JPH0434614A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce an occupied area on a desk and to miniaturize the whole device by constituting an operation part so as to be approximately the same size as a hand. CONSTITUTION:The operation part (keyboard) 20' is constituted so that a sliding position detecting part can detect the positions of three upper, medium and lower stages and respective fingers are allowed to correspond to respective slides 42. Provided that the 2nd finger (forefinger) are allowed to correspond to two sides as shown in Fig.(d) (charging of two slides 42). The Fig. (d) shows an oblique view obtained when the keyboard 20' is grasped by a right hand. Since the size of the keyboard 20' is approximately the same as the hand, the occupied area on the desk can be reduced and the whole device can be miniaturized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an input device for an information processing device, and particularly to an input device for an electronic computer such as a keyboard of a personal computer.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as an input device of a terminal device of an information processing device, a second
A keyboard 20 shown in the figure is often used. As shown in the figure, this keyboard is composed of more than 50 keys and several lamps. Several characters/symbols are displayed on the surface of the key top. The lamp indicates the shift status and indicates which of the characters/symbols displayed on the surface of the key top are valid.

Further, as another input device, a mouse 30 shown in FIG.
There is. This mouse 30 is a device that has means for detecting the amount of movement on a plane and a switch, and the main device 10 displays an instruction menu etc. on the CR7 screen etc. based on the information on the amount of movement. , input is performed by having the operator select it.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The conventional keyboard described above has the following problems.

(1) Since there are many types of keys, the board for arranging them becomes large and takes up space. Therefore, there is a limit to miniaturization of the device.

(2) Especially for women, the fingernails that are being extended may get caught on other keys, leading to mistypes, resulting in poor operability.

(3) Four types of characters/symbols are displayed on one key top (five types if you include the sides), making them difficult to read. Also,
Operability is poor because it is necessary to judge the shift state in order to press a desired key. In addition, functions that are not displayed on the keys (
For example, there are cases where the user presses C while holding down the control key), which only confuses the operator.

(4) Since the arrangement and arrangement of keys differs depending on the system, you may have to operate using an unfamiliar keyboard (for example, a JIS keyboard, an AI keyboard, etc.).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an input device that eliminates the above-mentioned conventional problems, allows miniaturization of the entire device, and has excellent operability.

(Means for Solving the Problems) An input device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first detection means for detecting the position of a finger moving along a predetermined curved surface, and a first detection means for detecting the position of a finger moving along a predetermined curved surface; a second detecting means for detecting the position of the finger that has been moved; a means for enabling a member on which the first detecting means and the second detecting means are arranged to move within a predetermined plane; an operation section having a third detection means for detecting the position when moving within a predetermined plane; information from the third detection means is regarded as shift information, and a group of characters/symbols corresponding thereto is detected; a first display control means for displaying, a second display control means for displaying which character/symbol is an input candidate among the character/symbol group based on information from the first detection means; Based on the information from the second detection means, among the input candidate characters/symbols,
a control unit having a third display control means for displaying which character/symbol has been input; and control from the first display control means, the second display control means, and the third display control means; and a display section that displays a corresponding display based on the information.

Further, in the input device of the second invention of the present invention, in the input device of the first invention, the control section further reads out a group of characters/symbols used for display by the first display control means from the memory card. It is something that has means.

(Function) The third detection means of the operating section detects when the member on which the first detection means and the second detection means are arranged moves within a predetermined plane.
The position is detected and the output information is sent to the first display control means of the control section. The first display control means regards the information from the detection means of FIG. 3 as shift information, and causes the display unit to display a group of characters/symbols corresponding thereto. Next, the first detection means of the operating section detects the position of the finger moving along the predetermined curved surface, and sends the output information to the second display control means of the control section. The second display control means displays, based on the information from the first detection means, which character/symbol is an input candidate among the character/symbol group displayed on the display section. Next, the second detection means of the operation section detects the position of the grasped finger among the positions of the fingers moving along the predetermined curved surface, and sends the output information to the third display control means of the control section. send.

The third display control means causes the display section to display which character/symbol has been input among the input candidate characters/symbols displayed on the display section based on the information from the second detection means. Note that characters/symbol groups used for display by the first display control means may be read from a memory card and used.

By doing this, 1. The overall size of the device can be reduced, and an input device with excellent operability can be provided.

(Example) Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In the same figure, the main device 10' is a main body control section (hereinafter, c
It's called pu. ) 11, an interface control section 12 connected to the keyboard 20', and a display control section (hereinafter referred to as CRTC) 13 that controls a display device (hereinafter referred to as CRT) 14 as a display section of the present invention. memory 15
have. The CPU II and CRTCI3 constitute a control section of the present invention. These CPU II, interface control unit 12 , CRTCI 3 and memory 15 are connected to a bus 16 . Moreover, the keyboard 20' is
Keyboard control unit 21, interface control unit 22, grip position detection units 23 for right and left hands, slide position detection units 24 for right and left hands, and key press detection for right and left hands. 25. Here, the grip position detection section 23. Slide position detection section 2
4 and the key press detection section 25 are connected to the keyboard control section 21 via a bus 26 .

Further, the keyboard control section 21 is connected to the interface control section 22 via the bus 27, and the interface control section 22 is further connected to the interface control section 1 via the bus 17.
Connected to 2.

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) are a top view, a front view, and a front view, respectively, showing an embodiment of the keyboard 20' (for right-hand use) of the present invention.
They are a side view and a perspective view. Figure (C) shows the case where the hands are placed on the keyboard 20'.

In the same figure, 40 is a support base, and 41 is a grip, and this grip 41 is shaped like a ball cut in half, for example, and is large enough to fit in the palm of a person's hand when lightly grasped. It has the shape of a hemisphere. 42 is a slide incorporated in the grip 41, and this slide 4
2 is a device that moves smoothly to follow the slightest finger force in order to detect the up and down movement of a finger, such as when a person grips a ball and strokes its surface. This slide 42 is also a key, and is a device that follows the movement of fingers as they are grasped and released. That is, the slide 42 allows both the vertical movement of the fingers and the gripping movement. The operation unit that can detect key presses and shift states is composed of a support base 4o, a grip 41, and a slide 42. In addition, Fig. 3 (a) and (
b) is an explanatory diagram showing each embodiment of the keyboard according to the present invention, and (a) is an explanatory diagram showing each embodiment of the keyboard according to the present invention, and FIG. 50, the keyboard 20' (for left hand) of the present invention and the keyboard 2
0' (for right hand) is connected, and in the same figure (b), the keyboard 20' (for left hand) is connected directly to the main device 10'.
This is the case when the keyboard 20' (for right-hand use) is connected.

The grip 41 is incorporated into the support base 40 so that it can freely move within the plane of the support base 40. Furthermore, the grip 41 has a mechanism that produces a click feeling at regular intervals in order to give the operator a sense of the position of the grip 41. As shown in FIG. 5, the grip position detection section 23 is configured to be able to detect a change in position using this click section, and is built into the upper surface of the support base 40.

In FIG. 5, the grip position detection section 23 has a slide switch 51, which can be switched in three stages. This slide switch 51 consists of a conductive metal piece 52 provided at the bottom of the knob 41 and a sense line 54 installed in each of three recesses 53 provided on the upper surface side of the support base 40. Return line (response line)
It consists of 55. Therefore, the grip 41 is
By sliding it in six directions, the metal piece 52 of the slide switch 51 at the bottom of the grip 41 moves into the three recesses 53.
It is designed to switch by giving a click feeling to either one of them. Depending on which position the grip 41 is in among these three switching stages, a predetermined character set corresponding to the corresponding position is selected.

The keyboard control unit 21 connects the bus 26 (sense line 54
) through which a sense signal is always sent to the grip position detection section 23. Slide switch 5 from grip position detection unit 23
The position of the grip 41 is determined based on the response signal returned through the other return line 55 (signal line of the bus 26) to which the first metal piece 52 is in contact. When the keyboard control section 21 detects a change in the position of the grip 41, the keyboard control section 21 controls the interface control section 22. Bus 17. Interface control unit 12. The CPU 11 is notified via the bus 16. The CPU II regards this notification as shift information, reads out a predetermined character set corresponding to the shift state from the memory 15 (or external storage device), and displays it on a normal display (described later) to show it to the operator. The image is displayed on the screen of the CRT 14 using a display method different from that used for emphasis. Based on the display on the screen of the CRT 14, the operator can determine which characters can be input in the current state (for the operator, the shift state). Furthermore, at this time,
Shift information is provided by the right-hand device (right-hand keyboard) 20'
Since the left-hand device (left-hand keyboard) 20' can be specified independently, the shift display is also performed independently.

Further, the keyboard control section 21 always sends a sense signal to the slide position detection section 24 via the sense line 64 of the bus 26 (see FIG. 6). To explain one of the slide position detection sections 24, one of the slide position detection sections 24' has a slide switch 61, and this slide switch 61 can be switched in, for example, three stages here. . This slide switch 61 consists of a conductive metal piece 6 attached to the bottom surface of the slide 42.
2, a sense line 64 and a return line (response line) 65, which are formed along the curved surface of the grip 41, and which are respectively installed in three recesses 63 here. Therefore, by sliding the slide 42 in the direction of the arrow 66, the metal piece 62 of the slide switch 61 provided on the lower surface of the slide 42 is switched to one of the three recesses 63 shown in the figure. Slide 42 is
Depending on the position of these three switching stages, the character corresponding to the corresponding position is selected from the character set previously selected by the grip position detection section 23 described above.

Therefore, when the slide position detection section 24' receives a sense signal from the keyboard control section 21 via the sense line 64 of the bus 26, the slide position detection section 24' detects the metal piece 62 of the slide switch 61.
The other return line 65 (bus 26
The response signal is sent to the keyboard control section 21 via the
The keyboard control unit 21 determines the position of the slide 42 based on this response signal.

When the keyboard control section 21 detects a change in the position of the slide 42, the keyboard control section 21 controls the bus 27. Interface control unit 22.
Bus 17. The CPU II is notified via the interface control unit 12 and the bus 16.

The CPU II regards this notification as press candidate information, identifies the character corresponding to the press candidate, and displays it in a highlighted manner, such as by enclosing it in a thick frame or making it brighter, in order to show it to the operator. Display on the screen of CRT14.

In addition, the grip 41 of the right-hand keyboard 20' shown in FIG.
A slide position detection section 24' configured in the same manner as described above is provided corresponding to each of the upper slides 42.
Consisted of.

Next, the keyboard control section 21 constantly sends a sense signal to the key press detection section 25 through the bus 26.

The key press detection section 25 has a key press detection section 25 arranged below the slide position detection section 24' corresponding to each step position (each switching position of the slide switch 61). It is composed of all the key press detection sections 25' arranged as shown in FIG. Each key press detection section 25' constituting the key press detection section 25 is configured using a non-lock switch 71 that is turned on and off by moving the slide (key) 42 with a finger in the direction of an arrow 72. When the slide (key) 42 is pressed with a finger from above, the slide (key) 42 is pressed down, and the non-lock switch 71 further below the metal piece 62 of the slide switch 61 below is turned on. Therefore, among the key press detection units 25' constituting the key press detection unit 25, the key press detection unit 2 in which the non-lock switch 71 is turned on
5' sends a response signal back to the keyboard control section 21 in response to the sense signal from the keyboard control section 21. The keyboard control unit 21 determines that the slide (key) 42 has been pressed based on this response signal.

Generally, the keyboard control section 21 includes each key press detection section 2.
5', and depending on whether a response signal is returned, it is determined whether the slide (key) 42 has been pressed. The keyboard control unit 21 is a slide (key)
42 is detected, the bus 27. Interface control unit 22° bus 17. Interface control unit 12. Notify CPU II via bus 16. The CPU 1 regards this notification as key press information, and determines the character corresponding to the position of the pressed slide (key) 42 (the position of the pressed slide (key) 42 among the characters corresponding to the above-mentioned pressing candidates). ) is displayed on the screen of the CRT 14 by, for example, inverted display, for the purpose of notifying the operator of input confirmation.

In the above-described embodiment of the keyboard 20' (operation section) shown in FIG. 4, the slide position detection section 24 is configured so as to be able to detect the positions of three levels, top, middle, and bottom, and each finger corresponds to a respective slide 42. I'm letting you do it. However, the second finger (index finger) is made to correspond to the two slides 42 (in charge of the two slides 42) as shown in FIG. 4(d). still,
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the keyboard 20' held with the right hand.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the screen of the CRT 14 of the display section. Here, the right-hand operation section is in the "lowercase alphabet shift" state, and the left-hand operation section is in the "uppercase alphabet shift" state.
, and the left hand presses the "F" key. In this example, the frame of the key is made thicker as a highlighted display to indicate a press candidate, and press confirmation is performed by highlighting the key. In addition, each finger 1 to 5 of the right hand. Each of the fingers 1 to 5 on the left hand corresponds to a numbered location on the screen display.

The right and left thumbs l each have three spaces (sp
ace) key.

Next, focusing on the operation of the key 42, details of its operation and changes in display will be explained. Here, it is for the right hand.

Each left-handed key fob 20' is used.

FIG. 9(a) shows a case where all fingers are in the "upper" stage. By touching the slide 42 of the keyboard 20' with your finger and sliding it upward, the slide 42 will follow the movement of your finger.
moves. At this time, the display changes to a large frame display to indicate that the top frame is a press candidate. The other frames are normal displays.

FIG. 9(b) shows a case where all fingers are in the "middle" stage. By lightly touching the slide 42 of the keyboard 20' with a finger and sliding it toward the center, the slide 42 moves following the movement of the finger. The display changes to a large frame display to indicate that the center frame is a press candidate. The other frames are normal displays.

FIG. 9(c) shows a case where all fingers are in the "lower" stage. By lightly touching the slide 42 with a finger and sliding it downward, the slide 42 moves following the movement of the finger. The display is to indicate that the bottom frame is a press candidate.
Changes to large frame display.

The other frames are normal displays.

In Figure 9(d), when all fingers are in the "middle" stage, the 0 display, which indicates that all fingers are grasped, is reversed to indicate that the center frame has been pressed. change. The other frames are normal displays.

Next, consider the relationship between the number of characters that should be accommodated and the number of characters that can be accommodated.

The character types arranged on a normal keyboard are as follows.

English capital letters 26 ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
OPQR3TUVWXYZ English small letters 26 abcdefghijklmn
opqrstuvwxyz English symbol 32! ”＃＄%＆°0−・°°°￥1−＠
II ()+;:<>,,? Ta [5 pace] Kana 46 Aiweo
Kakikukeko sasisse sota chitsuteto naninuneno hehifuhenemamimu memo yayuyo rarilurero waran kana symbol
2 Kana lowercase letters 9 Aiwe oyayuyo numbers 10 1234567890 System key 8 or more [CR] [5HIFT] [CAPS] [I
NS] IDEL] [TAB] [CTJIL] [Kana] [F1], etc. Total of approximately 160 or more Character types that can be input (accommodated) with a personal device are as follows.

3 steps/finger x 5 fingers/hand x 2 hands x 8 shifts (2 left and right 2 front and back 4) = 240 Here, in the case of 8 shifts, in the state shown in Figure 5, it is possible to switch between 4 steps forward and backward, and furthermore 2 steps left and right. This is when stage switching is possible. Therefore, the number of keys that can be accommodated in this device is 240, and since the number of keys arranged in a normal keyboard is about 160, the key capacity is sufficient.

As can be seen from the above description, in the present invention, the size of the operation section of the input device is made approximately the same as the size of the hand, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the area occupied on the desk is reduced. This allows the entire device to be miniaturized. In addition, by separating the display section into right-hand and left-hand users, the operation section can be used for both right-hand and left-hand users.
Can be separated for left hand use. From this, it can also be applied to the armrest of a chair.

In addition, since the key 42 is held with the pad of the finger, the user does not have to worry about his or her nails.

Further, since one character/symbol corresponding to the shift state of one key 42 is displayed on the display section (CRT 14), the type of key can be easily recognized and operability is improved.

Furthermore, by increasing the number of shift states, it is possible to accommodate not only the characters found on a normal keyboard but also more characters/symbols.

Examples: French, German, Greek.

European characters such as Russian, Arabic, Middle Eastern characters such as Indian languages, Eastern characters such as Hangul, old characters, variant characters, various ancient characters such as runes and Mayan characters, and the addition of keys. Even if there is a request for changes, deletions, etc., it is only necessary to change the software, and it can be handled with just one software.

In addition, a part of the screen of the CRT 14 of the main device 10' may be used as a display section, or the screen shown in FIG. 3(a) may be used near the main device 10'.
Since the display device 50 as shown in FIG. 1 is provided, the amount of eye movement can be reduced and fatigue can be reduced.

Furthermore, since character selection and arrangement can be performed under program control, an input device with any character set can be constructed. Further, since the character arrangement can be set arbitrarily, each individual can set the arrangement to his or her preference. If you store the array environment in an external device such as a memory card instead of the device's internal memory, and make it a specification that can be used commonly by each device, if other devices have this card, for example, the main device 10' CPU 1 can read this and input it comfortably. Furthermore, if we focus on the portability of memory cards and the fact that each individual has one, it is possible to build a system with high security performance. In other words, by storing an ID (identification code) in a memory card, for example, a device can be created that allows subsequent operations only when the CPU II of the main device 10' reads the ID. Another method is that if you do not enter a password in a set procedure within a certain period of time (i.e., enter a password in a procedure that only a person who is familiar with the key layout can operate), the system will not work after that. Applications such as devices that prevent this from occurring are also possible.

The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various applications and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, by using the input device according to the present invention, the following various effects can be obtained.

(1) The size of the operation part of the input device can be made approximately the same as the size of a hand, as shown in Figure 4, so the area occupied on the desk can be reduced, thereby reducing the overall size of the device. Miniaturization can be achieved. Furthermore, by separating the display section into right-hand and left-hand display sections, the operating section can be separated into right-hand and left-hand display sections. From this, it can also be applied to the armrest of a chair.

(2) Since the fingers move along a predetermined curved surface and the pads of the fingers press (grasp) the curved surface, the fingernails are not a concern.

(3) For each position of the finger that can be moved along a predetermined curved surface, one character/symbol corresponding to the shift state is displayed on the display, making it easier to understand the type of key. , improves operability.

(4) By increasing the number of positions detected by the third detection means, that is, by increasing the number of shift states, it is possible to accommodate not only the characters found on a normal keyboard but also more characters/symbols.

(5) Requests for adding, changing, or deleting keys only require changing the software, and can be handled with just one piece of hardware (without changing the hardware).

(6) Since a part of the CRT screen of the main device is used as the display, or a separate display is provided near the main device, the amount of eye movement can be reduced and fatigue can be reduced.

(7) Since character selection and arrangement can be performed under program control, an input device with any character set can be constructed. Further, since the character arrangement can be set arbitrarily, each individual can set the arrangement to his or her preference. If you store the array environment in an external device such as a memory card rather than in the device's internal memory, and make it a specification that can be used commonly by each device, you can input data comfortably on other devices as long as you have this card. Is possible. Furthermore, if we focus on the portability of memory cards and the fact that each individual has one, it is possible to build a system with high security performance. In other words, by storing an ID, for example, in a memory card, a device can be created that allows subsequent operations only when the main device reads the ID. Another method is that if you do not enter a password in a set procedure within a certain period of time (i.e., enter a password in a procedure that only a person who is familiar with the key layout can operate), the system will not work after that. Applications such as devices that prevent this from occurring are also possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram showing an example of a conventional keyboard, FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram showing an embodiment of the keyboard of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a simplified diagram showing an example of a conventional keyboard. A diagram showing an embodiment of the keyboard 20' according to the invention, FIG. 5 is a simplified explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the grip position detection section, FIG. 6 is a simplified explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the slide position detection section, and FIG. The figure is a simplified explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the key press detection section, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the screen display of the display section, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram explaining display changes based on right-handed and left-handed keyboard operations. It is a diagram. 10'...Main device, 11...CPU, 13...C
RTC1I4...CRT, 15...Memory, 20'
... Keyboard, 21 ... Keyboard control section, 23
...Grip position detection section, 24...Slide position detection section, 25...Key press detection section, 40...Support stand, 41.
...Grip, 42...Slide, 1...Slide switch, 1...Non-lock switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first detection means for detecting the position of a finger moving along a predetermined curved surface; and a second detection means for detecting the position of a grasped finger among the positions of the fingers.
detection means; means for enabling a member on which the first detection means and the second detection means are arranged to move within a predetermined plane; an operation unit having a third detection means for detecting a position; a first display control means for treating information from the third detection means as shift information and displaying a group of characters/symbols corresponding thereto; a second display control means for displaying which character/symbol from the group of characters/symbols is an input candidate based on the information from the first detection means; a control unit having a third display control means for displaying which character/symbol has been inputted among the characters/symbols of the input candidates; the first display control means, the second display control means; An input device comprising: a display section that performs a corresponding display based on control from the third display control means. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said control section further comprises means for reading out a group of characters/symbols used for display by said first display control means from a memory card.