Patent Publication Number: US-2013241848-A1

Title: Input control device, computer-readable recording medium, and input control method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-061189, filed on Mar. 16, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The embodiments discussed herein are related to an input control device, an input control program, and an input control method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In recent years, electronic equipment with a touch panel, such as a mobile terminal, has widely spread. The touch panel has both an input function and a display function. The user causes the electronic equipment to execute a process corresponding to a selection object by touching the “selection object”, such as a button displayed on the touch panel. 
     The electronic equipment, such as mobile terminals, has been miniaturized. Therefore, in a case where many items of information are displayed on the touch panel of the miniaturized electronic equipment, the size of the displayed selection objects is reduced. This induces the user to make an erroneous input. In order to avoid this and improve the operability, conventionally electronic equipment with two different sensors has been proposed which detects a contact-predetermined position with a first sensor before a detection target such as user&#39;s finger comes into touch with the touch panel, and displays an image around the contact-predetermined position in an enlarged manner. In such electronic equipment, detection of a position in the touch panel with which the detection target comes into touch is carried out with a second sensor. 
     Moreover, electronic equipment of another type also has been proposed. This electronic equipment includes an input control device enabling two kinds of operations, that is, a touch operation in which a finger or the like comes in direct touch with the touch panel and a spatial operation which does not require direct touch with the touch panel by being provided with two sensors different in sensitivity. 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-3867 
     Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-22961 
     However, the configuration of the conventional electronic equipment is complicated because it is equipped with two sensors. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of an embodiment, an input control device includes an acquisition unit that acquires a sensing value that varies depending on a distance between a detection target and an input unit and sensed by a sensing device included in the input unit; a detection unit that detects the detection target based on the acquired sensing value and a threshold selected from among a first threshold corresponding to a first sensing area and a second threshold corresponding to a second sensing area having a shorter distance from the input unit than the first area; a display control unit that enlarges an image displayed on a display unit when the first threshold is set and the detection target is detected; and a setting unit that sets the second threshold instead of the first threshold when the first threshold is set and the detection target is detected. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of an input control device of a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a threshold table of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of the input control device of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an example of an input control device of a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of the input control device of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram to describe the processing operation of the input control device of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a computer which executes an input control program; and 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     The input control device, the input control program, and the input control method disclosed by the present application are not limited by the embodiments. In the embodiments, configurations having the same function are denoted like reference signs and description thereof is not repeated. 
     [a] First Embodiment 
     Configuration of Input Control Device  10   
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of an input control device of a first embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 1 , an input control device  10  includes an acquisition unit  11 , a detection unit  12 , a setting unit  13 , and a display control unit  14 . 
     The acquisition unit  11  acquires a sensing value sensed by a sensing device included in an input unit (not illustrated) with a predetermined period. The sensing value is a value that varies depending on the distance between a detection target and the input unit. The acquired sensing value is output to the detection unit  12 . Here, the input unit and the display unit described below are one touch panel, for example. The sensing device includes an insulating film, an electrode layer underlying the insulating film, and a substrate layer to mount a control IC thereon when the touch panel has an electrostatic system. 
     The detection unit  12  detects the detection target, based on the sensing value received from the acquisition unit  11  and a threshold set by the setting unit  13 . The detection target is usually user&#39;s finger or a pointing device used for an input operation. 
     Specifically, the threshold which is preset is one of a first threshold corresponding to a first sensing area, and a second threshold corresponding to a second sensing area. The distance from the input unit to the first sensing area is longer than the distance from the input unit to the second sensing area. That is, the detection unit  12  can sense that the detection target is present within a range of a distance D 1  from the input unit when the first threshold is set, and can sense that the detection unit is present in a range of a distance D 2  (D 2 &lt;D 1 ) from the input unit when the second threshold is set. That is, the state in which the first threshold is set is referred to as a “high sensitivity state”, and the state in which the second threshold is set is referred to as a “low sensitivity state.” 
     The result of the detection by the detection unit  12  is output to the setting unit  13  and the display control unit  14 . 
     The setting unit  13  sets the threshold to be used by the detection unit  12 . 
     Specifically, the setting unit  13  selects the first threshold as an initial value. When the first threshold is set to be used by the detection unit  12  and the detection target is detected, the setting unit  13  selects the second threshold. After the second threshold is set and the detection target is detected, the setting unit  13  selects the first threshold. 
     The setting unit  13  stores a threshold table in which identification numbers of the first threshold and the second threshold and the values of the thresholds according to each identification number are associated. The setting unit  13  outputs the identification number and the value of the selected threshold to the detection unit  12  and the display control unit  14 .  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the threshold table of the first embodiment. When the input unit is an electrostatic-type touch panel and the sensing value is capacitance between electrodes, the relation “V 1 &lt;V 2 ” is established in  FIG. 2 . 
     The display control unit  14  outputs, to the display unit, a control signal for enlarging an image displayed on the display unit when the first threshold is set and the detection target is detected. The display control unit  14  outputs, to the display unit, a control signal for canceling the enlarged state of the image displayed on the display unit when the second threshold is set and the detection target is detected. The display control unit  14  may output, to the display unit, the control signal for canceling the enlarged state of the image displayed on the display unit when the detection target is not detected even though predetermined time passes after the image is displayed in an enlarged manner as well as when the second threshold is set and the detection target is detected. 
     Operation of Input Control Device  10   
     Operation of the input control device  10  having the above-described configuration will be described. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of the input control device  10  of the first embodiment. 
     The setting unit  13  sets the first threshold as an initial value (Step S 21 ). 
     The setting unit  13  determines whether the detection target is detected, based on the detection result, which is based on the latest sensing value detected by the detection unit  12 , and the first threshold (Step S 22 ). 
     This determination is repeated until the detection target is detected (No in Step S 22 ). 
     When it is determined that the detection target is detected (Yes in Step S 22 ), the setting unit  13  sets the second threshold instead of the first threshold (Step S 23 ). As a result, the high sensitivity state is switched to the low sensitivity state. 
     When it is determined that the detection target is detected (Yes in Step S 22 ), the display control unit  14  performs display enlarging control (Step S 24 ). The display enlarging control is carried out by outputting, to the display unit, the control signal for expanding the image displayed on the display unit. With the display enlarging control, for example, a portion of the image displayed on the display unit is enlarged and displayed. 
     Subsequently, the setting unit  13  determines whether the detection target is detected, based on the detection result which is based on the latest sensing value detected by the detection unit  12  and the second threshold (Step S 25 ). This determination is repeated until the detection target is detected (No in Step S 25 ). 
     When it is determined that the detection target is detected (Yes in Step S 25 ), the setting unit  13  sets the first threshold instead of the second threshold (Step S 26 ). As a result, the low sensitivity state is switched to the high sensitivity state. 
     The determination in Step S 25  may be terminated by a time-out method, that is, when predetermined time passes after the image is enlarged and displayed. That is, when the detection target is not detected in predetermined time after the second threshold is set, the setting unit  13  may output a canceling instruction of canceling the enlarged display to the display control unit  14  and may set the first threshold instead of the second threshold. 
     As described above, according to the embodiment, the detection unit  12  detects the detection target in the input control device  10 . This detection is carried out based on the sensing value acquired by the acquisition unit  11 , and the threshold set by selecting either the first threshold corresponding to the first sensing area and the second threshold corresponding to the second sensing area having a shorter distance from the input unit than the first sensing area. When the first threshold is set and the detection target is detected, the display control unit  14  enlarges the image displayed on the display unit and the setting unit  13  sets the second threshold instead of the first threshold. 
     With this operation, since the enlarged state can be maintained unchanged until the detection target comes further closer to the input unit, the erroneous input by the user can be prevented. As a result, the operability of the input unit may be improved. Moreover, since two kinds of detections, high sensitivity and low sensitivity detections, can be achieved with a single input unit by switching between thresholds, the configuration of equipment can be simplified. 
     [b] Second Embodiment 
     In a second embodiment, a contact-predetermined position is calculated in a high sensitivity state, and a selection object which is present in a search range including the contact-predetermined position is enlarged and displayed. 
     Configuration of Input Control Device  30   
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an example of an input control device of the second embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 4 , an input control device  30  includes a calculation unit  31 , a search unit  32 , a display control unit  33 , and a specification unit  34 . 
     At detection timing determined based on a first threshold, that is, during the high sensitivity state, the calculation unit  31  calculates a contact-predetermined position of a detection target in an input unit, based on a sensing value received from the acquisition unit  11 . Specifically, in the high sensitivity state, the calculation unit  31  receives a plurality of coordinates on the screen of the input unit, that is, the screen of a touch panel, and sensing values detected by a sensor which correspond to the respective coordinates, and calculates the coordinates (XMAX, YMAX) with the largest sensing value as the contact-predetermined position. 
     At detection timing determined based on a second threshold, that is, during a low sensitivity state, the calculation unit  31  calculates a contact position of the detection target in the input unit, based on the sensing value received from the acquisition unit  11 . Specifically, in the low sensitivity state, the calculation unit  31  receives a plurality of coordinates on the screen of the input unit, that is, the screen of the touch panel, and sensing values detected by the sensor which correspond to the respective coordinates, and calculates the coordinates (X′ MAX , Y′ MAX ) with the largest sensing value as the contact position. 
     The search unit  32  sets a “search range” including the contact-predetermined position calculated by the calculation unit  31 . Specifically, the search unit  32  sets a rectangle having apexes (X MAX -a, Y MAX -b), (X MAX +a, Y MAX -b), (X MAX -a, Y MAX +b), and (X MAX +a, Y MAX +b) as the search range. The values “a” and “b” may be values equal to each other or values different from each other. 
     The search unit  32  searches for a selection object within the search range. This search process is performed over the entire search range. Here, the selection object is a button or a hyperlink text. 
     The display control unit  33  enlarges and displays the selection object searched by the search unit  32  when the first threshold is set and the detection target is detected. The selection object may be enlarged and displayed regardless of the number of searched selection objects, or the selection object may be enlarged and displayed only when there are a predetermined number of selection objects. 
     The specification unit  34  specifies the selection object as an execution subject when a position in the display unit corresponding to a contact position calculated by the calculation unit  31  agrees with a display position of the selection object searched by the search unit  32 . The information on a specified execution target is output to a processor (not illustrated), and a process corresponding to the execution target is executed by the processor. 
     The specification unit  34  outputs information which signifies that the execution target has been specified, to the setting unit  13 . By receiving this information, the setting unit  13  sets the first threshold instead of the second threshold. 
     Operation of Input Control Device  30   
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of the input control device  30  of the second embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a diagram to describe the processing operation of the input control device  30  of the second embodiment. 
     The setting unit  13  sets the first threshold as an initial value (Step S 21 ) like in the flowchart of  FIG. 3 . Subsequently, the setting unit  13  determines whether the detection target is detected, based on the detection result which is based on the latest sensing value detected by the detection unit  12  and the first threshold (Step S 22 ). In  FIG. 6(A) , since a finger which is a detection target is not yet detected, a display image is not yet expanded, either. 
     When it is determined that the first threshold is set and the detection target is detected (Yes in Step S 22 ), the calculation unit  31  calculates a contact-predetermined position of the detection target in the input unit based on the sensing value received from the acquisition unit  11  in the high sensitivity state (Step S 41 ). In  FIG. 6(B) , the finger which is a detection target is detected and the contact-predetermined position of the finger is calculated. 
     The search unit  32  sets a search range including the contact-predetermined position calculated by the calculation unit  31  (Step S 42 ), and searches for the selection object being present in the search range (Step S 43 ). 
     When the first threshold is set and the detection target is detected, the display control unit  33  enlarges and displays the selection object searched by the search unit  32  (Step S 44 ). In  FIG. 6(C) , the hyperlink texts “area”, “Hokkaido”, “northeast”, and “Kanto” which are searched within the search range are enlarged and displayed. 
     When it is determined that the detection target is detected in the high sensitivity state (Yes in Step S 22 ), the setting unit  13  sets the second threshold instead of the first threshold (Step S 23 ). 
     When it is determined that the second threshold is set and the detection target is detected (Yes in Step S 25 ), the calculation unit  31  calculates a contact position of the detection target in the input unit based on the sensing value received from the acquisition unit  11  in the high sensitivity state (Step S 45 ). In  FIG. 6(C) , the finger which is a detection target is detected and the contact position of the finger is calculated. 
     When the position in the display unit corresponding to the contact position calculated by the calculation unit  31  agrees with the display position of the selection object searched by the search unit  32 , the specification unit  34  specifies the selection object as an execution target (Step S 46 ). Since the position in the display unit corresponding to the contact position agrees with the display position of the hyperlink text “Tohoku” in  FIG. 6(C) , the news of the Tohoku district is displayed in  FIG. 6(D) . 
     According to the present embodiment, in the input control device  30 , the calculation unit  31  calculates the contact-predetermined position of the detection target in the input unit, based on the sensing value acquired at detection timing determined based on the first threshold. Subsequently, the search unit  32  searches, for the selection object, in the search range including the position in the display unit corresponding to the contact-predetermined position. Subsequently, the display control unit  33  enlarges and displays the selection object searched by the search unit  32 . 
     In addition, the calculation unit  31  calculates the contact position of the detection target in the input unit based on the sensing value acquired at the detection timing determined based on the second threshold. When the position in the display unit corresponding to the contact position calculated by the calculation unit  31  agrees with the display position of the selection object searched by the search unit  32 , the specification unit  34  specifies the selection object as an execution target. 
     In this way, the user can easily perform the operation of selecting the selection object of the target. 
     [c] Other Embodiments 
     In the first and second embodiments, description has been made in connection with the case where the input unit and the display unit are configured by a single touch panel, but the invention is not limited to the case. That is, the input unit and the display unit may be configured by separate devices. 
     [2] Each component of each unit illustrated in the first and second embodiments may be configured in physically the different manner as illustrated. That is, a concrete form of distribution or integration of each unit is not restricted to the illustrated form, but some or all of the units may be functionally or physically integrated or distributed in arbitrary units according to various kinds of loads or usage conditions. 
     Moreover, various processing functions performed in each device may be entirely or partially executed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (or a microcomputer such as an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) or an MCU (Micro Controller Unit)). Needless to say, various kinds of processing functions may be partially or entirely performed on a program which is analyzed and executed by a CPU (or a microcomputer such as an MPU and an MCU), or by hardware of wired logic. 
     Incidentally, various kinds of processes described in the first and second embodiments may be realized in a manner that a computer executes a program prepared beforehand. Therefore, hereinbelow, an example of the computer which executes the program having the same functions as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described.  FIG. 7  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a computer which executes an input control program. 
     A computer  100  which executes the input control program illustrated in  FIG. 7  includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive)  110 , a RAM  120 , a ROM  130 , and a CPU  140 . In addition, the computer  100  includes an input unit  150 , a display unit  160 , and a communications unit  170 . Moreover, in the computer  100 , the HDD  110 , the RAM  120 , the ROM  130 , the CPU  140 , the input unit  150 , the display unit  160 , and the communications unit  170  are connected to each other ova a bus  180 . 
     Furthermore, an input control program which enables the same function as in the first and second embodiments to be performed is stored in the HDD  110  beforehand. In addition, a communications program may be recorded in the ROM  130  or a computer-readable recording medium which is readable in a drive (not illustrated) instead of being recorded in the HDD  110 . The recording medium may use, for example, a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, and a USB memory, or use a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the input control program includes an acquisition program  110 A, a detection program  110 B, display control program  110 C, a setting program  110 D, a calculation program  110 E, a search program  110 F, and a specification program  110 G. The programs  110 A,  110 B,  110 C,  110 D,  110 E,  110 F, and  110 G may be integrated or arbitrarily distributed. 
     The CPU  140  reads these programs  110 A,  110 B,  110 C,  110 D,  110 E,  110 F, and  110 G from the HDD  110 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the CPU  140  reads each of the programs  110 A,  110 B,  110 C,  110 D,  110 E,  110 F, and  110 G and comes to function as an acquisition process  140 A, a detection process  140 B, a display control process  140 C, a setting process  140 D, a calculation process  140 E, a search process  140 F, and a specification process  140 G. The contents of control of each process carried out during the input control is stored in the RAM  120 . 
     [3] In addition, various kinds of processes described in the first and second embodiments may be realized in a manner that a mobile terminal executes software prepared beforehand.  FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a software element especially related to the input control process is an “input” element for a kernel, a “drawing” element for a library, and a “service” element for an application framework. 
     According to the embodiments of the disclosure, operability of equipment can be improved and the configuration of equipment can be simplified. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes of aiding the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to further the art, and are not to be construed as limitations to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.