JP2003050668A - Pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointing device for making it possible for a user to carry and use while freely moving in operating a wearable computer or making presentation by using a projector. SOLUTION: A rotary knock part 2 integrated with a rotary encoder is set at portable pen type communication equipment, and the rotary knock part 2 is rotated by the finger so that rotation information can be generated. Then, the inclination of a pen P is detected by an inclination sensor 7 incorporated in the pen P, and the rotation information is switched according to the inclination of the pen P, and transmitted to a wirelessly connected computer by a wireless transmitting unit 6. The computer is integrated with the driver software of the communication equipment, and operation data as a pointing device are generated in an operation system.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When operating a wearable computer or presenting with a projector,
The present invention relates to a wireless pointing device that a user can hold and operate in place of a mouse or a trackball operated on a desk.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when operating a wearable computer or making a presentation using a projector, a user operates a mouse or a trackball connected to a computer by wire on a desk.

[0003]

However, since the conventional mouse and trackball are wired, their handling is limited and it is impossible to carry them. Moreover, although a flat surface on the desk is required for operating the mouse, the desk cannot be used for operating the wearable computer, and the user cannot carry it freely even during a presentation using a projector. Further, in the case of the trackball as well, if the size is reduced, the ball becomes smaller and the operability is significantly deteriorated. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when a wearable computer is operated or a presentation is performed using a projector, the user carries the device with him / her at his / her hand instead of using a mouse or a trackball on a desk. An object is to provide a pointing device that can be operated.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a pointing device provided by the present invention has a rotatable knock part arranged on a portable pen or a rod-shaped body, and the rotary knock part is pointed to the rotary knock part. By rotating with, the encoder installed in the pen or the rod-shaped body generates rotation information, and the rotation information is switched according to the inclination of the pen or the rod-shaped body by the tilt sensor installed in the pen or the rod-shaped body. , Output to the computer wirelessly. In other words, a tilt sensor that detects the horizontal or vertical position of the pen or rod is built in the pen or rod, and when the rotary knock part is rotated when the pen or rod is horizontal, the cursor on the computer display screen moves up and down. It is configured to operate or operate as up / down scroll of the screen, and when the rotary knock part is rotated when the pen or rod is made vertical, it is configured to operate as left / right movement of the cursor on the computer display screen or left / right scroll of the screen. . In addition, by pushing the rotary knock portion, an internal switch is operated to generate a click function as a pointing device. A controller and a low power consumption data communication device are arranged in the pen or rod, and the controller generates a pointing signal from the detection signal of the sensor to control the communication device. Further, a computer wirelessly connected to the communication device is installed with driver software of the device, and is configured to generate operation data as a pointing device in the operation system.

[0005]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the internal structure of the pen-type pointing device of the present invention. 2 and 3 show the operation of the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a state in which the device of the present invention is horizontally held and operated by the right hand, and FIG. 3 shows that the device of the present invention is vertically held and operated by the right hand. It shows the state.

In the pen type pointing device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the pen P comprises a case 1 and a rotary knock portion 2. The rotary knock unit 2 is connected to the switch 8 via the coupling shaft 10, and the rotation thereof is detected by the rotary sensor 9 engaged with the coupling shaft 10. The tilt sensor 7 detects whether the device is held horizontally or vertically. And the switch 8
The detection signals from the rotary sensor 9 and the tilt sensor 7 are input to the controller unit 5, converted into a pointing data signal here, output to the wireless transmission unit 6, and transmitted to the outside. The battery 4 supplies power to the controller unit 5, the wireless transmission unit 6,
The controller unit 5 controls the power supplies of the tilt sensor 7 and the rotary sensor 9. The pen portion 11 protruding from the writing unit 3 has a function such as a ballpoint pen or a mechanical pencil.

The operation of the present invention having such a structure will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the pen-type pointing device of the present invention is horizontally held and operated by the right hand. By rotating the rotary knock unit 2 of the present device clockwise with the thumb, the cursor on the computer display screen is moved downward or the downward scroll operation of the display screen is performed. Further, when the rotary knock portion 2 is rotated counterclockwise, the cursor on the computer display screen is moved upward or the display screen is scrolled upward. FIG. 3 shows the device being held vertically with the right hand and operating. When the rotary knock unit 2 is rotated clockwise with the thumb, the cursor on the computer display screen is moved to the left or the display screen is scrolled to the left. When the rotary knock unit 2 is rotated counterclockwise, the cursor on the computer display screen is moved to the right or the display screen is scrolled to the right. Further, in any of the states of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the rotary knock portion 2 is
By pressing, a function similar to a mouse click is generated, and by pressing the rotary knock unit 2 for a certain period of time, cursor operation and scroll operation can be switched.

The present invention has been described above in detail,
The present invention is not limited to the illustrated example and includes various modifications. For example, the wireless transmission unit 6 shown in FIG. 1 may be omitted and wired. When wired, the portability and operability of the device of the present invention deteriorate, but a low-cost compact pointing device can be realized. Further, the battery 4 is not necessary if it is wired and a power cord is attached to obtain electric energy from the outside. Further, for the wireless transmission unit 6, it is possible to adopt a conduction communication method through the human body or another wireless communication method using ultrasonic waves. Also, in the case of making the rod-shaped body only for pointing without the pen section 11, there are various combinations such as the wired system, the wireless system, the battery built-in type, or the external power supply type. Include all.

[0009]

As described above, with the pointing device of the present invention, the pointing operation of the wearable computer can be performed by hand, and the pointing device can be operated by incorporating the wireless device in a computer such as a notebook computer. In addition, even when a presentation is made using a projector, it is possible to perform the operation at hand without operating the mouse on the desk. In addition, you can include a pen function,
Since it is rod-shaped and compact and lightweight, it can be used as a pointing device with high design and is highly portable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a pen-type pointing device of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation of the pen-type pointing device of the embodiment of the present invention in a state where it is held horizontally.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation of a pen type pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is held vertically.

[Explanation of symbols]

P ... pen 1 ... Case 2 ... Rotary knock part 3 ... Writing unit 4 ... Battery 5 ... Controller unit 6 ... Wireless transmission unit 7 ... Inclination sensor 8 ... switch 9 ... Rotary sensor 10 ... Bonding axis 11 ... Pen section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A rotary knock portion which has a rotatable knock portion and which operates an internal switch by pushing the knock portion to generate a click signal as a pointing device, and a rotary knock portion which is rotated by a finger. An encoder that generates rotation information, a pen part that projects from the tip, the horizontal / vertical direction of the pen, and a tilt that outputs a signal that changes the handling of rotation information of the rotary knock part according to the tilt of the pen A pointing device comprising a sensor and a control unit to which signals from the switch, encoder, and tilt sensor are input, and the control unit generates a pointing signal corresponding to each of the signals. 2. A rotary knock portion which has a rotatable knock portion and pushes the knock portion to operate an internal switch to generate a click signal as a pointing device, and a rotary knock portion which is rotated by a finger. An encoder that generates rotation information, a portable rod-shaped body equipped with these rotary knock portion and encoder, horizontal / vertical detection of this rod-shaped body, and rotation information of the rotary knock portion is detected according to the inclination of this rod-shaped body. A tilt sensor that outputs a signal for changing handling, a switch, an encoder, and a control unit to which signals from the tilt sensor are input are provided, and the control unit generates a pointing signal corresponding to each of the signals. Pointing device.