CN1355898A

CN1355898A - Supplemental touch screen LCD panel

Info

Publication number: CN1355898A
Application number: CN 00805591
Authority: CN
Inventors: 杰里·莫斯科沃尔奇; 伊恩·C·霍尔
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-26
Filing date: 2000-02-18
Publication date: 2002-06-26
Also published as: WO2000050979A1; DE10084249T5; GB2363495A; GB0120919D0; JP2002538520A

Abstract

A supplemental, intelligent LCD panel (10) for use with a computer system. In one embodiment the LCD panel is used for displaying one or more tool, menu and/or status bars (26) of a software application program which would ordinarily be displayed on a primary monitor of the computer system. This significantly increases the useable area of the primary monitor to display information which the user needs to view or manipulate. In other embodiments the supplemental LCD panel incorporates a touch sensitive overlay (22) which not only allows the user to view the tool bars being displayed, but also to select, merely by touch, the various functions of the tool bar(s) being displayed thereon. The LCD panel (10) further enables a mouse cursor to be displayed thereon. This enables a mouse to be used with the present invention for those operations of a software application program that are best or most easily accomplished via a mouse before selecting a function box on a tool or menu bar. The preferred embodiments can be quickly and easily coupled to an existing USB port of a personal computer and mounted in a variety of orientations on a primary monitor so that the tool, menu and/or status bars can be displayed in the orientations intended by the particular software application being run.

Description

Supplemental touch screen LCD panel

The present invention relates to computer system, more particularly, relate to a kind of with auxiliary LCD plate desk-top or that the notebook computer system uses, this auxiliary LCD plate can make the tool bar of program move on the display of computer system, further activate with demonstration thereon, and by touch or through mouse.

The personal computer system is very general aspect commercial affairs and family's use.Such computer system generally comprises a computing machine, a monitor and the operating system based on graphical user interface (" GUI ").An a kind of like this example of system is the personal computer of an operation WindowsNT  operating system, keyboard, mouse and a cathode-ray tube (CRT) (" CRT ") or LCD display monitor.

A plurality of current software program by means of being adapted to operate in so desk-top and notebook computer system generally provides one or more tool bars, menu bar or status bar.These can monitor the user and/or the various functions of Control Software.They also can monitor the user and/or the various functions of Control Software.They make the user also can carry out various operations, as new or original file of printing, preserve or deletion being created or visited by concrete software program.Usually these occupy the considerable part of the available display area of CRT, LCD (LCD) or other forms of monitor.General above instrument, state or menu bar are arranged along the top and the bottom of display.Generally realize by these the various operations that can control by the use mouse.Tool bar generally comprises can initialization and/or the various functions of drop-down menu can be provided when selecting a concrete function through mouse.Drop-down menu provides to the user can be by the auxiliary choosing top with mouse-click or double-click visit, discharge if mouse is former, in case perhaps cursor of mouse has been positioned on the hope item on the drop-down menu just simply by discharging a left side or the right button on the mouse.

In view of above, will recognize that so the demonstration that one or more instruments, menu and/or status bar require may require the suitable number percent of the available display area of CRT or LCD monitor to be exclusively used in these.The needs that are used for controlling such tool bar through mouse are not only required in the use of the valuable display area on CRT or the LCD, and require the user to remove a hand from keyboard when the tool using bar, so that mouse beacon.In a plurality of software applications, require the user to use one or more tool bars continuously, as by means of various computer aided design softwares with controlling application program.Often from keyboard remove a hand, hold mouse, directed mouse is observed CRT simultaneously or LCD with cursor of mouse is placed on screen need it the place, click or double-click mouse, and last handle return the needs of its proper orientation on keyboard, the operation poor efficiency of expression highly significant.When the user need get at mouse with the control tool bar, this action also required the user to focus on his/her eyesight often again between monitor, mouse and keyboard.

In view of above, highly be desirable to provide a kind of can with the auxiliary display system of computer system and/or original display system interface so that show one or more instruments, state and/or the menu bar of the software application of operation on computers.This eliminates the needs that show these on CRT or LCD, enlarges markedly the available quantity that is used for showing on monitor with the display area of text or graphical information or both combinations, and this depends on the software application that is moving.Thereby, can show more information to the user at any given time, because being applicable to now, the space that common instrument, menu and/or status bar need on monitor shows other text and/or graphical information.

Further highly be desirable to provide a kind of can be with computer system interface with near the auxiliary display system of keyboard location, so that not only show one or more instruments, menu and/or the status bar of software application on it, and activate the concrete function that needs by touch display simply, and allow the user by secondary monitor control tool and/or menu bar.By this way, the user needn't hold mouse and his/her eye orientation on primary display screen with tool using and menu bar.This significantly reduces by the use of mouse and that the demonstration of tool bar causes on monitor is invalid.

Further highly be desirable to provide a kind of secondary computer display system, so that one or more instruments, menu and/or the status bar of software for display application program thereon, wherein auxiliary display system be suitable for being positioned on the monitor each position and can be with respect to the monitor motion to be suitable for user's hobby.

Above and other purpose is provided by a kind of auxiliary liquid crystal display (LDC) system according to a most preferred embodiment of the present invention.The auxiliary LCD system comprises having an intelligent LCD plate that is suitable for along the length of a size of main display monitor.The auxiliary LCD plate can comprise and be suitable for element that adjacent keyboard the places element of freely standing as computer system that perhaps it can install in the keyboard.

In a most preferred embodiment, the auxiliary LCD plate is arranged in a position of a part of inherent key top of keyboard, so that approaching easily when using keyboard.Auxiliary LCD plate in this embodiment comprises a touch-sensitive overlayer.This overlayer make the user can be simply by touch some visit on the LCD plate show thereon instrument and the various functions of menu bar, wherein the hope icon of instrument or menu bar manifests.By this way, the user does not need to remove a hand and stretches out away from keyboard area, as requiring when using mouse from instrument or menu bar selection function.But two hands of user keep near the key of keyboard.This has enlarged markedly the efficient of user in a plurality of software applications, wherein requires the user when using software, uses one or more instruments and/or menu bar continually.

In the above-described embodiments, the present invention includes controller touch pad (CTP) application program of on computer system, moving.The CTP application program allows the user to use the simple user interface to give CTP Task Distribution.Operate in software application on the personal computer to the input of user interpretation, and this input is converted to the appropriate command that is transferred to user application and/or computer operating system on request from the auxiliary LCD plate.

In this most preferred embodiment, the present invention uses an embedding CTP application program that is stored in the nonvolatile ram (RAM), to be created in " virtual " cursor that occurs on the auxiliary LCD plate.By this way, the user can use a part of information on mouse selection (promptly highlighted) basic display unit, and then the edge of mouse movement to basic display unit, produce a cursor of mouse so embed the CTP application program on the auxiliary LCD plate, the use that makes the user pass through mouse can be selected the function of wishing.Thereby for those functions of the highlighted part of information that wherein need be on basic display unit, the user may only select the function that needs by activating from the function of auxiliary LCD plate.For preferably or the easiest those functions of finishing by means of the use of mouse, the drawing of the highlighted or figure of text on basic display unit for example, the present invention is by means of mouse performance, makes the user can select to be presented at function on the auxiliary LCD plate through mouse.

In various other most preferred embodiments, a kind of device of a size hinge support auxiliary LCD plate along main display monitor is disclosed.Can select in the most preferred embodiment at another, one or more auxiliary LCD plate hinge-coupled to notebook a keyboard portion on, thereby when this computing machine of Operational Note, can realize advantage of the present invention.Disclose various other that comprise one or more auxiliary LCD plates and can select most preferred embodiment.

By reading following instructions and attached and, will understand various advantage of the present invention for those skilled in the art by with reference to following accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a kind of interior stereographic map according to auxiliary LCD plate of the present invention of keyboard that is contained in computer system;

Fig. 2 is the amplification stereogram of the plate of auxiliary LCD shown in a Fig. 1 part;

Fig. 3 is the simple block diagram of the plate of auxiliary LCD shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is the simplification calcspar with the auxiliary LCD plate of personal computer communication;

Fig. 4 A is the figure of first software element that uses with the present invention;

Fig. 4 B is the figure of second software element that uses with the present invention;

Fig. 5 is the stereographic map that can select most preferred embodiment of the present invention, represents that the fixing and hinge of hinge each other is fixed to a pair of auxiliary LCD plate on the keyboard;

Fig. 6 is the right stereographic map of auxiliary LCD plate that shows at Fig. 5 of make-position;

Fig. 7 is the stereographic map that can select most preferred embodiment of the display system of Fig. 4, shows a kind ofly removably to be connected to auxiliary LCD plate on the master monitor through telecommunication cable;

Fig. 8 is the rear view of two blocks of LCD plates shown in Fig. 7, shows how the auxiliary LCD plate is connected to master monitor;

Fig. 9 is the amplification stereogram of a part of the selected embodiment of master monitor shown in Fig. 8, shows that an one cover covers an electric connector that is used for the telecommunication cable pairing of auxiliary LCD plate in make-position;

Figure 10 is the stereographic map at the main LCD monitor rear portion of Fig. 9, cover is opened and the telecommunication cable of auxiliary LCD plate is prepared to be fixed on the electrical cnnector of exposure;

Figure 11 is the stereographic map along the auxiliary LCD plate of the vertical edge placement of master monitor;

Figure 12 is along the stereographic map of the fixing auxiliary LCD plate of the horizontal edge of one of main LCD monitor shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is the stereographic map that hinge is fixed to the polylith auxiliary LCD plate on a pair of main LCD monitor, shows how can rotate the auxiliary LCD plate, so that be arranged in vertical orientations or level orientation, is fit to the specific software of use and/or user's hobby;

With reference to Fig. 1, expression has a kind of touch-sensitive, auxiliary liquid crystal display (LCD) plate 10 that is contained in the computer keyboard 12, and keyboard 12 is electric again to be connected on the main display monitor that is indicated as a double screen LCD monitor system 14.Select mouse 16 to allow the user to control various tool and menu bar that the typical case uses by means of a plurality of software applications for one.Main display monitor 14 needs not to be the double screen system, and needn't comprise the LCD plate.In fact the display system of any other form can be with the display monitor of deciding.

Such as will be appreciated, 10 feasible use mouse 10 visits of auxiliary LCD plate and control and instrument and/or menu bar function associated are unnecessary basically or fully.Auxiliary LCD plate 10 is presented at one or more instruments, menu and/or the status bar of the software program that moves on the computing machine (not shown) that links with keyboard 12.This makes the display area of the suitable number percent of main display monitor 14 can be used for showing with text and/or graphical information.Auxiliary LCD plate 10 makes the user also can pass through to touch one or more part actuation tool of LCD plate 10 and/or one or more functions of menu bar simply.LCD plate 10 marked change dimensionally, but in a most preferred embodiment, almost stretch the total length of keyboard 12.

With reference to Fig. 2, show the part of auxiliary LCD plate 10 with the amplification pattern.LCD plate 10 comprises a LCD section 20 that is preferably in the key top in the part that is installed in keyboard 12.Although Fig. 2 shows the LCD plate 10 that installs in the keyboard 12, LCD plate 10 can comprise that also one is suitable for the coboundary of adjacent keyboard or the separate unit of placing Anywhere that the user likes.LCD plate 10 in fact also can be installed on the coboundary of keyboard 12 by external hardware, above the function key of keyboard 12.

LCD section 20 comprises a touch-sensitive (that is, ohmic) overlayer 22, and overlayer 22 makes the user simply by touching

specific function frame

26a, 26b, 26c or the 26d that can select a tool bar 24 on the surface of wishing the LCD section 20 on the functional block.For those functional blocks 26 that when touching, produce drop-down menu, the user only touches the tool bar item of hope, and then his/her finger is moved to particular item in drop-down menu downwards, and lift his/her finger then and leave overlayer 22 to select specific subfunction.Although have only four functional block 26a-26d to be illustrated among Fig. 2, will recognize the whole length of auxiliary LCD plate 10 and relatively large functional block can be shown.And, also can while display menu and/or status bar by means of one or more tool bars 24.Key constraints for the quantity that is presented at instrument, menu and/or status bar on the LCD plate 10 is the overall dimensions of LCD section 20.

Auxiliary LCD plate 10 thereby make the user select a plurality of functions and any other menu bar and do not need from tool bar 24 near computer mouse.This enlarges markedly the efficient of the system of using a computer, because the user does not need repeatedly to remove a hand from keyboard, hold mouse, mouse and its cursor are directed to hope point on the master monitor, click or double-click mouse, and then he/her hand returns keyboard, seeing that simultaneously keyboard places to confirm the correct hand on key.The position of the LCD plate 10 of adjacent key also makes the user more promptly locate back the hand that is used for being busy with LCD overlayer 22 on keyboard 12 in its tram on key closely.Usually a mouses and heavy-handed new location returned on the keyboard in the elimination in its correct orientation enough is used for enlarging markedly a man-productivity and significantly reduces human fatigue.

With reference to Fig. 3, the electric block schematic diagram of simplification of expression auxiliary LCD plate 10.Plate 10 comprises 32, nonvolatile memories of 30, volatile memory of a CPU (central processing unit) (CPU) (RAM) (that is flicker RAM) 34, reaches an input/output circuitry 36.Each of subsystem 30-36 is communicated by letter with touch-sensitive overlayer 22 with auxiliary LCD display segment 20 through a proper data bus 38.CPU 30 carries out all computing functions, comprises operation system and application program, image is offered LCD section 20, and data sent to input/output circuitry 36 and receive data from it.Volatibility RAM 32 preserves application program and operates needed ephemeral data.Non-volatile ram 34 is preserved operating system and application program.Non-volatile ram 34 keeps it to be independent of the data of its power rating.

LCD display segment 20 preferably includes the high resolving power color or the monochrome screen that can show a graphical user interface.Yet, will understand, in fact can use the display of any other form to replace LCD.But now, LCD forms a kind of compact conformation, in light weight, display device that contrast is high, and desirable one is suitable for purpose of the present invention.

Touch-sensitive overlayer 22 preferably includes that know, transparent, ohmic, a touch-sensitive film, and this film covers the active part of LCD section 20.Overlayer 22 is being applied to its lip-deep any pressure, as with by contact the pressure that produces with finger, convert to the message of CPU 30 the accurate X-Y position of description contact point to.Input/output circuitry 36 is provided at LCD plate 10 and communicates by letter with the bidirectional high speed between the computing machine, uses the industry standard communication protocols such as USB (universal serial bus) (USB) to operate by means of such communication computer.

To recognize, and can use other technologies to realize touch-sensitive overlayer 22.For example, if wish that capacitive detection and/or surface acoustic wave technique can be used for forming the touch-sensitive overlayer.And, although being described as, the present invention comprises a LCD section, can easily adopt other display techniques to replace liquid crystal technology.

With reference to Fig. 4, the auxiliary LCD plate 10 of expression is connected on the I/O communication circuit 42 of personal computer (PC) 44 through a high-speed communication bus (USB) 44 by means of input/output circuitry 36 tout court.Thereby LCD plate 10 can be rapidly and easily is connected on the PC 44, and condition is that the free USB port of PC 44 is suitable for.This makes auxiliary LCD plate 10 can retrofit for the actual any PC that comprises such communication bus.

With reference to Fig. 4 A and 4B, auxiliary LCD plate 10 comprises that one is stored in first software element 48 (Fig. 4 A) in the non-volatile ram 34 and one and operates in second software element 50 (Fig. 4 B) on the personal computer of LCD plate 10 and its use.Especially with reference to Fig. 4 A, represent 48 module of first software components.These modules comprise that Embedded Operating System 52, touch screen driver 54, video driver 56, the CTP such as the Microsoft CE  that can obtain from Microsoft Corproration  embeds application program 58 and a communication drivers program 60.Touch screen driver 54 is to the message of CPU 30 reports from touch overlayer 22.Video driver 56 converts the input from CPU 30 to be suitable for being presented on the LCD display segment 20 form.CTP embeds application program 58 and carries out a plurality of tasks.These tasks relate to 1) from receiving input about the CTP interfacing application programs that will show which graphic interface; 2) work with the graphic interface of display requirement with display driving software; 3) this input is reported back to the CTP interfacing application programs to the generation of user interpretation input, and through communication drivers program 60 as the function of representing by current graphical user interface; And 4) receive input from LCD plate 10 and produce a cursor of mouse (that is motion,, click, double-click etc.) with response user mouse action.The bidirectional data exchange of communication drivers program 60 management between I/O subsystem 36 and CPU30.

With reference to Fig. 4 B, second software element 50 comprises a CTP interfacing application programs 62 and a communication drivers program 64 especially.CTP interfacing application programs 62 is finished following function: 1) provide a device of selecting his plan which type of interface element to be distributed to auxiliary LCD plate 10 to the user; 2) the suitable diagrammatic representation of option interface element is sent to the LCD plate 10 that is used to show; 3) receive users' input from LCD plate 10, this input converted to appropriate command, and 4) a kind of method is provided, thus the user can he/her the LCD section 20 of cursor of mouse from main display monitor " motion " to auxiliary LCD plate 10 on.Communication drivers program 64 management communicating by letter between the communication port of the user machine system of being responsible for LCD plate 10 and CTP interfacing application programs 62.

The generation of the cursor of mouse on auxiliary LCD plate section 20 makes the user can use mouse in master monitor system 14, and then cursor of mouse is moved on the auxiliary LCD plate display segment 20, to be chosen in function or the operation that realizes on highlighted text and/or the figure.By this way, the present invention allows to use mouse to be presented at mode identical on the Primary Display System 14 with the instrument of seeming or menu bar.

Therefore auxiliary LCD plate 10 can be operated independently from the master monitor 14 of user machine system, allows the user to disconnect master monitor thus, simultaneously still through LCD plate 10 reception information.By means of its touch screen feature, LCD plate 10 also can be realized various types of handwriting recognitions and signature capture, and condition is that a nib is included in wherein.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a pair of touch-sensitive, auxiliary LCD plate 100 show through hinge 102 each other hinge connect, and also be connected on the keyboard 104 through hinge 106.With reference to Fig. 6, two plates 100 are expressed as tight orientation tout court.When not needing plate, the top plate 100 among Fig. 5 is folded in downwards on the lower plate 100.

Referring now to Fig. 7 and 8, a kind of auxiliary LCD plate 200 shows to become through a suitable telecommunication cable 204 and is connected on the main LCD monitor 202.In this embodiment, LCD plate 200 can comprise a touch-sensitive overlayer, and perhaps one or more instruments, menu and/or the status bar that uses for the software with operation can play secondary monitor simply.Can see that in Fig. 8 LCD plate 200 comprises the contact pin 206 in the suitable recess 208 in the rear surface 210 that is received in master monitor 202.When contact pin 206 was inserted in the recess 208 of auxiliary LCD plate 200, auxiliary LCD plate 200 was fixed firmly on the master monitor 202.Otherwise a kind of suitable hinge arrangement can comprise as the part of contact pin 206 to allow LCD plate 200 to rotate, watch Jiao Chu thereby it can be placed on for the best of individual.

Referring now to Fig. 9, the telecommunication cable 204 of auxiliary LCD plate 200 is expressed as at one end having a suitable electrical cnnector 214.Electrical cnnector 214 is connected on the pairing electrical cnnector 216 of master monitor 218.In this case, monitor 218 is identical with monitor 202, and difference is that a recessed area 220 forms along a back edge of the housing of monitor 218.Recess 220 comprises a slidable cover 222 (Figure 10), and slidable cover 222 is shown in an open position when middle, exposes connector 216.When auxiliary LCD plate 200 not in use the time, can upwards shift lid 222 onto shown in Figure 10 position, with coating electrical connector 216.

With reference to Figure 11, auxiliary LCD plate 200 is expressed as being connected on one of a pair of main LCD monitor 202, so that in vertically orientation extension.Figure 12 shows at the LCD of level orientation plate 200.Therefore will understand, LCD plate 200 can use to be suitable for the particular requirement of the software application that the user operates with various orientation.In addition, an end of auxiliary LCD plate 200 energy hinges fixing fixes on the place, a bight of any main LCD monitor 202, enters the vertical orientation shown in Figure 13 to allow plate 200 to rotate 270 ° from the level orientation shown in Figure 12.Obviously, the information that needs appropriate software " to stir " on the plate 10 shows, thereby can read these information easily.

With reference to Figure 13, show an example of the hinge erectility of auxiliary LCD plate 200.A linkage 224 that is connected on the plate 200 allows around level and the vertically bight rotation of one of main LCD monitor 202 between the orientation.Otherwise a hinge 226 that is arranged in monitor 202 sides adjacent allows LCD plate 200 to rotate, so that on one of monitor 202 or another top.Identical hinge 228 can be included in the place, a following trip edge of monitor 202, allow LCD plate 200 along a bottom level edge 230 of each monitor 202 from a monitor 202 to another rotation.Further, if desired, one or more bigger auxiliary LCD plates 232 can be connected on the monitor 202 through a suitable fabricated section.

By above, will understand, various most preferred embodiments of the present invention can both make the one or more tool bars of common display on a master monitor be presented at discretely on the auxiliary LCD plate, enlarge markedly the available display area on the master monitor thus.In certain embodiments, the auxiliary LCD plate comprises a touch-sensitive pads, this touch-sensitive pads not only allows the user to watch various tool, menu and/or the status bar that uses by means of software application, and only by selecting various functions with the functional block of a finger touch instrument or menu bar.This enlarges markedly those of repeated accesses that the user operates in the efficient of most of software applications and particularly needs tool bar, as various computer aided design software application programs.By means of these embodiment, the user does not need manually to reach mouse, mouse is oriented in while observation display on the mouse pad, reaches the functional block that cursor of mouse is moved to hope.Touch touch-sensitive, the auxiliary LCD plate control keeps both hands by allowing the user near the key of keyboard, simultaneously the various functional blocks of control tool and/or menu bar on demand.

Most preferred embodiment further can perhaps be installed on one or more LCD display boards, so that be moveable to the specific software of various orientation to be suitable for using in such a way easily for existing keyboard remodeling.Various most preferred embodiments also are connected on the existing USB port of personal computer easily, and therefore do not need the modification of pc hardware.If wish that the auxiliary LCD display board also can use with notebook.

Those skilled in the art will be recognized now that by above description broad sense of the present invention is lectured and can be realized with various forms.Therefore, described the present invention, should so not limit true scope of the present invention, because based on the research of accompanying drawing, instructions and following claims, other modifications become obvious for skilled professional although get in touch its object lesson.

Claims

1. one kind shows from the auxiliary LCD plate of the tool bar information of a software application on it being used for, and comprising:

A LCD section;

A software driver; And

An input/output circuitry is used for making information and to be presented on the described LCD section from a computing machine transmission.