JPH0375816A - Touch panel type multiple item input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute the input job of plural items without a screen switching operation even if the items which an operator inputs cover plural screens and to improve operability by reducing the display screens and displaying plural display screens on one screen. CONSTITUTION:When screen reduction instruction keys 300a-c are depressed and a screen reduction instruction key detection means 35 detects the input, a reduction screen data generation means 36 reads data on a display screen number based on the output of the detection means 35 from screen display data storage means 31-1 to 31-N and generates data on plural and reduced display screens to be displayed. The generated data is displayed in a display unit 300 and accordingly plural and reduced display screens are simultaneously displayed on one screen. Thus, the plural items in plural screen data different in pages can be inputted without a page switching action and operability improves.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application 1] The present invention relates to a touch panel type multi-item input device configured by attaching a transparent touch panel to the front surface of a display device.

] [Prior Art] Generally, in various processing devices such as office computers, personal computers, and data processing devices, key input devices and touch panel type input devices are used. As this type of input device, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-14
6316, JP 61-237126, JP 61-282916, JP 62-1545
No. 08 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 154013/1986 are known. In particular, recently, touch panel type input devices have been attracting attention, in which coordinates can be easily input by pressing a finger or the like toward a display screen while viewing the display screen.

Here, a conventional touch panel type human powered device will be explained. Second
The figure is a perspective view showing a conventional touch panel type input device. As shown in FIG. 2, there is a display device that can freely display arbitrary characters, numbers, figures, etc., and a display device 20 that is arranged in front of the display device and detects the input coordinates when pressed with a finger, etc. Transparent touch panel 21. and display device 20
It is comprised of a screen switching keyboard 22 for switching display contents, a function keyboard 23 which is a group of function keys including numeric keys, and the like.

This configuration will be explained in detail based on FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional touch panel type input device. This third
In the figure, the display 300 is driven by display drive means 30↑, and this display drive means 30
1, Screen Display Data Storage No. 4,508 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-1.540]-3 are known.

In particular, recently, touch panel type input devices have been attracting attention in which coordinate input can be easily performed by pressing a finger or the like toward a display screen while viewing the display screen.

Here, a conventional touch panel type input device will be explained. Second
The figure is a perspective view showing a conventional touch panel type input device. As shown in FIG. 2, there is a display device that can freely display arbitrary characters, numbers, figures, etc., and a display device 20 that is arranged in front of the display device 20 and displays the input coordinates when pressed with a finger or the like. A transparent touch panel 2L that can be detected and a screen switching keyboard 2 for switching the display contents of the display device 20
2, and a function keyboard 23, which is a group of function keys including numeric keys.

This configuration will be explained in detail based on FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional touch panel type input device. This third
In the figure, a display 300 is driven by a display drive means 301.
Display data from the screen display data storage means 302 is input to ↑, and the input display data is displayed on the screen of the display device 300.

Further, the press of the screen switching key 320][tau]G is detected by the screen ty switch key detecting means 321, and the detected key address is output to the display screen number generating means 322.

This display screen number, the key address input to the generation means 322, is converted into a number indicating the screen to be displayed on the display 300 from now on, and this converted display screen number,
The data is output to the screen display data selection means 30.

This selection means 30 selects the first to Nth screen display data storage means 31-1 to 31 based on the input display screen No. 5.
- Select one screen display data displayed from N, and store this selected data in the screen display data storage means 30 described above.
2 and outputs the display screen number and the selected display screen number to the storage means 32.

On the other hand, the pressed key of the touch panel 310 is detected by the touch panel detection means 311, and the address of the detected pressed key is output to the input coordinate generation means 312. This input coordinate generating means 33 uses the input human coordinate data with the aforementioned display screen number and the display screen number input from the storage means 32.

is added to generate input data to be sent to the host device, and this personal data is output to the sending data output means 34.

Further, the pressed key of the function key 330 is detected by the function key detecting means 331, and the address of the detected pressed key is sent to the key code generating means 332.
Output to. The address of the pressed key input to the key code generating means 332 is converted into a key code to be sent to the host device, and this converted key code is output to the sending data output means 34. This sending data output means 3
4 sends each of the input data from the transparent touch panel 310 and the input data from the function keys 330 to the host device.

In the multi-item input device configured as described above, a predetermined display screen is selectively displayed using the screen switching key 320, and a touch panel 31 arranged in front of the display screen is used.
By touching 0, the input coordinate value input by this touch and the selected display screen number are -t
It will be sent to the device at position z.

The host device (not shown) performs a desired function based on the received input coordinate values and display screen number.

Here, FIG. 4 shows that the microprocessor 400 is used to
3 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration for controlling the multi-item input device shown in FIG. 3, and will be explained in comparison with FIG. 3. FIG.

Address bus 4 connected to MicroProcera Two 400
0], a, data bus 4. O]-b, Con IIT
The control line group 401- constituted by the 7-line signal line 401c includes the screen display data selection means 30 shown in FIG.
--N, display screen number, ROM as storage means 32 and input data generation means 33 (MR only memory)
403, I(, AM (random access memory) 404
and a character generator 405 are connected to each other. MA/GO, MPX (Multiplexer) 406a
, b, the screen display data storage means 302 of FIG.
A refresh memory 407 as a display device is connected to a display control section 408 as a display drive means 301 in FIG. The output of the refresh memory 407 is M I)
Once supplied to the display control unit 408 via 406b,
This display control section 408 is configured to supply display data and display control signals to the display 300.

Furthermore, the control line group 4.01 is connected to a touch panel control section 409 as the touch panel detection means 31J and input coordinate generation means 31-2 shown in FIG. 3, and a touch panel 310 is connected to this touch panel control section 409. .

Similarly, the control line group 40]- includes the screen switching key detecting means 32] shown in FIG. 331 and key code generation means 332
and a function key control section 411 are connected to each other.

A screen switching key 320 and a function key 330 are connected to the screen switching key control section 41-0 and function key control section 411, respectively.

With the above configuration, the microprocessor 400 can know the input information of each of the touch panel 310, the screen QJ conversion key 320, and the function key 330, and the sending data output means of FIG. 3 connected to the control line group 401- The higher-level device transmission/reception control unit 412 as 34 can send necessary information to the higher-level device.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" By the way, in the conventional multi-item manual device with the above configuration,
The operator must perform the following operations in order to input the desired items. First, the screen switching key 3 mentioned above
Press 20 to select and display the screen for the item you wish to input. Then, the touch panel 31.0 is touched in order to input a predetermined item manually. As a result, this device sends the input coordinates of the touch panel and the selected display screen number as input information from the data output means 34.
'r.

Send to device.

In this case, if the item the operator wants to input spans, for example, the screen (G j, ) and the screen (G, j Select the screen No. (Gi) and display it on the display 300, and touch the touch panel key 31.0 to input the desired item from among them.Next, select the display screen No. (Gj). To make a selection, press No.j of the switching key 320 again to select the desired display screen No. (Gj), display this on the display 3004, and input other desired items from among these. Therefore, the operator has to touch the touch panel key 3 again.Therefore, the operator has to repeatedly perform the same operation, resulting in a problem of poor operability.

The present invention has focused on the above-mentioned problem G and has been devised to effectively solve the problem.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problem of cumbersome item input operations when the items an operator wants to input span multiple screens in a multi-item input device such as a dual-type multi-item input device. A screen reduction instruction key or means is provided at the top, and by pressing this key, multiple screen data are compressed and displayed on one screen, and multiple items in multiple screen data on different pages can be entered without page switching operations. The object of the present invention is to provide a multi-item manual device with excellent operability.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention includes a transparent touch panel for inputting coordinates corresponding to the front surface of a display device that displays data in a screen display data storage means that stores a plurality of display screens. In the touch panel type multi-item input device configured with a touch panel, a screen reduction instruction key for instructing reduction of a screen to be displayed, a screen reduction instruction means detecting means for detecting operation of this instruction means, and a screen being displayed. a display screen number storage means for storing the display screen number; a reduced screen data creation means for creating data for a plurality of reduced screens to be displayed according to the detection results of the detection means; A reduced screen number that stores a plurality of display screen numbers (No.) created and displayed on the same screen.

A storage means, the stored contents of this first stage of storage, and the display screen N
and (o) input coordinate conversion means for converting input coordinates to the touch panel into corresponding coordinates on the display screen number based on the contents stored in the storage means.

[Operation] In FIG. 1, when the screen reduction instruction key 330aC is pressed, the screen reduction instruction key (means) detection means 35 detects this input. Then, the reduced screen data creation means 36
Based on the output of this detection means 35, the data of the corresponding display screen No. is stored in the screen display data storage means 3 ]---
1 to N to create data for a plurality of reduced display screens to be displayed. This created data is displayed on the display 300 via the screen display data storage means 302 and the display drive means 301. As a result, a plurality of reduced display screens are displayed simultaneously on one screen.

2. Further, the output from the screen reduction instruction key detection means 35 is also stored in the reduced screen number storage means 37.

On the other hand, the touch panel 3
By pressing '10 multiple times, the pressing is detected by the touch panel detection means 3↓1-.

Based on this detected value, the input coordinate generation means 3 ] 2 generates a plurality of input coordinates and inputs them to the input coordinate conversion means 38 . This conversion means 38 converts the input coordinate values into
The conversion is performed based on the reduced screen number and the contents stored in the storage means 37 to obtain the coordinates or items of the corresponding display. The obtained coordinates are input to the input data generating means 33 and the sending data li
The data is transmitted to a higher-level device (not shown) via three power means.

[Example] The configuration of the present invention will be specifically explained in detail below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

Components that are the same as those in the conventional example shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

First, the function key 330 includes screen reduction instruction means (key) 3 for instructing reduction of the screen to be displayed.
30a-c are additionally provided. This instruction means will be specifically explained based on FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the function keys 330, and FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the screen reduction instruction key group 330a-c. As shown in the figure, this instruction key is provided at one corner of the rectangular function key 330, and is used to instruct to reduce the screen in the horizontal direction"; -330a, a key to instruct to reduce the screen in the vertical direction. 330b, and an ALT key 330c for returning the reduced screen to its original size.Of course, this arrangement is not limited to this.

A function key detection means 331 and a screen reduction instruction means (key) detection means for detecting that the instruction means 330a to 330a have been operated are provided at a stage subsequent to the function key 330 having the screen reduction instruction keys 330a to 330c. 35 are provided. Further, a reduced screen data creation means 36 is connected to the downstream of this detection means 35,
This reduction] 4 The small screen data creation means 36 generates data of a plurality of reduced screens to be displayed according to the detection result of the detection means 35 based on the screen display data storage means 3 (-1- to N data). It is designed to be created by

The output of this creation means 36 is the output of the screen display data storage means 3.
02, and the created data is displayed on the display 300.
Display at.

On the other hand, the output from the screen reduction instruction key detection means 35 is the reduced screen number connected in parallel with the creation means 36 at the subsequent stage.
A plurality of displays N created by the creation means 36 and displayed on the same screen are also input to the storage means 37.
It is designed to memorize o.

On the other hand, the touch panel 31 arranged on the front of the display device 300
0 is connected to input coordinate conversion means 38 via touch panel detection means 31 ] and input coordinate generation means 312 . This converting means 38 is connected to the display screen number, storage means 32, and the reduced screen NO. It will be converted to the corresponding coordinates. The output of this converting means 38 is connected to the input data generating means 33, so that the converted coordinates can be transmitted to the host device via the sending data outputting means 34.

The operation of the human-powered device configured as above will be explained.

First, in order to input item data across multiple screens,
When reducing the display screen, the operator presses, for example, the screen reduction instruction key 330a provided above in function-1-330 shown in FIG.

Here, as described above, the screen reduction instruction keys are used, for example, as shown in FIG.
0b, and a jointly pressed key "ALT" 330c, and performs the operations shown in the screen reduction processing flowchart shown in FIG. 8, for example. The screen reduction process is scanned periodically in an example of the main program of the multi-item input device shown in FIG. That is, when the apparatus is started, -6 FLG, which indicates whether or not reduction in the vertical direction is possible, is set to zero, CNT, which counts reduction in the horizontal direction, is set to zero, and initial settings are performed. Thereafter, the screen reduction process and the main program are repeatedly executed. In FIG. 8, first, screen reduction instruction keys 330a-c
Determine whether any of the buttons are pressed (S101
). If it is not pressed, return to the main program (Fig. 7), and if it is pressed, it is determined whether it is pressed together with AL T4- (
S1-02). If pressed individually instead of simultaneously, the screen will be reduced by 72 times according to the vertical reduction or reduction tank key (SLIO, 5ilt, S] 12, 5l)
15). Here, counter "CNT", flag "FL"
G” manages the number of screen reductions, and in this example, the vertical direction is 1/1
You can reduce the screen by 2 times t times (FI-G = 0 or 1-) and twice in the horizontal direction (CN T = O・~2), and the screen will not shrink even if you press the reduction key any further. (S
111. St 1-4).

Note that, of course, the number of reductions is not limited to the same number as described above.

Then, when horizontal reduction is performed 1-times, the callan (~) that manages this number of times is incremented by 1.
3113), if vertical reduction is performed on this, set a flag to manage this (S], i 6
) Next, press the "ALT'" key 33 at S↓02.
When pressing 0C, the reduced screen will be enlarged (
It is something that is heading in the direction of not returning to its original state. First, it is determined whether or not the screen reduction tank key 330a has been pressed (310
B), if YES, then the value is determined for Callan 1 (S1
04), if this value is 0, the screen has already returned to its original size, and the program returns directly to the main program. 510
If the count value is 4 and is not O (in this implementation it will be 1- or 2), the horizontal direction of the screen will be expanded twice.
05>, and increments the count value by one from 1 to 1 to indicate the operation (S[)6). On the other hand, S ]−0
If No in 3, it means that the vertical reduction key 330b has been pressed, and the state of the flag is determined in 8107. If the flag is 0 here (
Since the vertical size of the screen 8 already means the original size, we return to the main program. If the flag is 1 (i, enlarge the screen twice in the vertical direction 5i08), set the flag to 0 to indicate the operation (8109).

Next, the creation of reduced screen data, that is, the reduced screen data creation means (FIG. 1, 36) will be explained.

In FIG. 9, the current display screen is assumed to be Ga in FIG. 9(a), and for example, the vertical direction is reduced by 1/2 and the horizontal direction [hj is reduced by 1/2 times, respectively. 91) Figure 9 (C)
), screens Ga, Ga-+-1, and G not shown in FIG.
If the four screens of a + 2 and G a + 3 are displayed on one screen, it will look like the first kingdom. In the screen Ga, the number of items is vertical x horizontal (nXm: for example, n = 10.m8).

Here, item x1. of screen Ga. The procedure for reducing yl (300a) is shown in FIG. 1-0.

The item 300a is 8 characters of 4 characters x 2 lines, and the horizontal direction is 1. If the image is reduced by /2 times G, the left half area 1-00 will remain, and if it is further reduced by 1/2, an area 200, which is the left half -9, will remain.

Similarly, if the vertical direction is reduced by 1/2 times and then the horizontal direction is reduced by ↓/2 times, the upper half area 300 and the left half area 400 become respectively. Furthermore, it is possible to line up the areas 300 and 400 and reduce the size by 1/2 in the vertical direction and 1/2 in the horizontal direction, but if this is done, each item becomes a ↓ character, which is not practical.

The reduced screen data created in this way is sent to the screen display data storage means 302 and displayed on the display 300 as shown in FIG. Further, the displayed reduced screen number is stored in the reduced screen number in the storage means 37.

Next, when the operator presses the touch panel 31-0 to perform an item input while looking at the reduced 1L screen, the touch panel detection means 311 detects this press, and the input coordinate generation means 31-2 detects the press on the touch panel. The position (coordinates) is t'lJ clear. If input data is created based on this, input data before reduction will be generated, so in order to make the items on the reduced screen correspond to the coordinates on the touch panel with the input coordinate conversion means 38, display screen N01 (display Screen NO1 storage means 32) and screen N01 after reduction (reduced screen No.
Coordinate conversion is performed using the storage means 37) and the pressed coordinates on the touch panel. The converted coordinates are then sent to the input data generation means 33.

Of course, when the screen is not reduced, input data is generated without converting the input coordinates.

The converted coordinates are then output from the sending data output means 34 to the host device.

Here, an example of a coordinate transformation method will be explained. FIG. 12 is an example of item division on the touch panel when closing the screen at the end, and the number of items, number of characters, etc. are the same as in FIG. 9. In addition, Figures 1 and 3 are reduced by 1/2 in both the vertical and horizontal directions]
+1. , Ga+2. It is divided into four screens worth of items: Ga, -t-3.

Here, for example, item No. x2. y3 is the touch panel coordinates (X5.Y5) (X6.Y5 when reduced at the end of Figure 12)
), (X7.Y5), (X8.Y5), (X5.Y6)
, (X6.Y6), (X72↓ Y6), (X8.Y6). In this area, even if you press the button, the input data will be changed to x on the display screen Ga.
2. It is y3.

Next, when the display screen is reduced as shown in Figure 3, the item No. x2y3 is the touch panel coordinate (X3.Y3),
The item number that is moved to the diagonally shaded area (X, 'l, Y3) and displayed becomes xi, y2, and the displayed item and touch panel coordinates no longer match.

Therefore, the input coordinate change #fA means 38 in FIG. Screen No.

(Ga in this example), the touch panel coordinate item number shown in FIG. 1.4, and the item number before reduction using the conversion table.

(in this example, x2.y3), input the coordinates of the touch panel that match the display item to the data generating means 3.
It can be sent to 3.

Note that the large frame portion in FIG. 14 corresponds to the diagonally shaded portion in FIG. 13.

2. Next, it is preferable that the touch panel 310 uses a method called an analog method, which detects coordinates using a potential difference, as shown in the example circuit diagram of FIG.

This is because position detection on the touch panel can be performed with high precision, making it ideal for applications where the area on the touch panel must be arbitrarily set in response to changes in the area of display items, as in this embodiment. That is, by connecting a resistor 153 between the resistor 15 (and the resistor 152) having different resistance values and switching the switches A, B, and C arranged as shown in the figure, the display on the touch panel detection means 311 is It is possible to significantly change the potential difference that is displayed, and this makes it possible to detect changes in the area of display items.

[Effects of the Invention] In summary, according to the present invention, in a touch panel type multi-item input device with a display device, the display screen is reduced so that a plurality of display screens can be displayed on one screen, so that an operator can input items. Even if the items to be entered span a plurality of screens when performing the above operations, it is possible to input a plurality of three items without performing a screen switching operation, thereby improving operability.

Further, the device according to the present invention can be easily provided without making any major design changes to the conventional device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a touch panel type multi-item input device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a conventional touch panel type input device, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional touch panel type input device. A block diagram, FIG. 4 is a control configuration diagram of a conventional touch panel type input device, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the function keys, and FIG. 6 is a detailed diagram of the screen reduction instruction key.
Figure 7 is a diagram showing the flow of the main program of the multi-item input device, Figure 8 is a diagram showing the flow of screen reduction processing, Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of display screen data, and Figure 1O is the screen reduction procedure. Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of a reduced screen.
Figure 2 is a diagram showing item division in the screen reduction procedure, Figure 13 is a diagram showing item division when reducing the screen, and Figure 14 is a diagram showing an item conversion table for touch panel coordinates that does not correspond to the reduced screen in Figure T3. , Figure 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of the touch panel. 330a-c... Screen reduction instruction key, 35... Screen reduction display key detection means, 37... Reduced screen number, storage means, 36... Reduced screen data creation means, 38. Input coordinate conversion means, 31-o...Touch panel.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A touch panel type multi-item input device configured by attaching a transparent touch panel for inputting coordinates corresponding to the front surface of a display device that displays data in a screen display data storage means that stores a plurality of display screens. The apparatus includes: a screen reduction instruction means for instructing reduction of the screen to be displayed; a screen reduction instruction detection means for detecting that the instruction means has been operated; and a display screen for storing the screen number (No.) currently being displayed. No
．． storage means; reduced screen data creation means for creating data for a plurality of reduced screens to be displayed according to the detection results of the detection means; and a plurality of display screens created by the creation means and displayed on the same screen. Reduced screen N to memorize the number (No.)
o. a storage means; the storage contents of the storage means and the display screen number; Based on the contents stored in the storage means, the input coordinates to the touch panel are displayed on the display screen number. A touch panel type multi-item input device comprising: input coordinate means for converting into corresponding coordinates.