JPH07120252B2 - Input device and method for transmitting cursor control signal to computer system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of data processing systems, and more particularly to controlling a cursor as an input means for a data processing system, and moreover to provide a single cursor from a plurality of input devices in the data processing system. Control method and apparatus.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Computing power has grown and this increased computing power has also provided computer users with new opportunities to use the computer in new ways.
In particular, computers have been transformed into devices usable by the general public because they are convenient devices for a small number of people with specialized knowledge. Most of these changes in the usefulness of computers have been directed toward simplifying the interaction between humans and computers by much of the increase in computing power.

As the interaction between humans and computers becomes easier, more people will be encouraged to use their computing power and computers will become more beneficial. One particular reason computers have become even more useful to the public is that text and graphics merge information can now be communicated from the computer to the user. This is useful not only for single users, but also for teams of people who follow the same goal and interact with the computer.

For example, the merge information of the original sentence and the graphic is
It is very useful when displaying changes in blood flowing through a specific part of the body to a team of doctors. Further, the display information of the original text and the graphic is very useful when the school students are to observe the wind speed condition. In either case, showing the merged representation of the source text and graphics increases the interaction within the team or group.

This interaction within the same team is further increased by the increased interaction of the team with the computer.
In addition to merely displaying information to the team, each member of the team should be able to interact easily and quickly with the computer without interfering with the increased interaction of the team with other members. The basic obstacle to this type of computer interaction is that the computer
That is, it is designed so that only one input can be input at a designated time. As such, the computer has one input means and team input must only be entered through this single means.

The prior art has attempted various solutions to this problem. One of the solutions is the use of multiple types of input devices. However, for example, each of the two types of input devices provides a different type of information to the computer, so the above solution does not add to the level of team interaction. For example, a keyboard can generally insert source text into separate character positions, while a mouse can only indicate the analog or intermediate position of a cursor when graphically displaying.

Generally, even when group dialogues are the best, each dialogue is shown in a specific area of a graphic display or is performed only on one kind of information by switching between screens of a computer display. . Therefore, the use of different types of input devices does not generally result in increased team interaction. Moreover, if the team's attention is focused on a particular type of information, the team has to insert the input only through the person controlling the input device corresponding to that type of information.

Other prior art attempts to solve this problem of multiple input devices by connecting multiple input devices to multiple ports currently present in the computer. However, the first problem with this solution is that the number of team member interactions with the computer is limited by the number of ports on the computer, and generally, very expensive special software and Hardware is required, and moreover special software and hardware typically introduces a delay in the response time to input devices, which delays the new response time hindering efficient group interaction. Caused a problem.

Moreover, another serious problem with this kind of solution from the point of view of team interaction is that the computer interacts with each input device, which device is active at any given time. Is to be determined. Therefore, the control activates the input device and generally requires that a signal be sent to the computer as to which device is active. The computer must interact with each device to determine which input device is active, which slows down communication and interaction with the computer.

Yet another prior art solution to the multiple input device problem is to connect multiple computer systems together, each computer system having a cursor control input device. That is, it causes the control of the cursor from the input device of the second computer system to the first computer system to be considered as from the input device of the first computer system.

[0011]

In the prior art system described above, each input device may control its associated local cursor position if the remote device is not designed to rewrite or override the local control. It will be possible. That is, if the first input device for the first computer system was designed to control the cursor for the second computer system, the first input device controls the cursor for the first computer system. Similarly, it controls the cursor for the second computer system.

The problem with this prior art system is that when the first input device controls the cursor of the second computer system, the relative position is the same as that present on the display device of the first computer system. Do it by jumping the second cursor on the display.

This has the problem that if the cursor position does not move towards its last position but jumps to the other, it is difficult for the group conversation to concentrate on a single cursor position. This prior art multiple input system still does not solve the conventional problem of selecting an activity input device by a computer system.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to
To improve the interaction between the system and the person using the computer system. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to improve the interaction between people in a group using computer systems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved input device for a computer system.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an input device capable of connecting a plurality of input means to a computer system having a single input port.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an input device having multiple input means to a computer system such that all of the multiple input means control a single cursor.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an input device having a plurality of input means for a computer system such that the computer system does not determine the activity status of any input means.

[0018]

The present invention accomplishes the above objectives by inserting a controller between a single mouse port of a computer system and a group of mouse-like input devices. Each mouse-like input device receives signals from the computer system and sends signals to the computer system.

The signals transmitted to and received from the plurality of mouse-shaped input devices are transmitted to the computer through the selection control device. The selection controller operates as a switch that selects which mouse-like input device is connected to the input port of the computer system at a time. Computer systems receive signals from multiple input devices that are equivalent to signals received from a signal input device.

The selection controller selects which input device is connected to the computer by the priority system,
The first input device, which is then to send a signal to the computer, takes over the initial control of the cursor input.
The selective control device maintains the relationship between the computer and the first control input device until the first control input device stops transmitting signals for at least a specified period of time.

If the first control input device does not send a signal and its specified period of time elapses, the select control device connects the next input device that sends a signal to the computer system (the next one to send a signal). If the input device is the same input device that is currently connected to the computer system, connect the same.) A selection controller that has a priority system between multiple input devices is a computer
It has the advantage that several mouse-like input devices can be connected to a single input port present in the computer system without changing the operating characteristics of the system.

Moreover, if several mouse-like input devices are used, each individual user of
The cursor can be controlled through the system without passing control of the mouse from one user to another. Moreover, the cursor is controlled to the last position released by the controller in front of the cursor. Both of these effects enhance the natural interaction between the individuals of the group using the computer system and enhance the productivity of the group using the computer system.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a computer system 70 driving a display device 80. In particular, computer system 70 controls the position of cursor 85 on display 80 in response to the cursor control information generated by the plurality of cursor controllers.

The cursor control device is typically a joystick or mouse-like device in which the force of the joystick or the movement of the mouse performed by the user of the cursor control device is shown as a movement imitating the cursor of a computer display device. It is a device. At least two cursor controllers 10, 20
The cursor control information generated from one of the
0 to the computer system 70.
The selection controller 50 provides information compatible with the standard input port interface 60 to the computer system 70.
To the single input port 75.

Computer system 70 shown in FIG.
Has two input ports 75 and 77 corresponding to the respective selection control devices 50 and 55. But,
The number of input ports to computer system 70 may be as high as 100 or more. Similarly, although FIG. 1 shows only two controllers for each selection controller 50, the number of controllers for each selection controller may be as large as ten or more.

Input port 75 through the selection controller 50
Is sent to the input port interface 60
Compatible with. An input port interface to a computer system is a format specification for input data that a particular computer system can accept and process.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 is either an "IBM PS / 2" (IBM trademark) computer system commercially available from International Business Machines Corporation, or a compatible device. Can be used for any personal computer system. A description of the standard locating port interface for this type of computer system can be found in reference "I".
BM Mouse Technical Reference "(IBM Publication No. 68X2229, S68X-2229-00, No. 1
Edition, April 1987), which is incorporated herein by reference.

In particular, interface 60 requires that the cursor control information be sent according to the protocol indicated in the 3 byte (8 bits per byte) data message. The computer system 70 has three
Regardless of how the bytes of data are generated, the position of the cursor 85 on the display is changed to the position corresponding to the three input data bytes. As a result, the selection control device 50
If the data sent from is compatible with the input port interface 60, the position of the display cursor reflects 3 data bytes without modifying the computer system 70.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 in more detail. FIG. 2 shows a mouse / cursor control device 1.
2 shows that the 2 and joystick cursor control device 14 sends cursor control information to the selection control device 50 via the mouse interface 22 and the joystick interface 24, respectively. The mouse interface 22 and joystick interface 24 set up communication between the selection controller and the cursor controller to select cursor control information from the selector controller 50.
To be able to send to.

In particular, the mouse interface 22 is
First Remote Mode (IBM Mouse Technical Refe above)
(described in rence) to interrogate the mouse 12 and initiate communication between the mouse 12 and the interface 22. The mouse interface 22 then measures the time delay between this question and the response from the mouse. Therefore, the mouse interface 22 will be
The interface 22 asks the mouse in remote mode,
The cursor control information is received from the mouse and its speed is measured.

The speed is about 60 times per second, but it depends greatly on the cursor used. The cursor control information received by the mouse interface 22 is 3 data.
It is in the form of bytes. The first and second data bytes represent the amount of mouse movement in the X and Y directions from the currently displayed mouse position. The third data byte is
X direction and Y associated with the first and second data bytes
Sign of movement data in direction (2 bits), X direction and Y
It includes overflow information (2 bits) for the movement data in the direction, a status bit (3 bits), and a reserved bit (1 bit).

These three data bytes are sent to the mouse 12 in response to a question from the mouse interface 22.
It is sent to the selection control device 50 together with the movement control data via the mouse interface 22. The joystick interface 24 also provides the same three data bytes that provide the same cursor movement information to the selection controller on a time basis (discussed below).

The selection control device 50 of FIG.
4 connected to at least two controllers. Figure 3
Illustrates a process in which the selection control device 50 selects a control device. The selection controller maintains an activity bit in its memory corresponding to each cursor controller connected to the selection controller. If the Select Controller sends a 3-byte message with movement data that is not equal to 0 or data that indicates that one of the switches is closed,
The selection controller sets the corresponding activity bit (ie, activity bit = 1).

Whether the selection controller has movement data equal to 0,
Or when sending a 3-byte message with data indicating that the switch is not closed, the activity bit is reset (ie activity bit = 0). This activity bit is set or reset about 60 times per second, corresponding to the number of times the controller controller interface asks the controller controller for the cursor control information.

Step 1 for determining active line search shown in FIG.
00 indicates that the selection controller 50 continuously monitors the activity bit associated with each cursor controller until the activity bit is set. When the activity bit corresponding to one cursor controller is set, the cursor controller is selected (step 110) and the selected controller ceases monitoring for the remaining controllers and, according to the protocol of interface 60, via port 75. Transfer the transfer and switch data to the computer system 70.

The selection of the first cursor controller to be activated is in fact the selection of the priority basis by the parameter of the time at which the data underlying the priority should be transmitted. Other priority schemes, such as assigning priorities regardless of when the data should be sent, can also be used as the basis for selecting a cursor controller.

When the movement data is transferred, the cursor control interface again queries the controller and sends the cursor movement information to the selected controller. The selection controller then sets or resets the activity bit again and in decision step 120 monitors whether the activity bit is set. If the activity bit is reset (i.e. no new move or switch closed), the selection controller initiates a delay period _Td via a start timeout operation (operation step 125).

Even when it becomes inactive, the delay period T
_The selected line is monitored at step 130 until _d expires or the selected line becomes active again (determined at decision step 135). If the selected line becomes active again before the expiration of T _d , the controller returns to decision step 120 to monitor the activity of the selected line.

Before the selected line is active, T _d
If is expired, the selected line is deselected in step 140 and the controller returns to step 100 to monitor the memory of the selected controller for an active cursor controller. The delay period T _d can be set in the range of 0.01 seconds to 10 seconds or more, and a preferable value is about 0.3 seconds.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are more detailed views of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, connected together by a one-dot chain line. The first controller is a conventional joystick 310.
And a switch device 312. The second controller is connected to a conventional mouse through connector 320. The selection controller is under part number S87C752-4A28.
Included in an 8-bit CMOS microcontroller 330 commercially available from Signetics Corporation. Microcontroller 330 also includes equivalent functions of joystick interface 24 and mouse interface 22 shown in FIG.

For convenience, the selection controller can simply integrate several functions into one particular microcontroller integrated circuit, so that the mouse interface and joystick interface for the microcontroller 330 according to the present embodiment. The interfaces are integrated together and configured. It is envisioned by the present invention that the mouse and joystick interfaces be implemented separately from the selection controller. The mouse 320 and the switch device 312 send digital information to the microcontroller 330.

The output of joystick 310 is an analog signal that must be simplified and converted to a digital signal for input to microcontroller 330, as described below. Microcontroller 330
As well as joysticks, mice, and selection controls for computer system interfaces,
It is programmed in a conventional manner to implement the selection controller decision process shown in FIG.

In particular, the microcontroller 330 monitors registers containing input data received from the joystick 310 and the mouse 320. The selection controller selects the first cursor controller to be activated and sends data to the computer system in response to signals generated by the cursor controller while the cursor controller is active. . The cursor control system becomes inactive and T
_If it remains inactive for longer than _d , the selected cursor controller is deselected.

When the selected cursor controller is deselected, the selector controller selects the next cursor controller to become active. The data transmitted from the selection controller to the computer system is the cursor movement data corresponding to the cursor control signal of the selected cursor controller. This data is Joystick Interface 2
It is formed in the form of three 8-bit bytes, the same as the data sent from 4 (or mouse interface 22) to selection controller 50.

As previously mentioned, the joystick 310 does not generate convenient digital data for the selection controller 330. The joystick is an electro-mechanical sensing device that can be electrically represented as a resistive bridge, as shown in FIG. The electro-mechanical sensing device is implemented as an interconnected variable resistance group or strain gauge wrapped around a joystick shaft. When the operator applies a force to the joystick in a direction away from the operator, the resistance or strain gauge increases the resistance 360 and the resistance 3
62 are interconnected in a decreasing manner.

While the force is being applied to the joystick,
Because of the voltage supplied to node 350, when current flows through the resistive bridge, the voltage at node 366 will increase more than if no force was applied. A similar voltage change occurs at node 364 when the joystick is moved to the right of the operator. Also, nodes 366 and 364
Voltage decreases as the joystick is moved toward the operator or to the left of the operator, respectively.

Node 3 for voltage when no force is applied
The voltage changes at 66 and 364 are very small, in the order of a few millivolts. Therefore, for convenience, nodes 366, 36
The voltage of 4 is amplified. The operational amplifiers (op amps) 372 and 370 shown in FIG.
It is connected to the nodes 366 and 364 via 52 (FIG. 4). The operational amplifiers 372 and 370 are connected to the nodes 366 and 364.
It amplifies the voltage from and outputs it to the nodes 334 and 332.

The gain of the operational amplifier 372 is R5, R
6, the value of C1 is set, and the gain of the operational amplifier 370 is set by R1, R2, and C2. The gain of a typical amplifier is about 700, but can range from 1 to 5000. The output of the op amp on lines 332 and 334 has a voltage range of approximately ± 1 volt and is compatible with the analog input requirements of microcontroller 330.

The operational amplifier operates in a differential mode in which the output voltage depends on the voltage difference between the input terminals. The positive input terminal for each op amp is connected to a reference voltage set by resistors R7 and R8. Resistors R7 and R8 are digitally controlled variable resistors and are included in a single integrated circuit manufactured by Dallas Semiconductor (part number DS1267S-10). These resistors are the data line 383, clock line 385, reset line 387 from the microcontroller 330.
Controlled by.

The values of the resistors R7 and R8 are set by the microcontroller each time a voltage signal is applied to the reset line 389 generated by the microcontroller 330 at power-on. Microcontroller 330 adjusts the value of the resistance to cause nodes 332, 33
4 is programmed to be near half the output voltage AVCC on line 350. In particular, if AVCC is 5 volts, the voltage at nodes 332 and 334 is adjusted to about 2.5 volts.

The microcontroller 330 is also a MOSF
Through the ET switch 382, the power control function for the resistive bridge is performed. The gate for switch 382 is controlled by microcontroller 330 via line 384. The microcontroller 330 receives measurement information from the joystick 310 to the microcontroller 3
Switch 382 is turned on before being sent to 30, and switch 382 is turned off when no information is requested from joystick 310. Switch 38
When 2 is turned off, the microcontroller's joystick 310, operational amplifier, and analog-to-digital (A / D) converter are unpowered (discussed below).

The digitally controlled resistor is maintained in power so that it does not lose its original setting. Typically switch 38
2 turns on and off about 200 times per second (varies according to other aspects of the microcontroller), which reduces the power requirements on the joystick interface. This reduction in power is especially beneficial for portable computer systems that also require multiple user interfaces despite requiring low power operation.

When an appropriate level of analog voltage is generated at nodes 332 and 334, joystick 3
The analog voltage representing the force on 10 must be converted to a digital representation of the force. This is accomplished by the A / D converter included in the microcontroller 330. The A / D converter is included in the microcontroller 330 for convenience, but can be separate from the microcontroller.

Microcontroller 330 has one input pin for each input line 332, 334, respectively. Microcontroller 330 converts the analog voltage on each input pin into an 8-bit digital representation. The microcontroller performs the A / D conversion equivalent function for each input pin connected to the input lines 332 and 334.

The microcontroller 330 (which functions as an A / D converter) is the microcontroller 33.
While 0 is powering the joystick through switch 382, it samples the analog signal on input lines 332, 334 at a rate of about 200 times per second. As such, the voltages set at nodes 332, 334 can only be set when beneficial to microcontroller 330. A / D converter function is input line 3
When sampling the voltage at 32,334, two 8-bit numbers representing the magnitude of the voltage are generated and made available to the microcontroller 330.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the process by which the microcontroller 330 converts its A / D output into data suitable for transmission through the selection controller 50 to a computer system. In particular, in step 410 of FIG. 7, the microcontroller sets the values X ₀ , Y ₀ for the joystick signal to the initial 0 and the values X _h , Y _h for the joystick signal to the continuous state, and sets the initial clock value t. Read _h .

The process proceeds to step 420 and when the parameters are initialized, the two output values from the A / D converter are sampled and labeled as X _s and Y _s .
Next, in step 430, the difference between the sampled value and the 0 set value is calculated. At this point, the difference between the sampled value and the default value may be due to the actual force applied to the joystick or as a result of the tolerance value associated with the electronic function implementing the joystick interface. A determination is made as to whether it is due to a change in the output of the D converter (step 440).

The permissible value is related to the environment or manufacturing. If, in the determination at step 440, the difference between the sampled values X _s , Y _s and the continuous state values X _h , Y _h is greater than the allowed value, the step proceeds to 450 and the microcontroller is actually added. Assuming that the force has changed, a new continuation value equal to the sample value is set, and step 455 is entered to reset the clock value t _h .

The allowable values in this implementation are X _s , Y _s and X
_h, the next bit of the least significant bit of the difference between the Y _h is "1"
To be specified. This tolerance may be larger or smaller. If the difference between the sample values and the continuation value is smaller than the allowable value, the microcontroller X _h, Y
Assuming that the difference between _h and X ₀ , Y ₀ is due to fluctuations in the tolerance, proceed to step 460 and set the 0 setpoint X ₀ ,
It must be decided whether or not Y ₀ should be changed.

In step 460, the current time is t
_If it is determined that it is larger than T _{m as} viewed from _h , the routine proceeds to step 470, where X ₀ and Y ₀ are set to the current values of X _h and Y _h , and the routine proceeds to step 455 where the clock value t _h is set. Will be reset. That is, it can be seen that the continuation value was not reset for at least T _m seconds.

Although T _m is about 2.8 seconds, it can be set in the range from fractional seconds to minutes. The value T _m may preferably be in the range 2-4 seconds. This preferred T _m range optimizes the interaction between the joystick operator and the computer system. If the time minus the t _h from the current time (T-t _h) is not greater than T _m, the current 0
Values and continuation values are maintained.

When the microcontroller 330 determines that the 0 value and the continuation value should be updated, the process proceeds to step 480 where the output cursor movement values X _m and Y _m are generated and sent to the selection controller together with the switch setting data. Sent. The values X _m and Y _m are the outputs of the transfer function when the difference value generated in step 430 is taken as an input. In particular, this difference value is treated as a component of the force vector.

The magnitude of the force vector is determined from the difference value, and this magnitude is converted by the transfer function into a cursor velocity vector having the magnitude determined by the transfer function and a direction equal to the direction of the force vector. . The cursor velocity vector is then decomposed into its X _m and Y _m components and sent to the selection controller.

FIG. 8 illustrates a specific transfer function realized in this embodiment. In particular, FIG. 8 is a plot of input force versus cursor velocity. The input force is represented by the X, Y input data (from step 430 in FIG. 7) for the transfer function. The cursor velocity is the relative movement of the cursor during the period between the last time the cursor movement data was sent to the computer system and the current time.

FIG. 8 shows that there are five regions of transfer function that depend on the force applied to the joystick. The first region between f ₀ and f ₁ is the dead band (or resting zone) region where zero velocity is output for a small amount of force. The region between f ₁ and f ₂ is larger than 0 with respect to the input force, but a low velocity V ₁ is output. f ₂ and f region between ₃ also low speed V ₂ to the power of high but input than the speed V ₁
Is output.

The two-step (V ₁ and V ₂ ) feature of the transfer function enhances the user's ability to locate the cursor at a particular location on the display screen, eg, display icon. The region between f ₃ and f ₄ is the region where the high original velocity V ₃ rises. This plateau velocity almost matches the velocity at the eye tracking limit. That is, the speed is the speed at which the human eye can actually track the cursor across the display screen.

This high original speed is as fast as the eye can track the cursor without applying too much force to lose sight of it, and within a wide range so that the user can easily move the cursor across the display screen. It is constant against force. The area between f ₄ and f ₅ is at plateau level. The area exceeding f ₅ sharply rises in the speed / force relationship. This area is the area that allows the user to snap the cursor across the screen almost instantaneously. The plateau speed value is about 60 cm / sec for forces greater than about 225 grams.

The presence of different areas in the transfer function allows facilitating coordination between the user of the controller and the computer system responsive to user input. Another embodiment of the present invention is owned by the same person as the present application and is hereby incorporated by reference in US patent application Ser. No. 07 / 917,091 "Controller for Improved Computer Pointing Devices".
The format of the transfer function described in (filed on November 29, 1990) is incorporated.

The generation of output values (indicated by step 480 in FIG. 7) in this embodiment of the invention is accomplished by conventional programming means of microcontroller 330. This programming means not only produces X _m and Y _m cursor movement values, but also inserts these values, along with the switch data, into a 3-byte format compatible with the port interface 60 of the pointing device shown in FIG. To do.

The generation of the output value 480 according to the invention can also be carried out by a look-up table in memory or by equivalent means such as a separate and wired function generator. Three
Once the byte format output values are generated, they are sent to the computer 70 through the interface 60.

Therefore, the computer system determines the actual display position of the cursor based on the above output value (a part thereof). The display position of the cursor does not directly reflect in the output value due to window edges on the display screen or other restrictions on the display cursor position provided by the computer system.

The embodiments of the present invention described above utilize signals representing force, motion, optics, etc., or other sensor data from one of several cursor controllers to be compatible with computer systems. To convert it to digital data for transmission to a computer system to change the position and status of the cursor on the display of the computer system.

The selection controller 330 only transmits data from the second controller when the first controller is inactive for at least T _d . It is active when transmitting data, which indicates a non-zero cursor movement or a switch closed state. The controller is also compatible with the pointing device port interface to the selective controller.

This also occurs, for example, in step 480 of FIG. 7 in the joystick controller. This period T _d must be long enough that the computer system does not interpret the momentary hesitation of the user of the first control unit as an indication that the user of the first control unit has stopped moving control of the cursor.

However, the time period T _d is also such that different users of different controllers will sense that each activity of different users of the different controllers for that controller is immediately performed by the computer system. Must be short enough (ie, not long enough to not interrupt the user who currently has control). The time period T _d meeting that goal is in the range of 0.1 to 1 second, preferably 0.3 second.

Due to other technical and cultural contexts, the period may be preferable outside the range of 0.1 to 1 second. Such periods may vary within each environment as the permissible pause length between each segment of continuous activity by the user may vary according to the context of the activity within the particular environment. Continuous activity is defined as the transmission of a group of control signals, which indicates that the device sending the control signal did not terminate its activity, even if the control device paused the transmission of the control signal. They are transmitted close enough to each other.

The critical factor for this period is that it is longer than the permissible pause length in terms of the context between each segment of continuous activity by the user, but not so long that it adversely affects the response time to the user. is there. This period is 2 even if the computer only responds to data from a single input port.
It assists the creation of effects on the response of the computer to the above control device.

Another significant factor affecting users of multiple controllers is that the control of the Casa is initiated and stopped by physical activity connected to one of the controllers. That is, one controller can gain control of the cursor without the need for the activity of another controller or computer system.
Moreover, one controller is deactivated by simply deactivating it for a short period of time, so that the user of the other controller can simultaneously control the cursor when the second controller is activated. Seems to be done.

Finally, the present invention is particularly beneficial not only to current computer systems, but to future computer systems, as multiple controllers are connected to a conventional single input port. The above method allows the present invention to be used without reconfiguring or reprogramming existing computer systems. With such a configuration of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost of the present invention for users of a plurality of control devices.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be recognized by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited thereto but can be widely changed and modified within the spirit of the present invention.

[0081]

The present invention is configured as described above,
In particular, by reconnecting multiple input means to a computer system having a single input port so that all of the multiple input means can control a single cursor, the current computer system is re-created. One computer system can be used simultaneously by users of multiple controllers without configuration or reprogramming, which enhances the natural interaction between multiple users and improves their productivity, making them extremely user-friendly. It is possible to provide an input device that is good and inexpensive.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing in more detail a portion according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of selecting a control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a joystick according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of converting a signal representing a force value into a movement signal of a cursor according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a transfer function for converting an input force value into a cursor speed according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 20, 30, 40 control device 12 mouse 14 joystick 22 mouse interface 24 joystick interface 50, 55 selection control device 60 input port interface 70 computer system 75, 77 input port 80 display device 310 joystick 312 Switch device 320 Connector 330 Microcontroller 340 Computer system 360,362 Resistor 370,372 Operational amplifier 380 Integrated circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Robert Stehen Oliha 12603, New York, USA, Lagrang, Meir Road, Artdie 2, 8 (72) Inventor Joseph Della Rutledge United States 10541, New York , Mahopaku, Sycamore Terrace, 11 (72) Inventor Edwin Joseph Selka United States 10016, New York, New York, East 40th Street, # 32 E, 250 (72) Inventor Philip Drew Smith United States 80303, Wilderwood Lane, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An input device for transmitting a signal to a computer system comprising a selection controller connected to at least two cursor controllers, each of the cursor controllers being connected to the selection controller. To the computer system, wherein the selection control device transmits a cursor movement signal corresponding to the control signal to the computer system from one of the selected cursor control devices. When the currently selected cursor control device is inactive for a delay period longer than the periodic inter-transmission period of the control signal from the cursor control device, the selection control device selects the currently selected cursor control device. Deselected to cause another activity cursor controller to transmit a cursor movement signal corresponding to the control signal to the computer system. An input device for transmitting a signal to a computer system characterized in that: 2. The delay period is longer than a front-rear relationship determination pause period that separates the continuous control activity of the second cursor control device from the continuous control activity of the first cursor control device. Input device. 3. A first periodic period between control signal transmissions by a first cursor control device is shorter than a second periodic period between control signal transmissions by a second cursor control device, and said delay period is The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is longer than the second periodic period. 4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the delay period is longer than about 0.1 seconds. 5. The input device according to claim 1, wherein one of the cursor control devices is a mouse, and one of the cursor control devices is a joystick. 6. An input device for transmitting signals to a computer system, comprising an selection controller connected to at least two interface devices each connecting at least one cursor controller, said interface comprising: Each of the devices receives a primary control signal from at least one cursor control device, and each of the interfaces periodically sends a secondary control signal corresponding to the primary control signal to the selection control device, The selection control device transmits a cursor movement signal corresponding to the secondary control signal from one of the selected interface devices to the computer system, and controls the selection control device from the cursor control device. Over a delay period longer than the periodic period between signal transmissions,
When the currently selected cursor controller is inactive,
The selection controller deselects the currently selected cursor controller and sends a cursor movement signal corresponding to the secondary control signal from the other active cursor controller to the computer system. An input device that sends a signal to a featured computer system. 7. A method for transmitting signals from a plurality of cursor control devices to a computer system, the method comprising: selecting a plurality of signals from a plurality of selection control devices connected between the plurality of cursor control devices and the computer system. Detecting the control signal transmitted from the cursor control device, determining the activity status of the cursor control device from the detected control signal, selecting one of a plurality of active cursor control devices, and selecting the selected cursor The controller transmits a signal of the selected cursor controller corresponding to the control signal to the computer system while the controller is in the selected state, and monitors the activity status in the selected cursor controller to monitor the activity status. Indicates when the selected cursor control unit becomes inactive, and when the selected cursor control unit becomes inactive Starting a delay period during the delay period, monitoring the activity status in the selected cursor control device during the delay period, when the inactive state of the selected cursor control device is longer than the delay period, the selection A method for transmitting a signal from a plurality of cursor control devices to a computer system, comprising: deselecting the selected cursor control device. 8. Sample the cursor control data from the cursor control device, compare the sampled cursor control data to the current cursor control data, compare the continuous cursor control data to the sample cursor control data, When the result of the comparison of the continuous cursor control data to the sample cursor control data indicates that the sample cursor control data is valid, the sample
The continuous cursor control data is set to the cursor control data, and the result of the comparison of the continuous cursor control data to the sample cursor control data indicates that the sample cursor control data is invalid, the continuous cursor control data. A method for displaying a cursor position, comprising the steps of: setting the current cursor control data to, and transmitting a signal corresponding to the sample cursor control data to a display device. 9. A controller for connecting to a cursor controller and a display screen for sampling the cursor control data from the cursor controller and transmitting the display data to the display screen, wherein the controller is a current cursor controller. Storing the data and the continuous cursor control data, the controller compares the continuous cursor control data to the sample cursor control data, and when the comparison shows that the sample cursor control data is valid, The continuous cursor control data is set in the sample cursor control data, and the controller sets the current cursor control data in the continuous cursor control data when the comparison shows that the sample data is invalid. A display device for displaying the position of the cursor. 10. A cursor control device comprising a controller control signal generator and a controller connected to a power switch, wherein the controller periodically transmits a signal transmitted from the cursor control signal generator to the controller. The power switch connects the curser control signal generator to a power source, the control device during the period between periodic samples of the signal transmitted from the curser control signal generator to the control device. A cursor control device characterized in that the power switch is turned off.