JP2000112638A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability of an information processor by eliminating the labor and time for opening the cover of a main body in order to operate an input means such as a keyboard. SOLUTION: A vibration monitor part 101 observes a vibration by a vibration sensor part 102 and stores a vibration record in a storage part 104. Besides, the vibration record is compared with a prescribed vibration pattern, the contents are reported to a central processing unit 105 when it is judged that the prescribed vibration pattern is added and the central processing unit 105 executes a processing corresponding to the prescribed vibration pattern.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of performing an input with a simple operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a user has performed a desired process on an information processing apparatus by performing a series of input operations using a keyboard or a mouse or pressing a button switch to which a series of processes is assigned.

[0003]

However, the prior art has the following problems.

[0004] 1. Input means such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a button switch provided in an information processing apparatus are generally
It is housed inside the main unit or covered with a lid to prevent erroneous operation and protects from external force.If the user tries to use the information processing device in a place such as a car without a desk, the main unit is It was necessary to open the main body with the other hand to support and to operate the input means, making it difficult to operate.

[0005] 2. Like connecting to the host computer, sending and receiving e-mail, connecting to the Internet, etc.
In a process frequently performed by the user, a series of input operations and monitoring by the user are not often required. However, in a conventional information processing apparatus, the main body must be opened and a series of fixed operations must be performed each time. It was troublesome.

[0006] 3. Even if a series of processes is assigned to the button switch, operations such as opening the main unit are necessary because they are stored inside the main unit or covered with a lid to prevent erroneous operation and protect from external force. It took time to find the button switch that corresponds to the process.

[0007] 4. With the downsizing of the information processing apparatus, the keyboard and the button switches themselves have become smaller, and the locations where the button switches can be arranged have been reduced and the arrangement has become inappropriate, resulting in poor usability.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to improve the usability.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a signal detecting means for detecting a signal and whether a signal pattern detected by the signal detecting means matches a predetermined signal pattern. By providing a signal monitoring means for monitoring and a central processing unit for executing a process corresponding to a predetermined signal pattern when they match, a desired input can be performed only by giving a predetermined signal pattern to the information processing device main body,
This eliminates the need to open the lid of the main body or search for a button switch.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus includes a vibration monitoring unit 101, a vibration sensor unit 102, a clock unit 103
, A storage unit 104, and a central processing unit 105.

The vibration monitoring unit 101 monitors the vibration by the vibration sensor unit 102 at regular intervals T1 by the clock unit 103, and records the time at which the vibration was detected when the vibration within a certain range was observed. I do.

A predetermined vibration pattern is stored in the storage unit 104 in advance.
Is stored in the storage unit 1 by the clock unit 103 every fixed period T2.
The predetermined vibration pattern stored in the storage unit 04 is compared with the observation record, and it is determined whether or not the predetermined vibration pattern has been added. If it is determined that the predetermined vibration pattern has been added, the content is transmitted to the central processing unit 105. When notified, the central processing unit 105 performs a process corresponding to a predetermined vibration pattern.

Here, the period T1 for observing the vibration is a value sufficiently smaller than the vibration interval of a predetermined vibration pattern.
The period T2 for comparing the predetermined vibration pattern with the observation record is set to a value sufficiently larger than the time required for observing the predetermined vibration pattern.

In addition, by storing a vibration pattern observed only when the vibration has a strength within a certain range, it is possible to prevent an input unintended by the user due to a disturbance applied to the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an example of a predetermined vibration pattern and an observation record of the vibration pattern. FIG. 2A shows an example of a predetermined vibration pattern, which is determined by the number of vibrations 2, the vibration interval T3, and the error T4 of the vibration interval.

FIG. 2B is an example of an observation record, and shows that vibration was observed at time T5 and time T6.

In this case, if the observed number of vibrations is two in the predetermined pattern and the vibration interval (T6−T5) is within an error T4 with respect to the vibration interval T3 of the predetermined pattern, the predetermined vibration It is determined that the pattern has been observed.

FIG. 2C shows another example of the observation record.
This indicates that the vibration was observed three times at time T7, time T8, and time T9.

In this case, since the observed number of vibrations is different from the number of vibrations of the predetermined vibration pattern, it is determined that the predetermined vibration pattern has not been added.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vibration monitoring unit 101. In S101, it is determined whether or not the monitoring is to be continued. If the monitoring is to be continued, the observation record of the vibration is initialized in S102. In S103, it is determined whether the period T2 for comparing the predetermined vibration pattern with the observation record has elapsed. If not, in S104, it is determined whether the period T1 for observing the vibration in the vibration sensor unit 102 has elapsed. If so, the vibration is observed in S105, it is determined whether or not the vibration within a certain range is detected in S106, and if it is within the range, the time when the vibration is observed in the storage unit 104 in S107 is set. Record. Further, if it is determined in S103 that the period T2 for comparing the predetermined vibration pattern with the observation record has elapsed, it is determined in S108 whether the predetermined vibration pattern and the observation record match. This is notified to the device 105 by interruption. Upon receiving the notification, the central processing unit 105 performs a process corresponding to the predetermined vibration pattern.

Here, the notification from the vibration monitoring unit 101 to the central processing unit 105 is provided with a flag indicating that a predetermined vibration pattern has been detected in the vibration monitoring unit 101, and the central processing unit 105 periodically checks the flag. It may be carried out by a method of

The vibration monitoring unit 101 and the central processing unit 1
The function of the vibration monitoring unit 101 may be realized by the central processing unit 105 without using the components 05 as separate components.

In the first embodiment, the vibration with respect to the information processing device is used as the signal. However, an input signal from a switch provided on the surface of the lid of the information processing device may be used.

The processing corresponding to the predetermined signal pattern includes connection with a host computer, transmission and reception of e-mail, connection to the Internet, and the like.

[0027]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
The operability can be improved by eliminating the need to open the lid of the main body for operating a keyboard, a button switch, a trackball, or the like provided inside the information processing apparatus main body.

Further, since the input can be performed by detecting the vibration of the apparatus main body and the signal pattern by the input signal from the switch on the surface of the cover of the apparatus main body, the keyboard can be downsized with the downsizing of the information processing apparatus. Inconvenience due to improper arrangement of buttons and button switches can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a predetermined vibration pattern and an observation record of vibration.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of a vibration monitoring unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Vibration monitoring part 102 Vibration sensor part 103 Clock part 104 Storage part 105 Central processing unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A signal detecting means for detecting a signal, a signal monitoring means for monitoring a coincidence between a signal pattern detected by the signal detecting means and a predetermined signal pattern, and wherein the signal monitoring means comprises the signal detecting means. An information processing apparatus comprising: a central processing unit that executes a process corresponding to the predetermined signal pattern when it is determined that the pattern of the signal detected by the above and the predetermined signal pattern match. 2. A signal monitoring means for monitoring whether a signal pattern detected by the signal detection means matches a predetermined signal pattern or a signal pattern similar to the predetermined signal pattern. Information processing device. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal is a vibration to the information processing apparatus. 4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said signal detecting means detects only vibration having a predetermined intensity or more. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal is an input signal from a switch provided on a surface of a lid of the information processing apparatus.