KR20010019741A - Apparatus and method for scroll function of pointing device in computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus and a method for a scroll function of a computer system having a pointing device are provided to scroll a window screen, by using a typical pointing input device and a specific function key in a computer system having a window operation system. CONSTITUTION: A hard disk drive (112) and a CD-ROM drive(114) are connected to an IDE controller(110). An I/O controller(120) is equipped with a serial device(122) and a parallel device(124). A keyboard device(140), a PS/2 type mouse(160) and a touch pad(150) are connected to a micro computer(130). The micro computer(130) controls input devices(140, 150, 160). The keyboard device(140) is equipped with a specific function key pad(Fn : 142). The micro computer(130) includes a discrimination unit(132) and a data conversion unit(134).

Description

Apparatus and method for scrolling function of a computer system having a pointing device {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SCROLL FUNCTION OF POINTING DEVICE IN COMPUTER SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a computer system having a pointing input device, and more particularly, to a computer system for implementing a scroll function of a window screen activated by a window type fare system program and a control method thereof.

In a typical computer system, a method of operating a system, such as executing an application program or instructing a user to execute a command, depends on the operating system programs and user interface methods supported by the application. It depends. Currently, operating system programs installed in computer systems mainly adopt a Graphic User Interface (GUI) method.

For example, a Windows-type operating system program such as Microsoft Corp. of Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT uses a keyboard device or a pointing device by executing one application program. A computer system having a windowed operating system program executes the programs through a plurality of windows. Most of the windows have vertical and horizontal scroll bars to indicate the current position of the entire window screen through the position of the current cursor of the activated window screen. Therefore, in order to view the entire contents of the active current window, the window screen can be moved up, down, left, and right by moving the corresponding scroll box of the vertical or horizontal scroll bar up and down using a pointing input device, which is called scrolling.

Referring to FIG. 1, the portable computer 10 includes a touch pad 20 as a pointing input device. A window screen 30 of an application program which is equipped with a Windows-type operating system program (eg, Microsoft's Windows 98, Windows NT, etc.) and is currently activated on the display device is shown. The window screen 30 has a vertical 32 and a horizontal scroll bar 34. The vertical and horizontal scroll bars 32 and 34 are provided with scroll boxes 36 and 38, respectively.

Therefore, the scroll function for checking the entire contents of the window screen 30 can be moved by using a pointing input device to move the vertical or horizontal scroll boxes 36 and 38 up and down or to the left and right ends of the scroll bars 32 and 34. It is possible to select the arrow. For example, by moving the position of the scroll box 36 of the vertical scroll bar 32 up and down on the window screens 30a, 30b of any application activated as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B. It can be seen that the window 30a of the first page and the window 30b of the last page are moved among the entire contents of.

In this case, however, each time, the user may place a cursor in a corresponding scroll box of a vertical or horizontal scroll bar and move to a required screen position among the entire screens.

As a way of solving these problems, the wheel mouse 40 shown in FIG. 3 is implemented. The wheel mouse 40 includes a wheel 44 and two buttons 42 and 46, and the wheel 44 Perform vertical scrolling function by rotating back and forth. However, this also has a problem in that a wheel mouse must be separately provided in order to easily use the scroll function.

4 shows a schematic configuration for explaining the operation of the pointing input device of a general computer system.

Referring to the drawings, a silver wheel mouse 82 or a touch pad 84 of a computer system having a Windows-type operating system program is provided to input pointing information. At this time, the microcomputer 70 receives the pointing information and generates an interrupt (eg, IRQ12) to the BIOS (BIOS) 60. The BIOS 60 then processes the CPU (not shown) to perform the corresponding interrupt service routine. Therefore, the CPU provides the pointing information output from the microcomputer 70 to the operating system program 52. At the same time, the pointing device driver 56 recognizes the corresponding pointing input device and is driven so that the operating system program 52 can use the input pointing information. The operating system program 52 then performs an operation corresponding to the pointing information. At this time, the virtual device driver 54 determines the input information so as not to conflict with an input signal such as a defined shortcut key in the activated application 50 and drives the application to execute the corresponding command.

Therefore, in the case of performing a scroll function using a general touch pad or mouse device, there is a problem in that there is a lack of mutual compatibility by installing a driver or an application program provided by the manufacturer or supplier of each pointing input device for each product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and to provide a computer system for scrolling a window screen using a pointing input device and a specific function key, which are typical in a computer system having a windowing operating system program.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method of a computer system that performs a scroll function by using a specific function key and a pointing input device.

1 is a perspective view of a portable computer with a typical touch pad;

2A and 2B are views for explaining a scroll function in a window screen of an application program;

3 is a perspective view of a wheel mouse with horizontal and vertical scrolling functions;

4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration for the operation of a pointing input device of a computer system according to the prior art;

5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer system implementing the scroll function of the pointing input device according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a connection configuration according to a scroll function of the microcomputer, the keyboard device, and the pointing input device shown in FIG. 5;

7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration for explaining an operation according to a scroll function of the microcomputer, the keyboard device, and the pointing input device shown in FIG. 5;

8 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure for processing a scroll function using a specific key and a pointing input device according to an embodiment of the present invention; And

9 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure for processing a scroll function using a specific key and a pointing input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawing *

100: portable computer 102: CPU

104: memory 106: bios

130: microcomputer 132: discrimination unit

134: data conversion unit 140: keyboard device

142: specific function key 150: touch pad

160: PS / 2 mouse device

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, in a computer system having a window-type operating system program, and having a window screen activated in the operating system program: at least one key or a combination of the keys A keyboard device for outputting a specific key signal in response to a key input by the keyboard; A pointing input device for outputting pointing information according to vertical movement; When the pointing information is input, the input state of the specific key signal is determined. When the determination result indicates that the specific key signal is input, the pointing information is received and converted into information for performing a scroll operation of the activated window screen. Including microcomputers that make; The computer system performs a scroll function of the window screen in response to the converted information.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect, the microcomputer comprises: discriminating means for determining an input state of the specific key signal; And the data conversion means for converting the pointing information into information for performing a scroll operation of the activated window screen when the specific key signal is in an input state.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect, the microcomputer receives the pointing information and controls to move the pointer position of the activated window screen unless the specific key signal is input.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect, the keyboard device further comprises a keypad for inputting the specific key signal.

According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a microcomputer having a window-type operating system program, a keyboard device having a specific function keypad and a pointing input device, and controlling the keyboard device and the pointing input device A control method for a scroll function of a window screen activated by the operating system program, the computer system comprising: determining input state of the keypad when the pointing information is input from the pointing input device; If the keypad is input, converting the pointing information into information for a scroll function of the activated window screen and outputting the converted information; If the keypad is not in the input state, receiving the pointing information and controlling to move the pointer position of the activated window screen.

According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a keyboard device having a window type operating system program, a keypad having a specific function and pointing input device and controlling the keyboard device and the pointing input device A computer system comprising a microcomputer, the control method for a scroll function of a window screen activated in the operating system program, the control method comprising: determining whether the keypad is continuously input; If the keypad is continuously input, the scroll function of the window screen is controlled by converting the pointing information into information for scroll function of the activated window screen.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when a specific function key is input, the microcomputer determines the specific function key, converts the data provided from the pointing input device into data for the scroll function, and outputs the data for the scroll function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable computer according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the computer system 100 includes a processor (CPU) 102, a memory 104, and a BIOS ROM 106. And an IDE controller 110, an I / O controller 120, and a novel microcomputer 130 according to the present invention.

The IDE controller 110 is connected to a hard disk drive 112 and a CD-ROM drive 114, the Windows operating system program and a number of application programs are mounted on the hard disk drive 112. In addition, the I / O controller 120 includes a serial 122 and a parallel device 124.

The microcomputer 130 is connected to a keyboard device 140 and a PS / 2 type mouse 160 or a touch pad 150, and controls the input devices 140, 150, and 160. The keyboard device 140 has a specific function keypad (Fn) 142 for calling a specific function. The microcomputer 130 also includes a determination unit 132 and a data conversion unit 134 for determining an input state of the specific function key 142.

Therefore, the microcomputer 130 determines the input state of the specific function key 142 of the keyboard device 140, receives the pointing information provided from the pointing input device 150 or 160, and the scrolling information (hereinafter, referred to as scroll). Converted to output information).

In detail, referring to FIG. 6, the microcomputer 130 determines whether a specific function key (Fn) 142 for a scroll function is input from the keyboard device 140. In this case, the specific function key (Fn: 142) is applied to, for example, a portable computer of various models manufactured by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the applicant of the present invention. In this case, other function keys (F1 to F12, direction keys, etc.) In combination with these devices, it implements a number of features, including power saving, enabling external display devices, and adjusting audio output.

The microcomputer 130 receives pointing information (Data) according to the amount of movement from the touch pad 150 or the PS / 2 type mouse 160, and moves the cursor in the window screen or selects and executes an icon. The clock signal CLK and the like of the input devices are controlled to implement a function. In particular, when the specific function key 142 is continuously input for the scroll function according to the implementation of the present invention, the pointing information Data is converted into scroll movement information DATA_SCROLL and output.

Referring back to the drawing, when a key signal FN_SCROLL corresponding to an input of a specific function key 142 of the keyboard device 140 is input, the microcomputer 130 determines this and displays the BIOS (BIOS: FIG. 5). 106) to generate an interrupt. The BIOS 106 then performs the corresponding interrupt service routine. Subsequently, the microcomputer 130 receives the pointing information Data from the touch pad 150 or the mouse 160, converts the pointing information Data into scroll movement information DATA_SCROLL, and outputs it to an operating system program or an application program.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for describing an operation according to a scroll function of the microcomputer 130, the keyboard device 140, and the pointing input devices 150 and 160 illustrated in FIG. 5. Shows that no driver for the input device is needed.

Referring to the drawings, a silver PS / 2 type mouse 160 or a touch pad 150 of a computer system having a Windows-type operating system program is provided to input pointing information. At this time, the microcomputer 130, when the determination unit 132 for determining the input state of the specific function key 142 of the keyboard device 140 and the specific function key 142 is continuously input, the mouse ( 160 or a data conversion unit 134 that receives the pointing information provided from the touch pad 150 and converts the scrolling information into scroll movement information. Accordingly, when the specific function key 142 is continuously input and the pointing information is input at this time, the microcomputer 130 generates an interrupt (eg, IRQ12) to the BIOS (BIOS) 106. The BIOS 106 then processes the CPU (not shown) to perform the corresponding interrupt service routine. Therefore, the CPU provides the pointing information output from the microcomputer 130 to the operating system program 170. The operating system program 170 then performs an operation corresponding to the pointing information. At this time, the virtual device driver 172 is an application to determine the input information or to perform a corresponding command so as not to conflict with the input signal, such as the defined function key 142 and the defined shortcut key in the activated application (180). The program 180 is driven. Accordingly, the activated window screen moves up, down, left, and right in response to the scroll movement information.

8 to 9 are flowcharts illustrating a procedure for processing a scroll function using a specific function key and a pointing input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This procedure is a program for controlling the scroll function according to the input state of a specific function key (Fn: 142). The program is stored in a memory (not shown) in the microcomputer 130 and is executed by the microcomputer 130.

Referring to FIG. 8, when an arbitrary key is input in step S200, the microcomputer 130 determines whether the input key is a specific function key 142 in step S202. If the specific function key 142 is input as a result of the determination, the flow advances to step S204 to determine whether the specific function key 142 is continuously input. At this time, if the specific function key 142 is continuously input, the procedure proceeds to step S206 in which the pointing information is input from the mouse (or touch pad) 150 or 160 while the specific function key 142 is being input. Determine if If there is input pointing data (i.e., that is, movement of the mouse (or touch pad) 150, 160), the procedure proceeds to step S208 to correspond to the movement of the mouse (or touch pad) 150, 160. The pointing information Data is converted into scroll movement information DATA_SCROLL. Subsequently, the scroll movement information DATA_SCROLL converted in step S210 is output to an operating system program or a corresponding application program.

If it is not the specific function key 142 in step S202, the microcomputer 130 performs an operation (for example, an operation defined in an operating system program or an application program) corresponding to the input key.

9, as another embodiment, the microcomputer 130 may also input the pointing information Data according to the up, down, left, and right movements of the mouse (or touch pad) 150, 160 in step S300. In S302, it is determined whether the specific function key 142 for the scroll function is continuously input. Therefore, if the specific function key 142 continues to be input, the procedure proceeds to step S304 to convert the input pointing information Data into scroll movement information DAAT_SCROLL for the scroll operation, and in step S306 the operating system. Output to a program or a corresponding application.

In addition, if the specific function key 142 is not input in step S302, the procedure goes to step S308 to output the pointing information (Data) to the operating system program or the corresponding application program.

As described above, the present invention implements a scrolling function using a specific function key and a standard pointing input device, so that a wheel mouse is not required separately and the microcomputer is provided regardless of the computer system manufacturer or various product models. You can easily scroll through any computer system.

Claims (6)

In a computer system having a Windows operating system program and having a window screen activated in the operating system program: A keyboard device for outputting a specific key signal in response to a key input by at least one key or a combination of the keys; A pointing input device for outputting pointing information according to vertical movement; When the pointing information is input, the input state of the specific key signal is determined. When the determination result indicates that the specific key signal is input, the pointing information is received and converted into information for performing a scroll operation of the activated window screen. Including microcomputers that make; And the computer system performs a scroll function of the window screen in response to the converted information. The method of claim 1, The microcomputer is: Discriminating means for determining an input state of the specific key signal; And a data converting means for converting the pointing information into information for performing a scroll operation of the activated window screen when the specific key signal is input, and outputting the converted key information. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And the microcomputer controls to move the pointer position of the activated window screen by receiving the pointing information when the specific key signal is not in an input state. The method of claim 1, The keyboard device further comprises a keypad for inputting the specific key signal. In a computer system having a window type operating system program and having a keyboard device having a keypad of a specific function and a pointing input device and a microcomputer controlling the keyboard device and the pointing input device, a window activated by the operating system program In the control method for the scroll function of the screen: Determining the input state of the keypad when the pointing information is input from the pointing input device; If the keypad is input, converting the pointing information into information for a scroll function of the activated window screen and outputting the converted information; And if the keypad is not in the input state, receiving the pointing information and controlling to move a pointer position of the activated window screen. In a computer system having a window type operating system program, and having a keyboard device having a keypad of a specific function and a pointing input device, and a microcomputer controlling the keyboard device and the pointing input device, the computer system is activated in the operating system program. In the control method for the scroll function of the window screen: Determining whether the keypad is continuously input; And if the keypad is continuously input, converting the pointing information into information for scrolling the activated window screen and outputting the converted information.