JPH103353A - Automatic change-over system for functioning means - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unnecessitate the operation of a change-over switch at the time of using a right or a left hand, to discriminate the area of the right or the left hand and to enable changing-over functions by changing-over functioning signals from plural input means based on the position signal of a pointing device which is detected by means of an information processor. SOLUTION: When a mouse 1 is moved or one of the right, left and center buttons 11-13 is depressed, a position originating part 14 originates the position signal. Right and left sensors 21a and 21b provided in the information processor 2 detect the signal, a mouse position detecting part 22 compares the strength of the signals detected by the right and left sensors 21a and 21b and it is detected in which one of right and left mouse usage areas the mouse 1 is used. A function changing-over part 23 executes an output to a signal processing part without changing-over the functions when the mouse 1 is operated in the right hand mouse usage area R and changes-over the functions so as to execute the output when it is operated in the left hand mouse usage area L.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for automatically switching the function means of a pointing device which is operated in combination with an information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a pointing device used in an information processing apparatus, for example, a mouse, a left button on the mouse is pressed with an index finger, and a right button is pressed with a middle finger. However, when used by a left-handed person, it is necessary to press the left button, which is frequently used, with the middle finger and the right button with the forefinger.

As a conventional example which solves this problem and provides a mouse capable of switching the functions of right and left buttons corresponding to a right-handed person and a left-handed person, see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-3091.
There is a left / right dual-purpose position input device disclosed in Japanese Patent No.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional example.
As shown in FIG. 1A, a mouse 100 includes input switches 101 and 102 and a changeover switch 103, a cable 104, and an output connector 105. FIG. 6B is a connection diagram of FIG. 6A. Since the input switches 101 and 102 are connected to the contact 105C of the output connector 105 via the changeover switch 103, the changeover switch 103 is operated. The contacts 105C to which the input switches 101 and 102 are connected can be arbitrarily changed.

In such a configuration, when the changeover switch 103 is set for the right hand, the input switch 101
Is pressed with the index finger, and the input switch 102 is pressed with the middle finger. Then, a signal transmitted by pressing the input switch 101 is recognized as a function A, and a signal transmitted by pressing the input switch 102 is recognized as a function C by the information processing apparatus connected to the output connector 105. When the changeover switch 103 is set for the left hand, the input switch 101 is pressed with the middle finger, and the input switch 102 is pressed with the index finger. Then, a signal transmitted when the input switch 101 is pressed is defined as a function C,
The signal transmitted by pressing the input switch 102 is recognized as function A by the information processing device connected to the output connector 105.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned prior art, the function switching setting corresponding to the button on the mouse in right-handed and left-handed cases is performed by operating a changeover switch. When a plurality of people use the information processing device,
Each time a left-handed user changes, it is necessary to perform the function switching setting by the changeover switch. Further, regardless of right-handed use or left-handed use, even when the right hand or the left hand is used depending on the situation at the place, there is also a trouble of making the function switch setting by the changeover switch each time.

The present invention eliminates the need to operate the changeover switch associated with the use of the right hand or the left hand, and automatically discriminates between the right hand area and the left hand area without making the user aware when using the pointing device. An object of the present invention is to provide a function button automatic switching method for automatically setting function switching.

[0008]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic switching system for functional means, comprising: an information processing device; and a pointing device coupled to the information processing device, wherein the position of the pointing device is detected by the information processing device. Then, based on the detection signal, function signals from a plurality of input means provided in the pointing device are switched.

A function means automatic switching system according to the present invention includes an information processing apparatus and a pointing device coupled to the information processing apparatus, and a position transmitting unit provided in the pointing device for notifying a position; A sensor unit provided in the information processing device for detecting a signal transmitted from the position transmitting unit, and the pointing device is used in either the left hand or the right hand depending on the reception signal strength of the left and right sensors of the sensor unit. A function from a plurality of input means provided in the pointing device, based on a position detection unit provided in the information processing device, and a position detection signal from the position detection unit in order to detect whether And a function switching unit provided in the information processing apparatus for switching signals.

[0010] The automatic switching method of the function means according to the present invention is characterized in that function signals from a plurality of input means provided in the pointing device are also switched by a changeover switch provided in the pointing device.

[0011] The function means automatic switching system of the present invention is characterized in that it has a position display section for displaying a use area where the pointing device is located in response to a position detection signal from the position detection section.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, which comprises an information processing apparatus 2 and a mouse 1 coupled to the information processing apparatus 2 by cables, radio waves, infrared rays, sound waves, or the like. Be composed. The information processing device 2 includes a left sensor 21
a, a right sensor 21b, a mouse position detection unit 22, a function switching unit 23, and a position display unit 24. The mouse 1 includes a left button 11, a center button 12, a right button 13, and a position transmission unit 14. I have. Note that R is a right-hand mouse use area, and L is a left-hand mouse use area.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Its configuration is almost the same as that of FIG. 1, but a signal processing unit 25 of the information processing apparatus is added for explanation. The signals a, b, and c are applied to a key input section A11 and a key input section A11.
Output signals from the input section B12 and the key input section C13, and the signals d, e, and f are signals output from the function switching section 23 to the signal processing section 25 as a result of the switching processing. The key input section A11, the key input section B12 and the key input section C13 correspond to the left button 11, the center button 12 and the right button 13 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a functional signal diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing a signal flow accompanying the function switching. Note that TR indicates when the mouse is located in the mouse use area R of the right hand in FIG. 1, and TL indicates when the mouse is located in the left mouse use area L in FIG.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

When using the mouse 1, the user
The mouse 1 is operated in either the mouse use area R of the right hand or the mouse use area L of the left hand. At this time, when the mouse 1 is moved or one of the left button 11, the center button 12, and the right button 13 mounted on the mouse 1 is pressed, the position transmitting section 14 emits radio waves, infrared rays, sound waves, or the like. Send a signal.

The signal transmitted from the position transmitter 14 is detected by a left sensor 21a and a right sensor 21b.
At this time, the strength of the detected signal is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the position transmitting unit 14 and the left sensor 21a or the right sensor 21b. That is, the position transmitting unit 14 and the two sensors 21a,
The distance between the sensors 21a and 21b increases as the distance from the sensors 21a and 21b increases.
The received signal strength of b becomes weak.

The signals detected by the left sensor 21a and the right sensor 21b are input to the mouse position detector 22. The mouse position detection unit 22 compares the strength of the signal detected by the left sensor 21a and the strength of the signal detected by the right sensor 21b. If the strength of the signal input from the left sensor 21a is stronger, the mouse device is used in the mouse use area L of the left hand. When the strength of the signal input from the sensor of the right sensor 21b is higher, it is detected that the mouse device is used in the mouse use area R of the right hand. If the strengths of the signals detected by the left sensor 21a and the right sensor 21b are the same, the left mouse use area L
Alternatively, it is detected as one of the predetermined areas of the mouse use area R of the right hand.

The mouse position detection unit 22 outputs a signal 1 to the function switching unit 23 when the result of the mouse use area detection indicates that the mouse use area L is a left hand mouse use area. The signal r is output to the function switching unit 23. These signals r and l are output to the position display unit 24.
The position display unit 24 indicates whether the mouse use area at that time is the left mouse use area L or the right hand mouse use area R by a method such as a lamp display that allows the user to identify. I do.

When the user is operating the mouse in the mouse use area R of the right hand, the function switching unit 23 recognizes that the function switching will not be performed when the signal r is received from the mouse position detection unit 22. As shown in TR of FIG. 3, signals a, b, and c are changed to signals d, e, and
The signal is output to the signal processing unit 25 as f. When the user is operating the mouse in the left-hand mouse use area L, the function switching unit 23 recognizes that the function switching is performed when the signal 1 is received from the mouse position detection unit 22, and FIG.
The signal a is output to the signal processing unit 25 as the signal f, the signal b is output as the signal e, and the signal c is output as the signal d. The signal processing unit 25 processes the signals d, e, and f as signals having respective functions.

The above description has been made on the assumption that the right-handed person uses the right-hand mouse using area R with the right hand, or the left-handed person uses the left-hand mouse using area L with the left hand. Another embodiment corresponding to a case where a dominant person uses the left hand mouse use area L with the right hand or a left hand person uses the right hand mouse use area R with the left hand will be described with reference to the drawings. .

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4A, the mouse 3 is obtained by adding a changeover switch 35 to the mouse 1 of FIG. FIG. 4B is a connection diagram of FIG. FIG. 5 is a functional signal diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.
l, a, b, c, d, e, and f are the same as those described in FIG. Note that TR (L) is used by a left-handed person with the left hand when the mouse is located in the right-hand mouse use area R of FIG. 1, and TL (R) is that the mouse is located in the left-hand mouse use area L of FIG. In this case, a right-handed person uses with his right hand.

First, when the mouse is located in the mouse use area R of the right hand in FIG. 1, as described above in the embodiment of the present invention, the sensor unit 21 and the mouse position detection unit 22 are used.
The mouse use area R is determined by the
4 is displayed. At this time, the signal flows in the TR of FIG. This state is a state in which a right-handed person operates the mouse with the right hand, and is not suitable for a left-handed person who wants to operate with the left hand in the mouse use area R of the right hand.

Therefore, by operating the changeover switch 35 shown in FIG. 4, the output signals a and c from the mouse 3 are switched as shown by TR (L) in FIG. Function switching unit 23
Are the switched signals a, b, c input from the mouse 3
Are output to the signal processing unit 25 as signals d, e, and f as they are. By the above operation, the TR of FIG. 3 and the TR of FIG.
The signal of (L) is switched, so that even in the usage area R of the mouse of the right hand, it is possible to cope with the operation of the left hand.

Similarly, when the mouse is located in the mouse use area L of the left hand in FIG. 1, the signal flows in the TL of FIG. 3, and the changeover switch 35 shown in FIG. Output signals a and c are converted to T in FIG.
Switching is performed as in L (R). According to the signal 1 from the mouse position detecting unit 22, the function switching unit 23 outputs the signal a, the signal b, the signal b, as it is, the signal e, and the signal c, which are input from the mouse 3, to the signal processing unit 25 as the signal e. Output. By the above operation, TL of FIG. 3 and TL of FIG.
The signal of (R) is switched, so that even in the usage area L of the mouse of the left hand, it is possible to cope with the operation of the right hand.

As described above, the use of the mouse by the sensor unit 21 is automatically determined, so that the operation with the right hand in the mouse use area R of the right hand and the operation with the left hand in the use area L of the left hand mouse can be handled. it can. In addition, by the combination of the automatic determination of the mouse use area by the sensor unit 21 and the operation of the changeover switch 35 provided on the mouse, the operation by the left hand in the mouse use area R of the right hand and the use area of the mouse by the left hand In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the number of mouse buttons is three. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of buttons may be two, four, or the like. . It is apparent that the present invention can be applied not only to a mouse but also to a pointing device having a similar function.

[0028]

As described above, the effect of the present invention is that the operation of the changeover switch and the input of the command are unnecessary in the identification of the use area of the pointing device used in the information processing apparatus when the right-handed or the left-handed is used. It is possible to automatically determine whether the area is a right-hand area or a left-hand area without making the user aware and automatically set the function switching of each button on the pointing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional signal diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a functional signal diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 mouse 11 left button 12 center button 13 right button 14 position transmitting section 2 information processing device 21 sensor section 21a left sensor 21b right sensor 22 mouse position detecting section 23 function switching section 24 position display section 25 signal processing section 3 mouse 31 left button 32 center button 33 right button 34 position transmitter 35 changeover switch L left mouse area R right mouse area

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a pointing device coupled to the information processing apparatus, wherein a position of the pointing device is detected by the information processing apparatus;
A function means automatic switching method, wherein function signals from a plurality of input means provided in the pointing device are switched based on the detection signal. 2. A position transmitting unit, which includes an information processing device and a pointing device coupled to the information processing device, and is provided in the pointing device for notifying a position, and transmitted from the position transmitting unit. A sensor unit provided in the information processing device for detecting a signal,
A position detection unit provided in the information processing device, for detecting whether the pointing device is located in a usage area of the left hand or the right hand, based on reception signal strengths of left and right sensors of the sensor unit. A function switching unit provided in the information processing apparatus for switching function signals from a plurality of input units provided in the pointing device in accordance with a position detection signal from a position detection unit. Means automatic switching system. 3. The function means according to claim 1, wherein function signals from a plurality of input means provided on said pointing device are also switched by a changeover switch provided on said pointing device. Switching method. 4. The function unit according to claim 1, further comprising a position display unit that displays a use area where the pointing device is located, based on a position detection signal from the position detection unit. Automatic switching method.