JPH04178815A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To start up a touch panel by the same interface as a pointing device in common by providing this information processor with the touch panel capable of applying an instruction corresponding to coordinate information and a means for converting information outputted from the touch panel. CONSTITUTION:When relative determination/relative reset corresponding to the determination/reset of relative coordinate information and display information corresponding to coordinate information to be specified by the pointing device 10 is instructed from the touch panel 7, the conversion means 8a converts the information outputted from the panel 7 into the output data of the device 10 and inputs the converted contents to an input processing means, which executes the shared processing of the information outputted from the device 10 and the panel 7. Consequently, the touch panel 7 can easily be used in common in the same software environment without changing an application capable of using the pointing device 10.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an information processing device equipped with a display means, and particularly relates to an information processing device that can share input information between a touch panel and a pointing device. .

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of information processing device, various methods have been used to reduce the input method of information (coordinate information, menu selection information, icon selection information, etc.) that is instructed to be input to a developed application program. Pointing devices have been developed and serve as key devices in the man-machine interface for this application.

On the other hand, in the field of man-machine interfaces, a device called a touch panel, in which so-called transparent electrodes and a display screen correspond to each other, is also being developed, which allows the above-mentioned information input and selection processing.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in conventional information processing devices, there is no consistency in the input information between the touch panel and the pointing device, and the input/output is managed by an independent driver. Therefore, in order to use the above-mentioned touch panel in an application that can be used with a pointing device, the application needs to be changed, which requires a huge amount of development time.

In addition, in order to use the above-mentioned pointing device in an application that can use a touch panel, it is necessary to change the application as well, and there is no interface that optimally satisfies the mutual relationship. There were problems such as the inability to operate the system effectively.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and involves converting information from a touch panel into an input information format of a pointing device and inputting the same to an input processing means that processes input from a pointing device. An object of the present invention is to obtain an information processing apparatus that can easily share and use a touch panel under the same software environment without changing the application that can use a pointing device.

[Means for Solving the Problems 1] The information processing device according to the present invention is capable of instructing relative confirmation/relative cancellation corresponding to confirmation/cancellation of relative coordinate information and display information corresponding to coordinate information that can be specified by a pointing device. This device is provided with a touch panel and a conversion means for converting information output from the touch panel into output data of a pointing device and inputting the data to an input processing means.

[For use] In the present invention, when relative confirmation/relative cancellation corresponding to confirmation/cancellation of relative coordinate information and display information corresponding to coordinate information that can be specified by a pointing device is instructed from the touch panel, the conversion means Information output from a touch panel is converted into output data of a pointing device and inputted to an input processing means, thereby making it possible to share the information output from the pointing device and the touch panel.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an information processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a CPU, ROM 3 is
Each device connected to the bus is comprehensively controlled based on a control program (including procedures shown in a flowchart described later) stored in the bus.

A RAM 2 mainly functions as a work area for the CPU 1, and a system program serving as a driver for the pointing device 10 is also installed at a predetermined address (when the program is loaded).

A VRAM 4 temporarily stores information to be displayed on the display device 6. A CRT control circuit 5 controls the development of display data developed in the VRAM 4 and the output to the display device 6.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a touch panel, which is arranged in correspondence with the display coordinates of the display device 6, and can be directly touched to instruct desired coordinate information and confirmation/cancellation of selections of menus and the like.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a touch panel control circuit, which includes a conversion means 8a according to the present invention, which activates a virtual interrupt (details will be described later) that is regarded as an interrupt from the pointing device 10 to the CPU 1 by operating the touch panel 7, and controls the touch panel 7. The instruction information is converted into output data of the pointing device 1o and delivered to the driver 2a for the pointing device 10 resident on the RAM 2.

A mouse control device 9 outputs coordinate information from the pointing device 10 or instruction information regarding confirmation/cancellation of display information onto the bus. pointing device 10
The configuration is such that an application program developed in the RAM 2 can be used by, for example, making an interrelated call to 1nt33H. Further, the driver 2a is activated by a hardware interrupt by 1ntOBH or 1ntoH output from the mouse control device 9, processes information on movement and clicking of icons on the display device 6, and causes the display device 6 to display the processing results.

In the information processing apparatus configured as described above, when relative confirmation/relative cancellation corresponding to confirmation/cancellation of relative coordinate information and display information corresponding to coordinate information that can be specified by pointing device 10 is instructed from touch panel 7, The converting means 8a converts the information output from the touch panel 7 into output data of the pointing device 10, and shares the data with the input processing means.
and the information output from the touch panel 7 is shared. That is, the driver 2a virtualizes the input from the touch panel 7 as the input from the pointing device 10,
The input information from the touch panel 7 is processed and the results are displayed on the display device 6.

Hereinafter, the touch panel information processing operation in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a touch panel information processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. Note that fl) to (3) indicate each step.

In this embodiment, the touch panel control circuit 8 determines the presence or absence of an input from the touch panel 7 every certain time (50 ms), and if any touch has occurred, the pressed state and position are transmitted to the CPU 1 by an interrupt. by notifying the
The configuration is such that this flow is started.

First, the pressed status signal and position signal are read from the touch panel control circuit 8 (1), and converted into a data format that will be output to the communication board by operating the pointing device 10 (2), and is already resident in the RAM 2. The receiver passes the converted data to the driver 2a (3), returns, and data processing by the driver 2a is started.

Note that a hardware interrupt caused by 1ntOBH or 1ntoH output from the conversion means 8a of the touch panel control circuit 8 is virtually activated as if it were an interrupt by the pointing device 10, and the information from the touch panel 7 operates as if data were read from the communication board. Then, information on movement and clicking of icons on the display device 6 is processed, and the processing results are displayed on the display device 6.

As a result, for example, when the touch panel 7 is operated, the processing shown in FIGS. Mouse cursor K displayed on
is moved to the touch position, as if it had been clicked by the pointing device 1o (Fig. 3(a)).
reference). Note that if the touch is continued for a certain period of time, it is determined to be equivalent to a double click by the pointing device 1o, and the command or menu selection is confirmed.

Furthermore, when the operator moves his or her finger to a desired position on the touch panel 7, the mouse cursor K follows the movement of the operator's finger (the first (See Figure 3 (b)).
.

Furthermore, when the operator removes his finger from the touch panel 7, the pointing device 10 becomes as if the click has been released (see FIG. 3(C)). In addition, in the application software of the manuscript, pointing device 1
Since a single click operation on 0 often does not confirm menu item selection, etc., the touch panel 7
Malfunctions caused by touch actions are not a problem.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention provides a touch panel that can instruct relative confirmation/relative cancellation corresponding to confirmation/cancellation of relative coordinate information and display information corresponding to coordinate information that can be specified by a pointing device; Since a conversion means is provided that converts the information output from the touch panel into pointing device output data and inputs it to the input processing means, it is possible to change the pointing device driver specified by the application started on the information processing device. Kotona (The touch panel can be shared and activated with the same interface as the pointing device.

Therefore, a touch panel that functions as an instruction means in a man-machine interface can be used in common with a pointing device without changing the application.
Effects such as being able to easily change or expand the usage environment of a plurality of instruction means are achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram explaining the configuration of an information processing device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining an example of a touch panel information processing procedure in the information processing device according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how the touch panel shown in FIG. 1 is used. In the figure, 1 is a CPU, 2 is a RAM, 2a is a driver, 3 is a ROM, 4 is a VRAM, 5 is a CRT control circuit, 6 is a display device, 7 is a touch panel, 8 is a touch panel control circuit,
9 is a mouse control circuit, and 10 is a pointing device. Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus comprising: a pointing device that instructs confirmation/cancellation of coordinate information and designated display information for information displayed on a display means; and input processing means that interrupts processing of input information from the pointing device. , a touch panel capable of instructing relative coordinate information corresponding to the coordinate information and relative confirmation/relative cancellation corresponding to confirmation/cancellation of the display information that can be specified by the pointing device; An information processing apparatus comprising: conversion means for converting into device output data and inputting the converted data to the input processing means.