JP3179376B2 - Cursor control device and machine-readable recording medium recording program - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to display control of a cursor on a display device, and more particularly to a cursor control device for displaying and deleting a cursor when a user gives an explicit instruction. The present invention relates to a technique for improving operability by reducing the operability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional cursor control device for displaying a cursor on the screen of a display device or deleting the cursor from the screen in response to an explicit instruction from a user has an operation panel 51 as shown in FIG. I had it. The operation panel 51 has a display erase key 52, cursor keys 53 to
56 are provided.

The user presses the display delete key 52 to display the cursor on the screen of the display device, and presses the display delete key 52 again to delete the displayed cursor. When the cursor is displayed by pressing the display erase key 52 and then moved, the cursor key corresponding to the moving direction is pressed. For example, the cursor key 56 is pressed to move the cursor rightward, and the cursor key 53 is pressed to move it upward.

[0004]

The above-described conventional cursor control device has a problem that it is inconvenient to use since a display erase key and a cursor key are required as operation keys for controlling the cursor. In other words, if you move the cursor after displaying the cursor,
If the operation key to be pressed is changed from the display erase key to the cursor key and the cursor is erased during the operation of the cursor key, the operation key to be pressed must be changed from the cursor key to the display erase key. It will be bad.

An object of the present invention is to improve the operability of a cursor control device by displaying and deleting a cursor using a cursor key.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a cursor control device for displaying, moving, and displaying a cursor.
In a cursor control device for controlling erasure, a key input means having a plurality of cursor keys, a cursor display start instruction is output when the cursor key is pressed while the cursor is not displayed, and the cursor moves. When the same cursor key is continuously pressed for the first time while being displayed at the end of the possible range, a cursor deletion instruction is output, and the cursor is displayed at a position other than the end of the cursor movable range. A cursor control unit that outputs a cursor display position update instruction when the cursor key is pressed in a state where the cursor key is pressed, and starts a cursor display when a cursor display start instruction is output from the cursor control unit, and issues a cursor erase instruction. Is displayed, the cursor is deleted, and when the cursor display position update instruction is output, the cursor display position is updated. And a Sol display control unit.

In this configuration, when the cursor key is pressed in a state where the cursor is not displayed, the cursor control unit outputs a cursor display start instruction, and in response, the cursor display control unit outputs the cursor display instruction. Start displaying.

[0008] When the cursor is displayed at the end of the cursor movable range, the same cursor key is moved to the first position.
, The cursor control unit outputs a cursor deletion instruction, and in response, the cursor display control unit deletes the cursor.

Further, in a state where the cursor is displayed at a position other than the end of the cursor movable range, if the cursor key is pressed, the cursor control unit outputs a cursor display position update instruction. In response, the cursor display control unit updates the cursor display position.

Further, in the cursor control device according to the present invention, in order to prevent the cursor from largely moving against the will of the user immediately after displaying the cursor, the cursor control unit includes a cursor display start instruction. Is output until the second time elapses, and the output of the cursor display position update instruction is prohibited.

In this configuration, the cursor control unit does not output the cursor display position update instruction until the second time elapses after the output of the cursor display instruction, even if the cursor key is pressed. .

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. A computer 1, a key input device 2 such as a keyboard and an operation panel, a display device 3 such as a CRT, a timer interrupt generator 4, a recording medium And 5.

The key input device 2 only has four cursor keys 21 to 24 as operation keys related to cursor control, and the display erase key as shown in FIG. 5 provided in the conventional cursor control device. 52 is not provided.
Each of the cursor keys 21, 22, 23, and 24 is pressed by the user when moving the cursor upward, downward, left, and right, respectively. Furthermore, each of the cursor keys 21 to 24 is also pressed by the user when starting the display of the cursor and when deleting the cursor. When each of the cursor keys 21 to 24 is pressed, the key input device 2 outputs key data indicating the pressed key.

The timer interrupt generation section 4 outputs an interrupt signal at a predetermined cycle t.

The computer 1 includes a cursor control unit 11
, Cursor display control unit 12, display position storage unit 13
And a movable range storage unit 14.

The display position storage unit 13 stores coordinate values indicating the display position of the cursor. Movable range storage unit 1
4 stores information indicating the movable range of the cursor. In the present embodiment, the upper left coordinate value (X1, Y1) and the lower right coordinate value (X2, Y2) of the screen of the display device 3 are stored in advance as information indicating the movable range of the cursor.

The cursor control section 11 comprises a cursor movement instruction detecting means 111, a position comparing means 112, and an erasing judging means 113.

The cursor movement instruction detecting means 111 determines whether or not key data indicating that the cursor keys 21 to 24 have been pressed is output from the key input device 2 every time an interrupt signal is output from the timer interrupt generation section 4. Function to determine whether or not the cursor data has been output when the key data corresponding to the cursor keys 21 to 24 has been output; and function to determine whether or not the cursor has been displayed. A coordinate value of a predetermined point on the screen of the display device 3 (coordinate value indicating a predetermined point within the movable range) is stored in the display position storage unit 13 and a cursor is displayed on the cursor display control unit 12. A function of outputting a display start instruction, and when it is determined that the cursor has been displayed, a second time T2 (for example, about 1 second) elapses after the cursor display is started. Function to determine whether or not the,
When it is determined that the second time T2 has elapsed, the control unit 110 has a function of transferring control to the position comparison unit 112.

The position comparing means 112 is a display position storage unit 1
3 is compared with the contents of the movable range storage unit 14 to determine whether the cursor is movable. If it is determined that the cursor is movable, the key input device 2
It has a function of updating the coordinate values stored in the display position storage unit 13 in accordance with the key data output from the device, and a function of transferring control to the erasure determining means 113 when it is determined that movement is impossible. When the cursor is displayed at the end of the movable range, that is, the X coordinate value X of the current cursor stored in the display position storage unit 13 is displayed.
When n is equal to the X coordinate values X1 and X2 stored in the movable range storage unit 14, and the current Y coordinate value Yn of the cursor stored in the display position storage unit 13 is stored in the movable range storage unit 14. Stored Y coordinate values Y1, Y2
If it is equal to, it is determined that movement is not possible.

The erasure judging means 113 includes the position comparing means 11
2 is a function for determining whether or not the moving direction of the cursor designated when the control was previously passed and the moving direction of the cursor currently designated are the same each time control is passed from 2
If it is determined that the moving directions are different, the contents of the display position storage unit 13 are updated according to the key data. If it is determined that the moving directions are the same, the same cursor key is used after the cursor reaches the end of the movable range. Is a function for determining whether or not the same cursor key has been pressed for a first time T1 (for example, about 1 second) or more. Cursor display control when it is determined that the same cursor key has been continuously pressed for the first time T1 or more Part 12
Has a function of outputting a cursor erasing instruction to the cursor and starting output of a cursor erasing notification to the cursor movement instruction detecting means 111.

The cursor display control unit 12 starts the cursor display processing when the cursor display start instruction is output from the cursor control unit 11, and deletes the cursor when the cursor control unit 11 outputs the cursor deletion instruction. At the same time, the cursor display process ends. During the execution of the cursor display processing, the cursor display control unit 12 causes the cursor to be displayed at a position on the screen of the display device 3 indicated by the X and Y coordinate values stored in the display position storage unit 13.

Recording medium 5 provided in computer 1
Is a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and other recording media in which a cursor control program is stored. The cursor control program stored in the recording medium 5 is read by the computer 1 and controls the operation of the computer 1 to realize a cursor control unit 11 and a cursor display control unit 12 on the computer 1.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the cursor movement instruction detecting means 111, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the position comparing means 112, and FIG. The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

The timer interrupt generating section 4 outputs an interrupt signal to the cursor movement instruction detecting means 111 at a predetermined cycle t. Here, the cycle t and the first and second times T1 and T2 described above have a relationship of t≪T1 and t≪T2.

The cursor movement instruction detecting means 111 performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 every time an interrupt signal is given.

In S20, it is determined whether or not the cursor deletion notification has been output from the deletion determination unit 113. And when it is determined that it is output (YES in S20)
Ends the processing. On the other hand, when it is determined that the cursor deletion notification has not been output (S20: NO)
Performs the processing of S21.

In S21, it is determined whether or not any of the cursor keys 21 to 24 is pressed based on the key data output from the key input device 2. And
When it is determined that no cursor key is pressed (S
If NO in step S21, the process ends, and it is determined that the pressed cursor key is present (YES in step S21).
In step S), the processing in step S22 is performed.

In S22, it is determined whether the cursor has already been displayed. If it is determined that the display has not been completed (NO in S22), a predetermined coordinate value is stored in the display position storage unit 13, and then the cursor display control unit 12
Then, an instruction to start displaying a cursor is output (S23).
As a result, the cursor display control unit 12 starts the cursor display process, and displays the cursor on the screen of the display device 3 at the position indicated by the X and Y coordinate values stored in the display position storage unit 13. On the other hand, if it is determined that the display has been completed (YES in S22), the process of S24 is performed.

In S24, it is determined whether or not the second time T2 has elapsed since the start of displaying the cursor. If it is determined that the second time T2 has not elapsed (NO in S24), the process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the second time T2 has elapsed (S
If it is 24), control is passed to the position comparing means 112 (S25).

When the control is passed from the cursor movement instruction detecting means 111, the position comparing means 112 performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In S31, the coordinate value (X) indicating the current cursor display position stored in the display position storage unit 13 is displayed.
n, Yn) and upper left and lower right coordinate values (X1, Y1) of the movable range stored in the movable range storage unit 14.
Based on (X2, Y2), it is determined whether or not the cursor is displayed at the end of the movable range.

If it is determined that the display position of the cursor is not at the end of the movable range (S31: NO),
The contents of the display position storage unit 13 are updated according to the cursor key pressed at that time, and the display position of the cursor is updated (S32). That is, the cursor keys 21 and
2 is pressed, the Y coordinate values Yn of the coordinate values stored in the display position storage unit 13 are set to −1 and +1 respectively.
When the cursor keys 23 and 24 are pressed,
The X coordinate value Xn stored in the display position storage unit 13 is incremented by -1 and +1 respectively. On the other hand, when it is determined that the display position of the cursor is at the end of the movable range (S
(YES at 31) gives control to the erasure determination means 113 (S33).

The erasure judging means 113 includes the position comparing means 11
When the control is passed from 2, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed.

In S41, it is determined whether or not the cursor key pressed when the control was passed last time is the same as the cursor key currently pressed.

If it is determined that a different cursor key has been pressed (NO in S41), the process proceeds to S3.
The display position of the cursor is updated in the same manner as in step 2 (S4
2). On the other hand, when it is determined that the same cursor key is being pressed (S41: YES), it is determined whether the same cursor key is continuously pressed for the first time T1 or more (S43).

If it is determined that the button has not been continuously pressed for the first time T1 or longer (S43: NO), the process is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the button has been continuously pressed for the first time T1 or more (S43: YE
S) outputs a cursor erasing instruction to the cursor display control unit 12 and outputs the cursor movement instruction detecting unit 111.
Of the cursor deletion notification is started (S4).
4). Thereafter, the deletion determination unit 113 continues to output the cursor deletion notification until the finger is released from the cursor key (S45: NO, S46).

Upon receiving a cursor erasure instruction from the erasure determination means 113, the cursor display controller 12 erases the cursor being displayed on the screen of the display device 3 and ends the cursor display processing.

Next, the key operation of the user and the operation of the cursor control device will be described in association with each other. When starting the display of the cursor, the user presses any one of the cursor keys 21 to 24. For example, if the user presses the cursor key 2
If 4 is pressed, S21 and S22 in FIG. 2 become YES and NO, respectively, so the process of S23 is performed, and the cursor is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen of the display device 3.
If the user only wants to display the cursor, the user immediately releases his / her finger from the cursor key 24 after displaying the cursor.
In the present embodiment, the movement of the cursor is not started until the second time T2 has elapsed after the display of the cursor is started (until S24 in FIG. 2 becomes YES). Even if the timing at which the finger is released from the terminal 24 is slightly delayed, it is possible to prevent the cursor from largely moving against the user's will immediately after the cursor is displayed.

If it is desired to move the cursor to the right after the cursor is displayed, the user keeps pressing the cursor key 24 even after the cursor is displayed. In this state, when the second predetermined time T2 elapses, S2 in FIG.
4, since S31 of FIG. 3 becomes YES and NO, S31 of FIG.
32 is performed, and the cursor moves rightward. As described above, in the present embodiment, the start of cursor display and the movement of the cursor can be instructed using the same cursor key. The operability can be improved as compared with the conventional technology that has not been improved.

The user can also select the cursor keys 21 to 24
When it is desired to delete the cursor while any one of the cursor keys is pressed, the cursor key that is being pressed may be kept pressed until the cursor is deleted. When such an operation is performed, S31 in FIG. 3 and S43 in FIG.
Are both YES, the process of S44 in FIG. 4 is performed, and the cursor is deleted. Also in this case, the operability is improved because it is not necessary to change the key to be pressed unlike the related art.

[0042]

As described above, the cursor control device of the present invention also displays and deletes a cursor by using a cursor key which has been conventionally used only for moving the cursor. It is not necessary to change the operation key to be pressed when the cursor is continuously moved after the display is started or when the cursor is deleted while the cursor key is being pressed. Therefore, according to the cursor control device of the present invention, operability can be improved as compared with the conventional cursor control device.

Further, the cursor control device of the present invention can eliminate the need for the display erasing key required in the conventional cursor control device, so that the number of parts of key input means such as an operation panel and a keyboard can be reduced. The device can be constructed economically.

Further, the cursor control device according to the present invention is configured such that the display of the cursor is started until a predetermined time elapses.
Since the cursor is not moved even when the cursor key is pressed, it is possible to prevent the cursor from largely moving against the will of the user immediately after the cursor is displayed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a cursor movement instruction detecting unit 111;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a position comparing unit 112;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing example of an erasure determining unit 113;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional operation panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Computer 11 ... Cursor control part 111 ... Cursor movement instruction | indication detection means 112 ... Position comparison means 113 ... Erasure determination means 12 ... Cursor display control part 13 ... Display position storage part 14 ... Movable range storage part 2. Key input device 21 -24: Cursor keys 3: Display device 4: Timer interrupt generator 5: Recording medium 51: Operation panel 52: Display erase key 53-56: Cursor keys

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cursor control device for controlling display, movement and deletion of a cursor, comprising: key input means having a plurality of cursor keys; and a cursor when the cursor key is depressed while the cursor is not displayed. A display start instruction is output, and when the same cursor key is continuously pressed for a first time while the cursor is displayed at the end of the cursor movable range, a cursor erase instruction is output. A cursor control unit that outputs a cursor display position update instruction when the cursor key is pressed while being displayed at a position other than the end of the movable range; and when a cursor display start instruction is output from the cursor control unit. When the cursor display is started and the cursor delete instruction is output, the cursor is deleted and the cursor display position update instruction is output. And a cursor display control unit for updating a display position of the cursor when the cursor control is performed. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cursor control unit is configured to prohibit output of a cursor display position update instruction until a second time elapses after outputting the cursor display start instruction. Item 2. The cursor control device according to Item 1. 3. Displaying a cursor by a computer,
A recording medium on which a cursor control program for controlling movement and erasure is recorded, wherein the computer outputs a cursor display start instruction when a cursor key is pressed in a state where the cursor is not displayed. When the same cursor key is continuously pressed for the first time while being displayed at the end of the movable range, a cursor deletion instruction is output, and the cursor is displayed at a position other than the end of the cursor movable range. A cursor control unit that outputs a cursor display position update instruction when the cursor key is pressed in a state where the cursor key is pressed, and starts a cursor display when a cursor display start instruction is output from the cursor control unit, and deletes a cursor. Is displayed, the cursor is deleted, and when the cursor display position update instruction is output, the cursor display position is changed. Cursor control program for functioning as a cursor display control unit new to is recorded, a machine-readable recording medium recording a program.