JP2008269574A - Touch input device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To make a user feel that a device larger than the actual size is provided, and that the device recognizes the touch operation when the user touches the input area formed on the adjacent surface of the display. Check with.
In a touch input device, a touch panel covers an entire surface of a display and a display adjacent surface. Further, the backlight type buttons 32 a to 32 d can be recognized from the surface of the touch panel 31 by lighting the LEDs 42 a to 42 d on the display adjacent surface 23 side. At this time, the visibility of the backlight buttons 32a to 32d is changed by the user's touch operation. Therefore, the user feels as if he / she has a larger display than the actual one, and the user can easily confirm that the touch input device 30 has recognized the touch operation.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch input device and a control method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a touch input device having a structure in which a touch panel (also referred to as a touch sensitive screen) is overlaid on a display on which icons or the like are displayed is known. In this type of touch-type input device, a user selects an icon or the like by pressing the desired icon or the like with a finger or a pen. In addition, in such a touch input device, it is also proposed that the touch panel is arranged around the display so as not to overlap the display, considering that it becomes difficult to see the screen due to glare when the touch panel is superimposed on the display. (See Patent Document 1). In this touch type input device, since the display is not covered with the touch panel, the visibility is not deteriorated due to glare of the touch panel.
JP 2004-38927 A

  However, for example, when the area into which the touch input device is fitted has a predetermined size, the touch type input device of Patent Document 1 has a touch panel that substantially matches the size of the fitted area and a display that is slightly smaller than the touch panel. However, since the visibility of the display and the visibility of the touch panel are clearly different, the user feels that a display smaller than a predetermined size is being used. On the other hand, in a touch input device having a structure in which a touch panel is stacked on a display, a display and a touch panel that are substantially the same as the size of the fitting area are used, but compared with the touch input device of Patent Document 1. Since a large display is required, there is a problem that costs increase.

  In order to solve these problems, in the touch input device, a touch panel having a larger area than the display covers the entire surface of the display and the adjacent surface of the display, a transmission adjustment sheet is disposed on the back side of the touch panel, and the rear surface of the transmission adjustment sheet. It is conceivable to turn on the light source provided on the side so that the button formed on the portion of the transmission adjustment sheet covering the display adjacent surface can be viewed from the surface side of the touch panel. In this way, it is possible to make the user feel as if it has a display larger than the actual size.

  However, in such a touch input device, when the user touches a button formed on a portion covering the display adjacent surface, the user determines whether the touch input device recognizes that the button is touched. It was difficult to confirm.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and makes it feel as if it has a display larger than the actual size, and when the user performs a touch operation on the input area formed on the display adjacent surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide a touch-type input device and a control method thereof that allow a user to easily confirm that a touch operation has been recognized by the device side.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

The touch input device of the present invention is
A display that displays text and images,
A touch panel that is formed in a larger area than the display, covers the entire surface of the display and the display adjacent surface adjacent to the display, and can detect a touch position touched by the user;
A transmission adjustment sheet that covers the display adjacent surface on the back side of the touch panel and is formed so that at least one display adjacent input region has light transmission in the region that covers the display adjacent surface;
A light source that is provided in each of the one or more display adjacent input areas on the back side of the transmission adjustment sheet, and that enables the display adjacent input area to be recognized from the surface side of the touch panel when lit;
Provided on the back side of the display adjacent input area so that the visibility of the display adjacent input area changes when the touch panel detects a touch operation to the display adjacent input area at a position corresponding to a light source that is lit. Light source control means for controlling the light source;
It is equipped with.

  In this touch-type input device, when the area into which the touch-type input device is fitted is a predetermined size, a touch panel that substantially matches the size of the fit-in area and a display that is slightly smaller than that are used. . At this time, the touch panel covers the entire surface of the display and the display adjacent surface adjacent to the display, and the display adjacent input area can be recognized from the surface of the touch panel by lighting the light source on the display adjacent surface side. To the user, it appears as if the display and the display adjacent surface are an integral display surface. Therefore, it is possible to make the user feel as if the user has a display larger than the actual size. In addition, since the visibility of the display adjacent input area that is lit changes depending on the touch operation, the touch input device recognizes that the touch panel has detected a touch operation to the display adjacent input area that is lit. This can be easily confirmed by the user. Here, the “change in visibility” may be, for example, a change in color, a change in light amount, or a change in a lighting range.

  In the touch-type input device of the present invention, the light source control means corresponds to the display adjacent input area when the touch panel detects a touch operation to the display adjacent input area at a position corresponding to the light source that is lit. The provided light source may be turned off. By doing so, the user can easily confirm that the touch panel has detected a touch operation on the display adjacent input area when the light source is turned off. Here, “light-off of the light source” may mean, for example, that all the light sources may be turned off, or the amount of light may be reduced by turning off some of the light sources.

  In the touch-type input device of the present invention, the light source control means corresponds to the display adjacent input area when the touch panel detects a touch operation to the display adjacent input area at a position corresponding to the light source that is lit. You may blink the provided light source. In this way, the user can easily confirm that the touch panel has detected a touch operation on the display adjacent input area that is lit by blinking the light source.

  In the touch input device according to the aspect of the invention, the light source may include a plurality of color irradiation units, and the light source control unit may be located at a position corresponding to a light source in which the predetermined color irradiation unit is turned on. When the touch panel detects a touch operation on the display adjacent input area, the irradiation unit of the predetermined color is turned off among the light sources provided corresponding to the display adjacent input area, and irradiation with a color different from the predetermined color is performed. The part may be lit or blinked. In this way, the user can easily confirm that the touch operation on the display adjacent input area when the touch panel is lit or blinking has been detected due to a change in the color of the display adjacent input area.

  In the touch-type input device of the present invention, the light source includes a first range irradiating unit that illuminates a first range of a display adjacent input region, and a second range irradiating unit that illuminates a second range different from the first range. And when the touch panel detects a touch operation to the display adjacent input area at a position corresponding to the light source in which the first range irradiation unit is lit, the light source control means Among the light sources provided correspondingly, the first range irradiation unit may be turned off and the second range irradiation unit may be turned on or blinked. In this way, the user can easily confirm that the touch panel has detected a touch operation on the display adjacent input area that is lit or blinking by changing the range of the display adjacent input area that can be recognized from the touch panel surface side. Can do.

  In the touch-type input device of the present invention, the light source control means controls the light source that is turned on so that the visibility of the display adjacent input area changes, and the light source control unit is turned on so that the visibility changes over time. The light source may be controlled.

  In the touch input device of the present invention, the light source control means controls the light source provided on the back side of the display adjacent input area so that the visibility of the display adjacent input area changes, and then When the touch panel detects that the touch operation on the input area is completed, the light source may be controlled so that the visibility of the display adjacent input area returns to the original state. In this way, the user can easily confirm that the touch panel has recognized that the finger or pen has moved away from the display adjacent input area that has been touched.

The touch input device control method of the present invention includes:
A display that displays characters, images, and the like, a touch panel that is formed in a larger area than the display, covers the entire surface of the display and the display adjacent surface adjacent to the display, and can detect a touch position touched by the user; A transmission adjustment sheet that covers the display adjacent surface on the back side of the touch panel and that has at least one display adjacent input region having light transmission in the region that covers the display adjacent surface; and the transmission adjustment A touch input device comprising: a light source provided in each of the one or more display adjacent input areas on the back side of the sheet, and capable of recognizing the display adjacent input area from the front surface side of the touch panel when lit. A method controlled by software,
Provided at a position corresponding to the display adjacent input area so that the visibility of the display adjacent input area changes when the touch panel detects a touch operation on the display adjacent input area at a position corresponding to a light source that is lit. The light source is controlled.

  In this control method for a touch-type input device, when a region into which the touch-type input device is fitted is a predetermined size, a touch panel that substantially matches the size of the fit-in region and a display that is slightly smaller than that are used. It will be. At this time, the touch panel covers the entire surface of the display and the display adjacent surface adjacent to the display, and the display adjacent input area can be recognized from the surface of the touch panel by lighting the light source on the display adjacent surface side. To the user, it appears as if the display and the display adjacent surface are an integral display surface. Therefore, it is possible to make the user feel as if the user has a display larger than the actual size. In addition, since the visibility of the display adjacent input area that is lit changes depending on the touch operation, the touch input device recognizes that the touch panel has detected a touch operation to the display adjacent input area that is lit. This can be easily confirmed by the user. In the method for controlling a touch input device according to the present invention, steps for realizing the functions of any of the touch input devices described above may be added.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photo printer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the photo printer 10, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the photo printer 10 of the present embodiment includes a front door 14 that can open and close the front surface of the printer main body 12, and an operation panel that is attached to the other side of the upper surface of the printer main body 12 so as to be freely opened and closed. A cover 16 that covers the printer 20, an operation panel 20 provided on the upper surface of the printer main body 12, a printing mechanism 50 (see FIG. 2) built in the printer main body 12, and a controller 60 that controls the entire photo printer 10. 2 (corresponding to the light source control means of the present invention). In the present embodiment, the print medium is described as “paper S”, but it is not intended to specify the material, but includes other materials such as a film other than paper.

  The front door 14 is a lid for opening and closing the front surface of the printer main body 12, and as shown in FIG. 1, a discharge tray for receiving the paper S discharged from the front surface of the printer main body 12 when opened. And various memory card slots 15 provided on the front surface of the printer main body 12 are made available to the user.

  The cover 16 is a resin plate formed in a size that can cover the upper surface of the printer body 12, and includes a window 17 having the same size as the touch input device 30, and is attached to the cover support shaft 18 so as to be opened and closed. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when the cover 16 is in the open state, it can be used as a paper feed tray for supplying the paper S to the printing mechanism 50.

  The operation panel 20 includes a push button type power switch 24 that is turned on and off each time it is pressed, and a touch type input device 30 capable of pen input or finger input.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the touch-type input device 30 includes a display 22 that displays characters, graphics, symbols, and the like, and a resistive film type touch panel 31 that is arranged on the surface side of the display 22 and has a larger area than the display 22. The smoke film 39 disposed on the back side of the touch panel 31, the transmission adjustment sheet 35 disposed on the back side of the smoke film 39, and the light emitting diode (hereinafter, LED) 42a disposed on the back side of the transmission adjustment sheet 35 To 42d (corresponding to the light source of the present invention).

  The display 22 is a well-known color liquid crystal display in which the pixels are evenly arranged in a grid pattern and an active element such as a TFT (thin film transistor) is arranged in each pixel and is driven. The display 22 is slightly smaller than the touch panel 31 and is fixed to the approximate center of the substrate 21. In FIG. 3, a region of the touch panel 31 that faces the display 22 is surrounded by a dotted line.

  The touch panel 31 is formed to have a size that substantially coincides with the fitting area of the touch input device 30 provided on the operation panel 20 and is disposed so as to cover the display 22 and the display adjacent surface 23 adjacent thereto. Since the touch panel 31 is transparent, the user can visually recognize the content displayed on the display 22 via the touch panel 31. The touch panel 31 can detect the touch position touched by the user. This point will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating the principle of detecting the touch position. As shown in FIG. 4, the touch panel 31 includes a first conductive film 36a having electrodes 46a and 46a on both left and right sides, and a second conductive film 36b having electrodes 46b and 46b on both upper and lower sides. 36a and 36b are spaced apart via a dot spacer (not shown). Of the first conductive film 36 a, one electrode 46 a can be switched to apply a constant voltage Vs, and the other electrode 46 a can be switched to be grounded as it is or via a voltmeter 47. It is. The second conductive film 36b can also switch whether one electrode 46b is applied with a constant voltage Vs, and the other electrode 46b is switched between being grounded as it is or grounded via a voltmeter 47. Is possible. When the user touches the touch panel 31, the conductive films 36 a and 36 b are pressed at the touch position, so that they are electrically connected. That is, since dot spacers (not shown) are provided at predetermined intervals, they are electrically connected at positions where no dot spacers are provided. Here, the detection of the touch position will be described. In detecting the touch position, first, a constant voltage Vs is applied to one electrode 46a of the first conductive film 36a, and the other electrode 46a is grounded as it is, and the second conductive film 36b is connected to one electrode 46b. Does not apply the constant voltage Vs, and grounds the other electrode 46b through the voltmeter 47 (see the solid line in FIG. 4). Since the voltage value of the voltmeter 47 at this time is determined depending on the X coordinate of the touch position, the X coordinate of the touch position can be specified based on the voltage value. Subsequently, the constant voltage Vs is not applied to one electrode 46a of the first conductive film 36a, the other electrode 46a is grounded via the voltmeter 47, and one electrode 46b is applied to the second conductive film 36b. A constant voltage Vs is applied to the other electrode, and the other electrode 46b is grounded as it is (see the dotted line in FIG. 4). Since the voltage value of the voltmeter 47 at this time is determined depending on the Y coordinate of the touch position, the Y coordinate of the touch position can be specified based on the voltage value.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the transmission adjustment sheet 35 is a rectangular sheet, the area 35 a facing the display 22 is uncolored, and the area 35 b facing the display adjacent surface 23 is colored in light-opaque black. . In an area 35b facing the display adjacent surface 23, a menu button 32a for calling a menu screen on which a plurality of options relating to the printing function are arranged, the operation is canceled in the middle, or the printing on the paper S is interrupted in the middle. A cancel button 32b for performing printing, a print button 32c for instructing execution of printing on the paper S, and a display size of an image or the like displayed on the display 22 to be switched to a 2-split display, a 4-split display, a full-screen display, or the like. The display switching button 32d is formed so that the button frame and the character / graphic part in the button have light transparency. In addition, since these are the types of buttons that are illuminated from the back when the LEDs 42a to 42d are lit, they may be hereinafter referred to as backlight type buttons 32a to 32d. These backlight type buttons 32a to 32d correspond to the display adjacent input area of the present invention. Moreover, the area | region which opposes each backlight type buttons 32a-32d among the touchscreen 31 was enclosed and shown with the dotted line.

  The smoke film 39 is a dark gray film having a low visible light transmittance (for example, 50% or 30%). The smoke film 39 is disposed between the touch panel 31 and the transmission adjustment sheet 35, and a region facing the display 22 is formed to be transparent. Has been. As a result, the smoke film 39 covers the region 35b of the transmission adjusting sheet 35 that faces the display adjacent surface 23 and reduces the light transmission.

  The LEDs 42 a to 42 d are disposed on the display adjacent surface 23 of the substrate 21. Specifically, the LED 42a is disposed at a position facing the menu button 32a, the LED 42b is disposed at a position facing the cancel button 32b, the LED 42c is disposed at a position facing the print button 32c, and the LED 42d is displayed at the display switching button 32d. It is arrange | positioned in the position facing. When the LEDs 42a to 42d are turned off, the user can hardly visually recognize the backlight type buttons 32a to 32d from the surface side of the touch panel 31 due to the presence of the smoke film 39. Further, when the LEDs 42a to 42d are lit, the light is diffused by the diffusion plates 44a to 44d and part of the light passes through the smoke film 39 after passing through the light-transmitting frames of the backlight buttons 32a to 32d. Therefore, the user can visually recognize each of the backlight buttons 32 a to 32 d from the surface side of the touch panel 31.

  The printing mechanism 50 is disposed inside the printer main body 12 and, as shown in FIG. 2, is driven by a carriage belt 51 that is looped in the left-right direction, and reciprocates left and right along a guide 52. An ink cartridge 54 that supplies ink of each color such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black to the carriage 53, and printing that discharges ink from the nozzle toward the paper S by applying pressure to each ink supplied from each ink cartridge 54 A head 55 and a transport roller 56 for feeding the paper S supplied from a paper feed port 58 (see FIG. 1) formed in the operation panel 20 to the front door 14 in an open state as a paper discharge tray are provided. The ink cartridge 54 is attached below the printing mechanism 50 and is a so-called off-carriage type in which the ink cartridge 54 is not mounted on the carriage 53. Here, the print head 55 employs a method in which a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element to deform the piezoelectric element and pressurize the ink. However, a voltage is applied to a heating resistor (for example, a heater) to heat the ink. A method of pressurizing the ink with the generated bubbles may be employed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 60 is configured as a microprocessor centered on the CPU 61, and includes a ROM 62 that stores various processing programs (such as a visibility changing processing routine described later), various data, various tables, and the like. RAM 63 that temporarily stores data, flash memory 64 that is electrically rewritable and retains data even when the power is turned off, memory card M inserted in memory card slot 15, printing mechanism 50, touch-type input An interface 65 (hereinafter referred to as I / F 65) that can communicate with the device 30 is provided, and these are connected via a bus 66 so that signals can be exchanged with each other. The controller 60 inputs an image file of the memory card M inserted into the memory card slot 15 and inputs detection signals from each part of the touch input device 30 and the printing mechanism 50. Further, the controller 60 saves the edited image or the like in the memory card M, and outputs a control signal to each part of the printing mechanism 50, a control signal to the touch input device 30, and the like. It is assumed that the XY coordinates on the touch panel 31 of the backlight buttons 32a to 32d are stored in the ROM 62 in advance.

  Next, the visibility changing operation of the thus configured photo printer 10 of the present embodiment, particularly the backlight type buttons 32a to 32d, will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a visibility changing process routine executed by the CPU 61 of the controller 60. When the user turns on the power switch 24, the CPU 61 lights all the LEDs 42a to 42d. Thereby, the user can visually recognize all the backlight type buttons 32 a to 32 d from the front surface side of the touch panel 31. When the touch panel 31 detects that the user has touched any of the backlight buttons 32a to 32d in a state where all the backlight buttons 32a to 32d are illuminated by the LEDs 42a to 42d as described above, That is, when the XY coordinates on the touch panel 31 of any of the backlight buttons 32a to 32d match the touch position detected from the touch panel 31, the CPU 61 reads the visibility change processing routine from the ROM 62 and executes it.

  When this routine is started, the CPU 61 first changes the visibility of the backlight type button that the user has touched this time among the backlight type buttons 32a to 32d (step S100). Here, the LED corresponding to the backlight type button touched by the user is turned off so that the backlight type button cannot be visually recognized from the front surface side of the touch panel 31. By doing so, the user can easily confirm that the touch input device 30 has recognized a touch operation on any of the backlight buttons 32 a to 32 d that can be recognized from the front surface side of the touch panel 31.

  Subsequently, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the user's touch operation has been completed (step S110). This determination is made based on whether or not the touch panel 31 has detected that the user has removed a finger or pen from the touch panel 31. If it is determined in step S110 that the touch operation has not ended, the process waits as it is. If it is determined that the touch operation has ended, the visibility of the backlight button that the user has touched is restored (step S120). . Here, by turning on the LED corresponding to the backlight type button that the user has touched, the backlight type button can be viewed from the front surface side of the touch panel 31. By doing so, the user can easily confirm that the touch panel 31 has detected that the finger or the pen has been removed from the backlight type button that the user has touch-operated.

  Here, taking the case where the touch position coincides with the display switching button 32d as an example, the operation of changing the visibility of the backlight type buttons 32a to 32d will be described in more detail. FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating an example of display on the touch input device 30. Here, as shown in FIG. 6A, one of the pictures stored in the memory card M is displayed on the display 22, and the backlight buttons 32 a to 32 d are displayed on the touch panel 31 by the LEDs 42 a to 42 d. An explanation will be given taking as an example the case where the surface is in a recognizable state.

  When the user performs a touch operation on the display switching button 32d that is lit, the CPU 61 turns off the LED 42d and makes the display switching button 32d unrecognizable from the front surface side of the touch panel 31 (FIG. 6B). Subsequently, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the touch operation on the display switching button 32d has been completed. When it is determined that the touch operation has ended, the CPU 42 turns on the LED 42d and sets the display switching button 32d to the original state, that is, The state is made recognizable from the front surface side of the touch panel 31 (FIG. 6C). At this time, two of the photos stored in the memory card M are displayed on the display 22 on each of the two divided screens.

  According to the photo printer 10 of the present embodiment described in detail above, the touch panel 31 of the touch input device 30 covers the entire surface of the display 22 and the display adjacent surface 23, and the LEDs 42 a to 42 d on the display adjacent surface 23 side. Since the backlight type buttons 32 a to 32 d can be recognized from the surface of the touch panel 31 by turning on, the display 22 and the display adjacent surface 23 appear to the user as if they were an integral display surface. Therefore, it is possible to make the user feel as if the user has a display larger than the actual size.

  Further, when the touch panel 31 detects a touch operation on the display switching button 32d at a position corresponding to the LED 42d that is lit, the LED 42d is turned off, so that the user can easily detect that the touch operation on the display switching button 32d is detected. Can be confirmed. The same applies to the other backlight type buttons 32a to 32c.

  Further, after the LED 42d is turned off, the LED 42d is turned on again when it is detected that the touch operation on the touch panel 31 has been completed, so that the finger or pen has moved away from the display switching button 32d that the user has touched. The user can easily confirm that the touch panel 31 has detected this. The same applies to the other backlight type buttons 32a to 32c.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the change in the visibility of the display switching button 32d on which the touch operation is performed in Step S100 is determined by the CPU 61 changing the visibility by turning off the LED 42d. May be. In this way, the user can easily confirm that the touch panel 31 has detected a touch operation on the display switching button 32d by blinking the display switching button 32d. The same applies to the other backlight type buttons 32a to 32c.

  In the above-described embodiment, the light source corresponding to the display switching button 32d is the LED 42d. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the LED 42d and the LED 142d having a different color from the LED 42d may be used as the light source. At this time, the change in the visibility of the display switching button 32d in which the touch operation is performed in step S100 is a change from the state where the LED 42d is lit and the LED 142d is turned off to the state where the LED 42d is turned off and the LED 142d is lit. It is good. In this way, the user can easily confirm that the touch panel 31 has detected a touch operation on the display switching button 32d due to a change in the color of the display switching button 32d. The same applies to the other backlight type buttons 32a to 32c.

  In the embodiment described above, by using the transmission adjustment sheet 35 as shown in FIG. 8A, light is transmitted through the figure and the frame portion of the display switching button 32d while the LED 42d is lit, and the display switching button 32d is touched by the touch panel 31. However, as shown in FIG. 8B, light is transmitted around the graphic portion, and the display switching button 32 d can be recognized from the front surface side of the touch panel 31. Such a transmission adjustment sheet 35 may be used. At this time, the visibility may be changed by turning on / off the LED 42d, or the visibility may be changed by using two colors of LEDs 42d and 142d as shown in FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, the light source corresponding to the display switching button 32d is the LED 42d. However, as shown in FIG. 9A, the first LED plate 143d and the second LED plate 144d may be used as the light source. At this time, the change in the visibility of the display switching button 32d on which the touch operation is performed in step S100 is the first LED plate 143d is turned off and the first LED plate 143d is turned off from the state where the first LED plate 143d is turned on and the second LED plate 144d is turned off. It is good also as a change to the state in which 2LED board 144d is lighting. By so doing, the lighting location of the display switching button 32d that can be recognized from the front surface side of the touch panel 31 changes from the central graphic portion (see the left side in FIG. 9B) to the frame portion (see the right side in FIG. 9B). The user can easily confirm that the touch panel 31 has detected a touch operation on the display switching button 32d. In this case, the display switching button 32d corresponds to the display adjacent input area, the first LED plate 143d corresponds to the first range irradiation unit, and the second LED plate 144d corresponds to the second range irradiation unit. The first LED plate 143d and the second LED plate 144d may be the same color or different colors. The same applies to the other backlight type buttons 32a to 32d.

  In FIG. 9A, the first LED plate 143d and the second LED plate 144d may be a surface light emitter by mounting a large number of LED chips on a printed board and enclosing the surface with a coating material. . Or you may employ | adopt the illumination structure 200 shown in FIG. 10 instead of 1st LED board 143d and 2nd LED 144d. The illumination structure 200 includes a light-shielding outer peripheral wall 202, a light-shielding inner peripheral wall 204 provided inside thereof, and a diffusion plate 206 that covers an upper portion of a space surrounded by the outer peripheral wall 202. An LED lamp 208 for lighting the frame portion may be disposed between the wall 202 and the inner peripheral wall 204, and an LED lamp 210 for lighting the symbol portion may be disposed inside the inner peripheral wall 204. In this case, if the LED lamp 208 is turned off and the LED lamp 210 is turned on, the central graphic portion is illuminated as shown on the left side of FIG. 9B, and if the LED lamp 208 is turned on and the LED lamp 210 is turned off, FIG. b) The frame part is illuminated as shown on the right side. Note that instead of the first LED plate 143 and the second LED plate 144d, a first EL panel and a second EL panel capable of surface light emission may be employed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the change in the visibility of the display switching button 32d on which the touch operation is performed in step S100 is determined by the CPU 61 changing the visibility by turning off the LED 42d. However, the amount of current flowing through the LED 42d is changed. It may be reduced and darkened gradually.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the LED 42 is turned on, the light of the button frame and the characters / graphics in the button is transmitted, so that the display switching button 32d can be recognized from the front surface side of the touch panel 31, but the light is transmitted. The part to be performed may be only the character / graphic part in the button. The same applies to the other backlight type buttons 32a to 32c.

  In the embodiment described above, step S120 is executed after determining whether or not the user's touch operation is completed in step S110. However, the visibility of the display switching button 32d on which the touch operation is performed in step S100 is determined. After changing, step S120 may be executed after a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) has elapsed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the photo printer 10 is the off-carriage type printing mechanism 50 in which the ink cartridge 54 is attached to the lower part of the printing mechanism 50, but the on-carriage type printing mechanism in which the ink cartridge 54 is attached to the carriage 53 may be used. Good. Although the inkjet printing mechanism is used, the present invention may be applied to a printer such as an electrophotographic method or a dot impact method, or the present invention may be applied to a multi-function machine having a function of a scanner in addition to the printer. May be.

  In the above-described embodiment, the touch panel 31 is a resistive film type, but may be an ultrasonic type, a capacitive type, an infrared type, an analog capacitive coupling type, or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the region 35b of the transmission adjustment sheet 35 that faces the display adjacent surface 23 is colored with a light-opaque black color except for the button frames of the backlight buttons 32a to 32d and the character / graphic portions in the buttons. However, it may be colored with a light-impermeable color other than black, or may be made of a material having a polarizing action instead of being colored with black so that light is not transmitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, one LED 42a to 42d is provided for each backlight type button 32a to 32d. However, a plurality of LEDs 42a to 44d are provided for each backlight type button 32a to 32d. May be. For example, a plurality of LEDs may be arranged along a button frame or a character / graphic in the button. In this way, the buttons 32a to 32d can be displayed brighter, and it is not necessary to provide the diffusion plates 44a to 44d.

  In the embodiment described above, one sheet of smoke film 39 is used, but a plurality of sheets may be used. Moreover, although the part which opposes the display 22 among the smoke films 39 was made transparent, you may make it the visible light transmittance | permeability become low similarly to another part. Moreover, you may give the function of a smoke film to at least one of both the electrically conductive films 36a and 36b of the touch panel 31 without using a smoke film.

1 is a perspective view of a photo printer 10. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a photo printer. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a touch input device 30. The circuit diagram explaining the detection principle of a touch position. The flowchart which shows an example of a visibility change process routine. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display of the touch-type input device. Explanatory drawing which shows the outline of a structure of the touch-type input device 30 of other embodiment. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the display of the display switch button 32d of other embodiment. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the display switching button 32d of other embodiment. FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the lighting structure 200.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Photo printer, 12 Printer body, 14 Front door, 15 Memory card slot, 16 Cover, 17 Window, 18 Cover support shaft, 20 Operation panel, 21 Substrate, 22 Display, 23 Display adjacent surface, 24 Power switch, 30 Touch type Input device, 31 touch panel, 32a menu button, 32b cancel button, 32c print button, 32d display switching button, 35 transmission adjustment sheet, 35a region, 35b region, 36a first conductive film, 36b second conductive film, 39 smoke film, 42a-44d, 142a-142d LED, 44a-44d Diffuser, 46a, 46b Electrode, 47 Voltmeter, 50 Printing mechanism, 51 Carriage belt, 52 Guide, 53 Carriage, 54 Ink cartridge, 55 Printing 56, transport roller, 58 paper feed port, 60 controller, 61 CPU, 62 ROM, 63 RAM, 64 flash memory, 65 I / F, 66 bus, 143d first LED plate, 144d second LED plate, 200 illumination structure, 202 outer peripheral wall, 204 inner peripheral wall, 206 diffusion plate, 208, 210 LED lamp, S paper, M memory card.

Claims (7)

A display that displays text and images,
A touch panel that is formed in a larger area than the display, covers the entire surface of the display and the display adjacent surface adjacent to the display, and can detect a touch position touched by the user;
A transmission adjustment sheet that covers the display adjacent surface on the back side of the touch panel and is formed so that at least one display adjacent input region has light transmission in the region that covers the display adjacent surface;
A light source that is provided in each of the one or more display adjacent input areas on the back side of the transmission adjustment sheet, and that enables the display adjacent input area to be recognized from the surface side of the touch panel when lit;
Provided on the back side of the display adjacent input area so that the visibility of the display adjacent input area changes when the touch panel detects a touch operation on the display adjacent input area at a position corresponding to a light source that is lit. Light source control means for controlling the light source;
Touch-type input device with The light source control means turns off the light source provided corresponding to the display adjacent input area when the touch panel detects a touch operation to the display adjacent input area at a position corresponding to the light source being turned on,
The touch input device according to claim 1. The light source control means blinks a light source provided corresponding to the display adjacent input area when the touch panel detects a touch operation to the display adjacent input area at a position corresponding to a light source that is lit.
The touch input device according to claim 1. The light source has a multi-color irradiation unit,
When the touch panel detects a touch operation to the display adjacent input area at a position corresponding to a light source in which an irradiation unit of a predetermined color among the plurality of colors is lit, the light source control means The illumination unit of the predetermined color is turned off and the illumination unit of a color different from the predetermined color is turned on or blinked among the light sources provided corresponding to
The touch input device according to claim 1. The light source includes a first range irradiation unit that illuminates a first range of a display adjacent input area and a second range irradiation unit that illuminates a second range different from the first range,
The light source control means is provided corresponding to the display adjacent input area when the touch panel detects a touch operation to the display adjacent input area at a position corresponding to the light source in which the first range irradiation unit is lit. Turning off the first range irradiating unit and turning on or blinking the second range irradiating unit among the received light sources;
The touch input device according to claim 1. The light source control means controls the light source provided on the back side of the display adjacent input area so that the visibility of the display adjacent input area is changed, and then the touch operation to the display adjacent input area is completed. When the touch panel detects that, the light source is controlled so that the visibility of the display adjacent input area returns to the original state,
The touch-type input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A display that displays characters, images, and the like, a touch panel that is formed in a larger area than the display, covers the entire surface of the display and the display adjacent surface adjacent to the display, and can detect a touch position touched by the user; A transmission adjustment sheet that covers the display adjacent surface on the back side of the touch panel and that has at least one display adjacent input region having light transmission in the region that covers the display adjacent surface; and the transmission adjustment A touch input device comprising: a light source provided in each of the one or more display adjacent input areas on the back side of the sheet, and capable of recognizing the display adjacent input area from the front surface side of the touch panel when lit. A method controlled by software,
Provided at a position corresponding to the display adjacent input area so that the visibility of the display adjacent input area changes when the touch panel detects a touch operation on the display adjacent input area at a position corresponding to a light source that is lit. Controlling the light source
Control method of touch input device.

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