JP2013178701A - Touch drawing display device employing multiple windows - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent user operability from being damaged even if a drawing position erroneously protrudes from an active window to an inactive window.SOLUTION: A touch drawing display device comprises a drawing detection section which detects a drawing operation 94 having a starting point within an active window 72, an input accepting section which accepts, in response to intercepting the detection of the drawing operation, the drawing operation up to that interception as one input, and a detection section which detects occurrence of a drawing operation into a region of an inactive window 74 during the time when the drawing operation is detected. Even if it is detected that the drawing operation into the region of the inactive window 74 is generated, the input accepting section accepts the drawing operation as a continuation of the drawing operation to the active window 72.

Description

  The present invention relates to a touch drawing display device including a display device and an input device, and more particularly to a touch drawing display device capable of opening a plurality of windows on a display screen and drawing an active window.

  In recent years, electronic blackboards are becoming popular as one of touch drawing display devices. The electronic blackboard is used in a meeting, for example. Various types of electronic blackboards have been put into practical use. An electronic blackboard that is particularly often used includes a computer system that combines a display device having a large display screen and an input device that detects two-dimensional position coordinates such as a touch panel.

  In general, the electronic blackboard device sequentially reads position coordinates designated by a pen or the like on the display surface, and displays an input locus on the display device based on the read information. Thus, the electronic blackboard device realizes functions as an electronic blackboard such as handwritten input.

  In such an electronic blackboard, it is convenient if a plurality of windows can be opened and individual windows can be drawn separately. When a plurality of windows are used, there is a problem of how to switch windows, for example. As a solution to such a problem, for example, there is a method described in Patent Document 1 described later.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an efficient method for activating a hidden window, particularly when another window is hidden by a certain window. In the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the user presses the title bar of an active window with a pen. When the title bar is pressed with a writing pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the windows are sequentially switched. By such processing, it is said that the window can be switched efficiently even when another window is hidden by a certain window.

  The method disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a window switching method in an apparatus in which an active window is always displayed at the top and a window behind the active window is not displayed. Apart from that, there are two independent display devices that can use these two display devices as one display device. In such a device, one window is displayed separately on the display screens of two display devices, which are separated by a part of the housing. In such an apparatus, there is a case where one range is desired to be specified in one separated window.

  Usually, a method of starting the drag of the pen from the upper left position of the area to be specified, dragging to the lower right position of the area, and ending the drag is generally used for specifying the range on the touch panel. . However, when one window is displayed separately on the two display devices as described above, it is necessary to always release the pen from the screen when moving from one screen to the other. When such an operation is performed, the position where the pen is released is interpreted as the lower right position of the area. As a result, it has not been possible to designate an area having the position displayed on one screen and the position displayed on the other screen as the endpoints of the diagonal line.

  The invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 to be described later is for solving such a problem. The invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 interprets these two inputs as one continuous input if the time from the end of input on one screen to the start of input on the other screen is within a predetermined time. To do. Therefore, when specifying an area that spans two screens, specify the upper left area on one screen and start dragging. When you reach the boundary with the other screen, release the pen from the screen and within a predetermined time. You can start dragging on the other screen.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-40008 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-73269

  For example, an apparatus in which a plurality of windows are always displayed on the screen separately from an inactive window hidden by an active window as described in Patent Document 1 can be considered. For example, consider a case where a large window and a small window are displayed on the screen, and the small window exists within the large window. At this time, if the large window is activated and the small window is not displayed, the technique of Patent Document 1 can be applied. However, even if a large window is activated, if the small window is not hidden, the reference information is displayed in the small window and the large window can be written, which is convenient. The window is always displayed, so if you want to make it active, just touch it. In such a case, the technique of Patent Document 1 has little meaning.

  By the way, when a plurality of windows are always displayed as described above, there is a possibility that the pen locus may accidentally go out of the window when drawing in one window. For example, there are a case where the user draws without looking at the electronic blackboard, and a case where the user tries to draw a large figure in a small window. As described above, in an apparatus that always displays a plurality of windows, when the drawing position moves from one window to another window, the active window is switched. As a result, there is a problem that not only drawing as intended by the user cannot be performed but also extra drawing is performed on the inactive screen.

  To such a problem, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 is meaningless. Since the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 is also premised on two display devices, it cannot provide a solution in such a case.

  Actually, these problems are not limited to the electronic blackboard device that always displays the whole of a plurality of windows, but in a device in which an active window hides an inactive window, only a part of the inactive window is hidden and the other part is hidden. Is a problem that can occur even when the window is displayed in contact with the active window. Such a problem cannot be solved by the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 or the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a touch drawing display device in which an active window and an inactive window may be displayed in contact with each other, and a drawing position is erroneously projected from the active window to the inactive window. It is to provide a touch drawing display device that does not impair the user's operability.

  A touch drawing display device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a touch drawing that displays an image by receiving a drawing operation by touching an active window among a plurality of windows displayed on a display surface of the drawing display device. It is a display device. The touch drawing display device includes a drawing operation detecting unit for detecting a drawing operation having a start point in an active window, and the detection of the drawing operation by the drawing operation detecting unit is interrupted. Input receiving means for accepting a drawing operation as one input, and detection for detecting that a drawing operation to an inactive window area has occurred while the drawing operation is being detected by the drawing operation detecting means. Means. The input accepting unit accepts the drawing operation as a continuation of the drawing operation on the active window even if the detecting unit detects that the drawing operation on the inactive window region has occurred.

  When the user performs a drawing operation having a start point in the active window, the drawing operation detecting means detects the drawing operation. When the drawing operation is interrupted, the input receiving unit receives the drawing operation so far as one input to the active window. If a drawing operation occurs in an inactive window area during detection of a drawing operation by the drawing operation detection means, it is normally treated that the drawing operation to the active window is interrupted. If the drawing operation detection unit continues to detect the drawing operation starting from the active window even if such detection is detected, the accepting unit does not assume that the drawing operation has been interrupted, Accept as a continuation of the drawing operation.

  Even if the user is drawing in the active window and accidentally draws inside the inactive window, the drawing is treated as an input to the active window. Input to the active window is not interrupted and the user does not need to re-operate. As a result, in a touch drawing display device in which an active window and an inactive window may be displayed in contact with each other, even when a drawing position is accidentally protruded from an active window to an inactive window, A touch drawing display device that does not impair operability can be provided.

  Preferably, the drawing operation detecting means includes continuous drawing operation detecting means for detecting a continuous drawing operation starting from a point in the active window. The detecting means is for detecting that the position of the drawing operation has continuously moved from the active window to the inactive window area when a continuous drawing operation is detected by the continuous drawing operation detecting means. Including means.

  When the user moves the drawing position from the active window to the inactive window with a continuous drawing operation, the operation is mostly for the active window. The operation needs to be redone. Even in this case, the user's operability can be improved by accepting the user's drawing operation for the active window.

  More preferably, when the drawing operation detection by the drawing operation detection unit is interrupted and resumed for a time shorter than a predetermined threshold, the input receiving unit accepts the detection of the drawing operation as continuous.

  If a character, a dotted line, an alternate long and short dash line, a broken line, or the like is to be drawn, a drawing device such as a pen leaves the input surface during the drawing. Even in such a case, if the interruption time is less than the threshold value, it is advantageous in terms of data processing if it is handled as one input. In particular, when a drawing operation is moving from an active window to an inactive window, even if there is a short interruption at the boundary, the user can resume the drawing operation halfway by treating it as continuous. There is no need to do it. Therefore, user operability can be improved.

  The touch drawing display device may further include a drawing color designating unit for designating a drawing color by a drawing operation. The drawing colors that can be specified by the drawing color specifying means include at least a first color and a second color for erasing the first color.

  If a drawing operation with the start point in the active window continues to the inactive window, if it is treated as one input to the active window, not only the new drawing but also the already drawn figure is deleted. The figure can be erased by the same process when the process is performed. For example, because a part of the figure that only protrudes from the active window, the drawing operation is performed to the part that protrudes from the active window with the drawing color as the second color. Thus, the erasing process can be performed. In addition, if the drawing color is erased in the active window as the second color and the drawing operation is mistakenly performed in the inactive window, the input is accepted as for the active window. . A figure displayed in an inactive window can be prevented from being erased by mistake. Therefore, user operability is improved.

  Preferably, the touch drawing display device further includes extended window area setting means for setting an extended window area that has an area larger than that of the active window and surrounds the active window. The input acceptance means is a drawing operation that is completed in the active window and a drawing operation that has a start point in the active window, and that is interrupted after continuing to the inactive window. Means for accepting each drawing operation as one input operation to each active window.

  For drawing operations that have a start point in the active window and up to the extended window area, if all the drawing trajectories in the extended window area are handled as input to the active window, not only the inside of the active window, Drawing can be performed by substantially one operation to the outside. There is no need to resize the active window or change the display range. As a result, user operability can be improved.

  More preferably, in the touch drawing display device, while the drawing operation detecting unit detects the drawing operation having the start point in the active window, whether or not the drawing operation is in the active window. And a locus drawing means for drawing an image representing the locus of the drawing operation on the display surface.

  When the user's drawing operation moves continuously from the active window to the inactive window range, the image of the locus corresponding to the drawing operation is displayed not only in the active window but also in the inactive window part. . The user can confirm the entire locus of his drawing operation, so there is no sense of incongruity. As a result, user operability is improved.

  The touch drawing display device further includes a locus drawing unit on the display surface in response to the detection of the drawing operation being interrupted after the drawing operation detecting unit detects the drawing operation having the start point in the active window. If there is a drawn part in the inactive window in the drawn image, an image erasing unit for erasing the part may be included.

  While the drawing operation is being performed, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable by displaying the locus on the display surface. However, when the drawing operation is finished (interrupted), it is desirable to display a correct image corresponding to the input in both the active window and the inactive window. When the detection of the drawing operation is interrupted, the image erasing unit erases the portion of the trajectory image drawn in the inactive window, so that the image in the inactive window can be restored to the correct image.

  As described above, the touch image display device according to the present invention interrupts the drawing operation when the user performs the drawing operation having the start point in the active window and the drawing operation protrudes to the inside of the inactive window. Accept as a continuation of the drawing operation on the active window. Input to the active window is not interrupted and the user does not need to re-operate. As a result, in a touch drawing display device in which an active window and an inactive window may be displayed in contact with each other, even when a drawing position is accidentally protruded from an active window to an inactive window, A touch drawing display device that does not impair operability can be provided. When a drawing operation is performed, an image corresponding to the locus of the drawing operation is displayed including the inactive window. Therefore, the user who is performing the drawing operation does not feel uncomfortable. When the drawing operation ends, the display of each window can be restored to the correct state by deleting the image of the drawing locus drawn in the inactive window.

1 is an external view of an electronic blackboard device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the display screen of the electronic blackboard apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating drawing operation to a small window. It is a figure for demonstrating drawing operation to a big window. It is a figure which shows the example in which drawing protruded in the small window when drawing in the big window. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic blackboard device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the detection method of the drawing position in an electronic blackboard apparatus. It is a schematic diagram of the memory | storage part for demonstrating the memory | storage format of a drawing locus | trajectory. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control structure of a program that realizes processing for a trajectory that is drawn in an adjacent window by mistake in the electronic blackboard device according to the first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the smoothing redrawing of a drawing locus. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program routine which implement | achieves the smoothing redrawing process with respect to an active window. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between a window and its expansion area | region in the electronic blackboard apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a control structure of a program that realizes processing for a trajectory drawn out of an adjacent window by mistake in the electronic blackboard device according to the second embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of a memory | storage part for demonstrating the memory | storage format of a drawing locus | trajectory in the electronic blackboard apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program which implement | achieves the process with respect to the locus | trajectory drawn in the electronic blackboard apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention accidentally protruding into the adjacent window. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a control structure of a program that realizes processing for a trajectory drawn out of an adjacent window in an electronic blackboard apparatus according to a fourth embodiment. In the electronic blackboard device according to the fifth embodiment, a flowchart showing a control structure of a program that realizes processing performed when a locus is drawn at a position protruding from an adjacent window.

  In the following embodiments, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  In this specification, claims, and drawings, “touch” does not necessarily mean that a pen or a user touches an input surface of an input device such as a touch panel. This means that the pen or user specifies the position of the input surface in some way. That is, if the detection device is a contact type, the position where the pen or the user touches the input surface is detected. If the detection device is a non-contact type, the input position can be detected by the pen or the user's finger. When the user is close to the detection device up to a certain distance, it is said that the user “touches” the input device. In the case of using a device that points with a laser or the like, irradiating a laser at a predetermined position on the display surface is called “touch”.

[First Embodiment]
With reference to FIG. 1, the function of the electronic blackboard device 50 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The electronic blackboard device 50 includes a large-screen touch panel 60 and a control device including a computer (not shown). Details of the control device will be described later. The user 62 can designate an arbitrary position on the touch panel 60 by touching the touch panel 60 with a pen or the like. Further, the user 62 can perform drawing by dragging the pen while touching the pen or the like in the window displayed on the touch panel 60.

<Outline>
Hereinafter, in the electronic blackboard device 50, what kind of problem may occur at the time of drawing and how to solve the problem will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 2, here, the display surface of touch panel 60 is divided into a drawing area 68 where a user can draw and a function button area 70 for designating a function used by the user. Here, a first window 72 that occupies most of the display surface of the touch panel 60 and a second window 74 that overlaps the first window 72 and is smaller than the first window 72 are displayed in the drawing area 68. Assume that it is displayed. In the present embodiment, all of the function button area 70, the first window 72, and the second window 74 are always displayed, and it is assumed that these arbitrary positions can be designated by the pen 76. However, the position of the second window 74 can be changed, but the size cannot be changed.

  For example, referring to FIG. 3, when the user operates the pen 76 in the second window 74, the second window 74 becomes active, and the image 90 can be drawn in the second window 74. Further, referring to FIG. 4, when the user operates pen 76 in first window 72, first window 72 becomes active, and image 92 can be drawn in first window 72.

  In the function button area 70, function buttons to which specific functions are assigned are displayed. Functions assigned to the function buttons include, for example, a drawing function by touch operation (selectable pen type), a function to open a saved file (image data), an eraser function to delete a drawing in a predetermined area, and the like. For example, a function of saving the image data being displayed, a function of printing the displayed image data, and the like. Each function button is displayed as an icon.

  A page operation area 78 including a page feed button 80, a page return button 82, a page number display field 84, and the like is displayed below the drawing area 68. The position of the page operation area 78 is fixed and does not move during image scrolling.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 5, it is assumed that the user draws a locus 94 by operating the pen 76 while the first window 72 is active. Originally, the locus 94 should be formed in the first window 72, but in the region 100 where the first window 72 and the second window 74 are in contact with each other, a part of the locus 94 is the second window. The window 74 protrudes.

  In such a case, normally, when the pen 76 enters the second window 74, the second window 74 is active, the first window 72 is inactive, and the pen 76 is in the second window 74. When exiting from the window 74 to the first window 72, the second window 74 becomes inactive and the first window 72 becomes active. Therefore, a portion of the locus 94 other than the region 100 is drawn in the first window 72, and a portion in the region 100 is drawn in the second window 74. Images corresponding to the drawing are formed in images corresponding to the first window 72 and the second window 74. However, in this case, it goes without saying that such handling is incorrect.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the state shown in FIG. 5 occurs, the locus 94 is displayed across both the first window 72 and the second window 74 when the pen 76 is operated. It accepts as an input to the first window 72 where the start point exists, and treats the second window 74 as if no image was input. Furthermore, the image input to the first window 72 is an image corresponding to the locus 94, and the part in the region 100 is also handled as being input to the first window 72. However, since the portion in the region 100 of this image is to be hidden by the second window 74, when the drawing with the pen 76 is finished, the image corresponding to the locus 94 is smoothed and redrawn. In addition, the image is erased from the portion overlapping the second window 74, and only the other portion is displayed.

<Hardware configuration>
Referring to FIG. 6, the electronic blackboard device 50 according to the present embodiment executes a predetermined program in addition to the touch panel 60 described above, thereby performing central processing for realizing overall control of the electronic blackboard device 50. A processing unit (CPU) 102, a read only memory (ROM) 104 for storing a program read by the CPU 102 when the electronic blackboard device 50 is turned on, and a random access memory used by the CPU 102 as a working memory (RAM) 106, a recording unit 108 capable of holding a record when the electronic blackboard device 50 is turned off, and an interface unit (not shown) for connecting the electronic blackboard device 50 to a network (not shown). IF unit) 110 and a display system that controls display of images on the touch panel 60 according to the control of the CPU 102. Including a part 116, CPU 102 is a video memory (VRAM) 118 for writing an image to be displayed on the touch panel 60, these were connected to each other, and a bus 120 that enables communication of data and control signals between each other.

  The ROM 104 stores a program and data that are executed by the CPU 102 when the electronic blackboard device 50 is turned on and set the entire electronic blackboard device 50 so that the electronic blackboard device 50 performs a predetermined operation. A program for realizing the operation of the electronic blackboard device 50 is also stored in the ROM 104. The recording unit 108 is a non-volatile storage device that retains data even when power is cut off, and is, for example, a hard disk drive or a flash memory. The recording unit 108 may be detachable from the electronic blackboard device 50. The recording unit 108 can also store a part of the program executed by the CPU 102. During normal operation, the CPU 102 loads a program from the ROM 104 or the recording unit 108 onto the RAM 106 via the bus 120, and sequentially reads and executes instructions from an address specified by a program counter (not shown). The CPU 102 controls each part of the electronic blackboard device 50 in accordance with programs stored in the ROM 104 and the recording unit 108.

  The IF unit 110 transmits and receives image data to and from a computer connected to a network under the control of the CPU 102. Image data received from the outside by the electronic blackboard device 50 via the IF unit 110 is recorded in the RAM 106 or the recording unit 108.

  The touch panel 60 detects, every predetermined time, the display unit 114 that displays an image on a predetermined display surface, and which position on the display surface of the image of the display unit 114 is touched by the user, and the position coordinates of the position are determined. And a touch detection unit 112 that outputs to the CPU 102. That is, the touch detection unit 112 has a function of detecting a touch and outputting a signal indicating that the touch has been detected, and a function of outputting coordinate data indicating the touch position at that time. In the present embodiment, it is also indicated at the same time that there is a touch by outputting coordinate data.

  The display unit 114 is a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel, and displays an image formed in the VRAM 118 on the display surface under the control of the display control unit 116. The display control unit 116 includes a drive unit for driving the display unit 114, reads image data stored in the VRAM 118 at a predetermined timing, and outputs a signal for displaying an image on the display unit 114 to the display unit 114. To do. The image data to be displayed is generated for each window by the CPU 102 from the information on the RAM 106 and the information recorded in the recording unit 108, and the address corresponding to each display pixel in the area corresponding to each window on the VRAM 118. To transmit. Here, it is assumed that the second window 74 is always displayed on the first window 72, and after the image of the first window 72 is first written in the VRAM 118, the second window 74 is displayed from above. The image of the second window 74 is overwritten in the corresponding area.

  The touch detection unit 112 detects a touch operation by the user. The detection of the touch operation by the touch detection unit 112 will be described with reference to FIG.

  With reference to FIG. 7, in this Embodiment, the touch detection part 112 is an infrared rays interruption | blocking detection system. The touch detection unit 112 has a rectangular writing surface. The touch detection unit 112 further includes light emitting diode (LED) rows 200 and 202 arranged in a row on two adjacent sides of the writing surface, and 2 arranged in a row facing the LED rows 200 and 202, respectively. Two photodiode (PD) rows 210, 212. Each LED in the LED rows 200 and 202 emits infrared light, and each PD in the opposing PD rows 210 and 212 detects this infrared light. In FIG. 7, infrared rays are indicated by upward and leftward arrows from the LEDs of the LED rows 200 and 202.

  The touch detection unit 112 includes, for example, a microcomputer (an element including a CPU, a memory, an input / output circuit, and the like) (not shown), and the microcomputer controls light emission of each LED. Each PD in the PD rows 210 and 212 outputs a voltage corresponding to the intensity of the received light. The output voltage of the PD is amplified by an amplifier. Since signals are simultaneously output from a plurality of PDs in the PD arrays 210 and 212, the output signals are temporarily stored in a buffer (not shown) in the touch detection unit 112, and then output as serial signals according to the arrangement order of the PDs. Is transmitted to the microcomputer. In the present embodiment, the order of serial signals output from the PD string 210 represents the X coordinate. The order of the serial signals output from the PD column 212 represents the Y coordinate.

  When the user touches one point on the touch surface of the touch detection unit 112 with the touch pen 76, infrared rays are blocked by the pen tip of the touch pen 76. Therefore, the output voltage of the PD that has received the infrared light before being cut off decreases. That is, the signal voltage from the PD corresponding to the touched position (XY coordinate) is reduced. The microcomputer detects a portion where the signal levels of the two received serial signals are lowered, and obtains the position coordinates of the touched position. The microcomputer transmits the determined position coordinates to the CPU 102. Since the process of detecting the touch position is repeated at a predetermined detection cycle, if the same point is touched for a longer time than the detection cycle, the same coordinate data is repeatedly output. When the user moves the pen 76 while touching the touch panel, the position is detected every predetermined time. That is, in this case, the position coordinates are detected with a slight change in a predetermined detection cycle. Even if the touch detection unit 112 is touched with a finger without using the pen 76, the touched position can be detected in the same manner.

  Since the touched position detection technique described above is well known, further description will not be repeated. The touch detection unit 112 may be a touch panel (capacitance method, surface acoustic wave method, resistance film method, or the like) other than the infrared blocking method. In the capacitive method, the position can be detected without contact as long as it is close to the sensor.

  Screens as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 are displayed on the display unit 114. A user can draw in the drawing area 68 by a touch operation. The XY coordinates of the touched point are detected at predetermined intervals by the touch detection unit 112 and transmitted to the CPU 102. The CPU 102 writes a predetermined value at a memory address corresponding to the detected position on an area provided in the RAM 106 corresponding to the VRAM 118 in accordance with the received coordinate data. Although these detected image data may be recorded on the VRAM 118, it is assumed here that an area for storing drawing data is provided in the RAM 106 in addition to the area for storing the image data in the VRAM 118. .

  Referring to FIG. 8, the drawing data recording area 240 provided in the RAM 106 for each of certain windows (first window 72, second window 74, etc.) has a plurality of coordinates corresponding to the figure to be drawn. Including recording tables 260, 262,. Each time the user draws in the first window 72 or the second window 74, the coordinate recording table is newly generated corresponding to the window. The coordinate recording table is for recording the coordinates of a series of touch positions periodically detected from when the pen touches the screen until it leaves. These tables have the same structure. For example, the coordinate recording table 260 representing the first graphic stores the X coordinate and Y coordinate of the touch position that is periodically detected while drawing by the user. In FIG. 8, X11 and Y11 respectively represent the X coordinate and Y coordinate of the touch position detected first after the touch is started. Similarly, X12 and Y12 represent the X coordinate and the Y coordinate detected in the next detection cycle, respectively. The same applies hereinafter. When a touch by the user is no longer detected and a time longer than the above-described period has elapsed, it is determined that the touch has ended. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the table 260 has been drawn when M1 touch positions are detected in succession.

  Thereafter, when the next drawing is started, the second coordinate recording table 262 is newly generated as in the coordinate recording table 260, and a series of coordinates of the second drawing is stored in the coordinate recording table 262. The same applies hereinafter. Here, it should be noted that the number of position coordinates stored in each table 260, 262,.

  When the touch continues, drawing is performed by connecting the detected coordinate positions with lines while sequentially recording the coordinate positions in the coordinate recording table. This drawing is performed even when the touch coordinates appear in an area other than the active window. When the touch is finished, the image displayed at the time of drawing is erased including the inactive window area. Further, based on the drawing data recorded in the coordinate recording table, an image obtained by smoothing the drawn locus is generated as will be described later, and a predetermined area (hereinafter referred to as an overlay area) corresponding to the active window on the VRAM 118 is generated. .) For example, in the overlay area, the data of the memory address not corresponding to the pixel drawn by the user is set to “0”, and “1” is written to the memory address corresponding to the pixel position formed by smoothing from the user's drawing trajectory. . The display control unit 116 superimposes the drawing data written in the overlay area on the image data and displays it on the display unit 114. That is, the drawing data is displayed in a preset color at a point where there is drawing data (for example, a pixel in which “1” is recorded in the overlay area), and the image data is displayed at a point where there is no drawing data. Note that data for displaying the page operation area 78 on the display unit 114 may be stored in an overlay area different from the overlay area for drawing. This redrawing by smoothing is performed only for the active window, not for the inactive window.

  When the user touches the page feed button 80, the coordinate data of the touched position is transmitted from the touch detection unit 112 to the CPU 102, and the CPU 102 receives the received coordinate data as the position within the area where the page feed button 80 is displayed. It is determined that The CPU 102 writes the image data of the next page in the VRAM 118 and transmits a page feed command to the display control unit 116. In response to this, the display control unit 116 generates a signal for displaying an image in the middle of page feed from the image data corresponding to the currently displayed page on the VRAM 118 and the image data corresponding to the next page. Generate and output to the display unit 114. As a result, an image in the middle of page turning is displayed on the display unit 114. In the middle of page feed, only the frame of the currently displayed image may be displayed on the display screen of the display unit 114. The same applies to page back.

[Program structure]
Referring to FIG. 9, a program for performing control during drawing of electronic blackboard apparatus 50 according to this embodiment has the following control structure. This program is started when a drawing mode is designated. In the following, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, a case where the user designates using two windows and the user sets the area is taken as an example.

  After the program is started, a step 300 for setting the areas of the first window 72 and the second window 74 according to a user instruction, a step 302 for waiting until a pen touch is detected, and a pen touch are detected. When the detected coordinate position is within the first window 72 or the second window 74 is determined to be internalized, and the control flow is branched 304 according to the result.

  If the determination at step 304 is affirmative, the program activates the first window 72 at step 306 to allow drawing to the first window 72. If the determination in step 304 is negative, the program activates the second window 74 in step 308 and allows drawing to the second window 74. In either case, control proceeds to step 310.

  In step 310, a new coordinate recording table is generated for the activated window. Further, it is determined whether or not the touch is continued every predetermined time, that is, whether or not the drawing operation is interrupted (step 312). When the touch is continued, in step 314, it is generated in step 310. The new coordinate data is stored in the coordinate record table. In the subsequent step 316, the locus of drawing is displayed by connecting the position indicated by the newly stored coordinate data and the position indicated by the coordinate data stored immediately before by a line segment. Specifically, a graphic corresponding to this trajectory is written into the overlay area corresponding to the corresponding portion of the VRAM 118. Thereafter, the control returns to step 312, and the processing following the determination as to whether or not the touch is continued after a predetermined period is repeated.

  If it is determined in step 312 that the touch is not continued, that is, the drawing operation is interrupted, the process of recording new coordinates in the coordinate recording table is ended in step 318. Subsequently, smoothing redrawing is performed on the active window based on the drawing data recorded in the series of processing in steps 310 to 316. As a result, this series of drawing operations is accepted as one input operation for the active window. The smoothing redrawing will be further described with reference to FIGS. After step 320, control returns to step 302 and the CPU 102 waits until the next pen touch is detected.

  Referring to FIG. 10, when the touch is continued, a drawing locus is displayed by connecting the detected coordinate positions with line segments as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 10A, when four points P1, P2, P3, and P4 are detected in succession, each time these coordinate points are detected, the point detected immediately before is newly detected. A graphic 340 obtained by connecting the points with line segments is displayed regardless of whether it is an active window or an inactive window.

  When the continuous pen detection is completed, all the trajectories are once erased as shown in FIG. 10 (B), and a series of points are smoothed instead of the line segments connecting the points as shown in FIG. 10 (C). A curve 342 based on a predetermined function is determined so as to be connected to and drawn. The curve 342 is drawn only in the active window, not in the inactive window.

  Referring to FIG. 11, the program routine for realizing the smoothing redrawing performed in step 320 of FIG. 9 includes steps 360 for reading coordinates from the coordinate record table for the associated window, and among the read coordinates, Step 362 for leaving only the coordinates in the active window area and deleting others, Step 364 for erasing the image drawn in the overlay area at the time of drawing by the user, and smoothing redrawing with respect to the coordinate string left in step 362 Step 366.

<Operation>
The electronic blackboard device 50 according to the first embodiment operates as follows. In the following description, only the portion related to the present invention in the operation of the electronic blackboard device 50 will be described. Other operations are the same as those of the conventional electronic blackboard apparatus.

  When the user turns on the electronic blackboard device 50 and sets the operation mode to the drawing mode, step 300 in FIG. 9 is executed, and a screen as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the touch panel 60 of the electronic blackboard device 50. For example, when the user touches the second window 74 with the pen 76 as shown in FIG. 3, the determination in step 302 in FIG. 9 is YES. The determination in step 304 is “second window”, step 308 is executed, and the second window 74 is activated. The first window 72 is inactive at this time. Subsequently, in step 310, an area of a new coordinate recording table (for example, having the same structure as the coordinate recording table 260 of FIG. 8) for the drawing data of the second window 74 is secured in the RAM.

  Thereafter, when the user drags the pen 76 to draw the first image of the letter “P”, the determination in step 312 of FIG. 9 is performed at predetermined time intervals. While dragging, the determination becomes affirmative, and the new coordinates detected at that time are recorded in the coordinate recording table in step 314, and in step 316, the locus of the pen 76 is a broken line on the touch panel. 60 is drawn. By repeating this process, a series of coordinate data for drawing the first stroke of the character “P” is recorded in the first coordinate recording table of the second window 74.

  When the user finishes drawing the first stroke of the character “P” and removes the pen from the touch panel 60, the determination in step 312 is negative. In step 318, the end processing for the recording of the coordinate recording table is performed, and the smoothing redrawing for the active window in step 320 is executed.

  Referring to FIG. 11, by executing the processing of steps 360 to 366 on the coordinate sequence recorded in the first coordinate recording table, the image drawn with a broken line on the screen when the pen 76 is drawn is erased. Then, the smoothed image (the first image of the character “P”) is drawn. Thereafter, control returns to step 302.

  Subsequently, the user starts drawing the second stroke of the character “P”. Similar to the previous processing, a new coordinate recording table for the second window 74 is generated in step 310 via the paths of steps 302, 304, and 308. Hereinafter, the coordinate sequence of the user's new input is recorded using this coordinate recording table. Since the following operations are the same as those described above, they will not be repeated. The drawing operation for the first window 72 is basically the same as that for the second window 74.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the electronic blackboard device 50 will be described in the case where the user has mistakenly drawn in the second window 74 when drawing on the first window 72 (example shown in FIG. 5). Hereinafter, the operation of the electronic blackboard device 50 when the locus of the pen 76 crosses the second window 74 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, when the user starts to draw a locus 94, a new coordinate recording table for the first window 72 is generated through the paths of steps 302, 304, 306 and 310 in FIG. Subsequently, while the user continues drawing, the path of steps 312, 314, and 316 is repeatedly executed, new coordinates are repeatedly recorded, and an image corresponding to the image 90 is obtained by connecting the coordinate string with a line segment. be painted. The same applies when the pen 76 enters the second window 74. Therefore, the locus of the pen 76 is drawn inside the first window 72 and the second window 74 by a broken line.

  When the user releases the pen 76 from the touch panel 60, the determination in step 312 is negative. Step 318 stops recording new coordinates in the coordinate recording table. Subsequently, in step 320, smoothing redrawing is executed for the active window.

  Referring to FIG. 11, in this smoothing redrawing, the coordinate data for image 90 is read from the coordinate recording table (step 360), and the others in the area of the first window 72 are left and the others are deleted (step 360). Step 362). Further, the image drawn in the overlay area at the time of drawing with the pen 76 is deleted (step 364), and the smoothing redrawing is performed on the first window 72 (step 366).

  In this embodiment, the area of the second window 74 is overwritten from above the image of the first window 72 when the screen is drawn. At the time of drawing starting from the first window 72, the smoothing redrawing process is not performed for the area inside the second window 74. Therefore, the graphic drawn in the overlay area at the time of drawing is erased by the processing of step 364 in FIG. As a result, this portion is not displayed on the final display screen.

  On the other hand, when the drawing trajectory starting from the inside of the second window 74 enters the inside of the first window 72, the same processing as described above is repeated (the first window). 72 and the second window 74 may be reversed.) The graphic drawn in the overlay area at the time of drawing is erased in step 364 of the smoothing redrawing process. For the second window 74, which is the active window, smoothing and redrawing of the image is performed in step 366, but not for the first window 72. As a result, when the drawing locus starting from the inside of the second window 74 enters the inside of the first window 72, all the images of the locus are displayed while drawing, but when the drawing is finished, the second drawing locus is displayed. Are erased except for the inside of the window 74.

  As described above, according to the electronic blackboard device 50 according to the present embodiment, the first window 72 and the second window 74 are displayed together, and the second window 74 is above the first window 72. If the drawing locus that started from the inside of one window enters the inside of the other window, the image of that locus is displayed on the screen while drawing is in progress. However, when drawing is interrupted, the image in the inactive window is erased except in the active window. For the inside of the active window, smoothing redrawing of the input image is performed.

  According to the first embodiment described above, even when the drawing trajectory starting from the active window enters the inside of the inactive window, only the image inside the active window is finally redisplayed. The effects of incorrect operations can be reduced. In addition, since the trajectory is displayed not only inside the active window but also inside the inactive window at the time of drawing, the user can see the trajectory drawn by the user and the operation can be easily understood. In this embodiment, even if the drawing trace started from inside the active window enters the inactive window, if the area overlaps the active window area, it is treated as being drawn inside the active window. (However, the part hidden in the inactive window is not displayed.) Therefore, it is possible to easily form an image within the area of the active window and straddling the area hidden by the inactive window.

[Second Embodiment]
<Configuration>
In the first embodiment, a case is considered in which a trajectory starting from the region of the second window 74 and extending out of the first window 72 is drawn. When the drawing is continued, an image of the entire trajectory is drawn. When the drawing is finished, the portion outside the second window 74 is deleted. In addition, the coordinate data is also deleted for the portion drawn outside the second window 74. Even in such a case, it is convenient to record the coordinates of a figure that is drawn outside the second window 74 so that it can be used as drawing data for the second window 74.

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the size of the second window 74 is fixed. In practice, it is desirable to be able to change the size of the second window 74. In that case, as shown in FIG. 12, an extended area 380 that is not displayed can be considered around the second window 74. If the extended window area 382 including the extended area 380 is newly set, the size of the second window 74 can be changed within the extended window area 382. Then, in the first embodiment, the coordinate data of the trajectory that starts within the area of the second window 74 and protrudes outside the second window 74 is also within the range of the extended area 380. For example, it can be stored as drawing data for the second window 74. Unlike the first embodiment, drawing data in the area of the second window 74 in the extended window area 382 is displayed, but drawing data in the surrounding extended area 380 is not displayed. When the size of the second window 74 is changed, the range to be displayed in the extended window area 382 changes according to the change in the area.

  The extended window area can be set for each window. For example, the size of the extended window area may be set in a program, or the setting may be stored in, for example, the ROM 104 as a system variable. The size and shape of the extended window region may be any size and shape that can surround the entire window region.

  The main routine of the main program for drawing for controlling the electronic blackboard device according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 9). However, the smoothing redrawing process executed in step 320 of FIG. 9 (detailed in FIG. 11) is different.

  Referring to FIG. 13, the program routine of the smoothing redrawing process executed in the electronic blackboard device according to the second embodiment is different from the routine shown in FIG. 11 in that it is read in step 360 after step 360. Among the coordinate sequences, the coordinates in the extended window region 382 are left, and other points are deleted including step 410, and the coordinate sequence remaining in step 410 is replaced with the active window from step 362 in FIG. (In the above description, the second window 74) includes a step 412 for extracting only the coordinates within the region. In other respects, this routine is the same as that shown in FIG.

<Operation>
The operation of the electronic blackboard device according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except when a locus starting from the inside of a certain window (for example, the second window 74) and entering the other window is drawn. This is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, description thereof will not be repeated here. In the following description, the operation of the electronic blackboard apparatus when a locus starting from the inside of the second window is drawn will be described in order to facilitate understanding.

  The routine shown in FIG. 11 is executed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. However, when the drawing is finished and the smoothing redrawing process is executed, the coordinate data stored at the time of drawing out of the second window 74 may be the coordinate data of a point that protrudes outside the second window 74. Points in the extended window area of the window 74 are not deleted but are retained (step 410 in FIG. 13). Of the held coordinate data, only the coordinates inside the area of the second window 74 are extracted (step 412) and redrawn by smoothing (step 366). Prior to the smoothing redrawing, the locus image displayed on the screen at the same time as the drawing is erased. Therefore, when the user draws a locus starting from a point in the second window 74 and extending outside the second window 74, the following drawing is performed. That is, the entire trajectory is displayed as a broken line while drawing is continued. When the drawing is completed, all the drawn traces are deleted. Further, a portion of the graphic corresponding to the drawn locus that exists inside the second window 74 is displayed after being subjected to the smoothing process. If the size of the second window 74 is changed, the range of the drawing data displayed on the second window 74 also changes according to the change in the size.

  In this embodiment, when the size of the displayed window is smaller than the size of the extended window area, this means that drawing data that can be displayed in the window exists around the window. Therefore, in this case, it is desirable to make the window scrollable.

  According to the second embodiment, when a trajectory starting from a point in the window is drawn, a portion of the trajectory outside the window and protruding into another window area is also drawn in the original window. It can be remembered as if. The graphics corresponding to these traces will not be displayed in the window unless the window size is changed or the area displayed in the window is moved, but it will not be deleted and will be deleted whenever necessary. Can be displayed. When the window area is small and a figure of a desired size cannot be drawn, drawing data of the figure of a desired size can be created without bothering to change the size of the window.

  In the above description, the size of the second window 74 is changed by dragging its side or vertex. However, the present embodiment is not limited to such a case. For example, a button that toggles the display of the extended window area and the normal window may be provided.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments, whether or not drawing is continuous depends on whether or not a touch on the touch panel is continuously detected. And the drawing data drawn continuously are handled as one writing. The detection of whether or not there is a touch is repeatedly performed at a predetermined time period. Normally, there is no problem in determining that “drawing is performed continuously” based on such an idea. However, there are cases where it is desirable to treat it as one writing although it consists of a plurality of strokes such as a figure like a dotted line or a character. In the electronic blackboard device according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment, when the time for the pen to leave the touch panel becomes longer than the predetermined time period described above, it is handled as separate writing. There is a problem that the above-mentioned desire cannot be met. The third embodiment is for solving such a problem.

  The basic idea in the third embodiment is that even when it is detected that the touch is interrupted, when the next touch is resumed within a predetermined time (that is, the detection of the next touch is detected within the predetermined time). If it is, the touch is interpreted as a series of drawing and is accepted as one input operation. When writing characters or the like, the pen touch may not be completely continuous, but the pen may leave the touch panel in small increments. Even if the pen touch becomes discontinuous, if the discontinuity time is very small, it is considered that continuous drawing has been detected, and it is more suitable for actual use of the electronic blackboard device. It becomes the form.

  Referring to FIG. 14, in the present embodiment, a coordinate recording table 430 composed of coordinate data to which the time of detection is attached is used instead of the simple coordinate recording table as shown in FIG. When a touch is not detected and a touch is detected again after a short time, the time when the touch was last detected is read from the coordinate recording table 430, and the difference from the time when the touch is detected is calculated again. By comparing the difference with a threshold value, it can be determined whether or not the touches are regarded as consecutive touches.

  Referring to FIG. 15, the computer program for realizing the functions of the electronic blackboard device according to the third embodiment is different from the program for the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 includes step 452 of storing not only the XY coordinates of the position of the detected touch but also the coordinate recording table 430 together with the time when the touch is detected in place of step 314 of FIG. After 302, it is determined whether or not the difference between the time when the touch is detected in step 302 and the time when the previous touch is detected is less than a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds), and the determination is positive In Step 452, the process further includes Step 450 for branching the control flow to Step 304 if negative. When the first pen touch is detected, there is no previous pen touch. Therefore, it is necessary to omit the process of step 450 and immediately execute the process of step 304. However, it is not shown in FIG. 15 for clarity.

  When the electronic blackboard device 50 according to this embodiment detects a touch, the electronic blackboard device 50 records the time when the touch is detected together with the coordinates. Even if the touch is temporarily not detected, if the touch is resumed before the predetermined time elapses, they are regarded as a series of touches. Accordingly, at this time, no new coordinate recording table area is set.

  According to this embodiment, if it is less than the predetermined time, it can be handled as a continuous touch even if the touch is interrupted. For example, it is possible to prevent a graphic that is preferably processed as one image, such as a character, a dotted line, an alternate long and short dash line, and a broken line, from being handled as a separate graphic.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the above embodiment, even when the drawing position protrudes outside the active window, the drawing on the active window can be performed as it is. Furthermore, since the locus is displayed on the screen during the drawing operation, the user does not feel uncomfortable.

  However, it is more convenient if the user can easily distinguish and grasp the case where the drawing operation is performed within the area of the active window and the case where the drawing position protrudes outside the active window. In any of the above-described embodiments, such a function is not realized.

  In the fourth embodiment, in order to achieve the above object, the written image is changed between when the drawing position is inside the active window and when the drawing position is outside the active window. The written image refers to an image indicating where the drawing position (the tip of the locus by the drawing operation) is. For example, when the drawing position is within the active window, a normal image (black circle or the like) is used as a written image, and when the drawing position is outside the active window, an image different from the normal image (for example, white circle or white circle). , Double circle, flashing image). The user can know from the written image when the drawing position is in the active window and when the drawing position is outside the active window.

  FIG. 16 shows a control structure of a program executed by the control unit (corresponding to the CPU 102 in FIG. 6) of the electronic blackboard device in order to realize the electronic blackboard device according to the fourth embodiment. This flowchart is different from that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 in that a processing 480 for switching a drawing image according to a drawing position is included between step 312 and step 314 of FIG.

  The process 480 includes a step 500 for determining whether or not the position detected as the drawing position is within the active window when the determination at the step 312 is affirmative, and a drawing when the determination at the step 500 is affirmative. When the point image is set to a predetermined first image (black circle or the like) and the determinations in step 502 and step 500 in which the control is transferred to step 314 are negative, the drawing point image is different from the first image. And step 504 for changing the control to step 314 after changing to two images (white circles or the like).

  In other respects, the program whose control structure is shown in FIG. 16 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  In this apparatus, when a drawing operation is detected and the determination in step 312 becomes affirmative, the control unit of the electronic drawing apparatus determines whether or not the coordinates of the detected drawing position are within the range of the active window (step 500). If the determination is affirmative, the coordinates of the drawing point are set to the first image, the coordinates are newly recorded (step 314), the first image is drawn at the position of the touch coordinates (step 316), and the process returns to step 312. . If it is determined that the coordinates of the detected drawing position are not within the range of the active window, the image of the drawing point is set as the second image (step 504), a new coordinate is recorded (step 314), and the touch coordinate The second image is drawn at the position (step 316), and the process returns to step 312.

  That is, in the fourth embodiment, when the drawing position is inside the active window, the first image is drawn at the drawing position, and when the drawing position moves from the inside of the active window to the outside, the image at the drawing position is The first image is changed to the second image. Further, when the drawing position returns to the inside of the active window, the first image is drawn at the drawing position.

  Therefore, the user can determine whether the image at the drawing position is inside or outside the active window by using the image at the drawing position.

  In short, in this embodiment, it is only necessary to change the response of the electronic blackboard device to the drawing operation depending on whether the drawing position is inside the active window or not. As described above, the image at the drawing position may be changed, or the drawing mode may be changed, for example, the image may be the same or blinking. What is changed is not limited to the drawn image. For example, the background color of the electronic blackboard may be changed, or if there is a sound generator, some relatively small sound may be generated and stopped.

  As in this embodiment, by making it easy to know whether the drawing position is inside or outside the active window, the user can grasp whether or not writing to the active window is continued. It becomes easy and the effect that a user's operativity improves is acquired.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In the first to fourth embodiments, when drawing is started inside the active window, while drawing is continued regardless of whether the drawing position is inside or outside the active window, The trace of the drawing position is displayed on the screen, and the drawing outside the active window is deleted when the drawing is completed. However, the drawing data corresponding to the erased drawing is held in the memory as being written in the active window. With such a function, even if a part of the active window is hidden by another window, drawing can be performed in the hidden area in the active window.

  However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, when a drawing locus appears from the inside of the active window to the outside, the active window may be extended in accordance with the drawing locus. The fifth embodiment provides such a function. FIG. 17 shows a control structure of a program executed by a control unit (corresponding to the CPU 102 in FIG. 6) of the electronic blackboard device in order to realize the electronic blackboard device according to the fifth embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 17, this flowchart differs from that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 in that the drawing position reaches the position where the active window exits between step 312 and step 314 in FIG. The process 530 for extending the active window if possible.

  The process 530 includes a step 550 of determining whether or not the position detected as the drawing position is within the active window when the determination of the step 312 is affirmative. If the determination in step 550 is affirmative, the execution of process 530 is terminated, and control is transferred to step 314. If the determination in step 550 is negative, control passes to step 552 and determines whether the active window can be expanded in the direction along the moving direction of the drawing position. If the determination in step 552 is negative, no further processing is performed. Control proceeds to step 314. If the determination in step 552 is affirmative, control proceeds to step 552 and includes step 554 where the active window is expanded in a direction along the direction of movement of the drawing point and control is transferred to step 314.

  In other respects, the program whose control structure is shown in FIG. 17 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  In operation, the electronic blackboard apparatus operates in the same manner as in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 from the start of drawing a locus having a start point in the first window or the second window to step 312. . If the user continues to draw inside the active window, the processing in steps 550 (YES), 314, 316, and 312 is repeated. When the drawing position goes outside the active window, the determination in step 550 is NO, and in step 552, it is determined whether the active window can be expanded along the moving direction of the drawing position. If the determination in step 552 is YES, in step 554, the active window is expanded along the direction of movement of the drawing position. Thereafter, the flow of control proceeds with steps 314, 316, and 312. Steps 550, 552, 554, 314, 316, and 312 are processed as long as the user continues the operation of bringing the drawing position outside the active window and the active window can be expanded along the direction of the drawing position. Is executed repeatedly.

  If it is determined in step 552 that the active window cannot be expanded, the active window is not expanded. However, even in such a case, the drawing data is saved, and processing as if it was drawn in the active window is performed.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when a user starts a drawing operation within a certain window, that window becomes an active window. If drawing is continuously performed inside the active window, drawing data representing the locus is stored, and the locus is drawn inside the active window. When the drawing position goes out of the active window, it is determined whether or not the active window can be expanded along the moving direction of the drawing position. If expansion is possible, the active window is expanded along the moving direction of the drawing position, and a new locus is drawn in the expanded portion.

  Therefore, when a drawing operation is performed such that the active window goes outside, the active window is expanded following the drawing trajectory. Therefore, the user can easily grasp that the drawing on the active window is accepted by the electronic blackboard device. As a result, user operability is improved.

  Although the electronic blackboard device has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to all display devices that can perform drawing and screen operations by touch, such as tablet-type terminal devices.

  Further, in the first to fifth embodiments, “drawing” with a pen has been described. Needless to say, if the prior art is applied, the color at the time of drawing can be designated. If “white” is designated as the pen drawing color, it means “drawing with a white pen”, and a function as a so-called “eraser” can be realized. Therefore, the present invention can also be applied to the eraser function. Note that “white” in this case refers to the background color of the window. When the background color of the window is other than white, drawing with the background color of the window can be used as an eraser. Further, when the drawing color can be designated, it is desirable that at least a color for drawing (for example, black) and a color for erasing the drawn (for example, white) can be selected.

  Further, the first to fifth embodiments are based on the premise that there is only one touch location, but the technology described above for each touch location even in a device capable of detecting a plurality of touch locations. It is clear that can be applied.

  In the above description, the case where there are two windows has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The same can be applied to a device in which three or more windows are displayed. In the above embodiment, the case where one window is smaller than the other window and these windows are always displayed has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, when two windows partially overlap, the present invention can be applied to a portion sandwiching the boundary between the overlapping portions. When a window becomes active, the window is displayed in front, and even if an inactive window is hidden by the window, there is a situation where two windows are displayed at least partially overlapping at the same time. Can be applied. Furthermore, even when one window is displayed against the background of “desktop” as used in a so-called personal computer, the present invention can be applied if the desktop is considered as one window.

  The embodiment disclosed herein is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The scope of the present invention is indicated by each claim of the claims after taking into account the description of the detailed description of the invention, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the wording described therein are included. Including.

50 Electronic Blackboard Device 60 Touch Panel 62 User 68 Drawing Area 70 Function Button Area 72 First Window 74 Second Window 76 Pen 90, 92, 94 Image 102 CPU
112 Touch detection unit 114 Display unit 118 VRAM
260, 262, 264, 430 Coordinate recording table 380 Extended area 382 Extended window area

Claims (7)

A touch drawing display device using a plurality of windows that accepts a drawing operation by touching an active window among a plurality of windows displayed on the display surface of the display device, and displays an image.
A drawing operation detecting means for detecting a drawing operation having a start point in an active window;
In response to the interruption of the detection of the drawing operation by the drawing operation detecting means, an input receiving means for receiving the drawing operation up to the interruption as one input;
Detecting means for detecting that a drawing operation to an inactive window region has occurred while the drawing operation is being detected by the drawing operation detecting means;
The input receiving unit receives the drawing operation as a continuation of the drawing operation on the active window even when the detection unit detects that a drawing operation on the area of the inactive window has occurred. A touch drawing display device. The drawing operation detection means includes continuous drawing operation detection means for detecting a continuous drawing operation starting from a point in the active window,
The detection means indicates that when a continuous drawing operation is detected by the continuous drawing operation detection means, the position of the drawing operation has continuously moved from the active window to the area of the inactive window. The touch drawing display device according to claim 1, comprising means for detecting.   The input receiving means accepts the detection of the drawing operation as continuous when the detection of the drawing operation by the drawing operation detecting means is interrupted and resumed for a time shorter than a predetermined threshold value. The touch drawing display device according to claim 1. A drawing color designating unit for designating a drawing color by the drawing operation;
The drawing color that can be designated by the drawing color designating unit includes at least a first color and a second color for erasing the first color. The touch drawing display device described. An expanded window area setting unit configured to set an expanded window area surrounding the active window with an area larger than the active window;
The input receiving means is a drawing operation completed in the active window and a drawing operation having a start point in the active window, and the drawing operation interrupted after continuing to the inactive window, 5. The touch drawing display device according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving a drawing operation in the extended window area as an input operation to each of the active windows.   Further, while the drawing operation detecting unit detects a drawing operation having a start point in the active window, the drawing operation trajectory regardless of whether the drawing operation is in the active window or not. The touch drawing display device according to claim 1, further comprising trajectory drawing means for drawing an image representing the image on the display surface.   Further, after the drawing operation detecting means detects a drawing operation having a start point in the active window, the locus drawing means draws on the display surface in response to the detection of the drawing operation being interrupted. The touch drawing display device according to claim 6, further comprising image erasing means for erasing a drawn portion in the inactive window if there is a drawn portion in the inactive window.