Patent Description:
As an operation device to operate a component mounted in a vehicle, touch-screen-type operation devices are disclosed in Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM>. The operation device disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> is placed on a driver's seat door and is configured to be capable of operating the opening and closing of a driver's seat window. Specifically, the operation device disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> has a planar-shape touch screen and is configured to be capable of operating the opening and closing of a window by the operator's operation to shift his/her fingertip back and forth on the touch screen.

Further, the operation device disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> is placed on a steering and is configured to be capable of operating acoustic equipment. Specifically, the operation device disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> has a touch screen with a concave and a convex formed on its surface and is configured to be capable of operation such as change of volume and selection of music by the operator's shift of his/her fingertip on the touch screen so as to follow a predetermined trajectory.

However, each of the above operation devices is configured to be capable of an operation for a single component mounted in a vehicle and is incapable of an operation for a plurality of components. In particular, each of the operation devices mounted in the vehicle as described above needs an operation without looking when the driver is the operator, and such an operation without looking makes it difficult to perform a complicated touch operation for the touch screen. Therefore, it is difficult to separately operate a plurality of components with a single touch screen. As a result, there arises a problem that the operability without looking of the touch-screen-type operation device cannot be further increased. <CIT> discloses display device including a display, e.g., for displaying information relevant to the operation of a motor vehicle, on the display, an actuator layer being arranged, the operating surface geometry of which is deformable as a function of a control signal. <CIT> discloses a method for providing an input on a touch-sensitive display surface, wherein the display surface is set up to display a representation, wherein the display surface comprises a threshold, and wherein the display surface is suitable for displaying at least part of the display in the threshold as well, comprising: detecting a movement of a finger of a user crossing the threshold and activating a function in response to the detection. <CIT> discloses an operation device which is easily attached to a vehicle door and a vehicle door provided with the operation device. Provided is an operation device comprising: a grip part which is disposed on a vehicle door; an operation input part which is disposed on a vehicle interior-side surface of the grip part and which is for accepting an operation by an occupant for operating at least one onboard device; a first sensor which is disposed on a vehicle exterior-side surface and which is for detecting a finger of the occupant; a second sensor which is disposed on the vehicle interior-side surface and/or an upper surface and which is for detecting the finger of the occupant; and a control device which is connected to the operation input part, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the onboard device. The control device: controls the onboard device on the basis of a signal from the operation input part when the first sensor and the second sensor both detect the occupant; and prohibits the control of the onboard device based on the signal from the operation input part when the first sensor and/or the second sensor do not detect the occupant.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the abovementioned problem that the operability without looking of a touch-screen-type operation device to operate a component mounted in a vehicle cannot be further increased.

The dependent claims define embodiments of the invention.

An operation device according to one aspect comprises an operation device having a touch-screen-type operation surface installed in a vehicle. A plurality of operation units formed in a convex shape or a concave shape associated with a plurality of components mounted in the vehicle, respectively, are formed at different positions on the touch-screen-type operation surface, respectively. The plurality of operation units are configured to accept an input touch operation as an operation instruction for the component associated with each of the operation units. At each of the different positions on the touch-screen-type operation surface corresponding to a relative positional relation of a plurality of windows mounted in the vehicle, an operation unit associated with one of the windows is formed. The plurality of operation units are configured to accept an input touch operation as an operation instruction for the window associated with a corresponding one of the operation units.

An operation acceptance method according to another aspect comprises an operation acceptance method by an operation device having a touch-screen-type operation surface installed in a vehicle. The operation acceptance method includes accepting a touch operation input into each of a plurality of operation units formed in a convex shape or a concave shape associated with a plurality of components mounted in the vehicle, respectively, as an operation instruction for the component associated with the operation unit. The plurality of operation units are formed at different positions on the touch-screen-type operation surface, respectively. At each of positions on the touch-screen-type operation surface corresponding to a relative positional relation of a plurality of windows mounted in the vehicle, an operation unit associated with a corresponding one of the windows is formed. The operation acceptance method includes accepting a touch operation input into each of the plurality of operation units as an operation instruction for the window associated with the operation unit.

With the configurations as described above, the present invention can further increase the operability without looking of a touch-screen-type operation device to operate a component mounted in a vehicle.

A first embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> and <FIG> are views for describing a configuration of an operation device, and <FIG> are views for describing a movement of the operation device.

The operation device according to the present embodiment is majorly for operating to open and close a window of an automobile that is a vehicle, and is arranged, for example, on an armrest provided on a seat door. In particular, the operation device in this example embodiment is arranged on an armrest provided on a driver's seat door, and is configured so that an operator who is a driver can operate to open and close windows of four seats (a driver's seat, a passenger seat, a rear seat behind driver's seat, and a rear seat behind passenger seat). Moreover, the operation device is configured to be capable of, in addition to the window opening-and-closing operation, an operation to lock and unlock the window and an operation to lock and unlock the door. However, the operation device of the present embodiment is not necessarily limited to being provided on the driver's seat door, and may be provided on another seat door or at any place in the vehicle, not limited to the door. Moreover, the operation device of the present embodiment is not necessarily limited to the operation to open and close the four windows, and may be configured to be capable of an operation to open and close two or more windows. Furthermore, the operation device of the present embodiment is not limited to the operation of the window, and may be used for operating any component of the vehicle. That is to say, the operation device according to the present embodiment may accept an operation for the operation device as will be described later as an operation instruction for a component other than the window and control the component in accordance with the operation instruction.

A left view of <FIG> is a view of part of the operation device in this example embodiment as seen from above. In this view, the upward direction indicates the front side of the vehicle, the downward direction indicates the rear side of the vehicle, and the widthwise direction indicates the width direction of the vehicle. Therefore, a driver's seat window is located on the right side of the operation device, a passenger seat window is located on the left side, a window of rear seat behind driver's seat is located on the right rear side, and a window of rear seat behind passenger seat is located on the left rear side.

As shown in the left view of <FIG>, the operation device includes an operation panel <NUM> having a substantially rectangular shape. The operation panel <NUM> has, for example, a capacitive touch-screen-type operation surface, and is configured to detect a position on the operation surface touched in a touch operation with the operator's finger. However, the operation panel <NUM> is not limited to the capacitive type, and may have any configuration as long as it can detect a touch operation for the operation surface with an operation object such as a finger.

Specifically, the surface of the operation panel <NUM> is formed in a planar shape as a whole, and convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> are formed on part thereof. For example, an upper right view of <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a site where the operation unit <NUM> is formed on part of the operation panel <NUM>, and the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> each have a shape protruding from the surface of the operation panel <NUM> in a substantially semi-arc shape. As shown in the left view of <FIG>, the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> are each formed in a linear shape in which the convex site has a predetermined length, and are formed into a plurality of operation units, respectively, as shown below. The operation units <NUM> to <NUM> are not necessarily limited to being formed by convex sites, and may be formed by a concave site <NUM>' as shown in a lower right view of <FIG>. Moreover, the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> are not necessarily limited to being formed in a linear shape, and may be formed by a convex site or a concave site having a predetermined width.

Specifically, the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> are firstly separated into window operation units denoted by reference numerals <NUM> to <NUM> formed in the middle of the operation panel <NUM> and a door lock operation unit denoted by reference numeral <NUM> formed in the front of the operation panel <NUM>. Then, among the window operation units <NUM> to <NUM>, a site located in the right front of the vehicle and extending forward forms a driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> (a first operation unit), and a site located in the left front of the vehicle and extending forward forms a passenger seat window operation unit <NUM> (a second operation unit). The driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> and the passenger seat window operation unit <NUM> have rear ends extended and connected to each other and are formed in a substantially U-letter shape that opens to the front of the vehicle. Moreover, among the window operation units <NUM> to <NUM>, a site located in the right rear of the vehicle and extending backward forms an operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind driver's seat (a third operation unit), and a site located in the left rear of the vehicle and extending backward forms an operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind passenger seat (a fourth operation unit). The operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind driver's seat and the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind passenger seat have front ends extended and connected to each other and are formed in a substantially inversed U-letter shape that opens to the rear of the vehicle. Moreover, the connection part of the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> and the passenger seat window operation unit <NUM> located in the front of the vehicle and the connection part of the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind driver's seat and the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind passenger seat located in the rear of the vehicle are connected by a connection unit <NUM> (a guide unit) having a substantially linear shape extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. That is to say, the window operation units <NUM> to <NUM> are formed in a shape branching and extending from the connection unit <NUM> in directions corresponding to the positions of the respective seats with the connection unit <NUM> as the center. Moreover, the door lock operation unit <NUM> is formed in a substantially linear shape extending in the width direction of the vehicle.

As described above, the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> are formed in different positions, respectively, on the surface of the operation panel <NUM>, and different components are associated with the operation units <NUM> to <NUM>, respectively. In particular, the operation units denoted by reference numerals <NUM> to <NUM> are associated with the windows, respectively, and relative formation positions of the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> on the surface of the operation panel <NUM> correspond to a relative positional relation of the windows associated therewith. For example, a driver's seat window DR located in the right front of the vehicle is associated with the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> located in the right front of the operation panel <NUM>, and a passenger seat window AS located in the left front of the vehicle is associated with the passenger seat window operation unit <NUM> located in the left front of the operation panel <NUM>. Moreover, a window RR of rear seat behind driver's seat located in the right rear of the vehicle is associated with the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind driver's seat located in the right rear of the operation panel <NUM>, and a window RL of rear seat behind passenger seat located in the left rear of the vehicle is associated with the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind passenger seat located in the left rear of the operation panel <NUM>. All the doors including a driver's seat door D1 are associated with the door lock operation unit <NUM>.

In this example embodiment, a case where the operation device is applied to a right-hand drive vehicle in which the driver's seat is located on the right side of the vehicle is illustrated. In a case where the operation device is applied to a left-hand drive vehicle in which the driver's seat is located on the left side of the vehicle, the names of the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> and windows corresponding thereto are different. That is to say, when the operation device is applied to a left-hand drive vehicle, the operation unit <NUM> located in the right front of the operation panel <NUM> corresponds to the passenger seat window operation unit and is associated with the passenger seat window located in the right front of the vehicle, and the operation unit <NUM> located in the left front of the operation panel <NUM> corresponds to the driver's seat window operation unit and is associated with the driver's seat window located in the left front of the vehicle. Moreover, the operation unit <NUM> located in the right rear of the operation panel <NUM> corresponds to the operation unit for window of rear seat behind passenger seat and is associated with the window of rear seat behind passenger seat located in the right rear of the vehicle, and the operation unit <NUM> located in the left rear of the operation panel <NUM> corresponds to the operation unit for window of rear seat behind driver's seat and is associated with the window of rear seat behind driver's seat located in the left rear of the vehicle.

Then, the operation panel <NUM> accepts touch operations input by the operator as different operation instructions, respectively, in accordance with touched positions and the contents of the touch operations. That is to say, the operation panel <NUM> detects whether a touch operation is for any of the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> or for a part other the operation units <NUM> to <NUM>, and accepts the touch operation as an operation instruction according to any of the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> that is an operation target and the content of the operation. The operation panel <NUM> is equipped with a detecting unit (now shown), and the detecting unit accepts an operation instruction according to the position and content of a touch operation on the operation panel <NUM>. Then, the operation panel <NUM> notifies a control device <NUM> mounted in the vehicle of the accepted operation instruction, and the control device <NUM> controls the movement of a window or a door in accordance with the accepted operation instruction. Here, the outline of a configuration provided in the vehicle to control the movement of a window or a door by a touch operation input into the operation panel <NUM> is shown in a block diagram of <FIG>. The control device <NUM> may function as the operation device in conjunction with the operation panel <NUM> and function so as to detect the position and content of a touch operation input into the operation panel <NUM> and accept an operation instruction according to the touch operation.

Specifically, with reference to <FIG>, an example of a touch operation input into the operation panel <NUM> and an operation instruction accepted at the time will be described. First, <FIG> and <FIG> show an image when the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> formed in the right front on the surface of the operation panel <NUM> is operated. In <FIG> and <FIG>, the convex operation unit itself is operated as indicated by dotted-line arrow. In a case where the operator performs a touch operation of shifting his/her finger from on the connection unit <NUM> to the vicinity of the front end of the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> as indicated by dotted-line arrow in a left view of <FIG> or from the vicinity of the front end of the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> to on the connection unit <NUM> as indicated by dotted-line arrow in a right view of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> detects the touch operation as an operation of the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> and accepts the operation as an operation instruction to open or close the driver's seat window DR associated with the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM>. For example, in a case where the touch operation is performed in a substantially frontward direction of the vehicle along the longitudinal direction of the driver's seat window operation panel <NUM> as shown in the left view of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to close the driver's seat window DR. On the other hand, in a case where the touch operation is performed in a substantially rearward direction of the vehicle along the longitudinal direction of the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> as shown in the right view of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to open the driver's seat window DR.

At this time, furthermore, the operation panel <NUM> may accept as different operation instructions in accordance with the operation contents of touch operations of shifting a finger along the longitudinal direction of the driver's seat operation unit <NUM>. That is to say, the operation panel <NUM> may separately detect the contents of operations in which the speeds, times, amounts or the like of the operations by finger are different, and accept the respective operations as different operation instructions. For example, in a case where a so-called swipe operation of slowly shifting a finger is performed on the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to open or close the driver's seat window DR only while the finger is touching the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM>. At this time, the operation panel <NUM> may accept as an operation instruction with a different speed of opening or closing the driver's seat window DR in accordance with the amount of shifting a finger, that is, a swipe operation amount. For example, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to open or close the driver's seat window DR at a preset reference speed in a case where the swipe operation amount is equal to or less than a threshold value, and the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to open or close the driver's seat window DR at a preset speed higher than the reference speed in a case where the swipe operation amount is more than the threshold value. On the other hand, in a case where a so-called flick operation of quickly shifting a finger is performed on the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to automatically open or close the driver's seat window DR until completely opening or closing. In a case where a touch operation is performed on the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> after the abovementioned flick operation is performed on the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to stop the automatic opening or closing of the driver's seat window DR.

A touch operation for the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> accepted by the operation panel <NUM> as described above does not need to necessarily include a touch operation for the connection unit <NUM> as shown in the left and right views of <FIG>. That is to say, instead of the touch operation from on the connection unit <NUM> to the vicinity of the front end of the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> or the touch operation from the vicinity of the front end of the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> to on the connection unit <NUM>, the operation panel <NUM> may accept a swipe operation or a flick operation by the operator shifting his/her finger on the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> as indicated by dotted arrow in left and right views of <FIG> as an operation to open and close the driver's seat window DR in the same manner as described above. However, by including the connection unit <NUM> in the touch operation on the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM>, the operator can recognize the position of each of the operation units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> with the connection unit <NUM> as the starting point, and an operation without looking is more facilitated.

Although a case of accepting a flick operation as an operation instruction to automatically open or close a window until completely opening or closing is illustrated above, a swipe operation may be accepted as an operation instruction to automatically open or close a window. In such a case, a flick operation may be accepted as a so-called manual opening-and-closing operation instruction to open or close a window in accordance with the amount of shifting a finger.

Then, the operation panel <NUM> accepts, as with the touch operation for the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> described above, touch operations for the other operation units <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> as opening-and-closing operations for the windows associated with the operation units <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. That is to say, the operation unit <NUM> accepts a touch operation for the passenger seat window operation unit <NUM> as an operation instruction to open or close the passenger seat window AS, accepts a touch operation for the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind driver's seat as an operation instruction to open or close the window RR of rear seat behind driver's seat, and accepts a touch operation for the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind passenger seat as an operation instruction to open or close the window RL of rear seat behind passenger seat.

Next, <FIG> shows an image when the door lock operation unit <NUM> formed in the front on the surface of the operation panel <NUM> is operated. When the operator performs a touch operation of shifting his/her finger along the shape of the door lock operation unit <NUM> linearly formed as indicated by dotted arrow in left and right views of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> detects as an operation for the door lock operation unit <NUM> and accepts as an operation instruction to lock or unlock all the doors associated with the door lock operation unit <NUM>. For example, when a swipe operation is performed toward a lock figure, that is, rightward along the length direction of the door lock operation unit <NUM> as shown in the left view of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to lock all the doors. On the other hand, when a swipe operation is performed toward an unlock figure, that is, leftward along the length direction of the door lock operation unit <NUM> as shown in the right view of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to unlock all the doors.

Next, <FIG> show images when a touch operation is performed on a part other than the abovementioned convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> on the surface of the operation panel <NUM>. In particular, <FIG> shows an image when the operator performs a pinch-in operation of bringing his/her two fingers closer to each other so as to pinch and a pinch-out operation of making his/her two fingers away from each other so as to spread. When the operator performs a pinching in this manner, the operation panel <NUM> specifies any of the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> located and formed near an operation part in the pinch operation, in this case, any of the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> located between the fingers by the pinch operation, and accepts as an operation instruction to control the density of the color of the window associated with the specified one of the operation units <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, when a pinch-in operation is performed for the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind driver's seat as indicated by dotted arrow in a left view of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to increase the density of the color of the window RR of rear seat behind driver's seat. On the other hand, when a pinch-out operation is performed for the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind driver's seat as indicated by dotted arrow in a right view of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to decrease the density of the color of the window RR of rear seat behind driver's seat.

<FIG> shows an image when the operator performs a pinch operation with his/her two fingers across a plurality of operation units <NUM> to <NUM>. In this case, the operation panel <NUM> specifies a plurality of operation units <NUM> to <NUM> located between the fingers by the pinch operation, and accepts as an operation instruction to collectively control the densities of the colors of a plurality of windows associated with the specified ones of operation units <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, when the operator performs a pinch-in operation across the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind driver's seat and the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind passenger seat as indicated by dotted arrow in a left view of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to collectively increase the densities of the colors of the window RR of rear seat behind driver's seat and the window RL of rear seat behind passenger seat. On the other hand, when the operator performs a pinch-out operation across the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind driver's seat and the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind passenger seat as indicated by dotted arrow in a right view of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to collectively decrease the densities of the colors of the window RR of rear seat behind driver's seat and the window RL of rear seat behind passenger seat.

Next, <FIG> shows an image when the operator simultaneously shifts his/her two fingers in the same direction, that is, performs a so-called two-finger swipe operation on a part other than the abovementioned convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> on the surface of the operation panel <NUM>. When the operator thus performs a two-finger swipe operation, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to lock or unlock all the windows. For example, when the operator performs a two-finger swipe operation from the front to the rear in the regions on the left and right sides of the operation panel <NUM> where the convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> are not formed as shown in a left view of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to unlock all the windows. On the other hand, when the operator performs a two-finger swipe operation from the rear to the front in the regions on the left and right sides of the operation panel <NUM> where the convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> are not formed as shown in a right view of <FIG>, the operation panel <NUM> accepts as an operation instruction to lock all the windows.

The control device <NUM> may control to notify the operator of information representing the content of the operation instruction accepted by the operation panel <NUM> as described above. In particular, it is easy for the operator to, in the case of the convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> of the operation panel <NUM>, recognize without looking the target and content of an operation based on the shape thereof. However, it may be hard to recognize the content of an operation in the case of a part other than the convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> on the surface of the operation panel <NUM> as described with reference to <FIG>. Therefore, in a case where an operation instruction by a touch operation on a part other than the convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> on the surface of the operation panel <NUM> is accepted as described with reference to <FIG>, the control device <NUM> controls to notify a fact that the operation instruction is accepted through a notifying unit installed in the vehicle. For example, the notifying unit is formed of an indicator provided at a predetermined position in the vehicle, a lamp in the instrument panel, and a lamp provided in the operation panel <NUM>. Then, the notifying unit may turn on, for example, and thereby notify the operator of the density state or the lock state of each window controlled by acceptance of a pinch operation or a two-finger swipe operation as shown in <FIG>. Moreover, the notifying unit may notify by outputting a sound.

Although a case where the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> are formed in a convex shape or a concave shape is described above, the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> may be formed by a combination of a convex site and a concave site. For example, the window operation units <NUM> to <NUM> may be formed in a convex shape, and the door lock operation unit <NUM> may be formed in a concave shape. Furthermore, the window operation units <NUM> to <NUM> may be formed by a combination of a convex site and a concave site in accordance with the arrangement thereof; for example, those in the front of the vehicle are formed in a convex shape and those in the rear of the vehicle are formed in a concave shape, or those on the left side of the vehicle are formed in a convex shape and those on the right side of the vehicle are formed in a concave shape. With this, the operator can more easily recognize the operation units <NUM> to <NUM> being operated by the feel due to the difference of the concave and convex shapes, and the operability of an operation without looking can be increased.

Next, a movement of the operation device when the operation panel <NUM> described above is operated will be described majorly with reference to the flowcharts of <FIG> and <FIG>. First, a case where the convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> of the operation panel <NUM> are operated will be described majorly with reference to the flowchart of <FIG>.

When detecting a touch operation by the operator on the operation panel <NUM> and detecting that any of the window operation units <NUM> to <NUM> is operated (Yes at step S1), the operation device detects an operated site among the window operation units <NUM> to <NUM> and specifies a target window that is an operation target corresponding to the operated site (step S2). Then, the operation device detects the content of the operation for the operated site, for example, an operation direction and an operation speed (steps S3 and S4), and controls the opening and closing of the target window in accordance with the content of the operation (step S5 or S6).

As an example, when a swipe operation is performed from on the connection unit <NUM> to the vicinity of the front end of the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> among the window operation units <NUM> to <NUM> as indicated by dotted arrow in the left view of <FIG> (step S3 and swipe at step S4), the operation device drives and controls to close the driver's seat window DR only during the touch (step S5). On the other hand, when a flick operation is performed from on the connection unit <NUM> to the vicinity of the front end of the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> among the window operation units <NUM> to <NUM> as indicated by dotted arrow in the left view of <FIG> (step S3 and flick at step S4), the operation device drives and controls to automatically close the driver's seat window DR until completely closing (step S6). Moreover, when a swipe operation is performed from the vicinity of the front end of the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> among the window operation units <NUM> to <NUM> to on the connection unit <NUM> as indicated by dotted arrow in the right view of <FIG> (step S3 and swipe at step S4), the operation device drives and controls to open the driver's seat window DR only during the touch (step S5). On the other hand, when a flick operation is performed from the vicinity of the front end of the driver's seat window operation unit <NUM> among the window operation units <NUM> to <NUM> to on the connection unit <NUM> as indicated by dotted arrow in the right view of <FIG> (step S3 and flick at step S4), the operation device drives and controls to automatically open the driver's seat window DR until completely opening (step S6).

Further, the operation device controls the opening and closing of the other windows in accordance with an operation for the other window operation units <NUM> to <NUM> in the same manner as described above. For example, the operation device drives and controls to open and close the passenger seat window AS in accordance with a swipe or flick operation for the passenger seat window operation unit <NUM>. Moreover, the operation device drives and controls to open and close the window RR of rear seat behind driver's seat in accordance with a swipe or flick operation for the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind driver's seat. Moreover, the operation device drives and controls to open and close the window RL of rear seat behind passenger seat in accordance with a swipe or flick operation for the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind passenger seat.

Further, when detecting a touch operation by the operator on the operation panel <NUM> and detecting that the door operation unit <NUM> is operated (No at step S1 and Yes at Step <NUM>), the operation device detects the direction of the operation for the door operation unit <NUM> (step S8) and controls the locking and unlocking of the door in accordance with the direction of the operation (step S9). As an example, when the door lock operation unit <NUM> is swiped toward the lock figure, that is, rightward as indicated by dotted arrow in the left view of <FIG>, the operation device controls to lock all the doors. On the other hand, when the door lock operation unit <NUM> is swiped toward the unlock figure, that is, leftward as indicated by dotted arrow in the right view of <FIG>, the operation device controls to unlock all the doors.

Next, a case where a part other than the convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> of the operation panel <NUM> is operated will be described majorly with reference to the flowchart of <FIG>. When detecting a touch operation by the operator on the operation panel <NUM> and detecting that a panel surface other than the convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> is operated (Yes at step S11), the operation device detects the content of the operation (step S12). For example, when detecting a pinch operation on the panel surface (pinch at step S12), the operation device specifies a target window to be an operation target based on the operation position (step S <NUM>). Then, the operation device detects an operation direction of the pinch operation at the operation position (step S14), and controls the density of the target window in accordance with the operation direction (step S15). As an example, when a pinch-in operation is performed across the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind the driver's seat as indicated by dotted arrow in the left view of <FIG>, the operation device controls to increase the density of the color of the window RR of rear seat behind driver's seat. On the other hand, when a pinch-out operation is performed on the operation unit <NUM> for window of rear seat behind the driver's seat as indicated by dotted arrow in the right view of <FIG>, the operation device controls to decrease the density of the color of the window RR of rear seat behind driver's seat.

Further, when detecting a two-finger swipe operation on the panel surface (two-finger swipe at step S12), the operation device detects an operation position and an operation direction of the two-finger swipe operation (step S16), and controls the locking and unlocking of the windows in accordance with the operation direction (step S17). As an example, when a two-finger swipe is performed from the front side to the rear side in the regions on the left and right sides of the convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> as indicated by dotted line arrow in the left view of <FIG>, the operation device controls to unlock all the windows. On the other hand, when a two-finger swipe operation is performed from the rear side to the front side in the regions on the left and right sides of the convex operation units <NUM> to <NUM> as indicated by dotted line arrow in the right view of <FIG>, the operation device controls to lock all the windows except the driver's seat window.

Claim 1:
An operation device having a touch-screen-type operation surface (<NUM>) installed in a vehicle, wherein:
a plurality of operation units (<NUM>,..,<NUM>) formed in a convex shape or a concave shape associated with a plurality of components mounted in the vehicle, respectively, are formed at different positions on the touch-screen-type operation surface (<NUM>), respectively; and
the plurality of operation units (<NUM>,..,<NUM>) are configured to accept an input touch operation as an operation instruction for the component associated with each of the operation units,
characterized in that
at each of the different positions on the touch-screen-type operation surface (<NUM>) corresponding to a relative positional relation of a plurality of windows mounted in the vehicle, an operation unit associated with one of the windows is formed; and
the plurality of operation units (<NUM>,..,<NUM>) are configured to accept an input touch operation as an operation instruction for the window associated with a corresponding one of the operation units (<NUM>,..,<NUM>).