KR20000074396A - computer system having user interface using rotary switch and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The computer system disclosed herein includes a rotary switch, a button switch for selecting a function of the rotary switch, and a shell program associated therewith. The rotary switch has two functions. One is the screen scrolling function and the other is the ability to select an application registered in a shell program. The button switch associated with the rotary switch functions to select the rotary switch to function in one of two functions, and to execute or terminate the program selected by the rotary switch when the rotary switch functions to select an application program. As such, the rotary switch, one button switch, and associated device driver and shell programs according to the present invention provide a more advanced user interface for running and terminating screen scrolling and application programs.

Description

Computer system having user interface using rotary switch and method

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system, and more particularly to a computer system having a simplified user interface capable of executing screen scrolling and application programs using a rotary switch, and a system thereof. It is about a method.

Today's computer systems are information handling systems used by many individuals and offices. In general, computer systems include central processing units, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, display monitors, keyboards, and pointing input devices. ), Compact disc-read only memory drives, modems, hard disk storage devices, and printers. The main board of the computer system is used to electrically connect these configurations. This motherboard is a printed circuit board known as a motherboard. Central processing units are often called microprocessors. With the development of semiconductor technology, the performance of microprocessors, semiconductor memory devices, and the like is rapidly improving. Along with these developments, the user interface of a computer system has been developed in various forms so that a user can use the computer system more conveniently.

Currently, the GUI (graphic user interface) is the main user interface for executing an application program or input any command on the computer system. For example, in the Windows® operating system developed by Microsoft®, an application can use a pointing input device, such as a mouse, or a corresponding icon placed on the desktop through keyboard operation. This can be done by selecting or navigating to File Manager or Windows Explorer. In this GUI environment, pointing input devices are almost essential. Common pointing input devices used in computer systems include a mouse and a touch pad. The pointing device used for the desktop computer is connected to the system main body by wire or wirelessly. In the case of a portable computer, the pointing device is provided integrally coupled to the body. Pointing devices mounted on portable computers were initially used with track-balls, but recently, the use of touch pads has become mainstream.

On the other hand, one of the frequently performed operations when using a computer system is scrolling the screen. In general, there are two methods of using a keyboard and a pointing input device to perform the screen scrolling function. In the method of using a keyboard, the screen is scrolled by moving the cursor in a desired direction by using the page up / down key or the up and down arrow keys for moving the cursor. The method of using the pointing input device uses a dragging function, which is one of several functions of the pointing input device. In other words, the screen is scrolled in a desired direction by dragging a scroll bar using a pointing input device. However, scrolling the screen using the pointing input device causes inconvenience to the user in that dragging is performed several times. Moreover, in the case of a portable computer, it is inconvenient for a user to scroll the screen using a pointing input device.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer system having an input device for convenient screen scrolling as proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems.

1 is a perspective view of a portable computer having a rotary switch according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view for showing in detail a rotary switch mounted to the portable computer of FIG. 1; FIG.

3 is a view showing a state of use of the portable computer of FIG.

4 illustrates a hierarchical structure of hardware and software associated with a rotary switch in the portable computer of FIG. And

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the microcontroller of FIG. 4.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: portable computer 110: display panel

120: system body 130: keyboard

140: touch pad 150, 155, 170: button switch

160: rotary switch

According to a feature of the invention for achieving the object of the present invention as described above, the computer system comprises: a first switch means for generating a plurality of switch signals according to the rotation direction; And a controller connected to the first switch means for generating data for screen scrolling and inputting the data to a system according to a switch signal input from the first switch means.

In an embodiment of the present invention, any one of a first mode connected to the controller and the first switch means functions as a switch for scrolling a screen and a second mode serving as a switch for selecting one of a plurality of operations. A second switch means for selecting one, wherein said controller generates data for screen scrolling and inputs it into a system according to a switch signal input from said first rotary switch in said first mode; In the second mode, data for selecting any one of a plurality of operations is generated and input into the system according to a switch signal input from the first rotary switch.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the first switch means is composed of a rotary switch (rotary switch) for outputting two pulse signals having a different phase difference according to the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation, the second switch The means consists of a button switch and the button switch is coupled to the center of the rotary switch.

In an embodiment of the invention, the computer system is a portable computer system and the rotary switch is mounted to the system body.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a control method of a computer system including a rotary switch for scrolling a screen includes: determining whether there is an input from the rotary switch; Determining a rotation direction of the rotary switch; Generating data for screen scrolling corresponding to the rotation direction of the rotary switch.

In an embodiment of the invention, the computer system is a selection switch for selecting a first mode in which the rotary switch functions as a switch for scrolling a screen and a second mode serving as a switch for selecting one of a plurality of operations. Setting a function of the rotary switch in the first mode or the second mode according to an input of the selection switch; Generating data for screen scrolling corresponding to a rotation direction when the rotation switch is rotated in the first mode; In the second mode, generating data for causing the rotary switch to select one of a plurality of operations corresponding to the rotation direction when the rotary switch is rotated.

According to the present invention as described above, the user can selectively execute the desired one of the screen scroll and a plurality of operations using the first and second switch means.

(Example)

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The novel computer system of the present invention includes a rotary switch, a button switch for selecting a function of the rotary switch, and a shell program associated with the rotary switch. The user can scroll through the screen using the rotary switch and select a program registered in the shell program. The button switch is used to select one of the two functions of the rotary switch and also to execute the selected program.

1 shows a perspective view of a portable computer having a rotary switch according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a portable computer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention typically consists of a liquid crystal display panel 110 and a system main body 120 hinged thereto. . The system body 120 includes a keyboard 130, a touch pad 140, two button switches 150 and 155 associated with the touch pad 140, and a rotary switch 160 of the present invention. And one button switch 170 associated with it. The portable computer 100 includes a device driver and a shell program associated with the rotary switch 160. The operation of the device driver and the shell program will be described later in detail.

FIG. 2 shows a partially enlarged view for showing in detail the rotary switch mounted in the portable computer of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the rotary switch 160 is configured between the bottom of the touch pad 140 and two button switches 150 and 155 associated with the touch pad 140. One button switch 170 associated with the rotary switch 160 is positioned at the center of the rotary switch 160. The rotary switch 160 in this embodiment is a well known rotary switch of the infinite loop type called "jog dial" which is Alps (R) EC12E12244. In general, this rotary switch R_SW has two signal output terminals for generating different pulse signals according to the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation.

The rotary switch 160 has two functions. One is a screen scroll function (hereinafter referred to as a first mode) and the other is a function to select an application registered in a shell program (hereinafter referred to as a second mode). The button switch 170 associated with the rotary switch 160 selects one of two modes to select the rotary switch 160 to function as one of two functions, and the rotary switch 160 is applied to the application. The function of selecting a program is to execute or terminate the program selected by the rotary switch 160. The mode change is changed by double-clicking the button switch 170, and the selected application is executed by clicking once in the second mode.

3 is a view illustrating a state of use of a portable computer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as described above. Referring to the drawings, the user may select one of the two functions of the rotary switch 160 using the button switch 170 associated with the rotary switch 160. When the rotary switch 160 operates in the screen scroll function, the user may scroll the screen by rotating the rotary switch 160 clockwise or counterclockwise. And when the rotary switch 160 functions as another, the user can use the rotary switch 160 to select one of a plurality of applications registered in the shell program, selected by entering the button switch 170 You can run or terminate the application. In order to perform this operation, the user can, as shown, without having to move the hand 200 significantly.

More specifically, the circuit configuration related to the rotary switch and its operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 4 shows a hierarchical structure of hardware and software associated with a rotary switch in the portable computer of FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcontroller of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, a portable computer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention generally includes a hardware layer 300 and a software layer 400. The hardware layer 300 includes a microcontroller 310 according to the present invention. The microcontroller 310 includes a touch pad 140, two button switches 150 and 155 associated with the touch pad 140, a rotary switch 160, and one button switch 170 associated with the rotary switch 160. Each is connected. The software layer 400 includes a device driver 410, a shell program 420, and a plurality of application programs 430.

The microcontroller 310 is configured from the touch pad 140, the two button switches 150 and 155 associated with the touch pad 140, the rotary switch 160, and one button switch 170 associated with the rotary switch 160. In response to the inputs, the corresponding data is generated and input to the device driver 410 in response thereto. At the input of the touch pad 140 and the button switches 150 and 155 associated therewith, the microcontroller 310 processes the same as general pointing input processing. Although not shown in the drawing, the microcontroller 310 also processes an input from a keyboard. The function is the same as that of a general keyboard controller. Input processing from pointing computers and keyboards of such portable computers is well known to those skilled in the art. In the input of the rotary switch 160 and the button switch 170 associated with the present invention, a specific keyboard scan code is generated according to the input and input to the device driver 410. Certain keyboard scan codes can use a combination of keyboard scan codes that are not currently assigned to the system, which can be readily implemented by those skilled in the art.

Subsequently, the operation of the microcontroller 310 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. In the drawings, in the process of processing the input of the rotary switch 160 and the button switch 170 associated with the microcontroller 310 in the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5A, the microcontroller 310 starts controlling in step S100. In step S200 it is determined whether there is an input from the rotary switch 160 or the button switch 170 associated with it. If there is an input, the flow advances to step S300 to determine whether the input is from the rotary switch 160 or the button switch 170. In the case of an input from the button switch 170, the process proceeds to step S400 to perform a process according to the input of the button switch 170. In the case of an input from the rotary switch 160, the process proceeds to step S500 to perform a process according to the input of the rotary switch 160.

5B shows a flow chart for the subroutine for processing the input of the button switch 170. Referring to the drawing, in step S410, the microcontroller 310 starts a subroutine for input processing of the button switch 170. In step S420, it is determined whether the input is a mode change. That is, as described above, the button switch 170 may be used to select one of the two functions of the rotary switch 160, and it is determined whether the button switch 170 is input to select the function. For example, the mode may be changed by double-clicking the button switch 170.

In case of an input for mode change, the flow proceeds to step S430 to change the mode. That is, when the input mode is the first mode, the mode is changed to the second mode, and when the mode is the second mode, the mode is changed to the first mode. As described above, the first mode is a mode in which a screen scroll function is performed, and the second mode is a mode for selecting and executing an application program. If it is not the input for mode change, the flow proceeds to step S440 to determine the current mode. Only when the current mode is the second mode, the flow proceeds to step S450 to generate a corresponding keyboard scan code according to the button switch input. Accordingly, the keyboard scan code corresponding to the input of the button switch 160 is input to the device driver 410. In step S460, the input processing of the button switch 170 is completed.

5C shows a flow chart for the subroutine for processing the input of rotary switch 160. Referring to the figure, in step S510 the microcontroller 310 starts a subroutine for processing the input of the rotary switch 160. In step S515, the current mode is determined. If the current mode is the first mode, the flow advances to step S520 to determine the rotation direction. Depending on the direction of rotation, a corresponding keyboard scan code is generated for scrolling up / down the screen in step S525 or step S530. If the current mode is the second mode, the flow advances to step S540 to determine the rotation direction. According to the rotation direction, a corresponding keyboard scan code for each rotation direction is generated in step S545 or step S555. The keyboard scan code generated in each step is input to the autonomous driver 410, and the input processing of the rotary switch 160 is completed in step S560.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the keyboard scan code generated according to the above input processing of the microcontroller 310 is input to the device driver 410. In the first mode, the keyboard scan code data input for the screen scroll is input to the corresponding application program 430 to perform a screen scroll operation. The keyboard scan code data input in the second mode is input to the shell program 420. The shell program 420 may be provided with a menu of a form selectable by the rotary switch 160. When the button switch 170 is input to execute the selected application program, the shell program 420 executes the application program selected by the rotary switch 160.

As described above, the rotary switch, one button switch and their associated device drivers and shell programs according to the present invention provide a more advanced user interface for running and terminating screen scrolling and application programs. The configuration and operation of the circuit according to the present invention are illustrated according to the above description and the drawings, but these are merely described as examples, and various changes and modifications are possible without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

According to the present invention as described above, the user can easily perform the screen scroll up / down frequently generated during the use of the computer using the rotary switch. In addition, a number of applications registered in the shell program related to the rotary switch can be easily executed using the rotary switch.

Claims (7)

In a computer system: First switch means for generating a plurality of switch signals according to the rotation direction; And a controller connected to the first switch means for generating data for screen scrolling and inputting the data to the system in accordance with a switch signal input from the first switch means. The method of claim 1, A second switch connected to the controller, the second switch for selecting either a first mode in which the first switch means functions as a switch for scrolling the screen and a second mode serving as a switch for selecting one of a plurality of operations Means, The controller generates data for screen scrolling and inputs it into the system according to a switch signal input from the first rotary switch in the first mode; And generating data for selecting any one of a plurality of operations according to a switch signal input from the first rotary switch in the second mode, and inputting the data to the system. The method of claim 2, And said first switch means is a rotary switch for outputting two pulse signals having different phase differences according to the clockwise and counterclockwise rotations. The method of claim 3, And said second switch means is a button switch, said button switch being coupled to the center of said rotary switch. The method of claim 4, wherein The computer system is a portable computer system, and the rotary switch is mounted to the system body. A method of controlling a computer system comprising a rotary switch for scrolling a screen: Determining whether there is an input from the rotary switch; Determining a rotation direction of the rotary switch; And generating data for screen scrolling corresponding to the rotation direction of the rotary switch. The method of claim 6, The computer system includes a selection switch for selecting a first mode in which the rotary switch serves as a switch for scrolling a screen and a second mode serving as a switch for selecting one of a plurality of operations, Setting a function of the rotary switch in the first mode or the second mode according to the input of the selection switch; Generating data for screen scrolling corresponding to a rotation direction when the rotation switch is rotated in the first mode; And in the second mode, generating data for causing the rotary switch to select one of a plurality of operations corresponding to the rotational direction during rotation.