WO1994028478A1

WO1994028478A1 - Computer input unit, in particular for cad

Info

Publication number: WO1994028478A1
Application number: PCT/DE1994/000603
Authority: WO
Inventors: Viktor Rosenau
Original assignee: Viktor Rosenau
Priority date: 1993-05-27
Filing date: 1994-05-24
Publication date: 1994-12-08
Also published as: DE9407077U1; DE4317648A1; DE4317648C2; EP0653079A1

Abstract

A computer input unit, in particular for CAD, consists of a computer keyboard (1) and of a thumb-actuated mini pointing pad (2) arranged approximately at the middle of the field of alphanumeric keys next to the space bar (3), on the side of the user. The cursor (or cross-hair) on the screen is moved by moving the thumb of one hand on the surface of the mini pointing pad, whereas the other fingers remain on the alphanumeric keys. In order to click an object (or a menu field), the pressure exercised on the sensor surface of the mini digitising tablet (2) is increased for a short time; this (increased) pressure actuates a contact or a contactless sensor and causes clicking.

Description

description

Input unit for computers, especially for CAD

Application graphics and word processing by computer: special computer-aided design and drawing (CAD)

The input unit according to protection claim 1 (Fig. 1 to 4) is intended for text and / or graphic input into computers, the keyboard (1) contained in this unit as usual or also for special inputs (e.g. by special key assignment) ¬ can be used, and the device (2) referred to in the protection claims as a finger mini tablet for guiding the cursor (or the pickbox or crosshairs etc.) and for selecting (clicking) objects, points or menu fields on the Screen serves.

The input unit can thus be used without a mouse where a keyboard and a mouse otherwise serve as input devices.

The use of the input unit is particularly useful where there is predominantly work with graphics and where there is the possibility of configuring the system so that the finger mini tablet (2) interacts optimally with the keyboard ( 1) can be set, but especially in the case of computer-aided design (CAD - Computer Aided Design or also Computer Aided Drafting - computer-aided drawing), in particular with CAD packages, which offer the possibility of To configure the system so that the high-performance input methods matched to the input unit can be used.

It is known that in computer-aided design (CAD) the designer (or technical draftsman) has to direct a significant part of his concentration on the input devices of the CAD system. The operation of the CAD system is therefore a permanent disruptive factor which has a negative influence on the quantitative and qualitative performance at the CAD work station.

How large the influence of this permanent interference factor is and to what extent the electronic power support of the CAD justifies this interference factor depends on several factors, e.g. B. Which task is to be solved with the help of CAD (draft or detailed drawing, drawing up a diagram or a floor plan etc.) or also which auxiliary programs or applications are used and last but not least which input devices and input methods are used become.

The tablet, which is known in various variants, is currently considered to be one of the most powerful CAD input devices. The inputs (calling up commands) on the tablet are usually made by selecting (in CAD jargon "clicking") small rectangular fields (menu fields) with a so-called magnifying glass (handheld device the size of a computer mouse) or with a contact Style accomplished.

Most tablets work together with the on-screen menus, so that clicking the menu field on the tablet does not always do the trick. Often, a menu field on the screen menu must then be selected with the cursor, and often also in two steps (if the pull-down menu must first be brought to the screen, which contains the field to be selected).

If high concentration is required, just covering and uncovering parts of the drawing with the pull-down menus alone can become an annoying disruptive factor. The number of menu fields on a tray exceeds

- including freely assignable fields - usually 500, there are trays with more than 1250 fields.

Searching for a certain field from this variety can - especially if you have little experience with the tablet

- degenerate into an action that gets the CAD user completely out of his concept. With repeated repetitions, the whole thing can turn into a small nightmare, in which concentrated work is out of the question.

Routine tablet users select a relatively small number of fields that are often used on the tablet almost "blindly" (without looking).

But only almost ... A brief glance at the field to be selected cannot be avoided, often the field to be selected must first be searched briefly, and the whole thing becomes even more cumbersome when a field has to be selected in the screen menu .

Thus, even for experienced tablet users, executing individual commands or command sequences is not necessarily just a tiny ballast cycle, which might not be worth mentioning if it would only rarely burden the CAD user. But it is not uncommon for this ballast cycle to be carried out up to 5000 times a day (sometimes even more!). Whether this ballast measure is small or less small, multiplied this results in a large (serious) product:

The constant interruption of the concentration on the actual task (drawing on the screen) by the small "in-between concentration" on the input via the tablet leads to relatively quick fatigue and to the concentration of the CAD user.

Therefore, in many design offices where CAD is the main tool, the drawing board is preferred for certain activities. These are activities in which the reduction in workload due to the electronic support of the CAD does not outweigh the ballast caused by the operation of the CAD system. Most often these are cases where high concentration is required. Even in (most) cases in which the CAD is clearly the more powerful tool, its performance is considerably reduced by distracting the user from the input.

After some practice and experience, the input unit (FIG. 1) with the features listed in claim 1 allows the CAD user to work with this device unit in such a way that the input into the CAD is only slightly different from his actual task (construction, drawing distracts on the screen), usually less than concentrating the rulers on the drawing board, whereby the supporting properties of the CAD can be used to a very high degree.

The result is a higher performance efficiency of the CAD. When observing and comparing CAD workstations (with the same CAD packages and 2D drawings) over a longer period of time, it has been shown that the performance at the CAD workstation with input unit according to protection claim 1 - depending on the type of activity - by approx . 50 to 80 percent higher than at the CAD workstations with other input devices. This is despite the fact that the computers at the last-mentioned work stations were equipped with high-performance intelligent graphics cards (with modern graphics processors), but the computers at the work station with an input unit according to protection claim 1 only with a simple VGA graphics card. In addition, no applications were used at this work station (in contrast to the other work stations).

An intelligent graphics card with its own graphics processor and applications - these CAD components significantly increase the performance efficiency of a CAD workstation. When these components are also used at the CAD workstation with an input unit according to protection claim 1, a further increase in performance and therefore an even greater difference in performance compared to the workstations equipped with other input devices is to be expected (but so far no empirical values).

The execution of individual commands (eg LINE, CIRCLE etc.) requires less with the input unit according to protection claim 1 Time than when executing the same commands with other known input devices.

If individual commands are executed many times, this saves a considerable amount of time.

However, this time saving alone would not result in the aforementioned difference in terms of performance at the compared workstations.

Rather, this difference is due to the fact that the concentration of the designer on his actual task (construction) is less dispersed at the CAD workstation with input unit according to protection claim 1.

In the case of observers, from CAD workstations with the usual input devices, it is striking how the designers constantly remove their gaze from their drawing and focus on the tablet, pull-down menu, etc. (and not necessarily only briefly), the entire workflow works somehow more hectic and scattered (at a slower pace on the screen) than the workflow in the workplace with the input unit according to protection claim 1, at which the designer looks calmly (with very few interruptions) at his drawing on the screen.

To achieve the latter is and was the purpose of the invention.

Way of working

As with typing, the hands are placed in front of the keyboard on the keyboard pad (or directly on the table) to the left and right of the mini finger tray (2). Recesses (4, FIG. 3) for the heel of the hand, which can also be incorporated into adjustable or interchangeable parts for adaptation to the hand size, are advantageous, in particular for beginners. These depressions make it easier to find the correct position of the hands. The thumbs are over the space bar or over the finger mini tablet (2), the other fingers are in the position that is typical when typing. Typing skills (10-finger system) are of advantage, but not absolutely necessary.

The input methods are based on a close interaction of the keyboard (1), the finger mini tablet (2) and a number of programs (macros etc.). In terms of software, the system must be configured and set up specifically for the input methods, but only once (during installation).

The crosshairs (or the cursor) on the screen are guided by moving the thumb on the finger mini tablet, the selection ("click") of a point, object or a screen menu field is done by a short press on the Plate of the finger mini tablet (2), so that the click contact (or sensor) is actuated by this briefly increased pressure (see preamble of the protection claim 1).

Brief instructions (or symbols) on writing boards (or writing fields 10, 11, FIG. 3) can also be useful for beginners and inexperienced users.

As already mentioned, the input unit according to protection claim 1 can be used without a mouse for any CAD package in which a keyboard and mouse can be used, but with special advantages only for the CAD packages which are configured in this way can that the input methods optimally matched to the input unit can also be used.

Different embodiments of the invention are specified in the protective claims 2 to 9. Remarks

1. There are z. Currently several devices on the market, the main feature of which is moving the cursor (or crosshair) by moving a finger on a plate.

Almost all of these devices are intended as a replacement for the mouse, and not all of them are suitable for the present application (protection claim 1), because in this case the device must have some very specific properties. For example, because of the specific position of the hands on the keyboard (see above), it must have certain external dimensions; it must also offer the possibility of setting a special operating mode for the cursor control that is suitable for the case. (The absolute-for-drawing mode that is usual with ordinary tablets is poorly suited for the input unit).

2. There are numerous CAD applications for architectural drawings, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, etc. on the market. Some of these are valuable, highly efficient auxiliary instruments for special CAD applications.

Again, part of it can only be used in conjunction with a (corresponding) tray.

In order not to have to do without the advantages of the application bound to a tray, and to take advantage of the advantages of the input unit according to protection claim 1, both can be used at a work station.

Such a combination could also be useful if occasional full-scale paper drawings are transferred to the CAD in CAD mode by scanning with a magnifying glass on the tablet.

The devices can e.g. B. can be connected to 2 different interfaces. Switching from one to the other does require reconfiguration of the system, but this can be set up in software so that the change can be made quickly and easily (within about half a minute) and would be worthwhile, because even at the CAD workstations where applications are used, with a few exceptions, the greater part of the working time is filled with activities in which the application support cannot be used (drawing, changing, etc.) - Activities in which the disadvantages of the tablet listed above occur. And since the input unit according to protection claim 1 contains a keyboard, which is necessary in any case, the additional purchase costs of this input unit (instead of just a keyboard) - measured by the total costs of a CAD workstation - are very low and can be avoided increased efficiency of this job can be regained in a short time.

Claims

Protection claims

Input unit for computers, in particular for CAD (computer-aided design or drawing), consisting of a keyboard (1, Fig. 1) and a device (2), the main feature of which is to move the cursor or crosshair on the screen by moving a finger on the There is a hand on a plate (in the following text also called a finger mini tablet), this device (2) being fastened to a base so that it can be pressed down under slightly increased pressure, as a result of which it is arranged under the device ter contact or sensor is actuated, by means of which the selection ("clicking") of a point (or an object or menu field) is accomplished, the latter (contact or sensor under the device) only when the contact or sensor sor is not already installed in the device (2) for selection by pressing on the plate,

characterized in that the finger mini-tablet (2, Fig. 1) equipped with said contact or sensor with the above-mentioned main feature in the immediate vicinity of the outer key (3) on the operator side of the keyboard (1), approximately in the middle of Letter field is arranged (Fig. 1), so that there is the possibility to hold the hands over the keyboard and thereby move the thumb on the finger contact surface of the finger mini tablet (2) and thus the cursor (or the crosshairs ), whereby the other fingers of the hand can remain above the keyboard. 2. Input unit according to claim 1,

characterized in that a keyboard with special features is used instead of a standard (ordinary) computer keyboard, e.g. B. Keyboard with additional keys (example: Fig.

2), programmable keyboard, keyboard with a non-standard arrangement or unconventional form of the keys (example: 3, Fig. 3), keyboard with symbols instead of letters, or with a divided keypad, divided space key, etc., or keyboard with floppy disk drive, card reader or other additional devices or additional functions.

3. Input unit according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that the keyboard and the computer are housed as a unit in the common or composite housing, z. B., notebook, laptop, keyboard computer etc.

4. Input unit according to claim 1, 2 or 3,

characterized (Fig. 3) in that the keyboard (1) and the finger mini tablet (2) are held together by a common base plate or base (5), e.g. B. by screwing the two devices (1 and 2) to the latter (5), or by engaging fastening parts or by pushing the devices into recesses or joints which are in the base plate (5) and / or the devices ( 1 and 2) are incorporated.

5. Input unit according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4,

characterized in that the keyboard (1) and the finger mini tablet (2) are accommodated in a common housing and / or in that the electronic part of the two devices is located on only one common circuit board.

6. Input unit according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4,

characterized (Fig. 4) that the finger mini tablet (2) from the keyboard (1) is separable (z. B. not attached or separable by removing from recesses or joints, or by loosening or removing connecting parts), so that the keyboard can also be used without a finger mini tablet (e.g. only for text input), the optically unattractive recess (12), which is created by removing the finger mini tablet, closed by a panel (13) can be.

7. Input unit according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6,

characterized (Fig. 3) that to the left and right of the finger mini-tablet (2) ge ge padded surfaces or trough-like depressions (4) as a support for the handball are located, which either in appropriately shaped frame or panel parts one of the Devices or in a base (5) on which the device unit rests, or are incorporated in adjustable or interchangeable parts.

8. input unit according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7,

characterized in that individual, in particular freely programmable, keys are provided with small depressions (6, FIG. 3), ribs (7), notches (8), dimple (9) or other markings for easier locating.

9. Input unit according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8,

characterized in that on the input unit inscriptions or removable inscriptions (e.g. 10 and 11, Fig. 3) with text or symbols are arranged.

End of protection claims