Input device for vehicle and input method

1. An input device for a vehicle, the input device performing input for operating a user interface (UI) displayed by a display disposed in the vehicle, the input device comprising:

a touch sensor that receives a touch input performed with at least one of fingers of a user;

a controller selects, when the touch input into the touch sensor is a touch in which at least two of the fingers is in contact with the touch sensor simultaneously, a region corresponding to a count of the contacts of the touch from a plurality of regions constituting a display region of the display, the controller selecting, when the touch input into the touch sensor is a tap in which at least one of the fingers repeats a contact with the touch sensor within a predetermined time, a region corresponding to a count of the contacts of the tap from the plurality of regions constituting the display region of the display,

the touch sensor includes the first touch sensor, the first touch sensor being disposed at a position within a range where a hand of the user almost reaches while the user aboard the vehicle is seated on a seat of the vehicle, the position excluding a steering wheel of the vehicle; and

a dial switch that is disposed adjacent to a first touch sensor and receives dial input, wherein

when the touch input into the touch sensor is a first gesture input by one of the touch and a second gesture input after the tap, the controller performs switching processing to switch from a first display screen displayed by the display to a second display screen different from the first display screen and to cause the display to perform display,

when the count of contacts of the touch of the first gesture input that is input into the first touch sensor is the count of contacts of a first touch, the controller causes the display to display as the second display screen an operation guide screen indicating an operation for adjusting a setting to a vehicle-mounted device included in the vehicle when the dial switch is operated, and

the controller switches a type of the operation indicated on the operation guide screen according to a type of the gesture of the first gesture input that is input into the first touch sensor, and the controller switches a type of the setting adjusted by operating the dial switch.

2. The input device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

when the touch input that is input into the touch sensor is the touch or the tap, after the touch input is performed, the controller displays a gesture guide associating a type of gesture that is input into the touch sensor with an icon indicating a screen to be displayed according to the type of gesture in the selected region of the display.

3. The input device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller receives an input tracing the touch sensor in a predetermined direction out of the first gesture input by the touch of the count of contacts of the first touch, and

according to the predetermined direction indicated by the received first gesture input, the controller switches the type of the operation indicated on the operation guide screen, and switches the type of the setting adjusted by operating the dial switch.

4. An input device for a vehicle for performing input for operating a user interface (UI) displayed by a display disposed in the vehicle, the input device comprising:

a touch sensor that receives a touch input performed with a finger of a user; and

a controller that selects, when the touch input into the touch sensor is a touch in which a plurality of the fingers is in contact with the touch sensor simultaneously, a region corresponding to a count of contacts of the touch from among a plurality of regions constituting a display region of the display, the controller selecting, when a tap in which at least one finger repeats a plurality of contacts with the touch sensor within a predetermined time, a region corresponding to a count of contacts of the tap from among a plurality of regions constituting a display region of the display,

wherein

the touch sensor includes a first touch sensor that is disposed at a position within a range where a hand of the user almost reaches while the user aboard the vehicle is seated on a seat of the vehicle, the position excluding a steering wheel of the vehicle,

when the touch input into the touch sensor is a first gesture input by the touch or a second gesture input after the tap, the controller performs switching processing to switch from a first display screen displayed by the display to a second display screen different from the first display screen and to cause the display to perform display,

when the count of contacts of the touch of the first gesture input that is input into the first touch sensor is the count of contacts of a first touch, the controller causes the display to display as the second display screen an operation guide screen indicating an operation for adjusting a setting to a vehicle-mounted device included in the vehicle,

when the count of contacts of the touch of the first gesture input that is input into the first touch sensor is a count of contacts of a second touch different from the count of contacts of the first touch, the controller causes the display to display an operation screen for receiving the operation by the user to the vehicle-mounted device as the second display screen,

the controller receives an input tracing the touch sensor in the predetermined direction or in an opposite direction of the predetermined direction, out of the first gesture input by the touch of the count of contacts of the second touch,

when the received first gesture input is the predetermined direction, the controller switches a plurality of types of the operation screen in preset order, and

when the received first gesture input is the opposite direction, the controller switches the plurality of types of the operation screen in order opposite to the order.

5. The input device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the touch sensor includes a second touch sensor disposed in the steering wheel of the vehicle, and

when the touch input into the second touch sensor is the second gesture input, the controller performs the switching processing.

6. The input device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising the display.

7. The input device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide that is disposed adjacent to the touch sensor and determines a position of the finger.

8. An input method by an input device for a vehicle that performs input for operating a user interface (UI) displayed by a display disposed in the vehicle,

the input device including a dial switch that is disposed adjacent to a first touch sensor and receives dial input, a touch sensor included in the input device including the first touch sensor that is disposed at a position within a range where a hand of a user almost reaches while the user aboard the vehicle is seated on a seat of the vehicle, the position excluding a steering wheel of the vehicle, the input method comprising:

determining whether a touch input with a finger of the user into the touch sensor is a touch in which at least two of the fingers simultaneously makes contact with the touch sensor, selects a region corresponding to a count of the contacts of the touch, from among a plurality of regions constituting a display region of the display, or determining whether the touch input is a tap in which at least one of fingers repeats a contact with the touch sensor within a predetermined time, selects a region corresponding to a count of the contacts of the tap, from among a plurality of regions constituting a display region of the display;

determining whether the touch input is a first gesture input by the touch or a second gesture input after the tap;

as the result of determining the touch input is the first gesture input or the second gesture input, performing switching processing to switch from a first display screen displayed by the display to a second display screen different from the first display screen to cause the display to perform display;

determining whether the count of contacts of the touch of the first gesture input that is input into the first touch sensor is the count of contacts of a first touch;

as the result of determining the count of contacts of the touch is the count of contacts of the first touch, the dial switch is being operated, causing the display to display an operation guide screen, as the second display screen, indicating an operation for adjusting a setting to a vehicle-mounted device included in the vehicle;

determining a type of gesture of the first gesture input that is input into the first touch sensor; and

switching a type of the operation indicated on the operation guide screen according to the type of gesture, and switching a type of the setting adjusted by operating the dial switch.

9. The input device for the vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein

when the touch input that is input into the touch sensor is the touch or the tap, after the touch input is performed, the controller displays a gesture guide associating a type of gesture that is input into the touch sensor with an icon indicating a screen to be displayed according to the type of gesture in the selected region of the display.

10. The input device for the vehicle according claim 4 , wherein

the touch sensor includes a second touch sensor disposed in the steering wheel of the vehicle, and

when the touch input into the second touch sensor is the second gesture input, the controller performs the switching processing.

11. The input device for the vehicle according to claim 4 , further comprising the display.

12. The input device for the vehicle according to claim 4 , further comprising a guide that is disposed adjacent to the touch sensor and determines a position of the finger.