JPH05143228A - Pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To prevent the position deviation of the pointer on the display screen due to the rotation that occurs when the ball member of the trackball is pressed. [Structure] A signal processing means 1 outputs a position movement signal generated by rotation of a (trackball) member immediately after generation of this signal (immediately after pressing operation, immediately before disappearance of signal, immediately before completion of pressing).
A certain amount is invalidated by 000. Further, the position movement speed of the pointer graphic is instructed by pressing the member, and the position movement speed of the pointer is switched by the first display control means 1100.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointing device for inputting position information.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mouse (trade name) has been widely used as a pointing device. However, a mouse is used as a pointing device for inputting position information of an information processing device having overlapping portability such as a notebook personal computer. There is the inconvenience of having to carry it separately. Therefore, there is also known a device in which a trackball is incorporated as a pointing device into the main body of the apparatus to enhance portability.

However, when touching the ball directly with a finger like a trackball, there is a drawback that the ball rotates when the finger touches or separates. Also, when a switch is attached under the ball and the ball itself is pressed and used for clicks or other purposes, the ball moves when the button is pressed or released, so the cursor position on the display screen also moves. There is a drawback. Therefore, in view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to prevent the rotation of the member at the start and end of the pressing operation when the position information (relative movement amount) is input by the rotation of the member such as the trackball. Another object is to provide a pointing device that does not move the cursor display on the display screen.

In order to achieve such an object, a first invention is to detect a rotational movement amount of a member,
The position movement information signal indicating the movement position corresponding to the detected rotational movement amount by the signal generation amount is generated, and another information signal is generated when the pressing operation of the member is detected, and the position movement information is generated. In a pointing device for moving and displaying a specific figure at a moving position indicated by a signal, a signal processing means for invalidating a certain amount of the position movement information signal generated immediately before the pressing operation of the member and immediately after the ending of the pressing operation. It is characterized by having. In a second invention, in addition to the first invention, the other information signal is an information signal for instructing switching of the position movement speed of the specific figure, and the position movement is performed in response to the generation of the information signal. It is characterized by further comprising a first display control means for switching the speed. In a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, the other information signal is an information signal for instructing switching of the position movement direction of the specific graphic, and the position movement is performed in response to the generation of the information signal. It is characterized by further comprising a second display control means for switching the direction. In a fourth invention, in addition to the first invention, the other information signal is an information signal for instructing continuous movement of the specific graphic, and the specific graphic is displayed while the information signal is generated. It is characterized by further comprising a third display control means for continuously moving. The fifth invention is
Pointing for detecting a rotational movement amount of a member, generating a position movement signal indicating a movement position corresponding to the detected rotational movement amount by its signal generation amount, and moving and displaying a specific figure at the movement position indicated by the position movement signal The device is provided with signal processing means for invalidating a certain amount of the position movement information signal generated immediately after the rotation of the member is started and immediately before the rotation is ended.

In the present invention, attention is paid to the fact that the position movement signal indicates the movement position of the pointer (specific figure) by the signal generation amount such as the number of signal pulses generated or the pulse length. The position movement information signal of is invalidated. Therefore, the pointer does not move on the display screen even if the member rotates immediately before / after the pressing operation of the member.
In addition, information associated with position input by rotation of a member, for example, a switching instruction of a position moving speed, a position moving direction, or the like,
By performing the continuous movement instruction by pressing the member, the operator does not need to move the operation position of the finger. Furthermore, by invalidating the position movement information signal by a certain amount even at the time of starting / ending the rotation of the member, it is possible to eliminate the waste of the operation at the start / stop of the movement of the pointer graphic.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The pointing device of the present embodiment detects the rotational movement amount of the member, generates a position movement information signal indicating the movement position corresponding to the detected rotational movement amount by its signal generation amount, and detects the pressing operation of the member. In this case, the pointing device is a device which generates another information signal and moves and displays the specific figure at the movement position indicated by the position movement information signal. The signal processing means 1000 invalidates a certain amount of the position movement information signal generated immediately before the pressing operation of the member is started and immediately after the pressing operation is ended. When the other information signal is used as an information signal for instructing switching of the position movement speed of the specific figure, the first display control means 1100
Switches the position moving speed according to the generation of the information signal. When the other information signal is used as an information signal for instructing the switching of the position movement direction of the specific graphic, the second display control means 1200 switches the position movement direction according to the generation of the information signal. When the other information signal is used as an information signal for instructing the continuous movement of the specific graphic, the third display control means 1300 continuously moves the specific graphic in response to the generation of the information signal. Further, the signal processing means invalidates a certain amount of the position movement information signal generated immediately after the rotation of the member is started and immediately before the rotation is ended. <First Embodiment> FIG. 2 shows the appearance of a notebook personal computer as an example of a device to which the present invention can be applied.
Here, 1 is a display unit for displaying a document, and 2 is a keyboard unit for inputting the document. Reference numeral 3 denotes a pointing device for moving the pointer displayed on the display unit 1. In this embodiment, the trackball is arranged at a position where the thumb can be operated. Further, this pointing device has a switch mechanism (see FIG. 4) that generates a key code signal similar to the keys of the keyboard section 2 by pressing the trackball. Although not shown in FIG. 2, this switch mechanism has a function of giving a pointer position instruction in combination with a key of the keyboard unit 2. Figure 3
Shows the circuit configuration of the notebook personal computer of this embodiment. Here, 4 is a CPU (central processing unit) that controls the entire apparatus, and is a ROM (read-on memory)
5 operates according to a program stored in This R
The OM 2 stores a program related to the present invention shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. Reference numeral 6 denotes a RAM (random access memory) used as a work area for the CPU 4, which has various flags, registers, a counter area, a data buffer and the like in addition to an area for storing document data. Reference numeral 7 denotes a keyboard (input device), which includes a key group for designating various functions in addition to the character keys, and provides information on the pressed key as a CP.
Output to U4. Reference numeral 8 denotes a display (display device) which displays characters input from the keyboard 7, messages to the operator, a cursor, a pointer and the like. A trackball 9 is used to move a pointer (a specific figure of the present invention) on the display 8. When the operator rotates the trackball 9, the top and bottom of the trackball,
A signal indicating the left and right relative rotation amount is generated and output to the CPU 4. Further, the trackball 9 has a switch mechanism similar to the key switch of the keyboard 7, and when the trackball 9 is pressed down, an information signal is generated and sent to the CPU 4. FIG. 4 shows a schematic structure of the trackball 9. Here, 31 is a ball, which is the outer frame 3
The upper part is protruding from 2 and the operator uses the finger to move the ball 31
The upper part of the can be rotated. A rotation transmission roller 33 is in contact with the ball 31 and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the ball 31 to rotate a rotary wheel 34 having a groove. Reference numeral 35 is a photocoupler for detecting the direction and amount of rotation of the rotary wheel 34. There are one rotation transmission roller 33, one rotation wheel 34, and one photocoupler 35 in the orthogonal directions (X direction, Y direction), and the direction and amount of rotation of the ball 31 can be derived therefrom. Reference numeral 36 denotes a switch, and when the ball 31 is pushed in the direction of the arrow, the outer frame 32 is pushed downward to turn on the switch 36. When the pressing of the ball 31 is stopped, the outer frame 32 is returned by the leaf spring and the switch 36 is turned off. FIG. 5 shows an operation processing procedure in this embodiment. In this example, N pieces of movement data (position movement signals of the present invention) immediately after the start of rotation of the ball 31 of the trackball 9 and N pieces of movement data before the stop of rotation are discarded, and the trackball 9 is also discarded. While the switch 36 attached to is pressed, it functions to input data by repeating the movement in the movement direction up to that point. Movement data from the trackball 9 in S1 (rotation information of the ball 31)
Is sent, the CPU 4 initializes areas such as flags, registers and buffer counters in the RAM 6 (S2). The CPU 4 then compares the counter of the buffer that stores the moving data with a threshold value (S3), and if the number of the moving data stored is N or less, that is, a certain amount or less, adds the data to the buffer (S4). ), The buffer counter is counted up (S5). CPU4 in S14
Clears the timer counter, and if there is further movement data (S15), the steps S3 to S5 are repeated until N pieces of movement data are accumulated in the buffer in the CPU 4. Then, when the (N + 1) th movement data comes, S3 to S6
Proceed to. Since the flag Flag has been cleared in S2, the process first proceeds to S11 to clear the buffer counter and set "1" in the flag Flag. As a result, the N pieces of moving data accumulated so far become invalid and are accumulated in the buffer again from the N + 1th piece (S12,
S13). The CPU 4 when executing this processing operates as the signal processing means of the fifth invention. Then, when N pieces are accumulated in the buffer, S3 is set for the next movement data.
To S6, the flag Flag is set to "1", so that the execution procedure of the CPU 4 proceeds to steps S7 to S10. In S7, the oldest accumulated data (X
The relative movement amount in the direction is X ₀ and the relative movement amount in the Y direction is Y ₀ ) and new movement data is added to the buffer. Therefore, the number of data in the buffer remains N. In S9, the position of the pointer that has been positioned in advance (position X in X direction, position Y in Y direction) is updated by the extracted relative movement amount, and the pointer is displayed at the updated position (S10). .. If the movement data is not detected in S15, the process proceeds to S16. If the switch 36 attached to the trackball 9 is not pressed down, the timer counter is counted up (S18), and if there is no movement data and the timer counter reaches M, the processing is ended assuming that the finger is released from the ball 31. To do. At this time, the N pieces of movement data before the finger is released become invalid. Therefore, the CPU 4 at this time operates as the signal processing means of the fifth invention. If the switch 36 is pressed in S16, the process proceeds to S19, in which all the data accumulated in the buffer are cleared and the contents of the Flag are also cleared. The final amount of relative movement in S20 at (X _0, Y _0), and updates the pointer position (X, Y), and displays the pointer on the updated position (S21). Then, S20 and S21 are repeated until the switch 36 is released (S22). As a result, while the switch 36 is being pressed, the pointer is repeatedly moved, that is, continuously moved and displayed by the amount of movement so far. Since the trackball does not rotate while the switch 36 is pressed (ON), generation of movement data is stopped. Therefore, the CPU 4 also cancels the extraction of the moving data from the buffer, and the N moving data immediately before the stop of the generation of the moving data are invalidated. In addition, the switch 36 is turned off (detected in S22)
At this time, since the buffer and the flag are in the clear state (the clearing process has been executed in S19), when the trackball starts to rotate thereafter, the above-mentioned movement data invalidation process at the start of the trackball rotation is performed by the CPU 4 Executed by. It goes without saying that the CPU 4 in this case operates as the signal processing means of the first invention. Also, switch 3
While 6 is being pressed, the CPU 4 operates as the third display control means of the fourth invention. <Embodiment 2> Embodiment 2 is an example in which the moving speed of the pointer is variable. For this purpose, S20 to S in FIG.
The processing procedure of FIG. 6 is used instead of the processing procedure of 22. Further, by replacing the processing of S9 of FIG. 5 with the processing procedure of FIG. 7, the moving speed of the pointer can be switched by pressing the switch 36. In the processing procedure of FIG. 6, S2
Wait until the pressing of the switch 36 is ended with 01, and then Flag2 (pointer movement speed flag) with S202.
To test. Then, the pointer movement speed flag Fl
If ag2 is "0", it is switched to "1" (S203), and if it is "1", it is switched to "0" (S204). In the process of FIG. 7, S9
At 1, the flag 2 is tested, and if the flag 2 is “0”, the pointer position (X, Y) is updated by the relative movement amount (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) at S92 as in S9 of FIG. Fl in S91
If ag2 is "1", the process proceeds to S93, and the relative movement amount (X ₀ ,
The pointer position (X, Y) is updated with the movement amount (2X ₀ , 2Y ₀ ) twice the Y ₀ ). Therefore, when Flag2 is "1", the pointer (cursor figure on the display screen) moves at twice the speed. The CPU 4 when executing this process operates as the first display control means of the second invention. <Third Embodiment> By replacing the processing procedure of S91 to S93 of FIG. 7 with the processing procedure of FIG. 8, the movement of the pointer can be limited to the X direction or the Y direction by pressing the switch 36. In FIG. 8, Flag2 is tested in S94, and if the flag Flag2 is “0”, S95 in FIG.
Similarly, the pointer position (X, Y) is moved by the relative movement amount (X ₀ ,
Update only Y ₀ ). If the flag Flag2 is "1" in S94, the process proceeds to S96, where the relative movement amount is in the X direction and Y.
Test which is greater in the direction. If the movement amount X ₀ in the X direction is larger, only the X direction position X of the pointer is updated (S95). If the movement amount Y ₀ in the Y direction is larger in S96, only the Y direction position Y of the pointer is updated (S9).
8). Therefore, when the flag Flag2 is "1", the pointer moves only in the X direction or the Y direction. The CPU 4 when executing this process operates as the second display control means of the third invention.

As described above, according to the present invention,
There is an effect that it is possible to eliminate unnecessary movement of the display pointer when a finger is placed on or released from the trackball, and when a switch attached below the trackball is pressed or released. Further, since the instruction related to the instruction of the moving position of the pointer, such as the instruction for switching the moving speed and the moving direction of the pointer, is performed by the pressing operation of the trackball, the operation of the operator for these instructions is simplified. It

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an information processing apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the information processing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the trackball 9 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the CPU 4 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another processing procedure executed by the CPU 4 of FIG.

7 is a flowchart showing another processing procedure executed by the CPU 4 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another processing procedure executed by the CPU 4 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 display section 2 keyboard section 3 pointing device 4 CPU 5 ROM 6 RAM 7 keyboard 8 display 9 trackball 31 ball 32 outer frame 33 rotation transmission roller 34 rotation wheel 35 photocoupler 36 switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. When a rotational movement amount of a member is detected, a position movement information signal indicating a movement position corresponding to the detected rotational movement amount by the signal generation amount is generated, and a pressing operation of the member is detected. In the pointing device for generating and displaying another information signal to move and display the specific figure at the movement position indicated by the position movement information signal, a constant value generated immediately before the pressing operation of the member is started and immediately after the pressing operation is ended. A pointing device comprising signal processing means for invalidating a quantity of the position movement information signal. 2. The other information signal is an information signal for instructing switching of the position movement speed of the specific figure, and the first position switching speed is switched according to generation of the information signal.
The display control means is further provided, The display control means is further provided.
Pointing device described in. 3. The other information signal is an information signal for instructing switching of the position moving direction of the specific graphic, and a second display control means for switching the position moving direction according to the generation of the information signal. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. The other information signal is an information signal for instructing continuous movement of the specific figure, and the third figure continuously moves the specific figure while the information signal is generated.
The display control means is further provided, The display control means is further provided.
Pointing device described in. 5. A rotational movement amount of a member is detected, a position movement signal indicating a movement position corresponding to the detected rotation movement amount by the signal generation amount is generated, and a specific figure is displayed at a movement position indicated by the position movement signal. 2. The pointing device for moving and displaying, wherein the pointing device comprises signal processing means for invalidating a certain amount of the position movement information signal generated immediately after the start of rotation and immediately before the end of rotation of the member.