JPS6277623A - Cursor controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To move a cursor with superior operability by controlling the moving speed of the cursor according to the depression time of a cursor movement key. CONSTITUTION:Data from a counter load value memory 11 stored with data for prescribing the moving speed of the cursor is stored in a counter 7. When a cursor key 4 is pressed continuously, the count significance signal from a cursor movement key detecting circuit 8 allows the counter 7 to counts down with the clock signal from a clock generating circuit 9 and when an interruption control circuit 10 detects the zero state of the counter 7, the cursor moves by one frame. Movement data on this is sent to a host computer 13. Then, a control circuit 6 loads a value smaller than before in the counter 7 from the counter load value memory 11. Consequently, the moving speed of the cursor is found. Further, speed reduction is controlled with a cursor control key 5.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a cursor control device for moving a cursor displayed on a display device, and particularly to a cursor control key for controlling the moving speed of the cursor. The present invention relates to a cursor control device.

[Conventional technology]

A graphic display device for specifying input coordinates (position) on a display screen is basically a display device.
It consists of a screen, display controller, data channels, and various input devices. One of these input devices is that when the operator tilts a lever supported by a gimbal mechanism in a desired direction, the direction and angle of tilt are detected, and the voltage or digital signal of each component in the X- and Y-axis directions is detected. There is an x-y direction input device called a "joystick" (registered trademark) that generates a signal. However, although this X-Y direction input device allows the image (cursor) on the display device to be moved in any direction depending on the operating direction of the lever, the moving distance of the cursor is uniquely determined by the operating time of the lever. Because there are
It was difficult to delicately control the movement of the cursor, and the lever protruded from the casing, making the device large.

In order to overcome this drawback, an X-Y direction input device called a "mouse" has been developed in recent years. This X-
The Y-direction input device includes a rotated sphere (hereinafter abbreviated as sphere) made of a rotatably arranged steel ball, for example, and a first driven roller that is in contact with the sphere and rotates by the rotational force of the sphere. a second driven roller that is in contact with the sphere and rotates by the rotational force of the sphere and whose axial direction is substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the first driven roller, and the rotation angles of the first and second driven rollers are set individually. a casing that houses the spheres, the first and second driven rollers, the first and second rotation angle detection means, etc.; It basically consists of.

2. An opening is provided in the lower surface of the casing, through which a part of the sphere protrudes downward, and by holding the casing and moving the sphere in any direction on a predetermined base, the first and second The two driven rollers each rotate in a predetermined direction.

The rotation direction and rotation angle of these driven rollers are
The rotation angle detection means extracts each component in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction as a voltage or digital signal, and these signals are input to a display device to move the cursor in any direction.

The X-Y direction input device configured in this manner can control not only the moving direction of the cursor but also the moving speed of the cursor by changing the moving speed of the casing.
It has the advantage of being able to delicately control the movement of the cursor, and because most of the sphere can be housed within the casing, it is also advantageous for downsizing the device. However, on the other hand, a dedicated base for rolling the sphere is required, which increases the area occupied by the entire graphic display device, and also makes it easy for dirt and oil on the base to adhere to the sphere. Since slips tend to occur between the ball and the base, there are drawbacks such as errors in the correlation between the amount of movement of the sphere and the amount of movement of the cursor.

Further, as another input device, there is a key-powered device having a cursor movement key. Cursor movement keys usually have a total of four keys, two keys that can move the cursor vertically on the display screen and two keys that can move the cursor horizontally. It is designed to move character by character. At this time, if you press the key intermittently, the cursor will move by the number of characters corresponding to the number of times you pressed it, and if you continue to press it, it will move to repeat mode after 1 second and move continuously at a constant speed.
When you release your finger, the contacts will stop at the position corresponding to the time you released them. Therefore, if you use the cursor movement method using this key, there is a time lag of about 1 second before continuous movement even if you want to move it quickly, and there is no deceleration method to stop it at a predetermined position. The problem was that it was difficult.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In other words, joysticks have the problem that it is difficult to delicately control the movement of the cursor and are poor in operability, while mice require a dedicated base for moving the mouse, which worsens the space factor. Furthermore, there is also the problem that errors tend to occur in the correlation between the sphere and the amount of transfer. Furthermore, although the manual key system allows for miniaturization, there is a problem in that it is not possible to obtain operability commensurate with human senses.

Among these kings, the mouse has operability commensurate with human senses, and the moving speed of the cursor corresponds one-to-one with the moving speed of the mouse, so you can move unnecessary parts quickly and aim at the target. The speed decreases as the vehicle approaches the target location, allowing it to stop exactly at the target location.

This invention was made in view of the problems of the prior art described above, and its purpose is to provide a cursor control device using keys that has mouse-like operability, has an excellent space factor, and is inexpensive. It is in.

[Means for solving problems]

In accordance with the above object, the cursor control device of the present invention includes a cursor movement key for moving a cursor displayed on a display device in a predetermined direction, and a cursor control key for controlling the movement speed of the cursor. In addition to having
a measuring means for measuring the time during which a cursor movement key is pressed; a memory means in which data defining a cursor movement speed according to the pressing time of the cursor movement key is stored in advance; and a press measured by the measuring means. control means for reading data stored in the memory means corresponding to time and setting the moving speed of the cursor; The cursor is configured to be able to decelerate to a predetermined speed.

[Effect]

According to the above means, the movement speed is set to increase according to the pressing time of the cursor movement key, and the cursor is continuously moved from the moment the cursor movement key is pressed, in other words, each dot forming the cursor is moved. move the cursor, and when it approaches the target, press the cursor control key to decelerate the cursor to a predetermined movement speed, including zero speed, and immediately
It is possible to accurately stop the robot at a predetermined target position and perform a predetermined instruction action.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cursor control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a keyboard equipped with cursor movement keys and cursor control keys, and FIGS. - It is an explanatory diagram showing a change in the moving speed of the crane.

First, in FIG. 2, a keyboard l is provided with keys 2 for inputting characters, numbers, etc. in the center thereof, and a plurality of function keys 3 for performing predetermined functions on the periphery of the keys 2. ing. A cursor movement key 4 for moving a cursor displayed on a display surface of a display device such as a CRT in a predetermined direction is provided on the right side of the keyboard l, and a cursor movement key 4 for controlling cursor movement is provided on the left side. A control key group 5 is provided.

The cursor movement keys 4 include a key 4a for vertically upward movement, a key 4b for vertically downward movement, a key 4c for horizontally rightward movement, and a horizontal leftward movement key 4a. It consists of an instruction key 4d, and an individual key 4a.
, 4b, 4c, and 4d to move the cursor in a predetermined direction, and by simultaneously pressing two keys with different directional components, the cursor can also be moved diagonally. The cursor control key group 5 includes a stop key S, a point key P, an and key U,
It consists of four keys, latch key L.

Under the control of the host computer, the point key P instructs the function corresponding to the current position of the cursor, and the undo key U cancels the previously executed function and returns control to the processing state two steps ago. , Latch keys are used when using a mouse to operate the cursor in a window displayed on a display device after selecting a menu, or when you want to move the cursor while holding down a mouse key. When pressed, the switch turns on
The stop key S corresponds to the cursor control key according to the present invention. Its functionality is described in connection with the block diagram description that follows.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cursor control device according to the present invention, and as can be seen from this figure, the cursor control device includes the cursor movement key 4 for instructing the movement direction of the cursor, and the cursor movement key 4 for instructing the movement direction of the cursor. A cursor key detection circuit 8 that detects the ON operation and inputs it to the control circuit 6 and at the same time inputs a count valid signal to the counter 7 side, and the counter 7.
a clock generation circuit 9 inputting a clock signal to the
An interrupt control circuit 10 inputs the output from the counter 7 to the control circuit 6, and a counter load value memory 11 in which data defining the moving speed of the cursor is set in advance and the control circuit 6 can refer to and read out the set data.
and a cursor control key group 5 that inputs a signal for controlling a predetermined operation of the cursor to the control circuit 6 via a control key detection circuit 14, and an interface circuit 12.
control circuit 6. to the host computer 13 via the control circuit 6. It is possible to input cursor control signals output from the cursor control signal.

The cursor control device configured as described above operates as follows.

Now, suppose that one of the cursor movement keys 4 is pressed, for example, a key 4c that instructs movement in the horizontal right direction.

When this key 4c is pressed, data regarding the direction and amount of cursor movement is sent from the control circuit 6 to the host computer 13. If the key 4C is kept pressed at this time, the speed is increased in proportion to the length of time the key 4C is pressed, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, without a time lag as in the conventional case. That is, the key force applied to the key 4c is detected by the control circuit 6 via the cursor key detection circuit 8, and the control circuit 6 sets a value corresponding to a preset cursor movement speed in the counter 7c corresponding to the key 4c. do.

Further, the cursor key detection circuit 8 outputs a count valid signal to the counter 7c. If this key input state continues, the counter 7c performs a subtraction operation based on the clock signal output from the clock generation circuit 9. When the value of the counter 7c becomes 0 due to this subtraction operation, the interrupt control circuit 10 detects the counter value O. and control circuit 6
, an instruction is given to output the time data until the counter value becomes 0, and at the same time, the cursor moves to the right by a minus frame.

This cursor movement data is then sent to the host computer 13 via the interface circuit 12.

Next, the control circuit 6 again sets a value corresponding to the cursor movement speed in the counter 7c. At this time, set a value smaller than the value set last time.

Then, the time until the next data output, that is, the interrupt request is issued, is shortened, the subtraction operation of the counter 7c is performed quickly, and the cursor movement speed is increased accordingly. By continuously performing this operation, the cursor speeds up in proportion to time or along a predetermined speed-up curve. During this speed increasing operation, the value set in the counter 7c by the control circuit, that is, the value set in the counter 7c.
The value to be loaded into c is determined by reading from a table in the counter load value memory 11 that is set in advance in accordance with the moving speed of the cursor.

When the key is pressed manually in this manner and the key 4c is kept pressed, the movement starts slowly and then gradually increases in speed as described above. Then, when the stop key S, which is a cursor control key, is pressed in this key-operated state, the cursor speed decelerates to O at the moment the stop key S is turned on, as shown in FIG. Then, the control circuit returns the value set in the counter 7c not to the value immediately before pressing the stop key S, but to the large value immediately after pressing the key 4c, that is, to return to the cursor movement mode from the beginning, and to do the same. Repeating the operation, the cursor speeds up according to the predetermined program mode.

By setting the speed increase and deceleration modes in this way, when the cursor approaches the target position or when you want to move it in small steps, press the stop key S that quickly (finely) and the screen will appear in Figure 5. This allows for fine step movement as shown. Then, when the press of the cursor movement key 4C is stopped, the cursor stops at the position corresponding to the point at which the press is stopped. The operating modes shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are as follows:
It is also possible to simply press and release the cursor movement key 4C without operating the stop key S, but when the direction of movement is diagonal, it is not possible to move the cursor by pressing keys 4a and 40, for example. is particularly effective.

In the above embodiment, when the stop key S is pressed, the cursor movement speed becomes O, and immediately after that, the cursor is set to move in the same speed-up mode when the first key is pressed manually. By appropriately changing the data value related to the cursor speed stored in the counter load value memory 11, various cursor movement speed modes can be selected.

An example of this is shown in FIG. In this example, when key 4C is in the input state, pressing the stop key S will decelerate at a predetermined rate, maintain a constant speed while the key is pressed, and when the key 4C is released, the speed will increase from that constant speed to a predetermined increase. This is an example in which the speed is set to increase in speed mode. By setting the speed increase mode in this manner, it becomes possible to move the cursor at a constant speed as necessary.

As shown above, the pattern of changes in cursor movement speed (
The change mode corresponds to a pattern of change in the value to be loaded into the counter 7, and this can be done by changing the value in the counter load value memory 11. Therefore, by inputting a change in the counter load value corresponding to a desired cursor movement speed change mode into the counter load value memory 11 in advance, it is possible to obtain a cursor movement speed change mode (pattern) according to the application. can.

In addition, in this invention, a stop key S is provided in the cursor control key group 5 as a cursor control key related to speed, and the moving speed of the cursor is controlled by operating this stop key S. By using the P key, the latch key, and the AND key U, it has the same function as a mouse. Therefore, if the cursor movement key 4 and the cursor control key 5 are formed separately from the keyboard 1 body and configured to be detachable from the input device, compatibility with a mouse can be achieved.
It can be used appropriately depending on the purpose, installation space, etc.

Further, in the above embodiment, the cursor operation is explained by the operation of the key 4C, but other keys 4a,
Counters 7a, 7b, and 7d correspond to counters 4b and 4d, respectively, and perform similar operations, and it goes without saying that a combination of these operations is also possible.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, a value corresponding to a predetermined cursor speed change mode is input into the counter load value memory in advance, this value is loaded into the counter via the control circuit, and the stop key as a cursor control key is pressed. According to this invention, the cursor control is performed by decelerating the movement speed to a predetermined speed by decelerating the movement speed to a predetermined speed.Since the movement speed can be controlled immediately in response to human senses, the operability is excellent, and the key switch device Since it is only necessary to provide a cursor control device with an excellent space factor at a low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

All figures are for detailed explanation of this invention.
The figure is a block diagram of the cursor control device, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the entire keyboard, Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Each figure is an explanatory diagram showing a change pattern of the cursor movement speed in the cursor control device. 1...Keyboard, 4...Cursor movement keys, 5...Cursor control key group, 6...
...Control circuit, 7...Counter, 8...
...Cursor movement key detection circuit, 9...Clock generation circuit, 10...Interrupt control circuit, 11
...Counter load value memory, 12...
・Interface circuit, 13...Host computer, 14...Control key detection circuit, S...
...Stop key (Cursor IIJ i Wholesale key). 7(r 71st '1''222'I 7, <日';l'5 日υ O N T 6 口

Claims (1)

[Claims] A cursor movement key that moves a cursor displayed on a display device in a predetermined direction, a measuring means that measures the time that the cursor movement key is pressed, and a cursor movement speed that is defined according to the time that the cursor movement key is pressed. a memory means in which data to be moved is stored in advance, and a pressing time of a cursor movement key is measured by the measuring means, and the data stored in the memory means is read out according to the measured time to set the moving speed of the cursor. A cursor control device comprising: a control means; and a cursor control key that, when pressed when a cursor movement key is pressed, causes the movement speed of the cursor to be reduced to a predetermined speed via the control means.