JPH06324810A - Electronic equipment and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the movement of a cursor between a menu area and a work area by providing a discriminating means discriminating whether a prescribed operation is executed by a pointing device or not, and a control means for moving the cursor to the menu area, when the prescribed operation is executed. CONSTITUTION:Whether a mouse cursor exists in a work area or not is judged by storing in advance the start position of a work area in a storage device 1B, and comparing it with a mouse cursor position. A mouse movement and a mouse cursor display are executed by an interruption processing interrupted periodically by a timer 1E. That is, a mouse moving amount is read in from a mouse ID, and thereafter, the position of the button of the mouse ID is stored. Subsequently, the mouse cursor is displayed in a position indicated by a mouse cursor position. In such a way, when the mouse cursor exists in the work area, when a right button is inputted, the mouse cursor can be moved to a work menu area.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device and its control method, and more particularly to an electronic device using a pointing device and its control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a system that uses a pointing device to separately display a normal work area and a work menu area for instructing work items. In this system, in order to select various work, operate the pointing device,
Move the cursor to the item position in the corresponding menu. Then, a predetermined operation is performed.

For example, in FIG. 2, when a mouse is used as the pointing device, the mouse 2 is operated to move the cursor 2A from the work area to the position of a desired work item in the work menu area (for example, indicated by reference numeral 2B). "Edit" or "image" position indicated by 2C) and press a button provided on the mouse (generally called a click operation).

[0004]

However, the display screens of recent systems have been made high definition so that more information can be displayed at one time. Accordingly, the amount of movement of the cursor by the mouse tends to increase accordingly, and as a result, frequent mouse movement operations are forced. In particular, when the mouse is operated, the cursor does not reach the target position with only one movement of the mouse, and therefore, the operation of moving the mouse has to be repeated many times. In some cases, it may also shorten the life of the mouse.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an electronic device and a control method therefor capable of simplifying the movement of a cursor between a menu area and a work area. It is what

In order to solve this problem, the electronic equipment of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, in an electronic device that displays a menu area including various processing items and a work area, and selects and performs various processing items with a cursor that interlocks with a pointing device, whether or not a predetermined operation is performed by the pointing device. And a control means for moving the cursor to the menu area when a predetermined operation is performed by the determining means.

The electronic device control method of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, in a method of controlling an electronic device that displays a menu area including various processing items and a work area, and selects and performs various processing items with a cursor that is interlocked with a pointing device, a predetermined operation is performed by the pointing device. And a step of moving the cursor to the menu area when the predetermined operation is performed.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electronic apparatus and its control method capable of improving the operability by switching the processing according to the operation content of the pen.

To achieve this object, the electronic device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, in an electronic device that operates a pointing device to perform various processes,
A detection unit that detects the operation content of the pointing device and a change unit that changes the processing content according to the content detected by the detection unit are provided.

Further, the electronic device control method of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, a method of controlling an electronic device that operates a pointing device to perform various processes includes a step of detecting the operation content of the pointing device and a step of changing the processing content according to the detected content.

[0011]

In the configuration or process of the present invention, when it is detected that the pointing device is operated in a predetermined manner while the cursor is in the work area, the cursor position is moved to the menu area.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present embodiment. 1A is a CPU that controls this system. Reference numeral 1B is a storage device, which has, for example, the programs and works of the flowcharts described below that are necessary for controlling the system. 1C is C
A display device such as RT or LCD, 1D is a mouse which is a pointing device. 1E is a timer, and C is periodically set.
Interrupt PU1A.

Generally, a mouse is provided with a plurality of buttons, and in the embodiment, a mouse having two buttons will be described as an example (two buttons are called a right button and a left button). In addition, in the case of a mouse, the left button is usually used to positively give some instruction, for example, to select one of menu items or draw a line,
The right button is used to cancel the operation itself. That is, the right button is not actively used. In this embodiment, the right button of this mouse is used efficiently.

First, the case of moving to the work menu with the right button of the mouse 1D of the embodiment will be described. For the sake of explanation in this case, it is assumed that when the right button is pressed, the work menu is moved to the position of the menu item 2B of "edit" in FIG. Position on the display of this menu item 2B (SM1)
Is previously stored in the storage device 1B, and the cursor 2
By comparing with the position of A, it can be judged whether or not the cursor 2A has reached the corresponding menu item position.

Also, the current position of the mouse cursor (L
OC) is also stored in the storage device 1B.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart in the embodiment.

First, in step S31, it is checked whether the right button is pressed. If the right button is entered,
The process proceeds to step S32. If the right button has not been pressed, the process proceeds to other processing in step S34.

When it is determined that the right button is pressed and the process proceeds to step S32, the current position LOC of the mouse cursor is checked to determine whether the mouse cursor is in the work area shown in FIG. To do. If the mouse cursor is in the work area, the process proceeds to step S33. If the mouse cursor is not in the area, that is, if it is in the work menu area, the mouse cursor is not moved by the right button, and the process proceeds to other processing in step S34. In step S33, the mouse cursor position LOC is set to SM1 in order to move the mouse cursor to the work menu area. That is, the position of the mouse cursor is moved to the menu area all at once. And to do other processing,
It proceeds to step S34.

In other processing, processing such as selecting a work menu and executing each work is performed. After executing other processing, the processing returns to step S31.

Whether or not the mouse cursor is in the work area can be easily determined by storing the start position of the work area in the storage device 1B in advance and comparing it with the mouse cursor position LOC.

The movement of the mouse and the display of the mouse cursor are performed by an interrupt process periodically interrupted by the timer 1E. This is shown in FIG.

In step S41, the amount of mouse movement is read from the mouse. Then, in step S42, the mouse movement amount is added to the mouse cursor position LOC (the movement amount is ±). Then, in step S43, the state of the mouse button is stored (the area for storing the mouse button state is provided in the storage device 1B). Then, in step S44, the mouse cursor is displayed at the position indicated by the mouse cursor position LOC (if the mouse cursor position is set, the display device 1C has a circuit for displaying the mouse cursor).

With the above configuration, when the mouse cursor is in the work area, or when the right button is pressed, the mouse cursor can be moved to the work menu area. Thereafter, when the operator wants to perform the “edit” work in FIG. 2, he / she can directly enter the left button and execute the edit work. When the user wants to perform the "save" work or the "print" work, he or she can move the mouse for a while, move the mouse cursor to the corresponding work menu, and press the left button to execute the work.

<Description of Second Embodiment> Next, a description will be given of the case where the work menu is moved one after another when the mouse cursor is in the work menu area, and when the right button is further input. The above-mentioned SM1 was the item position of "edit" of the work menu, but hereinafter, the item position of "save" is SM2,
It is assumed that the item positions of “print” are SM3, ..., And the item positions of “other” are SM7, and these are stored in the storage device 1B.

Then, S indicating the current work menu number
The MN (= 1, 2, ...) Is provided in the storage device 1B. That is, when SMN is 1, the mouse cursor SM is selected by "Edit".
It is displayed at the position indicated by 1, and when the SMN is 2, "Save" and the mouse cursor is displayed at the position indicated by SM2.
If SMN is 7, the mouse cursor is SM with "Other"
It is displayed at the position shown by 7 (these can be easily realized by providing a table in the storage device 1B).

The operation processing contents of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Incidentally, in carrying out the second embodiment, the program according to the flowchart of FIG. 5 is naturally stored in the storage device 1B.

First, in step S51, it is determined whether the right button is pressed. If it is not pressed, it does not matter in the present embodiment, so that the process proceeds to other processing in step S55. If the right button has been pressed, it is determined in step S52 whether the mouse cursor position LOC is within the work area. If it is in the work area, the process proceeds to step S53 as in FIG. 3, and SM1 as an initial value is assigned to LOC to move the mouse cursor to the work menu. Then, in step S54, the work menu number S
Set MN to 1 (match SM1 and work menu number). Then, after that, the other processing step S3
Go to 4.

Therefore, when the mouse cursor is within the work area and the right button of the mouse is input, the mouse cursor instantly moves to the leftmost menu item position in the menu area. Here, for example, when the left button is input, the process corresponding to the position (in this case, the "edit" of the menu item) is selected and executed in step S55.

If it is determined that the cursor position when the right button is pressed is present in the work menu, the process proceeds to step S56. Here, to move the current mouse cursor to the next work menu item position,
The work menu number SMN is incremented by "1". For example, when the SMN is "1", it becomes "2", and as a result, the position corresponding to the menu item "save" in FIG. 2 is stored.

Next, the process proceeds to step S57. Here, it is determined whether the work menu number SMN is "8". When it is not “8”, the process proceeds to step S59,
In the case of "8", the work menu number S in step S58.
Set MN to “1”. In this embodiment, since there are seven work menus according to the work menu of FIG. 2 and it is not allowed to move to the eighth work menu, the original “edit” is performed.
This is because the mouse cursor is returned to. In other words, when the right mouse button is pressed while the mouse cursor is in the "Other" menu, the mouse cursor returns to "Edit".

Then, in step S55, the mouse cursor position LOC is set in accordance with the work menu number SMN. As described above, this is the SM in the storage device 1B.
It is realized by having a table in which N and the position (SM1 to SM7) of each work menu are described and searching for it. Then, it progresses to other process step S34. As described above, the display process of the mouse cursor is performed based on the mouse cursor position LOC in the periodic interrupt process.

As described above, first, when the mouse cursor is in the work area, the first right button input moves the mouse cursor to the "Edit" menu, and the second right button input causes "Save". In addition, right button input, one after another,
"Print", "Image", "Expansion" ... "Other""Edit" ...

<Description of Third Embodiment> Next, an example in which the mouse cursor moves to the previously selected work menu when the right button is input will be described as a third embodiment.

This time, a PSM for storing the previously selected work menu number is newly provided in the storage device 1B. Figure 6
It will be described in accordance with the flowchart of.

Similar to the first and second embodiments described above, first, it is determined whether or not there is a right button input, and if not, the process proceeds to step S64. If there is a right button input, it is determined in step S62 whether the mouse cursor position LOC is within the work area. When not in the work area,
The process proceeds to step S64.

In step S62, it is determined whether the left button has been pressed. If not input, the process proceeds to step S66.

When the input is made, step S
In step 65, it is determined whether the current mouse cursor position LOC is within the work menu area. If it is not in the work menu area, the process proceeds to step S68. When in the work menu area, the process proceeds to step S66, and the current work menu number SMN is set in the selected work menu number PSM,
In step S67, the selected work is executed. afterwards,
The process proceeds to step S68, other processes are performed, and the process returns to step S61.

On the other hand, after step S62 (when the right button is input and the mouse cursor is in the work area at that time), when the process proceeds to step S63, the work menu number stored in the selected work menu number PSM is displayed. The indicated mouse cursor position (SMn: n is 1 to 7) is set to the mouse cursor position LOC. Then, step S6
The process proceeds to 2.

As described above, when the right button is input while the mouse cursor is in the work area, the mouse cursor moves to the previously selected work menu, which is convenient when performing the same work many times.

<Explanation of Fourth Embodiment> Next, an explanation will be given of an embodiment in which the place where the mouse cursor moves when the right button is input in the work area is set substantially at the center of the work menu. In FIG. 2, the center of the work menu is at the position indicated by reference numeral 2C. Since this is the position SM2 indicated by the work menu number 4, it is sufficient to insert "SM4" instead of "SM1" in step S33 in FIG.

<Description of Fifth Embodiment> Next, an embodiment in which the operator can set a work menu to be moved first will be described. SM that stores the work menu number set by the operator
U is newly provided in the storage device 1B. It is assumed that this setting work is included in the "other" process in FIG.

The processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S80, a work menu initial movement setting menu as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, and in step S81, key input is performed. Here, for example, it is assumed that the item number before the change and the number keys are sequentially input to indicate how to change, but even if the mouse is operated, the order is determined in the order of the instructed items. May be. In any case, in step S82, it is determined whether the input key is valid. In FIG. 7, 1 to 7 are valid data, and in that case, the process proceeds to step S83. If the data is not valid, step S84
Then, the process proceeds to step S81 to display that the data is not valid and prompt the key input again. In step S83, the set data is set in the operator setting work menu number SMU, and this processing ends.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart when there is an initial work menu number set by the operator.

In step S91, it is determined whether or not the right button is pressed. If not, the process proceeds to step S94. If it has been input, the process proceeds to step S92. In step S92, it is determined whether the mouse cursor is the work area. If it is not the work area, the process proceeds to step S94. In the case of the work area, to move to the work menu,
The process proceeds to step S93. In step S93, the mouse cursor position of the work menu number indicated by the work menu number SMU set by the operator is referred to from the table,
Set the mouse cursor position to LOC, and step S94
Go to and do other processing.

With the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to set which work menu the mouse cursor moves to when the operator inputs the right button. Therefore, if the menu is set near a frequently used menu, an efficient operation can be performed. It becomes an electronic device with a good environment.

<Explanation of Sixth Embodiment> Next, an example of returning the mouse cursor to the original position at the end of work will be explained as a sixth embodiment.

LO for storing the original mouse cursor position
CO is newly provided in the storage device 1B. Figure 1 shows the processing contents
An explanation will be given according to the flowchart.

First, in steps S101 and S102, it is checked whether the right button has been pressed, and whether the mouse cursor position is within the work area at that time. If both are not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S105.

When both are satisfied (the right button is input,
If the mouse cursor is within the work area), the process proceeds to step S101. In step S101, the current mouse cursor position LCO is added to the original mouse cursor position LOCO.
Set OC. Then, the process proceeds to step S104,
Set SM1 to the mouse cursor position LOC so that the mouse cursor moves to the "Edit" work menu,
It proceeds to step S105.

In steps S105 and S106, it is determined whether the left button is pressed and whether the mouse cursor at that time is in the work menu. If this condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S109.
If it is determined that the conditions are satisfied, step S10
7, the work process indicated by the work menu number SMN at the mouse cursor position is executed. When the processing is completed, the process proceeds to step S102, where the mouse cursor position LO
The original mouse cursor position LOCO is set in C, and the process proceeds to step S109 to perform other processing.

As described above, since the cursor is moved to the original position after each work is completed, continuous processing (because the state before performing each work is returned after performing each work) is possible. Become.

Although the mouse has been described in the above-mentioned first to sixth embodiments, other pointing devices,
For example, the present invention is not limited to this because it can be easily applied to a trackball or a pen.

In the above-described embodiment, the work menu to be moved first is the leftmost menu, the center menu, and the menu arbitrarily set by the operator, but other menus are also applicable. For example, by monitoring the work performed by the operator and moving to a work menu that may be performed during the work (moving the AI cursor), it is possible to provide a device that is very easy for the operator to use.

As described above, it is possible to move from the normal work area to the work menu at once by inputting from the pointing device, particularly the right button of the mouse. Therefore, move the mouse to reach the work menu. Since it is not necessary to move the mouse cursor, operator fatigue and the life of the mouse can be extended, and the operation time can be shortened. Furthermore, when the mouse cursor is on the work menu, the right mouse button is pressed to move to the work menu one after another. Therefore, after the mouse cursor moves to the work menu area, the mouse is selected to select the desired work menu. Since it is not necessary to move (in the work menu area), operator fatigue can be reduced.

Further, when the mouse cursor is in the work area at the position of the work menu selected last time, it can be moved by the right button input, which is very convenient when performing the same work many times.

If the position of the work menu which is moved by the right button input is set to approximately the center of the work menu display group, it is possible to shorten the distance to move the cursor to the menu at both ends of the display. , It is a device that moves to the work menu on the right end first, so that when the user wants to select the work menu on the left end, the movement distance does not become long.

Further, by providing a device that allows the operator to specify the work menu to be moved first, it is possible to provide a device that is easy for the operator to handle.

Further, by providing a device for selecting a work from the work menu and moving the mouse cursor into the original work area when the work is completed, the operator can smoothly execute a series of works. Since it is possible to reduce the number of movements that are not directly related to the work intended by the operator, such as moving the mouse to select a work as before, and moving the mouse to the original position after the work is finished, it is comfortable for the operator. It is possible to provide a device that can realize various working environments.

<Explanation of Seventh Embodiment> In the seventh embodiment, as a pointing device, an example adapted to a coordinate input device by pen input will be described.

Normally, in the operation by pen input, various menu items displayed on the screen are selected and the corresponding processing is performed, as in the above embodiment. For example, when deleting the entered characters or figures, select the menu item to be deleted,
Designate a figure or character to be deleted and delete it.
Then select a menu item to be able to enter it again. However, in this case, the cursor movement operation to the menu must be performed every time a contrast to be deleted occurs, which causes a problem in operability.

In the seventh embodiment, such a defect is eliminated.

There are various methods for detecting coordinates by pen input, such as the electrostatic transfer method, the electrostatic coupling method, the use of elastic waves, and the use of magnetism. Either method may be adopted in the seventh embodiment. The reason will become clear from the following explanation.

FIG. 11 shows a pen-type input device which functions as an eraser when the pen is placed on the opposite side. Reference numeral 11A is a portion for performing normal input, and 11B is an input unit for causing the function of the eraser. 11C is a cable for transmitting to the system side that 11A or 11B has been pressed.

A means for detecting that the input portion 11A has been pressed will be described with reference to FIG. 14A is a movable part of the input part 11A, 14B and 14C are leaf switches, and 14B and 1
When 4C touches, 4D and 4E short circuit. When 14A is not pushed, 14D and 14E are not short-circuited (FIG. 15 left). When 14A is pressed, 4B and 4C are short-circuited. As shown in FIG. 16, since the line 14D is pulled up to Vcc via the resistor 15B, the CPU 15A
By looking at the level, it can be determined whether 14D and 14E are short-circuited, that is, whether the pen is down.
This can be realized not only on the 1A side of the pen, but also on the 1B side.

FIG. 17 shows the processing contents of the seventh embodiment. The processing shown in the figure is similar to that of the embodiment described above.
This is one of the interrupt processes by the timer.

It is checked in step S111 if the mode switch is selected. This checks whether or not the pen type input devices 1A and 1B are pressed. When 1A is pressed, the process proceeds to step S112 to set the normal mode, and the modes performed in other processes are performed in the normal mode. If it is found in step S111 that the 1B side of the pen is pressed (the 1B side is facing down or is pressed by a finger), the deletion mode is set and other processing (for example, editing processing, etc.) is performed. The processing input by this is handled as a deletion mode. Also, in step S111, 1A, 1
When B is not input, the process is exited without changing the mode. By doing so, the deletion mode can be easily set.

As a result, the application using the coordinate input device by pen input according to the seventh embodiment checks the contents of the mode updated by the interrupt process to switch the normal mode and the delete mode. Should be done.

<Description of Eighth Embodiment> Next, a pen type input device for designating a color will be described. FIG. 12 shows the appearance of the pen, and FIG. 13 shows the structure seen from the rear end of the pen. Each color is designated by pressing down 2A to 2D. However, the switches 2A to 2D are colored so that the operator can easily understand. For example,
2A is red, 2B is blue, 2C is green, and 2D is black. As shown in FIG. 18, a leaf switch is attached to each push-down portion, as shown in FIG. 15 or 16, and short-circuited when pushed down (right in FIG. 18). FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the pen rear end portion in the depressed state.

FIG. 20 shows an explanatory diagram of a system using this. The CPU 18A is connected to the side of the leaf switches 2A to 2D, and each of them is pulled up to VCC through a resistor. The other of the leaf switches is combined into one and connected to GND.

FIG. 21 shows a flowchart of a system using this pen type input device. This process is also an interrupt process by the timer.

First, in step S121, it is determined which switch is on (the level is logic "L (= 0)").

Corresponding processing (one of steps S122 to S125) is performed according to the states of the terminals 12A to 12D. For example, when the line 12A is L, the process proceeds to step S122, and the data indicating the "red mode" is written in a predetermined address position of the memory (not shown). The application side determines the color to be drawn according to the data stored at this address position. Therefore, for example, when a red line is drawn or a blue line is drawn, it is possible to switch with one touch.

<Description of Ninth Embodiment> FIG. 14 shows an external view of a pen type input device for changing the thickness of the pen. 13A
Knock the input to change the thickness. This is also
Like the previous configuration, it can be easily configured by attaching a leaf switch. As in the case of the flowchart described above, as shown in FIG. 22, in the timer process, it is determined in step S131 whether or not the thickness switch is input. If it is input, the thick mode is set in step S132, and the input is performed. If not, the normal mode is set in step S133. Then, this thickness mode changing process is exited.

In the main editing processing, processing such as drawing a line is performed with reference to this thickness mode. In the above embodiment, two kinds of modes are used, but it can be easily inferred to set more modes.

<Description of Tenth Embodiment> In the above description, in the case of the eraser type pen type input device of FIG. 11, if the device capable of detecting the contact area is used, the pen and the CPU can be made wireless. That is, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, in FIG. 23, the touch area is small, so that the normal input mode, and in FIG. 24, the contact area is large, so that the eraser mode can be set. In this case, the areas of the normal input part and the eraser mode input part must be changed. Alternatively, the pressure may be switched by detecting the pressing pressure of the pen.

On the application side which processes based on the detected coordinate data, the point position to be processed may be changed according to the pen thickness mode (if the radius of the circle centered on the detected coordinate is switched. good).

<Description of Eleventh Embodiment> In the above description, all the lines (11C, 12E, 13B) were connected, but it is possible to eliminate the lines by using radio waves or infrared rays. Therefore, a pen-type input device that is easier to use can be provided.

Referring to FIG. 25, the input 11
Infrared data is sent from 121A to the system side in accordance with the states of 2C and 112D. At 112B, the data is received and changed to each mode. in this case,
As shown in FIG. 26, in the case of infrared rays, it is better to have transmission points in the upper and lower two places. This is because it is conceivable that the place of transmission will be hidden by hand when you hold it upside down.

Further, as shown in FIG. 27, the mode detecting means can be changed. That is, the weight of 114A is moved up and down, and the leaf switches of 114B and 114C are pushed by the weight.

As described above, according to the seventh to eleventh embodiments, the operator does not need to select the menu item displayed on the screen but simply changes the pen switch or the direction of the pen to perform the process. Since the contents can be changed, it is possible to provide a better device having excellent operability.

In the above embodiment, the leaf switch is mechanically short-circuited. However, by using a photo interrupter for detection, the durability can be improved.

In the seventh to eleventh embodiments described above,
It was adapted to a coordinate input device by pen input. However, it can easily be inferred that it can be adapted to other devices such as mice and trackballs.

Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above examples.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0087]

As described above, according to the present invention, the movement of the cursor between the menu area and the work area can be simplified.

Also, the operability can be improved by switching the processing according to the operation content of the pen.

[0089]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a screen.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing contents in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of interrupt processing in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing contents in a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example for setting a work menu in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of work menu setting processing in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing contents in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing contents in a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a structure of a coordinate input pen according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the structure of a coordinate input pen according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of a coordinate input pen according to an eighth embodiment as viewed from the rear end.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the structure of a coordinate input pen according to a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a specific structure for detecting a press of a pen in the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of pen depression detection in the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing contents in the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a specific structure of a pen switch according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a state in which one of the switches of the pen in the eighth embodiment is in an operating state.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a specific circuit configuration of a pen switch according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing the processing contents in the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the processing contents in the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the size of a dot input by a pen in a normal mode according to the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the size of an input point in the thick mode in the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a relationship between a pen and an electronic device on which an application operates in the eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a view showing a preferable structure of the pen according to the eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a specific structure for detecting the orientation of the pen in the eleventh embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A CPU 1B Storage device 1C Display device 1D Mouse 1E Timer

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device that displays a menu area including various processing items and a work area, and selects and performs various processing items with a cursor that works in conjunction with a pointing device, wherein predetermined operations are performed by the pointing device. An electronic device comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not a touch has been made; and a control unit that moves a cursor to the menu area when a predetermined operation is performed by the determination unit. 2. When the cursor is in the menu area and each time the predetermined operation is performed,
The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising means for moving the cursor position so as to indicate the processing items one by one. 3. Further, a predetermined process is performed on the pointing device, a desired process item is selected,
The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that moves the cursor to a position before moving to the menu area when or when a predetermined process is performed. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a movement position of the cursor when a predetermined operation is performed on the pointing device is a substantially central position of the menu area. 5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the movement order between the processing items can be changed. 6. A method for controlling an electronic device, which displays a menu area including various processing items and a work area, and selects and performs various processing items with a cursor that is interlocked with a pointing device. An electronic device control method comprising: a step of determining whether or not an operation is performed; and a step of moving a cursor to the menu area when the predetermined operation is performed. 7. An electronic device for operating a pointing device to perform various processes, comprising: detecting means for detecting operation contents of the pointing device; and changing means for changing processing contents according to the contents detected by the detecting means. An electronic device characterized by the above. 8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the pointing device is a pen, and the detection means detects the orientation of the pen. 9. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the pointing device is a pen provided with a plurality of switches, and the front detecting means detects a state of the switches. 10. A method of controlling an electronic device for operating a pointing device to perform various kinds of processing, comprising: a step of detecting operation contents of the pointing device; and a step of changing processing contents according to the detected contents. Control method for electronic devices.