JPH03108016A - Optical input method and apparatus and data processing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain an optical input keyboard without any mechanical failure by providing the receiving part of a light wave receiver and the transmitting part of a light wave transmitter in the same direction, and shielding those devices from a user in an inputting device for a computer system constituted of at least one light wave transmitter and plural light wave receivers. CONSTITUTION: A data processor is provided with at least one light wave transmitter 1, plural light wave receivers 2 with the same receiving direction as the transmitting direction which are isolated from a user by a light transmitting medium 7, and a reception time sharing device 3. Also, this device is additionally provided with a transmission time sharing device 4 at the time of using the plural transmitters 1. A frame is constituted in this way, and the operational cycles of the devices 3 and 4 use an operational cycle generator 5 provided with a counter. A reference time signal for the generator 5 is operated by a reference time generator 6. Also, when an optical signal from the device 1 is transmitted through the medium 7, reflected by a reflector 8, and received by the device 2, a pulse signal is used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to optical input devices, data processing devices and methods thereof, in particular when signals are input to a computer system, in particular using light waves. and methods for making such inputs. The device and method of the invention are suitable for keyboards used for data entry and/or for commanding comviator systems.

[Conventional technology]

With traditional keyboard methods, whether static or mechanical, the operator can, for example, use his or her own fingers for data entry and/or input data into the electrical system. commands must be given.

As a result, the entire electrical system and the keyboard will be exposed to the external environment. The keyboard or electrical system may be susceptible to damage or It is impossible to function in highly sensitive situations.

Based on the current state of the art, a sealed computer system is proposed in which information and/or instructions can be transmitted within a protected medium by adopting a "remote control method" and utilizing a control mechanism at a distance. input into an insulated system.

[Problems with conventional technology]

By the way, remote control methods require complex encoding, decoding, and
and other communication skills. In addition,
The manufacturing cost for such a high performance input system is
This basically increases when the shielding medium is used for blocking purposes, but this point is not suitable for applications using general products. It should be noted that the above-mentioned problem is not improved when the remote control input device is still exposed to the external environment.

[Purpose of the invention]

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method that allows a user to provide input to a computer system that is isolated within a protective medium without the use of input devices that would be exposed to the external environment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus and method that includes an input device that is protected in a closed environment and allows input functions to be easily performed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power saving optical keyboard for inputting signals to a computer.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of manufacturing.
The object of the present invention is to provide an input device that uses a simple and common product.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical input keyboard for a computer that is free from mechanical defects.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[Means for solving the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, a plurality of light wave receiving devices and at least one light wave transmitting device having the same receiving direction as the transmitting direction of the transmitting device, a transmitting device and a receiving device that are shielded from the user by an optically transparent medium. In both cases, light waves of suitable wavelengths transiting between the light wave transmitting device and the receiving device are utilized such that input can be performed at the optical input device shielded within the protective medium according to a key-in operation by the user on the light wave receiving device. Ru.

Note that in order to achieve power saving results, the time sharing mode is employed in the light wave receiving device and the transmitting device of the present invention. Consequently, in the present invention, instead of each key manipulating all the times, essentially each key itself manipulates each independent time at very short time intervals, e.g. The operation is performed in units of time such as [seconds].

Each key causes only one pulse generation upon operation, on a time-sharing basis, with pulse times varying depending on the transmitting/receiving elements used. The shorter the pulse generation time, the less current is used and the relative speed of operation of the device changes.

In the circuit, current is slowly charged into the capacitor during normal non-transmitting periods, and the entire current is delivered to the transmitting mechanism,
As a result, it is easier for the transmitting element to ensure pulses with strong currents.

Under such a design, a current of 100100 is used at the moment when light is transmitted by each key, assuming that there are 16 keys in total when the momentary current used is leveled by a capacitor. The current used by the transmitting optical keyboard is displayed as follows.

(1/[) tJ)/('l'υ× b) The current saving result is thus achieved. In the above expression T
D displays the transmission time of the transmission key for each key.

〔Example〕

The method and apparatus of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the device according to the invention, the optical input device has at least one light wave transmitting device 1, a receiving direction which is the same as the transmitting direction of this light wave transmitting device 1, and a user It includes a plurality of light wave receiving devices 2 and a reception time sharing device 3, which are insulated from each other. When using a plurality of light wave transmitters 1, it is further required to include a transmission time sharing device 4.

Under the above framework, the operating cycles of the transmitting time-sharing device 4 and the receiving time-sharing device 3 can be achieved, for example, by using an operating cycle generator 5 comprising a counter. In general, the reference time signal for the operating cycle generator 5 must be provided by a reference time generator 6.

FIG. 2 is an operation time-waveform diagram for the above-mentioned parts, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart therefor.

In step 31, the operation cycle generator 5 selects the predetermined lightwave receiving device 2 to be operated and after decoding by the reception time sharing device 3 in step 32 and confirmation by the device in step 33. , generates a pulse T1 of time TB in step 34 to activate the light wave receiving device 2.

After the time TC has elapsed and the power to the lightwave receiver 2 has stabilized, the transmission time sharing device 4 selects the lightwave transmitter l to transmit the lightwave in step 35. However, only one lightwave transmitter is used. If not, the transmitting device 1 will operate directly. ), after confirmation by the operation cycle generator 5 in step 36, in step 37 a short pulse T of time TD is generated.
Generates 2.

Here, the lightwave receiving device 2 is still operating.

At this point, if there is no reflector 8 on the lightwave receiving device 2 that reflects the short lightwave signal of T2 to the receiving component of the lightwave receiving bag f2, no output is made at the output terminal of the lightwave receiving device 2. If the reflector 8 is within a reasonable range and at a short distance that provides sufficient reflection, then after a delay due to circuit components,
A signal with "reflected information" is output at the output terminal of the lightwave receiving device 2 at approximately the moment when the information T3 generated by the operating cycle generator 5 is just occurring.

Preferably, the information output from the output terminal of the lightwave receiver 2 is processed, for example by a Schmitt trigger (not shown), so as to reduce the problem of information bouncing between established and non-established states. is preferred.

A key is considered to be "pressed" when a signal with "reflected information" is output from the output terminal of the lightwave receiving device 2 at the moment when the information T3 is just occurring.

An input device including the above components can be referred to as an optical switch or an optical key. For the switch or key "press" signal to be processed, the present invention further provides an optical key signal processing mechanism to further process the signal so as to provide accurate signal processing functionality.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the system structure of an optical input device including the optical key and the optical key signal processing mechanism, in which similar components are indicated by similar numbers as in FIG. 1. There is. In FIG. 4, a portion 41 surrounded by a dotted line indicates the optical key, and 42 indicates an optical key signal processing mechanism. In the present invention, the optical key signal processing mechanism 42 is separated from at least the receiving extraction port hook 43, the "T times pressed" discriminator 44, the first pressed key locker 45, and the pressed key storage device 46. It includes a discriminator 47 for confirming that the information is correct, a signal output interface, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device,
The chronological sequence of operations is shown in FIG.

When a certain key is already pressed, the reception time sharing device 3 has also already selected the reception extraction locker 43 for that key in the starting step 51, and the information@T3 has been pressed in the step 52. It is also ready to extract when it is occurring.

If the key has just been pressed, the output terminal of the receiving and extracting locker 43 will be activated in synchronization with the information T3, and the information will then remain at all times.

A counter (not shown) will add one to the number of presses in step 53, and the information generated will remain until the next time the pulse T3 of that key appears again. If T3 again remains in the second "depressed" position, the output terminal of the receiving outlet hook 43 will continue to remain in the "depressed" position.

To ensure that the signal is correct, the present invention proposes a mechanism to recognize whether the "pressed down" signal is a false operation. That is, a decision is made in step 54 according to the number of times obtained in step 53. If a given key cannot be pressed down zero times consecutively, the key will not be considered "pressed down." However: *n = the number of times n = - operates in the time-sharing manner, and *n>■ After it is determined that the key is “pressed down”, in the next pulse T3, the light wave receiving bag W2 When the output of the receiving extraction locker 43 does not form "reflected information" and then the information T3 is occurring, the output terminal of the receiving extraction locker 43 will fall synchronously (i.e., T3 will rise and -force output terminal is degraded).

This phenomenon is referred to as "leaving" the key.

From the above, it can be seen that the "receiving extraction locker" can obtain two types of information: a. When the information T3 occurs and the output terminal is activated with it, it means that the key was just "pressed"; It means that.

b. When the information T3 is rising but the output terminal is falling, it means that the key is "left T degrees".

There are also two types of additional information: a. The output terminal remains raised: it means that the key is always "pressed down".

b. The output terminal keeps lowering: it means that the key is “
It means never being pushed down.

The output information from the reception extraction locker 43 is selected by the reception time sharing device W3, and includes information instructing the operation keys to be "pressed" and "not pressed" one by one.
By causing the discriminator 44 to send "T times pressed down", generation of "T times pressed down information" in step 55 is determined.

The ways in which the "T pressed down" discriminator 44 functions include the following. With pulse T4 generated by the operating cycle generator 5 serving as a check, if the "push down" action occurs before pulse T4, or if the "push down" action occurs before pulse T4.
If it does not occur before or after, the "pressed down T times" discriminator 44 will not get any response. If the “press” action occurs during the time of pulse T4, the information that means that a certain key is pressed is
"During press" occurs at the output terminal of the discriminator 44.The information at the output terminal is cleared when the information is cleared.
Pulse T generated by operation cycle generator 5
5 (T5 represents the end of one key operation cycle).

When the first key is "pressed", occurrence information is produced at the output terminal of the "T times pressed" discriminator 44, which information is sent to the first pressed key locker 45, and then In step 56, the first depressed key locker 45 will send locking information to the depressed key storage device 46, which key storage device has a disc limit that confirms that the "depressed" key is released. Immediately after the "depress" key is released, the "depress" key 47 is released and the first depress key locker 45 is unlocked.
Regardless of the keys being pressed down T times, the number of 8 keys in step 57 is stored while the first pressed key locker 45 is locked.

In step 57, the first "push down" key locker 4
5 obtains the "first key press" information and performs the next step 58
The information is the first "push down" first push key locker-45.
The number of operation keys specified by the operation cycle generator 5 is stored in the pressed key storage device 46 from the output terminal of the key, and the keys are stored like actual operation keys.

In step 59, the number of the operating key is sent to the key information output interface 48, converted into information representing the key, and output to the outer circuit.

According to embodiments of the present invention, means and methods are provided for determining whether the "press down" time is too short or too long. According to the means and method, in step 57, after the pressed key storage device 46 stores the operation key, the erroneous operation discriminator 49 calculates the operation cycle in which the key completes the "press". Start.

a discriminator 47 that verifies that the key is "pressed down" and released without a sufficiently long period of time;
When it is detected that the "depressed" key is "released", the discriminator 47 for confirming release clears the memory of the "depressed" key storage device 46, and clears the memory of the "depressed" key storage device 46, and I will send information to unlock -45. If the key is pressed for a sufficiently long time,
If it is “pressed down”, the malfunction discriminator 4
9 sends control information to the key information output interface 48, thereby controlling the power output from the interface 48. If the key is “pressed down” for too long, malfunction discriminator 4
Control information sent by 9 to interface 48 is interrupted to cut off power to interface 48.

Additionally, in other embodiments, techniques for determining malfunction are provided. For example, after one key is pressed, another key is pressed and the first pressed key locker 4
5 is available and the finger leaves the key, or until the "press time" exceeds the current cancellation time, the circuit itself will behave as a single action in pressing the first "press" key. to confirm.

For example, when a certain key is checked again, there are also other keys that are "pressed down" and the operation key leaves, but the other "pressed" keys remain pressed down, and so on.
A discriminator 44 that confirms that the “pressed down” key is released and a discriminator 44 that confirms that the “pressed down” key is released;
is used to activate the circuit to overlock these keys. Then a key is “pressed down” and
Alternatively, if a key that remains "pressed down" is released and pressed down again, operation of that key is considered established.

In an effort to commercialize the invention, the following techniques may be utilized to minimize the scale of the invention.

(1) Since the space between each key is proportional to the confirmation interval at which the key is pressed, and also to the square root of the area of the reflective object that is pressed down, a thin insulating medium is used during manufacturing. Good. Therefore, the smaller the area of the reflector, the smaller the area required between the keys.

(2) To reduce the size of the keyboard, the light emitting part of the light wave transmitting device is placed next to the receiving element of the light receiving device.

(3) Time-sharing reception mode is adopted,
and a single key is operated once and the operation cycle (T
5) will be the operation interval for each key. Only in this way can it be realized that the light beam emitted by each key does not interfere with the light beam emitted by other keys.

(4) Note that interference by the receiving device can be reduced by using a shielding material that limits the transmission angle of the lightwave transmitting device.

Any type of light beam, visible or invisible, that can be transmitted through the medium can be used as a light source in the present invention. For the following and other reasons, infrared (IR) light may be used as a light source in the present invention to obtain better results.

(Near infrared light, which is close to red light with wavelengths longer than IIIR, is impossible to perceive by human visual sense.

(2) If this wavelength IR is used, no heat will be generated during transmission.

(3) IR at this wavelength can usually be sensed by animals; IR is usually not interfered with or attracts interest or attention by animals.

There are currently remaining challenges in using the devices and techniques of the present invention. In other words, under a strong tip, the optical element will produce defects in its function due to the saturation phenomenon. Therefore, if the invention were to be used in an established environment, a suitable approach would itself be to provide a filter to the receiving element and to enhance the transmit power of the lightwave transmitting element.

Additionally, if operation is to be performed at night or where no external light source is used, luminaries or light reflectors may be used to mark the location and identify each key; The indicator adopts the method of being simply illuminated when a "press" signal is obtained by any one key. Also, the photodetector will not emit light when such a marker device has achieved sufficient brightness.

C Effects of the Invention] In view of the foregoing, the present invention has an optical input device and input method such that the device can be simply shielded from the user by utilizing a medium, and such a device or method is , has the advantage of protecting computer systems and input devices, making the invention in practice consistent with the basic terms of the patent.

The foregoing description has been made for the purpose of clarifying the invention, and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and conceptual scope thereof.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic frame of the optical input device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a chronological chart for the optical input device and method of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for the optical input device and method of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram for another embodiment of the optical input device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for an alternative embodiment of the optical input method according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Lightwave transmitter, 2...Lightwave receiver, 3...Reception time sharing device, 4...Transmission time sharing device, 5...Operation cycle generator, 6...Reference time generator, 7...Light Transmission medium, 8...Reflector,
41...Optical key 42...Optical key signal processing mechanism, 43
...Receiving extraction port hook-44...Discriminator, 4
5...First press key locker--46...Press key storage device, 47...Discriminator, 48...-t--
ma output interface. Patent applicant: Kunio Nakagawa, representative of Kyoka Science and Technology Co., Ltd., patent attorney Figure 7 Figure 4 Figure 4

Claims (32)

[Claims] (1) An input device for a computer system comprising a light-transmitting medium, at least one lightwave transmitting device, and a plurality of lightwave receiving devices, wherein the receiving portion of the lightwave receiving device is in the same direction as the transmitting portion of the transmitting device, and an optical input device, characterized in that the receiving device and the transmitting device can be shielded from the user by the medium. (2) Consisting of a receiving time sharing device, each receiving device that will be operated at a certain time is selected based on the operating time sharing instructions produced by this device, and a predetermined order,
Optical input device according to claim 1, characterized in that it can be activated according to intervals. (3) The number of light wave transmitting devices is the same as the number of receiving devices: the device further has a receiving time sharing device, and is operated at a certain time according to the operating time sharing instructions produced by this device. Optical input device according to claim 1, characterized in that different transmitting devices can be selected and activated according to predetermined sequences and intervals. (4) Claim (2) or (4) characterized in that the light wave transmitting device transmits infrared light, which is also partly red light.
3). The optical input device according to item 3). (5) The optical input device according to claim (4), wherein the light wave transmitting device transmits a light beam having a wavelength of about 940 nm. (6) An input method for a computer system in which input is performed by using an input device comprising the following components: a light-transmitting medium, at least one light-wave transmitting device, and a plurality of receiving devices, comprising: a light-wave receiving device; The receiving part of the device is in the same direction as the transmitting part of the transmitting device, and the receiving device and the transmitting device can be shielded from the user by the medium, and the method provides for each lightwave receiving device An input method characterized by inputting characters expressed by each light wave transmitter into a computer system under pressure by moving a reflector. (7) The optical input method according to claim (6), wherein the operating body is a finger. (8) The input device further includes a reception time sharing device, and the selection of each of the reception devices to be operated at a certain time is performed using the operation time sharing instructions produced by the input device. 7. The optical input method according to claim 6, wherein the optical input method can be activated according to a predetermined order and interval. (9) The number of light wave transmitting devices is the same as the number of receiving devices, and the device further has a receiving time sharing device, and is operated at a certain time according to the operating time sharing instructions produced by this device. The transmitting devices to be selected are selected and arranged in a predetermined order.
Optical input method according to claim 6, characterized in that it can be activated according to intervals. (10) Claims (7) and (8) characterized in that the light wave transmitting device transmits infrared light, which is also partially red light.
) or the optical input method according to (9). (11) The optical input method according to claim (10), wherein the light wave transmitting device transmits a light beam having a wavelength of about 940 nm. (12) The following components: a light-transmitting medium, at least one lightwave receiver, and a plurality of lightwave receivers; and a step of starting up the lightwave receiver according to the method, which comprises the following steps: Start-up step of the light wave transmitter. A data processing method for an input device of a computer system in which data processing is performed by the input device comprising: determining whether a sufficient amount of light wave pulses are reflected to a light wave receiver; A data processing method characterized by outputting a receiving device code indicating reception. (13) The input device further includes a receiving time sharing device, and the receiving device to be operated at a certain time is selected and predetermined according to the operation time sharing instructions produced by the input device. 13. The data processing method according to claim 12, wherein the data processing method can be activated according to the order and intervals set. (14) The number of light wave transmitting devices is the same as the number of receiving devices; and the device further has a receiving time sharing device, and the device can be operated at a certain time according to the operating time sharing instructions produced by this device. 13. A data processing method according to claim 12, characterized in that the transmitting devices to be transmitted can be selected and activated according to predetermined sequences and intervals. (15) Claim (12) (1) characterized in that the light wave transmitting device transmits infrared light, which is also partially red light.
3) or the data processing method described in (14). (16) The data processing method according to claim (15), wherein the light wave transmitter transmits a light beam having a wavelength of about 940 nm. (17) The following components: at least one lightwave transmitting device, a receiving device having a receiving section in the same direction as the transmitting portion of the transmitting device, and a light-transmitting medium capable of shielding the transmitting device and the receiving device from at least the user. , and a receiving sample locking device for recording the lightwave receiving operation of the lightwave receiving device in response to operation of the receiving sample locking mechanism at a predetermined time; A "just pressed down" discriminator mechanism to confirm whether a key is "exactly pressed down" generates a signal corresponding to the code of the light wave receiving device that is "pressed down" first, and an initial "push-down" locking mechanism actuated in response to an external signal of the "down"mechanism; and a "push-down" locking mechanism at an initial point in time to store said signal in response to a code generation by the "down" locking mechanism; “Press down”
A data processing device comprising: a key storage; and an output interface for outputting the signals recorded in the "press down" key storage to a computer system. (18) The data processing device according to claim (17), wherein the light wave receiving device receives light wave pulses. (19) Furthermore, an operating time sharing mechanism for selecting and activating the light wave transmitting device, a light wave receiving device,
18. Data processing device according to claim 17, having an incoming sample locking mechanism and/or an initial "push down" locking mechanism. (20) According to claim (19), the time-sharing mechanism during operation is activated so that it can only be operated in an intermittent manner to select components and thereby reduce overall operation time. The data processing device described. (21) The discriminator mechanism that confirms “just being pressed down” immediately after the operation time of the selected light wave receiving device,
21. A data processing device according to claim 20, characterized in that it can be activated in response to manipulation of the receiving sample locker for only a short period of time. (22) The data according to claim (20), characterized in that the code for the selected light wave receiving device is recorded by a "press down" key storage device and output by a time sharing mechanism upon operation. Processing equipment. (23) A patent further comprising a "leaving" confirmation discriminator that determines "leaving" at an initial point in time when no non-reflected light wave is received by the selective receiving device after the light wave is received by the selective receiver. Claims (20
). (24) A discriminator confirms that the number of operations of the selected light wave receiving device is "exactly pressed down" and a discriminator confirms that it is "released." The data according to claim 23, further comprising a qualifier for determining an "excessive press time" in order to clear the memory of the "press key storage" when the data becomes smaller than a numerical value given between Processing equipment. (25) The selected light wave receiving device is “just being pressed down”
After confirming "exactly pressed" performed by the judgment discriminator, "excessive pressing time" is set in order to interrupt power supply to the information output interface when operated for a given time. The data processing device according to claim 20, further comprising a discriminator for determining. (26) The following components: at least one light wave transmitting device, a receiving device having a receiving section in the same direction as the transmitting part of the transmitting device, a light-transmitting medium capable of at least shielding the transmitting device and the receiving device from the user, and a receiving sample. The input device comprises a locking mechanism, a discriminator for confirming "just pressed", a locking mechanism for "pressing" at the first time, a "pressing" key storage mechanism, and an output interface; The method comprises the steps of: activating the light wave receiving device; activating the light wave transmitting device; determining whether a sufficient amount of light wave pulses have been reflected to the light wave receiver; a step of outputting a code for the receiving device; a step of recording the light wave receiving operation of the light wave receiving device by an acceptance sample locking mechanism upon response; and a step of confirming "just being pressed" in response to the operation of the acceptance sample locking mechanism. determining whether the discriminator is “exactly pressing down”; in response to the output signal of the discriminator that confirms the “exactly pressing down”, the pressing locking mechanism at the initial point in time causes the button to be pressed with respect to the initial point in time; generating a signal corresponding to the code of the lightwave receiver to be lowered; recording the code by a "press" key storage device in response to generation of the code by the push locking mechanism at the first time; Entering the signal recorded in the "press" key storage into the system. A data processing method for an input device of a computer system, in which data processing is performed by the method consisting of each step. (27) The input device has an operational time sharing mechanism and method thereof, and the input device has an operational time sharing mechanism and a method thereof; “Push down” at the first point due to time sharing mechanism
Consisting of a step of selecting a locking mechanism, only one
27. The data processing method for an input device according to claim 26, wherein three light wave receiving devices are selected at one time by a time sharing mechanism. (28) Immediately after operating the selected light wave receiving device, a discriminator operates in response to the operation of the receiving sample locking mechanism to confirm whether it is “just being pressed down” within a short time. A data processing method for an input device according to item (27). (29) The input device according to claim (27), characterized in that the code of the selected light wave receiving device output by the time sharing mechanism during operation is recorded by a "pressed" key storage device. data processing methods for. (30) It has a discriminator mechanism and its method for confirming that the input device has “separated”, and furthermore, if the reflected light wave is not received by the selected receiving device after receiving the light wave by the selected receiving device, and and a step of determining "away" during the initial time point when releasing the "push down" locking mechanism at the initial time point in accordance with the above-described "away" determination by the discriminator mechanism. A patent claim (2) characterized by
7) The data processing method for the input device according to item 7). (31) The input device further has a discriminator mechanism and its method for checking excessive "pressing down" time, and also has a discriminator mechanism for checking "exactly pressing down". If the number of operations of the selective light wave receiving device between the confirmation and the confirmation of the "away" by the discriminator mechanism that confirms the "away" is less than the given value, the already mentioned excessive depression will occur. 31. A data processing method for an input device according to claim 30, further comprising the step of clearing the memory of the pressed key memory by means of a discriminator mechanism for ascertaining time. (32) The input device further includes a discriminator mechanism and its method for checking excessive pressing time, and also confirms “just pressing down” performed by the discriminator mechanism checking “just pressing down”. After that, when the selected light wave receiving device is operated for a given time, the discriminator mechanism ascertains the excessive extrusion time and interrupts the power supply to the information output interface. A data processing method according to claim (27).