Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Touch panel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-17
2001-10-30
Liang, Regina (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Touch panel
C345S156000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06310613
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a numeric value changing device and apparatus for use in industrial panel displays and personal computers. More particularly, the invention pertains to a numeric value changing method and apparatus that provide a clear and legible display of a numeric value on a small panel display device and allow ease in making a change to the numeric display without impairing its viewability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional industrial panel display devices utilize large 10-segment light emitting diodes (LEDs) to ensure that digital display of numeric parameters or the like for process control is legible from a considerable distance.
With recent improvements in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) for smaller size, higher brightness and wider angle of field, it has become possible to use small LCDs for digital display of numeric values set for process control.
With such digital display on the small LCD, the numeric value could be changed or modified using a mouse, touch panel or similar pointing means.
It is customary in the prior art, however, to display numeric changing elements, such as up and down keys and a slide bar, on the display screen of a numeric value changing device and selectively manipulate them by pointing means when to change the numeric value set on the screen.
To change the numeric value by the conventional method, it is necessary to display such display elements as the abovementioned up and down keys and slide bar on the display screen, together with the numeric value.
FIGS. 34 and 35
are screen layouts showing examples of the display screen that use the above prior art method. Reference numeral
24
denotes a numeric display area provided on the display surface of a touch panel to display a numeric value of four figures (three in integral part and one decimal place);
27
denotes a slide bar displayed immediately below the numeric display area
24
; and
28
denotes up and down keys displayed beside the numeric display area
24
. Reference numeral
25
denotes a user's hand, and
26
a selected position pressed by the hand
25
. For example, by sliding the user's finger on the slide bar
27
, or by pointing the up or down key
28
with the user's finger, the numeric value displayed in the numeric display area
24
can be changed. With the conventional numeric value changing method and apparatus described above, it is necessary to provide on the display screen the display elements (the slide bar and up and down keys)
27
and
28
that are selectively used to change the displayed numeric value, together with the numeric display area
24
. Hence, the space for the numeric display area
24
on the display screen is inevitably limited. Consequently, in the case of using a small LCD to provide digital display of a numeric value for use in process control, it may sometimes become impossible to provide a numeric display area large enough to make the display legible from a considerable distance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus that allow ease in changing a numeric value displayed on a display device without impairing viewability. Another object of the present invention is to provide a numeric value changing method and apparatus that ensure excellent viewability from a distance even for digital display of a numeric value for process control and permit the use of pointing means to change the numeric value.
To attain the above objective, the numeric value changing method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: displaying on a display screen of display means display elements including a set value; outputting from pointing means a pointing signal containing information on the position selected by the pointing means in the display screen (which information will hereinafter be referred to as selected position information); and changing the set value with a change of the selected position information when the set value is displayed at the position corresponding to the selected position information.
With this numeric value changing method, it is possible to change the numeric value without displaying images for updating the set value. Since the conventional method necessitates displaying various display elements on the display screen for the selection by pointing means, the space for the numeric display area is inevitably limited, and the numeric value needs to be displayed small in size. However, the method of the present invention enables the numeric value to be changed by pointing means without yielding such a detriment of the prior art method.
Hence, the numeric value can be displayed large in size, for instance, over the entire area of the display surface of the display means. This allows ease in changing the numeric value by pointing means even on a small display panel without decreasing the visibility of the numeric display from a distance.
Besides, the numeric value can be changed by a single round of pointing-sliding-releasing operations, and the numeric changing process during sliding movement of the pointing means can be recognized from the numeric display being currently provided. Hence, the numeric value can easily be changed to a desired value by a simple operation.
In further accordance with the present invention, the numeric value is updated according to the distance of movement of the pointing means.
This method makes it possible to establish correspondence between the amount of manipulation of the pointing means and the amount of updating of the numeric value. Hence, the numeric value can be changed based on the operator's sensory perception.
In further accordance with the present invention, the amount of updating of the set value changes with the speed of movement of the pointing means.
Accordingly, a numeric value of many figures can also be changed efficiently in accordance with the amount of updating. Furthermore, even in the case of displaying a numeric value with many figures on a small display panel, there is no need of making provision for sensitive updating of the numeric value in response to the movement of the pointing means due to limitations on the range of movement; therefore, the numeric value can be changed easily and surely using the pointing means.
In further accordance with the present invention, the direction in which to increase or decrease the set value changes with the direction of movement of the pointing means.
With this method, it is possible to make a minute change to the set value more efficiently, for example, than in the case where the set value is changed only in one direction to increase or decrease according to the distance of movement of the pointing means. In further accordance with the present invention, the direction in which to increase or decrease the set value changes with a change in the direction of movement of the pointing means.
With this method, even if a value changed corresponding to the distance of movement of the pointing means exceeds a desired set value, it can be corrected to the desired value by bringing back the pointing means to the position corresponding thereto.
In further accordance with the present invention, the set value is changed with a change of the selected position information until the set value is deselected.
With this method, the set value need not be selected repeatedly for its change, and hence it can be changed efficiently.
In further accordance with the present invention, the set value with a plurality of digits is selectable by the pointing means for each digit.
According to this method, in the case of greatly changing the set value with many figures, too, the number of numeral candidates for each digit can be reduced, for example, to 10 (a decimal number). Hence, this embodiment provides the advantage of efficient and easy numeric change in a small panel display as well.
In further accordance with the present invention, the selected position information changes with the sliding m
Kato Seiji
Tanaka Masato
Liang Regina
Rothwell Figg Ernst & Manbeck
Yamatake Corporation
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