JPH04290112A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the coordinate input method of the information processor, specially, a portable device which moves a cursor on a display with coordinate position information inputted from a coordinate input device. CONSTITUTION:The flat display 5 is used and a tablet 1 and function keys 6a and 6b are installed at specific positions in level with the flat display 5. When an operator carries the device and cuts his eyes at the display 5, the finger tips of the operator are made to touch the tablet 1 naturally and the cursor 8 is moved fast on the display 5.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus typified by a personal computer, and more particularly to a cursor moving means in an information processing apparatus.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an information processing device such as a personal computer, the means for moving a cursor is to use cursor keys (
←, →, ↑, ↓, etc.) to move the object, and a mouse to select an icon or operate a graphic screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of the back side of a mechanical mouse, and is a diagram for explaining the principle of a mechanical mouse. In the figure, 14 is a metal ball, 15 is an X-axis rotating body,
16 is a Y-axis rotation body, 17 is an X-axis rotation sensor, 18 is a Y-axis rotation sensor, and 19 and 20 are switches, respectively. A mechanical mouse has a structure as shown in Figure 5.
By holding it in your hand and moving it on a desk (not shown),
The metal ball 14 rolls, and the X-axis rotating body 15 and Y-axis rotating body 16 rotate by a predetermined amount in conjunction with the metal ball 14 depending on the moving direction and distance of the mouse, and these rotations correspond to the X-axis rotation. The moving direction and moving distance of the mouse are detected by the sensor 17 and the Y-axis rotation sensor 18, and are input to the information processing device as electrical signal information, and the information processing device displays a display (not shown) in synchronization with the input movement information. Moving the upper cursor position. In addition, switch 1
9 and 20 are used as function keys for determining coordinates, etc.

0004

Problem to be Solved by the Invention The problem to be solved is that in conventional information processing devices, cursor moving means use cursor keys. It requires an operation of moving a predetermined distance in the X direction (or Y direction) and then a predetermined distance in the Y direction (or X direction).
It is time consuming and troublesome. Furthermore, in the case of a portable information terminal, the method using a mouse does not provide enough space to move the mouse, and it is troublesome to carry the mouse around all the time.

[0005] Also, for example, as in the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-125367 ``Portable Information Retrieval Device'',
There is also a method of integrating a transparent input tablet by overlaying it on the display surface, but with this method, the viewpoint from which the operator looks at the movement of the cursor and the fingertip are in the same position, making it difficult to handle and increasing the weight of the device. There were problems such as high cost.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device equipped with a cursor moving means that is lightweight, low cost, and easy to handle.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The most important feature of the information processing device according to the present invention is that a small tablet and function keys are installed in a predetermined position on the same plane as a flat display placed on a desk. Features.

[0008]

[Operation] The information processing device of the present invention allows an operator to simply trace a small tablet with his or her fingertips at a position where the operator's fingertips would naturally be located when the operator is sitting at a desk and looking down at the display on the desk. The cursor on the display can be moved in synchronization with the movement of the fingertip, making it possible to provide a device with excellent ergonomic operability.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the external configuration of an information processing device according to the present invention, showing the device placed on a desk, for example, viewed from above. In the figure, 1 is a small tablet, 5 is an LCD, etc. 6a is the first function key, 6b is the second function key.
8 indicates the position of a cursor on the display 5, and 9 indicates the position of a menu such as an icon (menu consisting of various characters, symbols, and simple figures).

As shown in the figure, the information processing device in this embodiment includes a small tablet 1 and function keys 6a and 6 at a predetermined position on the same plane as a flat display 5.
b are installed as one unit, and the operator (not shown)
When the operator is sitting at a desk and looking down at the flat display 5 on the desk, the operator's fingertips are at the natural position.
A small tablet 1 is installed, and by simply tracing the tablet 1 with a finger or a pen held by the finger, the cursor 8 on the flat display 5 can be moved in synchronization with the movement of the fingertip, which is ergonomically operated. It is a device with excellent performance.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the cursor movement mechanism of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. In the figure, the same reference numerals as in FIG. indicates a key ON/OFF detection section.

Next, the operation will be explained. When the operator traces the surface of the tablet 1 with, for example, a finger in the above-described posture, the coordinate movement direction detection unit 2 detects the movement direction and movement amount of the coordinates traced with the finger. The detection signal detected by the coordinate movement direction detection section 2 is sent to the display control section 4 through the CPU 3, and the display control section 4
The cursor 8 displayed on the flat display 5 is moved in synchronization with the detected movement direction and movement amount.

Further, whether or not the function keys 6a and 6b are pressed is monitored by the key ON/OFF detection section 6, and when the function key 6 is pressed, the , the CPU 3 selects icons and the like.

Next, the structure of the tablet 1 will be explained using a pressure-sensitive tablet. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outline of the configuration of a pressure-sensitive tablet, and FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing its equivalent circuit. In each figure, 10 is an X-axis resistance sheet for detecting the position in the X-axis direction. , 11 is a Y-axis resistance sheet for detecting the position in the Y-axis direction, 12 is a power source for supplying current to these resistance sheets 10 and 11, and 13 is a coordinate position input to the resistance sheets 10 and 11. Indicates a finger or a touching finger such as a pen.

In the pressure-sensitive tablet 1, as shown in FIG. 3. By determining the ratio of the current flowing through the X-axis resistance sheet 10 and the Y-axis resistance sheet 11 using the contact points as electrodes (points P and Q in FIG. 4), the coordinate position of the contact point (x, Therefore, the moving direction and moving amount of this coordinate position are detected by the detection unit 2, and C
A cursor 8 displayed on the flat display 2 can be moved through the PU 3 and the display control unit 4.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which a pressure-sensitive type tablet is used, but the tablet 1 is not limited to the pressure-sensitive type, and a capacitance type or electromagnetic induction type tablet may also be used. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the tablet 1 and the flat display 5 are separate devices on an integrated plane, but if it is possible to make it easier to handle due to the size of the flat display 5 and the tablet 1, a small part of the flat display 5 may be used. The tablets 1 may be placed one on top of the other.

[0017]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, the information processing device of the present invention allows the cursor to be moved easily, has ergonomic operability, makes the device easy to handle, and makes it possible to miniaturize the tablet. It can contribute to lower cost and weight reduction, and is particularly advantageous when implemented in portable information terminals.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the external configuration of an information processing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a cursor movement mechanism of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a pressure-sensitive tablet.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of a pressure-sensitive tablet.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of a mechanical mouse.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Tablet 5 Flat display 6a, 6b Function keys 8 Cursor 9 Icon

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1. An information processing device that moves a cursor on a display based on coordinate position information input from a coordinate input device, wherein a flat display is used as the display, a tablet is used as the coordinate input device, and the flat display and Information processing characterized in that a tablet is installed at a predetermined position on the same plane, and the fingertip of the operator naturally comes into contact with the tablet when the operator is in a posture with his/her eyes focused on the flat display. Device.