JPH0785032A - Device and method for preparing document - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform a pen input in addition to a key input with a keyboard without enlarging circuit scale so much. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a tablet input part 16 integrally installed on the screen of a liquid crystal display panel 18 so as to generate the coordinate data of a correspondent coordinate position with the touch operation of a stylus pen, a function to be executed by the key operation of a keyboard 14 is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 18, when any arbitrary position on the tablet input part 16 is touched by a stylus pen based on the indication, a tablet controller 17 judges the function instructed by the pen input from the coordinate data generated from the tablet input part 16, a key code in the case of instructing the function with the key operation of the keyboard 14 is generated corresponding to the judged result, and the key code is sent to a keyboard interface 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document preparation device and method such as a Japanese word processor having a pen input function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in most Japanese word processor models, the input is performed by key operation on a keyboard. As the function as a word processor is gradually improved, one or more keys generally called function selection keys are provided to execute many various functions with a limited number of keys. By operating the and existing keys in combination, a plurality of types of key inputs can be made with one key.

However, for example, the position of an arbitrary point on the display screen is designated in the graphic mode for creating a graphic on a document.
As a method for assisting a pointing instruction or the like, which is relatively difficult to operate with a keyboard, a word processor having a pen input function in addition to the keyboard has been commercialized in recent years.

In the word processor having the pen input function, a tablet input section with transparent electrodes is integrally formed on the screen of the display section, and a pointing operation or a writing operation is performed on the tablet with a dedicated pen called a stylus pen. As a result, the position of an arbitrary point on the screen or the displayed item can be input, or handwritten characters can be input.

[0005]

However, in the word processor having the pen input function as described above, it is necessary to perform both input control of the key input by the keyboard and the pen input by the stylus pen. However, there is a problem that the circuit scale becomes large and the load required for the input control of the CPU that controls the overall operation becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to perform pen input in addition to key input on a keyboard without increasing the circuit scale so much. An object of the present invention is to provide a document creation device and method such as a Japanese word processor that can be used.

[0007]

That is, the present invention comprises a tablet input unit which is integrally provided on the screen of the display unit and which generates coordinate data of a corresponding coordinate position by a touch operation with a stylus pen. Section displays functions that can be executed by key operations on the keyboard, and when the stylus pen touches an arbitrary position on the tablet input section based on this display, pen input is made from coordinate data generated from the tablet input section. The function instructed by is judged, and the key code is generated when the function is instructed by the key operation on the keyboard according to the judgment result.

[0008]

With the above-described structure, the input signal from the pen input can be treated in the same manner as the input signal from the key operation on the keyboard, so that the increase in the circuit scale can be suppressed and the input control of the CPU is required. It is possible to perform pen input in addition to key input on the keyboard without increasing the burden so much.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a Japanese word processor will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall circuit configuration. 11 is a microprocessor (CPU), 12 is a RAM accessed by the microprocessor 11, and 13 is a ROM.

Microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as CPU)
Reference numeral 11 controls the entire apparatus. The RAM 12 and the ROM 13 are accessed to start a program according to an input instruction to execute a document creation process, an external character creation process, and a key input control process.

The RAM 12 controls each of a document area, a line image area (print buffer), an external character registration area, a word registration area, and a cursor position register for storing the cursor position on the document display screen. It consists of an area for storing information.

The ROM 13 stores a program area 13a in which a program for determining the operation of the CPU 11 and an input processing program including a cursor control routine associated with key input are stored, as well as display or print character patterns. It has a character pattern area 13b to be stored, a dictionary area 13c in which various dictionaries for converting readings input in kana or romaji into kanji are registered.

Further, 14 is a keyboard, 18 is a liquid crystal display panel which is a display section, 16 is a tablet input section integrally provided on the liquid crystal display panel 18, 22 is a floppy disk device (FDD), 24 Is a printer.

The keyboard 14 inputs input information necessary for creating a document or the like into the CPU 11 via a keyboard interface (KB-IF) 15. In addition to the character keys, cursor keys, etc., this keyboard 14 has these character keys and keys.
Various function keys are provided, including a function selection key for executing various functions in combination with a Sol key and the like, and a “select / execute” key for instructing execution of various functions.

The liquid crystal display panel 18 is, for example, 40 characters × 20.
It is composed of a transmissive liquid crystal display panel for displaying rows, and has a backlight device (not shown) on the back side thereof. The display controller (display-CNT) 19 controls the display of the liquid crystal display panel 18 by using the VRAM 20 under the control of the CPU 11.

The tablet input unit 16 is a transparent unit integrally provided on the liquid crystal display panel 18, and a stylus pen (not shown) constitutes, for example, an electromagnetic induction type digitizer. However, the input / output unit 21 integrated with the tablet input unit 16 and the liquid crystal display panel 18 is provided.
It displays the names of various functions on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 18, and the tablet input section
When the pointing operation or the writing operation of the stylus pen is performed by 16, the x and y coordinate data corresponding to the operation is generated. This tablet input unit 16 is a CP via a tablet controller (tablet-CNT) 17.
Although the input operation is performed under the control of U11, the generated data is converted into the corresponding key code in the tablet controller 17, and the above keyboard interface 15 is used.
Sent to.

The floppy disk device 22 stores a created document and stores external characters and second level characters under the control of the CPU 11 via a disk interface (FDD-IF) 23.

The printer 24 prints the created document or the character information read into the main body from the floppy disk device 22 under the control of the CPU 11 via the printer interface (PRT-IF) 25.

Next, the configuration of the pen input processing circuit provided in the tablet controller 17 will be described with reference to FIG. Data of a screen number indicating a screen state displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 18 in the figure is input to the pen input control unit 31 in the tablet controller 17 under the control of the CPU 11. Further, x and y coordinate data obtained by pen input of the stylus pen at the tablet input unit 16 is stored in the pen input position storage unit 32 in the tablet controller 17, and the stored contents of the pen input position storage unit 32 are the above-mentioned pen contents. It is read to the input control unit 31.

The pen input control section 31 inputs the screen number data and the effective pen input range storage section 33 and the pen input based on the x and y coordinate data indicating the pen input position stored in the pen input position storage section 32. By referring to the position / function conversion unit 34 and the function / key code conversion unit 35, a key code corresponding to the pen input position is generated, and the key code buffer 36 is used to generate the key code.
Output to the board interface 15.

Here, the effective pen input range storage unit 33 indicates the effective range of the pen input position on each display screen, and the pen input position / function conversion unit 34 indicates the effective range of the pen input position on each display screen and its range. The function / key code conversion unit 35 stores the key code corresponding to the designated function, and each of them can be realized, for example, in a table lookup format by a ROM storing a conversion table. Therefore, the effective pen input range storage unit 33, the pen input position / function conversion unit 34, and the function /
If the key code conversion unit 35 is integrated into one circuit (ROM storing a conversion table) and the coordinate data of the pen input position is input, if it is outside the valid range, data indicating that is output, and the valid data is output. It is possible to directly output the key code corresponding to the designated function within the range, but here, for the sake of explanation, it is shown by being divided into three circuits.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which a large number of functions are grouped by type and displayed in a window on the liquid crystal display panel 18. Hereinafter, this display address is referred to as "function menu". In this "function menu", each function is classified into five types (genres), that is, "cursor", "edit", and "insert / delete".
Classify into “conversion / shift” and “(other) function”,
These genre names are displayed as genre indexes JI1 to JI5 on the top line in the window and, for example, the top genre index "cursor" JI1 is displayed.
Various functions such as “previous screen”, “next screen”, “beginning of sentence”, “end of sentence”, etc. (in this case, the name to which the cursor is moved) are displayed in a rectangle with the function name. Hereinafter, the rectangle and the rectangle of the genre index are collectively referred to as a button.

Here, if the button of the second genre index "edit" JI2 of the tablet input section 16 is designated by the touch input of the stylus pen, the input processing shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

FIG. 3 shows an input process performed by the tablet controller 17 and the keyboard interface 15 in response to a key input on the keyboard 14 and a pen input on the tablet input section 16. In the figure, first, a key input or a pen input is accepted (step S1).

Here, when the input is made by the key operation of the keyboard 14, the key code is made by the keyboard touch on the keyboard interface 15 by the pen touch on the tablet input section 16. In this case, the coordinate data of the touched position is input to the tablet controller 17.

Thereafter, the pen input control unit 31 in the tablet controller 17 determines that the input is made by the pen based on the stored contents of the pen input position storage unit 32 (step S2), and the pen input position storage unit 32 stores the input. Screen number data and effective pen input range storage unit 33 based on the coordinate data
The effective input range of the corresponding screen stored in is referred to to determine whether the pen input position is within the effective range, that is, whether the pen input position is within the button displaying the function name (step S3).

In this case, the pen input control unit 31 determines that the pen input position is valid, then refers to the pen input position / function conversion unit 34 based on the pen input position, and the specified function is 2 The second genre index “edit” JI2 is obtained, and the stored contents of the pen input position storage unit 32 are deleted. Then, the key code corresponding to this genre index "edit" JI2 is read out by referring to the function / key code conversion unit 35 and set in the key code buffer 36 (step S4).

After that, the key input or the pen input is accepted again (step S1). Here, the key code set in the key code buffer 36 is regarded as the key input by the keyboard interface 15, and the key code set in the key code buffer 36 is determined through step S2. It is sent to the CPU 11 side and the corresponding key processing is executed (step S5). In this case, although the input method is actually a pen, the CP
In U11, the corresponding processing of the input by the key is executed.

As a result, the screen displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 18 is switched as shown in FIG. 5, and various functions in the second genre index "edit" JI2 instead of the first genre index "cursor" JI1, for example, " Buttons such as "copy", "move", and "block" are displayed.

Here, if the "move" button is designated by touch input with the stylus pen, the input processing shown in FIG. 3 is executed again.

That is, first, a key input or a pen input is accepted (step S1), and it is determined that the input is a pen input.
31 determines based on the stored contents of the pen input position storage unit 32 (step S2), and based on the coordinate data stored in the pen input position storage unit 32, the screen number data and the effective pen input range storage unit 33 are stored. By referring to the effective input range of the screen, it is determined whether or not the pen input position is within the button displaying the function name (step S3).

In this case, the pen input control unit 31 determines that the pen input position is valid, then refers to the pen input position / function conversion unit 34 based on the pen input position, and the designated function is ""Move" is obtained and the stored contents of the pen input position storage unit 32 are erased. Then, the key code corresponding to this "move" is read by referring to the function / key code conversion unit 35 and set in the key code buffer 36 (step S4).

After that, the key input or the pen input is accepted again (step S1). Here, the key code set in the key code buffer 36 is regarded as the key input by the keyboard interface 15, and the key code set in the key code buffer 36 is determined through step S2. It is sent to the CPU 11 side and the corresponding key processing is executed (step S5). Also in this case,
Although the input method is actually using a pen, C
The PU 11 executes a corresponding process of key input.

As a result, the screen displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 18 is switched as shown in FIG. 6, and the "move" pen operation window POW is displayed. 6 (A) to 6
(C) shows a display example of the pen operation window POW.

In addition to the pen operating method shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a pen operating method as shown in FIG. 7 can be considered. That is, FIG. 7 exemplifies a format setting screen when a document is created by a Japanese word processor.

As shown in the figure, when the cursor C is in the switching item portion of the "Japanese" document and the "English" document in the input mode, for example, when the paper type in the print mode is switched from the thermal transfer paper to the thermal recording paper, the key is pressed. If you want to use the keystrokes on the board 14, move the cursor down arrow key "↓" eight times to move the cursor C to the paper type item in the print mode, and then press the right cursor key again. "→"
Alternatively, it is necessary to operate the “next candidate” key once to switch from the previously selected “thermal transfer paper” to “thermal recording paper”.

In the case of pen input of the tablet input unit 16, however, by directly specifying the "thermal recording paper" portion of the paper type item portion of the print mode from the state shown in FIG. 7 by touch input of the stylus pen, It is possible to immediately switch from the previously selected “thermal transfer paper” to “thermal recording paper”.

In this case, in the input processing of FIG. 3, first, a key input or a pen input is accepted (step S
1) The pen input control unit 31 in the tablet controller 17 determines that the input is made by a pen based on the stored contents of the pen input position storage unit 32 (step S2) and is stored in the pen input position storage unit 32. Based on the coordinate data, reference is made to the screen number data and the effective input range of the corresponding screen stored in the effective pen input range storage unit 33, and whether or not the pen input position is the selection position of any of the switching items of each mode. It is determined (step S3).

In this case, the pen input control unit 31 determines that the pen input position is valid, then refers to the pen input position / function conversion unit 34 based on the pen input position, and the specified selection item The contents stored in the pen input position storage unit 32 are erased as well as being obtained as "thermal recording paper". Then, the key code corresponding to this "thermosensitive recording paper", here the key code of the down cursor key "↓" x 8 and the right cursor key "→" or the key code of the "next candidate" key x
1 is read out by referring to the function / key code conversion unit 35 and set in the key code buffer 36 (step S4).

Then, the key input or the pen input is accepted again (step S1). Here, the key code set in the key code buffer 36 is regarded as the key input by the keyboard interface 15, and the key code set in the key code buffer 36 is determined through step S2. It is sent to the CPU 11 side and the corresponding key processing is executed (step S5). In this case as well, although the input method is actually using the pen, the CP
In U11, the corresponding processing of the input by the key is executed.

As a result, in the initial setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 18, after the cursor C is instantly moved to the paper type item portion of the print mode, the selection item from "thermal transfer paper" to "thermal recording paper" is selected. Can be switched.

[0044]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, since the input signal by the pen input can be treated in the same manner as the input signal by the key operation on the keyboard, the enlargement of the circuit scale can be suppressed and the CPU It is possible to provide a document creation device and method that can perform pen input in addition to key input on a keyboard without significantly increasing the load required for input control.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a pen input processing circuit provided in the tablet controller of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing contents for key input or pen input according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a part of a display screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a part of a display screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a part of a display screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an initial setting screen according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Microprocessor (CPU), 12 ... RAM, 13 ...
ROM, 13a ... Program area, 13b ... Character pattern area, 13c ... Dictionary area, 14 ... Keyboard board, 15 ... Keyboard board (KB-IF), 16 ... Tablet input section, 17 ... Tablet controller (tablet-CN
T), 18 ... Liquid crystal display panel, 19 ... Display controller (display CNT), 20 ... VRAM, 21 ... Input / output section, 22 ... Floppy disk device (FDD), 23 ... Disk interface (FDD-IF), 24 ... printer, 25 ... printer interface (PRT-IF), 31 ... pen input control unit,
32 ... Pen input position storage unit, 33 ... Effective pen input range storage unit, 34 ... Pen input position / function conversion unit, 35 ... Function / key code conversion unit, 36 ... Key code buffer.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A document creation device comprising a keyboard and a display unit, the tablet being integrally provided on the screen of the display unit and generating coordinate data of corresponding coordinate positions by a touch operation with a stylus pen. An input unit, a display control unit for displaying a function that can be executed by a key operation of the keyboard on the display unit, and an arbitrary position on the tablet input unit by the stylus pen based on the display of the function name of the display control unit. The function designated by the pen input means is judged from the pen input means for touch operation and the coordinate data generated from the tablet input section, and the function is designated by the key operation on the keyboard according to the judgment result. And a key code generating means for generating a key code in the case. 2. A display unit displays a function that can be executed by a key operation of a keyboard, is integrally provided on the screen of this display unit, and generates coordinate data of a corresponding coordinate position by a touch operation with a stylus pen. The tablet input unit touches an arbitrary position on the tablet input unit with the stylus pen based on the display of the function name on the display unit, and the touch operation is performed based on the coordinate data generated from the tablet input unit by the touch operation. A document creating method characterized in that a function instructed by an operation is judged, and a key code is generated when the function is instructed by a key operation on the keyboard according to the judgment result.