JP4028522B2 - controller - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a controller capable of processing information from an input device having different operation modes on software, such as a pad type input device and a stick type input device built in a notebook type computer.

  As an input device (controller) of a conventional notebook type computer, for example, a pad type or a stick type is used.

  In the pad type input device, a flat pad is provided in the vicinity of the keyboard, and when used, a pointer (mouse cursor) displayed on the screen is moved in the X and Y axis directions by sliding a finger on the pad ( Information to be moved in a direction parallel to the screen can be input. Also, information in the Z-axis direction can be input by performing an operation such as tapping the top of the pad with a finger.

  In the stick-type input device, a small-diameter stick is provided in the vicinity of the center of the keyboard key arrangement, and the pointer displayed on the screen is moved by tilting the stick in a desired direction with a finger. Information to be moved in the axial direction can be input.

  The pad type input device can output relative coordinate data and absolute coordinate data to a computer, and the stick type input device can output only relative coordinate data. The relative coordinate data is a mode for moving a cursor or the like on a computer screen, and the absolute coordinate data is a mode used for moving the cursor or writing characters or figures by handwriting.

  Generally, as shown in FIG. 4, the relative coordinate data in each input device is usually processed with a signal of a 3-byte format, and in the first byte area of each byte, an overflow bit (YO, XO), a sign bit ( YS, XS), button information, and the like are obtained, and variable information on the X and Y coordinates including the X count and Y count are obtained in the second and third byte areas, respectively.

Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the absolute coordinate data is processed by a 6-byte format signal, and in the first byte area of each byte, identification information for identifying an external input device (for example, a mouse), In the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth byte areas, information consisting of X count, X count and button information, Y count and button information, Y count and Z count is obtained.
JP-A-5-46300

  However, the above-described conventional personal computer device cannot simultaneously use both pad type and stick type input devices in a notebook type computer, and has the following problems.

  That is, when inputting absolute coordinate data using a pad type input device (for example, writing a character such as a sign), the input can be performed by sliding the top surface of the pad with a finger or a pen. Once a finger or pen is moved away from the top surface of the pad due to the lines and line breaks that make up the character, the touch position may not be known when the finger or pen is touched again on the pad top surface. You may have to re-enter the text, such as when the balance is lost or the characters become unrecognizable.

  Character input using a conventional pad-type input device has already been performed, but the operation data format signal obtained in that case is different between relative coordinate data and absolute coordinate data. When the input position cannot be recognized when operating in the input mode, the operation is performed by switching the input of the relative coordinate data and the input of the absolute coordinate data, such as switching to the input mode of the relative coordinate data. However, in this case as well, the input mode of the relative coordinate data and the absolute coordinate data must be switched as necessary, and at this time, the software is used to switch the relative coordinate data and the absolute coordinate data. There was a problem in terms of operability such that the user switched each time and in some cases had to restart the computer.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a controller that can use relative coordinate data and absolute coordinate data simultaneously without performing a switching operation.

Further, the present invention makes the signal processing simple when there is an input from the input device by making the signal format common between the input device for inputting the relative coordinate data and the input device for inputting the absolute coordinate data. A further object is to provide a controller that facilitates the identification of both input devices.

The present invention provides a first input device that outputs operation data as absolute coordinate data, a second input device that outputs operation data as relative coordinate data, absolute coordinate data obtained from the first input device, An output unit that converts each relative coordinate data obtained from the second input device into data of the same format and outputs the data, and the first input device based on the data of the format given from the output unit And a processing unit for performing processing corresponding to absolute coordinate data from or processing corresponding to relative coordinate data from the second input device,
When data is obtained from the first input device, in the format, X count information that is operation information in the X direction, Y count information that is operation information in the Y direction orthogonal to the X direction, and Z count information that is operation information in the Z direction orthogonal to both the X direction and the Y direction is included,
When data is obtained from the second input device, X format information and Y count information are included in the format, and the area where the Z count information is to be stored is used instead of the Z count information. An identification flag is added to identify the relative coordinate data format,
Wherein the processing unit decodes the data of the format, when bought the an identification flag is detected, then process the X count information and Y count information and Z count information included in the format as absolute coordinate data, the When the identification flag is detected, the X count information and the Y count information included in the format are processed as relative coordinate data.

  By using different types of input devices incorporated in, for example, a notebook type computer by the above means, the user can perform simultaneous operation without switching each input device. In this case, for example, when two different input devices are used, if a signal having the same format is not output from the output unit from both input devices, the processing in the processing unit in which the driver is incorporated becomes complicated. In addition, it is difficult to distinguish which output device is the signal obtained by operating which input device. Therefore, it is possible to identify both input devices by putting identification information for distinguishing them from the other input device in a part of the format of one input device so that the above can be distinguished.

  For example, absolute coordinate data and relative coordinate data can be output using a pad type input device, and relative coordinate data can be output using a stick type input device. In this case, in a pad type input device, a finger or pen can be used to input a sign or character on the pad surface, that is, absolute coordinate data can be input using a locus of dot data, and the finger can be slid on the pad surface. By moving, relative coordinate data (movement data) in the X and Y directions can be output. Further, in the stick type input device, relative coordinate data in the X and Y directions can be output by tilting the stick-like operation body in a desired direction.

  In the output of the relative coordinate data, the pointer (cursor) displayed on the display unit can be moved in a desired direction. In the absolute coordinate data input mode, a predetermined area displayed on the display unit can be selected, and in the output of absolute coordinate data, signature authentication such as inputting characters can be performed.

  Moreover, both input devices can be used simultaneously, and when both input devices are in the input mode of relative coordinate data, the user can use both input devices at the same time without switching the input devices. Even when relative coordinate data and absolute coordinate data can be output, the user can use both input devices at the same time without switching the input devices. In this case, when both input devices are used at the same time, the output coordinate data is alternately notified to, for example, a driver provided in the processing unit, and a predetermined process is performed.

  When inputting characters by sliding a finger or pen with respect to the pad surface using the above-mentioned means, for example using a pad type input device, the finger etc. is once released from the pad surface and then placed on the pad surface. When lowering a finger or the like, the lowering position may become unrecognizable. In that case, operating the stick-type input device, moving the pointer to the lowering position, positioning, and then starting character input, Character input can be performed.

  The controller of the present invention described above is provided not only in a combination of two pad type and stick type input devices but also in a processing unit by combining a mouse type input device as an external device and combining three input devices. Alternatively, processing may be performed by a common driver. In this case, for example, the pad-type input device outputs absolute coordinate data that enables character input, and the stick-type input device outputs scroll data that scrolls an editing screen such as a word processor or spreadsheet up, down, left, and right. In a mouse type input device, relative coordinate data for moving a pointer (cursor) may be output.

  The present invention can use different types of input devices at the same time without switching operation. In particular, when outputting absolute coordinate data such as character input with a finger or pen using a pad type input device, even if the position where the finger or pen is next lowered cannot be recognized, the input device switching operation is performed. By inputting the relative coordinate data using an input device of a type different from the above without performing the input, characters and the like can be input accurately.

  Hereinafter, an example of the controller of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a notebook computer incorporating a controller of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration inside the controller.

  A controller 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used by being incorporated in a notebook computer. The controller 1 is provided with a keyboard 6 on the top surface of a housing 8, and a second controller (second input device) 3 that uses a stick-type strain sensor 3 a is provided near the center of the keyboard 6. Further, a first controller (first input device) 2 using a square flat pad type sensor 2 a is provided in front of the keyboard 6. In addition, button-type switches 4 and 4 are provided on the front side of the first controller 2 independently on the left and right sides.

  In the second controller 3, only relative coordinate data is input, and in the first controller 2, both relative coordinate data and absolute coordinate data can be input. The first controller 2 may be configured by either a capacitance method or a pressure sensitive method.

  The housing 8 is provided with a display unit 5 composed of a liquid crystal panel that can be opened and closed. Relative coordinate data for moving a pointer (cursor) 7 displayed on the display unit 5 is displayed on the pad surface in the first controller 2. Can be input by sliding the finger in a desired direction with a finger, a pen or the like, and by pressing the head of the stick in a desired direction with the finger or the like in the second controller 3. Further, in the first controller 2, by inputting a sign, character, figure, etc. on the pad surface, the locus of the sign, character, figure, etc. inputted can be inputted as absolute coordinate data, and the sign, etc. can be input to the display unit 5. Is displayed.

  The block diagram shown in FIG. 2 includes a first controller 2, a second controller 3, and a host PC 26. The strain sensor 3a, which is a stick type input device, the sensor 2a, which is a pad type input device, and blocks other than hardware related thereto may be configured by an electronic circuit incorporated in the housing 8. The blocks other than the input device may be incorporated in the host PC 26 as software. Each block other than the input device and the hardware related thereto corresponds to an output unit in the present invention, and a device driver incorporated in the host PC 26 corresponds to a processing unit in the present invention.

  The first controller 2 and the second controller 3 are connected by interfaces 14 and 24, respectively. Further, the host PC (personal computer) 26 and the second controller 3 are connected via an interface 25. In this case, the output data from the first controller 2 and the output data from the second controller 3 are output from one output port 25a provided in the interface 25. As a result, the device driver in the host PC 26 The signal processing is performed by only one processing unit without using the one controller 2 and the second controller 3 as separate processing units. That is, the device driver provided in the host PC 26 serves as a common processing unit that processes signals from the first controller 2 and the second controller 3. The signal processed by the device driver is subjected to predetermined processing by an OS (Operating System) or the like, and converted into a signal for output to the display unit 5.

  The first controller 2 includes a sensor 2a that is a pad-type input device that detects that a finger or pen touches the pad surface, and a coordinate detection unit 2b that detects a location where the finger or pen touches. Is provided.

  The first controller 2 is provided with a relative movement amount (coordinate) conversion unit 11a that converts operation data into relative coordinate data, and an absolute coordinate conversion unit 11b that converts operation data into absolute coordinate data. The detection unit 2b is connected in parallel. The relative movement amount conversion unit 11a and the absolute coordinate conversion unit 11b are connected to the interface 14, respectively. Further, a format switching control unit 12 is connected to the interface 14, and switching units 12a and 12b provided between the coordinate detection unit 2b and the relative movement amount conversion unit 11a and the absolute coordinate conversion unit 11b via the inverter 13. Is controlled.

  The format switching control unit 12 inputs 3 bytes of relative coordinate data shown in FIG. 4 using the sensor 2a based on a command from the host PC 26, and 6 bytes shown in FIG. 5 using the sensor 2a. This is for switching between the case where the absolute coordinate data is input. When the relative coordinate data is input from the coordinate detection unit 2b, the switching unit 12a is turned on and the switching unit 12b is turned off. When absolute coordinate data is input from the coordinate detection unit 2b, the switching unit 12b is turned on and the switching unit 12a is turned off.

  The second controller 3 is provided with a strain sensor 3a, which is a stick-type input device that detects the distortion of the stick portion, and a distortion amount detection unit 3b. The operation detection value obtained from the distortion amount detection unit 3b is converted into relative movement amount data by a relative movement amount (coordinate) conversion unit 3c.

  The relative movement amount conversion unit 3 c is connected to the accumulation counter 15 and the format conversion unit 16. The cumulative counter 15 accumulates the relative movement amount data continuously input from the relative movement amount conversion unit 3c, and the format conversion unit 16 generates a format for 3-byte relative coordinate data shown in FIG. The The data is notified to the device driver of the host PC 26 via the interface 25, and a predetermined process is performed.

  The relative movement amount conversion unit 3c is connected to a 3-byte buffer 21a and a 6-byte format conversion unit 22a. The relative movement amount data notified from the relative movement amount conversion unit 3c is temporarily held by the buffer 21a. In the format conversion unit 22a, the relative movement amount data given from the relative movement amount conversion unit 3c is shown in FIG. 6 is converted into relative coordinate data in the 6-byte format, and an identification flag as identification information is added to a part of the 6-byte format. When the circuit in the device selection unit 23 is closed, 6-byte relative coordinate data is notified to the host PC 26 via the interface 25 from the format conversion unit 22a.

  Further, the relative movement amount data given from the relative movement amount conversion unit 11a of the first controller 2 is notified from the interface 14 to the interface 24, passes through the line L2, passes the cumulative counter 15 from the device selection unit 20, and The format converter 16 can be notified.

  The absolute coordinate data notified from the absolute coordinate converter 11b of the first controller 2 to the interface 24 is temporarily held in the 6-byte buffer 21b, and converted into the 6-byte format shown in FIG. 5 by the format converter 22b. Is done. When the device selection unit 23 is turned on, the absolute coordinate data in the 6-byte format is notified from the buffer 21b to the host PC 26 via the interface 25.

  Further, the line L0 from the relative movement amount conversion unit 3c of the second controller 3 to the cumulative counter 15, the line L1 from the relative movement amount conversion unit 3c to the 3-byte buffer 21a, and the first controller 2 through the interface 24. On the line L3 leading to the 6-byte buffer 21b, switching units 17a, 17b, and 17c are provided, respectively. The switching unit 17 a is controlled by the format switching control unit 17, and the switching units 17 b and 17 c are controlled by the format switching control unit 17 via the inverter 18.

  The controller 1 of the present invention configured as described above is configured such that the input from the pad type sensor 2a and the input from the stick type distortion sensor 3a are both hosted as relative coordinate data in the 3-byte format shown in FIG. The PC 26 can be notified, and the absolute coordinate input from the pad-type sensor 2a and the relative coordinate input from the stick-type strain sensor 3a are both given to the host PC 26 as a 6-byte format signal shown in FIG. You can also.

  The selection of 3 bytes and 6 bytes and the selection of input from the pad type sensor 2a as relative coordinate input or absolute coordinate input may be performed by operating dedicated software or a keyboard. 6 may be directly switched, and can be changed as appropriate.

  When both the input from the pad type sensor 2a and the input from the stick type distortion sensor 3a are used as relative coordinate data in the 3-byte format, the format switching control unit 17 causes the first controller 2 and the second controller 3 to All are switched to perform processing in the 3-byte format. That is, the switching unit 17 a is controlled to be ON, and the switching units 17 b and 17 c are controlled to be OFF via the inverter 18.

  At this time, the switching signal from the host PC 26 is notified to the format switching control unit 12 through the interface 25, the line L4, the interface 24, the interface 14, and the line L6 in order, the switching unit 12a is turned on, and the switching unit 12b is turned off. Become. Thereby, data (finger coordinate data) obtained from the sensor 2a of the first controller 2 is notified to the relative movement amount conversion unit 11a, and the relative coordinate data converted by the relative movement amount conversion unit 11a is transmitted to the interface 14. Via the interface 24 of the second controller 3.

  The relative movement amount data input from the distortion sensor 3a and converted by the relative movement amount conversion unit 3c, and the same relative movement amount notified from the relative movement amount conversion unit 11a of the first controller 2 via the line L2. Is selected by the device selection unit 20. When the P1 side is turned on, the relative movement amount data from the pad type sensor 2a is given to the accumulation counter 15, and when the P2 side is turned on, the relative movement amount coordinate data from the stick type strain sensor 3a is given to the accumulation counter 15. Given. When any one of the sensors 2a or 3a is operated, the device selection unit 20 is switched to one side (P1 or P2) according to the sensor to be used under the control of the host PC 26. Alternatively, the device selection unit 20 always switches alternately between the P1 side and the P2 side in a short cycle, and the data of the relative movement amount is obtained whenever the sensor 2a is used and when the strain sensor 3a is used. It may be given to the accumulation counter 15.

  The cumulative value of the movement amount added by the cumulative counter 15 is converted into the 3-byte format shown in FIG. 4 by the format converter 16 and notified to the host PC 26 via the interface 25. The host PC 26 is provided with a device driver dedicated to the controller 1, and the OS or the like performs predetermined processing based on the relative coordinate data notified to the device driver, and the pointer 7 displayed on the screen 5 is desired. (See FIG. 1).

  When the first controller 2 is used as an absolute coordinate input device, the input signal from the first controller 2 and the input signal from the second controller 3 are both supplied to the host PC 26 as 6-byte data shown in FIG. It is done.

  At this time, the format switching control unit 17 controls the switching unit 17 a to be OFF, and the switching units 17 b and 17 c are controlled to be ON via the inverter 18.

  Further, the format switching control unit 12 of the first controller 2 controls the switching unit 12a to be OFF and the switching unit 12b to be ON.

  Therefore, the coordinate information detected by the coordinate detection unit 2b by the operation of the sensor 2a of the first controller 2 is converted into absolute coordinate data given to the absolute coordinate conversion unit 11b. The absolute coordinate data converted by the absolute coordinate converter 11 b is notified to the interface 24 on the second controller 3 side via the interface 14. The absolute coordinate data input to the second controller 3 side is held in the 6-byte buffer 21b through the line L3. Further, the absolute coordinate data in the 6-byte format shown in FIG. 5 is generated by the format conversion unit 22b.

  Further, the distortion amount detected by the distortion amount detection unit 3b by the operation of the distortion sensor 3a of the second controller 3 is once converted into relative movement amount data by the relative movement amount conversion unit 3c. After the relative movement amount data is held in the 3-byte buffer 21a, the format conversion unit 22a converts the 3-byte data into the relative coordinate data in the 6-byte format shown in FIG. Further, the format conversion unit 22a adds an identification flag as identification information for identifying relative coordinate data to a part of the 6-byte format.

  The absolute coordinate data from the format conversion unit 22b based on the input from the first controller 2 and the relative coordinate data formatted by the format conversion unit 22a based on the input from the second controller 3 and added with the identification information are the device It is selected by the selector 23. This selection is switched when the device selection unit 23 is fixed to either the P3 side or the P4 side according to a command from the host PC 26 when either the sensor 2a or the strain sensor 3a is used.

  Alternatively, in the mode in which the first controller 2 and the second controller 3 are used in parallel, the device selector 23 switches alternately to the P3 side or the P4 side in a short cycle.

  Therefore, the same 6-byte format data is given to the device driver of the host PC 26 when the sensor 2a is used and when the strain sensor 3a is used.

  Here, the format of the 3-byte relative coordinate data converted by the 3-byte format conversion unit 16 is as shown in FIG. The first byte is the data area for overflow bits (YO, XO), sign bits (YS, XS), button information, etc. The second byte and the third byte are on the X and Y coordinates consisting of the X count and Y count. This is a variable information area.

  The format of 6-byte coordinate data converted by the format conversion unit 22a and the format conversion unit 22b is as shown in FIG. The first byte is an identification information area for identifying an external input device (for example, a mouse), and the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth bytes are X count, X count and button information, Y count and This is an information area consisting of button information, Y count, and Z count.

  However, in the absolute coordinate data converted by the format converter 22b, the Z-count data area 30 is variable data, but in the relative coordinate data converted by the format converter 22a, the Z-count data area 30 is used. Is a fixed value (identification flag) of identification information.

  When the controller 1 operates to form a 6-byte format, the device driver of the host PC 26 receives relative coordinate data when the strain sensor 3a is operated and relative coordinate data when the sensor 2a is operated. Are given as signals of the same 6-byte format. Therefore, it is easy to process both data by the device driver, and it is possible to identify the relative coordinate data or the absolute coordinate data by checking whether or not the Z count data area 30 is the data of the identification flag.

  Next, the operation of the device driver provided in the host PC 26 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  The device driver decodes the data given from the interface 25 and further the data given from the third controller (step 1; ST1). In this case, the third controller is a mouse controller connected to the outside of the notebook computer shown in FIG. For example, the third controller is provided with a sphere at the lower part (or upper part) of the casing and two shafts in contact with the sphere, and the sphere rotates by moving the casing in a desired direction. This is a structure in which the rotational force of the accompanying shaft is detected by a detection unit including an encoder or the like, and this is used for inputting relative coordinates.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in ST2, it is confirmed whether the input and decoded coordinate data is data having a 6-byte format. If the operation data is not in 6-byte format in ST2 (No), it is processed as data in 3-byte format in ST8. The data processed at this time is when the controller shown in FIG. 2 is operating as generating a 3-byte format or when a third controller such as the mouse is being operated. By the process in ST8, it is processed as movement data (tracking data) for moving the cursor or the like on the screen.

  If the operation data is recognized as data having a 6-byte format in ST2 (Yes), it is confirmed in ST3 whether the area of the Z data is a fixed value including an identification flag, and the identification flag is set. If it is detected, it is recognized as relative coordinate data from the second controller 3, and data in 6-byte format is processed in ST7. When the identification flag is not detected, it is recognized as absolute coordinate data from the first controller 2, and data of 6-byte format is processed in ST4. This data is data that describes a signature, characters, and figures using a pad.

  Each processing data is subjected to common data processing (ST5), notified to a system such as an OS, and screen display processing is performed.

  When the coordinate data from the controller shown in FIG. 2 is processed by the device driver as shown in FIG. 3, the pad type first controller 2 can input absolute coordinates such as characters, and the stick type second controller. 3, it is possible to input relative coordinates for scrolling or tracking a display screen (window) such as a word processor or spreadsheet, and for a mouse type third controller, relative coordinates for tracking a cursor (pointer) can be input.

  In particular, the absolute coordinate data from the pad type sensor 2a and the relative coordinate data from the stick type strain sensor 3a can be processed by the device driver in the same format. When input is stopped and input is stopped, the stick type distortion sensor 3a is used to move the cursor to the position where input is stopped and input the position. It becomes easy to input a continuation such as.

  The controller of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and a trackball type input device may be used for inputting relative coordinate data. Further, the identification information is added to a part of the format of the relative coordinate data, but the identification information may be added to the format side of the absolute coordinate data, and can be appropriately changed depending on the format.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the notebook computer incorporating the controller of this invention, Block diagram showing the circuit configuration inside the controller, The flowchart which shows the processing operation of a device driver, when using the controller of FIG. Schematic diagram showing an example of an array of data when processing in 3-byte format, Schematic showing an example of an array of data when processing in 6-byte format,

Explanation of symbols

2 first controller 2a sensor 2b coordinate detection unit 3 second controller 3a strain sensor 3b strain amount detection unit 3c relative movement amount conversion unit 5 display unit 7 pointer (cursor)
11a Relative movement amount conversion unit 11b Absolute coordinate conversion unit 12, 17 Format switching control unit 14, 24, 25 Interface 15 Cumulative counter 16, 22a, 22b Format conversion unit 20, 23 Device selection unit 21a, 21b Buffer 26 Host PC

Claims (3)

A first input device that outputs operation data as absolute coordinate data, a second input device that outputs operation data as relative coordinate data, absolute coordinate data obtained from the first input device, and the second An output unit that converts each of the relative coordinate data obtained from the input device into data of the same format and outputs it, and an absolute coordinate from the first input device based on the data in the format given from the output unit A processing unit that performs processing corresponding to data or processing corresponding to relative coordinate data from the second input device is provided,
When data is obtained from the first input device, in the format, X count information that is operation information in the X direction, Y count information that is operation information in the Y direction orthogonal to the X direction, and Z count information that is operation information in the Z direction orthogonal to both the X direction and the Y direction is included,
When data is obtained from the second input device, X format information and Y count information are included in the format, and the area where the Z count information is to be stored is used instead of the Z count information. An identification flag is added to identify the relative coordinate data format,
Wherein the processing unit decodes the data of the format, when bought the an identification flag is detected, then process the X count information and Y count information and Z count information included in the format as absolute coordinate data, the When the identification flag is detected, the controller processes X count information and Y count information included in the format as relative coordinate data. It said second input device has a distortion sensor stick controller of claim 1, wherein X count information and Y count information is obtained from the strain sensor. Wherein the processing unit according to claim 1 or 2 controller, wherein the device driver incorporated in the computer.

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