JP2012216156A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To guide a touch object to a position corresponding to a head position of a character group displayed on a display unit.SOLUTION: An electronic device 1 includes: a touch detection unit 10 for detecting a position touched by a touch object; a display unit 20 for displaying a character group; a tactual sense presenting unit 50 for presenting a tactual sense to the touch object touching the touch detection unit 10; a voice output unit 60 for outputting the character group displayed on the display unit 20 using a voice; and a control unit 30 for controlling the tactual sense presenting unit 50 so as to present the tactual sense to the touch object when the touch detection unit 10 detects the touch by the touch object, and for controlling the voice output unit 60 so as to output the character group using a voice when the touch detection unit 10 detects a touch to a position corresponding to a head position of the character group displayed on the display unit 20. The control unit 30 controls the tactual sense presenting unit 50 so as to present to the touch object the tactual sense corresponding to a distance or a direction between the position corresponding to the head position of the character group displayed on the display unit 20 and the position touched by the touch object detected by the touch detection unit 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device including a contact detection unit, and particularly relates to an electronic device having a voice reading function.

  In recent years, electronic devices including a contact detection unit such as a touch sensor or a touch switch as a member for detecting an operation by an operator in a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone are increasing. In addition to portable terminals, electronic devices having a contact detection unit such as devices such as calculators and ticket machines, household appliances such as microwave ovens, televisions, and lighting devices, and industrial devices (FA devices) are widely used. .

  In an electronic device equipped with such a contact detection unit, in an information terminal for the visually impaired, as a means for conveying characters displayed on the display screen, items displayed on the contact detection unit when the contact is made 2. Description of the Related Art An electronic device having a function for reading out by voice (voice reading function) is known. In addition, the information acquired from the Internet is displayed on the display unit, and the acquired information is read aloud. If all the information cannot be displayed on the display unit, the screen is automatically scrolled. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-227846 A

  A conventional electronic device having a speech reading function reads a sentence (character group) in units of groups (for example, in units of pages). For this reason, even if you wanted to read back partly, you would read the character group again in groups, and you could not read back quickly from where you wanted to listen again.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to control the character group to be read out in units that are smaller than the group unit, such as character units or word units. When reading out a group of characters in units of characters, the operator sequentially traces the position corresponding to the displayed character on the contact detection unit with a contact object such as a finger in order to indicate the position to read out the voice. It becomes.

  However, if the control is performed so that the voice is read out in units of characters, the voice reading is started from the character corresponding to the position in contact with the contact detection unit, so when the position in contact with the contact detection unit is not the head position of the character group, Reading is started from the middle of the character group. For example, when a horizontal group of characters such as “Introduction of recommended products” is displayed, “me” is read out when the position corresponding to the character “me” is touched, and “ "Introduction" is read out, and the operator may not understand the meaning of the read-out voice. Once the character group is read aloud from the head position and then read back, it can be understood by reading back from the middle of the character group. It is necessary to read aloud by touching the corresponding position.

  However, in situations where it is difficult to see the display screen of an electronic device (including cases where a visually impaired person operates the electronic device), that is, it is difficult to check the layout of the display screen, the leading position of the character group There was a problem that could not be grasped correctly. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a problem of the conventional electronic device, and shows that the operator cannot recognize the head position of the character group. In particular, when a Web screen is displayed, a plurality of objects such as characters and images are mixed, and the top left of the screen is not necessarily the head position of the character group, and the head position of the character group can be estimated. difficult.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention made in view of such circumstances is to contact the contact object at the head position of the displayed character group only by touching the contact detection unit without checking the screen layout displayed on the display unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device capable of guiding the above.

  In order to solve the above problems, an electronic device according to the present invention includes a contact detection unit that detects a position where a contact object is in contact, a display unit that displays a group of characters including one or more characters, and the contact detection unit. A tactile sensation presentation unit that presents a tactile sensation to a contact object that is in contact with the contact object, a voice output unit that converts a character group displayed on the display unit into sound, and outputs the sound, and the contact detection unit performs contact of the contact object. When detected, the tactile sensation providing unit is controlled so as to present a tactile sensation to the contact object, and the contact detection unit detects a contact at a position corresponding to the head position in the character group displayed on the display unit. And a control unit that controls the voice output unit to output the character group by voice, the control unit corresponding to a head position of the character group displayed on the display unit, Detected by the contact detector The contacted object and controls the tactile sensation providing unit to provide the tactile sensation corresponding to the distance or direction of the position in contact with the contact was.

  Furthermore, in the electronic device according to the present invention, the control unit determines an object composed of a character group among objects displayed on the display unit, and the character group of the object displayed on the display unit for each object. The tactile sensation providing unit is controlled so that a tactile sensation corresponding to a distance or a direction between a position corresponding to a head position of the contact point and a position where the contact object detected by the contact detection unit is in contact is presented to the contact object. It is characterized by doing.

  In addition, the electronic device according to the present invention detects a contact detection unit that detects a position where a contact object is in contact, a display unit that displays a character group including one or more characters, and a pressure load on the contact detection unit. A load detecting unit, a tactile sensation providing unit that provides a tactile sensation to a contact object that is in contact with the contact detecting unit, a voice output unit that converts a character group displayed on the display unit into a voice, and outputs the voice, When the contact detection unit detects contact of the contact object, the touch load detected by the load detection unit is compared with a plurality of pressure load thresholds, and the tactile sensation is presented to the contact object based on a comparison result. The voice output unit controls the presenting unit and outputs the character group by voice when the contact detection unit detects a contact at a position corresponding to the head position in the character group displayed on the display unit. Control A control unit, and the control unit includes a position corresponding to a leading position of the character group displayed on the display unit, and a position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit is in contact. The number of the pressing load threshold values is determined according to the distance or direction.

  Furthermore, in the electronic device according to the present invention, the control unit determines an object composed of a character group among objects displayed on the display unit, and the character group of the object displayed on the display unit for each object. The number of the pressing load threshold values is determined according to a distance or a direction between a position corresponding to the head position and a position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit is in contact.

  Furthermore, in the electronic device according to the present invention, the control unit is configured such that the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit is in contact is a position corresponding to a character that has been voice output by the voice output unit. Is characterized in that the voice output unit is controlled to read back a character or a word corresponding to the position.

  Furthermore, in the electronic device according to the present invention, when the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit is in contact is a position corresponding to the tail position of each line of the character group, The tactile sensation providing unit is controlled so as to present a predetermined tactile sensation to the contact object.

  Furthermore, in the electronic device according to the present invention, when the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit is in contact is a position corresponding to the tail position of each line of the character group, The tactile sensation providing unit is controlled so as to present a tactile sensation to the contact object according to a distance between a position where the contact object is in contact and a position corresponding to a head position of the next row.

  According to the present invention, even without checking the screen layout displayed on the display unit, the contact object is placed at a position corresponding to the head position of the character group displayed on the display unit only by touching the contact detection unit. You will be able to guide. For example, even when an operation is performed with a portable terminal in a pocket or when a visually handicapped person operates, the head position of a character group can be detected. In addition, by guiding the contact object to the head position, the operability is improved and it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on 1st Embodiment by this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electronic device which concerns on 1st Embodiment by this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the character group head position guidance of the electronic device which concerns on 1st Embodiment by this invention. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the character group head position guidance of the electronic device which concerns on 1st Embodiment by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment by this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the mounting structure of the electronic device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment by this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the character group head position guidance of the electronic device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment by this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the electronic device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment by this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electronic device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on 4th Embodiment by this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the 1 line end notification function of the electronic device which concerns on 4th Embodiment by this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the 1 line end notification function of the electronic device which concerns on 4th Embodiment by this invention. It is a figure which shows the subject of the conventional electronic device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 1 includes a contact detection unit 10, a display unit 20, a control unit 30, a storage unit 40, a tactile sensation providing unit 50, and an audio output unit 60.

  The display unit 20 is configured using, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic EL display panel, or the like, and displays objects such as characters, images, and videos.

  The contact detection unit 10 is normally disposed on the front surface of the display unit 20 and detects contact or release of contact with an object displayed on the display unit 20 on the input surface of the corresponding contact detection unit 10. Further, the contact detection unit 10 detects a contact position with respect to the input surface, and notifies the control unit 30 of the detected contact position. The contact detection unit 10 is configured by a known method such as a resistance film method or a capacitance method.

  The storage unit 40 can be configured by a memory according to a known technique, and stores various input information, a program for operating the electronic device 1, and the like, and also functions as a work memory.

  The control unit 30 includes a head position determination unit 301. The start position determination unit 301 determines the start position of the character group displayed on the display unit 20. The head position is the upper left character position when the character group is written horizontally, and the upper right character position when the character group is written vertically. Then, the control unit 30 has a tactile sensation corresponding to the distance or direction between the position corresponding to the head position of the character group displayed on the display unit 20 and the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit 10 is in contact. The tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled so as to present the contact object to the position corresponding to the head position of the character group. Specific examples will be described later.

  In addition, when the contact detection unit 10 detects a contact at a position corresponding to the head position of the character group displayed on the display unit 20, the control unit 30 outputs the character group by voice. 60 is controlled.

  The tactile sensation providing unit 50 is configured by using, for example, a piezoelectric vibrator and the like, and a contact object that is in contact with the input surface of the contact detection unit 10 by generating vibration according to a predetermined vibration pattern under the control of the control unit 30. A predetermined tactile sensation is presented. The tactile sensation providing unit 50 can notify the operator whether the pressing load on the input surface of the contact detection unit 10 satisfies the input acceptance load standard.

  The voice output unit 60 converts the character group displayed on the display unit 20 into voice and outputs the voice by the control of the control unit 30, and reads out the voice.

  Next, the operation of the electronic apparatus 1 according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. The control unit 30 uses the head position determination unit 301 to determine the head position of the character group to be displayed on the display unit 20 (step S101). Then, the control unit 30 has a tactile sensation corresponding to the distance or direction between the position corresponding to the head position of the character group displayed on the display unit 20 and the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit 10 is in contact. By controlling the tactile sensation providing unit 50 so as to be presented to the contact object, the contact object is guided to the head position of the character group (step S102).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a first example of guidance of the character group head position by the electronic device 1. In this example, the control unit 30 presents weak vibration to the contact object only when the position where the contact object (finger) detected by the contact detection unit 10 is in contact is the position corresponding to the head position of the character group. When the tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled in such a manner that the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit 10 is in contact is a position corresponding to a position away from the head position of the character group (a position other than the head position). The tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled so as to present a strong vibration to the contact object. In addition, when the position where the contact object is in contact is a position corresponding to the leading position of the character group, the contact object exhibits strong vibration, and when the position is a position corresponding to a position away from the leading position of the character group. Needless to say, may be controlled so as to exhibit a weak vibration to the contact. Further, it may be controlled so that weak (or strong) vibration is gradually presented to the contact object as the distance between the position where the contact object is in contact and the position corresponding to the head position of the character group becomes shorter. Alternatively, the number of vibrations presented to the contact object may be gradually increased (decreased) as the distance between the position where the contact object is in contact and the position corresponding to the leading position of the character group becomes shorter.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second example of guiding the character group head position by the electronic device 1. In this example, the operator is notified in which direction the position corresponding to the head position of the character group is in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the position where the contact object (finger) is in contact. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the position where the contact object is in contact is not the position corresponding to the head position of the character group, the control unit 30 uses the contact detection unit 10 to set the head position of the character group. When a contact (or slide) to a position approaching the corresponding position (upward and leftward) is detected, the tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled so as to present a weak vibration to the contact object. On the other hand, when the contact detection unit 10 detects a contact away from the position corresponding to the head position of the character group (downward and rightward), the control unit 30 feels a strong vibration on the contact object. The presenter 50 is controlled.

  The operator detects the position corresponding to the head position of the character group by moving the contact object to the direction where the vibration presented to the contact object is weak. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the contact position of the contact object is shifted upward from the position of FIG. In FIG. 4B, since the position corresponding to the head position of the character group is in the left direction with respect to the position where the contact object is in contact, the control unit 30 uses the contact detection unit 10 to detect the head position of the character group. When the contact to the position approaching (left direction) is detected, the tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled so as to present a weak vibration to the contact object. On the other hand, when the contact detection unit 10 detects a contact away from the head position of the character group (upward, downward, and rightward), the control unit 30 feels a strong vibration on the contact object. The presenter 50 is controlled. FIG. 4C shows a state where the contact object has reached the head position of the character group.

  Referring to FIG. 2 again, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the contact position detected by the contact detection unit 10 is a position corresponding to the head position of the character group (step S103). The leading position guidance process described above is performed until the detected contact position becomes a position corresponding to the leading position of the character group (step S102).

  The control unit 30 causes the voice output unit 60 to start reading the character group aloud only when the contact object touches the position corresponding to the head position of the character group (step S104). After the contact object touches the position corresponding to the head position of the character group, and the character group is traced by the contact object, the voice output unit 60 sequentially reads out the voice of the character at the traced position. Note that the reading aloud may be performed in units of characters or in units of words. Here, reading out in units of characters means that only “O” is read out when the position corresponding to the character “O” in the character group “Good morning” is touched, and “O” “Ha” “Yo” “U” ”And the position corresponding to each character,“ Good morning ”is read out. Reading back in units of words means reading back in units of words “good morning” just by touching the position corresponding to the character “o”.

  In addition, although the example which shows a tactile sensation about four directions is shown in this figure, it is not restricted to four directions. In addition, when a position close to the position corresponding to the head position of the character group is touched, a strong vibration is presented to the contact object, and when a position away from the position corresponding to the head position of the character group is touched, a weak vibration is presented to the contact object. Of course, it may be controlled.

  Thus, according to the electronic device 1 of the first embodiment, the control unit 30 has a position corresponding to the head position of the character group displayed on the display unit 20 and a contact object detected by the contact detection unit 10. By controlling the tactile sensation providing unit 50 so as to present a tactile sensation corresponding to the distance or direction to the position in contact with the touched object, only the contact detecting unit 10 is touched and displayed on the display unit 20. The contact object can be guided to the head position of the character group.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, an electronic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same reference number is attached | subjected to the same component as 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 2 includes a contact detection unit 10, a display unit 20, a control unit 30, a storage unit 40, a tactile sensation providing unit 50, an audio output unit 60, and a load detection unit 70. The electronic device 2 according to the second embodiment is different from the electronic device 1 according to the first embodiment in that a load detection unit 70 is further provided.

  The load detection unit 70 detects a pressing load on the input surface of the contact detection unit 10 and notifies the control unit 30 of the detected pressing load. The load detection unit 70 is configured using an element that reacts linearly to a load such as a strain gauge sensor or a piezoelectric element.

  The storage unit 40 stores various types of input information, a program for operating the electronic device 2, and the like, and stores a plurality of load thresholds for comparison with the pressing load detected by the load detection unit 70.

  When the contact detection unit 10 detects the contact of the contact object, the control unit 30 compares the pressing load detected by the load detection unit 70 with a plurality of pressing load threshold values stored in the storage unit 40, and determines the comparison result. The tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled so as to present the tactile sensation based on the contact object. For example, every time the pressing load exceeds the pressing load threshold, a tactile sensation is presented to the contact object.

  The control unit 30 determines the pressure load threshold according to the distance or direction between the position corresponding to the head position of the character group displayed on the display unit 20 and the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit 10 is in contact. And the contact object is guided to a position corresponding to the head position of the character group. Specific examples will be described later.

  6A and 6B show an example of a mounting structure of the electronic device 1 shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the main part, and FIG. 6B is a plan view of the main part. The display unit 20 is housed and held in the housing 11. The contact detection unit 10 is held on the display unit 20 via an insulator 12 made of an elastic member. In electronic device 1 according to the present embodiment, display unit 20 and contact detection unit 10 have a rectangular shape in plan view. In the present embodiment, the contact detection unit 10 is held on the display unit 20 via the insulators 12 arranged at the four corners deviated from the display area A of the display unit 20 indicated by phantom lines in FIG. The

  Further, the housing 11 is provided with an upper cover 13 so as to cover the surface area of the contact detection unit 10 deviated from the display area of the display unit 20, and an elasticity is provided between the upper cover 13 and the contact detection unit 10. An insulator 14 made of a member is provided.

  In addition, the contact detection part 10 shown in FIG. 5 comprises the surface member which has the input surface 10a, for example with a transparent film or glass, and comprises the back surface member with glass or acrylic. The contact detection unit 10 uses a structure in which, when the input surface 10a is pressed, the pressed portion is slightly bent (distorted) according to the pressing force, or the structure itself is bent slightly.

  On the surface of the contact detection unit 10, a strain gauge sensor 71 for detecting a load (pressing force) applied to the contact detection unit 10 is provided in the vicinity of each side covered with the upper cover 13 by bonding or the like. In addition, on the back surface of the contact detection unit 10, a piezoelectric vibrator 51 for vibrating the contact detection unit 10 is provided in the vicinity of two opposing sides by bonding or the like. That is, the electronic device 1 shown in FIG. 6 includes the load detection unit 70 illustrated in FIG. 5 using the four strain gauge sensors 71 and the tactile sensation providing unit 50 using the two piezoelectric vibrators 51. Yes. And the input surface 10a is vibrated by vibrating the contact detection part 10 by the tactile sense presentation part 50. FIG. In FIG. 6B, the casing 11, the upper cover 13, and the insulator 14 shown in FIG. 6A are not shown.

  The operation of the electronic apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Different.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of guidance of the character group head position by the electronic device 2. In this example, the distance or direction in which the head position of the character group is relative to the touched position is guided by the number of steps that can be pressed. Reference numerals 2 to 7 shown in FIG. 7 indicate the number of steps that can be pressed, and the control unit 30 increases the number of steps that can be pressed when touching as the distance from the head position of the character group increases. The tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled.

  When the number of pressing load threshold values is one, tactile sensation is presented when the pressing load exceeds the pressing load threshold value. In this case, the number of steps that can be pressed is one. When the number of pressing load thresholds is two, the first tactile sensation is presented when the pressing load exceeds the first pressing load threshold, and the pressing load is larger than the first pressing load threshold. A second tactile sensation is presented when the pressure load threshold of 2 is exceeded. In this case, the number of steps that can be pressed is two. Similarly, when the number of pressing load thresholds is n, the tactile sensation is presented up to n times, and the number of steps that can be pressed at this time is n. That is, the number of pressing load thresholds is equal to the number of steps that can be pressed.

  In FIG. 7 (a), it is possible to push the position in contact with the contact object (finger) in seven stages. As shown in FIG. 7B, the operator detects the position corresponding to the head position of the character group by moving the contact object so that the number of steps that can be pressed is reduced. When the contact position is shifted to the left, the number of steps that can be pressed decreases, so it can be seen that the leading position of the character group is approaching. Eventually, as shown in FIG. 7C, it is possible to find the head position of the character group with the smallest number of steps that can be pressed. In this way, the contact object is guided to a position corresponding to the head position of the character group. When the position corresponding to the head position of the character group is touched, the control unit 30 causes the voice output unit 60 to start reading out the voice. It goes without saying that control may be performed so that the number of steps that can be pressed increases as the character group starts.

  Further, when the contact detection unit 10 detects a contact (or slide) to a position (direction) approaching a position corresponding to the head position of the character group, the control unit 30 sets the number of steps that can be pressed when the contact is made to one step. The tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled so as to present the first tactile sensation when the pressing load exceeds the pressing load threshold, and the control unit 30 corresponds to the head position of the character group by the contact detection unit 10. When contact with a position (direction) away from the position is detected, the number of steps that can be pressed at the time of contact is set to two, and when the pressing load exceeds the first pressing load threshold, the first tactile sensation is presented. The tactile sensation providing unit 50 may be controlled so as to present a second tactile sensation when the pressing load exceeds a second pressing load threshold value that is greater than the first pressing load threshold value. Of course, the control may be performed so that the number of steps that can be pressed increases when contact with a position approaching the head position of the character group is detected.

  As described above, according to the electronic device 2 of the second embodiment, the control unit 30 detects the position corresponding to the head position of the character group displayed on the display unit 20 and the contact object detected by the contact detection unit 10. By determining the number of pressing load thresholds according to the distance or direction from the position where the contact is made, the contact object is placed at the head position of the character group displayed on the display unit 20 only by touching the contact detection unit 10. Can be induced.

  Further, the control unit 30 stores the position corresponding to the character that has been read out in the local memory or the storage unit 40 in the control unit 30, and the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit 10 is in contact is If the position corresponds to a character that has already been voice output by the voice output unit 60 (read aloud), the voice output unit 60 may be controlled to read back the character or word corresponding to the position. Good. Thereby, when a contact object touches again a position corresponding to any character that has been read out aloud, it is possible to realize a function (readback function) that reads out the character in characters or words instead of in groups. . By reading back in units of characters or words, it is possible to quickly read back from the point where it is desired to re-listen, compared to the conventional group-by-group reading back.

  Note that the control unit 30 determines that the pressing load detected by the pressing load detection unit 70 is a predetermined pressing force in order to distinguish a contact for reading back from a contact for other purposes such as searching for the leading position of the character group. Only when the load threshold is exceeded, it may be determined that the contact is for reading back.

(Third embodiment)
Next, an electronic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention will be described. In addition, the same reference number is attached | subjected to the same component as 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 3 includes a contact detection unit 10, a display unit 20, a control unit 30, a storage unit 40, a tactile sensation presentation unit 50, and an audio output unit 60. The control unit 30 includes an object determination unit 302. Have. The electronic device 3 according to the third embodiment is different from the electronic device 1 according to the first embodiment in that the control unit 30 includes an object determination unit 302 instead of the head position determination unit 301.

  The object discriminating unit 302 discriminates an object of a screen layout displayed on the display unit 20. For example, in the case of the layout shown in FIG. 9, the object determination unit 302 determines the objects a to e. Note that the object determination unit 302 may determine only an object composed of a character group (hereinafter referred to as a “character group object”) among objects displayed on the display unit 20. In the example of FIG. 9, objects b, c, and e correspond to character group objects.

  In addition, the object determination unit 302 determines the start position of the character group for the character group object. In addition, the object discrimination | determination part 302 discriminate | determines from a different object, when the position of a character group is separated beyond the predetermined distance. Further, even when the font size of the character group is different, it may be determined as a different object.

  For each character group object discriminated by the object discriminating unit 302, the control unit 30 detects the position corresponding to the head position of the character group of the character group object displayed on the display unit 20 and the contact object detected by the contact detecting unit 10. The tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled so as to present a tactile sensation corresponding to the distance or direction with the position in contact with the contact object.

  Next, the operation of the electronic apparatus 3 according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic apparatus 3 according to this embodiment. The control unit 30 uses the object determination unit 302 to determine the object of the screen layout displayed on the display unit 20 (step S201). Then, for each character group object determined in step S201, the control unit 30 detects the position corresponding to the leading position of the character group of the character group object displayed on the display unit 20 and the contact object detected by the contact detection unit 10. A tactile sensation corresponding to the distance or direction from the position where the contact is made is presented to the contact object (step S202). Thereby, a contact object is guide | induced to the head position of a character group for every character group object. In addition, when there are a plurality of character group objects, the contact object may be guided in order from the head position of the character group object displayed on the upper portion of the display unit 20. The control unit 30 determines whether or not the contact position detected by the contact detection unit 10 is the head position of the character group of the character group object (step S203), and the contact position detected by the contact detection unit 10 is the character group object. The leading position guidance process described above is performed until the leading position of the character group is reached (step S202).

  The control unit 30 causes the voice output unit 60 to start reading out the character group of the object for the first time when the contact object contacts the head position of the character group of the character group object (step S204). When the voice reading of the character group of the character group object is completed, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the voice reading of the character group of all the character group objects displayed on the display unit 20 has been completed (step S205). The operations from step S202 to step S204 are repeated until the voice reading of the character groups of all the character group objects is completed.

  Further, the object determination unit 302 determines not only the start position of the character group but also the trailing position of each line of the character group for the character group object, and the control unit 30 makes contact with the contact detected by the contact detection unit 10. If the position is the position corresponding to the tail position of each line of the character group, the tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled so as to present a predetermined tactile sensation to the contact object. Thereby, in the electronic device 3 of this embodiment, in addition to the head position guidance function, the function of notifying the operator that the reading of the voice for one line of the character group has been completed by presenting the touch to the contact object (end of one line) Notification function).

  Further, the object determination unit 302 determines the trailing position of each line of the character group for the character group object, and determines whether the trailing position is the trailing position of the character group (that is, the trailing position of the last line). Then, the control unit 30 determines that the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit 10 is in contact is the position corresponding to the tail position of the line other than the last line of the character group of the character group object, It is also possible to control the tactile sensation providing unit 50 so as to present different tactile sensations (for example, applying vibration strength) to the contact object depending on the position corresponding to the tail position of the last line of the character group of the group object. it can.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the one-line end notification function. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the voice reading for one line of the character group object b is completed, the contact position of the contact object is a position corresponding to the tail position of the character group object. The control unit 30 controls the tactile sensation providing unit 50 so as to present strong vibrations.

Also, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the reading of one line of the character group object e is completed, the position where the contact object is not in contact with the tail position of the character group of the character group object In other words, the control unit 30 can also control the tactile sensation providing unit 50 so as to present weak vibrations, so that the position corresponding to the tail position of the character group shown in FIG. It is.

  As described above, in the electronic apparatus 3 according to the present embodiment, the object determination unit 302 can determine the character group object and can guide the head position for each character group object.

  Moreover, in the electronic device 3 of this embodiment, a one-line end notification function can be realized. Furthermore, when the position where the contact object is in contact is a position corresponding to the tail position of the line other than the last line of the character group, and the position corresponding to the tail position of the last line of the character group, By presenting a different tactile sensation on the contact object, it is possible to notify the operator whether or not the speech changes from the next sentence.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, an electronic apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. In addition, the same reference number is attached | subjected to the same component as 3rd Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 4 includes a contact detection unit 10, a display unit 20, a control unit 30, a storage unit 40, a tactile sensation providing unit 50, an audio output unit 60, and a load detection unit 70. And an object determination unit 302. The electronic device 4 according to the fourth embodiment is different from the electronic device 3 according to the third embodiment in that a load detection unit 70 is further provided. The load detection unit 70 detects a pressing load on the input surface of the contact detection unit 10 in the same manner as the load detection unit 70 of the second embodiment.

  With reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the operation of the electronic apparatus 4 according to the present embodiment configured as described above includes a position corresponding to the head position of the character group displayed on the display unit 20 in step S <b> 202, and By determining the number of pressing load thresholds according to the distance or direction from the position where the contact object detected by the contact detection unit 10 is in contact, the contact object is guided to the leading position of the character group.

  For each character group object discriminated by the object discriminating unit 302, the control unit 30 detects the position corresponding to the head position of the character group of the character group object displayed on the display unit 20 and the contact object detected by the contact detecting unit 10. The tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled so as to present a tactile sensation corresponding to the distance or direction with the position in contact with the contact object. Alternatively, for each character group object determined by the object determination unit 302, the position corresponding to the head position of the character group of the character group object displayed on the display unit 20 and the contact object detected by the contact detection unit 10 come into contact. The number of pressing load thresholds is determined in accordance with the distance or direction from the current position.

  Moreover, the control part 30 is the position where the contact thing is contacting, when the position where the contact thing detected by the contact detection part 10 is contacting is a position corresponding to the tail position of each line of a character group. The tactile sensation providing unit 50 is controlled so as to present a tactile sensation to the contact object in accordance with the distance between and the position corresponding to the head position of the next line. As a result, when one line of speech is read out, a function that notifies the operator of the distance to the first character of the next line by presenting the touch according to the distance to the contact object (distance Notification function).

  Furthermore, when the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit 10 is in contact is a position corresponding to the tail position of a line other than the last line of the character group of the character group object, the control unit 30 The tactile sensation different from the case where the touching position is a position corresponding to the tail position of the last line of the character group of the character group object can be presented, and the two can be distinguished.

  13 and 14 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the distance notification function. 2 to 6 described in FIG. 13 indicate the number of steps that can be pressed. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the contact object (finger) is in contact with the position corresponding to the character “di” at the tail position of the line, and the position corresponding to the character “o” at the head position of the next line is reached. Therefore, the control unit 30 controls the tactile sensation providing unit 50 so that the number of steps that can be pressed at the position corresponding to “di” is six. The shorter the distance between the tail position of a line and the head position of the next line is, the shorter the number of steps that can be pressed is, thereby notifying the operator of the distance to the head position of the next line. It goes without saying that control may be performed so that the number of steps that can be pressed increases as the distance between the tail position of the line and the head position of the next line becomes shorter.

  FIG. 14 shows an operation in a case where the position where the contact object is in contact is a position corresponding to the tail position of a line other than the last line of the character group of the character group object. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the position where the contact object (finger) is in contact is the position corresponding to the tail position of the line other than the last line of the character group of the character group object e. In order to distinguish from ˜6 steps, the number of steps that can be pressed is one. That is, in the character group object e composed of a plurality of lines, when the start position of the next line is located in the character group object e, the number of steps that can be pressed is set to one, so that the next line is immediately below. The operator can be notified that there is a head position.

  As described above, according to the electronic device 4 of the present embodiment, the distance notification function can be realized, and the operator is notified of the distance between the tail position of the line and the head position of the next line. Thus, it is possible to more smoothly lead to the head position of the character group object or the head position of the line in the character group object.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and many variations or modifications are possible. For example, in the same way as the control unit 30 of the electronic device 2, the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit 10 is in contact with the control unit 30 of the electronic device 1 is already output by the audio output unit 60. In the case of the position corresponding to the read character, the read back function may be realized by controlling the voice output unit 60 so as to read back the character or word corresponding to the position.

  Moreover, the electronic devices 1-4 mentioned above can also be comprised as a ticket vending machine provided with the contact detection part 10 and the display part 20, or ATM.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the contact object is a finger has been described, but the contact object may be a stylus pen.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been made assuming the configuration in which the contact detection unit 10 is arranged so as to overlap the upper surface of the display unit 20, but it is not always necessary to have such a configuration. The display unit 20 may be separated from the display unit 20.

  In addition, the contact detection unit 10 and the display unit 20 in the description of the embodiment of the present invention described above are configured by an integrated electronic device by providing both functions of the contact detection unit 10 and the display unit 20 on a common substrate. May be. As an example of the configuration of the device in which both functions of the contact detection unit 10 and the display unit 20 are integrated, a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements such as photodiodes are regularly arranged in a matrix electrode array of pixel electrodes included in a liquid crystal panel. Some are mixed. Such an electronic device displays an image by a liquid crystal panel structure, while reflecting the light of a backlight for liquid crystal display at the tip of a pen for touch-inputting a desired position on the surface of the panel, and this reflected light is used as a peripheral photoelectric conversion element. The touch position can be detected by receiving the light.

Moreover, in embodiment mentioned above, although the contact with respect to the input surface 10a was detected using the contact detection part 10, when the reference | standard of a predetermined | prescribed pressing load is satisfy | filled using the load sensor (load detection part), contact is carried out. It can also be determined that has been made. Such a load detection unit can be configured using an arbitrary number of strain gauge sensors 71 and the like, similarly to the load detection unit 70 of the above-described embodiment.

  Moreover, the tactile sensation providing unit 50 can be configured to indirectly vibrate the input surface 10a of the contact detection unit 10 by vibrating the electronic devices 1 to 4 based on a vibration motor (eccentric motor). Furthermore, when the load detection unit 70 and the tactile sensation providing unit 50 are configured using piezoelectric elements, the load detection unit 70 and the tactile sensation providing unit 50 can also be configured by sharing the piezoelectric elements. This is because the piezoelectric element generates electric power when pressure is applied and deforms when electric power is applied.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, as a mode in which the tactile sensation providing unit 50 presents a tactile sensation to the contact target that is in contact with the input surface 10a, the tactile sensation providing unit 50 generates vibration on the input surface 10a. Although the present invention has been described with reference to a mode of presenting a tactile sensation with respect to a contact target that is in contact with the input surface 10a, the present invention is not limited to this, and by controlling the charge of a film attached on the contact detection unit 10 The tactile sensation may be presented to the contact object that is in contact with the input surface 10a without using mechanical vibration.

  In the above-described embodiment, the load detection unit 70 can be configured according to a contact detection method. For example, in the case of the resistance film method, if the load can be detected from the change in the output signal based on the resistance change due to the contact area, the strain gauge sensor 71 can be used. Alternatively, in the case of the electrostatic capacity method, even when the load can be detected from the change in the output signal based on the change in the electrostatic capacity, the strain gauge sensor 71 can be used.

  In the description of the above-described embodiment, the expression “exceeding the pressure load threshold” is not necessarily a strict meaning, and “exceeding the pressure load threshold” may include a case where the pressure load threshold is exceeded. To do.

1, 2, 3, 4 Electronic device 10 Contact detection unit 10a Input surface 11 Housing 12 Insulator 13 Upper cover 14 Insulator 20 Display unit 30 Control unit 40 Storage unit 50 Touch display unit 51 Piezoelectric vibrator 60 Audio output unit 70 Load detection Unit 71 strain gauge sensor 301 head position determination unit 302 object determination unit

Claims (7)

A contact detector for detecting the position where the contact object is in contact;
A display unit for displaying a group of one or more characters;
A tactile sensation providing unit for presenting a tactile sensation to the contact object in contact with the contact detection unit;
A voice output unit that converts the character group displayed on the display unit into voice and outputs the voice;
When contact of the contact object is detected by the contact detection unit, the tactile sensation providing unit is controlled so as to present a tactile sensation to the contact object, and at the top of the character group displayed on the display unit by the contact detection unit A control unit that controls the voice output unit to output the character group by voice when contact at a position corresponding to the position is detected;
The control unit has a tactile sensation corresponding to a distance or a direction between a position corresponding to a leading position of the character group displayed on the display unit and a position where the contact object detected by the contact detection unit is in contact. The tactile sensation providing unit is controlled so as to be presented to the contact object. The control unit determines an object composed of a character group among objects displayed on the display unit,
Corresponding to the distance or direction between the position corresponding to the head position of the character group of the object displayed on the display unit and the position where the contact object detected by the contact detection unit is in contact with each object The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the tactile sensation providing unit is controlled so as to present a tactile sensation to the contact object. A contact detector for detecting the position where the contact object is in contact;
A display unit for displaying a group of one or more characters;
A load detection unit for detecting a pressing load on the contact detection unit;
A tactile sensation providing unit for presenting a tactile sensation to the contact object in contact with the contact detection unit;
A voice output unit that converts the character group displayed on the display unit into voice and outputs the voice;
When the contact detection unit detects contact of the contact object, the pressure load detected by the load detection unit is compared with a plurality of pressure load thresholds, and the touch object is presented with a tactile sensation based on a comparison result. While controlling the tactile sensation providing unit, and when the contact detecting unit detects a contact at a position corresponding to the head position in the character group displayed on the display unit, the voice is output so that the character group is output by voice. A control unit for controlling the output unit,
The control unit is configured according to a distance or direction between a position corresponding to a head position of the character group displayed on the display unit and a position where the contact object detected by the contact detection unit is in contact. An electronic apparatus characterized by determining the number of pressing load thresholds. The control unit determines an object composed of a character group among objects displayed on the display unit,
For each object, according to the distance or direction between the position corresponding to the head position of the character group of the object displayed on the display unit and the position where the contact object detected by the contact detection unit is in contact The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the number of the pressing load threshold is determined.   When the position where the contact detected by the contact detection unit is in contact is a position corresponding to a character that has been voice output by the voice output unit, the control unit The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the voice output unit is controlled so as to read back a word.   The control unit presents a predetermined tactile sensation to the contact object when the position where the contact object detected by the contact detection unit is in contact is a position corresponding to the tail position of each line of the character group. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the tactile sensation providing unit is controlled as described above.   The control unit, when the position where the contact object detected by the contact detection unit is in contact is a position corresponding to the tail position of each line of the character group, The tactile sensation providing unit is controlled so as to present a tactile sensation to the contact object according to a distance from a position corresponding to a head position of a next row. The electronic device described.

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