JPH06175765A - Pen input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable an operator to switch over the functions only by switching over the input terminals by providing plural input terminals on a single pen and using properly these input terminals for each function. CONSTITUTION:In regard of the structure of a multiple input terminal pen part 14, two input terminals 1 and 2 are provided as the operating input terminals (pen points) on both ends of of a pencil-shaped pen main body, for instance. When these terminals 1 and 2 are operated, the signals proper to both terminals 1 and 2 are transmitted to a CPU 11 of a system main body via a transmitter and a receiver. The CPU 11 receives the operation signal of the terminal 1 provided on one of both ends of the pen main body and then carries out the (drawing) processing basing on the program of a function 1. Meanwhile, the CPU 11 carries out the (erasion) processing based on the program of a function 2 with reception of the operation signal of the terminal 2 provided on the other end of the pen main body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pen input device using a pen type pointing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pen input device, when performing a pen input for a plurality of functions of a system, conventionally, an operation for designating a function is performed and then an operation end ( Coordinates were input using a pen with a pen tip).

That is, conventionally, when inputting with a pen, the input end (point for indicating coordinates on a tablet or the like) is 1 on the pen body.
In order to execute a plurality of functions, it was necessary to switch the functions each time.

For example, when drawing with a pen, the user first specifies a function setting for drawing by operating means such as key input, and then draws while specifying coordinates with the pen. In the case of partial erasing during the process, the function setting for that purpose is performed again, and then the erasing portion is designated by the pen to perform the partial erasing.

Such function switching is not limited to the above-described input / deletion mode switching. For example, input / edit (movement, copy, etc.) mode switching, kana / kanji designation, kana / There are various function switches such as alphanumeric designation.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional pen input method, when a user uses one function to another function, the function switching operation must be performed each time. Therefore, there is a problem in that the efficiency of input operability by pen input is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
An input device using a pen-type pointing device is provided with a pen having a plurality of input ends, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a pen input device capable of improving operability and processing efficiency by pen input. .

That is, the present invention is one pen (pen body)
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pen input device in which a plurality of input terminals are provided in the device and the operator can perform the function switching only by switching the input terminal for instructing a tablet or the like without performing a procedure for function switching. To do.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an input device using a pen-type pointing device, and a pen having a plurality of input ends and which input end of the pen indicates a point. Is provided, and a control means for switching the processing function according to the input terminal used is provided.

[0010]

In the above structure, when the operation input (point designation) of the function A is performed using the input end A of the pen,
When an operation input (point designation) is performed using the input terminal B instead of the input terminal A, the processing function is automatically switched from the function A to the function B. In this way, the functions can be automatically switched by simply switching the input end of the pen.

For example, when partial erasing is required during drawing using the input end A of the pen, the input end B is used instead of the input end A of the pen to specify the erased portion. In this way, the functions can be automatically switched by simply switching the used input terminal of the pen.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the entire system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 is a CPU which constitutes a main control unit for controlling the entire system.
According to the control program stored in M12, pen input control processing as shown in FIG. 2 is executed.

Reference numeral 12 is a ROM in which various control programs for system operations executed under the control of the CPU 11 are stored. Here, an application program 21, a function switching control program 22, and a specific program associated with pen input. A function 1 (for example, drawing processing) program 23, a function 2 (for example, erasing processing) program 24, and the like that implement the function processing are stored. A RAM 13 having a work area, a program area, etc., which is used for the processing of the CPU 11.
Is.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a multi-input terminal pen portion used as a pointing device. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pen body having a plurality of operation input terminals and a control section thereof (switch control in this embodiment). Circuit and a transmission / reception interface), the details of which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a tablet unit for recognizing coordinates by pen operation. A tablet 51 for inputting coordinates for recognizing input coordinates accompanying pen operation, and the tablet 5 are provided.
The tablet controller 52 sends the input coordinate data obtained from 1 to the CPU 11.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a display unit for displaying various data such as characters and operation screen under the control of the CPU 11, and includes a display panel 61 and a display controller 62.
Composed of and.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a keyboard portion used for inputting characters, commands, etc., including a keyboard 71 having character keys, function keys, etc., and a keyboard controller 72.
Composed of and.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the function switching processing in the above-mentioned embodiment.
It is realized by the processing according to the function switching control program 22 of.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the multi-input end pen portion 14 in the above embodiment. Here, the operation input ends (pen tips) are respectively provided at one end and the other end of the pencil-shaped pen body. 2 has two input ends (input end 1 and input end 2).

Here, the micro switches (S1, S2) that are turned on / off by pressing the tablet of the pen tip on each tip portion of the pen body, and the on / off of each micro switch (S1, S2). A transmitter for sending a signal to the system main body side is built in, and each micro switch (S1, S2) is turned on when the pen tip is pressed against the tablet to specify coordinates.

Here, among the input ends (input end 1 and input end 2), when each operation input end (input end 1 and input end 2) provided on the pen body is operated, the operation input end is operated. A signal peculiar to is transmitted to the CPU 11 of the system main body via the transmitter and the receiver. At this time, when the CPU 11 receives an operation signal from the operation input end (input end 1) provided at one end of the pen body, the CPU 11 executes a process (drawing process) according to the function 1 program 23 and causes the other end of the pen body to operate. When the operation signal from the provided operation input terminal (input terminal 2) is received, the function 2
A process (erasing process) according to the program 24 is executed.
The operation signal of each operation input terminal (input terminal 1, input terminal 2) is identified by, for example, a method of allocating a signal having a unique frequency to each operation input terminal and identifying at the time of reception, or the operation input terminal. Any means may be used, such as a method of setting a unique bit pattern for each, transmitting and receiving, and identifying on the system side. The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The CPU 11 executes the application program 21 stored in the ROM 12. When the coordinate data by the pointing device is required in the application program processing, the application program 21 calls the function switching control program 22. The processing shown in FIG. 2 is executed in accordance with the function switching control program 22. In this process, first, the information on the operation input end of the pen body is read from the multi-input end pen section 14 (step S1 in FIG. 2).

If the read operation contents of the pen indicate that neither of the input terminals (input terminal 1, input terminal 2) has been pressed, the input processing is terminated (step S2 in FIG. 2). (No)).

When there is an operation input from any one of the input terminals (input terminal 1 and input terminal 2), the plot coordinates on the tablet 51 are read through the tablet controller 52 (step S2 (Yes in FIG. 2). ), S3). On this occasion,
Which of the operation input terminals (input terminal 1 and input terminal 2) has been operated is recognized by the CPU 11 by the above-mentioned identification means.

When it is recognized that the operated input end is the input end 1, the read coordinates are used as the input designated coordinates according to the function 1 program 23 associated with the input end 1. A process (drawing process) is executed (steps S4 and S6 in FIG. 2).

When it is recognized that the operated input end is the input end 2, according to the function 2 program 24 associated with the input end 2, the read coordinates are used as the input designated coordinates and the processing of the function 2 is performed. (Partial erasing process) is executed (steps S5 and S7 in FIG. 2).

With the above-described processing, the user can switch the function by simply changing the input end of the pointing pen without performing the operation for switching the function, and the user interface is easier to use. Can be provided to the user.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation input ends (pen tips) are fixedly provided at one end and the other end of the pencil-shaped pen body, but the invention is not limited to this. With a signal generating means for generating a mounting signal,
A plurality of types of operation pen tips are prepared for each function, and one end or both ends of the pen body has a mounting end of this operation pen tip, and the operation pen tip attached to the mounting end of this pen body It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which functional processing unique to each type is executed.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a two-input end (input end 1, input end 2) structure having an operation input end (pen tip) at one end and the other end of the pencil-shaped pen body is illustrated. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and other configurations such as a configuration having a plurality of operation input ends (pen tips) at one end may be used.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the wireless pen in which the transmitter is incorporated in the pen body is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other configurations such as a configuration by cable connection may be used.
In addition, here, a configuration is provided in which the micro switches (S1, S2) that are turned on / off by pressing the pen tip against the tablet are provided at each tip portion of the pen body, but the present invention is not limited to this. Other configurations such as a configuration using an element and a configuration using an electromagnetic element may be used.

[0031]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
By providing multiple input terminals on one pen (pen body) and using them differently depending on the function, etc., the operator simply switches the input terminal to instruct the tablet etc. without performing the procedure for function switching. Switching can be performed and operability can be improved. In particular, by assigning frequently used functions to the respective input terminals, the user's operation input efficiency can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a function switching processing in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of a pen body in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multi-input end pen unit in the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... RAM, 14 ... Multi-input end pen section, 15 ... Tablet section, 16 ... Display section, 1
7 ... keyboard part, 21 application programs,
22 ... Function switching control program, 23 ... Function 1 program, 24 ... Function 2 program, 51 ... Tablet, 52
... tablet controller, 61 ... display panel, 62 ... display controller, 71 ... keyboard, 72 ... keyboard controller, S1, S2 ... microswitch.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pen input device, wherein a pen body is provided with a plurality of operation input terminals, and each operation input terminal is provided with a unique function. 2. An operation pen body having a plurality of input ends, and means for recognizing a used input end of the pen body and executing an input process specific to the used input end. Pen input device. 3. An operating pen for a pointing device, wherein an operating input end is provided at one end and the other end of a rod-shaped body, and an operating input end signal transmitting means is provided therebetween. 4. A plurality of types of operating pen tips, a pen body having mounting ends of the operating pen tip at one or both ends, and a type of operating pen tip mounted on the mounting end of the pen body. And a control means for executing the functional processing of 1.