JP2000194493A - Pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointing device capable of facilitating a continuous moving operations and a continuous scrolling operation on a display. SOLUTION: An operation start time operation position (D0) when an operation point is brought into contact with a touch panel is stored. When the operation of the operation point is stopped equally to or more than prescribed time, an operation end position at that time is stored as an operation end time operation point position (D4). After that, a cursor is subjected to a continuous operation or a continuous scrolling operation in accordance with a vector with D0 as a start point and D4 as an end point, a vector giving a maximum moving speed of the operation point between D0→D4 or a vector just before storing D4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointing device, and more particularly to a pointing device capable of facilitating continuous operation of a cursor or scroll on a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) is often used to facilitate the operation of a personal computer. However, a pointing device such as a mouse is used to move a cursor on a display. You. However, a portable personal computer such as a notebook personal computer requires a small pointing device, and thus a touch panel embedded in a keyboard is used.

Further, a mouse equipped with a touch panel and enabling additional operations such as screen scrolling and screen switching has been put to practical use. These touch panels are generally small and have a short operable moving distance. When the moving distance of the finger on the touch panel and the absolute moving distance of the cursor on the display correspond one-to-one, the operability deteriorates. .

[0004] In order to solve this, it is common to use the operable moving distance on the touch panel as the relative moving distance of the cursor on the display. However, according to the above method, when the cursor is moved from one end of the display to the other, it is necessary to repeat the movement of the finger on the touch panel, and the operability deteriorates.

[0005]

As one method for improving the operability, there is an acceleration operation for increasing the moving amount of the cursor when the moving speed of the finger on the touch panel becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold speed. However, the setting of the threshold speed is very delicate, and if the finger is moved at a speed not intended by the user, the cursor on the display may be lost.

As another method for improving operability, the touch panel is divided into a position control unit and a speed control unit, and when the touch panel is in contact with a position operation unit (for example, the center part of the touch panel), it is determined according to the amount of movement of the finger. When the contact position moves to the speed control unit (for example, the peripheral part of the touch panel), the cursor is continuously moved in the moving direction up to that point (Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-1178).
75 gazette).

However, in this method, when the cursor is to be continuously moved, the contact position must be moved to the speed control unit, and the operation cannot be complicated.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its first object to provide a pointing device capable of facilitating continuous operation of a cursor on a display.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a pointing device which facilitates continuous scrolling operation of a screen when combined with a pointing device of another type (for example, a mouse).

[0009]

A pointing device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises an operation detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an operation of an operation end, and an operation end when the operation detection means determines that an operation is present. A cursor shift vector determining means for determining a cursor shift vector in accordance with the operation vector, and detecting that the operation end position is unchanged for a predetermined period when the operation detecting means determines that the operation is present. And a cursor continuous transfer vector determined based on the cursor transfer vector determined by the cursor transfer vector determining means when the operation end position is detected to be invariable for a predetermined period by the position invariant detection means. Cursor continuous transition vector determining means.

In the present invention, the cursor is continuously moved according to the operation during operation of the operation end. The pointing device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a starting coordinate in which the cursor continuous transition vector determination means stores the coordinates of the operation end position at the start of the operation when it is determined that the operation detection means has shifted from the no operation state to the operation state. Storage means, end coordinate storage means for storing the operation end position at the end of the operation in which the operation end position is detected to be invariable for a predetermined period by the position invariance detection means, and operation end position for a predetermined period by the invariance detection means When it is detected that the operation end position stored in the start time coordinate storage means is a start point and the end point is the operation end position stored in the end time coordinate storage means, a vector is determined as a cursor continuous transition vector. 1 determining means.

In the present invention, the cursor is continuously moved based on a vector having the operation end position at the start of the operation as a start point and the operation end position at the end of the operation as an end point. In the pointing device according to a third aspect of the present invention, the cursor continuous movement vector determination means selects the operation vector that gives the maximum movement speed of the cursor from the operation vectors stored in the cursor movement vector determination means. Means, and second determining means for determining a cursor continuous transition vector based on the operation vector selected by the first operation vector selecting and outputting means.

In the present invention, the cursor is continuously moved based on the operation vector when the operation end is operated at the maximum speed. A pointing device according to a fourth invention is a pointing device, wherein the continuous cursor movement vector determination means selects the operation vector stored last among the operation vectors stored in the cursor movement vector determination means, And third determining means for determining a continuous cursor movement vector based on the operation vector selected by the second operation vector selecting means.

In the present invention, the cursor is continuously moved on the basis of the last stored operation vector having a predetermined size or more. A pointing device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention provides an operation detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of an operation of an operation end, and a scroll amount in accordance with an operation vector of the operation end when the operation detection means determines that an operation is present. Scroll amount determining means for determining, position invariant detecting means for detecting that the operation end position is invariable for a predetermined period when the operation detecting means determines that the operation is present, and position invariant detecting means And a continuous scroll amount determining means for determining a continuous scroll amount based on the scroll amount determined by the scroll amount determining means when it is detected that the operation end position is unchanged for a predetermined period of time.

In the present invention, the continuous scroll amount is determined according to the operation of the operation end.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a top view and an enlarged sectional view of a touch panel used in a pointing device according to the present invention. The touch panel 1 has a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. The frame part 11 has a touch part 12 provided therein. Note that the pressed position information is output via the lead line 13.

As shown in the enlarged sectional view (b) of the touch panel 1, an upper resistance film 151 made of, for example, indium tin oxide is formed on the entire lower surface of a flexible film 14.
Is formed. The upper resistive film 151 is disposed facing the lower resistive film 152 across the insulator 16 in the frame portion 11 and across the space in the touch portion 12.

The lower resistance film 152 is formed all over the glass substrate 17. An upper electrode 181 that contacts the upper resistance film 151 and a lower electrode 182 that contacts the lower resistance film 152 are embedded in the insulator 16, and are connected to the lead lines 13, respectively. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a control circuit of the touch panel.
Is connected to a microcomputer 22 via an A / D converter 21.

The lower electrode 182 has four parts 182X, 1
82X 'and 182y, 182y' is divided into, 182x and 182y is connected to the DC voltage bus V _cc via the switch 23, 182x 'and 182y' is grounded via the switch 24. FIG. 3 is a principle diagram of the pressed position detection, and shows a case where one point P on the film 14 is pressed. When one point P on the film 14 is pressed, the upper resistance film 151 contacts the lower resistance film 152 at a point P ′.

Here, the resistance per unit length of the lower resistance film 152 is fixed, and the distance between the two electrodes 182X and 182X 'is X, and the distance between the ground electrode 182X' and the point P 'is X. x, X input to the A / D converter 21
The direction voltage V _X is a voltage proportional to the X-axis direction pressing position as shown by the following equation. V _X = (x / X) · V _cc Note that the A / D converter 2
Since the resistance up to 1 is sufficiently smaller than the input resistance of the A / D converter 21, the effect can be usually ignored.

Similarly, the Y-direction voltage V _Y is a voltage proportional to the pressed position in the Y-axis direction as shown by the following equation. V _Y = (y / Y) · V _cc where Y is the distance between the two electrodes 182Y and 182Y ′, and y is the distance between the ground electrode 182Y ′ and the point P.

Accordingly, the ground electrodes 182X 'and 182
The coordinates of the pressed point (X ₀ , Y
₀ ) can be calculated by the following equation. X ₀ ← (V _X / V _cc ) · X Y ₀ ← (V _Y / V _cc ) · Y FIGS. 4 and 5 are circuit diagrams of the touch panel, and the upper electrode 181 X of the upper resistance film 151 in the X-axis direction is the It is connected to the A / D converter 21 via one transistor 21X. The Y-axis direction upper electrode 181 of the upper resistance film 151
Y is connected to the A / D converter 21 via the second transistor 21Y.

The first lower electrode 182X of the lower resistance film 152 in the X-axis direction is connected to the first lower electrode 182X via the third transistor 231.
Of the Y-axis direction lower electrode 182Y of the fourth transistor 23
2 is connected to a DC power supply Vcc. Lower resistance film 1
52, the second lower electrode 182X ′ in the X-axis direction is connected to the second lower electrode 18Y in the Y-axis direction via the fifth transistor 242.
2Y 'is grounded via the sixth transistor 242.

The disconnection of the first to sixth transistors is controlled by the microcomputer 22. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a first touch panel control routine according to the present invention. In step 60, a memory and an input / output port (not shown) included in the microcomputer 22 are initialized.

At step 61, it is determined whether or not the touch panel is pressed. When a negative determination is made, that is, when the touch panel is not pressed, at step 62, first o
Clear n flag (FOF) and return to step 61. Note that FOF is a flag indicating that the touch panel has transitioned from a non-touched state to a touched state. If an affirmative determination is made in step 61, that is, if the touch panel is being pressed, the pressed position coordinates (X
₀ , Y ₀ ), and the routine proceeds to step 64.

In step 64, it is determined whether or not the FOF has been cleared. When the determination is affirmative, that is, when the FOF has been cleared, it is determined that the touch panel has transitioned from a non-touched state to a touched state. After performing the following processing at 65, the process proceeds to step 67. The touch panel sets FOF on the assumption that the touch state has been entered.

The X coordinate “X ₀ ” of the pressed position immediately after shifting to the contact state is stored in X ₁ and _Xf . The Y coordinate “Y ₀ ” of the pressed position immediately after shifting to the contact state is represented by Y ₁ and Y
Store it in _f . Note that (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) represents the pressed position coordinates at the time of executing the previous pressed position coordinate detection routine, and (X _f , Y ₁ )
_f ) represents the coordinates of the pressed position detected immediately after the touch panel has transitioned to the contact state.

The timer 1 is started to execute the next pressed position coordinate detection routine. The timer 2 is started to measure the time of contact with the touch panel. The time measured by the timer 1 is extremely shorter than the time measured by the timer 2. For example, the time measured by the timer 1 is several milliseconds,
Is set to several hundred milliseconds.

Conversely, when a negative determination is made in step 64,
That is, when the FOF has not been cleared, it is determined that the contact state of the touch panel is continuing, and the cursor position is output in step 66, and then the process proceeds to step 67. In step 67, the process waits until the time measured by the timer 1 elapses, that is, until the execution period of the touch panel control routine elapses.
In step 68, the timer 1 is restarted, and the process returns to step 61.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a pressed position coordinate detection routine executed in step 63 of the touch panel control routine. In step 70, the first transistor 21X, the third transistor 231 and the fifth transistor 241 are controlled. Outputs ON command. And detecting the X-direction voltage V _X at step 71. Next, in step 72, an ON command is output to the second transistor 21Y, the fourth transistor 232, and the sixth transistor 242. Then, in a step 73, the Y direction voltage _VY is detected.

Then, in step 74, the pressed position coordinates (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) are calculated based on the following equation, and this routine is terminated. X ₀ ← (V _X / V _cc ) · X Y ₀ ← (V _Y / V _cc ) · Y Here, X is the distance between the two electrodes 182 X and 182 X ′, and Y is the distance between the two electrodes 182 Y and 182 Y ′. Is the distance.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a first cursor coordinate output routine executed in step 66 of the touch panel control routine. In step 80, it is determined whether the time measured by the timer 2 has elapsed. If an affirmative determination is made in step 80, that is, if the time counted by the timer 2 has elapsed after the touch panel has shifted to the contact state, the pressed position coordinates ( _Xf , _Yf ) immediately after the touch panel has shifted to the contact state in step 81. The moving distance (ΔX ₁ , ΔY) between the current pressing position coordinates (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) at the time when the timer 2 has counted the time
₁ ) is calculated by the following equation.

ΔX ₁ ← (X ₀ −X _f ) ΔY ₁ ← (Y ₀ −Y _f ) In step 82, the relative movement coordinates (X _out , Y _out ) are calculated based on the movement distance (ΔX ₁ , ΔY ₁ ). And step 8
Proceed to 8. If a negative determination is made in step 80, that is, if the time counted by the timer 2 has not elapsed after the touch panel has shifted to the contact state, the current time is detected in step 83 from the previously detected pressing position (X ₁ , Y ₁ ). The movement distance (ΔX ₀ , ΔY ₀ ) to the pressed position (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) is calculated by the following equation.

ΔX ₀ ← (X ₀ −X ₁ ) ΔY ₀ ← (Y ₀ −Y ₁ ) In step 84, it is determined whether or not the moving distance is within a square having one side 2a. When a negative determination is made in step 84, that is, when the moving distance is outside the square of one side a, it is determined that the pressed position is moving and the timer 2 is determined in step 85.
Is restarted, and the routine proceeds to step 86. Step 84
When the determination is affirmative, that is, when the moving distance is within the square having one side 2a, it is determined that the pressed position has not moved, and the process proceeds directly to step 86 without restarting the timer 2.

At step 86, the moving distance (ΔX ₀ , Δ
After calculating the relative movement coordinates (X _out , Y _out ) based on Y ₀ ), the previous pressed position is updated by the following formula in step 87, and the process proceeds to step 88. X ₁ ← X ₀ Y ₁ ← Y ₀ Finally, in step 88, the relative movement coordinates (X _out , Y _out )
A host computer (not shown) whose cursor position is controlled by the pointing device according to the present invention.
And the routine ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the relative movement coordinate calculation routine executed in steps 82 and 86 of the cursor coordinate output routine. In step 90, the X coordinate _Xou of the relative movement distance of the cursor on the display of the host computer. Calculate _t . X _out ← h · ΔX Here, ΔX is ΔX ₁ in step 82 and ΔX ₀ in step 86. H is set to H ₁ in step 82 and H ₀ in step 86, but H ₁ > H ₀ .

Next, at step 91, the relative moving distance Y of the cursor on the display of the host computer is calculated.
The coordinates Y _out are calculated, and this routine ends. Y _out ← k · ΔY Here, ΔY is ΔY ₁ in step 82 and ΔY ₀ in step 86. Also, k is set to K ₁ in step 82 and K ₀ in step 86, but K ₁ > K ₀ .

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the first embodiment, in which the pressed position on the touch panel is set to a point T _O → T ₁ → T ₂ →
T ₃ → T ₄ and move, and kept pressed at point T ₄ 1 sec, shows a case where the subsequent release contact with the touch panel. That is, the T _O is the start of the operation vector in the first embodiment, the end point is the T _4. Then, the cursor on the display moves from the point D _O to D _O → D ₁ → D ₂ →
After moving the D ₃ → D _4, continuously moving the point D ₄ to the vector T _O → T D ₄ point at a distance of a predetermined multiple of ₄ 'as a starting point. That is, the cursor shifts vector D _O → D ₄ becomes in the first embodiment, the cursor continuously transition vector becomes D _O → D ₄ '.

In this case, if the cursor position is located above the display, the screen is scrolled downward until a point D ₄ ′ is displayed in the display. In the first embodiment, when the pressed coordinates at the start of pressing and the pressed coordinates at the time of pressing release match, the cursor does not move continuously. The second embodiment solves the above problem, and controls the cursor in accordance with the maximum value of the change speed of the pressed position from the start of the press until the release.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a second cursor coordinate output routine executed in step 66 of the touch panel control routine in the second embodiment. In step 1100, it is determined whether the time measured by the timer 2 has elapsed. . When an affirmative determination is made in step 1100, i.e., when the touch panel has passed counting of the timer 2 times after shifting to contact the moving distance (ΔX _1, ΔY ₁₎ to be described later in step 1101 relative movement coordinates based on (X _out , Y
_out ) is calculated, and the flow advances to step 1109.

When a negative determination is made in step 1100,
That is, if the time counted by the timer 2 has not elapsed after the touch panel has shifted to the contact state, the pressed position (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) detected in step 1102 from the previously detected pressed position (X ₁ , Y ₁ ). ) (ΔX ₀ , ΔY
₀ ) is calculated by the following equation. ΔX ₀ ← (X ₀ −X ₁ ) ΔY ₀ ← (Y ₀ −Y ₁ ) In step 1103, it is determined whether or not the moving distance is a predetermined square of side a. Then, step 1103
If a negative determination is made in step 1, that is, if the moving distance is a square having one side 2a, it is determined that the pressed position is moving and the timer 2 is restarted in step 1104, and step 1105 is performed.
Proceed to. When an affirmative determination is made in step 1103, that is, when the moving distance is a square with one side a, it is determined that the pressed position has not moved, and the process proceeds directly to step 1105 without restarting the timer 2.

In step 1105, the currently detected pressing position (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) from the previously detected pressing position (X ₁ , Y ₁ )
It is determined whether or not the square value of the movement distance up to Y ₀ ) is equal to or greater than the square value rr of the movement distance stored up to the previous time. Note that the touch panel control routine according to the present invention
Is activated at every time counted by
Is proportional to the square value of the moving speed of the pressed position.

When an affirmative determination is made in step 1105,
That is, when the square value of the moving speed of the pressed position is larger than the maximum value of the square value of the moving speed of the pressed position stored up to the previous time, the square value rr of the moving distance is updated in step 1106. At the same time, ΔX ₁ is replaced with ΔX ₀ and ΔY ₁ is replaced with ΔY ₀ , and the process proceeds to step 1107. Step 1
When a negative determination is made in 105, that is, when the square value of the moving speed of the pressed position is smaller than the maximum value of the moving speed of the pressed position stored up to the previous time, the above processing is not performed. Proceed directly to step 1107.

[0043] In step 1107 (ΔX _0, ΔY ₀₎ to on the basis of the relative movement coordinates (X _out, Y _{ou t)} After calculating,
In step 1108, the last pressed position is updated by the following equation, and the flow advances to step 1109. X ₁ ← X ₀ Y ₁ ← Y ₀ Finally, in step 1109, the relative movement coordinates (X _out , Y
_out ) is transmitted to the host computer whose cursor position is controlled by the pointing device according to the present invention, and this routine ends. In this processing, r
It is assumed that r is cleared in step 62 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining another processing method executed in place of steps 1105 and 1106 of the second cursor coordinate output routine. That is, following steps 1105 and 1106 of the second cursor coordinate output routine, step 1201 follows.
Is executed, and the absolute value of the X component ΔX _{0 and} the absolute value of the Y component ΔY ₀ of the moving distance from the previously detected pressed position (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) to the currently detected pressed position (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) Determine which value is greater.

When the absolute value of ΔX ₀ is larger,
In step 1202, it is determined whether the square value of ΔX ₀ is larger than the maximum value rr of the square value of the moving distance stored up to the previous time.
The maximum value rr of the power value is updated, and the process proceeds to step 1206.
If the absolute value of ΔY ₀ is larger, step 12
At 04, it is determined whether the square value of ΔY ₀ is greater than the maximum value rr of the square value of the moving distance stored up to the previous time, and if it is large, at step 1205, the maximum value of the square value of the moving distance is determined. The value rr is updated, and the process proceeds to step 1206.

In step 1206, the last pressed position is updated by the following equation, and the flow advances to step 1107. X ₁ ← X ₀ Y ₁ ← Y ₀ Note that when a negative determination is made in steps 1202 and 1204, that is, when it is not necessary to update the maximum value rr of the square value of the moving distance, the process directly proceeds to step 1107. In this processing, rr is determined in step 62 of FIG.
Shall be cleared by

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the second embodiment, in which the pressed position on the touch panel is set to a point T _O → T ₁ → T ₂ →
T ₃ → T ₄ and move, and kept pressed at point T ₄ 1 sec, shows a case where the subsequent release contact with the touch panel. In this case, T _O → T ₁ , T ₂ → T ₃ , and T ₃
→ The moving speed from T _{1 to} T ₂ is higher than the moving speed of T ₄ , that is, the operation vector that gives the maximum transition speed is T ₁ →
And a T _2.

Then, the cursor on the display moves from the point D _O as a starting point to D _O → D ₁ → D ₂ → D ₃ → D _4, and then starts at the point D ₂ as a predetermined multiple of the vector T ₁ T ₂ . To the point D ₂ ′ at a distance of That is, the second
In the embodiment, the cursor continuous transition vector is D ₁ →
D ₂ ′. In this case, when the cursor position goes out of the display, the screen is scrolled until the point D ₂ ′ is displayed in the display.

In the second embodiment, when the speed becomes maximum in the middle of the movement of the pressed position, the cursor may move in a direction not intended by the user, and the cursor may be lost. The third embodiment solves the above problem,
The cursor moves in the direction of movement of the pressed position on the touch panel immediately before the release of the pressed state. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a third cursor coordinate output routine executed in step 66 of the touch panel control routine in the third embodiment. In step 1400, it is determined whether the time measured by the timer 2 has elapsed.

When a positive determination is made in step 1400,
That is, if the time counted by the timer 2 has elapsed after the touch panel has shifted to the contact state, the relative movement coordinates (X) are determined in step 1101 based on the movement distances (ΔX ₁ , ΔY ₁ ) described later.
_out , Y _out ) and proceeds to step 1409. If a negative determination is made in step 1400, that is, if the time counted by the timer 2 has not elapsed after the touch panel has shifted to the touch state, the touched position (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) previously detected in step 1402 is detected this time. The movement distance (ΔX ₀ , ΔY ₀ ) to the pressed position (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) is calculated by the following equation.

ΔX ₀ ← (X ₀ −X ₁ ) ΔY ₀ ← (Y ₀ −Y ₁ ) In step 1403, the moving distance is determined by a predetermined radius (=
It is determined whether it is within the circle of a). And step 14
When a negative determination is made in step 03, that is, when the moving distance is outside the circle having the radius a, it is determined that the pressed position is moving and the timer 2 is restarted in step 1404, and step 1405 is performed.
Proceed to. When an affirmative determination is made in step 1403, that is, when the moving distance is within the circle having the radius a, it is determined that the pressed position has not moved, and the process directly proceeds to step 1405 without restarting the timer 2.

In step 1405, the currently detected pressing position (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) from the previously detected pressing position (X ₁ , Y ₁ )
The square value of the moving distance to Y ₀ ) is a predetermined value b
It is determined whether or not (b> a). Step 1405
Is affirmative, ie, the moving speed of the pressed position is 2
If the power value is larger than the predetermined value b, step 1106
Then, ΔX ₁ is replaced with ΔX ₀ and ΔY ₁ is replaced with ΔY ₀ , and the process proceeds to step 1407.

When a negative determination is made in step 1405, that is, when the square value of the moving speed of the pressed position is smaller than the predetermined value b, the above processing is not directly performed and step 14 is performed.
Proceed to 07. In step 1407 (ΔX _0, ΔY ₀₎ to on the basis of the relative movement coordinates (X _out, Y _{ou t)} After calculating,
In step 1408, the last pressed position is updated by the following expression, and the flow advances to step 1409.

X ₁ ← X ₀ Y ₁ ← Y ₀ Finally, at step 1409, the relative movement coordinates (X _out , Y
_out ) is transmitted to the host computer whose cursor position is controlled by the pointing device according to the present invention, and this routine ends.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining another processing method executed in place of steps 1405 and 1406 of the third cursor coordinate output routine. That is, following steps 1403 and 1404 of the third cursor coordinate output routine 1, step 1501 follows.
Is executed, and the absolute value of the X component ΔX _{0 and} the absolute value of the Y component ΔY ₀ of the moving distance from the previously detected pressed position (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) to the currently detected pressed position (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) Determine which value is greater.

When the absolute value of ΔX ₀ is larger,
In step 1502, it is determined whether the square value of ΔX ₀ is greater than a predetermined value b, and the process proceeds to step 1504. When the absolute value of ΔY ₀ is larger, ΔY
It is determined whether the square value of ₀ is greater than the predetermined value b, and the process proceeds to step 1504. In step 1504, the last pressed position is updated by the following expression, and the flow advances to step 1407.

X ₁ ← X ₀ Y ₁ ← Y _{0 If a} negative determination is made in steps 1502 and 1503, that is, if it is not necessary to update the previously pressed position, the flow directly proceeds to step 1407. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the second embodiment, in which the pressed position on the touch panel is moved from a point T _O → T ₁ → T ₂ → T ₃ → T ₄ to a point T ₄
Shows that the touch panel is kept pressed for one second and then released from the touch panel. In this case, the operation vector stored last is vector T ₃ → T ₄ .

Then, the cursor on the display moves from the point D _O as a starting point to D _O → D ₁ → D ₂ → D ₃ → D _4, and then starts at the point D ₃ as a predetermined multiple of the vector T ₃ T ₄ . To the point D ₄ ′ at a distance of That is, the cursor continuous transition vector is D ₃ → D ₄ ′. In this case, if the cursor position goes out of the display, the point D ₄ ′
The screen scrolls until appears in the display.

The case where the cursor on the display is moved by the touch panel has been described above. However, when a small touch panel is mounted on the mouse (ie, when two different types of pointing devices are combined), the so-called scroll amount is Can also be controlled. FIG. 17 shows an example of a window displayed on the display. A vertical scroll bar 171 is displayed at the right end of the window 17 and a horizontal scroll bar 173 is displayed at the lower end. Further, a vertical scroll button 172 is displayed in the vertical scroll bar 171, and a horizontal scroll button 174 is displayed in the horizontal scroll bar 173.

When the number of pointing devices is one, the cursor is moved to the vertical scroll button 172.
If you move the cursor vertically after moving it up,
The display contents of the window 17 are scrolled up and down by moving the vertical scroll button 172 in the vertical scroll bar 171 in the vertical direction. When the cursor is moved in the horizontal direction after moving the cursor on the horizontal scroll button 174, the horizontal scroll button 174 is displayed.
Is moved in the horizontal direction within the horizontal scroll bar 172 to scroll the display content of the window 17 right and left.

That is, when there is only one pointing device, it is necessary to place the cursor on the scroll button for scrolling, and it is impossible to avoid an increase in the number of operations of the pointing device. Therefore,
A small touch panel is mounted between the click switches of the mouse. The cursor can be moved by moving the mouse, and the scroll amount can be controlled by the touch panel.

FIG. 18 is a top view of a mouse with a touch panel. A touch panel 183 is provided between a right click switch 181 and a left click switch 182. Then, the scroll amount is controlled by moving a finger on the touch panel 183. FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a scroll amount control routine according to the present invention. In step 190, a memory and an input / output port (not shown) included in the microcomputer 22 are initialized.

In step 191, it is determined whether the touch panel is pressed. If a negative determination is made, that is, if the touch panel is not pressed, the FO is determined in step 192.
Clear F and return to step 191. Note that FOF is a flag indicating that the touch panel has transitioned from a non-touched state to a touched state. Step 191
When the determination is affirmative in step, that is, when the touch panel is pressed, the coordinates of the pressed position (X ₀ ,
Y ₀ ) is detected, and the routine proceeds to step 194.

In step 194, it is determined whether the FOF has been cleared. If the determination is affirmative, that is, if the FOF has been cleared, it is determined that the touch panel has shifted from a non-touched state to a touched state. After executing the following processing in 195, the process proceeds to step 197. The touch panel is FO
Set F.

The X coordinate “X ₀ ” of the pressed position immediately after shifting to the contact state is stored in X ₁ and _Xf . The Y coordinate “Y ₀ ” of the pressed position immediately after shifting to the contact state is represented by Y ₁ and Y
Store it in _f . Note that (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) represents the pressed position coordinates at the time of executing the previous pressed position coordinate detection routine, and (X _f , Y ₁ )
_f ) represents the coordinates of the pressed position detected immediately after the touch panel has transitioned to the contact state.

The timer 1 is started to execute the next pressed position coordinate detection routine. The timer 2 is started to measure the time of contact with the touch panel. The time measured by the timer 1 is extremely shorter than the time measured by the timer 2. For example, the time measured by the timer 1 is several milliseconds,
Is set to several hundred milliseconds.

On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 194, that is, if the FOF is not cleared, the scroll data is output in step 196, and
Go to 7. In step 197, the process waits until the time measured by the timer 1 elapses, that is, until the execution cycle of the scroll button control routine elapses. In step 198, the timer 1 is restarted and the process returns to step 191.

The detection of the pressed position coordinates in step 193 is performed by a pressed position coordinate detection routine shown in FIG. FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a first scroll data output routine executed in step 196 of the scroll amount control routine, and is shown in step 200.
It is determined whether the time counted by the timer 2 has elapsed.

When an affirmative determination is made in step 200, that is, when the time counted by the timer 2 has elapsed after the touch panel has shifted to the contact state, the pressed position coordinates (X _f , Y _f )
And the current pressed position coordinates (X
₀ , Y ₀ ) (ΔX ₁ , ΔY ₁ ) is calculated by the following equation.

ΔX ₁ ← (X ₀ −X _f ) ΔY ₁ ← (Y ₀ −Y _f ) In step 202, scroll data (X _s , Y _s ) is calculated based on the distance (ΔX ₁ , ΔY ₁ ). Step 20
Proceed to 8. If a negative determination is made in step 200, that is, if the time counted by the timer 2 has not elapsed after the touch panel has shifted to the contact state, the touched position (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) previously detected in step 203 is detected this time. The distance (ΔX ₀ , ΔY ₀ ) to the pressed position (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) is calculated by the following equation.

ΔX ₀ ← (X ₀ −X ₁ ) ΔY ₀ ← (Y ₀ −Y ₁ ) At step 204, it is determined whether or not the moving distance is within a square of side a. Then, when a negative determination is made in step 204, that is, when the moving distance is outside the square of one side a, it is determined that the pressed position is moving, the timer 2 is restarted in step 205, and the process proceeds to step 206. When the determination is affirmative in step 204, that is, when the moving distance is one side a
If it is within the square, it is determined that the pressed position has not moved, and the step 2 is directly performed without restarting the timer 2.
Proceed to 6.

At step 206, the distances (ΔX ₀ , ΔY ₀ )
After calculating the scroll data (X _s , Y _s ) based on the above, the previously pressed position is updated by the following formula in step 207, and the process proceeds to step 208. X ₁ ← X ₀ Y ₁ ← Y ₀ Finally, at step 208, the scroll data (X _s ,
Y _s ) is transmitted to a host computer (not shown) whose scroll amount is controlled by a touch panel mounted on the mouse, and this routine ends.

FIG. 21 shows a first example of the scroll data output routine executed in steps 202 and 206 of the routine.
A flowchart of the scroll data calculation routine calculates the X-direction (lateral direction) scroll amount X _s on the display at step 210. X _s ← h · ΔX where ΔX is ΔX ₁ in step 202,
In step 206, it is ΔX ₀ . Further, h is the H ₁ in step 202, but is set in H ₂ at step 206, an H _1> H _2.

Next, calculate the Y direction (vertical direction) scroll amount Y _s on the display in step 211, the routine ends. Y _s ← k · ΔY Here, ΔY is ΔY ₁ in step 202,
In step 206, it is ΔY ₀ . Also, k is set to K ₁ in step 202 and K ₂ in step 206, where K ₁ > K ₂ .

In the first scroll data calculation routine, when the pressed position is moved diagonally on the pointing device, the vertical scroll and the horizontal scroll are simultaneously executed. If the user scrolls in two directions at the same time, there is a high possibility that the user loses sight of the display position. Therefore, it is possible to scroll only in the larger one of the absolute values of the Y component and the X component of the movement vector of the pressed position.

FIG. 22 shows a second example of the scroll data output routine executed in steps 202 and 206 of the scroll data output routine.
Is a flowchart of the scroll data calculation routine, and it is determined in step 220 whether the absolute value of ΔX is larger than the absolute value of ΔY. Here, ΔX is ΔX ₁ in step 202 and ΔX ₀ in step 206. ΔY is ΔY ₁ in step 202 and ΔY ₀ in step 206.

When an affirmative determination is made in step 220, that is, when the absolute value of ΔX is larger than the absolute value of ΔY, in step 225, a predetermined value m times the absolute value of ΔX (0 ≦ m ≦ 1) Is greater than the absolute value of ΔY. When an affirmative determination is made in step 225, that is, when m times the absolute value of ΔX is greater than the absolute value of ΔY calculates the moving distance X _s of the scroll button on the X-direction on the display (transverse direction) at step 221 .

X _s ← h · ΔX Here, h is set to H ₁ in step 202 and H ₂ in step 206, but H ₁ > H ₂ .
The movement distance Y _s of the scroll button Y direction (vertical direction) and this routine is finished as zero at step 212.

Y _s ← 0 When a negative determination is made in step 220, that is, when the absolute value of ΔY is larger than the absolute value of ΔX, it is determined in step 226 whether m times the absolute value of ΔY is larger than the absolute value of ΔX. judge. When a positive determination is made in step 226, that is, ΔY
M times the absolute value of is greater than the absolute value of ΔX is set to zero the moving distance X _s of the scroll buttons in the X direction (lateral direction) at step 213.

X _s ← 0 Next, at step 214, the moving distance Y _s of the scroll button in the Y direction (vertical direction) on the display is calculated, and this routine ends. Y _s ← k · ΔY Here, k is set to K ₁ in step 202 and K ₂ in step 206, but K ₁ > K ₂ .

Step 225 or step 226
When the negative determination is made at step 227, when m times the absolute value of ΔX is smaller than the absolute value of ΔY, or when m times the absolute value of ΔY is smaller than the absolute value of the movement distance X _s of the scroll buttons, step 228 calculates the moving distance Y _s of the scroll button on the Y-direction on the display and this routine is terminated.

X _s ← h · ΔX Y _s ← k · ΔY Here, h and k are set to predetermined values. In the above description, the case where the first cursor coordinate output routine of FIG. 8 is applied to the scroll data output routine is described.
The third cursor coordinate output routine of No. 4 can be applied to the scroll data output routine.

In this case, steps 1101 and 1107 of the second cursor coordinate output routine, and steps 1401 and 1407 of the third cursor coordinate output routine.
, A first or second scroll data calculation routine is executed. Further, in step 1109 of the second cursor coordinate output routine and in step 1409 of the third cursor coordinate output routine, scroll data is output instead of the coordinates.

Further, in the pointing device according to the present invention, the same position is moved a plurality of times in a short time (for example, two times).
It is possible to assign a hit (hereinafter, referred to as multi-touch) to a preset specific function (for example, execution of a specific program). FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a second touch panel control routine according to the present invention. In step 2300, a memory and an input / output port (not shown) included in the microcomputer 22 are initialized.

In step 2301, it is determined whether the touch panel is pressed. If a negative determination is made, that is, if the touch panel is not pressed, the FOF is cleared in step 2302, the specific function is turned off in step 2303, and the specific function is turned off. Return to When an affirmative determination is made in step 2301, that is, when the touch panel is pressed, in step 2304, the pressed position coordinates (X ₀ , Y ₀ )
Is detected, and the process proceeds to step 2305.

In step 2305, it is determined whether or not the FOF has been cleared. When the determination is affirmative, that is, when the FOF has been cleared, it is determined that the touch panel has transitioned from a non-touched state to a touched state. In step 2306, the pressed position is determined. In step 2207, the following processing is performed, and the process proceeds to step 2309. The touch panel sets FOF on the assumption that the touch state has been entered.

The X coordinate “X ₀ ” of the pressed position immediately after shifting to the contact state is stored in X ₁ and _Xf . The Y coordinate “Y ₀ ” of the pressed position immediately after shifting to the contact state is represented by Y ₁ and Y
Store it in _f . Note that (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) represents the pressed position coordinates at the time of executing the previous pressed position coordinate detection routine, and (X _f , Y ₁ )
_f ) represents the coordinates of the pressed position detected immediately after the touch panel has transitioned to the contact state.

The timer 1 is started to execute the next pressed position coordinate detection routine. The timer 2 is started to measure the time of contact with the touch panel. The time measured by the timer 1 is extremely shorter than the time measured by the timer 2. For example, the time measured by the timer 1 is several milliseconds,
Is set to several hundred milliseconds.

Conversely, if the negative determination is made in step 2305, that is, if the FOF has not been cleared, the cursor position is output in step 2308, and then step 2309 is executed.
Proceed to. In step 2309, the process waits until the time counted by the timer 1 elapses, that is, until the execution cycle of the second touch panel control routine elapses. In step 2310, the timer 1 is restarted. In step 2311, the timer 3 is started. Return to 2301. The timer 3 is a timer for measuring a time for determining that a multi-touch operation is performed.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a pressed position determination routine executed in step 2306 of the second touch panel control routine.
It is determined whether the measured time has elapsed. Step 24
When a negative determination is made at 0, that is, when the time measured by the timer 3 has not elapsed, both the previous pressed position and the current pressed position are both within a predetermined range (for example, a square with one side a) at step 241. Is determined.

When an affirmative determination is made in step 241, that is, when substantially the same position on the touch panel is pressed twice, the specific function is turned on in step 242, and this routine ends. When an affirmative determination is made in step 240, that is, when the time measured by the timer 3 has elapsed, and when a negative determination is made in step 241, that is, when the current pressed position is largely different from the previous pressed position, This routine ends directly.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a fourth cursor coordinate output routine executed in step 2308 of the second touch panel control routine.
It is determined whether the time counted by the timer 2 has elapsed. If an affirmative determination is made in step 250, that is, if the time counted by the timer 2 has elapsed after the touch panel has shifted to the contact state, the pressed position coordinates ( _Xf , _Yf ) immediately after the touch panel has shifted to the contact state in step 251. The moving distance (ΔX ₁ , ΔY ₁ ) between the current pressing position coordinate (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) and the current pressing position coordinate (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) at the elapse of the time counted by the timer 2 is calculated by the following equation.

[0093] _{ΔX 1 ← (X 0 - X} f) ΔY 1 ← (Y 0 - Y f) relatively moving the coordinates based on the moving distance in step _{252 (ΔX 1, ΔY 1)} (X ou t, Y out) the The calculation proceeds to step 257. When a negative determination is made in step 250,
That is, if the time counted by the timer 2 has not elapsed after the touch panel has shifted to the contact state, the pressed position (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) detected this time from the previously detected pressed position (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) in step 253. ) (ΔX ₀ , Δ
Y ₀ ) is calculated by the following equation.

ΔX ₀ ← (X ₀ −X ₁ ) ΔY ₀ ← (Y ₀ −Y ₁ ) At step 254, it is determined whether or not the moving distance is within a square having one side a. If a negative determination is made in step 254, that is, if the moving distance is out of the square of one side a, it is determined that the pressed position is moving, the timer 2 is restarted in step 255, and the process proceeds to step 256. When the determination is affirmative in step 254, that is, when the moving distance is one side a
If it is within the square of, it is determined that the pressed position has not moved, and the timer 2 is directly restarted without restarting the timer 2.
Proceed to 6.

In step 256, the moving distance (ΔX ₀ , ΔY
After calculating the relative movement coordinates (X _{ou t,} Y _out) on the basis of _0), the process proceeds to step 257. In step 257, the last pressed position is updated by the following equation. X ₁ ← X ₀ Y ₁ ← Y ₀ Finally, at step 258, the relative movement coordinates (X _out ,
Y _out ) is transmitted to a host computer (not shown) whose cursor position is controlled by the pointing device according to the present invention, and this routine ends.

It is apparent that the second and third cursor coordinate output routines can be partially modified to control a specific function.

[0097]

According to the pointing device of the present invention, since the cursor is continuously moved in accordance with the operation vector of the pointing device, the operation of continuously moving the cursor is facilitated. Further, according to the pointing device of the present invention, since the screen in the window is continuously scrolled according to the operation vector of the pointing device, the continuous scrolling becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view and an enlarged cross-sectional view of a touch panel.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a control circuit of the touch panel.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a principle of detecting a pressed position.

FIG. 4 is a control circuit diagram (1/2) of a touch panel.

FIG. 5 is a control circuit diagram (2/2) of the touch panel.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a first touch panel control routine according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a pressed position detection routine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a first cursor coordinate output routine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a relative movement coordinate calculation routine.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a second cursor coordinate output routine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of another processing method routine (1/2).

FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory diagram of the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a third cursor coordinate output routine.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of another processing method routine (2/2).

FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory diagram of the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an example diagram of a window displayed on a display.

FIG. 18 is a top view of a mouse with a touch panel.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a scroll button control routine according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a first scroll data output routine.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a first scroll data calculation routine.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a second scroll data calculation routine.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a second touch panel control routine according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a pressed position determination routine.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a fourth cursor coordinate output routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Touch panel 11 ... Frame part 12 ... Touch part 13 ... Lead wire 14 ... Film 151 ... Upper resistive film 152 ... Lower resistive film 16 ... Insulator 17 ... Glass substrates 181, 182 ... Electrode 21 ... A / D converter 22 ... Microcomputer 23, 24 ... Switch

Claims (24)

[Claims] An operation detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an operation of an operation end, and a cursor shift vector is determined according to an operation vector of the operation end when the operation detecting means determines that the operation is present. A cursor shift vector determining means; a position invariant detecting means for detecting that the operation end position is unchanged for a predetermined period when the operation detecting means determines that the operation is present; When the detecting means detects that the operation end position is invariable for a predetermined period, a cursor continuous moving vector determining means for determining a cursor continuous moving vector based on the cursor moving vector determined by the cursor moving vector determining means; A pointing device comprising: 2. A start-time coordinate storage means for storing coordinates of an operation end position when the cursor continuous shift vector determination means starts an operation determined by the operation detection means to shift from a no-operation state to an operation-present state. When the operation in which the operation end position is invariable for a predetermined period of time is detected by the position invariance detection means, the end time coordinate storage means for storing the operation end position, and the operation end position for a predetermined time period is stored by the invariance detection means. When it is detected that there is no change, a predetermined multiple of the operation vector having the operation end position stored in the start time coordinate storage means as a start point and the operation end position stored in the end time coordinate storage means as an end point. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first determination unit that determines a vector as a cursor continuous transition vector. 3. The first operation vector selection means for selecting the operation vector that gives the maximum movement speed of the cursor from the operation vectors stored in the cursor movement vector determination means, wherein the continuous cursor movement vector determination means includes: 2. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second determination unit that determines a continuous cursor movement vector based on the operation vector selected by the first operation vector selection output unit. 3. 4. The pointing device according to claim 3, wherein the first operation vector selection means selects a vector having the largest operation vector stored in the cursor movement vector determination means. 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first operation vector selection means selects a vector in which one of an X component and a Y component of the operation vector stored in the cursor movement vector determination means is maximum. A pointing device as described. 6. The operation vector selection means for selecting the operation vector stored last among the operation vectors stored in the cursor movement vector determination means, wherein the continuous cursor movement vector determination means comprises: 3. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising: third determining means for determining a continuous cursor movement vector based on the operation vector selected by the second operation vector selecting means. 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second operation vector selecting means selects the last stored operation vector whose magnitude of the operation vector stored in the cursor movement vector determining means is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value. Claim 6
A pointing device according to claim 1. 8. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second operation vector selecting means determines that a component having a larger value among the X component or the Y component of the operation vector stored in the cursor shift vector determining means is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. 7. The pointing device according to claim 6, wherein the pointing device selects a stored operation vector. 9. An operation detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an operation of an operation end, and a scroll for determining a scroll amount according to an operation vector of the operation end when the operation detection means determines that the operation is present. Amount determining means, position invariant detecting means for detecting that the operation end position is invariable for a predetermined period when the operation detecting means determines that the operation is present, and the position invariant detecting means A continuous scroll amount determining means for determining a continuous scroll amount based on the scroll amount determined by the scroll amount determining means when it is detected that the operation end position is unchanged for a predetermined period of time. . 10. A start-time coordinate storage means for storing the coordinates of an operation end position when the continuous scroll amount determination means starts an operation which is determined by the operation detection means to shift from the no-operation state to the operation-present state; An end coordinate storage means for storing the operation end position when the operation is detected in which the operation end position is invariable for a predetermined period by the position invariance detection means; and an operation end position for a predetermined period by the invariance detection means. Is detected, the start point is the operation end position stored in the start time coordinate storage means, and the end point is the vector X which is the operation end position stored in the end time coordinate storage means.
The pointing device according to claim 9, further comprising: fourth determination means for determining a continuous scroll amount in the X direction based on the component and a continuous scroll amount in the Y direction based on the Y component. 11. A start time coordinate storage means for storing coordinates of an operation end position when the continuous scroll amount determination means starts an operation determined by the operation detection means to shift from a no operation state to an operation state. An end coordinate storage means for storing the operation end position when the operation is detected in which the operation end position is invariable for a predetermined period by the position invariance detection means; and an operation end position for a predetermined period by the invariance detection means. Is detected, the start point is the operation end position stored in the start time coordinate storage means, and the end point is the vector X which is the operation end position stored in the end time coordinate storage means.
10. A fifth determining means for determining the continuous scroll amount in the direction based on the larger of the absolute value of the component and the absolute value of the Y component, and setting the scroll amounts in other directions to zero. A pointing device according to claim 1. 12. The operation vector selection means for selecting an operation vector that gives the maximum transition speed from among the operation vectors stored in the scroll amount determination means, wherein the continuous scroll amount determination means includes: The X component of the operation vector selected by the operation vector selection output means is the continuous scroll amount in the X direction, and the Y component is Y
The pointing device according to claim 9, further comprising: sixth determining means for determining the direction continuous scroll amount. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the third operation vector selecting means selects a vector having the largest magnitude of the operation vector stored in the scroll amount determining means.
3. The pointing device according to 2. 14. The operation vector selection unit according to claim 12, wherein the third operation vector selection unit selects a vector in which one of the X component and the Y component of the operation vector stored in the scroll amount determination unit is the largest. Pointing device. 15. The fourth operation vector selection unit, wherein the continuous scroll amount determination unit selects an operation vector that gives the maximum transition speed from among the operation vectors stored in the scroll amount determination unit, When one of the absolute values of the X component and the Y component of the operation vector selected by the operation vector selection output unit is larger than the other by a predetermined multiple or more, the larger one is determined as the continuous scroll amount in that direction, and the other direction is determined. The pointing device according to claim 9, further comprising: a seventh determination unit that sets a scroll amount to zero. 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fourth operation vector selection means selects a vector having the largest magnitude of the operation vector stored in the scroll amount determination means.
6. The pointing device according to 5. 17. The operation vector selection unit according to claim 15, wherein the fourth operation vector selection unit selects a vector in which one of an X component and a Y component of the operation vector stored in the scroll amount determination unit is the largest. Pointing device. 18. The fifth operation vector selection unit, wherein the continuous scroll amount determination unit selects the last operation vector stored among the operation vectors stored in the scroll amount determination unit, Eighth determination means for determining the X component of the operation vector selected by the operation vector selection means as the continuous scroll amount in the X direction and the Y component as the continuous scroll amount in the Y direction,
The pointing device according to claim 9, wherein the pointing device comprises: 19. The fifth operation vector selecting means selects the last stored operation vector whose magnitude of the operation vector stored in the scroll amount determining means is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value. A pointing device according to claim 18. 20. The fifth operation vector selection unit, wherein the largest one of the X component or the Y component of the operation vector stored in the scroll amount determination unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. 19. The pointing device according to claim 18, wherein the operation vector is selected. 21. A sixth operation vector selection means for selecting the operation vector stored last among the operation vectors stored in the scroll amount determination means, wherein the continuous scroll amount determination means includes: When one of the absolute values of the X component and the Y component of the operation vector selected by the operation vector selection means is larger than the other by a predetermined multiple or more, the larger one is determined as the continuous scroll amount in that direction, and the continuous scroll amount in the other direction is determined. 10. The pointing device according to claim 9, comprising: ninth determining means for setting the scroll amount to zero. 22. The sixth operation vector selection means, wherein the operation vector stored in the scroll amount determination means selects the last stored operation vector whose magnitude is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. A pointing device according to claim 21. 23. The sixth operation vector selection means, wherein the largest one of the X component or the Y component of the operation vector stored in the scroll amount determination means is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. 22. The pointing device according to claim 21, wherein the selected operation vector is selected. 24. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device is a touch screen, and the operation detecting means detects that the operation end has touched the touch screen.