JP2001202192A - Information processor, its method and program storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance operability. SOLUTION: This information processor, its method and a program storage medium capable of almost surely preventing erroneous execution of a processing different from a processing under execution even when a hand or an arm touches a touch pad during execution of the prescribed processing by detecting pressure to be applied to the surface of the touch pad by an I/O controller and making a CPU execute the prescribed processing when the pressure higher than a preset threshold for starting the processing is applied to the surface of the touch pad based on a detection result and thus, capable of enhancing the operability are realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method thereof, and a program storage medium, and is suitably applied to, for example, a notebook personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a notebook type personal computer has a display unit attached to a main body so as to be openable and closable. A predetermined operation command can be input by operating a plurality of operation keys provided on the display device, a predetermined process is executed in accordance with the input operation command, and a processing result obtained as described above is provided on a display unit. It can be displayed on a liquid crystal display.

[0003] As a personal computer of this type, there is a personal computer in which a sheet-like pointing device called a touch pad is provided on one surface of a main body together with a plurality of operation keys.

In such a personal computer, when the surface of the touch pad is rubbed with a finger, for example, the mouse cursor displayed on the liquid crystal display can be moved according to the movement of the finger, and the touch pad of the touch pad can be moved. When a so-called tap operation (hereinafter referred to as a tap operation) in which a finger is quickly touched and released on the surface (hereinafter, this operation is referred to as a tap operation) is performed, the same processing as when a mouse click operation is performed can be performed. The operability can be improved.

[0005]

However, in a personal computer having such a configuration, if the user's hand or arm touches the surface of the touch pad while operating the operation key, the operation of the operation key may be interrupted. In spite of this, there is a case where an erroneous process is executed by recognizing that a tap operation has been performed, and there is still a problem that is insufficient to improve operability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to propose an information processing apparatus, a method thereof, and a program storage medium capable of improving operability.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, comprising: a sheet-like input means; a detecting means for detecting a pressing force applied to a surface of the input means; An execution unit for executing a predetermined process when a pressing force equal to or greater than a preset process start threshold is applied to the surface of the input unit based on the detection result of the detection unit.

Accordingly, even if a hand or an arm touches the input means during execution of a predetermined process, it is possible to almost certainly prevent a process different from the process being executed from being erroneously executed.

Further, in the present invention, in the information processing method, a detecting step of detecting a pressing force applied to the surface of the sheet-like input means, and detecting the pressing force on the surface of the input means based on the detection result obtained in the detecting step. An execution step of executing a predetermined process when a pressing force equal to or greater than a preset process start threshold is applied.

Therefore, even if a hand or an arm touches the input means during execution of a predetermined process, it is possible to almost certainly prevent a process different from the process being executed from being erroneously executed.

Further, in the present invention, in the program storage medium, a detecting step for detecting a pressing force applied to the surface of the sheet-like input means, and a detecting step for detecting the pressing force applied to the surface of the input means based on the detection result obtained in the detecting step. An execution step of executing a predetermined process when a pressing force equal to or greater than a preset process start threshold value is applied to the information processing apparatus.

As a result, in the information processing apparatus, even if a hand or an arm touches the input means during the execution of a predetermined process, it is almost certainly prevented that a process different from the process during the execution is erroneously executed. be able to.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overall Configuration of Notebook-Type Personal Computer In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a notebook-type personal computer to which the present invention is applied as a whole.
A display section 3 attached to the main body 2 so as to be openable and closable. By opening and closing the display section 3 with respect to the main body 2, an upper surface 2A of the main body 2 and a front face 3A
Can be closed (not shown) or opened.

The main body 2 has a plurality of operation keys 4 for inputting various characters, symbols, numbers, and the like on an upper surface 2A thereof, a touch pad 5 used for moving a mouse cursor, a left button and a right button of a normal mouse. Left click button 6 and right click button 7 corresponding to buttons, speaker 8
A and 8B are provided.

The display 3 has an LCD (Liquid Cry) on its front.
(Ctal Display). Further, the display unit 3 is provided with a pawl 11 at a substantially central upper end of the front surface, and a hole 12 at a predetermined position of the main body 2 corresponding to the pawl 11. In a closed state, the pawl 11 is fitted into the hole 12 and locked.

In addition to this, the display unit 3 has a slide lever 13 provided on the upper side surface, and by sliding the slide lever 13, the lock of the pawl 11 fitted in the hole 12 is released. Thus, the display unit 3 can be expanded with respect to the main body 2.

An LED (light) is provided on the front side of the main body 2.
A power lamp PL, a battery lamp BL, and a message lamp ML, each of which is composed of a t Emitting Diode, are provided side by side, and a microphone 14 is provided near the power lamp PL, the battery lamp BL, and the message lamp ML. By the way, the battery pack 1
5 is detachably mounted.

Further, on the right side of the main body 2, a slide type power switch 16, a programmable power key 17,
USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminals 18 and 19, a communication connector 20 for connecting a mobile phone, etc., an infrared port 21 conforming to IrDA (InfraredData Association), and a modem terminal 22 for a modular jack are provided.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card)
International Association) standard PC (Personal C)
omuputer) PC card slot 23 corresponding to the card,
Slot 24, headphone terminal 25, audio input terminal 2 dedicated to Memory Stick (trademark of Sony Corporation)
6. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electron)
ics Engineers), a 1394 terminal 27, an external display connector 28, and an external power connector 29 for DC (Direct Current) power input.

(2) Configuration of Touch Pad The touch pad 5 provided in the personal computer 1 is of a pressure-sensitive type as shown in FIG. 3, and the sheet-shaped pressure-sensitive sensor 30 has flexibility. The sheet-shaped position detection sensor 31 is configured to overlap.

In the position detecting sensor 31, for example, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of linear electrodes 32A and 32B are formed in stripes on opposing surfaces of 1A and 31B, respectively, and these polyester film substrates 31A and 31B make the electrodes 32A and 32B orthogonal to each other and have minute dot-like spacers. (Not shown).

In the position detection sensor 31,
The polyester film substrates 31A and 31B have such flexibility as to deform only the part pressed by the finger, respectively, so that the polyester film substrates 31A and 31B have a plurality of opposed electrodes 32A and 32B.
Only the electrodes 32A and 32B facing each other at the site pressed by the finger are brought into contact with each other to conduct electricity.

Therefore, in the position detecting sensor 31,
If the electrodes 32A and 32B contacted by pressing are detected, the position (coordinate) pressed by the finger can be detected from the intersection point where the electrodes 32A and 32B contact each other.

On the other hand, in the pressure-sensitive sensor 30, as shown in FIG. 5, a pressure-sensitive sheet 30A such as a piezoelectric film and a conductive sheet 30B such as a metal sheet are laminated and formed. Then, the pressure-sensitive sheet 30A is deformed with the deformation of the position detection sensor 31 due to the pressing.
Is pressed, and at this time, the pressure of the pressing by the pressure-sensitive sheet 30A and the conductive sheet 30B (hereinafter, this is referred to as a pressing force).
Generates a voltage corresponding to.

Therefore, in the pressure-sensitive sensor 30, if a voltage generated when pressed is detected, the pressing force can be detected based on the voltage.

Thus, when the surface of the touch pad 5 is rubbed with a finger or a tap operation is performed, the position detected by the finger can be detected by the position detection sensor 31 and at this time, a pressure-sensitive operation is performed. The pressing force can be detected by the sensor 30.

(3) Circuit Configuration of Notebook-Type Personal Computer Here, as shown in FIG. 6, in the main body 2 of the notebook-type personal computer 1, various functions of the main body 2 are generally controlled. CPU (Central Proc
essing Unit) 35 is connected to the host bus 36, and the CPU 35 controls the RAM (Random Access Memory).
(mory) 37, by executing processing corresponding to various programs and application software at a predetermined operation speed based on a system clock supplied from a clock generator 38, various functions can be realized.

A cache memory 39 is connected to the host bus 36.
By caching data used by the CPU 35, high-speed access can be realized.

The host bus 36 is a PCI (Peripheral C)
omponent Interconnect) bus 40 and a host-PCI bridge 41, and the PCI bus 4
0 is a video controller 42, an IEEE 1394 interface 43, and a PC card interface 44.
Is connected.

Here, the host-PCI bridge 41
CPU 35, video controller 42 and IEEE1
It controls the exchange of various data between the 394 interface 43 and the PC card interface 44, and controls the RAM connected via the memory bus 45.
37 memory control is performed.

The host-PCI bridge 41 has a video controller 42 and an AGP (Accelerated Graphics).
Port), so that image data can be transferred between the host-PCI bridge 41 and the video controller 42 at a high speed.

The video controller 42 stores image data based on various kinds of application software supplied at appropriate times into a built-in VRAM (Video Random Access Memory).
And read out the read out image data to the liquid crystal display 10 so that a plurality of window screens can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 10.

The PC card interface 44 is connected to a PC card inserted into the PC card slot 23 when an optional function is added. For example, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Mem) is connected via the PC card.
ory) drive and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)
It can be connected to an external device such as a drive.

IEEE 1394 interface 43
Is directly connected to the IEEE 1394 terminal 27, and can be connected to another computer device or an external device such as a digital video camera via the IEEE 1394 terminal 27.

The PCI bus 40 is an ISA (Industrial S)
and a PCI-ISA bridge 47, and the PCI-ISA bridge 47.
The USB terminals 18 and 19 and the hard disk drive 48 are connected to the A bridge 47.

Here, the PCI-ISA bridge 47 is
IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) interface, configuration register, RTC (Real
-Time Clock) circuit and a USB interface, and controls the hard disk drive 48 via the IDE interface based on the system clock supplied from the clock generator 38.

The hard disk of the hard disk drive 48 has Windows 98 (a trademark of Microsoft Corporation).
OS (Operating System), e-mail program, auto pilot program, touch pad pressing force setting program, special processing execution program, special processing display program, touch pad driver, and other various application software are stored. It is transferred to the RAM 37 as needed in the course of the startup process.

The PCI-ISA bridge 47 is a U.S.A.
External devices such as a floppy disk drive, a printer, and a USB mouse (not shown) connected via the B terminals 18 and 19 are controlled via a USB interface, and a modem 50 and a sound controller 51 connected to the ISA bus 46 are controlled. I do.

The modem 50 is connected from a modem terminal 22 to an Internet service provider via a public network (not shown) and the Internet, and accesses the Internet service provider. The sound controller 51 takes in an audio signal from the microphone 14 and supplies an audio signal to the speakers 8A and 8B.

The ISA bus 46 has an I / O (In / Ou).
t) The controller 52 is connected, and the I / O controller 52 receives power supply from the external power supply connector 29 via the power supply / charge control circuit 53, and supplies power to each circuit when the power switch 16 is turned on. Supply power.

Incidentally, the I / O controller 52 operates based on the system clock supplied from the clock generator 38. The power supply charge control circuit 53
Controls the charging of the battery pack 15 under the control of the I / O controller 52.

In practice, the I / O controller 52 comprises a microcontroller, an I / O interface, a CPU,
A BI (Read Only Memory), a RAM, and the like are stored in the flash memory 54.
OS and application software based on OS (Basic Input / Output System) and liquid crystal display 1
0 and the input / output of data with various peripheral devices such as the hard disk drive 48.

The I / O controller 52 is connected to the infrared port 21 and can execute infrared communication with, for example, another computer.

The RO of the I / O controller 52
M stores a wake-up program, a key input monitoring program, an LED control program, and various other control programs.

The wake-up program is a PCI-I
When the current time supplied from the RTC circuit in the SA bridge 47 reaches a preset start time, the program is a program for causing the CPU 35 to execute a predetermined process. 17, a program for monitoring inputs from the touch pad 5, the left click button 6, the right click button 7, and other various key switches.

The LED control program includes a power lamp P
L, battery lamp BL, message lamp ML, etc.
This is a program for controlling lighting of various lamps made of D.

In the RAM of the I / O controller 52, a set time register for a wake-up program,
Key input monitoring register for key input monitoring program, L
An LED control register for the ED control program and other registers for various programs are provided.

The set time register stores the time information of the start time arbitrarily set by the user in advance for use in the wake-up program. Therefore, the I / O controller 52 determines whether or not the current time supplied from the RTC circuit has reached an arbitrarily set start time based on the wake-up program. ISA bus 46, PC
I-ISA bridge 47 and host-PCI bridge 4
1 to the CPU 35 sequentially.

Thus, when the preset start time comes, the CPU 35 starts up the predetermined application software set in correspondence with the start time, and thus performs a predetermined process according to the started application software. Execute.

The key input monitoring register stores an operation key flag based on inputs from the operation key 4, the programmable power key 17, the touch pad 5, the left click button 6, the right click button 7, and the like. Therefore, based on the key input monitoring program, the I / O controller 52 stores, for example, whether or not the pointing operation of the touch pad 5 and the clicking operation of the left click button 6 and the right click button 7 are performed by storing the operation key flag. Judgment is made based on the state, and when a pointing operation or a click operation is performed, the fact is notified to the CPU 35.

Incidentally, the pointing operation is, for example, an operation of rubbing the surface of the touch pad 5 with a finger to move the mouse cursor to a desired position, and the clicking operation is the left click button 6 or the right click button. This is an operation to quickly press and release the click button 7 with a finger.

Thus, the CPU 35 operates the touch pad 5
And a predetermined process corresponding to a click operation on the left click button 6, the right click button 7, or the like can be executed.

The LED control register includes a power lamp PL,
A lighting flag indicating a lighting state of various lamps including LEDs such as a battery lamp BL and a message lamp ML is stored.
Therefore, for example, when the CPU 35 reads the e-mail program from the hard disk of the hard disk drive 48 by the clicking operation of the left click button 6 and starts up the e-mail program on the RAM 37, and receives the e-mail according to the e-mail program, , The lighting flag is stored in the LED control register, and the message lamp ML is turned on by controlling the LED 55 based on the lighting flag.

By the way, in the touch pad 5, two signal lines (hereinafter, referred to as a pressed position detecting signal line) provided in the position detecting sensor 31 (FIG. 4) and a pressure-sensitive sensor 30 (FIG. 4) are provided. 5) two signal lines (hereinafter referred to as
This is referred to as a pressing force detection signal line) and is connected to the I / O controller 52.

The CPU of the I / O controller 52 transmits the position detection sensor 3 via the pressed position detection signal line at a predetermined cycle.
Among the plurality of opposing electrodes 32A and 32B,
In addition to detecting whether or not the electrodes 32A and 32B that have been brought into contact by pressing have been present, it also detects whether or not a voltage corresponding to the pressing has been generated in the pressure-sensitive sensor 30 via the pressing force detection signal line. .

The CPU of the I / O controller 52
When the conducting electrodes 32A and 32B exist in the position detection sensor 31, the conducting electrodes 32A and 32B
Based on the intersection position of 2B, coordinate data indicating the pressing position on the surface of the touch pad 5 is generated, and at this time, pressing force data indicating the pressing force according to the voltage generated by the pressure-sensitive sensor 30 of the touch pad 5 Is generated, and the coordinate data and the pressing force data are notified to the CPU 35 via the touch pad driver activated on the RAM 37.

Thus, when the CPU 35 receives the coordinate data and the pressing force data from the I / O controller 52, the CPU 35 moves the mouse cursor based on the coordinate data and the pressing force data according to the OS started on the RAM 37. Then, a predetermined process such as an execution is performed.

In addition to the above configuration, in the case of the personal computer 1, the threshold value of the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 can be set arbitrarily, and the pressing force equal to or larger than the set threshold value can be applied to the surface of the touch pad 5. The special processing to be executed only when is pressed can be arbitrarily set.

When the CPU 35 receives coordinate data and pressing force data corresponding to the pointing operation and the tapping operation of the touch pad 5 from the I / O controller 52, the CPU 35 determines the surface of the touch pad 5 based on the pressing force data. It is determined whether or not the pressing force applied to the CPU is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. If the pressing force is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the coordinate data and the pressing force are determined in accordance with the special processing execution program started on the RAM 37. The processing data is converted into special processing execution data for executing the special processing, and the special processing is similarly executed using the special processing execution data according to the OS started on the RAM 37.

In addition, upon obtaining the execution result of the special processing, the CPU 35 generates display data indicating the execution result of the special processing in accordance with the special processing display program started on the RAM 37, and similarly generates the display data. RAM37
Image data based on the display data is generated in accordance with the OS running on the host, and the generated image data is transferred to the host-PCI bridge 41 and the video controller 42.
Are sequentially transmitted to the liquid crystal display 10 to cause the liquid crystal display 10 to display an image representing the execution result of the special processing based on the image data.

By the way, the CPU 35 is set so as not to execute the special processing even if the pressing force equal to or more than the threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5, or the CPU 35 applies the pressing force equal to or more than the threshold to the surface of the touch pad 5. Even if it is set to execute a special process when it is pressed, if the pressing force applied to the surface is smaller than the threshold value, the mouse cursor is moved according to the pointing operation of the touch pad 5. A normal process set in advance for the pointing operation of the touch pad 5 is executed.

(4) Special Processing According to Touch Pad Operation In practice, the CPU 35 sets the threshold value of the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 by the user via the operation keys 4 or the touch pad 5 or the like. Is input, a pressing force setting image data is generated based on the touch pad pressing force setting program started on the RAM 37, and the pressing force setting image data is transferred to the host-PCI bridge. By transmitting the data to the liquid crystal display 10 sequentially via the video controller 41 and the video controller 42, the liquid crystal display 10 displays a pressing force setting window screen 60 as shown in FIG. 7 based on the pressing force setting image data.

On the pressing force setting window screen 60, a special processing setting section 61, a threshold setting section 62, a special processing simulation display section 63, a confirmation button 64 for confirming the setting of the threshold and the special processing, A cancel button 65 for canceling the processing setting and a close button 66 of the pressing force setting window screen 60
Is provided.

The special processing setting section 61 includes a touch pad 5
A special process selection unit 67 for selecting a special process that can be executed when a pressing force equal to or more than a threshold value is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5; And a check box 68 for setting so as not to execute.

Incidentally, in the special processing setting section 61,
Normally, only the name of one special process arbitrarily selected in the special process selecting unit 67 is displayed. However, the mouse cursor 70 moves on a list display button 69 provided in the special process setting unit 61 and a click operation is performed. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, a drop-down menu 7 in which the names of a plurality of types of special processes are listed below the special process selection unit 67
1 is displayed, and a desired special process can be easily selected from a plurality of selectable special processes by moving and clicking the mouse cursor 70.

In this embodiment, in the special processing setting section 61, the special processing includes "left button operation processing" for providing the touchpad 5 with a function similar to, for example, the left button of a mouse, and a window screen. "Window frame operation processing" that has the function of changing the size of a window
A desired special process can be selected from the "tap operation process" having a tap operation function.

The threshold setting section 62 (FIG. 7) displays a pressing force display bar 72 for displaying the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 and an arbitrary position of the pressing force display bar 72 with an arrow. An α threshold selection tag 73 for setting a threshold for processing start (hereinafter, referred to as an α threshold);
Similarly, an arbitrary position of the pressing force display bar 72 is indicated by an arrow, and a β threshold selection tag 74 for setting a threshold for terminating the special processing (hereinafter, referred to as a β threshold) is provided.

The touch pad 5 is displayed on the pressing force display bar 72.
The change in the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 in a range from a state in which nothing is touching the surface to a state in which the surface is fully pressed is displayed in real time by a change in level. In the threshold setting section 62, the α threshold and the β threshold can be set on the pressing force display bar 72 by the positions indicated by the arrows of the α threshold setting tag 73 and the β threshold setting tag 74. .

Further, an operation switching display area 73 is provided in each of the α threshold setting tag 73 and the β threshold setting tag 74.
A and 74A are provided, and the operation switching display area 73 is provided.
A and 74A have α on the surface of the touchpad 5, respectively.
When the pressing force equivalent to the threshold value and the β threshold value is applied, the operation content switched according to the special processing is displayed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, when “left button operation process” is selected as the special process, the left button of the mouse is pressed with a finger in the operation switching display area 73A of the α threshold setting tag 73. "DOWN" to indicate that
Is displayed, and “UP” indicating that the finger has been released from the left button of the mouse is displayed in the operation switching display area 74A of the β threshold setting tag 74.

When the "window frame operation process" is selected as the special process, "size change" indicating the start of the window screen size change is displayed in the operation switching display area 73A of the α threshold setting tag 73. In addition to being displayed, the operation switching display area 7 of the β threshold setting tag 74
4A displays "scroll" indicating that the change of the size of the window screen is completed and that predetermined information in the window screen can be scrolled.

Further, when the "tap operation process" is selected as the special process, an "operation" indicating that the tap operation is accepted is displayed in the operation switching display area 73A of the α threshold setting tag 73, and In the operation switching display area 74A of the β threshold setting tag 74, “not operating” indicating that tap operation is not accepted is displayed.

The special processing simulation display section 6
3 (FIG. 7) displays a simulation image corresponding to the selected special process. By the way, in the special processing simulation display section 63, for example, when “click operation processing” is selected, in the appearance of the mouse MU, when the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 reaches the α threshold, the left button is pressed. LB is pressed and touchpad 5
When the pressing force applied to the surface reaches the β threshold, a simulation image is displayed in which the pressed left button LB returns to its original state.

The CPU 35 actually operates the liquid crystal display 1
When the pressing force setting window screen 60 is displayed at 0, as shown in FIG. 10, the special processing setting processing procedure RT1 is entered from step SP1 based on the touch pad pressing force setting program, and at step SP2, the mouse cursor is set. It is determined whether or not a check mark is put in the check box 68 of the special processing setting unit 61, which is displayed as "do not use the special function", by the movement and the click operation of 70.

If a negative result is obtained in step SP2, this means that the check box 68 is not checked and that the special processing is selected to be executed in response to the pressing of the touch pad 5. In other words, at this time, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP3, waits for the mouse cursor 70 to move to the list display button 69 of the special processing setting unit 61 and clicks the same, and the list display button 69 is clicked. Then, a drop-down menu 71 is displayed below the special processing selection section 67.

In a state where the drop-down menu 71 is displayed, the CPU 35 moves the mouse cursor 70 to a desired special process name from a plurality of types of special process names and performs a click operation. Recognizing that the special process with the clicked name has been selected as the special process to be executed by the user, displaying only the name of the selected special process on the special process selection section 67 and drop-down menu 71 Close.

Next, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP4 to display the corresponding simulation image on the special processing simulation display section 63 according to the selected special processing, and to set the α threshold setting tag 73 of the threshold setting section 62 and Operation switching display area 7 for β threshold setting tag 74
The operation content corresponding to each of 3A and 74A is displayed.

Then, the CPU 35 proceeds to step S
Proceed to P5 and move the mouse cursor 7 on the close button 66.
It is determined whether 0 has been moved and a click operation has been performed. If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP5, this means that a request to end the setting of the special processing has been made. At this time, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP6.
To close the pressing force setting window screen 60 to end the special processing setting processing procedure RT1.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP5, this means that there is a possibility that the special processing is reset, and at this time, the CPU 35 returns to step SP2.

By the way, if a positive result is obtained in step SP2, a check mark is put in the check box 68 by moving and clicking the mouse cursor 70, and as a result, it is selected not to execute special processing. Means that the CPU 3
Step 5 is set so that the process proceeds to step SP7 and the special processing is not executed even if the surface of the touch pad 5 is pressed with a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold.

Then, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP8 and sets the list display button 69 of the special processing setting section 61 to a non-selectable state. Even if the mouse cursor 70 moves on the list display button 69 and is clicked, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP8. , The drop-down menu 71 is not displayed.

Further, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP9 so as not to display the name of the special process in the special process selecting section 67 of the special process setting section 61, thereby adding the special mark to the check mark of the check box 68. The user can easily recognize from the processing selecting section 67 that the special processing is not executed.

Next, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP10
To the check box 68 of the special process setting unit 61
It is determined whether or not the check mark has been removed by moving the mouse cursor 70 upward and performing a click operation, and thereafter, it waits until the check mark of the check box 68 is removed.

Then, when the check mark of the check box 68 is removed, the CPU 35 proceeds to the subsequent step SP11, and executes the special processing which was in an executable state before the check box 68 was checked. The executable state is set again, and the special processing setting unit 6
The name of the special process corresponding to the first special process selection unit 67 is displayed.

Subsequently, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP12
To make the list display button 69 of the special process setting section 61 selectable, and then the process proceeds to step SP5. In this manner, the CPU 35 can select a special process desired by the user from among a plurality of types of special processes. Thus, when the special process is selected, the surface of the touch pad 5 is equal to or more than the α threshold. Is set so as to execute the special processing when pressed by the pressing force.

In addition, when the pressing force setting window screen 60 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 10 as shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 35 performs a mode switching process from step SP20 based on the touch pad pressing force setting program, as shown in FIG. After entering the procedure RT2, in the following step SP21, the mouse cursor 7 is placed in the display area of the threshold setting section 62.
It is determined whether or not 0 is located.

If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP21, this means that the mouse cursor 70 is positioned within the display area of the threshold setting unit 62, and the α threshold and β
Means that there is a possibility to set a threshold,
The CPU 35 shifts to the setting mode, and the special processing setting unit 61
Regardless of whether or not the special processing set in is performed, the special processing is not performed even if a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5.

Then, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP23 and determines whether or not the mouse cursor 70 has been moved on the close button 66 and a click operation has been performed.
If a positive result is obtained by the click operation of the close button 66, the process proceeds to the next step SP24 to end the mode switching processing procedure RT2. On the other hand, if the CPU 35 obtains a negative result by not performing the click operation of the close button 66 in step SP23, the process returns to step SP21.

By the way, if a negative result is obtained in step SP21 described above, this indicates that the mouse cursor 70 is positioned outside the display area of the threshold value selection unit 62, and the user presses the surface of the touch pad 5 to This means that special processing may be executed.
If the PU 35 is set to execute the special processing, the PU 35 shifts to a special processing mode for executing the special processing when a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 and executes the special processing. If the setting is made so as not to perform the special processing even if a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5, the processing shifts to the normal processing mode in which the special processing is not executed.
Then, the CPU 35 thereafter proceeds to step SP23.

As described above, the CPU 35 displays the pressing force setting window screen 60 on the liquid crystal display 10 while the mouse cursor 70 is positioned within the display area of the threshold setting unit 62. When the mouse cursor 70 is positioned in an area other than the threshold setting section 62, the mode is shifted to the special processing mode or the normal processing mode.

When the CPU 35 shifts to the setting mode, the CPU 35 executes the α threshold setting procedure and the β threshold setting procedure based on the touch pad pressing force setting program. That is, in the setting mode, as shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 35 proceeds from step SP30 to the α threshold setting processing procedure RT3.
In step SP31, for example, when the surface of the touch pad 5 is rubbed with a finger, the mouse waits for the mouse cursor 70 to move onto the α-threshold setting tag 73. When the mouse cursor 70 moves to step SP32, the process proceeds to step SP32.

In step SP32, the CPU 35
Waits for the left click button 6 to be pressed while the mouse cursor 70 is positioned on the α threshold setting tag 73, and when the left click button 6 is pressed by a finger, α
Activate the threshold setting tag 73. Here, the active state of the α-threshold setting tag 73 means that the α-threshold setting tag 73 is moved to a desired position together with a mouse cursor while pressing the left click button 6.
That is, a state in which a so-called drag operation is possible.

Next, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP33.
When the up and down arrow keys of the operation keys 4 are pressed while the left click button 6 is pressed, the α threshold setting tag 73 is pressed together with the mouse cursor 70 in the longitudinal direction of the pressing force display bar 72. To move up and down.
By the way, at this time, the CPU 35 sets the α threshold setting tag 73 to the β threshold setting tag 7 in response to pressing of the up and down arrow keys.
4 is moved up and down between the pressing force display bar 72 and the upper end thereof.

Then, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP34.
When the finger is released from the left click button 6 after moving the α threshold setting tag 73 to a desired position in this manner, the movement of the α threshold setting tag 73 together with the mouse cursor 70 at that time is performed. Then, the α threshold is set in accordance with the predetermined position of the pressing force display bar 72 pointed by the arrow of the α threshold setting tag 73, and thereafter, step SP35
To terminate the α threshold setting procedure RT3.

In the setting mode, the CPU 35 operates as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the process enters the β threshold value setting processing procedure RT4 from step SP40, in the following step SP41,
For example, when the surface of the touch pad 5 is rubbed with a finger to wait for the mouse cursor 70 to move on the β threshold setting tag 74, and when the mouse cursor 70 moves on the β threshold setting tag 74, SP42
Proceed to.

In step SP42, the CPU 35
Waits for the left click button 6 to be pressed while the mouse cursor 70 is positioned on the β threshold setting tag 74, and when the left click button 6 is pressed by a finger,
In the same manner as when the α threshold is set, the β threshold setting tag 74 is set.
To the active state.

Next, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP43.
When the up and down arrow keys are pressed while the left click button 6 is pressed, the β threshold setting tag 74 is moved along with the mouse cursor 70 in the vertical direction along the longitudinal direction of the pressing force display bar 72. Move. By the way, the CPU 35
Moves the β threshold setting tag 74 up and down between the lower end of the pressing force display bar 72 and the α threshold setting tag 73 in response to the pressing of the up and down arrow keys.

Then, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP44.
When the finger is released from the left click button 6 after the β threshold setting tag 74 is moved to a desired position in this way, the movement of the β threshold setting tag 74 together with the mouse cursor 70 at that time is performed. Then, the β threshold value is set in accordance with the predetermined position of the pressing force display bar 72 pointed by the arrow of the β threshold value setting tag 74, and thereafter, step SP45 is performed.
To end the β threshold setting procedure RT4.

Thus, the CPU 35
When the mouse cursor 70 is moved over the α-threshold setting tag 73 and the β-threshold setting tag 74 by the pointing operation of α, the α-threshold and the β-threshold are set while preventing erroneous execution of special processing. Can be.

Here, the CPU 35 sets the α threshold for starting the special processing and the β threshold for ending the special processing as described above, respectively, so that the touch in the normal processing mode P ₀ as shown in FIG. When the surface of the pad 5 is pressed with a pressing force Z equal to or more than the α threshold, the special processing mode P ₁
Then, the special processing is executed, and thereafter, the special processing is continuously executed until the pressing force Z on the surface of the touch pad 5 falls below the β threshold. Then, when the pressing force Z applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 falls below the β threshold, the CPU 35 ends the special processing and shifts from the special processing mode P ₁ to the normal processing mode P ₀ , and thus the surface of the touch pad 5 Is pressed with a pressing force lower than the β threshold, a normal process such as moving a mouse cursor is performed in accordance with the pressing.

By the way, the CPU 35 operates as shown in FIGS.
3, the α threshold setting procedure RT3 and the β threshold setting processing procedure RT4 described above are also omitted, but the α threshold and the β threshold are arbitrarily set in a state where the α threshold is set to a value larger than the β threshold. It is made to let.

That is, as shown in FIG. 15, the CPU 35 enters the normal processing mode P ₀ until a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5, and the CPU 35 applies the pressure equal to or more than the α threshold to the surface of the touch pad 5. although the pressing force is applied moves to a special processing mode P _1, the touch pad 5 after this
Until the pressing force applied to the surface of the drops below a β threshold becomes a smaller value than α threshold as it continues the special processing mode P _1, the normal processing mode P ₀ When the pressing force falls below the β threshold Move on to

Thus, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, when the CPU 35 performs a special process while the surface of the touch pad 5 is rubbed, even if the pressing force applied to the surface fluctuates. In addition, it is possible to prevent interruption of the special processing due to the fluctuation of the pressing force.

The CPU 35 operates the touch pad 5 in a state where the pressing force setting window screen 60 is displayed.
Is pressed, the transition of the level of the pressing force is displayed on the pressing force display bar 72 of the pressing force setting window screen 60 based on the pressing force data obtained from the I / O controller 52 in the normal processing mode and the special processing. For example, colors are displayed according to the mode transition.

That is, the CPU 35 operates as shown in FIGS.
As shown in (D), in the normal processing mode, when a pressing force equal to or smaller than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5, the pressing force display bar 72 displays α from its “0” level (lower end). The transition of the level of the pressing force within the display range up to the level indicated by the threshold is displayed, for example, in blue (FIGS. 17A and 17B), and a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5. In the special processing mode, the display range from the "0" level (lower end) to the level indicated by the β threshold is displayed in blue on the pressing force display bar 72, and the pressing is performed within the display range exceeding the β threshold. The transition of the pressure level is displayed, for example, in red (FIGS. 17C and 17D).

Then, in the special processing mode, when the pressing force lower than the β threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 to shift to the normal processing mode, the CPU 35 again displays the “0” level ( The transition of the pressing force level is displayed in blue within the display range from the lower end to the level indicated by the α threshold (FIGS. 17A and 17B).

The CPU 35 actually operates the liquid crystal display 1
When the pressing force selection window screen 60 is displayed at 0, as shown in FIG. 18, the pressing force level display processing procedure RT5 is entered from step SP50 based on the touch pad pressing force setting program, and then the normal processing is performed at step SP51. Mode.

Next, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP52.
When the pressing force data is given from the I / O controller 52 by pressing the surface of the touch pad 5 with a finger, the pressing force obtained based on the pressing force data is set to an arbitrarily set α. It is determined whether it is smaller than the threshold.

If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP52, this means that the normal processing mode is continued because the pressing force less than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5, and at this time the CPU 35 Proceeds to step SP53, and proceeds to the pressing force setting window screen 6
The level of the pressing force obtained based on the pressing force data is displayed in blue on the pressing force display bar 72 of 0.

Subsequently, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP54.
Then, it is determined whether the mouse cursor 70 has been moved to the close button 66 and a click operation has been performed, and the mouse cursor 70 has been moved to the close button 66 and a click operation has been performed, thereby completing the pressing force setting. If a positive result is requested and a positive result is obtained, the process proceeds to the next step SP55 to close the pressing force setting window screen 60, thus ending the pressing force level display processing procedure RT5.

On the other hand, in this step SP54, the CPU 35 does not perform the click operation even if the mouse cursor 70 moves on the close button 66 (or
If a request to continue setting the pressing force (without moving the mouse cursor 70 on the close button 66) and a negative result is obtained, the process returns to step SP51.

If a negative result is obtained in step SP52, this means that the normal processing mode is shifted to the special processing mode by applying a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold to the surface of the touch pad 5. When CP
U35 proceeds to step SP56 and displays "0" on the pressing force display bar 72 of the pressing force setting window screen 60.
The display range from the level to the level indicated by the β threshold is displayed in blue, and the display range from the level indicated by the β threshold to the level indicated by the pressing force obtained based on the pressing force data is displayed in red. .

Then, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP57.
To the special processing mode.
At 58, when the pressing force data is given from the I / O controller 52, it is determined whether or not the pressing force obtained based on the pressing force data is equal to or larger than the β threshold.

If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP57, this means that a pressing force equal to or more than the β threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5, and at this time PU
35 proceeds to step SP56. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP57, this means that a pressing force lower than the β threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5, and at this time, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP57.
The routine proceeds to 51 and shifts from the special processing mode to the normal processing mode.

In this manner, the CPU 35 allows the user to visually recognize the change in the level of the pressing force by the pressing force display bar 72, and also allows the touch pad 5 to shift from the normal processing mode to the special processing mode. The user can recognize the feeling of pressing the surface of the device and the feeling of pressing when shifting from the special processing mode to the normal processing mode.

Therefore, even when the CPU 35 rubs the surface of the touch pad 5 and executes special processing, the CPU 35 takes into account the fluctuation of the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 so as to consider the α threshold and the α threshold. The β threshold value can be arbitrarily set at a sufficient distance, and thus, it is possible to more reliably prevent a special process being executed from being erroneously interrupted due to a change in the pressing force.

By the way, the CPU 35 executes the mode switching processing procedure RT2 described above with reference to FIG. 11 in parallel with the pressing force level display processing procedure RT5, so that the mouse cursor 70 on the liquid crystal display 10 can be moved to a position other than the threshold setting section 62. If located, touch pad 5
Normal processing or special processing is executed in accordance with the pressing force applied to the surface of the.

On the other hand, when the mouse cursor 70 is positioned within the threshold value setting section 62, the CPU 35 shifts to the setting mode, so that the CPU 35 actually performs the normal processing mode in accordance with the pressing force applied to the touch pad 5. Also, as in the case of shifting to the special processing mode, the transition of the pressing force level is displayed on the pressing force display bar 72, but at this time, it is possible to prevent erroneous execution of the normal processing and the special processing.

As described above, in a state where the pressing force setting window screen 60 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 10, the CPU 35 determines whether or not to execute a special process according to an operation command input by the user. Content and
The α threshold and the β threshold of the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 can be set.

Here, when the α threshold value and the β threshold value are set and the special processing is set to be executed, the CPU 35 sets the RA in the normal processing mode as shown in FIG.
Based on the special processing execution program started on M37, the special processing execution processing procedure R
The process enters T6, and waits for the input of coordinate data and pressing force data from the I / O controller 52 in response to the pressing of the surface of the touch pad 5 in step SP61.

Next, upon receiving the coordinate data and the pressing force data from the I / O controller 52, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP62 to determine whether or not the pressing force obtained based on the pressing force data is equal to or more than the α threshold. Judge.

If a positive result is obtained in step SP62, this means that the surface of the touch pad 5 is pressed with a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold, and the mode shifts from the normal processing mode to the special processing mode. When CPU3
5 proceeds to step SP63, and starts special processing based on the OS together with the special processing execution program.

Subsequently, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP64.
And again according to the pressure on the surface of the touch pad 5
Waits for the input of coordinate data and pressing force data from the O controller 52, and the I / O controller 5
When the coordinate data and the pressing force data are given from Step 2, the process proceeds to Step SP65, and it is determined whether or not the pressing force obtained based on the pressing force data is a value smaller than the β threshold.

If a negative result is obtained in step SP65, this means that the special processing mode is continued because the surface of the touch pad 5 is pressed with a pressing force equal to or larger than the β threshold, and at this time, the CPU 35 Returning to step SP64, while executing the special processing, it waits for the input of the coordinate data and the pressing force data from the I / O controller 52 in response to the pressing of the surface of the touch pad 5.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP65, this means that the surface of the touch pad 5 is pressed with a pressing force smaller than the β threshold, so that the processing shifts from the special processing mode to the normal processing mode. Means
At this time, the CPU 35 ends the special processing and proceeds to step S
Proceeds to P66 and responds to the pressing of the surface of the touch pad 5 by O
Normal processing such as movement of the mouse cursor 70 based on S is executed.

Next, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP67.
To determine whether or not the power switch 16 has been turned off.
If a negative result is obtained without performing the OFF operation of step SP6, step SP
61, and thereafter, until a positive result is obtained in step SP67, steps SP61-SP62-SP
The processing loop of 63-SP64-SP65-SP66-SP67 is repeated.

On the other hand, the CPU 35 determines in step S
In P67, if a positive result is obtained by the power switch 16 being turned off, the process proceeds to the next step SP68 to end the special process execution process procedure RT6.

Incidentally, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP67.
In the case of displaying the pressing force setting window screen 60 on the liquid crystal display 10 and moving to the setting mode by moving the mouse cursor 70 into the threshold setting section 62, the special processing (the normal processing in addition to this) is performed. Is not executed, the process proceeds to the next step SP68, and the special process execution processing procedure RT6 is ended.

If a negative result is obtained in step SP62, this means that the normal processing mode is continued because the surface of the touch pad 5 is pressed with a pressing force smaller than the α threshold. When CPU 35
Is stored in the RAM according to the pressing of the surface of the touch pad 5.
Mouse cursor 7 according to the OS running on the 37
After executing the normal processing such as the movement of 0, step SP61
Return to

As shown in FIG. 20, when the CPU 35 is set to execute the “left button operation process” as a special process,
In the state where the window screen 80 is displayed, after the surface of the touch pad 5 is pressed and rubbed with a pressing force smaller than the α threshold, the mouse cursor 70 is moved onto the title bar 81 of the window screen 80, When the surface of the touch pad 5 is pressed with, for example, a finger with a pressing force equal to or larger than the α threshold, the window screen 80 is activated.

Then, as shown in FIG. 21, when the surface of the touch pad 5 is rubbed by the finger with a pressing force equal to or more than the β threshold as shown in FIG.
On the basis of the special processing display program and the OS that are running on top of this, according to the movement of the finger (ie, at this time,
(According to the coordinate data obtained from the / O controller 5)
The window screen 60 is moved together with the mouse cursor 70, and thereafter, when the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 falls below the β threshold, the window screen 80 is stopped together with the mouse cursor 70 at that point.

Thus, if the CPU 35 has been selected to execute the "left button operation process", the CPU 35 can perform a drag operation on the window screen 80 as a special process.

Here, as shown in FIG. 22, in the touch pad 5, an up / down scroll instruction area 5A is provided inside and along the right end, and a left / right scroll instruction area is provided inside the touch pad 5 along the lower end. 5B is provided,
In the normal processing mode, when the vertical scroll instruction area 5A is rubbed with a finger along the right end, predetermined information such as text data displayed in the information display area of the window screen is scrolled up and down and a horizontal scroll instruction is issued. When the area 5B is rubbed with a finger along the lower end, desired information displayed in the information display area of the window screen is scrolled left and right.

Then, the CPU 35 performs special processing as follows.
When "window frame operation processing" is set to be executed, special processing is executed in response to pressing of the vertical scroll instruction area 5A and the left and right scroll instruction area 5B of the touch pad 5.

That is, as shown in FIG. 23, the CPU 35 displays a predetermined window screen 8 on the liquid crystal display 10.
In a state where 0 is displayed, the mouse cursor 70 is moved on the window screen 80 by rubbing the surface of the touch pad 5 with a finger pressed with a pressing force smaller than the α threshold, and then the touch pad 5 When the up / down scroll instruction area 5A is rubbed upward by a finger while being pressed with a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold, the RAM
Special processing display program and O
S on the window screen 80 according to the movement of the finger.
With its lower end fixed, it is stretched upward to enlarge.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24, when the window screen 80 is enlarged in the upward direction, the CPU 35 keeps pressing the vertical scroll instruction area 5A of the touch pad 5 with a finger with a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold as shown in FIG. When the finger is rubbed downward, the window screen 80 is fixed at the lower end thereof and shrunk downward according to the movement of the finger, based on the special processing display program and the OS running on the RAM 37 to shrink downward. I do.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 25, the CPU 35
Is moved, and when the vertical scroll instruction area 5A of the touch pad 5 is rubbed downward while being pressed by a finger with a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold, the special processing display program launched on the RAM 37 Based on the OS and the OS, the upper end of the window screen 80 is fixed and the window screen 80 is extended downward and enlarged in accordance with the movement of the finger.

Further, the CPU 35 operates the
When the vertical scroll instruction area 5A of the touch pad 5 is directly rubbed upward by a finger with a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold when the is expanded downward, R
Based on the special processing display program and the OS running on the AM 37, the window screen 80 is fixed by fixing the upper end thereof and shrunk upward to reduce the size according to the movement of the finger.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 26, after moving the mouse cursor 70 on the window screen 80, the CPU 35 presses the left and right scroll instruction area 5B of the touch pad 5 with a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold value with a finger. When rubbed rightward in the state of being performed, based on the special processing display program and the OS running on the RAM 37,
In response to the movement of the finger, the window screen 80 is fixed at its left end and stretched rightward to enlarge.

Further, the CPU 35 sets the window screen 80
When the right and left scroll instruction area 5B of the touch pad 5 is rubbed leftward while being pressed by a finger with a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold when the right is expanded in the right direction, R
Based on the special processing display program and the OS running on the AM 37, the window screen 80 is fixed at the left end and contracted to the left in accordance with the movement of the finger to reduce the size.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 27, the CPU 35
Is moved, and when the left and right scroll instruction area 5B of the touch pad 5 is rubbed leftward while being pressed by a finger with a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold, the special processing display program launched on the RAM 37 In accordance with the movement of the finger, the window screen 80 is fixed at the right end thereof and stretched to the left in accordance with the movement of the finger.

[0143] Further, the CPU 35 operates the window screen 80.
When the right and left scroll instruction area 5B of the touch pad 5 is rubbed rightward while being pressed by a finger with a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold when the right is expanded to the left,
Based on the special processing display program and the OS running on the AM 37, the window screen 80 is fixed at the right end thereof and contracted rightward to reduce the size in accordance with the movement of the finger.

As described above, when the CPU 35 is selected to execute the “window frame operation process”, the CPU 35 can enlarge or reduce the window screen 80 as a special process.

By the way, the tap operation is generally performed under a condition that the finger touches the surface of the touch pad 5 and then leaves within a predetermined time (hereinafter, this is referred to as a first condition). For this reason, the CPU 35 never touches the surface of the touch pad 5 by touching the surface of the touch pad 5 with a hand or arm by mistake, that is, a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 with the first condition. A condition that cannot be obtained (hereinafter referred to as a second condition) is added.

Further, the CPU 35 executes a tap operation in response to an operation in which a finger instantaneously touches and separates the surface of the touch pad 5 so that the touch pad 5 can be executed within a predetermined time only when the tap operation is executed. As soon as a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad with the finger and the mode shifts to the special processing mode, the touch pad 5 is immediately shifted to the normal processing mode.
Until the pressure below the β threshold is applied to the surface of
Do not have a state that maintains the special processing mode.

Therefore, the CPU 35 performs special processing as follows.
When “tap operation processing” is set to be executed, only when a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 within a predetermined period of time, the RAM
37 special processing execution program and O
A tap operation is executed based on S.

Actually, the CPU 35 executes the “tap operation process”.
28, in the normal processing mode, as shown in FIG. 28, based on the special processing execution program started on the RAM 37, the process enters the tapping operation execution processing procedure RT7 from step SP70 and continues. Step S
In P71, it is determined whether or not the power switch 16 has been turned off.

Here, the CPU 35 determines in this step SP
In 71, if the power switch 16 is not turned off and a negative result is obtained, the process proceeds to step SP72 to wait for a finger to touch the surface of the touch pad 5, and the I / O controller 52 provides coordinate data and pressing force data. Then, it is determined that the finger has touched the surface of the touch pad 5 and the process proceeds to step SP73.

Then, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP73.
, The pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 is acquired based on the pressing force data given from the I / O controller 52 together with the coordinate data. Here, CPU3
When a finger is continuously touching the surface of the touch pad 5, each time a pressing force is obtained while the finger is touching, the obtained pressing force is compared with the pressing force obtained so far. Then, the maximum value of the pressing force is detected, and thus the maximum value of the pressing force is updated and held.

Next, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP74.
Then, it is determined whether or not the finger has touched the surface of the touch pad 5 within a predetermined period of time based on the pressing force data.

If a positive result is obtained in step SP74, this indicates that the finger has touched the surface of the touch pad 5 within a certain period of time and that the finger has been released within a certain period of time. This means that the condition is satisfied. At this time, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP75 and determines whether or not the maximum value of the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 is equal to or more than the α threshold.

If a positive result is obtained in step SP75, this means that the finger touching the surface of the touch pad 5 applies a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold value within a certain period of time.
This means that, in addition to the first condition necessary to execute the tap operation, the second condition is also satisfied.
In step SP76, the process proceeds to a special processing mode to execute a tap operation.

Then, the CPU 35 proceeds to step SP76.
When the tap operation is completed, the special processing mode is shifted to the normal processing mode. After that, there is a possibility that the user may be instructed to perform the tap operation again. After resetting the maximum value of the pressure, the process returns to step SP71.

By the way, if a negative result is obtained in step SP74, this means that the finger is still in contact with the surface of the touch pad 5 even after a certain time has passed since the finger touched the surface, and the tap operation is executed. Does not satisfy the first condition necessary for the
5 waits for the finger to separate from the surface of the touch pad 5 in step SP77, and resets the maximum value of the pressing force that has been successively updated and held until the finger separates from the surface of the touch pad 5. After that, step SP7
Return to 1.

If a negative result is obtained in step SP75, this means that the first operation for executing the tap operation is performed.
Means that the second condition is not satisfied because the maximum value of the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 has not reached the α threshold. At this time, the CPU 35 For example, when it is determined that the finger has accidentally touched the surface of the touch pad 5, the execution of the tap operation is stopped, and the maximum value of the pressing force that has been sequentially updated and held up to that time is reset, and the process returns to step SP71.

Thus, even if the finger touches the surface of the touch pad 5 for a certain period of time or the finger touches the surface of the touch pad 5 by mistake, the CPU 35 erroneously executes the tap operation at that time. This can almost certainly be prevented.

If the CPU 35 obtains a positive result by turning off the power switch 16 in step SP71, the CPU 35 proceeds to the next step SP78 and ends the tap operation execution processing procedure RT7.

By the way, the CPU 35 determines in step SP71
In step SP78, when the window mode 60 for setting the pressing force is displayed on the liquid crystal display 10 and the mouse cursor 70 is moved into the threshold setting section 62, the process proceeds to step SP78, which is followed by the tap operation execution processing. The procedure RT7 ends.

(5) Operation and Effect of the Present Embodiment In the above configuration, in the personal computer 1, the α threshold for starting special processing and the end of special processing are applied to the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5. And a special process to be executed according to the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 can be arbitrarily set.

In the personal computer 1,
When a finger touches the surface of the touch pad 5, the CPU 35
Captures, via the I / O controller 52, coordinate data indicating the position where the finger is touched on the surface of the touch pad 5 and pressing force data indicating the pressing force applied to the surface via the I / O controller 52. When a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the touch pad 5, the special processing is executed. When the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 falls below the β threshold, the special processing ends.

Therefore, in this personal computer 1, even if the user's hand or arm touches the surface of the touch pad 5 when operating the operation key 4, if the α threshold is set to a relatively large value at that time, the touch Since the pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is not applied to the surface of the pad 5, it is possible to almost certainly prevent the special processing from being erroneously executed.

In the personal computer 1, α
When setting the threshold value and the β threshold value, the liquid crystal display 10
In order to display the pressing force setting window screen 60 along the pressing force display bar 72, the α threshold setting tags 73 and β
The α threshold and the β threshold can be easily set simply by moving the threshold setting tag 74 to an arbitrary position.

Then, in the personal computer 1,
At this time, the change of the level of the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 is displayed in real time on the pressing force display bar 72, and the display of the pressing force display bar 72 is changed to the normal processing mode and the special processing according to the pressing force. Since the colors are classified according to the transition with the mode, the user can easily and reliably recognize the sense of pressing on the surface of the touch pad 5 according to the start and the end of the special processing, and thus,
Α to prevent special processing from being executed by mistake.
A threshold can be set.

According to the above configuration, the α threshold value for starting the special processing and the β threshold value for ending the special processing are arbitrarily set with respect to the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5. When a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the touch pad 5, a special process is executed. When the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 falls below the β threshold, the special process is terminated. A personal computer that can almost surely prevent erroneous execution of special processing even if the user's hand or arm touches the surface of the touch pad 5 during execution of, and thus can improve operability. Can be.

(6) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, a desired one of three types of special processing of “left button operation processing”, “window frame operation processing”, and “tap operation processing” is desired. The case where the special processing can be set arbitrarily has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a desired special processing can be selected from among various other special processing such as a handwritten character input processing. It may be set arbitrarily.

By the way, if it is set to execute the handwritten character input processing as the special processing, the CPU 35
In the normal processing mode, when the surface of the touch pad 5 is rubbed, the mouse cursor 70 is moved to a position where writing of characters is started, and a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5. Then, if the handwritten characters are actually drawn, the handwritten characters can be clearly written.

In the above-described embodiment, when performing “left button operation processing” as a special processing, the mouse cursor 70 is moved to the title bar 81 of the window screen 80.
A case has been described in which the window screen 80 is activated when a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 by moving the touch panel 5 upward. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the mouse cursor 70 is moved to various positions within 80, the window screen 80 may be activated when a pressing force equal to or more than the α threshold is applied to the surface of the touch pad 5.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the α threshold and the β threshold with respect to the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 can be arbitrarily and repeatedly set by the user. The present invention is not limited to this, and the α threshold and the β threshold may be set in advance and fixed at the time of shipment of the personal computer 1.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the α threshold and the β threshold are set for the pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad 5 has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the special processing may be terminated when the finger is separated from the surface of the touch pad 5 in advance, and only the α threshold may be set. Also in this case, the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

As a special process, “tap operation process”
When the setting is made to execute, since the processing shifts to the special processing mode and the tap operation is executed, the processing immediately shifts to the normal processing mode. Therefore, only the α threshold may be set without selecting the β threshold.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to the notebook personal computer 1 described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a sheet-like input means may be used. The provided information processing device can be widely applied to various other information processing devices, such as a portable information communication terminal and a portable video display device.

Further, in the above embodiment, the CP
U35 sets the α threshold value and the β threshold value and the special processing based on the touch pad pressing force selection program stored in the hard disk of the hard disk drive 48 in advance, and the special processing execution program and the special processing display program stored in the hard disk in advance And a case where the special processing is executed based on the touch pad driver and the execution result of the special processing is displayed on the liquid crystal display. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
By installing a program storage medium on which the touch pad pressing force selection program is recorded, the α threshold and the β threshold and special processing are set, and the special processing execution program, the special processing display program, and the touch pad driver are recorded. The special processing may be executed by installing a program storage medium, and the execution result of the special processing may be displayed on a liquid crystal display.

Incidentally, as a program storage medium used to install the program for executing the above-described series of processing in the personal computer 1 and to make the personal computer 1 executable, for example, a floppy disk, CD- ROM (Comp
act Disc-Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Vide
o), may be realized by a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk in which the program is temporarily or permanently stored. As a means for storing a program in these program storage media, a wired or wireless communication medium such as a local area network or digital satellite broadcasting may be used, and the program is stored via various communication interfaces such as a router or a modem. You may do it.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the pressure-sensitive touch pad 5 is applied as the sheet-like input means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. Various other input means, such as a touch pad, can be widely applied. By the way,
When a capacitance-type touch pad is applied, when a finger is pressed against the surface thereof, the contact area changes according to the strength with which the finger is pressed. Therefore, the contact area may be detected as the pressing force.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case has been described where the I / O controller 52 is applied as the detecting means for detecting the pressing force applied to the surface of the input means. The invention is not limited to this, and various other detection means can be widely applied as long as the pressing force applied to the surface of the input means can be detected.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a predetermined process is executed when a pressing force equal to or more than a preset process start threshold is applied to the surface of the input device based on the detection result of the detecting device. Although the case where the CPU 35 is applied as the execution means has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and based on the detection result of the detection means, a processing start threshold value or more set in advance on the surface of the input means. If the predetermined processing can be executed when the pressing force is applied, various other execution means can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the liquid crystal display 10 is applied as the predetermined display means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. Various display means can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a pressing bar having a display bar for displaying a pressing force level, a threshold setting tag for processing start and a threshold setting tag for processing end indicating the display bar. The case where the CPU 35 is applied as the display control means for displaying the setting screen on the display means has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display bar for displaying the pressing force level and the display bar may be used. If a pressing force setting screen having a process start threshold setting tag and a process end threshold setting tag to be indicated can be displayed on the display means, various other display control means can be widely applied. .

[0180]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus, a sheet-like input means, a detection means for detecting a pressing force applied to the surface of the input means, and a detection result of the detection means And executing means for executing a predetermined process when a pressing force equal to or more than a preset process start threshold is applied to the surface of the input means. Even if a hand or an arm touches the input means on the way, it is possible to almost certainly prevent a process different from the process in the middle of being executed by mistake, thereby realizing an information processing device capable of improving operability. can do.

Further, in the information processing method, a detecting step of detecting a pressing force applied to the surface of the sheet-like input means, and a processing preset on the surface of the input means based on the detection result obtained in the detecting step. An execution step of executing a predetermined process when a pressing force equal to or more than a threshold for start is applied, even if a hand or an arm touches the input means during execution of the predetermined process, It is possible to almost certainly prevent erroneous execution of a process different from the process being executed, and thus an information processing method capable of improving the operability of the information processing apparatus can be realized.

Further, in the program storage medium, a detecting step of detecting the pressing force applied to the surface of the sheet-like input means, and a processing preset on the surface of the input means based on the detection result obtained in the detecting step. An execution step of executing a predetermined process when a pressing force equal to or more than a start threshold value is applied, causing the information processing apparatus to execute the program. Even if a hand or an arm touches the input means during the execution of the process, it is possible to almost certainly prevent a process different from the process during the execution from being erroneously executed, thus improving the operability of the information processing apparatus. A program storage medium that can be improved can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic external view showing an embodiment of a configuration of a notebook personal computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a left side surface of the personal computer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a touch pad.

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a position detection sensor.

FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a pressure-sensitive sensor.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a notebook personal computer.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a pressing force setting window screen.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a drop-down menu displayed on a special processing setting unit.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a table of operation contents switched according to an α threshold and a β threshold when a special process is set.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a special processing setting processing procedure.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a mode switching processing procedure.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an α threshold setting processing procedure;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a β threshold setting process.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining transition between a normal processing mode and a special processing mode due to pressing of a touch pad.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining setting of an α threshold and a β threshold;

FIG. 16 is a graph showing a change in a pressing force applied to the surface of the touch pad.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining a level display on a pressing force display bar.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a pressing force level display processing procedure.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a special processing execution processing procedure.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram used to explain a drag operation on a window screen executed via the touch pad.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram for explaining a drag operation on a window screen executed via the touch pad.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating a scroll instruction area provided on the touch pad.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram for explaining enlargement and reduction of a window screen executed through the touch pad.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram for explaining enlargement and reduction of a window screen executed through a touch pad.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram for explaining enlargement and reduction of a window screen executed via a touch pad.

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram for describing enlargement and reduction of a window screen executed via a touch pad.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram for describing enlargement and reduction of a window screen executed via the touch pad.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a tap operation execution processing procedure;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Personal computer, 2 ... Main body, 3 ... Display part, 5 ... Touch pad, 10 ... Liquid crystal display, 30 ... Position detection sensor, 31 ... Pressure sensor, 3
5 CPU, 48 Hard disk drive, 52
... I / O controller, 60 ... Pressure force setting window screen, 61 ... Special processing setting unit, 62 ... Threshold setting unit, 63 ... Special processing simulation display unit, 67 ...
… Special processing selection part, 68 …… Check box, 69…
... List display button, 70 ... Mouse cursor, 71 ...
Drop-down menu, 72 ... Pressing force display bar, 7
3... Α threshold setting tag 74... Β threshold setting tag
RT1 ... Special processing setting processing procedure, RT2 ... Mode switching processing procedure, RT3 .... alpha. Threshold setting processing procedure, RT4
.... beta. Threshold value setting processing procedure, RT5 ... pressing force level display processing procedure, RT6 ... special processing execution processing procedure, RT7 ...
... Tap operation execution processing procedure.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 3/03 380 G06F 3/03 380A 380C F term (Reference) 5B020 AA15 CC12 DD30 FF17 FF53 GG05 GG13 5B068 AA05 AA11 AA21 BB36 BC07 BD13 BE07 BE08 CC06 CD01 CD02 CD06 DE02 5B087 AA09 AC02 AE00 BC12 BC13 BC26 BC31 DD02 DE02 DE03 5E501 AA03 AC37 BA02 CA04 CB07 EA02 EA13 EB06 FA04 FA14 FA46 FB22

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A sheet-like input means, a detecting means for detecting a pressing force applied to a surface of the input means, and a preset value on the surface of the input means based on a detection result of the detecting means. An information processing device for executing a predetermined process when the pressing force equal to or greater than a process start threshold is applied. 2. The processing means according to claim 1, wherein said execution means executes said processing in accordance with said pressing force, and based on a result of said detection by said detection means, sets a threshold value for ending the processing preset on said surface of said input means. When the above-mentioned pressing force less than
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is terminated. 3. The threshold value for starting the processing and the threshold value for ending the processing are set arbitrarily.
An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the threshold value for starting the processing is defined to be larger than the threshold value for ending the processing. 5. A display device comprising: a predetermined display means; a display bar for displaying the level of the pressing force; a threshold setting tag for starting the processing and a tag for setting the threshold for ending the processing indicating the display bar. Display control means for displaying a pressing force setting screen on the display means, the display control means for setting a threshold value for starting the processing and a threshold setting for ending the processing based on a predetermined operation command. The tag is moved along the display bar, and the processing start threshold value is arbitrarily pointed to by the processing start threshold setting tag and the processing end threshold setting tag. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a threshold value for terminating the processing is set. 6. The display control means displays a transition of the level of the pressing force applied to the surface of the input means on the display bar based on the detection result of the detection means. The information processing device according to claim 5. 7. The display control means displays the transition of the level of the pressing force on the display bar in a display state corresponding to the execution and the end of the processing which changes according to the change of the pressing force. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 8. The display control means displays a process selecting section which can arbitrarily select a desired process from among a plurality of types of the processes in the pressing force setting screen. When the process is arbitrarily selected, the process is set so that the selected process is executed when the pressing force equal to or more than the process start threshold is applied to the surface of the input unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein 9. A detecting step for detecting a pressing force applied to a surface of a sheet-like input means, and a processing start preset on said surface of said input means based on a detection result obtained in said detecting step. An execution step of executing a predetermined process when the pressing force equal to or more than the threshold value is applied. 10. When the pressing force which is lower than a preset processing termination threshold is applied to the surface of the input means based on the detection result obtained in the detecting step, The information processing method according to claim 9, further comprising an end step of terminating the executed processing. 11. The information processing method according to claim 10, further comprising a setting step of arbitrarily setting the threshold value for starting the processing and the threshold value for ending the processing. In the setting step, the threshold value for starting the processing is defined to be larger than the threshold value for ending the processing, and the threshold value for starting the processing and the threshold value for ending the processing are arbitrarily set. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein
An information processing method according to claim 1. 13. A pressing force setting screen having a display bar for displaying the pressing force level, a threshold setting tag for starting the processing, and a tag for setting a threshold for ending the processing, indicating the display bar. A display step of displaying on a predetermined display means, wherein in the setting step, the threshold setting tag for processing start and the threshold setting tag for processing end are respectively arranged along the display bar based on a predetermined operation command. Move
The process start threshold and the process end threshold are set according to predetermined positions of the display bar arbitrarily indicated by the process start threshold setting tag and the process end threshold setting tag. 13. The information processing method according to claim 12, wherein: 14. In the display step, a transition of the level of the pressing force applied to the surface of the input means is displayed on the display bar on the basis of the detection result of the detection means. Item 14. The information processing method according to Item 13. 15. In the display step, the display bar is adapted to display the transition of the level of the pressing force in a display state corresponding to the execution and termination of the processing which changes according to the change of the pressing force. The information processing method according to claim 14, characterized in that: 16. In the display step, a process selecting section for arbitrarily selecting a desired process from a plurality of types of the processes is displayed in the pressing force setting screen. When the process is arbitrarily selected from the processes, when the pressing force equal to or more than the process start threshold is applied to the surface of the input unit, the selected process is set to be executed. The information processing method according to claim 15, wherein the information processing is performed. 17. A detection step for detecting a pressing force applied to a surface of a sheet-like input means, and a processing start preset on said surface of said input means based on a detection result obtained in said detection step. An execution step of executing a predetermined process when the above-mentioned pressing force greater than or equal to a threshold value is applied to the information processing apparatus. 18. The method according to claim 18, wherein, based on the detection result obtained in the detection step, when the pressing force that is lower than a preset processing termination threshold is applied to the surface of the input means, 18. The program storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising an end step of terminating the executed processing. 19. The program storage medium according to claim 18, further comprising a setting step of arbitrarily setting the processing start threshold and the process end threshold. 20. In the setting step, the threshold value for starting the processing is defined to be larger than the threshold value for ending the processing, and the threshold value for starting the processing and the threshold value for ending the processing are arbitrarily set. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein
A program storage medium according to claim 1. 21. A pressing force setting screen having a display bar for displaying the level of the pressing force, a threshold setting tag for starting the processing, and a tag for setting the threshold for ending the processing, indicating the display bar. A display step of displaying on a predetermined display means, wherein in the setting step, the threshold setting tag for processing start and the threshold setting tag for processing end are respectively arranged along the display bar based on a predetermined operation command. Move
The process start threshold and the process end threshold are set according to predetermined positions of the display bar arbitrarily indicated by the process start threshold setting tag and the process end threshold setting tag. 21. The program storage medium according to claim 20, wherein: 22. In the display step, a transition of the level of the pressing force applied to the surface of the input means is displayed on the display bar based on the detection result of the detection means. Item 22. The program storage medium according to Item 21. 23. The display step, wherein the display bar displays the transition of the level of the pressing force in a display state corresponding to the execution and the end of the processing which changes according to the change of the pressing force. 23. The program storage medium according to claim 22, wherein: 24. In the display step, a process selection unit for arbitrarily selecting a desired process from a plurality of types of the processes is displayed in the pressing force setting screen. When the process is arbitrarily selected from the processes, when the pressing force equal to or more than the process start threshold is applied to the surface of the input unit, the selected process is set to be executed. 24. The program storage medium according to claim 23, wherein: