JPH10187347A - Pointing device for information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain instruction input and voice input by the selection and designation of screen-displayed items with high operability without requiring any complicated operation. SOLUTION: In a pointing device main body (track ball) 1 for an information processor having a microphone 6, a right button switch 4 of the pointing device main body 1 is used also for the on/off switch of the microphone 6. Thus, instruction input by the selection of items and icons or the like screen-displayed on the display of the information processor can be operated, and the microphone 6 can be turned-on only by operating the button switch 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointing device used in an information processing apparatus such as a computer, and more particularly, to a trackball, a joystick, and a joystick used in an information processing apparatus that performs voice input using a microphone.
The present invention relates to a pointing device for an information processing device such as a touch panel and a tablet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an information processing apparatus such as a computer, items and icons displayed on a screen in a GUI environment are selected and designated by a pointing device such as a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, a touch panel, and a tablet. 2. Description of the Related Art It has been conventionally performed to specify a voice input item, a communication target person by communication, and to input voice information using an attached microphone.

As a pointing device with a microphone, there is a mouse with a microphone as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-248878.

FIG. 5 shows a mouse with a microphone as described above. This mouse with a microphone has a microphone 53 in addition to a left button switch 51 and a right button switch 52 equivalent to a normal mouse.
And an on / off switch (microphone switch) 54 for the microphone 53.

The microphone switch 54 is of a push button type, and enables the voice input of the microphone 53 only while being pressed. In other words, the microphone 53 is turned on only when the microphone switch 54 is pressed.

When an item, an icon or the like displayed on the screen is selected and designated by using the above-mentioned mouse with a microphone and voice input is performed, a cursor (mouse pointer) on the display should be selected and designated by operating the mouse. By moving the item over the icon and clicking on the left button switch 51, a command is input to the computer, the mouse body 50 is lifted, the mouth is brought close to the microphone 53, and the microphone is uttered while pressing the microphone switch 54, and the voice information is output. Input to peripheral devices linked to the computer screen display.

[0007]

Since the conventional pointing device with a microphone is configured as described above, when inputting voice by selecting and specifying items, icons, and the like displayed on the screen of the display, Since the left button switch 51 and the microphone switch 54 for mouse input must be pressed and the mouse body 50 must be lifted from the mouse operation surface during voice input, a pointing position (cursor position) is required each time voice input is performed. Fluctuates, an extra operation for correcting the pointing position is required, and the operation becomes complicated as a whole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and does not require a complicated operation and has good operability in command input and voice input by selecting and specifying items on a screen display. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a pointing device for an information processing apparatus which is improved so that the information processing can be performed.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is a pointing device for an information processing apparatus having a microphone, wherein a button switch of the pointing device is turned on and off of the microphone. It also serves as an off switch.

In the pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, a command input by selecting an item, an icon or the like displayed on a screen of a display of the information processing apparatus is performed by only operating a button switch of the pointing device. Is turned on (voice input valid state).

In a pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the next invention, the microphone is attached to a distal end of a stand tube having a base end fixed to the pointing device body.

In the pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, since the microphone is at the tip of the stand tube, the microphone becomes a stand type, and the mouth can be brought close to the microphone without lifting the pointing device.

A pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the next invention is characterized in that the pointing device is a trackball or a joystick.

In the pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the pointing device with a microphone is constituted by a trackball or a joystick which is a fixed-point type pointing device, and the position of the microphone does not change by the pointing operation.

[0015] A pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the next invention is a pointing device used in an information processing apparatus for performing voice input by a microphone, having a coordinate designation switch, and the coordinate designation switch is turned on / off of the microphone. It also serves as a switch.

In the pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, an instruction is input by selecting an item, an icon, or the like displayed on the screen of the information processing apparatus only by operating a coordinate designation switch of the pointing device. The microphone is turned on (voice input valid state).

[0017] A pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the next invention is characterized in that the pointing device is a touch panel or a tablet.

In the pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the pointing device is constituted by a touch panel (touch screen) or a tablet (digitizer).

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows Embodiment 1 of a pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
Is shown.

This pointing device is a trackball, and has a ball 2, a left button switch 3, and a right button switch 4 in a desktop fixed position pointing device main body 1, which is equivalent to a normal trackball. .

The base of the flexible stand tube 5 is attached to the pointing device body 1, and the microphone 6 is attached to the tip of the flexible stand tube 5.

When the right button switch 4 is clicked, the microphone 6 is turned on (a sound input valid state) in conjunction with a computer command input. That is, the right button switch 4 also functions as an on / off switch of the microphone 6 and serves as an interlocking switch between computer command input and voice input, and the left button switch 3 serves as a conventional computer command input switch.

The pointing device main body 1 is provided with a microphone switch 7 for turning on the microphone 6 without interlocking with the input of a computer command.
Note that this switch is not essential and may be omitted.

A composite cable 8 of a pointing device signal line 9 and an audio signal line 10 of the microphone 6 is connected to the pointing device body 1. A pointing device signal line 9 of the composite cable 8 is connected to a mouse input interface unit of an information processing device such as a computer (not shown), and an audio signal line 10 is connected to a voice input interface unit or an audio input device of the information processing device (not shown). Connected to.

Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus pointing device having the above configuration will be described.

When an item, an icon or the like displayed on the screen of a CRT or the like of the information processing apparatus is selected and designated, and voice input is performed, the ball 2 is rolled while monitoring the CRT screen to display the CRT screen. Move the cursor over the item or icon to be selected and specified, and click the right button switch 4 to input an instruction to the computer.

When the right button switch 4 is continuously depressed, the microphone 6 is turned on in conjunction with the input of the computer command. The voice information is input without the need for another switch operation and without lifting the pointing device.

As a result, command input and voice input by selecting and specifying items on the screen display can be performed with good operability without complicated operations.

It should be noted that, independently of the input of the computer command,
If it is desired to input only a voice, it is sufficient to speak toward the microphone 6 while pressing the microphone switch 7. In the case of inputting only a computer command, the left button switch 3 may be clicked as in the conventional case.

In this embodiment, the right button switch 4
The interlock switch between computer command input and voice input,
The left button switch 3 is a computer command input switch. On the contrary, the left button switch 3 can be a link command switch between a computer command input and a voice input, and the right button switch 4 can be a computer command input switch. Also, the assignment of the button switches can be changed by the system setting of the information processing apparatus.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 shows Embodiment 2 of a pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
Is shown. In FIG. 2, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1, and description thereof will be omitted.

This pointing device is a joystick. The desktop pointing device main body 1 has an operation lever 11, a left button switch 3 for inputting computer commands, and a right button switch for interlocking the input of computer commands and voice. It has four.

Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus pointing device having the above configuration will be described.

When an item, an icon or the like displayed on the screen of a CRT or the like of the information processing apparatus is selected and designated, and voice input is performed, the operation lever 11 is tilted while monitoring the CRT screen to display the CRT screen. Move the cursor over the item to be selected and the icon,
By clicking the right button switch 4, an instruction is input to the computer.

Also in this embodiment, the right button switch 4
When the microphone 6 is continuously pressed, the microphone 6 is turned on in conjunction with the input of the computer command. Therefore, the mouth is brought close to the microphone 6 by bending the flexible stand tube 5 and the microphone 6 is uttered toward the microphone 6 to separate The voice information is input without the need for a switch operation and without lifting the pointing device.

As a result, command input and voice input can be performed by selecting and specifying items on the screen with good operability without complicated operations.

It should be noted that, independently of the input of the computer command,
If only voice input is to be performed, it is sufficient to speak toward the microphone 6 while pressing the microphone switch 7, and if only computer command input is to be performed, click the left button switch 3 as in the conventional case. I just need.

Also in this embodiment, the right button switch 4
The interlock switch between computer command input and voice input,
The left button switch 3 is a computer command input switch. On the contrary, the left button switch 3 can be a link command switch between a computer command input and a voice input, and the right button switch 4 can be a computer command input switch. Also, the assignment of the button switches can be changed by the system setting of the information processing apparatus.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 shows a pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
Is shown.

In this embodiment, the touch panel 12 is a pointing device for menu selection and item input.
Is pasted on the screen 14 of the CRT 13 of the information processing apparatus. The touch panel 12 is of a resistive film type, an optical sensor type or the like, has a plurality of coordinate designating switches 15 in a matrix form, and selects a menu by touching a designated place with a finger on the screen display of the menu / item on the CRT 13.・ Enter items.

The microphone 16 is of a stand type provided at the tip of a flexible stand tube 18 erected on a base 17. The coordinate designation switch 15 also serves as an on / off switch for the microphone 16,
While the coordinate designation switch 15 is turned on, in other words, while the touch panel 13 is being touched by a finger, it is turned on (voice input valid state) in conjunction with computer command input.

The base 17 is provided with a microphone switch 19 for turning on the microphone 6 without interlocking with a computer command input.

The composite cable 8 of the pointing device signal line 9 and the audio signal line 10 of the microphone 6 is connected to the touch panel 12 and the microphone 16. A pointing device signal line 9 of the composite cable 8 is connected to a mouse input interface unit of an information processing device such as a computer (not shown), and an audio signal line 10 is connected to a voice input interface unit or an audio input device of the information processing device (not shown). Connected to.

In this embodiment, the CR of the information processing apparatus is
An instruction is input by selecting and specifying items, icons, and the like displayed on the screen at T13 by touching the touch panel 13 with a finger. While the touch panel 13 is being touched by a finger, that is, the coordinate designation switch 1
While the microphone 5 is in the on state, the microphone 16 is in the on state in conjunction with the input of the computer command. Audio information is input without requiring another switch operation.

As a result, command input and voice input by selecting and specifying items on the screen display can be performed with good operability without requiring complicated operations.

In this embodiment, since a switch for switching between a mode only for command input to the information processing apparatus and an interlocking mode between command input and voice input is not mounted, icons displayed on the CRT 13 on the screen are not provided. Interlocking or non-interlocking can be assigned in advance to the button, or interlocking or non-interlocking can be distinguished by a single click and a double click on the touch panel 12.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 4 shows a pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
Is shown.

In this embodiment, the tablet 20 is connected by the composite cable 8. Tablet 20
Has a plurality of coordinate designating switches 21 in a matrix, and performs menu selection and item input by touching a designated portion with a finger.

In this embodiment, a command is input by performing menu selection and item input by touching the tablet 20 with a finger. While the tablet 20 is being touched by a finger, that is, the coordinate designation switch 21
While the is on, the microphone 16 is turned on in conjunction with the input of the computer command. The voice information is input without the need to operate the switch.

Thus, command input and voice input by selecting and specifying items on the screen display can be performed with good operability without requiring complicated operations.

[0052]

As will be understood from the above description, according to the pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the items displayed on the screen of the information processing apparatus can be displayed only by operating the button switch of the pointing device. Since the command input by selecting the icons and the like is performed and the microphone is in the voice input valid state, the command input and the voice input by selecting and specifying the items on the screen display with good operability can be performed without complicated operation. Get to be done.

According to the pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the next invention, since the microphone is at the tip of the stand tube, the mouth can be brought close to the microphone without lifting the pointing device, and the operability of voice input is improved. improves.

According to the pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the next invention, since the pointing device with a microphone is constituted by a trackball or a joystick which is a fixed-position type pointing device, the position of the microphone is changed by the pointing operation. And the operability of voice input is improved.

According to the pointing device for an information processing device according to the next invention, a command input by selecting an item, an icon, or the like displayed on the screen of the information processing device is performed simply by operating a coordinate designation switch of the pointing device. At the same time, since the microphone is in the voice input valid state, command input and voice input by selecting and specifying items on the screen display can be performed with good operability.

In the pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the next invention, since the pointing device is constituted by a touch panel or a tablet,
The microphone is brought into a voice input valid state by a finger touch, and the operability of voice input is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a pointing device for an information processing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional mouse with a microphone.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 pointing device body, 2 ball, 3 left button switch, 4 right button switch, 5 flexible stand tube, 6 microphone, 7 microphone switch, 8 composite cable, 9 pointing device signal line, 10 audio signal line, 11 operating lever, 12 Touch panel, 13 CRT, 14 screens,
15 coordinate designation switch, 16 microphone, 17
Base, 18 Flexible stand tube, 19
Microphone switch, 20 tablet, 21 coordinate designation switch.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pointing device for an information processing apparatus having a microphone, wherein a button switch of the pointing device also functions as an on / off switch of the microphone. 2. The information processing apparatus pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the microphone has a base end attached to a tip end of a stand tube fixed to the pointing device main body. 3. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device is a trackball or a joystick. 4. A pointing device for an information processing device for performing voice input by a microphone, comprising a coordinate designation switch, wherein the coordinate designation switch also functions as an on / off switch of the microphone. Pointing device. 5. The pointing device according to claim 4, wherein the pointing device is a touch panel or a tablet.