JPH06149471A - Knob type input device for selecting menu - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] A knob input device for menu selection according to the present invention is intended for an input device capable of downsizing the input device and smoothly selecting a menu without selecting a place. [Structure] The structure is such that the cylinder c3 can be turned left and right as a knob and can be tilted left and right as a lever. By turning the cylinder c3 left and right as a knob, the selection state display can be moved to select a menu. , The cylinder c3 is used as a lever and tilted to the left and right, and if it is right, the selection process for that menu is performed, and if it is left, the current selection is invalidated and the previous menu list is returned.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a knob type input device for menu selection in a portable information processing device having a window application.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An application of a portable information processing device in the prior art has a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 6, and a plurality of menu lists are displayed for one menu selection. In the hierarchical structure of FIG. 6, the upper layer is a higher-level menu that is closer to the initial menu of the application and generally has a higher level of abstraction, and the lower side is a lower-layer menu that is closer to the menu that activates the functions of the application and is generally specific. Is strong. The user can move the menu selection from the upper layer menu to the lower layer menu to execute the intended function. Further, there are a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, etc. as the menu selection device.

[0003]

The input using the pen normally used in the prior art requires the user to move over the entire area of the display screen, which puts a burden on the user's hand. If the position of the target lowest layer menu is not clear, go back and forth through each layer of the menu hierarchy,
As a result of trial and error, the target lowest layer menu is selected. Therefore, an input device capable of smoothly selecting the menu is required. The knob selection input device for menu selection of the present invention is intended to solve the above problems.

[0004]

In a portable information processing apparatus equipped with a window application, input means capable of inputting by a user's operation, and detection means for detecting a rotation direction and a falling direction of the input means. And output means for outputting the rotation direction or tilt direction detected by the detection means, judgment means for judging the rotation direction or tilt direction output from the output means, and menu selection based on the judgment of the judgment means. A menu selecting means for executing the menu, an executing means for executing the menu selected by the menu selecting means based on the judgment of the judging means, and a menu returning to the previous menu list based on the judgment of the judging means. And a knob type input device for menu selection.

[0005]

Operation: The input means has a structure for selecting the menu by the rotation direction of the menu selecting means, executing the menu by the tilting direction of the executing means, and returning to the previous menu list by the tilting direction of the backing means. By operating, menu selection operation is performed.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a menu selection knob type input device of the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the appearance of a portable information processing device using the knob type input device of the present invention is as follows: a display device 1 for displaying a rectangular area on the screen as a window area in a window environment; The keyboard 2 is integrated with the lid of the pattern information processing device, and the knob type input device 3 has a knob that can be recessed so as to be completely closed by using the keyboard 2 as a lid.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration for carrying out the present invention. In the window environment, a display device 1 for displaying a part of a rectangular area on the screen as a window area and a CPU are used in response to the CPU. A keyboard 2 for performing a key input to perform an operation intended by a person, a knob-type input device 3 for outputting rotation data by a user's knob operation, and a knob-type input device 3 for controlling each device.
The window system is loaded into the DRAM 6 in response to the rotation data from the CPU, and the CPU 4 for transferring the image data to the frame buffer 5, the frame buffer 5 for storing the image data, and the window system for the application are stored. It is composed of a DRAM 6.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of a knob type input device for menu selection according to the present invention, which will be described below. The cylinder c3 is a thin cylinder and has a structure that can be turned left and right by using the thumb and forefinger as a knob and can be tilted left and right as a lever. Abbreviated)
Can transmit the rotation direction by interlocking with the cylinder c3. The rotation direction transmitted from the cylinder c3 to the roller c1 is the knob rotation direction detection device a1 (hereinafter referred to as the device a1).
The device a1 outputs the rotation direction as an interrupt signal to the CPU via a knob rotation direction output line b1 (hereinafter abbreviated as line b1).

A lever rotation interlocking roller c2 (hereinafter abbreviated as roller c2) adjacent to the cylinder c3 can transmit the rotation direction in conjunction with the cylinder c3. The rotation direction transmitted from the cylinder c3 to the roller c2 is detected by a lever rotation direction detection device a2 (hereinafter abbreviated as device a2), and the device a2 outputs a lever rotation direction output line b2 (as an interrupt signal to the CPU). The rotation direction is output via line b2).

When the knob input device 3 (cylinder c3) is turned as a knob, the device a1 inputs it to the CPU 4 as an interrupt signal, and in the interrupt routine, one menu in the list displayed on the display device 1 is selected. The selected state display is sequentially performed according to the left and right rotation directions (a state different from the other menus is displayed to indicate that one of the lists is selected).

The user turns the knob to bring it to the menu intended to display the selection state, and stops the rotation, thereby selecting the menu. At this time, when the knob input device 3 (cylinder c3) is tilted to the left or right as a lever, the device a2 inputs it as an interrupt signal to the CPU 4, and in the interrupt routine, the rotation direction of the lever is detected. The selection process for the menu is performed, and if it is on the left, the current selection is invalidated and the menu list is returned to the previous menu list.

Next, the operation flow of one embodiment of the menu selection knob type input device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Initial state (step (hereinafter the same))
From S1), the user operates the knob type input device 3 (cylinder c3).
When the lever is tilted to the right (S2), the program manager (manager managing each application) is started in the window environment, and the window of the application list including the selection state display is displayed (S2).
3).

The user can use the knob type input device 3 (cylinder c3).
When turning as a knob (S4), the direction of rotation is determined (S5), the selection state display of the application list is moved to the positive direction when it is right (S6), and the selection state display of the application list is displayed when it is left. Is moved in the negative direction (S7), and when the knob rotation is stopped, the selection state display in the application list also stops moving.

In addition, the user can use the knob type input device 3 (cylinder c
When 3) is turned as a lever (S8), the rotation direction is determined (S9), and when it is right, it means that the application in the selected state is selected, the application is activated (S10), and left. If is step 1
Return to the initial state.

At step 10, the application displayed in the selected state is selected, and after the application is started, the user operates the knob type input device 3 (cylinder c3).
When turning as a knob (S11), the direction of rotation is determined (S12), the selection state display of the application list is moved to the positive direction (S13) when it is right, and the application list selection state is displayed when it is left. Is moved in the negative direction (S14), and when the knob rotation is stopped, the selection state display of the application list also stops moving.

The user uses the knob type input device 3 (cylinder c3)
When turning as a lever (S15), the direction of rotation is determined (S16), the menu list of the current layer is erased when left, the menu list of the previous layer is returned, and when it is right, it is selected. It is determined whether or not the selected menu has a lower layer menu (S18), and if so, it means that the application displayed in the selected state is selected, the application is activated, and the process returns to step 11. If it is determined in step 18 that there is no lower menu, the function corresponding to the selected menu can be executed.

[0017]

As described above, the knob selection input device for menu selection of the present invention has a structure in which the cylinder c3 can be turned left and right as a knob, and can be tilted left and right as a lever. As shown, the selection state display is moved to select a menu, the cylinder c3 is used as a lever to tilt left and right, and if it is right, the selection process for that menu is performed, and if it is left, the current selection is invalidated. By returning to the previous menu list, the input device can be downsized, and the menu can be smoothly selected without imposing a burden on the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a knob-type input device for menu selection of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a menu selection knob type input device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a structure of an embodiment of a menu selection knob type input device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart diagram showing an operation flow of an embodiment of a menu selection knob type input device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of an embodiment of the menu selection knob type input device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure of an application of a knob selection input device for menu selection of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 display device 2 keyboard 3 knob type input device 4 CPU 5 frame buffer 6 DRAM a1 knob rotation direction detection device a2 lever rotation direction detection device b1 knob rotation direction output line b2 lever rotation direction output line c1 knob rotation interlocking roller c2 lever rotation interlocking Roller c3 cylinder

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a portable information processing device having a window application, an input means capable of inputting by a user operation, a detection means for detecting a rotation direction and a falling direction of the input means, and the detection means. Output means for outputting the rotation direction or tilt direction detected by the means, judgment means for judging the rotation direction or tilt direction output from the output means, and menu selection capable of performing menu selection based on the judgment of the judgment means Means, executing means for executing the menu selected by the menu selecting means based on the judgment of the judging means, and back means for returning to the previous menu list based on the judgment of the judging means. A knob type input device for menu selection, which is characterized in that