JPH07146754A - Remote information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a remote information processor executing an information processing by easily performing the input operation to a personal computer by keeping a processor at hand because the processor is small-sized and installation space is not taken. CONSTITUTION:This processor has a liquid crystal display 1 displaying information, a transparent touch panel 7 which is arranged and set on the display surface of the display 1 and performs an input operation, push bottons 3a to 3f provided in the vicinity of the display surface on the liquid crystal display, a display means displaying the image required for the execution of a designated mode on the liquid crystal display based on the mode command inputted from a personal computer, an information means performing the information processing by the operation of the touch panel 7 and the push buttons 3a to 3f based on the image displayed by the display means and a transfer means transferring the processing information of the information means to the personal computer. The means are arranged so that a signal may be delivered and received to/from the personal computer and the processing of information is performed by delivering and receiving the signal with the personal computer.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote information processing apparatus which is used with a personal computer and processes information based on a program of the personal computer. 2. Description of the Related Art Keyboards, digitizers, mice, etc. have been conventionally known as input devices for inputting signals to a personal computer and processing information, and these are technically improved and easy to use. Is proposed.
In these input devices, a keyboard is suitable for inputting characters and numbers, and a digitizer and a mouse are suitable for inputting information by designating coordinate positions of an image on a computer display. Therefore, at the time of information processing, it is required to select and use each of these input devices according to the purpose. Further, in order to avoid the complexity of the input processing performed by selecting the input device in this way, a touch switch is arranged on the CRT display surface of the computer which performs information processing, and the touch switch is manually operated to operate the information signal. A touch switch for inputting is also used. However, this touch switch method is difficult to operate for a long time because the operation position is not at hand, and fingerprints are attached to the CRT display surface so that the display surface is easily soiled. There is a problem that the display screen is difficult to see by hand. On the other hand, in the method of using input devices such as a keyboard, a digitizer, and a mouse, as described above, the operator judges whether to use these devices according to the input state, and, for example, uses a keyboard and a mouse together. However, the input operation is complicated and a certain degree of experience is required to perform a smooth operation. Furthermore, there is a limit to the miniaturization of keyboards, digitizers, mouses, and other input devices, which is unbalanced with the miniaturization of computer bodies, and these input devices occupy many areas of the tabletop space. . In order to solve the problem of the interface between the computer and the operator, especially the input operation, the computer main body, the liquid crystal display and the touch panel are integrated, and the notebook type personal computer is operated by pushing the touch panel with a pen, so-called pen input. Computers have been used in recent years. Since the above-mentioned pen input computer is constructed by integrally laminating the touch panel on the surface of the liquid crystal display, not only information necessary for input control but also output information is included. It is necessary to display comprehensive information on the surface of the liquid crystal display. For this reason, a liquid crystal display of a certain size is required, there is a limit to miniaturization, the screen configuration becomes complicated, visibility cannot be improved, and operability deteriorates. Further, since the liquid crystal display and the touch panel are integrated, it is necessary to prepare an individual touch panel according to the size of the liquid crystal display, which causes a problem in manufacturing cost. The present invention has been made in view of the current state of input processing to a personal computer as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a small size, a small installation space, and a variety of personal computers to be stored at hand. An object is to provide a remote information processing device that executes information processing by simply performing an input operation. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is arranged so that signals can be transmitted and received to and from a personal computer, and signals can be transmitted and received to and from the personal computer. A remote information processing device for processing information by means of a display for displaying information, a transparent touch panel arranged on the display surface of the display for input operation, and provided in the vicinity of the display surface of the display. A selection button, and display means for displaying an image required for executing the designated mode on the display surface based on a mode command input from the personal computer,
An information processing unit that performs information processing by operating the touch panel and the selection button based on the image displayed on the display unit, and a transfer unit that transfers processing information by the information processing unit to the personal computer. It is characterized by having. The remote information processing apparatus of this configuration is used so that signals can be transmitted and received to and from a personal computer, and is designated by the display means based on a mode command input from the personal computer. The image required to execute the mode is displayed on the display surface. Based on the image displayed on the display surface in this way, the information processing means arranges a transparent touch panel on the display surface of the display for input operation, and a selection button provided near the display surface of the display. The information is processed through the operation of and, and the processing information is transferred to the personal computer by the transfer means. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings and FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a ten-key pad of a personal computer in this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a keyboard of a personal computer in this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a case where a game pad of a personal computer is displayed in this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of a case where a handwriting input pad of a personal computer is displayed in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 5 of this embodiment is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a width of about 15 cm, a length of about 11 cm, and a thickness of about 3 cm, and a liquid crystal having a diagonal length of about 5 inches is formed in the central portion of the main body 5. The display 1 is embedded, and a microphone 2 is attached to the main body 5 near one long side of the liquid crystal display 1. Push buttons 3a, 3b and push buttons 3c, 3d are arranged on the main body 5 with the microphone 2 interposed therebetween, and a personal computer (not shown) and the main body 5 are connected from the position of the main body 5 facing the microphone 2. The signal line 6 to be operated is led out, and push buttons 3e and 3f are arranged at the position of the main body 5 which sandwiches the signal line 6. Also, the liquid crystal display 1
A transparent touch panel 7 for input operation is displayed on the display surface of
Is provided. This embodiment is used by connecting to a personal computer by a signal line 6 so that signals can be transmitted and received, and has a function of executing information processing. The main body 5 is provided with a CPU (not shown), and the CPU displays on the liquid crystal display 1 an image required to execute a designated mode based on a mode command input from a personal computer. Based on the image displayed by the display unit and the display unit, the touch panel 7 and the push buttons 3a ...
Information processing means for performing information processing by operation with 3f and transfer means for transferring processing information by the information processing means to a personal computer are provided. Next, the operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described. FIG. 2 shows the case where the mode of the command input from the personal computer is the display mode of the numeric keypad, and when the display mode command of the numeric keypad is input from the personal computer, the liquid crystal display 1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 1 by the display means of the CPU. The numeric keypad 10 is displayed. Therefore, the operator uses the displayed ten-key pad 10 to operate the input pen and push the push buttons 3a ...
When the necessary input operation is performed by the operation of 3f, the CPU
Input information processing is executed by operating the information processing means of
The processing information is transferred to the personal computer by the transfer means of the PU. In this case, the position coordinate of the touch panel 7 is X.
The Y coordinate is set, the origin is the upper left corner position of the touch panel 7, and each touch switch is assigned to the coordinate, and the X coordinate is set.
When the coordinates are set to 0 to 159 and the Y coordinate is set to 0 to 119, the lower left corner of the liquid crystal display 1 (X coordinate 10, Y coordinate) is set.
Pressing (around coordinate 110) means that the numeral 0 is operated in FIG. FIG. 3 shows the case where the mode of the command input from the personal computer is the display mode of the image on the left half of the keyboard of the personal computer. When the display mode command of the keyboard is input from the personal computer, the CPU The left half of the keyboard is displayed on the liquid crystal display 1 by the display means. In this case as well, the same coordinates as in the case of FIG. 2 are set, and when the vicinity of the lower left corner of the liquid crystal display 1 (X coordinate 10, near Y coordinate 110) is pressed, it means that the Kana key is pressed in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a case where the mode of the command input from the personal computer is the display mode of the game pad, and when the display mode command of the keyboard is input from the personal computer, the liquid crystal display surface 1 is displayed by the display means of the CPU. A game pad as shown in the figure is displayed on. In this case, when the operator performs an input operation by a combination of the position of the displayed game pad on the coordinates of the displayed game pad with the input pen and the push operation of the push buttons 3a to 3f, the information processing means of the CPU operates. The information processing is executed by the CPU, and the processing information is transferred to the personal computer by the transfer means of the CPU. FIG. 5 shows the case where the mode of the command input from the personal computer is the handwriting display mode,
When this handwriting display mode command is input from the personal computer, the display means of the CPU causes the liquid crystal display 1 to display an image required for handwriting input as shown in FIG. In this case, when the operator pushes the switch of the touch panel 7 to form a character while changing the position in a short time, the information processing means of the CPU operates to execute the information processing of the handwriting input, and The processing information is transferred to the personal computer by the transfer means. By the way, the CR of the personal computer
Since the standard display mode of the T display is 640 pixels in the horizontal direction and 480 pixels in the vertical direction, the image output to the display device of the personal computer can be displayed in the vertical and horizontal directions.
If the size is reduced to ½, that is, the area ratio is reduced to ¼, it can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 1 of this embodiment.
Therefore, in the embodiment, if the mode of the instruction input from the personal computer is the display mode of the display image of the personal computer, the display means of the CPU causes the display image of the personal computer to be displayed in the vertical and horizontal directions on the liquid crystal display 1. An image reduced to the size of / 2 is displayed. In this case, when the operator performs a necessary input operation based on the icon of the command function of the displayed image, the information processing means of the CPU operates to execute the input information processing, and the transfer means of the CPU causes the information processing to be performed. The processing information is transferred to the personal computer. In this case, 4 of the image on the CRT display is displayed.
The pixel portion is displayed as one pixel on the liquid crystal display 1, and one switch of the touch panel 7 corresponds to 16 pixels of 4 vertical pixels and 4 horizontal pixels on the CRT display.
When executing a program such as graphics on a personal computer, the positioning operation of the cursor of the mouse or digitizer corresponding to one pixel on the CRT display is performed, but if it is a normal office program,
It is not necessary to position the cursor on a pixel-by-pixel basis of the CRT display, and the function can be controlled simply by positioning the cursor on the icon of the command function displayed on the screen or near the character. Therefore, assigning 16 pixels of the CRT display to one switch on the touch panel does not pose a big problem. By displaying the entire screen on the liquid crystal display 1 and positioning the cursor, the icons and function commands can be specified. To control the program. Further, if the mode of the command input from the personal computer is a display mode of a part of the display image of the personal computer, the display means of the CPU causes, for example, 1 of all images at an arbitrary position on the CRT display. The / 4 image is cut out in a window shape and displayed on the liquid crystal display. In this case, one image on the CRT display of the personal computer is displayed corresponding to one pixel of the liquid crystal display 1, and one switch on the touch panel 7 corresponds to four pixels of the CRT display, and full screen display is performed. You can position the cursor more finely than in the case. In this way, by cutting out the entire screen of the CRT display or a part thereof into a window shape and displaying it on the liquid crystal display 1, the present embodiment can include the functions of the conventional mouse or digitizer. Further, if the mode of the command input from the personal computer is the voice input mode, the CP
A message "You can input voice" is displayed on the liquid crystal display 1 by the display means of U, and when the operator inputs voice from the microphone 2, the information processing means of the CPU operates and the voice signal becomes the input signal. The input signal is converted, input information processing is executed by this input signal, and the processing information is transferred to the personal computer by the transfer means of the CPU. In this case, although the microphone 2 is fixed to the main body 5 in the present embodiment, the microphone 2 may be provided as a separate body and the cord thereof may be connected to the main body 5 for use. In any case, when the processing information is transferred to the personal computer by the transfer means of the CPU, the personal computer associates the image of the mode of the command input to the main body 5 according to the embodiment with the transfer information. The processing is performed, and the program being executed is advanced to the next stage according to the result. The liquid crystal display 1 can also be used as a simple auxiliary display. In this case, a VRAM dedicated to the remote controller is provided on the personal computer side, and the remote monitor type VRAM is provided.
It is possible to cause the liquid crystal display 1 to display the contents of. It is also possible to receive only the display command from the personal computer, read the image from the ROM in the remote controller, and display the image on the liquid crystal display. In the embodiment, the case where the main body is connected to the personal computer by the communication line has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and the main body and the personal computer are connected by the wireless line. It is also possible to adopt a different configuration. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to always keep it at hand and operate it, and only the image necessary for the next processing is displayed on the liquid crystal display based on the execution program of the personal computer. This makes it possible to perform input information selection processing efficiently, rather than selecting from exhaustive display as in the past, and simplifying complicated information input processing without selecting multiple devices. In addition, since the information processing is performed by displaying only the image necessary for the input information processing of the personal computer, the liquid crystal display can be significantly downsized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a ten-key pad of a personal computer in the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a keyboard of a personal computer in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the game pad of the personal computer displayed in the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the handwriting input pad of the personal computer in the embodiment. [Explanation of Codes] 1 Liquid crystal display 2 Microphones 3a to 3f Push button 5 Main body

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A remote information processing device, which is arranged so as to be able to send and receive signals to and from a personal computer, and which sends and receives signals to and from the personal computer to process information. A display for displaying information, a transparent touch panel arranged on the display surface of the display for input operation, a selection button provided in the vicinity of the display surface of the display, and input from the personal computer Based on a mode command, display means for displaying an image necessary for executing a designated mode on the display surface, and based on the image displayed on the display means, by operating the touch panel and the selection button, An information processing means for performing information processing, and a transfer means for transferring processing information by the information processing means to the personal computer. Remote information processing apparatus, characterized by. 2. The remote information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode of the mode command is a pad display mode of at least a part of an input operation unit of the personal computer. 3. The remote information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode of the mode command is a display mode of at least a part of a display screen of the personal computer. 6. The remote information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode of the mode command is a handwriting display mode. 7. The remote information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode of the mode command is a voice input mode. 8. The remote information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.