JPH02257323A - Pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform numeral calculation and coordinate processing by adding the functions of an electronic calculator to a device itself, and inputting and outputting data to and from a connected main body while performing control with a mode changeover switch. CONSTITUTION:The pointing device 1 consists of 1st and 2nd buttons 2 and 3, a liquid crystal display part 4, a function key and transfer key 5, a ten-key 6, and a mode changeover key 7, and functions as what is called the electronic calculator by using the liquid crystal display part 4, function key and transfer key 5, ten-key 6, and changeover switch 7. Consequently, the device 1 itself can perform calculation and can display the calculation result or send it out to the main body as data. Further, data can be inputted to the main body 8 by using the ten-key 6 or inputted to the device from the main body 8 and the device 1 can perform calculation processing; and control over a cursor by using the ten-key 6, the display of the cursor by utilizing the liquid crystal display part 4, etc., are enabled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a pointing device used in laptop computers, personal word processors, etc. that do not have a numeric keypad on the main body.

[Prior Art] A pointing device, also called a mouse, is connected to the computer main body by a cable, and in the case of a mechanical device, the pointing device is connected to the computer main body by a cable and moved in parallel on a plane by the operator. The ball installed in rotates,
The rotation direction and distance are detected by a sensor, and this is output as movement information to the central processing unit in the computer main body via an interface. The central processing unit stores this movement information as data, moves the cursor on the display proportionally, and informs the operator of the amount of movement by moving the cursor. Therefore, by using a pointing device, figures drawn on a plane can be easily input to the central processing unit.

As mentioned above, conventional pointing devices only have the function of inputting movement information on a plane, and when performing numerical calculations, etc., data must be entered from the keyboard provided on the computer itself, and the computer is running.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional pointing devices as described above only have the function of inputting only movement information on a plane, so even when performing simple numerical calculations, the computer itself cannot be used. The computer operates by inputting data from the keyboard provided on the computer, such as laptop computers, personal word processors, etc., which do not have a numeric keypad on the keyboard (hereinafter collectively referred to as ``main body J'').
If the computer is connected to a computer, you must input data using horizontally arranged number keys, operate the main unit, and perform calculations by program processing, which is cumbersome and requires a lot of effort. It takes time. Furthermore, it is difficult to know the exact coordinate position while operating the pointing device, and therefore it is difficult to draw a straight line connecting arbitrary coordinates.

This invention was made to solve the problem, and its purpose is to obtain a pointing device that can easily perform numerical calculations and coordinate processing on the device itself.-6 [Means for solving the problem] The pointing device according to the present invention has a so-called calculator function added to the device itself, and is capable of inputting and outputting data with a connected main body while being controlled by a mode changeover switch.

[Function] In this invention, a so-called calculator function is added to the device itself, and data can be input and output with the connected main body while being controlled by the mode changeover switch. Calculation results can be displayed on the device itself or sent as data to the main unit, and data can also be input into the main unit using the numeric keypad, or data can be input from the main unit to the device and calculation processing can be performed by the device. Furthermore, it becomes possible to control a cursor using a numeric keypad, display a cursor using a liquid crystal display, etc.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1st
The figure is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, (1) is a pointing device, and the pointing device (1) is connected to the first button (2) and the second button (3). , (4) liquid crystal display, (5) function keys/transfer keys, (6) numeric keypad, (7) mode changeover switch, and the first button (2) and the second button (3) consists of buttons for inputting movement information on a plane, similar to conventional pointing devices, including a liquid crystal display (4), function keys/transfer keys (5), and a numeric keypad (6).

The changeover switch (7) constitutes a circuit that functions as a so-called calculator.

(8) is a laptop computer, personal word processor, etc. (main body). This main body (8) is composed of the display (9) and the main body keyboard (11), and the pointing device (1) and the main body (8). ) is connected with a cable (12) so that data can be input and output between them. Also (10) is the display (9)
Shows the cursor displayed.

In addition, in order to clearly show the configuration of the pointing device (1) in Figure 1, the pointing device (1) is shown in the main body (
This is a partially enlarged view that is much larger than 8).

Next, the operation will be explained. Mode changeover switch (7)
■The first mode cuts off numeric keypad (6) input.

■Second mode in which input from the numeric keypad (6) is sent directly to the main unit (8) as input data.

■Third mode that allows the numeric keypad (6) to function as a calculator.

■Enter coordinate values from the numeric keypad (6) and move the cursor (10
) is moved bit by bit.

You can select from four modes.

If you select the first mode, you can control the movement of the cursor (10) by operating the first button (2) and second button (3) in the same way as with conventional pointing devices. can. In this first mode, input from the numeric keypad (6) is blocked, eliminating the possibility of erroneous input.

Next, if you select the second mode, you can control the movement of the cursor (10) and use the numeric keypad (6).
Numerical data entered using the can be input directly to the main unit (8) as data, and the display (9)
The entered numerical value can be displayed at the position indicated by the cursor (10) above.

Next, when the third mode is selected, the operation of the cursor (10) can be controlled, calculations can be performed on the pointing device (1), and the calculation results can be displayed on the liquid crystal display (4). comes out.

Furthermore, the calculation results on the pointing device (1) can be input as data to the main body (8) if necessary, which is convenient when inputting numerical values into the main body (8) that involves calculation. Conversely, the numerical value indicated by the cursor (10) can be entered on the pointing device (1), so that the numerical value is indicated continuously with the cursor (10),
The sum can be easily calculated.

Next, if you select the fourth mode, use the numeric keypad (6) to enter the amount of movement of the cursor (10) in bits, and select the up/down, left/right, and diagonal directions of the cursor (10) movement. Eight directions can be input by operating the numeric keys (6) assigned to each direction. Therefore, the amount of movement can be changed arbitrarily with a single keystroke, such as fine adjustment of intersection points in drawing, movement of the cursor (10) in units of one dot to correct bits, or movement in the horizontal direction in units of several bits. It is possible to easily move the cursor (10) in a straight line. Furthermore, when the above-mentioned first mode and fourth mode are selected, the coordinate position of the cursor (10) can be displayed on the liquid crystal display section (4), and the coordinates of the cursor (10) can be easily specified. I can do it.

As described above, in this invention, the simple configuration of adding a calculator function to a pointing device allows
Even when connected to a laptop computer, personal word processor, etc. that does not have a numeric keypad, numerical values can be input easily using the numeric keypad. It becomes possible to easily perform input at hand.

In addition, simple numerical calculations can now be performed on the pointing device itself, and calculation results can be sent to the main unit each time as needed, eliminating the need to run the main unit each time and perform simple calculations through program processing.

Furthermore, even when the pointing device is in operation, there is no need to keep the main body in an input state; the main body can be used for other processing, and numerical values processed by the main body can also be read out and used by the pointing device.

Furthermore, since cursor movement information can be input in bit units, it is possible to reliably perform minute movements of the cursor, which were previously difficult to align.For example, it is possible to reliably move the cursor in units of one dot, such as when aligning intersections in line drawing. can be done,
You can easily draw any straight line.

Although the above embodiment describes a mechanical pointing device that includes a first button and a second button, an optical pointing device may also be used.
The number of buttons is not limited.

Further, it is not necessary to provide a function key, and the function key may be included in the mode changeover switch.

Furthermore, in this specification, although the pointing device is mainly used and the function of a calculator is added to it, the same effect can be obtained when the function of a pointing device is added to a calculator.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, this invention adds a so-called calculator function to the device itself, and allows data input/output to and from the connected main unit while being controlled by a mode selector switch, making it possible to perform numerical calculations. This has the advantage that coordinate processing can be easily performed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. (1) is the pointing device, (2) is the first button, (3) is the second button, (4) is the liquid crystal display, (5
) is the function key/transfer key, (6) is the numeric keypad, (7) is the mode switch, (8) is the main unit, (9) is the display, (10) is the cursor, (11) is the main keyboard, (12) is a cable.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Connected to a computer, an operator inputs movement information into the computer by moving it at hand on an arbitrary plane, and the computer moves a cursor on the display based on this movement information. In the pointing device, an additional circuit having a numeric keypad, a liquid crystal display, and an arithmetic processing unit functions as a calculator; a data exchange means for mutually exchanging data between the additional circuit and the computer; and the data exchange means. A pointing device comprising: a mode changeover switch that controls data exchange and selects only data exchange of one or more of the above data.