# US 8,542,214 B2 · Image display device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,214 B2 - Document ID: US8542214B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/062,054 - Filed: 2010-01-28 - Published: 2011-08-04 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-06 - Assignees: Panasonic Corporation - Applicants: Jun Nakai; Takashi Okohira; Shoichi Ishikawa; Shunsuke Sasanabe; Satoshi Tsuchiya - Inventors: Jun Nakai; Takashi Okohira; Shoichi Ishikawa; Shunsuke Sasanabe; Satoshi Tsuchiya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542214B2 ## CPC - G01C 21/3664: {Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures} - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/80: Arrangements for controlling instruments - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - B60K 2360/11: Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects - B60K 2360/115: Selection of menu items - B60K 2360/141: Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens - B60K 2360/1442: Emulation of input devices - B60K 2360/573: Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions - G06F 2203/04101: 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup - G06F 2203/04108: Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction - G09G 2380/10: Automotive applications - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract An image display device includes an image display unit, a capacitance type touch panel that is disposed on the surface of the image display unit, and a signal processing unit that outputs to a control unit a position signal corresponding to a pressed position on the touch panel or a signal corresponding to the distance between the touch panel and a finger based on the capacitance between the touch panel and the finger. When the approach of the finger to the touch panel is detected, sensitivity is lowered and a menu button is displayed. When the finger moves while pressing the menu button, a menu area and a menu icon are displayed. Accordingly, it is easy to operate the touch panel which is applied to a vehicle-mounted apparatus and it is easy to see a display screen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image display device in which options for performing functions of the image display device are hierarchized, comprising: an image display unit that displays the options; a capacitance type touch panel that is disposed on the surface of the image display unit; a signal processing unit that detects the capacitance varying with respect to an input operation on the touch panel; and a control unit that performs a function corresponding to the input operation, wherein the control unit: a) sets the sensitivity of the touch panel to detect an operator's finger having a distance greater than zero between the touch panel and the operator's finger by setting a capacitance threshold, b) detects the operator's finger after setting the sensitivity in step a) by detecting the capacitance threshold being exceeded, c) displays high level menu buttons on the image display responsive to step b), d) changes the sensitivity of the touch panel to detect the operator's finger touching the touch panel by decreasing the capacitance threshold, e) detects location of the operator's finger after changing the sensitivity in step d) by detecting where on the touch panel the decreased capacitance threshold has been exceeded; and f) detects which of the high level menu buttons have been touched based on the results of step e), g) displays low level menu buttons on the image display which corresponds to which of the high level menu buttons have been touched based on where on the touch panel the decreased capacitance threshold has been exceeded in step e) wherein respectively different low level menu buttons which have been previously hidden are displayed depending upon which of the high level menu buttons have been touched. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit converts a variation in the capacitance into a voltage; and wherein the control unit compares a value of the voltage converted by the signal processing unit with a second threshold value greater than a first threshold value and changes the sensitivity of the touch panel when the control unit determines that the value of the voltage output from the signal processing unit is greater than the first threshold value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit divides the image display unit into a plurality of areas and displays the high-level option corresponding to an area where the operator's finger is detected. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays the high-level option in at least one corner of the image display unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image display device according to claim 1, wherein when it is detected that the capacitance is equal to or greater than a predetermined value as the operator's finger is approached to the touch panel, the control unit displays the high-level option at a corner closest to a position of the finger where an input operation is detected among corners of the image display unit on the image display unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets the display area to an area including a position where the operator's finger starts pressing the touch panel and a position where the operator's finger ends the pressing of the touch panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets the display area to a rectangular area having a line segment, as a diagonal, that connects a position where the operator's finger starts pressing the touch panel and a position where the operator's finger ends the pressing of the touch panel.