JP2007272840A - Compact data input device and menu selection method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow accurate input of various instructions within a narrow finger motion area. <P>SOLUTION: This compact data input device comprises an operation member receiving force applied from a finger, a pressed position detection means for detecting a gravity center position of the force applied from the finger to the operation member, a movement direction detection means for detecting the movement direction of the finger from the start to the end of pressurization when the finger moves while pressing the operation member, a menu pop-up means for continuously displaying a pop-up menu, which is associated with a pressurization starting position, on a display when the finger presses the operation member and finishing the pop-up when pressurization is finished, a menu item highlighting means for highlighting a focused item in the pop-up menu, and a menu focus control means for moving the focus inside the menu to an item in the corresponding direction according to the movement direction of the pressing finger detected by the movement direction detection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to multimodal user interface technology for inputting characters and commands to information equipment, and in particular, a small and relatively simple mechanism that assists user operations by comprehensively using visual, auditory, and tactile sensations. The present invention relates to a data input device and a menu selection method that can be realized.

  Conventionally, a technique for inputting information to a computer with a simple operation has been proposed. In general, in order to input a variety of information with one finger, it is effective to specify information to be input by combining the descending position and the ascending position of the fingertip. (See Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  However, when the movement range of the finger is reduced in order to reduce the size of the device, it is difficult to accurately grasp the lowered position and the raised position that are approached within the narrow movement range.

  In particular, when moving your finger on a flat surface such as a touchpad or touch display, there is no tactile clue, and you must operate while visually checking the movement of the cursor displayed on the screen. In addition, the load of visual attention is increased, the operation efficiency is lowered, and erroneous input is also increased.

  In order to solve this problem, when specifying information to be input in combination of the lowering position and the rising position of the fingertip, by applying different tactile stimuli depending on the position of the fingertip, the lowering position and the rising position are A system that can be clearly grasped has been devised, and the finger position can be grasped clearly while quickly moving the finger relying on the tactile sensation in a narrow range of motion to correctly input, but the mechanism is complicated. (See Patent Document 3).

  Furthermore, the shape and size of the cursor keys can be changed for each direction so that they can be distinguished by tactile sensation, and a plurality of ball-shaped protrusions are arranged on the fingertip contact part, so that the fingertips move smoothly over the ball-shaped protrusion array. On the other hand, a method of inputting information by using tactile information on the unevenness of the ball-shaped protrusion arrangement as a clue has been proposed. (See Patent Documents 4 to 6).

However, it has been difficult to introduce these methods into a touch display or a touch panel.
JP-A-11-224161 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-55222 JP 2002-278694 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-90922 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-353091 JP 2001-166871 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and devise the usage and configuration of a conventional touchpad and touch display to accurately input various instructions within a narrow finger movement range. It is an object of the present invention to provide a small-sized data input device and a menu selection method.

  In order to achieve the above object, a data input device according to the present invention includes an operation member that receives a force applied from a finger, a pressure position detection unit that detects a gravity center position of a force applied from the finger to the operation member, When moving while applying pressure to the operating member, a moving direction detecting means for detecting the direction in which the finger has moved between the start of pressing and the end of pressing, and when the finger presses the operating member A menu pop-up means for continuously popping up the menu associated with the pressurization start position on the display during pressurization and ending the pop-up when the pressurization is finished, and a selection target item in the pop-up menu, that is, the focus The menu item highlighting means for highlighting the corresponding item and the moving direction of the finger under pressure detected by the moving direction detecting means. Te, characterized by comprising a menu focus control means for moving the focus in a menu in the corresponding direction of the items, the.

  Conventional touchpads and touch displays also include the above-described means. However, in the present invention, in order to reduce the cost of the apparatus, the above-described “pressing position” and “movement direction” are detected by a simple switch mechanism. A menu control means (a menu pop-up means, a menu focus control means, a menu item highlight means, and a menu item for inputting various information within the range of this simple configuration, giving a pressure position detecting means and a moving direction detecting means. Menu design). Since the conventional touch panel and touch display have a solid structure that does not deform, there was no tactile cues during the operation. However, the simplified pressure position detection means and movement direction detection means of the present invention are physically connected to the device. Since there is a part that moves automatically, tactile cues such as click feeling can be given. Even when there is no need to reduce the cost, it is possible to easily input various information by using the menu control means provided by the present invention while using a conventional touch pad or touch display.

  In the present invention, in the hierarchical menu structure, one menu item determined by the direction of finger movement is selected around the focused menu item, and the change of the finger pressing state or the confirmation button provided separately is selected. The selection is validated by operation.

  Here, the “highlight display” means that it is sufficient if it can be identified that the focus is on.

  The pressure position detection means described above can be replaced with a contact position detection means that detects a position approaching or contacting the operation member by detecting a finger position with light reflection or a touch panel.

  In order to prevent erroneous operation and malfunction, preferably, when the finger moves while pressing or contacting the operating member, a time interval from the end of pressing or contacting to the start of pressing or contacting is predetermined. When it is equal to or smaller than the interval, chattering prevention means is considered in which the end and start of the pressurization or contact are invalidated and it is considered that the pressurization or contact has been continuously performed. When detecting, it is preferable to provide means for notifying by sound or vibration that the amount of finger movement has reached an appropriate amount.

  More preferably, when the finger moves while applying pressure or contact to the operation member, the movement direction detection means starts and stops the pressurization or contact after the start of the pressurization or contact. And a means for canceling the input from the start of pressurization or contact to the time point and returning to the input state before the start of pressurization or contact.

  That is, the menu item is selected by the combination of the pressure position detection or the contact position detection and the movement direction detection, and the selected menu item is displayed. When the pressure is released, the computer provides a confirmation button. The selection is executed when the button is operated. On the other hand, if there is a predetermined number of changes in the direction of movement within a certain time while pressure is being applied, the selection is cancelled. Thus, the user can easily cancel the erroneous selection by an intuitive method and perform reselection.

  The data input device according to the present invention determines a concealment part hidden under the finger in the display based on the finger position detected by the pressurization position detection unit or the contact position detection unit, and avoids the concealment part. Menu pop-up position control means for displaying the pop-up menu is provided.

  In the present invention, the display position of the menu item is set by specifying in advance a portion hidden by the finger during finger operation or an area other than the portion, and a specific menu determined for each software or function is dynamically set in each display position. Assign to.

  In the data input device according to the present invention, the menu pop-up displayed by the menu pop-up means is composed of nine items arranged in 3 rows and 3 columns, and at least the front, rear, left and right oblique directions are formed by the moving direction detecting means. The movement direction of the finger in the eight directions is distinguished, and the focus is moved to the item in the direction corresponding to the movement direction of the finger in the menu of the item of the 3 rows and 3 columns.

  In the present invention, the menu focus is moved from the center position in the direction of finger movement in the pop-up menu corresponding to the pressurization position, and the focus is changed by changing the pressurization state or the contact state or operating a separate determination button. The menu item to which is applied is selected and confirmed, and the lower-level menus corresponding to the selected menu item can be sequentially selected as necessary.

  As an application example of the present invention, the alphabetic alphabet array of the QWERTY keyboard is divided into three areas of the left part, the middle part, and the right part, and the alphabetic alphabet is divided into three lines 3 so as to approximate the alphabetic alphabet array of each of these areas. Arranged as an array of column items, this is used as a menu pop-up display by the menu pop-up means, depending on whether the pressure position is in the left position, the right position, or the center position, the left part, the middle part The character arrangement corresponding to each area on the right side can be popped up.

  Preferably, as the pressurization position or contact position detection means, pressurization is performed based on a change in electrostatic capacity or resistance when the finger presses the operation member, a conduction relationship between the electrodes, or a voltage of the piezoelectric element. It is preferable to detect the position or the contact position. Thereby, a pressurization position or a contact position can be detected with a simple configuration.

Further, as the operation member, any one of the following means 1 to 5 may be employed.
1. Using a rotating body that rotates in a predetermined direction and swings in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction, the movement direction detection means is a combination of means for detecting the rotation direction and means for detecting the swing direction. To do.
2. Using a rotating body that rotates in the front-rear direction and translates in the left-right direction, the movement direction detecting means detects the movement of the finger in the front-rear direction based on the rotation direction of the rotating body, and in the direction of the parallel movement of the rotating body Based on this, means for detecting the movement of the finger in the left-right direction is used.
3. Using a transparent plate installed on the front of the display, as the movement direction detecting means, the movement direction of the finger sliding on the transparent plate, the capacitance, resistance, the electrical connection between the electrodes, or the change in voltage of the piezoelectric element Based on the above, a detecting means is used.
4). Using a plate installed around the display, as the movement direction detecting means, the movement direction of the finger sliding on the plate is based on the capacitance, resistance, conduction relationship between the electrodes, or change in voltage of the piezoelectric element. Alternatively, a detecting means may be used.
5). A transparent plate installed on the front surface of the display so as to be able to swing back and forth and right and left is used, and means for detecting the swinging direction of the transparent plate is used as the movement direction detecting means.
6). A plate installed so as to be able to swing around the periphery of the display is used, and means for detecting the swinging direction of the plate is used as the movement direction detecting means.

  A menu selection method according to the present invention is a method of selecting a menu displayed on a computer display using a data input device having an operation member that receives a force applied from a finger, and the force applied to the operation member from a finger. And detecting a direction of movement of the finger during the period from the start of pressurization to the end of pressurization when the finger moves while pressurizing the operation member. The menu associated with the pressurization start position when the finger pressurizes the operation member is continuously popped up on the display during pressurization, and the popup is terminated when pressurization is terminated, and The highlighted item is highlighted in the pop-up menu and the pressurizing state detected by the moving direction detecting step is displayed. According to the movement direction, characterized by comprising the step of moving the focus in a menu in the corresponding direction of the items, the.

  In the present invention, a hierarchical menu can be efficiently selected with a simple mechanism by a combination of a pressure state by a finger operation and a moving direction.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately input various instructions within a narrow finger movement range.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data input device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the data input device 1 displays an input unit 10 for inputting finger operation information, a processing unit 30 for processing information to be displayed on a display such as menu items based on the input information, and processed information. It comprises a display unit 20 and a storage unit 40 for storing data.

  The processing unit 30 controls the pop-up display of the menu based on the chattering prevention means 35 that removes chattering of the signal of the pressurization state and movement direction acquired from the input unit 10, and the pressurization state data and movement direction data. Pop-up means 31, menu item highlight means 32 for highlighting the focused item in the pop-up menu, menu focus control means 33 for moving the focus in the menu to the item in the corresponding direction, and the pop-up position of the menu can be changed Menu pop-up position control means 34 is provided. Each means 31 to 35 can be realized as a function of the CPU. Of course, it may be realized by hardware such as chattering prevention means 35.

  FIG. 2 is an external view of the data input device 1. Here, the input unit 10 is arranged on the lower side of the data input device 1, and a main menu is displayed at the lower part of the screen of the display unit 20 on the input unit 10 corresponding to the pressurization location of the input unit 10.

  The input unit 10 includes an operation member 11 that receives a pressure caused by a finger operation, and pressurization position detection means 12 that detects at least three positions of the left center, the center, and the right by pressing with a finger. The slide means 13 that can move in the front-rear, left-right, and diagonal directions is arranged.

  An operation member 11 is provided on the uppermost surface of the input unit 10 shown in FIG. 2, and the user presses and moves the operation member to input information.

  FIG. 2B is a diagram when the user presses the left end of the operation member 11 of the input unit 10 to select Menu L and slide it to the left. When the left end is pressed, the submenus Submenu L1 to L9 of Menu L are popped up in 3 rows and 3 columns, and the center L5 is focused and highlighted as a selection candidate. In this state, when the operating member 11 is moved leftward while maintaining the pressurized state, the focus position is moved from Submenu L5 to L4 accordingly.

  2 (c) and 2 (d) show the alphabetical alphabet arrangement of the QWERTY keyboard divided into three groups, left, center and right. When the left end of the operating member 11 of the input unit 10 is pressurized and moved to the right, the alphabet “D” is highlighted.

  FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating an example of the configuration of the pressurization position detection unit 12 of the input unit 10.

  The pressurizing position detecting means 12 includes a pair of conductors 62a and 62b arranged on the left and right of the base 51, and three-layer film switches 63a and 63b provided above the conductors 62a and 62b with a small gap therebetween. It is formed by pressing parts 64a and 64b on the side of the operation member 11 that can be moved up and down and touch the surface from above the film switch. Reference numerals 65a and 65b denote coil springs that constantly bias the operating member 11 upward.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, the operation member 11 is tilted to the left by applying a pushing force to the left side, and at the same time, the film switch 63a located on the left is the pressing portion 64a. Pushed into electrical contact with the conductor 62a of the base 51 and becomes conductive. Thereby, it is detected that the operation member 11 is tilted to the left. When a force is applied to the central portion of the operation member 11 as shown in FIG. 3C, the operation member 11 moves downward substantially parallel to the base 51. Accordingly, it is detected that the left and right film switches 63a and 63b are in electrical contact at the same time, and the operation member 211 is displaced downward as a whole.

  FIG. 3D is an operation diagram when the right side is pressed. The right film switch 63b is pushed in symmetrically with the figure (b), and the right conductor 62b is brought into electrical contact and conducted.

  The moving direction detecting means 13 is provided below the base 51 of the pressurizing position detecting means 12, and is configured to be slidable in any one of the pressurized states shown in FIGS. .

  FIG. 4A is a plan view of the moving direction detecting means 13. As shown in the figure, it has a horizontal direction (X direction) movement amount detection means 13a and a vertical direction (Y direction) movement amount detection means 13b. The horizontal direction and the vertical direction are determined for the sake of convenience, and it is only necessary to measure each movement in a two-dimensional coordinate at right angles. The support means 13c is for stably supporting the base 51 of the pressure detection means 12 arranged in contact therewith. The movement amount detection function is provided only on the lower roller support shaft 72b.

  The vertical movement amount detection means 13b includes a roller 71b that rotates integrally with the roller support shaft 72b, and the roller support shaft 72b is attached to the holes of the support members 78b and 79b so as to be rotatable about the shaft. . The roller 71b is biased toward the central position by springs 76b and 77b. A cam member 73b formed of a hexagonal conductor is attached to one end of the roller support shaft 72b, and the apex portion of the corner contacts the contacts 74b and 75b whose tip portions are formed of a conductor during rotation. To do. The cam member 73b, the roller support shaft 72b, and the support member 79b are each formed of a conductor and are electrically connected. FIG. 4B is a front view of FIG. The lateral movement amount detection means 13a also has mechanisms 71a to 79a similar to the above.

Here, a method of detecting the movement amount will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5A is a front view showing the configuration of the lateral movement amount detection means 13a and the vertical movement amount detection means 13b, FIG. 5B is a plan view thereof, and FIG. FIG.

Now, the vertical movement amount detecting means 13b will be described as a representative. As the roller 71b rotates, the cam member 73b connected through the roller support shaft 72b also rotates. Thereby, the hexagonal apex portion periodically contacts the contacts 74b and 75b. The contacts 74b and 75b are attached so that the phase is different (for example, about 60 degrees) with respect to the cam member 73b. In this state, when the base 51 moves from the bottom to the top of the drawing, the cam member 73b rotates to the right in FIG. 5C. With this rotation, A (support member 79b) -B (contactor) 74b) are periodically conducted to generate pulses. A (support member 79b) -C (contact 75b) also periodically generates pulses with a phase difference. (E) and (f) in the figure show the conduction state between AB and AC, respectively. When the base 51 moves from top to bottom, the phase between A and C is conversely faster than the phase between A and B.
Thus, by shifting the phase difference between the two pulses from 180 degrees, the moving direction can be known, and the moving amount can be grasped by counting the number of pulses.

  Similarly, the movement direction and movement amount of the lateral movement amount detection means 13a can be grasped.

  When the base 51 of the pressure position detecting means 12 is moved in the horizontal direction (for example, the left direction) at the same time as moving in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. Slide along. At this time, the spring 76b is compressed and deformed, and becomes a biasing force for returning to the center when the pressure is released. 4C and 4D show the movements of the rollers 71a to 71c at this time.

  As described above, an arbitrary movement direction and movement amount (that is, a two-dimensional vector amount) can be grasped based on the movement direction and movement amount of the horizontal movement amount detection means 13a and the vertical movement amount detection means 13b. .

  By using the pressure position and pressure state data, the movement direction, and the movement amount data, the menu item is efficiently selected by the following process.

  Next, the operation of the data input device 1 having the above configuration will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 6 and the screen display example of FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the processing unit 30 of the data input device 1. Here, the processing unit first determines whether or not there is pressurization using data after the chattering prevention unit 35 removes chattering from the signal sent from the pressurization position detection unit 12 (S101). If there is pressure (“YES” in S101), the pressure position is acquired (S102), and a list of submenu items corresponding to the pressure position is obtained by referring to the menu selection table 41 shown in FIG. To pop up. Then, the sub menu item corresponding to the pressure position is highlighted (S104).

For example, when the left end (the position of Menu L) of the input unit 10 shown in FIG. 2B is pressed, the submenus of SubMenu L1 to L9 are popped up in 3 rows and 3 columns, and the center position thereof. SubMenu L5 is highlighted. Next, it is determined whether or not the pressurized state has been released (S105), and if not released ("NO" in S105), the movement input from the movement direction detection means 13 via the chattering prevention means 35 is determined. Direction data is input to determine whether or not the moving direction has changed (S108). If the moving direction changes and it is not a reciprocating motion (“NO” in S109), the process returns to step S104, and the sub-menu item of the pressurizing position and moving position selected with reference to the menu selection table 41 is displayed. Highlight.
In the example of FIG. 2B, when the left end of the operation member 11 is pushed and slid leftward, that is, when the right horizontal direction is 0 °, it is moved in the direction of 180 °. L4 is selected and highlighted.

  When the pressurization is released in this state (“YES” in S105), the highlighted submenu item is selected and executed (S106), and the pop-up display ends (S107).

  On the other hand, when a predetermined movement pattern is met in step S109, such as in the case of reciprocating motion, the selected submenu item is canceled (S110), and the pop-up is terminated (S107). Thereby, it is possible to easily cancel the selection.

In FIG. 6, the submenu selected by releasing the pressure is executed. However, an execution button is arranged below the movement direction detection means 13, and this execution button is turned on by further pressing the operation member 11. It may be made to execute by doing.
Further, although FIG. 6 shows a routine that is always executed, it may be realized as an event activation routine that is activated when the pressure state is changed from OFF to ON.

The basic configuration and operation of the data input device 10 have been described above.
Next, a modified example will be described.
Although FIG. 2 has a configuration in which the input unit 10 is arranged in front of the display unit 20 (in the direction close to the user), both can be realized integrally by a touch panel.

  FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram when a menu displayed on the display is selected by the touch panel. Each menu item is associated with its display position and the position where the submenu group is displayed, and is popped up at that position. The pop-up display position is displayed on the far side (in the direction far from the user) with respect to the display position of the main menu item, on the opposite side to the display position on the left and right of the screen of the main menu item, that is, at a position that is not concealed by a finger operation. It has become so. At this time, it is preferable to provide a function of calculating a displayable area and adjusting the display scale of the entire submenu group so as to fit in the area.

  In addition to the method described above, the detection method of the moving direction is a method in which the dial (operation member 11) rotates back and forth and swings left and right (FIG. 9A), and a slide switch that swings back and forth and right and left. There is a method (FIG. (B)), a method in which the transparent plate on the front of the display swings back and forth and left and right (FIG. (C)), and a method in which the peripheral part of the display swings back and forth and right and left (FIG. (D)). .

An example of a slide switch swing detection method is shown in FIG.
Link members 95a and 95b are provided below the base 51 of the pressurizing position detecting means 12, and switches 97a and 97b are disposed on the base 96 in the vicinity of the insides of the link members 95a and 95b. In this state, for example, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the base 51 slides to the right side, the switch 97 is pushed by the left link member 95a and is turned on. As a result, it is possible to detect a rightward slide. Similarly, a leftward slide can be detected.

  For example, when the left side of the operation member is pressurized and slid rightward, the left pressing part 64a turns on the left film switch 62a, and the left link member 95a pushes the left switch 97a on. And slide to the right can be detected. Further, the rotation in the front-rear direction can be grasped by detecting the rotation of the roller 98.

  As for the position of the center of gravity of the pressure applied to the operating member 11, as shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of pressing portions 64 are provided below the operating member, and the position of the center of gravity can be obtained by the relative pressure. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, a film switch is arranged via a support column 91, and the pressure is detected by turning on the switch by a pressing portion, or as shown in FIG. There is also a method of identifying the pressure position by changing the capacitance.

  Regarding the center of gravity position of the finger, in addition to the pressure type as described above, as shown in FIG. 13, a change in the amount of electricity such as capacitance due to approach or contact, such as a touch pad, or emitted light is caused by the finger. It can be measured by measuring the amount of reflected light received. The menu item may be selected according to the procedure shown in FIG. 6 by measuring the contact or approach position and obtaining the movement direction and movement amount of the finger from the contact to the separation.

  In the processing procedure of FIG. 6, the selected item is executed by releasing the pressure. However, as shown in FIG. 15, after releasing the pressure (“YES” in S205), the selected sub The menu item may be displayed in an identifiable manner (S207), and if there is a cancel operation within a predetermined time, the selection is canceled, and if there is no cancel operation, the selected menu item may be executed. . In this way, it is possible to cancel an incorrect menu selection due to an unnecessary movement direction operation at the time of releasing the pressure position. Of course, the input of the movement direction within a predetermined time before releasing the pressure may not be accepted, or the selection may be executed by pressing the execution button arranged on the back surface of the apparatus 1 with the index finger after the selection. .

  According to the present embodiment, various instructions can be input by a simple operation by detecting the pressure position and detecting the moving direction. In addition, the direction of movement is detected after the detection of the pressurization position, and the reciprocating motion is detected during the process, and the selection is canceled when the reciprocating motion is detected. An excellent menu selection method can be realized.

It is a functional block diagram of the data input device by an embodiment of the invention. It is an apparatus top view for demonstrating operation | movement of the menu item display of the data input device by embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the pressurization position detection means 12 of FIG. FIGS. 4A and 4B are a plan view (FIGS. 4A and 4C) and a front view (FIGS. 4B and 4D) for explaining the operation of the moving direction detection unit 13 in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing of the system which detects the movement amount data of the moving direction detection means 13 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the process part 30 of FIG. It is a data block diagram of the menu selection table 41 of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the menu item selection method by the other Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the menu item selection method by the other Example of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the pressurization position detection means 12 by the other Example of this invention. It is a front view for demonstrating the effect | action of the pressurization position detection means 12 by the other Example of this invention. It is a front view for demonstrating the effect | action of the pressurization position detection means 12 by further another Example of this invention. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the contact position detection means 14 of this invention. It is a front view for demonstrating operation | movement of the pressurization position detection means and movement direction detection means by the other Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the process part 30 by the other Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Data input device 10 Input part 11 Operation member 12 Pressure position detection means 13 Movement direction detection means 13a Lateral movement amount detection means 13b Vertical movement amount detection means 13c Support means 20 Display part 30 Processing part 31 Menu pop-up means 32 Menu Item highlighting means 33 Menu focus control means 34 Menu pop-up position control means 35 Chattering prevention means 40 Storage part 41 Menu selection table 51, 80, 96 Base 62a, 62b Conductor 63a, 63b Film switch 64a, 64b Press part 65a, 65b Coil springs 71a-71c, 98 rollers 72a-72c roller support shafts 73a, 73b cam members 74a, 74b, 75a, 75b contacts 76a-76c, 77a-77c springs 78a-78c, 79a-79c Support member 95a, 95b Link member 97a, 97b Switch

Claims (15)

An operation member that receives the force applied from the finger;
Pressure position detecting means for detecting the position of the center of gravity of the force applied to the operation member from a finger;
A movement direction detecting means for detecting a direction in which the finger has moved between the start of pressurization and the end of pressurization when the finger moves while pressurizing the operation member;
A menu pop-up means for continuously popping up a menu associated with a pressurization start position when the finger presses the operation member on the display during pressurization, and ending the pop-up when the pressurization ends;
Menu item highlighting means for highlighting the focused item in the pop-up menu;
Menu focus control means for moving the focus in the menu in a direction corresponding to the movement direction of the finger being pressed detected by the movement direction detection means;
A data input device comprising: An operation member in contact with a finger;
Contact position detecting means for detecting a position where a finger approaches or contacts the operation member;
A movement direction detecting means for detecting a direction in which the finger has moved between the start of contact and the end of contact when the finger moves while contacting the operation member;
A menu pop-up means for continuously popping up a menu associated with a contact start position when touching the operation member on the display during contact and ending the pop-up when the contact is terminated;
Menu item highlighting means for highlighting the focused item in the pop-up menu;
Menu focus control means for moving the focus in the menu in a direction corresponding to the moving direction of the finger in contact detected by the moving direction detecting means;
A data input device comprising: When the finger moves while pressing or contacting the operating member, if the time interval from the end of pressing or contacting to the start of pressing or contacting is equal to or less than the predetermined interval, the pressing or contacting 3. The data input device according to claim 1, further comprising chattering prevention means that invalidates the end and start of the operation and regards that pressurization or contact has been continuously performed. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying, by sound or vibration, that the amount of movement of the finger has reached an appropriate amount when the movement direction detecting means detects the direction of movement of the finger. A data input device according to claim 1. When the finger moves while applying pressure or contact to the operation member, the movement direction detection means performs predetermined reversal of the movement direction between the start of pressurization or contact and the end of pressurization or contact. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for canceling an input from the start of pressurization or contact until the point in time when measurement is performed more than once, and returning to an input state before the start of pressurization or contact. A data input device according to claim 1. Menu pop-up position control means for determining a concealment part hidden under a finger in a display based on a finger position detected by the pressurization or contact position detection means, and displaying the pop-up menu while avoiding the concealment part The data input device according to claim 1, further comprising: The menu to be pop-up displayed by the menu pop-up means is composed of nine items arranged in 3 rows and 3 columns, and the moving direction detecting means identifies the moving direction of the finger in eight directions diagonally forward, backward, left and right, and 7. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the focus is moved to an item in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of a finger in a menu of items of 3 rows and 3 columns. Divide the alphabetical arrangement of the QWERTY keyboard into three areas, left, middle, and right, and arrange the alphabetic alphabet as an array of items in 3 rows and 3 columns so as to approximate the alphabetic alphabet arrangement in each area. This is a menu that pops up by the menu pop-up means, and corresponds to each of the left, middle, and right areas depending on whether the pressure position is in the left position, right position, or center position. 8. The data input device according to claim 7, wherein the displayed character arrangement is displayed in a pop-up manner. As the pressurization or contact position detecting means, pressurization or contact based on the capacitance or resistance when the finger presses or contacts the operation member, the conduction relationship between the electrodes, or the voltage change of the piezoelectric element. 9. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein means for detecting a contact position is used. As the operation member, using a rotating body that rotates in a predetermined direction and swings in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction,
The data input device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein as the movement direction detection means, a means for detecting the rotation direction and a means for detecting the swing direction are used in combination. A transparent plate installed on the front of the display is used as the operation member, and the movement direction of the finger that slides on the transparent plate is set as the movement direction detecting means, such as capacitance, resistance, conduction between electrodes, or piezoelectricity. 10. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein a detecting unit is used based on a change in the voltage of the element. As the operation member, a plate installed around the display is used, and as the movement direction detecting means, the movement direction of the finger sliding on the plate is determined by the capacitance, the resistance, the conduction relationship between the electrodes, or the piezoelectric element. The data input device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein means for detecting based on a change in voltage is used. 2. A transparent plate installed on the front surface of the display so as to be able to swing back and forth and right and left is used as the operation member, and means for detecting the swinging direction of the transparent plate is used as the movement direction detecting means. The data input device according to any one of 1 to 9. 10. The plate according to claim 1, wherein a plate installed so as to be swingable around a display is used as the operation member, and a means for detecting a swing direction of the plate is used as the movement direction detection unit. The data input device according to one. A method for selecting a menu displayed on a computer display using a data input device having an operation member for receiving a force applied from a finger,
Detecting the position of the center of gravity of the force applied to the operation member from a finger;
A moving direction detection step of detecting a direction in which the finger has moved between the start of pressurization and the end of pressurization when the finger moves while pressurizing the operation member;
A step of continuously popping up a menu associated with a pressurization start position when the finger pressurizes the operation member on the display during pressurization, and ending the pop-up when the pressurization ends;
Highlighting the focused item in the pop-up menu and moving the focus in the menu to the corresponding direction item in accordance with the direction of the finger being pressed detected by the moving direction detecting step;
A menu selection method characterized by comprising:

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