JPH03212721A - Information input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively utilize a narrow screen and to distinguish which is active, a character input means or a graphic input means by simultaneously superposing and mixedly displaying a character input and a graphic input on the display/input part of a display part. CONSTITUTION:Information is inputted to the display/input part constituted of superposing a display part 1 and a character input part 2 with a pen 3. The information input device is provided with a character input means (type palte) 40 for displaying a character input window for recognizing a character inputted by the pen 3, a graphic input means (graphic plate) 41 for displaying a graphic input window for inputting a required graphic on a position touching with the pen 3 and a control means (CPU) 21 for controlling respective windows so as to simultaneously display them on the display/input part. Thus, the narrow screen 1 can be effectively utilized by said constitution and the character and graphic windows can be simultaneously displayed on the same screen. Since an input in an operating state out of a character input and a graphic input is displayed on the surface, the window in the operating state can be cleared.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an information input device for inputting characters and figures using a pen from a display section in which an input section is superimposed on a display section.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention relates to an information input device in which characters and figures are input using a pen from a display section in which an input section is superimposed on a display section. In an information input device for inputting information, a character input means for displaying a character input window for recognizing characters input with a pen, and a figure for inputting a desired figure at a position touched by the pen. By providing a graphic input means for displaying an input window and a control means for controlling the window to be displayed simultaneously on the display/input section, the narrow screen can be used effectively. These windows are displayed simultaneously on the screen so that the user can easily distinguish which of these text or graphic windows is active.

[Prior Art: Conventionally, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like have generally been used as information input devices for computers (hereinafter referred to as CPUs). For example, when displaying characters or figures on the display section of the CPU, an input method is to display a window with a character and figure input function on the display. After selecting the keyboard for characters on the keyboard, writing of characters is performed. Also, when writing figures, the same keyboard for figures was selected. That is, in such a case, it is necessary to switch between character and graphic modes.

Furthermore, there are devices in which the graphics window and text window are displayed completely separately on the display, but these can be switched between the text window program and the graphics window program using the keyboard or mouse switch button. etc.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In conventional devices that project a window with character and graphic input functions on a display, switching between character mode and graphic mode is performed using dedicated keys on a keyboard, etc., which is complicated. However, since the character/graphic window displayed on the display section becomes large, there is a problem in that if the display section is small, the area on which graphics and characters can be written becomes narrow.

Furthermore, in the case of separate character windows and graphic windows, the character window could be displayed on the display section or the graphic window could be displayed alternately by switching the keyboard on the same barrel, but these program displays Since it takes a long time to change the number of characters, there is a problem that in addition to the troublesome switching, a lot of time is also consumed when writing letters and figures alternately.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to mix text windows and graphic windows so that the narrow screen of the display section can be used effectively, and to An object of the present invention is to provide an information input device in which it is possible to visually clearly distinguish whether a computer window is in an active state or a drawing window is in an active state.

Means for Solving the Problem] The first invention of the information input device of the present invention has a display section (1) and a character input section (2), as shown in FIGS. ) in an information input device that inputs information using a pen (3) into a display/input section configured by overlapping the display/input section with a character input window for recognizing characters input with the pen (3). Character input means (40) to display;
A figure input means (41) that displays a figure input window for inputting a desired figure at the position where the pen (3) contacts.
and a control means (21) for controlling the windows to be displayed simultaneously on the display/input unit. The last window touched with the pen (3) is controlled to be operable, and the process is controlled in accordance with the mode related to this window.

[Effect]

In the information input device of the present invention, the character input means and the figure input means are simultaneously overlapped and displayed in a mixed manner on the display/input section of the display section, so that even in a narrow display section, a large writing area for characters and figures can be provided. Of the character input means and figure input means that are displayed together, the active state is brought to the surface, so the active state window is visually clear, and the switching operation can also be performed by moving the pen tip to text or figure input means. It is possible to easily input characters by simply touching the graphic character input means.

〔Example〕

The information input device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Prior to explaining the flowcharts and screen state explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 1 and 2, the information input device of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 of this example shows a front view when this information input device is applied to an electronic notebook device. In this figure, (1) is a display section consisting of a liquid crystal or the like;
That is, the display section (1
) displays image data from a CPU, etc., which will be described later, and an input tablet (2) consisting of an input section, a so-called transparent touch sensor, etc. is provided on the surface of the screen. In addition, (3) is a pen that inputs arbitrary data etc. in collaboration with (2), and through the pen (3), the CPU inputs changes in capacitance between the tablet and the pen tip, etc. It has a detection means for taking out the pen tip, and coordinates can be detected even if the pen tip does not come into contact with the tablet (2), and the cursor is displayed at a position opposite to the pen tip. Take out this pen (3) and use the tip of the input tablet (2) to
), information such as the state of contact and the position of contact is supplied to the CPU via the code (4), etc., and arbitrary data etc. can be input. Furthermore (5a) (5
b) (5c) (5d) and (6a) (6b) (6
c) (6d) are respective predetermined key switches, and the signals of these and other keys are also supplied to the CPU.

Further, (7) indicates a speaker. Reference numeral (8) denotes a battery accommodating portion, and a battery for power supply is housed inside a lid that is opened and closed by releasing the lock mechanism (9). Furthermore, (10) is a power switch.

Further, broken lines indicate the positions of mechanisms etc. provided on the side of this electronic notebook device, and first (11) is a microphone. Further, (12) is an operation key for solid-state recording, which will be described later. By operating this key (12), the audio signal supplied to the microphone (11) is recorded and the sound is emitted from the speaker (7) mentioned above. Ru. Furthermore, (13) is a ROM,
Socket into which an IC card such as RAM is inserted (1
4) indicates the positions of expansion sockets, etc. for connection with external devices, etc.

Further, (15) is a hinge that houses a flexible substrate etc. for transmitting signals, and this hinge (15) allows this device to be folded in two without suffering from electrical interference. When using this device, the size when unfolded is approximately 29 cm in height.

The width is approximately 20.5 cm and the thickness when folded is approximately 4 cm.
The size of the display part (1) is approximately 15cm.
X IQcm There is.

Furthermore, in this device, the structure of the built-in nodeware is as shown in FIG. In the figure, (
21) is a CPU, and (22) is its path line, through which various functional ICs and the like are connected. First, (23) is a ROM, and this ROM (23) contains system programs for the entire device, such as a kana-kanji conversion program for the word processor function and dictionary data therefor, as well as a recognition program for handwritten input. and dictionary data etc. for that purpose are written.

The reference numeral 24) is a working RAM, and the reference numeral 25 is a bank-up RAM with a power supply (26).

Saroni (27) is a timer IC, and this IC (2
7) is also driven by a power supply (26), and counts the clock from a crystal oscillator (28) to constantly output data of the current year, month, day, and time.

The following will explain the connection relationship with each part that appears in the front view of FIG. 3. First (29) is the display part (1)
This controller (29) is controlled by the CPU (21), and the display data created by the CPU (21) is sent to the V-V through the display controller (29). R
A M (30), and this written data is supplied to the display section (1) through the display controller (29).

Saroni (31) is an interface circuit for an input tablet (2) and a pen (3) that is integrated with the display unit (1), and this interface circuit (31)
The data written on the input tablet (2) in the CP,
It is supplied to U (21).

Further, (32) is a processing circuit for solid-state recording, in which the audio signal from the microphone (11) undergoes processing such as AD conversion, and is sent to the backup RAM (
25). Also, backup RAM (25
) is subjected to processing such as DA conversion in a processing circuit (32), and is supplied to a speaker (7) through a mixer (33).

Furthermore, (34) is a dialer circuit, and the CPU (21)
) or any telephone number is supplied, an acoustic signal corresponding to the so-called dual tone of a telephone is generated, and this signal is supplied to the speaker (7) through the mixer (33).

Further, (35) is a key interface circuit, which includes the above-mentioned (5a) to (5d), (6a) to (6d),
Signals from key switch groups such as (10) and (12) are supplied directly or through a power supply circuit (36), and predetermined converted signals are supplied to CPtJ (21). In addition, the power switch (10) and key switch (6a) ~ (
6d) and the operation keys (12) other than the stop button are supplied to the interface circuit (35) via the power supply circuit (36), and when these key switches are operated, the power supply circuit (36) is activated first, and then the power supply circuit (36) is activated. Key operation information is supplied to an interface circuit (35).

Furthermore, (37) and (38) are interface circuits for an IC card and external equipment during expansion, and are connected to sockets (13) and (14), respectively.

The operation of this example will be explained below based on the flowchart of FIG. 1 and the screen example of FIG. 2.

In the device of this example on the ridge, when the power switch (10) shown in FIG. 3 is pressed, a group of various processable icons (42) as shown in FIG. 2A appear on the display section (1). Is displayed. Here, touch the "cuff" icon (51) in the icon group (42) on the right side of the screen of the display section (1) with the pen tip, and select "Action" written on the left side of this icon group (42). - Connection ”.

When you touch the tip of the pen (3) on the second part of the report with the words "Report" written on it, the report image (50) shown in Figure 2A will be displayed on the display section (1).
(1st step ST in FIG. 1). Next, as shown in FIG. 2A, among the icon group (42) displayed at the top of the report screen (50), the user touches the printed icon (53) labeled "Katsuji" with the pen tip. As mentioned above, with this pen (3), when the pen tip approaches the panel surface of the display section (1), which also serves as a human cursor and gutter, a cross-shaped position indicating cursor (48) is displayed, so that the pen tip position is similar to that of the tablet. (2) can be seen very clearly, and after lowering the pen (3) to the desired icon (53), the pen tip can be moved without taking the pen tip off the tablet (2). Move the pen to the desired position (dragging) and release the pen tip from the surface of the tablet [2]. As shown in Figure 2, the processing display form of the desired icon (53) will change to an enlarged typeface icon. A window (hereinafter referred to as type plate) (40) is automatically displayed.

In this print play) (40), the handwriting key (43) is in the active state as shown by the notch when it is pulled out from the print icon (53), so the pen is inserted into the square (44). When you enter a predetermined character and specify the type of character (46), the CPU (21) recognizes the character, changes the handwritten character to the recognized printed character, and displays it. To transfer recognized printed characters on the screen (50), touch the cursor key (47) with the pen tip and drag it to any position on the report screen (50), and the cursor (48) will move the pen tip. If you wish to transfer recognized printed characters written by hand to this cursor (48) position, press the ``Write!'' key (
If you touch 49) with the pen tip, this character will be transferred to the cursor (48) position.

Of course, the above operation will be described later, but the report screen (50)
A graphic icon window (hereinafter referred to as the graphic plate) is pulled out at the top, and the report screen (50) is drawn with the pen (3).
This is when the figure is drawn freely □. That is,
The structure is such that characters obtained using a type plate for character recognition can be directly transferred to an area where graphics can be input. Of course, it is also possible to input printed characters other than recognized characters.

The above-mentioned type play) (40) is the report screen (50
), the “Katsuji” icon (53)
is erased as shown in FIG. 2B. Next, Figure 2 C and 2
As shown in the figure, move the type play) (40) downwards on the screen while dragging it.
As shown in Figure C, move the pen (3) away from the report screen (50) and project the typeface (40) at a predetermined position.
In order to move it again, touch the desired position on the type plate (40) and drag it; however, in this example, the same applies to the type plate (figure play described later) (41)) (40) The parts indicated by the notches (52a) (52b) and the bottom part (52a) (52b)
52c) That is, by touching the type plate moving area or the figure plate moving area with the pen tip, the type plate (4
0) and the graphic plate (41) can be moved to desired positions.

Therefore, the hatching part (52a) is now shown in FIG. 2C.
If you touch the tip of the pen (3) and move it downwards on the screen, the lower half of the report screen (50) will be erased, leaving only the necessary part of (40) as shown in the second diagram. This allows the report screen (50) to be widely used. Figure 2 G and H (showing the case where only the figure plate is pulled out) are also like this when the figure plate (41
) is pushed upward, and as shown in Figure 2 G, the shadow part (+2c) is added to the figure play) (41).
This shadow part (52c)
If you touch the tip of the pen (3) and drag the pen in the direction of the arrow, the window, or figure plate, will move outside the display area as shown in Figure 2H, leaving only the necessary part for use. Report screen (50)
can be used to a great extent. That is, the Nyadou part (52c)
(40
) and (41) can be moved out of the screen area.

In the above, the character play) (40) is changed to the report screen (50).
) In the above case, as shown in the second step ST of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 C, -
icon (54) (see Figure 2 A and B)
to lower the pen tip. From this figure icon (54), the report screen (50
) by dragging the pen (3) to the open area of ) (41) is enlarged and displayed. In this state, the graphic icon (54) is deleted. In the above explanation, character play) (40) was pulled out, and then figure play) (41) was pulled out, but these may also be pulled out in reverse, and as will be explained later, the plate that was pulled out last among the respective plates becomes active. become a state. That is, FIG. 2E shows a state in which the type plate (40) is first pulled out into the open area, and then the figure play (41) is pulled out, and the figure play (41) which is pulled out afterward is shown.
is superimposed in front of the type plate (40), and it can be immediately visually confirmed that the graphic plate (41) is in the active state. In the case of Figure 2 F, conversely, type play)
(40) is placed on the graphic plate (41) in order to be later extracted from the icon group (42) (40
) are piled up and are in front, so it is a type play) (4
0) is in the active state. A flow chart for such an operation will be explained with reference to FIG. That is, assuming that the respective figures and character plates are drawn out to the open area of the report screen (50) in the third step ST3 and the state shown in the second diagram is achieved, the fourth
Proceeding to step ST, the CPU (21) determines whether the pen (3) is down in the open area of the report screen (50) (5), and determines whether the pen (3) is down (5) or not. ), the process advances to the fifth step ST5 and other processing is performed. If the pen down has been completed in the fourth step ST, and "YES", proceed to the sixth step ST6, and check whether the pen down point is within the area of the print screen (40) on the coordinates on the report screen (50). to judge. Here, if the pen (3) is down in the area of type play) (40), the seventh step ST.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2F, the type plate (40) is projected in front of the figure plate (41). Next, the CPU (21
) is the eighth step ST++, and it is determined whether the pen down point is within the type plate movement/use area (40). That is, the hunting portions (52, a) (52b) or the shadow portions (52,
Determine whether or not it is in the area c). This step ST
If "YES" in e, the process proceeds to a ninth step ST9, where movement processing is performed based on the movement coordinates of the pen (3), and the process returns to the fourth step ST. Furthermore, the eighth step S
If Ts is “NO”, type plate movement area (52a)
, (52b), (52c), if Hen (3) does not touch, the process proceeds to the 10th step ST, and in this step the current active state stored in V-RAM (30) etc. (The plate shown is a type plate)
(40), and if it is " If the type plate is in the active state in the memory in steps ST and o, the part touched by the tip of the pen (3) is the type plate in the twelfth step 5TI2) (40) Upper function keys For example, handwriting key , a business key, a telephone key, etc. If it is "XO" in this step 5T12,
In the 14th step ST, it is determined whether the pen (3) is up or not. If the pen (3) is not amplified, the process returns to the 14th step (14) and the pen up state is monitored. However, if it is "YES" and the pen (3) is up, the process returns to the fourth step ST4, and the down state of the pen (3) is monitored. Next, if the pen (3) is on the function key of the type plate (40) in the 12th step ST12, it is determined in the 13th step ST13 whether or not the writing key (49) has been touched with the pen (3). to judge. If the write key (49) is not touched, the function key based on another function in (40) has been touched, so settings and processing based on that function are performed in the 15th step ST. , 5, and the fourth step ST.

will be returned to. At the 13th step ST, the write key (4
9) If the J pen (3) is touched, the process advances to the 16th step 5T16. In the 16th step ST, 6, the input area in the report screen (50) (in this case, the figure plate will be described later, but since it has been pulled out, it is in a state where figures can be freely drawn on the report screen (50)). It is determined whether the character cursor (48) is specified. To pull out this character cursor (48), touch the character cursor key (47) with the F mark in Figure 2 (B) with the tip of the pen and pull it out to the designated area, then press the cursor key with the F mark. (47) is a type play) (40)
It is erased from above, and a character cursor (48) is displayed as the pen (3) moves. If the cursor (48) is specified in the figure input area in the 16th step ST+s, the print character inputted on the type plate (40), for example 50 to 04, is transferred to the cursor position in the 17th step ST17, and If the cursor (48) is not designated in the graphic input area at the 16th step ST6, the process proceeds to the 18th step STla, where an error message is displayed on the screen. For example, - Please specify cursor: etc. will be displayed, and the first step will be to check whether or not the OK key in this error message was touched with the pen (3).
The judgment is made at the 9th step s T, and the process returns to the 19th step 5T19 in the "NO"'' state, but if the pen is touched on the OK key, the process returns to the 4th step ST.

Next, if the pen-down point is not within the type plate area at the sixth step 5(6), the process proceeds to the 20th step ST2o. In the 20th step 5T20, it is determined whether the down point of the pen (3) is within the area of the graphic play (41) on the screen coordinates. At the 20th step 5T2o” Y
If it is in the 21st step S T2., the graphic plate (41) is placed in front of the print plate (40), and the state shown in Figure 2E is reached, and the drawing plate (4
1) is in an active state so that it can be immediately seen directly.

Next, the 22nd step ST. The CPU (2
1) judges whether the pen-down point is within the movement area of (41) of figure play. Figure 2 C, D.

It is determined whether or not the pen part (52b) and the striped part (52c) shown by G, H, etc. are in contact, and if the tip of the pen (3) touches these parts, the process proceeds to the 23rd step 5T23. A movement process based on the movement coordinates of the pen (3) is performed, and the process returns to the fourth step ST. Second
If 2nd step ST, 2 is "NO", 24th step ST2. It is determined whether the currently active plate stored in the memory is the figure plate (41), and if "NO", the process proceeds to the 25th step 5T2S and activates the figure play (41). Process and store in memory, and proceed to 26th step 5T26.
If it is stored in the memory that the graphic plate (41) is in the active state at step 5T24, the second
Proceeds to 6th step 5T26, and this 26th step 5
In T2G, it is determined whether the pen down point is on a function key. Here, the function keys of the graphic plate (41) will be explained using the second diagram. One of the function keys in the graphic plate (41), the key (60) labeled "Draw", is activated when pulled out from the one-letter icon (53), as described above. The movement key (61) is used to move the figure i, leaving only the cut out part.The copy key (62) is used to copy the cut out figure drawn on the report screen. The erase key (63) is used to erase the drawn figure, and the cancel key (64) allows you to copy it to other pages than the one you are currently drawing on. The function layer (64) for drawing figures has keys for square, circle, circle, erase, etc. If you touch these with the pen, you can draw square, circle, etc. You can freely draw shapes such as circles on the report screen (50), and
It can be erased using an eraser. Arrows and crosses are used to specify the size of circles and squares, and brush patterns are used when drawing with the final brush. The key in the active state in the second drawing is a free pen, and is used when drawing free patterns. The figure shown in column (65) is a figure that specifies the line thickness of the pen (3) to be drawn, and in the second drawing, a medium thick line is specified and it is active!
It's all made up. The figures in the column shown in (66) are a group of keys to be specified when filling the drawn figure with the pattern shown in the figure. In this example, all such items are defined as function keys.

If the pen (3) is not touched on the function key (No) at the 26th step 5T2B, it is determined whether the pen (3) has been lifted up at the 27th step 5T2t; The process returns to the 27th step 5T27, but if the pen is in the "YEE" state with the pen up, the process returns to the 4th step STa. Also, the 26th step 5T
If 26 is in the "YES" state and the pen (3) is touching one of the function keys, the process proceeds to the 28th step 5T21+, where settings and processing based on that function key, that is, storage are performed. , the process returns to the fourth step ST. Furthermore, if the down point of the pen (3) is not within the area of the graphic plate at the 20th step S T2°, the process proceeds to the 29th step 5T2B.
You can proceed to At the 29th step 5T29, it is determined whether the pen-down point is an area for graphic input, and the result is "No".
If so, other processing is performed at the 30th step ST3°, and the process returns to the 4th step ST. If “YES” in the 29th step 5T29, the 31st step 5T31
It is determined whether the active plate is a graphic plate or a type plate, and if it is a graphic plate, graphic input is performed based on the function set in step ST33, and the process is returned to fourth step ST. If it is a character plate, the cursor is displayed at the pen down position in the 34th step ST, and the process returns to the fourth step ST4.

The present invention operated like a ridge, so the report screen (40
) is as small as 15cm x 1Qcm, the window for text and graphics, that is, the text and graphics plates can be displayed overlapping each other, so not only can you use a wide area for drawing graphics and characters, but you can also see which plate is active. This provides an information input device that allows you to visually see directly what is there. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments on the ridges, and it is clear that various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Effects of the Invention: According to the information input device of the present invention, a narrow screen can be used effectively, and when character or graphic plates are simultaneously displayed on the screen, it is possible to know at a glance which plate is active. You can get something.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the information input device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a screen example showing an embodiment of the information input device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the information input device of the present invention. FIG. 4, which is a front view of a housing showing one embodiment, is a system diagram showing the hardware of the information input device of the present invention. (1) is the display part, (3) is the pen, (21) is C
P.U. (40) is a type plate, (41) is a figure plate, (
50) is a report screen. Agent Hidemori Matsukuma 50 sides 2 5ζ (Fig. 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an information input device that inputs information with a pen into a display/input unit configured by overlapping a display unit and a character input unit, a character input means for displaying a character input window for recognition; a figure input means for displaying a figure input window for inputting a desired figure at a position in contact with the pen; and the window is connected to the display and input section. What is claimed is: 1. An information input device comprising: control means for controlling the information to be displayed at the same time. 2. Among the windows, the last window touched by the pen is controlled to be operable, and the processing is controlled according to the mode related to the window. Information input device described in section.