JPH10124240A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the input device of a touch panel system, which can realize a simultaneously key operation for defining a special command by the same operation method as simultaneous key input to which the experience person for the use of the personal computer of the input device by a keyboard is accustomed. SOLUTION: Plural additional switches 13-15 are provided for the display screen of the keyboard 11 displayed on a display part 4 for key input and various additional functions stored in an external storage device are registered in the additional switches 13-15. At the time of key input, an additional switch function selection part deals a command and data, which are continuously key-inputted by a touch panel as key inputs which are simultaneously depressed as the selected additional function when one of the additional switches 13-15 is depressed and the registered simultaneous depression key operation function is recognized to be selected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, a portable terminal apparatus, and a notebook personal computer.
The present invention relates to an input device using a touch panel such as a touch panel, and more particularly to simplification of inputting various functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an input device for key input of information such as characters and various images, the number of key touches for inputting various information is so large that key input is not easy. A key input device for reducing the number of times of key touch is disclosed in, for example,
No. 22 discloses this. The key input device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 3-219322 converts data into character data corresponding to each shift state of English characters, English symbols, kana and kana symbols. A conversion table is provided, and when a temporary shift switching key added to the keyboard is pressed, an arbitrary shift state, for example, an alphabetical shift state, is temporarily changed to a desired shift state, for example, an English symbol shift state. By switching, the number of key touches is reduced, and smooth key input is performed.

[0003] In a personal computer using a keyboard, for example, "Ctrl + Alt + Delete", "A
lt + half-width / full-width ”or“ C
Special commands are defined by simultaneous key operations such as "trl + Character" and "Shift + Character" for smooth key input.

[0004]

As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-219322, it is necessary to temporarily switch from an arbitrary shift state to a desired shift state by pressing a temporary shift switch key. , The user had to learn a new operation method. Further, although the shift state of each of the alphabetic characters, English symbols, kana and kana symbols can be temporarily switched, other additional functions cannot be switched and selected.

In a personal computer using a keyboard, a special command is defined by simultaneous key operations so that a smooth key input can be performed. A touch panel is arranged, and a keyboard is
Input devices that display characters and input various information such as characters using a touch panel cannot be specified at the same time by pressing two points at the same time. I can't. On the other hand, a method may be considered in which a dedicated button is provided for the command definition of simultaneous key press on the keyboard displayed on the display device, or a step-by-step selection is performed by a pull-down menu. However, when the dedicated button is provided, the screen becomes complicated,
There are problems such as having to learn new operations,
The method of selecting in a step-by-step manner from the pull-down menu complicates the operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and has the same operation method as a simultaneous key input which is used by a person who has used a personal computer of an input device by a keyboard. Such as defining special commands with
It is an object of the present invention to obtain a touch panel type input device that can be operated.

[0007]

An input device according to the present invention includes a display device, a transparent touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display device, and pressing position detecting means for detecting a pressing position of the touch panel. In an input device for displaying a code and inputting through a touch panel, the keyboard
A plurality of additional switch areas for inputting various additional functions for the keyboard, and when the additional switch area is pressed and the keyboard is pressed, the additional function specified by the pressed additional switch area is displayed. The present invention is characterized in that a function specified by a keyboard is executed.

It is desirable that the keyboard has an additional function registration key for selecting and registering additional functions to be registered in a plurality of additional switch areas.

It is preferable to store that the additional switch area is depressed, and to continuously execute the additional function and the function specified by the keyboard.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An input device according to the present invention comprises a control unit, a main storage unit, a display unit, a touch panel, a touch point detection unit, a detachable external storage device, an additional switch function registration unit, and an additional switch function selection unit. The display screen of the keyboard displayed on the display unit for key input has a plurality of additional switch areas. The external storage device stores application programs for various additional functions. The additional switch function registration unit registers various additional functions stored in the external storage device in each area of the additional switch when the keyboard is displayed on the display unit. The additional switch function selection unit is configured such that, when any one of the areas of the additional switch is pressed and the keyboard is pressed, the additional function specified by the pressed additional switch and the key specified by the keyboard. A function is selected and sent to the control unit as a simultaneous press key input.

When registering various additional functions stored in the external storage device, the user depresses the additional function registration key on the keyboard display screen and selects registration of the additional functions stored in the external storage device. Then, the application program and data of the additional function stored in the external storage device are transferred to the main storage unit. The additional switch function registration unit displays the information indicating the additional function and the guidance transferred to the main storage unit. The user checks this display and selects information to be registered in each area of the additional switch. The additional switch function registration unit registers the selected simultaneous depression key operation function in the main storage unit for each additional switch. In this way, any additional function stored in the external storage device can be registered in each area of the additional switch.

When the keyboard screen is displayed and key input is performed, the additional switch function selecting section selects a registered simultaneous press key operation function by pressing any area of the additional switch. When it is confirmed that the command or data entered by the keyboard of the touch panel
Is handled as a keypress input simultaneously with the selected additional function. In this way, the keyboard using the actual keyboard can be used.
Simultaneous pressing key input operation can be performed by the same processing as the key input processing of the sonal computer.

Further, when any area of the additional switch is depressed, its state is stored, and the input of the subsequently depressed command or the like is handled as a continuous input. A plurality of commands such as "Ctrl + Alt + Delete", which are input by a personal computer using the keypad, can be simultaneously pressed.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, an input device 1 includes a control unit 2 for managing the operation of the entire device, a main storage unit 3, a display unit 4, a touch panel 5, a touch point detection unit 6, a detachable external storage device 7, and an additional switch function. It has a registration unit 8 and an additional switch function selection unit 9. As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 4 displays a keyboard 11 and an application screen 12 and inputs a plurality of, for example, three additional switches 13 for inputting various additional functions for the keyboard. To 15 are displayed. The keyboard 11 has an additional function registration key 16. The touch panel 5 is formed of a transparent resistive film and is disposed on the front of the display unit 4. The pressed point detection unit 6 includes an X-axis drive driver and a Y-axis drive driver.
It has an axis driving driver and an AD converter for reading and outputting, a keyboard 11 and an additional switch 1 of the touch panel 5.
When a point corresponding to a position such as 3 to 15 is pressed, the pressed point is specified and sent to the control unit 2. The external storage device 7 stores application programs for various additional functions. When the keyboard 11 is displayed on the display unit 4, the additional switch function registering unit 8 stores the additional switches 13 to 15.
The various additional functions stored in the external storage device 7 are registered. The additional switch function selection unit 9 includes additional switches 13-1.
When any one of the keys 5 is pressed and the keyboard 11 is pressed, the control unit selects the additional function specified by the pressed additional switch and the function specified by the keyboard 11. 2
Send to

When an application requiring the keyboard 11 is selected by the input device 1, a screen of the keyboard 11 is displayed on the display unit 4 as shown in FIG. . In this state, when the user presses the key position required by the displayed keyboard 11 from the touch panel 5, the pressed point detection unit 6 specifies the coordinates of the pressed position and performs control. Part 2
Send to The control unit 2 determines the specified coordinates and the display unit 4 at that time.
Is input to specify the character or command at the pressed position based on the information displayed in the section.

The operation when the input device 1 configured as described above executes the application programs of various additional functions stored in the external storage device 7 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. I will explain.

When an application requiring the keyboard 11 is selected by the input device 1, and the screen of the keyboard 11 is displayed on the display unit 4 as shown in FIG. When registering the various additional functions stored in the external storage device 7 into 13 to 15, the additional function registration key 16 of the keyboard 11 is depressed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Then, the registration of the additional function stored in the external storage device 7 is selected (step S1). By this selection, the application program and data of the additional function stored in the external storage device 7 are transferred to the main storage unit 3. The additional switch function registration unit 8 stores additional functions transferred to the main storage unit 3, for example, information "Ctrl", "Alt", and "Sif" indicating a simultaneous press key operation.
The guidance such as "t" is displayed (step S2). The user confirms this display and inputs the information registered in each of the additional switches 13 to 15 to each of the additional switches 13 to 1 on the touch panel 5.
5 and the information display position (step S3), the additional switch function registration unit 8 registers the selected simultaneous press key operation function in the main storage unit 3 for each of the additional switches 13 to 15 (step S4). For example, information "Ctrl" indicating the simultaneous pressing key operation is selected for the additional switch 13, information "Alt" indicating the simultaneous pressing key operation is selected for the additional switch 14, and When the information “Shift” indicating the press key operation is selected, the additional switch function registration unit 8 causes the additional switch 13 to correspond to the command “Ctrl +” as shown in FIG.
The “Alt +” command is associated with the additional switch 14, and the “Shift +” command is associated with the additional switch 15, and the additional switch storage area 31 of the main storage unit 3.
Register with. In this way, any additional functions stored in the external storage device 7 can be registered in the additional switches 13 to 15.

For example, "Ctrl +", "Alt +", "Shift +" registered in the additional switches 13 to 15 as described above.
When the simultaneous pressing key is input by the command of (1), as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
It is confirmed whether the additional switches 13 to 15 have been pressed and the registered simultaneous pressing key operation function has been selected (steps S11, S12, S13). When the additional switch function selector 9 confirms that the additional switch 13 has been pressed and the command “Ctrl +” has been selected, the flag A in the additional switch storage area 31 of the main storage 3 is checked.
Is set to "1", and the flags B and C are cleared to "0" to indicate that the command "Ctrl +" is selected (step S14). Subsequently, the keyboard of the touch panel 5
When there is a key input of the key 11 and, for example, "Page Up" is pressed (step S18), the additional switch function selection unit 9 treats it as a simultaneous press key input of "Ctrl + Page Up" (step S19). When it is confirmed that the additional switch 14 has been pressed and the command “Alt +” has been selected, the flag B of the additional switch storage area 31 of the main storage unit 3 is set to “1”, and the flags A and C are set to “1”. 0 "to indicate that the command" Alt + "has been selected (step S15). Then touch the key of touch panel 5
When there is a key input of the board 11 and, for example, "half-width / full-width" is pressed (step S18), the additional switch function selection unit 9 treats it as a simultaneous pressing key input of "Alt + half-width / full-width" (step S19). ). Also, additional switch 1
When the user confirms that the “Shift +” command is selected by pressing “5”, the additional switch storage area 3 of the main storage unit 3 is checked.
The flag C of 1 is set to "1", the flags A and B are cleared to "0", indicating that the command "Shift +" is selected (step S16). Subsequently, there is a key input of the keyboard 11 of the touch panel 5, for example, "H
When "ome" is pressed (step S18), the additional switch function selection unit 9 treats it as a simultaneous pressing key input of "Shift + Home" (step S19). In this way, a simultaneous depression key input operation can be performed by a process similar to the key input process of the personal computer using the actual keyboard.

Further, the additional switch function selection section 9 treats any of the additional switches 13 to 15 as being depressed and a key input of the keyboard 11 of the touch panel 5 as a single key input (step S17). ). This simultaneous press key
The input process and the single key input process are repeated until the key input is completed (step S20).

In the above embodiment, the additional switches 13 to 1
5 is pressed when the keyboard 11 of the touch panel 5 is pressed after any one of the buttons 5 is pressed, and each time the key is pressed simultaneously, the additional switches 13 to 13 are pressed. Although the case where the additional switch 13 is pressed has been described, for example, when the additional switch 13 is pressed, the state is stored, and the input of the subsequently pressed command is treated as a continuous command. "Ctrl" entered on a personal computer using
+ Alt + Delete ”can also be input.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, when registering various additional functions, information and guidance of various additional functions are displayed, and based on the display, the information is displayed on the display unit for key input. Since the information to be registered in the areas of the plurality of additional switches displayed on the display screen of the keyboard is selected and registered, an optional additional function can be registered in each area of the additional switches.

When a key is input, any area of the additional switch is depressed and registered at the same time.
When it was confirmed that the operation function was selected, the command or data input by the keyboard of the touch panel was subsequently handled as a simultaneous press key input with the selected additional function. Simultaneous depression key input operation can be performed by the same processing as the key input processing of the personal computer using the actual keyboard, and the key input operation is performed easily and smoothly. be able to.

Also, when any area of the additional switch is pressed, the state is stored, and the input of the subsequently pressed command or the like is treated as continuous, so that a plurality of commands are simultaneously pressed. Key input can be performed, and key input operation can be made easier.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a keyboard display screen.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an additional function registration operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a key input operation of the embodiment.
It is.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 input device 2 control unit 3 main storage unit 4 display unit 5 touch panel 6 pressed point detection unit 7 external storage device 8 additional switch function registration unit 9 additional switch function selection unit 11 keyboard 12 application screens 13 to 15 Additional switch 16 Additional function registration key 31 Additional switch storage area

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input device comprising: a display device; a transparent touch panel disposed in front of the display device; and pressed position detecting means for detecting a pressed position of the touch panel. , A plurality of additional switch areas for inputting various additional functions for the keyboard, and when the additional switch area is depressed and the keyboard is depressed, the depressed additional switch area An input device for executing an additional function specified by (1) and a function specified by a keyboard. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard has an additional function registration key for selecting and registering an additional function to be registered in a plurality of additional switch areas. 3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the fact that the additional switch area has been pressed is stored, and the additional function and the function specified by the keyboard are continuously executed.