Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Peripheral monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2004-01-20
Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Peripheral monitoring
C710S012000, C710S015000, C710S038000, C710S072000, C710S073000, C345S073000, C345S182000, C345S156000, C345S163000, C345S168000, C345S173000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06681268
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a personal computer system that allows information input from different types of input devices, such as a pad-type input device and a pointing-stick-type (hereinafter simply referred to as the “stick-type”) input device, both of which are integrated into a notebook computer, to be processed by using software.
2. Description of the Related Art
As conventional input devices (controllers) for use in notebook computers, pad-type input devices and stick-type input devices are used.
In a pad-type input device, a quadrilateral flat pad is disposed in the vicinity of a keyboard, and a user slides a finger on the pad so as to input information to move a pointer (mouse cursor) displayed on the screen in the X- and Y-axis directions (i.e., in the plane of the screen). By tapping a finger on the pad, Z-axis information can also be input.
In a stick-type input device, a small-diameter stick is disposed in the vicinity of the center of a keyboard, and a user tilts the stick with a finger in a desired direction so as to input information for moving a pointer displayed on the screen in the X- and Y-axis directions.
By using the pad-type input device, both relative coordinate data and absolute coordinate data can be output to a computer. By using the stick-type input device, only relative coordinate data is output to a computer. The relative-coordinate-data input mode is used for moving a cursor on the computer screen, while the absolute-coordinate-data input mode is used for moving the cursor or manually writing characters, graphics, etc.
Generally, as shown in
FIG. 4
, the relative coordinate data handled for each type of input device is processed by a three-byte format signal. The first-byte field indicates the overflow bit (YO, XO), the sign bit (YS, XS), button information, etc. The second- and third-byte fields represent X-coordinate and Y-coordinate variable information formed of the X count and the Y count, respectively.
The absolute coordinate data is processed, as illustrated in
FIG. 5
, by a six-byte format signal. The first-byte field designates ID information for distinguishing the corresponding input device from an external input device (for example, a mouse). The second-, third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-byte fields respectively indicate the X count, the X count and button information, the Y count and button information, the Y count, and the Z count.
However, in the above-described conventional personal computer system, the two types of input devices, such as the pad-type input device and the stick-type input device, cannot be easily used in combination, which causes the following problems.
To input absolute coordinate data by using the pad-type input device (for example, to write characters, such as signatures), a user slides a finger or a pen on the pad. In this case, once the user lifts the finger or the pen away from the pad at the intersection of lines forming a character, the user may not be able to recognize the position from which the user should begin writing the next stroke. This may disturb the balance of the character or make the character illegible, and the user may thus be required to input the character again.
As stated above, conventional pad-type input devices have been employed for inputting characters. However, the resulting operation-data format signals differ between relative coordinate data and absolute coordinate data. Accordingly, a switching operation between the relative-coordinate-data input mode and the absolute-coordinate-data input mode is required. For example, when the user loses track of the input position while operating in the absolute-coordinate-data input mode, the user switches to the relative-coordinate-data input mode. In this case, specific software is required for switching between the relative coordinate data and the absolute coordinate data, and in some cases, the computer must be restarted, thereby reducing ease of operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in order to solve the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a personal computer system that allows relative coordinate data and absolute coordinate data to be used simultaneously without the need for a switching operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal computer system that allows a relative-coordinate-data input device and an absolute-coordinate-data input device to have the same type of signal format so as to simplify signal processing in response to an input from an input device and also to easily distinguish between the two types of input devices.
In order to achieve the above-described objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a personal computer system including a plurality of different types of coordinate input devices, a keyboard input device, an output device for outputting a signal from each of the coordinate input devices, and a processing unit for performing processing based on signals from the output device in accordance with an operation of each of the coordinate input devices. A single output port of the output device is shared by the coordinate input devices.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a personal computer system including a first input device, a second input device, the second input device performing a detecting operation in a manner differing from the first input device, a keyboard input device, and an output device for converting one of an output signal from the first input device and an output signal from the second input device, or for converting both the output signals from the first input device and from the second input device and outputting the resulting signals in an identical format. Thus, the first input device and the second input device are alternately or simultaneously used.
In the aforementioned personal computer system, the first input device may output absolute coordinate data and/or relative coordinate data, and the second input device may output relative coordinate data.
The first input device may be a pad-type input device disposed closer to an operator than the keyboard input device, and the second input device may be a stick-type input device disposed between keys of the keyboard input device.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a personal computer system including a first input device, a second input device, an output device for outputting operation signals from the first input device and from the second input device in an identical signal format, and a processing unit for performing processing based on the signal supplied from the output device in accordance with an operation of each of the first input device and the second input device. The output device adds identification (ID) information to part of the signal format according to the type of input device.
According to the present invention, a plurality of different types of coordinate input devices are provided, and the single output port of the output device is shared by the plurality of input devices. Thus, the structure of the output port is simple, and output signals from the output port can be in the same format. As a consequence, only a single processing unit is required for the plurality of coordinate input devices.
In the present invention, the first input device and the second input device employing different detecting operation modes, and the keyboard input device are provided for the personal computer system. The different types of input devices can be simultaneously used without the need for a switching operation. Accordingly, the first and second input devices are suitably used in combination according to the purpose of use and operability of the individual devices, thereby improving ease of operation.
The first input device outputs absolute coordinate data and/or relative coordinate data, thereby enabling signatures, characters, etc. to be input. The first input device also outputs X- and
Itoh Akihisa
Kikuchi Yoshiyuki
Miura Kouichi
Suzuki Shoji
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Gaffin Jeffrey
Peyton Tammara
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