Dial box

Abstract: A numerical value input method and input apparatus are disclosed using a touch panel, permitting the determination of the numerical value to be inputted by a unit executing an application without having to use a separate input apparatus. A virtual input device picture, preferably a dial picture, is displayed on a display screen with a touch input function. Then a finger or a pen is moved in a state of contact on the displayed virtual dial picture. By thus moving a finger or a pen on the virtual dial picture, the numerical value to be inputted is determined. Numerical values can be thereby inputted with only a display unit, without using any separate unit of hardware, such as a jog dial or a dial box. In this context, the numerical value means a concept including both an increment/decrement and a continuous value.

Abstract: PURPOSE:To simultaneously deform plural shapes by delicately deforming the shapes based on a deformation instruction obtained by means of the micro rotation of a dial. CONSTITUTION:Data from an input device such as a dial box 1, a mouse 2 and a keyboard 3 is fetched into a data input part 6. When the dial and the like are rotated in the dial box 1, a rotational amount at that time is fetched by the data input part 6 and the type of the deformation instructions defined in respective dials can be learnt by referring to a dial definition buffer 5. Thus, the types of the deformation instructions and the process of shape deformation can be obtained. Thus, delicate shape deformation can be executed while the result of shape deformation is recognized.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To easily and efficiently establish a protocol by establishing the baud rate of a peripheral device, storing a message from the peripheral device into a packet, ending the packet after the lapse of prescribed time based on the rate without receiving any byte from the peripheral device, and transmitting that end to a host device. CONSTITUTION: A peripheral repeater box 21 is shown in the figure together with various peripheral devices connectable to this. These peripheral devices include a keyboard 23, mouse 25, tablet 27, knob 29 (namely a dial box), button 31, spare RS232 channel 22 and spare keyboard input 25. For connection to all the peripheral devices to be supported, four peripheral channels (corresponding to the keyboard 23, mouse 25, tablet 27 and knob 29) and one command channel (for communicating with a host device) are provided.