US 11,941,208 B2
Input device and automobile including the same
Hirotoshi Usui, Kyoto (JP)
Assigned to ROHM CO., LTD., Kyoto (JP)
Filed by ROHM CO., LTD., Kyoto (JP)
Filed on Nov. 25, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/694,061.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-221259 (JP), filed on Nov. 27, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0167035 A1, May 28, 2020
Int. Cl. G06F 3/042 (2006.01); B60R 11/02 (2006.01); G06V 40/10 (2022.01)
CPC G06F 3/0425 (2013.01) [B60R 11/0264 (2013.01); G06V 40/107 (2022.01); G06F 2203/04104 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An input device configured to be used by a predetermined user, the input device comprising:
a housing including:
a transparent base formed flat; and
a transparent cover formed as a hemispherical curved surface on the transparent base;
a touch sensor comprising:
a panel including a plurality of electrodes arranged on the transparent base; and
a panel controller configured to control the plurality of electrodes and detect capacitance values respectively formed between the plurality of electrodes and a hand of the predetermined user;
a camera installed inside the housing to monitor an outside of the housing via the transparent base and capable of detecting the hand of the predetermined user via the transparent base; and
a processor configured to:
receive an output of the camera and an output of the touch sensor;
determine a direction of a palm of the predetermined user based on the output of the camera;
determine a gesture among a plurality of gestures based on the direction of the palm of the predetermined user;
determine change of the detected capacitance values based on the output of the touch sensor; and
determine a movement of the hand of the predetermined user based on the change of the detected capacitance values,
wherein the determining the gesture among the plurality of gestures includes determining the gesture among the plurality of gestures based on whether the palm of the predetermined user is directed to the input device, a back of the hand of the predetermined user is directed to the input device, or the palm of the predetermined user is directed vertically to the input device.