JP4137697B2 - Human interface device and system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an input device for operating a computer, a game machine, and the like, and more particularly, to a human interface device and system that can customize the arrangement of buttons and the like by a user.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, human interface devices between a user and a computer or game machine include a known mouse and keyboard, a dedicated input device prepared for each program (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1), and a plurality of input devices. There is also a general-purpose input device (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 2) that can handle programs.
[0003]
[Non-Patent Document 1]
“Realization of customer-specific input device via USB!” [Online], System Support, Inc. [Search March 20, 2003], Internet <URL: http://www.system-support.co.jp/ usb / usbkb.htm>
[Non-Patent Document 2]
“Nostrom n50 SpeedPad”, [online], Belkin Corporations, [March 20, 2003 search], Internet <URL: http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Product_Id=107727>
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the dedicated input device cannot be used for purposes other than a specific program, but also has problems such as being unable to cope with physical conditions such as the size of the user's hand and personal preferences. is there. On the other hand, general-purpose input devices cannot cope with the physical conditions and personal preferences described above, and there are many buttons that are not used, and the number of necessary buttons is insufficient. There is a point. In addition, there is a problem that compared to a dedicated input device, it is difficult to be optimal for the target program.
[0005]
By the way, although there exists an input device having a function that allows the user to customize the button assignment and the like (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 2), the position and number of buttons and the like cannot be changed in this input device. In this way, with the conventional dedicated and general-purpose human interface, the user basically needs to adapt to the input device, and depending on the target program, it takes a long time to master the operation of the input device, etc. There are problems.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a human interface device and system that can be customized in accordance with a user's physical conditions and preferences, a program to be operated, and the like. .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a human interface device for inputting necessary information to an operation target such as a computer or a game machine by a user's operation, the operation functions such as buttons, sliders, trackballs and the like are individually independent. Comprising an operation component having a shape of the human interface device and a substrate on which the operation component is arbitrarily arranged, the substrate having a hub connected to a plurality of connection means of the substrate by signal lines, A plurality of ports for receiving signals including IDs of operation components transmitted from a plurality of operation components arbitrarily disposed on the board via the connection means and signal lines of the board; Means for adding to the received signal a port number indicating an arrangement position of the operation component that has transmitted the signal, and time-divisionally transmitting to the operation target; Serial operation target, as well as specified by the ID type of individual operating components, characterized in that it has to be specified by the position of the individual operations part arranged on the substrate number of the port. As a result, a plurality of operation parts having individual functions can be freely arranged in accordance with the user's physical conditions and preferences, the program to be operated, etc., and the optimum human interface device can be customized. .
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the human interface device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation component and the board are provided with connection means for bonding each other on each bonding surface. As a result, it becomes possible to easily join the operation component and the substrate, or to change the arrangement by freely replacing the operation component.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the human interface device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the connection means of the operation component has a concave shape or a convex shape, the connection means of the substrate has a convex shape or a concave shape, The shape is fitted and the operation component and the substrate are joined. As a result, the operation component and the substrate can be more easily and reliably joined, and the operation component can be freely replaced to change the arrangement.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the human interface device according to the second or third aspect, each connection means of the operation component and the substrate includes a terminal connected to a signal line, and the operation component and the substrate are joined simultaneously. The signal lines are connected to each other. As a result, it is possible to easily connect the signal lines of the individual operation components and the signal lines of the substrate simply by joining the operation components and the substrate.
[0012]
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided an operation target of a computer, a game machine, or the like that executes a predetermined program, and the human interface device according to claim 1 that inputs necessary information to the operation target by a user operation. In the human interface system, the operation target is a unit for identifying an ID of an operation component based on a signal transmitted from the human interface device, and an operation component arranged on a board based on the identified ID Means for identifying the type of port, means for identifying the port number, means for storing the information corresponding to the port number and the position of the connecting means on the board, the identified port number and the stored information based on the bets, it means for identifying the position of the operating part arranged in any of the substrate and, the identified type to the specified position It means for displaying a board operating components are arranged on the screen, select the operation part from the screen, characterized by comprising a means for setting required to execute the program. Thus, the user can easily perform settings necessary for executing the program while viewing the board on which the operation component is arranged on the screen.
[0013]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention , in the human interface system according to the fifth aspect , the means for performing settings necessary for executing the operation target program associates a variable of the program with an operation component, and the human interface It is characterized in that a parameter for preprocessing for a signal transmitted from the apparatus is set. As a result, the user can easily associate the program variables with the operation components and set the parameters for preprocessing for the signals transmitted from the human interface device while viewing the board on which the operation components are arranged on the screen. Can be done.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a human interface device and system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a human interface device, 2 is a human interface system, 10 is an operation component, 20 is a board, 30 is a computer or game machine to be operated, 40 is an output device, and 50 is an input device. The human interface device 1 includes an operation component 10 and a substrate 20. The human interface system 2 includes a human interface device 1 and a computer or game machine as an operation target 30 connected to the human interface device 1 by a signal cable or the like. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 1 shows only one operation component 10, but actually there are a plurality of operation components 10 in accordance with a program or the like.
[0015]
The operation component 10 is an individual component for inputting a user operation such as a button, a slider, or a trackball, and includes a conversion unit 11, a transmission unit 12, and a connection unit 13. The conversion means 11 converts the input user operation into an electrical signal. The transmission means 12 converts the operation signal, which is the electrical signal, into a well-known USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard packet signal using, for example, a USB controller IC, and the operation signal, which is the packet signal, to the substrate 20. Send. The connection means 13 is a concave terminal that connects the signal line and the power supply line between the operation component 10 and the substrate 20, and connects the signal / power supply line by joining the substrate 20 and the operation component 10. To do. The conversion means 11 and the transmission means 12 and the transmission means 12 and the individual connection means 13 are connected by signal / power lines, respectively.
[0016]
The substrate 20 has the shape of the human interface device 1 and includes a connection means 21 and a hub 22. The hub 22 includes a plurality of ports and port number writing notification means 23. The connection means 21 is a convex terminal for connecting a signal line and a power supply line between the operation component 10 and the substrate 20, and is connected to the connection means 13 provided in the operation component 10, so that the substrate 20 and the operation component 10 are connected. Are connected to each other to connect the signal / power line. That is, the connecting means 21 and the connecting means 13 are respectively provided on the joint surfaces of the substrate 20 and the operation component 10, and the substrate 20 and the operation component 10 are joined by the connection means 21 and the connection device 13 being fitted together. Signal / power line is connected. The hub 22 receives operation signals from the plurality of operation components 10 and transmits the operation signals to the operation target 30 in a time-sharing manner. The port number writing notification unit 23 writes and notifies the port number to which the operation component 10 is connected to the operation signal received from the operation component 10. The individual connection means 21 and the hub 22 are connected by signal / power lines. In FIG. 1, the terminal of the connecting means 13 is concave and the terminal of the connecting means 21 is convex. However, the terminal of the connecting means 13 may be convex and the terminal of the connecting means 21 may be concave. In addition, the connection means 13 and the connection means 21 are connected in a concavo-convex shape. However, the connection means 13 and the connection means 21 are not limited to this, and may have a structure in which signal / power lines are connected between the operation component 10 and the substrate 20. That's fine.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of the connecting means 21 provided on the substrate 20 shown in FIG. The connection means 21 is a plurality of connection terminals for connecting signal / power supply lines, such as the data terminal D1, the data terminal D2, the power supply terminal P, and the power supply terminal GND. This is the same configuration as the well-known USB standard. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, among the above-described four terminals that are the individual connection means 21, for example, the shape of the data terminal D <b> 2 is different from the shape of the other three terminals, so By disposing the provided connecting means 13 corresponding to these shapes, the operation component 10 and the substrate 20 can be easily and correctly connected.
[0018]
The hub 22 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of ports for receiving operation signals from the plurality of operation components 10, that is, for inputting from the plurality of operation components 10. These inputs are, for example, well-known USB standard signals, etc., and a pair of signals connected to the data terminals D1 and D2 shown in FIG. 2 by time-dividing inputs from a plurality of operation components 10 as packet signals. The data is transmitted to the computer or game machine of the operation target 30 using the line. Further, the hub 22 identifies the port number of the hub 22 to which each operation component 10 is connected via the connection means 21 in order to identify the position of the operation component 10 on the board 20, for example, a well-known USB standard or the like. Port number writing notification means 23 for writing notification to the packet signal.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is an external view showing an example of the human interface device shown in FIG. In the human interface device 1, a trackball operation component 10-1, slider operation components 10-2 and 3, and button operation components 10-4 to 9 are arranged on a substrate 20. A plurality of substrates 20 may be prepared in advance according to the program of the operation target 30, the difference in the game, the user's preference, and the like, and may be selected therefrom. For example, when inputting specific data from an array of a plurality of buttons, a user selects a planar substrate because a substrate that is easily placed on a table and is easy to operate is suitable. In addition, in the case of a certain type of game, since a board that is easy to hold and operate with both hands is suitable, the user selects a three-dimensional board.
[0020]
The computer or game machine of the operation target 30 shown in FIG. 1 includes a well-known CPU, memory, program, and the like, and executes a program operated by the human interface device 1. A computer or game machine to be operated 30 includes a receiving unit 31, an argument passing unit 32, a program executing unit 33, a port number identifying unit 34, a storing unit 35, a position specifying display unit 36, and a setting unit 37. Storage means 38. Further, the computer or game machine to be operated 30 is connected to the output device 40 and the input device 50.
[0021]
The receiving unit 31 receives an operation signal from the operation component 10. The argument delivery means 32 pre-processes the operation signal from each operation component 10 using a preset initial value, magnification, etc., and delivers it to the associated program argument. The program execution unit 33 executes the program for the operation target 30. The port number identification means 34 identifies the port number of the hub 22 written in the operation signal that is a packet signal. The storage means 35 stores the shape of one or more substrates 20, the terminal positions of the connection means 21, and the port number information of the corresponding hub 22. The position specifying display unit 36 specifies the position of the operation component 10 from the identified port number, and displays an image of the substrate 20 on which the operation component 10 is arranged using the output device 40. The setting unit 37 selects the operation component 10 on the image by the position specifying display unit 36, associates the program variable that is the operation target of the human interface device 1 with the operation component 10 that operates the program, and the operation signal. Set parameters for preprocessing. The storage unit 38 stores the operation component 10 selected by the setting unit 37, the associated program variable and operation component 10, and the parameters set for preprocessing for the operation signal.
[0022]
The output device 40 is a known CRT, speaker, or the like that outputs information displayed by the position specifying display means 36. The input device 50 is a known keyboard, mouse, or the like for inputting information selected by the setting unit 37 while the user looks at the information output to the output device 40.
[0023]
Next, a series of processing from when the computer or game machine of the operation target 30 receives the operation signal to transfer it to the program argument will be described with reference to FIG. First, the receiving unit 31 receives an operation signal transmitted from the human interface device 1, that is, an operation signal from each operation component 10. Then, the argument delivery means 32 reads information associating the operation component 10 with the program argument, and parameters such as a magnification and initial value for preprocessing with respect to the operation signal from the storage means 38, and receives the information by the reception means 31. The received operation signal is preprocessed, and the preprocessed operation signal is transferred to the program argument of the program execution means 33.
[0024]
Next, a series of processing until the computer or game machine of the operation target 30 associates the operation component 10 with a program variable and sets parameters such as a magnification and an initial value for preprocessing the operation signal. A description will be given with reference to FIG. First, the receiving means 31 is used when the human interface device 1 is connected to the operation target 30 or when the human interface device 1 is already connected to the operation target 30 and the operation component 10 is newly connected to the substrate 20. Next, the setting signal transmitted from the human interface device 1, that is, the setting signal from each operation component 10 is received. In this case, when the setting signal is a packet setting signal according to the well-known USB standard, since the ID of each operation component 10 is written in the setting signal, the operation component identification unit (not shown) identifies the operation component 10. In the present invention, in addition to this, the port number identification means 34 identifies the port number of the hub 22 written in the packet setting signal by the port number write notification means 23 of the operation component 10. The port number of the hub 22 and the ID of each operation component 10 are similarly written in the operation signal transmitted from the human interface device 1 at a timing different from the setting signal. Then, the position specification display means 36 inquires from the storage means 35 about the shape and terminal position of the board 20 and the port number information of the corresponding hub, and specifies the position of the operation component 10. Further, the position specifying / display unit 36 generates an image of the substrate 20 on which the operation component 10 is arranged, and displays it on the screen using the output device 40. The setting unit 37 uses the input device 50 to associate the operation component 10 with the program variable of the operation target 30 and set parameters for preprocessing for the operation signal. The computer or game machine of the operation target 30 associates the operation component 10 with the program variable and sets the predetermined parameter when the human interface device 1 is connected to the operation target 30 or the human interface. Although it is based on the setting signal received when the apparatus 1 is already connected to the operation target 30 and the operation component 10 is newly connected to the substrate 20, it may be performed when the user operates the operation component 10. . In this case, the operation target 30 receives the operation signal transmitted from the human interface device 1 and performs the same processing as described above.
[0025]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a setting screen displayed on the output device 40 by the position specifying display unit 36. The upper part of the setting screen is an image of the board 20 on which the operation component 10 is arranged. When the user selects the operation component 10-2 of the slider to be set from the image, the position specifying display unit 36 displays the operation component 10-2 on the lower left portion of the setting screen. When the user selects a program variable to be controlled by the operation component 10-2 from the pull-down menu at the lower center of the setting screen, the operation component 10-2 is associated with the program variable. Further, when a parameter is input from the lower right portion of the setting screen by the user, a parameter for preprocessing for the operation signal is set. Then, variable association information and parameters between the operation component 10 and the program are stored in the storage unit 38.
[0026]
Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the operation parts constituting the input device are divided, arranged according to the user's preference, and the functions of the operation parts are defined. Can be customized easily and easily. In addition, according to the present invention, a necessary number of operation parts such as buttons, sliders, and trackballs are freely arranged on the substrate according to the user's physical conditions and preferences, and the program to be operated, so that different positions are provided. An optimal human interface device can be configured for the operation target program. Furthermore, the user does not need to adapt to the input device, and can master the operation in a short time. In addition, according to the present invention, since the substrate and the operation component are joined, it is possible to simultaneously arrange the operation component on the substrate and connect the signal line and the power supply line. Further, according to the present invention, the computer or game machine that is the operation target identifies the position of the operation component on the board and displays the image on a graphical user interface such as a CRT. Settings necessary for program execution can be easily performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a human interface device and system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of connection means provided on a substrate.
FIG. 3 is an external view showing an example of the human interface device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Human interface apparatus 2 Human interface system 10, 10-1-9 Operation component 11 Conversion means 12 Transmission means 13, 21 Connection means 20 Substrate 30 Operation object 22 Hub 23 Port number writing notification means 31 Reception means 32 Argument delivery means 33 Program execution means 34 Port number identification means 35, 38 Storage means 36 Position specification / display means 37 Setting means 40 Output device 50 Input device

Claims (6)

A human interface device for inputting necessary information to an operation target of a computer, a game machine, or the like by a user operation, an operation component having an operation function such as a button, a slider, or a trackball independently, and the human interface Comprising the substrate that constitutes the shape of the device and arbitrarily arranges the operation parts;
The substrate has a hub connected to a plurality of connection means of the substrate by signal lines,
The hub
A plurality of ports for receiving a signal including the ID of each operation component transmitted from a plurality of operation components arbitrarily arranged on the substrate via the connection means and the signal line of the substrate;
Adding a port number indicating an arrangement position of the operation component that has transmitted the signal to the received signal, and time-divisionally transmitting the operation target to the operation target;
The operation target, human interface, characterized in that as well as identify the type of individual operating components by the ID, and the positions of the individual operations part arranged on the substrate so as to identify the number of the port apparatus.   The human interface device according to claim 1, wherein the operation component and the substrate are provided with connection means for bonding the operation components and the substrate to each other.   3. The human interface device according to claim 2, wherein the connection means of the operation component has a concave shape or a convex shape, the connection means of the substrate has a convex shape or a concave shape, and the concave and convex shapes of each other are fitted to each other. A human interface device in which an operation component and a substrate are joined.   4. The human interface device according to claim 2, wherein each connection means of the operation component and the board includes a terminal connected to a signal line, and the signal line is connected to each other at the same time when the operation component and the board are joined. A human interface device characterized by that. A system comprising: an operation target of a computer, a game machine, or the like that executes a predetermined program; and the human interface device according to claim 1 that inputs necessary information to the operation target by a user operation. Means for identifying an ID of an operating component based on a signal transmitted from the human interface device ; means for specifying the type of operating component placed on a board based on the identified ID; and a port Based on the identified port number and the stored information based on the means for identifying the number, the means for storing the information corresponding to the port number and the position of the connecting means of the board, hand displaying means for identifying the position of the arranged operation parts, a substrate having the the identified type of the operation part disposed in the specified position on the screen If, human interface system, characterized in that by selecting the operating part from the screen, and means for setting required to execute the program.   6. The human interface system according to claim 5, wherein means for performing setting necessary for executing the operation target program associates a variable of the program with an operation component, and corresponds to a signal transmitted from the human interface device. A human interface system characterized by setting parameters for preprocessing.

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