JP3501291B2 - Information input control device and method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is suitable for use as an electronic notebook device (portable computer) in an information input controller.
And about the method .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 16 shows a configuration example of an input display screen in a conventional electronic notebook device. An icon area 131 is provided in the information on the screen, and an input display area 132 is provided below the icon area 131. In this example,
A monthly schedule is displayed in the input display area 132. A subject (title) is displayed on the left side of the input display area 132, a scale from 1st to 31st is displayed on the right side thereof, and a vertical time with a short scheduled time, period, etc. corresponding to each title is displayed. It is represented by a line. Various icons 133 are displayed in the icon area 131,
By selecting a desired icon 133 with a pen (not shown), a predetermined function can be operated. Further, in the input display area 132, a change button 134, a new button 135, a cancel button 136, etc. are provided. These buttons 134
By selecting ~ 136, the function corresponding to each button can be selected. However, in the case of this example, since the cancel button 136 is in a state in which it cannot be used, the word "cancel" of the cancel button 136 is intentionally displayed unclearly so that the user can recognize that. .

In this state, for example, when trying to input a new schedule, when the new button 135 is touched with the pen, the currently displayed monthly schedule automatically shifts to the page for writing the schedule, and the page is written. Is displayed. Therefore, the user can enter a new schedule on the page.

On the other hand, when changing the currently displayed schedule, the change button 134 is first touched with a pen. Next, touch the title to be changed with the pen. Then, the page in which the schedule was entered in the past will be automatically displayed. Therefore, it suffices to change and fill in the predetermined items on the page.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional device, when the new button 135 is touched, the mode is automatically changed from the viewing mode to the writing mode, and the writing page is automatically displayed. The person is not particularly confused. However, in the change operation,
When the change button 134 is touched, the icons 133 and the like other than the new button 135 cannot be used, so that their display is changed to an unclear display and the display is not changed significantly. Therefore, it may be difficult to know what operation the user should perform next.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and makes it possible for a user to more reliably perform a desired operation.

[0007]

In the information input control device of the present invention, the first operating means operated when selecting a predetermined function for inputting information and the first operating means are operated. A display for recognizing that there is a context before and after the operation between the first operation means and the second operation means and the second operation means to be operated based on the selected predetermined function. , The same for both the first operating means and the second operating means
Characterized in that it comprises a display means for performing by displaying marks.

[0008]

In the information input control apparatus of the present invention, the first operation is performed when selecting a predetermined function when inputting information.
Between the operating means, and second operating means to be operated based on a predetermined function selected by the first operating means is operated, the first operating means and the second operating means
In addition, the display for recognizing that there is a context before and after the operation is performed by displaying the same mark on both the first operating means and the second operating means. Therefore, the user can easily recognize that both should be operated in association with each other.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment in which the information input control device of the present invention is applied to an electronic notebook device (portable computer). The main body 1 is provided with a power switch 2, which is turned on when the apparatus is used and turned off when the apparatus is stopped. A brightness adjustment switch 3 for adjusting the brightness of the screen 8 (the brightness of the LCD 22 described later) is provided to the left of the power switch 2. A case 4 is provided on the side of the main body 1. The case 4 has a switch 7 at its tip, and the main body 1 is connected via a cord 5.
The pen 6 connected with the pen is accommodated when not in use. When the pen 6 is taken out from the case 4, it can be placed in a groove 10 formed horizontally in the upper portion of the main body 1. A speaker 9 is provided on the left side of the groove 10 to output a predetermined sound.

Two switches 1 are provided on the upper right side of the main body 1.
1, 12 are provided. The switch 11 is a change-over switch for changing the brightness of the backlight, which will be described later, in two steps, for example, and the switch 12 is a volume change-over switch for changing the sound volume of the sound output from the speaker 9 in three steps, for example. A switch 13 provided on the left side of the main body 1
Is a stop switch that is operated when a predetermined operation is stopped midway (for example, when a sound being emitted is stopped). A memory (IC) card 70 is also provided on the left side of the main body 1.
A socket 14 to which the (see FIG. 5) is mounted is arranged. A socket 15 is provided on the rear side of the main body 1. Further, a socket 16 is also provided inside the battery mounting portion 1a for mounting the battery 19 on the rear side of the main body 1. These sockets 15 and 16 have, for example, RS2
32C cables, modems, other adapters, etc. are connected. Further, a connection terminal 18 of the AC adapter 17 is provided above the left side portion of the main body 1.

FIG. 2 shows a more detailed configuration example of the screen 8. In this embodiment, the tablet 21 (X
A tablet 21a for detecting the position in the axial direction and a tablet 21b) for detecting the position in the Y-axis direction are provided at the top. An LCD 22 is provided below the tablet 21. The LCD 22 is composed of glass plates 22a and 22b provided above and below, and a liquid crystal 23 inserted in the middle thereof. A fluorescent plate (EL) 26 is arranged below the LCD 22. When the fluorescent plate 26 as the backlight emits light, the light is emitted to the LCD.
Illuminate 22. Since the tablets 21a and 21b are formed of transparent members, the image displayed on the liquid crystal 23 is observed from above in the drawing. Printed circuit board (PC
B) 25 is loaded with components (not shown) and is electrically connected to the LCD 22 via the rubber connector 24. Further, it is also electrically connected to the tablet 21 by the conductive film 27.

FIG. 3 shows a more detailed structural example of the fluorescent plate 26. In this embodiment, an insulating film 33 is arranged between the electrode 31 and the light emitting portion (the other electrode) 32. By applying a predetermined voltage between the electrode 31 and the light emitting section 32, the light emitting section 32 emits light. The electrode 31 and the light emitting portion 32 are formed in a plate shape, and can illuminate the screen 8 uniformly.

Besides, a fluorescent tube may be used as the backlight. In addition, a fluorescent tube is provided as a side light on the side of the main body, and the light is transmitted by the light transmitting member to
It is also possible to transmit it to the rear part of D22 so that it can be illuminated.

FIG. 4 shows position detection by a tablet and LC.
It is a circuit diagram which shows the principle of the display by D. Tablet 2
1 has 512 electrodes in the X-axis direction,
It has 342 electrodes in the Y-axis direction. This allows
It becomes possible to detect 512 × 342 pixels. The tablet controller 46 controls the clock generation circuit 45a and sequentially applies a predetermined voltage to each of the 342 electrodes. Next, the clock generation circuit 45b is controlled to 5
A voltage is sequentially applied to the 12 electrodes. That is, the tablet 21 is scanned by the clocks generated by the clock generation circuit 45a and the clock generation circuit 45b. When the pen 6 is brought close to a predetermined position on the tablet 21, a predetermined capacitance is formed between the tablet 21 and the pen 6. Then, when the pen 6 is pressed against the tablet 21, the switch 7 at the tip of the pen 6 is turned on, so that the charge generated between the pen 6 and a predetermined electrode on the tablet 21 is detected, and the tablet is transmitted via the amplifier 47. It is supplied to the controller 46. Since the tablet controller 46 manages the clock generation timings of the clock generation circuits 45a and 45b, the pressing position of the pen 6 on the tablet 21 can be detected from the detection signal supplied from the pen 6 and the clock generation timing. it can. The tablet controller 46 supplies the operation coordinates of the pen 6 thus detected to the CPU 41. CPU4
1 constantly monitors the position where the switch 6 is turned on (pen down) by the pen 6 pressing the tablet 21 and the position where the switch 7 is turned off (pen up) while the switch 7 is separated from the tablet 21. Then, the input is accepted by pen down and the input is confirmed by pen up.

On the other hand, the CPU 41 is the LCD controller 4
3 to write data corresponding to the image to be displayed in the memory (V-RAM) 44. LCD controller 4
3 reads data from the memory 44 and supplies a signal corresponding to the data to the drive circuit 42b. LCD22 is
Corresponding to the tablet 21, it has 512 electrodes in the horizontal direction and 342 electrodes in the vertical direction. The drive circuit 42a sequentially applies a predetermined voltage to the 342 electrodes one by one. Further, the drive circuit 42b sequentially applies a voltage corresponding to the image data to the 512 electrodes. In this way, each pixel on the LCD 22 is scanned and the LCD
A predetermined image will be displayed on 22.

FIG. 5 shows a more detailed electrical structure of the main body 1. The CPU 41 is connected to various ICs via a bus line 57. In the ROM 51, in addition to the system program of the entire apparatus, for example, a kana-kanji conversion program for a word processor function and a dictionary table therefor, and a recognition program for handwriting input and a dictionary table therefor are written.
Data necessary for operation is stored in the working RAM 52 at any time. A backup battery 54 (battery different from the battery 19) is connected to the backup RAM 53 so that necessary data is backed up even when the power of the apparatus main body is turned off. The timer IC 55 is connected to the battery 54, counts the clock from the crystal unit 56, and outputs the date and time data at that time. LC mentioned above
The D controller 43 and the tablet controller 46 also
It is connected to the CPU 41 via a bus line 57.

The voice processing circuit 58 includes sockets 14 to 1.
A predetermined audio signal is generated in response to an input from the CPU 6 or a command from the CPU 41, and outputs it to the adder 59. The voice memory 61 is controlled by the CPU 41 and outputs a predetermined voice (for example, a warning sound “Eh?”) Stored in advance to the adder 59. The adder 59 adds the output of the voice processing circuit 58 and the output of the voice memory 61 and outputs the result to the speaker 9 via the voice volume controller 60. The volume controller 60 is connected to the volume changeover switch 12, and the volume can be controlled by operating the switch.

The fluorescent plate (backlight section) 26 has a power supply circuit 64 (when the power switch 2 is turned on, the battery 1
9 or power is supplied from the AC adapter 17) is supplied via the inverter circuit 63. The brightness of the fluorescent screen 26 can be switched between two levels (for example, brightness suitable for a bright room and brightness suitable for a dark room) via the inverter circuit 63 by switching the selector switch 11. In addition to this, by controlling the brightness adjustment switch 3, the brightness of the LCD 22 can be controlled to a desired value in multiple stages. The switch 65a is turned on / off according to whether the battery 19 mounted on the main body 1 is a primary battery or a secondary battery. The switch 65b detects the capacity of the battery 19 and is turned on / off according to the size of the capacity. These switches 65a and 65b are connected to the key interface 62 via the power supply circuit 64. The key interface 62 is also connected to the brightness adjustment switch 3, the changeover switch 11, the stop switch 13, and the like. The key interface 62 supplies the CPU 41 with signals corresponding to ON / OFF of these switches.

An IC card 70 is connected to the socket 14, and the CPU 41 can exchange data, programs and the like with the IC card 70 via the IC card interface 66. Also, the sockets 15, 1
An adapter 71 is connected to the CPU 6, and is connected to the CPU 41 via the expansion interface 68.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a process for changing one data from a state where a predetermined data is displayed in a list will be described.

First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the page is a page for displaying a list of data. If it is determined that the page is for displaying a list, the process proceeds to step S2 to determine whether or not a change function is provided. To be judged. When the change function is provided, the process proceeds to step S3, and the change button 86 (FIG. 7) is displayed. At this time,
On the change button 86, a pencil mark 86a is displayed behind the character "change". Then, it is determined in step S4 whether or not all the messages are displayed on the input display screen 82 (FIG. 7). If not displayed, the process proceeds to step S5 to display the message. Then, the pencil mark 85 (FIG. 7) is displayed at a predetermined position on the line of each message. In this way, pencil marks are displayed together for all the messages.

Next, a more specific display example of the input screen will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 7, a viewing screen is displayed. That is, the button 93 displayed on the right side of the screen
When the "mill" button 93a is touched with the pen 6, the button is highlighted. And for days,
You will be able to view the weekly, monthly, check (indicated by check mark in the figure), action, phone, address, or report pages. In FIG. 7, the weekly page schedule is displayed. A schedule name (title) is displayed on the left side of the input display area 82. A check mark (indicated by a rectangular shape in the figure) 84 is displayed at the beginning of the mark. A pencil mark 85 is displayed behind each title. A change button 86, a new button 87, and a cancel button 88 are displayed above the input display area 82. Of these, the change button 86 is "change"
A pencil mark 86a is also displayed in addition to the characters. Further, in this state, since the cancel button 88 cannot be used, the character "CANCEL" is displayed unclearly. On the right side of the input display area 82, along with the schedule name, each line is displayed by a vertical line in which the time or the period when the schedule is scheduled is relatively short. In the case of this embodiment, for example, a business trip to Sapporo starts from 9:00 am on January 30 at 3
It is shown that it will be held until around 8 pm (20:00) on the 1st.

FIG. 8 shows a state when the check page is selected. In this page, if you touch the mark 84 displayed at the beginning of each line with the pen 6,
A check mark (a mark similar to katakana "re") is displayed there. Thereby, it is possible to input that the schedule or action has already been executed. A pencil mark 85 is also displayed at the rearmost of each of these lines.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the telephone page is selected from the pages to be viewed. In this state, the name or name and its telephone number, and its address are displayed on each line. A pencil mark 85 is also displayed on the rightmost side of each line.

FIG. 10 shows a monthly schedule of pages to be further viewed. Also in this case, the planned name is displayed on the left side of the input display area 82, and the pencil mark 85 is displayed at the rearmost of the name.

Here, an operation for changing the schedule of a predetermined name from the state shown in FIG. 10 will be described. Figure 1
In the state shown in 0, when the pen 6 is pen-downed to the change button 86, the change button 86 is highlighted as shown in FIG. Further, when the pen 6 is pushed up from the change button 86, the screen 8 is changed as shown in FIG. In this case, since each icon 83 becomes unusable, its display is changed to an unclear display. Further, since the change button 86 and the new button 87 are also disabled, their display is changed to an unclear one. However, since the cancel button 88 is usable, it is clearly displayed.
If the cancel button 88 is touched with a pen here, the process that is about to enter the change mode is stopped, and the state shown in FIG. 10 is restored.

When the change mode is further continued from the state shown in FIG. 12, the pen 6 pen downs to the pencil mark 85 (or the name of the line) of the line where the name to be changed is displayed. At this time, the pencil mark 86a is displayed on the change button 86. Therefore, after operating the change button 86, the operation position to be operated next is the position where the pencil mark 85 is displayed. It is easily recognized by the user. Therefore, after the change button 86 is operated, it is possible to prevent the user from wondering what operation should be performed next. With the pen 6 in the state shown in FIG. 12, for example, when the pencil mark 85 (or anywhere in the subject line column) of the line “plan draft” is down with the pen 6, as shown in FIG. The display is highlighted. Further, when the pen 6 is moved up from the pencil mark 85, as shown in FIG.
The type plate 89 is automatically displayed. The display of the screen 8 is further changed to a writing page in which the schedule of "plan creation" is written as shown in FIG. Also, the mode is changed from the "view" mode to the "write" mode. Therefore, the "Kaku" button 93b is replaced with the "Mill" button 93a.
Is displayed in reverse. There are three types of pages to write: action, connection, or report. The user can select any one of them and enter a schedule on that page as needed. Become. For example, a telephone number, an address, etc. will be written in the connection. You can also write thoughts and sentences in the report. In addition, in the action, if a meeting schedule, a meeting with a person, or some processing by a predetermined date is required, the schedule is described here. In the case of the example, the action of creating a plan is performed on Saturday, February 2
Since it was scheduled to be held from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm on February 4 (Monday), it means that the name (plan proposal) and the date and time were written.

In the state shown in FIG. 15, when a predetermined character is handwritten on the grid 89a of the type plate 89 with the pen 6, the handwritten input pattern is recognized and the character obtained as a result of the recognition is It is displayed in the grid 89a. If the display is correct, the write button 91 can be touched with the pen 6 to write the character string displayed on the grid 89a at the position where the cursor 90 is located.

In the above embodiment, the change button 86
And the change button 8
Although the pencil mark 85 is displayed at the position to be operated next after 6 is operated, it is obvious that this mark is not limited to the pencil mark. After all, after operating the change button 86, it is obvious that a mark that suggests the position to be operated next to the user may be used. Also, the button to be displayed does not have to be the change button. That is, when a predetermined position is operated to select a predetermined function, and when there is a position to be operated next in relation to the predetermined position, a mark indicating a relation may be displayed in both positions. is there.

As described above, according to the information input control device and method of the present invention, the first operation means operated when selecting a predetermined function for inputting information and the first operation means are operated. It is made to recognize that there is a context of operation between the first operation means and the second operation means, and the second operation means to be operated based on the selected predetermined function. Since the display is performed by displaying the same mark on both the first operation means and the second operation means, even a user unfamiliar with the operation is prevented from getting lost in the operation. To be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a portable computer to which an information input control device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a screen in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the fluorescent plate in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship between the LCD and the tablet of the embodiment of FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall electrical configuration of the embodiment of FIG.

6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment of FIG.

7 is an explanatory diagram of a screen for explaining the process of FIG.

8 is an explanatory diagram of a screen for explaining the process of FIG.

9 is an explanatory diagram of a screen for explaining the process of FIG.

10 is an explanatory diagram of a screen for explaining the process of FIG.

11 is an explanatory diagram of a screen for explaining the process of FIG.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a screen for explaining the process of FIG.

13 is an explanatory diagram of a screen for explaining the process of FIG.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a screen for explaining the process of FIG.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a screen for explaining the process of FIG.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional input screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 pens 8 screens 21 tablets 22 LCD 41 CPU 81 Icon display area 85 pencil mark 86 Change button 86a pencil mark

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 15/02 G06F 3/00 G06F 3/14

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first operation unit operated when selecting a predetermined function for inputting information, and an operation based on the predetermined function selected by operating the first operation unit. Between the first operating means and the second operating means, which is the target of
The display that recognizes that there is a context of the work is
The same mark on both the operating means and the second operating means
Information input control apparatus comprising: a display means for performing by displaying. 2. A change operation unit operated when the information displayed in the list is changed, and a target selection unit operated when a change target is selected at a time point after the change operation unit is operated. And between the change operation means and the means for selecting the target ,
Display means for displaying the same mark on both the change operation means and the target selection means to display that there is a context before and after the operation. Input control device. 3. A change operation unit operated when the information displayed in a list is changed, and a target selection unit operated when a change target is selected at a time point after the change operation unit is operated. And between the change operation means and the target selection means ,
Information displayed to recognize that there is a context, and a display means for performing by displaying the same mark both the object selection means and the change operation means, immediately after the object selecting means is operated, to be changed And an input window displaying means for displaying a window for inputting the information. 4. The information input control device according to claim 3, wherein the input window display means displays a type plate window for pattern recognition of characters handwritten by a user. 5. An input means for inputting information, a control means for performing control based on the information input by the input means, and a display means controlled by the control means and performing display based on the information. In the information input control method of the information input control device, the display means includes a first operation position operated when selecting a predetermined function for inputting information, and the first operation.
A second operation position , which is an operation target based on the predetermined function selected by operating the position , is displayed, and the control unit controls the first operation position and the second operation position.
The display for recognizing that there is a context of operation between the position and the position is controlled so that the same mark is displayed on both the first operation position and the second operation position.
An information input control method comprising: