with the right finger. 
     As shown in  FIG. 25B , the dragging may be conceived to be performed concurrently on both sides in a case where a predetermined period of time TM P1  is measured from drag start timing t 1  performed with, for example, the left finger which starts dragging first, and dragging is sequentially performed with the right finger within the time TM P1 . Standards for determination on the input operation conceived to be performed concurrently may be determined as appropriate. 
     Since the completely same input operation is not made with right and left fingers, an allowable range for considering as the same input operation is arranged. In the case of the dragging, when the fingers slide in the same direction within the allowable range, the same input operation is considered to be performed. 
     In the case of the tapping T, the same input operation may be considered to be performed when the tapping T is performed on the same position. When the position of the tapping T is the same on the front part  21   f  or the rear part  21   r , the tapping T is considered to be performed on the same position. 
     That is, when the tapping T is performed with the thumbs concurrently on both right and left sides or the tapping T is performed with the index fingers concurrently on both right and left sides, the input operation may be considered to be performed on the same position concurrently on both right and left sides. 
     In order to preventing incorrect operation, an acceptance mode of accepting the particular input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  as described above may be set in the controller  10 , and the driver may intentionally select the acceptance mode. 
     It is also required to prevent an unintentional shift to the acceptance mode when shifting from an unaccepted mode. 
     Therefore, when the detector  10   a  detects the same input operation being performed with both hands on the respective touch sensors  21 , the controller  10  shifts from the state of not accepting the particular input operation to the state of accepting the particular input operation (the acceptance mode) as described above. The same input operation is the same as explained with reference to  FIG. 24A  to  FIG. 24C . 
     As is explained with reference to  FIG. 25A  and  FIG. 25B , it is preferable to shift to the acceptance mode when the same input operation performed concurrently is detected. 
     In addition, when the particular input operation explained with reference to  FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11E ,  FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D  and  FIG. 13A  to  FIG. 13D  is performed, and the particular input operation performed is then fixed, the operation target device may be controlled according to the particular input operation. 
     When the detector  10   a  detects the state where the particular input operation as explained in  FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11E ,  FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D  and  FIG. 13A  to  FIG. 13D  (a first particular input operation) being performed, and the detector  10   a  then detects the particular input operation defined as the same input operation as explained in  FIG. 24A  to  FIG. 24C  (a second particular input operation) being performed, the controller  10  fixes the last first particular input operation. 
     As explained with reference to  FIG. 25A  and  FIG. 25B , when detecting the state where the particular input operation defined as the same input operation is performed concurrently, the controller  10  may fix the last first particular input operation. 
     As shown in  FIG. 26 , when the upward dragging D IU  with the left index finger is detected and the upward dragging D TU  with the right thumb is then detected within a predetermined period of time, the acceptance mode may be selected. 
     As shown in  FIG. 27 , when there is a predetermined period of time TM P2  between time TM L  of the upward dragging D IU  with the left index finger and time TM R  of the upward dragging D TU  with the right thumb, the controller  10  determines that the upward dragging D IU  and the upward dragging D TU  are performed as the continuous input operation so as to select the acceptance mode. 
     In addition, the target to be operated may be switched depending on the pattern of the input operations performed with the right and left hands. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 28 , when the detector  10   a  detects a state where the upward dragging D IU  to slide the index finger in the upward direction on the left touch sensor  21 L is performed and tapping T T  to tap the right touch sensor  21 R with the thumb is then repeated twice, the controller  10  selects an audio operation mode of operating the audio reproduction unit  12 . 
     The controller  10  sets the audio reproduction unit  12  in the onboard equipment  100  as a target to be operated based on the particular input operation. 
     As shown in  FIG. 29 , when the detector  10   a  detects a state where the upward dragging D TU  to slide the thumb in the upward direction on the left touch sensor  21 L is performed and the tapping T T  to tap the right touch sensor  21 R with the thumb is then repeated twice, the controller  10  selects a navigation operation mode of operating the navigation processing unit  11 . 
     The controller  10  sets the navigation processing unit  11  in the onboard equipment  100  as a target to be operated based on the particular input operation. Note that the combination of each input operation is merely an example and is not limited to  FIG. 28  and  FIG. 29 . 
     In the constitution examples as explained with reference to  FIG. 24A  to  FIG. 24C ,  FIG. 25A ,  FIG. 25B  and  FIG. 26  to  FIG. 29 , the respective operations may be performed on the assumption that the driver is gripping the circular portion  200   r  (the touch sensor  21 ). 
     Sixth Embodiment 
     A control apparatus and method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to a sixth embodiment will be explained below. Fundamental constitutions and operations in the sixth embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and only different elements will be explained below. The sixth embodiment shows still another constitution example of preventing occurrence of incorrect operation. 
       FIG. 30A  shows an example of sorting the touch sensor  21  by color into the grip detection area Arg, the operation invalid area Ariv and the operation detection area Arv. The classification by color may be made by applying paints or attaching sheets having different colors to the respective areas. 
     Sorting by color into the touch sensor  21  and other parts of the circular portion  200   r  other than the touch sensor  21  may also be effective. In such a case, the touch sensor  21  may be colored, or the other parts may be colored. 
     Alternatively, different colors may be used in each of the other parts other than the touch sensor  21 , the grip area Arg, the operation invalid area Ariv and the operation detection area Arv. 
       FIG. 30B  is an example in which the operation invalid area Ariv is not provided, and the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv are sorted by color. When the touch sensor  21  and the other parts of the circular portion  200   r  other than the touch sensor  21  are sorted by color, the driver can visually recognize the position of the touch sensor  21  clearly and immediately. 
     As shown in  FIG. 30A  and  FIG. 30B , the classification by color into the respective areas can allow the driver to visually recognize the positions of the respective areas on the touch sensor  21  clearly and immediately. The color change sheet  41  described above may also be used in  FIG. 30A  and  FIG. 30B . 
     When the positions of the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv are dynamically set according to the position of the touch sensor  21  gripped by the driver, the color change sheet  41  may be used as follows. 
     The controller  10  arranges the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv in the touch sensor  21  after the driver touches the touch sensor  21  on the circular portion  200   r.    
     The controller  10  classifies the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv by color after the arrangement of the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv. 
     In either case, the classification by color may be made by applying different colors to the respective areas or coloring one area so as to sort by color consequently. 
       FIG. 31A  shows an example of applying markers M 1  and M 2  with a particular color to the respective boundaries of the grip detection area Arg, the detection invalid area Ariv and the operation detection area Arv. The application of the markers M 1  and M 2  is an example of boundary distinction means for distinguishing the respective boundaries. The markers M 1  and M 2  may be provided by applying paints or seals. 
       FIG. 31B  is an example in which the operation invalid area Ariv is not provided, and a marker M 3  with a particular color is applied to the boundary between the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv. 
     As shown in  FIG. 31A  and  FIG. 31B , the indication of the boundaries can allow the driver to visually recognize the respective areas in the touch sensor  21  clearly and immediately. 
       FIG. 32  shows an example in which the diameter of the circular portion  200   r  in the operation detection area Arv is smaller than that in the grip detection area Arg.  FIG. 32  is a case where the operation invalid area Ariv is not provided. 
     The diameter in the operation detection area Arv may be decreased to the extent that the driver can operate the steering wheel  200  without hindrance and tactually recognize that the part with the smaller diameter is located in the operation detection area Arv. The diameter of the boundary between the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv may change gradually. 
       FIG. 33  shows an example in which the diameter of the circular portion  200   r  in the operation detection area Arv is larger than that in the grip detection area Arg.  FIG. 33  is a case where the operation invalid area Ariv is not provided. 
     The diameter in the operation detection area Arv may be increased to the extent that the driver can operate the steering wheel  200  without hindrance and tactually recognize that the part with the smaller diameter is located in the operation detection area Arv. The diameter of the boundary between the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv may change gradually. 
     In the constitution examples of  FIG. 32  and  FIG. 33 , the diameter of the circular portion  200   r  changes in the boundary between the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv. The change of the diameter may be an example of boundary distinction means for physically distinguishing the boundary. 
       FIG. 34  shows an example in which recesses B 1  and B 2  are formed in the respective boundaries of the grip detection area Arg, the operation invalid area Ariv and the operation detection area Arv. 
     The provision of the recesses B 1  and B 2  allows the driver to visually recognize the respective areas and tactually recognize the respective areas when gripping the touch sensor  21 . Although not shown in the figure, a recess may be formed in the boundary between the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv when the operation invalid area Ariv is not provided. 
     The touch sensor  21  may be divided by the recesses B 1  and B 2  but is not required. The provision of the recesses B 1  and B 2  is another example of boundary distinction means for physically distinguishing the respective boundaries. 
       FIG. 35  shows an example in which projections B 3  and B 4  are formed in the respective boundaries of the grip detection area Arg, the operation invalid area Ariv and the operation detection area Arv. 
     The provision of the projections B 3  and B 4  allows the driver to visually recognize the respective areas and tactually recognize the respective areas when gripping the touch sensor  21 . Although not shown in the figure, a projection may be formed in the boundary between the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv when the operation invalid area Ariv is not provided. 
     The touch sensor  21  may be divided by the projections B 3  and B 4  but is not required. The provision of the projections B 3  and B 4  is still another example of boundary distinction means for physically distinguishing the respective boundaries. 
     The following is an explanation of a constitution example of further decreasing the occurrence of incorrect operation in a manner such that the driver accurately recognizes the position of the operation detection area Arv when the driver grips the grip detection area Arg. 
       FIG. 36A  is a state where the driver is not gripping the grip detection area Arg.  FIG. 36A  is an example in which the operation invalid area Ariv is not provided. 
       FIG. 36B  is a state where the driver is gripping the grip detection area Arg. In the constitution examples of  FIG. 36A  and  FIG. 36B , the color change sheet  41  described above is placed on the lower surface side of the operation detection area Arv. 
     When the detector  10   a  detects the grip detection area Arg being gripped, the controller  10  changes the color of the color change sheet  41  as shown in  FIG. 36B . The change in color can allow the driver to clearly and visually recognize the position of the operation detection area Arv so as to further decreasing the occurrence of incorrect operation. 
       FIG. 37A  and  FIG. 37B  each show an example of placing the tactile feedback sheet  42  described above on the upper surface of the operation detection area Arv.  FIG. 37A  is a state where the driver is not gripping the grip detection area Arg.  FIG. 37B  is a state where the driver is gripping the grip detection area Arg. 
     When the detector  10   a  detects the grip detection area Arg being gripped, the controller  10  controls the tactile feedback sheet  42  to change the texture thereof to, for example, a coarse state. 
     Alternatively, when the detector  10   a  detects the grip detection area Arg being gripped in a state where the texture of the tactile feedback sheet  42  is in a coarse state shown in  FIG. 37A , the controller  10  may change the texture of the tactile feedback sheet  42  to a smooth state. 
     The change in texture of the tactile feedback sheet  42  can allow the driver to clearly and visually recognize the position of the operation detection area Arv so as to further decreasing the occurrence of incorrect operation. 
     The case of changing the texture of the tactile feedback sheet  42  does not require the driver to visually recognize the operation detection area Arv, which contributes to safety driving. The way of changing the texture of the tactile feedback sheet  42  is not particularly limited. 
     In the constitution examples of  FIG. 36A ,  FIG. 36B ,  FIG. 37A  and  FIG. 37B , when the color change sheet  41  or the tactile feedback sheet  42  is placed not only on the operation detection area Arv but on the entire the touch sensor  21 , the color or texture in the operation detection area Arv can be changed even if the positions of the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv, and the operation invalid area Ariv as necessary, are determined dynamically depending on the position in the touch sensor  21  gripped by the driver. 
     Although the color or texture is changed only in the operation detection area Arv in  FIG. 36A ,  FIG. 36B ,  FIG. 37A  and  FIG. 37B , the color or texture of each of the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv may be changed in a manner such that the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv have different colors or textures from each other. 
     Here, the color or texture of the respective areas may be changed so as to have different colors or textures from each other, or the color or texture of only part of the areas may be changed so as to have different colors or textures consequently. 
     Although not shown in the figure, only the operation detection area Arv may preliminarily have a different texture from each of the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv. 
     Only the operation detection area Arv may be subjected to surface treatment to have a coarse, rough or smooth texture, or may be provided thereon with a sheet having such a texture so as to have a different texture form the grip detection area Arg and the operation invalid area Ariv. 
     The driver can clearly and tactually recognize the position the operation detection area Arv due to such a process, although the process is not applicable to the case where the operation detection area Arv is determined dynamically. 
     As explained above with reference to  FIG. 30A ,  FIG. 30B ,  FIG. 31A ,  FIG. 31B ,  FIG. 32  to  FIG. 35 ,  FIG. 36A ,  FIG. 36B ,  FIG. 37A  and  FIG. 37B , the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv are configured to be distinguishable from each other at least when the detector detects the grip detection area Arg being gripped. 
     Note that the constitutions shown in  FIG. 30A ,  FIG. 30B ,  FIG. 31A ,  FIG. 31B ,  FIG. 32  to  FIG. 35 ,  FIG. 36A ,  FIG. 36B ,  FIG. 37A  and  FIG. 37B  are merely examples. Each of the constitutions shown in  FIG. 30A ,  FIG. 30B ,  FIG. 31A ,  FIG. 31B ,  FIG. 32  to  FIG. 35 ,  FIG. 36A ,  FIG. 36B ,  FIG. 37A  and  FIG. 37B  may be combined together. 
     The grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv may be configured to be always distinguishable from each other. Alternatively, the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv may be configured to be distinguishable from each other only when detecting the grip detection area Arg being gripped, so as to indicate whether the operation input to the operation detection area Arv is acceptable depending on whether the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv are distinguishable from each other. 
     Seventh Embodiment 
     A control apparatus and method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to a seventh embodiment will be explained below. Fundamental constitutions and operations in the seventh embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and only different elements will be explained below. 
       FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11E ,  FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D  and  FIG. 13A  to  FIG. 13D  show several kinds of patterns of dragging to slide the fingers on the touch sensors  21  in the right-left direction or in the vertical direction. However, even when the driver intends to slide the fingers in the right-left direction or in the vertical direction as viewed from the driver, a track made by contact of the finger is not necessarily a straight line and may be an arc-like curve. Further, a line connecting a starting point and an end point of dragging may greatly be shifted from a horizontal line or a vertical line. 
     This is because the surface of the circular portion  20   r  is not flat, and because the movement of the finger tends to be a rotational movement about the base of the finger. 
       FIG. 38  shows an example of a track when sliding the left finger on the touch sensor  21  in the right-left direction. The left side in  FIG. 38  is the outer side of the circular portion  200   r , and the right side is the inner side of the circular portion  200   r . As shown in  FIG. 38 , the position of the track on the inner side of the circular portion  200  tends to be located below that on the outer side. 
     It is not preferred to require the driver to draw not an arc-like curved line shown in  FIG. 38  but a straight line in view of operability. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the controller  10  determines that the dragging is made in a straight line in the horizontal direction as shown in  FIG. 39B  when a difference dxh of components “x” in the horizontal direction from a starting point Ps to an end point Pe of the track is a predetermined threshold value or greater, and a difference dyh of components “y” in a vertical direction is less than a predetermined threshold value as shown in  FIG. 39A . 
     Alternatively, the controller  10  may determine that the dragging is made in a straight line in the horizontal direction when a ratio of the difference dyh to the difference dxh (dyh/dxh) is less than a predetermined threshold value. For example, the threshold value is ½. 
     The dragging to slide the finger on the touch sensor  21  in the vertical direction also tends to draw not a straight line but a curved line. 
     Thus, according to the present embodiment, the controller  10  determines that the dragging is made in a straight line in the vertical direction as shown in  FIG. 40B  when a difference dyv of components “y” from a starting point Ps to an ending point Pe of the track is a predetermined threshold value of greater, and a difference dxv of components “x” is less than a predetermined threshold value as shown in  FIG. 40A . 
     When the threshold value for the difference dxh is defined as THxh, the threshold value for the difference dyh is defined as THyh, the threshold value for the difference dyv is defined as THyv, and the threshold value for the difference dxv is defined as THxv, it is preferable to fulfill the conditions of THxv&lt;THxh and THyh&lt;THyv. The respective threshold values are preliminarily stored in the controller  10 . 
     As in the case of the dragging in the horizontal direction, the controller  10  may determine that the dragging is made in a straight line in the vertical direction when a ratio of the difference dxv to the difference dyv (dxv/dyv) is less than a predetermined threshold value. For example, the threshold value is ½. 
     In order to increase the patterns of dragging, oblique dragging to slide the finger in an oblique direction may be added. However, the oblique dragging tends to be difficult to be distinguished from the case where the driver slides the finger in the right-left direction as shown in  FIG. 38  that unintentionally results in an arc-like curve. 
     In view of this, oblique dragging defined as follows further improves the operability.  FIG. 41A  shows a state of sliding one of the fingers in the right direction on the left touch sensor  21 L and a state of sliding one of the fingers in the downward direction on the right touch sensor  21 R. 
     In such a case, the controller  10  can consider the operation on the left touch sensor  21 L as right dragging D R  and consider the operation on the right touch sensor  21 R as downward dragging D D  as shown in  FIG. 41B  according to the track correction as explained in  FIG. 39A ,  FIG. 39B ,  FIG. 40A  and  FIG. 40B . 
     As shown in  FIG. 41C , an oblique vector V O  is obtained by composition of a vector V R  of the right dragging D R  and a vector V D  of the downward dragging D D . Thus, when the right dragging D R  is performed on the left touch sensor  21 L and the downward dragging D D  is performed on the right touch sensor  21 R, the controller  10  obtains the oblique vector V O  by the composition of the vectors so as to determine that the oblique dragging D O  having the oblique vector V O  is performed as shown in  FIG. 41D . 
       FIG. 41D  shows an example of the oblique dragging D O  in the obliquely lower right direction. Alternatively, the oblique dragging D O  in the obliquely upper right direction, the oblique dragging D O  in the obliquely lower left direction, or the oblique dragging D O  in the obliquely upper left direction may also be performed. The oblique dragging D O  achieved according to the present embodiment improves the operability. 
     When, for example, upper dragging is performed both on the left touch sensor  21 L and on the right touch sensor  21 R, the controller  10  may control an operation performed based on a larger vector obtained by composition of the two drag vectors in the same direction (in the upward direction in this case). 
     Such an operation controlled by the controller  10  can achieve wide scrolling on a map only by one dragging so as to improve operability. 
     In addition, a specific operation may be performed when a direction of a vector of dragging performed on the left touch sensor  21 L is opposite to that of a vector of dragging performed on the right touch sensor  21 R and when the angle between the two vectors is close to 180° (for example, 180° with a margin of plus or minus α: α is an arbitrary angle). For example, a map may be rotated. 
     As explained above, the controller  10  according to the present embodiment controls the operation target device according to the combination patterns of the input operation on the left touch sensor  21 L and the input operation on the right touch sensor  21 R. 
     Note that, although the present embodiment exemplified the vector composition on the basis of the four directions of the upward direction, the downward direction, the left direction and the right direction, the vector composition may be made on the basis of more directions. 
     A difference between a track of dragging that the user intends and a track of dragging actually made tends to be in a symmetric state, and the track deviation may be cleared by performing the vector composition. Here, only the correction of dragging to draw a straight line connecting from the starting point to the end point of the track may be performed, and the direction consideration of the dragging which is either in the horizontal direction or in the vertical direction described above may be omitted. 
     Eighth Embodiment 
     A control apparatus and method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to an eighth embodiment will be explained below. Fundamental constitutions and operations in the eighth embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and only different elements will be explained below. Although the way of defining dragging in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction in the eighth embodiment is different from that in the seventh embodiment, the track correction when sliding fingers and the operation of the vector composition are the same as those in the seventh embodiment. 
     In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 42 , an operation to slide the finger on the touch sensor  21  in the diameter direction of the circular portion  200   r  (the steering wheel  200 ) is defined as horizontal dragging Dh, and an operation to slide the finger in the circumferential direction of the circular portion  200   r  is defined as vertical dragging Dv. 
       FIG. 43  shows a development of the touch sensor  21  obtained by adding the horizontal dragging Dh and the vertical dragging Dv to the development of  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 42  and  FIG. 43  each show a case where the horizontal dragging Dh and the vertical dragging Dv are each shown in one row of the detection regions R on the respective X-coordinate and Y-coordinate respectively. However, the dragging may be made in a manner such that the finger comes into contact with plural rows of the detection regions R. 
       FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11E ,  FIG. 12A  to  FIG. 12D  and  FIG. 13A  to  FIG. 13D  show several kinds of patterns of dragging to slide the fingers on the touch sensors  21  in the right-left direction or in the vertical direction. However, even when the driver intends to perform the horizontal dragging Dh or the vertical dragging Dv described above, the fingers do not necessarily slide in the radial direction or in the circumferential direction appropriately. 
     As is apparent from the development of  FIG. 43 , when the horizontal dragging Dr or the vertical dragging Dv is performed appropriately, the track obtained by contact of the finger results in a straight line. However, the track is not necessarily in a straight line and may actually result in a curved line. In addition, a line connecting a starting point and an end point of dragging may greatly deviate from the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. 
     The track correction and the operation of the vector composition in the eighth embodiment are the same as those in the seventh embodiment with reference to  FIG. 38 ,  FIG. 39A ,  FIG. 39B ,  FIG. 40A ,  FIG. 40B  and  FIG. 42A  to  FIG. 41C , and the explanations thereof are not repeated here. 
     Ninth Embodiment 
     A control apparatus and method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to a ninth embodiment will be explained below. Fundamental constitutions and operations in the ninth embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and only different elements will be explained below. 
     A constitution example of the ninth embodiment in which the deformed steering wheel  201  shown in  FIG. 5  is further developed is explained below with reference to  FIG. 44 ,  FIG. 45 ,  FIG. 46  and  FIG. 47A  to  FIG. 47C . 
     As shown in  FIG. 44 , a deformed steering wheel  202  includes grip portions  202   s  having a right cylindrical shape formed in part of the circular portion  200   r  on both right and left sides that the driver grips. The pair of grip portions  202   s  on the right and left sides are connected via an upper connecting portion  202   c   1  and a lower connecting portion  202   c   2  so as to form a ring portion  202   r . The touch sensor  21  is mounted on each grip portion  202   s.    
       FIG. 45  is an enlarged view showing the boundary between the connecting portion  202   c   1  and the grip portion  202   s  surrounded by a dashed-dotted line in  FIG. 44 .  FIG. 46  is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A in  FIG. 45 . 
     The grip portion  202   s  is formed to have a slightly smaller diameter than the connecting portions  202   c   1  and  202   c   2 , and the touch sensor  21  is mounted on the grip portion  202   s . Therefore, there is almost no difference in level at the boundary between the grip portion  202   s  and the respective connecting portions  202   c   1  and  202   c   2  so as to provide a continuously smooth surface. 
     In the deformed steering wheel  202  shown in  FIG. 44 , the driver switches the ON/OFF state of the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  by operating the grip portion  202   s.    
     The ON state of the input operation is to allow (enable) the particular input operation described above, and the OFF state of the input operation is not to allow (disable) the particular input operation described above. 
     The grip portion  202   s  has an ON/OFF switching mechanism installed therein, which switches the input operation between the ON state and the OFF state. 
     The ON/OFF switching mechanism and the switching operation with the ON/OFF switching mechanism are explained below with reference to  FIG. 46  and  FIG. 47A  to  FIG. 47C .  FIG. 47A  to  FIG. 47C  each show a cross-sectional view along the line B-B of  FIG. 45 . As shown in  FIG. 46 , the end portion of the connecting portion  202   c   1  towards the grip portion  202   s  is provided with a protrusion  27 . The end portion of the grip portion  202   s  towards the connecting portion  202   c   1  is provided with a receiving portion  28  having a recess to receive the protrusion  27 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 47A  to  FIG. 47C , part of the protrusion  27  in the circumferential direction is provided with a cutout serving as a recess  27   cp . An elastic deforming portion  29  having a projection  29   p  is fixed to the recess  27   cp . Two recesses  28   cp   1  and  28   cp   2  are formed on the inner surface of the receiving portion  28 . 
     In the normal state of the deformed steering wheel  202 , the grip portion  202   s  is in the state shown in  FIG. 47A . Namely, the projection  29   p  is engaged with the recess  28   cp   1 .  FIG. 47A  shows a state where the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  is in the OFF state. When the driver normally drives the vehicle without operating the operation target device with the touch sensor  21 , the ON/OFF switching mechanism is in the OFF state shown in  FIG. 47A . 
     Once the grip portion  202   s  in the OFF state shown in  FIG. 47A  rotates towards the outer circumference of the deformed steering wheel  202 , the engagement between the projection  29   p  and the recess  28   cp   1  is released as shown in  FIG. 47B  so that the projection  29   p  comes into contact with a protruding portion between the recesses  28   cp   1  and  28   cp   2 . At this point, the elastic deforming portion  29  is pressed and deformed by the protruding portion between the recesses  28   cp   1  and  28   cp   2 . 
     When the grip portion  202   s  further rotates towards the outer circumference of the deformed steering wheel  202 , the projection  29   p  is engaged with the recess  28   cp   2  as shown in  FIG. 47C  so that the input operation performed on the touch sensor  21  is in the ON state. 
     Although not shown in the figure, the OFF state of the input operation on the touch sensor  21  shown in  FIG. 47A  and the ON state of the input operation on the touch sensor  21  shown in  FIG. 47C  are each electrically detected. A state detection signal from the ON/OFF switching mechanism in the grip portion  202   s  is input into the controller  10 . 
     The driver selects the state shown in  FIG. 47A  when normally driving the vehicle without operating the operation target device with the touch sensor  21  and selects the state shown in  FIG. 47C  by rotating the grip portion  202   s  towards the outer circumference when intending to operate the operation target device with the touch sensor  21 . 
     At the point where the projection  29   p  is engaged with the recess  28   cp   2  when shifting from the state of  FIG. 47A  to the state of  FIG. 47C , and at the point where the projection  29   p  is engaged with the recess  28   cp   1  when shifting from the state of  FIG. 47C  to the state of  FIG. 47A , the driver can ensure a feeling of clicking so as to recognize that the ON state and the OFF state are switched. 
     The ON/OFF switching mechanism shown in  FIG. 47A  to  FIG. 47C  may be provided in each of or in one of the grip portions  202   s  on the right and left sides. When the ON/OFF switching mechanism is provided in each of the right and left grip portions  202   s , the input operation may be in the ON state when the right and left grip portions  202   s  are both in the ON state, or the input operation may be in the ON state when one of the grip portions  202   s  is in the ON state. Alternatively, the input operation may be in the ON state when the grip portion  202   s  rotates towards the inner circumference. 
     In the constitution example of  FIG. 44 , since a sense of touch (a feeling of gripping) of the driver when gripping the grip portion  202   s  does not change between the ON state and the OFF state of the input operation, there is no adverse effect on the driver. 
     In the constitution of the touch sensor  21  mounted on the grip portion  202   s  in the deformed steering wheel  202  shown in  FIG. 44 , the touch sensor  21  is not required to have a complicated shape as explained in  FIG. 8  and may have a simple plane surface as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Therefore, the shape of the touch sensor  21  can be simplified so that the touch sensor  21  itself can be manufactured at lower cost. Further, the process of mounting the touch sensor  21  on the steering wheel (the deformed steering wheel  202 ) is simplified so that the control apparatus for controlling the operation target device can be manufactured at lower cost accordingly. 
     The ON/OFF switching mechanism is a rotation switch to rotate in the circumferential direction. The touch sensor  21  mounted on the grip portion  202   s  having the ON/OFF switching mechanism may include the grip detection area Arg, the operation detection area Arv and the operation invalid area Ariv as explained in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . 
     However, since whether the driver has the intention of operating the operation target device or not is determined clearly due to the provision of the ON/OFF switching mechanism, only the operation detection area Arv may be provided without the grip detection area Arg and the operation invalid area Ariv. In other words, the operation detection area Arv may be provided on the entire surface of the touch sensor  21 . 
     Next, processing executed by the controller  10  when using the deformed steering wheel  202  is explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 48 . 
     In  FIG. 48 , the controller  10  determines whether the ON/OFF switching mechanism is in the ON state in step S 21 . When the controller  10  determines that the ON/OFF switching mechanism is not in the ON state (NO), the controller  10  returns to step S 21 . When the controller  10  determines that the ON/OFF switching mechanism is in the ON state (YES), the controller  10  obtains sensor data output from the sensor data generator  22  in step S 22 . 
     The controller  10  determines whether the input operation was performed based on the detection output from the detector  10   a  in step S 23 . 
     When the controller  10  determines that the input operation was performed (YES), the controller proceeds to step S 24 . When the controller  10  determines that the input operation was not performed (NO), the controller  10  returns to step S 21 . 
     The controller  10  determines in step S 24  whether to allow the operation performed on the operation target device according to the input operation determined in step S 23 . When the controller  10  determines to allow the operation (YES), the controller  10  proceeds to step S 25 . When the operation is not allowable (NO), the controller  10  returns to step S 21 . 
     The controller  10  allows the operation performed on the operation target device when the particular input operation was performed on the touch sensor  21 . The controller  10  fixes the operation based on the input operation in step S 25 , controls the operation target device according to the fixed operation in step S 26 , and returns to step S 21 . 
     Although the example shown in  FIG. 48  does not include the process corresponding to step S 2  in  FIG. 4 , the process of determining whether the grip portion  202   s  is gripped which corresponds to the step S 2  in  FIG. 4  may be carried out between step S 22  and step S 23 . 
     As in the case of the constitution example shown in  FIG. 44 , the controller  10  can objectively determine whether the driver has the intention of operating the operation target device due to the provision of the grip portion  202   s  having the ON/OFF switching mechanism. 
     Accordingly the occurrence of incorrect operation can greatly be decreased. The grip portion  202   s  may return to the normal state shown in  FIG. 47A  when a vehicle equipped with an engine stops the engine or when an electric vehicle disconnects the power. In such a case, a motor may be installed in the grip portion  202   s  to return to the state of  FIG. 47A  from the state of  FIG. 47C . 
     The touch sensor  21  may be detachably mounted on the circular portion  200   r  or the ring portion  202   r  by use of a hook-and-loop fastener. Although the circular portion  200   r  serves as the grip portion, the grip portion is not necessarily formed into a circular shape. The grip portion may be deformed as in the case of the ring portion  202   r , or is not necessarily in a ring shape. 
     In the deformed steering wheel  202  shown in  FIG. 44 , the receiving portion having a recess may be formed on the connecting portion  202   c   1  or  202   c   2  side, and the protrusion may be formed on the grip portion  202   s  side, so as to engage the grip portion  202   s  with the connecting portion  202   c   1  or  202   c   2 . 
     The constitution shown in  FIG. 46  and  FIG. 47A  to  FIG. 47C  is an example of the ON/OFF switching mechanism, and the present embodiment is not limited only to the constitution shown in  FIG. 46  and  FIG. 47A  to  FIG. 47C . 
     Tenth Embodiment 
     A control apparatus for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to a tenth embodiment will be explained below. The tenth embodiment is at least one embodiment of a driver specification method. Fundamental constitutions and operations in the tenth embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and only different elements will be explained below. 
     An embodiment of a driver specification method for specifying a driver driving a vehicle by use of the control apparatus for controlling an operation target device according to the present embodiment is explained below. 
     If a driver can be specified, the onboard equipment  100  can be set to an appropriate condition depending on the driver, or the vehicle can be set to an appropriate condition depending on the driver. 
     For example, a case may be conceived where the driver operates the audio reproduction unit  12  to automatically reproduce compositions frequently reproduced or to display compositions frequently reproduced in front of a list of compositions. In addition, a case may be conceived where an air conditioner is set to an appropriate condition or a seat is adjusted to an appropriate position depending on the driver. 
     Examples of specifying a driver are explained below with reference to  FIG. 49  to  FIG. 51 .  FIG. 49  shows an example of a contact state in the palm contact detection portions Tp and the thumb contact detection portions Tt when the driver intends to drive a vehicle and grips the circular portion  200   r.    
     In this state, the thumb contact detection portions Tt are positioned close to the palm contact detection portions Tp since the driver does not intend to operate the operation target device with the touch sensor  21 .  FIG. 49  does not show the index finger contact detection portions Ti. 
     The controller  10  detects a length of the touched portions in the grip detection area Arg on the X-coordinate. In  FIG. 49 , the sum of a length Lx 1  and a length Lx 2  are the length of the touched portions on the X-coordinate. 
       FIG. 50  shows a state where the divided palm contact detection portions Tp in  FIG. 49  are connected together, and shows a length Lx of the touched portions on the X-coordinate. The length Lx is information that shows a length of the portions gripped with the palm on the touch sensor  21  (the palm contact detection portions Tp) in the circumferential direction in the cross section when the circular portion  200   r  is cut in the radial direction. 
     The length Lx is a first example of holding state recognition data showing how the driver grips the part of the circular portion  200   r  on which the touch sensor  21  is mounted. 
     Although the controller  10  is configured to detect the length Lx, the controller  10  may obtain the number of the detection regions R corresponding to the length Lx. Of course, the number of the detection regions R corresponding to the length Lx can be converted into an actual distance. 
     The controller  10  also detects a length Lya of the thumb contact detection portions Tt and the palm contact detection portions Tp on the Y-coordinate. The length Lya is information that shows a length determined according to the portions in contact with the palm (the palm contact detection portions Tp) and the portions in contact with the thumb (the thumb contact detection portions Tt) on the touch sensor  21  in the circumferential direction of the steering wheel  200  (the circular portion  200   r ). 
     The length Lya is a second example of the holding state recognition data showing how the driver grips the part of the circular portion  200   r  on which the touch sensor  21  is mounted. 
     Although the controller  10  is configured to detect the length Lya, the controller  10  may obtain the number of the detection regions R corresponding to the length Lya. Of course, the number of the detection regions R corresponding to the length Lya can be converted into an actual distance. 
     In  FIG. 49 , the length between one end of the portions in contact with the palm on the opposite side of the other end towards the portions in contact with the thumb and one end of the portions in contact with the thumb on the opposite side of the other end towards the portions in contact with the palm, is defined as the length Lya. Although the present embodiment is not limited thereto, the above-described length shown in  FIG. 49  is preferably defined as the length Lya. 
     The controller  10  further detects the total number of the detection regions R detected as touched regions (the contact detection region total number) in  FIG. 49 . The contact detection region total number corresponds to the area with which the hand of the driver is in contact. An actual area may be calculated based on the detected detection regions R. 
     Note that the contact detection region total number may be the total number of the detection regions R detected as touched regions in all of the grip detection area Arg, the operation detection area Arv and the operation invalid area Ariv, or may be the total number of the detection regions R detected as touched regions only in the grip detection area Arg. 
     The information corresponding to the area in the touch sensor  21  with which the hand is in contact is a third example of the holding state recognition data showing how the driver grips the part of the circular portion  200   r  on which the touch sensor  21  is mounted. 
     The driver specification may be executed according to the lengths Lx and Lya and the contact detection region total number. The driver specification may be executed only according to the lengths Lx and Lya or may be executed only according to the contact detection region total number although the specifying accuracy slightly decreases. The driver specification may be executed only according to the length Lx or only according to the length Lya. 
     In order to further increase the accuracy of specifying a driver in the present embodiment, the controller  10  detects, on the Y-coordinate, a length Lyb of the palm contact detection portions Tp and the thumb contact detection portions Tt in a state where the driver stretches the thumb to operate the operation target device. 
       FIG. 51  shows a state where the driver stretches the thumb to operate the operation target device. In this case, the length Lyb of the palm contact detection portions Tp and the thumb contact detection portions Tt on the Y-coordinate is longer than the length Lya. 
     For example, the length Lyb can be immediately detected by use of voice directions such as, “For specifying a driver, please stretch the thumb and operate the touch sensor” after the detection of the lengths Lx and Lya and the contact detection region total number. The length Lyb may be detected after the driver actually starts operating the touch sensor  21  without any voice direction. 
     Although the length between one end of the portions in contact with the palm on the opposite side of the other end towards the portions in contact with the thumb and one end of the portions in contact with the thumb on the opposite side of the other end towards the portions in contact with the palm, is also defined as the length Lyb, the present embodiment is not limited thereto. 
     However, the above-described length shown in  FIG. 51  is preferably defined as the length Lyb. The length Lyb is a fourth example of the holding state recognition data showing how the driver grips the part of the circular portion  200   r  on which the touch sensor  21  is mounted. 
       FIG. 52  shows an example of a driver database stored in the storage unit  18 . The lengths Lx, Lya and Lyb and the contact detection region total number are registered as driver specification data of each of drivers A, B and C. 
     Since each data of the lengths Lx, Lya and Lyb and the contact detection region total number does not necessarily result in the same value each time for each driver, an average value of each data is preferably registered every time the driver is specified. The driver specification data shows how the part of the circular portion  200   r  on which the touch sensor  21  is mounted is gripped. As described above, the information about the driver specification data may be registered corresponding to the holding state recognition data obtained by the controller  10  for the driver specification. 
     The controller  10  may recognize the shape of the palm contact detection portions Tp and use the shape as an element for the driver specification. Although the thumb contact detection portions Tt are used in this example described above, the index finger contact detection portions Ti may be used in place of the thumb contact detection portions Tt or in addition to the thumb contact detection portions Tt. 
     Next, processing of specifying a driver executed by the controller  10  is explained below with reference to  FIG. 53 . As shown in  FIG. 53 , the controller  10  obtains sensor data output from the sensor data generator  22  in step S 21 . 
     The controller  10  then obtains the lengths Lx and Lya in step S 22 . The controller  10  can obtain the lengths Lx and Lya since the driver first grips the circular portion  200   r  for driving the vehicle. 
     As described above, the detector  10   a  detects the driver gripping the circular portion  200   r  (the touch sensor  21 ) based on the sensor data output from the sensor data generator  22 . Thus, the controller  10  may obtain the lengths Lx and Lya after detecting the circular portion  200   r  being gripped. The controller  10  obtains the contact detection region total number in step S 23 . The order of step S 22  and step S 23  may be reversed. 
     The controller  10  obtains the length Lyb in step S 24  after the controller  10  instructs the driver to stretch the thumb or after the driver starts operating the touch sensor  21 . The process of step S 24  may be omitted. 
     In step S 25 , the controller  10  compares the obtained holding state recognition data of the length Lx, Lya and Lyb and the contact detection region total number with the driver specification data registered in the driver database so as to determine whether the obtained holding state recognition data corresponds to the driver specification data of any driver. 
     Here, the respective pieces of data of the same driver do not necessarily correspond to each other. Therefore, the controller  10  sets a predetermined allowable range in the registered driver specification data and determines that the respective pieces of data correspond to each other when the obtained holding state recognition data of the lengths Lx, Lya and Lyb and the contact detection region total number is included in the allowable range. 
     When the controller  10  determines that the obtained holding state recognition data corresponds to the data of one of the drivers in step S 25  (YES), the controller  10  specifies the driver in step S 26 , carries out the control corresponding to the driver in step S 27  and finishes the processing. The control corresponding to the driver is to adjust the state of the onboard equipment  100  or the vehicle to appropriate conditions corresponding to the respective drivers. 
     Note that, if the driver is specified during driving of the vehicle, the position of the seat among the conditions of the vehicle is, of course, not adjusted. 
     When the controller  10  determines that there is no driver corresponding to the data in step S 25  (NO), the controller  10  determines in step S 28  whether the instruction to register the data in the driver database was carried out. 
     When the controller  10  determines that the instruction to register the data in the driver database was carried out (YES), the controller  10  in step S 29  relates the name of the driver input by the operation unit (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) to the obtained holding state recognition data of the lengths Lx, Lya and Lyb and the contact detection region total number, registers the related data in the driver database as the driver specification data and finishes the processing. 
     When the controller  10  determines that the instruction to register the data in the driver database was not carried out (NO), the controller  10  immediately finishes the processing. 
     As is apparent from the explanation above, the controller  10  is a driver specification unit that obtains the holding state recognition data showing how the driver grips the part of the circular portion  200   r  on which the touch sensor  21  is mounted based on the sensor data output from the sensor data generator  22  and compares the holding state recognition data with the driver specification data so as to specify the driver. 
     At the point of specifying the driver, the controller  10  learns a manner by which the onboard equipment  100  is operated and a situation where the vehicle is placed so as to recognize the characteristics of the respective drivers. 
     Although  FIG. 1  does not show the operation of inputting information about conditions of the air conditioner or information about a position of a seat into the controller  10 , these pieces of information may be supplied to the controller  10  via the in-vehicle communication unit  34 . 
     Next, other examples of the holding state recognition data obtained to specify a driver is explained with reference to  FIG. 54A  and  FIG. 54B . The gripping position on the circular portion  200   r  varies depending on the driver. Therefore, the gripping position in the circular portion  200   r  may be detected to be used as the holding state recognition data for the driver specification. 
     When the positions of the grip detection area Arg and the operation detection area Arv, and the operation invalid area Ariv used as necessary, are determined dynamically depending on the position on the touch sensor  21  that the driver grips, the gripping position on the circular portion  200   r  may be used as the holding state recognition data for the driver specification. 
       FIG. 54A  is a state where the driver grips the lower end of the touch sensor  21 , which is set as the grip detection area Arg.  FIG. 54B  is a state where the driver grips the position slightly above and away from the lower end of the touch sensor, which is set as the grip detection area Arg. 
     The position where the grip detection area Arg is arranged in the touch sensor  21  may be determined based on the Y-coordinate. For example, based on the integrated value on the Y-coordinate in the grip detection area Arg, the driver is conceived to grip a lower portion of the touch sensor  21  as the integrated value is smaller and conceived to grip an upper portion of the touch sensor  21  as the integrated value is larger. 
     The information showing the gripping position in the circumferential direction of the steering wheel  200  is registered in the driver database shown in  FIG. 52  as the driver specification data. The controller  10  obtains, as the holding state recognition data, the information showing the gripping position in the circumferential direction of the steering wheel  200 . 
     The information showing the gripping position on the steering wheel  200  is a fifth example of the holding state recognition data showing how the driver grips the part of the circular portion  200   r  on which the touch sensor  21  is mounted. The driver may be specified based on the information showing the gripping position on the steering wheel  200  although the accuracy of the driver specification decreases. 
     The first to fifth examples of the holding state recognition data described above may be combined as appropriate. One or plural examples may be selected as appropriate in view of the accuracy of the driver specification. Of course, the use of all of the first to fifth examples significantly increases the accuracy of the driver specification. 
     The present invention is not limited to the first to tenth embodiments described above, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The first to tenth embodiments described above may be combined as appropriate. 
     The first to tenth embodiments may be used as a control apparatus for controlling an arbitrary operation target device in the vehicle. These embodiments may also be used for any vehicles other than automobiles. Further, these embodiments may be used as a control apparatus for controlling games in game machines using operation units (controllers) such as steering wheels. 
     The detailed description described above discloses control apparatuses for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle at least described below in addition to control apparatuses for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle described in claims. 
     A control apparatus for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle, comprising: 
     a data sensor generator that includes a plurality of detection regions and configured to generate sensor data including positional data showing which detection region is touched based on a contact detection signal obtained from a touch sensor mounted in a predetermined range of a grip portion that a driver grips on a steering wheel; 
     a detector configured to detect whether the driver grips the grip portion and detect an input operation performed on the touch sensor based on the sensor data; and 
     a controller configured to, when the detector detects the driver gripping the grip portion and detects a particular input operation being performed on the touch sensor, control an operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor according to the particular input operation. 
     A steering wheel comprising: 
     a grip portion that a driver grips; 
     a touch sensor including a plurality of detection regions and mounted in and covering a predetermined range of the grip portion; 
     a sensor data generator configured to generate sensor data including positional data showing which detection region is touched based on a contact detection signal obtained from the touch sensor; 
     a detector configured to detect whether the driver grips the touch sensor in the grip portion and detect an input operation performed on the touch sensor based on the sensor data; and 
     a control signal generator configured to, when the detector detects the driver gripping the touch sensor and detects a particular input operation being performed on the touch sensor, control an operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor according to the particular input operation. 
     A control apparatus for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle, comprising: 
     a data sensor generator that includes a plurality of detection regions and configured to generate sensor data including positional data showing which detection region is touched based on a contact detection signal obtained from a touch sensor mounted in and covering a predetermined range of a grip portion that a driver grips on a steering wheel of a vehicle; 
     a detector configured to detect an input operation performed on the touch sensor based on the sensor data; and 
     a controller configured to, when the detector detects a particular input operation being performed on the touch sensor, control an operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor according to the particular input operation, the controller disabling a control performed on the operation target device when the vehicle is in a particular state. 
     A control apparatus for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle, comprising: 
     a data sensor generator that includes a plurality of detection regions and configured to generate sensor data including positional data showing which detection region is touched based on a contact detection signal obtained from a touch sensor mounted in a predetermined range of a grip portion that a driver grips on a steering wheel; 
     a detector configured to detect an input operation performed on the touch sensor based on the sensor data; and 
     a controller configured to switch from a state where a first particular input operation performed on an operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor is not accepted to a state where the first particular input operation is accepted when the detector detects a predetermined input operation being performed with each of right and left hands of the driver on the touch sensor.