# US 2021/0240321 A1 · Interface device and information processing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0240321 A1 - Document ID: US20210240321A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/140,176 - Filed: 2021-01-04 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-30 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Kazuyuki SHIGA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210240321A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0393: {Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads} - G06F 3/0484: for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - G06F 3/0362: with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G06F 3/0418: {for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment} - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An interface device, including: a touchscreen; one or more hardware interfaces having an operation element disposed on a surface of the touchscreen; a storage unit configured to store the operation element in association with a disabled region that is a region on the touchscreen where touch operation is disabled; and a control unit configured to disable touch operation to the disabled region that is associated with the operation element, during a prescribed period estimated that a user operates the operation element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An interface device, comprising: a touchscreen; one or more hardware interfaces having an operation element disposed on a surface of the touchscreen; a storage unit configured to store the operation element in association with a disabled region that is a region on the touchscreen where touch operation is disabled; and a control unit configured to disable touch operation to the disabled region that is associated with the operation element, during a prescribed period estimated that a user operates the operation element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The interface device according to claim 1, wherein: the hardware interface has a plurality of the operation elements; and the storage unit stores the operation elements in association with the disabled regions, respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The interface device according to claim 1, wherein the disabled region is a region incorporating a region where the operation element is disposed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The interface device according to claim 1, wherein: the operation element includes a touch sensor that detects a touch of a hand with the operation element; and the control unit defines a period when the touch sensor detects the touch of the hand as the prescribed period. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The interface device according to claim 4, wherein: the operation element is a dial switch; and the control unit defines a period when the touch of the hand is detected at two or more spots as the prescribed period. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The interface device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit extends the prescribed period until lapse of a first time after the touch of the hand is removed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The interface device according to of claim 4, wherein: the operation element includes a proximity sensor that detects proximity of a hand to the operation element; and the control unit defines a period when the proximity sensor detects the proximity of the hand as the prescribed period. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The interface device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit extends the prescribed period until lapse of a second time after the proximity of the hand is removed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The interface device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit ends the prescribed period when the touch of the hand is not detected upon lapse of a third time after the proximity of the hand is detected. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The interface device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit ends the prescribed period when the proximity of the hand is not removed upon lapse of a fourth time after the touch of the hand is removed. ### Claim 11 An information processing device, comprising: a control unit; a storage unit; a touchscreen; and one or more hardware interfaces having an operation element disposed on a surface of the touchscreen, wherein: the touchscreen and the hardware interface are used for input and output of information; the storage unit stores the operation element in association with a disabled region that is a region on the touchscreen where touch operation is disabled; and the control unit disables touch operation to the disabled region that is associated with the operation element, during a prescribed period estimated that a user operates the operation element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The information processing device according to claim 11, wherein: the hardware interface has a plurality of the operation elements; and the storage unit stores the operation elements in association with the disabled regions, respectively. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The information processing device according to claim 11, wherein the disabled region is a region incorporating a region where the operation element is disposed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The information processing device according to claim 11, wherein: the operation element includes a touch sensor that detects a touch of a hand with the operation element; and the control unit defines a period when the touch sensor detects the touch of the hand as the prescribed period. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The information processing device according to claim 14, wherein: the operation element is a dial switch; and the control unit defines a period when the touch of the hand is detected at two or more spots as the prescribed period. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The information processing device according to claim 14, wherein the control unit extends the prescribed period until lapse of a first time after the touch of the hand is removed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The information processing device according to claim 14, wherein: the operation element includes a proximity sensor that detects proximity of a hand to the operation element; and the control unit defines a period when the proximity sensor detects the proximity of the hand as the prescribed period. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The information processing device according to claim 17, wherein the control unit extends the prescribed period until lapse of a second time after the proximity of the hand is removed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The information processing device according to claim 17, wherein the control unit ends the prescribed period when the touch of the hand is not detected upon lapse of a third time after the proximity of the hand is detected. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The information processing device according to claim 17, wherein the control unit ends the prescribed period when the proximity of the hand is not removed upon lapse of a fourth time after the touch of the hand is removed.