Information input device

• US 4,992,779 A
• Filed: 03/09/1989
• Issued: 02/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Furuya, Yoji, Sugino, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US07/321,174
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 340/712, 340/706, 340/711, 178/18, 341/20, 341/23, 341/33, 341/34, 364/520, 273/148 B
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

In an information input device for inputting information in an information processing apparatus by means of contact on an input surface provided on a display picture, an input-prohibiting area is provided on the input surface in response to setting a cleaning mode of the input surface, and the input-prohibiting area and an input-enabling area are discriminately displayed. At the same time, the brightness of the input surface is made high during the cleaning mode.

Claims

1. An information input device for inputting information into an information processing apparatus by means of contact on an input panel provided on a picture surface of a display device, said information input device comprising:

mode setting means for setting a cleaning mode of the input panel on the picture surface of said display device;

input control means for setting an input-prohibiting area of information on said input panel in response to setting the cleaning mode by said mode setting means;

prohibiting-area display means for displaying an indication on the picture surface of said display device that the input-prohibiting area of information has been set on said input panel by said input control means; and

brightness control means for increasing the brightness of a displayed picture on the picture surface of said display unit in response to setting the cleaning mode by said mode setting means.

2. An information input device according to claim 1 further comprising prohibiting-area changing means for changing the location of the input-prohibiting area set by said input control means on said input panel.

3. An information input device according to claim 1, wherein said mode setting means sets the cleaning mode in response to contact with a character position displayed on the picture surface of said display device via said input panel.

4. An information input device for inputting information into an information processing apparatus by means of contact on an input panel provided on a picture surface of a display device, said information input device comprising:

mode setting means for setting a cleaning mode of the input panel on the picture surface of said display device;

input control means for dividing an input surface of said input panel into two areas in response to setting the cleaning mode by said mode setting means, and setting one area as an area for prohibiting the input of information, and another area as an area for enabling the input of information;

area display means for displaying an indication that the input-prohibiting area and the input-enabling area have been set on said input panel by said input control means;

area switching means for exchanging the input-prohibiting area with the input-enabling area set by said area display means; and

brightness control means for increasing the brightness of a displayed picture on said picture surface of said display device in response to setting the cleaning mode by said mode setting means.

5. An information input device according to claim 4, wherein said mode setting means sets the cleaning mode in response to contact with a character position displayed on the picture surface of said display device via said input panel.