JP3826471B2 - Information selection device, information selection method, portable information terminal to which the information selection device is applied, and portable information terminal to which the information selection method is applied - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information selection device and an information selection method for freely operating a cursor on a display screen, a portable information terminal to which the information selection device is applied, and a portable information terminal to which the information selection method is applied.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An on-board mouse used in a conventional portable information terminal has a built-in capacitance sensor in the palm rest area shown in FIG. 7 and moves the pointer by touching the finger or moves the trackball. There has been a method of embedding, a method of attaching the pressure sensor shown in FIG. 8 to the display panel, or a method of embedding in a bar shape in the keyboard shown in FIG.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, none of the conventional mice described above can move exactly to the desired position, or the user feels uncomfortable with the operation feeling, and there are many users who are not familiar with it.
[0004]
Accordingly, the present invention provides an information selection device and information selection method that can move the cursor accurately and reliably as intended by the operator, and has good operability, and a portable information terminal to which the information selection device is applied and the information It is an object to provide a portable information terminal to which a selection method is applied.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, an information selection device according to the present invention is an information selection device having a display screen on the surface of a housing, and is moved in the horizontal direction by the operation of a finger provided near the vertical side of the display screen. A possible first moving operation body , a second moving operation body provided in the vicinity of the side opposite to the vertical side and movable in the vertical direction by a finger operation, and the first and second movements Cursor operating means capable of operating a cursor on the display screen corresponding to each movement amount of the operating body, and provided at a position on the rear surface of the housing that substantially corresponds to the first or second moving operating body. If the cursor is located within the area of the object on the display screen, it is characterized in that it has a target specifying means for specifying the object by operation of a finger.
[0006]
The information selection method of the present invention is an information selection method having a display screen on the surface of the housing, and is a first method provided in the vicinity of the vertical side of the display screen and movable in the horizontal direction by a finger operation . A movable operating body and a second moving operating body, which are provided in the vicinity of the side opposite to the vertical side and can be moved in the vertical direction by the operation of a finger, are operated, respectively . The cursor is provided on a rear surface of the housing and substantially corresponding to the first or second moving operation body by operating a cursor operating means capable of operating a cursor on the display screen corresponding to each moving amount. There when located in the region of the object on the display screen, in which by operating the target specifying means for specifying the object by operation of the finger and identifies the object.
[0007]
Therefore, when the cursor operating means is operated with a finger, the cursor on the display screen is operated, and the cursor is located within the area of the target on the display screen, the target can be specified .
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a portable information terminal, and the appearance of this portable information terminal is shown in FIGS.
[0009]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the portable information terminal according to this embodiment includes jog dials 1a and 1b (hereinafter referred to as “jog dial 1”) that are cursor operating means and object moving means, and a display unit that is a display screen. 3 and a keypad 9 or the like.
[0010]
The jog dial 1 is composed of a rotary encoder (rotating disc) 16, a fixed disc 19 and the like. The jog dial 1 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. FIG. 3A is a conceptual diagram of the mechanical structure of the jog dial 1 used in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3A, the jog dial 1 is a rotary encoder 16, a push button cover 101 that moves integrally with the position variable jog dial 1, and an object specifying unit that operates when the push button cover 101 is pushed. A switch 17 and a spring 18 are included.
[0011]
FIG. 3B is an example of a conceptual diagram of an electrode pattern on the fixed disk 19 that is paired with the rotary encoder 16. The rotary center of the rotary encoder 16 is electrically grounded. The electrodes corresponding to SW1 and SW2 are drawn out from the direction opposite to the surface where the contact point between the electrode 20 provided in the encoder 16 and the electrode pattern on the fixed disk 19 slides.
[0012]
FIG. 3C is a configuration diagram of a contact circuit of the rotary encoder 16. When the push button cover 101 is pushed and the switch 17 is turned on, an output appears on SW0 as shown in FIG. Further, as the rotary encoder 16 rotates, an output appears on SW1 and SW2. The outputs of SW0, 1, and 2 are supplied to the below-described Graphic Engine & Peripheral Control IC (hereinafter referred to as “peripheral control IC”) 2 to perform various controls.
[0013]
Further, the jog dial 1 is a push button when viewed from the back surface, and has a jagged rotation structure from the front surface (the surface of the display unit 3). When dragging, drag the jog dial 1a with the left hand while pushing the jog dial 1a with the left side of the thumb while simultaneously pushing the jog dial 1a with the left hand. it can.
[0014]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the functions of the jog dials 1a and 1b. For example, the X direction which is the first direction is moved by the jog dial 1b, and the Y direction which is different from the first direction is moved by the jog dial 1a. If they are moved simultaneously, the X and Y positions are directly determined in proportion to the amount of movement. The basic amount of movement is one pixel per click. The movement speed is changed according to the acceleration amount by which the jog dial is moved to a desired position, and when the target position is roughly reached, fine movement is performed for each pixel as required by the application.
[0015]
The moving speed is detected using a memory in which the operation amounts per unit time of the jog dials 1a and 1b are divided into predetermined ranks and coefficients corresponding to the predetermined ranks are stored. For example, depending on how many pulses are input within a certain time, the moving distance is divided into several ranks, the coefficient is read from the data ROM area, and decomposed with respect to the moving direction from the ROM in the X and Y directions. The read coefficient is multiplied and the result is determined as the final position.
[0016]
FIG. 5 shows a state of rotation of the rotary encoder 16 and a state of a voltage waveform output with chattering. In FIG. 5, whiskers occur at the rise and fall of the pulses in SW1 and SW2, respectively, but when they are input to the peripheral control IC2, the whiskers are eliminated by an integration circuit (not shown), and chattering with a long time is performed twice by software. The same integration effect can be given by coincidence or the like. In addition, since the pulses having a phase difference of 90 ° can be detected, the direction in which the jog dials 1a and 1b are rotated can be detected. Moreover, the acceleration can be roughly known by measuring the pulse interval between the two and comparing them on the time axis. Thus, in the example of cursor movement, the CPU 4 can know whether the operator wants to move the cursor quickly or slowly via the peripheral control IC 2, and the cursor can be controlled by software. Will be.
[0017]
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of the portable information terminal of this embodiment. The jog dials 1a and 1b both take data into the peripheral control IC 2 in the same manner as the Keypad 9 input, and perform chattering removal processing. Further, up / down in the Y direction, forward / reverse detection in the X direction, and acceleration thereof are calculated by software, and a predetermined position in the display unit 3 of the cursor is determined. The push switches in the jog dials 1a and 1b correspond to normal mouse left and right buttons, and are recognized by the peripheral control IC 2 as one of the keys. The CPU 4 processes each task of the application software in real time under the control of an OS (Operating System).
[0018]
The jog dials 1a and 1b input pulses to the peripheral control IC 2. The input pulse is integrated by hardware and chattering processing is usually performed by software so that one pulse is counted by coincidence twice.
[0019]
An IrDA interface (hereinafter, IrDAi / f) 14 is an element in which a light emitting unit incorporating an infrared light emitting diode and a driver and a light receiving unit incorporating a photodiode and a detector are integrated, and other portable information terminals, etc. Data communication via IrDA i / f and general-purpose application software.
A PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) i / f15 can insert various PC cards and provides various functions to a portable information terminal.
[0020]
The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The jog dials 1a and 1b are operated by finger operation, and the cursor in the display unit 3 is operated according to the rotation direction of each rotary encoder 16. When the operated cursor is located in the area of information (object) to be moved, one of the jog dials 1a and 1b is pressed. Information on the cursor in the display unit 3 is specified based on the ON signal of the switch unit 17 of the jog dials 1a and 1b due to this depression. With this information specified, the specified information is moved by operating the jog dials 1a and 1b.
[0021]
Therefore, according to the portable information terminal of this embodiment, the target information can be accurately moved to the target place without stress. Further, in the jog dials 1a and 1b, it is possible to reduce the space for the attachment place and the operation place.
[0022]
In addition, when the same jog dial 1a, 1b is pushed simultaneously with the pointer movement to up / down, forward and reverse, each can be used with the same feeling as a general mouse button.
[0023]
Also, when dragging, the covers of the jog dials 1a and 1b move in conjunction with the jog dials 1a and 1b, so that the jog dials 1a and 1b can be smoothly rotated even if they are pressed.
[0024]
Further, if the jog dials 1a and 1b are assigned as various function keys, they can be used, for example, as a volume adjustment VR or for various setting value adjustments.
[0025]
The above-described portable information terminal is only an example of a mouse pointer, and the arrangement, shape, operation method, number of teeth per rotation, combination with keys, number of keys and jog dial, etc. Various things are possible.
[0026]
Further, the jog dials 1a and 1b may be used for scrolling the screen of the display unit 3 in addition to being used as a normal mouse, or for performing “kana-kanji” conversion other than input from a keyboard.
[0027]
Needless to say, the user can arbitrarily set the moving speed, response, pointer shape, and the like, as in normal mouse operation settings.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the cursor on the display screen is operated by the cursor operating means, and the cursor is located in the area of the target on the display screen, the target is specified, With this object specified, the specified object is moved to the desired location by further cursor operation of the cursor operation means. Therefore, the cursor is moved with the operational feeling that matches the operator's feeling, and the object There is an effect that an object can be specified and the object can be moved to a desired place.
[0029]
Further, the operation amount per unit time of the cursor operation means is divided into predetermined ranks, and further provided with a memory in which a coefficient corresponding to the predetermined rank is stored, and the cursor operation means performs the cursor operation A means for obtaining a coefficient corresponding to the predetermined rank corresponding to the operation amount, multiplying the operation amount, and operating a cursor based on the operation amount as a result, the target moving means, A coefficient corresponding to the predetermined rank corresponding to the operation amount is obtained from the memory corresponding to the operation amount of the further operation of the cursor operation means, and the operation amount resulting from the operation is multiplied by the operation amount of the operation The selected information is moved to a desired location in response to the cursor, and the cursor on the display screen is operated according to the acceleration of the operation of the cursor operation means by the operator. Is positioned within the area of the object on the display screen, the object is specified, and the operator operates the cursor operation means by further cursor operation of the cursor operation means in the state where the object is specified. The specified object is moved to the desired location according to the acceleration of the object, so the cursor is moved according to whether the operator wants to move the cursor quickly or slowly. The object can be identified and moved to a desired location.
[0030]
In addition, the cursor operation means includes a first cursor operation means for performing a cursor operation in a first direction and a second cursor operation means for performing a cursor operation in a direction different from the first direction. When the cursor on the display screen is operated in the first direction and in a direction different from the first direction by the cursor operating means, and the cursor is located in the area of the object on the display screen, the target In the state where the object is specified and the object is specified, the specified object is moved to a desired location by a cursor operation in a further first direction of the cursor operation means and a direction different from the first direction. As a result, the cursor operation can be performed accurately and delicately.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are a rear view and a side view of the portable information terminal according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3A is a conceptual diagram of a mechanical structure of the jog dial 1; (B) is an example of a conceptual diagram of an electrode pattern on the fixed disk 19. FIG. 4C is a configuration diagram of a contact circuit of the rotary encoder 16.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for moving a cursor on a display unit.
FIG. 5 is a rotation waveform diagram of the rotary encoders of the jog dials 1a and 1b and an output waveform diagram of the rotary encoder associated with the rotation.
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a portable information terminal according to this embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a conventional portable information terminal including a mouse that incorporates a capacitance sensor in a palm rest area and thereby provides a mouse function.
FIG. 8 is a view showing a conventional portable information terminal having a mouse with a pressure sensor attached to a display panel to thereby provide a mouse function.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional portable information terminal including a mouse that embeds a rod-like mouse in a keyboard and arranges left and right buttons of the mouse in a palm rest area, thereby providing a mouse function.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a, 1b ... Jog dial (cursor moving means, target moving means), 3 ... display section

Claims (14)

An information selection device having a display screen on a housing surface,
Wherein provided in the vertical side near the display screen, the first mobile operating body which is movable in a horizontal direction by operation of a finger,
A second moving operation body provided in the vicinity of the side facing the vertical side and movable in the vertical direction by a finger operation;
A cursor operating means capable of operating a cursor on the display screen in accordance with each movement amount of the first and second moving operation bodies;
Provided on the rear surface of the housing and at a position generally corresponding to the first or second moving operation body,
When said cursor is located within the area of the object on the display screen, the information selection apparatus characterized by having a <br/> target specifying means capable of specifying the object by operation of a finger. Object moving means for moving the object specified by the object specifying means to a desired location on the display screen by a cursor operation of the cursor operating means
The information selection device according to claim 1, further comprising: The operation amount per unit time of the cursor operation means is divided into predetermined ranks, and further includes a memory in which coefficients corresponding to the predetermined ranks are stored,
The cursor operation means obtains a coefficient corresponding to the predetermined rank corresponding to the operation amount when the cursor operation is performed, multiplies the operation amount, and cursors based on the resulting operation amount The information selecting device according to claim 1, wherein the information selecting device is a means for operating the. An information selection method having a display screen on a housing surface,
A first moving operation body provided in the vicinity of the vertical side of the display screen and movable in the horizontal direction by a finger operation, and a vertical operation by a finger operation provided in the vicinity of the side opposite to the vertical side. Operate each movable second moving operation body,
Operating a cursor operating means capable of operating a cursor on the display screen in accordance with each movement amount of the first and second moving operation bodies;
Provided on the rear surface of the housing and at a position generally corresponding to the first or second moving operation body,
If the cursor is located within the area of the object on the display screen, and wherein <br/> that by operating the target specifying means for specifying the object to identify the object by operation of a finger Information selection method.   The object specified by the object specifying means is moved to a desired location on the display screen by operating the cursor of the cursor operation means, and the object is moved to the desired location by operating the object moving means.
The information selection method according to claim 4, wherein: The operation amount per unit time of the cursor operation means is divided into predetermined ranks, and further includes a memory in which coefficients corresponding to the predetermined ranks are stored,
To obtain a coefficient corresponding to the predetermined ranks corresponding to the operation amount when the cursor operation is performed, multiplied to the manipulated variable to manipulate the cursor on the basis of the operation amount becomes the result <br / The information selection method according to claim 4, wherein: A portable information terminal having a display screen on the surface of the housing,
Wherein provided in the vertical side near the display screen, the first mobile operating body which is movable in a horizontal direction by operation of a finger,
A second moving operation body provided in the vicinity of the side facing the vertical side and movable in the vertical direction by a finger operation;
A portable information terminal, characterized in that it comprises a <br/> said first and second moving operation body cursor operation means for operating the cursor on the display screen corresponding to each amount of movement. Provided at a position substantially corresponding to the first or second moving operation body on the back surface of the housing;
Object specifying means capable of specifying the object by operating a finger when the cursor is positioned within the area of the object on the display screen
8. The portable information terminal according to claim 7 , further comprising:
Object moving means for moving the object specified by the object specifying means to a desired location on the display screen by further cursor operation of the cursor operation means
The portable information terminal according to claim 8, further comprising: The operation amount per unit time of the cursor operation means is divided into predetermined ranks, and further includes a memory in which coefficients corresponding to the predetermined ranks are stored,
The cursor operation means obtains a coefficient corresponding to the predetermined rank corresponding to the operation amount when the cursor operation is performed, multiplies the operation amount, and cursors based on the resulting operation amount The portable information terminal according to claim 7, wherein the portable information terminal is a means for operating the device. An information selection method in a portable information terminal having a display screen on a housing surface,
A first moving operation body provided in the vicinity of the vertical side of the display screen and movable in the horizontal direction by a finger operation, and a vertical operation by a finger operation provided in the vicinity of the side opposite to the vertical side. Operate each movable second moving operation body,
A method for selecting information in a portable information terminal, comprising: operating a cursor operating means capable of operating a cursor on a display screen in accordance with each movement amount of the first and second moving operation bodies . Provided at a position substantially corresponding to the first or second moving operation body on the back surface of the housing;
When the cursor is positioned within the area of the object on the display screen, the object is specified by operating an object specifying unit that can specify the object by operating a finger.
The information selection method in the portable information terminal according to claim 11.
The object specified by the object specifying means is moved to a desired location on the display screen by further cursor operation of the cursor operating means, and the object is moved to the desired location by operating the object moving means.
The information selection method in the portable information terminal according to claim 12. The operation amount per unit time of the cursor operation means is divided into predetermined ranks, and further includes a memory in which coefficients corresponding to the predetermined ranks are stored,
The cursor operation means obtains a coefficient corresponding to the predetermined rank corresponding to the operation amount when the cursor operation is performed, multiplies the operation amount, and cursors based on the resulting operation amount information selecting method in the portable information terminal according to claim 11, wherein <br/> manipulating.

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