U.S. patent application number 09/229191 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-24 for information processing apparatus and display control method of the same information processing apparatus.
Invention is credited to HANAJIMA, MITSURU, MURAOKA, JOCHIKU.
Application Number | 20020008691 09/229191 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11647476 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020008691 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HANAJIMA, MITSURU ; et
al. |
January 24, 2002 |
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD OF THE
SAME INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS
Abstract
The present invention discloses an information processing
apparatus comprising a display device to display images, for
example, icons in relation to the predetermined process among a
plurality of different processes and a touch panel device to output
both signals indicating depressing position and depressing pressure
in view of variously changing the images of icons displayed on the
display device depending on an output of the touch panel device and
a method of controlling the display of the same apparatus.
Particularly, in the information processing apparatus and its
display control method of the present invention, composite icon
display control is determined for the depressing pressure level
information as the comparison result of the depressing pressure and
reference depressing pressure and depressing position change
information as the monitoring result of depressing position in
addition to the depressing position information of the touch panel
device. Moreover, in the information processing apparatus and its
display control method of the present invention, when the touch
panel is depressed with a weak pressure, the icon corresponding to
the depressing position is displayed in the high-light display
mode, owing to composite determination based on such touch panel
device output and the process and control depending on such
determination. In addition, when the touch panel is depressed with
a higher pressure to move the depressing position corresponding to
the knob of icon of the varying device such as a slide volume
control having the knob, both knob position and amount of control
of the varying device change following the movement of the
depressing position.
Inventors: |
HANAJIMA, MITSURU; (SAITAMA,
JP) ; MURAOKA, JOCHIKU; (KANAGAWA, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG
745 FIFTH AVENUE- 10TH FL.
NEW YORK
NY
10151
US
|
Family ID: |
11647476 |
Appl. No.: |
09/229191 |
Filed: |
January 13, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0488 20130101;
G06F 3/04847 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 16, 1998 |
JP |
10-006772 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An information processing apparatus including a display device
for displaying images in relation to the predetermined processes
among a plurality of different processes and a touch panel device
for outputting a depressing position signal indicating the
depressing position on the touch panel and a depressing pressure
signal indicating the depressing pressure to the touch panel in
view of respectively executing a plurality of processes explained
above depending on said depressing position signal and said
depressing pressure signal, comprising: comparing means for
comparing said depressing pressure indicated by said depressing
pressure signal from said touch panel device with the reference
depressing pressure; monitoring means for monitoring change of the
depressing position indicated by said depressing position signal
depending on said depressing position signal from said touch panel
device; processing means for selecting and processing the process
to be executed among a plurality of said processes depending on an
output of said touch panel device, an output of said comparing
means and an output of said monitoring means; and display control
means for modifying said display image displayed on said display
device depending on an output of said touch panel device, an output
of said monitoring means and said process selected by said
processing means.
2. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said processing means includes a luminance processing means
for controlling said display control means, when an output is
generated from said touch panel device, to increase the luminance
and maintains such luminance until the next change for the image
corresponding to the depressing position among said images
displayed on said display device when an output of said comparing
means indicates that said depressing pressure signal is smaller
than said reference depressing pressure and an output of said
monitoring means indicates that there is no change in said
depressing position.
3. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said processing means includes a varying device control
means for controlling said display control means to display on said
display device a typical image of the varying device including a
control knob indicating the setting position for amount of control,
controlling said display control means, when said touch panel
device generates an output, so that said knob displayed on said
display device changes following said depressing position when an
output of said comparing means indicates that said depressing
pressure signal is smaller than said reference depressing pressure
and an output of said monitoring means indicates that said
depressing position changes continuously, next outputting a control
amount signal indicating the amount of control corresponding to the
setting position where said change disappears when an output of
said monitoring means indicates that there is no change of said
setting position and an output of said comparing means indicates
that said depressing pressure signal is larger than said reference
depressing pressure, and controlling said display control means so
that said knob displayed on said display device changes following
said depressing position and also outputting a control amount
signal indicating amount of control which changes following the
setting position of said knob when an output of said comparing
means indicates that said depressing pressure signal is larger than
said reference depressing pressure and said monitoring means
indicates that said depressing position changes continuously.
4. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claims 1, 2
and 3, wherein the depressing surface of said touch panel device is
transparent and is laid on the display surface of said display
device.
5. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claims 1, 2
and 3, wherein said processing means comprises a memory for storing
program data for a plurality of processes and a CPU (Central
Processing Unit) for controlling execution of a plurality of
processes on the basis of an output of said touch panel device, an
output of said comparing means and a program data of said
memory.
6. A method of controlling display of an information processing
apparatus comprising a display device to display images in relation
to the predetermined process among a plurality of different
processes and a touch panel device to output the depressing
position signal indicating the depressing position on the touch
panel and the depressing pressure signal indicating the depressing
pressure for the touch panel in view of executing a plurality of
different processes depending on said depressing position signal
and said depressing pressure signal, comprising: comparing step for
comparing said depressing pressure indicated by said depressing
pressure signal from said touch panel device with the reference
depressing pressure; monitoring step for monitoring change of the
depressing position indicated by said depressing position signal
depending on said depressing position signal from said touch panel
device; and luminance processing step for executing the process to
control said display device, on the occasion that said touch panel
has generated an output, to increase the luminance and maintain
such luminance until the next change for the image corresponding to
the depressing position among the images in relation to said
predetermined process indicated on said display device when the
result of said comparing step indicates that said depressing
pressure signal is smaller than said reference depressing pressure
and when the result of said monitoring step indicates that said
depressing position does not change.
7. A method of controlling display of an information processing
apparatus including a display means to display images in relation
to the predetermined process among a plurality of different
processes and a touch panel device to output the depressing
position signal indicating the depressing position on the touch
panel and the depressing pressure signal indicating the depressing
pressure for the touch panel in view of executing a plurality of
different processes depending on said depressing position signal
and said depressing pressure signal, comprising: comparing step for
comparing said depressing pressure indicated by said depressing
pressure signal from said touch panel device with the reference
depressing pressure; monitoring step for monitoring change of the
depressing position indicated by said depressing position signal
depending on said depressing position signal from said touch panel
device; and varying device control processing step for controlling
said display device to display on said display device a typical
image of the varying device including a control knob indicating the
setting position for amount of control, controlling said display
device, when said touch panel device generates an output, so that
said setting position of said knob displayed on said display device
changes following said depressing position when the result of said
comparing step indicates that said depressing pressure signal is
smaller than said reference depressing pressure and the result of
said monitoring step indicates that said depressing position
changes continuously, next outputting a control amount signal
indicating the amount of control corresponding to the setting
position where said change disappears when the result of said
monitoring step indicates that there is no change of said setting
position and the result of said comparing step indicates that said
depressing pressure signal is larger than said reference depressing
pressure, and controlling said display device so that said knob
displayed on said display device changes following said depressing
position and also outputting a control amount signal indicating
amount of control which changes following the setting position of
said knob when the result of said comparing step indicates that
said depressing pressure signal is larger than said reference
depressing pressure and the result of said monitoring step
indicates that said depressing position changes continuously.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an information processing
apparatus provided with a touch panel device and a method of
controlling display of a display device of the same information
processing apparatus.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A touch panel device has widely been used in combination
with a mouse as an input device of a personal computer. In many
cases, a touch panel device has a structure that a transparent
touch panel is laid over the display screen of a liquid crystal
display device and thereby a depressing position signal indicating
the depressing position can be output to a personal computer when a
user depresses various positions on the touch panel with
fingers.
[0005] Here, images of manipulating buttons are displayed through a
personal computer on the display screen of display device. A user
can depress the position of the particular manipulating button on
the touch panel with a finger. As a result, the depressing position
signal indicating the depressing position is output from the touch
panel device. Therefore, the personal computer recognizes with this
signal that the particular manipulating button is depressed with a
finger and executes the predetermined process corresponding to the
manipulated button.
[0006] The depressing position of the touch panel device can be
detected by propagating surface elastic wave, for example, to the
touch panel and then detecting change of the surface elastic wave
when the touch panel is depressed. Moreover, a certain kind of
touch panel device outputs a depressing pressure signal indicating
a depressing pressure by detecting a depressing force of the touch
panel, but in general, the touch panel which detects only the
depressing position is widely used as an input device of the
personal computer.
[0007] When a mouse is used as an input device, not only
designation of the position on the display screen but also various
kinds of manipulation such as click or double-click of right and
left buttons of mouse or drag and drop can be realized. Therefore,
various processes can be switched for execution in the personal
computer side depending on the respective manipulation.
[0008] Namely, when the left button is clicked (step S101) as shown
in FIG. 8, a personal computer selects and executes any one of the
process A (step S103) and process B (step S104) depending on the
decision that the left button is double-clicked or not (step S102).
As the process A, an application program (or application), for
example, is executed, while as the process B, high-light display of
double-clicked icon image(or icon), for example, is executed.
[0009] Moreover, in the case of the manipulation (step S105) in
which the mouse is only slid as shown in FIG. 9, a personal
computer selects and executes any one of the process C (step S107)
and the process D (step S108) depending on the decision that the
drag manipulation (the mouse is moved while the mouse button is
being depressed) is executed or not (step S106). As the process C,
a personal computer moves, for example, the icon and mouse cursor
simultaneously, while as the process D, only a personal computer
moves only the mouse cursor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] As explained above, when a mouse is used, diversified
manipulations can be enabled but when a touch panel is used, only
selection of process depending on the depressing position on the
touch panel can be realized on the basis of the depressing position
signal sent from the touch panel device. In other words, only
simple manipulation, such as selection of necessary process by
displaying a process menu on the display screen, has been
permitted.
[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
eliminate such disadvantages of the related art and provide an
information processing apparatus which has realized various
manipulations of the touch panel and a method of controlling the
display of a display device of the same information processing
apparatus.
[0012] The present invention discloses an information processing
apparatus comprising a display device for displaying images in
relation to the predetermined processes among a plurality of
processes, a touch panel device for outputting both depressing
position signal and depressing pressure signal to control the
display of the display device depending on an output from the touch
panel device, further comprising a comparing means for comparing a
depressing force indicated by the depressing signal with a
reference pressure, a monitoring means for judging change of
depressing position by monitoring the depressing position signal, a
processing means for processing the control of display of the
display device depending on touch panel device output, comparing
means output and monitoring means output and a control means for
controlling the display device depending on touch panel means
output and processing means output to variously alter the display
images of the display device by the touch manipulation to the touch
panel device.
[0013] Moreover, the present invention discloses an information
processing apparatus comprising a display device for displaying
images in relation to the predetermined process among a plurality
of processes and a touch panel device for outputting both
depressing position signal and depressing pressure signal to
control the display of the display device depending on an output of
the touch panel device, further comprising a comparing means for
comparing a depressing pressure indicated by a depressing pressure
signal with the reference pressure, a monitoring means for judging
change of depressing position by monitoring a pressing position
signal, a processing means for controlling control of luminance of
image displayed on the display device depending on the comparing
means output and monitoring means output and a display control
means for controlling the display device depending on the touch
panel means output and processing means output to increase the
luminance of images corresponding to the depressing position when
the touch panel device is depressed with a weak pressure.
[0014] Moreover, the present invention discloses an information
processing apparatus comprising a display device for displaying
images in relation to the predetermined process among a plurality
of processes and a touch panel device for outputting both
depressing position signal and depressing pressure signal to
control the display of the display device depending on output of
the touch panel device, further comprising a comparing means for
comparing a depressing pressure indicated by a depressing pressure
signal with the reference pressure, a monitoring means for judging
change of depressing position by monitoring a depressing position
signal, a processing means for processing control of a varying
means having control knob displayed on the display device depending
on touch panel device output, comparing means output and monitoring
means output and a display control means for controlling the
display device depending on touch panel means output and processing
means output to allow the image corresponding to the control knob
and amount of control of varying means to change following the
depressing position when the surface of touch panel device
corresponding to the position of control knob of the varying means
is depressed with a higher pressure.
[0015] Moreover, the information processing apparatus of the
present invention uses, as a touch panel device, a touch panel
provided over the display device.
[0016] Moreover, the information processing apparatus of the
present invention comprises a process selecting means which is
structured by a memory storing program data for a plurality of
processes and a CPU for controlling the execution of a plurality of
processes.
[0017] Moreover, the present invention discloses a method of
controlling display of an information processing apparatus
comprising a display device for displaying images in relation to
the predetermined process among a plurality of processes and a
touch panel device for outputting both depressing position signal
and depressing pressure signal to control display of the display
device depending on output of the touch panel device, comprising
comparing step for comparing a depressing pressure indicated by a
depressing pressure signal with the reference pressure, monitoring
step for judging change of depressing position by monitoring the
depressing position signal, luminance processing step for
controlling luminance of image in relation to the predetermined
process displayed on the display device depending on the touch
panel device output, comparing step result and monitoring step
result to increase the luminance of images corresponding to the
depressing position when the touch panel device is depressed with a
weak pressure.
[0018] Furthermore, the present invention discloses a method of
controlling the display of an information processing apparatus
comprising a display device for displaying images in relation to
the predetermined process among a plurality of processes and a
touch panel device for outputting both depressing position signal
and depressing pressure signal to control the display of the
display device depending on output of the touch panel device,
comprising comparing step for comparing a depressing pressure
indicated by a depressing pressure signal with the reference
pressure, monitoring step for judging change of depressing position
by monitoring a depressing position signal and a varying means
control processing step for processing the control of varying means
having a control knob displayed on the display device depending on
the touch panel device output, comparing step result and monitoring
step result to allow both image corresponding to the control knob
and amount of control of varying means to change following the
depressing position when the surface of touch panel device
corresponding to the image position of the control knob of varying
means is depressed with a higher pressure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the
information processing apparatus of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a touch panel device.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side elevation of cross-section showing the
touch panel device.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a structure of a personal
computer 3 to be used as an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing operation of an embodiment of
the information processing apparatus of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a menu image
displayed on the display device of the information processing
apparatus of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a menu image after
various processes displayed on the display device of the
information processing apparatus of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of manipulations by
a mouse.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the other example of
manipulations by a mouse.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will
be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the
information processing system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a
plan view showing the touch panel device. FIG. 3 is a side
elevation of cross-section.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 1
as an embodiment of the present invention is structured by a touch
panel device 2, a personal computer 3 to which the touch panel
device 2 is connected as an input device and a display device 4
connected to the personal computer 3.
[0031] The personal computer 3 is composed of a well known CPU
(Central Processing Unit) 301, a memory 302, an interface 304 and a
hard disk drive 303 as shown in FIG. 4. CPU 301 executes processes
of various applications through operation based on the program data
loaded to the memory 302 and also realizes the processes of each
function shown in FIG. 1, namely the process selecting means 5,
comparing means 6, signal monitoring means 7 and display control
means 8.
[0032] The touch panel device 2 is structured by a rectangular
transparent touch panel 9 as shown in FIG. 2 and the depressing
position of the touch panel device 2 can be detected by propagating
the surface elastic wave to this touch panel 9 and then detecting
change of the surface elastic wave when the touch panel 9 is
depressed by a finger. As a result of detection, the touch panel
device 2 outputs a depressing position signal to the personal
computer 3. The depressing position signal indicates the coordinate
value in the y direction orthogonal to the X and y directions of
the coordinates where the left upper corner is defined as the
origin on the touch panel 9 shown in FIG. 2.
[0033] The touch panel device 2 also detects a depressing pressure
when the touch panel 9 is depressed with a finger and then supplies
a depressing pressure signal indicating the detected depressing
pressure to the personal computer 3.
[0034] The display device 4 is structured by a liquid crystal
display device in this embodiment and the touch panel device 2 is
formed by providing the touch panel 9 parallel to the liquid panel
11 on the display screen, namely on the liquid crystal panel
11.
[0035] The display control means 8 realized by the personal
computer 3 displays images of a plurality of icons corresponding to
various kinds of application in this embodiment on the different
positions on the display screen (liquid crystal panel 11) of the
display device 4. Moreover, the display control means 8 modifies
display images such as high-light display of icons with an
instruction issued from the process selecting means 5.
[0036] The process selecting means 5 realized by the personal
computer 3 selects different process depending on the depressing
position indicated by the depressing position signal from the touch
panel device 2 and also selects the process to be executed on the
basis of the depressing pressure indicated by the depressing
pressure signal from the touch panel device 4.
[0037] In more details, the comparing means 6 determines whether
the depressing pressure indicated by the depressing pressure signal
from the touch panel device 2 has exceeded the reference depressing
pressure or not and the process selecting means 5 selects the
process to be processed on the basis of the result of decision of
this comparing means 6.
[0038] Moreover, the signal monitoring means 7 monitors the
depressing position signal from the touch panel device 2 to detect
whether the position indicated by the depressing position signal
has changed or not and the process selecting means 5 selects the
process to be executed on the basis of the detection result of the
signal monitoring means 7 in combination with the decision result
of the comparing means 6.
[0039] Next, operation of the information processing apparatus
structured as explained above will be explained.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing operation of the information
processing apparatus 2.
[0041] When this information processing apparatus 1 is activated,
the display control means 8 displays a plurality of icons
corresponding to different applications through the change of
position on the liquid crystal panel 11 of the display device 4.
Moreover, in this embodiment, an image of slide volume for
adjusting luminance of image is displayed at the predetermined
position.
[0042] In this case, an example of the initial image displayed on
the display device 4 is shown in FIG. 6A.
[0043] This initial image is an AV device control menu image 500
for controlling an AV (audio/video) device among a plurality of
functions of the information processing apparatus.
[0044] The menu image 500 includes a menu number label 501, a VTR
icon 502 for controlling video tape recorder, an LD/CD icon 503 for
controlling a laser disk/compact disk, a DVD icon 504 for
controlling DVD, a BS icon 505 for controlling satellite broadcast
reception, an FM icon 506 for controlling FM broadcast reception, a
BGM icon 507 for controlling broadcast reception of BGM (Background
Music), a CAMERA ICON 508 for controlling image pickup by a camera
and broadcast, an INFORMATION icon 509 for controlling information
reception in LAN (Local Area Network) and a slide volume icon 510
for adjusting brightness of display of the display device 4.
[0045] When a user depresses the position of any icon of menu image
500, for example, the VTR icon 502 on the touch panel (step S1),
the touch panel device 2 outputs to the personal computer 3 the
depressing position signal indicating the depressing position on
the touch panel 9 and the depressing pressure signal indicating the
depressing pressure to the touch panel 9.
[0046] The signal monitoring means 7 monitors the depressing
position signal from this touch panel device 2 and detects (step
S2) whether the position indicated by the depressing position
signal has changed or not. Therefore, when a user depresses the
position of VTR icon and then slides the finger in direct, the
signal monitoring means 7 detects change of the depressing
position. On the other hand, when a user depresses the position of
the VTR icon 502 but does not slide the finger, the signal
monitoring means 7 does not detect change of the depressing
position.
[0047] Here, if a user does not move the finger, the signal
monitoring means 7 does not detect change of depressing position
(NO in the step S2). In this case, the comparing means 6 determines
whether the depressing pressure indicated by the depressing signal
from the touch panel device 2 has exceeded the reference depressing
pressure or not (step S3) When a user depresses the touch panel 9
with a higher pressure and the comparing means 6 determines the
depressing pressure has exceeded the reference value (YES in the
step S3), the process selecting means 5 discriminates which icon on
the touch panel 9 is depressed with the depressing position signal
from the touch panel device 2 and the process selecting means 5
selects execution of the application (VTR control) corresponding to
the discriminated icon (VTR icon 502). As a result, CPU 301 of the
personal computer 3 loads the such application program to the
memory 301 from the hard disk device 302 and operates on the basis
of such program to realize the functions of the application of VTR
control (step S4).
[0048] As explained above, in this embodiment, when a user
depresses the touch panel 9 on the icon with a higher pressure, the
application corresponding to such icon is executed.
[0049] Meanwhile, when a user depresses the position of VTR icon
502 on the touch panel 9 with a weak pressure, result of
determination by the comparing means 6 in the step S3 is NO. In
this case, the process selecting means 5 selects the high-light
display (display by increased luminance) of icons as the process to
be executed and instructs the display control means 8 to execute
the high-light display of icons. Upon reception of this
instruction, the display control means 8 identifies the icon for
the high-light display with the depressing position signal supplied
from the touch panel device 2 and the designated VTR icon 502 is
displayed, as a result, by the high-light display mode (step
S5).
[0050] That is, when a user depresses the touch panel 9 on the icon
with a weak pressure, such icon is displayed by the high-light
display mode.
[0051] When a user depresses one icon or a plurality of icons (for
example, DVD icon 504, CAMERA icon 508) sequentially with a weak
pressure, the process selecting means 5 selects the high-light
display of these icons as the process to be executed. As a result,
the icon newly depressed with a weak pressure is respectively
displayed by the high-light display mode.
[0052] FIG. 6B shows a menu image 500 displayed by the high-light
display mode as explained above. In FIG. 6B, VTR icon 502, DVD icon
504 and CAMERA icon 508 are displayed by the high-light display
mode.
[0053] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the manipulation to
sequentially drive a plurality of applications is required, the
icons of such applications may be displayed previously by the
high-light display mode and the required application can be driven
accurately by sequentially depressing the icon displayed by the
high-light display mode with a higher pressure.
[0054] On the other hand, when a user moves the finger while the
touch panel is being depressed, result of determination in the step
S1 is YES. In this case, the process selecting means 5 selects the
process different from that executed when the finger is not moved,
depending on whether the touch panel 9 is depressed with a higher
pressure or not.
[0055] For example, when a user depresses the knob position of the
slide volume control 510 among various icons of FIG. 5 and moves
the finger to shift the knob, the process selecting means 5
recognizes that the knob position is depressed with the depressing
position signal from the touch panel device 2 to identify the
moving direction and moving distance of finger. The process
selecting means 5 selects the image alteration process of the slide
volume control 510 and notifies the moving direction and moving
distance of finger to the display control means 8. Thereby the
image of the slide volume control 510 under the condition that the
knob is moved is displayed on the display device 4 by the display
control means 8.
[0056] However, in this case, when the comparing means 6 determines
that the depressing pressure indicated by the depressing pressure
signal has exceeded the reference value (YES in the step S6), the
process selecting means 5 selects any one or the process to
increase the brightness of display or the process to decrease the
brightness of display depending on the moving direction of finger
and issues an instruction to change brightness of display depending
on the selection result to the display control means 8.
[0057] Namely, when a user has moved the knob of slide volume
control 510 in any direction by depressing the knob with a higher
pressure, the knob of the slide volume control 510 on the display
screen moves and brightness of display changes depending on the
moving direction and moving distance of finger (step S7).
[0058] Brightness control of display depending on the movement of
finger can be realized by the process that the process selecting
means 5 calculates amount of control output from the slide volume
control 510 and then sends this value to the display control means
8 on the basis of the initial setting position of knob of the
preset slide volume control 510 and the depressing position signal
from the touch panel device 2 and the display control means 8
controls the display device 4 depending on the amount of control
transferred.
[0059] The process selecting means 5 continuously issues an
instruction to the display control means 8 so that movement of knob
and brightness of display follow the movement of finger while the
signal monitoring means 7 continuously detects change of the
depressing position of finger (YES in the step S8). When the signal
monitoring means 7 detects that the depressing position of finger
does not change (NO in the step S8), the process selecting means 5
issues an instruction to the display control means 8 to stop the
movement of knob and reads the position where change of depressing
position of finger disappears on the basis of the depressing
position signal from the touch panel device 2, sends the amount of
control (fixed value) of the slide volume control 510 to the
display control means 8 depending on the value of position read out
and the display control means 8 then fixes the brightness of
display of display device to that corresponding to the amount of
control (step S9). Thereby, slide volume control process is
completed (step S10).
[0060] Meanwhile, when the comparing means 6 determines that the
depressing pressure indicated by the depressing pressure signal
from the touch panel 2 is lower than the reference value (NO in the
step S6), the process selecting means 5 does not issue the
instruction to change the brightness of display to the display
control means 8.
[0061] Therefore, in this case, only the image of the slide volume
control 510 displayed on the liquid crystal display panel is
altered and the knob of the slide volume control 510 is moved
depending on the movement of finger (step S11).
[0062] The process selecting means 5 continuously issues, while the
signal monitoring means 7 is continuously detecting change of the
depressing position of finger (YES in the step S12), the
instruction to the display control means 8 so that movement of the
knob follows the movement of finger. When the signal monitoring
means 7 determines that there is no change of the depressing
position of finger (NO in the step S12), the process selecting
means 5 issues an instruction to the display control means 8 to
stop the movement of knob and thereby the knob stops at the
position where the finger stops (step S13).
[0063] Thereafter, when a user depresses the knob position with a
higher pressure, the comparing means 12 determines that the
depressing pressure indicated by the depressing pressure signal has
exceeded the reference value (YES in the step S14). As a result,
the process selecting means 10 selects the process to alter the
brightness of display and instructs the display control means 16 to
change brightness of display (step S15) to complete the slide
volume control process.
[0064] Here, the process selecting means 5 issues an instruction
(in the step S17), when the comparing means 6 determines that
depression is not made by finger with a higher pressure after the
process to stop the knob in the step S13 (NO in the step S14), to
the display control means 5 to return the knob to the position
before the movement. Thereby, the slide volume control process is
completed (step S18).
[0065] Accordingly, when the knob is moved with a weak depressing
pressure, knob position and display brightness are simultaneously
altered after the knob is depressed with a higher pressure after
the movement, but when the knob is not depressed with a higher
pressure after the movement, both knob position and display
brightness are not changed simultaneously.
[0066] As explained above, in this embodiment, the process to be
executed can be selected in the diversified manipulation modes
equivalent to the mouse because, since the process to be executed
is selected on the basis of not only the depressing position on the
touch panel 9 but also the depressing pressure to the touch panel
9, the icons are displayed by the high-light mode when the
depressing force is weak as explained above and application is
activated when the depressing pressure is higher, or only the knob
of the slide volume control image is moved when the depressing
pressure is weak and the knob can be moved while the display
brightness is actually changed when the depressing pressure is
higher.
[0067] When an icon, for example, is depressed with a weak pressure
intermittently for two times or more and the finger is then moved
without limitation to the slide volume control as explained above,
such icon can be moved on the display screen. FIG. 7 shows the
arrangement of icons by conducting the moving process to the
initial display image (FIG. 7A) of the high-light display mode.
Thereby, manipulation flexibility on the menu image can remarkably
be improved. Moreover, when the icon is depressed with a higher
pressure after it is moved to the target position, it can be
realized easily, for example, to drive the application
corresponding to such icon.
[0068] Moreover, it is also possible to form the structure that
when the icon is depressed with a weak pressure and the depressing
position is not changed, the process selecting means 5 selects the
high-light display of icon as explained above, but thereafter when
the same icon is depressed with a weak pressure, the process
selecting means 5 controls the display control means 8 to cancel
the high-light display of the icon. In this case, a user can reset
the icon in the high-light display mode to the initial display mode
as required.
[0069] Moreover, in this embodiment, the brightness of display is
changed by manipulation of the slide volume control 510, but when
the information processing apparatus 1 is provided with the
function to generate voices, it is of course possible to adjust the
sound level by the process and manipulation same as those for the
slide volume control.
[0070] Further, in this embodiment, when the icon is depressed with
a weak pressure, this icon is displayed by the high-light display
mode and when it is depressed with a higher pressure, an
application is driven but the process to be selected by the process
selecting means 5 is not limited to such process and can be set
variously.
[0071] Since the pressure given at the time of depressing the touch
panel 9 is different depending on the user, manipulation
flexibility can be improved by providing the structure that a user
can freely set the reference value to be compared with the
depressing pressure by the comparing means 6.
[0072] In addition, in this embodiment, the comparing means 6
determines whether the depressing pressure has exceeded the
reference value or not and the process selecting means 5 has
selected the process depending on the result of determination. But,
it is also possible to continuously recognize the level of
depressing pressure to select the process on the basis of the way
of change of the depressing pressure or to select many processes
depending on the level of the depressing pressure.
[0073] Moreover, in this embodiment, the touch panel device 2 is
laid on the display screen of the display device 4, but the present
invention is not limited thereto and the touch panel device 2 can
be provided in isolation from the display device 4 by indicating
with a marker the depressing position of the touch panel device 2
on the display screen of the display device 4 and giving
correspondence between the touch surface of the touch panel device
2 and the display screen of the display device 4.
* * * * *