Input apparatus and display control apparatus

An input apparatus comprising:

• a display portion to display a plurality of function items on a screen;
• an input portion to
• input an input value to move a pointer that conducts a movement of a pointer on the screen,
• perform a selection to select one of a plurality of selection regions provided to the plurality of function items, respectively, using the pointer according to a predetermined selection manipulation, and
• determine the selection according to a predetermined determination manipulation;
• and
• a control portion to control the movement of the pointer based on the input value from the input portion,
• wherein:
• the function items are arranged to form a plurality of rows parallel in a predetermined row direction;
• and
• when the pointer is moved from a selection region of a first function item that is selected as a present selected function item,
• the control portion
• calculates coordinate distances between the pointer and each of neighboring function items contained in the first row and a second row that is next to the first row,
• calculates an amended distance that is obtained by subtracting by a predetermined amendment quantity from only the coordinate distances between the pointer and each of the neighboring function items contained in the first row, and
• selects as a next selected function item a function item that has a shortest distance among the coordinate distances and the amended distances.

An input apparatus to select one of a plurality of buttons displayed on a screen provided with a plurality of pixels in a vehicle,

• the input apparatus comprising:
• a manipulation portion configured to point out a spot on the screen according to a manipulation of an occupant of the vehicle;
• and
• a control portion to display the buttons to be arranged in at least one direction of (i) a longitudinal direction and (ii) a lateral direction on the screen and to specify a selectable pixel region provided to each of the buttons,
• wherein:
• when the manipulation portion points out a selectable pixel region of one of the buttons,
• the control portion
• performs an enlargement to enlarge the selectable pixel region of the one of the buttons and
• performs an enlargement to enlarge, in an other direction, a selectable pixel region of a next button that is next to the one of the buttons in the at least one direction,
• the other direction being an other of the longitudinal direction of the lateral direction other than the at least one direction.

A display control apparatus cooperating with a display portion and an input portion, the display portion displaying a plurality of buttons, the input portion inputting an input value,

• the display control apparatus comprising:
• a button display section to cause the display portion to display the plurality of buttons as being arranged to form at least one row in a predetermined row direction;
• a selection region setup section to set up a plurality of selection regions that are provided to the plurality of buttons on the display portion, respectively;
• an input value processing section to process the input value inputted by the input portion to identify a pointed point on the display portion;
• a button identification section to identify one of the buttons when the pointed point is located within a selection region of the one of the buttons in the at least one row;
• and
• a selection region enlargement section to enlarge the selection region of the one of the buttons identified by the button identification section, to a direction that is orthogonal to the predetermined row direction,
• the section region enlargement section further enlarging, in addition to the selection region of the one of the buttons identified by the button identification section, at least one selection region of at least one button that is included in a same row that is same as the at least one row including the one of the buttons identified by the button identification section.

A display control apparatus cooperating with a display portion and an input portion, the display portion displaying a plurality of function items on a screen, the input portion inputting an input value,

• the display control apparatus comprising:
• a function item display section to cause the display portion to display the plurality of function items on the screen as being arranged to form at least one row in a predetermined row direction, the at least one row including a subject row that contains a subject function item;
• a selection region setup section to set up a plurality of selection regions that are provided to the plurality of function items on the display portion, respectively;
• an input value processing section to process the input value inputted by the input portion to move a pointer that conducts a movement to move on the screen;
• a selection section to select one of the plurality of selection regions based on the movement of the pointer;
• and
• a selection region enlargement section to enlarge, when the subject function item is selected, a selection region of the subject row containing the subject function item in a direction, which is orthogonal to the predetermined row direction and directing outward of the subject row.

A display control apparatus cooperating with a display portion and an input portion, the display portion displaying a plurality of function items on a screen, the input portion inputting an input value,

• the display control apparatus comprising:
• a function item display section to cause the display portion to display the plurality of function items on the screen as being arranged to form a plurality of rows parallel in a predetermined row direction;
• a selection region setup section to set up a plurality of selection regions that are provided to the plurality of function items on the screen of the display portion, respectively;
• an input value processing section to process the input value inputted by the input portion to move a pointer that conducts a movement to move on the screen;
• a selection section to select one of the plurality of selection regions that are provided to the plurality of function items, respectively, based on the movement of the pointer;
• and
• a function item selection section to calculate coordinate distances and an amended distance when the pointer is moved from a selection region of a first function item that is selected as a present selected function item,
• the coordinate distances being calculated between the pointer and each of neighboring function items contained in the first row and a second row that is next to the first row,
• the amended distance being calculated that is obtained by subtracting by a predetermined amendment quantity from only the coordinate distances between the pointer and each of the neighboring function items contained in the first row,
• the function item selection section further selecting as a next selected function item a function item that has a shortest distance among the coordinate distances and the amended distances.

A display control apparatus to select one of a plurality of buttons displayed on a screen provided with a plurality of pixels in a vehicle while cooperating with a manipulation portion configured to point out a spot on the screen according to a manipulation of an occupant of the vehicle,

• the display control apparatus comprising:
• a button display section to display the buttons to be arranged in at least one direction of (i) a longitudinal direction and (ii) a lateral direction on the screen and to specify a selectable pixel region provided to each of the buttons;
• and
• a selectable pixel region enlargement section to perform a first enlargement and a second enlargement when the manipulation portion points out a selectable pixel region of one of the buttons,
• the first enlargement being performed to enlarge the selectable pixel region of the one of the buttons,
• the second enlargement being performed to enlarge, in an other direction, a selectable pixel region of a next button that is next to the one of the buttons in the at least one direction,
• the other direction being an other of the longitudinal direction of the lateral direction other than the at least one direction.