JPS61229118A - Area designating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of an area designating device, by using a transmitter having a directivity of an angle range, within which one-to-one correspondence can be made at every plural designated areas of a picture display device. CONSTITUTION:When power supply is made, picture display devices 1-3 are actuated and, simultaneously, a signal having a directivity is radiated from a transmitter 9 provided in a coordinate designating device 4 in the forward direction of the device 4. This signal advances as shown by the arrow 23 of solid line and only the receiver 11 of the 2nd picture display device 2 receives this signal. Upon receiving the signal, the receiver 11 sends a signal S2 to a signal detecting circuit 21 and stands a flag F2. A CPU 4 watches this and, when judges that the flag F2 is stood, discriminates that the coordinate designating device 4 is properly made to correspond to the 2nd picture display device 2 and selects the 2nd display section 7 as a designated area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a multi-window type image display device in which a plurality of instruction areas are set in the horizontal direction on one screen, or a workpiece having a plurality of image display devices in the horizontal direction. The present invention relates to an area specifying device for selecting a specified area at a station or the like, and particularly relates to an area specifying device that can easily and quickly select a specified area.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a workstation having a plurality of image display devices in the horizontal direction, the following procedure was used to select an image display device forming one instruction area. The first method is to treat multiple #J image display devices lined up horizontally as having a series of pointing areas, and move a coordinate pointing device called a mouse horizontally as appropriate on the operating table. The corresponding image display device was selected based on the movement coordinates. The second method is to display a menu of work instructions called icons on the screen of each image display device, move the coordinate indicating device on the operation table, and point the cursor on the screen to the icon indicating the instruction area to be specified. ,
This allows the image display device to be selected. The third is
Each time a push button provided on the coordinate indicating device is pressed, the image display device is switched in order, and by pressing the push button several times, the image display device of the desired indicated area is selected.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the above conventional example had the following problems. In the first conventional example, the horizontal movement of the coordinate indicating device on the operating table was large, and the operability could not be said to be good. In the second conventional example, it is necessary to operate a coordinate indicating device while looking at an icon displayed on a screen and align the cursor with the icon, which is a complicated and time-consuming operation. In the third conventional example, it was necessary to repeatedly press a button while looking at the screen, and selection could not be made with one touch. In other words, in any of the above conventional examples, even if an operator wants to select an image display device, the operator cannot suddenly specify the image display device as the instruction area, and must perform various operations on the coordinate instruction device on the operation desk. However, the operability was not good, the operation took time, and it was not possible to quickly specify an area. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such problems.

Means for Solving the Problems The means of the present invention for solving the above problems includes one or more image display devices in which a plurality of indication areas are set in the horizontal direction, and a a coordinate indicating device for inputting information, and the coordinate indicating device is provided with a directivity of an angular range that can be correlated one to one for each of the plurality of indicating areas, and one of the coordinate indicating devices This is done by an area specifying device characterized in that the specified area is selected by pointing at the specified area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an area specifying device according to the present invention. Nowadays, the area specifying device includes multiple image display devices 1
, 2.3, and a coordinate indicating device 4. The image display devices 1 to 3 are installed in a workstation or the like and form a plurality of display sections in the horizontal direction, and a first image display device 1, a second image display device, and a device 2 are installed on the top surface of the operation console 5. A third image display device 3 is also placed side by side. Here, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that one instruction area is set for each button and each display section 6, 7.8 of each image display device 1, 2.3.

The coordinate indicating device 4 inputs position information to the image display devices 1 to 3, and is, for example, a mouse, which indicates coordinates in the X and Y directions by moving back and forth and left and right on the top surface of the console 5. It can be changed and input. In the present invention, the coordinate indicating device 4 is provided for each of the plurality of instruction areas, that is, for each of the image display devices 1, 2, 3.
Each of the display sections 6, 7, and 8 is given a directivity in an angular range that can be correlated on a one-to-l basis. The specific means is to attach a transmitter 9 that emits a directional signal toward the front of the coordinate indicating device 4, and to attach a transmitter 9 that emits a directional signal to each image display device 1, 2.3. A receiver 10, 11, 12 for receiving the signal is provided, respectively. As the signal emitted from the transmitter 9, highly directional radio waves (very short waves), infrared rays, ultrasonic waves, etc. are used. Therefore, due to the directivity of the signal, either of the receivers 10, 11 whose front face of the coordinate indicating device 4 faces directly
．． Only 12 receives the signal from transmitter 9, resulting in
Each image display device 1,
Each of the display sections 6 and 7.8 of 2.3 is provided with a directivity that is associated with each other on a one-to-one basis.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 1. A central processing unit t (CPU) 14 and a memory 15 are connected to the bus 13, and each image display device 1 to 30 has an image memo! 716, 17, and 18 are connected, and further connected to the X and Y coordinate detection circuit 19 of the coordinate indicating device f14. In the present invention, each of the above image display devices 1
．． Receivers 10, 11, and 12 provided in 2 and 3, respectively.
0 signal detection circuits 20, 21, and 22 are connected to the path 13.

Next, the operation of the area specifying device configured in this way will be explained in a second manner.
This will be explained with reference to the control block diagram shown in the figure and the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the main switch of the device is turned on, the first to third image display devices 1 to 3 are activated, and the coordinate indicating device 4 is transmitted from the transmitter 9 provided in the coordinate indicating device [14]. A directional signal is emitted towards the front. Here, as shown in Figure 1,
Assume that the coordinate indicating device 4 is directed to the second image display device 2. Then, a signal advances from the transmitter 9 as indicated by a solid arrow 23, and only the receiver 11 of the second image display device 2 receives the signal from the transmitter 9.

At this time, the receiver 11 sends out a received signal S2 as shown in FIG. 2, and this received signal S2 is input to the second signal detection port w&21. Then, a flag F2 is set in the second signal detection circuit 21, which is monitored by the CPU 14, and it is determined which signal detection circuit 20-224C flag is set (step A in FIG. 3). Here, since the flag F2 is set in the second signal detection circuit 21, the reception by the receiver 11 of the second image display device 2 is detected. As a result, it is detected that the coordinate indicating device 4 is directly facing the second image display device 2, and the CPU
14, the second display section 7 is selected as the instruction area (step C). Next, when the coordinate indicating device 4 is directed toward the third image display device 3 in FIG.
From there, the signal progresses as indicated by the dashed arrow 24, and the third picture 1#! Only the receiver 412 of the display device 3 receives the signal. The received signal S3 from the receiver 12 is input to the third signal detection circuit 22, and a flag F3 is set in the signal detection circuit 22. Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the third display section 8 is selected as the instruction area by the CPU 14 (step D
). Note that "exception processing" in step E in FIG. 3 is a case where none of the signal detection circuits 20 to 22 detects a received signal, and in this case, none of the displays s6 to 8 is specified or the designated area is changed. This allows processing to be performed that would otherwise be prohibited.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a plan view thereof. In this embodiment, the coordinate indicating device 4' and the display sections 6, 7.8 of each of the image display devices 1, 2.3 are four bodies that provide directivity in an angular range that can be correlated in a one-to-l ratio. The methods used are different. That is, the coordinate indicating device f4' can be input by simply moving back and forth and left and right on the top surface of the console 5 to change the coordinates in the X and Y directions. It is also possible to detect the rotation angle in the r direction at a point.For example, as shown in FIG. The axis roller 26 and the Y-axis roller 2T for detecting the Y-direction coordinate are circumscribed at right angles, and the rotation angle roller 28 for detecting the in-plane rotation angle r of the two rollers 26 and 27 is circumscribed. The rotation angle r of the coordinate indicating device t4' is detected by a potentiometer or the like connected to the rotation shaft 29 of the rotation angle row 228.Then, as shown in FIG. Among them, the range of angle "1" (for example, 0 degrees to 50 degrees) is the display part 6 of the first image display device 1.
The range of angle r2 (for example, 60 degrees to 120 degrees) is the directionality that corresponds to the display section 7 of the second image display device 2, and the range of angle rS (for example, 130 degrees to 180 degrees). is the directivity corresponding to the display section 8 of the third image display device 13. Therefore, the coordinate indicating device 4' indicates the rotation angle r1. r2. Each image display device [1, 2,
Each of the three display sections 6, 7, and 8 is provided with a directivity that can be associated one-to-one.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment configured as described above will be explained with reference to the control block diagram shown in FIG. 47 and the flow chart shown in FIG. 8. First, when the main switch of the device is turned on, the first to third image display devices 1 to 3 are activated. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the coordinate indicating device 4' is directed toward the display section T of the second ruler display device [2]. At this time, the coordinate indicating device 4'
Depending on the orientation, the rotation angle roller 28 shown in FIG. 6 exhibits a rotation amount within the range of rotation angle r2. As shown in FIG. 7, a rotation amount signal S4 is output from the coordinate indicating device 4'.
is sent, followed by X.

Input to the Y coordinate and rotation angle detection circuit 30. Then, X
, Y coordinate and rotation angle detection circuit 30 receives the rotation amount signal S
The rotation angle is detected from 4 and the rotation angle signal S5 is detected.
is sent to CPUI 4. The CPU 4 determines which of the display sections 6 to 8 corresponds to the rotation angle indicated by the rotation angle signal S5 (step 2 in FIG. 8). Here, since it was directed to the display section 1 of the second image display device 2,
The rotation angle is within the range of r2, and the CPU 14 detects that it corresponds to the second display section 7. As a result, the coordinate indicating device 4' detects that it is directly facing the second display section T, and the CPU 14 selects the second display section 1 as the instruction area (step 2). Next, when the coordinate indicating device 4' is directed toward the display section 8 of the third image display device 3 in FIG. 5, the coordinate indicating device 4'
Depending on the orientation, the rotation angle roller 28 exhibits a rotation amount within the range of rotation angle r3. A rotation amount signal S6 is sent from the coordinate indicating device 4' and inputted to the X, Y coordinate and rotation angle detection circuit 30, and a rotation angle signal S7 is sent from the X, Y coordinate and rotation angle detection circuit 30 to the CPU. Sent on 4th. Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the third display section 8 is selected as the instruction area using the CPUI 4 (step 2).
4' is not suitable for any of the rotation angles fl and f2fs, and in this case, which display section 6 to
8 is also not designated or the designated area is not changed.

Note that in FIGS. 1 and 4, each image display device 1, 2, .
Although one instruction area is set for each of the display sections 6, 7. Alternatively, three instruction areas may be set across the screens of two image display devices. In this case, the button-shaped receiver 10 in FIG.
The numbers 11 and 12 do not match the number of image display devices.

Furthermore, it is not necessary that the number of receivers and the number of instruction areas match.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, the present invention provides the button and coordinate indicating device 4.4' with directivity in an angular range that can be associated with each of the plurality of indicating areas of the image display device on a ratio of 1 to 1. A designated area can be selected simply by pointing the coordinate pointing device 4.4' toward any designated area.

Therefore, the operator only needs to point the coordinate designation bag [4, 4' toward the designation area that he/she wishes to select and immediately
Areas can be specified, greatly improving operability. Moreover, the time required for this is extremely short, and the area can be specified quickly. For these reasons, it is possible to improve work efficiency using a workstation or the like, and to reduce fatigue during work.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the area specifying device according to the present invention, Fig. @2 is a control block diagram thereof, Fig. @3 is a flowchart showing the procedure for specifying the area, and Fig. 4 is a second embodiment. 5 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 6 is an enlarged explanatory view showing the coordinate indicating device in the second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is its 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for specifying an area. □1.2
．． 3... Image display device, 4.4'... Coordinate indicating device, 5... Operation console, 6.7.8... Display section (instruction area), 9... Transmission area , 10.11,12...Receiver, 20.21,22...Signal detection circuit, 26...X-axis roller, 27...Y-axis roller, 28...Rotation angle roller, 30.・・X, Y coordinate and rotation angle detection circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has one or more image display devices in which a plurality of instruction areas are set in the horizontal direction, and a coordinate indicating device for inputting position information to the image display device, and the plurality of Each indication area is given a directivity of an angular range that can be associated with each other on a one-to-one basis, and by pointing the coordinate indicating device toward one of the indication areas, that indication area can be selected. Characteristic area designation device.