Touch panel device, portable terminal, position detecting method, and recording medium

Abstract

A touch panel device that detects a touch input at a touch panel including a plurality of electrodes arrayed in X and Y directions, calculates a width corresponding an object approaching the touch panel based on an output distribution of capacitance values from the touch panel, and determines whether an input operation corresponding to the object is valid based on the calculated width of the object.

1 . A touch panel device comprising:
 a touch panel that detects a touch input, the touch panel including a plurality of electrodes arrayed in X and Y directions; and   circuitry configured to
 calculate a first width corresponding an object approaching the touch panel based on an output distribution of capacitance values from the touch panel; and 
 determine whether an input operation corresponding to the object is valid based on the calculated first width of the object. 
   
     
     
         2 . The touch panel device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to detect a change in the calculated first width of the object based on an output distribution of capacitance values from the touch panel over a period of time.   
     
     
         3 . The touch panel device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to determine whether an input operation corresponding to the object is valid based on the detected change in the first width of the object.   
     
     
         4 . The touch panel device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 calculate, as the first width corresponding to the object, a width of the object approaching an edge of the touch panel in a direction substantially parallel to the edge of the touch panel; and 
 calculate, as a second width corresponding to the object, a width of the object crossing over the edge of the touch panel based on an output distribution of capacitance values from the touch panel. 
   
     
     
         5 . The touch panel device of  claim 4 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 compare the first width with the second width; and 
 determine whether the input operation corresponding to the object if valid based on the comparison between the first and second widths. 
   
     
     
         6 . The touch panel device of  claim 5 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 determine that the input operation is valid when the first width is greater than the second width; and 
 determine that the input operation is invalid when the first width is less than the second width. 
   
     
     
         7 . The touch panel device of  claim 4 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 determine whether the second width is greater than zero; and 
 compare the first width with the second width, and determine whether the input operation corresponding to the object if valid based on the comparison between the first and second widths only when the second width is greater than zero. 
   
     
     
         8 . The touch panel device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 calculate, as the first width corresponding to the object, a width of the object approaching the touch panel in the X direction; and 
 calculate, as a second width corresponding to the object, a width of the object approaching the touch panel in the Y direction. 
   
     
     
         9 . The touch panel device of  claim 8 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to determine whether the operation corresponding to the object is valid based on a comparison of the first and second widths to a first predetermined threshold value and a comparison of a ratio corresponding to the first and second widths to a second predetermined threshold value.   
     
     
         10 . The touch panel device of  claim 8 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 compare the first width to a predetermined threshold value; and 
 determine that the operation corresponding to the object is invalid when the first width is greater than the predetermined threshold value. 
   
     
     
         11 . The touch panel device of  claim 10 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 compare the second width to the predetermined threshold value when it is determined that the first width is less than the predetermined threshold value; and 
 determine that the operation corresponding to the object is invalid when the second width is greater than the predetermined threshold value. 
   
     
     
         12 . The touch panel device of  claim 11 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 calculate a ratio of the second width and the first width when it is determined that the second width is less than the predetermined threshold value; and 
 compare the ratio to a second predetermined threshold value. 
   
     
     
         13 . The touch panel device of  claim 12 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to determine that the operation corresponding to the object is invalid when the ratio is greater than the second predetermined threshold value and that the operation corresponding to the object is valid when the ratio is less than the second predetermined threshold value.   
     
     
         14 . The touch panel device of  claim 4 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 compare the first width with the second width; 
 recalculate the first and second widths when the first width is greater than the second width; and 
 determine that the that input operation is invalid when the first width is less than the second width. 
   
     
     
         15 . The touch panel device of  claim 14 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 compare the recalculated first and second widths; 
 determine that the that input operation is invalid when the recalculated first width is less than the recalculated second width; and 
 determine whether a center of gravity corresponding to the object has changed when the recalculated first width is greater than the recalculated second width. 
   
     
     
         16 . The touch panel device of  claim 15 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 determine that the operation corresponding to the object is valid when the center of gravity corresponding to the object has not changed; and 
 determine that the operation corresponding to the object is invalid when the center of gravity corresponding to the object has changed. 
   
     
     
         17 . The touch panel device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the touch panel is divided into at least a first detection region and a second detection region, the second detection region surrounding a periphery of the first detection region.   
     
     
         18 . The touch panel device of  claim 17 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 calculate, as the first width corresponding to the object, a width of the object crossing a boundary between the first and second detection regions; 
 compare the first width to a predetermined threshold value; and 
 determine whether an input operation corresponding to the object is valid based on the comparison. 
   
     
     
         19 . A method performed by a touch panel device, the method comprising:
 detecting a touch input at a touch panel including a plurality of electrodes arrayed in X and Y directions;   calculating, by circuitry, a width corresponding an object approaching the touch panel based on an output distribution of capacitance values from the touch panel; and   determining, by the circuitry, whether an input operation corresponding to the object is valid based on the calculated width of the object.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-program instructions, which when executed by a touch panel device, causes the touch panel device to perform a method comprising:
 detecting a touch input at a touch panel including a plurality of electrodes arrayed in X and Y directions;   calculating a width corresponding an object approaching the touch panel based on an output distribution of capacitance values from the touch panel; and   determining whether an input operation corresponding to the object is valid based on the calculated width of the object.