JP2008152617A - Touch panel type input device, data forming device and data forming program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate operation of a personal computer by providing an input device with a key layout according to a user. <P>SOLUTION: The input device comprises a sheet having predetermined key icons printed thereon; a panel-like member for setting the sheet; a pressing detection means provided on the panel-like member, which detects pressing when any position of the set sheet is pressed, and outputs pressing position information; and a data output means which outputs, based on the position information outputted from the pressing detection means, input data corresponding to a key icon printed in the position corresponding to the position information in reference to preset setting data. According to this, by pressing a predetermined position of the sheet, input data corresponding to the position can be inputted to the computer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a panel-like information input device that can be used in place of a keyboard of a personal computer (hereinafter also simply referred to as “personal computer”) and can freely set a key arrangement according to the user's preference. Is.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 21, a keyboard 3 in which a large number of alphanumeric characters and symbols are arranged is generally used as the input device of the personal computer 1. Such a keyboard 3 for a personal computer is arranged with character keys for all letters of the alphabet, numeric keys, symbol keys, special function keys, and the like. The PC 1 recognizes that it has been pressed, and displays the character set for that key on the display screen, or the specific action assigned to that key (shift action, cursor movement action, Japanese translation action, etc.) ).

JP 2005-115808 A

However, since the general keyboard 3 for a conventional personal computer as described above has a fixed key arrangement, pitch, key stroke, etc., especially for children, the elderly, and persons with physical disabilities, It gives the impression that information input is difficult and cumbersome.
As a result, mistakes in the input data are likely to occur, and the usage is such that the input operation to the personal computer is avoided, so that these devices cannot be fully used.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made for the purpose of facilitating the operation of a personal computer by providing an input device having a key layout corresponding to a user.

In the input device according to claim 1 of the present invention,
In an input device for connecting to a computer and inputting input data such as character data and control data to the computer,
A sheet on which a predetermined key icon is printed;
A panel-shaped member configured to set the sheet;
A pressure detecting means provided in the panel-like member for detecting that the position is pressed when any position of the set sheet is pressed, and for outputting the pressed position information;
Data output means for outputting input data corresponding to a key icon printed at a position corresponding to the position information with reference to preset setting data based on the position information output from the press detection means; By providing
By pressing a predetermined position of the sheet, input data corresponding to the position can be input to the computer.
The creation device of claim 2 comprises:
A data creation device for creating setting data corresponding to a sheet used in the touch panel type input device according to claim 1,
Layout means for laying out and arranging the key icon in the image area of the sheet in correspondence with the position where the key icon should be printed;
Data creation means for creating setting data by associating the position information of the key icon arranged by the layout means and the data of the key icon;
It is characterized by having.
The program of claim 3 is:
A data creation program for creating setting data corresponding to a sheet used in the touch panel type input device according to claim 1,
A layout procedure for laying out a key icon in the image area of the sheet in correspondence with a position where the key icon should be printed;
A data creation procedure for creating setting data by associating the position information of the key icon arranged by the layout means with the data of the key icon;
It is characterized by having.

According to the input device of the present invention, instead of a conventional keyboard, it is possible to input data to a computer by touching a sheet on which key icons are laid out according to a user. Even those who felt that it was difficult or troublesome to enter data into computers could now easily perform input operations.
Further, according to the creation device or the program, only the necessary key icons can be selected and arranged in a layout, so that it is possible to easily create and provide an input device that meets the user's purpose.

Hereinafter, an input device, a creation device, and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a conventional personal computer, an external storage device such as a CPU, a memory, a hard disk unit and an optical drive unit, a power source, various interfaces for connecting an input device, a display device, a communication line, etc., and their connection connectors, a case, etc. And a display device 12 connected to the main body 11.
An input device 2 according to the present invention is connected to the connection connector of the personal computer 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the input device 2 includes a flat panel-shaped casing 21, and the casing 21 has a configuration corresponding to the panel-shaped member in the claims. A slit 22 for inserting the created keyboard image sheet 4 (hereinafter simply referred to as “sheet 4”) is formed, and the sheet can be set.
An input detection area for detecting a pressing operation with a finger or a pressing operation with a predetermined pen or the like (these operations are referred to as “touch”) is set on the front surface of the housing 21. In the area, for example, a resistance film type pressure detecting means 23 is arranged.
The sheet 4 inserted from the slit 22 is disposed so as to be superimposed on the press detection means 23.

The resistance film type pressure detection means 23 is a well-known one, and a material (mainly a film or glass) provided with two transparent resistance films (conductive films) is provided with an insulating dot for preventing short circuit therebetween. A spacer is arranged so that the transparent electrodes are bonded to each other in a facing direction, and when pressed with a finger or a pen, the transparent electrode films come into contact with each other so that touch panel input is performed. The material facing up and down constitutes the X coordinate circuit on the one hand and the Y coordinate circuit on the other hand.
During X coordinate measurement, a voltage is applied to one of the electrodes of the X coordinate axis to make the other electrode ground, and when the touch panel is input (pressed) in this state, the X coordinate resistance film and the Y coordinate resistance film come into contact with each other. The voltage of the X coordinate resistance film is detected by the electrode of the Y coordinate. X coordinate is detected as an analog voltage. Similarly, the Y coordinate is detected as an analog voltage. By repeating these alternately, the coordinate value of the input point is obtained as an analog voltage.
The analog voltage obtained in this way is converted into a digital value by the A / D conversion means, and the obtained digital value is converted into, for example, a USB signal and is sent to the personal computer 1 through the connection connector (for example, USB connector). input.

First, an operation procedure for character input using the sheet will be described.
An example of the sheet 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
The sheet 4 in the example of FIG. 3 is a sheet for inputting Roman characters. The uppercase key, lowercase key of the English alphabet, the Roman key for inputting hiragana, the cursor movement key, the clear key for canceling the input, and the input are confirmed. Characters and figures corresponding to OK keys for the purpose are arranged.

The personal computer 1 recognizes a touch operation on the input device 2 and outputs operation information corresponding to the touch operation (operation information included in the USB signal from the input device 2) to currently active application software. A driver program (hereinafter simply referred to as “driver”) is installed. This driver has a configuration corresponding to the data output means in the claims.
For example, in a state where application software such as a text editor is active, the “D” area of the sheet 4 inserted into the input device 2 is touched as shown in the example of FIG. When touched, the character input portion of the application software or the character input window (hereinafter simply referred to as “character input area”). As in the example shown in FIG. 5, “D ha” is displayed. The portion 11 of “ha” is underlined, or a specific color is given to indicate that the character is converted into hiragana. When the OK key 10 is touched, the character input “D” is confirmed and transferred to the application software, which is processed by the application software.
When the cursor movement key 7 is touched, the cursor moves in the character input area shown in FIG. 5, and the previous input character is deleted with the clear key 9, or the previous input character is overwritten or inserted. Can do.

The sheet 6 illustrated in FIG. 6 is a sheet for hiragana input, and the keys “Hi” “ka” “sa” “ta” “na” “ha” “ma” “ya” “ra” “wa” key Are the “A” key for inputting the character of the line in the Japanese syllabary, the “KA” key for inputting the character of the line, and so on. Further, a muddy sound key for inputting muddy sound and semi-turbid sound, a numeric key, a cursor movement key 7, an upper / lower case switching key 8, a clear key 9, and an OK key 10 are provided.
When the sheet 6 shown in FIG. 6 is inserted into the input device 2 and the “NA” key of the sheet 6 is touched once and the “WA” key is pressed twice, the character input area is illustrated in FIG. As shown, the first row “na” in the row and the second row “n” in the row are displayed, and the “what” portion 12 is underlined and is undecided. The candidate characters for Japanese conversion characters are listed as, for example, 1: what, 2: what, 3: difficulty, 4: south... Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when “ha” is touched once and the muddy sound key is touched once, the character input area includes “what” followed by “ "13" is input. At this time, candidate words for Japanese word conversion characters for “Namba” are listed as, for example, 1: Namba, 2: Nanba, 3: Namba, 4: Southfield.
Here, for example, when the cursor movement key 7 is operated to select “3: Namba” and the OK key 10 is touched, “Namba” of hiragana is fixed and passed to the application software for processing.

  If the clear key is touched once before the OK key 10 is touched as shown in FIG. 10, the last character “BA” is erased as illustrated in FIG. It will be displayed.

  As illustrated in FIG. 12, the “ka” key is touched once, the “a” key is touched twice, the “sa” key is touched twice, “kaishi” is input, When the “key” is touched once and the switching key 8 is touched, as illustrated in FIG. It is also possible to select from lowercase letters and candidate letters.

  It is also possible to provide predetermined audio data and image data corresponding to each key icon. In this case, not only characters and operations corresponding to the touched key icon are performed, but sound corresponding to the touched key icon is output from the speaker, and images other than characters are displayed on the screen. In addition, erroneous operation can be prevented.

As described above, characters and operations displayed on the sheet inserted into the input device 2 can be touched to input characters and operations to a personal computer instead of the keyboard. But it is easy to operate.
In addition, since the sheet can be freely laid out and created by the user, the key layout according to the user's needs can be provided.

Next, a procedure for creating the sheet shown in the above example will be described.
When creating a sheet, a layout data creation tool is installed on a personal computer and activated, and then a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard are operated.
This layout data creation tool generally has the following procedure.
1) Initialization procedure 2) Key icon display procedure 3) Edit screen display procedure 4) Key icon selection procedure 5) Key icon arrangement procedure 6) Key information setting procedure 7) Layout end procedure 8) Setting data creation / output procedure

The screen illustrated in FIG. 14 is the main screen (screen in the middle of creation) of the layout data creation tool activated on the personal computer.
A key icon display screen D11 is set on the left portion of the main screen D1, and an edit screen D12 is set on the right side.
When the Roman character tab on the key icon display screen D11 is selected, key icons corresponding to the English letters A to Z are displayed. When the hiragana tab is selected, the key icon corresponding to the hiragana is displayed. When the katakana tab is selected, the katakana is supported. When the number symbol tab is selected, key icons corresponding to numbers, various symbols, and various control keys are displayed.

On the editing screen D12, a screen corresponding to the image of the surface of the sheet to be created can be enlarged or reduced, and each key icon printed on the surface of the sheet to be created is created by the following procedure. It is displayed corresponding to the image of.
In the menu bar at the top of the main screen D1, various file menus, edit menus, display menus, help menus, and the like are displayed.

The screen illustrated in FIG. 15 illustrates an example in which an English character key icon, a cursor movement key icon, a clear key icon, and an OK key icon are laid out on the editing screen D12.
There are two methods for arranging the key icons.
One method is to display a fixed frame D13 as shown in FIG. 15 and select a desired key icon displayed on the key icon screen D11 in a desired frame of the fixed frame by pressing the left button of the mouse or the like. Operate and move the pointer to the desired frame in the selected state (this operation is simply referred to as “drag”), and select it by pressing the left mouse button down at the desired frame position. This is a method of performing a release operation (such an operation is simply referred to as “drop”). In this way, a desired key icon can be allocated and arranged at a desired frame position on the editing screen D12.

Another method is a method in which each key icon is freely laid out in a desired size at a desired position on the editing screen D12.
In this method, as illustrated in FIG. 16, when a desired key icon is dragged and dropped at a desired position on the editing screen D12, the desired key icon D14 is displayed in a single frame. Thereafter, when the key icon D14 is selected and dragged, it can be moved to a desired position. The size of the frame can be changed by selecting and dragging the frame of the key icon D14 with the pointer.
Further, the key icon D14 can be deleted by selecting the key icon D14 and selecting clear of the edit menu or operating the “Delete” key on the keyboard.
As described above, a desired key icon can be freely laid out in the editing screen D12.

Various settings for key operations corresponding to the selected key icon can be confirmed and edited by displaying a property editing screen for the key icon D14 by right-clicking the mouse or the like.
FIG. 17 illustrates the property editing screen. On this screen, for example, the character size, font type, character color, frame color, background color, image, and the like for the character “A” corresponding to the key icon can be confirmed or edited.

FIG. 18 illustrates the insertion / editing operation of the fixed frame. In this case, for example, when a fixed frame of 3 rows × 3 columns is designated, a fixed frame D15 of 3 rows × 3 columns is generated on the editing screen D12.
The fixed frame D15 can be moved or enlarged / reduced.
In addition, characters such as a sheet title can be input.

Setting data corresponding to the sheet image of the editing screen D12 created as described above can be created and stored in the personal computer in a file format.
The saved file format setting data can be recalled and edited / printed by the layout data editing software.
The setting data created by the layout data creation tool can be printed by the layout data creation tool or the layout data editing software.
By inserting the sheet printed in this way into the input device 2 and using it, an operation corresponding to the key icon printed on the sheet can be performed as described above.

In order to realize the above function, a tree-like data structure illustrated in FIG. 19 is employed.
An example of the structure of setting data created by the layout data creation tool is shown in FIG.

It is the block diagram which showed the use condition of the input device concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the state which inserts a sheet | seat in the said input device. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of the sheet | seat for English character input. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of the sheet | seat for Roman character input. It is explanatory drawing of a character input area. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of the sheet | seat for Kana character input. It is explanatory drawing of a character input area. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of operation in the example of the sheet | seat for kana character input. It is explanatory drawing of a character input area. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of operation in the example of the sheet | seat for kana character input. It is explanatory drawing of a character input area. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of operation in the example of the sheet | seat for kana character input. It is explanatory drawing of a character input area. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of the setting data creation screen. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of the setting data creation screen. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of the setting data creation screen. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of the setting data creation screen. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of the setting data creation screen. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the data structure of setting data. It is explanatory drawing which showed one example of the data file format of setting data. It is explanatory drawing of the state which uses the conventional keyboard.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer, computer, data output means 2 Input device 21 Case, panel-like member 22 Slit 23 Press detection means 4, 6 Sheet

Claims (3)

In an input device for connecting to a computer and inputting input data such as character data and control data to the computer,
A sheet on which a predetermined key icon is printed;
A panel-shaped member configured to set the sheet;
A pressure detecting means provided in the panel-like member for detecting that the position is pressed when any position of the set sheet is pressed, and for outputting the pressed position information;
Data output means for outputting input data corresponding to a key icon printed at a position corresponding to the position information with reference to preset setting data based on the position information output from the press detection means; By providing
A touch panel type input device configured such that by pressing a predetermined position of the sheet, input data corresponding to the position can be input to the computer.
A data creation device for creating setting data corresponding to a sheet used in the touch panel type input device according to claim 1,
Layout means for laying out and arranging the key icon in the image area of the sheet in correspondence with the position where the key icon should be printed;
Data creation means for creating setting data by associating the position information of the key icon arranged by the layout means and the data of the key icon;
A data creation device characterized by comprising:
A data creation program for creating setting data corresponding to a sheet used in the touch panel type input device according to claim 1,
A layout procedure for laying out a key icon in the image area of the sheet in correspondence with a position where the key icon should be printed;
A data creation procedure for creating setting data by associating the position information of the key icon arranged by the layout means with the data of the key icon;
A data creation program characterized by comprising:

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