JPH05282092A - Operating instruction input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the operating instruction input device by which a beginner can master easily an operation of an apparatus, and also, a misoperation can be prevented, and moreover, an expert can operate quickly the apparatus without spoiling its degree of skill. CONSTITUTION:In this operating instruction input device used for an operation of an apparatus, this device is provided with a first operating instruction point group 23 constituted by collecting plural pieces of operating instruction points 22 corresponding to each operation, and a second operating instruction point group 27 in which a relative position relation is the same as that of the operating instruction point in a first operating instruction point group thereof 23, and a distance between the operating instruction points is shortened, and also, which is instructed and selected by the same operating instruction means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation instruction input device having an operation instruction point group composed of a plurality of operation instruction points, and more particularly to a technique for improving the operability of the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a device is provided with operation instruction points for a user to instruct an operation. The two most basic actions instructed by the operation instruction points are the operation of the device and the stop of the device. However, in devices having advanced functions today, more complicated operations are performed. There are many types of operations. In order to instruct such complicated operations, operation instruction points corresponding to each operation are gathered in one place to form an operation instruction point group, and an operation panel in which the operation instruction point group is arranged may be provided. Further, when the device has a display mechanism such as a computer display, an operation instruction input device for displaying an operation menu or the like in which the operation instruction point group is arranged is provided on the display mechanism.

The operation instruction point referred to here is an electric switch, an enclosure provided at a specific position on a computer display screen, or the like, and is included in the operation instruction point group in the operation instruction input device. As the operation instruction means for instructing and selecting the corresponding operation instruction point from, for example, with respect to the operation panel, one that is operated by the user pressing or touching a switch or a touch panel with a hand or finger, For the screen menu, prepare a mouse and a cursor that moves on the screen in conjunction with it, move the cursor to the desired operation instruction point and click (press the button installed on the mouse) to operate There are things to do.

By using such an operation instruction input device, when the device to be operated is at a remote place, when operating a plurality of devices, or when making one device perform a plurality of operations. Even so, the user can operate the device while staying in a predetermined place and simply by moving a finger while visually confirming a certain operation area.

The operation instruction points are set so that the user does not operate the device erroneously not only when the user of the device is a beginner but also when an expert uses the device.
A guide that is as easy to see as possible, such as being color-coded individually, or configured so that the intervals between points are sufficiently large.In addition, a guide that briefly describes the operation name of each operation instruction point and, in some cases, the operation content. Is displayed on or near the operation instruction point.

On the other hand, regarding the arrangement of the operation instruction points in the operation instruction input device, various contrivances have been made in consideration of operability as described above. For example, the operation instruction points are classified into several types and the operation instruction points belonging to the same classification are arranged in the same area, or the operation instruction points are arranged in the order instructed by the user according to the operation procedure of the device. By doing so, erroneous operation is prevented and quick operation is realized.

In the conventional operation instruction input device as described above, the operation instruction point group is arranged in a region as wide as possible, and the size of each operation instruction point is increased so that the other operation instruction points are It is possible to prevent an erroneous operation by being configured so as to have a sufficient space so as not to be confused. On the other hand, after instructing one operation instruction point, in order to instruct another operation instruction point, the distance that the operation instruction means such as the hand or the finger, or the mouse must be moved becomes large,
There was a problem that it took a long time to move.

As a measure against such a drawback, the conventional operation instruction input device has two completely different operation methods, and when the operator becomes skilled, this operation instruction method is used. Tend to do. For example, the operation instruction point on the computer display screen is selected by using the operation instruction means such as a mouse and a cursor, which is a so-called beginner's method, and the alphabet key on a completely different keyboard is pressed. Thus, there is a so-called expert system in which operation instructions are given without using a mouse, and the two operation systems are switched according to the user's operation proficiency level.

[0009]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional example, since the operation method for beginners and that for the expert are completely different operation instruction means, the operation method for beginners is different. Even a skilled person needs a considerable period of time to become familiar with the method for the expert, and as a result, the operation rate of the equipment was lowered.

The present invention solves such a problem, and a beginner in an operation instruction input device for selecting an operation instruction point corresponding to a desired operation in an operation instruction point group by operation instruction means. It is easy to learn the operation of the equipment, and it retains the advantage of the conventional device that it can prevent erroneous operation as it is. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation instruction input device that does not require any additional learning, because the operation method is almost the same as the learned operation method.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first operation instruction point group composed of a plurality of operation instruction points and an operation in the first operation instruction point group. In the operation instruction input including operation instruction means for instructing and selecting an instruction point, the first instruction
Second operation instruction point which has the same relative positional relationship as the operation instruction point in the operation instruction point group, the distance between the operation instruction points is shortened, and which is instructed and selected by the operation instruction means. A group is added.

[0012]

With the above arrangement, the operation instruction means selects and instructs the operation instruction point corresponding to the desired operation from the plurality of operation instruction points included in the first operation instruction point group. Then, when the user is proficient in the operation, by operating using the second operation instruction point group, it is possible to select and instruct using the same operation instructing means as instructing the first operation instruction point group, and , The distance by which the operation instructing means is moved is smaller than the first operation instructing point. Therefore, the movement time is short, and the instruction selection of the operation can be performed so quickly.

Since the second operation instruction point group is smaller than the first operation instruction point group, it can be easily installed near the first group or over the first group. In some cases, the first display and the second display can be exchanged and displayed at any time. Further, since the skilled person has already learned the operation method and the name, the operation explanation and the operation name may be omitted in the reduced second operation instruction point group. When selecting a serious operation that may cause a serious operation that may cause an erroneous operation, it is possible to easily prevent an erroneous operation by using the first operation instruction point group. is there.

Further, since the relative arrangement relationship of each operation instruction point in the second operation instruction point group is almost the same as that of the first operation instruction point group, a person skilled in the first operation instruction point group is It is possible to control the device using the second operation instruction point group without requiring a special learning period.

[0015]

Embodiments of the operation instruction input device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a computer system according to the first embodiment. In the figure, the control unit 11 has a display 12 for displaying a screen menu having operation instruction point groups, and operation instructions for selecting and instructing a corresponding operation instruction point from the operation instruction point group of the screen menu. The mouse 13, which is a means, is connected via an input / output interface 14.

The control unit 1 uses the input / output interface 1 described above.
4, a CPU 15 that outputs a control command, and a ROM 16 that stores various programs. ROM1
In the inside of 6, a first point group display program 16 for displaying a first point group used when a beginner operates
a, a second point group display program 16b for displaying a second point group used by an expert, and an operation instruction input control program 16c are stored. The operation instruction input program 16c receives the instruction from the user and executes the above-mentioned first operation.
Also, one of the second point group display programs 16a and 16b is selected and activated to control so that an appropriate screen menu is displayed, or the cursor is moved on the screen in conjunction with the movement of the mouse 13. , And has a function of discriminating the operation instruction point specified.

Further, the control unit 11 is connected to the processing unit 17 for executing the instructed operation, and the CPU 15 outputs an execution instruction in response to the output of the operation instruction input control program 16c, so that the user can operate. The processing corresponding to the command instructed by is executed by the processing unit 17.

FIG. 2 shows the display 1 in this embodiment.
2 is a display example of a screen menu displayed in No. 2, in which each menu is displayed by both the first point group display program 16a and the second point group display program 16b. In this embodiment, a pull-down method is used for the screen menu.

As shown in the figure, a first screen menu 21 is displayed on the upper right side of the screen 20. The first screen menu 21 includes a first operation instruction point group 23 in which operation instruction points 22 corresponding to operation instructions such as file, edit, and print are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction.
Consists of. Within the area of each operation instruction point 22,
For example, alphabets and operation names are displayed such as “A / file” and “B / edit”.

Further, the first screen menu 21 is provided with an arrow-shaped cursor 24, and the cursor 24 moves in the screen 20 in conjunction with the mouse 13. The user controls the cursor 24 while moving the mouse 13 by hand to place the cursor 24 on the desired operation instruction point 22, and selects the instruction by pressing the instruction button of the mouse 13. Further, the first screen menu 21 is a pull-down menu, and by instructing the operation instruction points 22 of the uppermost A to E, the sub operation instruction points 22 subdivided into each operation are subdivided.
a is displayed. The user moves the cursor 24 to the corresponding one of the sub operation instruction points 22a to give an instruction. In the figure, "E / help" is specified,
It shows a state in which subdivision operation instruction points 22a such as "1 / contents" and "2 / index" belonging to the help operation are displayed.

On the other hand, the second screen menu 25 shown in FIG.
Is a pull-down menu located on the upper left side of the screen 20, but has a smaller display area than the first screen menu 21. That is, the second screen menu 25 is composed of individual operation instruction points 26 and an operation instruction point group 27 which is an aggregate thereof, and the arrangement of each operation instruction point 26 is relative to the operation instruction points 22. But the operation instruction point 26
The distance between them is short and the whole is reduced laterally. With the reduction, the operation names such as “file” and “edit” are omitted, and only the alphabets such as “A” and “B” are displayed in the operation instruction point 26.

By doing so, the first operation instruction point group 23 becomes easy to use for a beginner who is not accustomed to the operation of the computer, while the second operation instruction point group 27 becomes A user who is familiar with the operation can quickly perform the operation.

That is, when the user is a beginner, by operating the first screen menu 21,
The operation can be performed while confirming the operation name written on the operation instruction point 22, and the operation procedure can be learned in a short period of time. Moreover,
Since the size of each operation instruction point 22 is large, even if the user is unfamiliar with the use of the mouse or the pull-down menu, it is possible to prevent erroneous operations and reduce the psychological burden on the user. ..

On the other hand, in the first screen menu 21, the operation instruction point 22 is large, so that the mouse 13 interlocked with the cursor 24 for instructing it must be greatly moved, and for an expert, Not efficient. In addition, the first screen menu 21 is made large in size in consideration of readability and prevention of erroneous operation, so that in order to recognize all the operation instruction points 22,
You have to move your eyes greatly.

The above-mentioned inconvenience for the skilled person is solved by switching to the second screen menu 25. In the area of the operation instruction point 26 and the sub operation instruction point 26a of the second screen menu 25, the display of the operation name is omitted due to the reduction of the area. This is because, if the user is an expert, the operation instruction point 26 can be identified by the relative positional relationship in the menu or the alphabet displayed in the area.

In the above configuration, when the power of the computer is turned on, the point group display programs 16a and 16b stored in the ROM 16 of the control unit 11 are activated, and the display 12 displays the first and second screen menus. Two
1, 25 are displayed. Then, the operation instruction input control program 16c is activated and waits for an operation instruction from the user. The user uses the mouse 13 to move the cursor 24 in the screen 20.
Is moved to indicate a desired operation instruction point 22, 26 from the operation instruction point groups 23, 27 displayed on the screen menus 21, 25, and further, the sub operation instruction points 22a, 26a belonging to the operation are selected. When the instruction is given, the operation name corresponding to the sub operation instruction point is output to the CPU 15 by the operation instruction input control program 16c, and the CPU 15 outputs a command to the processing unit 17 to execute the processing.

In FIG. 2, screen menus 21 and 25 are displayed.
However, depending on the user's proficiency level, computer usage and purpose, it is possible to control so that only one of the menus is displayed.
Further, such menu switching control may be configured to be selected each time it is activated, or an external switch mechanism may be provided and selected by operating the external switch mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a display example of a screen menu included in the operation instruction input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the first operation instruction point group 31 and the second operation instruction point group 3 are displayed on the computer display screen.
2 and a cursor 33, which is an operation instruction unit, are provided. The operation instruction point groups 31 and 32 are configured by arranging operation instruction points 34 and 35 in a grid pattern, and the operation instruction is selected by moving the cursor 33 onto these operation instruction points 34 and 35 and clicking. To do.

The second operation instruction point group 32 is formed by substantially reducing the first operation instruction point group 31, and similarly to the first embodiment, a skilled person who is skilled in the operation can perform the second operation instruction point 32. By using the point group 32, the operation can be performed more quickly than in the case of using the first operation instruction point group 31, and the user's comfort feeling for the operation can be greatly enhanced.

Further, the position at which the second operation instruction point group 32 is displayed is configured so that the user can instruct with a key or a mouse, and further, as in the first embodiment, the first and second operation instruction point groups 32 are displayed. The second operation instruction point groups 31 and 32 may not be simultaneously displayed on the screen, and the first and second operation instruction point groups 31 and 32 may be switched and displayed as needed. ..

Although the embodiment in which the operation instruction point group is displayed on the computer display screen has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various devices. For example, an electric switch may be provided as an operation instruction point on the control panel, and a plurality of the electric switches may be collected to form an operation instruction point group, which is similarly applicable.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the operation instruction input device for operating the device, the user can
One operation instruction point group, that is, a first operation instruction point group for beginners that is easy to see and has a large area, and a second operation instruction point group that is compact and has excellent operability for experienced users It is possible to select and use an appropriate one according to the operation proficiency level. As a result, it is easy for a beginner to familiarize himself with the operation, and the training for training the beginner into an expert can be completed in a short period. On the other hand, a skilled person can perform a quick operation, and the operation rate of the equipment can be increased according to the skill level.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an operation instruction input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a display by the operation instruction input device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a display by the operation instruction input device of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Control Unit 12 Display 13 Mouse 16a First Point Group Display Program 16b Second Point Group Display Program 16c Operation Instruction Input Control Program 22 Operation Instruction Point 23 First Operation Instruction Point Group 24 Cursor 26 Operation Instruction Point 27 Second Operation instruction points

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first operation instruction point group including a plurality of operation instruction points, and operation instruction means for instructing and selecting an operation instruction point in the first operation instruction point group. In the operation instruction input device, the relative position relationship is the same as the operation instruction points in the first operation instruction point group, the distance between the operation instruction points is shortened, and the operation instruction means gives an instruction. An operation instruction input device characterized in that a second operation instruction point group to be selected is added.