JP2008046762A - Switch and calibrating method of touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch which can accurately, automatically calibrate coordinate input data generated by a touch panel, and also to provide a calibrating method of a touch panel connected to the switch. <P>SOLUTION: The switch 1, which switches electric connection between one of a plurality of computers and one of a plurality of inputting/outputting devices in which each has a touch panel, includes; a memory 11 which stores calibration parameters for calibrating coordinate input data generated by touch panels for each touch panel; a reading-out means 12 which reads out a calibration parameter, which corresponds to a touch panel which is electrically connected to a desired computer, from the memory 11; a calibration means 13 which calibrates the coordinate input data received from the electrically connected touch panel by using the calibration parameter read out by the reading-out means 12; and an output means 14 which outputs the coordinate input data, which are calibrated by the calibration means 13, to an electrically connected computer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention establishes an electrical connection between an input / output device and a desired computer among the plurality of computers by switching an electrical connection between the plurality of input / output devices and the plurality of computers. The present invention relates to a switching device and a calibration method for a touch panel having a coordinate input function connected to the switching device.

  With the progress of computer processing performance, its usage is becoming more diverse. In recent years, in particular, there are increasing situations in which an individual user owns a plurality of computers and uses each computer in a different work environment, or a plurality of users share a plurality of computers. In such a case, input / output devices (console) such as a keyboard, a display monitor, and a mouse are generally connected to a plurality of computers via a switching device to save space and reduce costs. Such a switch is generally called a KVM (K: Keyboard, V: Video, M: Mouse) switch. By using a switch (KVM switch), the user can select and use a computer to be connected to the input device from a plurality of computers (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a computer system including a switcher that switches electrical connection between a plurality of computers and a plurality of input / output devices. In the illustrated example, the switch (KVM switch) 1 includes a plurality of computers 3-A, 3-B, 3-C and 3-D and a plurality of input / output devices (console) 2-A, 2-B, 2 It is connected between -C and 2-D.

  The input / output device 2-A includes a keyboard 2K-A, a display 2V-A, and a coordinate input device 2M-A, and the cables are collected by the intermediate unit 4-A and connected to the switch 1. The input / output device 2-B includes a keyboard 2K-B, a display 2V-B, and a coordinate input device 2M-B. The cables are combined by the intermediate unit 4-B and connected to the switch 1. The input / output device 2-C is composed of a keyboard 2K-C, a display 2V-C, and a coordinate input device 2M-C. The cables are combined by the intermediate unit 4-C and connected to the switch 1. The input / output device 2-D includes a keyboard 2K-D, a display 2V-D, and a coordinate input device 2M-D, and the cables are combined by the intermediate unit 4-D and connected to the switch 1. Examples of the coordinate input devices 2M-A, 2M-B, 2M-C, and 2M-D include a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, and a pointing device.

  The switch 1 includes any one of the plurality of computers 3-A, 3-B, 3-C, and 3-D and any of the plurality of input / output devices 2-A, 2-B, 2-C, and 2-D. Establish an electrical connection with one of them. The user selects a desired computer to be connected to the input / output device 2 from the plurality of computers 3-A, 3-B, 3-C, and 3-D through the switch 1, and performs a desired input. Can be used with output devices. The switch 1 is provided with a switch (not shown) in the main body in the form of, for example, a hardware switch, and a user manually operates the switch of the switch 1 to input / output devices to be used. And you can choose a computer.

  There is a display with a touch panel as a device having both functions of a display and a coordinate input device as the input / output device (see, for example, Patent Document 2). A display with a touch panel includes a touch panel with a transparent or semi-transparent touch operation surface that functions as a coordinate input device, and a display unit that is provided behind the touch panel and displays an image toward the touch panel. The touch panel is a coordinate input device by absolute coordinate input that directly defines the coordinates of the target position with reference to the origin on the coordinate plane. When a target position on the touch panel is touched with a finger, pen, stylus pen, or the like, absolute coordinate data relating to the target position is generated and output to a control processing unit of the computer. Based on the received absolute movement coordinate data, the computer performs control to display a cursor on the display screen corresponding to the position touched on the touch panel. Thereby, the user can browse the screen displayed by the display unit via the touch panel.

  As an example of a method of pressing or touching a touch panel, there is a method using a resistor generally called a resistance film. The resistance film contact type touch panel has a resistance film provided below the operation panel surface, a further resistance film provided at a predetermined gap from the resistance film, and a resistance film provided on the two resistance films and orthogonal to each other. And two sets of transparent electrodes provided to form a voltage in the direction. When the operation panel surface of the touch panel is pressed with a finger or the like, the operation panel surface is bent, the resistance film provided below the operation panel surface comes into contact with the other resistance film, and these resistance films are short-circuited. When a short circuit occurs between the two resistance films, the voltage values formed so that the two sets of transparent electrodes are orthogonal to each other also change. Each voltage value is read to generate coordinate input data.

  Coordinate input data generated by the touch panel with respect to the position of the touch operation also changes with time due to changes over time such as the resistance value of the resistance film in the touch panel. Therefore, the coordinate input data generated by the touch panel needs to be calibrated as necessary. In general, a display with a touch panel has a function of calibrating such a touch panel (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2005-266951 A JP-A-11-161426 JP 2003-288172 A

  In general, since the aging of the touch panel varies from touch panel to touch panel, the calibration parameters used to calibrate coordinate input data generated by a touch operation on the touch panel differ from touch panel to touch panel. The calibration parameter of the touch panel is acquired by processing in the computer when the computer is connected to the touch panel.

  The calibration parameter unique to the touch panel is uniquely determined in combination with the computer used for calibrating the touch panel. For this reason, calibration parameters generated using a certain computer with respect to the same touch panel do not function at all in relation to a computer different from the computer. As a specific example, when a plurality of displays with touch panels and a plurality of computers are connected to the switch (KVM switch), since the calibration parameters differ depending on the combination of the touch panel and the computer, the coordinate input generated by the touch panel The data cannot be accurately calibrated, and as a result, there arises a problem that the actual cursor position is deviated from the position of the cursor on the display screen that should be originally displayed by the touch operation on the touch panel. In order to avoid this problem, every time the switcher switches the combination of a display with a touch panel and a computer, calibration is performed under this combination before actually using the display with a touch panel and the computer. However, such a recalibration operation for each switching operation of the switch is very troublesome for the user.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connection between the switch among a plurality of input / output devices each having a touch panel and the desired computer among the plurality of computers. In the case of establishment, regardless of the combination of the touch panel and the computer, a switch that can always accurately and automatically calibrate coordinate input data generated by the touch panel, and a touch panel connected to the switch A calibration method is provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a touch panel having a coordinate input function connected to a switch that establishes an electrical connection with a desired computer among a plurality of computers is switched. Using the calibration parameters specific to the touch panel for calibrating the coordinate input data generated by the touch operation on the touch panel, which is stored in advance in the internal memory of the device, electrical connection with a desired computer among a plurality of computers is performed. The processor in the switch calibrates the coordinate input data received from the touch panel for which a general connection has been established.

  That is, according to the present invention, a desired computer among the plurality of computers is switched by switching electrical connection between the plurality of computers and the plurality of input / output devices having the touch panel as coordinate input means for the computer. And a switch that establishes electrical connection with a desired input / output device among the plurality of input / output devices is a calibration parameter for calibrating coordinate input data generated by a touch operation on the touch panel. For each touch panel, a reading means for reading calibration parameters corresponding to the touch panel of the input / output device for which electrical connection is established between the desired computer and the reading means Using calibration parameters, the electrical connection is established / exited Comprising a calibration means for calibrating the coordinate input data received from the touch panel of the device, the coordinate input data the calibration means has calibrated, and output means said electrical connection is outputted to the established computer, a.

  Also, a calibration method for a touch panel having a coordinate input function connected to a switch that establishes an electrical connection with a desired computer among a plurality of computers according to the present invention is stored in advance in a memory in the switch. Among the calibration parameters specific to each touch panel for calibrating the coordinate input data generated by the touch operation on the touch panel stored, calibration corresponding to the touch panel in which electrical connection is established with a desired computer A reading step in which the processor in the switch reads the parameter from the memory, and a calibration step in which the processor in the switch calibrates the coordinate input data received from the touch panel using the calibration parameter read in the reading step; The coordinate input data calibrated in the calibration step Processor and an output step of outputting the desired computer in which the electrical connection is established. The touch panel calibration method according to the present invention further includes a storage step of storing calibration parameters unique to each touch panel for calibrating coordinate input data generated by a touch operation on the touch panel in a memory in the switch. .

  According to the present invention, when the switch establishes an electrical connection between a desired input / output device of a plurality of input / output devices each having a touch panel and a desired computer of a plurality of computers, the touch panel Regardless of the combination of the computer and the computer, the coordinate input data generated by the touch panel can always be accurately and automatically calibrated. Therefore, the actual cursor position does not deviate from the position of the cursor on the display screen that should be originally displayed by the touch operation on the touch panel. Further, according to the present invention, the user does not need to redo the calibration operation of the touch panel every time the switcher switches the combination of the display with the touch panel and the computer.

  FIG. 1 is a principle block diagram of a switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, for example, four computers 3-A, 3-B, 3-C, and 3-D and four sets of input / output devices (console) 2-A are connected to the switch (KVM switch) 1. , 2-B, 2-C and 2-D are connected. In the embodiment of the present invention, the number of computers and input / output devices are four and four, respectively. However, the number of computers and input / output devices is not limited to the present invention, and other numbers may be used. Good.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, each of the input / output devices 2-A, 2-B, 2-C, and 2-D includes a touch panel display as a coordinate input unit for a computer and a display unit for a user. Reference numerals 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C and 2V-D are used. Although not shown here, each of the input / output devices 2-A, 2-B, 2-C, and 2-D further includes coordinate input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, and a pointing device. Also good. Alternatively, only a display with a touch panel may be provided as the input / output device.

  The switching unit 1 is a switching unit that switches electrical connection to communicate with any one of the input / output devices 2-A, 2-B, 2-C, and 2-D, similarly to the conventional switching unit. 9 and a switching unit 10 that switches electrical connection to communicate with any one of the computers 3-A, 3-B, 3-C, and 3-D.

  In particular, in the embodiment of the present invention, the switch 1 includes calibration parameters for calibrating coordinate input data generated by touch operations on the touch panels 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C, and 2V-D. Electrical connection between touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C and 2V-D memory 11 and desired computer 3-A, 3-B, 3-C or 3-D Is read out from the memory 11 with the calibration parameter corresponding to the touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C or 2V-D, and the calibration parameter read out by the reading unit 12 Calibrating means 13 for calibrating coordinate input data received from touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C or 2V-D for which a general connection has been established; A calibrated coordinate input data, and an output means for the electrical connection is outputted to the established computer 3-A, 3-B, 3-C or 3-D, a.

  Here, the “desired computer” is one of the four computers 3-A, 3-B, 3-C, and 3-D, and the user operates the switch 1. The computer is switched and selected by the switching unit 10. The “touch panel in which the electrical connection is established” means one set of input / output devices out of the four sets of input / output devices 2-A, 2-B, 2-C and 2-D. The touch panel of the selected input / output device that is switched by the switching unit 8 when the user operates the switch 1.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the switch 1 includes the writing means 15 for writing the calibration parameters for each touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C, and 2V-D in the memory 11 and the calibration means 13. And prohibiting means 16 for prohibiting the calibration.

  The reading unit 12, the calibration unit 13, the writing unit 15, and the prohibiting unit 16 are realized in the processor 9 included in the switch 1. The output unit 14 is realized in the switching unit 10.

  The touch panel calibration method using the switch according to the embodiment of the present invention is as follows. That is, each touch panel specific for calibrating the coordinate input data generated by the touch operation on the touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C or 2V-D, which is stored in the memory 11 in the switch 1 in advance. Among the calibration parameters of the touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C or 2V in which an electrical connection is established with a desired computer 3-A, 3-B, 3-C or 3-D. The coordinate input data received from the touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C or 2V-D via the switching unit 8 using the calibration parameter corresponding to -D in the processor 9 of the switch 1 The calibration means 10 realized in the above calibrates.

  Prior to this calibration process, calibration parameters specific to each touch panel for calibrating coordinate input data generated by touch operations on the touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C or 2V-D are acquired in advance and switched. It must be stored in the memory 11 in the container 1. Specifically, the acquisition and storage of the calibration parameters may be realized by the following two methods.

  That is, in the first method, the calibration parameter of the touch panel can be acquired and stored without connecting the switch 1 to any computer, and the input / output devices 2-A, 2-B, 2 -The user can execute the setting screen for acquiring and storing the calibration parameters of the touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C or 2V-D displayed on the display of -C or 2-D while watching the user. To do. The display of the setting screen is realized by using the OSD (On Screen Display) function of the switch 1. The main body of the switch 1 is provided with a dedicated button (not shown) for instructing the start or end of acquisition and storage of calibration parameters. When the start button is pressed, a setting screen is displayed on the display by the OSD function of the switch 1, and a process for acquiring and storing calibration parameters specific to the selected touch panel and computer pair is started. The setting screen displayed on the display shows the identification number of the touch panel, the identification number of the computer, etc., and the user selects the touch panel and the computer for which calibration parameters are to be acquired and stored one by one while viewing the setting screen. can do. When calibration parameters specific to the selected touch panel and computer pair are acquired, the writing unit 15 stores the acquired calibration parameters in the memory 11 in association with the corresponding touch panel and computer identification numbers. ). When the end button is pressed after the calibration parameters are stored, the setting screen is deleted from the display. Alternatively, the setting screen may be automatically deleted from the display after the calibration parameters are stored. In addition, an instruction to start or end the acquisition and storage of calibration parameters may be realized by, for example, a key operation using a keyboard of the input / output device connected to the switch 1, and in this case, a specific key code May be assigned to an instruction to start or end the acquisition and storage of calibration parameters.

  On the other hand, the second method of acquiring and storing calibration parameters is to connect the switch 1 to any computer to acquire and store calibration parameters. The computer is installed with a dedicated software program that acquires and stores calibration parameters. The acquisition of the calibration parameters by this software program is performed in the same manner as a known touch panel calibration application. In the embodiment of the present invention, the acquired calibration parameters are stored in the corresponding touch panel and computer by the writing means 15. It is linked to the identification number and saved (written) in the memory 11.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of the touch panel calibration method using the switch according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, in step S101, when the user operates the switch 1 to select one of the four computers 3-A, 3-B, 3-C, and 3-D, the switching unit 10 is Activates the electrical connection of the connection port to which the selected computer is connected. When the user operates the switch 1 to select one of the four sets of input / output devices 2-A, 2-B, 2-C and 2-D, the switching unit 10 is selected by the user. The electrical connection of the connection port to which the input / output device is connected is activated. Thereby, an electrical connection between the user-desired computer and the user-desired input / output device is established via the switch 1.

  When the electrical connection between the user-desired computer and the user-desired input / output device is established, in step S102, the touch panels 2V-A, 2V-B, which are stored in advance in the memory 11 in the switch 1, are established. Among the calibration parameters specific to each touch panel for calibrating coordinate input data generated by a touch operation on 2V-C or 2V-D, a desired computer 3-A, 3-B, 3-C or 3- A reading means 12 in the processor 9 of the switch 1 having calibration parameters corresponding to the touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C or 2V-D in which an electrical connection is established with D; Read from the memory 11. Here, at the stage of the switching process of the switching units 8 and 10 in step S101, the processor 9 activates the information regarding the computer and the input / output device, that is, the touch panel, in which the electrical connection is established. Since it is recognized in the format of the identification number of the connected port, the reading process of the step reading unit 12 in step S102 can be executed.

  When the switch 1 receives coordinate input data from the touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C, or 2V-D that has established the electrical connection via the switching unit 8, in step S103, the processor 9 The calibration unit 13 includes coordinate input data received from the touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C, or 2V-D that has established the electrical connection using the calibration parameter read by the reading unit 12. Calibrate

  In step S104, the coordinate input data calibrated by the calibration means 13 is output from the computer 3-A, 3-B, 3-C or 3 in which the electrical connection is established by the output means 14 in the switching unit 10. Output to -D.

  As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the coordinate input generated by the touch operation on the touch panel 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C, or 2V-D stored in the memory 11 in the switch 1 in advance. Using the touch panel specific calibration parameters for calibrating the data, an electrical connection is established with a desired computer among the plurality of computers 3-A, 3-B, 3-C or 3-D. Further, the coordinate input data received from the touch panel is calibrated by the calibration means 10 realized in the processor 9 included in the switch 1. That is, according to the embodiment of the present invention, even when a plurality of touch panel displays and a plurality of computers are connected via a switch, a computer in which electrical connection is established via the switch. The coordinate input data generated by the touch panel display is calibrated using calibration parameters that are optimal for the combination of the touch panel and the display with the touch panel. The cursor can be displayed at various positions. In addition, the user does not need to redo the touch panel calibration operation every time the switcher switches the combination of the display with the touch panel and the computer.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the prohibiting unit 16 can prohibit the calibration process by the calibration unit 13. That is, the coordinate input data generated by the touch panel can be output to the computer as it is without being calibrated. For example, in conjunction with the operation of a dip switch provided in the main body of the switch 1, it is possible to set the presence or absence of prohibition processing by the prohibiting means 16 in the processor 9. Alternatively, a part of the prohibiting process of the prohibiting means 16 may be realized in the form of a software program installed in the computers 3-A, 3-B, 3-C and / or 3-D. The presence or absence of prohibition processing by the prohibition means 16 in the processor 9 can be set by a command received from the computer.

  Further, the calibration parameters stored in the memory 11 may be rewritten. For example, when a calibration parameter is newly acquired for the combination of the touch panel and the computer, the calibration parameter already stored in the memory 11 may be overwritten with the newly acquired calibration parameter. Alternatively, the calibration parameters already stored in the memory 11 may be simply deleted. These overwriting and deletion instructions are provided by providing a dedicated switch (not shown) for instructing overwriting and / or deletion of calibration parameters in the main body of the switch 1 or on a computer connected to the switch 1. It may be realized by installing a dedicated software program for instructing overwriting and / or deletion of calibration parameters.

  The present invention relates to a switch called a KVM switch that electrically connects one of a plurality of input / output devices (console) each having a display with a touch panel, a keyboard, and a mouse to any one of a plurality of computers. Can be applied to.

It is a principle block diagram of the switch by the Example of this invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of a touch panel calibration method using a switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the computer system containing the switch which switches the electrical connection between several computers and several input / output devices.

Explanation of symbols

1 Switch 2-A, 2-B, 2-C, 2-D I / O device 2K-A, 2K-B, 2K-C, 2K-D Keyboard 2V-A, 2V-B, 2V-C, 2V -D display 2M-A, 2M-B, 2M-C, 2M-D coordinate input device 3-A, 3-B, 3-C, 3-D input / output device 4-A, 4-B, 4-C , 4-D intermediate unit 8, 10 switching unit 9 processor 11 memory 12 reading means 13 calibration means 14 output means 15 writing means 16 prohibiting means

Claims (8)

By switching electrical connection between a plurality of computers and a plurality of input / output devices each having a touch panel as coordinate input means for the computer, a desired computer of the plurality of computers, and the plurality of computers A switch for establishing an electrical connection with a desired input / output device among the input / output devices,
A memory for storing calibration parameters for calibrating coordinate input data generated by a touch operation on the touch panel for each of the touch panels;
Reading means for reading out from the memory the calibration parameters corresponding to the touch panel of the desired input / output device that is electrically connected to the desired computer;
Calibration means for calibrating the coordinate input data received from the touch panel of the desired input / output device using the calibration parameter read by the reading means;
Output means for outputting the coordinate input data calibrated by the calibration means to the desired computer with the electrical connection established;
A switching device comprising:   The switch according to claim 1, further comprising a writing unit that writes a calibration parameter for each touch panel in the memory.   The switch according to claim 1, further comprising a prohibiting unit that prohibits the calibration by the calibration unit. A touch panel calibration method having a coordinate input function connected to a switch that establishes an electrical connection with a desired computer among a plurality of computers,
Using the calibration parameters specific to the touch panel for calibrating the coordinate input data generated by the touch operation on the touch panel, which is stored in advance in the memory in the switch, electrical connection with the desired computer is performed. A touch panel calibration method, wherein a processor in the switch calibrates the coordinate input data received from the touch panel for which a simple connection has been established. A touch panel calibration method having a coordinate input function connected to a switch that establishes an electrical connection with a desired computer among a plurality of computers,
Of the calibration parameters specific to each touch panel for calibrating coordinate input data generated by a touch operation on the touch panel, which is stored in advance in a memory in the switch, electrical connection with the desired computer is performed. A calibration method for a touch panel, wherein a processor in the switch calibrates the coordinate input data received from the touch panel using the calibration parameter corresponding to the touch panel for which a simple connection is established. A touch panel calibration method having a coordinate input function connected to a switch that establishes an electrical connection with a desired computer among a plurality of computers,
Of the calibration parameters specific to each touch panel for calibrating coordinate input data generated by a touch operation on the touch panel, which is stored in advance in a memory in the switch, electrical connection with the desired computer is performed. Reading the calibration parameters corresponding to the touch panel for which a secure connection has been established, from the memory in the processor in the switch;
A calibration step in which the processor in the switch calibrates the coordinate input data received from the touch panel using the calibration parameters read in the reading step;
An output step of outputting the coordinate input data calibrated in the calibration step to the desired computer with the electrical connection established by a processor in the switch;
A touch panel calibration method comprising:   The touch panel calibration according to claim 6, further comprising a storage step of storing calibration parameters specific to each touch panel for calibrating coordinate input data generated by a touch operation on the touch panel in a memory in the switch. Method.   The touch panel calibration method according to claim 6, further comprising a prohibiting step of prohibiting the calibration by the calibration unit.

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