JPH0240710A - Interface device for pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the whole constitution simple and small in size by providing a switching circuit adaptive to the specification of processing to be carried out by using only a counter separation type pointing device adaptive to both information processing specifications of a counter incorporated type and the separation type. CONSTITUTION:Only one counter separation type consisting of a mechanical mouse 10, a mouse connector 11, and a counter 12 is used as the pointing device to count pointing information. When a processing main body operates according to the information processing specification of the 1st counter incorporated type or 2nd counter separate type, a 1st or 2nd input/output circuit 13 or 22 outputs a 1st or 2nd strobe signal, which is supplied to a counter 12 through a switching circuit 30, so that the counted value is processed by the processing main body. Therefore, one pointing device is usable for the two information processing specifications and the constitution is simplified and reduced in size.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an interface device for a pointing device, and is particularly suitable for application to a personal computer capable of executing processing according to two different information processing specifications. It is.

[Prior Art] Personal computers with different specifications are on the market. For example, there are the so-called Pc9800 series and the so-called MSX series. Products with different specifications are not compatible with each other and are inconvenient for users. Therefore, devices that meet these two specifications have already been proposed, such as being able to operate as the PC9800 series and also as the MSX series.

By the way, as well-known input devices for personal computers, there are pointing devices such as mouse input devices and trackball input devices in addition to keyboard input devices. pointing devices such as
For example, there are different types of mouse input devices depending on the specifications of the personal computer. Therefore, 2
Personal computers that meet different specifications are designed to accept input signals from two different types of mouse input devices. Figure 2 shows the PC980
1 shows an interface device for a mouse input device in a personal computer that complies with the 0 series specifications and the MSX series specifications.

In FIG. 2, a PC9800 is used as a mouse input device.
The first mouse input device (hereinafter referred to as
A second mouse input device (hereinafter referred to as an MSX mouse) 20 compatible with the MSX series specifications is provided.

The mechanical mouse 10 outputs movement information of the mouse itself as movement amount information (pointing information) in two orthogonal directions, and this movement amount information is
to the counter 12 via the mouse connector 1.1. The counter 12 counts the amount of movement in two orthogonal directions, and displays the current count value via the input/output circuit 13 in response to a strobe signal periodically applied from the mechanical mouse interface input/output circuit 13. It is given to the processing body that does not do so.

Note that, at this time, the count value is output and a direct reset is performed. When the PC9800 series specification is selected, such mouse movement information (count value) from the input/output circuit 13 is used in the main processing body.

On the other hand, the MSX mouse 20 has almost the same configuration as the mechanical mouse 10 which also includes a built-in counter 12. Therefore, the MSX mouse interface input/output circuit 22
periodically connects the MS via the second mouse connector 21.
Give a strobe signal to the X mouse 20,
0 outputs the count value when the strobe signal is applied to the MSX mouse interface input/output circuit 22 via the mouse connector 21, and then resets the count value at that time. When the MSX series specification is selected, such mouse movement information from the input/output circuit 22 is used in the main processing body.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, according to the conventional interface device, in order to comply with multiple specifications, multiple mouse input devices are required, and the overall configuration becomes large and complicated. It is necessary to prepare a plurality of mouse input devices to realize the same function, which imposes a heavy burden on the user.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and points to an information processing unit that can meet at least two information processing specifications by inputting pointing information using one pointing device that complies with either one of the specifications. An object of the present invention is to provide an interface device for a pointing device that can be used as a pointing device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the problems, the present invention provides a first information processing specification that requires a built-in counter type pointing device, and a second information processing specification that requires a separate counter type pointing device. In an information processing device that can support both information processing specifications, a counter that performs counting operation by inputting pointing information from a counter-separated pointing device, and a first strobe when the first information processing specification is selected. A first input/output circuit that outputs a signal and outputs a count value of a counter input at that time to the processing main body; and a second input/output circuit that outputs a second strobe signal when a second information processing specification is selected; a second input/output circuit that outputs the count value of the counter inputted at the time to the processing main body; a first strobe signal from the first input/output circuit; and a second strobe signal from the second input/output circuit. and a switching circuit that switches and supplies the information to the counter according to the information processing specifications executed by the processing main body.

[Function] In the present invention, only one counter-separate type pointing device is used, and pointing information is given to the counter for counting.

When the processing main body operates according to the first information processing specification, the first input/output circuit outputs the first strobe signal at a predetermined period, and this strobe signal is applied to the counter via the switching circuit. The count value at that time is output to the first input/output circuit, and is applied from the first input/output circuit to the processing main body for processing.

On the other hand, when the processing main body operates according to the second information processing specification, the second input/output circuit outputs the second strobe signal at a predetermined period, and this strobe signal is applied to the counter via the switching circuit. The count value at that time is the second
The signal is output to the second input/output circuit, and is supplied from the second input/output circuit to the processing main body for processing.

As a result, even if an information processing device is compatible with two information processing specifications, it can be handled with a single pointing device without using pointing devices for each specification, making the overall configuration simple and compact. can do.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention in which a mouse input device is applied as a pointing device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, in which parts corresponding to those in FIG. is applied to the mechanical mouse interface input/output circuit 13 and the MSX mouse interface input/output circuit 22.

Each of the input/output circuits 13 and 22 outputs a strobe signal for taking in a count value at predetermined intervals, and these strobe signals are applied to the switching circuit 30. This switching circuit 30 is supplied with a switching signal from a mode switching signal generation circuit 31. The mode switching signal generation circuit 31 has, for example, a built-in changeover switch, and depending on the position of this changeover switch, the processing main body (not shown) is
When operating the processing body according to the PC9800 series specifications, it instructs the specifications and outputs a switching signal that indicates the specifications when operating the processing main body according to the PC9800 series specifications.

When the switching signal indicates the PC9800 series specifications, the switching circuit 30 selects the strobe signal from the mechanical mouse interface input/output circuit 13 and applies it to the counter 12 to output the count value at that time. When the signal indicates MSX series specifications,
The strobe signal from the MSX mouse interface input/output circuit 22 is selected and applied to the counter 12 to output the current current value.

Further, each input/output circuit 13.22 is also given a mode switching signal from the mode switching signal generation circuit 31. Each input/output circuit 13 or 22 outputs a strobe signal to the switching circuit 30 as described above when the corresponding specification is selected, and the count outputted by the counter 12 in accordance with the outputted strobe signal. It takes in the value and outputs it to the processing body.

In the above configuration, for example, the processing main body (not shown) is
When operating according to the C9800 series specifications, the changeover switch in the mode switching signal generation circuit 31 must be set to the PC98
Switches to the 00 series specification side and generates a mode switching signal indicating that specification. At this time, the input/output circuit 13 outputs a strobe signal, this strobe signal is given to the counter 12 via the switching circuit 30, the count value at that time is given to the input/output circuit 13, and the input/output circuit 13 outputs the strobe signal. The mouse movement information is given to the processing main body and processed appropriately in the processing main body.

On the other hand, when the processing main body (not shown) is operated according to the MSX series specifications, the changeover switch in the mode switching signal generation circuit 31 is switched to the MSX series specification side, and a mode switching signal indicating the specifications is generated. At this time,
The input/output circuit 22 outputs a strobe signal, and the switching circuit 3
This strobe signal is given to the counter 12 via 0, the count value at that time is given to the input/output circuit 22, and the mouse movement information is given from the input/output circuit 22 to the processing main body, and the processing main body processes it as appropriate. be done.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, one mouse input device can be used to point to the processing main body that operates in accordance with both specifications, without providing different mouse input devices corresponding to each specification. Information can be input, the overall configuration can be made simple and compact, and the burden on the user can be reduced compared to the conventional method.

Note that in the above-described embodiments, a mouse input device is used as the pointing device, but a trackball input device or a joystick input device may also be used.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the specifications that can be processed are
The 9800 series specifications and the MSX series specifications for personal computers are shown, but at least two pointing devices for one specification are of the built-in counter type and the pointing devices for the other specification are of the separate counter type. The specifications are not limited to those of the above-mentioned embodiments as long as the information processing apparatus can meet the specifications.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a pointing device for an information processing apparatus is provided that can meet both specifications, such as a pointing device with a built-in counter and a separate counter type. Since it is now possible to input pointing information for both specifications using only the counter-separated type,
The overall configuration can be made simple and compact, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an interface device for a pointing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional interface device. 10... Mechanical mouse, 12... Counter, 1
3... Input/output circuit for mechanical mouse interface, 22... Input/output circuit for MSX mouse interface, 30... Switching circuit, 31... Mode switching signal generation circuit. Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] In an information processing device that can support both the first information processing specification that requires a built-in counter type pointing device and the second information processing specification that requires a separate counter type pointing device. , a counter that performs a counting operation by inputting pointing information from a counter-separated pointing device; and a counter that outputs a first strobe signal when the first information processing specification is selected; a first input/output circuit that outputs a count value to the processing main body; and a first input/output circuit that outputs a second strobe signal when the second information processing specification is selected, and outputs the count value of the counter input at that time to the processing main body; a second input/output circuit outputting to the first input/output circuit, and a first strobe signal from the first input/output circuit;
A pointing device interface device comprising: a switching circuit that switches a second strobe signal from the second input/output circuit to the counter according to an information processing specification executed by the processing main body.