JPH05244592A - Videotex terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the terminal equipment with excellent convenience of use in which hand-written input is attained without use of a hand-written pad and the occupied area of the entire terminal equipment is reduced. CONSTITUTION:A touch panel used for picture retrieval or the like and used for selection processing is used also for hand-written input. Thus, an interface configuration section 28A with a touch panel is provided with a hand-written picture data output means. The hand-written picture data output means fetches coordinate data continuously from the touch panel when the hand-written mode is commanded and outputs the result sequentially as hand-written picture data. The hand-written picture data are stored in a touch panel face display memory by a touch panel face display control section 29.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a videotex terminal device, and more particularly to a processing structure for handwriting input.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a videotex terminal device,
It is proposed that handwriting can be input. As a result, for example, a handwritten portion can be added to the transmitted image for display or printing, which improves usability for the user.

In a conventional videotex terminal device, a drawing pad is used for handwriting input.
The coordinate data from the drawing pad is converted into image data that can be handled by the terminal device body by the input interface unit in the terminal device body and stored in the display memory for the received image (for example, graphic image or character image). It was used for display and printing.

[0004]

However, since the handwriting is input by the drawing pad on the desk spatially separated from the display screen of the display, the user performs the handwriting input operation to input the input handwritten image. When confirming, there is a problem in terms of usability that the operation as a whole is complicated because the eyes are moved from the desk to the display.

Further, the handwriting pad has an area corresponding to the movement of the hand, and occupies a large area on the desk. Therefore, it is rather a hindrance when performing tasks other than handwriting input.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and it is possible to perform handwriting input without using a handwriting pad and to reduce the occupied area of the entire apparatus, which is convenient. It is intended to provide a videotex terminal device.

[0007]

In order to solve such a problem, according to the present invention, in a videotex terminal device having a touch panel for selection processing, when a handwriting use mode is instructed to an interface configuration section with the touch panel. In addition, a handwritten image data output means is provided for successively taking in coordinate data of the pressed position from the touch panel and sequentially outputting it as handwritten image data.

Here, it is preferable that an image memory for exclusively storing the handwritten image data output from the handwritten image data output means and a memory control means for controlling writing and reading of the image memory are provided.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the touch panel used for the selection processing performed at the time of image retrieval is also used for handwriting input. That is, the handwriting image data output means is provided in the interface configuration section with the touch panel,
When the handwriting image data output means instructs the handwriting use mode, coordinate data of the pressed position is continuously taken in from the touch panel and sequentially output as handwritten image data.

The handwritten image data thus taken in may be stored in an image memory for storing graphic data, character data and the like. However, considering editing of the handwritten image data, graphic data and character data, It is preferable to store in an image memory dedicated to handwritten image data.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a videotex terminal device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is characterized in that a touch panel is used for handwriting input.

Overall Configuration First, the overall configuration of a videotex terminal device 10 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In Figure 1, the main C
The PU 11 uses the fixed data stored in the storage RAM 13 according to the program stored in the control ROM 12 as needed, and further uses the control RAM 14
Is appropriately used to control the entire apparatus. For example, the coordinate data is taken in from a touch panel provided near the display surface of a display (not shown) and the use mode of the touch panel is controlled. In the case of this embodiment, the touch panel is used not only for inputting a selection branch in an image displayed at the time of image search but also for handwriting input.

The line interface unit 15 is a main CP.
Under the control of U11, it controls communication with the center and other terminal devices. For example, the received transmission data is stored in the buffer area of the control RAM 14.

The voice data included in the received transmission data is the melody voice section 1 under the control of the main CPU 11.
6 is applied to the audio output device 6 to restore it to an analog audio signal, and then applied to an audio output device (not shown) to be sounded.

The character data (code data) included in the received transmission data is given to the code surface pattern surface display control section 17 under the control of the main CPU 11.
The code surface pattern surface display control unit 17 controls the character font R.
The character data is converted into font data using the OM 18 and stored in the code surface display memory 19. The various sync signals at this time are supplied from the sync signal generator 20.

The graphic data included in the received transmission data is given to the code surface pattern surface display control section 17 under the control of the main CPU 11. The code surface pattern surface display control unit 17 converts this into display data (for example, three primary color data) and stores it in the pattern surface display memory 21. The various sync signals at this time are also supplied from the sync signal generator 20.

The natural image data included in the received transmission data is given to the natural image expansion processing section 22 under the control of the main CPU 11 and the natural image control section 23. The natural image decompression processing unit 22 decompresses the compressed natural image data and supplies the compressed natural image data to the natural image control unit 23.
3 is a natural screen display memory 24 for the expanded natural image data.
Stored in. The various sync signals at this time are also supplied from the sync signal generator 20.

The various kinds of image data stored in the respective display memories 19, 21 and 24 in this manner are processed by the code surface pattern surface display control unit 17 and the natural image control unit 23.
Based on the sync signal generated by the sync signal generation unit 20, the data is synchronously read, for example, in a raster form and given to the display synthesis unit 25.

The display control unit 25 synthesizes these various image data, and also synthesizes handwritten image data, which will be described later, if any. The image data obtained by this synthesis is converted into an analog signal by the digital / analog conversion unit 26 and given to, for example, a display (not shown) and displayed, and is given to a printer device (not shown) via the printer interface unit 27. Is printed.

Further, an input device such as a remote controller, a keypad or a touch panel is provided so that the user can instruct the processing mode of the videotex terminal device 10.
Signals from these input devices are input interface unit 28.
And is taken in through the input interface unit 28. Note that FIG. 3 shows an interface configuration unit 28A for the touch panel of the input interface unit 28, which will be described later.

The coordinate data (handwritten image data) output by the input interface section 28 when the touch panel is used in the handwriting use mode is given to the touch panel surface display control section 29, and the touch panel surface display control section 29 causes the touch panel to display. It is adapted to be stored in the surface display memory 30. Touch panel surface display memory 30
As described above, the handwritten image data stored in is read out in synchronization with other image data and given to the display synthesis unit 25.

The touch panel surface display control unit 29 and the touch panel surface display memory 30 function when the touch panel is used as the input means of the handwritten image as described above, and the touch panel is used for image retrieval or the like. It does not work when used to select a selection branch.

Touch panel and touch panel interface
Over scan configuration will now be sequentially described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 the 28A (partial configuration of an input interface unit 28) interface component on the touch panel and the touch panel.

In the case of this embodiment, the resistance variable touch panel 40 shown in FIG. 2 having a high resolution is used as the touch panel. Incidentally, conventionally, since it is merely for capturing a selection input, the demand for resolution is not so high, and a resistance variable touch panel has not been used.

The touch panel 40 is composed of an X panel section 40X for position detection in the X direction (horizontal direction) and a Y panel section 40Y for position detection in the Y direction (vertical direction). And 40Y are separated from each other in a state where no pressing operation is performed by the user, and are in contact with each other at a pressing point in a pressed state. Each of the panel portions 40X and 40Y is formed of a light-transmitting material, and the resistance per unit area of each portion is uniform and equal. The left and right ends of the X panel section 40X are input / output terminals 40XL and 40XR. A predetermined voltage (for example, 5V) is applied between these input / output terminals 40XL and 40XR, or these are opened. The voltage is taken out from. Input and output terminals 40YD and 40YU are provided at both upper and lower ends of the Y panel portion 40Y, and a predetermined voltage (for example, 5 V is applied between the input and output terminals 40YD and 40YU).
V) is applied, these are opened, and a voltage is taken out from them.

The detection principle is as follows. here,
Only the X direction will be described, but the same applies to the Y direction. When a certain point P is pressed in a state where a predetermined voltage is applied between both input / output terminals 40XL and 40XR in the X direction and one input / output terminal in the Y direction is open, both input / output terminals 40XL and 40XR The voltage applied to the terminal XL
From the terminal XR to the point P (resistance value) and the distance from the terminal XR to the point P (resistance value), and the divided voltage is generated at the point P. Therefore, by extracting this divided voltage at the input / output terminals in the Y direction that are not in the open state, it is possible to obtain the voltage corresponding to the coordinates in the X direction.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the interface forming section 28A for the touch panel 40.

The CPU 50 controls the entire interface construction unit 28A. The CPU 50 instructs the handwriting use mode or the normal use mode for fetching a selection branch from the main CPU 11, and at this time, controls the fetching of coordinate data from the touch panel 40.

The switching elements 51 to 54 are the CPU 5
ON / OFF control is performed by 0, and the states of the above-mentioned input / output terminals 40YD, 40XL, 40YU, and 40XR are switched. The switching element 51 is
The input / output terminal 40YD is grounded when turned on, and the input / output terminal 40YD is connected to the analog / digital conversion circuit 55 when turned off.
The voltage of is input. Switching element 52
Turns the input / output terminal 40XL to ground when turned on, and connects the input / output terminal 40XL to the analog / digital conversion circuit 55 when turned off.
The voltage of XL is input. The switching element 53 applies a predetermined voltage to the input / output terminal 40YU when turned on and opens the input / output terminal 40YU when turned off. The switching element 54 applies a predetermined voltage to the input / output terminal 40XR when turned on and the input / output terminal 4XR when turned off.
This is to open 0XR.

The analog / digital conversion circuit 55 has a CP
Under the control of U50, the applied voltage (X
It converts a coordinate in the direction) into a digital signal (coordinate data) or a voltage applied to the input / output terminal 40XL (indicates a coordinate in the Y direction) into a digital signal (coordinate data). The digital output terminals are first to third
Of the latch circuits 56 to 58 and the CPU 50. The activation of the analog / digital conversion and the like are controlled by the CPU 50, and which of the applied voltages is subjected to the analog / digital conversion is given from the control latch circuit 59.

The first latch circuit 56 latches the coordinate data in the normal use mode for taking in the selection branch designated by the user from the plurality of selection branches. The latch operation is performed once when the coordinates in the X direction and the Y direction are sufficient, and the latch operation is performed twice when the coordinates in the X direction and the Y direction are required. After this latching operation, under the control of the CPU 50,
The interrupt generation circuit 60 is adapted to interrupt the main CPU 11, and thereafter to apply the coordinate data latched to the main CPU 11 side based on the output enable signal given from the main CPU 11 side. At this time, the main CPU 11 determines which selection branch has been designated.

The second latch circuit 57 latches coordinate data in the X direction in the handwriting use mode. The third latch circuit 58 latches Y-direction coordinate data in the handwriting use mode. The X-direction coordinate data and the Y-direction coordinate data latched by the second and third latch circuits 57 and 58 are simultaneously output based on, for example, the output enable signal provided from the touch panel surface display control unit 29 described above. The output coordinate data (handwritten image data) is not processed by the main CPU 11 and the touch panel surface display control unit 29.
And is stored in the touch panel surface display memory 30.

That is, in the normal use mode in which the selection branches designated by the user are fetched from a plurality of selection branches, the interrupt is applied to give coordinate data on a one-off basis, whereas in the handwriting use mode, an output enable signal is given. , It outputs continuously without interrupting.

The control latch circuit 59 latches the control data output from the CPU 50, and the decoding circuit 61 decodes this control data to produce the above-mentioned first to third latch circuits 56 to 58. And the like are controlled.

The coordinate data is also given to the CPU 50 in order to determine whether the touch panel 40 is in the pressed state.

Next, the main routine processing by the CPU 50 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the main process of the touch panel of the CPU 50.

In either the normal use mode or the handwriting use mode, when an instruction to take in coordinate data from the touch panel 40 is given, first, after initializing processing,
While controlling the switching elements 51 to 54, analog /
The digital conversion circuit 55 is activated to take in coordinate data, and it is determined whether or not it is in a pressed state (steps SP1 to SP3). If not pressed,
It returns to step SP2 and repeats similar processing. When the pressing is detected in this manner, the pressing coordinates of the touch panel 40 are read by controlling the switching elements 51 to 54 and the analog / digital conversion circuit 55 in the same manner as described above, and the read coordinate data is read as the first to third data. Latch circuits 56-5
It is set to 8 etc. (steps SP4 and SP5).

Then, it is determined whether the mode is the normal use mode or the handwriting use mode (step SP6).

If it is the handwriting use mode, the process returns to step SP2. The touch panel surface display control unit 29 outputs the output enable signal to receive the coordinate data set in the second and third latch circuits 57 and 58. Therefore, in the handwriting use mode, basically, the processing loop of steps SP2 to SP6 is repeated, and the coordinate data that continuously changes due to the movement of the pressing position is sequentially latched and output.

On the other hand, in the normal use mode, the switching elements 51 to 54 and the analog / digital conversion circuit 55 are controlled to read the pressed coordinates on the touch panel 40 and determine whether or not the pressed state is continued. ,
If it is continued, this process is repeated (step S
P7, SP8). When the release of the pressing is detected by such a repetitive process, the interrupt generation circuit 60 is activated to interrupt the main CPU 11, and the first latch circuit 5 is activated.
After causing the main CPU 11 to retrieve the coordinate data set in 6, the process returns to step SP2 (step SP
9).

Thus, the coordinate data according to the usage mode of the touch panel 40 can be output.

FIG. 5 shows steps SP2 and SP described above.
4 shows the detailed processing of the coordinate reading processing performed in SP7. Although FIG. 5 shows the processing at the time of reading in the X direction, reading in the Y direction is performed in substantially the same manner, and therefore its explanation is omitted.

First, the CPU 50 first determines the switching element 5
I / O terminal 40XL is grounded by controlling 1 to 54, 5V is applied to I / O terminal 40XR, and I / O terminal 40YU
Is opened, the input / output terminal 40YD is connected to the input terminal of the analog / digital conversion circuit 55, and then the analog / digital conversion circuit 55 connected to the input / output terminal 40YD.
The input terminal of is validated (step SP10). As a result, a voltage corresponding to the position of the pressing point appearing at the input / output terminal 40YD in the X direction is applied to the input terminal of the analog / digital conversion circuit 55.

Next, an analog / digital conversion start signal is supplied to the analog / digital conversion circuit 55 to start analog / digital conversion with respect to the applied voltage, and then the conversion end signal is supplied from the analog / digital conversion circuit 55. When the end signal is given, the coordinate data in the X direction is fetched from the analog / digital conversion circuit 55 (steps SP11 to SP13).

Thereafter, the switching elements 51 to 54 are controlled to ground the input / output terminals 40YD and 40XL,
It returns to the standby state in which the input / output terminals 40XR and 40YU are opened (step SP14).

As described above, the X on the touch panel 40
Read coordinate data.

Effects of the embodiment As described above, since the touch panel 40 used for selecting the display screen is also used as a means for inputting handwriting, the handwriting pad becomes unnecessary and the videotex terminal device 10 occupies it. The area to be used can be reduced.

Further, since the touch panel 40 is used for the handwriting input, the display surface for confirming the handwriting input and the surface for the handwriting operation are overlapped, which is convenient.

Further, in the case of this embodiment, since the display memory 30 dedicated to the handwritten image is provided, it is possible to prevent the other images from being destroyed, and it is possible to execute various editing such as deletion of the handwritten image. .. That is, in the case of the conventional device using the handwriting pad, since the handwriting data is also stored in the pattern surface display memory 21 in which the graphic data is stored, when the storage of the handwriting data is started, the contents of the pattern surface display memory 21 are changed. It becomes composite image data of graphic data and handwritten image data, and it is not possible to use only handwritten data or restore to only graphic data, and it is also impossible to change the display position of the handwritten data.

Other Embodiments In the present invention, the type of touch panel is not limited to the variable resistance type, but other types can be applied as long as a sufficient resolution can be obtained as a handwritten image. May be.

As the image memory for storing the handwritten image data, not the dedicated memory but the pattern surface display memory 21 or the like may be used as in the conventional case.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the touch panel used for image selection and the like is also used for handwriting input, an input device dedicated to handwriting processing is not required, and the entire device is reduced in size. It is possible to realize a videotex terminal device that is easy to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a touch panel 40 of an example.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an interface configuration unit 28A for the touch panel 40.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main process of a CPU 50 in an interface configuration unit 28A.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a coordinate reading process of the CPU 50.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Videotex terminal device, 11 ... Main CPU,
28 ... Input interface unit, 28A ... Interface configuration unit related to touch panel, 29 ... Touch panel surface display control unit, 30 ... Touch panel surface display memory, 40 ... Touch panel, 50 ... CP in interface configuration unit 28A
U, 51 to 54 ... Switching elements for controlling operation of the touch panel 40, 55 ... Analog / digital conversion circuit, 5
7, 58 ... Latch circuit for coordinate data during handwriting input, 5
9 ... Latch circuit for control, 60 ... Decode circuit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A videotex terminal device having a touch panel for selection processing, wherein when the handwriting use mode is instructed to the interface configuration section with the touch panel, coordinate data of the pressed position is continuously taken from the touch panel. A videotex terminal device provided with a handwritten image data output means for sequentially outputting as handwritten image data. 2. An image memory for exclusively storing the handwritten image data output from the handwritten image data output means, and a memory control means for controlling writing and reading of the image memory. The videotex terminal device according to 1.