JPH0635588A - Sharing device for input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily execute the control input of a computer without considering a relation between the computer to be controlled and a corresponding input device by providing a specifying means specifying the computer where control input is executed from the operation of an operator. CONSTITUTION:Radio transmission/reception equipments are istalled on the display devices of the computers PC1-PC3 to be controlled and the head of the operator being a user. The phase angle of a direction on the head of the operator is detected, and it is transmitted to the computers PC1-PC3 with information on a mouse through the radio transmission/reception equipments. When the phase angle of the head of the operator faces the directions of the first to third computers PC1-PC3, it is assumed that the corresponding computer is selected and the corresponding computer receives mouse information. Thus, the control input of the computer can easily be executed without considering the relation between the computer to be controlled and the corresponding input device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sharing device for an input device such as a mouse which can be used in a system using a plurality of computers in an operation system or a monitoring system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, computerization of various systems has progressed, and opportunities to simultaneously use a plurality of workstations have increased. For example, in an operation system and a monitoring system, different functions are assigned to a plurality of workstations, respectively, and these tasks are simultaneously used to perform work. In addition, in recent computer systems, in addition to a conventional keyboard, for example, menu selection and instructions using a mouse, a tablet, or the like are often used as a control input device.

For example, in the case of the relationship between the computer and mouse of the operation system shown in FIG. 11, in order to randomly control the workstations to which different functions are assigned in one work flow, each work is controlled. The mouse attached to the station must be used separately.

Therefore, the relation between the workstation and the mouse that the operator actually wants to control becomes difficult to cope with as the work becomes diverse and complicated, and the operation load on the operator increases. Therefore, a human error such as a judgment error or an operation error may be caused, and if the error situation further progresses, it may lead to an irreversible accident.

As a solution to such a problem, there is a method of allowing a single mouse to control a plurality of computers as shown in FIG. 12 when a plurality of mice corresponding to the plurality of computers are used. Specifically, a switch box is provided, and each time the switch box is used, it is switched to the workstation to be controlled by the mouse.

[0006]

However, even in the method described above, whenever the computer used changes,
Since it is necessary to change the switch to the target computer, the operation is complicated and is not practical in an application in which the target computer is frequently changed.

Particularly in the case of an emergency such as when a failure occurs, the operator is required to consider which computer should be controlled and which switch is associated with the computer. From the viewpoint of operation load, the association between the workstation to be controlled and the mouse is only replaced with the association between the workstation and the selection switch, and improvement cannot be expected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when a plurality of computers are used at the same time, the computer can be easily operated without considering the relationship between the computer to be controlled and the corresponding input device. An object is to provide a sharing device of an input device capable of performing control input.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the first invention of the present application is to provide an input means connected to a plurality of computers in a state capable of individually performing control input, and a control input by this input means. The gist of the present invention is to have a specifying means for specifying the computer on which the operation is performed from the operation of the operator.

According to a second invention of the present application, the specifying means in the sharing device for an input device according to claim 1 is a detection for detecting at least one of an operator's head direction, hand direction, and line of sight. The gist is to have a means and a determination means for determining a computer to be a control input target of the operator from the detection result of the detection means.

[0011]

In the sharing device for an input device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the specifying means automatically detects from the operation of the operator which of the plurality of computers the operator intends to use, and the detection is performed. The control input by the input means of the corresponding computer is enabled based on the information.

In the sharing device for an input device according to the second invention of the present application, the specifying means in the sharing device for an input device according to claim 1 is at least one of a head direction, a hand direction, and a line of sight of an operator. Using the above, the computer to be the target of control input is determined.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mouse sharing device as a sharing device for an input device according to the present invention.

First, a method of automatically detecting the selection information of the computer to be controlled by the operator in the automatic selection information detecting unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, by detecting the orientation of the operator's head,
A case where the operator determines the computer to be controlled will be described. Any position detection technique can be used to detect the orientation of the operator's head.

For example, in the case of one embodiment of detecting the head direction of the operator shown in FIG. 8, a radio is displayed on the display device of the first computer PC1 to be controlled and on the head of the operator who is the user. A transmitter / receiver is installed. In this case, first, a basic information signal capable of detecting the direction is transmitted by the wireless transmission / reception device installed on the display device of the first computer PC1. In the wireless transmitter-receiver installed on the operator's head, the orientation of the operator's head when facing the direction of the first computer PC1 is the basic direction data, and this is the selection information of the first computer PC1. . Further, the phase angle from the basic direction of the head direction of the operator when facing the direction of another computer, for example, the third computer PC3, is obtained and used as the selection information of this computer.

After that, if there is a computer to be used, the selection information of the computer is acquired by the same method. In this case, by giving the phase angle that determines the selection information a width, it is possible to further reduce the burden on the operator.

As described above, it becomes possible to detect the orientation of the operator's head, and the operator can determine the computer to be controlled.

Next, a method for determining the computer to be controlled by the operator by detecting the direction of the operator's hand shown in FIG. 9 will be described.

For detecting the direction of the hand, it is possible to use the conventional position detecting technique by replacing it with the hand. In recent years, by using the data glove used in the hand detecting technique. , It is possible to detect the hand information and more reliably detect the orientation of the operator's hand. When using this hand orientation, data when the hand is oriented toward the first computer PC1 is acquired, and this data is used as selection information for the first computer PC1, and when the orientation is directed to another computer. By obtaining the data of the direction of the operator's hand and using this as the selection information of this computer, it becomes possible to detect the direction of the operator's hand by a method similar to the above method shown in FIG. , The operator can decide which computer he is trying to control.

Next, a method of determining the computer to be controlled by the operator by detecting the line of sight of the operator shown in FIG. 10 will be described.

To detect the line of sight of the operator, a conventional line-of-sight detection method using an eye camera or a video camera can be used, whereby line-of-sight information can be detected. First, the line-of-sight information data when facing the direction of the first computer PC1 is acquired, and this is obtained.
If the line-of-sight information data of the operator when facing the direction of another computer is acquired as this selection information and this is used as the selection information of this computer, by the same method as the above-described method shown in FIG. It is possible to detect the line of sight of the operator, and it is possible to easily and automatically determine the computer that the operator intends to control.

Although the detection method of the computer to be controlled by the operator has been described above for the three methods, the detection method in the present invention is not limited to this, and other methods, for example, depending on the orientation of the mouse, are used. It can also be realized by a method of detecting, a method of detecting by the direction of the body, or the like.

Next, the mouse information detecting section 7 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. This mouse information detector 7
Is for acquiring mouse information obtained by the mouse 5. FIG. 2 shows an example of a detailed configuration of the mouse information detection unit 7.

In FIG. 2, the mouse information input section 71 is
The mouse information is obtained from the amount of movement obtained by the mouse 5 and the button click information. Further, the mouse information sending unit 73 sends the acquired mouse information by using a wireless or wired transmission medium and transmits it.

As a method of using radio as a transmission medium, among the conventionally used radio transmission methods, as a simple method, infrared rays of about 40 KHZ used for a home television and a video remote control switch are used. Methods are available. Further, as a method of using a wire as a transmission medium, it is possible to perform digital transmission using a coaxial cable or a twisted pair wire.

Alternatively, a simple LAN configuration using a small personal computer, for example, Ethernet (Ethe
Mouse information can be transmitted by using a TCP / IP method using rnet).

Next, the selection information signal generator 3 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The selection information signal generator 3 is for generating a selection information signal based on the selection information detected by the automatic selection information detector 1.

In FIG. 3, the selection information conversion unit 31 converts the selection information into a selection information digital signal, and the selection information parameter storage unit 33 has the selection information digital signal written therein.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the selection information digital signal table of the pattern to be converted. In the example shown in FIG. 5, six computers can be controlled.

A detailed description will be given below with reference to FIG.
Digital signal numbers D1 to D6 are signals (indicated by signal name <computer NO. ON> in the figure) for selecting each computer and making the mouse controllable, and digital signal numbers D9 to D14 are This is a <computer NO. OFF> signal for releasing the mouse controllable state of the selected computer. These signals represent the state of the controlled computer and mouse.

The digital signal number D7 is a scan start signal for bringing each computer into the selection information receivable state, and the digital signal number D8 is a scan end signal for releasing the selection information receivable state. is there.

The digital signal number D15 is an all reset signal for initializing all the signals, and the parameters of each signal are represented by 4-bit digital signals.

The digital parameters of the ON and OFF signals of these signals are the same from the first bit to the third bit, and only the fourth bit is set in reverse, and the digital parameters of the start and end signals are all bit arrangements. On the contrary, the signals are related.

These signals represent the control status of this system. For example, when the mouse sharing device is started, the selection information conversion unit 31 first refers to the selection information parameter storage unit 33 and extracts the all reset signal of the digital signal number D15 to initialize this device. Next, the scan start signal of digital signal number D7 is taken out so that each computer can receive the selection information.

Next, the operator selects one of a plurality of computers.
When trying to control one computer, the selection information conversion unit 31 refers to the selection information parameter storage unit 33 on the basis of the selection information output from the automatic selection information detection unit 1, and the selected computer PC and mouse 5 are controlled. It is converted into a selection information signal representing the state.

For example, when trying to control the first computer PC1, a 4-bit digital parameter written in the <computer 1 ON> signal, that is, a digital signal number D1 of 0, 0, 0, 1 from the 4th bit. Of the selection information signal. Hereinafter, when trying to control another computer, it is similarly converted into selection information signals of digital signal numbers D2 to D6 based on the selection information.

Further, when the computer to be controlled by the operator is changed from the first computer PC1 to the second computer PC2, the selection information conversion section 31 uses the selection information output from the automatic selection information detection section 1 based on the selection information. The parameter storage unit 33 is referred to and converted into a selection information signal of a digital signal number D2 which is a <computer 2 ON> signal. At this time, <computer 1 OFF> of digital signal number D9 in which <1> is added to the 4th bit of <computer 1 ON> signal is also extracted.

When the mouse sharing apparatus is terminated, the scan end signal of digital signal number D8 is extracted, and the all reset signal of digital signal number D15 is also extracted.

Since the digital signal number D0 has all the digital parameters <0>, it is an empty signal in order to prevent malfunction.

As described above, the six computers can be controlled by the parameters shown in FIG.
1 outputs these selection information signals to the selection information signal transmission section 35.

By controlling a plurality of computers with one mouse 5, the maximum number of indicators that can be expected to improve the operational burden on the operator is up to six. On the other hand, if it exceeds this level, problems may occur such as emergency control not being in time. At this time, the mouse 5 may be plural.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the selection information signal transmitting section 35 transmits the selection information signal. The selection information signal output from the selection information conversion unit 31 can be transmitted by using a wireless / wired transmission medium as in the mouse information transmission unit 73 of the mouse information detection unit 7.

The mouse information control section 9 controls mouse information by the selection information signal generated by the selection information signal generation section 3. FIG. 4 shows an example of a detailed configuration of the mouse information control unit 9.

In FIG. 4, a selection information signal receiving section 91
Is for receiving the selection information signal transmitted from the selection information signal generation unit 3. Selection information signal matching processing unit 92
Is to perform a matching process of the selection information signal sent to the selection information signal receiving section 91 and the preset individual selection information signal. Depending on the result, two types of control information signals of <selection ON> and <selection OFF> are output.

The individual selection information parameter storage unit 93 is written with the individual selection information digital signal. FIG. 6 shows an example of the individual selection information digital signal table.

The digital parameters of these signals use the same bit patterns as the digital signal parameters of the selection information digital signal table shown in FIG. 5 used in the selection information parameter storage unit 33 of the selection information signal generation unit 3. The selection ON signal, the selection OFF signal, the scan start signal, the scan end signal, and the all reset signal are written.

For example, the selection ON signal in the first computer PC1 uses a bit pattern of 0, 0, 0, 1 from the 4th bit which is a 4-bit digital parameter. Similarly, the selection OFF signal uses a bit pattern of 1, 4, 0, 1 from the 4th bit which is a digital parameter. The same applies to the scan start signal, scan end signal, and all reset signal. Selection information signal matching processor 9
In 2, the individual selection information parameter storage unit 93 is referred to by the input of the selection information signal from the selection information receiving unit, the matching process with the digital parameter of the individual selection information is performed, and when they match, the control signal is output.

For example, when the operator wants to control the first computer PC1 among the plurality of computers, the selection information signal receiving section 91 receives 0, 0, 0, 1 from the 4th bit which is a digital parameter. The bit pattern is input as the selection information signal. The selection information signal matching processing unit 92 refers to the selection information parameter storage unit 93 on the basis of this bit pattern, and matches with 0, 0, 0, 1 from the 4th bit which is a 4-bit digital parameter of the selection ON signal. After confirming that it is present, the control signal <selection ON signal> is output.

After that, when the control is transferred to the second computer PC2, the selection information signal receiving section 91 of the first computer PC1 receives the digital parameter, from the 4th bit to 1,
A bit pattern of 0, 0, 1 is input as a selection information signal. The selection information signal matching processing unit 92 refers to the selection information parameter storage unit 93 based on this bit pattern and agrees with the 4-bit digital parameter of the selection OFF signal, from the 4th bit to 1,0,0,1. After confirming things,
The control signal <selection OFF signal> is output.

The scan start signal is the first computer P.
C1 selection information signal receiver 91 receives digital parameters,
When the selection information signal of the bit pattern of 0, 1, 1, 1 from the 4th bit is input, the selection information signal matching processing unit 92 refers to the selection information parameter storage unit 93 based on this bit pattern, and the scan start signal After confirming that the 4-bit digital parameter of No. 4 matches 0, 1, 1, 1 from the 4th bit, the selection information signal can be received and the selection information signal is awaited.

When the scan end signal is input to the selection information signal receiving section 91 of the first computer PC1 as the selection information signal of the digital parameter, the bit pattern of 1, 4, 1, 0 from the 4th bit, the selection information signal. The match processing unit 92 refers to the selection information parameter storage unit 93 based on this bit pattern, and the 4-bit digital parameter of the scan end signal, from the 4th bit to 1, 1, 1, 0
After confirming that it agrees with, cancel the selection information signal receivable state.

When the all reset signal is input to the selection information signal receiving section 91 of the first computer PC1 as the selection information signal of the digital parameter, the bit pattern of 1, 4, 1, 1 from the fourth bit, the selection information signal match The processing unit 92 refers to the selection information parameter storage unit 93 on the basis of this bit pattern, and the 4-bit digital parameter of the all reset signal, from the 4th bit to 1, 1, 1,
After confirming that it agrees with 1, this system is initialized.
At this time, if the mouse is in use, it is canceled.

The switch control section 94 outputs a switch drive signal for driving the mouse information switch according to the control information of the selection information signal matching processing section 92.

The mouse information receiving section 95 receives mouse information from the second mouse information detecting section 7.

The mouse information switch section 96 turns ON / OFF the mouse information received by the mouse information receiving section 95 in response to a switch drive signal from the switch control section. The output of the mouse information switch unit 96 is the mouse information connected to the mouse input terminal of the computer.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a mouse selection control time chart in that case. In FIG. 7, the rising edge of the square wave pulse of <selection ON signal> is detected and the switch of the mouse information switch unit 96 is driven. Also <selection OFF
The rising edge of the square wave pulse of the signal> is detected, and the switch of the mouse information switch unit 96 is released.

In the switch control section 94, <selection ON
The switch operation is maintained for the time from the signal> input to the <selection OFF signal> input, and the control by the mouse 5 becomes possible.

Here, the photoelectric mouse 5 will be described as an example. Of the mouse information, the amount of vertical movement of the mouse 5 by the rotary encoder, the amount of X-axis movement,
The amount of movement of the mouse 5 in the lateral direction The light output from the light emitting diode (LED) indicating the amount of Y-axis movement causes the rotating disk to come into contact with the rotating ball, and the number of times the slots (sensitivity) are equally spaced in the rotating disk. Phototransistors are used to detect whether or not they pass, and two phototransistors are provided to provide two pieces of movement number analog information that are 90 degrees out of phase. In addition, the click information corresponding to the number of mouse click buttons is set to TTL level (+
5V) ON / OFF binary digital signal is transmitted.

When the computer PC receives the mouse information, it processes the data by the mouse driver program and the application program and displays the mouse information on the display.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention has been described with respect to input by the mouse 5, but this method can also be used for sharing an input device other than a mouse, for example, a keyboard, a tablet, a trackball or the like. Is.

When applying the present invention, it is effective to inform the operator of which computer PC is actually selected as feedback information in order to improve the operability.

A method of letting the operator know which computer PC is selected as feedback information will be described below.

One is to install a conventionally used light emitting diode (LED) on the selected computer and use the mouse information switch drive signal output from the switch control unit 94 of the mouse information control unit 9. It is a method of making an LED emit light and presenting information that control is possible to an operator.

Further, in the conventional computer, since there is no information on whether the mouse is active or not in the mouse body, the operator cannot make the judgment unless the mouse is moved.

Therefore, the information is output from the mouse information switch section 96 of the mouse information control section 9 to the mouse information input terminal of the computer, and the input mouse information is increased by one to capture the active information of the mouse into the computer, In the driver program or application program, when it is active, the mouse display of the conventionally used <+> shape or <-> is displayed, and when it is not displayed, it is possible to hide it.

There is also a method of changing the display form from <+> to <->.

Alternatively, by using a method of flashing for about 3 seconds from the start, the same effect can be achieved.

According to the present invention, when a plurality of computers are used at the same time, the mouse is selected because the relation between the computer to be controlled and the corresponding mouse becomes difficult as the work progresses. The problem that the operation load increases is solved by automatically detecting which computer the operator is trying to use and enabling the mouse to control the corresponding computer based on the detected information. It is possible to prevent human errors such as operation mistakes and facilitate the control of a plurality of computers by a mouse.

In the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to a mouse as an input device has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a keyboard, a trackball, a tablet, a voice input device, etc. It can be applied to a sharing device of an input device of an appropriate method.

[0071]

As described above, the sharing device for an input device according to the present invention can specify a computer to be a control input target among a plurality of computers. This has effects such as facilitating control of the computer and preventing human error.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a mouse sharing device of an embodiment according to a sharing device of an input device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a mouse information detection unit shown in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a selection information signal generation unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a mouse information control unit shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing a selection information digital signal table in the mouse sharing apparatus shown in FIG.

6 is a diagram showing an individual selection information digital signal table of one embodiment of the present invention in the mouse sharing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a mouse selection time chart in the mouse sharing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a sharing device of an input device of the present invention, showing a case where detection of an operator's head direction is used for specifying a computer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the input device sharing apparatus according to the present invention, in which the detection of the direction of the operator's hand is used to identify the computer.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a sharing device of an input device according to the present invention, showing a case in which detection of an operator's line of sight is used to specify a computer.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a relationship between a computer and a mouse of a conventional operation system.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a mouse sharing device in which a conventional switch box is installed.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An input unit that is connected to a plurality of computers in a state in which control input can be individually performed, and a specifying unit that specifies the computer to which the control input is made by the input unit from the operation of the operator. A sharing device for an input device, comprising: 2. The specifying means detects at least one of a head direction, a hand direction, and a line of sight of an operator, and a target of control input by the operator based on a detection result of the detecting means. The sharing device for an input device according to claim 1, further comprising: a determining unit that determines a computer to be used.