JPH1049281A - Data input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the misinput of data in keyboard operation by providing a display control means which displays a keyboard on a display means, a data input means which allows an operator to input data by pointing operation on the keyboard displayed on the display means, etc. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with the input means, the display means 2 which displays the software keyboard, input fields for data to be accepted, etc., on its screen, a storage means 3 which stores the keyboard data, a CPU 4 which totally performs control processing regarding the data input, and interface means 6-8 which connect the respective means 1-3 to the bus 5 of a CPU 4. Then the input means 1 consists of a pointing device such as a mouse and an operator performs pointing operation to select keys and input fields displayed on the screen. Therefore, the operator inputs data by using the software keyboard, so misoperation can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data input device used by an operator to input character data, numeric data, and the like, and more particularly, to a data input device for inputting data using a keyboard displayed and output on a screen. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A data input device for inputting various data using a keyboard is used not only for an operator to input data to an information processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor, but also for a device such as a semiconductor manufacturing device. It is used in a wide range of fields, such as for an operator to input data. A conventional general data input device uses a hardware keyboard, and the keyboard has all necessary functions for input operation so that all types of data such as character data and numeric data can be input. Different types of keys are provided.

However, in such a data input device in which a large number of keys are arranged on a keyboard, key operations are erroneously performed, for example, when a character key is pressed in order to input numeric data. In some cases, a data entry error was made. Such an erroneous input operation causes an operation of inputting correct data again and complicates the input process.However, in the case of data input to a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, for example, a serious situation such as runaway of the apparatus may occur. There is a risk of inviting them. In order to prevent such a serious situation from occurring, the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus has conventionally performed input data check processing as shown in FIG.

For example, when inputting numeric data,
The operator inputs designation of inputting numeric data (step S10), and based on the input, checks whether the input data is numeric data. When the operator operates a keyboard having a hardware configuration (hereinafter, referred to as a hardware keyboard) to input data (step S11), the type of the data (that is, the hardware keyboard) is changed.
Input is accepted only when (data type) is a number (step S12). Then, when the "ENTER" key on the hardware keyboard is pressed, it is determined whether the input data is a valid value (steps S13 and S14).
If the value is a valid value, the input numerical data is displayed in the data input field displayed on the screen of the display device (step S15).

[0005] Therefore, if this check processing is completely performed, erroneous input of the data type can be prevented.
If the original data type is specified incorrectly, data of the wrong data type will be accepted, and some or all functions of the semiconductor manufacturing equipment will go down. In the worst case, the equipment will run out of control. There was a risk that control would be impossible.
Further, even when the data type is correctly specified, an operation of inputting again with the correct data type is caused, and the input operation is complicated.

A keyboard (hereinafter, referred to as a software keyboard) that displays a keyboard on a screen of a display device and allows an operator to operate keys of the keyboard using a touch screen or a pointing device such as a mouse has been known. However, even with such a software keyboard, since all types of keys required for input operation are provided, erroneous input as described above is likely to occur.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional data input device, an erroneous operation of data input is likely to occur, which not only complicates the input operation, but also increases the complexity of the input operation. There is a possibility that a serious situation such as runaway may be caused. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a data input device which prevents erroneous input of data in a keyboard operation and rationally solves the above problems.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the fact that the presence of keys on the keyboard that are not required for data input operation is a cause of erroneous data input. A data input device that receives data input by an operator, a storage unit that stores a plurality of keyboard data corresponding to the input data type, a display unit that displays the input data type, and a display output to the display unit. Selection input means for the operator to select and operate the data type, display control means for displaying a keyboard on the display means based on keyboard data corresponding to the data type selected by the selection input means,
Data input means for allowing an operator to input data by a pointing operation on a keyboard displayed on the display means.

That is, the keyboard data held in the storage means excludes unnecessary keys in accordance with the type of data to be input. For example, the input data type specified by the selection operation is numeric data. In this case, a software keyboard in which character keys are omitted based on the keyboard data is displayed on the display screen of the display means. Therefore, only keys necessary for the data type to be input are provided on the software keyboard. For example, when the operator inputs numeric data by pointing operation, the operator mistakenly inputs character data. The situation is reliably prevented. Although the present invention can be applied to a data input device of an information processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor, the data of a semiconductor manufacturing device in which a serious situation such as runaway of the device occurs due to erroneous data input. Particularly remarkable effects can be obtained by applying the present invention to an input device.

In the data input device according to the present invention,
The data type to be input is displayed on the display means as an input field for the data, and a software keyboard corresponding to the data type is displayed on the display means by selecting one of the input fields with the selection input means. Therefore, an input field for displaying input data to be accepted is associated with each software keyboard, and the operator selects a corresponding input field by a pointing operation according to a data type to be input, so that the corresponding input field is displayed. A software keyboard can be displayed and output.

Further, in the data input device according to the present invention,
The keyboard data includes display position information of the software keyboard on the screen of the display means, and based on the display position information, the software keyboard is displayed at a position that does not overlap with the corresponding data input box. Therefore, the software keyboard for performing the input operation and the input field for displaying the received input data are displayed on the same display screen in an arrangement that does not hinder the operation.

In the data input device according to the present invention,
The selection input means and the data input means operated by the operator are constituted by a touch screen provided so as to be superimposed on the display screen of the display means, and a data type is selected and data is input by the touch operation by the operator.
Therefore, the operator can perform a keyboard operation by performing a pointing operation on the display screen.

In the data input device according to the present invention,
The keyboard data includes information that defines the numerical range of the input data, and further includes means for checking whether the input numerical data is appropriate based on the information. Therefore, a software keyboard for inputting a numerical value has a function of defining a numerical value range that can be input by the software keyboard, and its acceptability is determined before receiving the input data.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a data input device of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the data input device includes an input unit 1 for an operator to perform a data input operation and a data type selection operation, and a display unit 2 for displaying a software keyboard, an input field for accepted data, and the like on a screen. A storage means 3 for storing keyboard data for displaying a software keyboard on a screen, a processor (CPU) 4 for integrally controlling data input, and
Interface means 6 to 8 for connecting 3 to a bus 5 to a processor 4.

Various sensors 9 and actuator control devices 10 provided in the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus are connected to the bus 5 via the data input / output interface means 11 so that data received by the data input device is controlled. It is sent to the device 10 to control the operation of the actuator, and the data detected by the sensor 9 is displayed on the display means 2.
Is displayed and output. The floppy drive device, C
An external device 12 for inputting data and programs, such as a D-ROM drive device and a network terminal device
Are connected to the bus 5 via the interface means 13 so that new data and programs input from the external device 12 can be stored in the storage means 3.

The input means 1 is composed of a pointing device such as a touch screen or a mouse, and can select a key displayed on the screen and an input field by a pointing operation by an operator. The display means 2 is L
It is configured by a display device such as a CD device or a CRT device, and displays a software keyboard, input fields, and the like on a screen.

In this example, four types of data types, "character", "numeric value", "integer", and "time" are set, and a function for selecting a data type to be input as shown in FIG. Input fields 21 to 24 for displaying accepted data types are displayed on the screen of the display unit 2.
When any one of these input fields 21 to 24 is selected by the operation of the input means 1, the screen display of the display means 2 is switched as shown in FIG. An input field 21 (22 to 24) and a software keyboard 31 (32 to 32) corresponding to the data type of the input field.
34) are displayed on the same screen without overlapping. Here, the touch screen of the input means 1 is provided on the screen of the display means 2 in an overlapping manner, and the input fields 21 to 21 displayed on the screen by the touch operation on the touch screen are provided.
24 and keys on the software keyboards 31 to 34 can be selected.

In this embodiment, the software keyboards 31 to 34 displayed on the screen of the display means 2 are shown in FIGS.
There are four types shown in FIG. The software keyboard 31 shown in FIG. 4 supports input of character data.
On the software keyboard 31, keys required for inputting characters such as numeric keys and alphabet keys used for inputting Roman characters, an "ENTER" key and a "CLR" key.
A function key necessary for processing input characters such as keys, and a display column 31a for displaying input characters (for example, ABC) are provided. The software keyboard 32 shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to the input of numerical data. Numeric keys and decimal point keys necessary for inputting numerical values, an "ENTER" key and a "CLR" key are provided on the software keyboard 32. Function keys required for processing input numerical values such as
A display field 32a for displaying 3.5) is provided.

The software keyboard 33 shown in FIG. 6 supports input of integer data. There is no decimal point key on this software keyboard 33, and numeral keys necessary for inputting integers, "ENTER" Key or "CL
A function key necessary for processing an input integer such as an "R" key and a display column 33a for displaying an input operated integer (for example, 123) are provided. The software keyboard 34 shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the input of time data. On this software keyboard 34, an integer number key required for inputting time, an "ENTER" key, a "CLR" key, and the like. Function key required to process the input time of the user and the input time (for example, 00:00:
00) is displayed. By inputting new keyboard data from the external device 12 and storing it in the storage means 3, the data type for accepting the input is expanded, and for example, a software keyboard for inputting date data as shown in FIG. 35 can also be displayed on the display means 2 on a screen.

The storage means 3 comprises a writable and readable memory. In this example, the storage means 3 stores in advance keyboard data corresponding to four data types of “character”, “numerical value”, “integer”, and “time”, and stores “date” data as described above. When keyboard data for input is input, the keyboard data is also stored. As shown in FIG. 9, respective keyboard data for displaying the software keyboards 31 to 35 of “character”, “numerical value”, “integer”, “time”, and “date” are stored in the storage area of the storage unit 3. Each keyboard data includes window information, input digit number information, data type information, input minimum / maximum value information, software keyboard display position coordinate information, and default value information.

The window information includes key configuration data provided on the software keyboard. Based on this window information, the software keyboard having the key configuration shown in FIGS. Is displayed. The input digit number information includes data defining the number of digits of data that can be input, and the number of digits of data that can be input from the software keyboard displayed on the screen is defined based on the input digit number information. The data type information includes data that defines a data type that accepts input, and a data type that can be input from a software keyboard displayed on the screen is defined based on the data type information.

The input minimum / maximum value information includes data that defines the numerical range of input data. Based on the input minimum / maximum value information, the range of numerical values that can be input from the software keyboard displayed on the screen is determined. Stipulated. The software keyboard display position coordinate information includes data defining the display position of the software keyboard.
The display position of the software keyboard on the display screen is defined based on the software keyboard display position coordinate information. That is, the key configuration and the display position of the corresponding software keyboard are defined based on such keyboard data, and the software keyboards 31 to 35 having the predetermined key configuration corresponding to the data type are input fields 21 to 24. Will be displayed on the screen without overlapping.

The CPU 4 controls input fields 21 to 2 on the display screen.
4, display processing of the software keyboards 31 to 35 based on the keyboard data on the display screen, readout processing of the keyboard data from the storage means 3, write processing of the input keyboard data to the storage means 3, input digit It performs a digit number regulation process based on number information, an input data type regulation process based on data type information, and a range regulation process for input numerical values based on input minimum / maximum value information. Therefore, when the operator performs a data type selection operation and data input operation from the input means 1, the CPU 4 controls the screen display processing of the corresponding software keyboard and the reception processing of the input data. The control of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is performed based on this.

The process of displaying the screen of the software keyboard and the process of accepting input data are performed according to the procedure shown in FIG. In the following, the input of numerical data will be described as an example, but similar processing is performed on data in other formats such as character data. First, display means 2
As shown in FIG. 2, input fields 21 to 24 for each data type for accepting an input are displayed on the screen, and when the operator touches the position of the numerical value input field 22 of the touch screen (input means) 1 (step S1) Based on the information on the touch position and the data type information of the keyboard data, the CPU 4 reads the keyboard data corresponding to the numerical data type from the storage means 3 and displays the software keyboard on the display means 2 based on the keyboard data. It is displayed on the screen (step S2). That is, the software keyboard 32 having the key configuration shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 2 at a position that does not overlap the numerical value input box 22 as shown in FIG.

When the operator performs a touch operation on the keys of the software keyboard 32 and numerical data is sequentially input (step S3), the CPU 4 sequentially stores the input data in the work memory area. As described above, since the operator performs the input operation of the numerical data using the software keyboard 32 having only the keys necessary for the input of the numerical data, erroneous input such as pressing the character key by mistake is generated. Is prevented.

Then, the operator sets "EN" on the software keyboard 32 to confirm the input numerical value.
When the "TER" key is touched (step S4),
Based on the input digit number information and the input minimum / maximum value information, C
The PU 4 checks whether the input numerical data is valid. As a result, for valid numerical data, the CPU 4 displays the numerical data in the input field 22 (step S6), deletes the display of the software keyboard 32 from the screen (step S7), and displays the initial data shown in FIG. The process ends with the display state.

In the above example, desired data is input by performing a touch operation, which is a kind of pointing operation, on a touch screen. However, a pointing device such as a mouse is used for a software keyboard displayed on the screen. , A desired key may be pointed, and thereby desired data may be input.

[0028]

As described above, according to the data input device of the present invention, a software keyboard on which unnecessary keys are omitted is displayed on the screen according to the data type of the input operation, and the software is displayed to the operator. Since the data input operation is performed using the wear keyboard, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a key of an incorrect data type is erroneously operated, and the data input operation can be performed easily and quickly. Further, in data input to a device to be controlled such as a semiconductor manufacturing device, by preventing erroneous input, it is possible to prevent a serious situation such as runaway of the device from occurring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display form of an input field.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display positional relationship between a keyboard and an input field.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a keyboard for inputting character data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a keyboard for inputting numerical data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a keyboard for inputting integer value data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a keyboard for inputting time data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a keyboard for inputting date data.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of keyboard data.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a numerical data input process according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a conventional numerical data input process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... input means (selection input means, data input means),
2 ... display means, 3 ... storage means, 4 ... C
PU (display control means, check means), 21 to 24 ...
・ Input field, 31-35 ... Software keyboard,

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shuichi Kubo 3-14-20 Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo Kokusai Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Yokogawa 3-14-20 Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo Kokusai Electric Inside the corporation

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A data input device for receiving data input by an operator, comprising: storage means for holding a plurality of keyboard data corresponding to the input data type; display means for displaying the input data type; Selection input means for the operator to select and operate the data type displayed and output on the means, display control means for displaying a keyboard on the display means based on keyboard data corresponding to the data type selected by the selection input means, display means Data input means for allowing an operator to perform data input operation by a pointing operation on a keyboard displayed on the keyboard, and receiving data input by an operation on the keyboard displayed according to the data type. Input device. 2. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein a data type to be input is displayed on a display unit as an input column for the data, and the data type is selected by selecting one of the input columns with a selection input unit. A data input device, wherein a keyboard corresponding to the above is displayed on the display means. 3. The data input device according to claim 2, wherein the keyboard data includes information on a display position of the keyboard on a screen of the display means, and the keyboard operates based on the display position information in a corresponding data input field. A data input device characterized by being displayed at a position where there is no overlap with the data input device. 4. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the selection input means and the data input means operated by the operator are provided on a touch screen provided on a display screen of the display means. And a data input device for selecting a data type and inputting data by an operator's touch operation. 5. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard data includes information that defines a numerical range of the input data, and the keyboard data includes information based on the information. A data input device, further comprising means for checking whether the input numerical data is appropriate. 6. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the data input device is used as a data input device to a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.