JPS61117615A - Electronic equipment of conversational operation type - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability and to perform various processing works with the small number of keys by providing keys arranged in a matrix and displaying a menu list having the same shape as this key arrangement on a display device and selecting a menu to operate an apparatus. CONSTITUTION:An IC chip with the window display function is used as a graphic controller 1205. A general graphic output picture and a graphic output picture for menu list are generated individually in a picture memory 1206. They are displayed divisionally on the screen of a display device 1002 by a command from a microprocessor 1201. For the purpose of improving the speed of data transfer between the picture memory 1206 and a main memory 1203, DMA transfer by a direct memory access controller (DMA) 1204 is used. Key switches on a keyboard 2004 are scanned by a keyboard interface 12092 to generate an internal code of the key switch depressed by an operator, and this code is reported to the processor 1201.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an electronic device having a character/image display section such as a character display or a graphic display, and a switch input section such as a keyboard, and particularly relates to an electronic device having a character/image display section such as a character display or a graphic display, and a switch input section such as a keyboard. The present invention relates to an interactive electronic device that allows various operations to be performed by answering questions from a switch input section.

[Prior art]

Questions stored in advance on a storage medium such as external memory C
The output is displayed sequentially on the flat display of a display device using RT (cathode ray tube) or liquid crystal, etc., and the answer to that question is entered from the keyboard, and depending on the answer, the next question or various display operations are performed. There are so-called interactive electronic devices, and a typical example of this device is a personal computer application device.

An example of the external appearance of a general personal computer system used as this type of conventional applied equipment is shown in Figure 1.
Here, 1001 is a personal computer, and a CRT graphic display 10 as a flat display unit.
02 and a floppy disk 1003 as an external storage unit
It is connected to a keyboard 1004 provided as a data input section. The LSI (large scale integrated circuit) computer part that actually performs various information processing such as dialogue is usually mounted in the same housing as the CRT (cathode ray tube) display 1002, but the keyboard 1004 or both display 1002 and keyboard 1004.

The above-mentioned keyboard 1004 includes a group of typewriter keys (a group of character keys) 1010 and a group of numeric keys 1020, which have a key arrangement as defined by JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards).
It is also equipped with a funky key 1$ 1Q30. Among these key groups, a system is currently on the market in which each of the function keys 1031 to 1035 of the function keys 1030 is used as an input means for inputting answers to questions output and displayed on the CRT graphic display 1002-H.

For example, personal computer A manufactured by Canon Corporation
There is a system using a programming language called Caprain that operates on the S-100 (trademark). This caprain belongs to what is generally called a simple language, and if you configure a system like the one shown in Figure 1 using this caprain, a menu (selection items) of pre-prepared response items to questions asked by a personal computer will be displayed. as C
The questions are displayed on the RT graphic display 1002 at the same time as the questions, and the operator can freely select from this menu or input the name or agi etc. using the typewriter keys 1010. This allows various tables to be displayed. (table), and based on this table, the operator can draw diagrams such as graphs on the display 100 while interacting with the personal computer without programming.
This can be created on the second display screen. An example of a conventional menu selection procedure performed using such a simple language will be described with reference to the following drawings.

Figure 52 shows a display example of the screen of the CRT graphic display 1002 when a system for creating graphs on the screen of a personal computer as shown in Figure JS1 is configured using a simple language such as that described in L. The screen shown in FIG. 2 shows a state in which the external shape of a bar graph has been created by computer processing certain input data, and the operator now specifies the color of the bars of each bar graph. At this time, the bar for which the color is specified in the above bar graph is decremented, and
Also, along with a message asking "What is the color of the flashing part?", a menu list of selection items corresponding to function keys 1031 to 1035 is displayed, such as "red" and "blue".

“Green”, “Yellow”, “Other” menu messages (
(hereinafter referred to as a menu) is output and displayed on the screen of the display 1002. Further, in this menu, each selection item of the menu is displayed in an array surrounded by a frame for each corresponding function key so that the corresponding positional relationship of the function keys 1031 to 1035 with the keyboard can be clearly seen. Now, if you press the function key 1031, the blinking bar (
The bar indicated by the broken line in the figure) is displayed filled in red.

Information processing devices capable of such response operations are easy to operate and can be easily handled even by beginners, so they are not limited to data processing systems that work only on personal computers, but are equipped with character displays and key switches. If it is a device,
The operation method by menu selection as mentioned above is that! Ic
By incorporating it into the 1L, operability can be improved.

As mentioned above, menu display and menu selection methods include enclosing a list of selection items (menu list) as many times as the number of function keys in a frame or displaying them in reverse brightness according to the layout of the function keys on the keyboard. A key position-based display method that displays the selection item on the display screen that corresponds to the relative position of the function key that was subsequently pressed is handled as a response, and a list of selection items such as "l: red", 2: Blue”.

3: Green"..., "A: Red", "B: Blue", 'C: Green', etc., are displayed in parallel corresponding to one character of each key, and the 41' key and " There is a key content display method in which when the "A" key is pressed, "Red 1" is handled as being designated.

In the case of the latter key content display method, the content of the key to be selected is clearly indicated, but after making a decision to specify, for example, "red" on the display screen, you can select "l" on the keyboard.
I have to look for the key with the letter `` or ``A'', so
I can't say that the operability is very good.

On the other hand, in the case of the former key position-based display method, the selection items are displayed in the order of the key arrangement to be selected, eliminating the need to search for the key. A key is required. Moreover, since there is no limit on the number of function keys, the number and arrangement of function keys vary depending on the personal computer sold by each company, which causes increased costs in system development. In addition, it has become difficult to standardize software using these function keys.

Additionally, keyboards with function keys include
Generally, the keyboard is also equipped with a numeric keypad or typewriter layout keys, so the function keys are often arranged in a row on the keyboard, so the selection list on the display screen is arranged horizontally in a straight line F. Therefore, it was not possible to place many selection items on the display screen at once. Alternatively, at the expense of operability, the selected items had to be restored on the display screen H in multiple stages without having a one-to-one correspondence with the function key arrangement.

〔the purpose〕

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide an interactive electronic device that can be operated and controlled using a menu selection method with good operability. To explain further, the present invention includes a display means for displaying characters and figures, a key input means in which a plurality of switches used for responding to questions displayed on the display means are arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, and an arrangement of the key input means. and a menu list output means for displaying a question menu list having the same shape as the above, and the display means and the output means are provided on substantially the same plane. The purpose is to Further, the present invention further provides a menu list display erasing means for independently displaying and erasing only the menu list on the display screen of the display means, or for freely moving the menu list on the display screen of the display means in response to a predetermined key input. An object of the present invention is to provide an interactive electronic device characterized in that it is equipped with at least one menu list moving means for moving a menu.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention, where 2001 is a personal computer. It is assumed that the 2004 keyboard has a set of light keys toio and a set of ten keys 1020, and a set of function keys is not mounted. In this way, a keyboard 2004 having no function keys is connected, and a CRT graphic display 1002 and a floppy disk 1 are connected.
In this example, a personal computer 2001 consisting of a computer 2003 is used to output and display a menu list of selection items on a part of the display screen of a CRT graphic display 1002 in the same layout as the numeric keypad layout of a keyboard 2004 (see FIG. 5).

: If a system for creating the graphs described in the explanation of the conventional example using fS2 diagrams using a personal computer is created using this example, the CRT graphic display 1002
The screen display will be as shown in Figure 4.

FIG. 5 shows in detail the external appearance of the number pad part 1020 of FIG. 3, and generally the ten number part includes 10 kinds of numbers from 0 to 9 and a decimal point. The menu display part MD in FIG. 4 is displayed in the same arrangement shape as the key arrangement of the above-mentioned numeric keypad part 1020, and in this example, when you press 1, for example, 4'' of the numeric keypad +020, °゛yellow'' is displayed. The internal computer determines that it has been selected, and the display 1002
The blinking bar graph above is displayed filled with a pod color.

In this way, the arrangement shape of the numeric keypad 1020 is displayed on the display 1002H, and the selection items corresponding to each of the numeric keys are displayed as a menu list in the corresponding position on D, so that there is no function key. Even in a personal computer system, menu selection-based operation control becomes easy, and operability can be greatly improved.

In addition, conventional function keys are often arranged in one or two rows on the keyboard L, and when the selection items are displayed side by side on the display in the same layout as the function key arrangement, the whole becomes horizontally long, which makes it difficult to press the key. It took some time to check the position of the function keys, but if you arrange the selection items in the same way as the numeric keypad arrangement as in the example shown in Figure 4, all the selection items will be compactly grouped together, and the positions of the keys will be adjusted. The relationship is simple (e.g. 3×
4 or 4×4 matrix display), it is possible to instantly press a key. Furthermore, when entering numerical values into the computer 2001, the selection items (menu) on the screen of the display 1002 are set to "O" in the same way as the numerical values on the numeric keypad 1020 in FIG.
″.

If you display the 10 numbers “l”, “2”, ... “9” and the decimal point °°,” in their corresponding positions,
It should be clear that this is normal numeric keypad input.

In addition, in the example of FIG. 4, the screen of the display 1002 -
A menu list of selected items is output and displayed in the blank area of the bar graph table created in the first session, but the menu list is only reduced to the size of the output table during the intermission, and the menu is selected by the operator's key operation. After the menu list is displayed, the menu list that is being displayed will be erased, and the image screen that was hidden behind the menu list will appear, allowing you to output the menu list to any position on the display screen, such as on the graph. It is clear that it may be displayed.

Examples of outputting and displaying the menu list only in this parlor are shown in Figures 6(A) to 56(C).
) shows the screen immediately after the bar graph is created and displayed on the display 1002H, and FIG. 6(B) shows the screen when a question regarding the color specification of the bar of the graph on the display 1002F is outputted and displayed. In this case, the menu list HD is out of the bar portion of the graph where the color is specified, but extends over the other bar portions. Furthermore, Figure 6 (C
) shows the screen when the bar of the graph is displayed filled in yellow after the key at the "4" position on the numeric keypad 1020 is pressed in response to a question.

Menu selection operations in a personal computer system using a keyboard without function keys have been described above, but even if a personal computer system is equipped with function keys, operability can be improved by using a numeric keypad instead of using the function keys. A sufficient effect can be obtained.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the circuit configuration of the device of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, where 1201 is a microprocessor of a personal computer 2001, 1202 is a computer path for signal exchange, and 1203 is a main memory for storing control programs, etc. , 1204 is a [1MA (direct memory access) controller that controls the input/output of the main memory 1203, 1205 is a graphics controller that controls image data, 1206 is an image memory, and 1207 is a display! 002 is a display control circuit, and 1209 is an interface for the keyboard 2004.

In this configuration example, when displaying graphics according to the present invention as shown in FIG. i4 and FIG. 6 on the display unit 1002,
An example has been shown in which the processing is performed via the graphics controller 1205 connected to the computer bus 1202. This graphic controller 1205 includes, for example, an IC chip such as Hitachi HD83484 with a window display unit. When such a graphic controller 1205 with a window display function is used, a general graphic output screen and a menu list graphic output screen are created separately in the image memory 120s (8th
), each of which is a microprocessor 120!
By commands from , it becomes possible to perform split display on the screen of the display device 1002 (see Figure:jS9).

For example, display a general graphic output screen on display +002.
When outputting a menu list, the graphic output screen for the menu list is output as a window to a part of the screen of the display unit 1002, and the other area is used as a general graphic output screen. It can be output. The window can be specified by commands from the microprocessor 1201, for example, specifying the window start and end positions on the display screen.

Furthermore, in order to speed up data transfer between the image memory 120B and the main memory 1203, generally.

DMA transfer by DNA controller 1204 is used.

In addition, the keyboard interface 1208 allows the key switch 1010.10 of the keyboard 2004J1m to
20 scans are performed, an internal code of the key switch pressed by the operator is generated, and this code is notified to the microprocessor 1201.

In the configuration example of FIG. 7, the above-mentioned graphic controller 1205 and the above-mentioned keyboard interface 1209
We have shown an example in which microprocessor 1 and microprocessor 1 are provided separately.
The microprocessor 120 may directly check the key switch input state of the keyboard 2004 to check the key input state.
1 has a human output port, the input/output port of the microprocessor 1201 is connected to the keyboard 2004.
will be directly wired to the switch group.

Furthermore, when the image memory 1206 is replaced by the main memory 1203, the display control circuit 1207 is directly connected to the computer path 1202, and part of the data of the display n1002 is read from the main memory 1203 via the computer bus 1202. It is common to display the In this case, main memory 12
The data for display output in 02 and the data on the display screen correspond in a ratio of 1 to 1.

To control the window with a configuration like H below, do the following 2.
There are two ways.

■ A general image and a menu list image are created in separate memory areas 1208A and 1206B, and for the memory space for the display screen, the window area 1208c is from the menu list image area 1208B, and the other area 1 is
2080 transfers data from the general image area 1208A (see FIG. 8).

(If you use the memory space for the display screen as an area for general images and output the menu list, the window area 1208G: is used as the window storage area 1.
Transfer to 206ε, then menu list) 120GF
is written in the window area 1206G for the display screen, and when the window is deleted, it is written in the window storage area 1206G.
Transfer the saved data from 6E to the window area 1208 (:) to return to the general image (Fig. 9, 1
(See figure O).

FIG. 11 shows another uninvented embodiment, where 30
01 is a pocket-sized so-called pocket computer, and in addition to a graphic display 3002 using a display element such as a liquid crystal, it also has a numeric keypad matrix 3 with 4 rows and 3 columns.
003, enter key 3004, and auxiliary key row 300
5, totaling 17 keys.

Numeric keypad matrix 300357) Each key 3003a,
3003b.

3003c, 3003d, 3003e, 3
003f, 3003g, 3003h, 3003
i.

'O', '#', '1', '2' for 3003j, 3003k and 3003, respectively.

3", "4", '5", '6", '7".

The characters "8" and "9" are engraved in this order.

In addition, each key 3005a, 3 of an auxiliary key row 3005 arranged vertically on the right side of the numeric keypad matrix 3003
005b, 3005c, and 3005d each have a”
, “b”.

The letters "C" and "d" are engraved in this order.

In this way, even in the case of a device having only 17 input keys, according to this example, the device shown in FIGS.
Menu list N with the same matrix shape as the numeric keypad matrix 3003 as shown in B) and (G)
O is output and displayed on the graphic display 3002, and the menu selection operation can proceed according to the input of each key on the numeric keypad matrix 3003. An example of this display mode is shown in FIG. In this way, even in the case of a device such as a pocket computer that has a small number of keys to be operated, according to the present invention, advanced data processing is possible.

Although only the display method for outputting and displaying a menu list in the form of a numeric keypad matrix on the display screen has been described above, the 12 keys 300 of the numeric keypad matrix described above
Even if the menu list is displayed with four auxiliary keys 3005 in addition to 3, the operability will not deteriorate much, and since four menu items can be added, it will become easier to use.

For example, when a calculator program is run on the pocket computer 3001, a menu list as shown in FIG. 13 is output on a portion of the display 3002. In this case, "Others" is displayed at the position of the screen H which is centered on the arrangement position of the "#" key 3QO3G. By using the other 15 keys other than this key 3003G, the pocket computer 3001 can be used as a calculator with the same operations as a calculator that performs general arithmetic calculations. That is, for example, key 3 in the numeric keypad matrix 3003 (7)
If you press 003j, 3003a, 3001a, 3003F in this order, 47'', ``8'', ``+''.

“3” has been pressed, and the display 300
21: ``78+3'' is displayed, and then when you press the enter key 3004, ``'' appears on the display 3002.
7B+3=81" is displayed. In this way,
The system is configured to perform the minimum necessary key operation calculation processing, making it easy to use even for beginners.
It will be available soon.

Furthermore, the key 3003C corresponds to the menu selection item 'Others', and by pressing this key 3003G, for example, a menu as shown in Fig. 14 is output and displayed, and the key corresponding to 'Others' is pressed again. If you press 3003G, a menu like 15134 will be output and displayed, and if you press the key 3003G corresponding to "Others", the original menu list (Figure 13) will be output again. It is also possible to easily add the functions of a high-end function TL console without increasing the number of TL consoles.

Also, by displaying the menu selection items as shown in Figure 18 at the beginning, it can be used as a Japanese word processor.
For example, when the menu list shown in FIG.
When you press 031, the menu list will display the selection characters corresponding to the row and the row as shown in Figure 17, and then the "s"
When the key 30031 corresponding to the menu selection item is pressed, the character 's' is selected. Hiragana or katakana can be input sequentially through such a procedure.

In addition, the pocket computer 30 has a kana-kanji exchange function.
01, press the auxiliary key 3005a corresponding to the "Start Kanji Conversion" option 11 on the menu display in Figure 16. The menu display changes as shown in Figure 20, and in this state, the kanji For example, key 3003 corresponding to "power running", key 3003j corresponding to "M", key 3003 corresponding to "other", etc.
G, key 3003a corresponding to "Wa line", 'Wa'
By pressing the keys 3003j corresponding to (the first
(See Figures 8 and 13), enter “Chikara” and “Wa”, and then select “End Kanji Conversion” on the menu display in Figure 20.
When the key 3005a corresponding to is pressed, the menu changes to Kanji selection as shown in FIG. 21, and the desired Kanji can be selected.

As described above, according to this example, even if the device has an input/output section of only 17 keys and a graphic display, it can be used as a pocket computer that can perform a wide variety of information processing such as a word processor, calculator, graph generator, etc. It becomes possible to provide

22 and 23 show other embodiments of the invention,
In the embodiment of the present invention described above, when making a menu selection, a menu list with the same key arrangement is output and displayed on the right end of the display 3002, but since the display position of the menu list is fixed, the display shown in FIG. A menu list is displayed overlapping the display 3002, where a noteworthy image was being displayed, as shown in the screen.
Sometimes that remarkable image is not visible. In order to deal with such a case, in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 22, a left movement key 400 for moving the menu list to the left side of the screen
8a and a right movement key 4008b for moving the menu list to the right side of the screen are provided on both sides of the enter key 4004.

Assuming that the display state shown in Fig. 22 is now displayed, press the left movement key 4.
When you press 008a, the menu list hx moves to the left side of the screen of display 3002, as shown in FIG.
The screen of interest (indicated by a broken line) becomes visible. However, if an L stage is provided to move the menu list left and right on the display screen, it is desirable that the width of the menu list is 1/2 or less of the width of the screen of the display 3002. The movement of the list is not limited to the left and right directions, but it is also preferable to add menu list movement keys that instruct movement down, down, left, and right.

In addition, instead of the key for moving the menu list, a menu display/erase key is added to display or erase the menu list, and the menu is configured so that each time the menu display/erase key is pressed, the menu appears or disappears. It's okay.

Next, the above-mentioned example of the menu list movement operation shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 24. First, in step 1, a menu display image is created in the menu area of the image memory space (see FIG. 8, 1O[) 46), and then the starting coordinate point of the window position (see FIG. 7) is created in the graphic controller 1205 (see FIG. 7). XO, YO) and the end coordinate point (XI
, Yl) as a command to determine the window display position (see Figure 7'59).Next, in step S2, it is determined whether the left movement key 4008a has been pressed, and if the determination is negative, step The process moves to S4, but if the determination is affirmative, the window start and end positions of the X coordinates are stored (XO, XI) in the next step s3.
) to the left (XO"XO-t, Xl"Xl -
t) Proceed to t, test stage S4, where t is an appropriate position depending on the number of presses of the left movement key.

In step S4, it is determined whether or not the right movement key 4008b has been pressed, and if the determination is negative, the process moves to step S6, but if the determination is affirmative, the window start and end positions of the X coordinate are stored in the next step S5 ( XO,X
l) Correction to the right side (XO4-XO+t.

X1=X1+t) L, "C7,7-/PS
Proceed to step 6.

In step S6, images of the menu area are displayed at the corrected window start and end positions on the display 3002. In other words, the window output target is the menu area, and a command is sent to the graphic controller 1205. In the next step S7, it is determined whether or not the menu key 3003 has been pressed, and if it has not been pressed, the above-mentioned step S
Returning to step 2, the processes of steps 52 to S5 are repeated until a fixed determination is made in step S8.

When the menu key 3003 is pressed, the determination is made in step S7, so the process advances to step S8 and sends a command to erase the window to the graphic controller 1025, thereby erasing the window display on the display 3002.

Next, the process advances to step S9, where the code (internal code) corresponding to the menu is sent to the microprocessor 1201 (
(see FIG. 7), that is, if each key on the numeric keypad 3003 is associated with each menu, the numeric keypad 3003
In this case, a selection code may be determined for each menu item and the code of that menu item may be returned.Then, the process returns to the main routine (not shown).

The above embodiment describes an example in which the present invention is applied to a data processing system using a personal computer or a pocket computer, but the present invention is not limited to these data processing as described below. It can also be applied to operation panels of various other devices such as copying machines.

FIG. 25 shows an example of the operation panel of a conventional general copying machine with an enlargement/reduction function.The operation keys of this copying machine include a copy start key 5001, a clear/stop key 5002, . η number keys 5003a to 5003j, upper cassette selection key 5004, lower cassette selection key 5005,
Same size key 5006, enlargement key 5007 and reduction key 5
008a to 5008e, and a density lever 5003 is further provided. However, if you simply want to make a 1-size copy of just one sheet, use the copy start key 500.
All you need is 1, and the other keys cause confusion in operation [-. On the other hand, of course, in a copying machine that has only a copy start key as an operation key, there is no way to give operation instructions for not only enlarging and reducing, but also copying multiple sheets.

FIG. 26 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a copying machine in order to solve such problems. FIG. 26 shows a display mode in an initial state. and multiple keys 5103a
~5103j and 5103g are arranged. The graphic display 5102 shows the 8fl key 5.
The mouth is output and displayed on the menu list in the same format as the key arrangement of 103a to 5103j and 5103g.

The initial display indicates that a single copy will be made at the same size, the copy density is at a medium level, and copy paper (recording paper) is displayed.
is set to cassette selection.

The arrow is displayed on the display 5102 after the power is turned on. That is, at this time, if the upper cassette is A4 size, since it is a full size copy, "A4" will be displayed at the document table display position, "A" will be displayed at the copy paper exit display position, and "A4 size" will be displayed. →It is clearly output on the right side of the menu list MD on the display 51021- that it is a same size copy of A4 size. In the menu list MO on the display 5102, only the menus "Change operation", "Stop" and "Copy start" are displayed. ” All you have to do is press the key 5103S corresponding to
You will receive one copy. That is, since there is almost no menu information other than "copy start" in the menu list, there is no confusion in searching for a desired operation key in a copy operation.

Also, when displaying the ffJ28 diagram, the display 51
If you want to change the operating conditions specified on the screen of 02, you can press the key 5103h corresponding to "Change operation" in the menu list. Then, the contents of the screen of display 5102 change to the mode as shown in FIG. The screen changes to the specified screen. Here, when the key 5103j corresponding to the menu item "reduction" is pressed, reduction setting is performed, and the display contents change to a reduction setting screen as shown in FIG. 28. Here, “A4
If you press the key 5103e corresponding to the ←A3" menu display, the setting will be reduced from the original A3 size to the copy A4 size, and as shown in FIG. 29, a display will appear indicating that the original A3 size will be scaled to the copy A4 size. Display 510
The display contents of 2 will change.

Furthermore, when the menu list shown in FIG. 27 is output and displayed, if the key 5103b corresponding to the "change number of copies" menu is pressed, the menu list changes to the display content shown in FIG. Key 5103a for the number of sheets
After making settings through steps 5103j and 5103j, pressing the key 5103g corresponding to the menu to end the settings changes the set number of copies (0, for example, key 5103b).

When 5103d and 5103s are turned on in sequence, the screen on the display 5102 changes as shown in FIG. 31, and the set number of copies per copy is changed to 13.

The flowchart of FIG. 32 (^) and CB) shows in detail the procedure of the above-mentioned menu selection operation explained based on the above-mentioned FIGS. 2B to 31.
The operation of the present invention will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. First, the menu display state shown in FIG. 26 is displayed, in which menu selections for operation change stop and copy start are displayed (step 5ll).Next, when the copy start menu is selected with key 5103g, this key is detected. Copy start processing is performed (step S12
, 513), and the stove/stove menu is key 5103
If selected in step a, this key is detected and copy stop processing is performed (steps S14, 515), and the process returns to step Sll. If the operation change menu is not selected, the process similarly returns to step Sit and the above-described processing operation is repeated.

In the menu display state of FIG. 26, if the operation change menu is selected with the key 5103h, this key is detected and the menu display state of FIG. 27 in which the operation change menu selection is displayed is entered (step S1B, Sl ?).

Next, when the selection key of the operation change menu is pressed, the type of the pressed key is determined (step 518), and the process branches to a key-specific processing routine depending on the key. That is, when it is determined that the key 5103g has been pressed, the upper cassette selection process is performed (step 519), and when it is determined that the key 5103h has been pressed, the same size setting process is performed (step 520), and it is determined that the key 5103i has been pressed. Sometimes, an enlargement setting process is performed (step 521), and the key 51 is pressed.
When it is determined that 03j has been pressed, a reduction setting process is performed (steps S22 to S525), and the process returns to step Sll. In addition, ° “Cancel” key 5103a
When is pressed, the process immediately returns to step Sll. still,
In this figure, steps related to copy density selection, lower cassette selection, and number of sheets change are omitted, but after performing the corresponding processes as described above, step S is performed again.
Return to 11.

The flowchart of FIG. 32(B) shows the steps of the reduction setting process in detail. In other words, in the menu display state of FIG. 27 (step 517), the reduction menu is
03j-rifl is selected, this key is detected (step 318) and the display screen of the display 5102 is switched to the display state of the reduction magnification menu selection shown in FIG.
Step 522).

Next, if the key 5103h is pressed, the key determination branches (step 523), and the process branches to step S24, where the settings are changed to reduce the A3 size document to 84 size, and the display screen is The magnification display is changed from "A3 to B," and then the process returns to step Sll.

Also, when the key 5103e is pressed, it is the same as in note F, and the routine of step S25 is executed by the key determination branch, and the document size display on the display screen H is changed from "A4" to "
A3''.The same goes for key inputs of other menu keys, but as mentioned above, step Sl
Returning to step S, the menu on the screen in Figure 28 is
By executing ll, the display contents of the menu selection of operation change, stop, and copy start as shown in FIG. 31 are obtained. When the "cancel" key 5103a is pressed, the process immediately returns to step S11.

〔effect〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, keys such as a numeric keypad are arranged in a matrix, a menu list having the same shape as the key arrangement is displayed on the display, and the device is operated by selecting the menu. Since I configured it,
The operability has improved compared to that written by WJ, and the ability to perform various processing tasks and operations with a small number of keys has become a revolution. Alternatively, a display that displays a menu list may be used as a key.

In particular, according to the present invention, the number of keys can be minimized, so by applying it to portable devices such as pocket computers, these devices can be made even more compact! i! The manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Furthermore, by applying the present invention to the operation panel of equipment such as a copying machine, it is possible to construct a system that allows beginners to easily perform operations as if they were beginners, and for experienced users to perform advanced operations as required by experts. Become.

Further, in the present invention, if a means for specifying the position movement of the menu and a means for independently displaying and erasing the menu are provided, it is possible to operate the menu selection while recognizing all the information displayed on the display screen. This further improves operability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional interactive personal computer, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the display mode of the display screen, and FIG. 3 is an external appearance of an interactive personal computer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the display mode of the display screen. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing the numeric keypad in FIG. 3; FIGS. 6(A) to 6(C) are plan views showing changes in the display mode of the display screen in FIG. 3; FIG. A block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the device shown in the figure, FIGS. 8 to 1θ are arrangement configuration diagrams showing an example of the spatial arrangement of the image memory in FIG. 7, and FIGS. A perspective view showing an example of an interactively operated pocket computer, and FIGS. 13 to 21 are plan views showing changes in the display mode of the display screen. 22 and 23 are perspective views showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of its control operation. FIG. 25 is a plan view showing an example of the operation panel of a conventional copying machine. FIG. 26 is a plan view showing an example of an interactive operation panel of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 27 to 31 are views showing 1g of the display screen of the panel.
FIG. FIGS. 32(A) and 32(CB) are flowcharts showing an example of the control operation. 1002.3002...Display device (display screen), 102
0.3003...-numeric keypad. 1201...Microprocess-I, 1202...
Computer bus, 1203... Main memory, 1205... Graphic controller, 1206...
...Image memory, 1207...Display device MI" circuit, 2001...Personal computer, 2004...
・Keyboard, 3001... Pocket computer, 3002...
Function keys, 5101...Operation panel, 5102...Display screen, 5103...Enter key (Figure 3, Figure 7, 1206F C menu area) Ward Ward Book Ward■tsu! -a faction

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A display means for displaying characters and figures, a key input means in which a plurality of switches used for responding to questions displayed on the display means are arranged in multiple columns and rows, and the arrangement is the same as that of the key input means. and menu list output means for displaying a menu list for shape questions using the display means, and wherein the display means and the output means are provided on substantially the same plane. (2) The device according to claim 1 further includes menu list display and erasure means for independently displaying and erasing only the menu list on the display screen of the display means, or displaying and erasing the menu list on the display screen of the display means. An interactive electronic device characterized by comprising at least one means for moving a menu list freely on a display screen in response to a predetermined key input.