JPH0492950A - Small-sized electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a device fitted to information of a choice between the two type by storing data having plural data items including one data item of a fixed length, which takes either of two prescribed values. CONSTITUTION:The fixed element storage part 1011e of a telephone directory data 1011 is composed of eight bits from zero to seven bits. Five bits from zero to four bits are used for storing the data items (fixed element). The fixed elements stored in the bits from zero to four bits respectively hold information on the choice between the two for a New Year card, a midyear present, a card offering best wishes for the hot season, a year-end present and a Christmas card. The interpolation of information on the choice between the two is left to an operator. Data '1' and '0' stored in a bit '0' show whether the New Year card is necessary to be set or not. This is displayed in input and LCD at the time of executing a telephone directory program. Thus, data is held in the data item of the fixed length, to which the value can be set by the operator, and the device fitted to information on the choice between the two type can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to small electronic devices, and particularly to small electronic devices that can store various input data, such as so-called "electronic notebooks" and "electronic memos." Regarding.

(Prior Art) Small electronic devices such as so-called "electronic notebooks" that have a telephone directory function and a business card management function are widely used. Operators of such conventional small electronic devices can use such functionality to input and store personal data on the small electronic device. Further, conventional small electronic devices are usually equipped with a display device, and an operator can display stored data on the display device as necessary.

In an example of a conventional small electronic device, one piece of personal data that can be input using a telephone directory function is composed of three data items: a name, a telephone number, and an address. When creating one piece of personal data, the operator follows the guidance on the display device and inputs the data items of name, telephone number, and address in order using the keyboard and stores them. When attempting to update or modify stored personal data, the above three data items are displayed on the display device, and the operator can update the desired data item among these data items. .

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional small electronic devices described above, all data items such as names that constitute personal data are mere character strings. For this reason, conventional small electronic devices are capable of transmitting "switch-type information," such as information indicating whether or not to send a New Year's card to a person.
It was not suitable for handling information that could be appropriately called. Even with conventional small electronic devices, it is not impossible to intentionally include information indicating whether or not New Year's cards will be sent out in the address data item, for example. However, in that case, the character string "New Year's card required" or "New Year's card not required" would be inserted into the address data item.

The present invention was made in view of the current situation, and
The purpose is to provide a small electronic device suitable for handling information such as whether or not to send New Year's cards.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A small electronic device of the present invention has a plurality of data items including a small number of data items (at least one fixed-length data item that takes one of two predetermined values). and a setting means for setting any one of the predetermined values to the fixed length data item according to an operation by an operator, This achieves the above objective.

In one embodiment of the invention, the fixed length data item is one
Occupy bits.

(Function) In the small electronic device of the present invention, the storage means stores a plurality of data items including at least one fixed-length data item that takes one of at least two predetermined values. Store the data you have.

The fixed length data items described above can be used to hold the "switch type" information described above. The operator can set any one of the predetermined values to the fixed length data item using the setting means.

(Example) The invention will now be described with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of an electronic notebook and a memory card attached to the electronic notebook according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic notebook 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a main body 2 and a main body cover 3.

The main body cover 3 includes a keyboard 4. The keyboard 4 includes a function selection section 41 including a function selection key for selecting a function such as a telephone directory function and starting an application program corresponding to the selected function, a power key, and functions for performing various operations. It has an operation instruction section 42 including keys and cursor movement keys, and a data input section 43 including character keys for inputting character data and numeric keys for inputting numerical data. The function keys mentioned above include
"Additional input" key "Relationship record" key and "Personal data"
Contains keys.

Further, the cursor movement key is "
When used in combination with the "Function" key, it acts as a function key to perform various operations.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) 5 capable of displaying multiple lines of character strings and figures, and a transparent keyboard 6 are provided on the front surface of the main body 2. Other display devices with low power consumption can also be used instead of the LCD 5. Main body 2
When the memory card 7 is inserted and mounted through an insertion slot (not shown) provided on the bottom of the keyboard, the memory card 7 is positioned so that its surface can be seen through the transparent keyboard 6.

The transparent keyboard 6 is used when executing an application program supplied by the memory card 7.

The internal structure of the memory card 7 is schematically shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the memory card 7 is connected to the application cage 1
A ROM 71 in which a program is stored, a RAM 72 for storing variable information generated when the application program is executed, a female connector 73 for connecting the ROM 71 and the RAM 72 to the electronic notebook 1 shown in FIG.
It also includes a backup battery 74 for holding information stored in the RAM 72. If the application program in the ROM 71 does not generate variable information during execution, it is not necessary to provide the RAM 72 and the battery 74.

On the surface of the memory card 7, as shown in the example shown in FIG.
Keysynborf A to 7F files Ej[1 specific to the application blocks in the memory card 7 are stored. These key symbols 7A to 7F do not have any function as keys, and actual keying is performed using the transparent keyboard 6 described above.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the electronic notebook 10).

The control unit 8 that controls the electronic notebook 1 includes a CPU 81 and a gate array 82 .

The LCD 5 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the control section 8 via a decoder 51, a bitmap memory 52, a common driver 53, and a segment driver 54. LCD5
The data to be displayed is provided from the control section 8 to the decoder 51. Decoder 51 decodes the data and writes it into bitmap memory 52. The bitmap memory 52 is a memory in which one bit is assigned to one dot on the LCD 5, and rlJ is assigned to the bit node corresponding to the dot in the bitmap memory 52 that should be lit, and "0" is assigned to the other bits. " is written.

The common driver 53 and segment drino<54 are
According to the stored contents of the bitmap memory 52, the LCD 5
Display text or shapes on top.

Reference numeral 45 designates a key matrix for detecting key manpower from the cow-board 4.

Further, reference numeral 65 indicates a key matrix for detecting the key force from the transparent keyboard 6.

The control unit 8 is also connected to a ROM 9 and a RAM I O. The ROM 9 contains a basic program for executing basic functions such as inputting data from the keyboard 4 and the transparent keyboard 6, and displaying data on the LCD 5, and a plurality of application cage programs for realizing phone book functions and the like. A plurality of tables with fixed contents used in the application program are stored. RAM10 is for storing variable information required by the application program stored in ROM9. The RAM 10 has a variable-length telephone directory storage area 1 used by the telephone directory program, which is an application program for the telephone directory function.
01. An input/g collection bar 111 whose contents are rewritten in response to operations on the keyboard 4 is also provided. R
AM 10 is also provided with a storage area (not shown) used by other application programs. RAM10 is further provided with areas (not shown) for various variables, pointers, and flags.

The control unit 8 further includes a real-time clock (RTC) 1.
1, an expansion terminal 12 for connecting an external device such as a printer, and an expansion terminal 13 dedicated to a memory card are connected. Connected to the expansion terminal 13 are a male connector 14 connected to a female connector 73 in the memory card, and a detection unit 15 for detecting that the female connector 73 of the memory card 7 is connected to the male connector 14. .

Figure 5 shows memorabilia 1 of the electronic notebook 1. Indicates the As shown in FIG. 5, the address of the electronic notebook 1 is assigned to the ROM 9 built into the electronic notebook 1, the RAM 10 built into the electronic notebook 1, and the storage element in the memory card 7 in this order. R
Since the capacities of OM9 and RAM10 are constant, the addresses assigned to them are fixed. On the other hand, the memory elements (ROM71 and R
There are cases where AM72 is included and cases where only ROM71 is included)
Addresses after the last address of the RAMIO built into the electronic notebook 1 are assigned to . The capacity of the storage element within the memory card 7 may vary from memory card to memory card. In other words, the final address among the addresses assigned to the storage elements within the memory card may be different for each memory card. However, the upper limit of the final address is determined by the specifications of the control unit 8.

Next, the operation of the electronic notebook 1 when the power is turned on will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 shows the function selection section 41. The function selection section 41 has seven function selection keys 41a to 41g. The function selection keys 41a to 41f are used to start an application program stored in the ROM 9 built into the electronic notebook 1, and in particular, the function selection key 41b is used to start a telephone directory program. be. On the other hand, the function selection key 41f is used to start an application program in the memory card 7 installed in the electronic organizer.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, when the power is turned on, each part of the electronic notebook 1 is first initialized (step S
l), the press of the function selection keys 41a to 41g is awaited (
Step S2). When any function selection key is pressed, 1. An application program corresponding to the pressed function selection key is started (step S3). Note that even when the constituent application program is started, other application programs can be started by pressing the function selection keys 41a to 41g. Alternatively, the above step s2 may be omitted, and in step S3, the application program that was being executed when the power was turned off first or a default application program may be automatically started.

I will explain the phone book program in the application cage 1 program.

FIG. 8 schematically shows the telephone directory storage area 101 used by the telephone directory program. FIG. 8 shows a state in which telephone directory data 1011 for a plurality of characters are stored in the telephone directory storage area 101.

The telephone directory data 1011 for one item has a variable length and consists of four data items 1011 a, 101 l b,
1011c and 1011d, and each shrimp.

It is composed of a 1-byte fixed element storage section 1011e that can store up to eight fixed-length data items (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "fixed elements") that occupy space. Data items 1011b, 1011c and 10
11d are the names input by the operator, respectively;
A variable length character string representing a phone number and address. On the other hand, the data item 1011a is a fixed length data item automatically generated by the telephone directory program, and
The data length (number of bytes) of one piece of telephone directory data 1011 is shown. Since the telephone directory data 1011 includes data items of variable length, the data items 1011a, 10
1 l b, 1011 c, and 1011 d and fixed element storage 1011 e are separated by a special code called a "data separator."

The fixed element storage section 1011e is composed of 8 bits, bits 0 to 7, as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, of these 8 bits, 5 bits, bits 0 to 4, are used to store data items (fixed elements). In this embodiment, the fixed elements stored in bits 0 to 4 are binary information regarding New Year's cards, binary information regarding mid-year gifts, binary information regarding summer greetings, and binary information regarding year-end gifts. This information is used to hold alternative information regarding Christmas cards and information regarding alternative Christmas cards. The interpretation of these alternative information is left to the operator. For example, data rlJ stored in bit O
can be interpreted as indicating that a New Year's card should be issued, and data rOJ stored in bit 0 indicating that a New Year's card should not be issued. Another interpretation is that the data "1" stored in bit O indicates that a New Year's card has arrived, and the data "1" stored in bit O indicates that a New Year's card has arrived.

There is a theory that the date ``0'' stored in TOO indicates that no New Year's cards have arrived. In bit 0 to pit 4,
The procedure for setting ``1'' or ``0'' will be described in the explanation of the operation of the telephone directory program below.

When the telephone directory program is activated by pressing the function selection key 41b, it enters a mode for inputting telephone directory data. The operation of the telephone directory program in this mode will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step SIO, the operator inputs a character string representing a name.

In step Sll, in response to pressing an "input" key (not shown) provided on the keyboard 4, step SIO
The character string input in is temporarily stored in a predetermined storage area of RAM10. In steps 312 to s15, a character string representing a telephone number and a character string representing an address are input,
The input character string is temporarily stored in the predetermined storage area. In step s16, data entry for the fixed element is performed. After inputting the data for the fixed element, in response to pressing the "input" button, the inputted data for the fixed element is temporarily stored in the predetermined storage area (step 517), and then Step S11 is stored in the predetermined storage area.
．． The data stored in S13.515 and S17 is stored in the telephone directory storage area 101 in the format shown in FIG. 8 (step 518).

Data input for fixed elements will now be described in more detail. For data input for fixed elements, the telephone directory program uses a 1-byte work area in RAM10 (not shown).
is ensured. Each of bits B, O to BIT 4 of this work area corresponds to one fixed element, and data "1" or "0" is stored as the value of the corresponding fixed element. Inputting data for fixed elements is performed in accordance with the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10, which is a detailed version of steps 316 and S17 in FIG. First, in step 5160,
All bits of the work area are initialized to data "0". Next, the screen of the LCD 5 is brought into a display state as shown in FIG. 11 (step 5161). On this screen, as shown in Figure 11, "New Year's card" is displayed for each fixed element.
The character strings ``ON'' and ``l''0FFJ are displayed. ``ON'' corresponds to data ``1,'' and roFFJ corresponds to data rOJ. For each fixed element, if data "1" is set in the corresponding bit of the work area, "ON" is highlighted, and if data rOJ is set, rOFFJ is displayed.
is displayed in reverse video. Therefore, in step 5161, which is executed immediately after step 5160, "rOFF" is highlighted for all fixed elements.

In step 5162, a fixed element is selected by selecting a character string such as "New Year's card" using the up or down cursor movement key.

Next, in step 5163, the key force exerted by the operator is detected. Here, the operator can select rONJ or [0FFJ using the same cursor movement keys to the right or left. The operator may also press the ``Enter j'' key to finish entering data for the fixed element.

If "ON" is selected, the process advances from step 5164 to step 5165, where data "1" is set in the bit corresponding to the selected fixed element in the work area. On the other hand, if rOFFJ is selected, the process proceeds from step 5164 to step 8166 to step 8167.
Then, data "0" is set in the bit corresponding to the selected fixed element in the work area. Step 51
From 65 and 5167, the process returns to step 8161. If the "input" key is pressed in step 8163, steps 5164 to x 5166 and 316g
The process then proceeds to step S17, where the data in the work area is transferred to the aforementioned predetermined storage area, where it is temporarily stored.

When the "Call" button, which is a type of function key, is pressed while the telephone directory program is running and the telephone directory data can be input, the mode changes to a mode for calling the telephone directory data and displaying it on the LCD 5. Become.

The operation of the telephone directory program in this mode will be briefly explained with reference to Figure 12.

First, in step 5200, the first telephone directory data 1o11 in the telephone directory storage area 101 is accessed. In step 5201, the phone book data 10 being accessed is
Data items 1oxib, 1011c and 1011d corresponding to the name, telephone number and address in 11 are L.
CD5 is displayed. Then detect the key press and
If the pressed key is a "screen switching" key (not shown) provided on the keyboard 4, the process advances from step 5202 to Stella 7'S 203. On the other hand, the pressed key is "
If it is the "Call" key, step 5202 is changed to step 8.
The process advances to step 5207 via step 206. Step 520
7, the currently accessed telephone directory data 1011
The phone book data before or after is accessed, step 5
Return to 201. If the pressed key is not the "screen change" key or the "call" key, the process returns to step 3201 via step 5202 and step 5206.

In step 5203, a display similar to that shown in FIG. 11 is made. However, “ON” or roFFJ is highlighted in the next step 5204. In step 5204, the memory unit 10 in the accessed telephone directory data 1011 is
11e is referenced, and rONJ or "OF FJ" is highlighted on the LCD 5 according to the state of each bit in the storage section 1011e. Next, the process advances from step 5205 to step 5207 after waiting for the "call" key to be pressed.

In the above embodiment, a fixed length data item in the telephone directory data occupies 1 bit and takes one of two values, ``1'' or ``0.'' Of course, it is also possible to set the data length of the data item to 2 bits or more and set the range of possible values of the data item to 3 or more values.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, information such as whether or not to send New Year's cards can be held as a fixed-length data item whose value can be set by the operator, and the handling of such information can be A small electronic device suitable for use is provided.

4. Nonag Nittan Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an electronic notebook and a memory card attached to the electronic notebook, which is an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an internal structure of the memory card shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan view of the memory card in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of the electronic notebook in Figure 1, and Figure 5 is the electronic notebook in Figure 1. A diagram showing the memory map of
Figure 6 is a diagram showing the function selection section of the electronic notebook shown in Figure 1;
Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the operation when the electronic notebook shown in Figure 1 is powered on; Figure 8 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the telephone directory storage area used by the telephone directory program of the electronic notebook shown in Figure 1; FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the mode for inputting telephone directory data in the telephone directory program, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining fixed elements in the operation for inputting telephone directory data in the telephone directory program. A flowchart for explaining the data input operation; FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the display state during data input for fixed elements;
The figure is a diagram for explaining the operation of the telephone directory program in the data recall mode.

1...Electronic vX (small electronic device), 4...Keyboard, 5...LCD, 6...Transparent medium board, 7...
...Memory card, 8...Control unit, 9...ROM,
10...RAM, 101...Telephone directory ft area, 1
011...Telephone directory data, 1011a, 101
1b, 1011c.

1011d...Data item, 1011e...Fixed element storage section.

that's all

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Storage means for storing data having a plurality of data items including at least one fixed-length data item taking one of at least two predetermined values; , a setting means for setting any one of the predetermined values to the fixed length data item in response to an operation by an operator.