JPS63282823A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the influence of a change in a visual pattern upon a computer side program to a minimum level by providing an input device with a visual pattern display control program editing function. CONSTITUTION:When a program editing mode is selected, a CPU 7 sends a signal to a display control part 11 to display a program editing visual pattern. Namely,a display screen is divided into a key entry area 17 for executing operation corresponding to key entry and a display area 18 for display a character code such as a program. When a user inputs a required command by touching an input area 17, the CPU 7 processes the command in accordance with a reference program, edits the user program, displays the program on the display area 18, and stores the edited program in a user program storing area 10. Consequently, the user can form a required visual pattern display controlling program.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention mainly relates to an interactive input device that is used by connecting to a computer, etc., and in particular, the present invention relates to an interactive input device that is used by connecting to a computer etc. The present invention also relates to an input device having control functions such as registration and change.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, the input method of an interactive input device connected to a computer etc. is a touch screen method in which the user touches a visible pattern displayed on a display screen with a finger or a light ben. It is widely used because of its ease of use.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional touch screen method, when registering or changing a visible pattern or creating a program for ink interface with a computer, the program is created separately from the screen for the touch screen. Requires a dedicated input device (e.g. keyboard) for creation. Also, the r displayed on the screen
'Since control of the IJ inkstone pattern is performed by the host computer, not only does the load on the computer increase during execution, but even when the visible pattern is simply changed, it becomes necessary to change the program on the host computer side. There are many things.

The present invention was made to solve this problem,
By making it possible to create and execute visible pattern control programs on the input device itself, there is no separation between the touch screen type input device itself and the visible pattern development and maintenance support device, and in addition, the program can be executed on the host computer. An object of the present invention is to provide an input device that reduces the time load.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for solving the problems) The present invention is an input device connected to a computer and used,
A display and operation surface that has a display function for displaying visible patterns and an input function for the user to input operation signals, an input/output port for communicating with the computer, and the above-mentioned a display circuit for displaying a ==I,N pattern on a display and operation surface; an input circuit for inputting an operation signal from the display and operation surface; and a visible pattern for a user to use the display and operation surface. a basic program storage area storing a basic program including functions necessary for editing the program; a user program storage area for storing user programs created by the user; and a user program storage area for storing user programs created by the user; The present invention provides an input device including a central processing unit that executes the basic program or the user program according to instructions of the invention and controls each operation of the display circuit, the input circuit, and the input/output port.

(Function) In the system configured as described above, the central processing unit executes the basic program stored in the basic program storage area or the user program stored in the user program storage area at any time in accordance with the user's instructions. Execute.

The basic program includes functions necessary for editing the user program and program, such as a function to display and control a special visible pattern for editing (for example, one that displays a keyboard), a function to edit the user program according to user input operations,
It includes a function to store the program in the user program storage area. Therefore, when executing the basic program, the central processing unit causes this input device to function as a program editing device, and the user can use this input device to edit a program (user program) of a visible pattern desired by the user.

Next, when executing the user program edited by the user, the central processing unit causes the display device to display the visible pattern created by the user on the display and operation surface, and converts this input device into a normal touch screen type input device. function as In other words, the user's operation signals on the display and operation surface are read into the input circuit and sent to the computer from the input/output port, and messages from the computer are displayed in visible patterns on the display and operation surface via the display device. Communication between the user and the computer is performed using the touch screen method.

〔Example〕

(Configuration of Example) An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of an input device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the input device of the present invention and peripheral devices thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, an interactive input device 1 according to the present invention and a display device 3 such as a CRT are connected to a computer 2 through communication paths 6 and 6', thereby configuring the entire system. The front panel of the input device 1 is provided with a display and operation surface 4, and the side panel is provided with a reset signal input circuit 5.
is provided. The display and operation surface 4 has a display function for displaying a visible pattern necessary for performing an input operation, and a display function for touching the display button with a finger or the like to input an operation signal corresponding to that touch area. It also has the function of admitting people. The reset signal input circuit 5 is a circuit for generating a reset signal for initializing the system of the input device 1 itself.

As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 1 includes the above-mentioned reset signal input circuit 5, a central processing unit 7 that controls the entire input device, and a system for transferring data between each module within the input device. a data bus 8, a basic program storage area 9 for storing basic programs, and a user program storage area 10 for storing user programs.
A display control section 11 that processes data received from the data bus 8 for display, and a display circuit 12 that displays and displays on the operation surface 4 based on the signals output from the display control section 11.
, an input circuit 13 that inputs operation signals from the display and operation surface 4; The program consists of a computer interface] 5 that controls transmission/reception and data conversion, and an input/output port 6 that sends signals to and receives signals from the communication path 6. , various functions including those necessary for the user to edit the program are set.

Specifically, the basic program includes functions for operating the input device 1 in five types of modes: system mode, program editing mode, program back mode, program execution mode, and special function mode. Each mode will be explained in the operation description below.

Now, in the input device 1 having such a configuration, when the power is turned on or a reset signal is input from the reset signal input circuit 5, the system of the input device is initialized and the program in the basic program storage area 9 is executed. Then, in this embodiment, the system mode is activated first, and a menu selection display as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed and displayed on the operation surface 4. In this state, by touching the touch input designation area 22 corresponding to the menu to be selected by the user, for example, program editing mode, program debugging mode, program execution mode, or special function mode is selected.

When the program editing mode is selected, the central processing unit 7 sends a signal to the display control section 11 to display a visible pattern for program editing as shown in FIG. That is, the display screen is divided into a key person canilia 17 for performing operations equivalent to key input, and a display-only area 18 for displaying character codes of programs and the like. Here, when the user inputs a desired command by touching the key person Canilia 17, the central processing unit 7 processes the command according to the basic program and edits the user program.
The program is displayed in the display-only area 18, and
The edited program is stored in the user program storage area 9. In this way, the user can create a program for display control of a desired visible pattern using the program editing function in the program editing mode.

Next, when the mode is returned to the system mode and the program debug mode is selected there, the display changes to a debug pattern as shown in FIG. In other words, the display screen includes a debugging reduction display area 19 that displays a reduced version of the screen displayed when the user program is executed (FIG. 6), and a command key person canilia 20 that is used to input commands necessary for debugging. , and a debugging interaction area 21 for displaying input commands and message output from debugging. Here, the user presses the command key Canilia 20 and debug display area 19.
When touched, a debug command corresponding to the touch area is read into the central processing unit 7, and the central processing unit 7 debugs the display program according to the input command and corrects the user program.

Furthermore, when the program execution mode is selected, the central processing unit 7 transfers execution from the basic program to the user program, and the display screen changes to a visible pattern defined by the user using the user program.

An example thereof is shown in FIG. The pattern in the figure is an example of an n-view pattern assuming the case where the operation of multiple devices is controlled, or the user can use this pattern to interact with the computer 2 using the normal touch screen method. can do.

In the special function mode, a program used for a special purpose is started, such as when changing the setting of an expiration program so that the program execution mode can be immediately entered without making a menu selection after the user program is completed.

It is convenient for the user program to be able to call up the basic program as needed, since the user does not have to call up the menu selection screen every time the mode is switched.

In this way, by providing the input device itself with the ability to edit the visible pattern display control program,
The computer program connected to this input device only needs to consider the signal received from this input device without being aware of the visible pattern, and the computer program is not affected at all by changes in the visible pattern. Become.

In addition, the seventh key pattern for program editing mode is
By registering a plurality of keyboard patterns as shown in the figure and FIG. 8, the keyboard user can select an easy-to-use keyboard.

In the above embodiment, the display surface and the operation surface have a flat shape, but as another example, an I-
In order to make it easier to perform Y operations, the operation surface may be shaped like a normal keyboard, and a display screen made of liquid crystal or the like may be provided at the top of each key, and the display pattern on the display surface may be made variable. Furthermore, by combining a keyboard-shaped display surface and operation surface with a flat display surface and operation surface, it is possible to realize an input device that is even easier for the user to use.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, by providing the input device itself with the editing function of the visible pattern display control program, it is possible to remove the burden of controlling visible patterns from the host computer, and This makes it possible to minimize the impact that a change has on the computer program. Furthermore, it becomes possible to integrate the input device main body and the visible pattern development/maintenance support device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of an embodiment of the input device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the input device and its peripheral devices, and FIG. 3 is a display example of the system mode. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of the program editing mode, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the program debugging mode, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of the program execution mode, and FIGS. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another display example in the program editing mode. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Input device, 2... Computer, 3... Display device, 4... Display and operation surface, 5... Reset signal input circuit, 6.6'... Communication path, 7. ... central processing unit, 8 ... data bus, 9 ... basic program storage area, 10 ... user program storage area, 11 ... display control section, 12 ... display circuit, 13 ...・Input circuit,
14... Input interface, 15... Computer interface, 16... Input/output port, 17... Key person canilia, 18... Display only area, 19... Reduced display area for debugging, 20.・・Command key person Canilia, 21 ・・Debugging dialogue area, 22・・
Touch input designated area. Applicant's agent Sato - Yuchoman 3 works 4 works 6 works

Claims (1)

[Claims] An input device that is connected to a computer and has a display and operation surface that has a display function for displaying visible patterns and an input function for inputting operation signals by the user, and communication with the computer. a display circuit for displaying a visible pattern on the display and operation surface; an input circuit for inputting operation signals from the display and operation surface; a basic program storage area storing a basic program including functions necessary for editing a visible pattern program using the user; a user program storage area for storing a user program edited by the user; and a user program storage area for storing a user program edited by the user; An input device comprising: a central processing unit that executes the basic program or the user program according to instructions of a program being executed to control each operation of the display circuit, the input circuit, and the input/output port.