JP5469836B2 - Information processing apparatus and cursor display control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for controlling display of a cursor between a plurality of display units sandwiching a key input unit.

  There are various types of information processing apparatuses such as personal computers such as so-called desktop type and notebook type, which are widely spread and used.

  In general, the configuration of these information processing apparatuses is such that one display unit such as a liquid crystal display is provided separately from an input unit such as a keyboard as disclosed in Patent Document 1. There are many.

The cursor displayed on the display unit can be moved within the screen of the display unit by a predetermined operation from the input unit.
JP 2006-350533 A

  However, in the related technology described above, the display unit of the information processing device has one configuration, and the display unit of the information processing device does not have a plurality of configurations. Therefore, in a configuration in which the information processing apparatus includes a plurality of display units sandwiching an input unit such as a keyboard, control for moving the cursor displayed on one display unit to another display unit in a form that jumps over the input unit There is no consideration for.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can control display of a cursor on a plurality of display units of an information processing apparatus having a key input unit between a plurality of display units. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and a cursor display control method.

The information processing apparatus of the present invention is disposed between a plurality of display units , and is disposed on the same surface as a surface on which a first display unit that receives a user operation is disposed among the plurality of display units. The object is displayed on the second display unit by the drag operation of the object using the cursor displayed on the second display unit that is not the first display unit among the plurality of display units . When the operation reaches the end facing the display unit and further moves the object to the first display unit, the cursor stays at the end of the second display unit, and only the object moves to the first display unit. It is characterized by comprising means for display control as described above.

The display control method of the cursor of the present invention is disposed between the plurality of display portions, and, same as the surface on which the first display unit which receives the user operation among a plurality of display portions are arranged a display control method of a cursor displayed on the plurality of displays of the information processing apparatus including a key input unit disposed on the surface, a second display of the not the first display portion of the display unit of the multiple When the object is dragged with the cursor displayed on the screen , the object reaches the end of the second display unit facing the first display unit, and the object is further moved to the first display unit. Then , the display is controlled so that the cursor stays at the end of the second display unit and only the object is moved to the first display unit .

According to the present invention, the display of the cursor on the plurality of display units of the information processing apparatus configured to include the key input unit between the plurality of display units is continuously moved between the plurality of display units via the key input unit. The display can be controlled as if it were.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<Overview of overall configuration>
The information processing apparatus in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a liquid crystal display 10 as a first display unit, a touch screen 20 as a second display unit, a key input unit 30, a touch sensor unit 40, It is comprised from the control part 50. FIG. The first casing including the liquid crystal display 10 and the touch sensor unit 40 is configured to be foldable via the hinge so as to be overlapped with the second casing including the key input unit 30 and the touch screen 20. Yes. In addition, not only a housing | casing but a sheet-like thing etc. is included widely, and what was combined with the some structural part instead of the continuous single housing | casing etc. may be used.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of the information processing apparatus in the opened state according to the present embodiment.
3 is a view of the folded state of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a view of the folded state of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment as viewed from the side. .

  The liquid crystal display 10 corresponds to a display unit in the configuration disclosed in the above-described Patent Document 1 and may be realized by a known technique. It is not limited to a liquid crystal display, but includes all display mechanisms that include a screen having a display function in its configuration. Of course, you may have accompanying functions, such as a touch screen.

The touch screen 20 has a display function realized by a liquid crystal panel or the like. This display function can be switched to a display corresponding to the usage status based on the usage phase of the apparatus or an external input.
The touch screen 20 also has a function of acquiring input information from an external input device such as a stylus 60 as shown in FIG. 5 by a touch sensor function and displaying it on a liquid crystal panel or the like. For example, by writing a memo as shown in FIG. 6, information that has been managed by pasting post-its etc. on the apparatus so far can be held on the touch screen 20 at hand of the user.
Further, it has a position input function realized by the touch pad 21 as a pointing device. With this position input function, a cursor representing the position pointed to by the pointing device in a GUI (Graphical User Interface) is operated. This cursor can be displayed on the screen of the touch screen 20 and the liquid crystal display 10 by a figure such as an arrow.
The touch screen 20 has a function that allows the user to directly move the displayed object or the like with a finger or the like.
In addition, the touch screen 20 may be made to function as a palm rest together. That is, you may apply this touch screen 20 to the member made to function as a palm rest until now.
Of course, not all areas of the touch screen 20 shown in FIG. 1 need have the touch screen function.

  The key input unit 30 includes an alphabet key, a numeric key, various keys for instructing predetermined processing, and the like, and these may be realized by a known technique. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to key input, and widely includes a mechanism for performing some input processing. Of course, the structural thickness of the key is not essential.

The touch sensor unit 40 has a function of detecting contact of an external input device such as a user's finger or a stylus. This may be realized by a known resistance film type or electrostatic type. The material and thickness are not limited as long as the touch sensor function can be realized.
Referring to FIG. 3, the touch sensor unit 40 according to the present embodiment is transparent, and therefore, at least a part of the display on the touch screen 20 facing the touch sensor unit 40 is transmitted when the information processing apparatus is folded. Can be discriminated visually. Thus, the color of the touch sensor unit 40 is transparent or translucent, although at least a part of the touch sensor unit 40 is transparent or translucent so that at least a part of the display of the touch screen 20 can be visually perceived. A color or a pattern may be added to.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a power button mark 41 or the like by a status LED function that can be visually discriminated may be added.
Furthermore, the touch sensor unit 40 may function as the same display unit as the liquid crystal display 10 in a state where the information processing apparatus in the present embodiment is opened, or is separate from the liquid crystal display 10. It may function as a display unit that maintains some cooperation, or may function as a display unit that performs some display although it is separate from the liquid crystal display 10.

  The control unit 50 is composed of a CPU, a predetermined storage device, and the like, and has a function for controlling processing operations of the present apparatus. Although it may be provided in any place of this apparatus, FIG. 1 shows a state where it is stored inside the casing at a position corresponding to the back side of the key input unit 30 of the second casing.

<Configuration of multiple display units with a key input unit>
Unlike a simple dual display in the liquid crystal display 10, an input operation can be performed on the touch screen 20 in a place close to the user's hand (on the side close to the user's body). That is, even when the liquid crystal display 10 can be input from the screen by a stylus or the like, the physical distance between the user's body and the liquid crystal display 10 is relatively far compared to the touch screen 20. Therefore, input becomes difficult.

In addition, a certain amount of time is required to start the OS of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and there is a waiting time for the user. This time is spent on menu selection on the touch screen 20 and is effective. Can be used.
That is, until now, after the startup of the OS is completed as control of the information processing apparatus, the user selects a desired application or the like from the start button displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 10 using the cursor. If menu selection, which is the next processing operation, is performed in advance during the waiting time of the user during OS startup, time can be saved.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the control unit 50 displays a predetermined graphic 22 for menu selection on the touch screen 20 during startup of the OS of the information processing apparatus. The figure 22 is directly operated by the operation of the user's finger or the like, or the desired menu is selected by the operation of the user's cursor or the like, and the control unit 50 acquires the identification information of the selected menu to obtain a predetermined menu. The menu stored in the storage unit and selected by the user based on the identification information may be executed after completion of the OS startup.

In addition, the control unit 50 may perform control to lock the screen on the touch screen 20 at a timing when an input operation to the key input unit 30 is performed by a user pressing down a key or touching a key button. The screen lock is performed in order to avoid an object or the like on the touch screen 20 being accidentally dragged by a palm or the like to move its position. Considering that the risk of erroneous movement or the like is highest when the user inputs from the position of the hand, the screen is locked at this timing. The lock method locks the screen as it was in the original screen display, is accompanied by screen control like a screen saver, completely controls the screen with the power off, and locks and lock areas that limit other lock objects. Widely include locks limited to a part of
The control unit 50 may determine whether to lock the screen according to the usage state of the touch screen 20. That is, when only handwritten characters are present on the touch screen 20 and no object is present, there is no risk of erroneous movement and the screen may not be locked.
In addition, when the user does not wish to lock at his / her own risk, a mechanism may be provided that can select that the screen is not locked.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, a mechanism may be provided in which alphabets, numbers, and the like corresponding to keys input by the user pressing the key input unit 30 are displayed on the touch screen 20. As a result, the number of times key input, the total amount, etc. are visually shown to the user. Note that the present invention can be applied to a screen saver-like display when the screen is locked.

<Move between display units>
The following three patterns will be described.
(1) Move the cursor and object (2) Move only the object (3) Move only the cursor

  By the way, since the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of display units such as the liquid crystal display 10 and the touch screen 20, in addition to the control to function as independent display units, these display units are linked. Can be controlled to function. This point will be described in detail below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 10 mainly relates to the above-mentioned “(1) movement of cursor and object”.

Referring to FIG. 9, an object “illustration of elephant” is displayed on the liquid crystal display 10.
First, the cursor of the arrow figure is positioned on the “elephant illustration” by the user's operation on the touch pad 21 and then moved on the screen of the liquid crystal display 10 by the drag operation (FIG. 10). S101). These are known operations, and may be realized by applying known techniques.

  When the “elephant illustration” is dragged by the cursor and reaches the lowermost end of the screen of the liquid crystal display 10 (S102 of FIG. 10), the control unit 50 further moves the “elephant illustration” downward. It is determined whether or not the operation is performed (S103 in FIG. 10).

  When the user operates the touch pad 21 so as to move the “elephant illustration” downward (S103 / Yes in FIG. 10), the control unit 50 displays the “elephant illustration” and the cursor. The coordinate data from both ends of the screen of the existing liquid crystal display 10 is detected and held in a predetermined storage unit (S104 in FIG. 10). Further, the control unit 50 calculates corresponding coordinates of the touch screen 20 based on the “elephant illustration” and the coordinate data of the cursor held in the predetermined storage unit (S105 in FIG. 10).

Based on the coordinates calculated in step S <b> 905, the control unit 50 performs display control so that the “elephant illustration” and the cursor are continuously dragged from the bottom end of the screen of the liquid crystal display 10 to the top end of the touch screen 20. (S106 in FIG. 10).
Further, the display control may be performed so as to be continuously dragged from the uppermost end of the touch screen 20 to the lowermost end of the screen of the liquid crystal display 10 by the same mechanism. Additional processing such as storing and holding the position of the object moved from the liquid crystal display 10 and returning to the position may be performed.
Note that the movement of the object and the cursor between the plurality of display units may be realized by various methods.

Further, as the above “(2) movement of only object”, the cursor may remain at the lowermost end of the screen of the liquid crystal display 10 and only the object may move between the display units.
This is because the object moved to the touch screen 20 can be made unnecessary by making the finger or the like have an alternative function of dragging with the cursor by an operation by touching the user's finger or the like. This is because it is possible to perform control. In this case, after the object moves from the lowermost end of the screen of the liquid crystal display 10 to a predetermined position such as the vicinity of the touch pad 21 of the touch screen 20, the user can freely operate the user's finger or the like after a predetermined time such as 2 seconds elapses. It may be to change to a movable state accordingly.

  When the liquid crystal display 10 is a touch screen, the movement of the object between the screen of the liquid crystal display 10 and the touch screen 20 may be realized by an operation by contact of a user's finger or the like regardless of the cursor.

As the “(3) movement of only the cursor”, only the cursor may be moved from the liquid crystal display 10 to the touch screen 20 by the user's operation of the finger or the like on the touch pad 21.
This is a control that does not display at all on one display unit as a control for displaying a cursor on a plurality of display units.
The cursor moved to the touch screen 20 may have its own functions and processes corresponding to a so-called right click function in mouse operation on the liquid crystal display 10 as it is. For example, an object displayed on the liquid crystal display 10 can be added to the touch screen 20 and displayed by a so-called copy and paste operation on the object. In this case, the original object of the liquid crystal display 10 and the copied object of the touch screen 20 are associated with each other, and control such as movement of the other object in synchronization with movement of one object on the screen is performed. May be made.

The cursor moved and displayed on the touch screen 20 is a target of movement on the touch screen 20 by a user's operation on the touch pad 21 with a finger or the like. In addition, the “elephant illustration” that is an object moved and displayed on the touch screen 20 is a target of movement on the touch screen 20 by dragging with the cursor. These are known operations, and may be realized by applying known techniques.
In addition, as described above, the object moved to the touch screen 20 can be moved by a known operation by contact with a user's finger or the like.
The cursor displayed on the touch screen 20 is instantaneously moved to a predetermined position on the touch screen 20, for example, a position touched by a touch sensor function or a predetermined position when the user touches the lower right portion with a finger or the like. It may be to move. As a result, labor for moving the cursor continuously from one end of the screen to the other is reduced.

<Change touchpad area>
A touch pad 21 serving as a pointing device provided on the touch screen 20 of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment illustrated in FIG. It can be arbitrarily changed by the user. Below, an example of the process is demonstrated with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the control unit 50 sets the display on the touch screen 20 to a mode for changing the area of the touch pad 21 (see FIG. 12) according to the operation of the finger or the like on the mode change button 23 (see FIG. 6) by the user. (S111).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the area 24 of the current touchpad 21 (before the change) is displayed on the touch screen 20, and the area of the touchpad 21 is changed to the position desired by the user according to the user's change operation. The size and shape are changed and displayed (S112). The change operation may be performed by the button 25 or the like, or may be performed by a direct operation on the touch pad 21 with a user's finger or the like.

  The control unit 50 recognizes the confirmation of the area change in step S112 by the user's operation such as the determination button (S113).

  The control unit 50 acquires the area information of the touch pad 21 after the change from the touch screen 20, and updates the existing area information of the touch pad 21 stored in a predetermined storage device or the like to the changed one (S114). ).

  Then, the control unit 50 returns the display on the touch screen 20 from the mode for changing the area of the touch pad 21 to the normal use mode in accordance with the user's operation of the mode change button 23 or the like (S115).

  Thereby, it can be set as a favorite area | region of each user, and a user's operativity improves. Moreover, the effect of minimizing erroneous operations caused by touching the touchpad 21 by mistake is brought about.

  Further, the setting for turning off the function of the touch pad 21 (the size of the area as the touch pad = 0) may be possible. This is because, when an input device such as a mouse is connected, a pointing device having another shape is provided in the key input unit, or a cursor is operated by an arrow key, an overlapping function is unnecessary.

<Security and operation of touch sensor and touch screen>
First, as a premise, as described above, the touch sensor unit 40 of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 and the like is transparent, and thus faces the touch sensor unit 40 when the information processing apparatus is folded. The display on the touch screen 20 is transmitted and can be visually discriminated. As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the area of the touch screen 20 may be larger than the transparent part of the touch sensor unit 40, but conversely, the area of the touch screen 20 is less than or equal to the transparent part of the touch sensor unit 40. Also good.

  Here, the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the use of the apparatus by the user is finished, is a viewpoint of security, screen protection of the liquid crystal display 10 / touch screen 20, prevention of dirt adhesion to the key operation unit, and the like. Thus, the folded state is set as shown in FIG. In addition, in the state which this apparatus was folded, the 1st housing | casing containing the touch sensor part 40 and the 2nd housing | casing containing the touch screen 20 will not be in the state opened by the magnet, the physical fitting structure, etc. To be locked. This locking may be realized by limiting the mobility of the hinge part, and includes a wide variety of locking methods.

Then, at the start of use of the information processing apparatus in the present embodiment, the following processing is performed in order. (1) Power-on, (2) User authentication for unlocking, (3) Unlocking, (4) OS activation Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 14, processing at the start of use of the information processing apparatus in the present embodiment The flow will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the folded information processing apparatus, when the power button mark 41 provided on the touch sensor unit 40 is pressed with a user's finger or the like, the power is turned on (S141), and the touch screen 20 A display for user authentication for unlocking is displayed (S142). Since the touch sensor unit 40 is transparent, the user can visually recognize the display on the touch screen 20.
In FIG. 13, as an example, the user authentication method is a display requesting input of a 4-digit password, but the type of authentication method such as biometric authentication is not limited as long as authentication is possible.

  In accordance with the display on the touch screen 20, when the touch sensor unit 40 receives an input of a personal identification number or the like due to contact with the user's finger or the like (S143), the operation is transmitted to the touch screen 20 by static electricity or the like, and the touch screen 20 is directly connected. It is recognized in the same manner as when a contact operation is performed with a user's finger or the like.

The control unit 50 performs user authentication based on the user identification information and personal identification number information stored in association with a predetermined storage device or the like (S144), and releases the lock when the user authentication is properly performed. (S145). Thereby, the lock | rock put between the 1st housing | casing containing the touch sensor part 40 and the 2nd housing | casing containing the touch screen 20 is cancelled | released, and it can make an information processing apparatus open. .
In addition to the authentication according to the display on the touch screen 20 described above, a user authentication mechanism by touching a predetermined position with a finger or the like in a predetermined order is provided on the transparent touch sensor unit 40, thereby providing a double authentication. Security can be realized. The predetermined position is determined by an arrangement at the time of purchasing the device with the manufacturer, and no input request is made. Therefore, the security effect for a third party who is not familiar with the situation is high.

  The control unit 50 may start the OS of the information processing apparatus following the unlocking process in step S145 (S146). That is, this is a processing flow in which user authentication for unlocking also serves as authentication processing at the time of login. A login process for starting the OS may be performed separately.

  In addition, if user authentication by touching a predetermined position of the transparent touch sensor unit 40 with a finger or the like in a predetermined order is authentication at the power-on stage, an information processing apparatus is provided unless user authentication is performed. Even the power is not turned on, and it is possible to secure stronger security against data leakage and the like. This can be similarly applied to the case where the apparatus is left open as shown in FIG. 1 or the like even when the user has finished using the apparatus.

Furthermore, although partially overlapping with the description of the processing in steps S142 and S143 of FIG. 14 described above, for example, a predetermined display as shown in FIG. 15 is made on the touch screen 20 of the folded information processing apparatus. Then, since the touch sensor unit 40 is transparent, the user can visually recognize the display on the touch screen 20.
When the touch sensor unit 40 is operated by the user's finger or the like according to the display on the touch screen 20, the operation is transmitted to the touch screen 20 by static electricity or the like, and the touch screen 20 is directly touched by the user's finger or the like. Is recognized in the same way as Thereby, the movement of the object on the touch screen 20 and the memo function are realized with the same feeling as the operation on the touch screen 20 in the opened state even when the information processing apparatus is folded.
The display / function of the touch screen 20 of the information processing apparatus in the folded state is limited. For example, the user authentication level is set in stages, and only the folded state operation is possible. An authentication process may be performed.

  In addition, the liquid crystal display 10 of the information processing apparatus includes a region corresponding to the touch screen 20 including the area of the touch sensor unit 40, and a portion corresponding to the touch screen 20 is transparent corresponding to the touch sensor unit 40. When the information processing apparatus is folded, it is the same as when the folded state of the information processing apparatus is turned upside down, so that security and operation can be realized with the touch sensor unit and the touch screen overlapped. is there.

  Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the processing for realizing the function of the apparatus may be performed by causing the apparatus to read and execute a program for realizing the function of the information processing apparatus. Further, the program is transmitted to another computer system by a transmission wave through a CD-ROM or a magneto-optical disk as a computer-readable recording medium, or through the Internet or a telephone line as a transmission medium. Also good. In addition, a form in which the functions of the information processing apparatus are realized by other apparatuses collectively or the functions are distributed by an additional apparatus is also within the scope of the present invention.

It is a front view in the state where the information processor concerning an embodiment of the invention opened. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the open state of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the state which folded up the information processor concerning an embodiment of the invention from the upper surface. It is the figure which looked at the state which folded up the information processor concerning an embodiment of the invention from the side. It is a figure which shows the input by the external input device to the touch screen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the display in use of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows displaying the figure for menu selection on the touch screen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows that the character etc. corresponding to the input key which concerns on embodiment of this invention are displayed on a touch screen. It is a figure which shows the movement of the cursor and object between the display parts which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the movement process of the cursor between the display parts which concern on embodiment of this invention, and an object. It is a flowchart of the area | region change process of the touchpad which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the display at the time of the area | region change mode of the touch screen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data structure by the side of the authentication server which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process at the time of the utilization start of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows display / operation of the touch screen facing the touch sensor part of the folded state of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Liquid crystal display 20 Touch screen 21 Touch pad 22 Menu selection figure 23 Mode change button 30 Key input part 40 Touch sensor part 41 Power button mark 50 Control part

Claims (3)

A key input unit disposed between the plurality of display units and disposed on the same plane as the first display unit that receives a user operation among the plurality of display units; ,
When the object is dragged using a cursor displayed on the second display unit that is not the first display unit among the plurality of display units, the object is moved from the first display unit to the first display unit. When the operation reaches the opposite end and further moves the object to the first display unit, the cursor stays at the end of the second display unit, and only the object is in the first display. An information processing apparatus comprising means for controlling display so as to be moved to a part . With a pointing device,
When an operation of moving the cursor to the first display unit is performed when the cursor reaches the end of the second display unit facing the first display unit by the user's cursor operation, the cursor is moved to the first display unit. The second display unit is held at the end facing the first display unit, and the coordinates of the second display unit of the cursor are detected, and the first display unit detects the coordinates based on the coordinates . The coordinates of the end facing the two display units are calculated, and based on the calculated coordinates of the end of the first display unit , the object is defined as the first display unit of the second display unit. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein display control is performed so that the display unit is continuously moved from an opposing end to an end of the first display unit facing the second display unit . A key input unit disposed between the plurality of display units and disposed on the same plane as the first display unit that receives a user operation among the plurality of display units; A display control method for a cursor displayed on the plurality of display units of an information processing device,
The drag operation before Symbol object using a cursor displayed on the second display unit is not the first display unit of the plurality of the display unit, wherein the object in the second display section the first display unit When the operation of moving the object to the first display unit is performed, the cursor stays at the end of the second display unit, and only the object is the first object. A display control method for a cursor, wherein display control is performed so as to be moved to a display unit .

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