JPS59200336A - Touch pad computer input unit - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Background of the invention] The present invention relates to a conbuque input device and method.

The present invention relates to a device that inputs a signal to a computer system through the touch of a user's finger, and displays and operates the signal.

Most computer terminals are displayed on a screen using a cursor and operated by an operator through the screen. A cursor is commonly used to point to a location on a display where an operator wishes to perform a certain action. For example, when a computer terminal is operating as a word processor,
The word that the cursor is placed over or points to can replace or erase words or letters. The operator first moves the cursor to a desired location on the display and then gives a command to perform an action at that location.

A number of commonly used devices and methods are used by users to enter these instructions into computer terminals. Conventional keyboards are most common, at least in word processors. Mouses have become extremely popular and are handheld devices that move on a flat device adjacent to a computer terminal to move a cursor a distance and direction proportional to the movement of the mouse. A mouse device typically has one or more buttons thereon and transmits instructions for execution by a computer terminal so that the user can perform a given action on the display where the cursor is placed by the mouse. This indicates that it should be possible to occur in this position.

Touch sensitive display screens are also used to generate control and take signals for input to the computer system.

Other external devices include a joystick.
) + paddle wheel
, ) rack ball (track bal ]), etc. These devices are used to play games with computers and to play games by controlling the movements of "baka-tsuru" in the form of tanks, Munich, etc.

Other permissible cursor control devices are two-dimensional touch provided as part of a computer terminal located in close proximity to the keyboard, or as a separate device used and connected to the terminal. It's a pad. The pad is connected to a computer terminal to detect touches and move a cursor in the X and Y directions in response to movement of the operator's finger across the surface of the pad. A typical pad operates by having an electrically conductive surface with a predetermined resistance per unit length across it. The value of the resistor connected to the computer terminal depends on the location of the contact with respect to its surface by the user. Other pads operate on magnetostrictive principles in generating signals proportional to the position of the touch with that pad.

The touchpad as used herein provides a desired cursor movement that must be followed by other actions of the user, such as pressing another key;
It causes a function to be executed at a new cursor position on the display screen.

The basic objective of this invention is to make it easier to use, simpler to construct, and improved in operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved touch band control device and method.

[Summary of the invention]

This and additional objects are accomplished by various features of the invention, briefly stated.

According to the present invention, an operating system and method is provided for causing a touch pad for controlling a two-dimensional cursor to perform two functions. Normal cursor movement is performed by the user moving a finger along the touchpad surface, or when the cursor is at the desired surface location, the operator may use another input device, such as another key, on the display. There is no need to search in order to perform a predetermined function at that location. With this improved version of the invention, the operator only has to tap, or hit quickly, on the damn pad, and this command is different from the longer touches that would normally require moving the finger along the pad to move the cursor. Distinguished by touch pad system. This allows the operator to keep his or her eyes on the display screen without having to search for another run button, and also makes the system easier to use by eliminating the need for another run button. can do.

Another improvement to this touch pad system, according to the present invention, is to use signals from the Tasochi PC.

The cursor is processed before it is used to move the cursor, allowing the cursor to move more smoothly along the display even if the user's finger makes unusual movements across the touchpad. The distance the cursor is moved to cause the finger to move for a predetermined distance along depends on the speed of the finger movement. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this smoothing is accomplished by transferring X and Y from the touchpad system to the computer terminal per unit time.
This is done by signaling finger displacements corresponding to increments in the direction, and the average of the signals of multiple successive incremental movements is used to keep the cursor stationary, thereby smoothing the movement.

The scaling feature is according to a preferred embodiment.

The increased distance movement signals are given by squaring them before they are used to move the cursor, so that for a given movement of the finger across the putt, when the speed of such finger movement is large, the cursor Still not moving.

Further improvements in accordance with other features of the invention are as follows.

It is a combination of an X-Y cursor movement control area with multiple separate button functions.

By driving a large number of such buttons, signals are transmitted to the touch pad on the same signal line as the X-Y cursor movement signal and the execution tap signal. The separate P, Shubokun signals are separated from the X-Y signal in the common TASOTIBAMETO output circuit by the following processing. In a preferred embodiment, a single touchpad is provided with spatially separated areas for multiple button buttons and an X-Y area.

The meaning of any touch on the touchpad is determined by the location of the touch as expressed in the common output signal of the touchpad. In one particular form of such an embodiment, two resistive sheets are typically disposed in close proximity, such that when the sheets come into contact at a particular location, they are electrically connected to detect the location of a user's touch. Connected.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the various devices of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Description of preferred embodiment]

The invention will be described with reference to an embodiment of the advanced portable computer shown generally in FIG. Although the invention is extremely useful in computer systems, it is particularly useful in portable systems because it reduces the number of circuit elements required to perform a given set of desired functions. The case 11 includes a key fob 13 along the front end which is covered by a cover 15 when the corner notebook is transported. Cover 15 is shown in FIG. 1 in an upright position and includes a suitably shaped display screen 17. Cover 15 is shown in FIG. The type of screen 17 used in such a voke pull computer is a liquid crystal display (LCD) because of its low power consumption. Typically, a display is of the pixel type and can display multiple, eg, eight or more sides of alphanumeric information or graphs of similar size.

This system is capable of displaying a cursor as indicated by the arrow in FIG. Of course, other cursor configurations may also be used, such as small rectangles or large squares or rectangular boxes covering any significant portion of the screen, and other shapes or dimensions may be used depending on the application. In any case, the cursor can be moved across the surface of the display screen 17 under operator control.

Closely adjacent to the keypad 13 is a graph ink sheet 21 which occupies the mechanical portion of the touchpad system of the present invention. Mechanical aspects of a particular touchpad assembly are described with reference to FIG. The orientation of the touchpad very close to the top side of the keyboard 13 and having a greater slope makes it very easy for the user and also provides a compact assembly, which is a necessary requirement for portability.

Referring to FIG. 2, a general system block diagram of computer 11 is shown. A common system hub 23 that is common in such systems includes a microprocessor 25, a read-only memory (R, OM>27), a random access memory (RAM) 29, a disk drive circuit 312, a display drive circuit 34, and other components of this system. The keyboard 13 is connected to the main operating device.The keyboard 13 is also connected to the system mains via suitable electronic circuitry.

Touchpad system 33 is also connected in this particular system. Touchpad system 3 in Figure 2
3 includes the mechanical touchpad assembly shown in FIG. 3 and includes the electrical circuitry shown in FIG. Additionally, various input/output circuits and devices 35 include printers,
It is connected to a system path such as a telephone modem, as well as commonly used peripheral devices. - In the particular system described as an example, the microprocessor 25 uses an Intel 18088.

The mechanical assembly of a particular touchpad will now be described with reference to FIG. A resistive touchpad is shown, but other similar signal transduction mechanisms, such as a magnetostrictive one, operate by measuring the time of a pulse or transition across a surface as an indication of position. A similar signal can be obtained in response to a touch on a surface using such a device. The first resistance sheet 37 is behind the cover sheet 21, and the spacer 39. Element 43 with a second resistive sheet 41 and a back surface of hard material
is formed subsequently. Resistance sheets 37 and 41
Each of the resistive sheets 37 and 41 is characterized by a surface facing the other electrically conductive surface, each of which has a uniform resistance for a single distance across the surface.

Sheets 37 and 41 have a number of special interconvertible configurations, one of which provides isometric electrical characteristics. They may, for example, be polyester sheet materials coated on opposing surfaces with carphone ink or a vapor deposited substance such as indium tin oxide. Alternatively, they may be elastomeric conductive sheets having an electrically conductive material, such as carbon, impregnated into the sheet itself. In any case, the resistance value in the R-length is carefully controlled to be uniform across each sheet, and its value is selected according to the requirements of the particular electrical circuit in which the touchpad is operating.

One of the sheets 37 and 41 has a potential applied across opposite sides in the X direction and across the other side in the Y direction. Metal or other highly electrically conductive strips 45 and 47 are disposed on opposite sides of the resistive surface to conduct the voltage applied to terminals 49 and 51 from sheet 41.
is displayed over the X direction. Similarly, conductive strips 53 and 55 are provided along opposite sides of sheet 37, thereby creating a potential gradient across the Y direction when a voltage is applied across terminals 57 and 59.

To ensure that the conductive surfaces of sheets 37 and 41 do not accidentally contact each other, a grid of dielectric protrusions is silkscreened into one of them, sheets 1-41, as shown in FIG. .

These protrusions are spaced approximately 0.58 m+n (0.2 inches) apart through the sheet 41 in a symmetrical pattern, have a height of less than 0.025 mm (1 mil), and have a diameter of approximately 0.2 inches. 1m+n (4 mils). This nupase and rise brings the opposing electrically conductive surfaces of sheets 37 and 41 into contact with each other by touching any part of sheet 37 through the thin flexible index sheet 21 with the desired force. . The sheet 37 is of course itself flexible enough to allow such physical movement and contact.

The Tasochipaso door assembly shown in Figure 3 has four terminals 49.51.
, 57.59 connections having a single common set are used to generate multiple independent signals. The two-dimensional area of the touchpad is divided into separate areas, for example, an XY two-dimensional cursor control area 63. Separate button areas 65,6
7.69° divided into 71.73, 75, 77.79 apart from each other. More or fewer separate regions may be provided, depending on the application of the computer system and the available size of the interspace surface. As explained below with respect to FIG.

The particular one of the pressed areas is identified by determining the X-Y coordinates of the contact between the resistive surfaces of the sheets 37.44.

To aid in this distinction, a thin non-conductive spacer sheet 39 is placed between the electrical resistors 37, 41. Apertures are provided on sheet 39 in the same pattern as the markings on the surface of Sheet I.21 for the different buttons and X-Y cursor control areas. Spacer 39 is not absolutely necessary, but makes it easier to distinguish different separate regions by electronic systems such as those described.

An electrical diagram is shown in FIG. 4, in which the resistance of FIG. 3 is electrically represented by the resistance within the dotted outline 81. Resistor 83 represents a contact resistance as seats 1-37 and 44 are pressed together at a particular point by the computer user's touch. The location of such contacts is shown schematically in FIG. 4 by electrical connections at specific locations with the resistance in the X direction and the resistance of sheet 37 in the Y direction. Surfaces 37 and 41
The location of the connection between these two representative resistance values varies in both the X and Y directions as the touch position varies across the two dimensions of the touch pad.

The power supply voltage +■ is connected to four transistors Ql, Q2゜Q3.
under the control of Q4 is selectively applied across the resistive sheet surface 37.41. These resistors act as switches. Transistor Ql is connected between terminal 49 and the ground terminal, and is maintained in a conductive or non-conductive state according to the voltage level of conductor 85, which is connected to the base terminal of transistor Q1 via a resistance value. Similarly, transistor Q2
teeth.

It is connected between terminal 59 and ground potential, and its base is connected to control line 87 via a resistor. Transistor Q3 is connected between voltage source 10V and terminal 51.

Its base is connected to wiring 87 via a resistance value. Transistor Q4 is connected between the positive power supply +V and terminals 7-57, and its base is connected to circuit 89 through a series resistor.

The control signals that turn these four transistors on and off are transmitted from the central processing unit (CPU) 91 in the form of a TPD control signal on output line 93 and as a PAD control signal on wiring 95.
Generated in the form of a CHECK signal.

For the particular system described here, the CPU 91
is an Intel 18085 microprocessor.

This includes a predetermined amount of ROM and RAM.

The two-level control signal on wiring 93 passes through inverter 97, and the output of inverter 97 provides a control signal on wiring 87. The control signal on line 87 similarly flows through inverter 99.

A control signal is generated on line 89. Inverter 97~
Preferably, 99 is made of CMO3 integrated circuit devices. Transistors Q3 and Q4 are of PNP type, and transistors Q1 and Q2 are of NPN type. Wiring 9
5 above 17) PAD CHECK 2 level signal is NO
One input of the R gate io1 and the base of the NPN (NPN) transistor 95 are applied through a series resistor. NOR
The second input to gate 101 is line 87. Transistor Q5 is effectively connected between terminal 59 and ground potential via a series resistor, and is controlled to turn on and off by a signal sent to wiring 95. The output of NOR gate 1-101 provides a control signal to wiring 85.

Sheets 37 and 41, as explained in more detail below.
The X and Y coordinates of the top touch are determined by different time series steps. At a certain moment, transistor Q1
Q3 is turned on and applies a voltage through the X resistor 41, while the Y-axis resistor 37 operates as a pink-off to transmit the voltage at the location of the resistor sheet 41 where the touch occurs.

Operational amplifier 1 whose output 105 is directly connected to the non-inverting input
Through the five terminals connected to the non-inverting input of 03,
Then it will be transmitted. Since the amplifier 103 operates as a voltage converter, the Y-axis resistor 37 itself is not removed from the load and does not function to call up the voltage at the connection point with the X-axis resistor 41.

Similarly, Y-axis readout is performed by conducting transistors 92 and 94, which produce a voltage across resistor 37. The X-axis resistor 41 operates as a mechanism for transmitting voltage at the point where it is connected to the Y resistor 37, and this transmission is performed as follows.

This is done via terminal 49 which is connected to the non-inverting input of second operational amplifier 107. Output 1 of operational amplifier 107
09 is connected directly back to its non-inverting input.

The analog voltages on wires 105 and 109 are proportional to the X and Y axes of the overall connection between X and Y axes 1-41 and 37, respectively. These signals are routed from analog to digital converter 1 via multiplexer 113 (switch).
11 at once.

A separate amplifier and resistor capacitor circuit are then connected as shown. The multiplexer 113 is C
On line 115 from PU 91, a control signal is received indicating whether the signal on line 105 or the signal on line 109 should be passed to A-0 converter 111. Since the signal on the wiring 117 is generated from the CPU 91, information on when to select one or the other signal is sent to the multiplexer 113. A control signal from CPLI 91 on conductor 119 is connected to A-to-D converter 111 to indicate when to stop its conversion. Similarly, a control signal on line 121 tells the converter when to read the value of the conversion. Wiring 105
and then the digitized value of the analog voltage at 109.

The system takeoff of the CPU 91 is given to [23] in chronological order. The system bus is connected to the system bus 23 of the main CPU 25 (shown in FIG. 2) via a suitable buffer 125. The operation of the circuit of FIG. 4 to obtain the XY coordinates of a particular connection between the X and Y resistors 41 and 37 is performed with the aid of the timing diagram of FIG. is explained below.

FIG. 5 shows the temporal relationship of the signals in the seven different wires of FIG. 4, with the following wires being identified in FIG. At the initial time to, the PAD CIIEGK signal appears on line 95 and goes high (from its zero to one state).
The same applies to the TPC control signal on wiring 93. As can be seen from the logic circuit of FIG. 4, under these conditions, transistors Q1, Q2, Q4 are turned off (non-conducting), while transistors Q3 and Q5 are placed (conducting). If the X and Y resistor sheets are touching on either side, this will provide a voltage to the non-inverting input of amplifier 103. As a result, a positive voltage is generated in the wiring 127 from the output of the amplifier 103, and the ON PAD signal is transmitted to the CPU 91. It is assumed for that purpose that the two resistors 37 and 41 settle at a certain point, and the ON PAD signal on line B of FIG. 5 takes a similar form as the PAD CIIECK signal on curve A.

At time t1, the PAD CHEC signal from CPU 91 is caused to return to its low or O state, and multiplexer 113 is connected to receive the X analog signal 5 on line 105 with appropriate signals on lines 115 and 117 from CPU 91. Ru. At this moment,
PAD CIIECK signal and TPD in Figure 5(C)
In combination with the remaining high levels of the signals, transistors Q1 and Q4 are turned on, while the remaining transistors Q2 . Q4. Q5 is turned off. The voltage at the point of resistor 41 touched by resistor 37 is thus transmitted via operational amplifier 103 and multiplexer 113 to the A-Dl11 input. Time L2
At t3, the converter 113 is commanded to start converting, and at t3, the value of the voltage at the wiring 105, that is, the X-axis of the touch, is commanded to be called out in digital form to the data bus 123.

At time t3. Control signal TPD goes low.

Multiplexer 113 is switched so that the Y coordinate on wire 109 receives and receives an analog voltage. The logic circuit in Figure 4 is under these conditions.

Turn off transistors Q1 and Q3 and turn off transistor Q5.
is off, and transistors Q2 and Q4 are on.

The X-resistor 41 is contacted by the user pressing at a location on the surface of the touchpad. It is used to transmit the voltage value at a point on the Y resistor 37 to the amplifier 107. At time t4, the Δ-D converter 11 is commanded to start its conversion and at time t5.

The digital value of the analog voltage at the Y position of the wiring 109 is ordered to be read onto the data bus 123.

At this point, the X and Y coordinates of the touchpad touch are determined, allowing communication via system north 23 with host 1-CPU 25 (FIG. 2). However, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, it is desirable to perform a final check to ensure that closure at the end of a cycle between resistors 37 and 41 occurs.

In that particular example, the cycle takes approximately 3 milliseconds.

It is desirable to accept the X and Y coordinate values only if the touch has been distorted for at least that length. If not, it's unlikely to be a good take. Therefore at time tO.

The PAD CIIECK and 'rPD signals go high,
If the ON PAD signal also goes high as shown in Figure 5, then we know that the detected touch bat is genuine and the X and Y values must be set to utilize the system. communicated.

The digital information generated by CPtJ91 is generated. The form of the statistical information sent to the system lotus 23 is shown in FIG. 2 items 131 and 133 are CPUs
91, it is sent consecutively immediately after. data byte 1
33 contains a digital representation of this data, its previous state high+-], 31 identifies the data. There are three types of data sent in this way. The first type indicates whether it is one of the touch keys or the pressed button for buttons 65-79 in FIG. The CPU 9] compares the X and Y coordinate information as described above and compares it with the known X and Y limits for each of these virtual regions.

A code is then provided to the status hide 131 indicating that a certain button area was pressed, and the data by I-133 for this type of information identifies that the particular button was pressed.

If CPLJ 91 is located at the taken XY coordinates or in the touchpad cursor control area 63 of FIG. 3, then the presence of a cursor controlling information is indicated in status byte 131 of FIG. Information regarding the exact X-Y coordinates of the touch during the cycle is included in data byte 133. X and Y coordinates for certain devices.

It is calculated every 30 to 40 milliseconds.

By finger movement via the touch pad 63, the CPU 9
1 as part of the hide 133 to periodically send out new XY coordinate information. At a certain instant, a high I-131 indicates that the X coordinate value is reported in the node 133, and at a second instant, the coordinate value indicates that it is in the Y direction, and so on. This information is then utilized by the CPU 25, which has standard cursor-driving hardware or software, to move its cursor across the display 17 and across the touchpad area 63 in relation to the movement of the finger. Keep the direction still. This is the second of three types of data obtained by CPU 91 from the XY information thus obtained from Chipa Nodo in the evening.

What is the preferred form of this second type of information?

The CPU 91 communicates the differential movement rather than the absolute x,y position in the cheekbones 133. 2 resistance sheets 37 from the position where the last call occurred
The distance traveled to close 41 is reported. Furthermore, it is not desirable to directly apply these differential signals to a cursor that controls hardware or software. This is because this causes the cursor to follow an abrupt path if the user's finger does not follow a smooth path. Therefore, the CPU 91 has the effect of smoothing the continuously obtained differential XY motion values by transmitting a plurality of differential reading average values to the system bus 23.

Figure 6 shows the element i35.137°139 inside the CPU91.
and other internal register elements 141°143.145
shows. Each new differential movement value is added to the first
When added to stage 135.

Each desired incremental Y movement value is entered in the first stage 141 of the second register.
inserted into. In each successive measurement cycle these values are moved from left to right through the registers and then specified. The difference X movement value is.

It is reported by the CPU 91 to the system hub 23 via the data byte 133.

This is the average value of the three values of register elements 135, 137, and 139. Similarly, the increasing Y movement value is in register 141.14.
Determined by averaging the last three increment values stored to 3,145.

It is desirable in many applications to provide a scaling feature of cursor movement in response to finger movement in the X-Y region 63 of the touchpad. Thus, the Boss l-CPU 25 scans the average incremental xY values by a magnitude proportional to the speed of the touch operation before providing them to standard cursor control software or hardware. A preferred technique is to square these values mathematically and multiply the result by some constant (which may be 1). The result is even more.

As the speed of the movement increases, the cursor will move across the display screen 17 for a predetermined distance of the touch movement across the touch puff F area 63. Each increase X and Y value.

Because they represent a touch movement for a given time, and because that time is the cycle time for measuring the X and Y values, these difference values should be squared before providing them to normal cursor control hardware or software. It can be seen that the cursor will be moved only a distance according to the speed of the touch operation. If the user wants to move the cursor a short distance, two moves are required to touch the pad' area 6.
Move slowly for 3 minutes. If the finger moves quickly (then the cursor will not move further by the same distance as the finger moves).

Returning to the data formant shown in FIG.

The third and final type of information conveyed in that direction by CPU 91 to system hash 23 is:
This is an indication of when the X-Y touch data area 63 was touched. That is, once CPU 91 determines resistor surfaces 37 and 4 from the X and Y coordinates given to it,
Closing of a specific circuit between 1 is the XY cursor control area 63
Once it determines that the closure is within that particular fixed A further search is performed by asking each successive question whether the object was moved a certain distance in the X direction or more or less than another certain distance in the Y direction during the time it was moved. If the closure is greater than or equal to this particular fixed time or the touch movement is greater than a particular defined X or Y distance, then the touch is interpreted as a cursor movement command.

A second type of data word, described above with respect to FIG. 7, is transmitted.

However, if its closure is shorter than the predetermined time.

If the type action is less than the predetermined presented XY distance, the instantaneous touch is detected.

Different forms of data according to FIG. 7 or system path 23
transmitted to. State high l-133 is another touch key (
button). That is, the touch is simply treated as another button area and requires a physically separate button to generate it. Data byte 133 simply indicates by a special code that it is a tap or momentary touch.

Although using both touch time and distance to distinguish taps from cursor motion signals is desirable for many embodiments, the use of just one element or other elements may be sufficient for many other applications. It is.

The X-Y cursor movement area 63 also has the additional function of generating a button-like signal that is most usefully utilized by the host CPU 25 as an execution signal that normally follows the movement of a cursor on a computer display. have

Thus, the user does not have to take his or her eyes off the screen to find another button to press in order to perform the desired action at the cursor location, but rather moves his or her finger to the X-Y area 63 already located. Just give a short tap.

Another advantage of generating tap signals that way is:

That is to simplify electronic circuits. Reducing and simplifying circuit components is extremely effective in the case of portable computers, and saves money in other cases as well.

The above-described computational acts performed by CPU 91 are shown in FIG. The actions provided by the software of the present invention in the portions marked with states 10 and 11 are illustrated by circle 151 in FIG. In this state, the system is at a standstill while going through a repeated cycle of interrogating the evening, nose, and throat to determine whether closure between resistive sheets 37 and 41 occurs. ON
When closure is detected by the presence or return of the PAD signal, the system goes to states 20 and 21, indicated by circle 155, if the closure is in the X-Y region 63 of the touchpad. Proceed via path 153. If its closure is detected as part of states 10 and 11 in one of the button areas 65 to 79.

The system then passes from path 157 to circle 159.
The process advances to state 39 shown in FIG. In state 30,
In the format described with respect to FIG. 7, the system simply signals a particular button area that is being suppressed as long as the ON PAD signal is high.

In state 155, a determination is made as to whether the closure of the x-y cursor control region 63 has the characteristics of an executed tap or cursor movement command according to the criteria described above. If a tap is detected.

The system moves from path 161 to states 5o and 51, indicated by circle 163.

On the other hand, if its closure is detected as a command to cause an X-Y motion, the system transitions from path 165 to states 40 and 4oa illustrated by FIG. 9 by circle 167. In states 40 and 41, the system continues to communicate differential X and Y movement values via digital signals of the type described above with respect to FIG.

In states 40 and 41, the operating cycle in which the disappearance of the ON PAD signal is detected causes a transition from path 169 to states 50 and 51. In these latter conditions, if the ON PAD signal is not present for less than a predetermined time (M counts), path 171
returns to states 40 and 41 via. This thus provides the ability to "skate", i.e., as the operator's fingers move across the X-Y region 63, the kunochi is temporarily removed from the surface or closed for a short time because it is too light. This does not cause the system to transition to any other state since it cannot occur. However, if it is detected that the ON, PAD signal is not present for more than that predetermined time, then the system is operating in states 50 and 51 and is transferred by path 173 to initial states 10 and 11. return.

Another feature of the software of the present invention shown in the state diagram of FIG. 9 is that when the ON PAD signal recovers within a predetermined time, one of the Figure) Path 1 as a result of Hekunochi transitioning
75 from states 50 and 51 to state 30.

Although the aspects of specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, 1. the present invention should not be limited only to these specific examples, and 2. various modifications may be made without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. Of course it is possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view generally showing a balk pull computer system in which the touch pad system of the present invention is effectively utilized, FIG. 2 is a general block diagram of the computer system of FIG. 1, and FIG. Figure 1 is an exploded view of the mechanical configuration of the computer touch pad, Figure 4 is an electronic circuit diagram of a system using the touch pad in Figure 3, and Figure 5 is an exploded view of the mechanical configuration of the computer touch pad.
FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of the electronic circuit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
The figure is a formant diagram of a specific digital signal of the circuit in Figure 4, Figure 8 is a flowchart diagram showing the operation of the circuit in Figure 4, and Figure 9 is a diagram for processing information given from the touch pad. 5 is a state diagram illustrating the operation of computer software used in conjunction with the circuit of FIG. 4. FIG. 13...keyboard, 17...display, 33...touch pad. 34...Display drive circuit, 37°41
...Resistance sheet, 83...Resistance. 131...Status hide 133...Data byte. Fine 1kVL burial mound...1...lat, -, Needer Th-4jL-', λ 7 FIG, 5゜FIG, 6゜Start FIG, 8゜

Claims (12)

[Claims] (1) As an input and control device attached to any key fob, used in a digital computer system having a display, that is, a system that generates a cursor and moves it across the display in response to input signals. . The touch sensitive surface is characterized by generating a single electrical signal indicative of the two-dimensional position of the touch relative thereto. and means for specifying a plurality of spatially separated regions relative to and across the surface. When they are touched at any point within said area, they generate a specific signal for each of a plurality of spatially separated areas, thereby causing each of said plurality of areas to undergo a monopolar Means for receiving and receiving the touch position signal operates as a button switch and generates a specific on/off signal useful for controlling the computer system. generating time-sequential position signals representative of changes in the movement of a touch across the surface into another one of the spatially separated regions, thereby making the signals usable by a cursor movement system of the computer system; The cursor is moved by a distance proportional to the distance that a touch across the surface area of the cursor is moved.
A means for receiving the notch position signal. A touchpad computer input device with a touchpad. (2) means for receiving and receiving a touch position signal when the touch position signal is generated by a touch in another one of the spatially separated areas, the area being touched for a shorter time than a predetermined time; Further, the time-series position signal generating means is further characterized by not responding to the specified area when the time-series position signal generating means does not remain in the other area for a certain period of time exceeding the predetermined time. 5 so that the area of the above is the same as the area of the above. 2. The touch pad computer input device of claim 1, further comprising means for generating two different signals depending on the length of the touch. (3) The time-series position signal generating means includes means for generating an increasing distance movement signal per unit time when a cursor control system of a computer system is applied. computer input device. (4) The incremental distance generating means averages a plurality of successive incremental distance readings before providing an incremental signal to the cursor control system, and when the touch suddenly moves across the other area, the movement is applied to the cursor. 4. A touchpad computer input device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising means for smoothing before being applied. (5) distance signal generating means squares each increment value before it is applied to said cursor control means; 2. A touch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for causing the distance that the cursor is moved relative to the display device for a predetermined distance that the touch moves over another area to be dependent on the speed of said movement. Pat computer input device. (6) Said touch sensing surface: consists of a first and a second rectangular sheet disposed adjacent to each other, each of said sheets 1 to 1 having a surface facing the other sheet for each unit length. Characterized by having a predetermined electrical resistance. non-electrically conductive spacers, which normally separate the resistive surfaces, and which touch the resistive surfaces in a pattern that brings them into contact in response to a touch on the back side of one of the sheets; at least one of said sheets is sufficiently flexible to be deformed in response to such touch providing contact with said resistive surface. The region determining means: comprises a non-conductive spacer disposed between the first and second seams 1-, the spacer extending over the positions of the plurality of spatially separated regions; Has an aperture formed. 2. A touchpad computer input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a visible pattern disposed on opposing surfaces of said one film indicating said plurality of spatially separated regions. (7) one set of opposite sides of the resistive surface of one of said sheets is electrically connected to generate said touch position signal, and an opposite set of opposite sides of the other sheet is connected to said electrically connected to generate a touch position signal;
7. The touch pad of claim 6, wherein a resistive surface of one of the sheets measures a touch position in the X direction, and a resistive surface of the other sheet measures a touch position in the Y direction. computer input device. (8) A digital computer system having a display capable of generating a cursor that moves across the display in response to input signals, and is an accessory device to any keyboard. a touch sensitive surface characterized by generating electrical signals indicative of position in two dimensions of a touch on said surface; means for receiving and receiving said touch position signals to generate position signals representative of changes in the movement of said touch across said surface over time when said touch remains on said surface for more than a predetermined time; A tap signal is generated independently of the time-series position signal only when the display device Q is present on the surface for a period shorter than the predetermined time, and thereby the tap signal is generated without the need for a separate switch.
2. A touch pad computer input device comprising means for receiving and receiving said touch position signals, wherein said tap signal is utilized by a computer to execute a selected response by not previously moving a cursor. (9) The touch pad computer input device according to claim 8, wherein the time-series position signal generating means comprises means for generating an incremental distance movement signal per unit time used in a cursor control system of a computer system. . (10) The incremental distance generating means includes means for averaging a plurality of consecutive distance readings prior to applying an intensifying legacy word to the cursor control system, thereby increasing the sudden movement of the touch relative to another surface. 10. A touchpad computer input device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the potential for movement is smoothed before being applied to the cursor. (11) The increment distance signal generating device has means for squaring each increment value before providing it to the cursor control system, thereby determining the predetermined distance of a touch movement over which the cursor traverses the other area. 10. A touchpad computer input device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the distance of movement of the display device relative to the display device is dependent on the speed of said movement. (12) A system capable of generating a cursor for movement on a display in response to input signals, which operates as an input and control device attached to a keyboard; a touch-sensitive surface characterized by generating electrical signals indicative of position in a dimension; the movement of a touch across said surface when said touch either remains on said surface for more than a predetermined time or moves over a distance for said predetermined time; means for receiving and receiving the touch position signal for time-sequentially generating a position signal representing a change; generating a tap signal independent of the time series position signal when the touch is on the surface for less than a predetermined time and moves less than the specified distance for the predetermined time; said touch position signal receiving means, wherein the signal is utilized by the computer system to effect a response selected by advance movement of a cursor across the display device without the need for a separate switch; input device.