JPS6068429A - Controller for cursor display position - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate an operation of a controller for cursor display position by comparing the areas decided by the cursor position, the position information on each menu and the information on the selection range of menu respectively and inhibiting the shift of a position indicating device. CONSTITUTION:A comparator CPC of a cursor position compares the areas which are decided by the position of a cursor, the information of a memory MPM at the menu position on the screen of each menu and the information of a memory MSM for selection range of menu. Then the result of comparison is applied to a drive circuit BDR and an alarm tone generator ASS with the control signal which is generated when the cursor is positioned within an area where the menu occupies on the screen. Thus an alarm tone is produced through a speaker SP and at the same time a drive signal is produced by the circuit BDR to press a control shoe. Thus the shift of a position indicating device PSA is inhibited. Here an operator confirms that the cursor position within a CRT is coincident with the position of the menu to be selected. In such a way, the display PSA can be easily operated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a cursor display position control device used to control the position of a cursor within a display surface of a display in an information processing device.

(Prior Art) Displaying a menu image within the display surface of a display and selecting a menu by moving a cursor to the position of the menu image has been widely adopted in various information processing devices. It is a technical means that Conventionally, the most commonly used operation means for moving the cursor is to move the cursor within the screen of the display by operating the cursor movement keys. Instead of using the cursor movement IJJ keys as described above as an operation means for moving the cursor within the screen of the display, it was purchased so that the required position indication signal could be obtained in accordance with the displacement of one aircraft. There is also known a method for moving a cursor within the display surface of a display simply by using a position pointing device (mouse) and moving it in any direction on the surface of the desk. Compared to the former method, this latter method allows for simpler and easier operations for moving the cursor within the screen of the display. Position instruction device for operation! It has also been widely practiced to use a mouse (mouse).

Conventionally, the above-described position pointing device (mouse) includes a spherical member for detecting the amount of movement that can be moved in any direction while in contact with the surface of a desk, and a spherical member for detecting the amount of movement described above. It has generally been configured to include a signal converter that decomposes a quantity into components in two orthogonal directions and generates signals corresponding to the magnitudes of the two orthogonal components. .

By the way, if the cursor movement for selecting a menu image displayed on the screen of the display is performed by the above-mentioned position pointing device, the operator can move the cursor in any direction on the desk. It is necessary to move a movable position pointing device to match the position of the cursor with the position of the desired menu image to be selected among the menu images displayed on the display surface of the display. However, it is not easy to move the position pointing device on a desk so that the cursor is accurately positioned on the desired menu image, especially when the desired menu image that is to be selected is small. Since the operator must pay sufficient attention to moving the cursor on the screen of the display when operating the position pointing device, an improvement has been desired.

(Objective) The present invention provides a cursor display position control device that does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks that have caused problems in the past. An object of the present invention is to provide a cursor display position control device that allows the cursor position to easily match the position of a menu image that has been set.

(Structure) Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the cursor display position control device of the present invention, that is, the position pointing device that can be moved in any direction while in contact with the desk surface, and the position pointing device described above. A cursor position control means for controlling the display position of the cursor according to a generated position instruction signal, a means for storing a menu position on the screen, a means for storing a selection range of the menu, a means for comparing the cursor position, and a means for displaying the screen. 1 Detailed description of the specific contents of the cursor display position control device comprising a display control circuit, a braking mechanism provided in the position pointing device, a drive circuit for the braking mechanism, and a warning sound generator 6 FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a cursor display position control device according to the present invention.
SA is a position pointing device that can be moved in any direction while in contact with the desk surface, and CPR is a cursor positioning device that controls the display position of the cursor by a position pointing signal generated by the position pointing device PSA. Control means, MPM is storage means for the menu position on the screen, MSM is storage means for the selection range of the menu, CPC is the comparison means for the cursor position, CRT is the display means for the screen, DPC is the display control circuit, A
SS is a warning sound generator, BDR is a brake mechanism drive circuit, and the brake mechanism drive circuit BDR generates an E signal for driving the brake 8 mechanism provided in the position pointing device PSR. and supplies it to the braking mechanism described above.

Further, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the position pointing device, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a part of the position pointing device, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the construction of a pulse generator, and FIG. 6 and 6 are waveform diagrams for explanation, and FIG. 7 shows flowcharts 1 through .

First, the "C position pointing device" will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. In FIG. 2, A is the position pointing device PSA.
, Bl and B2 are push button switches (function keys), E is a power supply for signal generation, and MD is a transfer af.
IL detection section, SE is signal conversion section, UDC (UDCx,
The total number of UDCy) is an up/down counter, and BM is a braking mechanism.

When the position pointing device PSA moves its housing A by hand in any direction on the surface of the desk, the position pointing device PSA calculates each of the components (x, y components) in two orthogonal directions corresponding to the amount of movement. A signal corresponding to the magnitude of components do.

The movement amount detection unit MD is configured such that when the case A is moved in an arbitrary direction on the surface of the desk, the movement amount corresponding to the movement amount of the case A in an arbitrary direction can be detected. For example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 54-7467, the desk surface and part of the desk surface can come into contact with each other. (Of course, it is also possible to adopt a spherical body configured to optically detect the amount of movement as the movement amount detection section MD, or one with other configurations. ).

The movement amount in any direction detected by the movement amount detection section MD described above is divided into components (X) in two orthogonal directions.

- Y component) and generates a signal corresponding to the magnitude of each of the two orthogonal components The amount of movement in the direction is decomposed into components of the amount of movement in two orthogonal directions in a plane parallel to the surface of the desk, and the magnitude of the components of the amount of movement in the two directions and the number of pieces corresponding to each separately are calculated. A structure capable of generating pulses is used.

In FIG. 3, a spherical body is used as the movement amount detection section MD, and a purchased pulse generator including a disk on which an optical pattern is applied is used as the signal conversion section SE. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration near the movement amount detection section MD and the signal conversion section SE in the case where BM is a braking mechanism.

In FIG. 3, the signal conversion unit SE detects the movement of the surface of the spherical body as the movement amount detection unit MD, which is composed of a spherical body, moves in any direction. Two directions X that are orthogonal within.

In order to decompose the amount of movement in the Y direction into components and generate a signal corresponding to the components, two orthogonal radial positions are set in the spherical body in a plane parallel to the desk surface. Two pulse generators PGx are configured to include two rollers lx and ly provided so as to be in individual contact with each other, and a circle fi3x+3y that rotates as the spherical body rotates.

It is shown as being composed of PGy. In addition, when the brake @BM receives a drive signal from the drive circuit BDR of the brake mechanism, the brake shoe 19 moves against the surface of the spherical body constituting the movement amount detection section MD. A device configured to be pressed may be used, and as described above, when a drive signal is given to the brake mechanism BM from the drive circuit BDR of the brake mechanism, the movement amount detection unit An electromagnet driven by the above-mentioned drive signal may be used to suppress the brake shoe 19 against the surface of the spherical body constituting the MD.

Among the two pulse generators PGx and PGy that purchase the signal converter SE, one pulse generator PGx is a pulse generator that generates pulses corresponding to the amount of movement of the moving unit MD in the X direction. and the other pulse generator P
Gy is a pulse generator that generates a pulse corresponding to the amount of movement of the moving part MD in the Y direction, and the two pulse generators PGxPGy described above are made to have the same configuration SS, Identical components in both components are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

In the following description, two pulse generators PGx, PG
When the explanation is given without distinguishing y, the subscript alphabetic characters are omitted, for example, P
This is done by adopting a method of describing Gx or PG7 as PG, 2X or 2y as 2, or lx or ly as 1°.

The pulse a generator PG (PGx
, PGy) is a roller 1 (lx.

a circle m3 (3x, 3y) fixed to the rotation axis 2 (2x, 2y) of the signal slit plate 4 (4x).

4y) and light emitting elements 5.6 (5x, 5y, 6x, 6y)
and the light receiving element 718 (7XI 7 y+ s X, a
y) and the signal processing circuit 9 (9x, 9y).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a specific example of the construction of the pulse generator PG shown in FIG.
A disk 3 fixed to a rotating shaft 2 of a roller l that comes into contact with the circumferential surface of a spherical body forming a groove in the movement amount detection section MD includes:
A required pattern 3a for pulse generation is provided.

The signal slit plate 4 has two sets of slits a and b that can generate pulses having a phase difference of 90°.
The light from the light emitting elements 5 and 6 passes through the slits a and b of the signal slit plate 4, and then passes through the pattern 3a of the disk 3 and is applied to the light receiving cables 7 and 8.

The output signal of the light receiving element 7 is amplified by the amplifier 13a and outputted to the output terminal 15 as a signal Sa, and is also outputted to the output terminal 16 as No. 43 Sar via the inverter 14a. Further, the output signal of the light receiving element 8 is amplified by the amplifier 13b and outputted to the output terminal 17 as No. 43 sb, and is also outputted to the output terminal 18 as the signal Sbr via the inverter 14b.

The signals Sa and sb outputted from the output terminals 15.17 have a phase difference of 90°, and the signals Sa and sb output from the output terminals 16.18 are opposite to the two signals Sa and Hsb. Two polar signals Sar and Sbr are output.

Of the four signals Sa+Sb, Sa r, and Sbr described above, the C signals Sa and Sbr are applied to the AND circuit ANDI, and the signals Sar and Sbr are applied to the AND circuit AND2.

The output of the AND circuit ANDL is applied to the trigger terminal of the monostable multivibrator MMI.

The output of the AND circuit AND2 is applied to the trigger terminal of the monostable multi-bibreak MM2.

The Q output of the monostable multivibrator MM,1 described above is applied to the OR circuit OR, and is also applied to the cell 1 to terminal S of the set/reset flip-flop F'1='.

Furthermore, the Q output of the monostable multivibrator MM2 described above is given to the OR circuit 01 (and also applied to the reset terminal R of the set-reset flip-flop F. MM2 outputs an output pulse having a constant pulse width from the rising edge of the input pulse applied to the trigger terminal to QI@.

The signal obtained as the output of the OR circuit OR is output from the output terminal 1.
1 as a counting signal St, and the Q output of the set-reset flip-flop FF is a control signal for changing the operation mode of the up-down counter (in the following description, it is simply referred to as a control signal or a direction indicating signal). from the output terminal checker 2.

5 and 6 are signal waveform diagrams for explaining the operation of the pulse generator PG shown in FIG. This is for explaining the operation of the pulse generator PGx (also known as PGy) when moving to the right (or from the top to the bottom in FIG. 3).

Also, FIG. 6 explains the operation of the pulse generator PGx (or PGy) when the position pointing device moves from right to left in FIG. 3 (or from bottom to top in FIG. 3). It is meant to be done.

As is clear from FIGS. 5 and 6, when the directions of movement of the position indicating devices become opposite to each other, the relative positional relationship of the signals Sa and sb on the time axis changes, so When the direction of movement of the device is such that it produces an output signal as shown in FIG. 5, the control signal Sd appearing at the output terminal 12 is at a high level, and the direction of movement of the position pointing device In the case of a state that produces an output (ff1%) as shown in FIG. 6, control No. 43 Sd appearing at the output terminal 12 is at a low level.

Two pulse generators PGx and P in the signal converter SF
The respective signals generated by Gy (indicated by signals St sent from the output terminals 11 of the pulse generators P and G described above with reference to FIG. 4) are transmitted to the movement amount detection section MD. This is obtained by decomposing the amount of movement of the position pointing device detected in two specific orthogonal directions (X direction, Y direction), but the pulse generation in the signal converter SE mentioned above The X-direction component signal (as shown as S t x) sent from the counter PGx is applied as a counting pulse to the up/down counter UDCx.

Further, the pulse generator P in the signal conversion section SE described above
The Y-direction component signal (as indicated as STy) sent out from Gy is an up-down counter UDC.
given to y.

In addition, two pulse generators PG in the signal converter SE
Control signals generated at X and PGy (output terminal 1 of the pulse generator PG described above with reference to FIG.
Of the signals Sd sent out from the signal converter SE (direction indicating signal), the 911 signals sent out from the pulse generator PGx in the signal converter SE (shown as Sdx) are is up/down counter U
The data is supplied to DCx and is also supplied as direction data to the main body of the information processing device via the connection line C.

Further, the pulses in the signal converter SE mentioned above and the control signal (as shown as S d y) sent from the generator PGy are sent to the up/down counter UDCy.
given to.

The counts in the up/down counter IJDCx, up/down counter UDCy, etc. are reset by a reset signal sent from the main body of the information processing device via the connection line C at regular time intervals. Also,
The up/down counter UDCx has its count value changed by an X-direction component signal (as shown as Stx) given from the pulse generator PGx in the signal converter SE, and furthermore, A control signal (such as indicated as S d or

In addition, the up/down counter UDCy has its count value changed by a Y-direction component signal (as shown as Sty) given from the pulse generator PGy in the signal converter SE, and further changes the count value by the above-mentioned signal. A control signal (such as indicated as Sdy) sent by the pulse generator PGy in the conversion section SH causes it to operate as an up-counter or causes it to operate as a down-counter. or The counted values of the up/down counters UDCx and UDCy described above are
The position indication signal is transmitted to the main body of the information processing device via connections W and C.

When the pushbutton switch B1 for menu designation is pressed, a required signal from the signal generation power source E is applied to the main body of the information processing device via the connection line C, and the pushbutton switch B1 is pressed.
The position indication signal at the time when 1 is pressed, that is, information on the position of the cursor, is used by the information processing device to specify the menu as required.

When the position indication signal generated by the operation of the position indication device PSA described above is applied to the cursor position control means CPR shown in FIG. , and supplies it to the display control circuit DPC and the cursor position comparison means CPC.

In the display control circuit DPC, the cursor position control means CPR
``''Q Using the generated cursor position information, a cursor is displayed on the display surface of the screen display means CRT (for example, a cathode ray tube) at a display position on the screen that corresponds to the above-mentioned cursor position information. or by using the information on the menu position on the screen supplied from the storage means MPM for the menu position on the screen, display on the screen corresponding to the above-mentioned menu position information on the display surface of the screen display means CRT. Make the menu appear at the position,
In addition, an image to be displayed on the display surface of the screen display means CRT is displayed at a predetermined display position on the screen.

The cursor position comparison means CPC includes the cursor position information (for example, information indicated by the feed address) generated by the cursor position control means CPR, and the screen menu position storage means MPM. The memorized menu position information on the screen (for example, the information shown in Zettetsuzuchi) and the menu selection range'? 2 million means MSM
Menu selection range information stored in (for example,
information indicated by a relative address) is supplied.

Then, the cursor position comparison means CPC calculates the menu position (ff information) on the screen for each menu.
For example, the information shown in the feed address) and the menu r.
Selected range information (for example, information indicated by relative addresses)
By comparing each area occupied by the double-sided area defined for each menu (for example, the area expressed by an absolute address) with the cursor position (for example, the area indicated by an absolute address). When the cursor is positioned within the area occupied by each of the above-mentioned menus on the screen, the control generates a 1m signal and sends it to the drive circuit BDR of the braking mechanism and the warning sound generator. Give to A S S.

In the warning sound generation 5Ass, when the control signal sent from the comparison means CPC at the cursor position is given, a warning sound signal is generated and the signal is sent to the speaker S.
P, so that a warning sound is emitted from the speaker S1).

Further, in the drive circuit BDR of the braking mechanism, when the control signal sent from the cursor position comparison means CPC is given to it, a drive signal is generated and the signal is sent to the position pointing device PSA. This is applied to the braking mechanism BM installed inside 4-1. As described above, the braking mode block 13M to which the above-mentioned drive signal is applied suppresses the braking shoe 19 against the circumferential surface of the spherical body constituting the movement amount detecting section MD, and determines the position. Movement of the device PSA is prohibited. The above-mentioned actions such as generating a warning sound and prohibiting movement of the position 411 display area are used to notify the operator that the cursor is positioned within the respective area occupied by each menu on the screen. Therefore, the duration of the operation of generating the warning sound and the operation of inhibiting movement of the position pointing device may be short.

When the operator perceives the above-mentioned warning sound generation operation or movement prohibition operation of the position pointing device, the position of the cursor displayed on the screen display means CRT changes to the menu that the operator is trying to select. If the position of the cursor displayed on the screen display means CRT is at the position of the menu you are trying to select, press the push button switch B1 for specifying the 1 position. If you turn it on and the position of the cursor displayed on the single-screen display means CRT is in a menu different from the menu you are trying to select, continue operating the position pointing device PSA. Then, the menu selection operation continues.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the cursor display position control device of the present invention. When the power is turned on, the microcomputer in the control device for the cursor display position is initialized in step (1), and the process proceeds to step (2). In step (2), a menu is displayed on the screen display means CRT.

In step (3), the position indication signal generated by the position indication device PSA is read. In step (4), the cursor is moved to the indicated position indicated by the position indication signal and displayed. It is determined whether the position of the cursor displayed in step (5) is within the range of the specified menu, and if the result of the determination is NO, the process returns to step (3), and the result of determination is YES.
If S, proceed to step (6).

In step (6), a warning sound is generated for a short period of time, and in step (7), movement of the position pointing device is prohibited for a short period of time. In step (8), check whether the push button switch B1 for specifying the position is pressed.
Make sure that the push button switch B1 for normal use is not pressed.
Returning to step (3), if the push button switch B1 for specifying the position has been pressed, the process proceeds to step (9), where menu selection is performed. Step (9) is followed by subsequent processing steps.

(Effects) That's it for the details! As is clear from the explanation by @sha, the present invention includes a position pointing device that is movable in any direction while in contact with the surface of a desk, and a cursor display using a position pointing signal generated by the position pointing device. and cursor position control means for controlling the position.

A means for storing the menu position on the screen, a means for storing the selection range of the menu, a means for comparing the cursor position, a means for displaying the screen, a display control circuit, a braking mechanism provided in the position pointing device, and a drive for the braking mechanism. Since this is a cursor display position control device comprising a circuit and a warning sound generator, according to the present invention, the cursor position comparison means CPC is used to determine the cursor position and the screen menu for each menu. By comparing the region determined by the location information (for example, the information indicated by the supply address) and the menu selection range information (for example, indicated by the relative address), the individual menus described above are It is controlled by a control signal generated when the cursor is located within each area occupied on the screen by a drive circuit BDR of information.
The warning sound generator ASS generates the warning sound from the warning sound signal force SP, and the drive circuit BDR of the braking mechanism generates a drive signal and outputs it. is applied to the braking mechanism BM provided in the position pointing device PSA, and the braking mechanism BM to which the above drive signal is applied applies braking to the circumferential surface of the spherical body constituting the movement amount detection section MD. Since the movement of the first position pointing device PSA is prohibited by pressing the shoe 19 of The cursor display of the present invention allows you to easily operate the device by checking whether the position of the cursor displayed inside is at the position of the menu you are trying to select. With the position control device, all of the conventional problems mentioned above can be satisfactorily solved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a control device 1 of cursor display 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a position pointing device, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of a part of the position pointing device. , 411 is a block diagram showing an example of the construction of a pulse generator,
FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory waveform diagrams, and FIG. gS7 is a flow chart. PS, A...Position pointing device, A...Housing, MD movement amount detection section, SE...Signal conversion section, Bl, B2...
Push button switch, UDCx, UDCy river up down counter, C...connection line, D...desk, E...signal generation power supply, PGx, PGy...pulse generator, CPR river power sol position Control means, MPM...Memorizing means for menu position on the screen, MSM...Memorizing means for menu selection range, CPC...Memorizing means for cursor position, CRT.
'・Double-sided display means, DPC...display control circuit, AS
S...Warning sound generator, BDR...Drive circuit for electronic control equipment, BM...Brake mechanism, SP...-Speaker,
Patent applicant Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A position pointing device that is movable in any direction while in contact with a desk surface, a cursor position control means that controls the display position of the cursor based on a position pointing signal generated by the position pointing device, and a menu position on a screen. storage means for storing the selection range of the menu, means for comparing the cursor position, means for displaying the screen, a display control circuit, a braking mechanism provided in the position pointing device, a driving circuit for the braking mechanism, and A cursor display position control device comprising a warning sound generator.