JPH0233617A - Input indicating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To instantaneously point a screen except the one which is presently displayed by receiving the signals transmitted from plural transmitting parts by >=3 receiving parts, measuring the distance between the transmitting and receiving points for calculation of a prescribed intersecting point, and deciding an input indicating point. CONSTITUTION:The signals transmitted from the signal transmitting parts P1 and P2 are received by the signal receiving parts S1-S3 of the signal receiver 2. Then a distance measuring device 4 measures the distances among the parts P1/P2 and S1-S3 respectively based on the signal receiving time points, etc. Based on these measured distances, an intersecting point arithmetic unit 5 calculates an intersecting point between a vector connecting two points of parts P1 and P2 and a plane formed by the parts S1-S3. This intersecting point is used as an input indicating point. Thus, it is possible to instantaneously point a screen except the one which is presently displayed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications Conventional technology Problems that the invention aims to solve Means to solve problems action Example Basic principle of the present invention (Figures 1 to 4).

Embodiment of the present invention (Figures 5 to 9) Effects of the invention [Summary] When an input instruction device indicates a screen other than the currently displayed screen (hereinafter referred to as pointing), the point can be immediately pointed to. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an input instruction device that can transmit a predetermined signal from two or more transmitting parts, and a signal transmitting means that transmits a predetermined signal from two or more transmitting parts, and receives the signal transmitted from the transmitting parts by three or more receiving parts. and each point of the transmitting section and the receiving section based on the time until the signal transmitted from the transmitting section is received by the receiving section or a predetermined physical quantity that has a certain correlation with the time. and a vector connecting the two points of the transmitting section based on the distance between the points measured by the distance measuring means intersects a plane defined by the three points of the receiving section. and an intersection calculation means for calculating an intersection on the plane when the input point is an input instruction point.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an input instruction device for a computer system or the like, and more particularly to an input instruction device (hereinafter referred to as a pointing device) for specifying a point in a space managed by a computer system or the like.

In recent years, as the memory processing capacity of computer systems has increased, the screen space handled by computer systems has also tended to increase, and in particular, man-machine interface work involves moving between points in the screen space. As the time required for pointing is increasing, there is a need to shorten the time required for pointing. For this reason, it is necessary to be able to point immediately even if a portion of the screen space of the computer system that is not displayed on the display device is considerably distant from the currently displayed portion.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional devices for pointing on the screen include cursor keys and mice, but since these devices trace the screen to the desired point, it takes time to move to reach the desired point. Additionally, there are digitizing pens and light pens that allow you to point without tracing on the screen, but because of the screen size limitations, if you want to point outside of the screen, you must perform another operation to change the screen display. It was necessary to change it before moving it, making the operation complicated and time-consuming.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, with such conventional input instruction devices, there is a limit to the screen size that can be used for pointing.
In addition, since the configuration was such that you had to trace (or switch the screen display) the point you wanted to point, the greater the distance you had to move, the more operations you had to perform, which took time. In editing work for drawings, etc., there is a problem in that when attempting to edit a screen that is distant from the screen that is currently being edited, the number of operations for pointing the target screen increases, making it impossible to save time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a manual pointing device that can immediately point to a screen other than the currently displayed screen.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the input l indication device according to the present invention includes a signal transmitting means for transmitting a predetermined signal from two or more transmitting parts, and a signal transmitting means for transmitting a predetermined signal from two or more transmitting parts, and receiving the signal transmitted from the transmitting parts by three or more receiving parts. and each point of the transmitting section and the receiving section based on the time until the signal transmitted from the transmitting section is received by the receiving section or a predetermined physical quantity that has a certain correlation with the time. distance measuring means for measuring the distance between;
Based on the distance between each point measured by the distance measuring means, input the point of intersection on the plane defined by the three points of the receiver when a vector connecting the two points of the transmitter intersects the plane defined by the three points of the receiver. and an intersection calculation means for calculating as follows.

[Effect]

The present invention includes a signal transmitting means for transmitting a predetermined signal from two or more transmitting sections, and a signal transmitting means for transmitting a predetermined signal from two or more transmitting sections.
a signal receiving means for receiving a signal at a plurality of receiving sections, and a signal receiving means for receiving a signal at a plurality of receiving sections, and a signal receiving means for receiving a signal at a plurality of receiving sections, and transmits a signal between each point of the transmitting section and the receiving section based on the time it takes for the signal transmitted from the transmitting section to be received at the receiving section. The distance is measured, and the intersection point on the plane defined by the three points of the receiver when a vector connecting the two points of the transmitter intersects with the plane defined by the three points of the receiver is calculated based on the measured distance between each point. Ru.

Therefore, even when pointing to a screen other than the currently displayed screen, the user can immediately point to the relevant location without tracing the screen.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

1 to 4 are diagrams for explaining the basic principle of the present invention. In FIG. 1, ■ is a manual instruction device, and the input instruction device 1 is a signal transmitter: A (signal transmitting means) 2, a signal receiver (signal receiving means) 3, a distance measuring device (distance measuring means) 4, It is composed of an intersection calculation device (intersection/ii calculation means) 5 and a switch SW 6. The signal transmitter 2 is provided with signal transmitters p1 and p2 at two points separated by a predetermined distance, and the signal transmitters pi and p2 are each connected to the distance measuring device 4 and attached to the distance measuring device 4. Sui・
When the notch SW6 is pressed, at that point the signal transmitting parts p1, p
A predetermined distance measurement signal is transmitted from 2. As the distance measurement signal, the most suitable one is selected from among radio waves, sound waves, or light according to the purpose. The signal receiver 3 consists of signal receiving sections sl, s2, and S3 at three points fixed on the xy plane, which are pointing points.
In order to maintain a predetermined distance from each other, S3 is fixed on, for example, a support member 3a as shown in the figure.
, p2.

The signal receiving units S1, S2, and S3 are each connected to a distance measuring device 4.
The distance measuring device 4 sends the distance measuring signals pl and p at the time of the operation instruction from the switch SW6.
By transmitting from 2 and receiving by sl, s2, and s3, the delay time from transmission to reception is detected and the distance between each point (
(see the broken line in the figure) is calculated and output to the intersection calculation device 5. Note that instead of the delay time from the time of transmission to the time of reception, the distance between each point may be calculated using the deviation of the signal waveform at the time of transmission and reception, which has a certain correlation with the time. . Based on the distance between each point output from the distance measuring device 4, the intersection point calculation device 5 calculates the coordinate X (x, y ) (see the dashed-dotted line in the same figure) and outputs it to the outside as pointing data.

In the above configuration, the distance measuring device 4 measures the distance p between each point.
lsl, pls2, pls3 and p2SI p2S2
, p2s3 are measured, the coordinates of each point are calculated by the intersection calculation device 5 based on this distance data.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing that the coordinates of 91 points are uniquely determined by measuring the distances between pl and sl, pl and s2, and pl and S3. In the figure, sl, S2, S3 are fixed points, from which the lengths plsl, pls, respectively
2. There are two points, pl and p1', at which the distance of pls3 is extended and the respective free ends coincide. However, by adding two new axes and setting the Z-axis to only positive values, the pl
are the desired coordinates. Figure 3 shows p using the same principle as Figure 2.
In this case, the coordinates of 92 points are determined by measuring the distances between p2 and Sl, p2 and S2, and p2 and S3. Then, as in the case of Figure 2, 2
By taking the axis and setting only positive values on the Z axis, p2' is eliminated. Furthermore, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing that the extension of the line connecting p2 to pl intersects with the xy plane including sl, s2, and s3, and this intersection point X is the coordinate of the target designated point.

That is, pl for the plane containing Sl, S2, and S3,
The target coordinates are obtained by the vector p2. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Even if it points outside the rectangle consisting of
Since the location to point to is determined by calculation, it is possible to immediately indicate the desired coordinates.

Examples will be described below based on the above basic principle. Fifth
9 to 9 are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention, and are examples in which the human input device according to the present invention is applied to a computer system equipped with an input device using an electronic pen. Components that are the same as those in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers and symbols, and repeated explanations will be omitted.

In FIG. 5, 10 is a computer, 11 is an electronic pen equipped with distance measuring signal transmitters p1, p2 and a remote pointing operation switch 12 at the tip and rear end.
3 has distance measurement signal receiving sections S1 and S at the three corners of the screen 13a.
2, a display device of a computer 10 equipped with S3.

The electronic pen 11 is inserted into the digitizing board 1 by hand 14.
5. Perform the same pointing as before by tracing the top. Signal transmitting parts p1, p2, signal receiving parts sl, s2,
S3 and the remote pointing activation switch 12 are connected to a distance measuring device 4, which may be, for example, one using distance measuring technology of an infrared autofocus camera. The distance data between each point measured by the distance measuring device 4 is input to the intersection point calculation device 5.
is composed of, for example, a microprocessor, and stores a program for intersection calculation in its internal memory. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the distance measuring device 4 and the intersection calculation device 5. In FIG. 6, the distance measuring device 4 includes a transmitting/receiving controller I/roller 21, a timer 22, a time/distance exchange circuit 23, and a distance data output circuit 24.
When receiving the switch signal from 2, the signal transmitter pi, p2
A distance measurement signal is transmitted from the signal receiving section S1, S2, and S3, and the time from transmission to reception is measured by the timer 22. Then, the time/distance exchange circuit 23 converts the time (timer count number) into distance and outputs it as distance data to the intersection calculation device 5 via the distance data output circuit 24. The intersection calculation device 5 is constituted by a microprocessor, and calculates the intersection coordinates X based on the distance data from the distance measurement device 4. In the figure, PI-P6 indicates a processing step.

Distance data is input at Pl, and positions pl and p2 are calculated based on this distance data at P2. Next, coordinate data S1, S2, s3 (step Pi
), calculate the hector of p2-pl based on
2→p1 The intersection with the xyT plane is calculated based on the hectare and coordinate data s1, S2, and S3. Next, in P6, the intersection with the xy plane is output to the outside (for example, the computer 10) as intersection coordinate data.

Next, the effect will be explained.

Normal pointing is performed by tracing on the digitizing board 15 with the electronic pen 11 as before. On the other hand, if you want to call up a screen that is located far away from the currently displayed screen, proceed as follows. As shown in FIG. 7, the electronic pen 11 is directed to a virtual screen where the target screen is not displayed on the real screen, but is presumed to exist based on the currently displayed screen. Press the switching activation switch 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the electronic pen 11 and the signal transmitters P1, p2 and signal receivers s1, S2, S3 provided at the three corners of the display screen transmit/receive a distance measurement signal, and the distance measurement signal is transmitted/received. The measuring device 4 and the intersection calculation device 5 calculate the intersection point X (x, y) between the electronic pen 11 and the screen. Then, the computer 10 system immediately displays the target screen as shown in FIG. Here, a case has been shown in which pointing is performed on a portion that is not displayed on the screen, but it is of course possible to point on a portion that is displayed on the screen.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, when you want to move the operation from the screen you are currently operating to a remote screen, you can immediately and directly remote control by pressing the switch once without the need for troublesome operations. It can be moved to the screen, dramatically improving the man-machine interface of computer systems, and greatly contributing to reducing work time.

In this embodiment, the distance measuring device 4 and the intersection calculating device 5 are each provided for exclusive use.
The main CPU in the system may perform the calculation, or
Although the switch SW12 is provided on the electronic bench, a key on the keyboard of the computer system may also be used as the switch.

Further, in this embodiment, the signal transmitting parts pip2 are installed on one electronic bezel 11, but they may be installed on separate parts, and the distance measuring signal receiving parts s1, s2, s3
are provided at the three corners of the display device, but it goes without saying that they may be provided at the two corners of the digitizing board if the virtual screen is assumed to be on the surface of the digitizing board. In addition, the receiving section S
1, s2, and s3 do not necessarily need to be placed on the same plane as the virtual screen as long as they maintain fixed coordinates with respect to the display screen or virtual screen such as a digitizing boat.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the distance measurement signal transmitter and receiver are set at two and three locations, respectively, but if they are provided at more locations, it will be possible to determine where the electronic bevel 11 is and which direction it faces. It is also possible to ensure that signals can be sent and received, and the productivity of LI can be further improved.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, even when pointing to a screen other than the one currently displayed, it is possible to immediately point to the relevant location, dramatically improving the man-machine interface of computer systems and significantly reducing work time. can be shortened to

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 are diagrams for explaining the basic principle of the input instruction device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the input instruction device, and FIGS. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the method of calculating the intersection point. FIGS. The figure shows its overall configuration, and Figure 6 shows its distance measuring device and intersection calculation device.
Figures 7 to 9 are diagrams for explaining the operation. pl, p2: signal transmitter; SL, S2, S3: signal receiver. ■...Input instruction device, 2...Signal transmitter (borrowed transmission means), 3...
...Signal receiver (signal receiving means), 3a...
Support member, 4... Distance measuring device (distance measuring means), 5...
...Intersection point calculation device (intersection point calculation means), 6...
・Switch SW, 11...Electronic pen (signal transmitting means), 12...
...Remote pointing activation switch, 13...
... Display device (signal receiving means), 21 ... Transmission/reception controller, 22 ... Timer, 23 ... Time/distance exchange circuit, 24 ...・
・Distance data output circuit, Figure 7.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Signal transmitting means for transmitting a predetermined signal from two or more transmitting sections; signal receiving means for receiving the signal transmitted from the transmitting sections at three or more receiving sections; and the transmitting section. distance measuring means for measuring the distance between each point of the transmitting section and the receiving section based on the time until a signal transmitted from the is received by the receiving section or a predetermined physical quantity having a certain correlation with the time; and input the intersection point on the plane defined by the three points of the receiver when a vector connecting the two points of the transmitter intersects the plane defined by the three points of the receiver based on the distance between each point measured by the distance measuring means. An input instruction device comprising: intersection calculation means that calculates as an instruction point.