JPS59133635A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate controlling a cursor in shape with a simple constitution, by attaining an electric output signal for changing the movement and the shape of a cursor by the operation of a key switch having a single key top. CONSTITUTION:In case that a cursor K on a display part 2 is moved up and left, the cursor K is moved if the position of a point A on a key top 6 is depressed from the direction vertical to the key top surface. In case that the display size of the cursor K is changed, the display size is increased by sliding the key top 6 in the direction of an arrow B, and it is reduced by sliding the key top 6 in the direction of an arrow C. In this case, a ball-shaped operation conductive ball and a flat spring contact are provided under the key top 6, and the flat spring contact is brought into contact with the ball by the depression of the key top. This information is converted to an electric signal and is sensed by a CPU to control the movement direction of the cursor K.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electronic device having means for switching the shape of a cursor on a display screen.

Conventional technology is generally suitable for editing and interactive operations on the T screen.
C)! , cursor movement operations are performed frequently. Furthermore, in recent processing information displays, even inexpensive devices are required to be capable of displaying graphics to some extent in addition to normal text display. For example, in a graph display, it is preferable that the display size of characters and numbers inserted and displayed at appropriate positions on the graph is also variable due to limitations imposed by the size of the display screen. In such interactive operations such as indicating variable-sized character positions or pointing out certain points on a graph, it is preferable that the display size of the cursor is also variable. In the conventional cursor control method, cursor shape information is included in display information, and the cursor shape information is analyzed at the same time as character information or the like is displayed to control the display shape. In another example, a method has been adopted in which the shape of displayed character information, etc. is analyzed and the cursor shape is controlled to correspond to the displayed character information, etc.

However, this type of cursor control method requires a complicated control circuit configuration and a large amount of memory capacity, even though the size of the characters is not frequently changed manually. Shape control was not possible.

Purpose The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to have a simple configuration and easy cursor operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal computer in which a cursor control key switch according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed. Inside the main body 1 of this personal computer, as shown in Fig. 5, there is an 0PUII which controls the main control, a 0M13 which stores programs, and an R used by the 0PUII.
AM12 is stored. Further, 2 is a display section, 3 is a keyboard section, 4 is a cursor control key switch unit according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a switch unit), and 5 is a cable connecting the main body 1 and the switch unit 4, including a signal line and a DC power supply. It has a built-in.

Next, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the operation for moving the cursor K on the display section 2 to the upper left as shown in FIG. , the cursor is moved by pressing the point A on the key top 6 in a direction perpendicular to the key top surface. Next, if you want to change the size displayed on the cursor, slide the key dog 6 in the direction of arrow B to increase the size displayed on the cursor. If you wish to reduce the display size of the cursor, you can similarly slide the key top 6 in the direction of arrow C. The mode of changing the cursor display size on the display screen is shown in FIG. 2 (B+K).

This operation of the key top causes displacement of the key controller 766, and the displacement detection means outputs a corresponding different electrical signal, which is read by the 0PU11 and becomes an instruction signal for executing the different functions described above. The detection means for detecting the displacement caused by the operation of the key top 6 will be explained below.

Regarding the structure of this switch unit 4, as shown in FIG.
When an upward force is applied to the key top 6, the leaf spring contacts 8 come into contact as shown in the figure (BIK). is converted into an electrical signal by a well-known technique, and further sensed by OPU 1 and IK to control the direction of movement of the cursor. If the key tiger 7″6 is pressed down while the spring contact 8 is not provided,
Force is applied to both leaf spring contacts 8X and 8Y, and by touching both contacts, move the cursor I (to the left)
I can do ti+, 1ka, and zukoto.

Similarly, spherical operation conduction poles 9 and 9X, plate penetration contacts 10 and IOX are provided around the key top 6,
By applying a horizontal force to the key top 6, the leaf spring contacts 10X come into contact as shown in Figure (0). Further, based on this contact, the thickness of the cursor is controlled by being sensed by the OP U 11. For example, when the key top 6 is pressed in the direction B in FIG. can.

Next, the means for detecting the opening and closing of the leaf spring contacts 8 and 10 will be explained with reference to FIG.

The plate spring contact 8 is provided with an insulator 1 as shown in FIG. 6(A).
5” [provided with leaf spring contacts 8. and 8
．． is included. These contacts 8. and 8. When the pressing blade is applied to the key top 6, it closes as shown in FIG. However, when it is not closed, the voltage is 5 volts due to the action of the pull-up resistor hole.

In addition, the leaf spring contact 1oVC is as shown in Fig. 6(B) (
Leaf spring contacts 10 spaced apart by insulators 15.
and 102 are included. These contacts 101 and 10
! When the slide 9 is applied to the key top 6, it is closed as shown in FIG. 4(0). Therefore, the terminal 10t outputs 0 volts because it is short-circuited to the grounded terminal 10tl. However, when it is not closed, it is 5 volts due to the action of the pull-up resistor hole.

0PUI 1 periodically connects these leaf spring contacts 8 and 10
is configured to check terminals Bt and 10t of. Alternatively, an interrupt is input to 0PUI 1 due to one contact being closed, thereby starting service to the key switch, and an interrupt input is again input to 0PUII due to all contacts being opened. This may be configured to terminate the service to the key switch. In any of the above cases, the contact information of the contact is taken into 0PUII at a predetermined period while the key switch is being serviced. By monitoring the terminal Bit of the contact, it is possible to detect in which direction the cursor K is moved from the button, and in the same way, by monitoring the terminal 10t of the leaf spring contact, information for controlling the cursor display size can be obtained. It can be detected.Furthermore, if the contact information that is periodically captured is the same, OP Ull repeats the same control.

Here, the means for controlling the size of the cursor will be further explained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

By monitoring the terminal 10t of the leaf spring contact, 0P
The information captured in the UI 1 is a switching signal B20 which is a switching signal to the cursor shape (small) when the contact 10 is closed.
7, and when the contact 10X is closed, it is output as a switching signal A208 which is a switching signal to a cursor shape (dog). The output switching signal is sent to the cursor signal generator 203. The cursor signal generator 203 controls the cursor shape mode to be large (high level) when the switching signal A208 is sent, and controls the cursor shape mode to be small (low level) when the switching signal B207 is sent. In addition, a CRT controller (0RT
O) In synchronization with the cursor signal 205 output from the cursor signal 201, when the cursor shape mode is dog (noheirepelu), the -ffl time cursor extension signal 204 is output after the cursor signal is active. A logical sum signal of the cursor signal 205 and the cursor extension signal 205 from the cursor signal generator 203 is sent to the video signal to the ORT, and the cursor becomes larger by the length of the output R of the cursor extension signal 204. Furthermore, when the cursor shape mode is small (low level), the cursor extension signal 204 is not output, and the OR, T controller 201
A cursor with a shape corresponding to the output time of the cursor signal 205 is displayed.

In the explanation of the embodiments described above, the first output signal is output in response to a selection press on the key dog 6 in a direction perpendicular to the operation surface.
A case has been shown in which the electrical output signal is used for cursor movement, and the second electrical output signal output in response to the horizontal slide 9 is used for cursor display size control. The electrical output signal @1 may be used as 7 for cursor display size control, and the second electrical output signal may be used for cursor movement. Plan views showing the operation and structure of the switch unit 4 in this embodiment are shown in FIGS. 3(B) and 4(F:)K.

In the above explanation, even if commercially available switches are used in place of the conductive balls 7 and 9 and the leaf spring contacts 8 and 10, the display section 2 is configured in a separate housing from the electronic device main body 1. Needless to say, it doesn't matter if it happens.

Effects As described above, according to the present invention, an electrical output signal for moving the cursor and changing the cursor shape can be obtained by operating the key switch q having a single key top, so the switch operation is easy. The cursor shape can be changed freely with the cursor shape controller, and the cursor shape control section can be realized with an extremely simple configuration, making it possible to realize an inexpensive cursor shape control function.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing a 74-sonal computer equipped with a cursor control key switch according to an embodiment of the present invention;
) is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the cursor control key switch according to the present invention, FIG. Figure 4 (Dl is the same (f-plane view, Figure 4 (
g) is a plan view showing the structure of another embodiment; FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention;
Figures (Al and (B) are circuit diagrams showing an example of the terminal structure of the leaf spring contact, Figure 7 is a block diagram showing details of the display section, and Figure 8 is a cursor shape control timing chart. 2 is a display unit, 4 is a key switch unit for cursor control, 6 is a key top, 7, 9 are operation conduction beer, 8, 8X, 10. IOX is a leaf spring contact, 11 is OP
U, 201 is an ORT controller, 202 is a video RA
M, 203 is a cursor signal generator, and 204 is a cursor shape extension signal. Figure 1 → Figure 2 cA) Figure 2 (B) Broom 3 Figure (A) To, Figure 153 Old) Sputum Figure 4 M) 0X- Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electronic device characterized in that the display of a display section that displays information and the shape of a cursor on the screen are switched by the position pressure of a single key switch.