JPH03158918A - Cursor controller for electronic filing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the visibility and the operability to coexist by varying the shape of a cursor in accordance with the moving speed of a pointing device. CONSTITUTION:A cursor shape designating part 35 reads out moving amounts (mx, my) held in a moving amount calculating part 34, and when the moving amount is within a range (mx<DELTAx/2, my<DELTAy/2) set in advance, a cursor pattern for designating easily a delicate position, that is, the pattern information of a cross cursor is read out of a cursor shape storage part 36, and displayed. Also, when the moving amount is outside a range (mx>DELTAx/2, my>DELTAy/2) set in advance, a large-sized and easily visible cursor pattern, that is, the pattern information of an arrow cursor is read out of the cursor shape storage part 36 and displayed. In such a manner, the coexistence of the visibility and the operability is attained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention is applicable to personal computers, office computers, word processors, DTP (desk top publishing), DI)S (data processing systems), and various other devices. This invention relates to an improvement of a cursor control device suitable for use in an electronic filing device equipped with an image data processing function, and in particular improves the visibility of the cursor by changing the shape of the cursor according to the amount of movement of the pointing device/cursor. The present invention also relates to a cursor control device that allows delicate coordinate positions to be easily specified, thereby achieving both visibility and operability during editing.

Traditionally, in electronic filing devices such as personal computers, when specifying a coordinate position on an editing screen, a cursor is displayed on the screen and the cursor is moved using a pointing device. This specifies the coordinate position of the operation target.

The shape of such a pointing device cursor is generally an arrow-shaped cursor or a cross-shaped cursor.

However, the arrow-shaped cursor, on the other hand, has a large cursor pattern, so although it has high visibility, it has the disadvantage that it is difficult to specify a delicate position.

On the other hand, the cross-shaped cursor has the advantage of making it easy to specify delicate positions because the cursor pattern is small, but on the other hand, visibility is low, so when moving over a complicated image, There is a problem that the operator easily loses sight of the system, which reduces operational efficiency.

First, as an example of a conventional electronic filing system,
The configuration of a personal computer will be explained.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the main configuration of a conventional electronic filing device. In the drawings, 1 is a CPU, 2 is a ROM, 3 is a RAM, 4 is a keyboard controller, 5 is a keyboard, 6 is a pointing device/controller, 7 is a pointing device (position input device), 8 is a scanner controller, 9
is an image scanner, 10 is a communication control unit, and 11 is a CRT.
controller, 12 is a CRT display unit, 1
3 is a display memory (VRAM), 14 is a cursor display processing unit, 15 is a printer controller, 16 is a printer,
17 is an FDD-HDD controller, 18 is a floppy disk, 19 is a hard disk, 20 is an optical disk controller, 21 is an optical disk, and 22 is a system bus.

- The CPUI, ROM2, and RAM3 constitute a system control section of the electronic filing device.

That is, the ROM 2 stores programs for controlling the system, character pattern data, etc., and the RAM 3 is a system memory that stores necessary data.

The CPUI controls the entire system of FIG.

For example, it receives key information from the keyboard 5 and outputs corresponding processing operations and control commands, and also outputs data to the CRT display 12 or printer 16 or outputs data to the image scanner 9 based on the key information. Input the image data from the floppy disk 1.
8 and the hard disk 19, and performs various controls such as sending and receiving data via the communication control unit 10.

The keyboard 5 is an input means for inputting system startup and other commands, necessary character information, and the like.

Information input from the keyboard 5 is sent to the computer via the keyboard controller 4 and system bus 22.

The pointing device 7 is an input means (position input device) for a pointer cursor that indicates a position on the display screen, and the input information is also sent to the computer side via the pointing device/controller 6 and the system bus 22. Ru.

The image scanner 9 is a manual image processing means, and the read image information is similarly sent to the computer side via the scanner controller 1-roller 8.

The communication control unit 10 controls information exchanged with other communication terminal devices.

The CRT display unit]-12 is a display means for visually displaying character/numeric information and image information of documents being created or already created, as well as guidance necessary for operation, etc., in a dot pattern on the screen.

A CRT controller 11 is connected to this CRT display unit 12 and controls the CRT display 1.
Data is read out from the display memory (VRAM) 13 in which data to be displayed on the 2nd screen is stored at the display timing, and the data and guidance developed in the driver 1-pattern 6 pattern are displayed on the screen. Control.

The cursor display processing unit 14 has a function of displaying a cursor on the screen of the CRT display 12 and controlling the display position in response to the operation of the cursor movement keys on the keyboard 5 or the pointing device 7. are doing.

The printer 16 is a dot image printing device such as a laser beam printer, a thermal transfer printing device having an electrically heated head, a so-called thermal dot printer, an inkjet printer, a plunger magnet type printer, etc. Documents, slips, images, etc. are printed in dot patterns using the data obtained.

This printer 16 is given data such as characters and numbers, image information, format information, and other control information created from the computer side via the system bus 22 and printer controller 15, and creates a hard copy.

The floppy disk 18 and the heart disk 19 are external storage devices or storage devices built into the system main body, and the read information is stored on the FDD-HDD.
It is sent to the computer side via the controller 1-roller 17 and system bus 22.

The optical disk 21 is likewise an external storage device, and read information is sent to the computer side via the optical disk controller 20 and system bus 22.

An electronic filing system such as a personal computer has a configuration as shown in FIG.

As already mentioned, the pointing device cursor is generally an arrow-shaped cursor or a cross-shaped cursor, and the arrow-shaped cursor has a large cursor pattern, so it has high visibility, but While the cross-shaped cursor has the advantage of making it easy to specify delicate positions because the cursor pattern is small, it has low visibility, so it is difficult to specify when moving a complicated image. has the advantage and disadvantage of being easy for the operator to lose sight of.

One of the conventional methods to solve these difficulties is to use a cursor control method that determines the stopped state of the cursor and changes the cursor pattern shape based on the determination result in order to improve the visibility of the cursor. According to 1), the visibility of the cursor is increased in the stopped state.

However, since the pattern shape does not change while the cursor is moving, there is a problem in that when the cursor moves over a complicated image, it is easy to lose track of its position.

That is, if the cursor is lost, or if it is to be easily found, the cursor must be brought to a standstill, which is disadvantageous in that the operating efficiency is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention solves the disadvantages of cursor operation in conventional electronic filing devices, that is, the arrow-shaped cursor.
Since the pattern is large, visibility is high, but it is difficult to specify a delicate position.Also, since the pattern is small, the cross-shaped cursor has the advantage of making it easy to specify a delicate position, but visibility is low. This solves the inconvenience that it is difficult to achieve both visibility and operability due to poor visibility and ease of use when editing. An object of the present invention is to provide a cursor control device that improves operability.

Specifically, when an operator searches for the location of a pointing device cursor, by moving the cursor quickly, a cursor (such as a large arrow cursor) that can easily and easily be marked with a 5 will be displayed. ,vice versa,
When specifying a detailed position, move the pointing device cursor slowly so that a cursor (for example, a crosshair cursor) that allows you to specify the delicate position accurately is displayed, improving visibility and operation. The purpose is to balance gender.

90 At least a bitmap type display means, a cursor display means for displaying a cursor on the screen of the display means, a pointing device for indicating the position of the cursor, and an image data processing function. In the electronic filing system, a moving speed comparison detection means that compares the moving speed of the cursor with a preset speed to detect the magnitude of the moving speed;
.

cursor pattern information storage means for storing a plurality of types of pattern information of the cursor; pattern selection means for selecting a cursor pattern stored in the cursor pattern information storage means based on a detection result by the movement speed comparison detection means; , and is configured to change the shape of the cursor according to the movement speed of the pointing device.

Second, in the electronic filing system described above, the moving speed comparison detection means is configured to detect the magnitude of the moving speed by comparing the moving amount within a certain period of time with a preset moving amount. ing.

O Next, embodiments of the cursor control device for an electronic filing device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In order to facilitate understanding, first, the changing state of the pattern when the cursor is operated by the cursor control device of the present invention will be explained.

As already mentioned, in this invention, the shape of the cursor pattern is controlled to change according to the moving speed of the cursor, but since the cursor is displayed at fixed time intervals, All you have to do is decide whether or not it has been exceeded.

FIGS. 2 (1) and (2) are diagrams for explaining how the cursor pattern changes by the cursor control device of the electronic filing device of the present invention. (1) shows that when the amount of movement is within the set range, 2) is a case where the amount of movement is outside the set range. In the drawing, C1 is the arrow 11-12- cursor, C2 is the cross cursor, P is the cursor position before movement, P2 is the cursor position after movement, ΔX is the cursor change range in the X direction, and Δy is the cursor in the X direction. In the change range, mx indicates the amount of movement in the X direction, and my indicates the amount of movement in the X direction.

First, as shown in FIG. 2(1), assume that the cursor before movement is moved from position P□ to position P2.

In this case, the position P2 after the cursor movement exceeds both the change range ΔX in the X direction and the change range Δy in the X direction, that is, exceeds the range of the preset movement amount. ing.

Therefore, it is determined that the movement speed is faster than the preset speed, and the large and highly visible arrow cursor C
1 is displayed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 (2), when the cursor before movement is moved from position P1 to position P2, position P2 after movement is within the cursor change range in the X direction. It is within ΔX and the cursor change range Δy in the X direction. That is, it is within the range of the preset movement amount.

In this case, it is determined that the moving speed is slower than the preset speed, and a cursor, ie, a small crosshair cursor C2, is displayed that allows easy specification of delicate coordinate positions.

The operations of the cursor control device of the present invention described above are realized by the functions shown in FIG. 1 described below.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the main configuration of a cursor control device for an electronic filing device according to the present invention. 2, 31 is a pointing device, 32 is a coordinate position calculation unit, 33 is a coordinate position storage unit, 34 is a movement amount calculation unit, 35 is a cursor shape designation unit, 36 is a cursor shape storage unit, 37 is a cursor display unit, 38 indicates a display device.

The operation of the cursor control device of the present invention shown in FIG.
It is as follows.

The pointing device 31 is a coordinate position input means and has a 3-4 function of moving a cursor on the display screen.

The coordinate position calculation unit 32 reads the current position (cursor position) of the pointing device 31 at regular time intervals and converts it into coordinate information on the screen of a display device 38 such as a CRT.

Information on the coordinates calculated by the coordinate position calculation section 32 is stored in the coordinate position storage section 33.

The coordinate position storage section 33 stores coordinate information of the cursor position before movement, and after movement, the coordinate information calculated by the coordinate position calculation section 32 is stored.

The movement amount calculation section 34 has a function of calculating the movement amount in the X direction and the Y direction, and calculates the coordinates (P in FIG. 2) converted into the current coordinate information output from the coordinate position calculation section 32. , and the coordinates before the movement (P-work in FIG. 2) stored in the coordinate position storage section 33 are read out, respectively, and the movement amounts mx and my are calculated.

The cursor shape specifying unit 35 reads the movement amount (mx, my) held in the movement amount calculation unit 34, and the movement amount is within a preset range (mx<Δx/2°my(Δy/2)
At this time, a cursor pattern that makes it easy to specify a delicate position, that is, pattern information of a cross cursor, is read from the cursor shape memory section 36 and displayed on the display device 38 through the cursor display section 37.

Also, if the amount of movement is outside the preset range (mx>Δx/2
．． my>Δy/2), the cursor shape memory unit 36
A large and easy-to-see cursor pattern, that is, pattern information of an arrow cursor is read out from the cursor display unit 37 and displayed on the display device 38 through the cursor display section 37.

The cursor shape memory unit 36 is a pointing device
This is a pattern memory that stores various shapes (cursor patterns) of cursors, and patterns such as an arrow cursor C1 and a cross cursor C2 are stored. Note that pattern information such as normal arrow cursors "→" and "←" is also stored.

The cursor display section 37 displays information on the current cursor position stored in the coordinate position storage section 33 and a cursor pattern 15-16- specified by the cursor shape specification section 35 and read out from the cursor shape storage section 36. The display device 38 is a bitmap type display means consisting of a CRT, LCD, etc., and displays the corresponding position on the display screen based on the coordinate information and cursor pattern information output from the cursor display section 37. Display the cursor pattern.

Next, the cursor display processing of the cursor control device of the electronic filing device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to a flowchart.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the main process flow when displaying a cursor in the cursor control device of the electronic filing device of the present invention. In the drawings, #1 to #
4 indicates a step.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of a subroutine that is called at regular intervals from the main routine for cursor display processing.

First, in step #1, the coordinate information of the current cursor position is read from the coordinate position calculation unit 32 shown in FIG. Note that the read coordinate information of the current cursor position is stored in the coordinate position storage section 33 after the cursor display process is completed.

In the next step #2, the coordinate information of the cursor position before movement is read from the coordinate position storage unit 33 in FIG. 1, and whether the movement amount calculated by the movement amount calculation unit 34 is within a preset range or not judge whether This determination is made by the cursor shape designation unit 35.

If it is determined in step #2 that the amount of movement is within the set range, the process advances to the next step #3 and a cross cursor is displayed.

If it is determined whether or not the amount of movement in step #2 is within the set range, if the movement is outside the range, the process proceeds to step #4 and an arrow cursor is displayed.

Through the processing in steps #1 to #4 above, a cross cursor or an arrow cursor is displayed depending on the amount of movement.

As described above, in the cursor control device of the electronic filing device of the present invention, the -17=18 cursor pattern dynamically changes according to the moving speed of the pointing device that indicates the cursor position, so visibility and operability are improved. Very good cursor control is achieved.

溌JII例子釆 According to the cursor control device for an electronic filing device of the present invention, it is possible to achieve both cursor visibility and operability, which has been difficult in the past.

That is, if you quickly move the cursor by shaking the pointing device left and right, a large arrow cursor will be displayed, making it easy to find.

Furthermore, when specifying a minute position, if you move the pointing device slowly, a cross cursor will be displayed, which has the excellent effect of allowing you to accurately specify a minute position.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the main configuration of a cursor control device of an electronic filing device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (1) and (2) show a cursor control device of an electronic filing device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the main processing flow when displaying a cursor regarding the cursor control device of the electronic filing device of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of main parts of the electronic filing device. In the drawing, 31 is a pointing device, 32 is a coordinate position calculation section, 33 is a coordinate position storage section, 34 is a movement amount calculation section, 35 is a cursor shape designation section, 36 is a cursor shape storage section, 37 is a cursor display section, 38 is a display device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. At least a bitmap type display means, a cursor display means for displaying a cursor on the screen of the display means, and a pointing device for indicating the position of the cursor, An electronic filing system equipped with a processing function, comprising: a moving speed comparison and detection means for comparing the moving speed of the cursor with a preset speed to detect the magnitude of the moving speed; and storing information on a plurality of types of patterns of the cursor. cursor pattern information storage means for determining the movement speed of the pointing device; and pattern selection means for selecting a cursor pattern stored in the cursor pattern information storage means based on the detection result by the movement speed comparison detection means. A cursor control device characterized by changing the shape of a cursor according to. 2. In the electronic filing system according to claim 1, the moving speed comparison detection means compares the amount of movement within a certain period of time with a preset amount of movement.
A cursor control device characterized by detecting the magnitude of movement speed.