Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-30
2001-08-07
Saras, Steven (Department: 2675)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S169000, C341S026000, C348S734000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271832
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless input apparatus for use in information processing equipments such as personal computers, word processors and home game apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional wireless input apparatus of this type is an input apparatus which transmits a signal to information processing equipments such as personal computers, word processors and home game apparatuses. For example, as shown in
FIG. 9
, a wireless input apparatus
101
is a keyboard having a light emitting diode
102
. Each time any one of keys
105
of the keyboard is pressed, the wireless input apparatus
101
causes the light emitting diode
102
to emit light, thereby transmitting an optical signal corresponding to the pressed key. An information processing equipment
103
receives the optical signal transmitted from the light emitting diode
102
at a light receiving element
104
, and determines which key of the keyboard was pressed based on an electric output of the light receiving element
104
.
FIG. 10
is a block diagram schematically showing a structure of the wireless input apparatus
101
. In
FIG. 10
, a switch matrix
111
is structured such that a plurality of scanning lines
112
and a plurality of receiving lines
113
intersect each other with a key switch
114
interposed between scanning line
112
and receiving line
113
at each of the intersections of the scanning lines
112
and the receiving lines
113
. The key switches
114
at the intersections correspond to the respective keys in the keyboard. Accordingly, when any one of the keys is pressed, a key switch
114
corresponding to the pressed key is turned on, and a corresponding pair of scanning line
112
and receiving line
113
are electrically connected to each other through the key switch
114
.
A microcomputer
115
sequentially scans the scanning lines
112
. Accordingly, when any one of the key switches
114
is turned on and a corresponding pair of scanning line
112
and receiving line
113
are electrically connected to each other through the key switch
114
, the microcomputer
115
identifies the key switch
114
based on a potential at the receiving line
113
.
The microcomputer
115
applies an identification signal indicating the turning-on of the identified key switch
114
to an infrared light emitting diode
116
, which in turn converts the identification signal from an electric signal to an optical signal for transmission.
When the identified key switch
114
is turned off thereafter, the corresponding scanning line
112
and the corresponding receiving line
113
are electrically disconnected from each other. Therefore, the receiving line
113
is rendered at high impedance, and the potential at the receiving line
113
is changed. The microcomputer
115
detects the turning-off of the identified key switch
114
at the time of scanning the corresponding scanning line
112
which had been electrically connected to the corresponding receiving line
113
. Then, the microcomputer
115
applies an identification signal indicating the turning-off of the identified key switch
114
to the infrared light emitting diode
116
, which in turn converts the identification signal from an electric signal to an optical signal for transmission.
A battery is used as a power supply
117
. A voltage of the power supply
117
is supplied to the microcomputer
115
and an oscillator
118
.
In the wireless input apparatus
101
, in the case where the switch matrix
111
has not been operated for a prescribed period of time, oscillation of the oscillator
118
is stopped, whereby the operation of the microcomputer
115
is stopped. Thus, power consumption is reduced and the life of the power supply
117
is lengthened.
When any of the key switches
114
in the switch matrix
111
is turned on after oscillation of the oscillator
118
is stopped, oscillation of the oscillator
118
is resumed, whereby the microcomputer
115
is caused to start operating again.
Such a function to temporarily stop the oscillation of the oscillator
118
so as to lengthen the life of the power supply
117
is referred to as a key wake-up function. In other words, according to the key wake-up function, when software which carries out required procedures is executed, and therefore the switch matrix
111
has not been operated for a prescribed period of time, oscillation of the oscillator
118
for causing the microcomputer
115
to operate is stopped. When any one of the key switches
114
in the switch matrix
111
is turned on after the oscillation of the oscillator
118
is stopped, a prescribed signal is generated. In response to the signal, the oscillator
118
starts oscillating again, whereby the operation of the microprocessor
115
is resumed.
In the above-mentioned conventional wireless input apparatus, when the switch matrix
111
has not been operated for a prescribed period of time, the microcomputer
115
is stopped by the key wake-up function. Therefore, power consumption is minimized. However, when a book
121
, for example, is placed on the wireless input apparatus
101
as shown in
FIG. 11A
or when the wireless input apparatus
101
is leaned against, for example, a wall
122
, as shown in
FIG. 11B
, the key switches
114
in the switch matrix
111
might be turned on by accident. When any one of the key switches
114
is turned on, the microcomputer
115
is caused to operate by the key wake-up function. Moreover, the infrared light emitting diode
116
emits light in response to the turning-on of the key switch
114
. In such a case as shown in
FIGS. 11A and 11B
, this condition could last for a long time. As a result, the power supply
117
is wasted, whereby the life of the power supply
117
is reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A wireless input apparatus of the present invention includes a transmitting section responsive to turning-on of a switch for transmitting a prescribed signal; and a transmission control section for measuring a time period during which an on state of the switch continues, and inhibiting the transmission by the transmitting section when the measured time period becomes equal to a prescribed time period.
A wireless input apparatus of the present invention includes a transmitting section responsive to turning-on of a switch for transmitting a prescribed signal; a storing section for measuring a time period during which an on state of the switch continues, and storing inhibition data of the transmission conducted in response to turning-on of the switch when the measured time period becomes equal to a prescribed first time period; and a transmission control section for inhibiting transmission by the transmitting section when the inhibition data of the transmission conducted in response to turning-on of the switch is stored in the storing section.
In one embodiment, a wireless input apparatus further includes a plurality of switches, wherein the transmitting section transmits a signal corresponding to a turned-on switch in response to every turning-on of a switch; the storing section measures, switch by switch, a time period during which an on state of the switch continues, and stores inhibition data of the transmission conducted in response to turning-on of the switch when the measured time period becomes equal to a prescribed first time period; and the transmission control section inhibits, switch by switch, transmission conducted by the transmitting section in response to turning-on of the switch, when the inhibition data of the transmission in response to turning-on of the switch is stored.
In one embodiment, a wireless input apparatus, wherein the transmission control section measures a time period during which an off state of a switch continues when the inhibition data of the transmission conducted by the transmitting section in response to the turning-on of the switch is not stored in the storing section, inhibits transmission by the transmitting section when the measured time period becomes equal to a presc
Inoue Takefumi
Kamaeguchi Shinji
Nishiono Hiroaki
Alphonse Fritz
Kelly Michael K.
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Saras Steven
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
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