JP6100820B2 - Information processing apparatus, pointing device operating method, and computer-executable program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a pointing device operating method, and a computer-executable program.

  In general, notebook computers use various touch-type pointing devices as input devices in addition to a keyboard and the like. These touch-type pointing devices are mainly used to move a pointer (mouse cursor) on the screen.

  Among these, for example, the touchpad device detects a position on the sensor surface where a capacitor composed of a flat sensor and a human finger is present as a weak change in capacitance, and detects the sensor surface. The trace of the traced finger is associated with the movement of the pointer on the screen.

  A touch-type pointing device such as a touch pad device is basically used for a purpose of moving a pointer, but it is desired that a function convenient for the user is mounted in addition to the purpose of moving the pointer.

JP 2006-1498 A JP 2011-107785 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an information processing apparatus that can be equipped with a convenient function in a touch-type pointing device, a pointing device operating method, and a computer-executable program. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a display, a touch-type pointing device for moving a pointer on the display, and the display according to a touch operation on the pointing device. Control means for switching between an operation related to menu display and a pointer moving operation.

  Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the control means, when the touch operation on the pointing device continues for a first predetermined time or more and the change in the touch position is not more than a first threshold value. It is desirable to display a menu on the display.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, when the touch operation on the pointing device continues for a first predetermined time or more and the change in the touch position is not less than or equal to the first threshold, It is desirable to perform a normal pointer movement operation according to the touch operation.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the control means continues the touch operation on the pointing device for a second predetermined time after displaying the menu, and the change in the touch position is the second. When it is below the threshold, it is desirable to end the display of the menu.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the control means continues the touch operation on the pointing device for a second predetermined time after displaying the menu, and the change in the touch position is the second. If it is not less than the threshold value, it is desirable to perform an operation on the menu according to the touch operation.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, it is desirable that the menu is a menu for setting the function of the apparatus.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, it is desirable that the operation on the menu includes at least one of a function volume and an ON / OFF setting.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the touch-type pointing device is a touch pad device.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, it is desirable that the information processing apparatus is a clamshell notebook PC.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a pointing device operation method executed by an information processing apparatus, the step of detecting an operation on the pointing device, and the detection Determining whether the operation on the pointing device is the first operation, displaying the menu on the display when it is determined that the operation is the first operation, and the first A step of moving the pointer in response to the detected operation on the pointing device when it is determined that the operation is not an operation.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a program installed in an information processing apparatus, the step of detecting an operation on the pointing device, and the detection of the pointing device A step of determining whether or not the operation is a first operation; a step of displaying a menu on a display when it is determined that the operation is the first operation; and a step that is not the first operation. When the determination is made, the computer is caused to execute a step of moving a pointer according to the detected operation on the pointing device.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus that can be equipped with a convenient function in a touch-type pointing device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of a notebook PC to which an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic hardware configuration example of the notebook PC of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a functional configuration relating to a pointer movement operation and a menu display switching according to the operation of the touch pad device of the notebook PC 1 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu displayed in response to an operation on the touchpad device. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a window for setting a function in each function item of the menu. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a process of switching an operation related to menu display and an operation related to movement of a pointer (normal touchpad operation) in accordance with an operation of the touchpad device in the notebook PC of FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a user operation example and a display device display example with respect to the touchpad device. It is a figure for demonstrating a modification.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus, a pointing device operating method, and a computer-executable program according to the present embodiment will be described. Although the components of the present invention are generally illustrated in the drawings herein, it can be readily understood that they may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of configurations with various configurations. Accordingly, the following more detailed description of the apparatus, method, and program embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims, but merely to the selected implementation of the invention. It is intended as an example only, and is merely illustrative of selected embodiments of an apparatus, system and method consistent with the present invention as set forth in the claims herein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be implemented without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, and materials.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of a notebook PC to which an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the notebook PC 1 according to the present embodiment is a clamshell notebook PC, and includes a main body side casing 2 and a display side casing 3 which are substantially rectangular parallelepipeds. The main body side housing 2 and the display side housing 3 are connected to each other by a pair of left and right connecting portions (hinge portions) 4a and 4b at the respective end portions, and the connecting portions 4a and 4b open and close these housings. Supports freely.

  The display-side housing 3 includes a display device 5 that displays various types of information in response to commands from the main body-side housing 2. The main body side housing 2 has an input unit 6 having a keyboard 7, a touch pad device 8 as a touch-type pointing device, a left click button 9a, a right click button 9b, and the like, and left and right speakers 10a and 10b on the upper surface. It has.

  The touch pad device 8 is configured by, for example, a capacitive touch pad, and can detect touch coordinates. The touch pad device 8 may use a so-called click pad having a left click function and a right click function in addition to a pointer moving function.

  In the present embodiment, the touch pad device 8 is provided with a menu display function in addition to the pointer moving function, thereby providing the touch pad device 8 with high usability.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic hardware configuration example of the notebook PC 1 of FIG. As shown in the figure, the notebook PC 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a memory 13, an HDD (hard disk) 14, a graphics adapter 15, a display device 5, a keyboard 7, a touch pad device 8, and left and right click buttons 9a and 9b. The input unit 6, the battery 21, the DC-DC converter 22, the AC adapter 23, the left and right speakers 10 a and 10 b, and the like are connected directly or indirectly through a bus.

  The CPU 11 controls the notebook PC 1 as a whole by the OS 30 stored in the HDD 14 connected via the bus, and controls functions based on various programs stored in the HDD 14. The ROM 12 stores a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System: basic input / output system) 12a, data, and the like.

  The memory 13 includes a cache memory and a RAM, and is a writable memory that is used as a read area for an execution program of the CPU 11 and a work area for writing process data of the execution program.

  The HDD (hard disk) 14 is directed to an OS 30 for controlling the entire notebook PC 1, various drivers 31 for controlling hardware, a utility program 32 for extending the functions of the OS 30, and a specific task. It has a function of storing the application program 33 and the like.

  The OS 30 controls basic operations of the notebook PC 1, manages various resources, and transmits, for example, instructions generated by the application program 33 to the driver 31 and the BIOS 12a. Further, the OS 30 has a multitask function and a multiwindow function, and software such as an execution context of the application program 33 (a register set, a main memory image, a file handle, etc. used by a certain application program 33) and GUI parts. It also manages resources. As the OS 30, for example, Windows (registered trademark) XP, Windows (registered trademark) Vista, Windows (registered trademark) 7, Windows (registered trademark) 8, or the like can be used.

  The various drivers 31 are for operating the peripheral devices by hardware. For example, a display driver for displaying an image on the display device 5, a keyboard 7, a touch pad device 8, and left and right click buttons 9a and 9b. For example, an audio driver for operating the left and right speakers 10a and 10b.

  The input driver controls the operation of the keyboard 7 composed of various keys for inputting characters, commands, etc., moves the pointer on the screen, and operates the touch pad device 8 for selecting various menus, left click and right click The operation of the left click button 9a and the right click button 9b for performing is controlled.

  The OS 30, the driver 31, the utility program 32, and the application program 33 installed in the HDD 14 are read into the memory 13 and executed by the CPU 11. The OS 30 intervenes in transmission / reception of data or commands between the application program 33, the utility program 32, and the driver 31.

  The graphics adapter 15 converts drawing information into a video signal under the control of the CPU 11 and outputs the converted video signal to the display device 5. The graphics adapter 15 is a VRAM 15 a in which drawing information is written or a drawing written in the VRAM 15 a. A graphics chip that converts information into a video signal and outputs it to the display device 5 is provided.

  The display device 5 is a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a plasma display, a CRT, or the like. The display device 5 is controlled by the CPU 11 and displays various types of information according to a video signal input from the graphics adapter 15.

  The AC adapter 23 is connected to a commercial power supply, converts an AC voltage into a DC voltage, and outputs the DC voltage to the DC-DC converter 22. The DC-DC converter 22 converts the DC voltage supplied from the AC adapter 23 into a predetermined voltage, supplies power to each unit, and charges the battery 21. The battery 21 is charged by the DC-DC converter 22 and supplies the charged voltage to each unit when the AC adapter 23 is not attached.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration related to a pointer movement operation and a menu display switching according to the operation of the touch pad device 8 in the notebook PC 1 of FIG.

  The input driver 31a outputs touch coordinates detected by the user's touch operation on the touch pad device 8 to the OS 30. In addition, the input driver 31a outputs a menu (see FIG. 4) display or termination instruction to the OS 30 in accordance with a user operation on the touch pad device 8. For example, the input driver 31a is touched by the touch pad device 8, the touch continues for a first predetermined time t1 (for example, 2 seconds), and the change in the touch position is equal to or less than the first threshold value. For (first operation), an instruction to display a menu on the OS 30 is output. Further, the input driver 31a, after the menu is displayed, when the touch on the touch pad device 8 continues for a second predetermined time t2 (for example, 2 sec) and the change in the touch position is not less than the second threshold value. An instruction to end the menu display is output to the OS 30. Further, the input driver 31 a outputs a left click signal or a right click signal to the OS 30 when the left click button 9 a or the right click button 9 is pressed.

  The OS 30 controls display of various types of information and pointers on the display device 5 via the display driver 31b and the graphics adapter 15. The OS 30 controls (changes) the display position of the pointer on the display device 5 according to the touch coordinates of the touch pad device 8 input from the input driver 31a. Further, the OS 30 displays and ends the menu on the display device 5 in response to a menu display and end instruction from the input driver 31a. The OS 30 performs a menu operation (processing) in accordance with the operation of the user's touchpad device 8 and the left and right click buttons 9a and 9b on the menu. The menu to be displayed may be, for example, an Fn key menu or a Launcher.

  Here, the pointer movement operation and the menu display switching process according to the operation of the touch pad device 8 are mainly executed by the input driver 31a and the OS 30, but the application program 33 is not limited to this. Or the utility program 32 or the like may be executed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the menu displayed in response to an operation on the touch pad device 8. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a window 51 for setting contents in each item of the menu. In the example shown in FIG. 5, all the windows for setting the contents of each item of the menu are displayed, but only the window corresponding to the selected item is actually displayed.

  By the operation of the touch pad device 8, for example, a menu 50 for setting various functions as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display device 5. The menu 50 displays items of functions such as “Password Lock”, “Suspend”, “Wireless”, “Brightness”, and “Volume”. When the user moves the pointer to an item to be set on the menu 50 and presses the left click button 10a or moves the pointer upward, the item is selected and the content of the selected item is set. A window 51 for displaying is displayed. The “Password Lock” item includes a window including a button switch for setting Password Lock ON / OFF. The “Suspend” item includes a window including a button switch for setting Suspend ON / OFF. The item “Wireless” includes a window including a button switch for setting wireless communication ON / OFF, the item “Brightness” includes a window including a bar for setting a brightness volume, and “Volume”. In the item, a window including a bar for setting an audio volume is displayed. The user can set the contents of the function by operating the touch pad device 8 and the left and right click buttons 9a and 9b in this window, and the OS 30 performs an operation (processing) according to the set contents. Do.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a process of switching between an operation relating to menu display and an operation relating to movement of a pointer (ordinary touchpad operation) in accordance with an operation of the touchpad device 8 in the notebook PC 1 of FIG. is there.

  In FIG. 6, first, the input driver 31a determines whether or not the touch pad device 8 has been touched (step S1). When the touch pad device 8 is touched (“Yes” in step S1), the input driver 31a continues to touch for a first predetermined time t1 (for example, 2 seconds) and the touch position changes. It is determined whether or not it is equal to or less than a first threshold (step S2). That is, it is determined whether the state in which the finger is not moved continues for the first predetermined time t1.

  When the touch continues for a first predetermined time t1 (for example, 2 seconds) and the change in the touch position is not equal to or less than the first threshold (“No” in step S2), the OS 30 The pointer is moved in accordance with the movement of the touch position (step S11). Thereafter, the process returns to step S2.

  On the other hand, when the touch continues for the first predetermined time or more and the change in the touch position is not more than the first threshold (“Yes” in step S2), the input driver 31a displays the menu on the OS 30. In response to this, the OS 30 displays a menu (see FIG. 4) (step S3).

  After the menu is displayed, the input driver 31a determines whether or not the touch continues for a second predetermined time t2 (for example, 2 seconds) or more and the change in the touch position is equal to or smaller than the second threshold (step). S4). When the touch continues for the second predetermined time t2 or more and the change in the touch position is not less than or equal to the second threshold (“No” in step S4), the OS 30 causes the user's touchpad device 8 and the left and right touches to be changed. A menu operation (processing) is performed in response to the operation of the click buttons 9a and 9b (step S7). When the input driver 31a detects that the finger is separated from the touch pad device 8 (“Yes” in step S8), the input driver 31a instructs the OS 30 to end the menu display. In response to this, the OS 30 displays the menu display. (Step S9), and the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, in step S4, when the touch continues for a second predetermined time t2 (for example, 2 sec) and the change in the touch position is equal to or smaller than the second threshold (“Yes” in step S4), The input driver 31a instructs the OS 30 to end the menu display. In response, the OS 30 ends the menu display (step S5), and the process returns to step S2.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a user operation example on the touch pad device 8 and a display example of the display device 5. In FIG. 7, first, description will be made assuming that the pointer P is displayed on the display device 5 (D111). When the user touches the touch pad device 8 with a finger (T101) and moves the finger within the first predetermined time t1 (T104), the display of the pointer P moves according to the movement of the finger (114). This is a normal touchpad operation. When the user does not place the finger at the same position for the first predetermined time t1 or longer, the user can perform a normal touchpad operation.

  On the other hand, if the user touches the touch pad device 8 with a finger and does not move the finger for the first predetermined time t1 or more (T102), a menu is displayed (D112). The user can move the finger within the second predetermined time t2 (T103) and operate the menu on the display menu (D113). For example, when the pointer P is moved to “Brightness” in the menu and the pointer P is moved upward, a window including a bar for setting the volume of the brightness is displayed. Can be set. When the user lifts his / her finger, the menu display ends.

  On the other hand, if the finger is not moved for the second predetermined time t2 or more after the menu is displayed (T105), the menu display ends (D111). When the menu is displayed against his / her intention, the user can end the display of the menu by not moving the finger at the same position for the second predetermined time t2.

(Modification)
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a modification. The input driver 31a and / or the OS 31 associates each area of the touch pad device 8 with each item of the menu 50, and the touch on the touch pad 8 continues for a first predetermined time t1 (for example, 2 seconds), In addition, when the change in the touch position is equal to or less than the first threshold value, the point P may be displayed on the menu item corresponding to the touched area, and the corresponding window may be directly displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, in the areas A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5 of the touchpad device 8, the menus “Password Lock”, “Suspend”, “Wireless”, “Brightness”, and “Volume” are displayed. Make each item correspond. For example, if the touch on the area A3 of the touchpad device 8 continues for a first predetermined time t1 (for example, 2 sec) and the change in the touch position is equal to or less than the first threshold, a menu is displayed. Further, the point P may be displayed in “Wireless” corresponding to the area A, and a window for setting ON / OFF of the Wireless communication may be directly displayed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the input driver 31 a and the OS 30 switch between the menu display operation on the display display 5 and the pointer movement operation in accordance with the touch operation on the touch pad device 8. Therefore, only by operating the touch pad device, a menu can be displayed in addition to the movement of the pointer, and a convenient function can be mounted on the touch pad device. In other words, the user can move the pointer and display the menu simply by operating the touchpad device.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the touch operation on the touch pad device 8 continues for t1 after the first predetermined time and the change in the touch position is not more than the first threshold value, the display display Since the menu is displayed in FIG. 5, the user can display the menu by touching the touchpad device so that the finger is not moved for the first predetermined time t1 or more. It becomes possible to display the menu.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the touch operation on the touch pad device 8 continues for the first predetermined time t1 and the change in the touch position is not less than the threshold value, the normal operation corresponding to the touch operation is performed. Since the pointer is moved, the user can operate the normal touch pad device by moving the touch position within the first predetermined time t1.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, when the touch position moves within the second predetermined time t2 after displaying the menu, the user performs the operation on the menu according to the touch operation. After the menu is displayed, the operation on the menu can be performed by moving the touch position within the second predetermined time t2.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, after the menu is displayed, the menu display is ended when the touch continues for the second predetermined time t2 and the change in the touch position is equal to or smaller than the second threshold value. Therefore, even when the menu is displayed against the user's intention, the menu display can be ended by not moving the finger for the second predetermined time t2 after the menu is displayed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the operation on the menu is the function volume and ON / OFF setting, the user can set the function volume and ON / OFF in the display menu. Become.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which a touch pad device is used as a touch type pointing device is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other touch type pointing devices. For example, the present invention can be applied to a track point or the like.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the menu for setting a function was displayed as the menu 50, you may decide to display another menu.

1 Notebook PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Main body side housing | casing 3 Display side housing | casing 4a, 4b Connection part 5 Display device 6 Input part 7 Keyboard 8 Touchpad apparatus 9a, 9b Click button 10a, 10b Speaker 11 CPU
12 ROM
12a BIOS
13 Memory 14 HDD (Hard Disk)
15 Graphics adapter 15a VRAM
21 Battery 22 DC-DC converter 23 AC adapter 30 OS
31 Driver 31a Input Driver 31b Display Driver 32 Utility Program 33 Application Program

Claims (8)

Display,
A touch-type pointing device for moving a pointer on the display;
Control means for switching between an operation related to menu display on the display and a pointer moving operation in response to a touch operation on the pointing device;
With
The control means includes
When the touch operation on the pointing device continues for a first predetermined time or more and the change in the touch position is not more than a first threshold, a menu is displayed on the display,
After the menu is displayed, when the touch operation on the pointing device continues for a second predetermined time or more and the change in the touch position is equal to or less than the second threshold, the display of the menu is terminated. An information processing apparatus characterized by the above. When the touch operation on the pointing device continues for a second predetermined time or more after the menu is displayed, and the change in the touch position is not less than or equal to a second threshold value, the control means performs the touch operation. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an operation on the menu is performed in response. The menu information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that it is a menu for setting the function of the device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the operation on the menu includes at least one of a function volume and an ON / OFF setting. A pointing device of the touch, the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the touch pad device. The information processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the clamshell notebook PC. A pointing device operating method executed by an information processing apparatus,
Detecting an operation on the pointing device;
In accordance with the touch operation on the detected pointing device, a step of switching between operation and pointer movement operation of a display of the menu for de Isupurei,
Including
In the controlling step,
When the touch operation on the pointing device continues for a first predetermined time or more and the change in the touch position is not more than a first threshold, a menu is displayed on the display,
After the menu is displayed, when the touch operation on the pointing device continues for a second predetermined time or more and the change in the touch position is equal to or less than the second threshold, the display of the menu is terminated. A method for operating a pointing device. A program installed in an information processing apparatus,
Detecting an operation on the pointing device;
In accordance with the touch operation on the detected pointing device, a step of switching between operation and pointer movement operation of a display of the menu for de Isupurei,
To the computer,
In the switching step,
When the touch operation on the pointing device continues for a first predetermined time or more and the change in the touch position is not more than a first threshold, a menu is displayed on the display,
After the menu is displayed, when the touch operation on the pointing device continues for a second predetermined time or more and the change in the touch position is equal to or less than the second threshold, the display of the menu is terminated. A program executable by a computer.

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