JP2003091370A - Touch panel cleaning method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easy method of cleaning a touch panel. SOLUTION: Cleaning mode switching buttons are arranged at four corners on a screen appearing during a cleaning mode. In switching from a normal mode to a cleaning mode, the cleaning mode is established by detecting the touch of the buttons 1-4 in a predetermined order. In canceling the cleaning mode after completing cleaning, the cleaning mode is cancelled by the touch of the buttons in a predetermined order.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system using a touch panel display, and more particularly to a method for controlling switching of the touch panel display to a cleaning mode and a normal mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional cleaning method in a system using a touch panel is disclosed in JP-A-8-22375 (hereinafter referred to as prior art 1) and JP-A-9-120.
No. 341 (hereinafter referred to as Prior Art 2).

First, in prior art 1, two types of touch panel cleaning methods are disclosed. First, when the touch panel is cleaned, a non-responsive area of the touch panel is set (cleaning mode setting), and the area is cleaned. Release of the set non-responsive area (release of the cleaning mode) takes time. Is done by. Secondly, it discloses a technique for cleaning the touch panel by switching between the cleaning mode and the normal mode by a newly provided mode changeover switch regardless of the elapsed time of the timer.

Further, in the prior art 2, the input surface of the touch panel is divided into a first input area and a second input area, and the other area is touched by a cleaning mode setting section provided at a predetermined position in each area. Is disclosed as a cleaning mode.

[0005]

However, in the first technique disclosed in Prior Art 1, the non-reactive area is forcibly and automatically released regardless of the progress of the cleaning. The work efficiency is poor because it is necessary to wait until the cleaning is completed or the cleaning is completed even if the cleaning is completed. The reason is that the non-reactive area is released over time.

Further, in the second technique of the prior art 1, since the mode changeover switch is separately provided, the normal process is performed on the touch panel, and the normal and cleaning mode changeover operations are performed using the mode changeover switch. Since it has to be performed, there is a problem that the operation method is complicated for the operator.

On the other hand, in the prior art 2, although the cleaning mode is not released or the cleaning mode is switched based on the elapsed time of the timer as in the prior art 1, it is not based on the operation outside the touch panel, but the divided area of the touch panel is switched. Since the cleaning needs to be performed alternately, there is a problem that the cleaning is troublesome.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of these prior arts and to provide a method for easily cleaning a touch panel.

[0009]

According to the invention of claim 1, a screen display section for displaying a screen and a front surface of the screen display section are provided, and the screen of the screen is displayed in response to a touch operation on the screen. An information processing system comprising: a touch panel for inputting a position coordinate signal; and an information processing device that outputs display data to the screen display unit, receives a position coordinate signal input from the touch panel, and executes desired processing. ,
In the information processing device, a display screen including a plurality of mode switching buttons is generated, display control of the generated display screen is performed by the screen display unit, and position coordinates input by a touch on the touch panel by an operator. When the position coordinate signal for the display area of the mode switching button is detected by analyzing the signal, the position coordinate signal of the button display area in a predetermined order or in a predetermined combination with respect to the plurality of buttons. When is detected, switching to the cleaning mode to prohibit input from the touch panel, after switching to the cleaning mode, when the position coordinate signal for the display area of the mode switching button is detected,
A touch panel cleaning method, wherein the prohibition of the input from the touch panel is released when the position coordinate signals of the button display area are detected in a predetermined order or in a predetermined combination for the plurality of buttons. Obtainable.

According to the invention of claim 2, a cleaning mode switching button for switching the plurality of mode switching buttons displayed on the display screen to the cleaning mode,
A normal mode switching button for canceling the prohibition of input from the touch panel after switching to the cleaning mode,
The touch panel cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the mode is switched when the position coordinate signals of the mode switching buttons corresponding to each mode switching are detected in a predetermined order or in a predetermined combination. it can.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an information processing system to which a touch panel cleaning support device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. This information processing system is provided on the information processing device 3, a screen display unit 1 for displaying display data from the information processing device 3, and a front surface of the screen display unit 1, and is operated in response to a touch operation on the screen. It is composed of a touch panel for inputting a position coordinate signal of the screen.

Further, the information processing apparatus 3 receives a display control section 31 for generating display data for the screen display section 1 and a touch information receiving section 33 for receiving the position coordinate signal input from the touch panel 2. A touch information analysis unit 34 that analyzes the position coordinate information and identifies the normal mode and the cleaning mode;
The cleaning mode switching unit 32 controls the mode switching of the touch panel based on the analysis result.

Next, a touch panel cleaning method by the touch panel cleaning support device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a display mode of the screen display unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this display mode, buttons 1 to 4 are displayed at the four corners of the screen display unit 1. These buttons are used to switch from the normal mode to the cleaning mode and to the normal mode after the cleaning mode is completed.
That is, a position coordinate signal is output from the touch panel 2 provided on the front surface of the screen based on the touch on the display area of the button, and the switching control of the cleaning mode is executed by the information processing device 3.

Next, the switching operation from the normal mode to the cleaning mode according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

When the operator touches the touch panel 2,
A position table signal is output and received by the touch information receiving unit 33. The received position coordinate signal refers to the display content corresponding to the position coordinate input by the touch information analysis unit 34, and determines whether or not the display area of the button 1 is a touch (step 1). When it is determined that the touch information is for the button 1, it waits for the next touch information to be received, and it is determined whether the subsequent touch information is for the display area of the button 2 (step 2). As a result, when it is determined that the touch information is for the button 2, the next touch information is awaited to be received and it is similarly determined whether or not the touch information is for the buttons 3 and 4 (steps 3 and 4). When the touch information on the buttons 1 to 4 is sequentially detected as a result of steps 1 to 4, it is determined that the cleaning mode is switched, and the cleaning mode switching signal is output to the cleaning mode switching unit 32.

The cleaning mode switching unit 32 invalidates the touch information input thereafter based on the received cleaning mode switching signal.

As a result, even if the screen is touch-operated, no other processing is executed in the information processing apparatus, so that the operator wipes the screen. When the wiping cleaning is completed, the operator performs a switching operation to the normal mode. Regarding the cancellation from the cleaning mode to the normal mode, the above-mentioned buttons 1 to 4 may be canceled in order, or the position detection information inputted in another order may be canceled. It may be based on reception.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the buttons 1 to 4 are arranged at the four corners on the screen, and the mode is not switched unless the buttons are touched in order. Buttons 1-
Even if one of the buttons 4 is touched, the possibility of touching all the buttons in the same touch order as the specified order can be minimized.

The normal mode may be switched on the basis of a touch on button display information other than the buttons 1 to 4 used for switching the cleaning mode.

Further, cleaning buttons may be provided at other positions instead of the four corners of the screen, and the mode may be switched by touch information based on the order or combination of a plurality of buttons.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the above-described embodiment, the buttons 1 to 4 are displayed on the screen display unit 1, and the mode is switched according to the order of touching the buttons. For example, a cleaning mode selection button is provided on the menu screen and the buttons are touched. If there is, the cleaning mode is switched to, and the mode switching buttons 1 to 1 used in the above description are switched.
The cleaning mode screen having 4 may be displayed, and the cleaning mode may be switched to the normal mode by the order of touching this button.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the mode is switched according to the order of touches on the plurality of buttons provided for switching the operation mode, so that the normal mode and the cleaning mode can be switched on the touch panel.
It is possible to provide a touch panel cleaning support device that is extremely unlikely to accidentally switch modes.

In addition to the above effects, after cleaning the screen of the touch panel display, the cleaning mode can be canceled by the operator's intention, and the display can be cleaned collectively.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an information processing system to which a touch panel cleaning support device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 illustrates a display mode of a screen display unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 screen display 2 touch panel 3 Information processing equipment 31 Display control unit 32 Cleaning mode switching unit 33 Touch information receiver 34 Touch information analysis unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A screen display unit for displaying a screen, a touch panel provided on the front surface of the screen display unit for inputting a position coordinate signal of the screen in response to a touch operation on the screen, and the screen display unit. An information processing system comprising: an information processing device that outputs display data and receives a position coordinate signal input from the touch panel and executes a desired process, wherein the information processing device includes a plurality of mode switching buttons. A display screen is generated, display control of the generated display screen is performed by the screen display unit, a position coordinate signal input by a touch on the touch panel by an operator is analyzed, and a display area of the mode switching button is displayed. When the position coordinate signal of the button is detected, the position coordinates of the button display area are displayed in a predetermined order or in a predetermined combination with respect to the plurality of buttons. When a signal is detected, the mode is switched to the cleaning mode to prohibit the input from the touch panel, and after the mode is switched to the cleaning mode, the position coordinate signal for the display area of the mode switching button is detected. A touch panel cleaning method, wherein the prohibition of input from the touch panel is released when the position coordinate signals of the button display area are detected in a predetermined order or in a predetermined combination with respect to the plurality of buttons. . 2. A cleaning mode switching button for switching a plurality of mode switching buttons displayed on the display screen to a cleaning mode, and an input prohibition from the touch panel after switching to the cleaning mode. 2. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the mode is a normal mode switch button, and the mode is switched when the position coordinate signals of the mode switch buttons corresponding to each mode switch are detected in a predetermined order or in a predetermined combination. How to clean.