JPH02162412A - Touch panel type input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To immediately apply a touch operation to a desired touch input area without performing the selection of a multi-window by retrieving a window set at the highest rank at a relevant time point out of those windows containing the touch area coordinates and defining the retrieved window as a window that should undergo a collation process. CONSTITUTION:A RAM 3 stores the window area coordinates of each window and the touch input coordinate areas included in the windows in the form of the window information tables TAB1 - TABN. The priority information showing the superposing order to screens are added to the information tables. Then a window set at the highest rank at a relevant time point is retrieved out of the windows including the touch area coordinates based on the superposing order added to the window area coordinates and each window information. Thus a window that should undergo a collation process is selected. Then a touch operation is immediately applied to an input area in a desired window.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a touch panel type input device suitable as a man-machine interface cap in various control systems.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in this type of touch panel type input device, multiple windows are displayed one on top of the other on the screen of an image display device such as a CRT that has a transparent touch panel attached to the front surface of the device. stores the window area coordinates and the touch input area coordinates included in that window for each window, and when any part on the touch panel is touched, the one selected by a predetermined method is stored.
Regarding the window, the coordinates of the touch input area and the coordinates of the touched part are checked, and the input information is recognized on the condition that the two match.

The selection of one window to be subjected to the collation process is performed by an operator's window selection operation using a numeric keypad, a mouse, or the like.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such conventional touch panel type input devices, when multiple windows are displayed overlappingly on the screen, the touch input area in one of the windows cannot be used. In order to touch with a fingertip, a window selection operation must be performed beforehand, and therefore, at least 2 vJ operations are required to touch a certain point within a window, which impairs the operability that is the advantage of touch panels. There was a problem.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems.
The purpose of this is to enable a touch panel input device using a multi-window of this type to immediately perform a touch operation on a desired touch input area without performing a window selection operation.

[Structure 1 of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for providing a plurality of windows on the screen of an image display device such as a CRT having a transparent touch panel attached to the front surface thereof. While displaying them in an overlapping manner, the window area coordinates and the touch input area coordinates that match that window are stored in memory for each view, and when any part of the Makki touch panel is touched, , in a touch panel type input device in which, with respect to one window selected by a predetermined method, the input information is recognized on the condition that the coordinates of the touch input fr4 are compared with the coordinates of the touched part, and the two match. , an overlapping order is given to each piece of window information in the memory when superimposed on the screen, and one window to be subjected to the collation process is selected from the window area lli! This method is characterized in that it is performed by a process of searching for one window that is superimposed at the top at that point in time from among the windows that include the touch site coordinates, based on the coordinates and the overlap order assigned to each window information. be.

(Operation) According to such a configuration, the window that is superimposed at the top at that time is searched from among the windows that include the touch site coordinates, and this is selected as the first window to perform the matching process.

Therefore, the information intended by the operator can be input quickly and accurately without performing a troublesome window selection operation.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram showing an embodiment of a touch panel type input device according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the control section of this touch panel type input device includes a CPU, ROM2. It is composed of a microcomputer centered on RAM 3, and its system bus includes an operation section 4 consisting of a keyboard and the like. Touch panel interface 5 that controls the touch panel 5a
and a video RAM 6 that controls the CRT 6a.

The CPU i executes various system programs stored in the ROM 2 and uses the RAM 3 as a work area to realize various functions necessary for the touch panel input device.

For example, in the CPU, by executing the Marbou window processing program stored in ROM2,
The window image information stored in M3 is transferred to video RAM6.
By appropriately transferring the image to the CRT 6a, the image is displayed on the screen -F of the CRT 6a.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the window area coordinates and the touch input coordinate area included in that window are stored in the RAM 3 for each window as a window information table, and as shown in FIG. These window information tables TAB1. TAB2...
-Priority information indicating the order of overlapping when overlapping on the screen is attached to TABH.

In this example, the window information table placed at the top of the screen is set to have the highest priority.

Next, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing only the touch panel input processing program among the various system programs stored in the ROM 2. Explain systematically.

Now, suppose that 2
window W1. W2 is displayed overlappingly, and the lower window W1 has a touch panel input area △1.
1, and the upper window W2 has a touch panel input area A21. It is assumed that A22 is provided respectively.

At this time, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 5, the touch panel input area 11 of the lower window W1 is half covered by the upper window W2, as indicated by diagonal lines in the figure. Furthermore, the touch panel input area A11 of the lower window W1 and the touch panel input area A21 of the upper window W2 partially overlap.

When the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is started in such a state, the touch input device is in poor condition (step 6).
01NO).

Next, when a touch operation on any part of the touch panel 5a is detected via the touch panel interface 5 (step 601 YES), the window information table with the highest priority at that time is selected from the tables shown in FIG. (corresponding to the window superimposed on the top of the screen) is selected as a candidate for matching (step 602), and then filled in the window information table,
Based on whether the touch part coordinates are included in the window area coordinates, it is determined whether the touch input is within the window area (step 603).

Here, in the display state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, if either of the touch panel input areas A21°A22 is touched, it is determined that the touch input is within the window frame. (Step 603 YES
), this establishes the window information table as the collation daple.

After that, the coordinates of the touch input area and the coordinates of the touched part are compared (step 605), as in the conventional case.
), the touch input position is output on the condition that they match (step 606). On the other hand, if the touch panel input area Δ11 is touched on the display screen shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, In step 603, it is determined that the touch input is outside the window frame.
After confirming that the currently selected window W2 is not the last window (NO at step 604), the window information table with the next highest priority is reselected (step 602). The selected window information table (window W1
(equivalent to), and it is determined whether the touch input is within the window frame (step 603).

Then, this time it is determined that the touch input is within the window frame (step 603 YES), and as a result, the window affective table TAB1 corresponding to window W1 is
is determined as the window information table to be checked.

Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the touch input area coordinates and the touch part coordinates are compared (step 605), and the touch input position is output on the condition that they match (step 606). When a touch operation is performed on the touch panel human power area 14A11a indicated by diagonal lines in FIG. 5, it is determined that the touch input is outside the input area in the window information table TAB2 corresponding to the window W2. (Step 60
5NO>, even if the touch panel input amount 1i1A11a is accidentally touched from above the window W2, no erroneous output occurs.

As described above, according to the device of this embodiment, for example, on both sides of FIG. 4, the touch panel input area Δ11°Δ21. A2
2, it is sufficient to perform a touch operation on those areas from the beginning, and there is no need to perform a selection operation on windows W1 and W2 using a mouse or the like as in conventional devices.

Therefore, when a touch operation is performed on a large number of touch panel input areas while switching windows, the touch operation is only half that of the conventional touch operation, and the operability is significantly improved.

[Effect of the invention] As is clear from the above explanation, the tap according to the invention
According to the panel type input device, when multiple windows are displayed on the screen, it is possible to immediately perform a touch operation on the touch panel input area within the desired window without performing a window selection operation. , it becomes possible to quickly input a large amount of information.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram showing an embodiment of the touch panel type input device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the r window information table, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the priority assignment of the window information table. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen, FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 4, and FIG. It's a giat. 1...CPU 2...ROM 3...RAM 4...Operation unit 5...Touch panel interface 5a...Touch panel 6...Video RAM 6a...CRT TAB1~TABN...Window Information table Wl
, W2...window

Claims (1)

[Claims] A CRT with a transparent touch panel attached to its front surface.
While displaying multiple windows in a superimposed manner on the screen of an image display device such as, the window area coordinates and touch input area coordinates included in that window are stored in memory for each window, When any part is touched, the coordinates of the touch input area and the coordinates of the touched part are compared with respect to one window selected by a predetermined method, and input information is recognized on the condition that the two match. In the touch panel type input device, the window information in the memory is assigned an overlap order when superimposed on the screen, and the selection of one window to perform the matching process is performed based on the window area coordinates and A touch panel type input device characterized in that the process is performed by searching for the window that is stacked at the top at that point among the windows that include the touched part coordinates based on the stacking order assigned to each window information. .