JPH0440517A - Input/output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the display speed of a display device higher than the conventional by providing a display data storage means, a means for converting display data to a video signal, and a means for mixing a video signal from a computer main body into this video signal and supplying it to the display device. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with a display data storage means 3 in which data displayed on a display device 1 is stored, a video signal converting means 4 for converting the display data to a video signal, and a video signal mixing means 5 for mixing a video signal from a computer main body into the video signal and supplying it to the display device 1. Accordingly, as for the computer main body, it becomes unnecessary to process display image data for a touch coordinate input device 2, therefore, it will suffice that the computer main body executes only its original image processing. In such a way, the display speed of the display device 1 can be made higher than the conventional.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] 【overview】

Regarding an input/output device equipped with a touch coordinate input device on the screen of a display device, the purpose of which is to increase the display speed of the display device, there is provided a display data storage means in which data to be displayed on the display device is stored; The apparatus includes a video signal converting means for converting display data into a video signal, and a video signal mixing means for mixing the video signal with a video signal from the computer main body and supplying the mixture to the display device.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an input/output device including a touch coordinate input device on the screen of a display device.

[Conventional technology]

With the conventional input/output device that has a touch coordinate input panel attached to the display panel, the VR
The display data stored in the AM is converted into a video signal, which is supplied to the input/output device to display the item input image and the original image on the display panel.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, for example, when displaying a selected item in an item input image in reverse video for a certain period of time, the original image processing and the reverse processing must be performed on the computer itself, which slows down the display processing speed. The operability of the input/output device deteriorates. This problem becomes particularly serious when a plurality of input/output devices are connected to one computer and multitask processing is performed by time sharing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an input/output device that can increase the display speed of a display device.

[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Effects] FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of an input/output device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a display device, for example, a display device equipped with a liquid crystal display panel. Reference numeral 2 denotes a touch coordinate input device, which is attached to the screen of the display device 1 and outputs the touch position coordinates. 3 is a display data storage means in which data to be displayed on the display device 1 is stored. 4 is a video signal converting means, which converts this display data into a video signal. 5 is a video signal mixing means, which mixes the video signal from the computer main body with this video signal and displays it on the display device 1.
supply to. According to the input/output device having such a configuration, the computer main body does not need to process the display image data for the touch coordinate input device 2, so the computer main body only needs to perform the original image processing (G). Therefore, the display speed of the display device 1 can be made faster. In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes a code conversion table storage means, in which a table for converting into a code of a selected item according to the touch position coordinates on the touch coordinate input device 2 is stored. Reference numeral 7 denotes a code conversion means, which converts the contact position coordinates into the code of the selected item by referring to a code conversion table stored in the code conversion table storage means 6 when the input mode is the item input mode. If the input/output device is equipped with such code conversion table storage means 6 and code conversion means 7, it is possible to output touch coordinates and item input codes without having to provide a mouse, a digitizer, or the like. In the figure, 8 is an input response rewriting means, and in order to indicate that the item corresponding to the touch position on the touch coordinate input device 2 has been selected, the display part of the item is displayed on the display data storage means 3. Temporarily rewrite data. If such an input response rewriting means 8 is provided in the input/output device, the highlighted display of selection items, etc. can be performed independently of the computer itself, and therefore common to various programs on the computer body side, and can be done easily by the operator. You can check which item has been selected.

【Example】

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. As shown in FIG. 5, the input/output device 10 is connected to the computer main body 14 via a cable 12. This input/output device 10 is equipped with a display panel 1 and a numeric keypad 18, and furthermore, a touch coordinate input cover panel 20 is bonded to the display panel 16. In an input/output device having such a configuration, human output is performed on the same surface, so the operator does not need to change the line of sight significantly, and is excellent in operability. In addition, which position on the touch coordinate input panel 20 and which input item (including one character or one digit number)
Since it can be arbitrarily set by the program, the input screen can be changed according to the flow of the program executed on the computer main body 14, and from this point of view as well, the operability is excellent. As shown in FIG. 2, the input/output device 10 includes a main CPU 3
0 and a sub CPU 60. This main CPU 30 is connected to a program ROM 32, a work R M 34, a display data RAM 36, a font library ROM 38, a communication interface 40, a buffer register 42, a VRAM 44, and a VRAM controller 46 via a bus 48. Main CPU30
transmits and receives data to and from the computer main body 14 via the communication interface 40 based on the program stored in the program ROM 32, and displays display data RA.
Based on the contents of M36 and the font library ROM 38, item input image data is created on the work RAM 34 and supplied to the VRAM 44. VRAM controller 46
The item input image data stored in the VRAM 44 is
It is constantly transferred to the video generator 50 using the DMA (direct memory access) method. The video generator 50 is
This is converted into a video signal and supplied to the mixer 52. Similarly, on the computer main body 14 side, the original display image data stored in the VRAM 24 is transferred to the video generator 28 by the VRAM controller 26, and the video generator 28 converts it into a video signal and sends it to the mixer 52. supply Both video signals mixed by the mixer 52 are supplied to the display panel 16. The operation of the VRAM controller 46 is controlled by a synchronization signal from the computer main body 14.
It is synchronized with the operation of the VRAM controller 26. Therefore, if the VRAM 44 and VRAM 24 respectively store item input image A and original image B as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the display panel 16
A composite image C of both is displayed. The main CPU 30 and sub CPU 60 exchange data via a buffer register 42. This sub CPU 60 includes a numeric keypad 18, a buffer register 42, a program ROM 62, and a touch coordinate detection circuit 6.
4 and a code conversion table RAM 66 via a bus 68. The numeric keypad 18 directly outputs the code of the pressed key. On the other hand, the touch coordinate detection circuit 64 detects and outputs physical touch coordinates determined by the configuration of the touch coordinate control panel 20. Therefore, in the item input mode, the sub CPU 60 refers to the code conversion table RAM 66 and converts the touch coordinates into an item code. Main CPU of computer main body 14 and input/output device 10
30, between the main CPU 30 and the sub CPU 60, and from the keyboard 18 and the touch coordinate input device 64 to the sub CPU. Next, the software configuration of the input/output device 10 will be explained based on FIG. 3. Note that the input modes are broadly classified into an item input mode and a touch coordinate input mode. The input mode is determined by a program executed on the computer main body 14. The item input mode is for inputting keys in the JIS layout, items dedicated to accounting processing, and the like. The touch coordinate input mode is for drawing, etc., and the input screen in this case is usually divided into a touch coordinate input frame and an item input frame for selecting menus, drawing commands, and the like. Processing in the item input frame is considered to be an item input mode. Even in the item input mode, if the item input image differs depending on the flow of the program executed by the computer main body 14, the input mode is assumed to be different. This point is the same for the touch coordinate input mode; for example, there are various input modes such as drawing mode, editing mode, printing mode, etc., and there are item input images depending on the input mode (including item input mode) . (70) When an interrupt request is made from the computer main body 14 to the main CPU 30 to change the input mode (input mode is set for the first time), (72) the main CPU 30 receives input mode data from the computer main body 14 via the communication interface 40. , requests an interrupt to the sub CPU 60 , and supplies this input mode data to the buffer register 42 . The sub CPU 60 receives this input mode data from the buffer register 42. The sub CPU 60 stores the code conversion table for this input mode in the code conversion table RAM 66.
If the code conversion table exists in the table (it does not exist the first time), the code conversion table to be used thereafter is switched according to the input mode. (74) Due to input mode change, display data RAM36
If new input image creation data that does not exist in the computer is transferred from the computer main body 14 via the communication interface 40, (76) the main CPU 30 further receives this input image creation data and displays the display data R.
Store in AM36. The input image creation data includes item graphic data and item allocation data, and in the case of touch coordinate input mode, further includes data indicating the range of the touch coordinate input frame. This item graphic data consists of one item of graphic data, for example, simple rectangular image data, size data of this graphic, and arrangement coordinates of the item graphic on the display panel 16. When item figures are arranged based on such item figure data, image A shown in FIG. 4, for example, is obtained. In addition, the item assignment data is a character string for the operator to identify each item (not shown in Figure 4).
and a code for the computer main body 14 to identify each item. (78) The main CPU 30 issues an interrupt request to the sub CPU 60 and supplies the item graphic size, the arrangement coordinates of each item, and each item identification code to the buffer register 42. The sub CPU 60 receives this, creates a code conversion table for converting the touch coordinates into item codes, and stores this in the code conversion table RAM 66. (80) The main CPU 30 further stores display data RAM.
Based on the item graphic data and item identification character string data stored in the font library! JROM38
Create item input image data by referring to
Store in AM44. The image data stored in the VRAM 44 is
A RAM controller 46 continuously supplies a video generator 50 to a mixer 52 . Therefore, VRAM
If the image data stored in 24 is a black image, the display panel 16 displays, for example, image A in FIG. 4 (character strings attached to each item are not shown). (82, 84) When the sub CPU 60 receives an interrupt request from the numeric keypad 18, (86) the sub CPU 60 receives the input key from the numeric keypad 18.
The receiver receives the code, supplies it to the buffer register 42, and requests an interrupt to the main CPU 30. Main CP
In response, U30 reads the input code from buffer register 42, requests an interrupt to computer main body 14, and supplies this input code to computer main body 14 via communication interface 40. (88) The main CPU 30 further stores the display data RAM 36 if there is an item input display corresponding to this code.
The position and size of the item graphic corresponding to this code are determined by referring to the data in the code. Then, V
The image data is written into the RAM 44, and after a certain period of time, the image data of this portion is returned to the original image data. As a result, the touched item (key) is displayed in reverse on the display panel 16 for a certain period of time. This reversed display is independent of the computer main body 14.
Therefore, this is commonly performed for various programs on the computer main body 14 side, and the operator can check which item has been selected. Furthermore, since there is no need for the computer main body 14 to perform reverse display processing, the display speed becomes faster than before. (82, 84) From the touch coordinate detection circuit 64 to the sub CPU
When there is an interrupt request in step 60, (90) the sub CPU 60 receives the touch coordinates from the touch coordinate detection circuit 64 and determines whether the coordinates are within the touch coordinate frame. In the item input mode, since there is no touch coordinate frame, it is always determined that the touch coordinate frame is outside the touch coordinate frame. If it is determined that the touch coordinates are outside the frame, (92) Sub C
The PU 60 refers to the table in the code conversion table RAM 66 and converts the touch coordinates into item codes, and then
The process moves to step 86 above. (94) If it is determined in step 90 that the touch coordinates are within the touch coordinate frame, the sub CPU 60 controls the touch coordinate detection circuit 6.
4, the receiver supplies the received touch coordinates as they are to the buffer register 42 and requests an interrupt to the main CPU 30. In response, the main CPU 30 reads the touch coordinates from the buffer register 42 and transfers the touch coordinates to the computer main body 1.
4 and supplies the touch coordinates to the computer main body 14 via the communication interface 40. In the above processing, in step 76, a plurality of types of input image creation data are received. Therefore, even if the input mode changes, the process often moves from step 74 to step 80. On the other hand, the processing at step 80 is performed in parallel with the processing of the computer main body 14. Therefore, the display speed becomes faster than before. Note that the present invention includes various other modifications. For example, if the display data RAM 36 and code conversion table RAM are configured as ROMs, steps 76 and 78 will become unnecessary, and the processing speed will be further improved. Furthermore, if the item input image data is directly stored in the display data ROM, the font library IJ ROM38 becomes unnecessary.

【Effect of the invention】

As explained above, according to the input/output device according to the present invention,
Since the computer body no longer needs to process display image data for the touch coordinate input device, the computer body only needs to perform the original image processing, and the display speed of the display device can therefore be increased. It has excellent effects and greatly contributes to improving the operability of input/output devices. Furthermore, if the code conversion table storage means and the code conversion means are added, it is possible to output touch coordinates and item input codes without the need for a mouse, digitizer, etc. Furthermore, if an input response rewriting means for temporarily rewriting the display data of the selected item display part is added to the display data storage means, the highlighted display of the selected item, etc. can be done independently of the computer itself. This is common to various programs, and has the effect that the operator can confirm which item has been selected.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle configuration of an input/output device according to the present invention. 2 to 5 relate to one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the input/output device, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the software configuration of the input/output device, and FIG. 4 5 is an explanatory diagram of image composition by the input/output device and the computer main body, and FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the computer. In the figure, 10 is an input/output device 12, a cable 14 is a computer main body 16, a display panel 18 is a numeric keypad 20 is a touch coordinate system

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) In an input/output device (2) having a display device (1) and a touch coordinate input device attached to the screen of the display device and outputting touch position coordinates, the display device Display data storage means (3) for storing data to be displayed; video signal conversion means (4) for converting the display data into a video signal; Video signal mixing means (5
), and an input/output device characterized by having the following. 2) a code conversion table storage means (6) storing a table for converting into a code of a selected item according to the touch position coordinates; and when the input mode is the item input mode, the code conversion table; The input/output device according to claim 1, further comprising code converting means (7) for converting the contact position coordinates into a code of a selection item by referring to the code. 3) Input response rewriting means (8) for temporarily rewriting the display data of the display portion of the item in the display data storage means (3) in order to indicate that the item corresponding to the touched position has been selected. ) Claim 2
Input/output devices listed.