JPH08137599A - Data input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily perform various kinds of settings when a pen input is performed by performing the mode setting of the input received by a touch panel by the discrimination state by a discriminating means and performing the input processing in the corresponding mode. CONSTITUTION: On the surface of a liquid crystal display panel 22, a touch panel 22 is composed. By touching the display of the panel 22 with an input pen 50, etc., various kinds of operations can be made to be performed. The pen 50 is provided with a mode data generation part 51 at the inside. The mode data generated at this mode data generation part 51 is supplied to an infrared ray signal generation part 52 composed of a light emitting diode and the driving circuit and the data is made to emit as an infrared ray signal. When the infrared ray signal light receiving part 31 of a data terminal processor receives the infrared ray signal of mode data, this data is supplied to a central control unit 11 via a bus line and the input mode shown by data is set. By changing the infrared ray signal outputted by turning on/off the switch 53 provided on the pen 50, the input mode when data is inputted on the touch panel 22 is changed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a PDA (Person)
The present invention relates to a data input device suitable for application to a personal data processing terminal, which is referred to as “al Digital Assistant” and has a relatively small size for portable use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various personal data processing terminal devices called PDA, which are relatively small and portable, have been put into practical use.

In the case of this type of terminal device, various data processing can be performed based on data input by keys provided in this terminal device, characters can be displayed by the processed data, and a message received from the outside can be displayed. Such data can be displayed.

In this case, in the case of a terminal device called PDA, since the device is small, it is difficult to arrange a plurality of keys such as a keyboard, and other input means are used. . For example, there is one using an input means using a touch panel and an input pen. That is, by touching the display panel such as a liquid crystal panel with an input pen, various data can be input. By detecting which position on the panel is in contact with the pen, the detected position is detected. The input can be made according to the requirements.

As an input with this pen, for example, a function corresponding to each key is displayed on the panel, and the position where each function is displayed is touched with the pen to set the corresponding function, and on the panel. In some cases, so-called handwritten character input is performed in which the character is input by tracing the shape of the character to be input with the pen.

[0006]

By the way, the process of setting a function by touching a predetermined portion on the panel with a pen has a disadvantage in that it takes time and effort. For example, when inputting characters by the above-mentioned handwritten character input, it is necessary to set the font, color, size, etc. of the input characters in advance. When this setting is performed, it is necessary to perform so-called icon input, for example, by touching the place where each setting state is displayed with a pen. An example of the screen display for inputting this icon is shown in FIG. 5. On the display screen 1, icons a, b, c, d, e and f showing various functions are displayed and the respective icons a to f are displayed. Touching with a pen sets the function indicated by this icon. Here, the icon a sets the function of performing pen input, the icon b sets the function of erasing input data with the pen, and the icons c to f indicate the color of the input character. To be set to.

Therefore, for example, when a character of a predetermined color is to be input by pen, the display position of the icon a is touched with the pen to select handwriting input, and one of the icons c to f is pen-input. Touch to set the function to select the color of input characters. Then, after these function settings are made, a character is drawn with a pen at a predetermined position on the screen. Although the case of setting the color has been described here, if it is possible to set other factors such as the font and size of the character, it is necessary to perform setting by another icon operation.

If an icon is used for each function that can be set in this manner, the operation becomes complicated and the operation is troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above points, the present invention has an object to make it possible to easily perform various settings when performing pen input in this type of data input device.

[0010]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a touch panel 22 for receiving data input by a contact position on the surface, and an input pen 50 for bringing the surface of the touch panel 22 into contact with the tip portion thereof. The touch panel 2 is provided with discriminating means 11 and 31 for discriminating the state of the input pen 50.
The mode of the input accepted in 2 is set, and the input processing is performed in the corresponding mode.

In this case, the input pen is provided with a signal output section, and the discrimination means is configured as a receiving section for the signal output from the signal output section to change the signal output from the signal output section of the input pen. The input mode is set.

Further, when the signal output unit is provided in the input pen, the signal output from the signal output unit is changed according to the operation state of the input pen.

When a signal output section is provided in the input pen, the signal output from the signal output section changes depending on the type of the input pen.

Further, in each case, the signal output section outputs the infrared signal and the receiving section receives the infrared signal.

Further, the discriminating means discriminates the contact state of the tip portion of the input pen on the touch panel.

[0016]

According to the present invention, the input device side determines the state of the input pen, and the mode is set automatically.

In this case, by changing the signal output from the signal output section of the input pen to set the input mode, it is possible to set a plurality of modes depending on the output state of the signal.

By changing the signal output from the signal output section according to the operation state of the input pen, the mode can be easily set only by selecting the output signal of the input pen.

By changing the signal output from the signal output section according to the type of the input pen, the mode can be easily set only by selecting the type of the input pen.

Further, by outputting the infrared signal at the signal output section, it can be realized with a simple structure using the infrared signal transmitting / receiving system.

Further, by determining the contact state of the tip portion of the input pen on the touch panel by the discriminating means, the mode can be set only by changing the shape of the tip portion of the input pen.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

This example is applied to a personal data processing terminal called PDA, which is relatively small in size for portable use. The internal structure is shown in FIG. 1 and the external structure is shown in FIG. . In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a central control unit (CPU) that controls data processing of each unit, and the central control unit 11 has a ROM in which program data and the like are stored.
12 and RA for storing data input from the outside
It is connected to M13.

Further, the central controller 11 is connected to the display controller 14 and the operation command processor 15 via a bus line. In the display control unit 14, the data supplied from the central control unit 11 is used as display data (bitmap data, etc.).
Based on the display data, the display drive of the liquid crystal display panel 21 that constitutes the display unit 20 is performed, and the liquid crystal display panel 21 is displayed as characters or figures.

A touch panel 22 is formed on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 21, and various operations can be performed by touching the display on the panel 22 with an input pen 50, which will be described later. The operation information of the touch panel 22 is discriminated by the operation command processing unit 15 and converted into operation data to be transmitted to the central control unit 11. In addition, the operation of the two keys 16a and 16b (disposed on the left and right sides of the display panel 21) provided in this device is also discriminated by the operation command processing unit 15 and is included in the operation data to be transmitted to the central control unit 11. To be converted.

A terminal section 18 and a card slot section 19 are connected to the bus line connected to the central control unit 11 via the input / output interface 17. By connecting the connectors of various external devices to the terminal portion 18,
Data can be transmitted to and from the connected external device. By inserting and connecting a data processing card such as a memory card into the card slot section 19, the data processed in the data processing card is read out to the central control device 11 side, or the central control device 11 is read. Data can be transmitted from one side to the card side.

Further, an infrared signal receiving section 31 and a light emitting section 32 are connected to a bus line connected to the central control unit 11 via an infrared interface 33, and the infrared signal received (received) by the infrared signal receiving section 31 is received. Is converted into control data by the interface 33 and the central control unit 1
1, the control data output from the central controller 11 is converted into infrared data by the interface 33, and the infrared data is output from the infrared signal emitting section 32.

In this case, by receiving and emitting an infrared signal using the infrared signal receiving section 31 and the light emitting section 32, bidirectional transmission of the infrared signal is performed with another data terminal device side having the same configuration. It is possible to transfer data by infrared signal.

In the present example, the infrared signal receiving section 31 also receives an infrared signal transmitted from the input pen 50 which performs a pen input by touching the touch panel 22.

The configuration of the input pen 50 used in the apparatus of this example will be described below. The pen 50 of this example is shown in FIG.
As shown in, a mode data generator 51 is provided inside, and the mode data generated by the mode data generator 51 is
The light is supplied to an infrared signal light emitting section 52 composed of a light emitting diode and a driving circuit thereof, and emitted as an infrared signal.
In this case, the mode data generator 51 has a switch 53.
Are connected, and different mode data is generated when the switch 53 is turned on and when it is turned off. Then, using the battery 54 as a power source, mode data generation and infrared signal light emission processing are performed. As the battery 54, a solar battery may be used in addition to a normal battery such as a button battery.

The pen 50 having the internal structure as described above is
It has the shape shown in FIG. That is, the tip 55 as a pen
Is thin, and the thin tip portion 55 is used for the display unit 2.
By touching the surface of 0 and drawing a character or the like, so-called pen input is performed. An infrared signal light emitting portion 52 is arranged near the tip portion 55, and an infrared signal is output from the light emitting portion 52 to the outside. Also, a switch 53 is provided at the end opposite to the narrowed tip 55, and the switch 53 can be turned on / off by pushing the end.

On the data processing terminal device 10 side,
Infrared signal light receiving unit 31 arranged adjacent to the display unit 20
Thus, the infrared signal output from the pen 50 can be received.

When the infrared signal receiving section 31 of the data processing terminal device 10 receives the infrared signal of the mode data, this data is supplied to the central control unit 11 via the bus line and the input mode indicated by the data is input. To set.

As an input mode set by the infrared signal supplied from the pen, there is a mode for setting the color, thickness, etc. of characters and lines input by the pen. For example, when the switch 53 of the pen 50 is in the off state, mode data for setting the input mode drawn in black is transmitted by an infrared signal, and when the switch 53 is in the on state, the mode data set for setting the input mode drawn in red. Is transmitted by an infrared signal.

In this way, by changing the infrared signal output by turning on / off the switch 53 of the pen 50, the input mode when the pen 50 is used to input data on the touch panel 22 is changed. To do. Therefore, it is not necessary to set the input mode by using the displayed icon or the like as in the related art, and the operability at the time of pen input is improved.

Although two kinds of input modes can be set here, as the pen 50, the mode data generator 51 can generate three or more kinds of mode data, and the switch 53 can make various kinds of modes. By enabling selection, more modes can be set with one pen.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the switch 53 outputs the infrared signal of the data corresponding to each ON / OFF state. However, for example, the mode data is generated only when the switch 53 is turned ON. When the infrared signal is transmitted, the special input mode (for example, the mode drawn in red) is set, and when the switch 53 is turned off and the infrared signal is not transmitted,
A normal input mode (for example, a mode drawn in black) may be automatically set.

Further, in order to prevent the consumption of the battery, the pen 50
The infrared signal may be output only when is used. For example, an acceleration sensor or the like may be incorporated so that the infrared signal is output only when the movement of the pen 50 is detected (that is, when an object performing an input operation is held in the hand).

Further, in the above embodiment, the input mode is set by transmitting the infrared signal, but by transmitting the signal from the pen by another method (for example, transmitting the radio signal in a predetermined frequency band), The input mode may be set.

The input mode may be set by detecting the state of the pen on the touch panel 22 side, instead of outputting any signal from the pen as in the above-described embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a pen 60 having a tapered shape at one end 61 and a rounded shape at the other end 62 is prepared. Then, when the touch area of the pen is detected on the touch panel 22 side and the contact area is small, the first input mode (for example, a mode for drawing a line) is set. When the contact area of the pen is large, the second
Set the input mode of (the mode that erases drawn lines, etc.).

By doing so, the input mode can be automatically set without providing a signal output means on the side of the pen 60, and a simpler construction can be realized.

When the one end and the other end of the pen are switched and used, the pen itself does not detect which end is being used on the touch panel 22 side. Side end (that is, the touch panel 22
It is also possible to detect which one of the end portions that comes into contact with) and output the setting signal of the corresponding mode.

In the case of a pen which outputs a signal for setting a mode such as an infrared signal, the mode which can be set by the switch is not changed as in the above-mentioned embodiment, but is prepared for one pen. One mode (function) may be used, a plurality of pens may be prepared, and the mode may be selected by selecting the pen to be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, eight pens 71, 7 housed in a case 70 are provided.
2, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78 are prepared, and each of the pens 71-78 has a built-in infrared signal light emitting circuit. Then, the pens 71 to 78 emit infrared signals of different codes.

By doing this, each of the pens 71-78
Functions can be assigned to each, and any mode among a plurality of input modes can be set by selecting a pen to be used without operating a switch or the like. For example, by causing the pen 71 to 78 to emit an infrared signal in a mode in which each pen is drawn in a different color, the color can be selected by selecting each pen. In this case, if each of the pens 71 to 78 is colored in a corresponding color, the colors that can be input are known at a glance, which is convenient.

Further, the input mode setting performed by the above-mentioned infrared signal transmission and the like and the conventional input mode setting by the icon display may be used together.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is applied to the portable personal data processing terminal called PDA, but it is needless to say that it is also applicable to the data input of other various data processing devices such as a personal computer.

[0047]

According to the present invention, since the input device side determines the state of the input pen and the mode is automatically set, the mode setting is performed only by setting the state of the input pen. It is not necessary to perform the operation of using a touch panel.

In this case, by changing the signal output from the signal output section of the input pen and setting the input mode, it is possible to set a plurality of modes depending on the output state of the signal.

Further, by changing the signal output from the signal output section according to the operation state of the input pen, the mode can be easily set only by performing the output signal selection operation of the input pen. The mode can be set by turning on / off the switch of the input pen.

By changing the signal output from the signal output section according to the type of the input pen, the mode can be easily set only by selecting the type of the input pen. The mode is automatically set only by selecting and using the pen corresponding to the mode to be set from the input pens.

Further, by outputting the infrared signal from the signal output section, the mode setting can be realized depending on the state of the input pen with a simple structure using the infrared signal transmitting / receiving system.

Further, by determining the contact state of the tip of the input pen on the touch panel by the discriminating means, the mode can be set only by changing the shape of the tip of the input pen. For example, one end side and the other end of the input pen can be set. By changing the shape between the side and the side, it becomes possible to set the mode simply by selecting the end to be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a data processing terminal device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a data processing terminal device to which an embodiment is applied.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of a pen according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a stored state of a pen according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mode setting screen using icons.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Central Control Unit (CPU) 20 Display 21 Display Panel 22 Touch Panel 31 Infrared Signal Receiver 50, 60, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 7
7,78 Pen 51 Mode data generator 52 Infrared signal emitter

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A touch panel for receiving data input according to a contact position on the surface, an input pen for contacting the tip of the surface of the touch panel, and a determination means for determining the state of the input pen. The data input device is configured to set the mode of the input accepted by the touch panel and perform the input process in the corresponding mode according to the determined state. 2. The input pen is provided with a signal output section, and the discriminating means is configured as a receiving section for a signal output from the signal output section, and a signal output from the signal output section of the input pen is changed. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the input mode is set. 3. The signal output from the signal output unit changes according to the operation state of the input pen.
The data input device described. 4. The data input device according to claim 2, wherein the signal output from the signal output unit changes depending on the type of the input pen. 5. The signal output section outputs an infrared signal,
5. The data input device according to claim 2, wherein the receiving unit receives an infrared signal. 6. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the discriminating means discriminates a contact state of a tip portion of the input pen on the touch panel.