JPH03135615A - Multi-item input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To omit a display part for data input at the side of a host device and to simplify the constitution of an information processing system by dividing a display screen of a display device into an item display part where the data down-loaded previously from the external host device are displayed for each item and an on-line display part where the received data are displayed in an on-line way. CONSTITUTION:The input data are previously down-loaded for each item from an external host device 12 and displayed at an item display part 4 of a display screen. When the input of a certain item is detected by an input part 11, this item is outputted to the device 12 via a control part. At the same time, the data transferred from the device 12 are displayed at an on-line display part 4 of the display screen in an on-line way after the contents of a picture storage part of the control part are rewritten. As a result, a display part for data input can be omitted at the side of the device 12. Then an information processing system is simplified and at the same time the operability and the speed are improved for input of data.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a multi-item input device, the present invention provides a multi-item input device that can simplify the system by eliminating the need for a display section for data input on the host device side, and can improve operability and input speed associated with data input. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device that includes an input section that detects data input for each item, an item storage section that stores data for each item, and a device that selects a predetermined item from the item storage section according to the detection result of the input section. The control unit has an image storage unit that stores the contents of the display screen of the display device, and displays the data downloaded in advance from the external host device as input data for each item. A multi-item input device comprising the display device that displays the display screen on a screen, an item display unit that displays data item-by-item that has been downloaded in advance from an external host device on the display screen of the display device; The controller divides the transferred data into an online display section that displays the transferred data online, and the control section rewrites the contents of the image storage section based on the received signal from the host device and displays the transferred data online on the display screen of the display device. The display device is configured to output a signal to the display device so as to cause the display device to display the display device.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a multi-item input device, and more particularly to a multi-item input device that allows data item units of a computer to be directly inputted with one-button operations.

The accuracy and efficiency of data transfer to a computer depends largely on the skill with which a typewriter keyboard is operated. Therefore, methods for directly inputting data item units by one-touch operation have been studied, and multi-item input devices have been developed. Book items, roll items, etc. are typical examples, and in recent years, there have been demands for these multi-item input devices to be smaller, to change the number of items, and to be able to expand the display contents.

[Conventional technology]

The first conventional multi-item input device is configured integrally with a display section capable of switching display data and a data input section, and the display section is composed of a sheet.

In addition to this, plasma display (PDP)
There is also a second device that uses the display section as bit image data corresponding to each display dot on the display section, and this device stores the display data in the RAM as bit image data corresponding to each display dot on the display section. Requires a large amount of memory.

Further, as a third multi-item input device, for example, there is a device that stores display data in character codes and does not require a large capacity memory, but has a restriction that only one type of item size can be displayed.

An example of an information processing system using the multi-item input device as described above is shown in FIG. 9. In this figure, 1 is a multi-item input device. The multi-item input device 1 is used by an operator to input character string data of a large number of items prepared in advance in one click, and outputs it to the host device 2 as a data signal. The host device 2 forms the core of the information processing system, includes a processor such as a CPU, executes various arithmetic processing based on input data from the multi-item input device 1, and displays the results on the display device 3.
(for example, a CRT), or printed out externally by an output device 4 such as a printer. Further, a storage device 5 is connected to the host device 2, and the storage device 5 stores a large amount of data necessary for arithmetic processing.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, with such conventional multi-item input devices, each device only displays data that has been downloaded in advance from the host device, and in order to display the data input from the multi-item input device, C on the host device side
This requires an RT display, etc., which complicates the system, and also requires the operator to move his/her neck between operating the multi-item input device and the display, resulting in poor operability and difficulty in inputting data. There was also a problem that the speed was slow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-item input device that can simplify the system by eliminating the need for a display section for data input on the host device side, and can improve operability and input speed associated with data input.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the multi-item input device according to the present invention includes an input section that detects data input for each item, an item storage section that stores data for each item, and an input section that stores data from the item storage section according to the detection result of the input section. In addition to selecting a predetermined item and outputting it to an external host device, the control unit has an image storage unit that stores the contents of the display screen of the display device, and data downloaded in advance from the external host device is output for each item. In the multi-item input device comprising the display device that displays input data on a display screen, the display screen of the display device is an item display that displays data downloaded in advance from an external host device for each item. and an online display section that displays the data transferred from the host device online, and the control section rewrites the contents of the image storage section based on the received signal from the host device and displays the transferred data online. The signal is configured to be output to the display device so as to be displayed on the display screen of the display device.

[Effect]

In the present invention, input data for each item is downloaded in advance from an external host device and displayed on the item display section of the display screen, and when input for a certain item is detected in the input section, this item is Output to host device. On the other hand, the data transferred from the host device is displayed online on the online display section of the display screen by rewriting the contents of the image storage section of the control section.

Therefore, there is no need for a data input display on the host device side, simplifying the system, and improving data input operability and input speed.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

1 to 8 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a multi-item input device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an information processing system, in which 11 is a multi-item input device, 12 is a multi-item input device;
is the host device. Others are the same as before. The multi-item input device 11 and the host device 12 basically have the same functions as conventional ones, but the present embodiment has the following new features.

As shown in FIG. 2, the multi-item input device 1 includes a transparent input panel 13 (corresponding to an input section) and a plasma display (
Although not shown in FIG. 2, the main body includes a control section 15 having a CPU, etc., and an item storage section 16. The input panel 13 detects data input for each item by pressing the item displayed on the display screen of the display device 14 with a single touch, and outputs a signal to the input control circuit 40 described later. As shown in the figure, an X-electrode 17 in which transparent electrodes are vapor-deposited in the form of strips on each of the transparent sheet and the glass so that the electrodes face each other at right angles.
and Y electrodes 18, each electrode 17.18
Detect data input from the pressed position.

The display device 14 uses a PDP with a size of 640 (horizontal) x 480 (vertical) dots in order to respond to situations such as high-speed page switching, wide viewing angles, and clear item display. The contents of the data are displayed item by item on the FDP, which is a display screen.

Here, the display screen 19 of the input panel 13 is, for example, the fourth
As shown in the figure, an item display area (corresponding to an item display section) 20 displays data downloaded in advance from an external host device 12 for each item, and data transferred from the host device 12 is displayed online. It is divided into an online display area (corresponding to an online display section) 21. The item display area 20 is divided into a large number of frames 22a to 22n, and an area in which 8 kanji characters (1=8) consisting of 16 dots can be expressed in one frame (grid) 221 is set as an item frame. Byte (2X l = 1
6) is stored in the item storage unit 16 as Kanji code data. However, there are cases where the expression for one item requires more than 8 characters, so in such cases, in order to obtain more freedom in item expression, the size of the item frame should be changed to the size of the basic item frame (8 characters in kanji). This method allows you to freely define an area that is an integer multiple. In detail, data for one item is composed of character code data necessary for item expression, 1-byte data indicating the vertical and horizontal size of the item frame, and 1-byte data indicating the display position of the item. are doing.

On the other hand, the online display area 21 is different from the frame 22i in the size in which data can be displayed, and can display not only 8 Kanji characters but also other necessary data online. and,
Unlike the conventional case, a display device such as a CRT display is not connected to the external host device 12, and an online display area 21 of the display screen 19 is used instead of the CRT display. Also, the download format from the host device 12 is as shown in FIG. 5: [Online display command l=') + (display start line data] +
[Display data character code] and will be transferred in this order. Note that the size of the display screen 19 does not need to be fixed as in the example of FIG. 4 (for example, it may be set larger as shown in another example in FIG. In this case, the line position at which online display starts can be arbitrarily specified using display start data.

Next, the hardware circuit block of the multi-item input device 11 is shown as shown in FIG.
and the item storage unit 16 according to the detection result of the input panel I3.
A control unit 15 that selects an item from the list and outputs it to the external boss device 12, and an item storage unit 16 that stores data for each item.
It is composed of The item storage unit 16 is connected to the CPU 3, which will be described later.
The firmware ROM 31 stores the processing program of 6.
, a character ROM 32 that stores font data (don't data) for kanji data, a display data RAM 33 (for example, a 128-byte SRAM) that stores item data to be input as display data, and a CPU 36. It is composed of a work RAM 34 that stores various calculation data necessary for executing calculation processing, and a convertible memory card 35 that stores the same data as the display data RAM 33. memory card 3
5 is used as a so-called auxiliary memory, and the display data R
For example, 128 bytes are used so that the item display can be easily changed and added along with AM33.

The control unit 15 includes a CPU 36, a PDP controller 37,
VRAM (video RAM) 38, FDP interface circuit 39, input control circuit 40, sub CPU
41 and a serial interface circuit 42. The CPU 36 operates based on a program stored in the firmware ROM 31, and
7 sequentially transfers the contents of the VRAM 38 to the display device 14 via the FDP interface circuit 39, and displays the contents in the display bag W.
14 displays an item screen. At this time, the CPU 36 takes out the kanji code from the display data RAM 33, converts it into corresponding font data (don't data) in the character ROM 32 based on it, and rewrites the contents of the VRAM 38. The input control circuit 40 is connected to the input panel 13
The sub CPU 41 scans the address of the input panel 13 via the input control circuit 40, and when it detects that the operator has pressed an item, it notifies the CPU 36 of the address coordinate data (corresponding to the address data). In response to this, the CPU 36 adds display information to the coordinate data from the sub CPU 41 and sends it to the external host device 12 via the serial interface circuit 42 as multi-item input data.

Further, the CPU 36 is connected to a serial interface circuit 42.
Based on the real-time display data code received from the external host device 12 via the character ROM 32
The content of the real-time display area of the VRAM (corresponding to an image storage unit) 38 is rewritten by converting it into the corresponding font data (dot data).

In the above configuration, first, F is activated by the operation of CPO36.
The DP controller 37 sequentially reads the contents of the VRAM 38.
The information is transferred to the display device 14 via the DP interface circuit 39, and an item screen is displayed. When the operator presses a desired item while looking at the display screen of the display device 14, the input control circuit 40 notifies the CPU 36 of the coordinate data of the input panel 13, which causes the CPU 36 to input the desired item into the coordinate data from the sub-CPU 41. 1 of the multi-item input data is added to the host device 12 via the serial interface circuit 42.
It is sent out as one. The host device 12 receives this signal and performs the necessary arithmetic processing, and then the multi-item input device 1
Download to the 1st side. At this time, the download form 1- from the host device 12 follows the format shown in FIG.
Display the data you need.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, first, it is determined whether or not it is an online display command using P (indicates a step number; the same applies hereinafter), and when the answer is No, P2 is used to process other commands, such as input data. The following items are displayed on the item display area 20 of the display device 14. On the other hand, if the answer is YES, the data of the display start line is entered at P3, and the contents of the VRAM 38 are restated from the specified display start line based on the display data code downloaded at that time at P4.

As a result, the latest online display data from the host device 12 is displayed in the online display area 21 of the display screen 19 in real time.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the operator
When you press , the corresponding data (which may be item data or data that responds to it) is immediately displayed in the online display area 21, so there is no need for the operator to move his or her neck (or simply change the position of the eyes). It is possible to improve the operability and input speed associated with data input by only slightly moving the host device 12.
Since a display device such as a CRT display is omitted on the side, the system configuration can be simplified and effects such as cost reduction can be obtained.

Note that the display content in the online display area 21 can be made to display information that is completely unrelated to the item data, and in this case, the conventional CRT display can be completely replaced.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the configuration of an information processing system can be simplified by eliminating the need for a data input display section on the host device side, and the operability and input speed of data input can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 8 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the multi-item input device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the information processing system, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main body, and FIG. Figure 4 shows the configuration of its main body, Figure 4 shows its display screen configuration, Figure 5 shows its download format, and Figure 6 shows other configuration examples of its display screen. 7 is a block diagram of the hardware, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the download data processing procedure, and FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of an information processing system to which a conventional multi-item input device is applied. be. 4...Output device, 5...Storage device, 11...Multi-item input device, 12...Host device, 13...Input Cabanel (input section), 14...
...Display device, 15...Control unit, 16...Item storage unit, 17...X electrode, 18...Y electrode, 19... ...Display screen, 20...Item display area (item display section), 2
1-...Online display area (online display section), 22a to 22n...Frame, 30...Main unit, 31...Firm ROM. 32...--Character ROM. 33...Display data RAM. 34... Work RAM. 35...Memory card, 36...CPU. 37...PDP controller, 38...
・VRAM (image storage unit), 39...PDP
Interface circuit, 40... Input control circuit, 41... Sub CPU, 42... Serial interface circuit. 4. Perspective view of the main body of one embodiment. FIG. 2. Overall structural diagram of the information processing system of one embodiment. Figure 1 Figure 1 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the display screen of the first embodiment Figure 1 is a flowchart showing the download data processing procedure of the first embodiment

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An input unit that detects data input for each item; an item storage unit that stores data for each item; and a predetermined item selected from the item storage unit according to the detection result of the input unit and external a control unit that has an image storage unit that stores the contents of the display screen of the display device, and a control unit that outputs data to the host device of the display device and displays data downloaded in advance from an external host device as input data for each item on the display screen In the multi-item input device, the display screen of the display device includes an item display section that displays data downloaded in advance from an external host device for each item; and an online display section that displays the transferred data online, and the control section rewrites the contents of the image storage section based on the received signal from the host device so that the transferred data is displayed online on the display screen of the display device. A multi-item input device characterized in that it is configured to output a signal to the display device.